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The clouds were still scattered in the sky after the storm, and the air was saturated with the smell of wet earth. Behind the dense trees, Harmen, Dante, and Black With stood staring at the road where a group of ghouls had gathered.
The grass trembled under the beasts' feet, and the sound of their sharp breaths cut through the heavy silence.
Harmen felt extreme tension as he watched them from afar, his eyes searching left and right for any other exit they could use. Unlike him, Dante smiled a grin alight with excitement, as if the idea of a fight gave him new life.
Dante said, raising his pistol: "Let's go fight them! We can. Their number is small… it's just them.. one… two… five… six."
Harmen turned to him sharply, worry dominating his features: "Stop! Do you remember last time? Because of your recklessness you would have died if I and Elias hadn't saved you."
Dante did not relent. He insisted stubbornly: "But we have no plan other than attacking. I found one! I'll go from the right and you from the left, we'll distract them with pistol shots… but we need a decoy."
Dante slowly turned backward toward Black Wyth, who stood alert listening to every word. He smiled slyly and continued: "Yes… Black With will be the decoy to lure them."
Black Wyth gasped in shock and anger: "Are you insane, you madman? How how.. can you sell me like this?! Why don't you be the decoy?!"
Dante laughed mockingly while pointing at her in derision: "The point isn't to eat you… because there is nothing to eat in you, no mind and no body! Just to attract them. And I'm good at aiming, unlike you."
Anger flared in Black With's eyes, as if a spark had ignited her soul: "What are you talking about, you fool? As if you know me! Harmen, maybe we should implement Dante's plan, but on one condition: he will be the decoy, trust me."
Harmen sighed and looked between the two, pressing his chest from the tension: "That's enough! Both of you. I'm the leader, and I decide. I have no intention of making any of you bait."
Black Wyth took a step forward, her tone turning frighteningly serious: "Harmen, I'm serious. Just do as I say and we'll definitely survive. Trust me."
Harmen looked at her with deep hesitation, his eyes full of doubt: "But… Black, I don't know if you're actually good at using a gun or not."
Black Wyth lifted her head with a mysterious pride and said firmly: "My life wasn't limited to the theater. I'm also skilled in the art of defense."
They had no choice left but to carry out the plan.
Dante stepped forward with steady strides, shouting loudly: "Hey ghouls! I'm here! Come and get me!"
The ghouls roared, but suddenly their attention was drawn to another sound coming from behind. The ground trembled beneath their heavy steps as they rushed toward the source of the noise.
Dante swallowed slowly, preparing his rifle and holding his breath, realizing the plan might have turned against him. At that critical moment, Black Wyth appeared from the right side, standing like a figure of black and white in perfect harmony. She raised her pistol with unshakable steadiness and fired precise shots that pierced the ghouls' heads and chests in a flash.
Meanwhile, Harmen moved from the left, shooting at the ghouls' legs to slow them down and bring them down. But what truly caught everyone's attention was Black With; she moved with astonishing agility, closing in on one of the ghouls as it tried to grab her. She bent her body backward gracefully and fired a bullet straight into its chin, dropping it instantly. Then she rolled on the ground and spun backward before declaring loudly:
"The game is over!"
A brief silence followed the fall of the ghouls, as if the entire forest was stunned by what it had witnessed.
Dante's mouth fell open in shock; he never imagined Black Wyth could be that incredible. Harmen walked toward her with a clear smile of admiration and said: "Wow… you did something amazing. I didn't expect you to be that skilled."
Black With smiled confidently and replied: "Thanks, Harmen. But… someone owes me an apology."
She pointed with her eyes toward Dante, who felt his face heat with embarrassment. He scratched his neck and stammered: "Alright… alright. I know you're amazing… and that I was wrong about you."
Black raised her eyebrows, waiting for more.
Dante exhaled and continued: "But… but… I'm still better than you."
Black shouted angrily: "What?! You idiot! I'm better than you!"
Harmen laughed, shaking his head: "Yeah… I know you're both great. Now… let's keep moving."
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On the other side, Elias, Linda, Camelia, and Jude were taking the opposite path, far from the village. The air here was heavier, and the sound of birds had vanished, as if the forest itself was holding its breath with them.
Camelia spoke cautiously: "We have to be careful about the ghouls. They're smart… and they'll try to lure us into one of their traps."
Elias nodded in agreement: "Yes, we must stay alert."
As they walked, their path was blocked by a massive fallen tree. Jude stood staring at it and said: "Maybe it fell because of the lightning last night."
Linda approached with Camelia to inspect it, then said while touching the bark: "There are no lightning marks. Remember, Elias, the tree at the orphanage when it was struck by lightning?"
Elias replied as he recalled the memory: "Of course… it turned completely black."
Camelia said hesitantly: "Maybe the ghouls knocked it down… they're capable of that."
Suddenly, the ground shook beneath their feet. To their left appeared a ghoul completely different from the others; its eyes were bright white, unlike the red-eyed ones they had seen before. It began to make strange movements, emitting sounds like a human laugh, then raised its hands toward the sky and let out a loud cackle, drawing the attention of other ghouls rapidly approaching. Drool streamed from its mouth as it stared at them with a hellish gaze.
Jude shouted as he grabbed Linda's hand: "Run!"
They sprinted together to the right, while Elias did the same with Camelia. Their eyes met for a brief moment — a look that said: "Please… protect her."
The ghoul charged with terrifying speed, the ground shaking under its steps. Elias and Camelia felt death chasing them from behind. Camelia almost fell to the ground, but Elias caught her hand tightly, running frantically and pulling her along.
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In the mansion, Jason and Ray sat on the couch talking.
Ray said, resting his hand behind his head: "I'm not worried about Linda or Camelia… I know they're smart and strong. They won't slow down Jude or Elias. But I'm worried about the other team… Black Wyth seems like she's not good at anything."
Jason gave a half-smile and said: "Yeah, I agree. She had an argument with Dante a while ago… I'm afraid that might affect their performance. I just hope they're alright."
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In the village, the trio had arrived. They entered one of the abandoned houses. The door was smashed, as if hit by a powerful force.
Harmen examined it and said: "Maybe one of our teammates broke it while trying to get in."
Black Wyth gave a simple nod of agreement, while Dante studied the shattered wood seriously: "No… maybe a ghoul broke it. I have a strange feeling about this house."
Black With laughed lightly and raised her hand mockingly: "Ridiculous! Why make things dramatic? There are no ghoul traces in this house."
She stepped confidently down the hallway, her breaths echoing in the silence, then turned to them with a mocking smile and raised her hand: "See, cowardly Dante! Told you it's safe."
But Dante's and Harmen's expressions turned to shock. Dante screamed desperately: "Run! Behind you!"
There was no time. A massive ghoul lunged from the shadows, grabbing one of Black With's braids and yanking her violently toward it. Her scream filled the air as Dante and Harmen's eyes widened in horror, watching her about to die right before them.
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Elsewhere, Jude and Linda were running nonstop. Their breaths came in short gasps, sweat dripping down their faces. Finally, Jude stopped to catch his breath and said in a trembling voice: "We're safe…"
Linda turned to check on him, but his expression froze suddenly. His eyes widened as he pointed forward: "Liiinda… look! Is that… a girl unconscious on the ground?"
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