Fish On Land

As he ran through the city, Timothy kept encountering more marines that he needed to eliminate. He couldn't risk damaging his skill by using airborne movement carelessly.

"There he is! Shoot him down!"

Timothy spread both of his arms out and with a piercing gaze, sprinted in their direction as the bullets flew. "Give it a rest! You know you can't win!"

Timothy bent his torso to dodge the shower of bullets and channeled electricity through his body to increase his running speed.

He pressed his right palm into the marine's stomach, zapping him.

He rushed forward, touched the marine's back, and zapped him.

He slipped to the side, dodged the incoming bullet, then jumped on the marine's shoulders and propelled himself in the air, knocking him to the ground.

Timothy dropped, ramming his sole into the marine's face, smashing him into the earth.

Timothy dashed forward, pressing his palms at the marines on either side of him and paralyzing them.

Bullets flew at him, but Timothy slid to the ground, crouched, grabbed the floor, and leaped above their heads.

He landed in the circling marines and spread electricity over the ground, zapping everyone in the way.

One marine swung his cutlass in Timothy's direction, but he ducked beneath and then uppercut the marine into his jaw.

Another marine attacked from behind.

Timothy kicked behind him and crashed his sole into the marine's stomach.

He punched another few that attacked from the corners, then sprinted through a line of marines and zapped them in the process.

He fought his way through the final few marines, but there seemed no end to them.

"You're going down, white-haired pirate!" They locked their rifles onto him and surrounded him. "Surrender now, and we will not be forced to kill you!"

Timothy hurled gazes in every direction, learning he didn't have an escape route. "Get out of my way!"

His eyes emitted a sequence of shockwave-like sensations that radiated outward. It produced a metallic clang that permeated the entire area and kept repeating.

Timothy was the last man standing as the hundreds of marines surrounding him collapsed on the ground one by one.

He gave them a perplexed expression, struggling to find a solution as he exhaled heavily.

He walked over the bodies and sprinted toward the third gate's direction.

Oriyana raised her leg and prepared for battle. "I shall open the path for Timothy's allies by removing you from our way." She explained, solemn and confident, but their battle got interrupted.

Timothy came running next to Oriyana, grasping his knees and taking a breather. "Great... Now there's a gate to deal with!" Timothy claimed, breathing heavily.

Timothy raised his head and looked at Oriyana. "Yo, Oriyana!" The moment he called out her name, Oriyana grabbed her cheeks, received pink eyes, and squeaked in excitement. "Timothy!" She looked like an overexcited child.

Timothy looked at her confused and smiled. "It's been a while, Oriyana! You know, your ability comes in handy." Oriyana squeaked louder and continued wiggling. "No need to thank me, Timothy! If I have any bad qualities, then please tell me, Timothy! I shall rid myself of them all." She called, yet Timothy looked at her more bewildered than before.

He observed her, scratching the back of his head. "What?" He noticed her biting her sleeve with worry. "I shall never give up! Because I love you far more than anyone could ever!"

Timothy crossed his arms and listened patiently. "Who are you talking about?" Timothy's voice caused Oriyana to squeak cutely as she turned around and trickled a bit of sweat.

She hurriedly stood up and became serious. "I shall dispose of you, peasants!" She called, pointing her fingers at Agnes and Alejandro.

"Yeah! You got it!" Timothy shouted, punching his fist into his palm, releasing a bit of flame for an instant.

He suddenly heard Oriyana tumble onto her legs. "I am honored to provide my service to you, Timothy." She called, holding the earth.

"Gah, Empress! Don't say that!" Rika and Tinna called and looked at Timothy. "You! Look at what you did to her! Your charms are too much for her to handle!" Tinna shouted.

Timothy was speechless and dumbfounded.

Agnes looked at Alejandro. "Didn't she earlier say she's no one's puppet?" Agnes wondered, but Alejandro shrugged his shoulders.

"It doesn't matter. Let's take care of these fools so that Chiaki's execution accelerates without disturbing." He grabbed his sword, seeing Timothy prepare.

Oriyana hurriedly jumped to her feet and pointed her fingers at them. "You will not put a finger on him!" She called, becoming solemn.

"Sure, come at me then. I'll love to give you a pounding!" Timothy called as Oriyana daydreamed. "Pounding. Such a charming word!" She claimed, smiling but shaking her head.

Timothy dropped his arms for them to dangle in front of his knees. "Charming is not a word I'd use. But whatever suits your boat." Timothy straightened up and prepared a fighting position.

Alejandro phased into the ground, disappearing from Timothy's view. "Whoa! Where'd he go?" He looked around, but suddenly Alejandro floated behind Timothy's back.

He slashed his sword, but Timothy ducked at the perfect moment and circled his leg behind.

However, Timothy's kick phased through Alejandro's body.

Timothy acted quickly and backed away in an instant, observing Alejandro standing still. "You just warped?" Timothy asked, keeping his guard up.

"I'm afraid not." Alejandro phased through the ground again, leaving Timothy bewildered.

He looked around and finally below him, spotting Alejandro slicing his sword from the earth.

Timothy leaped in the air and backed away, landing on his hand and rolling back.

Alejandro returned to the surface. "I have a power that allows me to phase through any flat and solid material, even ground, and then reappear from anywhere." He spoke while whacking his hand with the flat side of his blade.

"Wow, a real fair ability you came up with, huh? Why not make yourself immortal?" Timothy complained, observing Alejandro. "I am practically immortal. You cannot touch me, not even by enchanting your skin."

"Yeah... we'll see about that, ghost-boy," Timothy proclaimed, sending forth orange flames that disappeared in the wind.

To be continued...