All my life, I've never been able to decide for myself.
I've been tied down, bound by strings all around me.
***********
Haruto Myogu's Perfect Manifestation, CRIMSON BINDING, is the ultimate form of his STITCH CRAFTING TECHNIQUE allowing him to create threads of fiber spun from his own blood. To activate this Manifestation, after reaching their threshold, the user must injure themselves, linking to the Nexus to draw on its power. The intense pain it causes is one of many reasons Haruto dreads using it.
When activated, the Crimson Binding creates and covers the area around Haruto and his opponent with thick strings from Haruto's blood, resembling a spiderweb where the technique functions at full potency.
Before Veto could react, these threads coiled around him, binding every part of his body, locking him in place.Before Veto could have time to react, the crimson color threads restrained and bound every part of his body and prevented him from moving.
Vero once again struggled to break free from the blood strings, to which Haruto quickly advised against.
Haruto: I wouldn't do that if I were you.
As Veto strained to free his left arm, the threads tightened around it, tightening more with each movement until his arm was crushed and severed. The sudden pain he felt from his arm being severed from his body forced him out of his imperfect manifestation chaos state.
Haruto: (sighs) I tried to warn you. The more you resist, the tighter the threads get. If they can remove an arm, imagine what they could do to your neck.
Veto glanced down, realizing a strand of threads was already wrapped around his throat.
Haruto: Your best option is to surrender now. I don't enjoy keeping my Perfect Manifestation active, it drains my Light energy and hurts like hell. (pouts) Damn it, I hate this technique!
Veto: (to himself) A perfect manifestation like this is insane! Just what kind of Hunter is he?
Haruto: So, do you surrender? I'll need to stitch up your injuries, or you'll bleed out.
Vero looked at his severed arm as it bled out and then having realized that there was nothing he could do, he surrounded.
Haruto: Glad we're on the same page.
Haruto immediately tightened the strings around Veto's neck a bit, knocking him out for good.
After Haruto deactivated his perfect manifestation, he bound Veto and stitched up his injuries and afterwards he began stitching his own. As he stitched himself, he reflected on his deep resentment for the very technique he wielded.
********
In many cases, a Shadow or Clarion may inherit a technique similar to their parent's due to their bloodline connection. However, in situations where parents have no technique to pass down, offspring may awaken abilities of their own. Often, these abilities arise from what they love and desire, but sometimes, they are born from what they despise.
Unfortunately, for Haruto Myogu, it was the latter.
*******
I grew up in a house where my voice never mattered.
Any objection I made was brushed aside before it could even finish leaving my mouth.
My mother and father…
They never let me forget that my future wasn't mine to decide. That responsibility, they said, belonged to them. Most of their choices were meant to help me, but they came at a cost. I felt bound, unable to think for myself.
So I stopped trying.
I became dependent on them to tell me who to be… and where to go.
And from that resentment and anger of being tied down, my Stitch Crafting Technique was born.
Threads.
Bindings.
Connections that force others into decisions not their own.
The same way I was forced.
I hated myself for having such a controlled, external mindset. Hated that I let others shape me so completely. Eventually, I broke free. I chose my own path and joined the HFA against my parents' wishes.
But even after I escaped, my technique didn't go away. It was forged in those years of dependence and every time I use it, it feels like I'm being dragged back to who I used to be.
I despise it.
Because it represents the life I lived, a life built from other people's choices.
A constant reminder of that anger of those threads I had to tear away just to become myself.
*******************************
Meanwhile,Ralia, Tendo, and Silva made their way back to the academy, and as they did, they became increasingly aware of the unusual shadow monster presence during the exam. Ralia, the most experienced of the three, decided to lead and protect them as they hurried toward safety.
Ralia: Come on, you two. Keep moving, we're almost there.
Tendo: Right!!
Silva: On it!!
Ralia: (to herself) Something's off. It feels like we're under attack. But I haven't sensed any intruders yet. And what was that explosion earlier? (glances at Tendo and Silva) Whatever it is, I have to get these two back safely.
As the academy building came into view, Ralia suddenly sensed a presence emerging from the forest. A shadow monster had detected them and was closing in fast. Before any of them could react, a figure dropped from above, piercing the shadow monster with a swift stab of a sword, killing it instantly.
Ralia was momentarily stunned and when everyone saw it was Karla, they felt relieved, except Ralia.
Silva ran towards her friend.
Silva: It's Karla!
Tendo: I didn't know she was that strong.
Ralia: (to herself) Something isn't right. If she were nearby, I would've sensed her. And why does she have a sword? Mr. Jason said she doesn't use one…
At that moment, Ralia caught the dark, murderous look in Annie's eyes and felt her instincts scream in alarm. Her hunch was right, this wasn't Karla.
Ralia: (shouting) SILVA! GET AWAY FROM HER NOW!
Silva: (turning back in confusion) Huh? What are you…?
Silva felt a sudden, murderous aura emanating from "Karla," or rather, Annie. Turning around, she saw Annie's dark expression, her sword drawn and ready to strike.
In a split second, just as Annie's blade swung toward Silva, Ralia acted. She sent one of her puppets to pull Silva out of harm's way while two others moved in to restrain Annie.
Tendo was stunned beyond words.
Tendo: Karla?