Ultimate Evolution I Became the Master of the World
Chapter 46 The Identity of the Ghost

Hearing footsteps getting closer, Michael quickly covered Jane's mouth, switched off the flashlight, and motioned for her to stay quiet. Jane, way sharper than the kids at school, got the hint right away. She didn't make a peep and even held her breath.

With the flashlight off, the restroom was pitch black, and the silence was downright creepy.

But in the dark, those footsteps sound were crystal clear.

No doubt about it, someone was walking into the restroom, nice and steady.

Whoever it was didn't bother with a flashlight or phone light, and didn't say a word, just like a regular person using the restroom. Michael could feel the presence of the person outside.

Jane felt it too. Her eyes were wide open, filled with fear.

'Did the footsteps stop?' Michael's face changed a bit as he noticed the footsteps had stopped, meaning the person had halted. From the sound, he guessed the person was standing by the first stall.

'What's this guy up to? Just using the restroom? Should I check it out?' Michael thought.

But after thinking it over, he decided against it.

If it was a ghost, he'd have to use his ghost powers to protect himself, which would be a waste.

Not worth it.

Just then, a loud crash echoed through the restroom, like a door being busted open.

The first stall door had been kicked in.

Jane was shaking all over, and if she hadn't been covering her mouth, she would've screamed.

As the noise died down, the footsteps started again, echoing through the restroom.

After a few steps, the person stopped in front of the second stall.

Another loud crash, and the second stall door was busted open. You could hear the faint sound of a water tank breaking and water spraying. Silence again. Then the footsteps continued.

The person outside moved to the third stall.

Jane was trembling, eyes shut tight, scared out of her mind.

She knew whatever was out there wasn't human-it had to be the ghost.

There were only five stalls, and the ghost would find them soon.

She was sure they were doomed.

'Is that thing after me?' Michael felt the person outside getting closer, opening each stall one by one, searching.

Another loud crash, the fourth stall door was opened.

'No choice, if it's after me, I have to fight it,' Michael sighed. He took a deep breath, let go of Jane's mouth, and turned to face the stall door.

As soon as the door opened and he saw the ghost, he'd use his ghost powers without hesitation.

Jane felt Michael stand up and, with a sudden burst of courage, she quickly stood up too, hugging Michael tightly from behind, refusing to let go.

"Please, take me with you. I don't want to die. I'll do anything. If we get out of here, I can be your girlfriend, sleep with you," she pleaded, her voice trembling, afraid Michael would leave her behind. "Shut up," Michael whispered sternly.

"Okay!" Jane bit her lip, staying silent, though she was shaking with fear.

At that moment, Michael couldn't help but admire her. She was smart, sensing he could protect her, so she was willing to do anything for him.

But he had no time to focus on her now.

His face was serious, listening to the sounds outside.

"It's coming!" he felt it.

Right outside the stall, just a thin wooden door between them.

A faint smell of decay wafted in, just like the smell he encountered when he first arrived at the mall a few days ago, but not as strong. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed, and the thin wooden door of the stall took a massive hit, almost shattering on impact.

The force nearly knocked Michael and Jane, who was clinging to him, backward until they hit the wall.

The door slowly creaked open a crack.

Through the gap, it was still pitch black outside, and they couldn't see a thing.

Michael could sense the ghost was right there. But without light, he couldn't see it clearly.

'Not coming in right away? Looks like it stopped,' Michael thought. He almost used his demon's eyes but held back.

Since the ghost didn't rush in to kill, it meant neither he nor Jane was its main target.

That was important.

Michael stared into the darkness, staying still.

As long as the ghost outside didn't make a move, he wouldn't use his demon's eyes.

So, they were in a standoff, separated by a slightly open door.

Michael stayed silent and still, and the ghost outside did the same.

Everything was at a standstill.

But just to be safe, Michael slowly reached out and closed the door.

Still no movement outside, which meant the ghost wasn't after them.

Just when Michael thought it was over...

Jane, feeling cramped, shifted slightly.

And then...

The door was hit again, almost flying open.

"Damn it, it's back," Michael muttered, blocking the door.

Jane, scared but not dumb, rushed forward to help hold the door.

The hits got stronger, each one more intense. Several times, the door almost gave way, but Michael managed to keep it shut.

He started thinking about using the Ghost Realm.

'Wait, why did the ghost only act when Jane moved?' he wondered.

"Don't use your back, turn around," Michael shouted, grabbing Jane and turning her.

As soon as she turned, the noise outside lessened and then stopped.

Everything went quiet.

'So that's it,' Michael thought, surprised.

He'd figured out the ghost's condition for killing.

The calm lasted a while.

The ghost outside didn't move, making Michael more confident in his theory.

'Since Jane and I don't meet the ghost's killing conditions, and it hasn't started killing randomly, its threat level is only C, restricted,' he thought. The ghost outside started moving again.

This time, it wasn't coming for them but heading toward the restroom exit.

The footsteps grew fainter.

The ghost gave up on Michael and Jane, looking for other targets.

'Is it leaving? But I need to know who it is,' Michael thought.

His eyes lit up. He quickly took out his phone, turned on the camera, and stuck it outside the stall, snapping a picture in the direction of the footsteps. The flash went off.

"What are you doing? You might attract it back!" Jane whispered, pinching Michael.

"Taking a picture. I need to know who the ghost is. You said Emily is the ghost, but I saw her yesterday, alive. If she's really a ghost, I should capture her image, even a part of her," Michael said calmly. "This is my business. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."

But when he looked at the photo, he was stunned.

"Impossible, how could it be him?" he gasped.

The photo didn't show the ghost's full face, just less than half its body, with the rest hidden by the restroom's corner.

And that half was wearing a security uniform, just like his own.