The priest opened his mouth, intending to deny it again, but under everyone’s intense gaze, his resolve crumbled.

He exhaled deeply.

"The talisman... is real," he admitted.

The moment those words left his mouth, Tyler closed his eyes briefly, frustration evident on his face. "Then why did you lie?" he asked.

The priest hesitated before replying, "Because with that talisman... one can leave this cemetery safely."

Tyler frowned. "We can still leave with you here," he said.

The priest shook his head slowly, his expression grave. "From the moment I stepped into this place, I sensed something wrong. We cannot stay here for long."

His voice lowered.

"To survive longer... that talisman increases the chances."

Regret flickered in his eyes as he continued, "I lied because... the moment we started the ritual, I realized we might not have enough power to leave safely."

Those words drained the color from everyone’s faces.

Emily’s voice trembled slightly. "Then... what do we do now?"

The priest replied, "As long as we complete the ritual properly, we can leave. But whether the spirits will allow us that time... is uncertain."

As if responding to his words...a sudden force surged through the air.

Invisible. Violent. It slammed into York.

His body was thrown backward, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

"Ugh!" he choked, coughing up blood as pain twisted his face. The impact had struck his stomach directly.

The next moment, he went still. Unconscious. Panic erupted.

"York!" Emily cried, rushing forward.

Tyler followed immediately, his face pale. Aiden’s heart pounded wildly.

But his fear wasn’t entirely out of concern.

’If something happens to him... I’ll be blamed...’ the thought screamed in his mind.

He hurried forward, grabbing York’s face and patting his cheeks urgently. "York, wake up!" he shouted.

No response.

York lay limp, his breathing shallow, his face frighteningly pale.

Aiden’s hands trembled.

He turned toward the livestream, desperation creeping into his voice. "What should we do now?" he asked, his eyes darting around nervously. "What am I supposed to do?"

Amid the chaos, the livestream chat continued to flood with comments, lines of text overlapping each other in a dizzying stream of panic and excitement.

Then... one message stood out.

It was written in bold and sharp against the blur of noise.

"Keep holding that young man’s face. The moment you let go, a ghost will enter his body. With the exorcism talisman on you, you will be immune to possession. That talisman will not burn... it protects you."

The username read: LanaTheGreatest.

For a brief second, that single comment seemed to pierce through the chaos like a needle.

Aiden’s eyes locked onto it.

’This... this must be real...’ he thought, his breath hitching.

Almost instinctively, as if guided by something unseen, he tightened his grip on York, one hand holding his face firmly, the other clutching his arm.

He glanced around nervously, his eyes scanning the dark, uneven ground and the twisted silhouettes of gravestones.

Then he looked back at the livestream and said with a strained, desperate voice, "If there’s any priest or master watching... please come here. I’m begging you."

Meanwhile, Emily fumbled with her phone, her fingers shaking as she tried to call her family.

But... No signal. Her screen remained blank.

Her heart sank. ’No... no, this can’t be happening...’

Just as despair began to swallow her, Aiden suddenly read another comment aloud.

"It’s from your butler," he said quickly, his voice filled with urgency. "He says help is on the way. A celestial master and priest will arrive within an hour."

Hearing that, Emily let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her face. "An hour..." she whispered, clinging to that hope.

They moved closer together, instinctively gathering near the priest.

But the priest... he was trembling. His eyes darted around, his breathing uneven.

Because now, he could see them.

Figures. Not human.

Some had torn, ragged clothes that hung loosely from their bodies.

Some had no eyes at all, hollow sockets staring into nothingness.

Others had twisted mouths, stretched unnaturally wide. One... had no face at all... just a blank, smooth surface where features should have been.

The priest’s lips quivered. ’We’re finished...’

With a shaking hand, he tapped Tyler’s arm.

Tyler frowned, irritation flashing across his face. "What is it?"

The priest swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice, "We don’t have time to wait. The ghosts... they’ve already started moving."

The moment those words fell, a figure appeared. Right in front of them.

It was a young man. Pale. Unnaturally pale.

Yet his features were strikingly handsome, almost flawless. A gentle smile rested on his lips, and his eyes carried an eerie softness.

At first glance, he didn’t look like a ghost at all.

Emily froze. Her gaze locked onto him, her mind going blank.

Tyler, too, found himself momentarily stunned.

The young man spoke softly, his voice smooth like silk. "I understand that you’re scared," he said. "But you don’t need to be."

He tilted his head slightly, his smile deepening. "We may be ghosts... but we are not bad ones."

Then he extended his hand toward Emily.

"Come," he said gently. "I’ll lead you out of here."

Emily’s eyes turned hazy, as if a fog had settled over her thoughts.

Slowly... she raised her hand. But before she could reach him... Tyler grabbed her wrist and pulled her back sharply. "Wake up!" he snapped.

At the same time, the priest stepped forward and flung holy water at the young man.

The droplets struck his arm... Sizzle.

A deep, burning mark appeared instantly, the skin blackening.

The young man’s expression twisted slightly, irritation flickering in his eyes as he looked at Emily. "Why did you attack me?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of grievance. "I was only trying to help."

Emily blinked, her expression dull and unfocused. "That was unnecessary," she murmured. "He was being kind..."

Her eyes had turned strangely blank.

Seeing this, Lana, watching from the other side, cursed under her breath.