CHAPTER 47 — PERCY GRANT'S BATTLE FRENZY

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

CHAPTER 47 — PERCY GRANT'S BATTLE FRENZY

The arena was silent. Twelve students stood inside. Facing them was just one person. Percy Grant. But Percy wasn't ready yet. First, he looked at Holar Jun.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"Yes?"

Percy was dead serious.

"I want to request something."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"I'm listening."

"Just for this once..."

Percy looked at his class.

"I want the authority to expel people from the class."

Silence. Elizabeth's expression changed instantly. Eleanor sat up straight. Galahad's smile vanished. Even Clara turned to Percy. Holar didn't speak for a few seconds.

"Why?"

Percy didn't answer. Holar watched him. Then... He understood.

"Do you really want this?"

"Yes."

Holar looked at the class. Then turned back to Percy.

"Very well."

"For this battle..."

"I give you that authority."

Percy bowed his head.

"Thank you."

Then he turned to the class.

"Listen."

Nobody spoke.

"This is no ordinary battle."

Arthur's face grew serious. William tuned in attentively.

"This is not a practice match."

Percy's voice hardened.

"You will fight as if to kill."

Elizabeth frowned. Percy continued.

"Not to kill."

"But with the power capable of killing."

Nathaniel's expression shifted. Percy scanned them all.

"If even one person..."

"Holds themselves back..."

He paused for a second.

"I will expel them from the class."

Charlotte's eyes widened.

Marcus:

"Chairman..."

"I don't want any objections."

Percy tapped his own chest.

"Break my leg."

"Tear apart my arm."

"Make me bleed."

"Bury me in the dirt."

"Try to knock me unconscious."

Eleanor looked about to step forward. Holar raised his hand. Eleanor stopped.

Percy:

"Because the monster out there..."

"Won't be as merciful as I am."

Arthur clenched his fist.

Percy:

"If you pity me today..."

"Tomorrow you'll be digging your friend's grave."

Silence. There was no smile left on Galahad's face. Elizabeth was staring at her student. Percy was truly serious. Then... Percy looked at Clara.

"Clara."

Clara:

"Yes?"

Percy walked over to her. Everyone watched them. Percy leaned down. He leaned close to Clara's ear. Though his voice was quiet, it was clear enough to be heard.

"If you want us to have a future..."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy continued.

"Show me with your power..."

"...how tightly you can hold on to it."

Clara froze. Percy was about to pull back. Clara grabbed his wrist.

"Percy."

Percy looked at her. Clara's eyes were brimming with tears.

"You had already forgiven me."

Percy remained silent.

Clara:

"I told you I'd do anything."

"To earn your forgiveness."

"What did you say?"

Percy remembered. Clara held his hand.

"Just hold my hand, that's enough."

Percy smiled.

"Yes."

Clara:

"Then why?"

Percy squeezed her hand.

"Because..."

"Today is different."

Clara closed her eyes. Took a breath. Then opened them. Her gaze had changed.

"Okay."

Percy:

"Okay?"

Clara let go of his hand. She walked backward. She stepped beside the other eleven.

"Today..."

"I'm really going to beat you up."

Percy smiled.

"That's my Clara."

Clara didn't blush. Not this time. She got ready. Arthur looked at Percy.

"Grant."

Percy:

"Green."

Arthur:

"Don't cry afterwards."

Percy:

"Try hitting me first."

William:

"Are you finished talking?"

Percy:

"Yes, Mom."

William:

"I'm going to beat you up especially."

Percy burst out laughing.

"That's it."

Elizabeth raised her hand. She looked at Percy one last time.

"My student."

Percy turned to her.

"Yes, Teacher?"

"Are you sure?"

Percy smiled.

"No."

Elizabeth was surprised.

Percy:

"But let's begin."

Elizabeth's hand dropped.

"BEGIN!"

The first attack didn't come from Arthur. Percy hadn't expected this. Charlotte came. From the left. Marcus from the right. Percy pulled back. A mistake. William shouted.

"NOW!"

The ground exploded. Percy's foot got stuck. Nathaniel descended from above.

BOOM!

Percy blocked. The inside of his arm went numb. Arthur came in. Percy tried to spin. Clara blocked the other side. Percy's eyes widened. Arthur's fist connected.

THUD!

Percy's lip split. He was thrown backward. His foot was still trapped. Marcus's magic spear formed. Percy saw it. He couldn't dodge. The spear struck.

SHRK!

It pierced Percy's left arm. Elizabeth stood up. Eleanor's eyes widened. Galahad clenched his fist. Blood flowed from Percy's arm. Marcus froze.

"Percy—"

Percy yelled.

"DON'T STOP!"

Marcus flinched. Percy pulled the spear out of his arm. Blood splattered onto the ground.

"CONTINUE!"

Marcus gritted his teeth. He attacked again.

Twelve people... Had truly listened. None of them were holding back. Percy tried to go on the offensive. Arthur stepped in front of him. Shield. Percy threw a punch. Arthur held his ground. Percy went to strike a second time. Clara arrived. Percy ducked. Charlotte struck from above. Percy was caught by the shoulder. He fell to his knees.

William:

"RIGHT!"

Two people attacked simultaneously. Percy dodged. Nathaniel was right there.

BOOM!

Percy hit the ground again. Nathaniel's eyes widened. But he didn't stop. When Percy saw this... He smiled.

Galahad noticed it.

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"There it is."

Elizabeth:

"What?"

Galahad didn't answer. Percy was getting to his feet. He was covered in blood. But... He was smiling.

William shouted.

"READ THE PROBABILITIES!"

They all scattered. Percy's eyes widened. Arthur was on the right. Clara on the left. Charlotte in the rear. Marcus diagonally. The others were closing off the area. Percy looked right. Three possibilities. Left. Five possibilities. Up. Two possibilities. Back. Four possibilities. But... They were calculating too. Percy moved. Arthur had already moved in advance. Percy stopped. Clara was right there. Percy changed direction. Charlotte cut him off. The smile on Percy's face grew wider. Elizabeth watched in astonishment.

"They are..."

Galahad:

"Yes."

"They're doing what Percy does."

Eleanor:

"Probability."

Galahad nodded.

"The scorpions."

Elizabeth looked at him.

Galahad:

"Thousands of moving targets."

"They couldn't harm them."

"They calculated their every step."

"Then they did it again."

"Again."

"Again."

Elizabeth looked at the class.

"So Percy..."

Eleanor smiled.

"Of course."

Elizabeth:

"Did he calculate this too?"

Eleanor pointed at Holar.

"Look at him."

Then she pointed at Percy.

"He's this man's grandson."

Holar chuckled quietly.

William raised his hand.

"NOW!"

Six attacks came simultaneously. Percy saw three of them. Sensed the fourth. Dodged the fifth. The sixth... He couldn't see it coming.

BOOM!

It slammed into Percy's ribs. The air knocked out of his lungs. Arthur charged. Percy blocked. Clara attacked his leg. Percy leaped. That was exactly what they were waiting for. Marcus's spear shot out. Percy was in the air. He couldn't dodge. The spear grazed his thigh. Percy landed awkwardly.

William:

"ARTHUR!"

Arthur ran. Percy tried to stand up. Arthur unleashed a kick. Percy blocked. But... Someone else struck from behind. Percy lost his balance. Arthur threw a second kick.

CRACK!

Percy's leg broke. Clara's face turned white as a sheet. Eleanor took a step forward.

Elizabeth:

"Percy!"

Even Galahad stepped forward. Holar Jun... Didn't move an inch.

Percy fell to the ground. His leg was bent at an unnatural angle. His breath was knocked out. Arthur froze.

"Grant..."

Percy didn't answer. Clara was about to move. Percy raised his hand.

"Stop."

Clara stopped. Percy looked at his broken leg. He placed his hand over it.

"[Absolute Heal]."

Light. The bone snapped back into place. Muscle recovered. Ligaments mended. Percy stood up. But... The hole in his arm was still open. His lip was bleeding. His ribs still ached.

Clara:

"Percy!"

Percy looked at her.

"Why didn't you heal everything?"

Percy flexed his broken leg.

"Because..."

"I just wanted to be able to move."

William's eyes widened.

Percy:

"I don't want to erase what you've done."

Silence.

"This is your achievement."

"Why would I take it away from you?"

The expression on Galahad's face changed. Elizabeth stared blankly at her student. Eleanor whispered.

"Foolish kid."

But her voice was trembling.

The battle continued. And... Percy was losing. Truly. One hit. Two. Three. His shield shattered. Percy fell to the ground. He got back up. Hit again. Blood streamed down his arm. Blood ran down his brow. Breathing became difficult. [Nature of Fire] broke twice. He activated it a third time. Then... William found the perfect angle.

"NOW!"

Clara cut off Percy's front. Arthur his back. Charlotte his left. Marcus his right. The other eight... Sealed off every single escape route. Percy looked. Right. None. Left. None. Up. None. Down. None.

William:

"WE GOT HIM!"

Twelve attacks descended at once.

THUUUUUUUUUUUUUNDER!

The arena shook. Dust rose into the sky.

Nobody spoke. Elizabeth held her breath. Eleanor's hands were trembling. Galahad wasn't laughing anymore. Holar Jun was silent. The dust slowly settled. Percy began to appear. He was on one knee. One hand rested on the ground. Blood... Dripped from his fingers into the soil. Arthur was out of breath. He looked at Percy.

"Grant."

Percy didn't answer.

Arthur:

"Is this enough?"

Silence. Percy's shoulder moved. Once. Then again. Galahad's eyes widened. Percy's shoulders were trembling.

Clara:

"Percy?"

A sound came. Small. Muffled. Then it grew. Percy... Was laughing.

"Hah..."

Arthur's expression changed.

"Hahaha..."

William took a step back. Percy raised his head. His face was covered in blood. But his eyes... Were full of life.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Galahad got goosebumps all over. Percy threw his head back. And laughed out loud. Then he looked at Arthur. He smiled.

"BOW."

Galahad's eyes widened.

Percy:

"FUCKING."

Galahad involuntarily smiled.

Percy:

"YEAH."

Silence. Percy laughed again.

"That's it."

Clara knew him. But... She didn't know this side of him. Percy tried to get up. He fell. Tried again. He stood up. He placed his bloody hand on his knee. Took a breath. Then straightened up.

"Round two..."

He wiped the blood from his mouth.

"...shall we begin?"

Elizabeth's expression changed.

"Percy."

Percy didn't hear. No. He had heard. But he was inside the battle now. Galahad whispered.

"What is this?"

Holar didn't answer. Because... He was seeing it for the first time too.

Percy closed his eyes. Fire formed once again.

NATURE OF FIRE.

But this time... The fire was different. It wasn't aggressive like before. It was as if... It was dancing. It moved with Percy's breathing. It grew with his heartbeat. Elizabeth took a step forward.

"The fire..."

Eleanor:

"What happened?"

Elizabeth:

"It's following him."

Galahad:

"It's his element, after all."

Elizabeth shook her head.

"No."

"Percy isn't controlling the element."

A flame passed over Percy's shoulder. Another coiled around his arm. Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"The fire..."

"Has entered his rhythm."

Arthur attacked. Percy dodged. But it wasn't like before. Millimeters. The fist grazed his cheek. Clara attacked. Percy dropped his shoulder. The attack grazed his hair. Marcus threw a spear. Percy turned his head. The spear passed right by his ear. William's face changed.

"How?"

Percy was laughing. He was genuinely having fun. Nathaniel attacked. Percy moved his foot half a step. The attack hit air. Charlotte arrived. Percy didn't even turn. He reached out his hand behind him. Caught her wrist. Used her momentum. Spun Charlotte around without hurting her. Sent her right in front of Arthur. Arthur was forced to stop. Percy laughed out loud.

"COME ON!"

William:

"SCATTER!"

Percy looked at William.

"You're too late."

Percy vanished. William's eyes widened.

"WHERE—"

Percy appeared in front of him. William leaped backward. Percy didn't attack. He smiled.

William:

"What?"

Percy vanished again. William froze. Percy had intentionally spared him.

"Why?"

Percy's voice came from behind.

"Because I want you to calculate."

William turned. Percy was fighting Arthur. William's eyes widened. Percy... Was even using his calculations.

Arthur attacked. Percy dodged. Clara came. Percy dodged. Marcus. Dodged. Charlotte. Dodged. Nathaniel. Dodged. Another attack. Dodged. Another one. Dodged. Dodged. Dodged. Dodged. Not a single one... Could touch him. Arthur shouted.

"WHY CAN'T I CALCULATE?!"

William:

"I CAN'T CALCULATE EITHER!"

Clara's eyes widened. She couldn't do it either. Percy dodged Arthur's punch. He replied with a smile.

"Because..."

One more attack came. He dodged.

"...I'm not calculating either."

William froze.

"What?"

Percy burst out laughing.

"I'M FIGHTING!"

Elizabeth's eyes widened. Galahad looked at her.

"What happened?"

Elizabeth:

"I understand."

Eleanor:

"What?"

Elizabeth pointed at Percy.

"He's not unpredictable."

"He's not trying to predict."

Galahad frowned.

Elizabeth:

"Before, he was narrowing down possibilities."

"Now..."

Percy passed right between two attacks.

"...he makes the decision as the attack is being born."

Holar's eyes widened. Elizabeth continued.

"That's why they can't build a model."

"Because even Percy..."

"Hasn't chosen what to do a second later."

Galahad whispered.

"Pure battle."

Elizabeth:

"Yes."

"You can't calculate him."

"Because there is no..."

"...fixed decision to calculate."

Percy's hand moved. An orb formed. Arthur saw it.

"HERE IT COMES!"

Everyone prepared. Percy threw the orb. Straight. Arthur dodged. The orb passed beside him.

Arthur:

"You missed!"

Percy:

"No."

He twisted his hand. The orb... Turned. Arthur's eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

The orb came back. Arthur opened a shield. The orb went up. Percy lowered his finger. The orb went down.

Elizabeth:

"Wait a minute."

Percy turned his hand left. The orb went left. Right. Right. Up. Down. Percy's hand... Was drawing the orb's path. William's mouth hung open.

"Dancing Orb..."

Clara:

"No."

Percy formed a second orb. Out of fire. Elizabeth's eyes widened.

Percy:

"The old version..."

The second orb rose into the air.

"...was too boring."

FIRE ORB.

Percy moved his fingers. The two orbs went in different directions. Then a third formed.

Elizabeth:

"Percy!"

Percy laughed out loud.

"TEACHER!"

"WHEN DID YOU LEARN THAT?!"

Percy spun the three orbs.

"RIGHT NOW!"

Elizabeth was left speechless. Galahad burst into laughter.

"THAT'S MY BROTHER!"

Eleanor:

"THIS BOY IS CRAZY!"

Holar... Was just watching.

Three fire orbs were dancing. But Percy was dancing too. Arthur attacks. Percy dodges. An orb presses Arthur. Clara comes. Percy ducked. The second orb cuts off Clara's path. William gives an order. The third orb breaks the formation. Percy now... Was fighting like thirteen people. Himself. And the entire battlefield.

Holar Jun fell silent. He looked at Percy. At the boy covered in blood. At the boy laughing. At the boy fighting. And... He remembered about seven years ago. A small hand. The baby in his arms. A silver necklace.

PERCY GRANT.

"Don't."

The baby had grabbed his beard. Then... The world had gone silent.

"No matter what happens..."

"Protect this child at the cost of your life."

"And raise him."

Holar's eyes widened.

"This..."

"Is the curtain that will open for your development."

Holar looked up at the sky. For a long time... He said nothing. Then he smiled.

"Universe."

Eleanor looked at him. Holar's eyes were fixed on the sky.

"Now I understand."

Galahad went silent. Elizabeth looked at him. Holar looked back at Percy.

"You didn't give him to me..."

"...just so I could make him stronger."

Percy leaped over Arthur. He guided two orbs at the same time. Holar's smile widened.

"While raising him..."

"You wanted me to change."

He took a breath.

"This boy..."

"Truly was my curtain."

Holar bowed his head slightly.

"And he..."

"Has truly made me stronger."

On the battlefield... William shouted.

"FINAL FORMATION!"

Twelve people moved. Percy stopped. He smiled.

"Here it comes."

Clara was in front. Arthur beside her. William in the center. The other nine... Covered the entire area. Percy's fire orbs moved. Arthur opened his shield. Parried one. Clara dodged the second. Charlotte deflected the third.

William:

"NOW!"

Twelve attacks. Converged on Percy. There was no escape. Percy looked. Then... He smiled.

"You guys are amazing."

William's eyes widened. Percy raised his hand.

ABSOLUTE CANCEL.

Silence. Everything... Vanished. The twelve students' eyes widened. Percy's smile shifted.

"Now..."

The flame field expanded.

"...it's my turn."

Nathaniel fell first. Percy dodged his attack. A controlled punch to the abdomen. Knocked unconscious. Marcus thrust his spear. Percy redirected it with an orb. Marcus was stunned. Percy was behind him.

SLAP!

Two. Charlotte attacked. Percy twisted his hand. A fire orb came from behind her. Charlotte was forced to turn around. Percy was right in front of her. Three. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. Percy wasn't stopping anymore. Each one was attacking. Percy was reading all of them. No. He wasn't reading them. He was living it.

Only Arthur remained. William remained. Clara remained. The three looked at each other. Percy was covered in blood. But he was laughing.

William:

"To the end."

Arthur:

"To the end."

Clara looked at Percy.

"To the end."

William fell first. But he caught Percy. His final attack... Landed on Percy's shoulder. Percy staggered. William smiled.

"Worth it."

Percy held him up. He smiled.

"Worth it."

William passed out.

Arthur came charging. He deployed his shields. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Percy laughed.

"THAT'S IT!"

Arthur:

"NOT OVER YET!"

Seven. Eight. Percy's eyes gleamed.

"GREEN!"

Arthur:

"GRANT!"

Percy attacked. Fire Fist. One. Two. Three. The shields cracked. Arthur shouted.

"MORE!"

Percy laughed out loud.

"WITH PLEASURE!"

The shields shattered. Arthur held up the last one. Percy stopped his fist. Arthur was surprised. Percy gave a small nod.

"My opponent."

Arthur smiled.

"My chairman."

Percy delivered the strike. Arthur passed out.

Only Clara was left. The arena was silent. Clara looked at Percy. Percy at Clara. Both were in a ragged state. Percy's arm was bleeding. Clara was out of breath.

Percy:

"Come."

Clara came.

Punch. Dodged. Kick. Dodged. Orb. Dodged. Percy attacked. Clara pulled back. Percy made a second move. Clara had already moved. Percy's eyes widened. Clara smiled.

"Caught you."

Percy:

"Nice."

Clara attacked. Percy dodged. Clara was expecting it. Her second attack shifted direction.

THUD!

It landed square on Percy's face. Percy staggered. Everyone's eyes widened. Clara had really... Read him. Percy wiped the blood from his mouth. Clara continued her assault. Percy was laughing. But... This time, differently. With pride.

"Clara."

Clara attacked. Percy dodged.

"Yes?"

"My hand..."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy slipped past her attack.

"...you really hold it tightly."

Clara's eyes welled with tears. But she didn't stop attacking.

"I'LL HOLD IT EVEN TIGHTER!"

Percy burst out laughing.

"THAT'S IT!"

Clara launched her final attack. Percy feinted to the left. Clara shifted left. Percy... Stopped. Clara's eyes widened. Percy was on her right.

"Missing one possibility."

Clara turned. Too late. Percy gave a controlled tap to the back of her neck. Clara's eyes closed. Percy caught her. Didn't let her fall to the ground. Held her in his arms. Before Clara lost consciousness... She whispered something.

"Next time..."

Percy smiled.

"I'll be waiting."

Clara passed out.

Silence. Twelve people lay on the ground. Percy... Was standing. Elizabeth couldn't speak. Eleanor's eyes were full of tears. Galahad was just staring. Holar Jun was smiling. Percy raised his hands.

"[Absolute Heal]."

One. Two. Three. Four. He healed them all. All twelve of them. Then... He looked at himself. The hole in his arm. His ribs. His wounds. Blood.

Elizabeth:

"Heal yourself too."

Percy looked at her. He smiled.

"In a bit."

He took a step. His knees gave out. Galahad moved. But couldn't reach in time. Percy fell to the ground. And... Lost consciousness.

THAT NIGHT

Four people were gathered around the fire. Holar Jun. Eleanor. Elizabeth Olsen. Galahad. For a long time, no one spoke. Elizabeth spoke first.

"What we saw today..."

She couldn't finish her sentence. Galahad looked at the fire.

"I can't put a name to it either."

Eleanor:

"Don't put a name to it."

The three looked at her.

Eleanor:

"It's not an ability."

"It's not a state."

"It's certainly not magic."

Elizabeth nodded.

"Battle frenzy."

Holar listened quietly.

Elizabeth:

"The longer the battle went on..."

"The more unpredictable he became."

Galahad:

"He wasn't just faster."

Eleanor:

"He wasn't stronger either."

Elizabeth:

"The way he made decisions changed."

Holar spoke for the first time.

"Because he was happy while fighting."

Silence. Galahad raised his head.

Holar:

"Percy loves battle."

Eleanor:

"Should that scare me?"

Holar shook his head.

"No."

"Understand correctly what it is he loves."

Elizabeth watched him.

Holar:

"He doesn't love killing."

"He doesn't love causing pain."

"He doesn't even love winning for the sake of winning."

He looked at the fire.

"He loves difficulty."

"He loves testing himself."

"He loves seeing his opponent rise."

"And..."

"He loves an unresolved battle."

Galahad smiled.

"That's why he laughed while getting beaten up."

Holar:

"Yes."

Elizabeth:

"But there's a problem."

Eleanor:

"Foresight."

Elizabeth nodded.

"Normal Percy can be calculated."

"It's very difficult."

"But he can be calculated."

"Because he calculates probabilities."

Galahad:

"And today's Percy?"

Elizabeth looked at the fire.

"He can't be calculated."

"Because he doesn't know his own decision..."

"...until the moment he needs to decide."

Eleanor's face grew serious.

"Meaning the enemy can't read him."

Elizabeth:

"No."

"Percy doesn't read the enemy either."

"He decides together with the battle."

Galahad took a deep breath.

"This kid is terrifying."

Holar smiled.

"He's my grandson."

Eleanor looked at him.

"Here you go again."

Holar:

"Today I've earned the right."

Elizabeth:

"He's my student."

Galahad:

"He's my brother."

Eleanor:

"He's my nephew."

The four fell silent. Then they looked at each other. Holar sighed.

"Again?"

Eleanor:

"You started it."

Galahad chuckled softly. But Elizabeth didn't laugh. She looked toward Percy's tent.

"We need to protect him."

Galahad's face turned serious again.

"His character."

Eleanor nodded.

"Just like we discussed."

Holar looked at the fire.

"No."

The three turned to him.

Holar:

"Now we know more."

"We will protect his character."

"But..."

"We won't suppress this side of his power."

Elizabeth:

"Why?"

Holar answered.

"Because that is Percy too."

Silence.

"He must learn to control it."

"Not destroy it."

Galahad slowly nodded.

Eleanor:

"And he won't learn it alone."

Holar smiled.

"No."

"Never."

Inside the tent... Thirteen children were sleeping. Twelve of them were healed. And in the middle of them... Lay Percy Grant. In her sleep, Clara had found his hand. She was holding it tightly. Percy was unconscious. But his fingers... Held Clara's hand back. Outside, Holar looked up at the sky. The voice from seven years ago... He remembered once more.

"This is the curtain..."

"...that will open for your development."

Holar closed his eyes. He smiled.

"It really was."

END OF CHAPTER