From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 494 Ironclad Control

Masabi released his grip on Regaku, who stumbled back slightly, rubbing the red marks on his jaw that were slowly beginning to heal. "Thank you for your cooperation," Masabi said, his voice calm but commanding. "Now sit down and don't move."

Regaku, glaring up at Masabi, tried to muster some defiance. "You know, just because I have a childlike face doesn't mean I'm an actual child. I could easily—"

"I said sit down and shut up!" Masabi's voice cut through the air, sharp and authoritative. The intensity of his tone left no room for argument. Regaku hesitated for a moment, caught between anger and the cold realization that Masabi wasn't bluffing. Reluctantly, he lowered himself into a crouch, still glaring but no longer moving.

Masabi reached to his side, pulling out a small, sleek cube. With practiced precision, he removed a piece and inserted it near his ear. "Support, do you hear me?" he spoke into the device, his eyes never leaving Regaku.

A voice crackled through the earpiece. "Loud and clear, Vice Captain. How goes the inspection of Earth?"

"Terrible," Masabi replied, his tone flat but with an edge that spoke volumes. "I'll have a full debrief when I get back. Ensure the summit meeting is set for the 12 captains and make sure EVERYONE is there—except the 3rd division captain. Relay this message straight to the Captain."

"Yes, Vice Captain Masabi," the voice on the other end responded crisply.

Throughout the exchange, Masabi kept his gaze locked on Regaku, who remained crouched, the red marks on his jaw fading as his body slowly recovered. Regaku's eyes, however, were filled with barely contained rage. He was in a lowered stance, clearly ready to spring into action at any moment.

Masabi slipped the communication device back into his belt and focused his attention fully on Regaku. "Now, to deal with you," he said, his voice taking on a colder tone. "Killing you would exert a lot of effort and probably take a few days, but I know for sure I could rip you to shreds eventually."

Regaku's eyes flashed with defiance as he gripped the side of his flute. "Then try it," he spat, his voice laced with anger. He started to lift the flute, his body tensing for the fight, when a sudden rush of wind whipped around them.

Masabi huffed, his breath steadying as he took a firm stance. "It took you long enough to regain control of yourself, Kieran. It's pitiful that you let yourself fall under his influence and took human lives... Even if they were just disrespectful creatures pretending to be humans."

But as Masabi spoke, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, his vision blurring. The ground seemed to tilt beneath his feet, and from Kieran's direction, a laugh rang out—sharp, mocking, and unmistakably hers.

"You really thought I broke free?" Kieran sneered, her voice twisted with dark amusement. "Through what? Just willpower?!"

Masabi's hand shot to his head as the spinning intensified, his thoughts scattering. He glanced over, just in time to see the boy slowly picking himself up from the ground, dusting off the dirt from his clothes. More of the eyes on his body closed, but the boy's smirk remained. "You sure do pack a punch," he admitted, almost grudgingly. "But sadly for you, I still hit my mark."

Masabi's gaze dropped to his chest, where a red triangle had begun to glow ominously. The light pulsed, sending waves of nausea through his body, weakening his stance.

"With this," the boy continued, his voice dripping with satisfaction, "I now have you fully under my control. I can use you to wreak havoc."

Masabi, confusion and anger mixing in his voice, demanded, "This can't be your power. Who gave this to you?!"

He dropped to one knee, his strength failing him as Kieran's laughter echoed around him. "How can you possibly tell what is and isn't mine?" the boy taunted, feeding off the chaos.

Masabi's vision swam, but he forced himself to focus. "This doesn't match the energy of any of your other abilities," he muttered, piecing the puzzle together even as his body betrayed him. "This ability to place control on others—it's a gift or a curse from the vampires, isn't it?!"

Kieran's laughter intensified, while the boy's smirk faltered slightly, his eyes narrowing in surprise. He stepped back, clearly caught off guard by Masabi's accusation. "And so what if it is?!" he snapped defensively. "It's still an ironclad control that grips your heart!"