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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd7lxGhKkI
However, he was alone.
‘Our goal was the White House! I might find others if I go there!’216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPB97s5DwJ
And so, he started walking.
The others had more luck—they had stayed together.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeieCLuQpv
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!’216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0A7Durygr
Dracule emerged from the darkness.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OKk1KGwtg
‘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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeKbqtUtN6
She wasted no time. Giant blood spears formed at her sides. She hurled them at the advancing ghouls, breaching the enemy line.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLV0qOjU1M
‘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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV95ahIcOvT
They stormed her.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oFCr5OVx2
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QRTFTyN4r
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!216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEuMVEEoFz
Seraphina went for a thrust, which Saphire managed to deflect. She countered with a slash Seraphina failed to block.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9fMONQFWB
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWONbTrgTm5
More tornadoes gathered—and Saphire felt confident in her victory.
‘Seems like that’s it! You were a formidable opponent. However, today—’216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlKce725u6
She stopped. Flames in the sky began to flow downward, gathering around Seraphina.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqREODwVrpY
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASMmwrg2Xd
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjIkBEU5F3
As she drew near, her skin began to burn—her weapon glowed fiercely, even started to melt.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ1Vp55FGB
The sun above Seraphina hadn’t grown much, but its heat was unbearable.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G7sWl5WZS
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfi425EkgX
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9HUQqGkfZ
She didn’t respond, even when Sark called again.
That’s when they felt it—the impact of Seraphina’s attack.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvzcxs5LkV
The heat and pressure slammed into their backs.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe0WA6Ovse
Still, Larah and Jessie pushed forward, ignoring the burning force.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqxR1VgmdJ
Finally, they broke through the forest’s edge.
Some soldiers joined them, gasping for breath.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXJPh137G8
They glanced at the two women, then at Sark, who shrugged.
‘We don’t have any time to waste,’ Larah said.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIHoI32hVy
‘What’s the fastest way to the White House?’
She looked over her shoulder at the soldiers, who were speechless.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSLkziCjqN
Sark, however, was not:
‘If we keep going straight, we’ll get there quickest.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYdYkjShIG
Surely the enemy will be waiting for us!’
‘I want them to wait for us,’ Larah grunted.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0hygOUaI3
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsciZL0EhC
They marched on.
Somewhere in the City
Dean wandered the streets, unsure where he was going.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPANvjiVj1
So far, he had encountered no one. The roads were empty.
‘Yes, I am the lucky one!’216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGGOW31Npy
Dean searched for the voice’s source.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotZmxuMGhZ
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1A5roHow1
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—216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXEZBWXIm7
and then a fist slammed into his face, knocking him to the ground.
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezjQAkrZIa
and then Add to home screen.