"Guess that you're no match for an Average Joe!"
As Katsu's body writhes in pain, his eyes gleam with an unmistakable excitement, a contagious energy that can light up even the darkest of rooms. Beads of sweat drip down his beaming expression, as he sits next to the unconscious form of Henry, triumphantly spewing a torrent of words.
"So, what do you think, huh? HA? HA?" he screams, savagely laughing as he pats his lap, his voice rising with each passing moment. "If you can't beat an Average Joe, then what does that make you? A Super Normal Dude? The King of Townspeople?"
He pauses, waiting for a response, his chest heaving with anticipation. And then, with a sudden burst of energy, he continues, "Ha? Ha? What do you think, tough guy!"
"So even Katsu has a crazy side I see!" As Nobu suddenly appears, Katsu's completely startled, falling back and struggling to comprehend his friend's sudden appearance. "Nobu!" he screams, his heart racing with surprise. "Being unable to sense energy on you is one thing, but at least try making some noise so we could notice you!"
Nobu merely shrugs, his hand under his chin as he nods thoughtfully. "Nah, don't want to," he replies nonchalantly. "I mean, it sounds tiring, so no!"
"Ahem..." Katsu clears his throat, getting back to his usual composed self. "Let me report what's happening then," he says, trying to sound as professional as possible. "Since you're a bit late."
But Nobu can't help but interject, kneeling down and pointing at Katsu with a sly look. "You're more freaky than me!" he exclaims. "How can you become so calm all of a sudden after acting like a jerk a while ago?"
Katsu's irritation is palpable as he slaps Nobu's head, causing a small cry of "Ow" to escape his friend's lips. "Just shut up!" he snaps, his composure slipping momentarily.
"As I stayed here to take care of Henry," Katsu begins, concern etched on his face as he looks down at the man with the pierced chest. "I fear I may have gone too far. I don't even know if he's alive or not."
He turns his gaze to Nobu, his eyes meeting the other man's piercing blue ones as he gestures toward the entrance with a thumb. "As for the others, they went over there. I'm pretty sure they'll be running into Yamato or someone else."
Nobu stands up, stretching his arms as he prepares to leave. "Since you don't need my help, I'll go after the others," he says, his tone confident and determined. "But can you make it back on your own?"
Katsu nods, his expression determined despite his weariness. "Yeah, I'll be fine. But I need to rest a little before I can lift Henry and get him to the masters."
Nobu nods in understanding, his eyes glinting with excitement as he looks toward the entrance. "We have Reina, Satomi, Magnus, and Pipsqueak over there," he says, his voice rising with anticipation. "Oh, except Yamato there's someone else, someone whose presence is new to me."
Without waiting for a response, Nobu darts off toward the entrance, disappearing in a blur of motion and leaving Katsu behind with only the wind as evidence of his passing. The air crackles with energy as Katsu takes a deep breath and marvels, "Well, his speed and presence thingy aren't surprise me anymore," He says, turning his head to Henry, "Guess I got used to them."
Suddenly, with no warning at all, a strange and eerie energy begins pouring out of Henry's body, slowly covering him grotesquely and horrifyingly. Katsu's eyes widen in shock and disbelief as he watches, unable to comprehend what he is witnessing. "What in the world..." he mutters under his breath, his voice trembling with fear.
As the strange matter envelops Henry's entire body, a small demonic maw appears on the surface, sending shivers down Katsu's spine. The maw speaks in a sinister tone, filling Katsu with even more dread. "Well," it begins, "it doesn't feel like you're someone I need to take care of. So, I'll let you be."
Katsu stays frozen, unable to move or speak as he watches the matter shrink away, along with Henry. In a matter of seconds, they both vanish from sight, leaving Katsu alone and bewildered. "What the hell is going on here?" he mutters to himself, his face slick with sweat. "What kind of messed-up stuff are we facing?"
Nobu moves swiftly through the darkened corridors, his senses on high alert. He knows that danger lurks around every corner, and he must be ready for anything. As he approaches a junction, he wishes to reach out to his friends while they're still in good shape. Meanwhile, the other three are still facing Yamato, and they are irritated by his menacing grin and weirdly shaped body.
"Okay, small girl," Yamato growls, his eyes fixed on Sayuri. "I accept your challenge. Let's have some fun and see if these two can rescue your Reina in time!"
Sayuri trembles with fear, childishly holding onto her arm as she slowly walks toward Satomi. "Satomi! Satomi!" cries the girl, her voice tinged with panic. "Yamato is scary! I hate him, I don't want to find a scary dude!"
Satomi chuckles softly, finding the situation amusing. "Why does it feel like a déjà vu scene?" she muses.
"How can you act like a baby when you're in such a situation?" Yamato sneers, his grin still wide. "Alright, just go already, both of you!" he commands, addressing Magnus and Satomi.
As the tense standoff continues, Magnus can feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He can't shake the feeling that Yamato's hiding something, and his guard is up as he prepares for a fight.
"You're not fooling anyone, Yamato," he growls, his fists clenched. "We know you're up to something."
Yamato merely smirks in response, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I'm not trying to fool anyone," he replies smoothly. "I'm simply here to watch the show."
Magnus tenses, ready to launch into action at the slightest provocation. But before he could even take a step forward, Yamato raises his hand and conjures a massive wave of water, sending it hurtling toward them with incredible speed.
"However..." continues Yamato, "If you're not even considering my offer, I'll gladly take the three of you head-on!" For a moment, it seems as though all was lost. But then Sayuri and the others spring into action, moving with incredible speed to dodge the attack.
As the wave crashes against the wall behind them, sending rubble and debris flying everywhere, Sayuri turns to Magnus with a look of amazement on her face."Holy Moly!" Exclaims Sayuri, her eyes wide with shock, "This guy's bad news!"
Yamato sneers at Sayuri, his tone dripping with contempt. "What?" he jeers, launching himself at her with all the force he can muster. "Did you change your mind already?"
"As if!", Sayuri springs into action. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured Shadow Hands, using them to catch Yamato off-guard and throw him into the hole he had just created in the wall.
Without hesitation, she leaps after him, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. She knows that her friends are counting on her, and she's determined not to let them down.
As she descends into the darkness, she can feel the weight of the task before her. But she's not afraid - she knows that with her friends at her side, anything is possible.
"Ouch... My head..." Yamato winces as he rubs the back of his head, a crazed grin plastered across his face as he looks at Sayuri. "Not bad, for someone this tiny," he chuckles, raising his right hand and summoning a powerful water bolt that shoots toward Sayuri.
Despite her best efforts to stop the attack with her Shadow Hands, the water bolt effortlessly passes through them, exploding upon contact with Sayuri. The young mage staggers, her hands instinctively flying to her face to shield it from the blast.
"He has a physical form this time," she mutters under her breath, her eyes fixed on Yamato as he closes in on her. "Unlike what Reina and Nono said, I can see his whole body, and not only the upper part. He's the real deal!"
Yamato's lips curl into a twisted smile as he draws nearer. "So... you'll be entertaining me for a while?" he taunts, his long fingers curling into claws as he prepares for another attack.
"You're calling this fun or something?" Sayuri spits back, her frustration with Yamato's sadistic mindset beginning to boil over.
"Of course it is," Replies Yamato, his arms wrapping around his body in a disturbingly intimate gesture. "As long as I'm facing weaklings, I, Yamato, Warhammer's right arm, will be having fun playing with anyone's life. Sayuri Violra, you're no exception."
Magnus and Satomi sprint through the dimly lit corridors of the dungeon, their hearts pounding with adrenaline as they search for their friend and ally, Reina. They move with incredible speed and agility, dodging traps and obstacles with ease as they race toward their goal.
"We have to hurry!" Magnus shouts, his voice filled with urgency. "We can't let Warhammer get the upper hand!"
Satomi nods in agreement, her eyes blazing with determination. She knows that they are up against a powerful foe, but she's ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As they enter a vast, empty chamber, their senses are suddenly assaulted by the sound of hissing and slithering. In a flash, a dark figure appears before them, summoning a horde of monstrous serpents to attack.
Magnus wastes no time in responding. He summons his gauntlets and infuses them with his own metal, enhancing their strength and durability to incredible levels. With a fierce battle cry, he charges headfirst into the fray, his fists slamming into the slithering beasts with bone-crushing force.
"Satomi!" Screams Magnus calmly as he crushes one of the serpent's heads with his hand. "I think it's time for you to go."
Satomi unsheathes her sword, her eyes ablaze with determination. "Let's take care of him together! Then we'll rescue Reina. We still have time!"
But Magnus shakes his head. "No, we don't have time," he protests, leaping like a gorilla at their foe and attempting to slam him with his right fist. "I can hold him down on my own, no biggy!"
The enemy easily dodges Magnus's attack, and as he does, Magnus reappears in Satomi's field of view again. "And... Reina wants to see you first after all!" he says, his tone playful as he teases her.
Satomi feels a blush creeping up her cheeks at the mention of Reina. She knows that Magnus's just trying to distract her, but she can't help the way her heart races at the thought of seeing her friend again.
"You do know that I'm listening to you, right?" the Summoner sneers as he channels another skill, touching the ground and summoning another huge serpent to attack both Magnus and Satomi.
"Just move already!" Magnus yells, his eyes fixed on the serpent as he readies himself to face the upcoming monster. "I'm sure the others will come and help me! Go straight forward, and you'll find Reina!"
Satomi takes her chance and continues her path, thanking Magnus and the others for the opportunity they have given her. As she flies, she feels a sense of urgency growing within her. She knows that she has to find Reina and save him from the impending danger.
Meanwhile, the summoner closes in on Magnus, a twisted smile on his lips. "So, you're supposed to stop me?" he taunts, gesturing toward the giant serpent he had summoned. "It's okay. I'll take care of you and then go and kill that girl."
"As you wish, Mr. Summoner," Magnus replies with a sly grin spreading across his face. With a sudden burst of energy, he leaps into the air, his fists crackling with metal. "This is beyond strange," Magnus mutters to himself as he flies toward the massive serpent, ready to strike. "He's letting us have our way just like Yamato did. It's as if they're baffling!"
With a fierce roar, Magnus slams his metallic fists into the serpent's scales, sending it reeling backward. The creature hisses and writhed, but the attack was no match for the Summoner and his trusty ally. Magnus's power crackles through the air as he continues to pummel the serpent, each blow stronger than the last.
The Summoner mutters under his breath, his mind racing as he observes the brown-skinned boy before him. "Metal magic," he thinks to himself in amazement. "What a rare and powerful gift."
Meanwhile, Magnus can feel the Summoner's gaze upon him, his discomfort growing with each passing moment. "Oh! Your name's Magnus Irie then, right?" the Summoner asks, his voice trailing off uncertainly.
At the mention of his family name, Magnus feels a sudden surge of anger and frustration. "Don't you dare call me an Irie!" he bellows, his voice echoing across the battlefield. He channels his emotions into a powerful burst of energy, creating a massive metal spear and sending it hurtling toward the serpent with a deafening roar.
The spear struck the creature with a resounding impact, piercing it wide open and causing it to roar in agony. Magnus stands there, panting and sweating, his body tense with emotion. He can feel the Summoner's eyes on him, but he refuses to meet them. Instead, he focuses on the serpent before him, determined to vanquish the creature once and for all as he leaps at it, punching one of its vital organs with a spiked gauntlet.
For a moment, the battlefield falls silent, the only sound the pained groans of the serpent as it lay dying. Magnus is lost in thought, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he's proud of his abilities as a metal mage. But on the other hand, he resents being associated with the Irie clan, a group he views as traitors and cowards.
As the adrenaline rush begins to wear off, Magnus can feel the weight of his actions bearing down on him. He looks up at the Summoner, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Why did you have to bring up my family?" he demands, his voice shaking with emotion. "Don't you know what they did?"
"Ah, I am well aware of their actions," responds the Summoner, pulling back the hood from his head and revealing his identity to Magnus. The mere sight of him causes Magnus to recoil in frustration, taking a few steps back.
"You see, thanks to their alliance with Warhammer, I am able to live and carry out the orders of His Highness," continues the Summoner, his voice dripping with malice. Magnus can't help but notice the familiar symbol etched onto the man's neck: a book bound in human flesh, with pages that whispered secrets of the undead, representing death, decay, and the unholy power of the dark arts - the mark of the Necronomicon.
"Unlike you, I am proud to call myself Tobio Irie," He taunts again, exuding a sinister aura that causes the very earth to crackle and quake beneath their feet. With each passing moment, he channels more and more dense magic into the area, causing the air to thicken with the essence of evil.
"Magnus Iris!" Calls out Tobio, his voice ringing out with a commanding tone as he channels his powerful magic, his long white hair comes alive, moving with the ebb and flow of the energy coursing through him. Each strand seems to take on a life of its own, dancing and swaying in the powerful currents of magic, "What a lovely family reunion we're having here in the Grim Ruins. Truly admirable."
(This chapter appears to be shorter than usual, so sorry for the inconvenience ^^)