Dante was taken by surprise froom her outburst. 'In the condition you're in, it would be just a waste of your time,' he said. Gaia shoved the wood into her mouth and was about to fire back an insult in between chews when Okami interrupted what could have become a violent conflict.
'Gaia, good to see you awake, thank you for everything,' Okami smiled, 'Don't mind my friend, we all had a rough time before we joined the Wild Hunt, I apologize but this was a competition, he is a good friend and has a good heart, we had a bad feeling about Doppel from the start.'
Okami stood in front on Dante and nodded to Tora. Gaia looked uncertain for a minute, then she said finally: 'I trust you, Okami. If you've got a bad feeling about this whole situation, then go kick Doppel's ass.'
'Dante let's go help Sniff,' Tora said taking the young mages hand and pulling in the direction Tomo had indicated.
'If you ever need a place to stay you are welcome at the wild hunt, thank you for your help,' Okami said bowing to the two and smiled at Tomo patting the cat gently, 'Relay my message to Gaia okay Tomo? I hope we meet again. I hope you get to meet Barkion soon Gaia and Tomo, and I wish you all the best Angelica,' Okami finished and followed Dante and her cat who was waving at the trio trying to pull Dante along. Tomo waved at Tora and wished them goodbye.
'Good luck!' Gaia called. 'Just don't underestimate Doppel!'
'Bye Angelina, see you later,' Dante exclaimed.
'Grrr, who does he think he is, trying to act all cool?' Angelina said, blushing.
Up ahead, Dante, Okami and Tora could see the sky. Only a few stars shone between the thick, grey clouds that loomed overhead. Lightning flashed, momentarily lighting up the deck outside. The three of them saw in that instant a silhouette. It was of a man, holding up another person by the neck. The person being held had long ears, like those of a hare.
'You fought well,' Doppel said as he gripped Sniff tightly by the throat and raised him aloft. Sniff, barely conscious, was clutching at the hand that held him, using all his remaining strength to try to break free. He was scuffed, bruised and bleeding in several places. One of Doppel's cheeks was also bruised and his clothes were less pristine than they had been earlier, but he had clearly come off the better of the two. 'You are not at my level, however. I had intended to claim the Heaven Magic for all the world to see and gain undying glory but Gerhart put a stop to that. I shall just have to satisfy myself by killing all who stand in my way and becoming a tyrant whose name lives on in infamy!!'
'He is taking his time,' thought Michael, looking up at the sky for signs of his father. The sky was too far away and too dark for him to see beyond the top of the sea. All around him, just feet away, the sea spiralled steadily and unthreateningly. The only light came from the bright orb at his feet that shone brilliantly with a divine magic. Around it lay ancient runes. He had seen these runes before; Doppel had found the same ones elsewhere and had managed to translate them. They were the instructions for claiming the Heaven Magic. Little did Doppel know, however, that his son had also seen them, and he also knew their meaning. 'Oh well,' he said aloud. 'It doesn't matter if I do it down here or up there...' Michael closed his eyes and began to concentrate his energy...
'It won't come back on! All the other channels are working, it's just this one that doesn't work!!' The Mage thumped the screen again, but it didn't work.
'Damnit, we won't see the Heaven Magic!' yelled one person irritably.
'And what about their interviews?!'
One Wild Hunt Mage, sitting at the back, looked round the room searchingly, then turned to the person sitting next to them. 'Hey, where'd the Master go? Hey, Willard's gone, too...'
