That afternoon in Brickville City—
Milo and Ross geared up, stepping out of Ross's residence. They had just pulled a stunt on Ross's parents, claiming they were going camping.
"We'll be back by morning!" Ross said confidently, barely masking his grin as his unsuspecting parents nodded.
A relentless buzzing erupted from Milo's pocket.
"Just answer him," Ross muttered, irritation creeping into his voice.
"I don't want to—he's an idiot," Milo shot back.
"Then put it on silent!"
"Focus on getting a taxi to Treecon," Milo cut him off.
"Already called it. The car's waiting by the ATM," Ross replied, checking his smartwatch.
"Then let's move!" Milo urged.
A yellow self-driving cab glided into view, idling beside the ATM. On top of the machine, bold letters read:
PROPERTY OF BLANTYRE CITY BANK
They stepped inside.
"Welcome to Carcope," the car's AI chimed.
"Destination: Treecon City!" Milo commanded.
"What's the mission?" Ross asked, curiosity piqued.
"Nothing too complex… something to do with spirits," Milo said casually, though his tone carried an unspoken weight as the taxi pulled away from the ATM
---
In a palace on a mountain top >location unknown —
A towering metal fence encircled the palace. Rows of manicured trees lined the entrance, and in their midst, a tiled pool glowed a serene, eerie blue. From inside, the faint strains of vintage cassette music drifted outward. On the rooftop, a lavish bar overlooked the valley below, a silent testament to wealth and power.
"I hope you remember I'm paying you handsomely," a muscular old man with a thick mustache warned, perched on a classic chair.
"I remember," replied a tall, imposing figure. His white hair spilled over a fox mask, his body clad in an immaculate white suit. "But your intelligence hasn't been entirely reliable lately."
"A trusted source confirms it—the spirit is in Treecon. She's been there for two days, and we don't know where she'll go next. This may be our last chance!" the old man insisted, veins throbbing with anger.
"Don't worry. Have my payment ready. I'll handle it," the masked man said, crouching at the edge of the rooftop.
"Revenge my daughter for me, Zaga!" the old man roared.
Zaga nodded sharply and leapt into the night.
Two months ago, a spirit had struck this residence, leaving only tragedy in its wake. Since then, the old man's life had revolved around one goal: vengeance.
---
In Treecon—
Nightfall draped over the city like liquid shadow. Treecon's skyline pulsed with neon life: futuristic trains gliding along high rails, a massive holographic screen broadcasting commercials to the streets below. Milo and Ross had claimed the roof of a sleek hotel for the night, rolling out sleeping bags as they stared at the luminescent city.
Ross flipped through the mission file in his hands.
It read :
In Treecon, residents have been feeling drained each morning. Nightmares plague their sleep. Occasionally, people wake in places where they didn't sleep. All signs indicate a spirit's influence. The Ambassador in charge is advised to neutralize the threat by any means necessary.
"So… you really think it's a spirit?" Ross asked, skepticism in his tone.
"Yeah. No doubt about it," Milo answered, his eyes scanning the city.
"What if you're wrong ,maybe it's a vampire ?"
"I'm never wrong about these things," Milo said, voice sharp.
"Too confident," Ross scoffed, shaking his head.
"Let's sleep. We don't know when the fight will start," Milo suggested.
They tucked in their sleeping bags as
the city hummed quietly beneath them, but neither truly rested.
---
At midnight chaos erupted. A beam of white light pierced the night sky. The city's network crashed; streetlights flickered out. Within the beam, a colossal female form materialized, towering over the tallest skyscrapers. Her face was a blank mask, her white robe billowing, katana in hand. She screamed, a sound that resonated in the bones of the city.
Yet the citizens didn't panic. They slumped into deep sleep, streams of energy siphoned into a mysterious void that spread across the city like ink in water.
"So that's our mission?" Ross muttered, staring at the towering figure.
"Yeah. Handle it. Think of it as training," Milo replied.
"Where do I even start?"
"Bring her down first." He replied making hand signs that lowered a veil on the city.
"On it. Kyo Manipulation—Night Painter!"
A katana materialized in Ross's hands. He leapt onto a skyscraper, facing the spirit.
"Who are you?" he shouted.
"Die!" she bellowed, swinging her blade.
Ross barely dodged. The top half of the skyscraper she sliced floated eerily in midair.
"What the—?!" Ross exclaimed.
"You sure you don't need help?" Milo called from a nearby rooftop.
"I don't! I'll do this myself!" Ross snapped.
The spirit lunged, massive arm outstretched. Ross sprinted up her arm, aiming for her neck—but suddenly, a ghostly arm shot from her chest, catching him mid-leap. It squeezed, draining kyo from him like juice from an orange.
"Aaaaah!" he screamed, flung skyward. She caught his leg, smashing him into surrounding skyscrapers. Glass exploded, shredding his skin, before tossing him into rubble.
"Been there," Milo muttered dryly.
"Still alive!" Ross shouted from the wreckage, blood dripping.
"Kyo Dispersion… Fortrain Slash!" He surged forward, speed blurring, blade aimed at her throat. But she was faster. Her hand clapped through the air, sending him hurtling into a building.
"Ross, I'm coming in!" Milo called.
No response.
The spirits katana arced toward Milo.
"Kyo Technique—Bending Straw!" Milo countered. Air warped around him, slowing the strike. The katana still ripped through, forcing him to leap as debris exploded beneath.
"Stop fighting her!" Ross shouted, staggering out of rubble.
"You sure you want to fight her along? She's too strong for you," Milo warned.
"I don't care! Kyo Dispersion—Fortrain Cage!" Ross roared, pouring every ounce of strength into his attack then rushed towards the spirit.
Slowly the world warped into a vast white room. In the corner, a young girl in white sat silently.
"How did you get here?" she asked softly.
"I don't know—you tell me!" Ross snapped.
"Please… whatever you do… don't—"
The vision shattered. Ross was back in Treecon, mid-swing.
"Shit!" He slammed his blade into the sky. Backlash sent him crashing into a fashion shop wall, dazed.
"What stopped you?" Milo demanded.
"There's a girl inside her. We need to get her out," Ross panted.
"Now you want my help?" Milo said grimly.
"I don't have the power alone."
Suddenly, a sound cut through the city. The spirit knelt, pierced by a sword. Her form flickered weakly. Zaga, the hired killer, stood behind her, summoning a deadly sign.
"Kyo Manipulation—Metal Spear!"
Streams of kyo burst like spider legs, forming a massive spear that shot toward the spirit.
"Air Bullet!" Milo shouted. A compressed air projectile collided with the spear, shattering it into shards.
"What do you think you're doing?! There's a girl inside her!" Ross yelled.
"I know—that's why I'm ending it," Zaga replied coldly. "She killed and imprisoned her. I'm giving her peace."
"She's alive, idiot!" Ross bellowed.
Tension crackled like electricity.
"Get out of my way," Zaga warned.
"Or what, fox face!" Ross barked.
"You have to be careful—we don't know who he is," Milo said, standing on the building's edge.
"I'll kill you both. Kyo Manipulation—Tower of God!"
Wind howled. Skyscraper metal ripped free, spiraling into a massive cyclone. Every piece of steel in the city rose, circling like blades in a storm.
There was nowhere to hide. No escape.
If Milo and Ross had a trump card, now was the time to use it.