[The Black Ghost's Chamber – Where Ken and Ann Are]
The battle was raging. Ken was drenched in sweat, his breathing heavy, and his eyes scanning the scene with sharp focus. The Black Ghost attacked with a deceptive, shifting style—vanishing, then reappearing from an unexpected angle to deliver a surprise blow, then disappearing again. Ken fell more than once, but he never gave in.
Ken (speaking to himself as he struggles to stand):
"There's no use trying to track him with just my eyes… I need to use my other senses."
He closed his eyes and focused on his hearing and smell… picking up on the shifting air, the sound of movement, the faint scent of the ghost. As he felt the presence drawing near, he lunged with his sword—
but disappointment hit him as the blade passed straight through the ghost's transparent body without effect.
Ken (angrily, exhausted):
"What is this thing? He doesn't get hurt… Normal fighting won't work!"
He kept striking with no success, fire passing through the ghost as if it were smoke. His body trembled with exhaustion, his breath erratic, nerves tightening. Then suddenly… Ken smirked calmly, with quiet resolve.
Ken (thinking):
"If he's completely intangible, then how is he landing solid hits? There has to be a weak point… Maybe his hands?"
Ken focused all his attention on the ghost's hands, noticing that they briefly materialized during attacks. He dodged lightly, then delivered a swift strike to the ghost's palm… and hit. Small scratches appeared.
Black Ghost (surprised):
"Hmmm… Not bad, Yukaji Ken."
The ghost resumed attacking, but Ken now had a target. He started firing concentrated fireballs at the hands when they formed. After several tries, the ghost's right hand burst into flames, and he shrieked—then fled the room, groaning… and did not return.
Ken (grinning in victory):
"That's it? You ran because I found your weakness? Pathetic."
He walked over to the chained girl—Ann. He broke her restraints and removed the cloth from her mouth. She looked at him with glowing admiration, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes sparkling.
Ann (shy and flustered):
"T-Thank you… Ken-san, you saved me."
Ken grabbed her hand and was about to run.
Ken (serious):
"No time for thanks. We need to find the others—now."
But the moment he touched her hand… Ann's face transformed into a comical expression, her eyes filling with pink hearts.
Ann (excited):
"Please marry me!!!"
Ken stopped abruptly and stared at her, stunned, then let go of her hand.
Ken (dryly):
"…What?"
Realizing what she just said, Ann's face turned bright red like an apple. She started hitting her head in embarrassment.
Ann:
"What did I do?! Why did I say that out loud?! I'm such an idiot!!"
Ken (calmly, lighting a cigarette):
"I heard you."
Ann couldn't take the embarrassment and fainted while mumbling unintelligibly. Ken looked at her with confusion and raised an eyebrow.
Ken:
"Girls… really are strange creatures."
He took one final puff of his cigarette, tossed it to the ground, crushed it underfoot, then hoisted the unconscious Ann over his shoulder and walked out of the room steadily.
After several minutes of silence, Akio appeared from one of the corridors, slightly staggering. He was holding his shoulder where a small wound bled, but his eyes scanned the area intently.
Akio (worried):
"Anyone here? Vico? Ken?!"
From the opposite side, Vico emerged from a narrow gap between rocks, covered in dust, his clothes torn slightly. When he spotted Akio, his eyes widened, and he ran over.
Vico (joyful):
"Akio-senpai!! You're okay!!"
Akio (smiling, patting his shoulder):
"And you too, Vico… I didn't think we'd meet again."
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from a third corridor… and Ken appeared, walking slowly with Ann unconscious on his shoulder.
Vico (shouting in shock and joy):
"AAANN!! My sister!!"
He ran toward Ken at lightning speed, his face lit up with joy, tears welling in his eyes.
Vico:
"Is she okay?! Did you save her?!"
Ken (calmly):
"She's alive, but fainted from extreme embarrassment."
Akio (raising a brow at Ken):
"What exactly did you do to her?"
Ken (flatly):
"I held her hand. That's all."
Suddenly, Ann stirred on Ken's shoulder, groaning softly, then slowly opened her eyes. When she realized where she was—and who was carrying her—
Ann (screaming wildly, face boiling red):
"AAAAAH! Ken-san!! Put me down right now!!! This is too much!!!"
She leapt off his shoulder dramatically, turned away, and began smacking her head with her palms in pure humiliation.
Ann (shouting):
"I'm so stupid! How could I faint in front of him?! And he carried me the whole time!!"
Ken (smirking):
"If I'd known it'd bother you, I would've left you in chains."
Vico (laughing, trying to calm her):
"Ann, don't embarrass yourself further. We're just glad you're okay."
Akio (smiling at everyone):
"We're finally together again… after everything we've been through."
They exchanged glances… and for a brief moment, they felt stronger—more united. For a heartbeat, it felt like everything was normal again.
But… Ken, leaning against the wall, began to sway. His face had turned pale, and cold sweat was dripping down his brow.
Vico (alerted):
"Ken? What's wrong?"
Ken (faintly, lifting a hand):
"It's… nothing…"
But his voice was too weak to be reassuring. Just seconds later, he staggered forward—and collapsed.
Ann (screaming):
"Ken-san!!"
Akio (rushing to his side):
"He's unconscious! His fever's through the roof… He lost too much blood!"
Vico (looking at Ken's wound, partially covered):
"He kept pushing himself the whole time!"
Akio (gritting his teeth):
"That idiot… He was fighting while bleeding, and he didn't say a word!"
While the two tried to think of a solution, Ann nervously approached Ken, knelt beside him, and gently placed her trembling hand on his blazing forehead.
Ann (whispering):
"His temperature is really high… If we don't act fast…"
She quickly opened her jacket pocket, pulled out a folded cloth, soaked it with water from a small flask, wrung it out gently, and laid it carefully on Ken's forehead.
Ann (softly):
"Please… stay with us a little longer, Ken-san…"
She rested her other palm on his chest, checking for a steady breath. Her expression was filled with quiet dread.
Akio (watching her silently):
"You don't look like the same girl who was screaming a minute ago."
Ann (without turning, softly):
"Shut up… I just don't want my future husband to die."
Akio and Vico exchanged glances. Akio raised his brows in surprise. Vico's mouth dropped open as his brain tried to process what he'd just heard.
Vico (stunned):
"Future husband?!"
Akio (bursting out laughing):
"Hahaha! I can't believe it! That's what you were thinking this whole time?!"
Vico (gasping through laughter):
"Oh my god, Ann! You just met him today!"
Ann (face crimson, eyes blazing):
"Shut up!! You guys don't understand anything! He… he saved me! And he was sooo handsome while fighting! When he carried me in his arms… I felt like… a princess!!"
Akio (chuckling):
"Ah, I see… fell in love mid-battle. That's romantic."
Vico (laughing):
"Did you faint from embarrassment or from love?"
Ann (screaming, slapping the floor):
"Stoooop!!! You're both worse than the Black Ghost himself!!!"
As the two kept laughing, Ken remained unconscious, his fever still rising…
But the atmosphere around him had softened. The warmth the group shared seemed to cast a bit of light on their darkest moments.
To be continued…