|
Chapter 15: Hurry Somebody Up |
|
|
|
|
|
|
mad Xx:
Far Southern Border of China
mad Xx:
Leopaldon let out a fierce battle cry before going on the offensive. It was like a cornered animal now, wild and unpredictable. Without the climate being cold enough, Leopaldon would be like a sitting duck if it tried to heal itself so it had little choice but to try and win. Everyone else scattered to take advantage of their numbers, except for Potemkin, who intercepted Leopaldon head on. Potemkin struck the massive beast right in the chest to send in staggering back ever so slightly, before trying to grab the armored figure inside of Leopaldon’s mouth seeing as Testament tried to attack the man as well, so he believed it to be a weakness. However, the massive beast clamped it’s maw around Potemkin’s forearm before he could reach. The colossal creature then spun around lifting Potemkin with it before releasing it’s hold to send Potemkin tumbling into the snow
“Ride The Lightning!”
Ky jumped into the air, erecting a sphere of lightning around him before ramming into Leopaldon from the left side. Leopaldon grunted, and swatted at Ky with it’s claws, but Ky canceled out of his attack and kicked off the appendage.
“Stun Edge!”
Ky sent a bolt of electricity into Leopaldon’s mouth. The armored figure grunted as he was flung back, hitting the top of Leopaldon’s mouth. The beast similarly staggered back as it was engulfed in the shock.
“So that person within really is a weakness...”
Ky murmured, but Leopaldon recovered quicker than expected, smacking Ky across the face with it’s paw to level him into the snow.
“Stupid freak of nature just couldn’t stay down after boiling in all that lava.”
Jam said as she rushed toward Leopaldon with tremendous speed. The beast brought it’s claw down in order to intercept her, but she slid under the attack quickly with a burst of Ki energy. Leopaldon struck with it’s other claw, but Jam faded out of existence.
“Senri Shinshou!”
Jam was now behind Leopaldon, slamming into it’s back with a blast of Ki emanating from her fist. Leopaldon grunted slightly in annoyance, but didn’t even turn to strike back with a frontal assault towards her, simply using it’s tail to trip Jam’s legs out from under her before using it again to send her flying away. Testament now came once again to it’s mouth. The armored man seethed.
“Such an annoyance you are, pale one.”
He said. Leopaldon’s mouth shut quite suddenly, seeming intent to bite down on the black garbed Gear.
“Zeinest!”
Testament swung his arm out quickly. Before Leopaldon’s jaws could clamp shut, the top part of the mouth was suspended by a blood web Testament created.
“Now, Succubus!”
Testament ordered, his raven transforming into the ethereal girl. Both swung out in wide horizontal arcs of their scythes to each side of the armored man’s head. Before they connected, the armored man brought up his arms to guard their double attack.
“Insolent pests...”
The armored man swung out his arms, erecting a small barrier to push the two away. Testament smirked, however, as he descended towards the ground. Before the armored man could react. Potemkin’s giant hand came swiftly to grasp his head.
“Got you. Heat Knuckle!”
Potemkin’s metal glove shot out small explosive rounds that were tolerable for his hand as they made the armored man burst in flames.
“Heat Extend!”
The armored glove opened up as a target locked on to the armored man, before one larger and more powerful bullet was shot out. Potemkin had released his hold at that moment, and Leopaldon stepped back in a daze. Millia attacked in succession after Potemkin’s attack, scaling the ex-slave’s back to jump over him and target Leopaldon.
“Winger Descend!”
She used the second attack of her Winger technique to pound Leopaldon in the stomach. The beast growled, swinging out with an uppercut swipe, but Millia proved too nimble and evaded. Johnny then used this opportunity while Leopaldon was in mid swing. He hopped up on the beast’s appendage, allowing himself to be knocked up.
“How about this one? Unchou No Iai!”
Johnny drew his sword so quickly, both his arm and blade were complete blurs. He landed softly, a grin on his face as he looked up to the armored man in Leopaldon’s mouth. Johnny sheathed his sword with the same speed as he drew it, however, the blade was not sheathed completely as Johnny’s hand went to the tip of his hat. The armored man looked around with some uncertainty before chuckling.
“What was that all for? You missed!”
The armored man said. Johnny’s grin grew wider.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? But the fact of the matter is, you were hit. Call this moment between us a delayed reaction.”
Johnny told him.
“Delayed reaction?”
The armored man questioned.
“Yep. I say you’ll probably feel the pain right about...oh, I don’t know...NOW!”
With that, Johnny tipped his hat downward over his face, and the blade fully lowered into his sheath. The armored man grunted in pain as Leopaldon completely toppled over with a roar, falling on it’s stomach and remaining motionless. The cut of Johnny’s blade had been so clean and swift, the armored man didn’t even realized what happened until only a little while after.
“Wow, Johnny! You really did it!”
May said excitedly. Everyone else looked in mild surprise, Johnny himself included.
“Really...?”
He said silently in astoundment. He then grew serious again.
“No, it’s stalling.”
Johnny declared and tried to evade a swift punch from the rising Leopaldon, but only half succeed as Leopaldon’s fist connected with his side when it was originally intended for his chest. Still, there was enough power to send Johnny on his back.
“Amusing...truly amusing...that attack was quite nice. Your lucky our drum was lost in the inferno or I’d have shown you an attack worthy to match the one you presented to me, shirtless one.”
The armored man said, his voice gloating in it’s tone.
“How dare you hurt my Johnny! You’ll pay for that!”
May said, her tone laced with fury. The armored man laughed.
“You should watch your tongue, little girl. Instead of wasting our time talking, why don’t you battle instead?”
He told her, making May fume.
“b*****d...that’s it, you’ve really ticked my off now. Super Screaming Ultimate Spinning Whirlwind!”
She spun on the balls of her feet, balancing out her weight with the anchor to twirl forward multiple times, slamming her anchor into Leopaldon’s stomach.
“Deluxe Tile Bomber!”
May halted her spin, summoning a killer whale to head butt Leopaldon in the chest. The beast stumbled back from the force behind the attack, but otherwise remained unharmed. The armored man shook his head in disappointment.
“Was that all? We barely felt that.”
He said to her, before having Leopaldon push her aside as if she were not a threat in the least.
“Hey, Stop treating me like a child, you overgrown pile of...”
Before May could say anymore, Leopaldon clamped it’s hand around her neck, cutting off her air supply.
“Crap! Hey, let her go!”
Bridget threw his yo-yos at Leopaldon’s arm, letting the strings wrap around the appendage as he pulled, trying cut into Leopaldon’s flesh. As always, Leopaldon’s tough hide was near impenetrable against such approaches.
“You want us to let her go? Fine, have it your way.”
With that, Leopaldon reeled it’s arm back, dragging Bridget along until he was airborne. Once this was accomplished, Leopaldon threw May at Bridget with great force, sending the two children colliding into one another. The beast kept spinning, building momentum as Bridget held onto both May and his string for dear life. This in turn prevented Leopaldon from being approached by the others out of fear of accidently striking the two youngest fighters. Leopaldon finally brought it’s other arm up towards the other where Bridget’s strings were still attached. It used it’s sharp claws to cut through the metal strings with ease, sending both May and Bridget blasting off through the air. Luckily, Potemkin was able to catch them before they could eat dirt and snow. The fighting continued.
“Damn it all. It’s so annoying that he’s so damn cocky, and what’s worse, he has a right to be after being able to survive through all this constant damage and battle.”
Jam stated. Everyone was forced to agree. Leopaldon had just about exceeded all of the limits pitted against it. Even as the battle raged on, it seemed obvious that Leopaldon might emerge victorious once more in staying alive, as the opposition was beginning to falter. Potemkin’s brute strength allowed him to battle with the beast the most directly, but Leopaldon was still bigger and stronger. Jam, Millia, Johnny, Ky and Testament attacked close range alongside Potemkin since their techniques were the most effective in close quarter combat, and although it was showing some results, Leopaldon could easily knock them aside with the power of it’s vicious claw attacks. This left Bridget and May with attacking the most indirectly and farthest away, Bridget being the slightly better of the two with his yo-yo and Roger though May with her magical sea animals still held up well. Regardless, Leopaldon would eventually break free from the close range combatants to intercept and take on the two children. Many were eventually left with numerous cuts and bruises amongst other injuries, severe destruction to their clothing, and very dim hope for the future. Leopaldon of course was having a field day with their predicament.
“Yes...cower before us. Is it not obvious enough that you can’t succeed? I’ll destroy this world all of the meaningless lives on it unless you choose to surrender to us here and now.”
The armored man claimed. Testament glared, stepping boldly forward.
“I agree with you that many of the humans lives are pointless and devoid of meaning...but there is someone very important to me who believes otherwise. I don’t care what happens to me, but I won’t let you succeed in your damned goal! For her sake, I will slay you where you stand, Leopaldon!”
Testament snarled out, gripping his scythe even harder then before. The armored man simply laughed.
“Such an empty promise. Your airships and missiles and other contraptions are useless with you all so close to our vicinity, and We can simply blast them out of the sky now if you decide to run. Face it. Your out of options to be giving threats of any value. Now just die.”
He said confidently. Testament’s eyes narrowed.
“You first!”
He called back to the massive creature before sinking into the ground, enveloped within a red liquid.
“Warrant!”
Testament rose up from underneath Leopaldon, tripping the giant monstrosity off it’s feet and on it’s stomach yet again before reappearing in front.
“Master Of Puppets!”
Testament’s scythe was transformed into a large red key, though nothing in comparison to the size and weight of Paracelus. Testament thrust out with it, striking the armored man in the chest, in turn making him furious at the Gear’s persistence. Leopaldon got up quickly, before trying to ram Testament down.
“Hitomi!”
Leopaldon rushed at the Gear, but a large tree demon sprouted out of the ground to impede it’s progress. It slashed the annoying creature out of it’s path, but Testament was also gone.
“Phantom Soul!”
Leopaldon turned to intercept the floating skulls encased in a flaming aura that were coming towards it.
“Coward, stop this hiding around so I can end this quickly!”
The armored man glowered in annoyance.
“I’m sick of you and your stupid pet...”
Testament materialized in Leopaldon’s mouth, gripping at the armored man’s arms.
“This trick again, pale one? Tsk tsk...when will you ever learn?”
The armored man said arrogantly as he gripped onto the sides of Leopaldon’s mouth to keep from being pulled out by Testament. Leopaldon’s jaws clamped shut, but Testament’s red scythe was positioned on the right side to keep Leopaldon from succeeding. His succubus placed her black scythe on Leopaldon’s left side of the mouth so Testament’s scythe wouldn’t be the only support.
“You wouldn’t dare...!”
The armored man grunted out, seeing that Testament plan to forcefully pull him free from Leopaldon. The Gear smiled maliciously down at him.
“Just watch me.”
Testament edged on, but the armored man held on well. He chuckled at Testament’s attempt.
“You won’t succeed. You’ve been weakened too much in this confrontation to change it’s outcome in the slightest.”
The armored man said confidently. The same had gone for everyone, and he truly believed there was no way he could lose.
“Your right that he won’t succeed...alone anyway.”
Ky said, hopping up onto Leopaldon’s mouth. He grabbed Testament and started to pull him back to assist in removing the armored man from his creature made throne.
“What Sir Kiske says is true...by pulling together in the past, we humans were able halt and overcome the Gear menace during the Crusades. This moment in time will work much the same way. I refuse to give up until you’ve been pulled free and grinded into the dirt, fiend.”
Potemkin said, going towards Leopaldon to reach into it’s mouth and grasp the armored man by the waist with one hand and pulled as well. His other arm was used in an attempt to defend himself from the beast’s attacks itself as it tried to push him away.
“All other strategies have been in vain...let’s hope this one works for once.”
Millia said, ever so calmly as usual. Her hair extended outward to grip around the armored man’s body as it too began to heave with the other three.
“Okay Roger, we need to help them out. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we get to go home and take a nice hot bath.”
Bridget also joined in, tossing in Roger, who grasped around the armored man’s head, while Bridget pulled on his yo-yo wires.
“Oh well. Come on squirt, let’s pull the annoying person out of there.”
Jam grabbed on a part of Bridget’s yo-yo string in order to help him.
“Come on Johnny, let’s help them.”
May tossed her large anchor aside and grabbed onto another part of Bridget’s string. Johnny sighed, but complied, looking for somewhere to assist. He came up to Millia.
“Mind if I...”
He began to say as his arms were about to intertwine around her waist, but she interrupted him.
“Actually I do, pervert. Go somewhere else.”
She said, though her dead pan voice didn’t make it sound like much of an insult. Regardless, Johnny decided not to and went up towards Potemkin instead.
‘I’d rather hold onto a woman in case things don’t work out and we get mauled by Leopaldon...damn it, I have got to stop being so damn pessimistic here. I will make sure we all live to see another day!’
Johnny jumped up to Potemkin’s arm that had a hold on Leopaldon, grabbing a hold of one giant bicep as his feet planted against Leopaldon’s chest.
“Okay big guy, let’s do this s**t.”
Johnny said as he assisted in the pull. Potemkin smiled behind his slave collar.
“Right.”
He said in agreement and pulled harder. The armored man was starting to wobble under the great force, and no amount of generated barriers could keep anyone from holding on to him.
“DAMN YOU All!”
The armored man gritted out as his grip began to loosen. It happened in almost slow motion to everyone’s eyes as the armored man was ejected from his seat. Everyone fell on their backs from the force. The armored man hit the snow a few feet away, and Leopaldon began stumbling back in an almost mindless stupor.
“RAAAAGHHH!”
Leopaldon clawed at it’s head, roaring at the sky before viciously falling over on it’s back and kicking up snow and dirt on impact.
“No...we won’t tolerate this...we will stand and fight...”
The armored man crawled pathetically toward the fallen beast, but was stomped on under Jam’s heel.
“Sorry, buster, but your not going anywhere. It’s time for a little payback.”
She told him, bringing a fist into the palm of her hand to crack her knuckles for further emphasis.
“Normally, I would simply put you behind bars, but you’ve pushed my limits over the top. All those officers who you killed trying to get past here...you can’t be forgiven so easily. Prepare yourself!”
Ky stated as he gripped Thunder Seal ever so tightly. The armored man began to laugh brokenly, glaring down to the ground.
“...none of you have what it takes to be worthy of our submission and loyalty...of being called our master...where is he...? That human who’s strange blade conjured up bellowing storms of crimson flames...we want to fight him, to see the true depths of power he so carefully hidden from our sight...”
The armored man spoke in an odd tone of almost...admiration?
“Hah! You want to see some crimson flaming storms do you? Then here’s the first ticket to hell given to you by none other than the legendary chef of the world, Jam Kuradoberi! Geki Houosyo!”
Jam kicked the armored man up so he stood on his feet. Then she dashed past him in a blur of red, going behind him, then in front of him again repeatedly as she struck him. The armored man flailed about weakly before Jam stopped in front of him, her palm striking his chest and lifting him upward in a spiral of flames that dispersed to form a phoenix shape around his prone body.
“My turn. Winger Ascend!”
Millia intercepted the armored man in the air as she rose upward on her winged hair, engulfed in a faint violet aura.
“Winger Descend!”
Millia performed her earlier downward attack, sending the armored man spiraling toward Ky.
“Vapor Thrust Beta!”
Ky jumped into the air as electricity surrounded his blade, catching the armored man in the air with an uppercut. Ky twisted through the air to strike him with his foot to make him ascend higher, before twisting again to slam him downward. Ky struck him again before he could hit the ground, however, to keep him airborne.
“Now I’ll see if this attack truly has good results. Sacred Edge!”
Ky used his newest version of his Sacred Edge that he tried against Sol back on Zepp. This one was slightly faster now to cut down on the ability to evade as lightning struck down from the sky. The armored man was carried over to Johnny.
“Payback’s a b***h, friend. Now you’ll see why. Johnny Special!”
Johnny drew out his blade, cutting in a “J” shaped formation with his weapon as the armored man stayed suspended in the air. Johnny spun his weaponed expertly in his hand before sheathing it again. Flames erupted all around the armored man in along the shape Johnny had cut out of him. He almost hit the ground, but was caught up in Bridget’s yo-yo.
“Time for the second variant, weird guy who came out of Leopaldon’s mouth. Oh, and Mr. Johnny, I’d move if I were you. Tragedy During Maintenance!”
Bridget swung his yo-yo upward, and the armored man was ignited in a massive trail of explosive fire. He rose up very high to everyone’s astoundment.
“Hey, move out of the way Bridget. Unless you want to get hit by my supreme technique. Great Yamada Attack!”
May yelled as she pointed in Bridget’s direction, making the boy pale considerably.
“Hey, you could have warned me earlier!”
Bridget roared out as he barely avoided getting side swiped by a giant pink whale that flew through the air. It struck the armored man and send him soaring through the air, where he was caught in Potemkin’s right hand. He raised his left arm up in the air as it became engulfed in a blue flame.
“Nitro Hook!”
Potemkin quickly released his captive with his right hand before his left hand mack him higher into the air. Potemkin the thrust out his right hand as it was engulfed in a red flame.
“Heat Extend!”
He grabbed a hold of the armored man and performed an earlier attack of his own. He released the armored man, the force behind his attack propelling his enemy skyward. Potemkin crouched down, before using his massive arms to make him practically explode off the ground and up to the armored man, grabbing him in mid air.
“Heavenly Potemkin Buster!”
Potemkin kept rising up into the air, his hands engulfed in flames as he held onto the armored man by the head and legs. He finally started descending head first. Before touching ground he flipped back so his feet hit the ground with enough force to leave deep imprints on the surface of the earth. He carelessly tossed the armored man into Testament’s outstretched left hand, who had been standing conveniently by the large river of lava still flowing. Testament looked up at the armored man’s eyes as he stayed there, twitching in pain.
“Any last words before death claims you?”
Testament glared at disgusting little creature in his arms. The armored man’s eyes glowed slightly.
“...Leopaldon...”
Was all he said before going limp. Testament’s face contorted in disgust.
“Die.”
He threw the body down in the river of lava, and was joined by everyone else as they saw the armored man disintegrate into nothing while being taken by the current.
“Well, that’s it...I am officially very tired and in need of sleep.”
Johnny said as he slumped to the cold ground, breathing heavily. Everyone felt weaker as their adrenaline thinned out from ending of the fierce battle.
‘That guy was just a serious pushover. Without Leopaldon, he couldn’t do squat.”
May said as she slid down against Johnny.
“Amen to that sister.”
Bridget said as he hit the snow with his back.
“What do we do with Leopaldon’s body, though? Push it in the lava?”
Jam asked.
“Yes. I’ll handle it, and then we’ll return to Zepp on The Megaton.”
Potemkin told everyone.
“That sounds good. I haven’t had a chance to get a good night’s sleep myself.”
Ky muttered out.
“Yes. Let’s hurry and...that’s impossible.”
Potemkin seemed stunned.
“Grrr...”
That sound brought everyone on edge.
“...uh, Mr. Potemkin, please tell us that was your stomach.”
Bridget said nervously.
“No. Look for yourselves.”
Potemkin blurted out as he took a step back.
“No ******** way! It’s standing up.”
Johnny said in disbelief. Leopaldon stood on all fours, baring it’s charred black teeth at it’s enemies.
“Then...perhaps Leopaldon was always a separate individual from that armored man.”
Testament said lowly, more to himself than anyone else.
“If it was being controlled by that metal freak, why does it look so damn angry at us for setting it free?”
Bridget wondered.
“Unless it didn’t want to be freed. Regardless...I don’t think we can prevail any further. We’ve wasted too much strength taking on their combined might.”
Ky said in a tired tone. Potemkin took a protective stance in front of everyone.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold it back for very long now, but I’ll do what I can to stall it. Get to the airship and head back to Zepp. You will all need to inform our President of what has transpired and what can be done to further prevent anymore destruction.”
Potemkin said grimly as the beast began to move slowly in their direction.
“Wait, but only you can fly it. We’ll just be sitting ducks regardless.”
Johnny said. Potemkin shook his head.
“I told you only the partial truth. There is an override code that allows normal people to pilot it. I’ve given it to Sir Kiske already. Now go!”
Potemkin said gruffly, his muscles tightening as Leopaldon came closer. Without warning, the massive beast lept into the air, and was already nearly upon Potemkin.
‘President Gabriel...I’m sorry that I couldn’t be of anymore use, but my body is at it’s limit.’
Potemkin thought to himself. Before Leopaldon could connect with Potemkin, it was blocked off by none other than small A.B.A. She held Paracelus horizontally as she used him to push against Leopaldon’s massive paws, and to everyone’s shock, actually halted the beast in it’s tracks as it kept pushing against her once it’s hind legs met the earth again.
“Cold...”
A.B.A muttered out as her teeth chattered. Her feet were being buried in the snow by Leopaldon’s weight. She was bleeding slightly from intense pressure of holding Leopaldon off, but she was faring decently.
“Everyone!”
The others turned to see Dizzy hovering towards them as she was dressed for combat, Faust not too far behind her as he ran on all fours, his scalpel placed in his mouth.
“Dizzy...”
Testament said, his voice a mixture of relief to see her, and of anger that she came down here in the first place.
“Please Testament. Let Dr. Faust treat everyone’s wounds while me and A.B.A hold Leopaldon off.”
Dizzy said determinedly. Testament wanted to protest as his protective nature towards her started to kick in.
“Don’t worry so much, Testament. She’ll be fine. Let me cure you all so you can be the back-up.”
Faust said. Dizzy turned to face Leopaldon, as A.B.A kept being pushed back slowly.
“I will fight to protect my friends.”
Dizzy said with determination
mad Xx:
Transylvania, Ruins of a Castle
mad Xx:
“Hmmm...these turn of events were unexpected, but quite interesting none the less. I wonder if Dizzy can manage with the help of that other strange child...”
Slayer murmured as he sat in a tall chair by a fireplace. Sharon stood beside him, a small platter in her hands with a glass of dark red wine on it. She placed the drink on the small table by Slayer’s chair.
“Leopaldon’s still hasn’t made his true colors known, Sharon...”
Slayer said thoughtfully, grabbing the glass before standing up to look out the large window of his castle.
“I suppose only time will tell...”
:ToBeContinued:
 Mariah_Silvermane · Thu Apr 17, 2008 @ 02:52am · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
