The crash was bad—truly bad. The plane was destroyed, and yet most of the soldiers—Dean’s group included—had survived. Still, they had been separated during the crash. It had taken place in a forest. Dean was lucky; he had landed near the city, its lights shining brightly.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQBOPxwh4r
However, he was alone.
‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjYscURhCV
And so, he started walking.
The others had more luck—they had stayed together.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL43whmt4I
They were deeper in the forest, which seemed strangely alive. That’s when they heard footsteps. Ghouls were approaching. Their stench was foul, and their grunts hideous. Yet among them was a surprisingly calm, familiar voice:
‘We meet again, Kong of the Beasts!’28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQVa0hhu1x
Dracule emerged from the darkness.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe66qtLL3wH
‘Last time I had a time limit—but this time, there is none!’
Commander Nootra remained composed. His eyes scanned the line of his soldiers, then Dean’s group, and finally halted at Nicole, who greeted him with a bright smile.
‘Hahahah! Everyone, listen to me! We have one mission, and it’s the White House. Fight your way through and destroy whatever stands in your path. If we fail, humanity fails! I’ll deal with this bastard!’
‘And I’ll take care of the ghouls!’ Nicole added.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9FkFrAirX
She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImxjF4o807
‘Now!’ she bellowed, and the others ran through the gap she had created.
Next, she activated her ability: Agro—forcing all the ghouls to focus their rage and attention solely on her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpmV4E0z4U
They stormed her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uzs8RrxJQ
White and black ghouls, countless in number.
The commander shifted into his final form and let out a war cry—not to intimidate, but to inspire the scattered soldiers in the forest.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk4HF4NmcX
Then he launched himself at the enemy.
In the Sky
The sky was ablaze. Tornadoes wreaked havoc across the land.
Seraphina and Saphire were both wounded—but both smiled.
They shot forward, weapons gripped tightly, and clashed—baaaaam!28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DVNBP8a5O
Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBccnNfl6pI
Her blade sliced from Seraphina’s chest diagonally down to her waist.
Saphire didn’t stop. She summoned a tornado and crashed it into her opponent. Then she unleashed a wild flurry of sword swings. With every strike, wicked energy shot from her katana, smashing into Seraphina, who was still struggling against the storm.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb2tZ2dGX1
More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.
‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuqkkCOtJL
She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bp3fyQThj
The heat intensified, burning away the tornadoes.
Seraphina was far from defeated. Her voice, powerful and unwavering, proved it.
‘Hahahah, no, Saphire. You were a strong opponent.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7RUDYtkrG
I was born in a thousand flames. My body is steel, and my soul is light.’
The gathering fire compressed into a small sun, hovering above her.
‘And victory is my destiny.’
Saphire gathered all her reserves and poured them into her sword.
‘Witness the new beginning of a sun.’
She shot forward, determined to stop Seraphina from releasing her power.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhsAwqtqNe
As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlpmL5Dlhp
The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemvTfhtxOR
Seraphina grabbed the blazing orb and fused it with her spear. Then she thrust it forward and roared:
‘Nova Burst!’
Saphire swung her sword one last time, putting everything she had into that final slash…
In the Forest
Larah led the charge, slicing through every tree that blocked her path.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38GMwFyFzh
She moved quickly, her slashes tearing through the forest.
From the right, Sark called out:
‘Larah, calm down! You won’t get far like this! Right, Jessie?’
Jessie was to Larah’s left. She didn’t look much better—her mind was on Niyghel and John.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOg0ROcQa0
She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.
That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGd6W4cun3
The heat and pressure slammed into their backs.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJeq7JCsB4
Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXzUBrixwX
Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.
Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72RpHYSW1U
They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.
‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hdfOM6ujI
‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’
She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa2xiORarm
Sark, however, was not:
‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQukDXZAoG9
Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’
‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAMfUFTRQZ
Jessie added, ‘Hopefully Niyghel and John are also there.’
‘Damn, ladies! Chill! Why don’t we take another route?’ Sark suggested.
The women didn’t answer.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YP1q9yxRZ
They marched on.
Somewhere in the City
Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSkezvGksx
So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.
‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqmdidXOF4
Dean searched for the voice’s source.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHsDxerw86
He looked up—and on top of a tall building, a woman sat.
(Dean: How did I hear her?)
In the blink of an eye, the woman vanished—and appeared behind him.
She had violet skin. Her dark hair was so long it touched the ground.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1FuH0WwDL
She wore black leather boots, baggy black pants, and a violet hoodie clearly too big for her.
When Dean turned around—she vanished again.
‘You are too slow!’
Sweat broke across his forehead as he spun around.
This time he saw her—and her eyes.
‘A demon…’ he whispered—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK6EYOQ7yH
and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWJVPfFN1N
