Their rears kept bouncing against the hard wooden floor of the carriage. The vessel was speeding through the irregular terrains of the Sahara. The sun was centrally scorching from above; as though it was being intensified by some magnifying lens. If it wasn't for the thick piece of cloth scarfing the top of the wagon, they could have got hurt by the heat. But the four boys sat firm in the wagon without complaining. While En route to Janacre, Jaden and Eugene took the opportunity to actually explain to the other two everything they had faced in their journey.
"I just cannot believe it.." Wassie'e said to them as he was shaving the long blonde beard he got from all that time he endured in prison.
"We still don't know how or why we're involved in this. But one thing for sure," Jaden explained. "All those who were at the dance are here in Lacrima."
"It's the last thing we can recall, after all." Kamal added.
"It's true that I was at the dance," Svyen said. "But how can we be so sure we didn't get all our memories tempered with?"
"Yeah, that could be true." Eugene replied. "We all could be forgetting something huge. An important piece to the puzzle. I mean, Mado here doesn't remember that he wasn't at the dance."
"What if we all went insane at the same time?" Vincent let out an weirded-out laugh.
"And all of us are hallucinating at the same time, right?" Svyen laughed.
"No way!" Majd screamed briefly to block his mind from considering that option.
"Is that even possible..?" Mado narrowed his eyes toward Kamal.
"There're gases that could cause shared hallucinations." the latter replied.
..Shared hallucinations, huh?, Jaden thought for a second. But what about all the time we spent here? Is that all just hallucinations? And the fact that I can use this UI and [Oracle Drive], or the fact that I saw through Safi's memories? Is all of it just some mental impairments that occured to us out of nothing?! I mean, come on! This universe is way too organized for it to be born from trippin' out!
"—Hey, Mado!" Majd's voice cut Jaden's train of thoughts, and brought him back to the present. "What are you thinking about?"
"Uhh, I'm just worried, I guess." he replied. "Noor got captured by those Pirates, and we're not sure if Safi's actually with her, you know..?"
"Don't forget Mika, too.." Vincent face showed a frown for a second. "And that Feona.."
"Feona, huh..?" Wassie'e sighed once he put away the small knife he shaved with.
"Do you know her, Wassie'e?" Eugene asked.
Svyen gazed toward the road out as everything seemed like it was being dragged away. "I hope that I actually do.." he answered.
The air had a humid, sharp feel as it passed through her nostrils. The place around her was dim with only one small window letting light inside. She couldn't move her hands or legs; so, she was immobile. There were ropes all around her wrists and ankles; they had a strange feeling. Because they weren't any random tight rollings, they blocked her Mana. Yelling for help wasn't possible, either. There was a filthy piece of cloth stuck in her mouth. So, she was rendered helpless. The pale-skin girl in the gothic attire was a hostage. But for what? She had no idea.
As she sat tied up in place, she heard voices coming closer. They were the voices of her captors. They were climbing up to wherever she sat since the enteryway was through a door on the floor near her feet. Was she in some attic?
"Did you see her through her meal?" asked one approaching voice. A voice that was tinged with sinster.
"Yes, my brother. She eats well." answered the other voice as three figures emerged through the floor-enterance.
"Good." replied the leading figure with one eye-patch and brown linear beard. "Vincent's bait must stay fresh."
"And here I thought you were done with the bastard." said the third one standing in the back. "I was looking forward to make her scream for me a little."
"A little more, Sulk!" the eye-pathched guy told him. "Once that pirate walk the plate, you'll have all the fun you desire."
As the three men sneered at her, Petra glared back at them with flared eyes. One of the captors felt like she wanted to say something to them, so he removed the cloth out of her mouth.
"Uhh, ohh.."
"Seems like you have something to say, lady.." he smirked.
After catching her breath, Petra uttered "You assholes are just wasting your time, y'know?" she told them. "I barely knows who Vincent is.."
"What's that?" Sulk tilted his head.
"She's been saying that she doesn't know any Vincent." the other one explained.
"Is she calling us liars?!" Sulk raised an eyebrow. "What do you think, Captain Gorbash?"
"Humph.." the eye-patched man, Gorbash, tilted Petra's chin upward. "Looks like, we might need to plunck her tongue off.."
But then, a fourth guy stuck up his head through the floor-door. "Captain, our snitches near the borders reported that a guy looking like Vincent arrived to Janacre few minutes ago."
"Humph, the fish is chasing the little fry, apparently.." Gorbash smirked as he let go of the pale-skin girl. "Let us give it a proper welcome.."
"Aye, Captain!" the other three said in unison.
And with that, the four men left the room; laughing as though they had already triumphed.
"Ugh.." left alone Petra was utterly stuck. "This fuckin' sucks.."
Where are you?, she said in her mind. Mado..?
Meanwhile, the carriage that Jaden and the others were on finally stopped by. After reaching their destination, the four guys thanked the brown cloaked marcinaries, and continued on their way.
Janacre was a busy city. The roads around were mostly filled with rails and trains. As Jaden and the others walked through the arriving station plaza, they immediately got an idea of which sort of city this one was.
"Sheesh, it's way too crowded, even for my standards!" Eugene grumbled.
"Way too suffocating for a hallucination, huh Kamal?" Jaden said.
"Janacre has always been a home for merching." Svyen said.
"The Jewel of The Sand as ton of people would call it." Vincent walked in front of them and spread his arms sideways. "Janacre is the largest market that exhibits only the finest goods from all across Evalis and the neighboring planetoids. Which mean.."
"It's a one huge mall." Eugene replied brainlessly.
"Uh, no.." Kamal looked down from the embarrassment.
"It means all kinds of thugs will be nearby.." Jaden concluded.
"Cay'mon, carry on!" a loud voice of a middle aged man attracted the boys' attention. When they turned to see it, they found the man scolding a young boy as he pushed a goods filled wagon forward with his arms. "We need to get these to a new storage house! Those Space Pirates are lurking by near the Brushine Mines! There's no more safety in this city anymore.."
"What did you say?!" a silver armored guard with a spear overheard the man, and intimidated him.
"Oh, nothing! I was only trying to get my boy to be serious about business!" the man tried explaining to him with the nicest tone he could muster. "We deeply appreciate what the Empire has been doing to keep us all safe and sound!"
"You should teach your son to be thankful for the Empire, as well!" the guard demanded.
"Of course!" said the man. "All his life will be for the sake of the Empire and our majesty!"
At that brief moment, the guard raised his helmet covered face, and gazed toward Svyen and the others. "Huh? What are you looking at?!"
"Uhh!" Svyen's body stiffened. Did he just get exposed?! He didn't know what to do. Should he just charge at him or deny it.
"Come on, let's move.." Vincent pulled him. And Svyen and the others carried on their path.
"For a second, I thought he got me.." Wassie'e said as he exhaled slowly.
"That would be highly unlikely considering your track record.." Vincent replied. "You're a dead man, after all—remember?"
"So, now what—?"
~Tchzowww..!
Jaden was cut of by the unified sounds of his and the three other guys' stomach. And, he remembered something. None of them had any food since they sat off to Janacre.
"Eh, ha ha ha!" Majd scratched the back of his head in embarrassement.
"Hmm.." Kamal kept turning his head left and right until he found a booth nearby. "How about some BBQ?"
"What..?" Mado stepped back.
"It's fine. It'll be my treat." Kamal pointed toward the booth with his thumb as he smiled.
"He he, that's not Mado's problem.." Eugene replied.
"Don't tell me you got allergies here, too!" Wassie'e sighed.
"No, it's just.." Mado avoided their gaze. "I'm just no very comfortable eating from strange places, y'know.."
Then, Eugene grabbed the restless Jaden, and dragged him forward. "Nope, not in this universe, too!"
"Uhh, wait..! Hey!"
After forcing Jaden into it, the four boys ordered some barbecue, and then, Vincent decided to take the chance and converse with the booth owner. He asked him about the rumors regarding Space Pirates in the Brushine Mines. But the owner was reluctant to give a straight answer. And hinted that some girl asked him similar questions, as well. And with that, the boys realized that these rumors had some kind of weight to them. The owner even threw in some information about a special visit from the Imperial Judges to Janacre all of the sudden.
~Bite!
~Sizzle!
"Ummm! This meat is delicious!" Majd commented with a wide smile.
"I guess, I'd need seconds." Kamal said.
"Count me in!" Wassie'e added.
Jaden, on the other hand, was barely biting into his stake. "Yeah, this seems good.." he muttered.
"You better eat it all, or I will.." Vincent told him.
"If Ahmed Baghais was here.." Svyen said.
"He would've swallowed it all! Along with Mado!" Eugene joked.
"But Mado's all bones.." Vincent said.
"As if Ahmed cares!" Svyen laughed.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
"I don't like where this is going.." Jaden face twitched.
"Now, what..?" Eugene asked. "Are we going to the Mines?"
"It's not like we have any leads towards anything else.." Vincent added.
"Heading straight into the enemy's lair.." Svyen said in a distressed tone. "We may be walking to obvious danger."
"I heard there isn't much in those mines anymore." Vincent said. "Even if we end up crossing blades with Gorbash, we could still outbeat him."
"So, we're going then.." Jaden sighed. Trying to put his mind in perspective. But then—
"You're planning to go to the Mines?" a voice reached their ears.
When the four guys turned, they found a young boy standing by the edge of the road, near the fences. The boy was of a short stature; roughly 5 feet. With a neck-long straight black hair combed backwards. His face had sharp relaxed features with fair and smooth skin, and his eyes were light-blue. He wore what it seemed to Mado like some royal society attire out of a fantasy movie.
The strange boy turned and walked toward the four guys. "Then, allow me to accompany you." he said. "I have an errand to attend to."
Instead of turning him down in an instant, Vincent decided to drill him further. "What matter of errand?" he questioned.
"I might ask the same of you.." the boy replied calmly, looking straight into Vincent's eyes.
Jaden's suspicions went sky-high. The young boy seemed overly confident; as though he would never face rejection at all. Was he following them all this time? Jaden didn't think this encounter was a sheer coincidence, but he couldn't yet prove it. He looked at Vincent, hoping the latter would return his gaze, and understand what Jaden had in mind. They don't need anymore people to keep taps on at this moment.
"All right, come on then." Vincent said
"What?!" Jaden exclaimed.
"Excellent." the young boy replied.
"Do me a favor and stay where I can keep my eyes on you. " Vincent said. "Should be less trouble this way. "
"For us both.." the boy replied.
"That's unbelievable..!" Jaden muttered in annoyance.
"So, what's your name? " Eugene asked.
"Oh! I—I'm Lamount.." the boy answered.
"Don't worry, " Eugene kneeled to his eye level. "I don't know what's in that mine, Lamount. But you're in good hands.."
He then stood and gazed back at both Wassie'e and Kamal. "Right, Svyen? " he smiled at them.
The other three guys all exchanged looks; with Mado being the only dismissive of them all. But, then gestured for Lamount to follow them into the Brushine Mines.
As she was still tied up in place, Petra heard someone approaching. The moment she gazed toward the floor-door, she saw Sulk coming in; with an evil grin on his face.
"Now, isn't this a wonderful view?" he asked her.
"You're a fat-ass scumbag, you know that?" Petra glared at him.
"There—there, lolita!" Sulk said. "I didn't come here so you can sing."
~Slap!
Sulk swung out a whip in front of her face. "I want to hear you scream.." he told her with a sinister smile stretching on his face. "Captain may have found that Pirate already. So, you're all mine now, ha ha!"
"I ain't your prom date, you ugly sack of shit!" Petra replied as she smirked back to his face. "You think you can scare me with your little toy?"
"How about I give you a taste!" Sulk swang the whip onto her.
~Slap!
"UGHHH!" Petra cried out loud from the pain.
"Uhha-ha ha ha ha!" Sulk laughed with intense pleasure. "I want more, lady. I WANT MORE!"
~SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
"UGH!" Petra tried her hardest to endure. "You're never gettin'-—UGHHHAHH!"
"What did you say? I wasn't listening!" Sulk said as he caught his breath. "But you know, maybe if remove those clothes, I will hear you better.."
"Don't you dare even touching me, bitch!" Noor ground her teeth as her body tensed up.
"Ha ha ha! Here, I'm in charge. I can do anything I want.." Sulk sneered.
"Ugh, no..." Noor closed her eyes as the filthy Space Pirate was extending his hand to touch her clothes.
~Stiff!
"Uhh!" Petra opened her eyes only to find Sulk's hand hung up in mid-air.
"What the?!" he was shocked. "How come my hand—!"
The moment Sulk turned back to look, his eyes found someone standing by the floor-door. It was a girl.
"Who the hell are you?" he shouted. "How did you get up here?!"
The girl opened her mouth, "You dumb friends were resting nearby, so I figured.."
"Is that so?!" Sulk used his free hand to swing his whip.
~Slap!
~Miss!
"Ugh" he grumbled. "You maggot! How could you?"
The girl successfully dodged the attack. "The only maggot here—is YOU!" she converged dark energy withing her hand, and tossed it against him.
~Blast!
Dust fogged her sight, but as soon as it cleared a little, she found him already closing at her. There was little room for her to think.
"You're mine, now!" Sulk said as he was delivering a knocking blow. But—
"...Rewind..." she whispered.
"Uh—!" Sulk's body froze in place for a moment, but then all the moves he made were being reversed in real time.
~Vivivivivid!
"Ughhhhhh!" Sulk's body flew up in thin air.
"Haaaaaa!" his opponent converged even more dark energy in one hand before unleashing it all on him. "TAKE THIS!"
~BLAST!
"BWAAAH!" Sulk's upper body got blown and engraved into the ceiling. The hit was a severe one, and he was rendered unconscious.
Petra saw as the girl walked up to her, and began cutting off the ropes around her hands and feet. "Uhh," Petra hesitated due to the surprise. "Sa—Safi, but how?!"
"I'll tell you later." Julia said. "We have to get out of here, quick!"
"Where're Mado, and Majd?" Petra asked as she stood on her feet.
"I don't really know." Safi replied. "But I saw them got caught with that guy, Vincent.."
"What?!" Petra exclaimed. "But these shitbags are saying that Vincent has arrived here!"
"Then, we have to hurry!" Julia gestured for Petra to follow her outside. "Come on!"
~Drop!
The two girls landed down on the ground. They appeared to be coming down from a tree-house of sorts. It was built within some concrete-lined mine.
"Where are we..?" Petra looked around in confusion.
"It's called the Brushine Mines, I guess.." Julia replied. "Come on, let's get moving!"
And with that, the two girls made their way through the mines.
Jaden and the others, along with Lamount, arrived at the entrance of Brushine Mines. In front of them was a gigantic rectangular path that was completely lined with large pieces of concrete. Unlike the rest of the city, the surroundings of the mine was deserted. As though, the residents of Janacre were not allowed to step closer. Or maybe, they were truely aware of what might lurk inside. But at the same time, the Brushine Mines was still considered a landmark for the city.
"So, this is the mines.." Eugene mumbled.
"This is one of Evalis most important ancient attractions. " Vincent said.
"Under Imperial control that's for sure.." Svyen added.
"That's actually not true." Lamount interjected. "But for few exceptions, the Imperial army is not permitted within Janacre."
The four guys were sort of impressed and shocked by how precise this little boy's claims were. But the boy carried on regardless. "Shall we proceed?"
The four boys followed Lamount's lead into the mines.
Meanwhile, within the mines, Safi and Noor pressed on. Unlike Julia, Petra didn't know what was going on. The situation for her was still yet a bit confusing. "Do ya know where the exit is?" she asked.
"I think so. But it's still a little far." Julia said. "We have to hurry up—!"
~Drop!
Just as they were about to turn near the corner, the two girls found themselves surrounded by a group of pirates holding out swords.
"Got them!" they roared.
"Syre-Sulk ordered us to sloughter them slowly!"
"A tinder beating, my specialty.."
"Ugh..!" Petra's eyes widened as she couldn't summon her «Knives of Light». "Fuck! I can't use Mana..!"
"It's because this place got Mana dampeners." replied Julia as the two girls were fully surrounded by enemies.
Then, Julia's eyes began glowing purple. The dark power emitted out of her. "But I still can use my powers." she said. "So, stay close, okay?"
Petra looked at Julia in awe.
—Maybe, she's not that bad.., she thought to herself.
The four guys plus Lamount, had traversed through the caverns of the mines. The road ahead of them was linear and large. But once they got few meters in, they heard footsteps coming their way. At that moment, Jaden noticed Lamount's expressions turned serious for a second. "We should hide." he whispered. "Fast!"
The four guys did as they were told, and hid behind a large wall near the corner. The footsteps they were hearing got even louder. Shortly later, Jaden and the others witnessed a group of Imperial soldiers escorting two figures of apparently higher importance. One was a man with a gray hair wrapped in a golden coat. He had a calm, but sharp expressions. The other one was suited in full-black armor with golden outlines.
That armor, Jaden thought. It's the same as that man in prison. Majd called them Judges, right?
The two important figures were conversing as they walked past Jaden and the others. They couldn't hear everything they were talking about exactly. But the one in armored seemed to be speaking in a threatening tone.
"And you were saying all the implants were exported.." he sneered.
"All the supplies have been reaching Lord Gundolf most discretely. I can assure you." the gray haired man replied.
"You wore your saddle well, Marquess." the Judge said. "This stubbornness of yours won't just see you destroyed, but Janacre as well.."
"Hmm.."
Once they walked further enough, Lamount stepped out and pointed toward the gray haired man. "That's Hafeef Vor Dior, the Marquess of Janacre." he told them. "He was the mediator to the negotiation of Deranna's surrender. It appears that he's less neutral now.."
"They've been saying that he's helping the Resistance." Vincent added.
"They've been saying many things.." Lamount replied.
"It appears that you know more than an average kid, don't you?" Jaden crossed his arms as he towered on the boy.
"One must know how life around them unfolds." Lamount replied with a smile. "It's basic rules of survival."
"Hey, what difference that's going to make. We have to find Petra!" Eugene walked forward.
"And Petra is your..?" Lamount asked.
"She's our friend." Jaden finished. "She was kidnaped and brought here. So, we better get goin'."
Julia and Petra stood their ground as the Sulk's lackeys circled around them. Petra wasn't able to use any of her powers, but Julia could. And she was giving the fight her all, since she had somebody to protect.
"Haaaaa!" Julia used her electrifying transparent purple shield.
~Zap!
"Gyaaa!" the injured enemies screamed. But there were yet, much more armed men that approached the girls.
"Don't let them escape! Clutter them!"
"Catch the orange girl!"
"Ugh..!" Safi knelt down on one knee.
"He—hey!" Petra checked on her. "Pull it together!"
"I think-—I reached my limit.." Julia replied while panting.
"DIE!" one pirate swang his blade against the two girls. But Petra successfully dodged it, and punched him hard in the neck.
~Whack!
"Like hell you would!" she yelled, and then cracked her knuckle. "I might not need any Mana to trash you shitbags after all.."
"Kill the white whore!" yelled the pirates in anger.
"Good guess, you shit-for-brains!" Petra kicked one them out of the way, and that caused a cascade of enemies to lose their balance. "HOW 'BOUT THIS!"
~FALL!
~Grab!
"Huh..?!" Julia raised her head to see Petra grabbing her hand.
"Thank you-—for having my back..You might not be terrible that much.." Noor told her while avoiding her gaze. "But, now is my turn."
After some of the pirates fell down, a way was carved through for the two girls to make an escape. Petra pulled Julia fast, and they fled from the pirates' clutches.
"Ugh..! They're getting away!" one pirate panicked.
"After them!"
"Don't let them escape!"
~Running Footsteps!
"Come on, put your strength into your legs!" Petra told Julia as the latter was barely capable of keeping up.
Julia glanced behind her, and saw about 22 pirate chasing them with apparent thirst. "They're getting closer!" she breathed the words.
"Ugh, fuck 'em!" Petra clenched her jaw as she tried to press on.
"Uhh!" at that moment, Julia tripped, and fell down; pulling Petra down with her in the process.
~Drop!
"Oh, fuck!" Noor tried to get up quickly, but it was already too late.
"Got you, got you, whores!" the filthy pirates caught up to them.
"Ugh.." Julia struggled to pull herself up. "No...!"
"Ha, ha ha ha ha!" the pirates drew out their curved weapons.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" a demanding voice reached out to them.
When the two girls looked it's way, they found a number of armored soldiers in spears. Among them, was one in a black armor.
"What filthy pirates like you are doing in such place..?" pressed the Judge with a dreading tone.
"Curse those Imperials.." said one of the pirates. "Fall back, this instant!"
~Retreating Footsteps!
Petra gazed back at the Judge in the black armor after the pirates fled. She couldn't believe that out of anybody, an Afallanian Judge had just saved her and Julia. "..What in the hell..?" she whispered.
Deep withing one of the mine's pits, Lamount and the four guys had stumbled across a hollowed dead end. But to their confusion, Lamount wasn't upset about it. In fact, he stepped before them into the cave-like space.
"Yes, this is the place." he said as he knelt on one knee, and gazed at the ground. "I found what I came here to see.."
The cave did not resemble the rest of the mine in the archetecrure. As Jaden and the others noticed, there were strange dentirtical structures all over the walls. They looked like large blue veins that filled the entire cave with soft neon-blue light.
When Jaden and the others gazed back down at Lamount, he took out a small hand-sized container that glowed neon-blue as well. "This is indeed Nethicide..!" he said.
"Nethicide..?" Eugene wondered.
"Well, the one in my hand is manufactured-—radioactive Nethicide. While these sprouting roots around us are very much raw." the boy replied.
"They say it's the main component of Mana dampener." Vincent said.
"It's the true Mana dampener. A substance so unlike anything on the planetoid. A cursed focus rooted from the Realm of Darkness, as research would say.." Lamount explained. "All in hands of the Nafadore laboratories.."
The little boy hadn't stopped there. He stood and began examining the veins-like structures on the wall up close. "That was more than enough to draw my conclusion." he said.
But then, Vincent approached him with a little extra enquistive look on his face. "An errand attended to, huh?" he said in a playful tone that was tinged with suspecion.
"Yes, thank you." replied the boy, without even turning away from veins. "I'll repay you shortly."
"No, you'll repay us now." said Vincent as walked up to him. "We have so much on our hands to go on holding yours."
The young boy turned toward Vincent as the brown haired guy towered over him.
"Where did you hear this fairytale about Nethicide? Where did you get that sample you carry? What do you know about the Nafadore laboratories?"
"I am—" the young boy stepped back from Vincent until his back was glued against the neon-lit wall.
"Tell me, who are you?" Vincent narrowed his gaze against the boy, demanding an instant answer.
"Vincent, we don't have time for-—" Jaden tried to intervene, but at that moment, he heard Eugene calling for him.
"Eh, Jaden..!" he yelled.
When Jaden and Vincent turned their heads, they saw something unexpected.
"You kept us waiting, Vincent!" a man with an eye-patch hurried through the cave's enteryway holding what seemed to Mado like a chainsaw on a spear. Along with him were about 20 pirate at his command.
"We got ambushed!" Svyen clenched his teeth as he took out his axe.
"That's...Gorbash!" Jaden hesitated.
We can't use our powers, and this man is dangerous!, he thought. This is bad..
"You slipped away in Almerry." Gorbash raised his saw which roared like a hungry demon. "We missed ya!"
~Vaaaahhhrren!
"First, the Judge, and now this boy!" Gorbash said. "This bounty on your head reeks of more money than I've expected. Had I known, I would've wetted my beak a little.."
"Keep your snout in that troufle where it belongs." Vincent replied with a smug. "This attitude ill-befits you, Gorbash.."
"Oh, Vincent.." Gorbash raised his weapon. "If I don't cut your head now, I will feed my hunger by sloughing that BOY!"
But before Gorbash could make any move, Lamount threw the hand-sized container toward the eyepatched man face. It caused a direct hit on his uncovered eye.
~Paow!
"Ouhhh..!" Gorbash retracted, and bent his back out of balance.
And then, the young boy took the chance and snatched the sample he threw off of the groung, and made a run for it. Vincent and the others had soon followed suit. They made it out of the close-ended pit, and into the linear path of the mines.
"They're getting away, Captain!" one lackey yelled.
"Shut up, Captain got hurt!" another one replied in anger.
"In his last good eye!" a third one added.
Gorbash then regained his balance. "Ugh! What are you looking at?!" his voice was full of rage. "GET THEM!"
"AYE!!" the pirates took off, and ran like a super fast ruber ball.
"Dang it!" Eugene gazed behind him. "They're bouncing after us like monkeys!"
"We can't stop and fight them all." Vincent said. "Push away who you can, and leave the rest!"
"We need to get to the exit!" Jaden shouted as he ran in the lead. "C'mon!"
~Running Footsteps!
Few seconds later, as he gazed forward, Jaden was able to see the light coming from the exit.
A little more, he sprinted faster. Just a little more..!
"GET THEM!" the pirates were able to catch up to them. But it was too late for them.
Jaden, Eugene, and Svyen had stepped outside the mines. But, the pirates jumped over them.
"Ngh," Jaden struggled against one of the pirates. "Not so fast!"
— Now, UI!
Jaden called for his powers to come forth, but nothing happened. "Huh..?!"
"Heh heh heh heh!" the pirate overwhelmed him and dropped Jaden on the ground. "And you thought we came unprepared?!"
As he was restrained on the floor, Jaden glanced toward the evil pirate above him. His eyes focused on a stone he was holding. "Mana dampener..!"
"Heh heh! That's right.."
Vincent arrived outside shortly afterward as he was fending some of those who had caught up to him. But much to his disappointment, his three friends were all restrained by the enemy.
"Uh, how come?!" he clenched his fists.
At that shocking moment, Gorbash jumped from above, and landed in front of Vincent with a grin on his face.
~Drop!
"This cat and mouse sport of yours, ends here, Vincent." he stretched his weapon holding arm toward him. "So, how about we make a trade?"
"Well, isn't that new.." Vincent told him.
"Either you come with me here and now, or my men here will slit through your friends' neck; one by one.." Gorbash cackled.
"Okay, you win.." Vincent dropped his shoulder. "You dirty Pirate.."
"Thank you for the compliment, Vincent." Gorbash replied with a smirk.
"But only if you give me your word, Gorbash. Deal?" Vincent started to give in. There were no other option for him. His friends' lives, were at stakes.
"Hey!" Eugene shouted. "Don't listen to them!"
"We're going to be fine, Kamal!" Svyen yelled as well. "It's not like some dirty bandets could get to us!"
"You guys.." Vincent cracked a smile.
"Gimme a break, grandma!" Jaden voice reached out to him. "You wouldn't let some thug outbeat you now, would you?!.."
"Ha! Who are you calling a thug?" Gorbash interjected. "I have you all under my razor. One move and it's over for all of you! But I'm a man of my word. If Vincent helps me out and surrender, I may let you live.."
"Heh heh heh heh!" the other pirates laughed. "I can't believe all of that money was put on this sucker.."
"Did the higher ups really struggled to leash this turd?!" their voices echoed.
"Shut up, lads!" Gorbash gestured for them. "If the Sour Diesel got actually robbed by him, and we capture him, it'll be a laverage for us!"
"WE WILL BE THE MIGHTEST PIRATES IN THE REALM!" the rest of Gorbash's lackeys roared.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha..!"
Gorbash witnessed Vincent burst out in laughter. "Am I amusing you?" he asked with a stiffened grin.
"Darned are the dreams of simpltons, indeed.." Vincent replied as he wiped his laughing tears.
"You started to get on my nerves. So, I'll just cut your head off. It's still worth half the bounty, but.." Gorbash readied his sppining saw. "I'll get to wipe out your simle from existance! BOYS! SLOUGHTER THEM!"
As Gorbash ordered, the lackies took out their curved knives to slit Jaden and the other two's throats. "Heh heh heh!"
"You won't dare.." Svyen struggled to push away the kinfe.
"Nooo..!" Eugene pushed as hard as he could.
"Ughhh.." Jaden resisted the evil pirate.
"DIE, VINCENT!" Gorbash charged against him.
But Vincent remained calm, and breathed few words that sat things in motion.
"..Mana Zone.." he whispered. "..Enhance ● Armoment.."
At that moment, a strange red aura rushed out of him as Vincent drew out one of his twin daggers. The twirling borders on the dagger became animated, and crowled a bit forward. And before Gorbash could reach him, Vincent pushed one foot out. "...Cypher..." he muttered.
~Fin!
And in a split second, multiple dublicates of Vincent warppped next to the pirates that restrained Jaden, Eugene, and Svyen. And stabbed them all at once.
~Stab!
"What..?!" Gorbash stopped halfway, unable to grasp what had just happened. But surprises didn't stop there, yet.
~Braaaahhhh!
"Uhh..!" Jaden's eyes widened as he witnessed his supposed tormentor had just burned in glowing yellow flames from the Vincent clone adjecent to him. He even looked toward Eugene and Svyen and the same thing occured. Vincent ignited everything the clones touched.
"Uhh..!" Gorbash was shaking from what he saw. "M—my men..!"
But it didn't take much time afterwards. Once the eye-patched Space Pirate gazed back to where Vincent was still standing, the latter had already warpped to face him directly.
~phwit!
"Uhh—you!" Gorbash stammered.
"I didn't want to resolve to this.." Vincent said in a dry tone. His dagger raised as he was about to deliver an attack.
"No, you won't—!" Gorbash was cut off once his opponent sliced his right arm and leg off in one blurred slash.
~Slit!
~Drop! Splatter!
"Ouhhhaaa!" Gorbash moaned in pain as he looked hard toward Vincent as he towered against him with a terrifying stale gaze.
"—But you were bothering me, and I can't handle that." Vincent continued. "So, I got to put you back in your place.."
"Uhh, you—you monster..!" Gorbash's body froze in place out of the shock. The yellow golden flames had incinerated all his followers.
Jaden witnessed the flames burning up everything in it's way as Kamal stood there with that red aura flowing out of him like a torch.
"This is—" Jaden mumbled. "The power of the 5th Level..!"