Chapter 180: Curse In Control.

『"Raj, you’re hurting me..."』

"That sword..." Malachi’s eyes narrowed as he studied Amara. "Whatever the fuck you did to me, bitch... I don’t like it."

His gaze shifted toward the others. "Yeah." His expression hardened. "Fuck this." He crouched and launched himself into the air.

Ethan’s eyes widened. "He’s trying to escape."

Amara tightened her grip on Angel’s Bane. "We may never get another chance to capture an Apostle."

Sophia glanced toward Raj. "I think Tiny’s already on it."

Raj launched himself after Malachi, but the Martyr didn’t even look back.

Several tendrils of living script erupted from his back, whipping through the air and slamming directly into Raj.

BOOM!

The tendrils drove Raj into the ground hard enough to crater the earth beneath him.

Sophia immediately stretched out her hands. A golden-yellow aura enveloped Malachi as her telekinetic force clamped down around his body, trying to halt his escape.

At the same time, Ethan raised one hand, and a spherical forcefield materialized around Malachi, trapping him within. "Amara!"

Amara looked at Ethan, and understanding passed between them. She gave him a small smile. "I know." She lowered her stance. "Formation One."

She leapt into the air, Angel’s Bane already glowing as she prepared to use her selective cutting to pass through Ethan’s barrier and reach Malachi inside.

But Malachi grunted, and the golden aura around him fractured.

Sophia’s eyes widened. "Fuck—"

With nothing but raw strength, Malachi flexed his body and shattered the telekinetic restraint. The resulting shockwave erupted outward, and Ethan’s forcefield cracked.

He staggered backward as feedback traveled through the construct and into his body.

"Son of a—!"

The cracks spread across the sphere.

Inside, Malachi looked down. Raj was already back on his feet.

The giant crouched, preparing to leap after him again.

Malachi smiled. "Fuck you..." He kicked off the air.

BOOM!

The force of his movement created a sonic boom as he shot upward, tearing through the cracked forcefield.

The moment the barrier shattered completely, Ethan stumbled another step backward from the feedback.

Malachi twisted through the air, weaving past Amara’s incoming blade by inches, his eyes filled with weariness and disdain.

Amara’s eyes tracked upward as Malachi shot past her at a ridiculous pace.

"Shit—"

Malachi was already above her. His eyes darted between them.

Ethan was still recovering from the broken construct. Sophia was too far away. Raj was directly beneath him, and Amara was wide open.

His decision was instantaneous.

Malachi spun twice in midair before bringing his heel down.

BOOM!

The kick struck Amara with enough force to drive her downward. But Malachi wasn’t aiming for the ground. He angled her trajectory directly toward Raj.

Amara’s eyes widened. "Wait—" She slammed into Raj, and the collision sent both of them crashing into the earth.

Malachi continued ascending. Then he looked down at them, his grin returning. "We’ll finish this later, bitch." He kicked off the air again.

A sonic boom erupted behind him, accompanied by a ring of fire as he accelerated into the distance.

By the time Amara and Raj managed to get back to their feet, there was nothing left to see.

Amara’s eyes were still blazing. She stared toward the horizon and sighed. "He’s long gone."

Raj’s fist slammed into the ground, sending cracks racing outward beneath his feet. He turned toward Amara. "You let him get away."

Amara’s gaze shifted toward him. "Raj, it’s over." She took a cautious step toward him. "You’re not yourself, and I’m going to make this right."

Raj slowly straightened and looked down at her. "You’re not listening..." His voice dropped. "You. Let. Him. Get. Away!"

Sophia descended beside them, slowly lowering her hands. "Hey, Tiny." Her voice was deliberately gentle. "It’s me. Let’s try to relax."

Raj’s breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Ethan glanced at Sophia, then back at Raj. "Yeah. Let’s all just take a breather."

Amara stepped closer. "Raj..." She reached out and gently touched his arm. It was still freezing cold. "Raj?"

His hand suddenly shot out, and he grabbed her arm.

Amara’s eyes widened as a faint creaking sound came from somewhere beneath her skin.

Ethan’s expression immediately darkened. Dust began to rise around his feet.

Amara winced. "Raj..." She looked up at him. "You’re hurting me."

Raj froze. His eyes flickered as the rage began to disappear, and he loosened his grip. He looked down at his hand wrapped around Amara’s arm as though he didn’t recognize it.

Then he released her.

"Amara..." he muttered quietly. "I didn’t—" His voice cracked. "Amara, I didn’t mean—something’s wrong. Something’s really wrong and I can’t control it. I can’t—"

Amara didn’t care about his explanation or any of that. She was just glad Raj sounded like himself again.

"I fucked up," Raj whispered. "The curse... it—it got into my head. I couldn’t tell where I ended and it began and I’m sorry, I’m so sorry—"

"Save it," Ethan said, and his voice was cold. "We’re reporting this the second we’re back at the Institute. You’re compromised, and today proved it."

Raj didn’t argue. He just closed his eyes and nodded once.

"We need to move," Ethan said urgently. "The aircraft is still running. Maya and—"

An explosion from the treeline cut him off.

A wave of force tore through the forest, flattening vegetation and sending birds scattering from the trees in panic.

It came from the direction where Yelena and Ishigami had pursued the Painter.

***

Malachi kept flying. He was several hundred miles from the battlefield when another figure came hurtling toward him from the opposite direction.

Dante.

He rode through the air atop Requiem, surfing along a rippling wave of sound as he headed back to the battlefield.

The two passed each other without a word. Then Dante’s head slowly turned. "Huh?"

He watched the handless Apostle continue flying into the distance, confusion spreading across his face. Malachi hadn’t even acknowledged him.

Dante tilted his head. "What the hell?"

He considered turning around to pursue him, but ultimately decided against it. Whatever the hell had happened, Malachi was clearly leaving.

Dante accelerated, riding another wave of sound back toward the team.

His mind raced.

Did the Martyr kill everyone and just leave? Did they manage to get Jerry out safely? What the hell happened while I was gone?

The battlefield came into view, and Dante’s eyes widened. The aircraft was still there, its engines running as it prepared for departure.

Ethan was already making his way inside, supporting Raj’s massive arm across his shoulders as he helped the big guy aboard.

Nearby, Sophia and Amara stood together. They were speaking quietly, and Amara had a cast around her arm.

Dante landed beside them, his guitar-axe vanishing in a shimmer of light. "What happened here?"

Amara looked at him. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she sighed.

Sophia, on the other hand, interlocked her fingers and stretched her arms forward, pulling back until her fingers cracked. "Where do we even begin?"