The Force of Compression
Per, perperuperu-peng-!!
As the yokai lightly flicked his hand, one of the fierce lights charging toward him exploded. From that single burst, the explosions spread outward, eventually engulfing everything in the surroundings and shattering it all. The continuous detonations sent thunder booming across the battlefield, making ears ring, while the vision shook violently. “W-What the hell…?”
Puuuaaaaah-!!
“Fuhak!”
Immediately after, the yokai stopped attacking Teraden and simply watched the dazed explosions. When the blast finally swallowed Teraden’s body whole, he was launched backward at lightning speed, burying his face in the snow and exposing his vulnerable side. Yet for some reason, the yokai did not press the advantage. He ceased his assault entirely and turned his gaze back to Maru instead. “How can he simply abandon the perfect chance to knock Teraden out of the fight just because Maru’s Ineung is annoying?”
Is there something I’m missing?
“Ah, the dizzying feeling… It’s getting worse.”
Plop. Plop-plop.
While the others braced against his movements, Teraden shook the snow clinging to his body and rose to his feet. With both his Hwigwang and Maru’s Activation overlapping, he was back to normal. After confirming his safety, he stepped forward without hesitation. As he closed the distance, Junior and Blanser pivoted from both sides and charged the yokai. “Hahh-!!”
Blanser leaped high, dropping straight onto the yokai’s head. The creature leaped backward effortlessly and simultaneously detonated on Blanser’s body. Ignoring the pain, Blanser absorbed the yokai’s Ineung and the exploding debris into his own frame and thrust his arm forward. “I’d be out cold for most people after one hit, but the yokai simply stood there, eyes wide open, and caught it in one hand.” “Hmm…?”
While Blanser staggered from the unexpected block, Junior rushed in from close range. He swung his leg with full body weight from above, but the strike stopped dead right in front of the yokai’s nose, as if he had run into an invisible wall. *Crack, cruuunch!*
A bone-shattering sound echoed around Junior’s reinforced frame. “Hup!”
Blanser breathed deeply and swung the opposite arm. Before his fist even reached, another explosion rocked the pair. “Haaaa!!”
For a split second, the pure physical shock made him flinch, but Blanser roared with animalistic ferocity and slammed his fist into the ground. The earth split into countless fissures, jagged rocks erupting in a hemispherical cage that trapped the yokai. In the blink of an eye, one wall cracked, yet it was more than enough. “Be careful. I felt a sensation as though something invisible was crushing my entire body.” Junior, still in motion, shouted as he charged toward the crumbling rock wall. “Crushing my body…? First, I nodded firmly at Junior’s warning, then stepped through the collapsing rocks toward Junior’s face.”
The moment he reached him, the yokai triggered several weak explosions that shook the ground and filled the air with blinding light and heat. Yet using Maru’s Activation as a shield, I endured and closed the distance to the maximum. “You… Inhuman!” The yokai’s eyes bulged and he twisted his arms in empty space. He seemed to have a habit of gripping the air right before detonating. I spun once in mid-air to kick his arm aside, and sure enough, a weak blast erupted right beside me. “You…!”
“It looks like you have to grab the air to trigger the explosion. Now I get it.”
“I need to draw him into close combat and deny him any chance to use his Ineung.” I kicked the air again and swung the opposite leg. This time the strike was blocked. The yokai gritted his teeth and threw a fist straight at me while I hung suspended. *Crack!* “Kuph!”
I crossed my arms to block and felt the shock ripple through my entire body. The force was too powerful. Just as I was about to fly backward, the yokai grabbed me by the collar and slammed me into the ground. *Kwaaaang!* “Uuk…”
The electrifying pain from my spine felt like I had been electrocuted. Normally, people with ranged Ineung neglect physical training, yet this yokai was a master of both. “First, take one of you out.” “We’re not doing that!” “…Shut up and get out of my way.” *Peruaaah-!!* “Kuraaak!”
Teraden tried to intervene but was blocked by another explosion. He was strong. Not only did he seize the high ground, but even when surrounded and attacked from all sides, he parried effortlessly and maintained dominance the entire time. “Even weaklings together are troublesome. But now only two are left.” *Kwaaaaak.*
His voice was followed by an unknown force that began squeezing my body from every direction, as if trying to crush me. The sensation of being squeezed, just as Junior had warned, and the spatial explosions. Wait, is this… “Do you know what my Ineung is? Too late now, though.” *Peruaaaaah-!!* *Swoooosh.*
The moment the explosion occurred, something pulled me backward from behind. Turning around, I saw Jin grabbing my collar. In front of me stood nothing but an oddly shaped doorframe. Through the thinning, dissipating smoke, I caught a glimpse of the yokai’s face, twisted in confusion. “Ah, it was too sudden. Sorry.” “No, thanks to you I escaped the crisis. Thank you. But how did you…?”
“Ah. This is my Ineung, Moving Gate.” “Moving Gate…?”
Jin whispered so quietly only I could hear. “Yes, as you saw, I brought you here using the Moving Gate I possess.” With a gesture, identical doorframes appeared in front of her and far away. “The Moving Gate creates identical doorframes at different locations. Passing through them sends you to the opposite side. Right now I can only make four—two pairs—so bidirectional passage isn’t possible, but it should still be very helpful.” “Thank you.”
“Hey, hah… How’s it feeling?”
While Blanser and Junior were fighting the yokai, Teraden wiped the blood trickling down his chin. “It’s fine. That was a close one. Now I think I’ve got a rough idea of what the yokai’s Ineung is. No, I’m sure.” “Huh? What is it?” “Compression.” “Compression? But it’s not an explosion?”
Teraden’s expression was utterly confused. “Probably compressed air to the limit, heated it up, and used the expansion for detonation. The actual explosion wasn’t on his body but in the space right next to it. When the distance is too far, though, he doesn’t seem to use his Ineung…!” *Whoosh. Peruaah!*
I dodged instantly at a gut feeling and the spot I had just been exploded away. “You… Inhuman. Shut up.” “Looks like I really hit the mark.” “You…” “When the distance is great, he can’t use his Ineung because compression is distance-limited or the power drops sharply with distance. Judging by the current range, he’s in the latter category. Right?”
Teraden wiped the rest of the blood from his face and laughed. “At close range he worries about being caught in an explosion and adjusts his power. Pay attention to that.” “…You’ve thought things through, but the result is still the same—you’ll die.” *Peruaah-!*
“Move!”
Using the explosion as propulsion, the yokai’s speed suddenly surged far beyond anything I had seen. He slipped past Junior and Blanser in the blink of an eye and charged straight at us. The two who had missed his movement instantly recovered and gave chase. “Teraden, it’s coming!” “I know.” “You two, hurry and take Maru back.”
The distance to the distant yokai felt like a single heartbeat. “Die, you fools!!” The yokai ignored us and targeted Maru first, but fortunately Rui protected her like an iron wall and retreated with her. “Focus on us. Where’s your eye?” The yokai’s gaze was on Maru, so Teraden poured every ounce of strength into his punch. However, his fist stopped mid-air exactly like Junior’s had. *Kwaaaaak!*
A horrific sound echoed from Teraden’s suspended body, but he was unharmed. Thanks to the overlapping Ineung, he had endured despite the massive power difference. While the two were locked in struggle, the yokai waved him away. “Don’t interfere!” *Peruaah-!!* “Uuk!” “H-Headmaster! Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m fine.” *Kwaaaah!*
“Why don’t you try firing a compression explosion right now? Scared?” “Why would I not be able to?” “You look like you can’t.” “That’s what you think.” “If you think I’m afraid of death, you’re dead wrong.” The yokai glanced at the fight, made a decision, and his momentum shifted. “Well, taking one arm from the light user should be easy.” “Hah! If only I could stop your hand…!” *Peruaaah-!!*
The yokai hadn’t even grabbed anything, yet Teraden and the explosion engulfed his body. “…” “In truth, grabbing with the arm has nothing to do with using compression. You fell for such a simple trick.” “Kuuuhh…!!”
Black smoke poured endlessly from Teraden’s mouth. Even with two Ineung overlapping, he had failed to block this explosion. The yokai’s arm gripping his neck was also blackened. Yet he showed no reaction. “I’ll take your arm instead of your life.” “K-Kua…!!” *Kwaaaduk-!*
The instant the fatal sound echoed from Teraden’s body, Junior slammed into him from the side, pushing him out of the yokai’s grip and sending him rolling on the ground. “Uuwk…! Kulak!” “I’m fine, so take care of Teraden.” “Yes, Headmaster.”
Finally standing on shaky legs, Teraden saw Junior being held by the yokai and instantly froze. “Blond hair and using only machines without any Ineung. You must be the bloodline of the Machine Duke. Perfect timing. That’s exactly the command I received—capture him alive if possible.” The yokai whispered into Junior’s ear loud enough for us to hear. “I’ll give you one choice.”
The yokai suddenly offered Junior a deal. “Will you die so that everyone else lives, or will you live alone while the rest of them die?” “…?”
Junior breathed heavily for a long time without speaking, then lowered his head. After much deliberation, he had made his choice. Ten out of ten times, or even a thousand, a normal person would not sacrifice himself for another. The yokai, knowing this, smiled faintly and waited for the answer. His shoulders, which had been trembling, finally stilled. Perhaps he felt guilty toward us. But even if he chose only his own survival, it was not selfish. He could not be blamed. “Everyone… I’m sorry.”
Blanser’s face twisted in horror at Junior’s expected reply. “You bastard! You dare to… even my Headmaster!” “Calm down. This is the most rational choice.” Blanser flushed red with rage, but Junior stopped him calmly. Junior’s choice was still the best option available in this situation. If he chose the first, he would die for sure, but the second option meant no one died. Someone might call it selfish, yet it was the best decision he could have made. “Even if Junior is taken out, we can hold out until reinforcements arrive. Reorganize the line…”
“Yeah, as expected from humans—they’ll always choose to save only themselves…” The yokai nodded with satisfaction at the obvious answer, but Junior’s reply was nothing like expected. “I… I think this is where I stop.” “…”
Junior turned his head and met my eyes with a gentle smile, as if he had already accepted death. The yokai, who had been shaking his head up and down, stopped the moment Junior spoke. “That’s it, then. Very well. Die.” *Puuuuk!*
The yokai’s arm pierced straight through Junior’s chest. “U…”
Junior stared at the arm that had burst from his own body, his pupils losing focus as they slowly clouded over. The arm was pulled out, and his body collapsed sideways with impossible slowness. He tried to speak, lips moving, but his voice never left him. ‘Please… be safe…’
I could only guess at a few words from the shape of his lips. In the sudden, heavy silence that felt like time itself had stopped, a drop of the red liquid that had once been his fell from his fallen body, then another, and another.