After confirming Haru standing stiffly in the room, Kang Sihyun and his companions finally realized where the acrid smell of blood that had been pricking their noses was coming from.
The jacket he wore was torn to shreds, no longer serving its purpose as outerwear, and his white shirt was stained red in places, giving off a chilling vibe. There was more blood spattered on his face than not. His shoes were torn apart, and his body was covered in wounds, looking like someone who had just returned from a battlefield.
Everyone froze at the sight of him, drenched in blood. A dangerous aura seemed to emanate from the boy, an aura not typical of Haru. It was stronger, more malevolent. Kang Sihyun realized which of Gula's offspring the phrase he remembered was referring to.
It was Septimus.
Crack.
As Haru turned to look at Kang Sihyun, it sounded unnaturally like forcing the neck of a doll to turn, despite it clearly being a person's movement. His eyes were a blurry red. Hamin sensed something was off and tried to approach Haru.
"Hey, Ban Ha―!"
"Don't go!"
"……."
With a shout, the boy moving towards them stopped. The voice that hit the wall echoed back softly. Kang Sihyun stretched out his hand to Hamin, pulling him back, and bit his lip.
"Everyone, wait. Don't approach recklessly."
Although they didn't understand why, those who had previously been helped by Kang Sihyun and Pia to escape from Septimus's illusion followed his words. Kang Sihyun gnashed his teeth as he stared at Haru, standing still like a broken doll.
If Septimus really was a puppeteer Irregular, then Haru was currently in a puppet state.
Not saying a word even when looking at him, Haru's dazed, absent-minded state was proof enough.
"It seems like Haru isn't in his right mind, right?"
Hahyuk, feeling the same, raised his sword and asked. Kang Sihyun opened his mouth to the companions who were curious about the situation.
"Among Gula's children, there is one who can control puppets."
"Is that what this dungeon creature is about?"
"It seems likely. Maybe if we hadn't escaped from the fog earlier, we would have turned into puppets like this."
Or perhaps after losing a battle with Septimus.
The blood that Haru was covered in, the wounds on his body, were not just there by accident. They were traces of a fierce battle, and Haru's current state was that of someone who had lost. Kang Sihyun swallowed what he was about to say next and gripped his staff tightly. The weapon emitted a clear light as if ready to cut through everything.
He loosened his grip slightly on the staff that boasted a sharp readiness to cut everything.
He shouldn't kill him. Even if he had temporarily lost his self to Septimus, he was still Haru.
"...Let's focus on defense and respond without causing too much harm. We have to subdue him without inflicting serious injuries."
Since the opponent was not an enemy but a comrade, they had to be careful not to swing their swords recklessly. Laotian scoffed at this reminder.
"That guy's out to kill us."
Creak, creak. Haru, observing Kang Sihyun, assumed a stance to charge, gripping his sword. The irrefutable words left Kang Sihyun silently observing the boy's muscle movements. Cold sweat ran down his back.
Screech.
The sound of Haru stepping back was unusually loud. Then, suddenly, the silence broke.
Crash!
Kang Sihyun frowned as he collided with the charging boy. The difference in strength was evident. It had been a long time since he had sparred with Haru, but the sword felt significantly heavier than during their last encounter. The swords clashed, and a clear murderous intent poured over him. Unable to win with sheer strength or murderous intent, Kang Sihyun was pushed back, and Pia on his shoulder let out a cry.
"Screech, pfft!"
The phantom creature flew up and bit into Haru's hair, landing on top of it.
"Try cutting the connection if you can!"
"Pfft, pfft!"
Following the dropped command, Pia earnestly bit at Haru's hair. Or rather, it wasn't the hair; Pia was pecking at thin air.
With Pia's participation, the other companions also joined the battle. Hahyuk took over for Kang Sihyun, who was being overpowered, and Hamin cooperated with him. Kang Sihyun struck from above Haru's head. Pia's pecking at the air made him wonder if that was the weakness, but no matter how much he swung, he didn't feel the sensation of cutting through anything.
Perhaps what was in the air was something only the phantom species could see.
For instance, the control room that Septimus was using to manipulate Haru.
Tch.
There was nothing else to do but to stop Haru now. Realizing this, Kang Sihyun touched the ground.
"Be careful not to get swept away!"
With his warning, blue water poured out from Kang Sihyun's palm, filling the room. The rippling water engulfed the people's feet. Kang Sihyun gripped his shining staff and struck the ground.
Crackle!
The water spread on the floor froze, creating an ice sheet. Kang Sihyun avoided his companions and froze only the water around Haru's feet, restricting his movement.
"……."
The boy, now trapped on the instantly frozen ground, dealt with Hamin and Hahyuk with one hand, while the other hand reached for his waist. Six hidden weapons were revealed in his hand.
Swoosh!
Unable to move his legs, Haru used the hidden weapons as his counterattack. The flying needles and daggers made a sharp sound as they flew, and Kang Sihyun swung his staff. He had intended to create a shield, but someone moved faster.
The dagger, aimed to pierce someone, suddenly floated in the air. Drift, drift, the six daggers, stripped of their murderous intent, gathered in one place and were neutralized. Kang Sihyun turned towards Laotian.
An S-class telekinetic.
His class, which had slipped Kang Sihyun's mind, was vividly recalled.
With a telekinetic on their team, Haru's thrown weapons were no longer a concern.
"Keep intercepting the weapons like that, please!"
Instead of a reply, a frown came back. Kang Sihyun had been worried that Laotian would throw the confiscated weapons back at Haru, but fortunately, Laotian knew how to separate personal feelings from the task at hand. Not acting alone but focusing on cooperation was a relief, so Kang Sihyun slightly relaxed and assessed the battle situation.
Luo Xiang, with an explosion class, stepped back as he couldn't contribute to a battle that needed to be won without causing injury. The swordsman, Wujin, and Songzan, who shared Haru's class, joined the fight. Now, the three, Hamin, Hahyuk, and Songzan, stood against the puppet-like boy.
Clang!
Their swords clashed as if intent on killing. It was more difficult to subdue without causing a single scratch than to kill, so even though three people of near S-class were against Haru, they struggled.
Initially, Haru's abilities weren't that of an ordinary near S-class. Whether Septimus had shared his power or brought out Haru's potential to its fullest, his movements now were similar to those of S-class Hahyuk.
No, perhaps even faster.
Hahyuk had missed him when Haru slipped through the cracked ice.
"Pfft!"
Meanwhile, Pia swiftly moved about, trying to sever the thread Septimus was controlling. If Pia couldn't do it, the situation would remain unchanged. They were strictly on the defense, and Haru attacked recklessly without concern for his own body, making the battle significantly in Haru's favor.
"Pia!"
Calling its name with encouragement and urgency, Pia bit more vigorously at the air. Kang Sihyun frowned as he refroze the breaking ice.
The end was nowhere in sight.
Clash after clash after clash.
Only the sound of colliding impacts filled this battle, and to end it, it would have been better to completely subdue and bind Haru instead of repeating a standoff.
With determination, Kang Sihyun gripped his staff. The staff, shining so brightly it hurt to look at, responded to Kang Sihyun's will, transforming into a form not of a bow or a sword but a rope. Even though he was confident it could transform into any weapon if he wished, he had not been certain it could become a rope, but it proved to be a useful weapon.
Kang Sihyun wrapped the shining rope around his hand and joined the fiercely ongoing battle.
"Let's not just stand off, subdue him! It's okay if we get injured, we can heal, so be bold!"
With the restriction of 'without a single scratch' relaxed to 'without causing fatal injuries,' the three Awakeners confronting him became more active. Hahyuk and Songzan unleashed their full momentum, and Hamin switched the shield in his left hand for a sword, displaying his specialty in dual wielding.
Crash!
"……."
The puppet-like Haru was gradually pushed back. Injuries appeared on his face and arms, and Songzan struck Haru's heel with his sword. Whether he cut a vein or not, Haru's body momentarily twisted and buckled, but he soon stood
up again. What would have been impossible for an ordinary person was made possible by the control room forcing him beyond his limits.
Cowardly bastard.
Kang Sihyun bit back a curse as he saw the blood flowing from Haru's body. The risk of exerting more power than his body could contain would entirely fall on Haru. It wasn't the cursed controller's fault, but the involuntary strength Haru was suffering from.
It was an unfairly harsh situation. He frowned, knowing they needed to restrain Haru sooner.
Ping!
Finally, Hahyuk's sword successfully knocked the dagger Haru was holding far away. The bent dagger flew off, making a sharp noise as it landed. With most of his weapons taken by Laotian and no longer usable, Haru took out the last needle hidden in his wrist.
It was a dangerously long acupuncture needle. Just as Hahyuk was about to strike him down,
Haru suddenly raised his head, and the needle's direction shifted to an unexpected target.
Not towards the companions who had been attacking him up till now, but towards Haru himself.
Damn it!
Realizing that Septimus had decided the puppet's usefulness was over,
"Block it!"
Kang Sihyun shouted as he ran, his neck veins bulging. Hahyuk quickly attempted to knock him down, but Haru's hand was faster. It was inevitable given the short distance.
The sharp tip of the needle gleamed under the artificial light,
"Pfft!"
and was followed by the cry of the phantom creature.
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