Chapter 19: “Wraith Protocols”**
> **"Monsters are predictable. But ghosts? They haunt you where you least expect it."**
> — WhisperNet file leak, Code Tag: *#WRAITH1*
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### **\[1] — Silent Arrival**
A white truck rolled up at nightfall.
No engine sounds. No headlights. No drivers.
Just one sealed container.
Inside: a humanoid shape submerged in gel. No facial features. No identity.
Just a label: **PROJECT WRAITH.**
And a mission.
> *"Do not kill Jungho. Break him. Make him doubt. Make him fear."*
The containment seal *hissed* open.
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### **\[2] — Baekho's Desperation**
"This isn't another brute," Baekho explained to his inner circle. "Wraith is psychological warfare incarnate. It mimics voices. Copies movements. Plants hallucinations. It's the embodiment of paranoia."
A shaky hand raised. "And if it fails?"
Baekho's smile was thin.
"Then I pray he's merciful when he comes for us."
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### **\[3] — Ghost in the Hallways**
Jungho first noticed it when someone called his name—but no one was around.
Then he passed himself in the hallway.
Not a reflection. Not a mirror.
Another *him.* Smiling.
That night, he punched his own shadow—and it bled.
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### **\[4] — Friends Begin to Fear**
Daniel and Suhyeon started noticing the difference.
Jungho's responses were delayed. His gaze lingered too long on empty space.
"Are you okay?" Suhyeon asked one day.
Jungho didn't answer. Instead, he stared at Suhyeon's reflection.
It *blinked* before Suhyeon did.
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### **\[5] — Wraith Unleashed**
It attacked in silence.
Jungho was walking alone when *everything* turned white.
Snow in summer. His house burned. His mother screaming.
He was back on Earth. In front of the truck.
*BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.*
He didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Just said, "Nice illusion."
Then the world shattered like glass.
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### **\[6] — Battle of Minds**
The real world came rushing back.
Wraith stood across from him—his exact twin, down to the smallest twitch.
Jungho smirked. "So this is your final card. Me."
Wraith lunged.
It was faster than Chimera. Smarter. Every move mirrored Jungho's perfectly.
But that was its weakness.
Jungho *changed.* Mid-fight. Improvised.
Laughed.
Bit his own lip to throw off rhythm.
Headbutted himself.
Snapped his own finger to break the pattern.
And when Wraith hesitated—Jungho tore it apart.
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### **\[7] — Aftermath**
Baekho watched the footage. Again. And again.
"Why didn't Wraith win?"
One analyst replied shakily, "Because Jungho is unpredictable even to *himself.*"
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### **\[8] — Daniel's Question**
That night, Daniel sat next to Jungho on the rooftop again.
"You okay?"
Jungho nodded. "They sent a ghost. I answered with chaos."
Daniel stayed silent a long while.
"You ever scared of yourself?"
Jungho finished his drink.
"Every day."
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