Chapter 4

“What was that Chrono,” Ise said looking at Chrono with open eyes. Chrono couldn’t help but feel shy but a little fearful.

“That was cool!” Ise cried out. It was different from her dull monotone voice, and Chrono liked her excited voice.

“Hehe,” Chrono giggled rubbing the back of his head with his open hand.

Breaking from their moment of shock, Captain Cason and Auran turned their faces away from Chrono and focused on the pirates.

“You brat!” The pirate leader yelled. He held his jewels with a grimace and went to lunge for the revolver on the ground. Before he could, Auran had already drawn out his flintlock pistol and shot at the ground near the pirate leader; and as fast as he had shot, he had already stocked the flintlock pistol with another pellet.

The pirate leader was seething with visible steam coming from his head. “Kill them all! Show no more mercy.” The pirate leader cried out.

With no ship for retreat and their backs against the wall, the other pirates had no other choices but to fight their way out. The three martial artists took action, two martial artists attacked in two separate directions while the other one leaped to the sky and began an aerial attack. Captain Cason who was attacked from three different directions indifferently moved to the side and avoided a high sidekick to his chin and then ducked to avoid a roundhouse kick. During this, he had gripped the two pirates legs as soon as their legs had stretched out thoroughly and with a small hmph tossed the two pirates at the pirate above. Their bodies collided causing the three pirates to fly through the hole and to their deaths. While that was going on, The one duelist and Auran were having a showdown. Behind the duelist were the three bodies of the saber men who couldn’t move one step before they were gunned down.

Sweat could be seen trickling down the duelists’ neck as he was contemplating his chances of going off against Auran. With a do or die mentality he reached at the end, he pulled the trigger of his revolver consecutively; releasing four bullets. The bullets soared through the air with three of the bullets guaranteed to hit Auran’s body and one at his head. Auran made his move and released his flintlock pistol, firing four bullets faster than the eye can see which intercepted the four rounds. The duelist looked terrified as he saw the flintlock pistol barrel pointed at him. As if he could see down the barrel, he saw the pellet be sparked by gunpowder and released; that was the last thing he saw.

Now all that was left was a fire caster and the pirate leader; this was a sudden difference of twelve to two people in a matter of moments.

“Arg!” The Pirate leader cried in frustration. He turned to the fire caster and roared “Burn it all to the ground! Do it!”

The fire caster looked at the pirate leader then the group in front of him alternatively before coming to a decision. He clapped his hands together and the balls of fire condensed into one gigantic ball of fire. He then released his hands from its position and waved his hands to create a circle shape in front of him. The fire spiraled and coiled around him as if it were a snake. The fire caster then strode forward, slamming his first step towards Cason and the others. The flame that coiled around him surged ahead starting at the end of the fire near his head. The surging fire flew and began to spiral in a screwing motion; intending to pierce Cason. Cason snickered, opened his mouth and swallowed the flame. It was only after the surge of fire continuously poured into his mouth that he noticed a second surge of flame fire from the bottom and aimed at his heart. Auran who knew he had no way to stop the second surge of fire, removed his flintlock pistol from his holster once more and aimed to shoot at the fire caster. Bam! Before he could even pull the trigger, the fire caster fell with a bullet through his head. Auran turned his head in shock to Chrono who clumsily held the revolver in a firing position; with smoke coming from the barrel of the revolver.

Though the fire caster was dealt with, the second surge of fire still aimed at the heart; continuing the intentions of its now deceased caster. Ise who stood idle threw her head back and screeched forward in the direction of Captain Cason. The sound waves coming from her mouth amplified exponentially with each passing second, causing the surge of fire to weaken and then disperse into the environment. The pirate leader was unfortunate and also got caught in the sound wave which scattered the flames and him out the ship. Auran who already knew what was going to happen closed his ears while Chrono luckily imitated him earlier. Captain Cason who swallowed the last bits of the fire swayed back and forth before falling backward.

“Are you guys alright.” Captain Cason asked before burping sparks of fire from his mouth.

“We’re fine! How about you old man?” Ise asked walking over with Chrono followed behind her.

“I’ll go to the bridge and make sure the hole in the ship gets repaired and the bodies cleaned,” Auran said and walked to the bridge.

“I’m fine! I just have a hangover.” Captain Cason replied rubbing his forehead.

“You were really cool Captain Cason!” Chrono said kneeling down near Captain Cason.

“You didn’t do so bad yourself kid.” Captain Cason said giving a small smile.

“Ya! How did you move so fast Chrono? You moved even faster than Auran!” Ise said with a stunned look when she thought of the time Chrono shot before Auran.

Captain Cason’s eyes which were once thin and dizzy flashed with light, and he sprang upright. “Faster than Auran? Are you sure Ise?” Captain Cason turned to ask Ise. Ise nodded her head and looked towards Chrono who had an absent-minded expression.

Chrono broke from his expression and exclaimed while looking at Ise with sparkling eyes, “O ya Ise! You were amazing! I didn’t know you can blow fire away. Using only your voice too!”

Slightly embarrassed Ise played with her feet while looking down and said “It was nothing. I can go even higher than that.”

“Cool!” Chrono said admiring Ise.

Captain Cason sighed and shook his head at the bantering of these two. 'Would the trouble be worth it?' Captain Cason thought. Ever since Chrono came, this is the most he’s heard Ise talk since that time. Plus it seemed like Chrono has abilities and potential himself. If they could groom his talent, the troubles that he brings is offset by the contributions he brings. Coming to a decision, Captain Cason stood up patted his captains navy blue uniform for any dust, gave some parting words to Chrono and Ise, and headed to the bridge.