Chapter 21: Power of Citrine

*Sehun*

I pushed myself out of the rubble. My whole body ached. Purpura was lucky that I had a soft spot for Sou, else I might've given up on him.

Hakuril floated up the stairs slowly. Wasn't he in a hurry to kill Purpura?

"I-I won't let you kill Purpura," Sekin said, staggering toward him.

The angel held its hand out, pushing my cousin away with an air wave. "You're both too tired, morals. There's not much you can hope to do to stop me. If not for the test, I would've killed that boy by now."

So, that's why he wasn't floating up those stairs quicker.

Sekin pushed himself up. "I can't let someone else get hurt for my father's mistakes."

"Sekin lay down," I said before stumbling to the ground. "I will... handle this."

He scoffed. "Sorry, cuz, but you look as bad as me if not worse."

"Touche."

The angel continued to ascend.

"You!" a voice yelled as the door slammed open.

"Sou? Ava!" I said, staring at the two. "What are you doing here? I told you to go home! It's too dangerous."

"Yeah, but that's exactly why we're here," Ava said. She glared at the angel. "You're in danger."

The angel turned to look at them. "More challengers?"

Ava shivered as the angel appeared in front of her, eyeing her down.

"So, what will it be?" the pale being asked.

"Get away from her!" I yelled, trying to get up. I crawled on the ground like a worm. "If you dare touch her, I'll kill you!"

"You aren't in any state to do so, regardless of your rage," the angel said, reaching a hand toward Ava.

"You heard him," Sou said, grabbing the angel's arm. "Make one move and you'll lose your arm."

The angel stared at his hand. A white glow radiated from it, covering the angel's arm.

"So, this is the power of the Citrine clan members. Interesting, but it's useless against an angel."

Sou smirked. "Oh, yeah? What makes you so sure?"

"A lower being can't erase a higher one. Those powers of yours were granted to your ancestors by the gods. They put fail-safes on those powers should you ever turn on them. That's especially the case with your void control."

Sou sighed and flipped him onto the ground. "Guess at this will have to do!" He stomped on the angel's chest.

"Oh? You're a lot stronger than you look," the angel said, gripping Sou's leg.

"Souta!" Ava yelled. She dashed forward and sent and stream of pink crystals raining down on the angel.

He swung Sou toward them.

The crystals vanished as soon as they reached Sou.

So, that's the infamous void control that the Citrine have.

"Thanks, Ava, but I can deal with this guy on my own. Go and tend to the Opal cousins."

"We'll be fine," Sekin said as soon as Ava turned to look at us.

"Yeah, don't fight him alone!"

Sou backflipped and grasped the angel's fist in mid-air. Much to my shock, he wasn't blown away.

"What?" the Hakuril said, eyes wide.

Sou smiled. "Figured it out yet?" he spoke into his ear.

The angel gasped. "Smart kid, but that won't save you."

"W-what did Sou do?" Sekin asked.

I pressed my chin against the floor. "If I'm not wrong, it seems he absorbed the kinetic energy. Or rather, destroyed it."

"What? That's overpowered!"

I snickered. "Yeah." To think that Sou could use it this way. Here I thought it was limited only to matter.

"You can't use that power forever. I know it drains you," the angel said, appearing behind Sou.

"It's fine, I got just enough to beat you," Sou said, grasping both of the Hakuril's fists. Sou kicked it in the stomach.

"Your attacks aren't any stronger than those of the other mortals," the angel said, unfazed.

"Then let's see you take this!" Ava yelled, flinging another barrage at the angel.

Souta held on to the Hakuril's fists, preventing him from dodging. He flapped his wings, but they produced no fierce winds. Ava's pink crystals pelted it, causing it to flinch.

"Yes, we got a hit!" Sekin said. He winced and laid back down on the steps.

"You probably shouldn't have done that, cuz," I said, trying not to laugh.

He smiled despite the pain.

"Is that thing still here?" my sister asked, running downstairs.

"Another one? How many will there be?" Hakuril asked as it turn its head around, only to come to a halt midway. At this rate, Sou would cause him to stop moving entirely. But, how much energy was he wasting doing that?

"Shika's not joining. Sister, leave," I yelled.

Shika looked at Hakuril uneasily and stepped back, only to fall on her butt.

I rubbed my bleeding arm. Darn, if only I were stronger. Then Shika wouldn't need to have that look on her face, Sekin would never have gotten hurt, and Sou wouldn't have to be fighting.

"Shika might not be of any use, but I certainly am," a voice called out.

"Sister!" Sekin said, eyes widened.

Why was she back?

Kanade dashed at Hakuril and threw several kunai at it. The weapons flopped to the ground.

"Darn it! Just what is it made out of?" Kanade said, glaring at him.

Hakuril stared at the weapons by his feet. "You thought that something made out of demon claws would help you? Foolish girl."

Kanade clenched her teeth and glared at the angel.

"Sister, get back!" Sekin yelled.

The angel raised its foot and kicked Sou, but it wasn't enough to get my boyfriend off his case.

"I'm not letting go," Sou said, looking up.

Ava formed a sword out of crystals and slashed at its wings. The weapon snapped in one bit, the tip flew through the air and nearly cut her face if not for Sou's white aura destroying it.

"T-thanks, Sou," Ava said.

Sou turned away and scoffed. "Don't thank me. Also, that's the last time I'm saving you. Didn't you hear what I said earlier? Leave this to me."

"That guy can fight?" Kanade said, bewildered.

Sou smiled. "I can when I want!" he said as he begun to spin. "Now, to get this angel back to heaven!"

"Souta Citrine, you're making a mistake. But if anyone can stop that boy, it's you."

My boyfriend's eyes widened. "Me, stop that boy? Who do you mean?"

The angel closed its eyes and faded into golden light.

"Huh? It just left?" Ava asked, blinking. She looked around. "You don't think that it's coming back, do you?"

Sou lowered his arms and sighed. "I'm not sure."

"Based on his words, I think we won," I said, smiling.

Kanade lowered her head and chuckled. "Guess that Sou is useful after all. Though, it's embarrassing that he's the one who chased it away. It should've been us Opals."

I clenched my blood soaked left arm. "It doesn't matter who got the win."

"Yeah, all that matters is that it's over," Sekin said, stumbling to the ground.

I nodded. "You should get yourself patched up and go see Rena."

Cousin nodded as he got up. He winced again as soon as he did.

"Here, let me help you," Souta said, holding out his hand.

Sekin looked away as he took my boyfriend's hand. "T-thanks, Sou."

"Let me help too," Ava said, grabbing his other arm. "You can get cleaned up at my place or Sou's since yours is filled with cops and this place is a mess."

My cousin smiled. "Thanks, you two. I'm glad that I got you."

Sou chuckled. "No need, we're friends! Though, I do think you should rest before you go see Rena," Sou said. "You can barely stand on your own."

Sekin laughed as they walked to the door. "Yeah. If she saw me in this state, I think she would end up back in the hospital."

"Don't joke about that," Ava snapped.

"Sorry." My cousin frowned. "Though, I doubt that she's woken up already."

"Hope she wakes up soon if she isn't."

"Yeah," Sou said as they left the damaged house.

My sister glared at Kanade. "Why are you standing there? Shouldn't you be leaving?"

She giggled. "Right, I need to make sure that Mora is alright."

"I meant that you should be going with Sekin or running away like a villainess always does!"

"Why did you return here?" I asked, pointing my knife at her.

She grinned. "I came here to protect my darling, Mora, duh! Why else would I risk capture from the likes of you?"

As she said that, multiple sirens rung out. They sure took their time getting here. What had the NPD uncovered at uncle's place, if anything?

I scoffed and grabbed her by the arm and pulled her outside for the NPD. "Take this girl and lock her up in the power neutralizing chains that we gave you. She shouldn't be able to escape again."

Kanade grinned as she kicked me, causing me to let go of her. She jumped on top of one of the armored police vehicles. "Sorry, dear cousin, but in your current state, you're no match for me. Plus, I didn't come all the way here just to leave empty-handed." She warped away.

"Damn, she's going to get Purpura!" I said, turning around look at the house.

"So, why are you so adamant about protecting Purpura?" Shika asked. Her eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me that you like him? Does Sou know about this?" She moved side to side and squealed. "Ah a love triangle between three boys, it feels like a scene right out of a yaoi manga!"

I grumbled.Oh, there's a triangle alright but the one that involves Purpura has him liking Sou. Then there's that other triangle...

I prepared to teleport to where we had left Purpura, but a surge of pain struck my chest. Had Hakuril done more damage than I'd anticipated. "Shi-Shika, please stop our cousin. Keep her away from Purpura. Otherwise, this was all for nothing. We can't allow our uncle to get his way."

Shika grinned. "Of course," she said before she vanished.

I snickered. "You made a mistake, making an enemy out of Shika, Uncle."