Dark energy rolled through the room in slow heavy waves.
Hiro glanced sideways toward Natsume.
She looked back at him.
His ribs ached sharply every time he breathed.
Her palms were red and shaking slightly from maintaining the extraction seal.
For one second neither of them moved.
Then Hiro cracked his neck once.
"Ready?"
Natsume exhaled slowly.
"Ready"
They split immediately.
Hiro moved left.
Natsume moved right.
No hesitation. No discussion. Years of working together collapsed the decision into instinct.
Hiro went for the first possessed man again, the stronger one. The one that had adapted mid-fight. The one that had caught his fist.
This time he stopped trying to overpower it.
He kept it moving instead.
Short bursts. Tight strikes. Controlled output.
Every attack forced a reaction.
Block.
Dodge.
Counter.
Move.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The ghost spent energy every second it stayed active inside the body.
