Affray

Timothy couldn't bear the pain. It was severe pain caused by the soul link that felt like he was getting consumed from the inside out.

He kneeled because of it, holding his sore stomach, and couldn't breathe. It was rough. Its aches continued pressing against his inner regions.

He wasn't bleeding and only felt the same pain Chiaki did. He tried to recover, but it didn't work out for him. He attempted to stand up, and thus he couldn't.

Ivione observed, deteriorated and puzzled, unable to comprehend the pain Timothy experienced. It made him think perhaps Timothy fell under the withering effect. Unfortunately, he was mistaken and had no answers regarding his status.

"Stop pretending it hurts. I don't see any signs of the withered organs. If this is your way of trying to befriend me, playing a fool out of me, we may consider rearranging our deal."

Timothy beamed in pain, trying to mask it as much as he could. He laughed and sweated. He understood Ivione's lack of knowledge.

"Hah, I'm not hiding anything. I'm a straightforward guy, after all..." he rose to his feet, utilizing his hands to assist him. His arms dangled before his kneecaps, deafening the sound of groaning as much as he could.

Ivione stared him down, standing motionlessly and waiting for the opportunity to deliver attacks. He shook his head and hissed with his tongue, unfolding his arms.

"You see, divine emperor. I'm not the only person fighting for these people you denounced traitors. There are more than ten people working together, uniting their powers to retrieve peace and harmony, each vying in a different battle."

Ivione pressed his forehead against his palm and clicked with his mouth. He believed their attempts would be futile and thought their stunts only wasted their glorious time.

He broadened his left eye, leaving the other hidden between his finger gaps. He breezed through the summarization and explained what needed to be told.

"Throwing your lives away for mere humans is absolutely absurd. These are all a bunch of strangers and oddballs. They aren't even a pure mortal race, and you're inclined to sacrifice everything for their sake? What has humanity come to nowadays?"

Timothy's eyes started to flicker, switching between red and blue tints. Something aggravated his mind and body process, experiencing more extreme pain.

It almost seemed something was trying to jump out from his body, like a second life. It wasn't ideal or beneficial. The sudden eruption of the unknown could influence his current mission.

"What's this feeling? I've never felt this bizarre discomfort. Is something happening to Chiaki? I feel like I'm about to get sick..." He thoughts, shaking his head to snap out of the confusion and locking his eyes on Ivione, claiming he had to pass the test Ivione gave him.

He needed to be quick — fast enough to catch up to the others and see what happened to them. He had to act with efficiency. "To prove I can regulate my powers and to show I'm worthy of my predecessor's powers. I can handle that."!

Timothy's body steamed, casting a ringing sound. His skin turned rose, dashing forward without a second thought and punching toward Ivione's head.

Ivione stepped back and evaded the punch as Timothy shifted his body and delivered a roundhouse kick. Ivione ducked and swooped low with his foot, hitting Timothy's ankles and throwing him off balance.

Timothy hauled back, pressed his palms against the floor, and sprung back on his hands, landing. He strode back and hurriedly dashed forward, bulleting with his hand toward Ivione's chest.

Ivione guarded, knocking Timothy's arm aside, manipulated the wind, and palmed him in the chest, blowing him through the citadel's wall outside on the deck.

Timothy sidled and stopped before falling off the edge. He hopped, ignited his elevated foot, and lurched forth, sending a fire wave in Ivione's direction.

Ivione jolted forward, flanked the fire wave, and glissaded on the foundation. He vanished into the air currents and ferried himself a few inches away from Timothy.

Timothy squatted underneath the flying kick, zipped across the parquet floor, and orbited to redirect himself toward his foe, swiping his arm behind him while stiffening on the ground.

Orange flames formed a fire star above his palm which he swooped forward and tossed like a frisbee. It flew at breakneck speed, trailed by the seething flames.

Ivione formed a wind bubble in his hands to suck in the flames and blow them out. He advanced, weaved, and evaded the incoming fire missiles Timothy assembled.

He bulleted with his fist, allowing Timothy to duck beneath and seize his wrist, surprising Ivione. Timothy felt pain within his body but surrounded his hands with blue electricity, using them to zap Ivione and paralyze him on the spot.

Timothy raised his leg and shoved his sole into Ivione's abdomen, kicking him rearward and gathering enough time to lunge forward and press his palms on Ivione's torso.

He unleashed a burning cannon that consumed Ivione and set him ablaze. It left enough force and pressure to catapult Ivione in the distance, away from Timothy.

Ivione recovered quickly and performed a perfect landing. "An electric-based ability? Photine couldn't use it. Can he bend fire and curve it into electricity to use it as a secondary talent?"

He noticed Timothy breathing heavily and saw him tumble to his knee. He was trying to recover from the unspecified aches and regain his breath.

"He might have what it takes..."

The battle continued across the land, deep in the forest beside Seraph's hideout. Notonious and Shanya engaged in a fearless battle while Olishia observed.

Elliott escorted the rest of the Scanara Tribe people from the battlefield and meet up with Timothy.

"Sir, Elliott!"

One of the people yelled.

"What will we do after we meet up with your captain? If we don't find him or he's found dead. What then? Will you be the one to confront our divine emperor?"

Elliott ran before them without stopping, maintaining a grave demeanor. He tightened his eyes and revealed loyalty, "Timothy isn't weak. If someone can stop the god of wind, it's him..."

To be continued...