[Third Person PoV]
"Sol, we have a bit of a situation—as you can see!" Clark shouted while sprinting sideways along the towering bookshelves, his shoes kicking up clouds of dust from the old wood with every step.
"Are you perhaps referring to the separate dimension," Sol's calm voice echoed out, "or the two other girls who might discover your identity?"
Before Clark could answer, a massive block made of books slammed down in front of him, scattering loose pages through the air like startled birds.
"Both!" he barked, pushing off the shelf. He landed atop the newly fallen block, which immediately began to tremble and zigzag through the air like a deranged magic carpet.
"To keep from being discovered, we're going to have to do a bit of role-playing," Clark said, balancing on the unstable platform as it veered toward another flying block.
The two collided midair, and Clark was flung forward. He twisted through the air and hit the ground with a controlled roll, sliding across the polished tiles until his hand braced him to a stop. His voice came low and decisive. "We're going to lean into the lie that I'm an exorcist—and you're my exorcism equipment. If they see us, I'd rather they believe that nonsense than start connecting dots about me being Superman. You ready for this?"
"Always ready to assist you, partner," Sol replied, his tone almost amused.
Clark exhaled sharply, loosening his shoulders. He stripped off his blazer, tied it around his waist, and rolled his sleeves up past his elbows. Then, reaching for his glasses, he removed them carefully—before they dissolved into shimmering red sand that drifted into the air like glowing embers. The particles streamed toward his arms, spiraling into motion as they reformed into crimson bandages that coiled tightly around his hands and forearms. Two glowing strands trailed from his elbows like fiery ribbons dancing in invisible wind.
His eyes narrowed. Flames began to seep from his knuckles, wrapping his hands in a molten glow. He dropped into a boxer's stance, his body crouched low, ready for the next move.
All around him, the fallen books started to stir. The blocks hovered upward, stacking and rearranging themselves into monstrous shapes—giant, three-fingered constructs made entirely of books.
Clark exhaled, a single thought cutting through the chaos: 'The lengths I have to go through just to keep a secret…'
Then he charged.
He threw a punch, and from his fist burst a shot of fire and molten energy that screamed through the air like a comet. The monster dodged—faster than its bulk should've allowed—zigzagging away before reappearing in front of him with a downward strike.
Clark leapt back as the creature's massive fist shattered the marble floor, sending debris and dust flying. With a sharp flick of his wrists, Clark swept his hands forward, unleashing a rolling storm of fire that roared across the ground. The wave consumed everything in its path, painting the library in orange and gold.
The creature vaulted high into the air, blocking out the glow of the endless skylight above. It came crashing down toward him, and Clark met it mid-leap, his fist igniting brighter than before. When it connected, the explosion of fire and heat sent both of them hurtling apart. The impact tore a hole through several rows of shelves, scattering books in fiery spirals.
The infinite library became a battlefield. Every strike Clark threw left trails of lingering flame; every block of the monster's defense sent tremors through the ground. The once-peaceful space was now alive with firelight, echoes, and the smell of burning paper.
Elsewhere, the sisters had gathered at a corner of towering bookshelves, peering nervously toward the distant flashes of light. The ground quivered beneath their feet, making the wooden shelves creak in protest.
"Even if Clark's grandmother was an exorcist, are we sure he can handle something like this?!" Nino cried, her voice filled with both fear and disbelief. "He's in danger! Just listen to those explosions!"
Miku clenched her fists. She could see the panic in Nino's eyes—the restless energy of someone who wanted to run in and help. "If you're thinking of charging in there," she said quietly but firmly, "don't. You'll only get in his way."
Before Nino could argue, the bookshelf beside them began to glow red-hot. The wood hissed, warping under the heat before melting away entirely.
And through the hole, they saw him.
Clark came bursting through the wall of books, a blazing comet in human form, tackling the massive creature midair. Both of his fists were pressed against the monster's chest as fire poured from his arms like twin jets of lava. Together, they streaked through the air and crashed into the floor below with an earth-shattering explosion.
The sisters shielded their faces from the heat as the blast wave rolled through the aisle. When the flames settled, burning scraps of paper floated through the air like snowflakes before turning to ash.
All three stood frozen, mouths agape, staring at the inferno in stunned silence.
From the burning mound of books and the thick, black smoke, a silhouette began to emerge. Each heavy step echoed faintly in the fiery haze until Clark stepped fully into view—his right fist still burning gold, molten drops of lava dripping from his knuckles and hissing as they hit the scorched tiles below. His shirt was torn at the sleeves, his blazer tied around his waist now blackened with soot, and his hair hung low over his eyes, shadowing his expression.
"Sol," he muttered, voice low and rough from the smoke, "how much longer?"
"Fifty percent analysis complete," Sol responded evenly, the faint hum of its voice resonating in the air. "I will require approximately five additional minutes to fully map and analyze the dimensional structure. I must advise against attempting to destroy it prematurely—we have no understanding of this realm's nature or its potential ripple effects."
Clark exhaled through his nose, a mix of exasperation and irritation. "Fine. Five minutes, huh?" He rolled his shoulders, the faint crackle of fire following the motion. "You better not be a second late."
The sound of rustling paper filled the air—a low, growing hiss. Miku, Nino, and Ichika froze as a dark shadow fell over them. Slowly, they turned and looked upward…
A massive worm-like creature made entirely of shredded books and paper was coiling down the aisle, its pages snapping and folding like scales. Its countless eyes were words—ink markings that flickered as it slithered closer.
"Ahhhh!" they screamed in unison, bolting out from their hiding spot.
"Claaarrrk!!" Nino's voice cracked as she shouted, "A GIANT BOOK WORM!!"
Clark's head snapped toward their direction. "You've got to be kidding me." His fists flared with light, and in the next instant, an explosion of fire burst from beneath his palm. He shot forward like a missile, streaking across the room in a blazing arc.
The creature lunged, its gaping maw opening wide enough to swallow them whole. Just as it was about to close around Miku, Clark appeared in a blur, grabbing her by the back of her neck collar and yanking her backward. He spun in midair and took her place inside the creature's shadow.
"Clark!!" the sisters screamed as Miku fell hard onto the ground, coughing as the shock rattled through her. She looked up just in time to see the monster's mouth slam shut—swallowing him whole.
A dreadful silence hung for only a heartbeat before it was shattered.
Flames began to seep from the worm's mouth—slow at first, then gushing like a volcanic eruption. The fire bled through every crease of its papery skin, glowing from within until it was a living lantern of molten red. Then came the sound—the tearing, snapping, splitting of pages as the entire thing was torn apart from the inside.
With a thunderous blast, Clark erupted from its center, breaking free in a burst of fire and ash. His body was outlined in gold and crimson light, his fist raised high as lava and flame swirled around him like living ribbons. The worm's remains disintegrated into ash, scattering across the burning library.
The sisters stared in stunned silence, their wide eyes reflecting the inferno—and the man who had walked out of it.
Clark landed heavily in front of them, crouched for just a second before straightening. His back was to them, his frame steady, shoulders squared and solid like a wall. He turned his head slightly, just enough that the orange glow of fire caught one eye beneath the curtain of his hair.
"You girls alright?" His voice carried a quiet, controlled calm.
"Y-Y-Yeah…" Miku stammered, her legs still trembling as Nino and Ichika hurried to help her up. None of them could look away from his back—the way the light reflected off the faint gold hue on his skin, the way the smoke curled around him but never seemed to touch him. His presence alone felt… safe.
Clark surveyed the space around them; more books were starting to rise, pages flipping wildly, stacking into the shapes of new monsters. The air vibrated with the tension of another incoming fight.
"Five minutes…" he muttered under his breath. "Just give me five, and I'll find a way out of here." His tone was firm but not panicked—like someone promising victory against impossible odds. "In the meantime, stay close to me. You'll be safer that way."
Ichika swallowed, her curiosity overpowering her fear. "Clark… just who are you?"
Clark tilted his head slightly, just enough for them to catch the curve of his smirk. He lifted one flame-covered thumb over his shoulder. "Clark Ayase," he said coolly. "Just a humble exorcist."
"Pfft—!" Miku instantly clamped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried not to laugh.
Nino and Ichika blinked, surprised—then their gazes dropped to Clark's trembling thumb and the tips of his ears turning a vivid shade of red.
'He's embarrassed…' they all thought at once, the tension breaking just enough for a small, collective smile.
And despite the chaos burning around them, for that brief, absurd moment, the three sisters couldn't help but find it… endearing.
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