Wearing a golden crown and resembling an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, his body was wrapped entirely in white bandages, revealing only a pair of glowing green eyes. An ancient, mysterious aura radiated from him at every moment.
A cold light flickered in Snare-Oh's eyes before they burst into a strange blue glow. He strode across the rain-soaked street, splashing through puddles as he charged straight toward the chaotic battle ahead.
Heatblast was the first to respond, riding a fiery cloud as he shot upward above Ghostfreak.
"Ghostfreak and Kevin—what a weird combo, but I gotta say, you two actually match pretty well."
With that, Heatblast raised both palms, gathering a blazing fireball that he hurled toward Ghostfreak below.
Whoosh! The burning sphere roared through the air like divine punishment, bringing a searing wave of heat as it hurtled toward its target. Raindrops evaporated into steam before they even touched its surface.
"Heh~ Pointless, kid."
Ghostfreak's form dissolved into a phantom, sinking into the rain-flooded ground and vanishing completely.
The fireball missed and slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, exploding into a massive crater as dust and debris shot outward.
The next instant, Ghostfreak erupted from beneath the earth, forming a purple blur surrounded by chilling energy as it streaked straight toward the Heatblast above. Its speed was so fast that Heatblast couldn't dodge.
"Don't you dare hurt my cousin!"
Gwen shouted sharply, summoning a fierce water dragon.
"Water Dragon Soul!"
Roar! The dragon, conjured through water magic, was brimming with power. Bathed in the pouring rain, its body shimmered with dense moisture, its strength reaching its peak. With a thunderous roar, it swung its body powerfully and crashed straight into Ghostfreak midair.
"Hiss!"
Ghostfreak screamed in pain, twisting his monstrous head before lunging forward with razor-sharp claws, aiming to tear the panicked Gwen apart.
At that moment, Grandpa Max rushed in front of her.
"No one harms my granddaughter!"
He raised his silver pistol and fired a burst of red laser beams toward the oncoming Ghostfreak.
But Ghostfreak's body faded into a phantom once again. The crimson light passed harmlessly through him. With a sinister grin, he lunged again, shrouded in freezing, ghostly energy.
Gwen tried to chant another spell, but panic made her words stumble and break, preventing her from releasing any magic. Grandpa Max clenched his teeth and kept firing, but none of it could touch Ghostfreak's spectral form.
At that critical moment, two white bandages whipped through the air, wrapping tightly around Gwen and Grandpa Max. With a sharp pull, they were yanked safely out of Ghostfreak's reach.
"Damn you—how could you turn into something like this!"
Ghostfreak snarled, seething with rage, wanting nothing more than to tear Snare-Oh apart.
"Did you forget about me?"
A deep, resonant voice echoed from above.
Ghostfreak looked up, his violet eyes narrowing as Heatblast unleashed a torrent of flames, ripping through the rain and blasting straight toward him.
"You insolent brat!"
Ghostfreak flexed his claws and shot upward, clashing violently with Heatblast in midair.
Meanwhile, Snare-Oh stood in the curtain of rain, his glowing eyes fixed on Gwen and her grandfather, shielding them both.
"Lucian, we really owe you one," Grandpa Max said sincerely, wiping his pistol. "If you hadn't shown up when you did, we'd have been in serious trouble."
He knew Ghostfreak's power was something no ordinary human could withstand.
"Cuz... thank you," Gwen murmured, her cheeks tinged with pink.
Snare-Oh waved his hand dismissively, as if to say it was nothing.
But in those cold green eyes burned a killing intent. Even if it meant taking down Kevin, he would destroy Ghostfreak today. Otherwise, they would never know peace—a death spirit lurking in the dark was far too dangerous to leave it alone.
Watching Heatblast being beaten down in the distance, Snare-Oh clenched his fists.
"I'm going to help Ben. He can't hold out much longer alone."
"I'm coming too," Gwen said, about to follow after him.
"No!" Snare-Oh shook his head firmly. "Gwen, you protect Grandpa. Ghostfreak is enough for Ben and me to handle."
"But..."
Grandpa Max smiled. "Alright, Gwen, listen to your cousin."
Though Gwen's Water Magic could harm Ghostfreak, she was still human—a frail girl who could easily be hurt by the shockwaves of battle.
"Fine. Then be careful, Cuz. We'll wait for you to come back."
A faint smile forced itself onto Gwen's fair face.
Snare-Oh nodded, turned, and launched himself forward. His legs fired like a cannon, propelling him straight toward Ghostfreak.
At that moment, Ghostfreak was clutching Heatblast's throat. Suddenly, Snare-Oh slammed into him, sending the phantom flying into a stone wall with a piercing scream.
"You've got some nerve~"
Ghostfreak pushed himself up with his claws, floating back into the air. His single violet eye burned with hatred.
Snare-Oh let out a cold snort, not even bothering to acknowledge him. He turned to the coughing Heatblast.
"Ben, can you still fight?"
"No problem!" Heatblast answered quickly, then coughed a few more times.
"You asked for this~" Ghostfreak hissed with a sinister smile.
In an instant, his body began to expand. Muscles bulged as his skin took on a blood-red sheen.
A towering, muscular figure stood proudly in the rain—Four-Arms Kevin, his violet eyes glowing with Ghostfreak's malevolence.
"This body is truly useful. Now, I can do anything~"
Four-Arms Kevin's voice came out rough and rasping. His gaze hardened as he crushed the ground beneath his feet and rushed at Heatblast in a blur.
"What?" Heatblast gasped, startled by his speed.
Without hesitation, Four-Arms Kevin clenched his massive fists, wreathed in ghostly chill, and hurled them toward Heatblast.
Whoosh!
Several white bandages sliced through the rain, instantly wrapping around Four-Arms Kevin. Before he could react, Snare-Oh swung him hard into the ground, sending him tumbling across the wet pavement.
Snare-Oh pressed his attack, unleashing more bandages that slithered like snakes, rapidly coiling around his foe.
Within seconds, Four-Arms Kevin was bound tight, wrapped into a giant white cocoon.
"Ben, prepare your flame attack," Snare-Oh said calmly, knowing the bandages alone wouldn't hold him for long.
"Got it!" Heatblast nodded, gathering fiery energy in his palms.
Through the pounding rain, Snare-Oh could feel his bindings being torn apart. Four-Arms Kevin, empowered by Ghostfreak's possession, radiated monstrous strength.
Rip!
Sure enough, after a few seconds, Four-Arms Kevin burst free, tearing through the bandages as fragments scattered into the rain.
"Now!" Snare-Oh's eyes narrowed sharply.
Heatblast let out a laugh as two blazing dragons erupted from his hands. They roared forward, tearing through the storm and engulfing Four-Arms Kevin in a surge of fire...