Calmly the man leans further down, seemingly ignoring Crim as he rushes forward, sword and shield in hand. Moments is all it takes for Crim to arrive. The second he does he moves for a horizontal slash to the waist while trying to bash his opponent's head with his shield. Unfortunately, he misses! Suddenly the man's arms sinks into the ground, a series of whipping pikes rushing towards Crime within the second it takes to fully submerge them
Forced to step back Crim puts up his shield, trying his best not to be launched back by the shifting ground. In the time Crim takes to recover the man has already pulled his arms out of the ground, leaving two small pits where they were. Now wearing stone armor on his arms with claw tipped gauntlets on his hands he leaps forward towards Crim!
Crim, seeing the stone armor on his opponent, decides to shrink his sword down to a dagger, condensing the blade to make it more durable. As for his shield, he transforms it into a small wooden buckler, making sure to keep the sun pattern the same. As his opponent gets closer Crims jacket sleeves start to change, shrinking and stretching to transform into thick bouncy elbow guards, exposing his well toned arms. In this moment Crim starts to look somewhat masculine, his muscles holding firm as he holds his dense and heavy weapons.
Will on the other hand pulls out a pair of ear plugs and sleep mask, putting them on lily. The second he's sure she can't hear or see anything he pulls out a gun and shoots, aiming for the man's knees! Instantly the shot hits, unfortunately something seems to stop them right as they pierce his pants. Despite the lack of damage the man does stop for a split second, rushing back to Crim the second the bullet hits the ground.
"Damn, an upper high rank!"
Crim and Will both frown. Looking at his opponent Crim wonders how he can beat his opponent as only a lower high-rank shifter. Unlike his opponent who can manipulate as far as the air that touches his body, Crim can only manipulate solid matter. Calmly, the duo look at each other and nod. The man, despite being shot at once, still focuses on Crim. Crim seeing this decides to test things.
Face to Face.
He goes for a right hook to Crim's heart. In response Crim slams his buckler against his elbow while slashing towards his neck, sidestepping along the way! While he successfully parries his dagger is stopped by something again. It seems every time the man makes a cushion of air he has to stop for a split moment. In that moment fear visibly flashes past his eyes.
Bang!
Another shot fired and stopped, still in that moment Crim is given enough time to take the pommel of his dagger and slam it towards the man's jaw!
Smile?
"Bang."
Suddenly Crim feels something slam against his shoulder. The pain leaves him unable to move for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity the man ducks in front of Crim, using him as a shield from Will's bullets. Smiling, he grabs Crim by the shoulders, sweeping Crim's ankles with his left leg to knock him over. Unfortunately, just like him Crim is wearing a bright smile.
Bang!
Will takes another shot, this time aiming for the man's forehead knowing full well he won't get the kill. "He's condensing the air touching him?" Will says while taking aim. The man pauses, then immediately tries to move. Unfortunately, Will already learned the man's recovery time. While Will only has five shots left, those five seconds given are more than enough time for Crim to go for the kill.
The buckler explodes back into the shield's original size, violently pushing back the man's left arm! The sword on the other hand grows back, the blade whipping out to horizontally slash the man's neck. Again a cushion of condensed air stops their attacks still, the momentum of five bullets isn't all cushioned by the air! Instantly he tries to let out a curse as he's pushed back but before he can do anything Crim takes the dagger and moves to the man's open mouth.
Air starts to condense, ready to shoot out again from his mouth but before it can Crim condenses the blade of his dagger as much as he can and rams the now needle-like blade straight into the man's mouth and extends it, successfully piercing the wall of air! Instantly the man lets out a pained scream! Even so, Crim doesn't give the man the opportunity to recover. With the blade still in his mouth Crim manipulates it yet again, widening it to cut the inside of the man's mouth as he pulls it out. As soon as the blade is out Crim takes the pommel of the dagger and slams it into the man's jaw, aiming to shake his skull and knock him out.
Success.
The fight didn't last long, maybe three minutes, still the duo look tired. Taking a closer look at his shoulder Crim sees a massive purple bruise. "Leave the rest to me." Holding Lily, Will walks to Crim and nods, staring at the wall and waiting. With consecutive gunshots and screams like that it's impossible not to have been heard. Thankfully the official shifters should all be at the town borders working on a defense.
Crim walks to the wall nearest to the street and puts his hands on it after putting away the sword and shield in his pockets. At first the wall quivers before going still. Letting one hand off he signals will to grab him. The second the trio make sure everyone's secure Crim sets off the wall.
Boom!
Suddenly the walls instantly break down into a massive cloud of dust. Near instantly it becomes several times harder to see in the market district. The police that have started to gather at the area begin to violently cough, pulling out their gun and baton, ready to defend themselves. Meanwhile the small crowd that remained starts to panic. Taking advantage of the chaos the trio join the panicking crowd, taking special care of their food and Lily.
After a few minutes they find themselves outside the market after having been guided out by a team of evacuating police guiding the civilians. Despite wanting to talk they remain silent. Will holds Lily in his arms, letting her sleep as the mask and ear buds made it easy for her to see the sandman. Crim on the other hand guards the food with his life. Eventually they make it back to the Charles estate.
"Mkay, so I'm going to see what medicines we have and take a nap."
Will nods to Crim, fully intending to sleep too. Harry gives Crim an odd look as they pass, choosing to pull out a small bottle from nowhere. "Painkillers, much better than what's local. Take just one pill." While Abbey medicine has reached an effective standardized level it's still a bit backwards. Will, looking at the bottle notices symbols from his homeland "What happened to not ringing the bell?" Harry responds with a slight frown. "Secret." While Crim heads inside with Lily, Will stays outside to talk with Harry and pass him some candy they got for him.
"Hope ya like chocolate."
"Long as it's not the bitter kind."
"Figured, this one's tha sugary kind."
Will takes a seat on the grass next to Harry while Crim goes inside to sleep. For a minute the duo sit in silence, Harry eventually breaking it.
"So, what do you want?"
"Can ya tell me what exactly annoyance means?"
Bored, Will rest his head against his hands while staring at the stars. Harry pauses for a second, looking at the stars then Will's chest before speaking.
"A fight between me and one of the two will normally break out. Don't worry though, for right now there's a truce."
"I see…You can 'ead to sleep. I'll take the next round."
"Sure, just let Crim know."
After finishing his chocolate Harry moves inside. Will, taking a moment to make sure he's alone, puts his backpack in front of him. For an hour he just sits and stares, occasionally looking up to stars. Eventually, once he starts to hear snoring he pulls out a small picture frame.
"I made it another night."
Smiling, he looks at it and does a small prayer. It shows him and a small girl standing in front of a small garden. She looks like a younger, more feminine version of Will. While Will is dressed lazily in the photo she's wearing a nice ankle length green dress. On the side of her head, holding her shoulder length braided brown hair is a small hairpin carved with snake patterns.
"We came across a shifter today, honestly I was a bit scared. Thankfully Crim noticed his pause too."
Weakly he smiles, leaning back and fully relaxing.
"I still can't believe I came across Harry let alone that he'd be so relaxed around me. I wonder if he's the one who caused that mountain to hit one of the two. Even if he isn't, he's still pretty scary. I mean, an other worlder with a fragment. Who knows what he's thinking."
Suddenly Will can't help but remember how defensive Harry was with Crim and Lily.
"I wonder if he would've saved you?"
Somber pain floods Wills heart as memories of a little girl fill his clouded head. How she'd call him daddy when she was just a baby before settling on dad when she turned ten. How she'd try to hide her bad grades by drawing over her teacher's writing. How she'd ask to see her mother's grave with a brave smile. How she brought light to his life after loss and loss repeated. What he remembers most clearly is how he couldn't save her.
In the spread of the Urbi plague he couldn't afford her medicine. Even after selling his soul and robbing others, he couldn't hire a real doctor. Instead, being tricked into hiring a quack. Wiping his wet eyes Will can't help but think of Crim. If his daughter was still around she'd be the same age. Though She'd probably be twice as mischievous. Unfortunately, at least for now she isn't here, not lying in some bed with half a mind soaked in sweat and consumed by pain as her body rots to death,
"Who knew my death attempt at my lowest would become my greatest hope."
Countless dead, lost to the dead zones as calamities tore ships asunder. Despite the loss of what was supposed to be his brothers in arms he felt nothing. Just like in land, he was left alone in the sea hanging on for dear life as a storm destroyed his ship. He was supposed to die, but thanks to a miracle he lived. To a certain extent the existence of the other world is his hope.
"I promise to bring you back…no matter what I have to sacrifice."
Gripping his chest, holding where his tattoo is tight he looks to the sky and remembers his ultimate hope. He'll live, she won't let him die while he still has use. At least the remnants of her thought's won't let him die to a calamity. A cage hangs above, strands from the incomprehensible loosely swaying in the wind, even so Will knows, of all the people here.
He's the one who will never escape despite being the one with a key.
"No other child will be hurt again, at least not the ones I can protect. Dad's cool right Lia? When we meet again he'll be a hero you can be proud of."
And so the night passes, Will simply staring at the photo while remembering his past. Sometimes he smiles, sometimes he frowns, sometimes he looks to the sky, sometimes he looks to his chest. Yet no matter where he looks, the same hopeful glimmer never leaves his eyes,
Two more days until the wave hits.