Dread
What is taking them so long? Superbi scowled at Shimon Island. His fist was clenched around a handrail and ached from the strength of his grip but he wasn't prepared to move. Unbidden, his thoughts turned to Karen's words at the meeting 'You'll just get in the way!' He knew she had deliberately chosen those words to deter him but he also knew she believed it. Otherwise she wouldn't have said them like that. For her to say those words, that she knew would hurt him, required strength. When did she become so strong she could say those kinds of things? When did she become so strong he didn't need to protect her?
"Squalo," the Ninth appeared, eyeing the clenched fist, "Karen is just fine. You would know otherwise."
"Shut up old geezer," he wasn't in the mood for consolation and reassurance, "I'm not worried." He honestly wasn't worried; he just didn't know how to cope with this matured Karen. She had become much more expressive. Her own panic at Katana Brat's attack and her fear for the Varia had been transparent. Panic and fear were emotions she had kept securely locked away behind anti-nuclear protection. What had changed and what didn't?
A burst of light danced on the edge of a cliff. Superbi blinked in confusion and leaned forward, his eyes squinting to better perceive what had just happened. Blue light flared brightly.
"What?" the Ninth, even with his old sight, had seen it too, "Is that Dying Will Flames?" No sooner had he inquired then indigo and orange flames flared. Karen! Superbi recognized the flares. Even though each flame had its own distinct shape, Karen's flames had considerably gentler forms than most others. Superbi wasn't completely certain that those were Karen's flames but something told him it was her. Rain, Sky and Mist danced for five minutes more before suddenly disappearing. A great wave of Rain and Sky suddenly burst out of nowhere and demolished the better part of the cliff side as it twisted and turned in simple gushes until it faded away. What had been an impressively sheer cliff side was now flattened into a gentle slope. Superbi had no idea what the hell just happened but he was certain Karen had not been the one torched. "My God. Who and what was that?" the Ninth was appropriately floored.
"Ninth!" voices erupted all over the deck. Superbi was oblivious to the outcries. He wished he could reach Karen somehow, know she was alright. That burst of Dying Will Flames had been her but was she alright after releasing all that? Was her opponent down and out? All he knew was the bad feeling growing in his mind. There was no doubt Karen had taken her opponent out as the mass of flames had twisted and turned as if it was searching for something. Yet, he felt dread.
Yeah bit of a filler here folks but its only to sustain you until I get around to the next chapter. Thank you for your patience. :)