The Dark Server slowly breathed again. Neon billboards flickered back to life, the black market buzzing once more with whispers.
The name Circuit Ghost lingered on every tongue.
In the ruined tower that served as their temporary base, Yuto'o sat slumped against the wall, his glitching body riddled with fractures. Orbis worked desperately with violet code patches, but the damage ran deep.
Yuuki stood on the holographic balcony, gazing out over the city. The scene seemed calm, but her crimson eyes glowed, sharp and wary.
"Grim won't let this go," she said quietly. "Tonight he pulled back, but next time… he'll come with an army."
Yuto'o clenched his sword. "Then I'll kill him."
Yuuki turned, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
"You? In your state, Grim would chew you alive."
Suddenly, a red hologram flickered into the room.
Grim's image appeared, skull helm gleaming, voice rumbling like static thunder.
"Yuuki. Circuit Ghost. We can keep fighting… or we can strike a deal."
Orbis snarled. "Nothing good ever comes from your mouth."
Grim chuckled low. "Relax, NPC. I'm not here to sell your little Ghost. I'm here to offer one thing: Dark Tooth will protect the Circuit Ghost… under one condition."
His burning eyes locked on Yuto'o.
"He proves himself in the coming gang war. One-on-one. Open arena. If he wins, he's recognized as a true Ghost of the underworld. If he loses… he belongs to us."
Yuto'o forced himself to stand, cracks glowing across his frame. "I accept."
"YUJI!" Orbis shouted. "You're insane! It's a trap!"
Grim's laugh rolled deep with satisfaction. "Bold. I like it."
The hologram cut out.
Yuuki turned, her gaze cutting into Yuto'o like a blade.
"Foolish boy. You just threw yourself into a wolf's jaws."
"I don't have a choice," Yuto'o shot back, eyes burning. "If I run, I'll always be a burden. I need to prove… I'm not just another Ghost waiting to be erased."
Yuuki was silent for a long time. Finally, her smirk returned—sharp, but with the faintest glint of respect.
"Then I'll train you. But remember this, Circuit Ghost—my training won't be like Orbis's gentle advice."
She stepped toward him, her prosthetics glowing violet-pink.
"My training will break you. If you survive, maybe you'll deserve the name Ghost. If not… I'll erase you myself."
Yuto'o swallowed hard, but his resolve didn't waver.
"Do whatever you want, Yuuki. I won't fade."
Orbis could only watch, troubled.
And outside, Dark Tooth was already preparing the gang war arena—
an arena that would decide whether the Circuit Ghost rose as a legend… or became just another erased name in the graveyard of ghosts.
Yuuki stepped closer, her prosthetics glowing violet-pink.
"My training will break you. If you survive, maybe you'll earn the name Ghost. If not… you'll be erased by my hand."
She turned, striding out of the chamber into a ruined corridor bathed in glitch light.
"Get up, Circuit Ghost. We start now."
The Phantom Nest – Training Arena
Yuto'o stood at the center of a holographic platform. His glitch body was still fractured, but his red-blue eyes burned with resolve.
Yuuki raised her hand. The floor trembled, and hundreds of holographic Guardians materialized, surrounding him.
"Fight them."
Yuto'o's eyes widened. "All of them?!"
Yuuki's smirk was razor-thin.
"You think Grim will give you a fair fight?"
The Guardians attacked as one.
Yuto'o roared, leaping forward. His glitch blade whirled, cutting down five in a single swing.
But ten more lunged from behind. His warp came too late—neon spears pierced his shoulder.
"Aghhh!" Cracks spread wider across his body.
Yuuki only stood, watching coldly.
"If all you know is running, you'll die."
Yuto'o gritted his teeth, gripping his blade. Glitch flared violently.
[OVERCLOCK BURST]
He slashed, unleashing a glitch shockwave that obliterated twenty Guardians at once. The platform quaked, shards of data scattering.
He collapsed to his knees, data-blood pouring from his wounds.
"I… I can't…"
Yuuki strode toward him, her neon whip unfurling at her side.
"If you stop here, I'll erase you myself. At least then you'll die by a legend's hand."
Yuto'o lifted his head, eyes blazing.
"I… WILL NOT FADE!"
He staggered upright, his body on the brink of collapse. Drawing in fragments from fallen Guardians, his frame shook with unstable power.
[DATA LEECH – OVERLOAD]
His glitch blade grew larger, glowing red-blue like a dying star.
With a final roar, he hurled himself into the enemy ranks.
BOOOMM!
A massive glitch wave ripped through the last Guardians, shattering the entire formation.
Yuto'o crashed down, his body nearly broken—but still breathing.
Yuuki stopped before him, crimson eyes cold.
"…You're alive. That's one step."
She extended her hand, pulling him to his feet.
"But remember this, Circuit Ghost—this was only training. In the real arena, Grim won't stop even when you're on the edge of erasure."
Yuto'o swayed unsteadily, but his grip on the glitch blade tightened.
"I don't care. I'll prove I'm not just a ghost waiting to die."
Yuuki turned away, smirking faintly.
"Good. Let's see if you can prove it in the real gang war."
Outside the Phantom Nest, the Dark Server erupted with whispers:
The Dark Tooth arena was opening.
The Circuit Ghost would be tested.
Training is over—the battlefield awaits.