The air in the clearing turned strangely heavy, not with physical weight, but with an overwhelming sense of... relaxation. Kai, who was mid-air and ready to strike Mr. 3, felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to drop his dagger and have a picnic.
"Colors Trap: Yellow of Joy!" Miss Goldenweek muttered, her brush dancing across her canvas.
[Warning: Cognitive Dissonance detected!]
[Status: Infected by 'Artificial Joy'.]
[System Notice: Soul Integrity is resisting the emotional override...]
Kai landed on the ground, his knees buckling slightly. A wide, hollow smile stretched across his face, even as his mind screamed in protest. He looked at Mr. 3, and instead of a dangerous enemy, he saw a long-lost friend.
"Why are we fighting?" Kai murmured, his golden eyes losing their sharp, predatory edge. "The sun is warm... the jungle is beautiful..."
"Haha! That's it!" Mr. 3 laughed, raising a massive pillar of wax. "Even the strongest soul is nothing but a puppet to the right color. Now, stay still while I turn you into a permanent masterpiece!"
[Ding! Soul Alarm: Emergency Protocol!]
[Action: Consuming 15 Soul Coins to activate 'Ethereal Purge'.]
Inside Kai's consciousness, a violent burst of violet energy exploded, shattering the yellow chains of joy. The fake smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, murderous glare. He didn't just break the trap; he absorbed the 'Emotional Essence' behind it.
"Your colors have no depth," Kai said, his voice echoing with a low, vibrating power. "They are just paint on the surface. My soul is the canvas, and I don't let anyone else hold the brush."
[Skill Evolved: Emotional Resilience (Passive).]
[Notice: You can now 'Trace' the source of mental attacks.]
Kai vanished into a [Shadow Step], reappearing directly behind Miss Goldenweek. He didn't attack the girl; he touched the palette of colors she held. Instantly, the paints turned black as they were drained of their spiritual energy.
"What?! My colors... they're dead!" the girl gasped, dropping her brush in shock.
"The shop is closed for the day," Kai said, his hand glowing with a dark, absorbing light. He turned his gaze toward Mr. 3, who was already sweating despite his wax armor. "Now, Mr. 3... your wax works best when it's cold. Let's see how it handles the heat of a thousand harvested souls."