Rangga froze on the spot, his chest tightening as he realized the gravity of the situation before him.
The threat that loomed over this night was far greater than anything he had expected. What stood in front of him was no ordinary specter, but a Kuntilanak that had reached the terrifying S-Tier rank.
According to ancient legends, this abominable spirit gained its power from consuming the essence of pure maidens and the breath of innocent infants.
It was not merely a phantom with a wailing voice—it was a predator among predators.
Its body was blessed with unnatural speed, its very existence allowed it to slip through short-range dimensional gaps like a shadow stepping through a crack in reality.
And its most frightening trait was its mastery over sound-based sorcery, the cursed art of enchanting, luring, and paralyzing prey through spectral voices.
A shiver ran down Rangga's spine, his teeth chattering against one another. Fear pressed down on him, but he clenched his fists tightly.
His resolve hardened like steel. No matter how dire the circumstances, this had to end here. He had no other choice.
The battle began.
Shaman Rangga drew out a wavy sacred blade called a 'Keris' and tried to push the kuntilanak back.
Magical energy clashed violently, shaking the air around them.
Blow after blow landed,
But it wasn't enough.
The kuntilanak was too strong.
The bodyguards attempted to assist, but their efforts were meaningless.
"This thing is spiritual! Physical strength alone won't work!" Rangga shouted.
"You need to use spiritual energy or internal energy! Only those can hurt it!" he added, referring to Entra (spiritual energy) and Vita (internal energy).
Unfortunately, most of the bodyguards were ordinary humans with no magical affinity.
David and Vianna both actually had magical energy—especially Vita (internal energy)—but neither stepped forward.
David stayed back, not wanting to reveal his power.
Meanwhile, Vianna was terrified — turns out, she was genuinely scared of ghosts.
Her face went pale, her body trembled, and she could only lower her head, covering it with both hands.
Fortunately, her physical endurance was strong enough to keep her from fainting. Though it was useless, because what's the point of staying conscious when she was so scared she couldn't even move.
Rangga's gaze drifted toward David, who had remained completely motionless throughout the chaos.
The boy's expression was strangely calm, almost unsettlingly so. A faint smile played on his lips, as though he was already aware that things were unfolding exactly as they should.
David simply gave a small nod, then his eyes shifting toward the main building.
On top of the roof, several shadowy figures stood silently in the darkness. Their presence was heavy, their outlines faint, yet their existence undeniable.
One of those figures radiated an aura of dark, violet energy—an oppressive miasma that carried with it the weight of death and despair.
And yet, despite their overwhelming presence, the figures did nothing. They stood still, gazes locked on David, as though they would not move unless the moment truly demanded it.
Al tilted his head upward.
His sharp senses caught the unusual flow of energy coming from above, pressing against his awareness like a whisper in the void.
But when his eyes searched the roof, the figures had already vanished without a trace.
Despite that, a knowing smile curved across Al's face. He understood perfectly well—those terrifying beings had not disappeared. They were still there, watching David from the shadows.
I forgot they were here too. Will they make a move? Or only when that liar is in danger? Al wondered silently, his curiosity tinged with anticipation.
The battle raged on below.
Dedy, a martial artist who had climbed all the way to the upper stage of the Practitioner Level Martial Artist Class, surged forward to aid Rangga.
With a deep breath, he infused his fists with surging Vita, the energy flaring around his knuckles like a faint burning glow.
His strikes connected, their force reverberating against the Kuntilanak's form. Each punch disrupted its rhythm, forcing the creature back slightly, its shrill screeches echoing through the night.
But as strong as Dedy's attacks were, they were not decisive. None of his blows could deliver fatal damage. The ghostly entity was simply too powerful.
The gap between them was like a gulf that no ordinary effort could bridge.
The Kuntilanak only laughed, toying with its enemies—
Its eyes locked on Nayala, the real target of the night.
Dedy glanced toward Al, hoping the young master would help.
But Al... just sat and watched.
In the end, when the shaman and Dedy were cornered, that Kuntilanak laughed eerily and slowly moved to attack—intent on killing both Dedy and Shaman Rangga.
Then, Al's voice suddenly echoed inside Dedy's mind.
"Dedy. Listen to me. Do you still have enough energy to escape?"
Dedy flinched for a moment but soon realized it was telepathy from Al.
"Escape? Why should I escape, Young Master?" he asked hastily.
"With your current strength, you can't face that thing head-on. Help me separate that creature from the shaman. I'll handle it myself—but not here, and definitely not in front of that shaman."
"How do I do that, Young Master?" Dedy replied.
"Look carefully at its neck. There's a red necklace there."
Focusing sharply, Dedy locked his gaze on the kuntilanak that was laughing louder as it drew closer. And then he saw it—slightly hidden under the white cloth.
"I see it, Young Master," he said enthusiastically.
"Good. I'll distract it, and you grab that thing. That necklace is the strongest anchor for a Kuntilanak—a symbolic chain of their vengeance, created from a drop of maiden's blood. Once you get it, run deep into the forest. It'll definitely chase you."
"Huh? So Kuntilanak really were once women who got assaulted and died?" Dedy asked.
"Ughh… of course not. You don't need to ask that now—the creature's already in front of you."
The Kuntilanak was now standing right before Rangga and Dedy, who were both barely holding their stance.
Rangga once again channeled energy into his dagger, ready to strike no matter the outcome.
Meanwhile, Dedy stood still, waiting for Al's signal.
The ghost lunged with its long, sharp black claws, aiming to rip them apart—
—but then it froze midair.
Its hollow eyes turned toward Al.
"I don't wish to interfere," Al's voice resonated coldly in its mind. "But this is not your dimension. Return to your dimension and stop meddling with human affairs—or you'll be destroyed tonight."
The Kuntilanak let out a screeching roar instead, even more furious.
Its wail was so loud that it shook the entire area, enough to rupture eardrums. Everyone instinctively covered their ears.
And then—
"Dedy, now!" Al commanded.
Dedy dashed forward toward the distracted creature.
GRAB!
He snatched the necklace from its neck and tore it away.
The Kuntilanak froze in shock, staring at Dedy's hand, then touching its own neck—realizing the necklace was gone.
Its eyes turned pitch black. Then it screamed hysterically, louder and louder, the very air trembling from her rage.
Rangga saw this and immediately understood what Dedy had just done—the worst possible thing anyone could ever do to a Kuntilanak.
"Dedy! What have you done?!" he shouted, struggling to withstand the kuntilanak's violent energy.
The Kuntilanak lunged furiously toward Dedy.
But Dedy was already sprinting with all his might, heading deep into the forest.
A deadly chase began.
Rangga wanted to follow.
"Is he… sacrificing himself? Fool!" he shouted.
He tried to move, but his leg was crippled from the ghost's previous strike.
"Ughhh…" he groaned in pain.
David, on the other hand, was in shock, not understanding what was happening.
But one thing was certain—the area was now free from any disturbances.
He then looked up toward the rooftop, gave a subtle nod, and his shadow troops moved—apparently to chase after Dedy as well.
Edward approached Rangga.
"What's going on, Mr. Rangga?" he asked.
"I'm not sure either… but I hope Dedy can handle it," Rangga replied, his tone grim. He clenched his teeth, unsure what else to do.
Edward seemed about to send more troops, but Rangga stopped him.
"Don't. If you send them, they'll just die in vain," Rangga said. "I'll trace this curse here and deal with it myself."
He sat down and began another ritual—this time to locate the source of the curse, assuming that if he could defeat the curser, the Kuntilanak would also be destroyed.
Maybe that's what Dedy intended—to buy me time to perform this ritual without interference, he thought.
But before the ritual could begin—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from the forest.
Even Edward and the others, who weren't magic users, could feel the shockwave and see the phenomenon.
"What was that?!" Edward shouted.
Rangga shook his head.
"I don't know, Master Edward… let's pray Dedy won that fight."
Edward could only watch anxiously until, moments later, Dedy stumbled out of the forest—breathing heavily.
Edward and the limping Rangga rushed over.
"Dedy, what happened?" they both asked simultaneously.
"Th-that creature… is gone," Dedy said weakly.
"Really?" Edward asked in disbelief.
Dedy nodded faintly.
Rangga was about to ask how Dedy managed it, but before he could, Dedy collapsed—completely drained of energy.
Strangely, there weren't many visible wounds on his body.
How did he do it? How could he? Rangga thought skeptically.
But after sensing the area, he confirmed that the creature's energy had indeed vanished from the entire Virellano residence.
Everyone began cheering, praising Dedy as the hero who destroyed the monster.
Soon, one of David's shadow soldiers emerged from the darkness.
"What happened?" David asked.
"We're not sure, Young Master," the shadow replied.
"When we got close, a massive barrier blocked us. By the time we broke through, Dedy had already come out. All we found was the aftermath of a huge explosion—the creature was destroyed down to its very essence."
David frowned, puzzled, but dismissed his troops.
Dedy could use such a massive barrier? Since when? He's not even a magic user… Or maybe he's been far stronger than I thought, David wondered with no conclusion.
The atmosphere soon returned to calm. The dreadful aura was gone, replaced by a refreshing breeze.
Electricity returned, and the lights flickered back on.
Edward observed everything—the unconscious people, David and Vianna, who were still awake but trembling in fear. As he checked everyone's condition, he realized someone was missing.
"Where's Al?" he asked, slightly confused.
"I'm here, Father," a calm voice replied.
Al emerged from behind a tree.
"Ah… I thought you'd gone missing," Edward sighed in relief, assuming Al had simply hidden somewhere.
Al only nodded and walked closer.
Edward exhaled deeply—everyone was safe. Time to check their conditions one by one.
Al's gaze shifted toward Nayala, lying in her mother's lap, surrounded by others.
His eyes glowed faint red as he analyzed her state.
He could see countless traces of magical interference inside her body—one strange thread of energy connecting her heart to her brain, already damaged.
Looks like mind-control magic. No wonder she did all those shameful things. But at least… there's no more danger, Al thought.
A brief flashback played—
When Nayala had tried to pluck a few strands of Al's hair.
At that time, Al had moved faster, casting an illusion on her.
He then cut a few strands of her hair instead, making her believe she had successfully taken his.
Back to the present—everyone was still cheering, praising Dedy and Shaman Rangga.
"Amazing!"
"They're our saviors!"
No one knew the truth.
Al just smiled faintly.
"Finally… I can sleep soundly tonight."
---
A few moments earlier—
Dedy had reached the farthest point he could go. His face was deathly pale, his body weak; he had burned too much energy just running away.
The creature moved swiftly and lunged at Dedy.
He panicked slightly—but before it could reach him, Al arrived, landing a powerful kick on the Kuntilanak.
The creature was sent flying, crashing into a tree and knocking it down.
"Ohooo… you're quite strong. Guess you've lived too long, huh? Your dimensional resonance is surprisingly solid," Al remarked at the spirit.
He then brought his palms together, and a vast surge of energy spread outward, forming a wide perimeter.
Al created a strong barrier—preparing the arena for their battle.
He reached out his hand and took the kuntilanak's red necklace from Dedy.
"You look exhausted already, just from this much. Seems you still need to build up more power," Al teased Dedy lightly.
Dedy only let out a weak laugh; his body was trembling.
"I'd heal you, but it seems that thing won't give me the chance," Al said, watching the Kuntilanak rise again.
"So for now, just stay back. The impact from this fight will be huge. Make sure you don't get caught up in it. I'll finish this quickly," Al warned him.
"U-Understood, Young Master," Dedy nodded.
Then, Al launched forward.
"This will be your first time seeing me fight, Dedy. So watch closely—how to defeat a powerful enemy without wasting too much energy."
As Al said that, Dedy couldn't help feeling curious about his Young Master's true strength.
And then—the battle began.
The Kuntilanak was now shrouded in swirling black and white energy, showing it was serious.
Al, on the other hand, gathered only a controlled amount of energy.
"First lesson," Al said calmly, "In battle, it's not just about knowing your own weaknesses—but also your opponent's."
As the Kuntilanak drew closer to him.
He tossed the necklace into the air.
The Kuntilanak's attention immediately shifted.
Al smiled.
"You mustn't take your eyes off even for a second while fighting, fool," he said.
With a precise movement, he delivered a sharp kick to its head—sending the creature flying sideways once more.
He then leapt, catching the necklace before it hit the ground, and threw it again—this time farther and faster.
Like a rabid dog chasing after a stick, the Kuntilanak darted up, trying to catch the necklace.
And this time, it succeeded.
But—
BANG!!
Al struck again—his heel slammed into the creature's back, smashing it hard into the ground, leaving a shallow crater beneath it.
"I actually wanted to play a bit longer, but I think those two moves should be enough for you to gain some insight, right, Dedy?" Al said with a faint smile.
Dedy's jaw dropped, eyes wide in disbelief.
"I… I didn't realize it could look that easy. Young Master, who exactly are you? And how do you know all those things?"
"Who am I? Aren't I your Young Master?" Al replied casually, before slamming his fist down again.
The Kuntilanak that had almost killed Dedy and Rangga earlier now looked like nothing more than a punching bag.
But since it had regained its necklace, the spirit could now focus properly.
With a short teleportation, it appeared atop a tree branch—its form distorted but its energy still stable.
"Young Master! It escaped!" Dedy shouted.
"Hehe… I let it. That's because it'll be part of your second lesson," Al said, as the Kuntilanak's wailing echoed.
"Second lesson?" Dedy asked.
Al nodded just as the Kuntilanak lunged again.
"Second. In battle, it's not just about knowing your enemy's strength—but also your own," he said flatly, raising his hand toward the charging spirit.
"And this… is how the difference in power works in the wild."
His eyes gleamed crimson; the air tightened, and dark magical energy gathered in his palm.
As the Kuntilanak entered his range, Al smirked.
Sacred Skill: Hell Fire.
BWOSHHHH!!
A massive black flame erupted, bursting forth from Al's palm. The fire held the Kuntilanak in place and devoured it as if it had weight and an intense burning desire.
The creature was trapped, screaming in agony. It tried to resist, still attempting to lunge forward. But it couldn't—the flames consumed it so quickly, so relentlessly, that almost its entire body turned into magical ash.
Dedy's eyes widened, cold sweat dripping down despite the searing heat he could feel even from a distance.
What kind of skill is that?! he thought, stunned.
The creature thrashed with the last remnants of its body, shrieking so loud it hurt the ears.
But there was no escape—the flames consumed everything, leaving behind only the necklace, its core.
Al stopped the flames and smiled faintly.
He reached for the necklace, tossed it into the air—then formed another black fireball in his hand.
He threw it—
BOOMMMM!!!
The core of the powerful spirit exploded into countless fragments of energy.
The blast was massive—enough to shatter even the barrier he had created.
Told you… going back was a better choice than playing too long in another dimension, Al thought to himself.
Farewell, pitiful creature.
Just then, he detected another dark energy presence entering through the cracks of his weakened barrier.
"So… they're moving too, huh," he muttered.
He then looked at Dedy.
"Dedy. I want to heal you, but it seems there's an obstacle," he said.
"I'm leaving the rest to you. Don't take too long and leave this place immediately. You need to rest. I'll go ahead," he instructed, then departed.
Dedy weakly nodded and started to move, while Al disappeared into the shadows.
---
Meanwhile...
At the exact same moment the creature was destroyed.
Daraka—the dark shaman hired by Rudi—was vomiting blood.
His spiritual energy had been shredded.
His furious voice hissed in disbelief.
"Failed again…? Impossible! How could it be destroyed so easily? That Kuntilanak—one I cultivated for years—was shattered just like that?"
The bitterness and rage behind the words carried the weight of obsession.
He glared at Rudi, who looked terrified.
"Get out of my sight! Who the hell did you make me curse?! I nearly died tonight because of that boy! I want nothing to do with you. Go!"
Rudi was terrified by the rampage, but all he could do was nod and back away.
But Daraka clawed at the earth and swore:
"Al… who was it that aided that child? No… it doesn't matter. Whoever it is, I will kill that child, and I will slaughter his protectors as well. No matter what it takes. No matter what price I must pay… I will make it happen."
Darkness crept across the forest... and one thing was clear: This was only the beginning.
---
Back to the present.
The once-grand party now lay in ruins.
Tables that had once held crystal glasses and gourmet dishes were overturned or abandoned.
Guests were being escorted out slowly.
Some servants sat trembling in the corners, still in shock.
The guards remained alert—but their eyes, once sharp, now carried fear.
In the middle of it all—
Al stood quietly, watching the chaos gradually settle. He looked up at the sky, now clear again.
The moon glowed bright, as if indifferent to everything below.
All is calm now.
From a distance, Al spotted three figures standing atop a tall tree branch.
Their silhouettes were clear under the moonlight:
Two women—one with shoulder-length hair, one with long flowing locks—and one tall man. All in black uniforms.
Their faces hidden in shadow. Their presence calm and powerful, as if gravity didn't apply to them.
They made no move. They just... watched.
One of them locked eyes with Al.
No hostility.
No pressure.
No threat.
Only a gaze full of meaning. Was it... allyship? or... observation?
Al nodded slightly, and smiled.
Then the three vanished—
No sound. No trace.
Like leaves caught in the cold night breeze... swept into the trees and gone.
Silence returned.
Al lowered his gaze.
Someone was approaching.
A middle-aged man in formal clothing—Rangga, the family shaman—stepped up beside him. His face calm, but his aura filled with confusion and awe.
Without saying much, Rangga passed by Al, gently patting him on the shoulder.
A simple gesture. But it felt heavy.
"You're Al... right?" he muttered, not even making eye contact.
"So you're still alive…"
Then he walked away.
Al froze.
Still alive? What was that supposed to mean?
But that wasn't the only strange thing.
When Rangga's hand touched his shoulder, Al felt something.
A wave of energy—dark and heavy. Not unfamiliar.
It felt... Like something that once brushed against his own power, long ago.
Somewhere. He couldn't recall.
But he didn't seek the answer. Not tonight. Tonight had been long enough.
He took a deep breath, looked up at the night sky once more,
Then turned and walked out of the ruined garden.
Behind him, the world of nobles was already beginning to piece together their illusions again.
And Al walked away.
With light steps—but a heart that had grown heavier with the weight of new questions just beginning to rise.
---
Elsewhere... far from the Virellano estate—
In a remote underground chamber, lit only by blue fire in a stone bowl, several hooded figures sat in a circle. None of their faces were visible.
In the center, a red-black magic circle pulsed with ominous light.
Revealing a silhouette—a horned creature with blood-red glowing eyes.
"They'll gather...?"
"Good. They're the perfect vessels."
"This ritual will be complete with them."
"Just a little longer... until the world weakens... and the gate opens."
One of them raised a black pendant—etched with ancient runes that spun on their own.
"Our king will rise. And when he does..."
"None of them will be able to stop him."
The blue fire flared higher.
And the long-sealed demonic shadow—
Began to stir.
---