"you're definitely going to regret not backing out"
"..."
Danzai follows after the puppet with precise strikes he hasn't made before but it skillfully dodges leaving his guard open as he deals a blow to his ribcage weakening his stance. It turns and follows with a spinkick that went for danzai's head but he tilts backwards dodging it before removing it leg with a clean strike.
"Oh..."
Unlike the other puppets,it regenerates its leg and attempts to pummel danzai with a fist but he jumps back just in time to evade. Nevertheless,the puppet doesn't slow down but follows after him with strikes that made it harder for danzai to find an opening and attack which made him focus on defense although while it's attack got stronger and stronger
"That's if I get an opening"
The puppet pauses momentarily for two seconds to prepare a fatal strike but danzai notices it and jumps back before throwing the blade at it. Shocked, the puppet couldn't react fast enough to block and it passes through it's body blowing the puppet to bits.
"Woa... How did the blade know I was gonna get an opening?
Vigan decided to answer
"She can see the future... Based on her wielder's strength. So for you she can see around 6 to 7 seconds"
"Awesome"
"There have been only two wielders and you're the second... The first could see the future of up to one day. The reason he died was because he tried to change it without knowing how"
"But I tried to change mine"
"No you did not... Your future was already stated like that. Basically, your future is the way you want it..."
The blade appears back in danzai's hand and he waits for a while before realizing that the puppet has been listening in on their conversation all this time. Despite being well and okay,he made no attempt to strike back at danzai but waited for him to take notice
"Oh you finally took notice of me"
"But..."
"Yeah I know... You had hit me with a strike,any normal puppet would be down but I different... That's why I'm going to ask you again"
This time he gave danzai no time to react as he closed the distance between them immediately and smirks at him
"Turn back"
"..."
Ai calls out to him
"Let's go danzai,we can explain it to sky sensei"
"Oh... Sky sent you guys"
"How about I wipe that smirk off your face"
I don't know why I have such determination today... I feel like if I win here it would mean I've gotten stronger
"Just so you know I'm immortal..."
Danzai focuses hard and sees a future where he strikes a similar attack as the first but it gets blocked. As it raises it's hand to attack, danzai evades and follows with a similar attack but this time without throwing the blade but he blocks it
"It won't work twice..."
"I knew..."
Danzai takes a huge leap back and drops his stance which slightly surprised the puppet
"I've a question... And depending on how you answer, I'll back out "
"Ask..."
"Why do you protect the very thing that took your humanity?"
The question raised an aura of seriousness in the air as the puppet felt speechless at first
"How did you..."
"I saw it... "
"I see"
The puppet remained speechless after a while but danzai waited patiently for it to let out whatever is in it's mind. After about 10 minutes of silence,it spoke up
"I don't know... I don't want to do this but I'm being controlled, and I can't seem to be able to snap out of it"
"Blade,is there anything I can do?"
All this time, danzai had been hearing the words of the blade in his head but he taught everyone heard it along with him
"Ai, is there anything you can do?"
"No..."
"..."
"Forget about that... Besides my body wants to allow you pass but my mind won't budge"
"Okay... "
Danzai turns to go which shocked the others in the room including the puppet. Ai made an effort to stop him
"Seriously danzai.... You decide to back out now?"
"You heard him right... There's nothing we can do to stop him"
"But"
Danzai walks back to the entrance of the underground tunnel without saying another word
"Wait danzai..."
Danzai turns to the puppet who was calling out to him
"There's something I can do... come closer"
Ai and danzai walked towards it which vigan followed
"At my signal... You three should run past me and head to the road where a waterfall seems to be heard"
"Yes"
To their shock, the puppet pummels his head with his own hand and blood flowed downwards unto the ground
"What did you do..."
"Go before my mind takes over "
Ai runs past him leaving vigan and danzai who couldn't agree with what he had done
"Go danzai... I'm immortal remember... I don't walk to—"
His eyes twitch and his left hand shoots a blood beam at them which they barely dodge
"Go... It's recovering faster than expected"
"Hopefully, I'll save you one day"
Danzai runs past him with vigan without looking back to check on it all that was on his mind was
I'll be back to save you
They continued to run until they got to a road that had two paths to follow and they decided to ask vigan for directions
"Where to from here..."
"Dunno"
"Eh...Eh?!"
"All the people I've brought are all killed by those puppets earlier so I've never reached here"
***
The puppet sits on the ground after recovering from the damage he dealt to himself. He remembers danzai's words and smiles
"Silly kid..."
Suddenly Matthew appears beside it with a grin on his face
"Did you do want I asked..."
"No... Just kill me already,I know that I'm not immortal and I let them pass"
"Oh... There's someone with a great enough fighting spirit to break away from my spell..."
Matthew turns and walks out
"Why didn't you kill me"
"I'll keep you... For now"