"By my will, I grant you permission to break the seals," Crimson declared, his voice echoing across the battlefield with an authority that made the very air tremble.
The atmosphere around us shifted, becoming heavy with an oppressive weight that pressed down from all sides. I struggled to breathe as waves of raw energy began to emanate from each of the Seven Stones, distorting the air itself.
"What's happening?" I whispered, feeling my knees buckle beneath me.
Crimson turned slightly, his blood-red eyes finding mine across the battlefield. "Because of the seals.....we could only use one percent of our original power. What you're feeling now is the effect of breaking our first seal—we can now access five percent of our original strength."
Five percent. The words echoed in my mind as I processed their terrifying meaning. If what I'd witnessed so far was merely one percent of their power...
The transformation was immediate and horrifying.
The air around each Stone began to distort, rippling like heat waves above desert sand. Their forms seemed to blur at the edges, becoming something more than human. The child-like Stone's floating rocks shattered into dust that swirled around him like a miniature galaxy. The bandaged one's wrappings began to glow with ancient sigils that hadn't been visible before.
Jaipa stood motionless, his four eyes narrowed as he assessed the transformation occurring before him. His wings stretched wide, their edges glinting like freshly honed blades in the strange light of the setting sun.
But before he could fully engage, Crimson moved.
The attack defied human comprehension. One moment, Crimson stood at a distance; the next, his fist connected with Jaipa's jaw with such devastating force that the ground beneath them fractured like a spider's web. The blow was catastrophic, sending Jaipa flying, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth before he crashed to the ground.
The old man materialized behind Jaipa with ghostly precision, his palm striking a precise point on Jaipa's back. "Seal," he intoned calmly.
Jaipa's body seized. His wings, previously poised for attack, drooped helplessly. "Moon Phase: Fifth," he gasped, attempting to activate his recovery technique, but the healing was sluggish now. The old man's strike had fundamentally disrupted Jaipa's internal energy pathways.
"Your recovery is impressive," the old man observed with clinical detachment, "but I've sealed three of your major energy channels. Even your regenerative abilities have limits."
Without giving him a moment to recover, the tattooed Stone attacked next. His body's intricate markings peeled away from his skin, transforming into physical weapons that gleamed with malevolent energy. Jaipa reacted instinctively, attempting to dodge. "Moon Phase: First," he called out, his form blurring with incredible speed.
But the bandaged Stone had anticipated his movement.
"Rahu Binding," the bandaged Stone said simply.
Black and dark purple chains erupted from the ground, seeking Jaipa like living serpents. Most of the chains were deflected not by Jaipa, but by my protective beads.
"It's time for me to intervene," I muttered to myself. "If I don't, something terrible will happen."
Before the thought was fully formed, I was beside Jaipa, thanks to my square technique. I leaned close and whispered urgently, "I don't have much tai energy left. Don't use it recklessly."
I wasn't just being cautious—the truth was, I barely had any energy remaining. Jaipa's reckless consumption of my tai energy had drained me nearly dry, and my recent use of the square technique had pushed me dangerously close to empty. I dismissed my shells, realizing I was sharing my tai energy with too many entities. Not only were they using my energy, but they existed because of it.
Jaipa nodded understanding, then I gave him a searching look. "When did you get this strong?"
Jaipa stared at me for a long moment, then glanced at the Seven Stones, who stood breathing heavily from their pre-seal battle.
"I had some flashbacks... memories returning," he said with a hint of sadness, then fell silent.
"That's all?" I asked, my face full of unspoken questions.
He nodded lazily.
"Then how did you learn that technique?" I asked, fascination creeping into my voice.
He immediately shook his head. "I don't know. The knowledge just... appeared. Before I knew it, I could use them."
"Privileged bastard," I muttered under my breath.
"What! What did you just call me?"
"Nothing!" I said, looking away pointedly.
"Look at me and answer! What did you call me?"
"Wow, what a beautiful sunset, isn't it?"
"This kid is getting on my nerves," Jaipa grumbled. "I was risking my life for him, and he calls me a privileged bastard."
"I said I didn't—"
Our brief reunion was interrupted as the Seven Stones recovered, their breathing returning to normal. We didn't have much time before their next assault.
"Look at them having their little reunion," the staff-wielding Stone remarked mockingly.
I leaned close to Jaipa and whispered, "Ready to leave?"
"Finally! We can go back," Jaipa's eyes literally sparkled with relief.
"Jaipa, support me from behind," I said, gripping my blades firmly and taking a step forward. With my first step, I realized how foolish I was being—the main powerhouse of our team was standing behind me to support the weak one while I, the weakest, took the lead.
"Go get them, buddy!" Jaipa cheered from behind, his encouragement almost laughable given the circumstances.
I took another step forward.
"Kid," Crimson spoke, his voice cutting through the tension, "do you think you can handle us when your friend couldn't?"
He was absolutely right, but my stubbornness drove my steps forward.
Crimson unsheathed his blade with a metallic whisper. "So be it."
All seven Stones blurred before me simultaneously. In a split second, I faced a massive weapon, an orb of fire, a devastating punch, a great sword, and a gleaming blade—all heading toward me at once. Somehow, through pure instinct and desperation, I managed to block them all.
"WHAT!"
All seven leaped back in shock. "Did that kid just... that's impossible! It must have been luck—he blocked seven of our attacks simultaneously! How is that even possible?" Crimson turned to the tattooed Stone, incredulous.
"Didn't you see it? He blocked my blade and your great sword with his own two blade, and those floating beads intercepted your punches even so!" the tattooed Stone raised his voice. "There were three more attacks heading for him!"
Crimson's gaze fixed on me with newfound respect and wariness. "That kid blocked the fire orb by redirecting your sword, used the same redirection to block Obari's weapons, and as for the seventh... he couldn't even land a hit. Isn't that right, Seventh? It's as if he saw everything before we even moved. That monster-looking creature isn't the real threat ! this kid is. He's the cause of it all of that energy we senced from that creature is really that then we must kill this kid right hear and now ! Or else he will be a disaster."
"Attack him continuously," Crimson commanded in a dark, serious tone. "Don't give him any chance to recover. His physical abilities are far below ours just one solid hit and he'll fall."
I raised my hand, feeling the wind against my palm. My mind was burning hot from the intense calculations required to pinpoint their exact locations and predict their movements before they could move, the result of that all was i was able to block the seven of them at the same time, even when I was the weakest, the consequences were high all the mental strain was overwhelming i coughed blood and got a nosebleed as my mind started to blurr if this goes on i could pass out right now I was just barely holding on with Consciousness
The next second, they all rushed toward me with lightning speed.
"JAIPA!" I screamed and formed my square technique.
"MOON AFTER THE MOON!" Jaipa called out, and all seven Stones were suddenly engulfed in blazing white fire. I appeared beside Jaipa instantly.
"Good job," I said breathlessly.
The technique was devastating—Moon After the Moon directly targeted enemies' potential, consuming their strength, stamina, mental fortitude, and inner energy while burning their physical bodies. It fed on their power to strengthen itself.
That moment of distraction was all we needed. All seven Stones were now gasping heavily. I began to form my square technique; we weren't far from the well.
"Stop," Jaipa called out.
"What's wrong?"
"Didn't you say you had very little tai energy left?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then why are you wasting it?"
With a sigh, he muttered, "Moon Phases," then called out "Buzz." Suddenly, he lifted me like a child.l oo i was a child
"Wait, what! What are you doing?"
In just seconds, we reached the well. Looking back, I saw all seven Stones had followed us, standing close behind huffing
Jaipa set me down, and when I found my footing, I looked at Crimson and said, "Let me ask you something before we end this."
"Do I have any reason to answer your questions? I could kill you on the spot if needed."
Damn Crimson, always speaking harsh truths. If he wanted, he could have unleashed more seals. But he only broke one—was this mercy? Yet looking at him, he didn't seem like someone who would show mercy to someone like me, someone who had ruined multiple families' lives.
I took a deep breath and asked bluntly, "Do all seven Stones have the same mark as this one on my face?" I pointed to the symbol on my chin.
I paused and said, "I see. If we meet again, I will definitely end this ill fate between us."
With that, I pushed backward and called to Jaipa. Understanding my unspoken words, he struck them once more with his Moon After the Moon technique, then we both leaped into the well.
"Mark of Claim? What is the truth behind you?" That lone question rang continuously in my head as we plunged deep into the blood-red depths of the well.