Chapter 23: Breaking the Puppet
The battlefield had split into chaos.
Water flooded half the city block, rising unnaturally like a living ocean.
Electricity cracked violently through the air, tearing across the sky in sharp streaks of blue.
And at the center of it all—
Kaito stood.
Floating slightly above the ground.
His eyes… glowing blue.
Empty.
Tokita stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…Kaito."
No response.
Then—
Kaito vanished.
BOOM!!
A devastating punch slammed into Tokita.
The ground beneath them shattered instantly.
Concrete exploded outward.
Tokita slid back—
Boots grinding through the street—
But he didn't fall.
Didn't bleed.
Didn't flinch.
"…So this is it."
His voice remained steady.
"…Your full power."
Kaito said nothing.
The air around him twisted violently.
Gravity surged.
Cars lifted.
Rubble floated.
Entire chunks of the battlefield rose into the sky.
Then—
Everything came crashing down.
Tokita moved.
He stepped forward instead of back.
Debris rained around him—
Buildings collapsing—
Shockwaves tearing through the air—
But he walked through it.
Untouched.
Unbothered.
Then—
He vanished.
BOOM!!
A clean punch landed on Kaito's face.
Kaito's head snapped back—
But his body barely moved.
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing Tokita.
Gravity exploded.
CRACK!!
Tokita was slammed into the ground—
The street collapsing beneath him—
Pressure increased.
The air itself grew heavy.
Crushing.
But Tokita… stood up.
"…You're not fighting me."
His eyes locked onto Kaito.
"…You're fighting yourself."
For a split second—
Kaito's eyes flickered.
Yellow.
"…To…ki…"
Then—
Blue again.
"TARGET."
On the other side of the battlefield—
Lightning clashed against water.
BOOOOM!!!
Natsuki burst through a massive wave—
Electricity tearing it apart—
Hoshina stood still.
Calm.
Smiling.
"You're fast," he said.
"But not enough."
He snapped his fingers.
Dozens—
Hundreds—
Of water projectiles formed instantly.
They fired.
Natsuki moved.
A blur of lightning—
Dodging—
Weaving—
But one clipped him.
SHK!
Blood splashed.
Hoshina smiled wider.
"…Got you."
The water touched blood.
For a moment—
Natsuki's body twitched.
Hoshina's eyes sharpened.
But then—
KRAAAAAACK!!!
Lightning exploded outward.
The water evaporated instantly.
"You think…" Natsuki growled.
"…I'm that easy to control?!"
Hoshina chuckled.
"…Interesting."
Back to Tokita—
Kaito raised both hands.
Four massive buildings tore from the ground.
Floating.
Then—
Launched.
Straight at Tokita.
Tokita didn't dodge.
He stepped forward.
The first building crashed down—
He caught it.
The impact shattered the ground beneath him—
Then—
He swung it.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The building collided with the others mid-air—
Cars exploded—
Structures shattered—
A massive explosion consumed the battlefield.
Smoke filled the air.
Then—
Water formed.
A rotating shield.
It faded.
Hoshina stood behind it.
Unharmed.
"…I told you," he said calmly.
"I won't let anything happen to him."
Tokita said nothing.
Then—
He moved.
Faster than before.
In an instant—
He was in front of Kaito.
He grabbed him—
By the collar—
Lifting him slightly.
Kaito's body reacted instantly.
Gravity surged.
The ground beneath them collapsed.
Pressure increased violently.
Debris rose.
Compressed.
Trying to crush Tokita.
But Tokita didn't move.
His grip tightened.
"…Enough."
Kaito struggled.
His power spiking.
Going beyond control.
The air distorted.
His body trembled violently.
"…Sto—"
Tokita's eyes sharpened.
Then—
He moved his fingers.
Tap.
A precise strike—
To Kaito's pressure point.
Silence.
Kaito's body went limp.
The gravity stopped instantly.
Tokita's eyes widened slightly.
"…Pressure point… worked?"
Kaito's eyes flickered.
Blue.
Then—
Slowly—
Yellow.
"…To…ki…"
Tokita didn't hesitate.
THUD!
A clean strike to the neck.
Kaito went unconscious.
Tokita caught him before he fell.
Holding him steady.
"…You did well."
His voice was quiet.
"…You fought it."
Behind him—
Aoi and Nezuko rushed over.
"Is he okay?!" Nezuko asked.
"He's alive," Tokita replied.
"Where's Natsuki?!" Aoi asked.
Tokita turned.
Pointing toward the flooded battlefield.
"…Still fighting."
Shift—
Natsuki charged again.
Lightning surged across his body.
Hoshina raised his hand—
A massive wave formed—
And crashed down.
Natsuki didn't dodge.
He touched it.
Electricity surged into the water instantly.
KRAAAAAAAAAACK!!!
The entire wave electrified.
Both of them were hit.
Natsuki screamed.
Hoshina's body convulsed.
Water and electricity collided violently—
Unstable—
Explosive—
Then—
Both were thrown back.
BOOM!!
They hit the ground.
Hard.
Silence.
Both of them lay there.
Breathing heavily.
Then—
Hoshina started laughing.
"…Now I see it."
He stood up slowly.
Burn marks visible.
Face slightly damaged.
"…Your problem."
His eyes locked onto Natsuki.
"You figured it out… didn't you?"
Natsuki smirked weakly.
"…Yeah."
"You can only control…"
He coughed.
"…one person at a time."
Silence.
Then—
Hoshina smiled.
Dar
k.
"…Correct."
Natsuki pushed himself up slightly.
"…Too bad."
Both of them stared at each other.
Bodies damaged.
Energy unstable.
Behind them—
Tokita stood.
Holding Kaito.
With Aoi and Nezuko beside him.
Watching.
Waiting.
Natsuki collapsed back to one knee.
Breathing heavily.
Hoshina raised his hand again.
Water forming.
Sharpening.
"…Let's finish this."
Natsuki couldn't move.
Hoshina stepped forward.
Then—
He attacked.