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Episode 18: Shoot

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"Sir, they are approaching the shoreline, over." A police officer spoke into his talkie.

"Affirmative." Miller replied, smirking as the ship neared the horizon. He took a drag from his cigarette, blowing smoke into the air. "Come on, kid! Make my day!"

Suddenly, the water in front of the ship flared to the sides as something zipped across the water, straight for the shore. "Captain! They just fired something at us!"

"Is it a torpedo ? !"

"No, it's..."

"YA-HOOOOOOOOOOOO! ! !" From the water, David leapt up, the soles of his shoes radiating a soft blue light. He flipped over the officers and their captain, shooting them the peace sign, before landing on his feet, sprinting towards the center of the city.

"Dammit!" Miller swore, nearly biting his cigarette in half. "That projectile was just a distraction!"

"Actually, sir..." The officer that had reported it spoke up. "David is the projectile."

"...What."

(1)/-/-/-/-/-/

"So!" David smirked. "...What's the plan again?"

Nick sighed, holding up a pair of shoes identical to David's own. "The plan is for you to get into the city, find Chrissy, and then make it back to the ship." He explained. "Once you get past the cops, stow yourself away somewhere safe in the city. We'll be keeping them busy in the meantime, and when you're ready to skedaddle, call one of us on your communicator. We'll get to the port on the other side of town as fast as we can. If you need backup, tell us your location and we'll come asap."

"Right." David raised an eyebrow, taking the shoes. "Now, what exactly are the shoes for?"

"Just like your magnetic shoes," Nick motioned to the blond's feet, "I invented these to help in sticky situations. These shoes are designed to increase your running speed by ninety percent, giving you a definite edge over the police."

"Ninety percent!" David stared in shock. "Man...Th-That's almost sixty miles per hour!"

"Be careful, though." Nick instructed. "Their cars can go at least double the speed these shoes will allow, and there's no telling how long they'll withstand the friction if it's constant."

David smirked, crossing his arms and looking down into the city. "Alright, I guess the first place I should start is the obvious; Police Headquarters."

He sprinted across the rooftop, jumping to another a few feet away, before jumping down over the side and grabbing a flag pole that jutted out from the wall. He swung forward, landing on an awning, and springing forward, curling into a ball as he bounced off of the wall across the street, landing on a street light and leaping onto a taxi.

He sprung off of the car, planting one foot on the brick wall to his left, and pushing upwards, grabbing the edge of the roof and hoisting himself up. He continued sprinting and leaping, before catching sight of the headquarters building just ahead. He let out a battle cry, diving forward and crossing his arms over his face as he rolled through the window, landing on his feet.

"Alright! Tell me where Chrissy is and no one gets...hurt...?" He looked around, surprised to find no one, despite having landed in a large office, cubicles littering the room. "...Goddammit, anticlimax."

He walked forward through the aisles, looking left and right, his shoes making soft 'tmp' noises against the tiled floor. "Hello?" He called, holding a hand to his mouth to enhance the distance his voice traveled. "Anyone here?"

Suddenly, he felt a chill go down his spine, and he spun around quickly, sweat beading on his forehead. "Hey, is someone there?" No answer. "That's funny...and not 'haha' funny...It felt like someone was watching me..."

He continued forth, pushing open the door and spinning around as a skittering noise came from behind him. He looked left and right rapidly, eyes searching for the source of the noise. He carefully backed up through the door, shutting it to make sure nothing followed him out, before sprinting down the corridor, towards the cells.

"What the hell is this?" He wondered, looking around. "Where is everyone? I know I was well-liked, but to think the entire police station would throw me a welcome home party at the docks..." He shook his head, paying attention to the path ahead. "Focus...I just have to find Chrissy and get out."

Finally, he reached the cells, and he glanced around, searching the cramped rooms for the telltale red hair. "Well, well, well." David looked to his right, where a tall man with bright blue eyes and graying hair sat. His beard was scraggly, as if he hadn't shaved in a few days. "If it isn't the kid that got me locked up here."

David raised an eyebrow. "...Do I know you?"

"Hah!" The man laughed, and David was now aware that almost every eye was on him now. "'Do I know you'? The audacity of kids these days! Can't even remember their elders, even the ones that were locked up 'cause of them!"

"Haisan, you bastard!" Another inmate shouted. "As soon as I'm outta here, I'mma kill you!"

"String him up by his spikes!" Someone else yelled.

"Pierce his ears with a nail!"

"Rip off his tail!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" David held up his hands in defense, looking around in shock. "Guys, guys, please, just calm down!"

"Calm down? You expect us to calm down when the bane of our existences is right in front of us ? !"

"Please, just listen!" David pleaded. "I'm looking for someone, she was wrongfully accused, and it's all my fault!" He looked around. "Please, I need your help!"

"YOU WANT OUR HELP ? !" The man in front of him cackled. "The kid that got us in here wants our help, boys!" He glared at David, very seriously. "You want our help? Get us outta this hellhole."

David scowled. "You know I can't do that!"

"Fine!" He scoffed. "No help for you, then!"

The blond glared for a moment, before lowering his gaze to the floor, sighing in remorse. "Alright...I guess that's the way it goes, huh." He trudged to the door. "...Dammit..." He shook, slamming a fist into the door frame. "DAMMIT!"

The man's eyes widened in surprise as David's shoulders began to shake. "...She really means that much to you, huh?"

"She's my whole world..." David muttered, voice shaking a bit. "And now, if I can't find her, she'll be as good as dead." He sniffed a bit. "She was my first friend...I..."

"...Alright, men." The man smirked, looking around the room. "Anybody know where she is?"

"HUH ? !" Voices echoed across the room, including David's.

"Terror, why the hell should we help him ? ! He's the reason we're in here!"

"Don't you all have women back home?" Terror scowled. "Think, wouldn't you want to save her if she were put in a life-or-death situation?" The room went silent. Terror looked back to David. "Listen, I know it doesn't mean much coming from a guy like me, but I had a love once too." He sighed. "She was killed in a car accident...After that, my views on love and lust were...skewed, to say the least." He looked David directly in the eyes. "I know what it's like to lose someone precious to you. I never want to see something so horrible ever again."

"...Terror..." David whispered, shocked.

"Now then, what does she look like?"

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David sprinted as fast as his shoes would allow, bounding off of walls and ceilings at each turn, rubber burning off of his soles as he neared his destination; the roof. He finally reached the door, and his eyes widened in shock.

Chrissy lay against a support beam, unconscious and tied by her hands and wrists, bound by chains. "CHRISSY!" David shouted, running towards her. "Hey, Chrissy! Chrissy, wake up!" He called, trying to slap her awake, gently. "Come on, get up!"

The redhead's eyes slowly fluttered open, and she stared in shock at the boy in front of her. "D-David..." She whispered. "You...You came to save me."

The blond nodded, feather-like hair flying in random directions. "Come on, let's get you down from here-"

"LOOK OUT!"

David jumped to the left at the last second as a kusarigama slammed into the support beam where he'd just been. It missed Chrissy's side by about an inch, and he growled, looking up.

On top of another support beam was what appeared to be a teenage boy, a chain wrapped around—no, extending from—his arm! The boy seemed to glare at him, eyes an ice-blue color, and emotionless, as if he were a robot.

He leapt down, retracting the chain-scythe into his arm and looking David in the eyes. In contrast to his eyes, his hair was a shade of deep red, with purple and pink stripes running through it, most noticeably in his bangs, which hung over his eyes.

"What the hell?" David muttered, getting into a defensive stance. "Who's this douche-bag?"

The boy remained silent for a moment, glancing left and right, before nodding. "Yes, sir...I shall apprehend him." He rushed forward, throwing his kusarigama at the blond. David leapt back, but the chain caught itself around his ankle.

The strange teenager yanked himself forward, and David growled, swinging his leg around and kicking him in the face. The chain untangled itself from his foot, and David somersaulted backwards, before sprinting forward, landing a punch to his opponent's face.

"Who are you?" David growled, raising his hands up, ready to block.

The boy stared, lifelessly. "My name is...B." He droned, raising his kusarigama. "He says that you must be eliminated." He swung forward, and the sickle cut through the air, making a sharp noise. David leapt backwards, dodging the blade, and watching in shock as it snaked upwards, wrapping around his arm.

He grunted, trying to pull himself free, only to cry in pain as the tip of the blade punctured his skin, blood dripping onto the roof. "David!" Chrissy exclaimed in shock, struggling against the ropes.

David grabbed the chain, pulling B towards him, and rearing back a fist. Suddenly, the chains and sickle vanished, and the boy flipped through the air, his hair waving as the wind from David's punch whipped past him.

From the stump where the kusarigama once was, a gun barrel extended, and B aimed at the blond. David spun around in midair, skillfully dodging each bullet and flipping over B's head.

"What...what is he?" Chrissy gulped, sweat beading on her head.

David glared at him, mind whirring. "His arm can change form...First it was a chain-scythe, now it's a freakin' mini-gun." He growled. "This guy isn't human..."

"My name is B." The boy repeated. "Captain Miller's orders are to eliminate Haisan Dabide." He took aim once more. "I won't remain as a simple beta anymore..."

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"SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!"

"YA FREAKIN' IDIOT! HOW TH' F*CK DIDJA FAHLL IN LIKE THAHT ? !"

"JUST SHUT UP AND HELP ME, JACKASS!"

The ship had drifted along the shore, and the remaining group had held their ground for a while as the police boarded, attacking them with all they had. In the struggle, one of the policemen had shoved Nick overboard, into the water, and the waves had done the rest. He'd panicked, splashing wildly, and inadvertently pushing himself further from the boat. Chad and Eddie had grabbed a small raft that was on board, and had gone down to save him.

Eddie grabbed his oar, holding it out, and pulling Nick into the raft. The brunette panted wildly, coughing up a bit of water. "Th-Thanks, you guys..." Immediately, the three began rowing back to the ship, leaping up onto it as soon as they were close enough.

Police continued to board, batons raised above their heads and shouting battle cries. More and more attacked, and at the same time, more and more boarded.

"Dammit...!" Chad growled, grabbing one of the policeman's batons, throwing it and the man overboard. "I shuh hope David's almost ready t' leave...We cahn't keep this up ferevuh!"

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David spun around, dodging the kusarigama as it sliced at him through the air. B pulled on the chain, and it swung backwards, towards the blond's back. He immediately jumped up, spinning backwards to avoid the blade, and landing in a crouch.

"Stop this!" David growled. "All I want is to save my friend and leave!"

"I cannot allow it." B droned. "Captain Miller's orders were specific; prevent Haisan Dabide from escaping. I exist for no purpose further than to carry out that mission."

"Fine then!" David charged, flipping over the teenager and throwing a punch, which B easily blocked. "If all you have to do is contain me, let her go!"

B caught David's punch, tossing him up into the air and rotating his arm back, changing it into a mini-gun. "I cannot do that either. Once she is gone, you will simply run away, too."

"Then I have no choice!" The blond righted himself in midair, landing on a nearby support beam and using his Qi to cling to it. "If you insist on stopping me, I have no choice but to fight!" He leapt off of the beam, curling into a ball and grunting in discomfort. B's eyes widened slightly, and he leapt back as David spun into the roof, sparks flying as his spines and hair hardened, leaving scratch-marks on the concrete.

He continued to roll, following B as the redhead continued to dodge. David uncurled, hair and spines returning to normal, and letting out a battle cry, leaping towards the strange boy.

B looked up just in time to see the Qi Burst, and he leapt to the side, allowing the blast to hit the chains that had bound Chrissy. The links broke, but at the same time, the force of the blast knocked the support beam forward, and Chrissy let out a cry of shock as she toppled over the edge, plummeting from the roof.

"Chrissy!" David cried out, immediately sprinting towards the edge and diving head-first after her. "DAMMIT!" He growled, sending Qi to his feet and speeding up. Suddenly, he felt hands grab the back of his shirt and spin him around. B had jumped after him, socking him in the face and slamming him against the wall as they fell.

David grunted in pain as he felt his back scrape against the ledges, and he glared at B, spinning them both around and grinding B's back into the wall in return. He placed his feet against B's chest, pushing off and diving down after Chrissy once more as B became stuck in the wall, unconscious.

"Damn, I'm not gonna make it!" David snarled, pumping more and more Qi into his legs and feet. "If I don't reach her, we're both gonna go splat; I won't be able to slow down!"

Down below, he noticed that people had noticed the two of them falling, pointing up and screaming. The blond let out a growl of fury, feeling his feet go numb as the Qi being emitted threatened to tear his legs apart. He reached one hand out, just barely being about to grab Chrissy's wrist, before lunging forward, spinning them both around so that he was with his back to the ground, before propelling himself towards the wall, flipping backwards and grinding his heels against the wall.

The two neared the street, and David let out a cry of shock as he and the red-haired girl he'd just saved hit an awning, bouncing off of it and haphazardly soaring over the crowd below, eventually regaining control and righting himself in midair. The blond let out a sigh of relief, floating down to the nearest roof and allowing Chrissy to get down from his arms.

Immediately, the girl wrapped her arms around his neck, crushing him in a hug. "You're safe..." She whispered. "Please, tell me it's really you, this time!"

"Of course I'm me..." David returned the hug, blushing a little bit. "You're safe now...It's alright..." They separated, and David grabbed her shoulders, gently. "What happened? How did you get back to Lithennul? Where've you been hiding out this whole time?"

"It's so long a story..." The girl replied. "To be honest, I'm not even entirely sure what's been going on..."

"Well, you can tell me on the boat." David explained. "We're getting out of here asap. Do you have anything important you need to pick up before we leave?"

Chrissy shook her head. "No, we should get going right away!"

"Okay." David smirked. "Follow me, I'll call Nick and the others and tell them we're ready." The two sprinted across the rooftops, and David pulled his PDA out of his pocket. "Hey, Nick! You there?"

A few seconds passed, before there was a crackling noise from the other end. "Yeah, I'm here-" There was a loud 'whak' from the other end, and David could've sworn he heard Nick shout something vulgar. "You ready to leave yet?"

"Yeah, we're good!" David replied. "Chrissy's fine, we're on our way right now!"

"Alright, we'll be at the northernmost dock in ten minutes. Stay safe, the both of you, okay?"

"You got it!" David grinned, hanging up.

Chrissy smiled, continuing to run alongside the blond. "So, is everyone else okay?"

"For the most part." He chuckled nervously. "While you were gone, we found out a few things..." He scowled. "You remember how Eddie mentioned that there might be a spy? Well, we found out that the real killer was this Shadow Creature called Nightmare, and it turns out, Daniel might have been the spy..."

"Daniel ? !" Chrissy stared, shocked. "B-But...why ? ! Why would Daniel join them ? !"

"I know, it's nuts...We visited Nick's hometown, and we learned a few things...Did you know that his last name is Cavalier?"

Chrissy raised an eyebrow, before her eyes widened in terror. "C-Cavalier? Y-You mean..."

"Yeah..." David nodded, brow furrowing. "He, Daniel, Arita...They were all killed by Miguel 'Minors' Kruegre a few years ago. He was sentenced to death after raping Arita and killing them all, but somehow escaped. Their dad was the only survivor, and..."

"Nick...and Dan and Arita, they're all Shadow Creatures?"

David nodded. "And wouldn'tcha know it, it turns out that Nick's got some sort of fox demon's soul inside of his own, called the Nogitsune, and it allows him to change form when he gets too angry. Same thing goes for all Shadow Creatures; they have the soul of some demon inside of them. That Nightmare guy, turns out he's got, of all f*ckin' souls, the soul of Dracula."

"...Ohh, shit..." Chrissy deadpanned, sweat beading on her forehead. "That's...not good, is it...?"

"Try exactly the opposite of great." David replied, skidding to a stop as they reached the edge of the building they'd leapt to. "...Why did we jump onto the highest building?"

"I have no idea."

"...F*ck..." David sighed, kneeling so that Chrissy could climb onto his back and deepening his voice. "Come with me if you want to live."

Chrissy chuckled, climbing onto him and rolling her eyes. "And you criticize me for liking GodApe."

"Hey, Exterminator kicks GodApe's ass any day, and you know it!" David smirked, standing back up and preparing to jump. "Hang on tight!"

David leapt over the side of the building, landing on a flagpole and jumping onto a raised portion of the highway. Immediately, he sprinted towards the north, smirking. He noticed a car coming up, and he shifted to the side, running past it and leaving the driver shocked and wide-eyed.

Chrissy glanced back at him, laughing as he looked at his styrofoam cup of coffee, before placing it on the other seat, watching it suspiciously.

A few minutes of running passed, and David looked around, his smirk vanishing. "Hey...is it just me, or did the highway suddenly become...empty...?"

The red-haired girl looked around in surprise. "Hey, yeah..."

Suddenly, a loud honk came from behind them, and David glanced back, eyes wide in shock at the truck which barreled towards them. He looked back ahead, where there was a sharp turn, and he gulped. "Sorry, Chrissy; Don't look down!" He cried, tossing her into the air and leaping up, grunting in discomfort as his hair and spines became coarse.

He spun as fast as he could, cutting through the truck and catching Chrissy as he exited through the back. The destroyed vehicle skidded forward, crashing over the wall of the highway, and David continued sprinting, bounding off of the back of the truck just before it fell and returning to the path.

"Sorry about that!" David explained, nervously. "It was an impulse, I won't do it again!"

"Don't...ever...do that again..." Chrissy mumbled, her eyes having become swirls.

Suddenly, David leapt to the side as a laser beam hit the ground, and he glanced back, growling as he recognized the boy flying after them. B took aim again, firing another laser which David easily dodged. "Damn!" He swore, running faster.

B curled up, and the blond glanced back once more in shock as spines erupted along B's back and hair. As the strange boy spun forward, David jumped, barely dodging the spinning blade-like extensions. B uncurled, the spikes sinking back into his body, before twisting around so that he was facing David.

"Die now..." He raised his arm up, firing a much larger energy beam from the barrel on his arm. The blond leapt to the side, growling as the beam scraped past his arm, and he turned to the side so that Chrissy wouldn't get hit.

"Shit...what is this thing ? !" David snarled. "No...He can't be...a Homunculus ? !"(2)

"Homunculus?" Chrissy raised an eyebrow.

"Basically—WHOA!" David cried out, dodging as another beam flew past. "A Homunculus is a 'human phantom' created with a Philosopher's Stone, just like Shadow Creatures are, with the only difference—WHOA! Being that Homunculi are mostly hollow; they have no blood, organs, or anything. Everything we see on the outside—LEAP—is connected internally to the stone, like a computer."

He growled. "But...But what would the police be doing with a Philosopher's Stone ? !"

"Please..." B took aim once again. "I don't want to be a simple beta...please just die already."

From the barrel on his arm, a laser beam with a diameter the size of the road's width surged forward, and David stared in shock. He jumped into the air, noticing that they were over a small reservoir, and he scowled. "Chrissy, remember how I said I'd never throw you again?"

"Huh? David-! !"

Chrissy was unable to finish her protest before David threw her towards the water, spinning around and preparing to fight the boy in pursuit of them.

B dashed forward, throwing a punch for David's head. The blond dodged to the side, grabbing the boy's arm and pulling him around towards the side of the highway, slamming him into the railing. "Chrissy!" He called down to the girl, who had begun to drift away. "Head to Evania's, I'll come get you as soon as I can!"

The red-haired girl nodded, and David growled, grabbing B's hair and wrapping an arm around his neck, spinning him around and socking him in the face. The red-haired boy glared at him, grabbing David's collar and using his momentum to toss him into the air. David landed, preparing to strike, before his eyes widened; B had floated into the air, his body covered in a cloudy, dull red aura.

"...DIE..." B suddenly burst forward, and David spun on his heel, sprinting away. The boy raised one hand, pointing at the highway, and shooting a laser beam at the blond. The highway cracked, and slowly began to crumble behind them.

"Dammit!" David growled. "This guy...he'll destroy the whole city if I don't stop him!" He jumped into the air as B dashed forward, energy spiking around his body dangerously. B spun around so that he was facing the sky(and David), only to cry out in shock as David slammed his foot down onto his face, causing him to crash into the crumbling platform.

The boy rolled haphazardly, before pushing off with one hand and flying back after David. The blond continued to sprint, and he scowled, trying to think of a way to lose his opponent. It had begun to rain, and David reached up, wiping the drops from his glasses, only to cry out in shock as B flew in front of him, punching him in the stomach. The blond managed to regain his balance, flipping over B and continuing to run.

"That does it...!" David leapt into the air, spinning to face B, and rearing back his leg, kicking him in the face and sending him crashing into a nearby wall. This time, when David landed, he waited a few moments, making sure that the odd teenager was unconscious, before smirking and running towards the Harpy's Claw.

Suddenly, he skidded to a stop, picking up a nearby power source. He glanced upwards, where the source was, before gritting his teeth so hard, he thought they might break; Chrissy was up there, along with about twenty other power sources.

He immediately made his way up one of the nearby buildings, bounding from it to other, taller buildings, until he was high up enough to jump onto the building Chrissy was on.

He spun onto the roof, landing in a crouch and glaring murderously. "Miller..." He snarled. Before him stood Miller and the other twenty or so power sources, Chrissy kneeling on the floor and handcuffed, hands behind her back.

"Ah, David..." Miller took a drag from his cigarette, smirking. "How have you been?"

"F*ck off..." David shot him the middle finger. "Let Chrissy go, right now..." He held out his wrists. "I'll even turn myself in, just let her go!"

"Sorry, kid..." Miller removed the cigarette. "But if I let her go, you'll just escape if we take you in. With her locked up with you, you won't even try to escape."

"You bastard...!" David clenched his fists, moving one arm behind his back without anyone noticing and pressing a button on his PDA to let the rest of the group know where he was. "Why ? ! What's the point of keeping us locked up? All we were doing was-!"

"All you were doing," Miller interrupted, "was sticking your noses into danger, into the territory of adults who would handle it." He glared. "You have no place solving cases for us. Either you butted out, or we'd place you under house arrest."

"Fine! Place us under house arrest then!" David growled, eyes dilating slightly. "Just let her the f*ck go!"

"David, please..." Chrissy glanced up at him, wincing from a bruise on her cheek. "Run...You can't fight them, they have guns, they'll kill you!"

"Quiet, girl!" An officer snarled, whacking her upside the head with the grip of his gun.

"I'm not running!" David's eyes dilated even more. "You say that I'm under arrest for evading police capture, but you're not even questioned for police brutality!" He pointed, eyes glaring accusingly at the entire group.

Click

Miller raised his gun, aiming straight for the blond. "I do what I have to, in order to protect the people I'm in charge of." He scowled. "Danger must be eliminated. Keep in mind, I'm not going to kill you...but if need be, I will neutralize you."

"BASTARD!" Chrissy roared in fury, tackling the captain and sending the gun to the floor.

"CHRISSY, STO-"

"DAMMIT, GIRL!" Lieutenant Kae grabbed her by the back of her shirt, throwing her to the floor head-first and taking aim.

David's eyes widened, and time seemed to slow as he pulled the trigger. "NO, STOP IT-!"

BANG ! !

The rooftop fell silent as blood began to pool underneath the girl's body. David stared in shock, his expression blank as his brain seemed to fail to register the sight. He barely saw, out of the corner of his eye, Miller stand back up, grabbing the officer by the collar and shouting something at him, panicked.

The rain had become a downpour by now, but the blond paid no attention to the drops hitting his head. He seemed to be in a trance, and the next thing he knew, he was glaring directly at the group of officers, gun raised to eye level and aimed for Miller's head.

"David, just...just calm down." Miller held up his hands. "I swear, we never meant to kill her-"

"SHUT UP ! ! !" David roared, tears forming in his eyes. "She's dead...ARE YOU F*CKING HAPPY NOW ? !" His shoulders shook, and he struggled to maintain his aim. "She's dead...and nothing can bring her back..." His mind kept screaming at him, repeating what Nick had said in Albalta, but he didn't care. "She's dead...AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

The police backed up, slowly, a few raising their guns in case the worst happened.

"Your fault...! Your fault..." He lowered the gun, bowing his head and sobbing, tears splashing into a puddle at his feet. "...It's...your fault..."

"Wh-"

Click

"David, STO-"

BANG ! ! !

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To be continued...

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(1) Yes, that just happened, David just ran across the freaking water. No, he is not Jesus, and no, he is not Sonic, as those sneakers only allow him to run at a maximum speed between fifty and sixty mph. Please, do not try this stunt at home, I cannot be held responsible for any injuries. David only managed to perform this by emitting Qi from his feet as he ran, which is impossible in real life. In reality, if you wanted to do this, you would have to be moving at a speed of thirty steps per second, if not more, when you add to the equation your weight and also the fact that water is permeable.

AGAIN, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. THAT MEANS YOU, BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD.

(2) Homunculus: No, this has nothing to do with FullMetal Alchemist. By definition, a Homunculus really is a 'human phantom' which looks humanoid in shape, but is really just a shadow of a person. More often it is referred to by the English translation, 'little man'. Yes, the concept of creation via Philosopher's Stone is inspired by FMA, however, as shown in the Mustang VS Lust fight, Homunculi have blood, bones, and organs. In this, Homunculi are used as a way of making Shadow Creatures slightly more rare; a Philosopher's Stone has about a one in five chance of creating a Homunculus, and about a one in ten chance of creating a living corpse, as seen in chapter nine. Why? Because Dark likes a handicap.

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Act II will be uploaded as soon as I finish it, which might not be for quite some time. However, this doesn't mean I won't be uploading anything else. Two other stories are a work in progress as we speak, and the first chapter of either of them will be uploaded between next Friday and next Sunday.

Thanks for reading Act I of AngelFIRE: The Time Traveler, and I'll see you guys next week with chapter one of 小に鬼の叫び(Cry of the Small Demon)!

-InTheNightlight