Confrontation in the Skies

"What's going on here?" Lily arrived on the scene riding the wind, pulling Gordon along.

"Yes! Saviour come!" Jackson, with Brian on his back, commanded the crowd to head to the underground station for safety.

"Saviour? What?" Lily was confused by Jackson's sudden statement.

"Is your ability to control the wind?" Jackson asked.

"What's it to you? Is your brain malfunctioning?" Lily reasonably considered this possibility, and Gordon, though not saying anything, shared the sentiment.

"I need to ask you a favor. Have you seen a kid flying in the air?" Jackson pointed to Lorient in the sky, whom Lily had narrowly avoided the indiscriminate attacks.

"Do you want me to take him down?" Lily pointed at Lorient, manipulating the wind to knock away a large rock flying towards her in the meantime.

"Can you do it?"

"Are you underestimating a Level 5?"

"It's not about underestimating. It's just that your ability is quite similar."

"No, it seemed to be control the speed of the wind's movement, then gather and shoot the speed... So, which part of this is similar?"

"So, you can't control his wind?"

"I told you, he's not controlling the wind; it's about speed! But I do have a way to deal with him."

"What way?"

"... Can you do me a favor?" Lily shrugged, looking at Gordon, whom she still had a grip on.

"First, let me go. I'm not a stray dog running wild," Gordon complained.

***

Lorient felt the surroundings getting darker, unable to see anything. The cold temperature made him shiver, and he realized he had no strength to sit up. He lay on the soft surface, feeling it start to move. Trying to sit up again, he realized his strength was entirely gone.

The ground beneath him became even softer, and he slowly sank into it, like an unconscious patient sinking into the seabed.

"Help..." he wanted to say the word, but the cold prevented him from speaking. He felt completely paralyzed and powerless.

Suddenly, he sensed the ground he was lying on start to move. Terrified, he tried to sit up again but realized he had no strength.

The ground became softer, and he was sinking slowly, like a patient without sensation sinking into the depths.

"Help..." he struggled to say the word, but the ground covered him completely. He was buried alive, sinking deeper.

Who would come to save him?

"Help..."

***

Lily dodged Lorient's attacks, and the wind under her feet allowed her to walk in the air. No one noticed Gordon maneuvering between the rooftops. Since Lily was drawing fire, he avoided Lorient's attacks, but some stray rocks came his way.

While avoiding the rocks, Lily descended from the sky, almost colliding with Gordon. The impact caused the roof to collapse, dragging Gordon down with it. They fell into a restaurant, and the debris crushed tables, chairs, and service robots. Dust surrounded them as they coughed.

Gordon struggled to get up, moving toward the window to watch Lorient's continued indiscriminate attacks.

"Once more, sis," Gordon said, opening the window and climbing onto the rooftop.

"How inconsiderate! At least ask about your sis's injuries," Lily said, pushing away the rubble on her right leg. She then used the wind to push herself out of the door and sprinted back into the air, aiming again for the out-of-control Lorient!

Lorient, aware of Lily's approach, raised his hand, and another burst of airflow, like a grim reaper, charged toward Lily.

Lily quickly gathered the wind, creating a shield. Although the shield blocked the airflow's attack, the force sent Lily flying. Fortunately, she caught herself with the wind just before kissing the ground.

In that moment, she thought of a faster way to reach Lorient. She hoped her brother was ready, or else her impromptu plan might end up killing her.

She condensed the wind she caught, forming a shield, but instead of blocking, she used the force to catapult herself upward.

Lorient, still unconscious and collecting the wind's speed, didn't notice the danger—enemies mixed within the speed!

Yes! When Lily was propelled upward, the wind unintentionally created speed, so intense that it even scorched Lily's cheeks. She was enveloped in this speed, aiming to reach Lorient.

At the same time, Gordon, standing on the rooftop, found the perfect angle to observe Lily's actions. Understanding everything, he removed the iron sand on him, ending his invisibility. He then gathered the iron sand and launched it, forming a spring-like blade.

Lorient, still unaware of what was happening, felt his wind-made shield shattered. When he turned to look, he discovered Lily violently caressing the remnants of the protection.

Almost at the same second, as Lorient noticed Lily, he also noticed a blade made of iron sand slicing through his neck.

Lily spotted the opening, quickly jumped into the protection, embracing Lorient. Gently, she said, "Don't scare."

***

Lorient struggled; he didn't want to die like this. He needed to protect Jackson and save Alicia.

"Help..." he wanted to say the word, but it felt like someone responded. A light shattered the ground.

Lorient didn't find the light glaring; instead, it felt warm. The light gradually transformed into a hand, and, in the warmth, he mustered the last bit of strength to grab that hand.

Darkness tried to seize him, but the light, like an inviolable god, held it back.

Then, he heard a voice.

"Don't scare."

The light became too bright, making it impossible for him to open his eyes. When he did, he found himself lying in a hospital bed.

But that's a story for another time.