Amid the chaos of the battlefield, the workmen charged at the massive robots with their appointed weapons. Despite their courage, they fell swiftly, crushed by gunfire, stomping metal feet, or even the collapse of the towering machines themselves. The Seirei Exorcist group watched in growing worry, their leader, Smith, silent alongside them. The tension was palpable until their boss broke the silence, reassuring them with calm confidence.
"Don't fret. As long as Chida Takahashi is with them, nothing will happen," the boss said.
The revelation left the group perplexed, but it soon became clear. Chida Takahashi, the leader of the workmen, possessed not only the extraordinary Standz ability of immortality, but also unparalleled mastery of Standz pressure and output. These unique powers allowed him to share his immortality with anyone within a five-meter radius.
As proof of his ability, the workmen who had fallen moments earlier began to rise, their injuries vanishing as though they had never been. Bolstered by Chida's powers, they launched a renewed attack on the robots, falling and rising repeatedly as they fought with unrelenting determination.
The Seirei Exorcists breathed a sigh of relief, reassured that the workmen were safe for now. But their relief was short-lived.
"There's a catch," the boss continued. "While Chida can share his immortality, he himself becomes mortal during that time. If he dies, his Standz won't work anymore."
This revelation made the stakes clear. Protecting Chida was paramount. Ninda and Rin were quickly assigned as his personal bodyguards. Chida's powers might be unmatched in their utility, but he was no fighter.
When Rin reached Chida, he tried to warn him to step back, but Chida brushed his hand away with a smirk. "Listen, kid. I've got one rule: I live extreme," Chida said, grinning recklessly before charging at the robots.
"Damn it!" Rin cursed, rushing after him alongside Ninda. Just as a robot's gun fired, Rin raised a sand wall with his Standz ability, blocking the bullet. The impact, however, sent Chida flying backward. Ninda grabbed him by the collar, her annoyance boiling over.
"Listen, old man," she growled. "You want to die, huh? I decline your rule. If you move from this spot again, I swear I'll beat the crap out of you."
Chida smirked at her, seemingly amused, and promised not to move. Rin, still suspicious, handcuffed himself to Chida to ensure he stayed put.
Meanwhile, Kaki, frustrated by his inability to free his master, Damein, from the seal imprisoning him, finally lost his patience. Jumping from a robot's head, he whistled for his jetpack, which caught him mid-air. Without hesitation, he flew toward the seal room hidden beneath the hospital now under his control.
Mark, ever watchful, noticed Kaki's movement and sprang into action. Miwafe, acting quickly, created an ice slide that Mark used to launch himself into the air, intercepting Kaki on the jetpack. The collision sent them both crashing through walls, but Kaki's auto-shield activated just in time to protect him. Mark, however, bore the brunt of the impact, wincing in pain.
Kaki grinned at the wounded Mark, tossing him off mid-air. As Mark fell, he managed a desperate kick, knocking Kaki's jetpack off course. Mark landed near Vanessa, who rushed to his side, concerned.
"I'm fine," Mark insisted, brushing her off. "Kaki's on his way. We need to move."
But Vanessa shook her head. "We can't leave. We must protect the seal. Damein cannot return."
Mark couldn't understand her resolve. "You'd risk your life for a seal?" he asked incredulously before picking her up forcefully.
Vanessa struggled against him, urging him to stay. "Stop with the dramatics, or I'll leave you here," Mark snapped.
Before their argument could escalate, Kaki arrived, furious. This time, he wasn't aiming for the seal. He was aiming for Mark. The jetpack propelled him forward at full speed, slamming into Mark and Vanessa, sending them crashing through the roof.
Mark shielded Vanessa with his body, absorbing the impact to keep her unharmed. Vanessa hurried to check on him as he coughed up blood, but Kaki discarded his jetpack and descended to confront Mark directly.
"You standz-less freak," Kaki spat, raining blows on Mark.
Vanessa tried to intervene, grabbing Kaki's arm, but he flung her aside effortlessly. Her distraction gave Mark just enough time to land a powerful punch, sending Kaki flying with a nosebleed.
Kaki wiped his face, smiling darkly. "You risk your life to protect these Seireis—spirits that bring danger wherever they go. I don't get it."
Mark, still defiant, sneered back. "I don't care about them. I'm not stupid enough to put their lives above mine. But I've got people depending on me. And once I beat your ass, I'm demanding triple pay for this job."
Kaki frowned, surrounding himself with floating weapons and aiming them at Vanessa.
"If it's just about money, then you won't mind if I kill her," Kaki said coldly, snapping his fingers.
The weapons fired in unison. Vanessa closed her eyes, bracing for the end, but the bullets never reached her. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see Mark shielding her with his body, now riddled with bullets. He collapsed, lifeless, at her feet.
Kaki laughed. "You talk big, but all you cared about was protecting her. How pathetic."
Vanessa sobbed quietly, cradling Mark as the Seirei Exorcists glanced toward the sound of gunfire, their expressions tense but unable to leave their battle.
Inside the seal, Damein heard the gunfire and smirked. "That must be Kaki," he said confidently.
Kyoka, calm and unbothered, stood and approached the seal wall. Damein watched him, puzzled.
"What are you doing?" Damein asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
Kyoka smiled faintly, placing his hand on the seal. "This seal was made with a powerful Standz ability. Lucky for me, I can nullify Standz. I've been saving this ability to break out. It'll only take two minutes of escaping cause the standz pressure is extremely high."
Damein frowned, mocking Kyoka. "You fool. You can't leave me behind. Don't forget who's in charge here."
Kyoka smiled, unbothered by Damein's taunts. "You're losing your composure. It doesn't suit you."
With that, Kyoka activated his ability, nullifying the seal. While Damein attempted to follow, the remaining barriers held him back. Kyoka escaped alone, leaving Damein seething with rage.
Unconscious, Mark found himself in a lonely, white street, unsure if he was alive or dead. As he wandered, a familiar figure appeared, startling him.
"Who are you?" Mark asked.
The man smiled. "Kyoka Carter (pulsed for a while) but you can call me Dad".