Sushila was filled with rage upon seeing him. "YOU! HOW DARE YOU?" she shouted as she dashed towards the man, her fists clenched and ready to unleash her wrath. However, just as she was about to reach him, a gentle yet firm hand touched her left cheek, halting her in her tracks.

"I thought you said you wanted to kill me? Ha ha ha ha ha!" The king cackled, his voice echoing. His laughter was unsettling, and Sushila felt a chill run down her spine. The king's skin, once smooth and pale, began to peel away like bits of paper, revealing a raw, crimson surface beneath.

Sushila felt as if every single muscle in her body was on fire. "What have you done to yourself?!" she exploded, her voice cracking.

With each laugh, the transformation intensified. Suddenly, five razor-sharp tentacles erupted from his back, writhing and thrashing as if they had a mind of their own. They glistened ominously, reflecting the madness that had taken hold of him.

The king was no longer the person that everyone had once known; he had transformed into something otherworldly, a Ghoul.

"So, you are a demon. Where Is the real king?" Sushila yelled, directing her blade at the ghoul.

"I devoured him. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" the ghoul laughed uncontrollably. "Now, it's your turn to be my meal. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Panic surged through the man in blue as he turned to flee, his instincts urging him to survive. In a swift motion, one of the creature's tentacles shot out, piercing his clothing and plunging deep into his abdomen. The man gasped, his eyes widening in shock as his surroundings began to fade away.

The ghoul's voice dripped with malice. "I can't wait to taste you, savior," it hissed at Sushila, its tentacles lunging forward toward her with lethal intent.

She jumped high into the air, moving quickly to avoid the ghoul's attack. When she landed, her grip on her sword tightened, but she remained unfazed. She activated her command, "System Titan: Augmented Legs," which resulted in Sushila's legs becoming significantly more muscular.

She sprinted toward the ghoul, her speed surpassing the sound of her footsteps. The air boomed as she lunged forward, her sword gleaming in the daylight. However, the ghoul was remarkably quick; it easily dodged Sushila's attack with a slight movement to the side. For a moment, Sushila was so surprised that she didn't know how to respond.

She halted, her fingers tightening around the sword, and immediately readjusted her strategy. Standing codly before the ghoul, she unleashed a flurry of slashes, her sword slicing through the air with precision. Downward strikes met horizontal sweeps, each movement fueled by her unwavering soothed to protect her home.

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Yet, the ghoul skillfully evaded her strikes, dancing away from her attacks and creating distance with each calculated sidestep.

The ghoul laughed loudly, and then its long, tentacles shot up from the ground, moving so fast that they could scare even the bravest souls. Each appendage sought to pierce her,

But she was ready. With a hasty movement, she drew her blade, its edge shimmering menacingly in the fading light.

As the tentacles lunged at her, she waltzed around them, her movements smooth and accurate. With each swipe of her sword, she severed the ghoul's attacks, the air filled with the sound of slicing flesh and the creature's barbaric howls. The ghoul, paralyzed by her speed, lashed out in desperation, but she was always one step ahead.

With a precise strike, she aimed for the creature's arm. She swung her sword again, and to her surprise, the blade sliced cleanly through the ghoul's arm, severing it from its body.

AHHHHHHHHH!

The ghoul screamed in pain but suddenly stopped and smirked its arm grew back instantly.

"You truly are the most annoying creatures—creatures that gain power by consuming people." Sushila barked.

The ghoul let out a brief, mocking giggle before charging at Sushila, but she was prepared. With all her strength, she hurled her sword like a spear, swiftly taking out the ghoul's head. Its lifeless body collapsed to the ground.

"It's over; finally, goodbye, king," Sushila said, offering a prayer over the ghoul's body before turning to retrieve her sword, which was lodged in the wall.

WHO SAID YOU WERE DONE?

WHO SAD THE BATLLE WAS OVER?

WHO SAID THAT YOU KILLED ME?

AS LONG YOU ARE IN THIS CASTLE, I CAN NEVER DIE.

The ghoul's voice reverberated through the room, creating a haunting echo that stirred an unsettling feeling in the listeners' stomachs.

As the ghoul's body rose, panic surged through her veins as she pulled. The blade was stuck firmly, as if the very essence of the castle had conspired against her.

"Alright, I'm sick of this. Let me finish this chapter. Target ghoul computer," Ris said agitatedly as he held a giant cannon-shaped machine gun.

"Target locked."

Taking a deep breath, he pulled the trigger. A brilliant beam of light erupted from the cannon, merging the colors into a dazzling display that illuminated the chamber.

The combined force of purple, orange, green, and blue light surged forward, striking the ghoul with a power that shook the very foundations of the castle.

In an instant, the ghoul's body was engulfed in flames, a purifying fire that incinerated not only his physical form but also the remnants of his spirit that had taken refuge within the walls. The giant cannon gun, now spent, transformed back into a revolver.

Sushila and Ris exited the castle, finding the area deserted of soldiers as they made their way toward Sushila's blue dragon.

"So, who is going to be in charge of the castle now, since the king is gone?" asked Ris quizzically.

"No one. He never had a wife or kids, so the castle is up for grabs."

"Really? ..." Ris did not climb onto Sushila's dragon. "I think I might stay; it's a free castle after all." a slow grin quirked his mouth.

Sushila smacked his head. "The castle is going towards my village and people. You have no right to even consider yourself worthy of sitting on the throne. Let's go, Demon; I have my people to see."

"Alright, alright," Ris said as he hopped on Sushila's dragon as it flew away.

==THE END==