Crime.

"Kai...!"

Erina ran for the huge pillar of light. It only lasted for a few seconds but as Erina neared the center of it, she saw everything in chaos. From the trees, grounds, and animals, all of them were destroyed. Several body parts were separated from animals and the cuts look like they were disintregrated. The leaves of the trees were scorched black and were on the floor. The ground had a huge crater going deeper and deeper as Erina came closer and closer.

It was like a huge drill had dug a hole in the center and the ground around it was taken in and in the middle of that wasKai.

Erina didn't hesitate any further and ran for Kai's body.

"Was it an attack...?"

Erina looked around, Kai didn't seem like he was attacked but Erina felt it was strange. She raised Kai's head a bit.

"Kai, are you awake?"

She already felt his pulse, he was certainly alive.

Shortly after her words, Kai opened his eyes and sat up.

"Kai?"

Kai's eyes were blank as he looked at Erina who had just talked, his pupils had no light in them.

"Kai!"

Erina shook his shoulders.

"Enemy."

Once Erina heard that, chills went down her spine. She immediately leaped backward and made distance between her and Kai.

"Kai, it's me, Erina!"

"..."

Kai stayed silent and stood up. He placed a hand on his pendant and summoned a sword.

Is he being controlled?

Erina looked around for anyone but there was nobody in sight.

If Kai is being controlled like a puppet, the caster would be near but he's being controlled like a program, that means he's being controlled to attack anyone he deems as a threat.

"Kai, I don't want to do this."

Erina created an [Ice Rapier].

Kai walked while tottering from one side to the other.

"Damn it, I guess I'll have to knock him out."

Erina prepared to attack but just when she was about to leap, Kai vanished.

Chills once more traveled down on Erina's back and she immediately crouched.

WHOOOOSH

Kai's sword slashed horizontally from Erina's previous position. A massive wind accompanied it and cut down a tree from over a dozen meters away.

"Seriously...?"

Kai didn't hesitate and slashed down vertically. Erina moved the side.

"Noble Sword: One Thrust!"

Erina hit Kai's shoulders but...

My sword is... stuck?!

The rapier couldn't pierce through Kai's skin.

Kai faced Erina and rammed her with his shoulder while breaking the rapier.

His body is so hard!

Erina somersaulted after being flung and created a longsword.

"Haaaa!"

But Kai simply raised his sword to block it and sure enough, Erina's sword broke.

So he held back when he was fighting with me...?

Erina felt the danger and stomped on the floor. Ice traveled from her foot to Kai's position at a quick pace and froze Kai's legs.

Erina didn't hesitate and immediately charged forward.

"[Ice Pillar]!"

A small pillar of ice formed from her palm and enlarged towards Kai's direction. If a regular person were to be hit, it would feel like a train had crashed into you, instant death.

But Kai didn't falter and simply slashed in a cross.

The pillar was sliced in four but that wasn't Erina's true attack. She arrived only a step away from Kai and twisted her body for a kick at the side of his head but she wasn't done there, with lightning speed she retracted her leg and used her other foot to hit the other side of Kai's head. Then, a kick to the back of the head and to the chest.

Erina was breathing roughly.

Taekwondo is really difficult but with this improved body, I can combine moves I've already learned along with the knowledge I've had about the human body. This should knock him out and if it isn't enough, I'll knee his chin.

But Kai only staggered backwards. It was as if he wasn't hurt at all but Erina knew that wasn't the case.

Even if his body is moving unconciously, it still has limits.

Kai wobbled and finally fell on his knees.

"Still awake?"

Erina appeared in front of Kai and did an axe kick to the top of his head. This fighting style would work against opponents the same height as her but if she were to use this against an adult, she would have to jump for each attack.

But before her foot could land on Kai's head it was caught by Kai's hands.

"Erina, what are you doing?"

Kai had one of his eyes closed in pain as he looked at Erina from below.

"Kai, you're back!"

Erina retracted her leg and crouched down on Kai.

"There was a huge blast of dark light and you were in the center. Then when I tried to help you, you attacked me but it was as if you weren't awake. You couldn't even use spells, just your sword and simple moves."

Kai made an 'ah' face.

"That's a habit. You see, when I was in the forest I had a master. My master was crazy and would attack me even if I was asleep. So my body learned from it and could counter moves even while I was asleep, I'd just wake up afterwards. I managed to minimize my injuries against my master but unfortunately, he was still too strong. Sometimes I'd wake up exhausted on the floor or wake up in the middle of a kick. I'm quite a deep sleeper but with a bit of magic, I managed to make this a technique."

Erina couldn't believe her ears.

"So you're telling me that your body used all of your power without reserve while you were asleep?"

Kai nodded.

"And looks like you've done quite the damage, I can barely keep myself on my knees. My head is trembling and my vision is blurry."

"Ah sorry, I kicked you in the head thrice."

Kai stood up while wobbling.

"Are you going back to the clan?"

"Nn."

An unexpected answer came from Kai.

"Really? I came all this way to drag you back if I had to. Dying without anyone else by your side is lonely."

Kai stopped and raised his shirt. Erina's eyes opened wide to what she saw.

"It's... shrunk?!"

It wasn't even as large as it had first been. Now, it was the size of five moles, if not for the veins, anyone would think it was just a large mole.

"I told you I had a method."

Kai had a smug face as the two walked back to the clan. It would take them less than an hour if they ran and so they did.

When the two of them got to his house, there was a commotion. There were many guards stationed in front of Kai's house.

"Give him up!"

Juro was standing against the guards.

"For the last time, he isn't here!"

Kai made eye contact with Erina and they hid in the shadows.

"Give him up, he's under suspicion of attacking the patriarch's mansion three months ago!"

Kai looked at the situation closely.

"Wasn't it a demon who used flames?! Why are you accusing my boy?!"

Juro released his power matching an elder which pressured the guards.

"I'm going to lure them away."

Kai retrieved his red cloak and demon mask then jumped up the roof. Erina got to the backyard and walked in from there.

"Erina!"

Akane was inside the house and hugged Erina.

"They're accusing Kai of attacking the clan..."

Akane had tears in her eyes when she saw that Erina had not come back with Kai. It was already very late at night.

"Don't worry, he's safe. He managed to cure his tumor."

Akane opened her eyes.

"Really?!"

Yoko also walked towards them and asked for confirmation.

Erina told them the story of how he found Kai unconscious and when he showed the tumor, it was shrunk.

"Then he really had a plan?!"

"What was he fooling us with a letter for!"

Akane and Yoko had relieved but angry expressions.

"Letter?"

Erina was given the letter by Akane and when she read it.

"...should we smack him later?"

""Yeah!""

The three girls had the same thoughts.

BOOOOOOM

"There he is, get him!"

The girls looked outside and found Juro staring at red cloaked figure. When the red cloaked figure's eyes met Akane's and Yoko's, they shivered. Erina furrowed her brows.

"AHHHH!"

The guards were burned by flame pillars that rose up.

Juro was nearly hit but he retreated in time.

"What the..."

The red cloaked figure burnt the guards until what's left of them was a burnt corpse.

"Time to die, humans."

A maniacal laughter echoed in the night. Akane, Yoko, Juro, and Akemi were frozen. But Erina was different.

Kai, what are you doing?!

Erina clenched her fists and looked at Kai's retreating figure.