Chapter 22: The Puppet Master
Kaito's scream tore through the battlefield.
"AARGHH—!!"
The water spear pierced through his leg, blood spilling instantly as his body trembled violently. Veins began spreading beneath his skin—dark, unnatural, crawling upward.
Everyone froze.
Tokita's eyes narrowed.
"…An ability user?"
Natsuki still covered in rubble,his voice dropped.
"But… how?"
They could sense aura. That was how they identified each other.
But Hoshina ?
Nothing.
No presence. No signal.
Aoi's eyes sharpened.
He hid it…
If he can hide his aura… how strong is he?
Before she could warn the others—
The spear vanished from Kaito's leg.
Then shot toward her.
CLANG!
Aoi sliced it in half instantly.
Water splashed across the ground.
"So your ability is—"
Hoshina disappeared.
He reappeared behind her.
Fist already moving.
"Water manipulation, right?"
She couldn't react.
BOOM!!
A shockwave exploded.
Glass shattered across the entire area.
Tokita stood there—
Gripping Hoshina's fist mid-strike.
Aoi staggered back.
Tokita tightened his grip.
The air cracked.
Hoshina retreated immediately,eyes flickered.
"…You're fast."
His hand trembled slightly.
Tokita's voice was cold.
"…What did you do to him?"
Behind them—
Kaito collapsed, shaking violently.
The veins spread further.
His body was breaking.
Hoshina chuckled.
"If you want to find out…"
He smiled.
"…fight me."
Tokita vanished.
He reappeared instantly—
Driving an uppercut toward Hoshina—
Hoshina slid back—
But Tokita adjusted—
Dropped low—
Spun—
BOOM!!
A devastating kick slammed into Hoshina's chest.
He was launched—
Through a car—
Through a building—
Through multiple structures—
Before crashing violently into another.
Silence.
Dust filled the air.
Then—
Water surged.
Hoshina reappeared.
Dodging Tokita's next strike.
He raised his hand.
Water from a nearby tank condensed—
Compressed—
Forming dozens of high-speed projectiles.
They fired.
Tokita dodged—
Again—
Again—
Again—
But something was wrong.
The water didn't stop.
It struck—
Bounced—
Struck again.
"…It hits multiple times…" Tokita muttered.
He stepped back carefully.
Kaito,Aoi and Nezuko was nearby.
One mistake—
And he'd hit them.
Elsewhere—
Aoi and Nezuko knelt beside Kaito.
"Kaito! Stay with me!"Nezuko shouted.
"It's like some kind poison o- or parasite-damn it!,I seriously don't know what to do right now!?"
Nezuko lifted his trouser.
The veins had spread across his leg.
Even higher.
Kaito finally opened his eyes,Aoi and Nezuko were both relieved to see him awake."are you okay,is the pain still spreading!" Nezuko and Aoi shouted simultaneously
"I… can't control it…run."kaito said quietly.
Then—
Silence.
Kaito stood up.
Slowly.
Lifeless.
His eyes—
Glowed blue.
He began to walk towards where Hoshina and Tokita where engaging in battle.
Hoshina smiled.
"…Perfect."
He waved.
Kaito waved.
He turned.
Kaito mirrored him.
He raised a finger—
Kaito did the same.
Nezuko, Aoi, Natsuki and Tokita froze.
"...n-no way..."Nezuko spoke as her voice trembled.
"Holy sh*t,his controlling kaito like a puppet!?"Natsuki shouted annoyingly.
Rage filled them—
But they couldn't attack.
If they did—
Kaito would take the damage.
Hoshina smirked.
"bring the yellow haired girl alive,kill the rest."
The ground began to tremble.
Rubble rose.
Cars lifted.
Then—
Buildings And Cars.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Entire buildings tore from the ground.
Floating in the air.
Natsuki's eyes widened.
"…He was holding back…?"
Even Hoshina was impressed.
"…What a monster."
Kaito pointed.
The buildings launched.
"NATSUKI!" Tokita shouted.
Natsuki moved instantly—
Grabbing Aoi and Nezuko—
Dashing away at full speed.
Tokita stepped forward.
Clenched his fists.
The first building came crashing down—
He caught it.
The ground shattered beneath him.
With raw force—
He swung it—
BOOM!!!
The building collided mid-air with the others—
Cars exploded—
Structures shattered—
A massive explosion consumed everything.
Smoke filled the battlefield.
Then—
A water barrier formed.
Rotating.
Shielding.
It faded.
Hoshina stood there.
Unharmed.
"…Don't worry," he said calmly.
"I won't let anything happen to him."
His eyes locked onto Tokita.
"…He's useful."
Elsewhere—
Natsuki ran—
Carrying both girls—
Then—
BOOM!
The explosion caught him.
Rubble slammed into his back.
"GO—!"
He threw them—
Into a subway entrance—
CRASH!!
The entrance collapsed.
Sealing the girls inside.
"Are you girls okay?" Natsuki shouted.
"I'm fine!" Nezuko replied.
"…Me too," Aoi added.
Natsuki turned—
Ready to break them out—
"Stop," Aoi said.
He paused.
"You need to help Tokita."
"…We'll find a way out."
Silence.
"…Don't die," Natsuki muttered.
He vanished.
Back on the battlefield—
While Tokita was engaging Hoshina and Kaito in battle.
A mysterious figure appeared-
Grabbing kaito's face and throwing kaito through a building."dude, you know I'm cool with you and all that plus your being controlled right now but...who the hell do you think you are to hurt my sister."said Natsuki while having an annoyed expression.
Hoshina noticed immediately and tries to counter attack but-
Natsuki vanished.appeared besides Hoshina and grabs his jaw.
NATSUKI looking at Hoshina with a cold expression.
"…You m*therf*cking b*stard."
Electricity erupted.
"FRY, B*STARD!"
KRAAAAAACK!!!
Lightning exploded across the battlefield.
Smoke rose.
"Damn, Natsuki seriously doesn't hold back when it comes to his sister,huh."Tokita muttered.
Hoshina stood there.
Burn marks across his face.
His expression changed.
"…You…"
"How the hell is he still standing."
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"…You damaged my face?"
Natsuki smirked.
"You need a mirror?"
"That scar's pretty deep."
Silence.
Hoshina snapped.
"Kaito."hoshina said annoyed.kaito got up despite being thrown into a building with full force by Natsuki.
The ground trembled violently.
Water surged from the nearby river—
Flooding the battlefield—
Rising—
Expanding—
Within seconds—
Half the area was submerged.
Water floated in the air—
Forming spears.
Bullets.
Weapons.
Hoshina's presence exploded.
Natsuki exhaled.
"…Tokita."
Tokita didn't look at him.
"I'll handle Hoshina," Natsuki said.
"You handle Kaito."
A pause.
"…Fine," Tokita replied.
"But don't kill him,we need answers."
Natsuki smirked slightly.
"Same goes for you, dumb*ss."
They split.
Kaito stood there.
Silent.
Lifeless.
Then—
The ground warped.
Gravity shifted.
Everything trembled.
Suddenly—
The battlefield roared.
Then—
Silence.
Water hovered in the air.
Electricity crackled.
Gravity twisted.
Tokita stepped forward.
Facing Kaito.
"…I know your feeling frustrated right now, having being controlled by that scum...," he said calmly.
"…So, I'll go easy as I can to knock you out,then I'll join Natsuki to beat the f*ck outta that b*stard"
Kaito said nothing,but he nodded slightly towards tokita.
His blue eyes glowed.
In the distance—
Natsuki faced Hoshina.
Lightning dancing around him.
Hoshina smiled again.
Dark.
Unstable.
The battlefield split into two.
Tokita vs Kaito
Natsuki vs Hoshina
And then—
They moved.