Chapter 35

Danny leaned against his window, his breath fogging the glass as he gazed into the cold, moonlit night. The yin energy in the air grew thicker, a silent, almost suffocating presence that pressed against him. Normally, this passive absorption of energy brought him strength and comfort, allowing his body to function without the need for physical sustenance. But tonight, the power felt hollow, a reminder of what he couldn't do—protect Star from her pain.

He clenched his fists, recalling the image of her tears, the sobs that had shaken her small frame as he tried to comfort her. It had been unbearable. In that moment, he realized just how deeply he cared for her—and for all the girls who had come into his life. He'd opened his heart to them, and they to him, creating bonds he didn't fully understand until now.

"I never thought it would hurt this much," Danny muttered, his voice barely audible over the hum of his ghostly aura. He'd heard songs, seen stories, and read comics about the pain of seeing someone you love suffer, but none of it compared to the real thing. The helplessness gnawed at him, anger simmering beneath his skin. He wanted to shield them from everything, to ensure their smiles never faltered, to banish every shadow of sorrow from their lives.

Unable to sit still, Danny took to the skies, patrolling the city in search of distraction. Flying always helped clear his mind. It gave him a sense of purpose, a reminder that he could protect others, even if he couldn't fix everything. He practiced his combat maneuvers, weaving through buildings and honing his skills. For a while, it worked. His mind was focused on movement, energy, and control.

Then he felt it.

A wave of oppressive energy rolled over him like a tidal wave, freezing him mid-air. Danny's breath hitched as his entire body seized up, trembling under the weight of the aura. It was pure evil, suffocating in its intensity, and it emanated from the direction of the hill on the outskirts of the city. His enhanced senses screamed at him to turn back, to flee, but his body refused to obey.

Fear gripped him like never before. It wasn't just fear for himself—it was fear for Star, Jazz, his parents, Sam, Paulina. His mind raced with thoughts of what they would do without him, how they would cope if he didn't return.

"I don't want to die," Danny whispered, his voice shaking. "What's happening to me?"

The response came from the calm, authoritative voice of his mentor, Naruto. 'It's my gift: aura reading. What you're experiencing is the result of your aura losing to your target's. This sensation tells you the truth—that your target could completely suppress you in battle.'

Danny swallowed hard. 'Are you telling me to give up on this enemy?'

'The deed is already done. Let the target leave.' Naruto's tone was steady, but his words carried a weight that Danny couldn't ignore. 'That enemy is one of the evils you'll face when you're at your strongest. Right now, he's far beyond you. He could kill you with a single breath.'

The words sent a chill down Danny's spine. He wanted to argue, to protest, but the truth was undeniable. The oppressive aura around him was unlike anything he'd ever faced. It made him feel small, insignificant, like a flickering candle in a hurricane.

'He's not supposed to be here,' Naruto continued. 'Someone summoned him, but the restrictions of this world keep him from acting freely. Unfortunately, you're in a unique position. You don't belong to this world anymore. You exist between worlds, which means he can harm you without consequence. You're vulnerable, Danny.'

The revelation was a bitter pill to swallow. He wasn't just outmatched—he was a target.

'What am I supposed to do? Just wait for him to leave? Hope he doesn't notice me?'

'Yes. Some battles aren't meant to be fought now. Fear is a tool, Danny. It keeps you from making reckless decisions. Use it, but don't let it control you.'

Danny exhaled shakily, forcing himself to look in the direction of the hill without using his enhanced gaze. He didn't dare draw attention to himself. Even from this distance, he could feel the sheer magnitude of the being's power. It was a monster—one of his final enemies, according to Naruto—and it was terrifyingly close.

'What stage of your power would I need to face him?' Danny asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

'If I were your age, I could beat him with Bijuu mode,' Naruto admitted.

Danny's stomach dropped. 'Are you serious?'

'Unfortunately, yes.'

Danny's heart sank further. He felt like a child staring up at an insurmountable mountain. 'Will he act before I'm ready? And… can I even get to that level?'

'Yes to the second. As for the first, it's always uncertain. That's why you need to work hard.'

Danny closed his eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. 'So, in other words, I should train like my life depends on it, because with my luck, it probably does.'

'Exactly,' Naruto replied, his voice tinged with approval.

Danny's resolve hardened. The fear was still there, but he wouldn't let it paralyze him. He couldn't. Without looking back, he launched himself in the direction of the hill, but as he neared the source of the aura, the monster vanished without a trace. It was gone, leaving only the lingering reminder of how far he had to go.

Danny hovered in the cold night air, his breath visible in the frigid atmosphere. He clenched his fists, his determination burning brighter than ever.

"I'll be ready," he whispered. "No matter how hard it gets, I'll be ready."

Danny floated above the canopy of trees, his ghostly aura keeping him aloft as he scanned the area. His eyes locked onto an ominous structure hidden among the dense foliage: a partially formed castle. Its walls, made of ancient bricks intertwined with thick, silken webs, barely rose a few feet from the ground. The webs shimmered in the faint moonlight, their intricate patterns suggesting a grotesque beauty that hinted at their creator's malicious intent. It was eerily similar to Lord Loss's domain, the twisted castle of webs and despair that Naruto had described to him.

The moat surrounding the structure was filled with a dark, viscous liquid, emitting a putrid stench that Danny could smell even from above. It bubbled ominously, and shadowy shapes moved beneath its surface—demon sharks, their sharp fins slicing through the muck like knives. The resemblance to Lord Loss's domain was uncanny, right down to the spider-like design of the structure. The webs stretched across the walls like veins, varying from thread-thin to thick, rope-like strands, their strength apparent in the mechanisms of the drawbridge and the way they seemed to anchor the entire structure to the ground.

Naruto's voice echoed in Danny's mind, calm but filled with purpose. "This is his influence. Even though he isn't physically present, his mere essence has altered this place, bending it to his will. His domain is one of despair, and he feeds on sadness and fear. If he were allowed to fully manifest here, the consequences would be devastating—especially for you. He's far too powerful right now."

Danny clenched his fists. "Why is this happening now? How does he even have a foothold in this world?"

"Worshippers," Naruto replied. "There must be people in this world feeding him with their despair, giving him the strength to project his presence here. Without them, this wouldn't have been possible. He thrives on their misery, using it as fuel for his power. But his powers are still restricted—this is not his world. If he were fully present, you'd be in grave danger."

Danny nodded silently, his gaze shifting to the ground below as he spotted a familiar figure. Dash Baxter, his former bully and now someone caught in an unimaginable nightmare, stood in the shadow of the castle-like structure. His appearance was grotesque—thick, matted hair covered his arms and legs, his nails had sharpened into claws, and his eyes glowed an unnatural yellow. He looked more beast than human, his body trembling with an unnatural energy.

Naruto's voice broke into Danny's thoughts again. "I've been collecting the energy leaking from this domain and redirecting it to you. It's not much, but it'll give you a slight edge. I've also adjusted your absorption. You'll start drawing in negative emotions from others to power yourself. Their despair will no longer just harm them—it'll fuel your growth. Let's see if I can refine this further, make it so you completely consume those emotions without triggering their bodies to create more. For now, focus on what's in front of you."

Danny landed silently a few feet from Dash, his gaze steady but wary. The transformation Dash had undergone was disturbing, and the aura of violence surrounding him was palpable. His former bully was trembling, his breaths shallow and ragged, as though barely holding himself together.

"Dash, is that you?" Danny called out, his voice calm but firm.

Dash's head snapped up at the sound of Danny's voice, his glowing yellow eyes locking onto him. His face twisted into a snarl, and with a guttural roar, he launched himself at Danny. His claws raked through the air with feral precision, his movements fueled by rage and despair. The ground beneath his feet cracked and shattered with the force of his leap, but his attacks passed harmlessly through Danny's intangible form.

Dash didn't stop. He attacked relentlessly, his claws swiping and his roars echoing through the forest. For two full minutes, he gave it everything he had, his body a blur of motion. Each strike grew weaker, more desperate, as exhaustion began to take hold. Finally, Dash collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His hands trembled, claws digging into the dirt as he hung his head, defeated.

Danny stepped closer, his expression softening as he knelt down to Dash's level. "Dash, I'm not here to hurt you," he said quietly. "I just want to help."

Dash's head snapped up, his eyes still blazing with fury. "Help?" he spat, his voice hoarse. "You've already ruined my life! You and your stupid powers—this is all your fault!"

Danny smirked at Dash's struggle, his grip on the transformed bully firm as he slammed him to the ground effortlessly. "Really, Dash? Even when someone else screws you over, you're looking for a way to blame me? Welcome to my world, buddy," Danny said with a sardonic grin. "Here, I'm your senior."

Dash growled, thrashing beneath Danny's grip, but he couldn't break free. Danny leaned closer, his tone dropping to a cold, dangerous level. "See the difference between us? I could snap your neck like it's nothing." His eyes glowed faintly as he let go and floated back, leaving Dash pinned by glowing, ethereal chains that wrapped tightly around his limbs and suspended him mid-air.

"You're powerless against me, Dash," Danny continued, crossing his arms as he hovered above him. "So forget trying to fight me. Instead, focus on the real enemy—the one who made you like this. Who was the demon? How did he get here?"

Dash hung in the chains, his anger momentarily eclipsed by a deep sense of despair. He couldn't deny the overwhelming gap between him and Danny. Looking at the half-ghost floating effortlessly before him, Dash felt the fight drain out of him, replaced by a flicker of clarity.

Danny's words began to sink in, reigniting a spark of determination. "You're right," Dash muttered, his voice trembling at first but growing steadier. "It's that bastard's fault."

Danny arched a brow. "Go on."

Dash took a deep breath and began to explain, his yellow eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and anger. "Four days ago, I was bitten by a werewolf during a hunting trip. I thought I was doomed, but my dad swore he could fix it. He arranged some kind of ritual—said it was to cure me. But I didn't know it was a demon summoning ceremony."

Danny's eyes narrowed, his expression serious. "A demon summoning? That's how Lord Loss got here?"

Dash nodded, his claws twitching as he spoke. "Yeah. My dad… he sacrificed one of his own guards to summon him. The demon challenged him to a chess game—he said the winner would have their wish granted. My dad lost. That thing killed him right in front of me." Dash's voice cracked, his fury barely masking the pain. "And then it 'partially cured' me—left me like this."

Danny hovered closer, his voice low but piercing. "Dash, how do you feel about your father being part of a demonic cult? This wasn't the first time he dealt with something shady. If he was summoning demons, I'm guessing he's been into some pretty dark stuff."

Dash's jaw clenched, his eyes blazing with denial. "No way. My father wasn't part of any cult! He was a good man. He raided unsavory groups all the time. This… this was just something he picked up out of desperation."

Danny shrugged, backing off slightly. "Fine. Let's go with that for now. But I'll need information on any cults or shady groups your dad might've dealt with. In return, I'll help you hunt down the werewolf that started all of this."

"I don't need your help," Dash spat, his claws flexing as his anger flared again. "Let me go, and I'll kill that mutt myself. And when I'm done, I'll tear through those cultists and that demon."

Danny chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "Highly doubt it. You've got potential, but you're nowhere near that level. You'd just get yourself killed. And if you make a mess, I'll be the one cleaning it up—and by that, I mean I'll take you out if you lose control."

Dash's eyes widened at the threat, but Danny wasn't done. "Or… you can join me. Help me battle these monsters. Be something more than the angry kid out for revenge. You can be a hero."

Danny let his transformation fully take over, his glowing white hair and bright green eyes casting an otherworldly glow in the dark forest. His black and white Phantom suit shimmered as his aura radiated power. Dash's mouth dropped open slightly as realization dawned on him.

"You're… you're Phantom," Dash whispered, disbelief coloring his tone. "I can't believe I actually thought you were so cool."

Danny smirked. "And yet here we are."

Dash hesitated, his confidence in shambles. Every defeat he'd suffered—the transformation, his father's death, the overwhelming power of Lord Loss—had chipped away at the cocky, confident bully he once was. Now, faced with Danny's undeniable power and offer, he swallowed his pride.

"Fine," Dash said after a long pause. "I'll… I'll go with you to hunt the werewolf. But after that, I'll decide."

"Good," Danny said with a nod. "Let's move. I don't want that mutt causing any more chaos."

As Danny released the chains and floated toward the forest, Dash followed, his claws digging into the ground with each step. For the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of hope—and the faintest possibility of redemption.