[Third Person POV]
Danny battled against three colossal ghosts—a monstrous squid with glowing green eyes and writhing tentacles, a towering wolf with fur like shadowy smoke, and a spectral anaconda with translucent scales. The trio circled him like predators playing with their prey.
His chest rose and fell heavily, each breath burning his lungs. He had been fighting ghosts the entire night, the exhaustion weighing on him. Still, he refused to falter. Summoning what strength he had left, Danny conjured an elaborate construct—an armored shield across his forearm, and in his other hand, a longsword.
The squid struck first. With a deafening screech, it whipped out a barrage of massive tentacles, their tips glowing faintly with ectoplasmic energy. Danny met them head-on, his sword flashing in wide arcs, slicing through the ghostly limbs. The severed pieces dissolved into vapor before they could hit the ground. The squid let out a pained shriek before rearing back and spewing a wave of ghostly ink that splattered through the air.
Danny didn't dare find out what the substance could do. He rolled to the side, springing to his feet just as the wolf lunged. Its glowing eyes locked on him, fangs dripping ectoplasmic saliva. Danny braced himself, ramming the shield forward with a grunt. The impact reverberated through his arm, but he shoved the beast back and countered with a vicious slash, carving across one of its eyes. The wolf howled in fury, its smoky form writhing with rage.
Before he could catch his breath, the anaconda's massive tail whipped around like a battering ram. The impact smashed into Danny's ribs and sent him hurtling across the asphalt. He tumbled, skidding painfully, but he jammed his sword into the ground to slow his momentum.
Teeth gritted, Danny yanked the sword free. The weapon's base pulsed with energy before suddenly igniting in a burst of ghostly flame, the blade glowing a fiery emerald. The anaconda hissed and lunged, fangs bared wide enough to swallow him whole. Danny swung his sword through the air, not at the snake itself but at the empty space before him. A blazing crescent of fire erupted from the blade, hurtling forward in a deadly arc. The strike slammed into the anaconda, exploding across its translucent scales. The serpent let out an unearthly wail as the ectoplasmic fire consumed it, hurling its massive form backward and leaving scorched patterns seared across its ghostly body.
The battle raged on across the city streets. Parked cars lay overturned, buildings rattled with each clash, and green flames lit the night sky. Danny pressed forward with grim determination. Grabbing hold of the anaconda's thrashing tail, he spun the serpent in a wide circle, his muscles screaming in protest. With a roar, he hurled it through the air. The ghost snake crashed violently into the squid, tangling them both, and together they slammed into the wolf. The three titans hit the ground in a heap, carving a crater into the curb of the road.
Danny wasted no time. He let his constructs dissolve, clasped his hands together, and gathered ectoplasmic energy between his palms. A searing glow built at the center, brighter and brighter, until he thrust his hands forward. A massive beam erupted outward, engulfing the trio of ghosts in its burning light. They shrieked in unison before collapsing, unconscious and defeated.
Panting, Danny pulled the Fenton Thermos from his belt, flicked it open, and absorbed the writhing ghosts inside one by one. The lid clicked shut with finality. He slumped slightly, brushing the sweat from his brow. "Those three make… 67, 68, 69… all captured," he muttered, his voice ragged with exhaustion.
"Did you guys locate the source of where all these ghosts are coming from?" Danny asked, still glaring at the Thermos like it was personally responsible for his misery.
Static crackled through his earpiece before Tucker's voice came in. "Uh, yeah… so, funny story." Tucker chuckled awkwardly, his tone immediately suspicious. "I hacked into your parents' security systems and checked the Ghost Portal. Turns out your dad was, um… messing around with it. Accidentally released a few ghosts in the process."
Danny froze, his face twisting into a snarl. "What?" His voice cut like ice. "Please tell me you're joking…"
"Look at the bright side," Tucker tried quickly, attempting to lighten the mood, "at least he's stopped now. That means you just caught your last batch of ghosts for the night!"
Danny let out a sarcastic laugh, shoulders slumping. "Whoopie… I'm so thrilled….I'm just glad it's all finally over—ahhh…"
His words trailed off as a wisp of frosty breath escaped his lips. The sudden chill sank into his bones, and Danny muttered bitterly, "Me and my big mouth."
The distant roar of an engine echoed through the night, growing louder by the second. Danny snapped his head up in time to see Johnny 13 tearing through the streets on his spectral motorcycle. The bike's tires left trails of dark smoke as it streaked past the ruined road.
Danny shot into the air, his spectral energy carrying him forward as he gave chase. His eyes narrowed as recognition tugged at his memory. 'He looks familiar… Is he one of known rogues? Man, it's been forever. How am I supposed to remember every rogue in a show I watched over 14+ years ago?'
He poured on the speed, but Johnny's motorcycle roared faster, weaving effortlessly through the city streets. Danny hurled glowing blasts of ectoplasm, each one exploding against the pavement in a shower of sparks, but Johnny leaned and swerved expertly, dodging every attack. He was looking at the side mirrors Danny close on his tail.
Johnny skidded his spectral motorcycle to a stop in front of a laundromat, its neon sign flickering weakly in the night. He raised a hand and barked, "Shadow!"
Before Danny could close the gap, Johnny's shadow peeled away from his body. The dark mass twisted into a humanoid form, its glowing eyes locking onto Danny with malicious intent. In an instant, it shot upward and intercepted him mid-flight.
Their hands slammed together, locking in a brutal struggle. The force brought Danny to a dead stop, the collision rattling his arms. He gritted his teeth, trying to push through, but the shadow's grip felt like tar and steel all at once.
Danny swung his leg out, aiming to kick it aside, but his foot sank into the shadow's sludge-like body instead. The substance wrapped around his leg like quicksand, holding him fast.
"What the—?!" Danny exclaimed, thrashing in mid-air, trying to wrench his limb free.
The shadow grinned with a wide, jagged smile, its expression mocking him. Danny's patience snapped.
"AHHHHH!!"
He unleashed a Ghostly Wail, though faint and ragged from his dwindling reserves. The sound wave rippled outward, blasting the shadow back. The sheer force shattered the laundromat's windows, glass raining onto the sidewalk. Danny panted, clutching his chest. He didn't have enough energy left to keep using that move without leaving himself wide open.
Still, he couldn't stop now. He shot forward to chase Johnny, only to be cut off again as the shadow reformed in front of him, screeching as it launched itself at him.
Danny and the shadow collided, grappling violently. Their limbs tangled as they crashed through the laundromat's broken windows. The interior erupted in chaos—rows of machines clattered and buckled under their weight as they smashed into them, sending soap powder and coins scattering across the floor.
Danny shoved the shadow back and fired a focused Ghost Ray, the green energy slamming into its smoky chest. For a moment, the shadow dispersed into tatters of black mist. But almost instantly, it reformed, circling him like a predator hunting prey.
"Persistent little freak…" Danny muttered under his breath, raising his hand.
He summoned a stream of ghostly fire, heat rolling off him in shimmering waves. With a snarl, he unleashed it in a roaring burst. The flame cut across the laundromat, but the shadow dived into one of the washing machines.
The metal drum groaned before erupting in a violent explosion, sending shrapnel and a jet blast of water spewing into the air. The torrent slammed into Danny, extinguishing his fire and while blocking Danny's line of sight.
The shadow shot out of the mist, moving faster than before. It slashed across his chest with clawed hands made of condensed darkness. Danny cried out as pain lanced through him, his body flung backward. He hit the ground hard outside, skidding across pavement, grimacing as he clutched the shallow but stinging wound across his torso.
Worse—he felt the strap of his Thermos snap from his side. His eyes widened in horror as the capsule rolled across the floor, clinking loudly.
"No—!"
The Thermos bounced out into the street just as a passing car barreled through. Tires screeched over it, and with a sickening CRUNCH, the device was flattened beneath the wheels.
Danny froze, his blood running cold.
A sharp hiss filled the air as the Thermos shattered, the glowing cracks splitting apart like a broken dam. One by one, the ghosts he had spent all night fighting and capturing burst free in a chaotic frenzy. They screeched and wailed as they streamed into the night sky, scattering in every direction. Hours of exhaustion and struggle, undone in seconds.
Danny could only lie there, chest heaving, watching his hard-earned victory evaporate before his eyes. His hands trembled in frustration.
Johnny's motorcycle roared past again, skidding just long enough for him to reclaim his shadow. The two merged seamlessly, and Johnny turned his head to cackle. "AHAHAHAHAHA!!" His mocking laugh echoed down the street as he stuck up his middle finger, the bike's glowing wheels leaving trails of smoke in his wake. Within seconds, he vanished into the distance, his laughter still ringing.
Danny sat up slowly, his cheeks flushed red—not from exertion, but from sheer humiliation. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. He glared at the retreating motorcycle, then at the city skyline now riddled with dozens of newly freed ghosts.
With a bitter sigh, he raised his hand and fired off one last Ghost Ray toward Johnny, but the green beam fizzled out harmlessly against the night air. Johnny was already too far gone.
Danny dropped his arm and let his head fall forward, groaning. His lips quivered before he forced out a pitiful, half-joking wail, "I'm not going to be able to get any rest tonight…"
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