Dave stumbled backward, his mind racing as he struggled to block his sister's relentless attacks. Every punch she threw came from a place of confusion and brainwashed obedience, and each one broke his heart further. He had to find a way to save her, but how? Helios had turned her into his puppet, stripping her of her free will.
Between dodging her strikes, Dave called out to the system in desperation.
"System, is there a way to cure her? Please, tell me there's a way to free her from this nightmare."
The system's familiar voice rang in his mind, calm and steady despite the chaos surrounding him.
"You have two options, Dave," it said. "The first is to use your mind control ability on your sister. You are strong enough to overwrite Helios' influence, but it will not completely erase his hold on her. She will still be under your control as well, and the prolonged use of mind control on a family member could lead to significant mental strain or permanent damage."
Dave's heart sank. Using his powers on Emily could break her even more. But then the system continued.
"Your second option is to restrain her, lock her away temporarily, and seek out Helios. If you capture him, you can interrogate him and discover exactly how he brainwashed your sister. With this information, I can better analyze her condition and possibly reverse it. However, be aware: Helios will attempt to kill himself or evade questioning if he believes he's been caught. You will need to either outsmart him or use your mind control ability on him as well."
Dave's fists clenched at the thought. Helios had already caused so much harm, not just to Emily but to countless others. Capturing him would be no easy task, but it seemed like the only way to ensure that Emily could be free without risking further damage to her mind.
His sister's latest attack brought him back to the present. She swung her fist toward him, her face blank and devoid of emotion. Dave stepped back, barely managing to avoid the blow, his chest tightening with sorrow.
"Emily, please, just stop!" he pleaded. But his words fell on deaf ears.
"System," Dave said through gritted teeth, "if I choose to lock her up for now, what can I do to keep her from hurting herself or anyone else?"
"In the store, you can purchase a special chain designed to suppress superhuman abilities," the system replied. "This chain will nullify her powers and prevent her from using any abilities to escape or cause harm. It will also limit her movements, ensuring she remains safe and under control until you can free her."
Dave hesitated. The idea of chaining his sister felt cruel, inhuman even. But it was either that or risk her hurting herself—or worse, others. He couldn't afford to let Helios keep controlling her while he tracked him down.
"Purchase the chain," Dave ordered.
Within seconds, the system notified him of the transaction, and the special superhuman suppression chain appeared in his inventory. He didn't waste any time. As Emily launched herself at him again, Dave stepped to the side, and in one swift motion, he threw the chain around her wrists and ankles.
The moment the chain touched her, a faint glow enveloped her body, and she crumpled to the floor, her powers completely nullified. Emily struggled for a moment, her movements weak and disoriented, but the chain held firm. She looked up at him, still blank and unaware of who he was.
"Brother…?" she whispered faintly, her voice sounding almost like her old self for just a moment before the haze returned.
Dave's chest tightened. Seeing his sister like this, beaten and brainwashed, was almost too much to bear. He knelt beside her, gently brushing a lock of hair from her face.
"I'm sorry, Emily," he whispered. "I swear, I'll fix this. I'll bring you back."
Emily didn't respond. Her eyes glazed over once more, the remnants of Helios' control still clouding her mind. Dave stood up, taking a deep breath to steady himself. His mind was already racing with plans.
Helios had to pay for what he'd done. But more than that, he had to find a way to save his sister. Locking her up was only a temporary solution. If he didn't capture Helios soon, Emily might never be free again.
Dave tapped into the system, activating the teleportation skill to transport his sister back to a secure location, far from any potential danger. In an instant, they were in his home. The room was dark, quiet—safe. He gently laid Emily down on the bed, securing her with the chain one last time. As much as it pained him, it was the only way to keep her safe until he found a cure.
"I'll be back soon, Emily," he promised softly. "I won't rest until I make Helios pay and free you from this nightmare."
With that, Dave stood up, his heart hardening with resolve. He activated his teleportation skill once again, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone—back to the base, back to where Helios had fled.
The hunt had begun, and Dave wouldn't stop until he had Helios in his grasp.