CHAPTER 97: OCEAN OF RED AND BLACK

Sneaking out of the academy the first time had been tricky, especially with guards doing their nightly inspections. Mikel was almost caught—luckily, a few other students were nabbed instead.

The second time? Much easier.

Once he crawled out through the broken fence near the open court, Mikel casually strolled away from the academy grounds. As he walked, he glanced over his shoulder.

Still trailing behind him was the bite-sized Gallos.

Even though Gallos was plushie-sized—just a little over a palm in length—he maintained that same strict demeanor. Despite his broken helm, he kept his sharp gaze fixed on Mikel’s back. Not even attempting to hide it.

Well...

Mikel looked forward again and shrugged.

Doom, I didn’t know Phantoms could tag along with others. I just hope Haleth stays put in case I need him.

[Master, Phantoms do not usually leave their wielder’s side. However, this particular Phantom and his wielder have not finalized their contract.]

Ah... because Ran can’t merge with him?

[A Phantom Contract is a lifetime bond. However, it can be broken if the Phantom believes the wielder is incapable of fulfilling the terms, if their bond becomes strained... or upon death.]

So, it’s Ran’s fault?

[Yes. Phantoms, unlike other spirits and ghosts, contain a high concentration of will, not soul. That’s what binds them to this plane. In other words, a Phantom’s wishes rarely change.]

[However, human hearts—even shamanic ones—are capable of change.]

Mikel stared blankly at the floating text.

Yeah, that’s what you said when I got that Main Objective about a pure soul...

He sighed, lifting his gaze. He still didn’t know how to complete that objective. Souls were rare. Not like ghosts, spirits, or phantoms. They all belong to the same realm, technically, but they weren’t the same thing.

There was a good chance he’d never meet one.

That’s why he came to this academy in the first place. It increased his odds. But with all these simulation missions? At this rate, it might take a while.

"We’ve walked pretty far," he muttered, gazing down the empty road. "Is this enough?"

[Scanning...]

[You’re still too close, Master. Shamans are highly sensitive to spiritual or cursed energy. They’d pick it up even from this distance.]

Mikel grimaced. "Damn it—"

He turned back, but paused mid-step to glance at the mini Gallos still pacing behind him.

The little Phantom stared up at him, offering no response. Just that eternal knightly judgment.

Mikel smirked.

[System Detected: Intrusive Thoughts.]

[System Suggestion: Yes, you can kick him. He will fly away without putting up a fight.]

Stop sounding like you’re on autopilot, Doom. And I’m not doing that even though I thought of it.

Mikel turned and continued walking.

"If I bring you inside Anima, will you fight me?"

Gallos halted.

His tiny frame stood stiff, visor locked on Mikel’s back. His eyes slowly dilated.

"Hm?" Mikel glanced back. "You don’t want to fight?"

Gallos remained silent.

[Master, I believe that is now called a Spiritual Zone—or Zone.]

"Ahh..." Mikel nodded. "You mean the Zone—"

The rest of his words died in his throat because Gallos finally spoke. Not in Mikel’s head. But rather, out loud.

"How did you know Anima?"

Mikel’s brow lifted, his expression shifted from mild confusion to surprise.

"You..." He squinted. "Your voice shrinks too?"

He hadn’t expected Gallos to sound like that, more like a rainfrog squeak than a noble knight. Not quite the same flavor as the headmaster’s childlike voice, but somehow even more comical, pitchy even.

Gallos ignored the verbal jab, stepping forward until he stood directly before Mikel.

"How did you know Anima?"

Mikel blinked down at him, unimpressed.

"I heard it," he said. "I fought some Type X not long ago. They said it."

Gallos watched carefully, unsure if Mikel was lying. If he was, then this kid had an unsettling talent for deception.

"Why?" Mikel tilted his head. "Is it a taboo word or something?"

Gallos was slow to reply.

"Anima is an old term," he finally said. "But not one used by shamans."

Mikel frowned. "Isn’t it just another word for Spirit Zone?"

"In structure, yes," Gallos replied. "But Anima is slightly different. It opens doors to realms beyond the living. It’s used by Homunculi and demons—the ones you call Type X."

Mikel’s frown deepened. He peeked sideways at Doom’s screen.

You didn’t say that.

"And while a Spirit Zone can become Anima," Gallos added, "that comes with... consequences."

"Consequences like?"

"Like being lost in it. Forever."

Mikel’s lips drew a tight line, sending Doom another glare.

Again. Didn’t mention that.

[System Detection: Blood pressure rising.]

[System Suggestion: Calm down.]

Is that why you’ve been acting more robotic than usual since we left the dorm?

"So don’t confuse Zone with Anima," Gallos warned. "Anima is never your ally. Even if you master it, because it is never a place for you to walk in."

Mikel rolled his neck, cracking it from side to side. Then he scratched his head and shrugged.

"Well, I want to try a Spirit Zone," he said, waving a hand. "Anima, Spirit Zone—whatever."

Gallos didn’t argue. He’d learned by now that this kid never listened anyway. So, he started following him again.

Thirty minutes passed in complete silence.

Eventually, they reached an open park where the swings creaked faintly in the wind. Mikel stepped into the center, checking the area for signs of life. There were none.

Gallos stood beside him.

"I suggest you don’t attempt this with so little spiritual energy," Gallos said. "It’ll hurt you. Physically and spiritually."

Mikel nodded. "Someone called me a masochist once, but honestly... I’m just numb." He then opened his hand as he added, "Just stay close because I might need you to test out something."

The space above his open palm split like a curtain, and something dropped into his palm: the old book.

Gallos narrowed his eyes at what he had just seen. "How can you—" but before he could ask, Mikel sandwiched the book between his palms and took a breath.

Mikel’s eyes sharpened as his mouth parted, "Haleth."

The second those words rolled out of his tongue, the book snapped open. Its pages fluttered violently until it stopped on Haleth’s page.

As it stopped, the wind burst outward, sweeping across the park, and the lamplights flickered violently.

Gallos tensed at the growing wind. But then, a presence suddenly stood beside him—tall, robed, lantern in hand. Gallos couldn’t see the face, just the looming figure in an old seminarian robe, but the lantern remained dark.

Still, he recognized the being.

A Phantom.

He can hold Phantoms? Gallos thought. Even now, he doesn’t give off the energy of a Phantom User...

But Haleth didn’t feel like any Phantom Gallos knew. There was something... off.

Something wrong.

His instincts were screaming at him, telling him this boy shouldn’t be able to hold a Phantom. And yet, he could.

And he did.

Unaware of Gallos’ internal panic, Mikel gazed at the flickering lantern.

"You called. I answer," Haleth’s guttural voice echoed.

The lantern’s flame ignited.

And in the next instant, its flame finally stabilized, releasing a wave of spiritual fire that surged across a full mile.

Gallos’ body froze for a second as he felt Haleth’s energy, but that wasn’t what truly sent his body trembling. His eyes searched for the source of that suffocating energy until his gaze landed on Mikel.

Stunned, Gallos’ mouth dropped open as his eyes traced upward. He couldn’t find the peak of Mikel’s energy. It looked like Mikel’s energy was endless, flowing like an ocean that was striking the sky.

But worse than that...

The energy was two-toned.

Black and red.

Gallos whispered, stunned,

"That’s... not supposed to be possible," he gulped as his eyes landed on Mikel. "What... are you?"