Kairo didn't panic as he saw the Surgeon dash towards him. His movement was nothing like that of a normal human—more like a shadow used to moving in the dark. Before he could arrive near Kairo, the Sand Paladin acted on instinct.
Diving forward, it swept its lance in a wide arc. The Surgeon was agile like a cheetah, clashing with his scalpel. The impact made a clear piercing sound in the hall, drawing a lightning sparkle in the air. Flipping above the Paladin, the Surgeon stepped on its shoulder and lunged at Kairo, piercing down with his scalpel.
The gleaming blade slid down with so much force it left a trace in the space. Kairo reacted on instinct, lifting his arms just in time to block the Surgeon's forearms, stopping the scalpel inches away from his face.
"Not bad," the Surgeon smiled and smashed his foot onto Kairo's chest, sending him flying backward.
'It looks like it's the Surgeon fighting, but it is the marionette directing his every move. I need to be vigilant', Kairo thought.
"Sand Paladin, escort the children out of the cathedral. I will handle the rest," Kairo ordered.
But the Sand Paladin was as stubborn as ever—little like Kairo when he had something on his mind.
"You shall pay for your crimes," it said, entering an intense clash with the Surgeon.
'This stupid thing doesn't listen to me damn, ' Kairo cursed inwardly. The Sand Paladin was the worst partner one could ever dream of. But one thing was sure: he was a master of the spear.
Piercing rapidly forward, it forced the Surgeon into fending off its unpredictable strikes with his little scalpel, dancing and jumping all over the lab.
Kairo's face darkened when he saw reinforcements starting to arrive.
"Hey little kids, all behind me. Hold each other's arms and stay close to each other," Kairo said, then went into action.
With the speed of Tactical Brilliance, he effortlessly weaved through the enemies. With a single hit, they crumbled to their feet like lifeless puppets before they could even activate their card magic.
Kairo took a glance at the Sand Paladin and the Surgeon, observing the fight. The Surgeon evaded another lance thrust and closed in on the Sand Paladin. Like some sort of snake, he moved around the Paladin's body and slit its throat with the scalpel.
'Fortunately, it's made out of sand. Looks like the advantage of the Born Fighter card is it gives maximum strength when facing humans, not summoned fighters,' Kairo thought.
Given how the Surgeon was moving, there was no way Kairo could beat him in terms of speed and combat experience. It was like his body was devoid of bones—or rather, the marionette made sure to move the Surgeon's body into positions that a normal body should not.
Still, it was buying time for them. Kairo dashed through the exits, escorting the children away. Unlike the last time when he used the Sand Paladin and Tactical Brilliance at the same time, he had even less time now. And once the Sand Paladin disappeared, he would be doomed.
.....
Out of the cathedral, the group observed the building with worried expressions. A perimeter had been drawn, sealing all exits and entries.
Just before the main entry were three groups of perfectly lined officers. Two stars on their insignia, they held tablets with the briefing of the mission.
Mirelle started briefing. "We are dealing with Grade 3 criminals. Their number or abilities are still unknown. Your missions are simple. The first group will deal with the modified humans, restraining them without harming them. Danazan, I count on you to lead the group," Mirelle said.
"Roger," Danazan said without his usual careless attitude. "Ready for the fun, guys? Who wants to be with Danazan?" he asked with a smile. But the officers only reluctantly followed after him.
"Fabian, no one should leave this cathedral. I said no one. You and your team cut any form of possible reinforcement and keep the townsfolk away. I want a complete view of everything the officers see in real-time. You will be our map," Mirelle continued.
"Roger," Fabian nodded and set himself in motion with his team.
"The rest of you will have the most dangerous mission. Your objectives are divided into three: first, find and apprehend the Surgeon—no one should face him other than Jeder. Next, you will have to bring back the children. And finally, apprehend the Surgeon to save Kairo and Jed. Celia, Nyx, Leli—you're all under Jeder's command. Follow his orders and save Kairo. Now move!"
The more Nyx listened, the more confused she felt. Kairo is our last priority? She understood what Mirelle was doing—still? It was only thanks to Kairo all of this was possible. And allow Jeder to lead? Had she forgotten it was Kairo who put Jed, his little brother, in danger? What game is she playing? Sometimes she feels like she cares for him like a mother, and other times…
"Nyx, get your equipment ready. You will play a key role in our survival once inside," Leli brought her out of her thoughts.
Their team was composed of the best fighters currently present at their level, with Jeder as the only three-star officer. Celia and a few inquisitors had joined since they were not far from the incident. If it wasn't for Mirelle, they would have never even bothered.
Taking a deep breath, Nyx put on her white gloves and entered the cathedral. She could already hear the booming within, caused by the continuous activation of card magic. It was clear inside the fighting had already started.
"I am coming, Kairo," she said.
...….
Kairo kept running upstairs for his life with the children. They were at the fourth level—they couldn't take the elevators, for it would be too risky. But it didn't take long for the Surgeon to catch up with them. On both sides were enemies blocking their path.
Shielding the children with the Sand Paladin, Kairo glanced back and forth at his enemies. His breathing was turning heavy, as if there was no air in his lungs. "The toll is getting too high," he said, wiping the blood that trickled down his nose.
Kairo had already long reached his limit. But if the Sand Paladin was left alone, he wouldn't be able to protect the kids. Taking out the little bottle from his belt pocket, Kairo drank an aura booster. This should help for now, he thought.
Now remembering what Danazan said that day, Kairo felt glad he didn't give his aura booster to the little girl. Otherwise, he would be dead by now.
"Give up, Kairo. You can't save them all. You can't."
The Surgeon dashed down the stairs. Moving like a shadow, he sidestepped into Kairo's dead angle, his sharp scalpel aiming for Kairo's eyes.
However, the Sand Paladin was very keen, striking with his lance to fend him away.
The marionette-born fighter behind the Surgeon had a mocking smile. Pulling on its strings, the Surgeon's body was distorted in midair like he was void of any bones and pulled to the side, pushing off the walls to pounce on Kairo relentlessly.
Kairo shot a gripping motion, but the Surgeon was faster and snaked his way behind him, pulling out his scalpel to slice his throat.
' Already seen this trick', Kairo thought. Using his palms, he shielded his throat. When the scalpel sliced through his palms, blood splattered all over his face, but Kairo gritted his teeth. Then, using all his strength, he caught the Surgeon behind him and smashed his body onto the staircase with a bone-jarring impact that caused the kids to scream in horror.
"Now, Sand Paladin," he ordered. For once, the stupid thing listened and pierced with its lance, aiming for the Surgeon's neck.
The Surgeon's expression never changed despite all his injuries. The marionette was heartless, without any care for its host. It twisted the Surgeon's neck to force Gabriel to evade to the side. The lance went deep into the concrete stairs, slicing partially through his neck.
Before Kairo could notice anything, the scalpel had already sliced through his ankle, causing him to stumble back on one foot, while the Surgeon got back to his feet, massaging his neck.
"Stupid card. Can't you be a little gentler? I can't remember how many times I've had to sew my body because of you. Now it's time to end this, Kairo," the Surgeon said, strengthening his grip on his scalpel.
Kairo could no longer hold the Sand Paladin, and it vanished, blown away into particles of sand. Tactical brilliance was dimming like a star about to go out, and he could barely stay on one foot anymore. Standing in front of the children, Kairo kept his smile.
"It will be alright, kids. I know they are coming," he said.
"Are we going to die?" a frail voice echoed among them.
"Of course you're all gonna die, what kind of question is that? But first, I need to deal with Kairo. So be smart and don't move," the Surgeon said, raising his gleaming scalpel and taking a step forward. The children, on their part, all gripped onto Kairo from behind.
I need to do something… Kairo's mind was reeling. He had to find a solution, and fast.
"Any last wish? Oh, you're kneeling in front of me now… how pathetic," the Surgeon smirked as he came down the stairs. There was no need for speed bursts anymore—Kairo could not run away. With his wounded ankle. Born fighter never took any risk without a form of reward.
Still, Kairo wasn't kneeling without reason. Underneath his foot was the card Animate, his last trump card.
"I do have one last wish—for you to die."
"Animate!" he called out.
The Surgeon's face shifted when he saw the circuitry of the void flicker with waves of calm white aura.
The staircase became alive, obeying Kairo's single command.
"Bend," he said.
The Surgeon was slow to react—but not the marionetter. As a born fighter, it was very keen, about to move Gabriel's body, but it was too late. The stairs bent downward, turning into a sliding path, forcing the Surgeon to lose his balance for a second.
Using all his remaining strength, Kairo cannonballed onto the path, moving faster than lightning."This was why I was kneeling, bastard."
His fist smashed onto the Surgeon's face, the impact driving his head into the stairs so deep it left a perfect imprint.
It was over, Kairo thought. He had managed to take down the surgeon.
However the surgeon was smiling admist his wounds
"They are freed…." He said weekly.