Chapter XI: The Hunters

Skulker stood in the center of the area, grinning behind his mask, his prey had come to him, and it was time to end this hunt once and for all. Danny walked to the front of the group, blocking them incase Skulker tried anything; he would be lying if he said he wasn't scared, but he wasn't going to show it.

"Well, well, well, what have we here, a rescue party? Not very successful, though I must admit, I'm glad you're here, I want you to witness the death of your child, your friend, your hero, plus I don't have to hunt you down after, I can kill you after I'm finished with the whelp"

"Skulker, I'm only going to say this once, this is over; stop this while you still can"

"Have you forgotten, the Ghost Shield will not deactivate unless you are dead, it can't be tampered with and the bomb can't be defused, believe it or not, you will die"

"Not today…" Danny said before turning to the group, "…I can distract Skulker long enough for you to get the tracker, when you find the Speeder fire a flare; I'll be there as fast as I can"

"Be careful Son" said his Dad.

Maddie and Jack, who was still carrying Tucker, made a run for the trees, Danny focused on Skulker.

"You want a fight Skulker, fine; then let's get this over with"

Danny raised his hand and shot a Ghost Ray at Skulker, who dodged the blast and started to charge towards Danny. Danny barley had anytime to dodge, however he did and managed to deliver a blow to Skulker's chest. Skulker raised his hand and activated two blades made of Ectoplasm. Skulker started to swing viciously at Danny with them, and managed to get a good slice to the chest.

Danny staggered back and looked at his chest, it was going numb and cold, there was a huge slit in his costume, and Ectoplasm pouring from the wound, like a huge paper cut, Danny grunted, that was the only blow Skulker was going to land tonight, he quickly glanced over to see his mom reach the tracker and flare gun, picking them up and heading back the others. Danny had bought them the time; he just needed to keep Skulker distracted enough so they can find the Speeder.

Danny charged towards Skulker, he delivered a kick to his chest, followed by two blows to the face. Danny was about to deliver a third when Skulker reached out and grabbed Danny's hand. Danny raised his other hand, only to have that one also grabbed by Skulker, who in turn used Danny's own hand to punch him, as Danny recovered, Skulker lifted his foot and kicked Danny in the chest, he then advanced and the two continued to deliver and block each other's blows.

Skulker delivered a powerful blow to Danny's face, causing him to spit out a little Ectoplasm. Skulker then grabbed Danny by the arm and swung him into the side of a tree. Danny quickly recovered and continued to deliver blows to Skulker, while Skulker was recover; Danny fired a Ghost Ray right into Skulker's chest. Sending him flying backwards, Skulker got up and walked towards Danny, as Danny prepared himself.

Skulker charged towards Danny and managed to land a blow to his stomach, followed by a fist to the face, a right hook and a powerful kick to the chest, Danny went flying back and hit another tree. As Danny wiped the Ectoplasm from his mouth and spit some out, he was hoping the others would find the Speeder soon. Danny raised his hands and fired several explosive Ectoplasmic rings at Skulker, which he just shot out of the air.

"I suppose you're wondering why I'm not relying on my tech as much this time, aren't you whelp"

"The thought had crossed my mind"

"I don't want you to go down so fast, I have you right where I want you, I want to saver every blow, every drop of Ectoplasm spilled, and I want to saver it all"

Danny raised his hand to deliver another blow, however Skulker dodged it, delivered another blow to Danny's chest and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him off his feet.

"I could gut you like a pig right now, but I want you to suffer I want you to feel every blow, every cut I want you to feel everything, I've hunted you down, and I will kill you when you've suffered enough"

"Say's the hunter who can't catch a turtle, even if it's in front of him, you're a joke Skulker"

Enraged at this comment Skulker raised his fist and delivered two powerful blows to Danny's chest, before throwing him to the ground.

"I AM THE GREATEST HUNTER, I'VE HUNTED EVERYTHING THERE IS, I'VE KILLED EVERYTHING THERE IS AND SOON I WILL KILL YOU AND ADD YOUR HIDE TO MY COLLECTION!"

Skulker lunged at Danny and started to punch him in the face. Danny then grabbed Skulker's fists and head-butted him, sending Skulker back, and giving Danny a small headache. Danny could feel himself getting tired; he needed to keep fighting a little more.

"You know what Skulker, you're not even a hunter, you're a scavenger, I mean you can't even beat me, you brought me to The Amazon, knowing that I would exhaust myself trying to survive the jungles and animals and cannibals that when you did find me, or I found you, I would not be at the top of my game, you call yourself a hunter, but your too scared to take me on when I'm at the top of my game"

Skulker enraged even more, charged towards Danny and delivered another blow to his chest, before picking him up and raising over his head.

"Ok whelp, you're choice, should I rip you in two; break your spine or break your spine then rip you in two"

"None of the above!"

Skulker looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a rocket heading straight for him, with no time to react, Skulker was hit dead center in the chest, sending him flying back. Danny fell to the ground, and looked to see Sam holding an empty Fenton Rocket Launcher. Danny pushed himself up off the ground and started to make his way towards Sam, the next second, a familiar noise filled the air, Danny and Sam looked to see a red flare streak across the night sky.

Danny looked behind to see Skulker start to get up, there wasn't much time, and Danny picked up Sam and started to fly as fast as he could over the trees, hoping to reach the speeder in time. With his luck and speed, Danny could see the end of the ghost shield, and on the other side, his parents and Tucker. Maddie waved to her son and activated the device, hoping that it would work. Sure enough a small section of the shield opened up.

Danny landed on the ground help lowered Sam, the two started to run towards the shield, freedom and the end of this nightmare was in sight when. Danny felt something coil around him, and Sam and the shield got further away, Danny grabbed the ground trying to stop, and looked back to see a wounded and very pissed Skulker trying to pull him back.

"I WILL NOT BE DENIED!"

Hearing this Sam turned around to see Danny being dragged back. Danny just told her to go, thinking quickly Danny formed an Ecto-blade wand cut the coil, with only seconds to spare, Danny made a dash for the shield opening, with Skulker close behind him, it was going to be close, Danny charged with all his might, his closed his eyes and waited until it was over. He opened his eyes, to see Sam, Tucker and his parents looking at him, he looked behind him to see the closed ghost shield, and Skulker on the other side.