MOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!
The horn echoed once more.
The battlefield froze.
Everyone looked toward the distant mountains.
Everyone except one person.
McLone.
She was staring at something far beyond the horizon.
And for the first time since her arrival—
She looked nervous.
Not terrified.
Not panicked.
Nervous.
Daniel noticed immediately.
So did Bill.
So did Mr. Stone.
McLone quickly hid it.
The cold smile returned to her face.
But the damage had already been done.
Daniel had seen it.
"She's afraid."
Mary stood beside him.
"Of what?"
Nobody knew.
The horn echoed again.
Then silence returned.
Whatever was approaching remained hidden.
Watching.
Waiting.
McLone slowly lowered her spear.
Her attention shifted back to Daniel.
Back to the Vessel.
Back to her mission.
The moment passed.
The war resumed.
"Kill them."
The Ghost Army charged once more.
Thousands of soldiers surged forward.
The academy shook.
Buildings collapsed.
Teachers fought desperately to hold the line.
The Great 8 immediately split apart.
Felix jumped into the center of the battlefield.
Lightning erupted around him.
Three ghost soldiers attacked.
Felix smiled.
"Only three?"
BOOM!
The first soldier flew backward.
CRACK!
The second crashed through a wall.
The third never saw the kick coming.
Nearby Noah reinforced the western defenses.
His breathing was becoming heavier.
Each wall required more effort than the last.
His body was reaching its limits.
Zoya noticed.
"You okay?"
"No."
"Good."
Noah blinked.
"What?"
"If you said yes, I'd know you were lying."
Despite everything—
Both laughed.
Only for a second.
Then the battle continued.
Meanwhile Lucy moved from wounded student to wounded student.
Golden light surrounded her hands.
Her energy was fading.
But she refused to stop.
A younger student grabbed her sleeve.
"Will we survive?"
Lucy paused.
Then smiled.
"Yes."
The student nodded.
Believed her.
And somehow—
Lucy believed it too.
Elsewhere David struggled against the whispers.
The vision of Ava refused to leave his mind.
Alive.
Older.
Hidden.
The image kept repeating.
Again and again.
Then a new whisper emerged.
Not thousands.
Just one.
One voice.
Ancient.
Quiet.
"The Key."
David froze.
The Key.
The whisper repeated.
"The Key lives."
His eyes widened.
Ava.
Could Ava be the Key?
Before he could think further—
The battlefield exploded.
BOOOOOOOM!
McLone and Bill collided again.
This time everyone felt the impact.
The ground split apart.
Entire sections of the academy cracked.
The fight had become brutal.
Bill attacked relentlessly.
No jokes.
No smiles.
Only determination.
McLone blocked every strike.
Then suddenly—
She kicked him.
Bill crashed through three walls.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"Bill!"
Before he could move—
McLone appeared directly in front of him.
Instantly.
No warning.
No movement.
One moment she was across the battlefield.
The next she was standing before him.
Golden eyes staring directly into his soul.
Daniel froze.
The Vessel power reacted immediately.
Black energy exploded around him.
The ground shattered.
McLone smiled.
"There it is."
Daniel stepped backward.
The darkness around him intensified.
For several seconds—
Nobody moved.
Then McLone leaned closer.
And whispered:
"You really don't know anything, do you?"
Daniel clenched his fists.
"Know what?"
McLone's smile widened.
"The reason they lied."
Behind her, Bill emerged from the rubble.
Blood ran down his forehead.
"STOP!"
But McLone ignored him.
She looked directly at Daniel.
"The reason Ava disappeared."
Daniel's heart pounded.
Every sound on the battlefield vanished.
Only her voice remained.
Only her words.
Then—
A blade flashed.
Mary.
CLANG!
McLone blocked instantly.
Mary stood between Daniel and McLone.
Her sword raised.
Her eyes burning with determination.
"Back away from him."
For a moment—
McLone looked surprised.
Then amused.
"You would die for him."
Mary didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Daniel froze.
Even in the middle of the war.
Even facing someone like McLone.
Mary's answer never changed.
McLone laughed softly.
"Interesting."
Then she jumped backward.
Landing atop the ruins of a tower.
The battlefield fell strangely quiet.
She looked over the academy.
Over the students.
Over the teachers.
Over the Great 8.
Then her gaze returned to Daniel.
And for the first time—
She stopped speaking in riddles.
Her voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Listen carefully, Daniel Williams."
Everyone looked up.
Everyone listened.
Because they could feel it.
Something important was about to be revealed.
McLone raised her spear.
And pointed it directly at Bill.
Then at Mr. Stone.
"The people you trust most..."
Silence.
"...are the people who stole your sister from you."
The battlefield froze.
Daniel's heart stopped.
Bill's face went pale.
Mr. Stone closed his eyes.
And the war suddenly became far more personal.