The atmosphere inside the senior council hall was heavy—so heavy that even the strongest among them could feel it pressing down on their chests.
Every high-ranking official of the Phantom Knights had gathered. Faces that once carried confidence now held concern. Reports had been coming in nonstop, yet none of them led to anything concrete.
No traces.
No signals.
No answers.
Only one truth remained—
A team was missing.
The Dawn Kingdom had disappeared without leaving behind a single clue.
One of the senior teachers finally broke the silence.
"Should we… stop the exams?"
His voice was low, uncertain—but it echoed loudly in the quiet room.
Another teacher immediately stepped forward.
"I agree. This is no longer an exam. Students are in danger. Yellow Team—Dawn Kingdom—is missing. If something happens to them—"
"We should cancel it."
Murmurs of agreement spread through the room. Fear was beginning to take shape into a decision.
But before it could settle—
"Stop."
The single word cut through the air like a blade.
All eyes turned toward Mr. Stone.
He stood there, calm—but his eyes were sharp, calculating.
"And if we stop it… then what?" he asked quietly.
No one answered.
Mr. Stone stepped forward.
"As I said earlier… this is not random. Someone is watching us."
The room stiffened.
"That 'someone'—Caden… or whoever is behind this—is observing every move we make."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"If we shut down the exam now… he disappears again."
A ripple of realization moved through the room.
"We've waited years for a lead like this," Mr. Stone continued. "And now, when he finally shows himself… you want to close the door?"
One teacher clenched his fist.
"And what about the students? Are you willing to risk their lives for this?"
Another added sharply,
"Are they not important to you, Mr. Stone? You're a teacher too."
The tension rose instantly.
For a moment, even the air felt frozen.
Then Mr. Stone spoke again—this time, his voice softer… but far more dangerous.
"That's exactly why I won't let anything happen to them."
He looked at each of them.
"We will not stop the exam."
Shock spread across the room.
"But this time…" he continued,
"…we protect them from the shadows."
Silence.
"This is no longer an exam."
His eyes hardened.
"This is a battlefield."
"And we will use it… to draw him out."
Meanwhile… Inside the Forest
The exam continued.
But everything had changed.
The forest no longer felt like a testing ground—it felt alive… watching.
Nightfall Kingdom's team had set up a small camp, just like before. But this time, no one truly relaxed.
Even the smallest sound made them alert.
Ghosts appeared—but not like before.
They were weaker. Almost like distractions.
And one by one…
They were eliminated.
"Thirty-two," Felix muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "That's the total so far."
David let out a breath. "Too easy…"
"Exactly," Zoya replied. "That's what worries me."
Something wasn't right.
It felt like they were being… prepared.
Or worse—
Tested.
Daniel's Struggle
Daniel stood a little away from the group.
He wasn't focusing on the ghosts anymore.
He was focused on something else.
Thrones.
The weapon pulsed faintly in his hand, as if it was alive… waiting.
"I need to understand it…" Daniel whispered to himself.
He closed his eyes and tried again.
The moment he connected—
Everything changed.
Voices.
Whispers.
Shadows twisting around his vision.
Suddenly—
Daniel's eyes snapped open.
And without warning—
He lunged forward.
"Daniel—?!"
His attack was fast—too fast.
One of his own teammates barely dodged in time.
For a second…
Everyone froze.
Daniel's eyes—
They weren't normal.
For him, in that moment…
His teammate looked like a ghost.
A threat.
Something to destroy.
But just as he was about to strike again—
Something stopped him.
A force.
A pull.
Thrones.
Daniel staggered back, breathing heavily.
The illusion shattered.
Reality returned.
And with it—
Horror.
"I… I…"
He looked around.
Everyone was staring at him.
Fear. Confusion.
Even distance.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered.
No one spoke.
The silence hurt more than anything.
Daniel turned—
And ran.
The Whisper of Thrones
Deep inside the forest, far from the others—
Daniel stopped.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
"What's happening to me…?"
Then—
A voice.
Cold. Calm. Familiar.
"Daniel…"
He froze.
"Thrones…"
"You are not strong enough yet," the voice continued.
Daniel clenched his fists.
"Then help me control it!"
"I can give you power," Thrones replied.
"All of it."
A pause.
"But if you fail to control it…"
The voice darkened.
"You will lose yourself."
Daniel's heart skipped.
"Once you can handle me…" Thrones continued,
"…I will tell you everything."
Silence followed.
Daniel stood there, alone—
But not really alone.
Mary's Fear
Back at the camp, Mary sat quietly.
Her eyes were distant.
Zoya, Lucy, and Lily approached her.
"Mary…" Lucy said softly, "what's wrong?"
Mary didn't respond immediately.
Then finally—
"What if we lose him?"
The girls looked at each other.
"Not to death…" Mary continued, her voice shaking,
"…but to something worse."
Silence.
Zoya sat beside her.
"That won't happen," she said firmly.
"This is Daniel."
Lucy nodded.
"He's strong. He always comes back."
Lily smiled softly.
"And he's not alone."
Mary looked at them.
She wanted to believe it.
She really did.
But something inside her whispered—
Things were changing.
Final Day of Level 2
The last day had arrived.
Three days of survival.
Three days of fighting.
Three days of tension.
And Nightfall Kingdom had done the impossible—
More than 30 ghosts eliminated.
They had survived.
But victory didn't feel like victory.
Because one question still remained—
Where was Dawn Kingdom?
Far Away…
In a place no one could reach…
A figure stood in darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The game has just begun…"
His voice echoed softly.
"Daniel Williams."
Behind him—
Shadows moved.
And somewhere in that darkness…
Faint voices could be heard.
Weak.
Trapped.
Alive.