Parth entered the library and stopped to see Ralphie standing up from the boxes. "The white-haired pirates' cook. Don't I recall a history regarding the agency in which you were involved?" Parth wondered, slowly causing one of the boxes to float beside him above his palm.
"So, what made you join up with the pirates? I thought you intended to become a waiter at the Primal Restaurant. But then you became a servant for their ship? I wouldn't expect you to see such hate regarding the agents." Parth wondered, floating the box around him.
"Hate? I didn't become a cook for Tim's crew because of some hostility. I didn't even intend to join them, but they helped me and protected the Primal Restaurant from being destroyed by another pirate crew." Ralphie explained, softening his limbs. "Of course, I despise the agencies for what they have done to me in the past, but the only reason I teamed up with them, is to refresh my mind and sail the Vast Expanse. And if they wish to rescue their friend, I'm here to help out in any way I can. I'll lend them their power, and I'll lend them my life."
Ralphie's grave expression intrigues Parth but in thought. "From supporting the agents, you became derailed and joined forces with the polar opposite of what you once condemned. Such good people, yet changed into someone who opposes the world itself. Such a sad tale." Answered Parth, bouncing the box up and down and closing his eyes. "I would almost feel bad for you if you didn't make the worst decision possible. Such acts cannot be ignored, forgotten, or unpunished. Due to partnering up with the criminals, you are hereby to get eradicated, once-a-promising cook."
Parth finished his sentence, opened his eyes, and exchanged views with Ralphie. "The foremost agents will retrieve peace and balance by isolating the world of the every-existent pirate. Starting with you." Parth swung his arm and propelled the box in Ralphie's direction at high speed.
"I guess playing some football won't be a problem," Ralphie mentioned and pulled back his right leg, kicking forward at the box and breaking the wood.
The wood pieces scattered on the ground around Ralphie, after which he dashed toward Parth, readying a kick. "This is no place for a pirate." Parth stretched his arms and legs outward and released pink energy that caused the books in the library to float around him.
The books became enchanted with black steel, and in the next moment, Parth swung his arms outward. He propelled the books like a projectile and hurled them at Ralphie.
"Enchanting books? I guess everything he manages to manipulate makes a weapon."
Ralphie slowed down before continuing to run, dove around a stack of books, and sprinted to attack from the sides. Nonetheless, Parth made some books to chase after him by rerouting them to contour.
Ralphie dived under the books, causing them to fly against the walls and smash them.
As he saw a few incoming books rushing from the front, Ralphie swiftly sprang back into a handstand and used his palms to bounce back in the air.
Parth raised a table with his right arm and flung it toward Ralphie from behind his shoulder. Ralphie got knocked backward after it flew and crashed its weight into his stomach, paining him and causing the table to break into wood pieces.
Ralphie flipped and landed on the floor by squatting, holding his stomach, and lifting his gaze to share sight with Parth.
Parth smiled as a chair slowly drifted up and down above his palm. "There are thousands of books left in this library, and you can't block them. I guess their sorcery makes them too difficult for you to kick, huh? Let's go. You were able to deflect a cannonball, but not so much with some books? What an embarrasment." Parth seemed to hold a high ego as Ralphie stood up. "I'm just warming up..." Ralphie responded, grabbing his wrist and making it crack.
Ralphie bent his knees, preparing to launch into offense. "Overhead," He flashed on the spot and vanished, popping out in front of Parth with an upward-raised leg, "Crusher!" Ralphie's heel shone with a white, gleaming light and readied to slam it into Parth's skull.
Parth skidded backward, pointing his palm at the floor, and propelled an enchanted piece toward Ralphie's chin. He backrolled before being struck by Ralphie's attack and distanced himself to observe.
"Tsch, what a coward..." Ralphie vanished before the piece would strike him, surprising Parth, who lost vision of him. "Fast... I guess that's explained due to his trained legs." Parth whispered, sensing a chilly shiver behind him.
"There you are!" Parth dragged his left arm all the way behind his back and propelled the same piece he manipulated from the cracked floor. "Sorry, pal. But I've dealt with fast opponents before."
"Roundhouse Table Kick!" Ralphie spun on the floor, circling his left leg to the front, and smashed his sole into the concrete piece.
His extended kick penetrated the piece and exploded into smaller pieces that scattered on the floor.
The collision between Ralphie's feet unleashed a tornado of wind, blowing throughout the room, tossing the books, tables, and fragments out of the way.
Parth leaped back, distancing himself from Ralphie, and exchanged glances. He watched Ralphie lowering his extended leg and noticed him put his hands in his pockets.
"You're determined. I must admit. But are you really loyal to your captain despite knowing that Riley will wipe him out? Why should you waste your time on someone as predictable as him?" Parth questioned, pulling the fragments toward him and spreading them around his torso.
"Don't you get it? I don't think you do. Tim's dealt with several foes, suffered several wounds, and so have we. But never has he ever lost the will and the courage to continue traveling across the Vast Expanse, helping people," Ralphie answered, "No matter how many times he was hurt, physically or mentally, he kept winning and found the balance between several vicinities. He's even willing to declare the world as his enemy because he knows that he will keep winning. And even if he doesn't, he'll make sure to grow stronger and more resilient. He'll return to the thought of losing and winning the next time." Ralphie explained.
"He needs to return back home to where he came from, to reunite with his friends in a different location. And even if that's his primary goal, he won't ignore any people in need of help. He'll go off course to help them and then continue onward. And my dream's always been to travel the world and make the absolute best dishes for men, women, and children. And because I've seen the truth about the world government, what monsters they are, I found the perfect person to accompany." Ralphie called, holding a stern gaze. "People are the heart, and no matter what, if Tim declares the world as his enemy, we will too. I will do whatever it takes. Whether he wants loyalty, friendship, or thousands of delicious meals, I'll give and share it with the world. Because people who ask others to do something are a sign of care, kindness, and love." Ralphie answered, tensing his eyes.
"And if you still think Tim will lose to his enemy, no matter how much stronger they are than him... he'll prevail. I guarantee it. So, prepare to taste our most unique and delicious dish. The dish of your defeat and proof that Chiaki's life won't end here."
To be continued...