"Damn, there are too many..." Luv thought, watching the puppets swarm around them. (There were only a few when we arrived, but now they're everywhere, like an army. Even the ceiling collapsed and fell under the pressure. And thanks to them, I've got a sore back from that nasty fall.)
Luv glanced at the bystanders, who were frantically running for cover. (I'm so going to get an earful from the president for letting civilians witness this mess.)
"Luv, behind you!" Zack shouted, slashing at a puppet with his sword.
Luv spun around, but the puppet's blade was already coming down on him. But then—whoosh—Kaia kicked the puppet to the side, sending it tumbling away.
"That was close," Kaia said, catching her breath.
Luv blinked, looking at her. "Wait... You're Kaia?" He squinted at her. "You... you look different from your picture."
Kaia raised an eyebrow, completely unbothered. "What's with this generation? Can't recognize real beauty?" She tossed her hair dramatically. "But hey, I saved your life, so I guess that makes us even."
"Yeah, thanks," Luv said, his tone flat as ever. He clearly wasn't that impressed.
Zack pushed away the puppet attacking him, quickly scanning the area. He spotted Luv talking to Kaia amidst the chaos and paused, a confused look on his face. (I was worried about him, and now he's busy talking to a girl? That one hell of a perverted bastard.)
"Hey!" Kaia called out, glaring at Luv's oversized blazer. "Why are you dressed like that? This is no time for a fashion show!"
Luv flushed red. "I have my reasons, okay?" He crossed his arms, defensive. "And I'm a Splinter."
Kaia's eyes narrowed. "Oh, you're a Splinter? Then why don't you just use your magic to stop these puppets?"
Luv scoffed. "Don't order me around? My ego's hurt now. No magic for you." (This girl doesn't know me. If I were to use magic, this whole city would blow up.) He thought as a grin appeared on his face.
"Oh really? That weak?" Kaia grinned.
"Hey! You're the weak one!" Luv shot back.
"I'm not even a real one," she retorted, giving him a smug look.
Before they could keep bickering, Yona stepped forward, cutting them off. "Alright, enough. Both of you."
Luv looked surprised to see her. "Yona? What are you doing here?"
"Same thing as you, apparently," Yona replied, her voice calm as always. "Now, step aside."
Yona raised both hands, murmuring an incantation. A glowing magic circle appeared beneath her feet, and the ground beneath them rumbled as water began rising.
"Is this... water?" Kaia asked, looking around as it quickly reached their knees.
Yona nodded, her voice steady. "I hereby command the five heavenly gates to clear the path."
The water surged, wrapping around the puppets, crushing them under its weight. It was like the water had a mind of its own.
"See that?" Kaia said, giving Luv a playful side-eye. "Learn something?"
Luv clapped, impressed. "As expected from the Dove Splinter."
Just then, a spear flew toward Kaia. Before she could react, Luv pushed her out of the way, taking the brunt of the attack himself. The spear scraped past his arm, leaving a deep wound.
"Hey!" Kaia exclaimed, catching him before he fell. "Why did you take that hit? I am an immortal, I would have survived that."
Luv winced, laughing through the pain. "Immortal? So you already know about your condition but didn't tell us? But I'll admit, that did hurt."
Kaia immediately ripped a piece of her sleeve and wrapped it around his wound. "Stop being reckless. I recently found out so I didn't get the chance."
Luv winced again. "You should've mentioned the whole 'immortal' thing to the one who made you join the Apostle..."
Kaia flushed, but said nothing.
Yona finished off the last of the puppets, scanning the battlefield. "Who threw that spear?"
Her eyes locked on one puppet, standing apart from the others, wearing an unsettling grin.
Yona quickly targeted it with her magic, but the puppet dodged with surprising speed, flapping its wings to stay in the air. It started to fly away.
Then, another spear shot through the air, piercing the puppet's neck. It fell, coughing up blood, and turned to see the one who had thrown it—Kaia.
Kaia looked down at it coldly. "Take that weapon asshole and leave, don't come again at my friends otherwise the next time I throw it, will doom your ass," she said in a tone that could freeze a river.
The puppet, clearly frustrated, flew off without a word.
Yona turned to Kaia, her voice serious. "These puppets were controlled by black magic."
"Luv!" Zack shouted, rushing toward him. "Are you... okay?"
"I'm fine, just enjoying the view," Luv said, lying on the ground with a dramatic sigh.
Kiki, in a panic, rushed over and tripped, falling onto Luv. "Sorry! I'll get help!"
"Not you too..." Luv groaned, clearly in discomfort.
Chang quickly appeared, lifting Luv in his arms. "We'll take him to the medics."
Cho, who had been watching, couldn't help but comment, "Really? Wrapping up his wound with a dirty cloth? Classy."
Kaia shot him a sharp look. "Keep talking and see what happens."
Luv gave a weak grin. "I feel like a princess," he said, gripping Chang's shoulder. "If I mess up, just have a little chat with me, okay?"
Chang looked bewildered. "What...?"
Zack pointed at Luv, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Just throw him in the trash already."
Meanwhile, Yona stepped closer to Kaia and whispered, "That puppet who flew away... it was human."
Kaia's face darkened. "I know."