Shadow Being System

Inside the dark tunnel, the buses sped forward, illuminated only by their headlights. "Glory Phonk" pulsed through the vehicles, setting an eerie but lively mood. In the back seat of one bus, William turned to Miss Mona, his voice tight with urgency. "Mr. Duke is going to blow now."

Up front, Mr. Duke placed his hand on his chest and whispered, "Death to the traitors." The elderly bus driver's eyes widened in terror as he slammed on the brakes. But Mr. Duke's smile remained fixed, cold and malicious. He thought it was too late.

Suddenly, the explosion happened.

The sound was deafening. A thunderous boom roared through the tunnel, shaking everything. William shut his eyes tightly, bracing for death. His ears rang violently, and soon, blood trickled from them. His head spun, and the world around him seemed to warp from the force of the blast. He blinked his eyes open.

Wait. I'm… alive? He quickly scanned the bus, confused. No one was dead. No shattered bodies, no destruction. The students were still in their seats, stunned but unharmed.

How could this be?

Then he noticed Miss Mona. Her arms were outstretched, trembling, and her face was pale. Blood dripped from her nose as she wobbled, barely holding on. Before she could collapse, William caught her. "What happened to her?" he asked, panicking.

"I think… she used up her soul essence," the system replied calmly.

William activated his Third Eye, peering into Miss Mona's soul. Her once-vibrant soul crystal was now dim and exhausted. He quickly pieced it together—Miss Mona must have used her telekinesis to contain the explosion and fling Mr. Duke out of the bus just in time. His suspicions were confirmed when he looked up and saw the bus roof had been torn open, light flooding into the dark tunnel.

Despite her best efforts, the explosion wasn't fully contained. The roof of the tunnel had collapsed, and debris rained down on the cars behind. The driver slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious from the impact.

Outside, the other vehicles came to a screeching halt. Commander Charles, who had been nodding along to the music in his military car, was jolted out of his moment of peace. With a crash, he shoved the door open, breaking it off its hinges. The rest of the soldiers swiftly exited their vehicles, forming a defensive line with precision. They were professionals, trained for such chaos.

Commander Charles, a towering figure of pure muscle, marched toward William's bus, his face tight with fury. As he entered the bus, he scanned the scene, his sharp eyes missing nothing. "No casualties," he muttered in relief. Then his expression hardened. "Traitor."

The students were quickly ordered to evacuate the bus. They would need to clear the rubble blocking the road before continuing their journey. The task seemed daunting, but with abilities on their side, it wouldn't take long.

William gently carried Miss Mona out of the bus, laying her down against the tunnel wall. She looked pale and worn out, but alive. He offered her a bottle of water, and she drank greedily, coughing. "Did anyone… die?" she asked weakly.

William shook his head. "No, thanks to you. You saved everyone."

Miss Mona nodded slightly, her eyes closing as exhaustion took over. "I can't believe we pulled it off," William thought.

"You managed it well," the system chimed in. "After all, you have me."

William couldn't help but scoff mentally, but then he felt a rush of excitement—his quest was completed. He could already feel the reward coming.

Meanwhile, in Commander Charles' vehicle, the commander was on the phone with Command Base 4, his voice low but urgent. "The situation is under control, but reinforcements would be wise."

"Reinforcements are on the way," they replied before he hung up and stepped outside to assess the damage.

The scene was tense but controlled. Soldiers stood at attention, ready for any threat, and students were slowly being gathered into a safe area. William glanced at the collapsed tunnel roof and the mess left behind. Miss Mona had saved them, but he knew things were far from over.

And the real battle was just beginning.

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