Chapter 70: Flinch of Despair

I opened my mouth and spoke, my voice echoing across the candlelit court.

“Enough with this charade. Tell me—where are you hiding Lightnova?”

For the first time, his eyes widened.

“Hm?” He tilted his head slightly. “Oh~ that? That’s a secret.”

He chuckled softly. “But don’t worry… she’s perfectly safe by my side.”

My fists clenched so tightly I could feel my gloves straining, the fabric creaking as if it might tear apart.

I stepped forward.

And stopped right in front of him.

“What do you really want?” I asked coldly.

“What do I want?”

He threw his head back and burst into laughter—loud, shrill, echoing unnaturally across the entire court.

“What I want is your death, Mr. Indigo!”

I exhaled slowly.

“Hah… why is it that so many people want me dead?”

Then I straightened my posture.

“But I’m sorry. I won’t be giving up my life that easily.”

“Oh?” His grin widened. “That’s unfortunate. It was such an appealing offer. But very well…”

He spread his arms mockingly. “I respect your choice.”

He snapped his fingers.

Instantly, every controlled person in the court lifted their heads.

Their gazes locked onto me.

Cold.

Empty.

Monstrous.

At the same time, a wall to my side exploded outward, rubble scattering as it formed the shape of a massive doorway.

Several hulking villains stepped through.

Their muscles bulged grotesquely, veins pulsing like coiled snakes beneath reddened skin.

Flinch laughed again.

“I know you’re powerless right now,” he said gleefully. “That’s why I prepared a perfect gift just for you!”

I lowered my stance.

Every muscle in my body tightened.

I was on full alert.

“Who are you really?” I demanded.

He spread his arms wide, voice booming.

“My name is Elias—though that’s merely an alias! My true name is Flinch!”

He shouted proudly.

“One of the ministers of the Obsidian Pact!”

A minister?

I had never heard of such a position.

As far as I knew, the Obsidian Pact was nothing more than a fanatical cult.

And the name Flinch… I had never encountered it before.

That alone made him dangerous.

Worse—he knew I couldn’t use my powers.

I had to be careful.

“Followers,” Flinch commanded, his voice sharp and absolute.

“Kill him. Brutally.”

And with that, the controlled people rushed toward me all at once.

I glanced around.

I couldn’t kill them.

They were students.

Professors.

Civilians.

This was far worse than I imagined.

“Damn it!”

One of them lunged at my back, but I twisted and blocked with my arm just in time.

They swarmed me mercilessly.

Relentless.

Ferocious.

Endless.

If I relied on physical strength alone, I would die here.

Still, I kept dodging.

Weaving between attacks.

Suddenly, one of them swung a baseball bat toward my head.

Good.

This was exactly what I needed.

I slipped past the swing and struck his shoulder hard.

He collapsed instantly.

I snatched the bat from his hands.

I had no choice.

If I wanted to survive, I had to hurt them—just enough.

Flinch’s laughter rang through the court, sharp and cruel.

He was enjoying this.

I swung the bat.

One hit.

Two.

Three.

Bodies dropped.

Groans echoed.

Then—

A massive figure stepped in front of me.

He towered over me, his shadow swallowing my frame.

I swung the bat at his leg.

CLANG.

The bat bent.

“What…? This thing is metal…”

Before I could react, his hand clamped around my throat.

The pressure was overwhelming.

My feet lifted off the ground.

In the past, I wouldn’t have escaped a grip like this.

But after fighting Jacqueline—after being caught the same way—I learned.

“K–kugh!”

I pulled a toothpick from my pocket.

And stabbed it into his forearm.

Right into a blood vessel.

He screamed.

Using that moment, I twisted my body, wrapped my arms around his massive limb, and pulled with everything I had.

His balance broke.

As my feet hit the floor, I lifted him onto my back, locking his arm.

Then—

I slammed him down.

The floor cracked violently beneath his body.

My breathing grew ragged.

That move drained far more stamina than I expected.

The controlled people stared.

They took a step back.

Fear flickered across their faces.

Flinch laughed loudly.

“Hahahaha! Incredible, Mr. Indigo! You’re strong even without your powers!”

Then his smile sharpened.

“But that won’t last forever!”

He snapped his fingers again.

More hulking figures advanced toward me.

“Hah… you’ve got to be kidding.”

They launched devastating punches.

I dodged.

Countered.

Pulled the toothpick from the fallen brute’s arm and sprinted toward another.

I threw it.

Straight at his neck.

His massive size made his movements slow.

He couldn’t dodge.

The toothpick pierced his throat.

He screamed.

I leapt forward and kicked his neck, driving the toothpick deeper.

He collapsed instantly.

I stood atop his body—

And then—

A punch flew toward my head.

I sensed it just in time and flipped backward.

“That was way too close…”

This one was fast.

Big body.

High speed.

Before I could reposition, he charged.

I couldn’t dodge in time.

He slammed into me.

My body flew backward and crashed into a wall.

The wall cracked on impact.

“Ugh…!”

I slid down, then forced myself back up.

He charged again.

Not this time.

I glanced at the cracked wall behind me.

I ran.

And sprinted up the wall.

I leapt.

He crashed into the weakened wall—

And it collapsed.

He screamed in pain, not noticing me descending from above.

I drove my elbow into the back of his neck.

He dropped instantly.

I landed steadily.

But the pain—

The pain was worse.

My chest burned.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed over and over.

I clutched my chest, teeth grinding as I endured it.

Flinch clicked his tongue, irritation flashing across his face.

“Ghh…! You’re like a cockroach!!”

He snapped his fingers once more.

From beside him—

A figure stepped out of the shadows.

My breath caught.

My eyes widened.

I froze.

It was Ji-hye.

Her eyes looked normal.

But I could feel it.

The light in them was gone.

“Ji-hye…?”

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