UNTIL DEATH UNDOES US

Back in the shadowed outskirts of the Ghost Realm, Brianna and her mother, Lady Seraphyne, reappeared amidst a scene of monstrous feasting. A swarm of Wreithfeeders shrieked as massive goblin creatures devoured them whole—jaws gnashing, claws rending through corrupted ghostflesh.

As the two passed by, the goblins paused. Sniffing the thick air, their glowing eyes turned, locking onto the ghostly trail the two women left behind. Then, silently, they began to follow.

"We failed again, Mum," Brianna said, turning sharply. "We need to go back and get him."

Floating mid-air, her scythe glimmering with dark energy, Lady Seraphyne narrowed her eyes.

"No. We're not going back."

Brianna clenched her fists. "Why not?"

"You heard the nurse. She's planning to bring in a ghostbuster—and he might come with a team. Do you want to get captured? Imprisoned? Tortured in holy chains?"

"I can protect myself," Brianna snapped.

Her mother's tone shifted—sharp now, unforgiving.

"Are you powerful enough to survive, Anna?"

"YES!" Brianna shouted. "I'm old enough to look after myself!"

"Oh really?" Seraphyne's pale eyes began to glow an intimidating shade of violet. "Then prove it."

Brianna's fingers lengthened into sharp claws. Her blood-red dress whipped in the phantom wind. She let out a scream and launched herself at her mother—who only laughed midair.

With a flick of her wrist, Seraphyne deflected the attack easily, swatting Brianna aside like smoke.

"Is that all you've got? Come on! Show me your spirit of vengeance!"

Brianna growled. Her form shimmered—and suddenly, clones. Half a dozen copies of her surged forward, screeching through the mist.

Seraphyne twirled her scythe, slashing through the fakes, each vanishing in a puff of dark vapor. A few managed to scratch her exposed ghost-flesh, drawing ghostly wisps of smoke that evaporated into the air.

Brianna multiplied again. Dozens now. Surrounding her mother.

Seraphyne snarled. "ENOUGH."

She slammed the hilt of her scythe into the ground, unleashing a shockwave of violet energy that rippled through the terrain. The blast wiped out every clone—and sent Brianna flying backward, landing hard.

Seraphyne floated down slowly, hovering over her fallen daughter.

"I can't believe you're still this weak," she sneered.

But then—

Brianna's hands began to glow. Not with light… but with thick, roiling darkness. Smoky tendrils of shadow slithered up her arms like gaseous serpents.

Seraphyne's eyes widened. "Wait—what are you—"

Brianna moved like lightning. She shot up, releasing a concentrated dark energy ball straight at her mother's chest.

Seraphyne raised her weapon in a flash, absorbing most of the blast—but it was too strong. It knocked her backward into nothingness.

Gone.

Brianna floated higher, breathing heavily. She looked down at her own hands, now consumed by black energy. Then, slowly, her feet left the ground. She began to levitate, surrounded by a swirling aura of darkness.

"This… feels so good," she whispered.

"I feel… overpowered."

A voice echoed behind her.

"Overpowered? I don't think so."

Brianna turned sharply. Her mother was back—floating at eye level, scythe ready.

"Catch this."

Seraphyne hurled the scythe.

It spun through the air like a razor-sharp comet, its blade howling with dark energy.

Brianna caught it midair—barely. The force was too much. She strained to hold it, her arms shaking, her aura trembling.

Then—she blinked out of the way, teleporting to safety.

The scythe spun on—and was stopped, mid-flight, by a bluish ghostly figure.

Seraphyne's eyes widened.

Brianna reappeared beside her, staring as two more spectral figures shimmered into view. One was greenish, feminine. The other, yellowish, with a mischievous smile. All three bore golden crests on their foreheads.

The bluish one spoke first—his voice commanding:

"Lady Seraphyne. You came here to hide and play games?"

"Lord Rajin," Seraphyne replied coldly, recalling her weapon with a gesture. "Not hiding. Just enjoying what little freedom I still have—thanks to your council stripping my status."

"Still bitter? I think she still has a crush on you," Yoshi, the yellow one, chuckled. "Such a tearful reunion."

"Shut up, Yoshi!" Lady Georgia, the green one, snapped. "We're here on official business."

Seraphyne smirked. "Lady Georgia. How much did they pay you this time to come after me? You've always made a living from lies."

"A fortune," Georgia replied with a smirk. "And your absence earned me power. Thanks for disappearing."

"ENOUGH!" Lord Rajin's voice thundered like thunder itself.

He pointed at both Seraphyne and Brianna.

"You've been found guilty of violating the Law of Boundaries—crossing between the Living Realm and the Ghost Realm at will. You will return to Umraterra for judgment."

Brianna looked confused.

"Where's Umraterra? Who… are you people?"

Yoshi leaned forward, sniffing mockingly.

"You didn't even tell your little friend where she belongs?"

"She's not my friend," Seraphyne said flatly. "She's my daughter."

Silence.

"Daughter?"

"Then… she's connected to the royal bloodline?"

"She's an heir to the throne?"

"ENOUGH!" Lord Rajin bellowed again.

He snapped his fingers.

SNAP.

A swirling black portal tore open behind Brianna and her mother. It howled with ancient magic and pulled them in like a vacuum.

They vanished inside.

The three Elders drifted into it silently. The portal sealed with a boom—and silence returned.

The goblin giants who had watched from the shadows knelt in awe, stunned by the display.

Who were those three?

And where, deep within the Ghost Realm… was Umraterra?

To Be Continued....