The power without Numen

“It seems that this is the end of this city…” I said after walking for a few minutes.

The more you use a technique, the more practice and proficiency you gain, but I am still far from reaching a decent level with that technique.

“From here you can see how far the leaves and branches of this tree end,” I said when I arrived at what seemed to be a dirt peak and finally saw what was on the other side. There were more houses on the slope. The tree descended to a large complex, metallic and silver. There were many pipes on all sides.

I started walking while wondering what that was about.

“This kind of structure, just like those houses, doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen before. Is this where they’re making the bomb?” I asked.

I went down, passing by the houses, watching carefully, but there seemed to be no one in that area.

"No sign of anyone, a complete void."

I saw a large gate, but I decided to enter the place using the side. There were wires, but in some areas they were cut off. I used this space to enter, and finally I went to the site.

I went into the hallway. It was a bit dark.

At that moment, I looked up and saw something moving. Between the end of the side wall and the ceiling, there was a sphere of a strange material. It seemed to observe me and move as I moved.

"What is this?"

"They call it a security camera… Well, at least that’s what people in the past called it…"  Its voice was Klaus.

Soon he approached. 

"So it’s you, Klaus…" I said.
“You really are a meddler, aren’t you?” he replied.
“How did you find me? Vision magic? I was sure no one was around besides me.”
He pointed up.
“These cameras, this thing has been watching you since you passed through her field of view. There were a few more outside, and she caught you. These things don’t need Numen and our aura to work. They just use electrical energy generated by machines. What people in the past called technology.”
“Is this kind of thing possible before the discovery of Numen?” I asked.
"There are many things that the ancestors of Nniatabri and the rest of the world were capable of. Intelligence and knowledge are not our privilege. We just stopped cultivating and maintaining that knowledge, and now we are very dependent on Numen," he said.
“Enough with the dirty talk, where’s Wini and Brigid and Megan?”
"They’re here, in other rooms, safe and secure."
“Take me there.”
He started to laugh.
"You’re a really uninviting guy. Why do you think I’ll do that?"
"Take me there now!"
“What else?” he replied with sarcasm. “You know, you really are a variable that wasn’t in our plans, but it doesn’t matter much to us. It’s not as if you were a big problem. ‘He,’ when he met you at the lake, told you that, didn’t he?"

That six-headed monster?

“That thing…” I said.
"Ha ha ha. I respect your shrewdness in coming here, using the chaos of war, but whatever you’re planning, you’re not wanted here, so get out!"

His body became electrified. The electric aura expanded across his body and began to shine brightly, his hair sticking up.

Plasma Ability... in addition to the Connection Ability.

He held the plasma over his shoulder like he was carrying something—a ray of energy. He threw it towards the ceiling above me. It destroyed that place, caused an explosion, and made me move.

I went forward, I didn't back down. I ran. It disabled my Denial Ability, and he knew that, since unfortunately I explained my abilities to him and the others before.

I drew my new sword and advanced against him, which he swiftly diverted, laughing away from the direct attack, moving sideways.

"I caught you," he said.

“Plasma + Connection, Electric Helmet!”

I pointed my sword at him.

He pointed his hands in my direction, and soon I was surrounded by rays. Above me, a helmet shaped like a blue electric aura formed on my head. Before I could think, I couldn't move again.

"What is this?"

I can’t move or activate my Numen…

"You know, I found out that in the past they used things like that to punish and control people. I created this Ability with that in mind. Now you can no longer move yourself. You will serve my commands. You will only move when I command. I let you come here just for that. I will use you in war if it is convenient. Then maybe, if you survive, I will make you kill yourself."

"So it’s a controlling Ability? I get it. That’s funny, given the situation."

“What’s funny?” he asked.

From this distance, it will work.

"Klaus, answer my question. Tell me where exactly Wini, Brigid, and Megan are."

He let out a smile and said, "Is this a joke?"

He tried to move to laugh, and couldn’t. Then he tried to move his arms and legs, but without success.

"Can’t move either?"

He looked at me, surprised, but couldn't understand…

What’s going on? What have you done, you bastard?

“Didn’t you notice my sword?”

He looked at it.

“This is not my usual sword. It’s the sword I got thanks to the final contract I made with Mr.Bricius, and thanks to Wini when she released me from the contract, saying that I had fulfilled it. I present to you the sword Fragarach!”

"What? It’s not possible!"

The sword Fragarach was one of thirteen sacred artifacts. Its powers granted were three: give me control of the winds, be able to cut into anything, and paralyze anyone just once, temporarily weakening them until they answer a question when the sword is pointed at them at short distance.

"You bastard, how can you hide something like that?"

"There was no reason to reveal that, was there?"

A few seconds passed. I felt like I could move a little.

"Your Numen is weakening, isn’t it?" I started trying to activate the technique of Denial of the Breath of Life to cancel the effect of his technique so he couldn't still control me.

He noticed that.

“I’m not gonna let you get away with this. Megan and Brigid are on the third floor at the end of the hall, in the second bedroom. Wini is in the control room on the fourth floor.”

He then realized that he could move. And he reactivated the control technique.

"There, you idiot, why did you tell me what sword that was?! If you didn’t speak, you could have the 15 seconds needed to activate your Ability and deny mine. I wouldn’t deduce which sword this was in time. Did you happen to forget that you told me earlier how long it would take to activate your Ability to deny?"

He approached as I tried to move.

"Now this sword is mine!"

The sword was pointed at him, and he was about to take it from my hand.

I smiled.

"Didn’t it occur to you that I wanted you to respond in time?"

He looked at me in surprise.

“I don’t need to move, not even my Numen, to activate the sword’s magic. Take this!” Then I shouted, “Piercing Tornado!”

Quickly, a mini swirl wrapped around the sword came and went straight through Klaus’ left chest and out the other side, defeating him instantly.

He fell dead with a hole in his chest.

“The first one is down,” I said as I waved my sword.

I’m going to kill everyone here and rescue you girls. Just wait for me…