STRAIGHT PUNCH

"ARE YOU feeling better now?" Nikolai asked his Soul Beasts. "Can you tell what's currently happening in the Cage?"

His Soul Beasts were still in their human forms.

Fortunately, they stopped squirming in pain. When the Soul Beasts came to be, they immediately stood up properly in front of Nikolai.

"The attacks have stopped, Master," the Azure Dragon said. "We just feel a little cold now."

"It seems like Prince Nero froze the Cage with his ice," the White Tiger added. "But we can assure you that Prince Nero is safe, Master."

"We should be worried about the other Soul Beasts," the Black Tortoise said in a trembling voice. "I can't feel their presence now…"

The other Soul Beasts fell silent, obviously worried about what the Black Tortoise said.

Nikolai, on the other hand, massaged his temples.

[Nero, what have you done?]

***

NERO SAW it.