BOOOOOOM!
The battlefield shook once again.
The Executioner's massive attack crashed against Noah's final stone barrier. Cracks spread through the wall like lightning.
Noah gritted his teeth.
"I can't hold it much longer!"
Beside him, Zoya reinforced the barrier with ice, but even her power was weakening.
The Great 8 were exhausted.
Daniel's breathing was heavy.
Mary's arms trembled from fighting.
Lucy was running out of healing energy.
Felix's clothes were torn and stained with blood.
David struggled against the whispers inside his mind.
Lily desperately searched for a way to turn the battle around.
Meanwhile, the Ghost Army continued advancing.
Wave after wave.
Endless.
The academy was losing.
The Executioner slowly raised his sword once more.
Dark energy gathered around the blade.
Students looked on in terror.
Teachers prepared for what could be their final stand.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
A blast of golden energy erupted from the academy gates.
Dozens of ghost soldiers were instantly destroyed.
The battlefield froze.
Everyone turned.
Even the Executioner stopped moving.
Through the smoke, figures appeared.
Ghost Killers.
Elite Ghost Killers.
And at their front stood a tall man wearing a black coat covered in dust and battle scars.
Daniel's eyes widened.
He couldn't believe it.
"Uncle Bill?"
The man smiled tiredly.
"Sorry I'm late, kid."
Daniel felt relief wash over him.
For the first time in what felt like forever.
Bill Williams had arrived.
Several teachers stared in shock.
"Bill?!"
"What are you doing here?!"
Bill rolled his shoulder painfully.
"Long story."
He glanced around the ruined academy.
The broken walls.
The wounded students.
The burning buildings.
Then he sighed.
"Looks like things got a little messy."
Felix laughed.
"A little?"
Even Mary smiled slightly.
Mr. Stone walked forward.
His expression serious.
"Where were you?"
Bill's smile disappeared.
"Mosula."
The teachers immediately went silent.
Everyone knew that name.
One of the most dangerous ghost territories in existence.
Bill continued.
"We were tracking a High Ghost nest."
"Communication was cut."
"We didn't hear about the academy until it was almost too late."
His eyes settled on Daniel.
"You've grown."
Daniel smiled weakly.
"You too."
Bill laughed.
"Not sure that's how aging works."
For the first time all night—
The tension eased slightly.
But the battle wasn't over.
Not even close.
The Executioner suddenly stepped forward.
Dark energy exploded around him.
Bill's smile vanished.
"Well."
He drew his weapon.
"Let's get to work."
Then he disappeared.
BOOM!
The Executioner blocked instantly.
A shockwave exploded across the battlefield.
Students gasped.
The two warriors exchanged attacks so quickly they became blurs.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Every collision shook the academy.
Bill was powerful.
Far stronger than Daniel remembered.
The arrival of the reinforcements changed everything.
Teachers regrouped.
Ghost Killers pushed back the enemy.
Noah received support.
Lucy finally had help treating the wounded.
For the first time—
The academy began gaining ground.
Ghost soldiers were retreating.
The Chained Warrior was forced backward by Felix.
The Spearwoman retreated from Mary and Daniel.
Students started cheering.
Hope returned.
Daniel looked around.
Maybe...
Maybe they could win.
Then he noticed something strange.
McLone was smiling.
Not worried.
Not angry.
Smiling.
Daniel frowned.
Why?
The academy was pushing her army back.
Why was she smiling?
Nearby, Bill noticed the same thing.
Their eyes met.
Neither liked what they saw.
Then—
The sky cracked.
CRAAAAACK!
The sound echoed across the entire battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Ghost soldiers stopped moving.
The Courted stepped backward.
Even the Executioner lowered his sword.
Silence.
The cheering stopped instantly.
A massive crack spread across the heavens.
Not a portal.
Not magic.
The sky itself.
Reality was breaking.
David's whispers vanished.
Completely.
His face went pale.
"No..."
Mary looked at him.
"What is it?"
David didn't answer.
He was staring upward.
The crack grew larger.
Larger.
And larger.
Darkness poured from inside it.
An ancient pressure descended upon the battlefield.
Students collapsed.
Teachers struggled to breathe.
Even some Ghost Killers fell to one knee.
Bill's expression changed instantly.
Fear.
Genuine fear.
Daniel had never seen that look before.
"Uncle?"
Bill didn't answer.
Mr. Stone stared at the sky.
His face had gone completely pale.
"No..."
The crack widened further.
Then a figure appeared.
Walking calmly through the broken sky.
One step.
Then another.
As if reality itself obeyed him.
The battlefield became silent.
The figure wore a long black coat.
His eyes were cold.
Ancient.
Unfeeling.
He looked down upon the battlefield.
Upon the academy.
Upon everyone.
Then his gaze stopped.
On Daniel.
The pressure increased immediately.
Daniel felt like he couldn't breathe.
The whispers inside his mind began screaming.
The Queen's voice returned.
For the first time—
She sounded afraid.
"Him..."
Daniel froze.
The figure took another step.
Bill tightened his grip on his weapon.
Mr. Stone moved forward.
The Executioner lowered his head respectfully.
McLone smiled.
And the battlefield understood.
This was not another soldier.
Not another commander.
Not another ghost.
This was someone far worse.
Mr. Stone whispered the name.
"Finn Foster."
The figure looked directly at Daniel.
For several seconds—
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then Finn smiled.
A small smile.
The kind that made everyone even more afraid.
"So..."
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"So this is where you've been hiding the Vessel."
Daniel's heart stopped.
Finn's smile widened.
And the sky behind him continued to crack.
To Be Continued...