After getting out of the Male Ward, the group soon found themselves standing in an open courtyard, the dark, stormy night sky making it almost impossible to see.

"It was a dark and stormy night…" Miles said jokingly. "Suddenly, a shot rang out!"

"Well, you seem rather cheery for someone who just lost two fingers." Sword remarked.

"Eh, it's not like I was getting married anyway." Miles said. "Besides, once we get outta here, I can get some cybernetics in the Future Universe. You would not believe how easy it is these days…"

"Yeah, when we get outta here…" FG said. "Zpeaking of which, where do we go now?"

"Messenger...followers…" a voice called out as a Variant approached them. "You...survived the Doctor and Walker?"

"Speak for yourself, pretty sure I'm dead." Miles said. "Mind's still relatively intact though, so...guess this means I pass?"

"Father Martin asks for you in the Administration Block, just beyond this courtyard." the Variant said. "The final part of your journey begins there. Soon, The Walrider will accept you as its Messenger."

"Yeah, right, let's get a move on then." Miles deadpanned as the group set off across the courtyard. Hat Kid looked a little confused by the Variant's words.

"Oh, yeah," Aster said, seeing her expression, "You don't know yet. Long story short, there's this dark spirit roaming this place, and this group wants Miles here to become its host so it can leave and they can follow it out."

"Speaking of Casper, how'd you guys get it off your trail?" Miles asked.

"Oh...yeah, about that…" Aster said nervously, a tone that caused Miles to sigh.

"Okay, what did you guys drag me into this time?" Miles asked.

"Well, we think The Walrider isn't after ALL of us, per say...just you." Sword said.

"Because of course it is." Miles said. "Any idea why?"

"Hey, we've been with you mozt of the time, we don't know." FG responded. "But maybe it haz zomething to do with that Billy perzon one of thoze Variantz mentioned."

"Yeah, good point…" Miles said. "Who the hell is Billy? We've got enough bulls*** from this place without another name running around. And apparently, killing him will stop The Walrider? What's up with-?"

N҉̛̀O̵

The group froze as black smoke rose from the ground and took the form of a human.

W̴̢͘͢ơ͟͟͞͡n̴̢͏̛'̷͡t̶̢͡.̀́͘̕͜

̡͘͜͠

̶̵̶

B̶̢͢͞i̧̕͝l̨͢ĺ̸͡y̢̛

̶̴̕̕

̵̶͞D̛͘I͜͏̛Ę̵͜͝.͜͢͢͢͞

The Walrider then charged at the group, the five dodging out of the way before making a run for it.

"S***, again?!" Sword cursed before he turned to face the dark ghost. "Okay, Danny Phantom, taste lightning!" he said as he fired a bolt at The Walrider…

...which merely backhanded it away.

"Oh crap…" Sword cursed as it launched itself at Miles once more. "Upshur, MOVE!"

The reporter jumped to the side as the spirit passed by him. However, it managed to get a hit on his chest, causing several long scratches to appear on his chest, which made him cry out and fall to his knees.

"Miles!" Aster said, seeing the spirit coming back around at Miles. Moving quickly, the fairy stood in between them, his palms glowing.

"Incantation: from the smallest firefly...to the largest star...they all stand against the crawling void. Let their power...flow through me!"

Aster's wings started to glow as he stood defiant at The Walrider, which charged at him.

"BLINDING LIGHT!"

Darkness met light as Aster thrusted his palms out at The Walrider, the blinding flash lighting up the night.

Chris stumbled out of one of the sewer's exits, the shock still making him dizzy. He felt like s***...but he wouldn't stop. He couldn't...not yet.

"Have to contain it...have to…" he grunted before he stumbled. Damn it...if he couldn't get a grip, The Walrider would-

A nearby flash of light caught his attention. What was that?

Making his way over to it, he saw something that made his white eyes widen in shock:

The little pig was on the ground, the winged pig standing in front of him...and The Walrider was on it's back five feet away. Walker swore its posture made it look...scared? Then, it vanished.

"Miles, are you okay?" the winged pig asked as it helped the little pig up to his feet.

"Y-Yeah...crap, thanks Aster. I would've been a goner. Still, you actually hurt it...I think."

"Yeah...you're right! I hurt it, I...ugh…"

The winged pig collapsed, the little pig catching him.

"Whoa, easy there, Cosmo, we're almost done. That thing attacked us when I mentioned killing that Billy guy...have we found a way to kill it?"

Kill it? They were...trying to kill it? The Walrider could be killed? Chris continued to watch the group as they formed up.

"Maybe. We won't know until we figure out who Billy is. For now, let's get back to Administration and meet up with Martin."

The group left, Chris taking in all he had heard.

The Walrider could die. It could be killed...they were trying to kill it. Then...would that mean that everything he did...all the killing…

...No, don't go there. Don't think about it. It can die. You can kill it. Find this...Billy and kill him. Then no more. No more killing after that. Have to follow...them.

Chris then left, silently following the group, taking care not to be seen.

A lone Variant sat on a rooftop, messing with a handheld transceiver, continually turning the knob on it.

"Turn, turn, turn...you like it when I do that, don't you?" The Variant giggled, unaware of the footsteps approaching them from behind.

The last thing he felt before he fell off the roof was the feeling of someone pushing him.

From above, Jeremy Blaire stood looking down on the corpse before he picked up the transceiver and turned it to a particular frequency.

"This is Murkoff Corporation, go ahead." a voice over the transceiver said.

This is Jeremy Blaire, Executive Vice President of Psychic Development. I'm trapped in Mount Massive, the prisoners have gone wild! The Walrider's trying to break loose, send help!" Jeremy called.

"Affirmative, we've already dispatched Squad Delta of our Tactical Division after Squad Epsilon failed to report back. Be advised, they are due to arrive in T-10 minutes."

"Oh, thank god, the Gauntlet's coming…" Blaine sighed in relief. "I'll make for the Administration Block, just make sure they get here soon. And tell them to leave no survivors. We can't let anyone know about the project."

"Affirmative. Good luck, Mr. Blaire." the transceiver said as Jeremy turned and walked away, prepare to get out of this hell.