The Imperfect Perfect Human moved like a glitch in reality.
One moment he stood still.
The next
he had both boys in his hands.
One hand clamped around Gudan's collar.
The other seized William's wrist, twisting his arm behind his back.
William gasped. "Let—go—!"
Gudan struggled, panic rising. "Stop—please—!"
The Imperfect Perfect Human pulled them close, voice calm and cold:
"You two are coming with me."
And that was the mistake.
Because the moment his hand touched Gudan—
everything froze.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Frost exploded outward from Gudan's body, crawling up the Imperfect Perfect Human's arm like living veins of ice.
The villain's eyes widened—
the first real surprise he'd shown.
"Oh—"
Too late.
Gudan's grief twisted into something sharp and violent.
His eyes glowed pale blue.
His breath turned to mist.
His frozen jaw clenched.
He whispered:
"Don't.
Touch.
Me."
CRACK.
Ice surged up the Imperfect Perfect Human's arm, across his chest, over his cloak, sealing the floating books in place.
William stumbled free as the villain's grip froze solid.
Gudan stepped forward, frost swirling around him like a storm.
"You took me from them."
The ice spread up the villain's torso.
"You took Camelio from me."
The runes flickered, struggling.
"You took EVERYTHING."
He raised his frozen hand—
BOOM.
A blast of divine frost engulfed the Imperfect Perfect Human completely.
A perfect statue.
Silent.
Still.
Frozen. A scream tore through the air.
"GUDAN!"
Hope sprinted toward them, guitar already glowing.
Corr rolled behind her, terrified.
Sys followed, scanning frantically.
They saw the frozen statue.
They saw Gudan shaking.
They saw William backing up.
Hope's voice cracked:
"WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?!"
Her hair lit up.
Her eyes glowed neon.
Her guitar hummed like a living engine.
Rockstar Mode ignited.
She screamed:
"GET AWAY FROM THEM!"
But she was too late.
CRACK.
The ice around the Imperfect Perfect Human split.
Hope's eyes widened.
"No no NO!"
The frozen statue shattered outward in a burst of blue shards.
The Imperfect Perfect Human stepped out of the frost, brushing ice off his cloak like snowflakes.
"Impressive," he said calmly.
"But you cannot freeze knowledge."
He snapped his fingers.
Rune: Bind.
Chains of glowing symbols wrapped around William
and Gudan, dragging them toward him.
Hope lunged forward, screaming:
"LET THEM GO!"
But the villain pulled the boys closer.
"You belong to me now."
A portal of runes opened beneath them.
Gudan reached toward Hope, tears streaming.
"Hope—!"
William yelled, "DON'T LET HIM—!"
Hope reached out, fingertips inches away—
The portal snapped shut.
And Gudan and William were gone.