Chapter 73. What’s happening!

“What’s happening!” Arthur exclaimed in fright as he was being swallowed by a purple robe crawling up his sleeve. His face wrought with terror as he tried to shake it off his arm however, it continued to cover his entire body, not caring about how frightened the 10-year-old boy was.

Shelly knew in times like these she had to remain calm, she looked over at Gran and Boulder who was standing beside him on stage and calmly spoke up to the boy beside her “Young master, meditate, try to release your energy like how’ve you done it during meditation.”

Arthur closed his eyes, however in his panicked state he couldn’t easily do it as those who have already obtained their powers. He opened his eyes again only to see that the sleeve continued to crawl, covering the entire half of his body as it continued to make its way to the other side. Sixty percent, seventy percent, all that remained was Arthur’s terrified face as a purple hood slowly inched its way up his neck, suffocating the boy in fright.

“Young master, close your eyes and don’t look.” Shelly’s voice was still as calm as water during this entire situation. She knew Arthur was a complete mess right now, if he were to faint here from terror, that creature will definitely reappear to take advantage of the boy beside her.

Arthur immediately did what he was told and closed his eyes, not seeing the last remaining part the hood completely covering his head, turning him into a purple robed figure. He tried to remain calm, slowing down the pace of his breathing and his erratic heart.

Shelly looked at the boy she closed her eyes, spreading out her energy towards the boy dispersing the purple robe growing on him. Shelly opened her eyes sighing in relief that the robe growing on him had disappeared. However, after a couple seconds it started reforming, starting back at the hands.

“Bark bark!” Barkie barked and rushed up to the girl headbutting her and pushing her away an inch away from Arthur. It opened its mouth and inhaled, the energy around Arthur dispersed into energy particles being swallowed by the puppy. The energy around Arthur completely vanished.

Shelly looked down at the wagging tail of Barkie beside them. She exclaimed in surprise “You can do that!?”

Barkie tilted its head upwards and harrumphed. Of course I can do this puny human, who do you think I am? Barkie thought to itself.

“Do what? Do what!?” Arthur replied, he was panicking as he couldn’t see what was going on.

Shelly turned her attention to the kitten resting on her shoulder. Silver raised one eye and turned to look at the sleeve of Shelly that was slowly turning purple also.

“Mew.”

The moment Silver meowed the sleeve instantly turned into energy particles and made its way to the kitten as it circled around a few times before being absorbed into the skin. Shelly’s eyes were wide with surprise as she had seen at what the kitten just did. Whereas, the wagging tail of Barkie stiffened. As expected of the enemy currently stronger than it, the kitten’s ability to absorb the world’s energy was a tier above.

“Bark bark” Barkie barked at the kitten who paid the puppy no mind and closed its eyes again relaxing back in Shelly’s arm.

“Mew.”

“Bark bark b-bark!” What do you mean I take care of everything!? You can’t command me! I-I was going to do it anyways even if you hadn’t told me to! Barkie angrily argued back and pawed at the leg of Shelly and pointed at Arthur’s head.

Shelly casually placed the puppy on Arthur who opened his eyes after recognizing a familiar weight above his head. He immediately looked down at his arms and chest and then at his legs only to see that everything was back to normal. Only then did he sigh of relief and turned to Shelly.

“Thank you, Shelly.” Arthur thanked the girl before him, he completely believes Shelly must’ve done something to get rid of the purple sleeve on his body.

Shelly shook her head. “Young master, it was Barkie. But we’ve got no time right now to find out how. Let’s go!” Shelly quickly pulled Arthur along. She was going towards the same direction everyone else with powers were going. They were all rushing onstage to stand beside Gran. Like moths to fire, Gran was their beacon of hope and warmth as he and Boulder were the only two that wasn’t green or purple.

In less than a minute after Gran’s orders, Pebble, Cobble, Seth and friends, and all of the trainees made it up on stage. Michael, Sampson, and Gerald were still green robed figures. However, as they were right beside their friends it was easy to pull them along onstage.

Gran looked at the people standing around and looked at two little Exotics and their pets. “It seems like that boy knew this was going to happen.” Gran thought to himself as he noticed Boss was nowhere to be seen.

“Teacher? Where are you?” Boulder looked around. He was confused, his teacher should be on stage with him, but after everyone made it up, he was nowhere to be seen.

“Marvis…where are you…?” Gran furrowed his brows and scanned the crowd; he was hoping find Arthur’s teachers. But the moment this illusion showed up, he also lost his ability to sense resonance.

BOOM! BOOM!

Five figures surrounded one figure at the center as they attacked further away from the crowd. This illusion was just a distraction. Their real target was the person that was barely standing at the center.

Gran instantly noticed the commotion and rushed right over alongside Pebble and Cobble. The two brothers stopped everyone else who wanted to join. This was something these kids were still too young and incapable of participating in.

The three instantly caught up to where the commotion, however the in their eyes it was two greens and three purple attacking a green standing at the center.“Marvis!” Gran shouted. “Use your energy!”

“Wish I could right now, but I’m hurt. Cough cough.” A weak voice softly replied in the middle of the fight. Gran tried to track who spoke up, something was messing up his senses as the words sounded like an echo in his ears.

“Whoever you are! What do you want!?” Gran exclaimed.

There was no answer.

The five figures ran up to the one it surrounded and went for another attack.

“Pebble!” Gran shouted.

Pebble immediately understood and ran towards the one the five robed figures were attacking and swooped him off before the five could do anything.

“Fool...” The green robed figure casually spoke out one word. The moment Pebble heard the voice his eyes were wide with surprise, it wasn’t the same voice he had remembered. A piercing blade struck the shoulder blade of Pebble, lodging it deeply inside causing him to scream out in pain, releasing the person he was carrying.

“Gahh!”

“Pebble!” Cobble and Gran exclaimed in unison.

The person Pebble was carrying waved at the two and leaped backwards to the center with the remaining five.

BOOM!

As their attention was on Pebble and the mocking hooded figure, a silhouette within the group was sent flying through the air. Blood splattered the ground as the person flew towards a nearby wall.

Gran instantly reacted and stretched his arms out piercing through the illusion, pulling at the fabric of the robe within the person who was sent flying immediately halted right before the wall a couple centimeters away from certain demise.

Gran was dripping with sweat as he gently placed the person on the ground with his telekinesis. He wasn’t sure if the person he just placed on the ground was Marvis or not after what happened to Pebble as he remained vigilant.

“Cough cough, thank you…Gran…” The voice weakly thanked Gran before peacefully collapsing on the ground, unmoving. This time Gran heard it clearly, that person was Marvis.

Gran quickly sent Cobble over to check on both Pebble and Marvis. He turned to look at the two green and three purple robed figures calmly standing a few meters away from him.

“Who are you, and why are you attacking a teacher of Lumiere?” Gran asked with gritted teeth. He was trying to keep calm, but inside he was enraged. These five injured his eldest son and were out to murder a teacher of Institution in his village. If words were spread to the King and Headmaster, that a Teacher died while in his village, he knew he would be punished.

“Beast of the frontline… Gran.” One of the two green robed figures calmly spoke up. “You are….”

Woosh!

The green robed figure instantly appeared before Gran stretching his arm outward grabbing Gran by the neck. Gran had no time to react. A snapping sound reverberated through the air as Gran’s hands reached for his mouth trying to hold back the blood that was escaping his throat.

“…past your prime”

“What was that!?” Gran’s eyes were wide with shock. That attack was an illusion, yet the pain felt so real his body reacted by coughing up blood.

“Weak…” The green robed figure calmly stood there back in his original position alongside his fellow companions.

“You…who are you?” Gran struggled to ask.

“Hand the teacher over to us, or everyone here will die too.” The green robed person spoke up and instantly vanished again reappearing right before Gran. Gran immediately used his telekinesis, however the person still managed to reach for his neck in time.

Snap!

“Cough cough” The blood in Gran’s mouth exploded outwards splattering the ground as he couldn’t contain the unbearable pain within his throat. Every attack felt as if his entire throat was being crushed from the inside.

“Dad!” Cobble shouted; he was quickly getting up.

“Stay back! You’re no match for them!”” Gran shouted, the pain in his throat felt like he had swallowed glass.

“Indeed.” The person vanished and appeared directly before Cobble. He motioned his arm and aimed in directly at Cobble’s throat.

Boom!

A silhouette flew into the air before dispersing into energy.

“You’re nothing but an illusion formed by energy! My dad might not be able to block it, but did you think you can actually penetrate my barrier!?” Cobble shouted in anger; his expression was solemn. The moment that robed figure reached for his neck; he exploded his energy outwards forming an incredibly thick barrier barely pushing back the hand that was inching closer to his neck before finally being repelled. That Exotic, it was a Tier 3!

“Tch, miscalculated, Tier…3?” The green robed calmly stood where it was and asked.

Cobble didn’t answer as he stood there, in front of both Marvis and his brother, he was the only one capable of protecting them. He turned to the other four who was standing in the back, not moving. Were they all Exotics too…?

“No matter.” The silhouette spoke up and disappeared again. It reappeared before Gran who was angrily staring back it. The hand reached for the neck, this time Gran’s telekinesis didn’t aim for the illusion in front of it, it aimed directly at the person who was controlling it, throwing that person into the three purple robes behind. The illusion that was an inch away from Gran’s neck dispersed.

“Did you really think you can fool me a third time!?” Gan shouted angrily, barely holding back the sharpshooting pain he felt in his neck.

“P5, assist K2.” The other green robed individual spoke up and commanded. One of the purple robed individuals nodded its head and stepped up.

The two robes remained in place as the energy illusion manifested abruptly appearing directly before Gran’s face causing him to harrumph in annoyance. Gran instantly exerted his telekinesis at the green robed individual standing back. He was going to do the same thing. However, to his surprise his telekinesis only pierced through the entire person. "Crap it wasn an illusion!"

“Idiot.” The robed individual directly before him stated before grasping at his neck. Gran instantly directed his attention at the person before him, but before he could the person vanished again completely before his eyes.

Bam!

A powerful strike to his back caused Gran to stumble forward before angrily turning around staring at the silhouette standing directly in front of him. He exerted his telekinetic powers again, however the same situation happened, the person disappeared and another blow to Gran’s back forced him to struggle keep himself up.

Bam bam bam!

K2 continued to teleport back and forth in front of Gran landing several blows, knocking the Chief down to his knees.

“Dad!” Cobble took a step and exclaimed; however, he turned his head back and looked down at Marvis and Pebble who were severely injured. He could only remain standing there watching, helpless. The sound of incoming footsteps alarmed him as he turned to look back. Please don’t be more enemies!

“K2, hurry up. Ignore Gran, kill our target.” K1 ordered as a group of kids were running towards their direction. He didn’t know why he felt rushed to end this fight, something in that group felt…ominous.

K2 immediately obliged and vanished in place, arriving directly before Marvis who was helplessly laying on the ground. His feet raised as he prepared to stomp down. However, a strong shield exploded outwards from Cobble, propelling the green robed figure away.

“Something’s wrong” Cobble exclaimed inwardly, the person he blasted away felt a Tier weaker than earlier. The robe of the green figure’s outfit transitioned to purple as it stood back up.

A silhouette from up above barreled straight down at Marvis directly below him. Cobble immediately reacted and used all his might to push the person back. As if the person had expected this, he vanished again completely from overhead and reappearing beside Cobble.

Bam!

The person sent a powerful punch at Cobble’s defenseless back and stomped down at Marvis at the same time. Cobble swung his arm behind him ignoring the pain he felt. He had to stop that guy from landing a blow on Marvis at all cost. Cobble's attack landed; however, it was another illusion.

“Crap!” Cobble exclaimed inwardly. Where is he!?

Bam!

Just as he had to guess another blow landed on Cobble’s body as the person reappeared in front of him. This time Cobble managed to block the person completely, repelling the person a distance away.

The moment K2 was blown back; a hidden purple robed figure loomed over Marvis as Cobble was held in place by P5.

“Now! P6!” K2 shouted.

The hidden person stomped down their feet on command.

Bark!”

Boom!

“What!?”

Everyone couldn’t believe their eyes, they looked at what should have been Marvis’ demise. P6 who was stomping down at Marvis was completely blown back by the headbutt of a puppy.

“Grr”