The area was conquered by unconscious men and women, and there weren't any people obstructing Tiffany's path.
"You're not Notonius, are you? So, who are you, and what do you hope to achieve? I want answers. Now!" She emphasized, intimidating to use the spear if Olishia tried something intolerable.
Olishia was dismayed — anxious about losing her life in the uncomfortable position she was lying in. She was afraid to move, only waiting to get impaled, "So, you came to kill Notonius? Treating his people like victims?" Olishia inquired, her mouth twitching from frustration, "You can forget about it."
Olishia observed Tiffany's incomprehensible countenance. She couldn't read what was racing through her head. Was it the desire to kill or to live?
"You can kill me, but I won't say a word where our leader is. Now! Do it so I don't need to watch your hideous face anymore." Tiffany ditched the spear, throwing it out of the way, baffling Olishia, who sat upward.
"I didn't come here to kill anyone..." Tiffany turned around and reached for her hair, "I came here to make things right." She stated, tying her hair into a short, fluffy ponytail.
"If you came here to help, why did you steal that chip? It belongs to our race." She unhurriedly stood up, holding her hurting arm. "I didn't. No one did. Your 'chip' was set up in the Acropolis. We're trying to return it to the god of wind, but we got separated in the process..." Tiffany expounded, "And we didn't get captured by your tribe. We explained our reasonings to Ricardo — one of your men." She traded eyes with Ricardo, kneeling on the grassy floor.
"She's right, Olishia. We were battered by them, trying to safeguard one of our bases. But it didn't go according to our plan, so we told them the truth about the Seraphs." He straightened and leaned his palm on his torso, "They are willing to help us."
Olishia was dumbfounded by his statement, "They?" she inquired, seeing Ricardo point behind the bushes, "Two of her companions were with her. They came as a backup in case we tried to assault the woman." Chiaki and Elliott peeked from behind the bushes, "Wait... I saw you two. You were with that white-haired man. Where is he now?"
Tiffany exhaled, "It's me." Tiffany's body became ablaze. Her body started to change, and her female formation switched to a male appearance.
"I'm sure you heard of me before..." he said, "I'm Timothy. But usually, I'm known as the white-haired pirate." Olishia's eyes shook in surprise. She couldn't believe what she witnessed before her, "Y-You're a woman?"
Timothy reached the back of his head, "I honestly don't know what I am. I just utilize the female form for mobility and other things I can use it for." He explained, "But I'm a guy. Now, tell me. Why do the Seraphs want to summon Yerachmiel? Why do they want to take control of the Sanctum Islands?"
"Fine... I'll tell you everything I know. But let's take this conversation inside."
Someone observed from a distance, hiding behind a tree, "Constrict..." The person closed their hand, summoning vines that slithered between Chiaki's legs. They tied around her legs and breasts and covered her mouth. She tried to cry out for help, but her body got dragged into the bushes before she could.
-
Aurora carefully progressed through the cave, repetitively terrified that the diamond man would find her. "I need water..." she prayed but had no source of water whatsoever.
Not even a little.
Suddenly she heard someone coming. She immediately rushed into a narrow hole in the wall, hoping she wouldn't get found. She had a large chunk of stone near her, loose from the wall. "Hello! Nice lady! Where did you go? I just want to talk to you." The diamond man exclaimed, stomping his way through the shallow tunnels.
She covered her mouth and nose to silence her breathing and tried keeping her heart away from beating too fast and loud. "Not good..." she thought, "If I move, I'll be done for." She believed, "But even if I stay here, he'll eventually see me."
She remained hidden in the wall, seeing the diamond man's back a few inches away, "Come on, now. No need to be afraid, missy." He examined his surroundings, "I know you're here."
"What do I do? Do I make a run for it, or stay here and hope he doesn't see me? Both options are risky, but one works more effectively." She tried to move slightly but suddenly felt pain in her shin, "O-Ow... I can't run with a wounded leg..." She felt her left foot becoming heavier and became shocked, "My leg! It's turning to crystal? What's going on?!" she tried moving it gently, but it tired her out.
She perspired, feeling it trickle down her face, afraid the splash would make too much noise when dropping on the floor. "Please... go away..." she begged, waiting a few more minutes for the man to leave. "I guess she's not here." The man passed her hiding hole and ventured further into the tunnels.
Her heartbeat calmed down, and she finally breathed without needing to cover her nose and mouth. However, as she thought she was safe, the drop of sweat splashed on the floor and echoed through the tunnels.
The diamond man paused walking, and he turned around, "Oh-ho-ho... I hear you, old lady. I'm coming! You better run." He gradually started approaching her hole, but nobody moved from it.
"Oh, you're mine." He prepared to peer into the hole, but suddenly Aurora rushed outside and swung a heavy rock toward his sturdy head, "Sure I am!" She yelled while using all of her effort to slam the stone into his head. The diamond man's head partially fractured when the stone broke into shards, "Urgh! You little-!" He stumbled back and hit the ground hard, giving Aurora the opportunity to run as fast as she could.
"Come back! You noisy brat!"
-
Not too far away, Kou heard a loud hitting noise, "That could be Aurora. I have to go fast!" he instantly sprinted in the same direction the sound came from.