"Disappointing... disappointing... disappointing...""Is this the best a Ghost Hunter can do?" sneered a tall, muscular man, his only clothing a pair of ragged pants. His pupils were white with a small black dot in the center, and tattoos ran beneath both of his eyes. Blood smeared his face and body, dripping down to where he stood, his feet planted on top of several lifeless Ghost Hunters.Behind a wall, a Ghost Hunter cowered in fear, drenched in sweat, his uniform stained with blood. His breath came in shallow gasps."What... what kind of ghost is that?" he whispered to himself."I know you're hiding..." the man's voice rumbled. "Tell your strongest Ghost Hunters... Dabbah wants a real challenge!" His glowing eyes turned toward the terrified Ghost Hunter, who collapsed to the ground in despair.Dabbah glanced up at the night sky, and from his back, two ragged eagle-like wings burst out. With a powerful flap, he soared into the air and disappeared into the darkness."Dabbah...the animal spirit." Mikael's voice was tense as he addressed his squad. "We learned the name and type of this ghost from the only survivor of last night's attack. Dabbah can eliminate Ghost Hunters of levels 3 and 2 in the blink of an eye. The victims were all from Squad 10."Amzar stood among the group, listening intently, but a knot of unease tightened in his stomach as Mikael continued."Hmm... if the captain's giving us a briefing like this, that means we're the ones tasked with taking him down, right?" remarked Zaki, a Ghost Hunter with messy, short black hair."Yes," Mikael confirmed. "After discussions with other captains, it's been decided that we're the ones to track and eliminate Dabbah. Only Level 1 Ghost Hunters will join me in the hunt. We need to find and destroy this spirit immediately."He cast a glance at Zaki, then at Amzar, whose hesitation was evident."That doesn't mean the rest of you are off the hook," Mikael continued. "For those below Level 2, I need you to investigate and pinpoint Dabbah's exact location. He's likely hiding in Klang, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, or the surrounding areas. Whatever you do, don't engage him... you'll just end up dead for nothing."The squad members stood tall and responded in unison, "Yes, sir!""You don't seem too thrilled about this mission, Amzar," Zaki said, watching as Amzar picked up his jacket from the table."I've got a family, Zaki. Taking on high-risk missions doesn't excite me like it does you," Amzar replied calmly.Zaki smirked. "Then why even be a Ghost Hunter if you're afraid of dying? Guys like you have so many options. Not everyone here has the kind of education you do."Amzar let out a small sigh. "I don't need you to understand, Zaki. Just do your job... and don't get yourself killed."With that, Amzar turned and walked away. Zaki watched him go, shaking his head in disbelief."Can't you two just get along? Every time you see each other, you're at each other's throats," Mikael muttered, observing them from afar."Captain, it's not that. Amzar's got powerful techniques, but he only takes on low-risk missions and acts like he's saving the world. I don't care about his family excuses. We all have families, but we're risking way more than he is," Zaki grumbled.Mikael scratched his head in frustration, annoyed by the ongoing tension between his men."Zaki, there's nothing wrong with Amzar taking on low-risk missions. I won't force anyone to tackle the high-risk ones," Mikael said with a sigh. Zaki stood with a disappointed expression before walking out of the squad office."Man... what am I going to do with these two?" Mikael muttered, slapping his own face in exasperation."Brother!" Emilia's excited voice called out as she ran toward him. Amzar adjusted his hat and smiled as he saw her. It was the end of the school day, and the area bustled with children heading home."Come on, Emi. Time to go home," Amzar said, offering his hand. Emilia, now eleven, clutched his hand tightly, wearing her favorite purple gloves."It's so hot today," she complained, wiping sweat from her forehead."Really? Poor thing... here, wear this." Amzar placed his hat on her head, making her giggle. They walked together to his grey car."How was school today?" Amzar asked as they drove."Same as always... but what about you, brother? Did you meet any new ghosts?" Emilia asked curiously."Uhm... not right now," Amzar replied, forcing a smile."My friends don't believe that you're a Ghost Hunter... it's so annoying! What if we brought a Pocong or a Toyol to school? Then I could show them proof!" Emilia suggested with a grin."Emi... my job is a secret. You can't just tell everyone about it," Amzar said, worried, as Emilia pouted and kicked her legs in frustration."Aww... fine."Four years had passed since Emilia became part of Amzar's life. Now, she was growing up, full of energy and sass. But Amzar was just happy to see her live a normal life, free from the horrors of her past.Yet, he knew deep down that no victim of ghosts ever fully escaped them. It was a curse that followed all who were touched by the world of spirits. Sooner or later, she would face them again.Emilia needed training in magic—he couldn't avoid that.Three years ago..."I'll only teach her magic for self-defense, nothing more," Amzar said quietly, his gaze fixed on the ground as he spoke to Mikael."Yeah, I get it. No one's going to force her to become a Ghost Hunter," Mikael replied, understanding. Amzar shoved his hands deep into his pockets, his mind heavy with worry."Captain Mikael... if anything ever happens to me, please look after Emi," Amzar requested softly. Mikael gave him a gentle punch on the shoulder, trying to lighten the mood."Hey, don't talk like that. I've been giving you low-risk missions, right? And if something does come up, I'll make sure I'm there for you. You'll be fine, Amzar. Emi needs you," Mikael reassured him with a confident grin, but Amzar let out a tired sigh."In this line of work... you never know what'll happen. Bad intel, unexpected enemies... and suddenly you're facing something way stronger than you're prepared for. I just want to make sure Emi's safe... even if I'm not around. She's already started seeing ghosts a few times..." Amzar's voice trailed off, his eyes downcast as he stared at the ground."Yeah, yeah... Emi will be fine. But don't dwell on thoughts of death, Amzar—it's not healthy," Mikael said, his tone softening. Amzar gave him a faint smile, though the worry still lingered in his eyes."Thanks, Captain Mikael."Every time I take on a high-risk mission, it brings me back to that conversation... the day Mikael and I went out together."Your spirit energy is too unstable, Emi. Calm down, don't rush it," Amzar said, guiding Emilia through her magic training. She was trying to control the flow of her spirit energy, but it moved too quickly, bouncing around and throwing her off balance."This is... so hard..." Emilia panted, her face glistening with sweat as she struggled to maintain control."Take a break, Emi. Stop for now," Amzar ordered gently. Emilia let out a sigh of relief and let her spirit energy return to its natural state, circling around her body.Her energy level was unusually high for a child... and it worried me. I didn't want to think about the reason why, but deep down, I feared it had something to do with her exposure to the Saka from that monster of a father..."That's enough for today. I'll cook dinner, so you go shower," Amzar said, opening the door to the training room."Okayyy..." Emilia flopped onto the floor, raising her thumb in the air as she lay there, exhausted. Amzar chuckled softly at her antics before walking away.I don't want Emilia to become a Ghost Hunter. No matter what happens, I won't let that fate befall her. I refuse to see her risk her life every day, fighting vicious spirits. I can't bear to see her heart broken again."It's so hot..." Emilia complained, sticking out her tongue dramatically after taking a bite of hot, steaming rice."Goodness, Emi, blow on your food before you eat it!" Amzar scolded gently. They sat together at the dinner table, enjoying a quiet meal.No matter what happens to me on tomorrow's mission..."Four... plus five... plus... uh, eight?" Emilia mumbled, counting on her fingers as she worked through her math homework. Amzar watched her from the sofa, amused by her concentration."Want some help?" Amzar asked."No, no, I have to figure it out on my own," Emilia replied, determined to do it herself.I'll try not to die... but if I do... please, Emi, be okay.Later that night, Emilia had fallen asleep at the table, her face resting on her math book, a small puddle of drool forming beneath her cheek. Amzar walked over, gently scooping her up into his arms.He carried her carefully to her room, laying her down on her bed and pulling the blanket over her small frame. As he smoothed back her hair, his eyes caught the scar on the side of her head. He sat down beside her, his heart heavy.Emi... please don't become a Ghost Hunter...I remembered one conversation from a few months ago."I want to become a Ghost Hunter!" Emilia had announced out of the blue after one of our training sessions. I had been putting the equipment away, but her words stopped me in my tracks."Why the sudden decision, Emi?" I asked, my voice cautious."You've always helped me, brother... but when I grow up, I want to become a Ghost Hunter too, so I can help you. I want to help lots of people... like you helped me," she said, her eyes shining with a sense of purpose, like tiny stars.But as I listened, my heart broke.She was still thinking about that time... the time she spent in that dark room. The pain... the hunger... the suffering.Yet here she was, smiling, talking about helping people like her. She had the strength to face her tragedy head-on—not as something to fear, but something to fight back against.Emi... you're strong. You're truly amazing..."I'll support you in whatever you choose to do," I said, pulling her into a tight hug. I couldn't let her see my face at that moment."Brother?" she whispered, confused by the sudden embrace.I'm a coward... I'm weak... I'm afraid of dying...Amzar's right hand trembled as he hovered over Emilia, who was peacefully asleep. He clenched it with his left hand, trying to steady himself, but his breath came out in ragged gasps. He bit down on his lip and pressed both hands against his chest."I'm scared... Emi," he whispered."Dabbah has been sighted! I repeat, Dabbah has been sighted. He's at Shah Alam Stadium, Section 13!" The urgent voice crackled through Mikael's car radio. He was speeding down the congested streets, gripping the steering wheel tightly."Damn it! Why is the traffic so bad tonight?" Mikael cursed, frustration evident in his voice."Sir... I'm already at Shah Alam," Amzar's voice came through the radio."I'm close too, Captain!" Zaki added, his voice brimming with confidence.Mikael tightened his grip on the wheel. "Listen up, both of you—fight carefully. If you think you can't win, retreat immediately! I'll be there as soon as I can!"Zaki grinned as he gripped his communication device. "Oh, don't worry, Captain... I'm going to take that beastly ghost down myself."Meanwhile, Amzar was racing toward the stadium, using his spirit-infused leaps to jump from building to building, streetlights flashing beneath him as if he were leaping across the sky itself. His body twisted and flipped gracefully, propelled by his magic, allowing him to cover ground quickly.In no time, he landed inside the empty, derelict stadium. His feet touched down with precision, his eyes scanning the surroundings. A moment later, he felt it—a powerful surge of spirit energy radiating nearby.Great... what kind of luck is this? I should've gone to Klang instead...Amzar stood face to face with Dabbah. The spirit gazed at him with keen interest, taking in Amzar's every detail from head to toe. Slowly, Dabbah raised a finger and pointed directly at him."You're different from those cowards outside, watching from a distance. High spirit energy... good control... I'm impressed, human," Dabbah complimented, his tone almost mocking.Amzar's hand moved instinctively to his pistol.I've never faced a ghost with this kind of spirit energy before... Just do what I can. Zaki is nearby, and Captain Mikael is on the way. I just need to keep him occupied until they get here."Don't disappoint me... human," Dabbah growled, his right arm transforming into the sharp limb of a praying mantis, while his left arm morphed into the muscular arm of a gorilla."What the—" Before Amzar could fully process the monstrous transformation, Dabbah's legs shifted into powerful frog-like limbs. In an instant, the ghost leaped high into the air and came crashing down toward Amzar, the gorilla arm slamming into the ground as Amzar narrowly dodged.Amzar fired several spirit-infused bullets, but in his haste, they didn't penetrate Dabbah's thick, armored body."Is that all you've got?" Dabbah sneered, swinging his mantis arm like a blade. The sharp limb slashed toward Amzar, but he was ready this time."Distortion Technique, Twist!" Amzar shouted, throwing his hand forward. A swirling, invisible force enveloped Dabbah's body, twisting him mid-attack and slamming him into the ground."Distortion Technique, Break!" Without hesitation, Amzar followed up with a powerful punch, spirit energy surging through his fist as he struck Dabbah's mantis arm directly. The energy traveled up Dabbah's arm, shattering the bone and fracturing it in several places.Dabbah stumbled back, retreating momentarily as he eyed his injured arm.I don't have enough time to use my Distortion Bullet against this thing... He's too fast. I'll have to fight him head-on...If I'm lucky, I might get a chance to hit him with Maximum Distort... but I can't rely on luck again like I did just now..."I haven't felt pain like this in a long time," Dabbah muttered, inspecting his shattered arm. But to Amzar's dismay, the arm began to heal almost instantly, bones resetting and muscle reforming within seconds.Just buy time... until they arrive!Amzar slammed his fist into the ground, unleashing Break, causing the earth around him to tremble and crack. Dabbah stumbled slightly but quickly spread his wings and took off into the air."Hurt me again, Ghost Hunter!" Dabbah taunted as he flew toward Amzar at full speed."Shut up, you masochistic ghost!" Amzar infused shards of the broken earth with his spirit energy and hurled them. Twist!The shards flew past Dabbah, but when Amzar's magic activated, Dabbah's body twisted in the air, spiraling out of control before crashing back to the ground.He's fast... but I can still keep him at a distance. I just need to buy more time."You're strong, but you fight like a coward... Put some heart into it!" Dabbah mocked as he snapped his dislocated neck back into place with his hands. Amzar gritted his teeth."A ghost like you will never understand... how precious life is," Amzar replied."Hmph. Maybe not. I wasn't born human... I just follow my desires. I want to fight... to keep fighting... and to devour the weak," Dabbah said, clenching his fists.This guy sure talks a lot."But even I get annoyed when someone strong fights with their hands tied... Maybe I need to give you some motivation. Humans... they love their lives, don't they?"Suddenly, Dabbah shot off, flying away from Amzar."Oi!" Amzar shouted, realizing too late what Dabbah was planning. The ghost was heading straight for the car where Squad 2 members had been observing from earlier.Amzar used his magic to leap high into the air, but he was still too far away to reach Dabbah."Telepathy Technique: Fangs!"Two short swords flew through the air, stabbing into Dabbah's wings and sending him crashing into a group of abandoned vehicles."Right on time..." Zaki smirked, spirit energy surging through his hands as Amzar landed beside him."Really? Did you have to throw him into someone's car?" Amzar asked, frustrated."What, you wanted me to throw him onto a cushion or something?" Zaki retorted."Ugh, idiot... The road is just as hard, you know!" Amzar shot back.Another Ghost Hunter with strong spirit energy... Looks like I'm lucky today," Dabbah said as he stood up, his body quickly regenerating from the damage. Zaki gestured, and the two short swords returned to him."That thing doesn't even look scratched, Amzar.""You saw that, right? He healed instantly after getting hurt... This isn't some Pocong hopping around bothering people on the roadside," Amzar muttered, drawing his pistol again.As much as Amzar was annoyed by Zaki's presence, he had to admit that Zaki could at least distract Dabbah, giving him the chance to fire a Distortion Bullet."Zaki, give me an opening! We have a shot if I can get a clean hit!" Amzar urged."Stop bossing me around! Just sit back and watch, coward!" Zaki retorted as he charged straight toward Dabbah."Idiot! Don't! He's too fast!" Amzar shouted, but Zaki ignored him completely.Zaki threw his twin blades, but Dabbah deflected them effortlessly with his mantis arm. His legs morphed into powerful horse legs, and in an instant, Dabbah sprinted toward Zaki.Zaki grinned confidently and slid beneath Dabbah's oncoming attack. "Now!"His twin swords flew upward, slicing through Dabbah's body, blood spraying everywhere. In one swift motion, Zaki followed up by cutting Dabbah in half, splitting him from head to waist.Amzar stood frozen, stunned by how quickly Zaki had seemingly killed Dabbah."No way...""Hahahaha! This is the ghost that gave you so much trouble? He was easy to kill! Hahaha!" Zaki laughed, standing with his back to Dabbah's lifeless body.But Amzar noticed it first—Dabbah's eyes were still moving. His body twitched, beginning to regenerate."Zaki, he's not dead yet!" Amzar yelled, but it was too late. Zaki turned around just as Dabbah's sharp horns pierced through his shoulder and stomach."I... don't die that easily... human," Dabbah growled, still alive despite being cut in two. His arms had stretched and morphed into long horns, impaling Zaki deep."Ugh... damn it..." Zaki coughed up blood before Dabbah tossed him aside. Zaki's body skidded across the asphalt, leaving him unconscious.Dabbah's body reformed, the two halves merging back together as he turned his attention to Amzar."He was disappointing... Now, you'll have to fight me for real. If not, you won't have time to save your friend," Dabbah taunted, his arms shifting again, this time into the powerful limbs of a tiger.