Chapter 4 – “Blood Castles and Ghost Knights”

  

  Piper’s thoughts: Sometimes powers awaken when you’re ready. Sometimes… they awaken when you have no other choice.

  Scene 1 – [AFTER THE HUNTER – OUTER SHIMMER PATH]

  The path ahead shimmered like oil on water.

  Piper walked carefully, kicking at a floating stone.

  Thirteen, recovering from their last battle, leaned on his scarf like a crutch.

  Piper: “Hey… what exactly is PSI?”

  Thirteen gave a lopsided grin.

  Thirteen: “Short answer? PSI is thought—weaponized.”

  Piper: “…That’s terrifying.”

  Thirteen (smirking): “Good. You’ll live longer thinking that.”

  He tossed a small pebble into the air. It froze, glowed, then exploded harmlessly into glittering mist.

  Thirteen: “Your mind shapes it. Your heart directs it. Fear, anger, hope—fuel it. Every blast you throw isn’t just fire. It’s you, condensed into energy.”

  Piper (softly): “So… it’s like fighting with your soul?”

  Thirteen: “Exactly. And the stronger your soul, the crazier your PSI becomes.”

  Piper looked at her hands, feeling a small pulse of starfire at her fingertips.

  She didn’t have long to wonder about it.

  A cry broke the air.

  Scene 2 – [THE CAPTURE]

  Down the road, they spotted him.

  A young demon boy—maybe 9 years old—wearing cargo shorts, a long dark blue scarf trailing behind him like a cape, and a horned cap shaped like a grinning owl.

  He was running—panicked—being chased by Robotic Ghosts, their armor translucent, their forms buzzing between mechanical whirs and static shrieks.

  Thirteen and Piper (shouting): “HEY! Leave him alone!”

  She and Thirteen rushed forward—but too late.

  A beam of black light engulfed the boy, trapping him in a crystal prison.

  The Ghosts floated upward, dragging him toward a distant, crumbling castle on the horizon.

  Piper (growling): “We’re not letting them get away.”

  Scene 3 – [THE BLOOD CASTLE]

  The castle loomed like a forgotten thought—its towers cracked, its windows bleeding mist.

  Inside, the halls were guarded by more Robotic Ghosts, armed with rusted spears and ancient plasma.

  Thirteen and Piper fought their way through, dodging spectral blades and electric traps. Piper’s PSI flared wildly, but she realized she needed something more.

  In the heat of battle—

  Piper: “PK Shield!”

  A shimmering barrier deflected a ghostly blade.

  Thirteen uses Telekinesis to throw off the Guards, then he creates ropes and captures them.

  Piper used Paralysis!

  A spark of PSI locked a ghost in place, its form frozen in static.

  Piper: “PK Flash!”

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  A brilliant flash of green light blinded a squad of Ghosts, making them shriek and scatter.

  Piper gasped.

  Her powers were evolving each fight. Much like a past Chosen One

  Scene 4 – [THRONE ROOM – CONFRONTATION]

  At the top of the castle, seated on a throne made of blood-crystallized bones, was Donmii Seraphaire.

  She was… wrong.

  Curvy, elegant, dressed in crimson lace, with silver hair floating like water.

  Her fingertips constantly leaked tiny red streams that twirled and disappeared into the air. She sported fangs—like she was a vampire, and a floating halo.

  Donmii (smiling with poison): “You shouldn’t have come here, little lights.”

  She stood, and the Robotic Ghosts closed in.

  Piper and Thirteen fought, but there were too many.

  Donmii (amused): “Enough.”

  She waved her hand, and an aura of blood yanked them both to their knees.

  Donmii: “If you insist on playing hero, face my best first.”

  She snapped her fingers, summoning something.

  Nigel Baker emerged.

  A short figure in a knight-general’s robotic armor, cosmic-gloved right arm crackling, an arm cannon humming with suppressed power. His helmet reflected back Piper’s terrified expression.

  Nigel Baker (gruff): “Under Protocol 5: Retrieval and Elimination.”

  Scene 5 – [BATTLE – PIPER & THIRTEEN VS NIGEL BAKER]

  The clash was brutal.

  Nigel’s cannon fired concussive shockwaves and laser beams, tearing the floor apart. His cosmic-gloved hand warped space, making every punch bend the ground.

  Thirteen unleashed spectral scarves and time-anchored kicks.

  Piper dodged, countered—PK Shield absorbing blast after blast.

  But Thirteen took a direct hit to the ribs.

  Thirteen (weakly): “P-Piper…”

  He collapsed, unconscious.

  Piper (furious): “NO!”

  She unleashed everything—

  [PK Starflare!]

  Suns rained down.

  [Paralysis!]

  Locked Nigel’s cannon mid-charge.

  [PK Flash!]

  Blinded him long enough for Piper to rush forward.

  In a dazzling, reckless move, she vaulted over Nigel’s spinning cannon arm, planted her foot against his chestplate—and with one final PK Starflare, blasted him back into the blood-throne wall.

  Nigel fell.

  Defeated.

  Nigel: “I’m sorry, my queen. I have failed you.. and all of my sisters..”

  Scene 6 – [FINAL DUEL – PIPER VS DONMII SERAPHAIRE]

  Donmii clapped mockingly.

  She snapped her fingers, opening a portal to send Nigel away.

  Donmii: “Very well. Let’s raise the stakes, shall we?”

  She descended her throne like a falling star, blood and mist trailing behind her.

  Donmii: “A duel. Win—and I free the boy. Lose—and you leave here forever. Return again, and you’ll be executed. Do you accept?”

  Piper didn’t even hesitate.

  Piper: “I accept.”

  Thirteen (Weakened): “P-Pip..”

  The duel was terrifying.

  Donmii teleported in bursts of crimson fog, her blood manipulation forming jagged whips and spears. Dark beams sliced across the throne room, warping everything they touched.

  Piper was overwhelmed—blood whips cracked at her shield, dark beams forced her to keep dodging.

  Domnii Seraphaire created a bunch of clones of herself to distract Piper. Piper then destroyed them all with a single wave.

  She had to think differently.

  Use speed.

  Use cunning.

  She baited Donmii into an attack—then rolled under a blood spear and used the environment, kicking off large pillars and broken statues.

  When Donmii prepared a finishing blow—

  Piper: PK Flash!!!

  A brilliant explosion of light burst forth.

  Donmii screamed, crying uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the emotional shockwave.

  Piper seized the moment, pinning her with a final bolt of starfire.

  Scene 7 – [VICTORY AND AFTERMATH]

  Donmii wiped her eyes, laughing softly through the tears.

  Donmii (grinning): “Well done, little star.”

  She released the boy, dissolving the crystal prison.

  Donmii: “A deal’s a deal.”

  Before Piper could leave, Donmii tossed something.

  A blade—black, orange-edged, and dripping faint red mist.

  Donmii: “Take it. A gift. You’ll need it where you’re going.”

  [Obtained Item: BLOOD KNIFE]

  Scene 8 – [EXIT]

  Outside the castle, the boy bounced around them like a hyper rubber ball.

  Boy (beaming): “You guys are awesome!”

  Piper knelt down.

  Piper (smiling): “I’m Piper.”

  Blinks (grinning): “I’m Blinks! I’m joining your team!”

  Piper and Thirteen (simultaneously): “No.”

  Blinks pouted.

  And yet… he kept following them anyway.

  End of Chapter 4