We stepped into the mansion's backyard. The rain had stopped. After clearing the ghosts from the rest of the mansion, this was the only area left... and it was strangely empty, save for that floating aura we'd seen earlier that seemed to be guiding us.

The backyard took our breath away with its vastness. A sudden chill ran down our spines.

—"REN!" Purin's voice, filled with panic, echoed in my mind. —"This is very, very bad! Get out of there NOW!"

—"What?—"

—"Look-nya!" Noko pointed with her bristling tail.

The floating aura began to grow in size, transforming into a giant, round, bluish ghost. Strangely enough, it looked more cute than terrifying, but something felt terribly wrong.

—"This... I don't like this," Zara muttered, taking a step back.

—"What the hell is that thing?" Maya drew her sword.

—"I don't know exactly," Zara frowned, —"but despite its appearance, I sense something very wrong about it."

—"The spirits are extremely agitated-nya!" Noko shrank behind me.

—"REN, GET OUT OF THERE!" Purin pleaded again. —"It's a Kurotama (黒魂)!"

—"A Kurotama?" The question slipped out loud.

Zara heard me and turned sharply:

—"It can't be..." she said.

The ghost lunged at us.

—"DON'T LET IT TOUCH YOU!" Zara shouted, barely dodging.

Maya leaped aside:

—"What's happening?!"

—"If it really is a Kurotama..." Zara panted, firing a lightning bolt to distract it, —"we could be in serious trouble. I've read about them—if it touches you... you become a ghost."

We stood frozen at Zara's words. I couldn't help but remember the dozens of ghosts we'd encountered in the mansion...

Maya's face darkened with understanding:

—"That explains why there were so many ghosts here. Adventurers, civilians... everyone who came here was..."

Zara nodded, cold sweat on her brow:

—"Exactly."

I looked at my companions, my expression tense. Purin was insisting we flee, but I remembered the kindness of Lumis' people—the children playing in the streets, the merchants...

—"Everyone," I said firmly, —"I know we should run, but... will you help me destroy this thing? I don't want it to keep threatening people."

Maya grinned, igniting her sword with flames:

—"Hah! Didn't I tell you before? I NEVER run from a fight!"

Zara stepped up beside Maya:

—"Ren, whatever it is, I'll help you," she said, charging her lightning.

Noko bounded forward, tail waving:

—"I knew my nose wasn't wrong about you! I'll help too!"

I smiled at my companions' determination.

—"Alright!" I raised my sword, ready for battle. —"Let's do this!"

The Kurotama surged toward us, and the fight began.