[283] Controlled

"That's it? It's over already?"

Eiji gazed at the shattered rubble strewn across the ground, unable to suppress a sense of disbelief.

Sure, his current strength was far beyond what it used to be—but Puppeteers weren't the kind of opponents you took down so easily. Was that really the end?

"Well, that was absolutely spectacular!"

A voice full of admiration rang out from the forest, followed soon after by the sound of footsteps and a familiar presence approaching.

"To think such massive giants were defeated that quickly—beyond all expectations!"

Short brown hair, athletic shorts, sun-kissed skin, and a radiant smile like summer itself. Her legs never stopped moving, constantly stepping in place like she couldn't contain her energy.

It was Renren Tomaru.

She clapped enthusiastically as she approached, her praise warm and open.

"Oh… it's just Renren."

Kanata, still tense from the recent battle, finally relaxed her shoulders and exhaled. She shot Renren a mildly exasperated glance.

"Can't you show up like a normal person? I seriously thought another enemy was about to jump out."

Grumbling as she spoke, she loosened her legs from around Eiji's waist, preparing to dismount from his back.

Moments ago, she could still justify being carried as "combat necessity." But now that the fight was over, there wasn't much of an excuse left.

Just as her legs released their grip—

Eiji's arm locked tightly around her thighs, refusing to let her down.

Kanata blinked, momentarily stunned.

Wait, there's someone else here… can we not?

"What exactly did I do that exceeded your expectations?"

Eiji's expression shifted into a cold, mirthless smile.

"Eh?"

Renren froze mid-step, caught off guard.

Hey hey hey, I was just being polite. Why are you getting all intense on me?

"Uh… I just meant I thought you'd at least struggle a little?"

"Struggle?"

Eiji tilted his head slightly, voice casual—but edged with biting arrogance.

"Against that kind of weak opponent? You seriously thought I'd have a hard time?"

If it had been the old him, Eiji would've turned tail and run the moment a stone giant appeared.

But now? He could crush them with ease.

After his battle with Kikyo Hagure, Eiji's physical capabilities had improved dramatically. That news had long since spread across campus—and likely the whole net.

The moniker "Fallen Angel" no longer suited him. His fan club was already working on a new nickname. Even the Student Council knew full well how much stronger he'd become.

Even someone as carefree as Renren shouldn't have seriously believed that he'd struggle against a few clunky rock puppets.

Those things were so crudely made she herself could probably take out four or five of them alone. Size meant nothing.

"No, no, no! It's just… with a Puppeteer, anyone would struggle, right?"

Renren waved her hands frantically, looking at him like he was the one saying weird things.

"…Who said anything about a Puppeteer?"

Eiji's voice suddenly dropped—quiet, cold, lethal.

"Ah… oops. I wasn't supposed to know that, huh?"

Renren scratched the back of her head, realization dawning far too late.

"You're not saying…!"

Kanata's eyes widened.

A second later, her entire expression transformed—ferocious killing intent pouring out of her like a blood-drenched tide. Her aura turned razor-sharp, the scent of blood saturating the air.

"You seriously dared…?"

"Heehee~ So I've been found out, huh?"

Renren's grin stretched unnaturally wide, like a clown with painted lips on a theater stage.

In an instant, the light in her eyes vanished. Her entire presence shifted. The cheerful, sunny energy she carried just seconds ago morphed into something twisted—unnatural and menacing.

It was unmistakable.

She'd been controlled.

Possessed by that same unseen Puppeteer from earlier.

"I never said I only sent out one relay node, did I?"

Renren—no, the voice using her—spread her arms wide with a delighted expression.

"How wonderful… I love seeing that kind of rage—when someone's fury burns not for themselves, but for someone else. That loyalty, that fire—it makes it all the more worth breaking!"

"Bastard…!"

Kanata's voice was a low snarl, her fury boiling over.

"Don't."

Eiji tightened his grip around her legs, forcibly restraining her from jumping off his back.

So long as she stayed with him, he could still protect her.

If she charged impulsively, she'd likely end up just like Renren.

"Oh~! You're so calm!"

Renren clapped again, her face showing sincere admiration.

"I've controlled a lot of people before, but their comrades usually fly into a rage right away—and then they're easy pickings for me."

"After all, I'm the type who gets calmer the angrier I get."

Eiji gripped the Bling Blade again, his expression icy cold.

"Looking at my gentle face, who would've guessed I'm actually planning to slice you in two with a single strike?"

"You're full of killing intent, though," Renren shot back with a teasing smirk.

Bang!

Without another word, Eiji dashed forward.

His target was Renren!

"Whoa, that's merciless momentum!"

Renren let out an exaggerated gasp, then immediately forced a smile.

"But can you keep up with my speed?"

Rumble—!

At that moment,

Renren suddenly lifted her foot.

With a powerful sonic boom, she blasted forward at a speed far beyond sound, leaving multiple afterimages in the air and a trail of shockwaves bursting through the atmosphere.

Very soon!

Incredibly fast!

"Heeheehee, after controlling this girl, I've realized her ability is actually quite good! Simple and pure, easy to exploit!"

Disembodied laughter echoed from all directions, distorting the sense of where it came from.

Even as the laughter continued, Renren's speed didn't slow—it only got faster!

This was her Noble Art, Mach Grid!

It lets her continuously stack speed, completely ignoring physical laws, building up to twice the speed of sound!

This was the power of the Third-ranked student at Hagun Academy.

Before this year's freshmen entered, Renren's strength was second only to Touka and Kanata—Hagun's only two B-rank knights.

The reason she was always restless was because she'd grown accustomed to using her Blazer ability.

Accelerating nonstop, Renren quickly pushed her speed up to twice the speed of sound. The special properties of her ability let her ignore the side effects of moving so fast.

At this godlike speed, if she focused on running away, even Eiji couldn't catch her.

He had to use his unique ability.

That thought flashed through Eiji's mind instantly.

But just as he planned to mobilize his mana, his movement stalled slightly.

Kanata was still on his back.

He could handle twice the speed of sound himself, but Kanata—given her constitution—would instantly die at that velocity.

"Ahhhh!"

Just as the standoff deepened, a loud, commanding shout rang out from the dense forest.

"Don't panic, you two! I'm here to help!"

A man with a buzz cut appeared, wielding a massive sword over three meters long. He spun it fiercely as he charged toward them.

***

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