Damned Desire

Chapter 13: Return

Ike's eyes lit up in surprise upon hearing the voice that he recognized.

"Hakka?"

"Good to see that you guys made it this far. I was getting a bit worried waiting for you," said Hakka. His voice sounded relieved at being able to reach them.

"Waiting? Waiting for what?" Ike asked in confusion.

"I told everyone in the letter, didn't I? If everyone's will to break free is stronger, we will be able to exorcise him. With your will synced as one, I could use it to dispel him from you," explained Hakka.

"You could've just told us that from the start, damn it!" complained Mysta.

"I couldn't risk polluting your resolve with the necessity to activate this talisman. Besides, I told you to trust your friends, didn't I?" stated Hakka.

"Tsk, you keep doing things in such a roundabout way..." Mysta grumbled at Hakka's explanation.

"Haha, that's just how it is in this kind of business," Hakka laughed off Mysta's complaint. "Now, shall we get started?"

Hakka began chanting; his voice resounded throughout the space around them, "Karasutengu, follow their will! Reveal the twisted vow that bound this curse to its host!"

Rattle!

A chain that connected Ike and Novus revealed itself after Hakka finished his chant, surrounded by an ominous aura. Then Hakka commanded once more.

"Break!"

A spear wrapped in a gold and blue luster manifested itself from the talisman before shooting straight for the chain.

Smash!

The chain broke into pieces from the strike before dissipating into the air. The ground shook in tremors as Novus' body convulsed. His body bent as hard as it could while a dark wisp of smoke flowed out of it.

"Kuaaaaaaaaargh!!!"

Novus screeched unlike anything that everyone had heard when they injured him before. His scream was laden with pain; his very being was being torn apart from his host against his will. He attempted to hold on as best as he could, but the dark wisp of smoke continued flowing out of him.

Fsssht!

The smoke continued moving towards the fountain pen held in his hand as it finally stopped flowing out of Ike's body.

Tremble tremble!

The dark smoke that connected the outside world with Ike's mind began to falter as the influence holding it together began to collapse. Everything around Ike and Mysta had also begun shaking wildly as the world around them warped around itself.

"Hey, are you guys alright?! What's going on in there?" Luca asked in panic.

"Don't worry, they're just going back outside since the curse's influence has left Ike. I'll leave the finishing touches to your sorcerer, then!" Hakka's voice resounded casually before the dark smoke fully dissipated.

"He really just comes and goes whenever he wants to, huh?" Shu retorted. His eyes shimmered as the purple sigil he conjured glowed brightly without any interference. "Well, if someone already set up the table for me, it's only right for me to clean up!"

Clank clank clank!

Chains began wrapping around the fountain pen tightly, preventing it from squirming away. Purple nails stabbed themselves into the fountain pen, perfectly locking it in.

"Damn it, unhand me! I-It cannot end like this!"

Novus' voice rang out from inside the bundle of chains. The booming presence he used to command from his voice was no longer present, replaced by a frail and trembling voice.