(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The air crackled with layered magic.
Rhya didn't stop.
One seal wasn't enough—So he added another.
And another. And another.
Complex runes stacked over each other, weaving into a dense lattice of sealing magic that wrapped Vetto completely.
Light flared.
Symbols locked.
Power surged.
Vetto's body convulsed.
Then—Locked. Frozen.
"...."
Not a finger moved. Not a muscle twitched.
Only his mouth remained free.
"…Tch…"
His voice came out strained. But clear.
"Fana."
He didn't hesitate.
"Burn me."
Silence fell for a split second.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"Take him with me."
His eyes burned with fury.
"I'd rather die than let that coward hide inside me."
Across from him—Fana raised her hand.
Flames gathered instantly.
Bright. Violent. Unforgiving as its temperature started to increase.
She didn't question. Didn't hesitate. For a second.
"...."
If it meant eliminating the enemy—Even killing a comrade—Was acceptable. That too to get their revenge on this humanity.
Then—A voice. Soft. Close. Too close. Came out of her.
"YES…"
Fana's eyes widened in realization.
"…DO IT."
Something moved. Right in front of her.
From her chest—A head emerged.
Ghostfreak.
Peeking out between her collarbones like a grotesque puppet.
Grinning. Watching.
-Grin!
"BURN HIM."
Everything stopped.
Every single member froze.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Shock. Confusion. Written on their face.
Realization finally hit them.
Their eyes snapped back to Vetto.
Still sealed.
Completely immobilized.
Wrapped in layers of sealing magic so dense even breathing looked difficult.
Then—Back to Fana.
Where Ghostfreak lingered casually.
Untouched. Unsealed.
Rhya's expression cracked for the first time.
He looked like he couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
"…How?"
His voice dropped. Sharp. Controlled. Trying to hide his shock and failing miserably.
"How did you get out?"
Ghostfreak tilted his head.
"..."
Trying—
And failing—To look innocent.
The result was worse. Mocking. Distorted.
A nightmare pretending to be playful.
Then—He laughed.
-KEKEKEKEKEKE!!!
That eerie, layered laugh echoing through the corridor.
"WHEN DID IT WORK?"
A pause.
Then—
"YOU NEVER HAD ME."
The words hit harder than any attack.
Because it meant—Every seal. Every effort. Every calculation—Was meaningless.
Now all they can do was stare at Ghost freak like he was a monster.
Ghostfreak slowly pulled himself out from Fana's body—Stretching like smoke peeling away from a flame.
Floating freely. Untouched. Unbound.
"I JUST…"
He spread his tendrils slightly.
"…PLAYED ALONG."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Heavy. Crushing. Rhya's mind raced.
'He was never inside Vetto. He let us believe he was. He let me waste time… mana… focus…'
And worse—They had all committed to it.
Fully.
Vetto stood sealed.
Useless.
Neutralized—By his own ally.
Ghostfreak hovered above them.
Crowned. Watching them like clowns. Amused.
"YOU TRAPPED YOUR OWN MAN."
A soft chuckle echoed.
-CHUCKLE!
"IMPRESSIVE."
For the first time—The hunters understood.
This wasn't a battle of power. Not yet.
This was—Control. Perception. Fear.
And they were already behind.
Because the moment they thought they had him—Was the moment they lost.
Because they were playing along him.
The laughter faded.
And something heavier took its place.
Ghostfreak turned.
Slowly. Deliberately.
His single glowing eye locked onto the one standing at the center—Patolli, wearing the face of Licht.
Hatred burned in those eyes.
Cold. Focused. Unwavering.
If a look could kill some one Ben should have died millions times by him.
Ghostfreak tilted his head.
"...."
Then—Spoke. Soft. Clear. Deadly.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE…"
A pause.
The air tightened with a cold tone.
"…WILLIAMS?"
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Absolute.
The name hit like a blade.
Not shouted. Not questioned.
Stated.
For a split second—Patolli's expression didn't change.
But inside—Everything shattered.
'How…?'
A storm of thoughts exploded in his mind.
'Impossible. No one knows. Not the captains. Not the kingdom. Not even… him.'
Not even William Vangeance himself.
Every step had been perfect. Every move calculated.
Every identity concealed beneath layers of deception.
There was no way—No possible way—The Clover King could know.
Yet—He did.
Ghostfreak didn't move.
Didn't attack. Just watched.
That single eye glowing with something far worse than power—Understanding.
Patolli's thoughts spiraled.
'Did he always know? Since when? From the beginning? Or just now?'
Then—A darker realization crept in. Slow. Terrifying.
'What if…'
His gaze flickered around the corridor.
The sealed Vetto. The scattered formation.
The disrupted rhythm.
The absence of immediate counterattack.
The lack of panic.
The way everything had unfolded—Perfectly.
'What if this wasn't infiltration… What if—This was a trap?'
A rat.
Running toward cheese.
Not realizing—The mechanism had already snapped shut.
For the first time—Doubt entered.
Not weakness. Not fear. But something sharper.
More dangerous. Uncertainty.
Ghostfreak's grin widened.
-GRIN!
As if he could hear every thought.
Every realization. Every crack forming.
"WELCOME."
His voice echoed softly.
"…TO MY PALACE."
And in that moment—The roles blurred.
Hunter. Prey. Trap. Bait.
Because the one they came to kill—Might have been waiting for them—All along.
-Clap. -Clap.
-Clap...
The sound echoed through the corridor like a verdict being delivered.
All eyes turned.
From the far end—Light bent.
Time shimmered.
And stepping forward with an almost curious smile—Was Julius Novachrono.
"...."
Behind him—Shadows resolved into figures.
One by one.
The strongest pillars of the kingdom.
Yami Sukehiro
Fuegoleon Vermillion
Nozel Silva
Charlotte Roselei
Jack the Ripper
Rill Boismortier
Kaiser Granvorka
Dorothy Unsworth
Mana filled the corridor.
Heavy. Crushing. Unavoidable.
Julius stopped before the group. Still smiling.
But his eyes—Sharp. Focused. Locked onto one person.
"…Fascinating," he said softly.
His gaze pierced through the disguise.
Through the form. Through the lie.
"You are not William."
A pause.
Then—His tone shifted. Serious. Certain. And confident in his claim.
"I am one hundred percent sure."
Silence followed.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Heavy. Unforgiving.
"Then…"
Julius took a step forward.
"What are you doing in his body?"
The mask cracked. As he words took a serious turn
Not physically—But spiritually.
The pretense no longer mattered.
The game—Was over.
Patolli looked at them. At Julius. At the captains.
At Ghostfreak floating above like a crowned nightmare.
His eyes turned cold. Completely. Utterly. Done hiding.
"...."
"…So you've seen through it too."
His voice lost all warmth.
All restraint. The air shifted.
His mana surged around him.
Violent. Ancient. Full of hatred.
He didn't deny it.
Didn't explain. Didn't justify.
Instead—He gave a command. Simple. Clear. Final.
"Prepare for battle."
The members of the Eye of the Midnight Sun moved instantly.
Mana flared. Spells ignited.
Killing intent flooded the corridor.
All except one—Vetto.
Still locked. Still sealed.
A casualty of their own misstep.
Yami smirked, resting his katana on his shoulder.
-Smirk!
"…Now this is more like it."
Fuegoleon's flames ignited quietly, controlled yet overwhelming.
Nozel's mercury gathered like liquid steel.
Charlotte's briars stirred.
Jack grinned like a man who just found a new toy.
Rill's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Dorothy hummed softly, already drifting between reality and dream.
Kaiser stood firm, unshaken.
At the center—Julius. Calm. Watching. Ready. The moment they let their guard down.
And above—Ghostfreak hovered.
Silent now.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Observing.
Because the stage had shifted.
No more whispers. No more games.
Now—It was war. Inside the palace.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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