The moment Aoyama finished speaking, the Ock-drone lunged forward.
VRRRRMMM!
The machine's tentacles shot across the room like steel serpents.
One aimed for Aoyama.
Another for Inko.
A third swept low toward Izumi.
Carl wasn't trying to kill them.
He was trying to end this quickly.
But that didn't make the attack any less dangerous.
"Aoyama-kun!"
Izumi shouted.
Aoyama's eyes narrowed.
Blue mana surged through his body and flowed from his fingertips into the air before him.
[(Spell: Shield (Common) + Mana Amplification (Beginner))]
HUMMMMM—
A translucent barrier burst into existence.
A curved wall of glowing blue light.
CLANG!
The first tentacle slammed into it.
The apartment shook.
CRACK!
A second impact followed moments later.
The shield rippled violently, its surface rattling under the pressure.
Yet it held.
"Is that all you've got?" Aoyama taunted.
He pushed forward, forcing Carl's tentacles back.
Carl's optics widened.
A shield?
"I wanted to end this quickly..."
Ghost energy flared within the drone.
"But I think I held back more than I should have."
The Fenton technology embedded throughout his body glowed brighter as he poured more spectral energy into the machine.
This time, he didn't charge.
Beep. Beep.
The damaged tentacle began flashing.
Ghost energy leaked from the dent Aoyama's earlier punch had created.
"I won't make that mistake again."
Carl forced more pressure into the weakened section until the metal started trembling.
BANG!
Aoyama hastily reinforced his shield as half of the damaged tentacle blasted apart like a shotgun shell propelled by concentrated ghost energy.
Blue cracks spread across the barrier.
Aoyama gritted his teeth.
The attack carried far more force than he had expected.
The cracks repaired themselves almost immediately.
The hell was that?
I never built that function into the drone.
Aoyama was genuinely surprised.
When he'd designed the Ock-drone, it had been intended as a close-range machine.
Yet Carl had ripped off part of his own arm and turned it into a ranged weapon.
Aoyama couldn't help but admire the creativity.
Only for a moment.
Then he forced himself back into character, his expression shifting into a serious scowl.
"Izumi!"
The green-haired girl froze.
For a split second, she looked torn between helping and staying.
"Take Auntie outside—!"
Carl had already begun charging another attack.
Ghost energy poured from the open tentacle shaft, condensing into a brilliant green beam.
Aoyama's eyes widened.
[(Spell: Shield (Common) + Mana Amplification (Beginner))]
A second barrier formed over the first.
BOOOOM!
The ghost ray smashed into both shields.
SHATTER!
SHATTER!
Both barriers exploded apart instantly.
Aoyama threw himself aside as the beam carved through the floor behind him.
His eyes widened as the attack nearly reached the girls.
Carl stepped forward.
"I'm giving you one more chance."
His mechanical voice echoed through the apartment.
"I can tell you're just a kid trying to help."
The drone's red optics glowed brighter.
"But this is bigger than either of us."
He pointed toward Inko.
"Step aside and hand over the woman behind you."
It was the last chance Carl intended to offer.
To him, Aoyama was simply collateral.
To Aoyama, those words only made him angrier.
Not because of Inko.
Because of how close Carl had come to hurting Izumi.
His fists clenched.
"Quickly! Get outside!"
"A-Aoyama—"
"It's dangerous for you two to stay here!"
His voice echoed through the apartment.
Firm.
Certain.
The voice of someone who had already made his decision.
Izumi flinched.
Then nodded.
"Right!"
She hurried over and helped her mother stand.
Inko was still trembling from the attack.
Her hands shook as Izumi guided her toward the door.
"M-Mom, come on!"
Carl watched them.
His mission.
His target.
They were getting away.
Ghost energy immediately gathered within one of the remaining tentacles.
Aoyama saw it.
"No, you don't."
Mana surged into his right arm.
Light wrapped around his fist.
The moment Carl fired—
Aoyama moved.
WHAM!
His punch collided directly with the beam.
The blast exploded sideways into the apartment wall.
Chunks of plaster and concrete erupted outward.
Carl reeled in surprise.
Fast.
The kid was much faster than before.
Aoyama stepped between Carl and the fleeing Midoriyas.
Blue mana swirled around both arms.
Behind him, Izumi and Inko reached the apartment door.
Carl's gaze flickered between them.
Then returned to Aoyama.
"You really think you can stop me?"
His voice lowered.
"Nothing is stopping me from getting my family back."
"I don't know anything about your family."
Aoyama's body suddenly began glowing.
Then splitting.
One.
Two.
Three.
Three identical Aoyamas stood before him.
"But I swear I'll stop you from leaving this apartment after nearly hurting my Izumi."
Blue mana crackled around their fists.
The apartment door burst open.
Izumi and Inko disappeared into the hallway.
The instant Carl heard their retreating footsteps—
The real fight began.
All four tentacles spread outward.
The Aoyamas raised their guards.
And the living room exploded into motion.
Carl moved first.
One tentacle grabbed Aoyama #1 by the shirt and hurled him across the room.
CRASH!
Furniture shattered.
Another tentacle seized Aoyama #2.
Carl intended to bulldoze his way through the clones and chase after Inko before she escaped.
But Aoyama #2 refused to be thrown.
His hand clamped onto the tentacle mid-toss.
Then his other arm twisted unnaturally.
Flesh tore.
A living sniper rifle burst from his elbow, its barrel locking directly onto one of Carl's tentacle joints.
BANG!
Lady Nagant's Rifle Quirk activated.
[(Quirk: Rifle + Hair Bullets (Emitter-Type) + Mana Amplification (Beginner))]
A mana-infused projectile shot forward.
Carl barely saw it.
A concentrated blue beam pierced straight through the tentacle.
!!!
The beam lasted only a fraction of a second.
But that was enough.
The shot burned clean through the wiring and severed the limb's connection.
The tentacle went limp instantly.
"What did you do...?"
Carl froze.
He involuntarily released Aoyama #2.
"I just disabled one of your legs."
Click.
BANG!
Another blue shot screamed toward Carl's head.
He barely dodged backward, dragging the dead tentacle behind him.
Damn it.
He really severed the connection.
Carl scanned the apartment as another shot targeted one of his remaining limbs.
He fired a ghost ray in response.
If he disables my remaining legs, I won't be able to move.
Is that why he's so confident?
Was he planning to cripple me from the start?
Carl finally understood the danger.
Getting hit wasn't an option.
His gaze shifted toward the shattered wall he'd entered through.
Retreat.
That was his best option now.
Aoyama #1 saw the glance.
The clone climbed back to his feet.
"Don't you dare."
He thrust out his hand.
A massive blue construct formed across the broken opening.
Aoyama #3 immediately reinforced it, channeling additional mana into the barrier.
The escape route vanished.
Aoyama's expression twisted, revealing genuine anger.
"What was it you told me earlier?"
His eyes narrowed.
"'Just stand down?'"
Aoyama #2 raised his rifle.
Blue mana gathered around the barrel.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"No."
The rifle clicked into place.
"How about you stand down and let me exorcise you?"