Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Time, Stop, Part 3
"Eruptions of energy in a fatigued individual can have dire consequences. Worry not, I haven't killed the girl," The hooded man said. Passengers were in fear of the man as they had seen what he did to Rena.
He removed his hood, a mask on his face. The man's hair was white like snow, his mask like a clock, listing the roman numerals around its face.
"So, you're the one who was following me back in the city!" Storm said, the masked man shaking his head.
"Nay. I know not of who you speak of," he replied.
Storm looked around, trying to think of how he could get himself out of this situation. The man, taking notice of this, chuckled.
"There's no escape, boy. Don't fret," he said to him.
"So, what are you gonna do? Summon more demons after me? Cause I can handle plenty of those!" Storm said to him, taking a few steps closer.
"Child, you honestly think that I created those? Nay. Again, you are wrong child, for it was my good friend," he said.
Storm gave him somewhat of an astonished expression, realizing that there were even more people after him.
"Oh. Ohoho, don't tell me you thought that defeating the creature wasn't planned, now did you?" he said in an amused tone, the masked man sounding as though he was enjoying himself.
"Who the hell are you guys?" Storm asked, even more in shock and confused by all of this.
The masked man spoke again, blue energy shining brightly in his hand, holding a blade to Storm's throat with his other hand. Between the hilt and the base of the blade was a clock shaped symbol, the numbers III, VI, IX, and XII placed into it.
"I am Timekeeper and we are the organization Nigramala." Timekeeper said.
The weapon had sharp silver curved edges around the symbol, the weapon's blade blooming a faint cobalt light. Abruptly, four sky ships, sleeker and coated red and yellow, came from both sides of the sky ship. They had a bright violet glow to them, signifying that they used some sort of crystal to travel quickly towards the sky ship. These were combat ready ships, in case acts of terrorism had been committed upon one skyship. Timekeeper sighed, slicing the air with his blade once, all the ships exploding simultaneously. Angel and Storm were confused on how this was even possible. They looked hopelessly, seeing the ships destroyed so easily.
"Now, where were we?" Timekeeper asked, turning to the two.
Storm yelled and jabbed at him before he could say anymore. Timekeeper easily fended off his attacks, the man moving very swiftly. Storm used a combination of punches and kicks but was not even able to hit the man once. At some point, Storm threw a feint, acting as though he'd kick in one direction, but spun around, electricity running through his body and kicked Timekeeper. The man stumbled back for a moment, looking up silently. Storm panted, kneeling on the ground.
"Keh heh-HA! He was right! We've yet to have an opponent who would entertain, and he was not insincere! He's promised us entertainment and we're getting it. We were correct-" Timekeeper said aloud.
Storm glared, listening to Timekeeper, the man looking back to the boy with a sigh. Timekeeper walked over to the boy, and Storm attempted to attack again, only to find himself in pain. The man sent Storm crashing down through the wooden floor of the ship; he was already exhausted from the fights that he hadn't exactly recovered from completely.
"That really did a number on me-damn-" he said to himself, trying to get up.
Angel summoned a few wingblades, preparing to attack. Timekeeper instantly had his hand on her wrist, holding her.
"H-how-?" Angel said through her teeth, and Timekeeper held her tighter.
"You'd be wise to not resist," he said and threw Angel into the same hole.
Angel attempted to free herself as soon as she landed but saw this wasn't possible. There was a shield with a hazy violet aura stopping them from jumping up through the hole. She threw her blades, but the weapons quickly shattered against the barrier.
"Damn it! It's too strong." she said in frustration.
She turned to see Storm sitting up against a pipe, panting and holding his chest. He was obviously in pain. Angel walked over and knelt next to him.
"Are you alright?" she asked him.
"Let's try linking," Storm said in between breaths.
Angel shook her head. "You've done enough today. I'll figure a way out of this," she said and stood up.
"Storm," she said to him, looking at him seriously.
"Yeah, what?" he asked, awaiting her response.
"Don't follow me," she said, summoning multiple wingblades and breaking the wood from under her.
She almost fell, but thinking quickly, she stuck her wingblade into the ship and hung. Angel kept climbing until she reached the side of the ship. She peeked over the railing of the ship. Rena was awake, and Timekeeper was trying to force information out of her.
"Tell me, girl. Where have you hidden the crystal? I know you have it," Timekeeper told her. Rena gritted her teeth, refusing to speak.
Timekeeper laid her down, stepping on her arm, and she screamed in pain. Angel continued climbing until she reached the end of the ship and climbed from the back.
"Fine then, if you won't speak, I'll force it out," Timekeeper said, grabbing her head, his palm covering her eyes. Cobalt blue energy came from his fingers, and veins of the same color crept from under the man's palm onto Rena's head. Rena began to scream, struggling to free her hand from the man's foot. She used her free hand to try to take his hand off her head.
"Hm-a green bird? No-this is your ability... ah, now I see," Timekeeper said, removing his hand. Rena's eyes glowed blue for a short moment before she fell unconscious.
"You smart girl-you created a bird to carry the crystal to Ragnite." Timekeeper said.
As Timekeeper began to walk away, a translucent blade flew towards him. However, he caught the blade, holding it for a moment, and then quickly shattering it. Timekeeper looked at Angel. She had another blade in hand.
"No. I will not partake in another fight. I'm already late as is. Besides, once I lift the barrier, the boy will come and attempt to fight me." Angel was silent and began to step closer, swinging her blades, but Timekeeper dodged them with ease.
"You know what? No-this is good. I'm interested, now," he said.
As the man spoke, he backed up and snapped his fingers, lifting the barrier. Storm came through the floor of the ship, attempting to cut him down. The man quickly jumped forward, avoiding him. He turned towards Storm, jumping back a bit.
Angel came from behind, hacking and slashing at the man only to find her sword breaking in an instant without explanation. Storm then came at him full force with a kick, and Timekeeper grabbed him, throwing him towards Angel with great force.
"Hmph, Pathetic. Never mind," Timekeeper said. Putting his hands together, he then yelled aloud, "TIME, STOP!"
A wave of energy flowed from Timekeeper's hand, stopping everyone in a dark cobalt space. Everyone on the ship was frozen, immovable in time. Timekeeper merely put his hands in his pockets, walked toward a frozen Rena, removed two daggers from his pocket, and impaled her in her stomach.
"-You're too dangerous to leave running amok. It'll kill you slowly. I still need the crystal you harbor so dearly, girl," he said, leaving the field of frozen time as the ships still moved towards Ragnite.
"DESMOND!" he yelled.
A large black bird leaking black liquid came; there was a man sitting atop it.
"I'm here, I'm here. You took care of that kid?" Desmond asked.
He was a dark-skinned man with dreadlocks wearing the same kind of cloak Timekeeper wore. Timekeeper nodded in response, jumping from the ship to sit atop the bird.
"You were reckless, creating that creature. I merely asked you to contact me as soon as you found him," Timekeeper said.
"Well, he was getting away. I had to distract him somehow!" Desmond laughed.
"We're supposed to be testing him, not toying with him, you fool!" Timekeeper sighed, putting his hands closely together, a blue light forming in the shape of multiple countries.
"I can't help it. I love me some action, hypocrite. So, where're we headed? I'm starving!" he asked, a wide grin on his face.
"To the north. The other side of this country, Ragnite," he said to Desmond. He crossed his arms, and the light faded away.
"Go!" Desmond yelled a command to the bird-like creature, leaving the sky ship behind.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone