Ghost immediately entered the heart of the forest.
Some of the trees were split in half.
The blood on the ground had already darkened, but it still carried that ominous redness…
He was nearby…
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves…
Was that an owl?…
And the moon… still beautiful…
"Come out!! I'll strangle you with my own hands…"
A sudden Kaishi attack—
Ghost grabs the Kaishi and swiftly pulls it toward himself…
Zack was expecting this…
He drops down from above and lands a strike.
Ghost catches his head mid-air and grins:
"Now… I'll show you!!!"
He slams Zack into the ground!
Punches rain down, one after another.
He lifts his foot and slams it into Zack's face…
His face — already covered in blood, as is his entire body…
But Zack still doesn't react…
"Scream!! Shout!!! Say something!!! Use your damn voice box!!!"
Suddenly, another Kaishi bursts from Zack's body to attack—
Ghost grabs that one too…
He firmly plants his foot on Zack's chest…
Grabs Zack's head with both hands and screams:
"Hhhhhaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!"
And rips his head off. Yes…
With his bare hands…
Immediately, a Kaishi bursts from the neck of Zack's remaining body, but Ghost crushes it with his other foot…
He grips the head in his left hand and starts pounding it with his right…
Another Kaishi emerges from under the head — Ghost catches that one with his right hand as well:
"Hhaaa!!! I won't let you!!!
Trying to act like you're not feeling pain, you little shit?!?
Who do you think you are?!? Haaa?!?? I'll show you!!!"
At that moment, Zack opens his mouth and mutters with a faint voice:
"S-s-s-shut… the hell up…"
His mouth still open, a Kaishi bursts out — striking Ghost right in the center of his face…
His mask cracks — and splits in half.
"Huh?!"
Using the Kaishi that came out of his mouth,
Zack throws himself forward and bites Ghost — right in the face he hasn't even seen yet…
Ghost is stunned and drops his guard…
His right hand releases the head…
The Kaishi from under the head and the one from Zack's body latch onto each other — and reconnect.
Ghost starts screaming:
"Hhhaaaarrrrggghhh!! You piece of shit!!!"
Zack reattaches his head to his body… quickly places both feet against Ghost…
He grabs his shoulder — fingers sinking into the skin — bones cracking as he pulls…
HE RIPS HIS FACE OFF!!
Ghost's scream echoes through the forest…
Zack recovers instantly and wraps his legs around Ghost's neck…
With Ghost's mouth wide open — Zack thrusts his hand into it!!
"What?!"
And pulls hard!!!
He grabs something — and throws himself backward—
Countless Kaishi erupt from his body, impaling Ghost's torso — they rip and tear him apart…
Zack lunges and bites into Ghost's left arm at the elbow—
Shattering every bone, he tears the arm off…
He stomps on Ghost's right kneecap, breaking it…
He plunges his hand beneath Ghost's left shoulder and pierces through—
Ghost feels it — something is being grabbed—
Zack pulls back and shows his palm…
IT'S EMPTY.
Where his heart should be… it's completely empty…
"L-l-let go of what you're holding…"
Ghost collapses to the ground…
His face… body… everything is shattered…
He falls to his knees…
Zack kicks him in the face and knocks him down…
He scans the surroundings…
Then looks at what's in his hand…
A fragment… but no, not OTTO…
It's pure white… small… and has "347" engraved on it…
Zack looks at it carefully… clenches his fist…
And walks away…
Disappearing into the darkness…
Ghost senses something… someone's still here…
He looks right… no one…
Left… no one…
He can't stand up…
"So, he took the Core Fragment, huh? I told you… the moment he got the chance, he'd screw you over…"
He recognizes the voice… yes, it's him…
"How did you survive?.."
"Just reflexes…"
"Ahhh…"
"But time's short… so I'll be quick, Ghost… hope you don't take it personally…"
At that moment, Ghost looks to the side — and sees Brody, holding a gun to his head…
Brody is covered in blood…
"…Enjoy yourself… since he took the Core, I'll die anyway…"
"Hm…"
"And… I'm honestly curious to see what you'll do with OTTO…"
"Nice…"
Just as he's about to pull the trigger:
"But… Brody… tell me something… since when…?"
"From the very beginning… Ghost…"
"What about that moment… if he had killed you…?"
"But he didn't…"
"You're right…"
—
The dark forest under the full moon — isn't it beautiful?
Under the moonlight, the lush green leaves shine like a sea…
And in that sea of green…
Suddenly, 17 gunshots echo out…
—
File #027
Excerpt from "Earth History"
The Xirat region is not particularly powerful. It has a unique civilization that resembles the Chinese people and culture…
Although their relationship with Taka is strained, ironically, without him, they could face an economic collapse…