I took a step forward, raising my hand. "Imagine... a blinding flash of holy light!"
The air crackled with energy, and a brilliant beam of light erupted from my hand, striking the final tiger ghost with a blinding intensity. The creature let out a deafening screech as its form disintegrated, leaving behind only a wisp of smoke that quickly dissipated into the night air.
Silence descended upon the clearing, broken only by the crackling of the fire and our ragged breathing. IM and I stood side by side, surveying the scene of our victory. The air felt lighter, the oppressive energy lifted.
"Well," IM said, wiping sweat from his brow, "that was... exhilarating."
I nodded in agreement, a grin spreading across my face. "Definitely a challenge."
We had faced our fears, embraced our powers, and emerged victorious. The mountain, once a place of dread, now felt like a testament to our strength and resilience.
As we made our way back down the mountain path, the first rays of dawn began to peek over the horizon. The world seemed brighter, the air fresher.
"Okay, Xian, now imagine we're back home," IM nudged me with his elbow.
"Right, right..." I said, closing my eyes and picturing the familiar layout of my bedroom.
Inside my house... I imagined.
A moment later, we materialized back in my room, the comforting scent of home washing over us.
"Finally... now we can get some sleep and be ready for school tomorrow... I mean today, since it's already... what time is it?" IM asked.
I opened my phone and saw that it was 3 a.m. "3 a.m."
"Shit... let's sleep before we don't have any time left."
At school, both of us were sleeping during free class. Thankfully, IM and I were sitting at the back of the classroom, on the carpet, head to head, catching up on some much-needed rest.
"Hmmm... those two seem peaceful," Marcel observed, staring at Xian and IM sleeping soundly.
"Let them sleep, Marcel," Dinda told him.
"Hmm, are they even this close? I mean... it looks like they're close to each other, just..."
"Probably..." Dinda answered him, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
Dinda shrugged, "Well, they did go through a lot together. Maybe they've just become closer because of it."
Marcel nodded slowly, still eyeing the sleeping duo. "Yeah, I guess so. It's just weird, you know? Xian's always been kind of a loner."
Just then, the bell signaling the end of the free period rang out, jolting IM and me awake. We blinked sleepily, rubbing our eyes and yawning.
"Ugh, what time is it?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.
"Lunchtime," Dinda replied with a gentle smile. "You two looked like you needed that nap."
"Yeah, we stayed up late last night..." I said, stretching.
"Oh, what were you doing?" Marcel asked, his curiosity piqued.
I looked at IM, and we both knew we had to come up with a plausible lie.
"Playing games," I said, trying to sound convincing.
IM suddenly sat up, stretching. "I'm hungry, wanna eat something, Xian?"
"Yeah, sure..." I got up, still a bit groggy.
"Let's go to the rooftop for some fresh air."
I nodded in agreement.
As we climbed the stairs to the rooftop, the school's familiar hum faded away, replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirp of birds. The rooftop was deserted, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding city. A light breeze tousled our hair as we settled down on a bench, our lunchboxes in hand.
IM popped open his lunch box, revealing a colorful assortment of rice, vegetables, and grilled meat. "Your mom still makes the best lunches," he remarked, taking a hearty bite.
I chuckled, opening my own lunch box. "Yeah, she insists on making sure we're well-fed, even with all our... extracurricular activities."
We ate in companionable silence for a while, the only sound the clinking of chopsticks and the occasional hum of satisfaction. As I savored the flavors, my mind drifted back to the events of the previous night. The thrill of the battle, the rush of adrenaline, the satisfaction of overcoming a formidable challenge. It was an experience I wouldn't soon forget.
"That's two ghosts I've killed... one the big whale and second the tiger ghosts..." I replied between bites.
"Do you feel any upgrade in your Blue Blood yet?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I shook my head, "I don't know, I can't feel anything..."
IM hummed thoughtfully, "It might take some time for the effects to manifest. Or maybe you need to face even greater challenges to trigger the next stage of your awakening."
"Greater challenges, huh? Well, I'm not one to back down from a fight," I declared, a determined glint in my eyes.
"Haha, you aren't," IM agreed, a hint of amusement in his voice.
A peaceful silence fell over us once more, broken only by the gentle rustling of the wind.
"Why don't people use this rooftop?" IM asked, gazing out at the cityscape.
"There's nothing to do here. The school was trying to build another floor, but it never started," I explained.
"Hmm... a corruption?" IM speculated, his brow furrowing.
"Not sure," I replied, shrugging. "But it's been like this for as long as I can remember."
A comfortable silence settled between us once more, broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. We finished our lunches, enjoying the quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of school life.
Yawn...
I yawned, feeling still tired after that night. "I think I'll go back to class and sleep."
"Same," IM agreed, stifling a yawn of his own.
Both of us got up and walked downstairs to the classroom.
In the hallway, we found ourselves stopped in front of the senior—yes, that senior.
< Chapter 106 > Fin.