Chapter 147: Wood No.5

Rakash's gaze narrowed as he watched the smoke swirl around the mysterious figure that had just intervened. His patience, already thin, was wearing out. "And who might this esteemed gentleman be?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

But the figure said nothing, remaining silent and still, the smoke continuing to shroud his features. The silence only added to Rakash's irritation. His fingers twitched with barely contained rage as he felt the sting of being ignored.

Who dares to treat me like this? Rakash seethed internally, cursing the situation. His anger flared, but before he could act on it, a voice broke through the tension, a voice that was all too familiar to Ruchir and the others.

"My dear Aanya, how are you? Your uncle is here now. No one will hurt you anymore," the voice called out, warm and reassuring.

Ruchir, Garret, Robert, and Professor Aanya froze, their eyes widening in shock. The tension in the room evaporated as the voice's owner stepped forward, revealing himself to the group. Professor Aanya's eyes welled up with tears, her composure finally breaking as she recognized the figure.

"Uncle!" Professor Aanya cried out, her voice trembling with emotion. She wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks, her relief palpable. "You're here… thank you… thank you…"

The figure finally emerged from the smoke, and the sight of him left the group stunned. It was Principal Yuan, but something was off.

His body was made entirely of wood, a dark, polished mahogany that gleamed in the dim light of the chamber. His movements were smooth and fluid, yet there was an unnatural stiffness to him. A large number "5" was etched onto his forehead, glowing faintly against the wooden surface.

Garret's eyes widened in fear, and he blurted out, "What the—how could Principal Yuan turn into wood? This must be some demon scheme!" His voice quivered, and he took a step back, comically hiding behind Robert, who was equally bewildered.

Ruchir, still weakened but sharp-minded, stared at the wooden figure in confusion. He couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. A body made of wood? A number on his forehead? What is going on? His thoughts raced as he tried to piece together the mystery.

Rakash, who had been carefully observing the situation, suddenly laughed, the sound harsh and grating. "A puppet, huh?" he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

The realization dawned on everyone in the room. This wasn't Principal Yuan in the flesh; it was one of his creations.

Professor Aanya, regaining her composure, wiped away the last of her tears and turned to the group, her expression a mix of pride and determination. "You must not know this, but Principal Yuan is a master puppeteer, infamous across the continent for his skill. "

"The only thing he can be said to be second to none at is his mastery over puppetry. And the one in front of us," she gestured to the wooden figure, "is his fifth strongest creation, known as Wood No. 5."

Garret's eyes widened in awe as he stared at the wooden figure. "Wow!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with childlike wonder.

"How awesome must it be to gang up on people with puppets? I mean, it's like bringing your own backup wherever you go!" His awe quickly turned into his usual cheeky grin, the humor not lost on him even in such a dire situation.

Robert, though still confused, couldn't help but chuckle at Garret's enthusiasm. "I guess if you're going to have a puppet army, you might as well have the best."

Rakash, however, was far from amused.

He felt the weight of the room's attention shift away from him and towards the wooden puppet. His ego bruised, he snarled, his patience long gone.

"Am I supposed to stand here and listen to introductions?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom.

"No matter who or what you are, since you've arrived in front of me, it means you're tired of living." He clenched his fists, dark energy beginning to swirl around him once more. "Let's fight and see how long you last!"

Garret, sensing the rising tension, internally cursed Rakash's obliviousness. Can't he feel the atmosphere? he thought, rolling his eyes.

This guy really doesn't know when to quit. He quickly returned to his spot behind Robert, preparing for the inevitable clash.

Principal Yuan's wooden puppet—Wood No. 5—did not move, his expressionless face giving nothing away. The room fell into a tense silence, the calm before the storm. Ruchir, Garret, Robert, and Professor Aanya waited with bated breath, uncertain of what would happen next.

Professor Aanya, however, found her voice. She stepped forward, her confidence bolstered by the presence of her uncle's creation. "Rakash," she said, her voice steady, "you underestimate us, and that will be your downfall."

"You've faced opponents before, but you've never faced the might of Principal Yuan's puppets. Wood No. 5 may be made of wood, but it has brought countless enemies to their knees. It's not the material that matters, but the will and power behind it."

Garret, ever the comic relief, couldn't help but quip, "So, does that mean we've got ourselves an awesome wooden superhero on our side now?" He grinned, despite the seriousness of the situation.

Professor Aanya smiled slightly at Garret's attempt to lighten the mood. "You could say that, Garret. But don't be fooled—this isn't just any wooden puppet. It's a masterpiece of magic and craftsmanship, created by one of the greatest minds our continent has ever known."

Rakash's eyes narrowed, his amusement fading as he realized the gravity of the situation. The arrogance in his posture faltered slightly, replaced by a wariness he hadn't shown before.

"So, this puppet is supposed to be my challenge?" he sneered, though his voice lacked the confidence it had earlier. "Fine. Let's see how your precious creation holds up against me."

But before any further action could be taken, the wooden puppet finally moved. With deliberate slowness, Wood No. 5 turned its head to face Rakash.

The air in the chamber seemed to grow heavier, the weight of the puppet's gaze almost tangible. Though its face remained expressionless, there was an undeniable sense of power radiating from it, a power that made even Rakash hesitate.

Garret, feeling the shift in the room's atmosphere, whispered to Robert, "I think we might actually stand a chance now. If this puppet's as powerful as they say…"

Robert nodded, though his eyes remained fixed on the wooden figure. "Let's hope so," he murmured. "Because if not, we're in more trouble than we thought."

Rakash, growing impatient with the lack of immediate action, clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over. "Enough of this staring contest!" he barked.

"If you're going to fight, then fight! Or are you just as worthless as the rest of these mortals?"

But Wood No. 5 remained unmoved by Rakash's taunts, its wooden form exuding a calm that seemed almost unnerving.

The puppet was waiting, assessing its opponent, and Rakash could feel the weight of that scrutiny bearing down on him.

Professor Aanya, sensing the time was right, called out to the puppet. "Wood No. 5, defend us. Show Rakash what it means to face the true might of Principal Yuan's creations."

The puppet's response was immediate. Without a word, it stepped forward, its movements smooth and purposeful.

The chamber echoed with the sound of its wooden joints moving, a sound that, while seemingly mundane, sent a shiver down Rakash's spine. There was an eerie finality to the way it advanced, as if the battle had already been decided.

Rakash, though confident in his power, couldn't shake the feeling that he was being underestimated. His frustration mounted, but he held his ground, readying himself for the fight.

"Let's see if your puppet is as strong as you claim," he growled, dark energy gathering in his hands as he prepared for battle.

But before the first blow could be struck, the puppet's wooden hand shot out, faster than any of them could have anticipated.

It wasn't just speed; it was precision, an almost surgical strike that aimed directly for Rakash's core.

Rakash barely had time to react, his eyes widening in surprise as he dodged the attack by a hair's breadth.

Garret let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "Okay, that's pretty cool," he muttered, though he kept his voice low, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention.

Robert, on the other hand, kept his focus on the battle, his eyes narrowing as he watched the puppet's movements.

"This is just the beginning," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "If that's just a taste of its power…"

Rakash, now fully aware of the threat in front of him, tightened his grip on his power, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"You may have surprised me once, but it won't happen again," he snarled, readying himself for the inevitable clash.

The tension in the room was palpable as the battle lines were drawn. The mysterious puppet, Wood No. 5, stood as a silent sentinel between Ruchir and his friends, and the monstrous Rakash.

The stage was set for a confrontation unlike any they had faced before, one that would test their resolve and strength to their very limits.

But even as the room held its breath, waiting for the battle to commence, Garret couldn't resist one final quip. "So… does anyone else think this is going to be the most epic puppet show ever?"

And with that, the silence was broken, the tension released as everyone, even Professor Aanya, couldn't help but smile at Garret's humor.

But the smiles quickly faded as they turned their attention back to the battle at hand, knowing that this would be a fight to remember.