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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0UWtHNMdN
However, he was alone.
‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO0wPQH1TD
And so, he started walking.
The others had more luck—they had stayed together.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXTLyXcYzQ
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!’127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpsOt2brHE
Dracule emerged from the darkness.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqnyBi22BC
‘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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUlBILuKdA
She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88wJd61tlJ
‘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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgcIbqZ2Af
They stormed her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4XL0Zd1zt
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPYxJXhT1X
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!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7KmTnii22
Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtGSR0LHzN
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6swlFU2tfY
More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.
‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT85bSc48Rb
She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpXk6b6w8t
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfise4L58P
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHevrPC1XB6
As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LLgugkALg
The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4b4slR2Vy
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2bfNpuOjH
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH8Jos3au7
She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.
That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjw7EcL0za
The heat and pressure slammed into their backs.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAW1sf1sy6
Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxpTad5Gul
Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.
Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LwalC6rcj
They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.
‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6xAZfyfm0
‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’
She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWa08S5B6F
Sark, however, was not:
‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oO21eJJfV
Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’
‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwSL1nq78f
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQbXATgN0F
They marched on.
Somewhere in the City
Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg06rwlUlDp
So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.
‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMB4A9Iuh4
Dean searched for the voice’s source.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqbbSYd3op
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUvbmGOEfW
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—127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH8NCUkgiA
and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iB3cMQtDj
and then Add to home screen.