As the three shadowy figures approached, one of them cried out, "We finally found it, there it is!" The Ghost Reaper's gaze locked onto the figures, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any sign of weakness.

But something odd caught his attention. He stared harder, his eyes scanning the figures. There were only two of them now. The third had vanished.

The Ghost Reaper's eyes widened in surprise, and he spun around, searching the hallway for any sign of the missing figure. That was when he heard the sound of rapid footsteps rushing behind him.

He turned just in time to see a blade whirling towards his face. The Ghost Reaper swiftly staggered back, dodging the blade by mere inches.

As he regained his balance, he glared at the figure standing before him. It was Kinski, his eyes blazing with anger.

"We finally found you, and this time there's no escape!" Kinski spat, his voice venomous.

The Ghost Reaper's laughter was like a cold wind, sending shivers down Kinski's spine. "It's you, brat," he sneered. "I was actually thinking of coming to you so that I could kill you."

Kinski's eyes narrowed, his grip on the blade tightening. "Too bad it ends here for you."

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, growing louder with each passing moment. The Ghost Reaper's gaze snapped towards the sound, his eyes narrowing as he watched Niski and Crinix approach.

Niski's eyes locked onto Kinski, his voice calm. "Do you need help, brother?"

Kinski glanced at Niski and Crinix, a grin spreading across his face. "I was planning on taking him down myself, but if you boys want to join in, be my guest. Just be careful; this thing is dangerous."

The Ghost Reaper's laughter echoed through the hallway, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "So you brats really think you can defeat me?"

His gaze locked onto Kinski, his eyes narrowing. "I must know, how did you brats find me anyway?"

Kinski's grin faltered, his eyes clouding over. "That was simple. We followed the sound of a scream, and it eventually led us to you."

Crinix's eyes widened, his gaze snapping towards Kinski and the Ghost Reaper. "Now that you mentioned it, that scream we heard was Takahishi's scream. I swear, but where is Takahishi?"

The Ghost Reaper's chuckle was low and menacing, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, you mean that brat with the black and white hair? What was his name again? Ta-Takahishi, right?"

Crinix's eyes narrowed, his gaze locked onto the Ghost Reaper. "Wait a sec, don't tell me you killed him?"

The Ghost Reaper's grin spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Well, he's at a better place."

Crinix's face contorted in rage, his eyes blazing with fury. "You monster, you'll pay for that!"

Kinski's voice was low and menacing, his eyes locked onto the Ghost Reaper. "We're too late. He already has the book."

The Ghost Reaper's laughter echoed through the hallway, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "You're all too late, and as for that other brat, he got what he deserved."

Crinix's voice was shaking with rage, his eyes blazing with fury. "So, where is he? Is Takahishi dead? "

The Ghost Reaper's grin faltered, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Calm down, brat. I didn't kill your pathetic friend. Death was too good for him, and I didn't see the fun in killing a weakling like him."

The Ghost Reaper's gaze locked onto the book, his eyes gleaming with malice. "I'll let you guess where he is."

With a slow, deliberate movement, the Ghost Reaper raised the book, tapping on it with his other hand. "For that question, I'll let you guess."

Crinix's face contorted in confusion. "Huh, I don't get it," he cried out.

The Ghost Reaper's laughter echoed through the hallway, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Try harder," he sneered, tapping on the book.

Kinski's gaze snapped to the book, his eyes widening in horror. "Don't tell me you did that?" he asked, his voice trembling with rage.

Niski's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto Kinski. "Huh, what did he do, brother?" he asked.

Crinix's face twisted in confusion. "What's happening here?" he cried out.

Kinski's eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with a deep breath. He opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto Crinix. "It means your friend is inside that book," he explained, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Ghost Reaper's laughter was like a cold wind, sending shivers down Kinski's spine. "That's correct," he sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Crinix's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto Kinski. "Huh, how is that even possible? I thought the book was only able to trap the Ghost Reaper inside?"

Kinski's hand rose, his fingers drumming against his chin as he pondered the question. "Not exactly," he said, his voice thoughtful. "That book was also created to trap any living being inside it."

The Ghost Reaper's laughter echoed through the hallway, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well said, brat," he exclaimed.

Crinix's legs buckled, his knees crashing to the ground. He muttered Takahishi's name, his eyes welling up with tears.

Kinski's gaze snapped to Crinix, his eyes filled with compassion. "Hey, don't lose hope yet," he said, his voice soft. "We can still save your friend."

Crinix's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Kinski. "Is that even possible?" he asked, his voice trembling with hope.

Kinski's nod was swift, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Yes, it is. I have a feeling that your friend is still alive inside that book, and if we get the book, we might be able to free him from it."

Crinix's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto the book. "Free him from inside the book," he muttered.

Kinski's chuckle was low, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yes, we will," he said, his voice confident.

Niski's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto the Ghost Reaper. "I have now figured it out," he exclaimed. "The Ghost Reaper came from inside the book when it opened, so if we open it again, we might be able to free him."

Niski's hand thrust out, his fingers wrapping around Crinix's wrist. "Hey, Crinix, get up," he demanded.

Crinix's gaze snapped to Niski, his eyes filled with gratitude. He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze locking onto the Ghost Reaper.

The Ghost Reaper's laughter was like a cold wind, sending shivers down their spines. "So, you brats think that I'm just going to let you take the book and ruin my plan..."

But his words trailed off, his eyes widening in disbelief. His jaw hung open, his gaze fixed on his empty hand. The book was gone.

Kinski's chuckle was low, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He stood before the Ghost Reaper, the book held aloft in his hand. "Looking for this?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The Ghost Reaper's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto Kinski. "H-how is that possible?" he stuttered. "How did you get it? I didn't even hear you moving. No normal human can move that fast."

Kinski's grin was swift, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Don't you know that lightning travels faster than anything?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kinski's gaze snapped to Crinix, his eyes locking onto him. "Hey, hold this for me," he said, handing him the book.

Crinix's hands closed around the book, his eyes filled with determination.

The Ghost Reaper's face twisted in rage as he staggered back, his chains rattling wildly. "How dare you try to insult me!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "I'll make you all disappear!"

With a swift motion, he pulled back his chains and started swinging them. The chains glowed bright green, their metal links crackling with energy. Kinski, still facing Crinix, was oblivious to the danger lurking behind him. His back and entire body were exposed, vulnerable to the Ghost Reaper's attack.

The chains hurtled towards Kinski, their rattling growing louder. But just as they were about to strike, they stopped, halted by the wall. The impact was tremendous, the wall cracking and breaking apart. The cracks spread, reaching up to the roof, and the entire structure came crashing down.

A loud explosion shook the hallway, the roof crushing down on the ground. Dust filled the air, reducing visibility to almost zero. The Ghost Reaper gazed around, his eyes straining to pierce the dust-filled air. But there was no sign of Kinski, Crinix, or Niski.

A triumphant grin spread across the Ghost Reaper's face as the dust finally settled. "There's no way those brats could have survived that," he told himself, his eyes scanning the desolate hallway.