The only person alive at that time who caused people to become uneasy was their fallen captain. Her body was immobile and rooted to the ground, like a fern. Her clothing were dusty, and her face was buried in the ground.
Everyone was captivated by the event as it unfolded, but her companions stood out above all others. Yumiko fixed her gaze on the fallen Tem. She was terrified until it finally moved out of view. All she could sense was that she was to blame for the result. Although her justifications were encouraging, at the end of the day, there was little optimism left.
Yumiko's body shattered altogether. Her eyes were wide open and riveted on the rough floor as her knees pounded into the ground. There was nothing she could do. She wasn't sure what she should do next. Her entire hope was lost in the uncharted territory of the universe. The only thing left to keep her alive was the emotion of sadness and humiliation.
Her tears began to trickle around her eyelids, then they crumpled to the floor. It splattered and drenched the floor upon contact. No one was able to speak to her, she was immobile. Her confidence was utterly destroyed by depression; all that was left was regret.
"It's my fault..."
"I was selfish. I've dragged Tem into my life to help our people. But all I caused with this was the fate of fallen people. I've cursed everyone; all I did in the end was injure her. I prioritized other people's lives that I didn't even realize what this could do to Tem..."
All that was left of the experience was misery. Finally, the level of people's distrust peaked. Nobody could stop the "Sun's Order," they were assured. Only Ralphie's voice could soothe the bereavement.
He gave his fallen captain a direct glance merely to project his own conviction. People were shocked when his voice resounded across the vicinity. He took a cigarette out and lit it with a lighter. He exhaled the smoke and kept his composure.
"You're misunderstanding the scenario, Yumiko. You've gave up hope the moment Tem fell."
"But in reality, she has not lost. She's not even close to losing. Just like you, I've distrusted the guy, now a girl, but in the end, I was proved wrong. She's fine, she isn't finished..."
Yumiko remained focused on Tem's trembling body. Her arms were scurrying out into the open from under her chest. To stabilize herself and enable her legs to start rising back, her palms were pressed firmly into the earth.
Slowly, Tem started to rise to her feet anew. She quickly stood back up while retaining the top of her hood. She first covered her head with it, then her eyes. She maintained a smirk, and her blue eyes were in full bloom, a vivid color that locked people's bodies in place with shock.
She raised her head slowly but steadily to respond to Garuda's view. She exposed pressure from outside her body, which created a force twister. In the raging winds, her hair and clothing wavered.
Garuda was in marvel as she was brought to her feet. For years, no one was able to endure his powerful strikes; nonetheless, a woman became the first victim to survive the blow. None other than the Phoenix Crew's captain. Tem was back in action and prepared to demonstrate her power to the audience.
"I won't lie. You surprise me, girl. To withstand the strong attack such as this one is rather unthinkable. You might actually be more worthy to take hostage: I think Muro would be happy to be greeted with such outstanding foe."
"I might need you alive. You're of women's blood; this would be the perfect gift for our boss."
Kou and Ralphie grinned as they watched their commander suffer just minor damage. Kou enthusiastically cheered her on from behind, leaving Yumiko speechless. She was initially unable to believe what she was seeing, but after a few seconds, she realized that she could not turn away. Her eyelids shook as she longed for the tears to flow naturally.
Tem's solemn stare turned to face her, and she saw it widen into a smile. She was astounded by the enthusiastic expression put on. She felt hopeful once more. The belief she had been seeking was at last in front of her. Tem was the splendid hope that these poor people had been yearning for.
Tem was equivalent to a heroine bestowed to them by the god's decision,
"Very well! What's your name? You're an honorable opponent that I've come across."
Tem tightened her hold on the hood. She immediately responded with a smile that never faltered. She spoke without any hesitancy; words came out like a torrent of water from a tube.
"That's for you to find out."
Garuda listened with reverence, unsure of what she meant. No matter the cost, he was determined to discover her name. He would put others' lives in danger only to find out who they were.
It didn't stop him from defending himself; he was ready to fight. He was prepared to defeat the adversary in front of him. Without second thought, he noticed the movement in the distance in front of him.
Her body disappeared from the scene in a heartbeat. There was not even the slightest indication of her presence—not even a fragrance or a touch. Garuda's eyes could see nothing but the quick silhouette that emerged before him like static out of the blue, literally.
His bulky body was unable to respond in time. He was unable to equal Tem's speed—the speed of a single blink—due to his weight. She drew her arm near to her hip while crouching on the ground and made a fist with it. She leaped upward, as though from a spring, and drove her fist all the way into Garuda's jaw.
Her punch was strong, but his head's durability outweighed it. His head was physically hoisted up and violently forced back, almost like breaking a neck.
Then, in the following instant, he noted Tem's feet were at eye level with him. Her left foot was set ablaze.
Tem left a trail of blue flames behind her as she swirled into the air, resembling an inferno. It was searing from the tips of her heels, only it had grown longer and hotter.
The flames spiraled into the air before igniting and creating an ever-expanding fire tornado. Tem's lower structure was totally encircled by it as she drove her foot into Garuda's face, striking him with the force of a boulder ramming into someone moving quickly down a slope.
The flames erupted on contact, shooting out in all four directions before blasting into a twister that extinguished them. He was forced to bleed from the face when the kick practically forced his face deep inside his skull.
Garuda had to take a two-step retreat since he could hardly maintain his footing. He lowered his arms to his sides, placing them near to his hips while he continued to balance himself. The surge of adrenaline swirled over his knuckles and between his joints. He made himself stronger physically.
He buried his sole in the ground to maintain his heavy bulk as the ground crumbled under his weight. He did not show the slightest sign of restraint as he punched at Tem in the head with an uppercut. His powerful arm snapped, sending a destructive shockwave through the area. The houses barely held up; their walls were shattered, causing sections to fall apart and eventually pile up in a mass.
Tem moved right away. In order for Garuda's powerful arm to dart over the top and in front of her face, she bowed her body back sharply. Only from a single hit could she feel the wind that raked against her skin. Her hair moved and her garments trembled.
She was flexible. Nimble enough to move her body to rotate her body. She sank to the ground after bending her knees upward, almost to her butt. She lowered her head and bowed forward at the landing. She made a short-range charge across the floor while pulling her arm far behind her shoulder.
She pumped her hand forward fiercely and without reluctance, just as before. In contact with Garuda's stomach, her fist released a pulse that extended outward. High above the rooftops, the invisible wind lit itself ablaze and grew in velocity. Three "Sun Soldiers" who were nearby were particularly startled by the brief firestorm that ensued.
Garuda had to cough up saliva and almost blood after being punched in the stomach. His stomach muscles began to constrict; the bulk of his body was not hard enough to sustain a violent impact, the blow dealt by someone like Tem.
Hopes began to revive among the citizenry. Finally, they started to fathom what trust and belief were. Tem was given the benefit of the doubt.
Garuda reached for his own stomach, only to be overcome with pain. He had trouble standing. His musculature had relaxed. His defenses were shattered like the mirror's glass, scattering to the ground.
Tem backed away, only to have the audience in the back applaud her. She had a grave, expressionless countenance that showed no remorse. Garuda wasn't beaten, but Tem's strength forced him to become immobile and even dazed until...
Unexpectedly, an arrow sprang forth like a flying shard traveling at the speed of light. It was enveloped by a yellow glow as it whirled. It plunged straight into Tem's shoulder without pausing. It pierced her thin skin and stabbed straight in for her nerves.
In a moment she started perceiving a sound of ringing, her eyes widened in shock. The arrow exploded in a huge blast, sending flames flying all over the place. Similar to fireworks, but much smaller.
At the sight of shock, everyone's eyes trembled. Everyone's heads were shrouded by the explosion like a body of cloud. It brought the place to life with an orange glow that quickly surpassed the shadows.
Tem's body was nowhere to be found once the killing ended, and afterwards...
There they were...
Eyes focused on a group of three men, one of whom was holding the bow that was used to fire the arrow.
As soon as Kizu, Trap, and Bow arrived at their destination, they were prepared to help Garuda follow their directives. Bow merely waited for the explosion to end entirely, his face serene and serious.
There was no sign of Tem's body anywhere, not even in the inferno.
To be continued...