"You were attacked and managed to kill one of them." – Reassumed James. – "But then you were assaulted by another one enemy and since you were without energy you escaped."
"Right?"
Alexander nodded. – "Yes, the other one was more powerful."
James looked at him for a whole minute but then suddenly started laughing. – "Hahahahah." – He clapped Alexander's shoulder. – "Great job, lad. Really great job."
Then he suddenly became serious. – "The next time you saw him, you must kill him."
"That's my personal creed." – His eyes even shined. – "To take revenge on every grudge and to repay every kindness."
'Personal creed…'
"Don't worry, one can't just suddenly decide to believe in something. Live a bit more in this world before finking about these things." – Advised James. – "Now let's wait for Captain."
Slowly one after another the rest of the crew also returned.
Only Kleid and captain were still missing.
"Shouldn't someone go and check Kleid's whereabouts?" – Asked Alexander in low voice to nearby Doctor.
He smirked. – "Kleid is powerful. He should have gone to investigate the golem factories so in the worst case he can just detonate them…"
*BROOOOOOOOOM*
Everybody turned around in the direction of the explosion. Alexander's pupils constricted.
One of the smaller islands was no more. Only a monumental mushroom-shaped cloud of dust was still going up.
*BOOM*
The ship was suddenly hit by the shock wave and Alexander, still slightly weak fell on his back.
Doctor frowned and was about to rush in the direction of the explosion then suddenly a shining dot emerged from the cloud and shot towards the ship at an alerting speed.
"SOMEONE CATCH ME!!!!"
Doctor's face relaxed slightly and jumped towards the growing sphere of brownish light. He transformed into his liquid form and engulfed it completely.
After a few second Doctor let something out and Kleid fell on the deck. He was unscathed. After a few moments Kleid got his breath back and stood up. – "What happened, Kleid? – Asked James.
"Ah, nothing particularly interesting, my fat friend." – James ignored the nickname that Kleid has just used but some black lines covered his face.
"Inside the factory I was suddenly attacked by many Esprits. Strictly speaking at first it was extremely fun to beat them to the ground, but in the end, they started shouting some shit about how great their master is." – He stopped talking and cleared his mechanical arm from dust. – "I was somehow irritated, so I broke them even more heavily."
He nodded satisfied only then his arm started shining from how clean it was. - "But what about destroying the whole factory?!" – James wasn't a particularly patient type.
"Ah, about that…One of them managed to self-destruct and destroyed some very good new golems." – Everyone started nodding as the outcome was now clear. Alexander looked at them with puzzled expression.
"And…well, you know me…I love constructs…" – His tone suddenly became slightly embarrassed. – "I lost my control and obliterated the whole island!"
"After that I used the energy on the explosion to propel me towards the ship." – He concluded the story.
Alexander was left speechless but everybody else seemed…
'…sympathetic?!'
Someone saw his expression. – "Kid, remember the pledge that you've made." – It was a smiling bald youth. His whole body radiated a warm and friendly energy. – "…to always be faithful to my heart…"
"Kleid may be rash, by he always follows his own principles."
"By the way, my name is Law. But my friends call me Lion." – Law extended his hand towards the boy.
"Alexander." – He shook the youth's hand. – "Nice to meet you."
"Don't be so shocked. Everyone here has some…bizarreness." – Commented Law. – "Klied ones is only more evident."
Alexander nodded. 'Yes, from the first day I thought that all of them were strange.'
Law suddenly glanced and him with a very clever expression. – "I bet that you're also not normal, Kid."
'You're not much older than me!' Grumblingly thought Alexander. Law only smiled and wanted to add something else, but suddenly he saw something behind the boy.
"Oh, Captain is finally back."
Alexander turned around. Indeed, in the distance he saw John. Strictly speaking he still didn't saw him, but through the twitching of the brand in his eyes he sensed Captain getting near.
After some minutes John stepped on the deck. – "I heard an explosion. What happened?"
"Kleid wrecked one of the golem factories." – Captain nodded. – "That's unfortunate. Someone attacked you?" – He asked to the perpetrator.
"Some Esprits. But they were commanded by someone else."
James also entered the conversation. – "The boy also was attacked. Killed one and escaped from the other one."
John and other people immediately focused on the Boy. – "Tell me what happened."
Alexander repeated another time the whole story. John occasionally nodded. Suddenly Roland also cut in. – "You even acquired Esprit's Curse Energy? Show me!!"
His eyes were burning with fanatism. Alexander summoned a wisp of flame. '[Curse II]'
From purple it swiftly became gray with many wicked green lightning lines dancing inside it.
"Curse flame…" – Roland was captivated by the scene.
John interrupted him. – "Whatever. Nice job surviving, Alexander."
Then he turned towards everyone. – "Well I presume that everyone here can tell me some similar information. Esprits strange behavior, the presence of someone who controls them and so on, right?"
Everybody nodded.
"I asked Governor Twayne to let us go behind the wall. He agreed but wanted to go with us."
'The strange thing is that he denied that there were some problems here.' Thought John.
"So, tomorrow morning the wall will be opened for us."
"Be ready." – He turned around and entered his cabin.
Alexander followed the example and returned to his dwelling. On the bed he concentrated and started condensing a third Energy Mass Point.
The process was tiring and slow but still went smother then the first time.
After a few hours there were three purple specks in his bloodstream.
Satisfied, he took out the rapier of the Third Sword of Shurika. Before, during the combat, he only filled it with his energy without using its actual abilities.
Now he slowly infused the sword with his purple flame. Suddenly his energy was completely swallowed, and he clearly sensed the desire of the sword.
'…energy…energy…more…more…energy…'
Alexander sent all his energy inside, but the request was still the same. – "I guess you will have to wait for me to become more powerful."
There was some disappointment written on his face as he stored the sword back inside the Boundless Map.
The next "items" he took out were the skeleton with one missing leg, two headless sets of bones, and two sculls with ghostly fire burning inside of them. – "What do I do with you, guys?"
Three pairs of empty eyes sockets silently glanced at him.
"Ok, you!" – He pointed towards the skeleton without one leg. It was the one who submitted to Alexander on the Fourth Star Island. – "Can you use one of their legs?" – The boy pointed the pile of bones.
The skeleton stood still but then jumped near the piles and took out a new leg. The flame inside his skull flashed and the leg moved as it was his to begin with.
"Great." – Alexander was satisfied with the result. Then he glanced towards the other two "guys."
He produced a small lump of purple flame and started carefully brought it near the ghostly flame inside the skull.
Controlling his flame, he consumed small quantities of the skeleton's one.
Suddenly he stopped and smiled. – "Nice. A new ability! [Soul I]"
Satisfied for now he stored the skeletons away.
[…]
The city was more deserted compared to the day before.
'Probably because it's still too early…' Thought Alexander, but inwardly he wasn't very convinced.
The wall was huge and around it naturally formed some unique pressure.
Alexander felt more weight on his shoulders. Breathing also became difficult. He thought for a moment as they went forward and summoned some of his flame.
Surprisingly the pressure became more bearable. 'It worked…Nice!'
The whole group leaved behind the main street and before them appeared a marketplace. The shops were all closed and the whole square gave off a very desolate impression.
The wall separated the square, as well as the whole island in two equal parts.
Alexander extended his Boundless Energy towards the wall, but it was immediately repelled.
"Finally." – A man directly appeared in front of the group. – "I was bored to death."
His face was neutral, but his moustache added something heroic about him.
The gorgeous mantle made huge contrast with the rusty armor underneath it.
John nodded towards the man. – "Governor Twayne."
Governor also saluted. – "Lord Blake."
It was the first time as Alexander heard someone greet formally his Captain. 'Indeed, he is the Ocean Lord. They are like kings of the Broken Ocean.'
"We're ready. You may open the passage, Governor."
Twayne turned back and took out a small gray token. Then he threw it against the wall and the small gray object was immediately absorbed inside.
*Brrrruuuum*
With rumbling sound, a passage appeared.
Twayne threw a rapid glance at Captain. – "We may enter."