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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvmhkI3Kta
However, he was alone.
‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sPwfBbJeo
And so, he started walking.
The others had more luck—they had stayed together.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YKkPlIRuv
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!’57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fZbfk1z1x
Dracule emerged from the darkness.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Wu9tjpk2e
‘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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kjs0vyIof
She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekpVVlRhyu
‘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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LQbWUEOtG
They stormed her.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKlqNRhD8a
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ298lDrznS2
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!57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rc78PPRC8
Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgh05G0hPW
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVmoMY5VDh
More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.
‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkI6I48fm2
She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdUUyJsnhT
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV33awI0Sjt
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKGnPlsV6s
As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TsKTGTeNi
The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfzIQJ8J76
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctg9Ki4cB6
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4b8tYZJii
She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.
That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdRRbUSuOo
The heat and pressure slammed into their backs.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6uAUi2z37
Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHePhFwToyg
Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.
Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZBpl3oGi1
They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.
‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7xEFBrJCs
‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’
She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjYuIXgrAC
Sark, however, was not:
‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35H7eLP8T7
Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’
‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcP1HweVGa
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIswfE7tGp
They marched on.
Somewhere in the City
Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL2AEBcB8o
So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.
‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LKF8hXOO1
Dean searched for the voice’s source.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPHKN6HhTt
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.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVDL183Ije
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—57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpii5nfcaOz
and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV0LjdvQUO
