Kai and Jax look at the strange man right next to Leo. He seems to be eating without a care in the world, given their situation.

-What do you mean you will save him?

-Huh, like don’t let him d-i-e. I think it’s not a difficult thing to understand, but youngsters sure seem to be all idiots, so I guess I can see how you have to ask that.

-What did you s-

-Never mind that Jax. You didn’t really answer who you were, and we never seen you before. And how the hell did you enter here?

-Now that’s a good question! How did I get here? That is a mystery indeed.

-Can you stop playing with us? How can you save Leo?

-These kids today man, they show no respect.

The stranger looks annoyed and gulps the last shrimps of the skewer. Then he breaks the stick into two, and proceeds to stab them on both Leo’s forearm. Before Jax and Kai could do anything, the plump man claps his hands and touch Leo’s chest. When he channels his essentia to his hands, the place where the sticks were put start to erupt blood. But the first wave of blood that came out was on solid state, like blocking up Leo’s veins. After seeing blood gushing out from it, the outsider looks incredibly focus as his essentia changes its color and condenses on Leo’s body. A few moments later, the stick wounds close up and the darkened skin of Leo becomes lighter. Leo coughs up blood, waking up.

-LEO!

-Calm down Jax, you don’t have to be so loud.

-That’s exactly what I was thinking! That guy can’t chill out.

-Yeah, I know right? This guy should relax more.

-That’s right, that’s right.

*sniff, sniff -Do I smell some barbecue shrimps?

-Oh, a fan of this huh? I knew I would like you kid. Have one.

The strange man takes two new skewers from his shirt. He tries to give one of them to Leo, but he can’t grab it. As a matter of fact, he can’t use his arms.

-Huh? I can’t seem to move my arms.

-Oh, I forgot about it. Yeah, you will not be able to move them for about 2 days. – says the chubby man while smiling and eating his skewer.

-EH?! Then how can I eat?

-Yeah. If I were you, I would be mad too. Can you say you are living if you can’t eat? I absolutely think you cannot.

-Hmm, can’t you feed me?

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-What? Do you think you are a baby?

-Well, I can’t eat it without help.

-Don’t think I will be the one to feed it to you, I have done more than enough.

-I guess you are right. Jax, can you please?

-Leo, what the hell? We don’t even know who this guy is, he come out of nowhere and just stab your arms with those sticks, and make you lose so much blood. I guess he healed you, but how can you be talking like that with him?

-Oh, I get it…You! You were the one who made my arms like this, it’s because of you I can’t take that delicious skewer! I demand 2 skewers as an apology!

-Leo, get serious! How can you be so easygoing with that guy? How can you trust him?

-Huh? It’s not like he is here to hurt us. If he wanted to harm us, he would take me out while I was unconscious. And if I can’t trust someone who saved me, who will I trust?

Just as Jax was trying to accept it, one of the injured rebels stood up and came to the stranger, kneeling in one knee.

-Sir India, I salute you.

-Sigh, didn’t I told you guys that I don’t like that honorifics thing?

-He’s with you?

-If he is with us? No, we are with him. He’s a rebellion’s top official, India. This man is considered one of the top healers across the world, and one of the pillars of our cause. He is one of the reasons we can stand a chance against the Nation.

-See kid? You can trust me.

-So you are part of the rebels, then you have a plan to take us out of this dire situation?

-Huh? What situation?

-Are you kidding me? We are surrounded by the Nation; your comrade Lima went outside with non-essentia handcuffs to buy some time for us to get out of here.

-She what? Jax, we have to save her. I can’t use my arms, but I feel I can still conjure essentia.

-Leo, she wanted to give you the time to get away, and your life is the most important thing to me. If we can get back later, we will. Now I repeat, have you got a plan to get out of here?

India finishes the skewers and stands up. He walks to the front door and smiles.

-A plan? What about walk out the door?

*****

The captain Stumpy feels more and more anxious. His goal depends on completing the task in front of him: erase Lima’s existence. It’s right in front of him, a weakened and restrained Lima who carelessly march towards him and more than a dozen Nation men. But cold sweat drops were seeping off his neck, something didn’t feel right. And his suspicion was spot on.

Lima walked headed for the Nation troops, looking determined like never before. As anyone got close to harm her, they were getting wrecked instantly. Bodies stop dropping like flies, some cut down, some stabbed.

«Fiber Surge: ten thousand-fold»

Peck rosed his body density to a new level, increasing his size for at least four times over. His body turned brown darker, and immediately tried to knock out Lima once and for all. However, an unidentified man effortlessly blocked the hit. Peck was shocked.

-How? How can someone block my attack?!

«Gale Rise: Laceration»

In a blink of an eye, Peck was cut down just like the Nation troops before. As he falls, the last thing he sees is the bladeless dagger on the hand of his slayer. The slayer goes back to Lima and slices her handcuffs into two without difficulty, before looking to a terrified Stumpy and baffled Nation soldiers quickly fleeing out of there.

-How could it be?

-Yes, how does someone can cut down Peck and cut off her handcuffs?

-What do you mean? Of course he does! I don’t know how he can be here; we have to get out of here right now.

-He’s just one guy, we deal with him and that’s it.

-Are you insane? How can an emissary of the central don’t know about him?! You’ve got to be kidding me! Why did he have to be here now?!

-What’s so special about him? We have more than 3 full squads heading here.

-No matter if it’s 3 full squads or even the whole Cetus Nation troops. This guy is not someone we can deal with. He gained the title of ‘Last Storm’ on the battlefield and is considered one of the favorites to be the next in succession for the rebels leadership. He is Delta.

*****