A/N: Hey everyone I have returned with another chapter to the Specter story. With work trying to keep me busy especially with the Holidays, things are going to be extremely busy for me, delaying my chances of the frequent updates. Right now though I want to give you guys another chapter to read and give more details in the Author Notes at the bottom. So! Enjoy the chapter folks!

'Thought'

"Ganma"

Chisato tapped her fingers on the armrest, watching the news of the recent robbery. She has been keeping track ever since both she and Enrique discovered the Archer was the one who held a possible connection to Robin Hood. The Ganma itself assisted the thief in return.

'Why is the thief targeting these locations specifically…?'

While the Archer stole from the rich and gave to the poor, there was another reason why the vigilante was doing this. Something about it. Yes, Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor but the Archer was also exposing the greedy businessmen and rich people of their corruption and crimes.

Come to think of it, the Archer was solely focused on that despite the thievery.

'Archer definitely has a reason for targeting businessmen.'

Whoever the vigilante was, they had a vendetta against people like them.

The nurse then looked back at Specter's progress. She remembered watching his fight against the two Ganma to gain Musashi. He was putting his trust in Basara but there was still that lingering doubt. So far, she was the only one that he trusted as a true ally. Even with her advances yesterday, he still considered her as such despite his nervousness.

He kept the walls around him out not from his mission but she saw closely in his eyes the feeling of fear. He wanted to finish the mission in order to go back to normal life but the Ganma took it from him. Everything in his life was caused by them thus he chose to build that shell to fight.

Rage, pain, anguish, and finally, fear.

The negativity just radiated off from him when he fought. She managed to lower one part of the wall, there was still more he kept close.

A Specter's Testament

Chapter 8: Hello, Arrow! The Archer Arrives!

The bank was closed off by police as investigators continued to look into the recent robbery. It was obvious it was the work of the Archer given the valuables that were stolen.

A pair of binoculars watched everything before it lowered as Enrique sighed heavily. "Damn it… missed them again."

"You know, the vigilante is more sneaky than I give credit for." Yurusen commented, a pocky in his mouth and a fedora on his head.

"Yeah and we were lucky to encounter the thief the first time but now it's becoming challenging." The phantom rider murmured, scratching his head. "But still there has to be a pattern to this."

"Which we got squat on, no offense." Yurusen finished the last of the biscuits. "Question is, how did the thief know about this?"

"I wish I knew…" He tapped his chin. There was more to the thievery the Archer had committed. He looked back at the first encounter and finally noted it never went after other valuables. "Wait a minute…"

"What?"

"Yurusen, can you look back at the robberies and find out more about each person the thief stole from?"

"You think the thief has a connection to the people who got arrested?"

"Definitely. While you do your research, I'll do mine by talking to the news reporter who had been getting those letters from that Archer."

The ghost saluted in response to the plan. "You got it! Time to do this Hard Boiled style! Poof!"

Enrique rolled his eyes before he briefly spotted the young newswoman who had been talking about the incident. The same reporter who had been getting the letters from Archer based on the previous reports from the news he watched since his first encounter with the thief. He exited the rooftop and left the building, carefully moving people aside who were trying to see the scene of the most recent robbery.

"Okay, that's a rap. You take some rest." The newswoman told her cameraman.

"Thanks. I need a snack." The cameraman said as he left.

"Guess I should do the same before I redo my make-up." She said as she stretched out her arms.

"Now's my chance." Enrique said before he moved.

When the newswoman was now alone, Enrique walked to her before he tapped on her shoulder. The reporter turned to the Phantom Rider.

"Excuse me, are you the news reporter from earlier?" Enrique asked. She nodded, "Yes, I am. Who are you?"

"I'm...a member of my school's newspaper club. I'm investigating this Archer as an assignment paper." Enrique told her.

"Really?" She inquired as she raised an eyebrow. "It… wouldn't hurt to give some insight…"

At least this will help him get some background on the Archer. He reached into his pocket and procured a small notepad and pen. "Was it true the Archer had been sending letters to your news organization, admitting the thievery?"

"… Yes, that's correct." She watched him write down the information.

"So why did you mention Robin Hood in your report earlier?" Enrique continued in curiosity. "Was the Archer inspired by Robin Hood's tale?"

"Well, Robin Hood fought against corruption after all?" The young woman explained as she put her glasses into her purse. "And to confirm from the letters I received - Archer was inspired by Robin Hood, I just thought it was very fitting given their actions."

"Do you think what the Archer is doing is right?" The American inquired.

"The public seems to want to applaud them." The ravenette stated as she developed a very thoughtful look. "There are plenty of people here who suffer at the hands of the powerful and unjust…" she said slowly as her eyes became very sad the next moment. "My father was killed because of that kind of corrupt violence…" she stated, "Right in front of me…"

Enrique's eyes widened at that, the look in her eyes, the pain he could see in them. It reminded him of what he often saw in his own eyes when he was reminded of his parent's death. To have his own family killed right in front of him.

"You too huh…" he blurted out.

The reporter caught his words. "You know the experience…?"

"… Yeah." He sighed bitterly.

"Then you understand right?" She inquired softly. "There are people out there who need this kind of justice."

"I… guess…" Becoming Specter, he was able to fight the Ganma but also bring justice for the dark spirits killing his parents. However it won't be done until the dark spirits are all gone.

The two heard a beep, making the reporter check her phone and sighed. "It looks like I should get going before I get in trouble. I do apologize."

"Not a problem. You got a job to do." Enrique waved off.

The young woman bowed politely before leaving but paused. She almost forgot. "Ah, I should have introduced myself earlier. I'm Yoshida Nozomi."

"Enrique Alderete." He smiled thinly. "Take care, okay?"

"Of course." Nozomi smiled in return. "Have a good day." With a brief bow, she walked away while Enrique managed to obtain information regarding the Archer thanks to her help.

The Archer was definitely the target of the Robin Hood Eyecon.

He should inform Basara about this while continuing his investigation of the Archer's goal and identity.

A few hours later…

After a long while of following the van, Mio was now in the woods before the van finally stopped and Mio took a moment to catch her breath. She originally discovered it driving away after witnessing the infamous Archer rushing out of a building and leaving in it.

She was lucky in the encounter thus leading to chasing after it.

The young redhead rested her hands on her thighs after the long run no thanks to the van traveling far. It was too much for her but she was thankful it ended. Raising her head, she hid behind the tree and saw the Archer exit the van and grabbed the items that were stolen. She waited until the archer entered the building and drew close.

It was a cabin, no doubt the thief's hideout. Standing behind the van to look, Mio realized it was the place the Archer stayed in. She had to inform Basara.

"I gotta call him," Mio reached in her pocket for the phone. Upon dialing the number, she waited for the call to go through. When it did, Basara picked up the call. "Basara, I followed and found the Archer's hideout!"

"What?! When and how?" Basara asked.

"I'll explain later. Listen, the Archer's hideout is a cabin in-" Mio said, and just then an arrow pierced the tree she was hiding behind, Mio peeked out a bit as the Archer was out of the cabin as she was armed with her bow and arrow.

"I know you're out there! Come out right now, that was your only warning shot." The Archer warned Mio.

"Mio? What's wrong?" Basara asked, before Mio notices the Archer moving towards her.

"No time to explain. Basara, listen, you need to let Enrique-senpai know that the archer is…" Mio said before she notices a large shadow looming over her.

"Peek a boo."

Mio quickly looked back but met a swift whack to the back of her head, rendering her unconscious. The phone clattered, landing underneath the van.

"Mio? Mio, are you there?"

With the problem resolved, the redhead was dragged to prevent any trouble.

The girl got too close to revealing the Archer's location.

"Damn it, this is getting nowhere," Enrique grunted in frustration. His inquiries regarding the robberies were met with roadblocks. When he tried to talk to the victims, they didn't say anything due to the revelations the public gained regarding the crimes they committed.

Looking over the notepad, he was glad he managed to get some information throughout the investigation. Though it's not much, at least it's something.

"Yurusen, anything?" He called.

In a puff of smoke, the small spirit appeared before his friend with a notepad in hand. "Managed to get some information that you couldn't get. Here ya go."

"Thanks." He accepted the second notepad and compared the notes they've gathered. Seems Yurusen was able to gather information that he couldn't regarding the robberies. Then again, Yurusen was a ghost so the little spirit was able to do things he couldn't do.

His brows furrowed upon compiling the notes. He scratched his head irritably as the only thing that bothered him was the incidents.

Something didn't make sense. From all the robberies, the Archer stole items that belonged to the victims while giving away the remains to organizations that help the poor. Looking over the notepad again, he double checked and noticed commonalities regarding the locations she hit but one stood out.

The museum.

He tapped his chin for a moment before looking back at the origins of the items. When he did, he saw the items were given to the museum and those said items belonged to one of the victims the Archer robbed.

"Yurusen… What did the Archer steal from the museum I was at on the day of the class trip?" Enrique asked carefully.

"Aside from the crown? Some old bow and arrow that were on display with the other trinkets during the 12th-13th century. Why-" Yurusen paused in realization. "You gotta be kidding…"

"The bow and arrow in the museum was Robin Hood's weapon!" The pieces were now set as the Rider now realized the reason behind the robbery in the museum. It harbored the actual weapon that belonged to Robin Hood.

Looking back at the victims, he double checked his notepad again and his eyes wandered across the notes. He grimaced when he finally found the connection between the victims who were arrested. The victims, the crimes that were revealed, and combining the information Yurusen gave him led to one commonality.

Suddenly, the sound of his CobraPhone disrupted him, leading him to reach into his pocket to procure the device. Flipping it open, he saw the caller ID belonged to Basara.

Ah right, he did give his underclassman his contact information shortly after the Musashi incident. He answered the call, "Basara, is something the matter?"

"Senpai, Mio is in trouble. When she called me, she said she found where the Archer went."

"What?" Enrique didn't expect Mio to track the Archer. "Hold on, why was Mio tracking the Archer on her own?!"

"She wanted to help, senpai. I know you asked me but Mio volunteered to find the thief as the rest of us were doing."

"… fair point…" The second year conceded. "Then is something wrong?"

"Mio was about to tell me of the Archer's location but it abruptly ended. She wouldn't end it so suddenly unless-."

Enrique's brows knit in shock at what he was implying. "Unless the Archer prevented her. Any idea where she called?"

"That's the problem. I don't know where."

"Damn it…" That wasn't good. They need something to track his kouhai's location.

The sound of cawing earned his attention in which he blinked and looked up, noticing a metal bird. It flew off the branch and hovered in front of Enrique. He was bewildered but noticed its appearance.

"Wait… aren't you…?" He recalled its body being identical in color to the phone Sennin left behind. Did that mean…

It caught his assumption in which it nodded in confirmation.

The condor pointed to the north, earning confusion at first until Enrique discerned what it was doing. It was pointing to the direction of Mio's last call.

"Basara… I think I found a way to locate your sister. Meet me at the plaza and we'll head right to your sister's location from there."

With the help of the new gadget, Enrique, Basara, and Maria followed it to locate Mio. The phantom rider was grateful to have such a useful gadget. Now he knew why Sennin left it behind. It was able to track the location of a call but something told him it has another function. After seeing CobraPhone's blade form for GanGunHand, he was sure the now dubbed CondorPhone had an attachment form for his weapon(s).

The condor suddenly flew around in a circle, notifying them of their destination. The succubus looked down, seeing it and raised her arm. "There!" Maria pointed at the log cabin.

The three rushed over to the van before Basara looked underneath and reached for the phone that belonged to Mio. Enrique however stared at the log cabin. The place that held a personal connection to the thief.

The pieces were now in place.

Shoving the door open, the trio entered the cabin and saw the interior. However they carefully approached the living room, finding the Archer with a knife against Mio's throat. The first year's mouth was muffled due to the restraints on her.

"Mio-sama!"

The Archer kept her grip and flicked her other wrist, causing the wall beside the succubus to gain a large gash. The girl jumped as Basara pulled her back.

"Guys, do not approach. The Ganma is to my left by the corner." The Rider whispered.

His two friends looked but were unable to see the Ganma. However, given their friend was able to see them, they took his word for it. "What should we do?" Basara questioned.

"Let me handle it." Their senpai assured. "Just trust me."

The two listened to his advice and remained where they were. He took one small step forward and focused on the Archer.

"You can lower the mask and hood… Nozomi."

The thief paused as her eyes saw Enrique stare at her. For a moment, her grip on the knife tightened before she used her other hand to lower the hood to allow her hair to fall free. With it, she lowered the balaclava, revealing none other than the reporter he met.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Everything you told me and looking back at the people you robbed from, it made me connect the dots after a long investigation from those places." Enrique explained. "Those people you robbed from were responsible for the death of your father. This very cabin belonged to him."

"Then you know they got what they deserved. They are finally going to jail. Right where they belong."

"But why did you attack Naruse?"

"I had to do this… as this girl." Mio winced at the knife against her throat while her hair was gripped. "Tried to call for help! I can't… I can't let anyone get in my way!"

"By robbing people, Nozomi?!"

"They were criminals! The very same victims who put otou-san into his grave!" She saw Basara and Maria draw close. "Stay back! I don't know what kind of people you two are but I'll hurt this girl if you do anything! SO BACK OFF!"

The two grimaced while Enrique extended his arm to stop them. He shook his head to the two.

"Do you really think this is what your father would've wanted?" Enrique asked and Nozomi glared at him.

"SHUT UP!!! You don't know what you're talking about! You don't know what it's like to lose the people you care about!" She exclaimed.

"I do!" Enrique shouted back. "I get it, you're filled with rage and vengeance that you want to make the people who've wronged you pay."

"If you understand that, then why? Why do you insist on getting in my way?" Nozomi asked.

"Because this is still the wrong way. It still doesn't make it right for you to inflict your own pain on others. Especially since Naruse here had nothing to do with that."

Nozomi flinched and looked down at Mio.

"She is my underclassman, and what did she do to you? Nothing." He began to negotiate with the reporter. "Nozomi listen to me. Just drop the knife and let her go. This right here isn't justice, it's only putting harm on a high school student."

Her hand began to shake as she slowly began to lose her grip on the knife. "I-I…"

The Ganma scowled upon seeing the boy's words getting through to the girl. He has to improvise. "Don't let him fool you. He is only doing this for his sake. Isn't your view true justice?"

The words seeped into her mind, allowing the girl to lower her head. "…I can't turn back." The girl spoke as the words of the Ganma convinced her that they were her own thoughts, her own words. "My unseen power...this is the true power of justice!" She started as a faint, dark, purple aura formed around her. "For me, that is Robin Hood's bow and arrow!" The aura began to slowly move over to the bow and arrow.

"Good, good, just a little more." The Ganma sneered excitedly, even tapping his fingers together.

"What's going on with her!?" Enrique demanded Yurusen.

"It's the influence of the Ganma." The small spirit explained. "The humans they take interest in get steadily stranger… And can eventually summon the heroic spirit...in exchange for their life to do so that is."

"In exchange for their life?" Basara asked in shock while Enrique's hands curled.

The American remembered what happened to Minato and Mrs. Murasame. However this was far worse due to the girl's pain from losing her father from the corruption of people. Her need to get revenge on those said people increased it dramatically.

"Are you saying... this is how they gain an Eyecon?" The exiled Hero discovered.

"Yup." Yurusen added as he turned to see the aura. "This benefits us greatly! The vigilante gets toast, we get an Eyecon, and it's a win-GUAH!"

Without warning, Yurusen gagged harshly while Basara and Maria gasped when Enrique had his hand around Yurusen's throat. He did it within a second without them noticing. His dark brown eyes glared coldly at Yurusen.

"You think I will take satisfaction in gaining an Eyecon by the sacrifice of human life?" Enrique demanded coldly. "You think that is the answer?!"

"S-Sorry! I-I was just...thinking of the possibilities!" Yurusen wheezed, struggling in Enrique's grip.

"Don't ever speak of such a possibility when I am not letting people waste their life!" He tossed Yurusen aside.

He was going to stop this.

The teen hugged Nozomi and suddenly shrouded in light. This sudden light...it felt warm and calm. This light was something good. It felt reassuring. Inside the light, Enrique wrapped his arms around Nozomi, bringing her in for a hug. It was something simple...and random. But the action...it calmed the girl's raging emotions, she felt at peace at once, after a long time of feeling in the dark and confused.

He could feel her pain and sadness; her need to live. She wanted to live her life...

And he wants to see to it that she lives her way of life.

"Don't throw your life away." He soothed. "Don't let your father's death lead you down this path."

Nozomi blinked as the dark aura was now gone from her and the bow and arrow. The girl's mind came back to reality before her eyes glimmered and cried her heart out. Enrique fell with her to their knees. The girl was in so much pain after her father died from the people who committed crimes to satisfy their greed. The Ganma used her pain as a way to get the Eyecon. The same method Katana and Yari tried to do to his landlady.

"The connection broke?!"

Hearing the Ganma's voice again, he glared at it and released his hold on Nozomi. "Nozomi, listen to me, you decide your own path. Not your father, or that Ganma. You're the one who decides your own fate, but don't throw it away so easily. Your father would want you to live, to live your way of life."

"Use this!" The injured spirit handed Basara a pouch.

"What is this?"

"For the love of… just throw the dust!"

Basara did as told by grabbing a small handful of the golden dust before he swung his arm out. The golden dust then stuck to the growling Axe Ganma...slowly burning him into reality and visibility for everyone.

"The dust… it made it visible!" Mio gasped. Now they had something to provide a chance to see the Ganma without problems or an Eyecon.

"Oi!" He shouted to the brats.

"That isn't power, Nozomi!" Enrique pointed at the Ganma. "It's just another corrupt ideal. Fooling you to believe you had this all yourself."

The young reporter stumbled back a bit before looking at her hands. "I…" She spoke out.

"If you want true justice then do what Robin Hood would have done! Use what you have to help those that are poor! Your words are the arrow and you are its bow."

Nozomi looked at him before she realized he was right, her nod to Enrique being her answer.

At that instant, a golden light shone off her and the bow of Robin Hood.

"The bow and arrow!" The dark spirit was about to grab it but Basara struck the Ganma, stopping its progression. "Damn you!"

"Senpai, cast the seal to summon Robin Hood!"

The teen hurriedly walked over to the bow and arrow after summoning the Ghost Driver. He brought his hands together and made the eye symbol over it. A swirl of green smoke engulfed the items before spiraling into the air, fusing together to make a new Luminary Parka. The new parka was a vibrant and bright emerald/forest green color, with yellow lining the sides, small yellow tassels around the bottom with a ghost tail made up of an arrow, the same tassels around the sleeves, large shoulder pads also formed on the parka with two long belt like straps hanging off the sides acting as arms, buckles acting as elbows and yellow arrow ends as the hands, the hood also had a large yellow feather sticking out from the left side. Green eyes peered from the hood before the parka made a motion as if drawing an arrow on a bow string, a green image of Robin Hood doing the same next to him.

The Parka then did a backflip before flying right into the Ghost Driver creating a green ripple before an eyecon formed into existence. The emerald green Eyecon shone in the light as Specter held it up, the top reading 03 ROBINHOOD, the image of a green bow with an arrow pointing down on it, in the center.

With the Eyecon now in Enrique's possession, the Ganma realized he was in trouble. Big trouble.

Now prepared, the American summoned his Ghost Driver before raising the Specter Eyecon to activate the transformation. Opening the buckle, he planted the blue Eyecon inside it and then closed it.

EYE! BATCHIRIMIRO! BATCHIMIRO!

The damashii flew out of his armor as Enrique gripped the handle on the side of his belt. "Henshin!"

KAIGAN! SPECTER…

READY GO KAKUGO! DOKI DOKI GHOST!

With his Specter armor adorned, he lowered his hood and attacked the spirit. The Ganma staggered by the blow before throwing a few axes at the Rider and his companions. Basara grabbed Mio to avoid the barrage while Maria helped Nozomi with Specter duck and cover.

When the barrage ended, they peeked and found the Ganma missing but a glimpse of it outside showed it was escaping.

Not on his watch.

"You guys watch over Nozomi, I'll go after the Ganma!" Specter said to them.

"Be careful, senpai!"

The Ganma ran in retreat after the failure of obtaining the Eyecon of Robin Hood. He had to inform his majesty but was sure he would be disappointed in the failure. 'Damn it all!'

The sound of a gunshot suddenly halted his progress, making the spirit conjure its barrier, protecting itself. By the trees was Specter with his GanGunHand aimed, the barrel smoking from the recent gunshots it released.

"You are not going anywhere, Ganma." Specter hissed. He pulled the trigger, allowing the Ganma to protect itself with its barrier. Now it annoyed the phantom rider to the point he fired as many rounds as he could at the kaijin but failed miserably.

"Hahahaha! Your shots have no effect on my barrier!" The spirit threw several axes at the Rider.

"Damn it!" Specter took cover behind the tree. He could feel each weapon hit the tree. Wood splintered off from each impact, no doubt intending to knock down the tree onto him.

He grunted at the next impact. Reaching to his Eyecon collection, he observed each one he owned. While Edison and Nobunaga provided good firepower, he wasn't sure it would be enough to get through the Ganma's defenses.

Reaching into his jacket, he presented the Robin Hood Eyecon. "Okay, let's try this out."

Pressing the Eyecon, he opened the Ghost Driver and replaced the Specter Eyecon with the newly obtained Eyecon.

EYE!

BATCHIRIMIRO! BATCHIRIMIRO!

With the new parka flying around the tree Specter hid, it gave the rider the opening to initiate the form change. Gripping the lever, he pulled before pushing it back.

KAIGAN! ROBIN HOOD!

HELLO! ARROW! MORI DE AOU!

With the change made, the Parka was now snugly in place. The Parka's twin belts that acted as hands twisted back and hung from behind like tassels, while the mask locked into place. The Bow and strine making eyes like a domino mask, and the arrow accenting it like a nose almost.

Now equipped with the new Damashii, Specter aimed his rifle at the spirit. He pulled the trigger to fire several projectiles at his enemy but when it landed, it only hit the barrier once again as the firepower didn't seem to have changed at all.

"The GanGunHand is still not given the right boost?! How am I supposed to beat that damn spirit?!"

"Enrique!" Yurusen called out, earning the human's attention. "Bring out your GanGunSaber and turn it into its gun function! This little guy will do the rest!"

"My Saber?" Specter repeated in confusion before he turned Condor Denwor as it squawked at him and the Phantom Rider nodded. "Got it!"

Specter made the rifle vanish to replace it with his GanGunSaber. With the blade in hand, he changed it into a gun and then the Condor attached itself into the front of the gun forming a bow with it.

"So this is Condor's weapon function." The phantom rider noted. "Let's hope this weapon form works!"

At first he thought his arrow would hit but the crimson barrier held.

"Are you kidding me?!" Specter grunted when the axe grazed his shoulder. He rolled to the right, avoiding more of the projectiles.

How was he going to damage the damn Ganma if it has its barrier to protect itself?! This was getting him nowhere! It was really pissing him off!

On his waist, the Eyecon of Robin Hood glimmered, its power reaching into the young man's soul.

The Rider's eyesight suddenly changed, his ears under his helmet picking up the sound of the faint wind against his coat. The coat was enhancing his eyesight and hearing? It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the sharpness of the sights but he noticed something about the Ganma that finally caught his undivided attention. With a sharp gaze, he watched the Ganma throw its weapons continuously and for that split second, he saw it.

When it threw the next axe, the barrier created a small gap to allow the Ganma to launch its barrage.

'There it is!'

He took cover one last time, taking deep breaths. "Okay… Here goes nothing!" Getting out of cover, Specter pulled the bow and aimed. When the crack appeared, he released his hold and allowed the energized arrow to hit the Ganma in the center. The spirit belted out a painful grunt with disbelief.

"H-How?!" The Ganma ripped the arrow of its torso. "Damn you Specter!!"

Axe after axe the Ganma threw them at the archer. The green Rider began to take evasive maneuvers while firing each arrow at his opponent whenever it threw an axe at him.

As the fight was ongoing, Basara, Nozomi, Mio, and Maria caught up to Specter, witnessing the fight. They noticed Specter was finally having the upper hand.

Each arrow landed, the Rider himself excelling in the use of archery. His aim made its mark with every shot. As if the Eyecon had made him an archer akin to Robin Hood.

With the attacks finally weakening the Gamma, it knew it would lose. Its blue eyes looked at the human and frustratingly began to retreat. Specter simply watched it leave much to the shock of his friends.

However, for Specter, he knew what to do. "Let's finish this."

DAI KAIGAN! GAN GAN MINA! GAN GAN MINA!

Specter took a deep breath as he raised the bow up into the air as green light began to pool around the Condor head. He then slowly drew back a string, as the energy began to pulse even brighter. As the phantom rider aimed the weapon at the retreating Ganma, the large symbol formed in front of the weapon.

GAN GAN MINA! GAN GAN MINA! GAN GAN MINA!

"Senpai, that Ganma is retreating!" Basara exclaimed.

"I know." Specter kept his focus as three fingers tightly held the powered arrow.

"S-Shouldn't you do something?!" Mio was next to ask.

"I am." He felt the wind brush against his coat, feeling the pressure it held. His shielded gaze briefly saw the sky and the sun slightly casting his shadow from behind. His ears could faintly hear the rapid footsteps of the Ganma retreating in the distance with the Eyecon's help.

"But-!"

"Wind will not deter the arrow's course. The sun is facing me from the west, providing a cast of shadow but also blinding the Ganma should it look at my direction." The Rider stated calmly, earning puzzlement until the realization kicked in.

He was allowing it to run so he could watch it flee for its life. To watch its retreat become futile. It was cruel.

With everything now set, he hummed to himself.

"Let the arrow sing through the air with justice." Specter announced as he let go of the string of light while pulling the trigger at the same time.

OMEGA STRIKE!

The arrow flew through the air, catching up to the fleeing Ganma until the arrow caught up to it much to its horror.

They all witnessed and heard an explosion from the trees, signifying the Ganma's death.

"With that, the Axe Ganma is no more."

"Kinda cruel don't you think?" The succubus inquired, earning a small glare from the American.

"With what it did to Nozomi, what its kin did to me, it deserved it."

After the battle, Enrique and his friends were standing with Nozomi as they were looking at the log cabin. With the Ganma gone, the situation is finally resolved. The phantom rider looked at Nozomi. "What are you going to do now?" He asked.

The young woman took a deep breath but smiled. "I plan to turn myself in." Enrique's brows furrowed slightly.

"So you are okay with it?" He asked and Nozomi nodded.

"I wish to make up for the wrongs I have done." Her attention turned to Mio and her two relatives. "I apologize for what I've done to you, Mio-chan."

The redhead shook her head. "It's okay." She smiled thinly. "I… know where you are coming from." She understood how Nozomi felt upon losing her father before her eyes. She knew the feeling all too well. "Be careful okay?"

Nozomi nodded in gratitude which made Enrique smile a bit but hearing Mio's words, it seemed he and Nozmi weren't alone regarding what they've experienced. It's a small world upon learning the revelation regarding his kouhai. His focus was drawn away when the reporter stepped over to him.

"Thank you for everything, Enrique-san." The young reporter thanked him. She moved close to him before the Phantom Rider felt her lips against his cheek. Basara looked away while Mio blushed and Maria held back a laugh when she saw Enrique's beet red face. Yurusen on the other hand whistled at it. She said her goodbyes to him before leaving.

The second-year student tried to say something but couldn't. Honestly, he didn't know what to say. He heard snickers, which made him look back at his friends, seeing the mischievous grins from the succubus and ghost.

"Who knew she took a liking to you," Maria teased.

"Talk about being suave." Yurusen laughed in agreement.

"I-It's not like that!" He denied.

"You sure~? First the nurse and now her? Man, talk about being a chick magnet! Just like in those harem anime!"

"Yurusen!" He tried to grab the small ghost but Yurusen evaded. "You get back here so I can wring your neck again!"

"Nope~! I am taking note of this for my amusement!" Yurusen waved and poofed away.

Enrique grumbled and looked at Basara and Mio. "See what I mean? This is what I deal with from him almost every day."

The two first-years glanced at Maria who laughed nervously. "We know how you feel." The two agreed.

"Now if you guys excuse me, I better head home. The same should go for you three as well." Their senior stated and headed to his motorcycle.

With Enrique gone, Maria crossed her arms. "I still find it cruel that he had to do that to a Ganma."

"They are evil spirits. Can you blame him for what it did to Nozomi-san?" Mio retorted but her face scrunched slightly bitterly. "But… you do have a point."

Basara however contemplated the way Specter acted once again. The Rider's hatred was evident that there was something the Ganma did to him in the past to develop such vengeance. He understood Nozomi regarding loss. He may be protecting the people he met, but it didn't hamper his focus on killing any Ganma in his way to obtain the Eyecons.

He felt the hair in the back of his neck rise and immediately looked across the field, staring at the trees.

"Basara-san?" Maria noticed his alert look, staring at the trees from the other side.

"I thought someone was watching us."

Maria cocked an eyebrow and looked at Basara's direction. Alas she saw nothing but given the Ganma's capabilities of remaining spiritually invisible, she couldn't lower her guard like him. The girl stared before she shrugged. "It's probably nothing."

Basara could only watch the tree before he followed Maria and Mio, leaving the area.

With everyone gone, someone moved away and hummed. It was the young man from before - Alain and his bodyguard.

"Seems that the Hero has keen eyes to be aware." Alain hummed.

"But Alain-sama, Specter has gained an Eyecon and another one of our own has been defeated." His bodyguard informed. "If those two demons and Hero are assisting Specter, we must take matters seriously."

"Rest assured, we will in time." The young man raised an Eyecon he recently obtained. "With another Eyecon in our grasp, we are becoming even with Specter. It's only a matter of time before the next phase begins."

"As you wish."

A/N: Now our protagonist has obtained another Eyecon but the enemy has also obtained one as well. Only time can tell as to who will gather the most and who will take the other half. Regarding some stuff, as I mentioned before, I will do my best in updating my stories. Typing them and working isn't easy as it sounds especially with my job being serious. With that said I want to wish you all a happy holidays! Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review this chapter! Until then, stay in the shadows everyone!