His body streamlined through the water. Even an Olympic athlete could never match his speed.

He zipped through the waters coming up behind one of the swordfish. His goal was to disrupt their circling. So he needed to get their attention. Using his body as a battering ram, he pushed himself forward in the water, hitting the fish’s middle.

The disruption caused the other swordfish to think there was danger. It darted away from the group towards Kain.

"Go!" he shouted as he pulled himself up out of the water.

The others wasted no time and continued moving. Amelia was the last to move, her eyes finding Kain’s briefly, worry flashing in them.

Kain could only give her a short nod.

The second swordfish, seeing that the prey it had hunted was trying to harm its partner, became aggressive. It swam towards Kain, its bill slicing through the water, aiming at Kain’s chest.

He didn’t move. His peripheral vision kept a lock on the disoriented swordfish. It was writhing in pain from the shock of being hit. It wouldn’t last long, but it was enough for now.

The fish before him was close, ten feet. He didn’t move. Five. Three.

At the last moment, he dove. Under the water. The fish passed over him, and he kicked his feet up to the surface.

Breaking the surface, he took a machete from the space. The swordfish’s tail was about to pass him when he struck. With all the strength he could muster, he swung the machete, slicing its tail.

The tail wasn’t severed, but it was enough.

Not a second later, he felt the wind being knocked out of him. The disoriented fish, finally got its bearings. Seeing Kain hurt its partner, it used its tail to knock him down.

An unidentified sound left Kain’s mouth. His stomach churned as he skidded along the water.

The swordfish didn’t give him time to orient himself, using its tail to smash into Kain, sending him underwater. There, the one with its tail almost cut off was waiting for him with its bill poised to tear him apart.

In a split second, Kain felt death coming.

He was too close; there was no way for him to avoid being pierced.

His body, as if sensing the danger, unconsciously exerted power. His eyes turned red, and web-like patterns appeared on his skin.

Everything started moving in slow motion.

Kain, who was ready to die, had no clue of his body’s changes; he only saw the swordfish becoming impossibly slow. He sidestepped the bill that was about to pierce him.

The water suddenly felt solid. He walked, in the water, towards the side of the swordfish, piercing its side, opening a large gash. He dashed towards the other, creating a gash in its stomach as well.

With both fish defeated, the red in his eyes began to recede.

Kain was still marvelling at whatever near-death fantasy he was having. When the red completely receded, he almost drowned.

Not realizing he was breathing underwater when he attacked the fish, he sucked water into his nostrils. He could only flail his way to the surface.

He coughed and retched. His body felt drained in an instant.

This was not the place for him to be tired, however. So with his sore body, he forced himself to swim to Paradise Gates.

He was exceedingly slow, but without the danger of the swordfish, he made his way.

When he caught up to the rest of them, he was gasping, barely able to hold on. They had somehow found a large enough piece of wood to lean on to regain their strength.

Kain wasn’t graceful at all as he flopped like a beached whale onto the large piece of wood. He still hadn’t quite wrapped his brain around what happened.

Breathing underwater one second and almost drowning the next. Almost being pierced, only to find he could walk around underwater as he owned it.

He couldn’t understand any of it. He could only admit to himself that it happened. Until he found the reason, he would never mention it to anyone.

Maybe the system could give him an answer?

"Are you okay?" Amelia asked cautiously.

Kain couldn’t respond, only making the okay sign. His chest heaved as he released ragged breaths.

"Where are the kids?" Jaylin asked, looking around for them.

Kain didn’t answer, leading them to believe something had happened. Their brows furrowed, and they frowned. Worry clouded their vision.

’When did they get so close to the little ones?’ he thought.

"They’re fine," he rasped. "Inside...we’ll see them."

They didn’t look convinced, but he was too tired to comfort them.

"They’re our kids. Do you really think we would abandon them?" Amelia said, displeased with the look on their faces. "They are safe."

Embarrassed, they turned away, giving Kain time to recover.

"Then...Boss, what about the swordfish?" Jake asked.

He was twisting his neck, looking around, in case anything popped up.

"Dead," Kain replied simply.

In truth, he didn’t know if they were dead. He stabbed them both, and they were bleeding, so he hoped they were.

Looking between the two buildings, Kain needed to make sure they were at the correct one. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Before everything happened, he specifically had someone paint a design on all four sides of the apartment. That way, no matter which way, he could identify it.

Examining both buildings, he identified the marking on the one closest to them.

He decided to give himself a few more minutes before trying to enter.

Splash, splash

A splashing sound came from the left. Everyone tensed, ready for another battle. Their heads turned synchronously.

It was a person. They breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a monster.

The person swam closer, water splashing everywhere.

As they came closer, Amelia exclaimed. "Nicola?!"

The person didn’t stop but continued swimming. Only after holding onto the piece of wood, like everyone else, did they see the person grin.

"Hello, sister."