~Chapter 6- The Cousins~

         Aero parried and dodged a few of Cook's strikes before trying to deliver some of his own. Cook looked frustrated that he was actually fighting toe to toe with him.

         Aero recognized that Cook was physically stronger than him, but he wasn't quite as swift. He also recognized another weakness.

         Cook backed away and flexed his arms to draw heat out from his body. He had to strain his whole body to do it, leaving himself open. When Cook created another sphere of fire and launched it, Aero had already backed away behind Temp.

         A crowd of people approached the fight. Other bandits had come to help Cook. But Aero spotted his sister Corri, Chief Cmar, and the other Phantine men engaging the bandits.

         Aero smiled, "Temp, go help Corri and the other Phantine. I can handle Cook myself."

         Cook gave him a look as if to call him crazy.

         "Are you sure?" Temp asked, equally unsure of Aero.

         "Yeah. I've got him figured out," Aero took a light on his feet fighting stance, "Go on."

         Temp nodded, "Alright. If you need any help, just holler."

         Temp rushed over to Corri and Chief Cmar's aid, while Aero and Cook stared each other down.

         "So... you have me figured out, do you?" Cook asked dismissively.

         "Yeah, it turns out you're not as scary as everyone thinks you are," Aero said to incite aggression in Cook, maintaining his fighting stance. He wanted him to chase after him.

         Fortunately, Cook was easy to anger, and lunged at Aero. The boy kept him at a measured distance, taking care to stay at a range where he could easily dodge and parry his attacks, but close enough that he'd be able to strike when Cook inevitably messed up.

         And there it was, Cook flexed his arms to draw out heat, and Aero lunged forward, delivering several quick jabs into Cook's chest. The handful of strikes interrupted him and kept him from drawing out the heat properly.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jirro attacked with reckless abandon, not worrying about how exhausted he was or how his vision was becoming blurrier with each second. Chill tried to strike back, but nothing could get through the Focus Barrier. Each thunderous strike Jirro landed sounded like it cracked bones. The cold expressionless look Chill maintained turned to terror.

         Chill stepped back, and out of desperation, created the largest sphere of ice he could manage and chucked it at him. Jirro punched the air and a radiant blue light emerged from his fist, obliterating the ball of ice and completely engulfing Chill. The powerful Focus Burst rocketed through the air over the ocean, parting the waters in its wake and carrying Chill far out to sea.

         The light surrounding Jirro disappeared, and when he looked around, he saw nothing. Not black or white, simply nothing. His legs gave out, and Jirro fell to the ground, unconscious. The last thing he heard was a panicked Nout asking him if he was okay.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Aero had Cook figured out. With his superior speed, he could avoid him for as long as he wanted, and the opening Cook provided whenever he tried to expunge heat from his body allowed him to land powerful strikes and interrupt him. Cook was becoming more desperate in his attacks out of frustration.

         If this were a tournament, Aero would've won multiple times over, landing a considerably higher number of blows than Cook. But if one of them still had the strength to fight, they could continue. Aero wasn't sure what came over him, but he felt excited.

         Cook foolishly tried to draw out heat again, and Aero punished him for it, delivering a knee to his nose and causing him to bleed. Cook fell to all fours.

         Aero was honestly disappointed that the fight might've been over. But it was a ruse. Cook feigned defeat so he would drop his guard. Cook wrapped his arms around the boy, squeezed him so he couldn't escape, and expelled heat from his body.

         Aero winced as the intense heat surrounded him, his baggy shirt started to thin out. Aero did the only thing he could think to do. He head-butted Cook.

         The Mecarne wouldn't release him, so he did it again. And again. And again. He continued until both of their foreheads were sore and Cook couldn't take it anymore.

         Cook released him, and Aero jumped back and grabbed his head in pain. Cook's head was throbbing as well. Aero's shirt had started to fall apart, so he tore it off in one motion. Aero readied himself, taking the same light-footed fighting stance.

         Aero's lips curled up. He was smiling, as bizarre as it was, "Tournaments are great and all, but this is the most fun I've ever had in a fight!" Aero exclaimed.

         Cook's eyes widened, "You're an odd one. But you shouldn't treat this so lightly. One more slip up like that, and you're dead."

         "I wouldn't be so sure," Aero smirked and motioned to their surroundings.

         All around them were the Phantine warriors that had been imprisoned, as well as Temp and Corri. They had already bested all the bandits on the island and were simply watching Aero and Cook finish up their fight.

         Cook looked around with a shocked expression. He must've realized that even if Aero was losing, the onlookers would help and would be able to bring him down. There was no one around to help Cook.

         "Well played, kid," Cook growled, "But I'm not finished yet."

         Cook raised his arms into the air and flexed, and a large sphere of fire formed above him, continuously growing. Aero knew what he was doing - he was trying to kill everyone at once.

         Aero jumped through the air, cracking the ground beneath him. His fist glowed with a radiant red light. Before Cook could throw the massive fireball, Aero had driven his fist into his stomach. The fireball dissipated in the air, and the red hot Mecarne crumpled to the ground.

         Aero reached into his pants pockets and pulled out the handcuffs he had taken off one of the bandits guarding the Pit. He circled around to the back of Cook and cuffed him.

         "I can't believe you actually beat him," Temp remarked with a smile, "We can probably turn them over to the authorities for a good bounty!"

         "What about the other one? Chill?" Corri asked, "And where's Jirro and Nout?"

         Aero had gotten so caught up in his fight with Cook that he forgot about them. They rushed to the part of the island where they had come across Chill and found an unconscious Jirro with an injured Nout trying to resuscitate him.

         Corri pulled potions from her bag; they only had two left. Nout gulped his down and was soon able to stand, his stamina restored. Aero had to force the potion down Jirro's throat, but even after he had gotten it down, he was still motionless. Aero pulled his cousin into arms and tried to shake him awake, but after looking closer at him, he wasn't sure if he was breathing.

         Jirro coughed violently and looked at Aero with tired eyes, and everyone gave a sigh of relief.

          "What happened to you?" Aero asked.

         Nout spoke up, "He protected me from Chill. He used Focus in ways I never saw before. It was incredible! He sent Chill flying into the ocean!"

         "Just promise not to overdo it like that again, Jirro," Aero said, looking down at his cousin.

         Jirro weakly responded, "I'll make no such promise."