Pearl's charge came to a halt midair when she felt lighter than before.
Glancing downwards... Tsunami was falling; although she couldn't see his body, she could sense the spatial fluctuations of his fall.
Not even thinking for a second, she changed directions and was about to run after him.
" Don't! " Tsunami shouted... stopping her pursuit.
He removed the [Ghost Cloak] and gazed at her with resolve.
" I can't allow myself to be a burden to my partner."
" Do what you ought to do "
Pearl was in disapproval and was about to summon a door below him.
" Trust me! "
Seeing the resolve in his eyes, the white particles that had begun forming several meters below him dissipated. She turned back, glanced at the 3rd step cyclone, who was wallowing in pain.
From the moment the cyclone mother regained consciousness, she had been in a dazed state, staring at the corpses of its offspring.
It was aware of the charge that the twinkle was making. But it ignored it, still trying to register the loss and brutal murder of its babies.
Four doors manifested around Pearl, one in each compass direction, before space was wrapped around them with overwhelming force, shattering them into pieces.
The white piece flowed like liquid over the surface of Pearl's body, forming ancient text that gave off murderous intent.
Pearl's aura rose by several levels, and in the next moment, she shot upward, her speed breaking her regular peak records by more than double.
Her trail, a white lightning bolt of defiance.
An ant was challenging Goliath.
Witnessing Pearl's transformation, the falling Tsunami shook his head and smiled.
He tried to match the unyielding Pearl with the lazy one, but they were too different.
' You were still holding back.'
He turned his body around and dispersed the [Ghost Cloak], a dangerous glint appearing in his eyes.
The surviving 2nd step cyclones, by now lucid, were staring at their fallen brothers— sorrow, grief, pain, and abysmal hatred etched into their souls with burning intensity.
They looked at the twinkle's charge, and in their eyes, they came to know fear.
The white bolt of lightning aimed itself at the neck of the 3rd step cyclone. Upon collision, it created a large white flash and a boom.
The shockwave vaporised air within a mile radius and pushed the lower combatants by several hundred meters, even though they were several miles below.
Pearl was also thrown backwards by several hundred meters... but the 3rd step cyclone only moved back by one.
Once it stabilized itself, it looked at the culprit, its eyes burning with rage.
...
Being fully aware they couldn't mess with the twinkle, the two 2nd step cyclones felt a renewed sense of vengeance rise in their hearts once they saw the human falling.
Without further ado, they flew toward the human for interception.
Tsunami, on the other hand, once he saw their deep hatred, smiled in mockery.
' It's time to settle our score, you bastards! '
With his revolver in hand, now a chamber empty, a result of having his first shot blocked. He planned to use their own biology and aerial advantage against them.
...
Inside the mansion, Lord Frederick had a gloomy expression.
Time was chaotic, unreal, mutilated, and unaccounted for.
Everything was happening yet not happening at the same time.
The culprit, smiling with a reminiscent expression. Her left leg, still corroding... a blackish-golden-purple puddle of blood forming on the base of the cylinder.
The corrosion itself was accompanied by excruciating pain. Pain meant to make a god go insane. It is one of the most dangerous poisons in the universe after all.
But she was no stranger to pain.
" My lord, you know... occasionally, I recall the day when the goddess gifted us this artifact. She granted you authority over it — except for a room of my choice."
" Back then, I really found it unfair. This artifact belonged to my mother... Who does she think she is to give it back as a gift? Even worse, I'm only allowed one room, as my inheritance. "
" I really wanted to choose one of the master bedrooms... but now that I think of it, I know I made the right choice back then, keeping my mother's laboratory. "
" I even allowed strangers to reside inside my own inheritance. Isn't that what you always preach to me? 'Be magnanimous, worthy of a Court of Kings' descendant.' "
Shortly after, her face contorted for a few seconds, as she coughed out blood.
" Stop this madness, Katy. "
" How can you be so reckless, for a boy you just met. This revenge of yours is not worth it."
Lord Frederick, while pleading with his unreasonable niece, imbued all his divine will inside the cylinder.
The corrosion speed was significantly reduced as a result... but it was still not enough to stop the process.
Katarina wiped the blood from her lips, her expression nonchalant. But spiritually, she was in the middle of an intense battle... it was taking her all to fend off her uncle from gaining authority over the Splicer room.
" I know most of your schemes, my Lord. Even though you are the Dark Prince of Bad Luck and Time, none of that matters. "
" You are ruthless to the world, but soft to those you care about. Even though you wish to stop me and have the strength to do so, you won't go all out just because you fear I might get hurt. "
" This is your weakness; this is Grandma's weakness. You both have too many considerations. Nothing gets done. "
Lord Frederick glanced at the little girl, not liking her tone one bit. Had anyone else spoken those words, their souls would already be resting in eternal darkness.
He divided his spirit and was about to perform spirit walking, but then an outrageous ultimatum stopped his actions.
"Don't even think of contacting those who walk the land. The moment I sense a transmission out of this room, I'll force total self-explosion."
" You know what I want, but won't grant it. My lord, you are the cause of my suffering. "