Katsa struggled against Junyu's grip as his hand remained locked around her neck.
His red eyes stared straight through her.
Katsa looked at him, searching for even a trace of the captain she knew.
"What are you… and what have you become?"
Junyu's head slowly tilted.
A deep, unnatural roar escaped him.
Katsa's eyes widened.
"That's right…"
Her voice trembled.
"You're a monster."
Junyu's grip tightened.
But suddenly—
INSIDE JUNYU'S MIND
Complete darkness.
Junyu stood alone in an endless black space.
His hands trembled as he looked at them.
"I'm not a monster…"
His voice echoed through the darkness.
"Katsa… I can't control myself. It's like I'm sealed."
A voice answered from somewhere behind him.
"Yes."
Junyu turned.
"You are sealed."
His eyes widened.
"Lucia!"
Her voice echoed throughout the darkness.
"This seal is called the Mandalin."
Junyu froze.
"Mandalin…?"
"It seals your body, but not your mind."
Lucia's voice became clearer.
"You can see everything. You can hear everything. You can feel everything."
A shadow resembling Junyu appeared in front of him.
"But your body belongs to me now."
Junyu clenched his fists.
"No…"
"It's the end."
Junyu's expression twisted with frustration.
"I am what…?"
His voice grew louder.
"WHAT AM I?!"
His scream shook the darkness.
BACK TO THE BATTLEFIELD
Junyu's eyes returned to Katsa.
She could barely move.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared at him.
"Thanks, Captain…"
Junyu's expression didn't change.
His hand moved—
And Katsa suddenly went limp.
Junyu released her.
She fell to the ground.
For a moment, everything became silent.
Salim stared at her.
"It's over…"
Then he looked up.
His expression changed instantly.
Everyone froze.
Standing in front of them was someone they never expected to see like this.
Their captain.
Lacod Junyu.
"JUNYU?!"
Salim stepped forward.
"What—HOW?! What are you doing?!"
Katsa slowly lifted her head.
Her voice was weak.
"He's being controlled…"
She looked toward Lucia.
"That girl… from Organization X."
Ikiro's eyes narrowed.
"Mandalin."
Everyone looked at him.
"What?"
Ikiro clenched his fists.
"This is a Mandalin Seal."
He looked at Junyu.
"Basically, Junyu's body follows her orders completely. But his mind is still conscious inside."
Salim stared at Junyu.
"Then how do we break it?"
Ikiro looked directly at Lucia.
"Kill the caster."
Ton slowly turned toward Lucia.
His expression hardened.
"No matter how beautiful you are…"
He stepped forward.
"…you still have to die."
Lucia smiled.
But before Ton could reach her—
WHOOSH!
Something grabbed his tail.
Ton's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
His entire body was suddenly lifted off the ground.
Junyu.
His arms had grown noticeably larger, his muscles tense beneath his torn clothes.
Ton barely had time to react before Junyu swung him down.
CRASH!
Ton hit the ground.
Before he could recover, Junyu lifted him again—
and slammed him down a second time.
Ton rolled away, stunned, then looked back at Junyu.
His eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
He stared at Junyu's arms.
"HOW DID YOUR ARMS GROW?!"
Lucia tilted her head.
"I don't know either."
She looked at Junyu with curiosity.
"Maybe he has some kind of power that even I don't understand."
Junyu slowly raised his head.
A terrifying smile appeared across his face.
Then—
He vanished.
Salim barely had time to react.
Junyu appeared beside him and struck him with enough force to send him skidding across the floor.
"Salim!"
Michael rushed toward him.
But Junyu had already turned.
His body lowered.
His legs tensed.
Then he launched himself directly toward Ton.
Ton's eyes widened.
"RUN!"
Ikiro immediately shouted.
"EVERYONE, MOVE!"
They scattered as Junyu tore through the space between them.
"We don't stand a chance!"
Ikiro watched Junyu charge after them.
His expression became serious.
His fists tightened.
"I have to deal with him…"
He looked at the red-eyed figure approaching.
"…again."
The underground chamber shook beneath Junyu's footsteps.
Lucia stood behind him, smiling.
And Junyu—
the captain they had come to save—
was now the one hunting them.