I faced off against my own brother, snarling as he laughed wryly. "I still can't believe you'd do this to your friends. What's wrong with you?" I asked to which he answered, laughing 'You were the one that regarded them as friends. To me, they're nothing but hindrances" as he came at me with a punch but just in time, I managed to dodge and counter but I didn't feel my punch connect even though he was clearly standing there.
He laughed and rushed me with a barrage of attacks that I was barely able to avoid when I saw Annabelle move towards my location, making a sign that said "act natural" while she and her friends made to surround him and help me take him down.
I darted around, keeping all his attention on myself as Annabelle, together with Talia and Natalie got into position after which we launched a joint attack at him but still, it didn't connect after which he attacked us four with such speed that we couldn't keep up. As he attacked the others, I made to attack him but he turned at me, punching me just as I kicked. This attack was the first one to connect and this led me to conclude that when he defends, he warps space around himself, nullifying virtually all attacks but he has to undo the warp if he is to attack. With that, I had Talia and Natalie buy us time while I took Annabelle away and told her of my thoughts. She answered me and said "I thought as much. No matter how strong an Irregular is, they are always bound by the rules governing their abilities. Let's do this" as we rushed back.
Talia and Natalie were in such a bad situation when we went back that they immediately collapsed as soon as we landed our first attack. I casted "Infernal Blades: Magma Blast" as I placed my hands on the ground, raining a bunch of swords on him that dripped molten lava as they came out of the ground . Obviously, they won't work but I smiled. I stopped the spell, running towards him for an attack which he dodged and countered. As his punch connected, blasting me quite the distance away, I heard a scream that told me the plan worked. When I returned, I saw that Annabelle had given him a nice sized cut across the back. He was writhing in such pain that even I felt sorry for him. In the midst of his pain, he looked me dead in the eye and said "You don't know what you just did. Be ready to lose all you hold dear, Eric, starting with this school." As he said that, a portal opened around him and he was transported.
As soon as he left, it was like the leash holding back the students under Casper's control was released as they rushed at us, barely leaving us with enough time to dodge which we used wisely. We both stepped away as we looked for an opportunity to attack which seemed impossible with the number of students coming for us at a time.
I fought to the best of my abilities, trying hard to not be overwhelmed as Annabelle took Talia and Natalie away from the fight. When she returned, she slapped my back with something which I didn't see clearly but I suddenly felt re-energized, like the fight before never happened. I then saw that Talia and Natalie were with us, fighting alongside us which made the fight somewhat easier. With their help, I was able to notice that those under Casper's control were fighting with a set pattern so I concluded that they were controlled as though they were a single entity hence I dragged Annabelle and took her away. It was as though she understood since she closed her eyes, concentrating as she fell to her knees while I spoke a single word "SLEEP!" Immediately, every student (myself included) fell to the ground.
When I regained consciousness, I saw myself on a hospital bed with Ivy and Annabelle discussing what seemed extremely important while turning in my direction occasionally. I smiled to myself and asked "What, if I may ask, is so important that you are talking about?" "Oh!" Ivy exclaimed and said "We were just discussing about what to do with you. Anna told me about your falling out with Casper and that he's out for blood so we decided that it's best you don't stay here anymore. Basically, you're coming home with me to stay." "There's no way that can happen. If I were to go home, you guys will be in danger should he attack!" I fired but Ivory would have none of that. After a fierce argument, it was decided (The girls decided) that I'll be staying home with my family.