"Well…"
The image of Moka crying was stuck in Tsukune's head. That was all he needed to make his decision, nothing else mattered, not even himself.
"Yes! Yes I will be your successor! Anything for Moka!"
The specter in front of him smiled.
"Good… Let the metamorphosis begin… oh… and did I mention this will be incredibly painful?"
"… Tsukune."
"LOOK!!!"
The girls were shocked to see that Tsukune's wound was healing, almost instantaneously. When it was healed completely his eyes shot open and were glowing red.
"Tsuku… ne?"
"!!!"
Tsukune was laying limb on the ground howling like a madman. As he did there was black foam fizzing up in his mouth.
"Moka, what's going on?!"
"I… I don't know…"
Suddenly Tsukune started spitting a thick gooey black liquid out of his mouth. In a matter of moments it started to cover his body and harden.
"It's like… like he's sealing himself in a cocoon."
"Yes Ruby… It's exactly like that."
"Headmaster!"
The girls turned around to see the Headmaster. He was smiling.
"Headmaster… What happened to Tsukune?"
"All will be explained… But first we should move this pupa to a safe location."
The Headmaster took out his cross and raised it into the air, he mumbled something, then there was a bright flash of light, when it faded they were all gone.
"What the… Where'd they go?"
Kokoa, who had been hiding in the bushes watching the spectacle, finally came out.
"I hope isn't dead… If he is then who else can remove Onee-Sama's rosario?"
"Where are we?" asked Yukari.
"In a secret room deep beneath the school… Perfect for hiding something as rare as this…" said the Headmaster touching the black chrysalis.
"Okay… So what happened to Tsukune?!" demanded Kurumu.
"The metamorphosis has begun."
"What metamorphosis?"
"I didn't think any of you would know about this… Not even you Moka… After all, the creation of a ghoul alone is considered a serious crime… let alone a super ghoul…"
"Super ghoul?!"
"Yes…"
"What's a super ghoul?"
"Much like a caterpillar that can transform into a butterfly, so can ghouls transcend from being a mindless killing machine into an even more powerful killing machine. But unlike their unevolved brothers, a super ghoul isn't a mindless animal. It is much like a vampire… only more powerful."
"Wait… I heard there was a level beyond ghouldom… but I thought it was just a legend."
"That's because there hasn't been one for hundreds of years dear Moka… Ghouls are usually destroyed before they reach the stage Tsukune has achieved."
"But there have been others?" asked Mizore.
"Yes, one… Long ago in Italy… His name was Udar the Wicked. He was bloodthirsty butcher who was once feared throughout the entire peninsula… but time has done it's toll, and now to the humans he is forgotten."
"What happened to him?"
"He was hated almost as much as he was feared… He always crushed anyone who dared to oppose him… He thought he was invincible… but he had one fatal flaw… He was lonely… He started seeking a bride. Eventually he fell in love with a young girl, but she didn't return his affection. He didn't force her, because he knew love was a gift that could only be given freely. So he made a sincere promise that if she married him, he would never kill another human being. He had every intention of keeping that promise… but she intended to make sure that he did… On their wedding night she beheaded him while he slept… Ever since then monsters have done everything in their power to make sure that another super ghoul was never created, because we've feared them so…"
"And you?" asked Ruby.
"… I'm curious. Tsukune has been in ghouldom for some time, and with the Holy Lock around his arm his power has been suppressed and focused while his personality was left intact, as a result he's reached the pupa stage in record time… I'm curious to see if a super ghoul can be tamed the same as a regular one… Besides, I've never seen one with my own eyes."
"But what if you're wrong?"
"… Every plan has it's contingencies."
There was a long silence.
"I know what you're thinking my dears… But I'm not to blame for this… Moka injected Tsukune with her blood to save his life, and in the process she planted the seed. And this was Tsukune's choice…"
"What do you mean?"
"A ghoul is always given a choice before the metamorphosis, evolve or die. And I'm willing to bet Tsukune did this because he loved you all more than his humanity."
"Tsukune would give that up for us?" asked Moka.
"One of you in particular…"
"Me of course!" said Yukari.
"No, me!" said Mizore.
"You're all wrong, it's me!" said Kurumu.
"How long is he going to be in this stage?" asked Ruby.
"Given that he achieved this stage in record time… I'd estimate about a week… Until then you will all be excused from your classes to protect the chrysalis... Guard it with your lives."
Little did the others know Demona was listening to their conversation.
"One week… I can wait."
(To be continued)