The air was thick with tension. It had been days since Captain Gargle had fought Baklang Impakta, and though the city was calm for the moment, Michael couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was coming. Blaguda had been sending increasingly dangerous lieutenants, and it was only a matter of time before she unleashed something worse.Michael sat at his desk at The Daily Tribune, absentmindedly tapping his pen against the table. His thoughts drifted between his superhero responsibilities and his relationship with Belle. They had made progress, but every time things seemed to settle, another threat loomed on the horizon.Just as he was about to dive into a new article, his phone buzzed. It was Commander Floss."Michael, we have a problem. Blaguda's most powerful lieutenant has surfaced. His name is Cyborg 5-6-5-6. I've been tracking his movements, and he's already caused major damage in the western district. You need to get there now."Michael's heart raced as he read the message. He had heard rumors about Cyborg 5-6-5-6—an unstoppable machine with strength unmatched by any of Blaguda's previous lieutenants. If the rumors were true, this fight would be unlike anything he'd faced before.Without hesitation, Michael slipped away from his desk, his mind already focused on the upcoming battle. As soon as he was out of sight, he transformed into Captain Gargle, the familiar surge of minty energy flowing through him as his suit materialized.Captain Gargle took to the skies, his heart pounding as he soared toward the western district. This time, Blaguda wasn't holding back. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 was a brutal enforcer, and Michael knew that the fate of the city rested on his shoulders once again.As he neared the area, the sounds of destruction became clearer—screeching metal, crumbling buildings, and the terrified shouts of civilians fleeing the chaos.And then he saw him.Standing in the middle of a wrecked street, surrounded by overturned cars and shattered storefronts, was Cyborg 5-6-5-6. The lieutenant was massive—at least seven feet tall, his body encased in thick, gleaming metal armor. His face was half-human, half-machine, with glowing red eyes that scanned the area. In one hand, he held a metallic staff, and his other arm was covered in a series of strange coin-like mechanisms.Michael hovered above, assessing the situation. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 was no ordinary villain—he was a machine built for one thing: destruction.Captain Gargle descended slowly, his eyes locked on the cyborg. "Cyborg 5-6-5-6," he called out, his voice steady. "Your destruction ends here."The cyborg's head jerked toward him, its glowing eyes narrowing as it registered Captain Gargle's presence. A cold, mechanical voice rumbled from within. "Ah, Captain Gargle. Blaguda predicted you'd come. You will be neutralized."With a sudden movement, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 raised his massive arm, the coin-like mechanisms clicking into place. Without warning, he unleashed his first attack.-----"Coin Punch!" Cyborg 5-6-5-6 bellowed as a barrage of glowing, metallic coins shot out from his arm, flying toward Captain Gargle with incredible speed. The coins whirred through the air, slicing through debris and smashing into nearby walls as they homed in on their target.Captain Gargle's eyes widened as he darted to the side, barely dodging the first wave of coins. Each one packed enough force to crack concrete, and the sound of them colliding with the environment was deafening."That's new," Michael muttered, spinning mid-air to avoid another wave. He could feel the pressure mounting—Cyborg 5-6-5-6's precision was deadly, and each attack was relentless.He couldn't let the cyborg get the upper hand. With a burst of minty energy, Captain Gargle charged forward, raising his hands to unleash his signature Slap Barrage. The air around him crackled with power as he released a flurry of quick, powerful slaps toward the massive cyborg, each one laced with minty freshness.The slaps landed hard, echoing through the ruined street, but before they could do any real damage, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 smirked—his metallic face twisting into a sneer."Pathetic," the cyborg growled.With a swift motion, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 raised his staff and unfurled a large, shimmering metallic shield—his Payong Shield. The shield, shaped like an umbrella, spun rapidly, deflecting each of Captain Gargle's slap attacks with ease. The force of the counter sent shockwaves back toward Michael, throwing him off balance.Captain Gargle hovered backward, his brow furrowing in frustration. "A payong shield?" he muttered, trying to think of his next move. "This guy is full of surprises."Cyborg 5-6-5-6 advanced, his staff twirling as he prepared for another attack. "Your techniques are weak, Captain," he said, his voice dripping with mechanical arrogance. "Blaguda predicted you would rely on such childish tactics."------Captain Gargle gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He needed to come up with something new—something that would break through the cyborg's defenses. The Payong Shield was tough, but it couldn't be invincible. There had to be a way around it.The cyborg swung his staff, sending another wave of coins hurtling toward him. Michael dodged, his mind working through his options. He had to get in close—but how?As Cyborg 5-6-5-6 prepared another Coin Punch, Michael suddenly remembered something Commander Floss had said during one of their training sessions: "The key to fighting stronger enemies isn't always overpowering them. Sometimes, you just have to outsmart them."Outsmart him.A plan began to form in Michael's mind. The Payong Shield was clearly a defensive weapon, but what if he could overload it? Cyborg 5-6-5-6 had relied on his shield to block all of Captain Gargle's attacks so far—what if he used that to his advantage?Michael's eyes lit up with determination. He floated higher into the sky, creating some distance between himself and the cyborg. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed."Running away, Captain?" the cyborg taunted. "I expected more.""Not running," Captain Gargle shot back. "Just getting a better angle."With a sudden burst of speed, Captain Gargle shot toward Cyborg 5-6-5-6, his hands glowing with minty energy as he prepared another Slap Barrage. As expected, the cyborg raised his Payong Shield, the metallic umbrella spinning in preparation to block the attack.But this time, Captain Gargle didn't hold back.He unleashed his Slap Barrage with even more intensity, the rapid strikes slamming into the shield over and over again. The sound of the blows echoed through the street, each slap vibrating against the metallic shield.At first, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 looked unfazed, but then, something changed. The rapid slaps were coming too fast—too frequent. The Payong Shield began to wobble, the constant barrage overwhelming its ability to deflect.Michael grinned. "Got you."With one final, powerful slap, the Payong Shield shattered, pieces of metal flying in every direction. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 staggered backward, his eyes widening in shock."You... broke my shield?" the cyborg growled, his voice filled with disbelief.Captain Gargle didn't waste any time. With the shield down, he focused all of his energy into his hands, summoning his most powerful technique—the Aqua Ray."You're not so tough without your toys," Michael said, his voice steady as the minty beam gathered in his palms.Cyborg 5-6-5-6's eyes flickered with rage as he raised his staff, but it was too late. With a shout, Captain Gargle unleashed the Aqua Ray, the powerful beam of minty energy shooting toward the cyborg with blinding speed.The beam hit Cyborg 5-6-5-6 square in the chest, sending him crashing into the ground. The force of the impact shook the street, cracks splintering through the pavement as the massive cyborg lay motionless in the debris.----Captain Gargle hovered above the fallen cyborg, his chest heaving with exhaustion. The battle had been brutal, but he had won. The city was safe—for now.But as Michael looked down at the destruction around him, a familiar sense of unease settled in his chest. Blaguda's forces were getting stronger with each new lieutenant, and Cyborg 5-6-5-6 had been her most powerful enforcer yet.Michael's communicator buzzed, and Commander Floss's voice crackled through. "Well done, Captain. But we're not done yet. Blaguda's plans are accelerating. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."Michael nodded, though his heart felt heavy. Each victory came with a cost—more destruction, more lives at risk. And somewhere deep inside, he knew that the next battle would be even harder.As he flew off into the night, Captain Gargle couldn't shake the feeling that Blaguda's endgame was drawing closer. The battles ahead would test him in ways he couldn't yet imagine.But for now, he allowed himself a small moment of peace.---Captain Gargle had barely caught his breath after the last battle. The streets were still littered with debris, and the city was slowly coming back to life after Cyborg 5-6-5-6's rampage. But there was no time to rest. The scent of victory was short-lived, and a nagging feeling gnawed at Michael as he flew above the city, surveying the damage.It had been too easy—at least, easier than it should have been. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 was Blaguda's most powerful lieutenant yet, and despite shattering his Payong Shield and unleashing the Aqua Ray, something didn't sit right with Michael. He hovered in the air, watching the skyline, waiting for something.The silence of the evening was suddenly shattered by the sound of twisting metal and a high-pitched mechanical whir. Michael's heart dropped as he heard it—a sound he'd hoped was gone for good.From the pile of debris, Cyborg 5-6-5-6's massive form slowly rose, his red eyes glowing brighter than ever. His body creaked and groaned, the metal plates shifting back into place, reforming with a gleam that looked even stronger than before."You really thought that would be enough to stop me?" Cyborg 5-6-5-6's voice growled, his tone laced with menace. His armor had reconfigured, and this time, something new shimmered around him—an almost invisible forcefield that radiated from his entire body.Michael's stomach churned. He's back—and he's stronger."You've got to be kidding me," Captain Gargle muttered, hovering slightly backward, eyes wide with disbelief. "You should be down for the count!"Cyborg 5-6-5-6 cracked his neck, metal gears grinding. "Blaguda has given me an upgrade. Your little slap-and-beam routine won't work this time, Captain."Michael steadied himself, clenching his fists. "We'll see about that."----Before Captain Gargle could make a move, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 slammed his staff into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the air. The mechanical lieutenant smirked as a shimmering net-like forcefield began to unfold around him. The air shimmered with an iridescent glow as a massive barrier—the Kulambo Shield—enveloped the entire battlefield.Michael's heart sank. He could feel the pressure building inside the shield as the energy field solidified around them, trapping him in a dome of glowing light. It was like a giant mosquito net—impossible to break from the inside."Welcome to my Kulambo Shield," Cyborg 5-6-5-6 said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "This time, there's no escape for you."Captain Gargle raised his hand, summoning the minty energy for an attack, but when he tried to fire off a Fresh Breath Barrage, the energy dissipated as soon as it hit the walls of the shield."What—?" Michael stammered, frustration building. The barrier was blocking his attacks, neutralizing them before they even had a chance to strike.Cyborg 5-6-5-6 grinned wickedly. "The Kulambo Shield absorbs and redirects energy. You're powerless inside it. And now, I'll finish what I started."Without warning, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 charged forward, his mechanical limbs moving with brutal efficiency. He swung his staff, aiming for Captain Gargle's chest. Michael barely dodged in time, the staff grazing his side as he stumbled backward.He tried to fire another attack, but the shield continued to drain his energy, weakening him with each failed attempt. The oppressive force of the barrier closed in around him, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break through.Michael's mind raced. He was trapped, his powers useless, and Cyborg 5-6-5-6 wasn't giving him a moment to breathe. The cyborg unleashed a flurry of punches, his Coin Punch sending wave after wave of sharp, metallic coins toward Captain Gargle.Michael twisted and dodged, each coin whizzing past him like bullets. But it was only a matter of time before one of them hit. A sharp coin grazed his arm, and the searing pain nearly made him drop from the sky.The pressure mounted, the walls of the Kulambo Shield seeming to close in on him. The weight of the forcefield, combined with the relentless attacks, left him feeling cornered—helpless."I... can't... keep this up," Michael muttered through gritted teeth. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his muscles ached from the strain. He had to think of something. Fast.-----Captain Gargle hovered inside the Kulambo Shield, every ounce of his strength waning as Cyborg 5-6-5-6 advanced on him again. The cyborg's eyes gleamed with victory, his voice full of mockery."Is this it, Captain?" Cyborg 5-6-5-6 taunted, swinging his staff again. "All that talk of protecting the city, and now you can't even protect yourself."Michael's mind raced. He couldn't rely on his usual attacks—everything he threw at the shield was absorbed. He needed a way out. But what?Then, an idea struck him. The shield was absorbing energy, which meant it was feeding off his powers. But what if he could overload it?Michael's eyes lit up with renewed determination. If the Kulambo Shield could absorb energy, maybe he could give it more than it could handle. It was a risky move—one that could backfire—but it was his only shot.Captain Gargle straightened up, his hands glowing with minty energy. Instead of firing an attack directly at Cyborg 5-6-5-6, he aimed at the walls of the Kulambo Shield itself. He poured every ounce of his energy into the barrier, pushing it to its limits."You think you've won, 5-6-5-6?" Michael called out, his voice filled with defiance. "Let's see how your shield holds up against this!"The energy surged from his hands, the minty power flowing into the walls of the shield. At first, nothing happened—Cyborg 5-6-5-6 merely watched with an amused smirk. But then, slowly, the shimmering walls of the shield began to flicker. The energy was too much for the shield to contain, and cracks of light started to form across the surface.Cyborg 5-6-5-6's expression shifted, concern flashing in his mechanical eyes. "What... what are you doing?"Michael grinned through the pain. "Overloading your little mosquito net."The shield's walls continued to crack, the energy inside building to a dangerous level. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 tried to activate his shield again, but it was too late—the system was overloading.With a deafening crack, the Kulambo Shield exploded, the force of the blast sending both Captain Gargle and Cyborg 5-6-5-6 flying backward.-----Michael tumbled through the air, his body battered and bruised from the explosion. But as the shield crumbled, he knew this was his chance. He couldn't let Cyborg 5-6-5-6 recover—he had to end this now.Summoning the last of his strength, Captain Gargle raised his hands, the familiar minty energy building in his palms. His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed through the pain. This was it."Aqua Ray!" he shouted, releasing the powerful beam of minty energy.The beam shot through the air, glowing with blinding light as it streaked toward Cyborg 5-6-5-6. The cyborg, still dazed from the explosion, barely had time to react before the Aqua Ray hit him square in the chest.The force of the blast sent Cyborg 5-6-5-6 crashing into the ground, his mechanical body sparking and groaning as it finally gave out. His staff clattered to the side, and his red eyes flickered before going dark.Captain Gargle hovered in the air, his chest heaving as he watched the cyborg's body go still. The battle was over.-----Michael landed on the ground, his legs trembling from exhaustion. The city was quiet once more, the chaos subsiding as the dust settled. He had won, but the victory felt bittersweet. Each battle was pushing him to his limits, and with every new lieutenant Blaguda sent, he could feel the toll it was taking on him.His communicator buzzed, and Commander Floss's voice came through. "You did it, Michael. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 is down. But Blaguda won't stop here. We need to prepare for what's coming next."Michael nodded, though his body screamed for rest. "I know. But for now... the city's safe."As he looked out at the skyline, Captain Gargle couldn't shake the feeling that the real battle was still ahead. Blaguda was getting closer, and the final confrontation was drawing near.But for tonight, he had won. And that was enough.----The dust had barely settled after Captain Gargle's hard-fought victory over Cyborg 5-6-5-6. Michael, exhausted and bruised, had unleashed everything he had to destroy the Kulambo Shield and defeat the mechanical menace. But as he caught his breath, something didn't feel right.Cyborg 5-6-5-6's body lay still in the rubble, his glowing red eyes now dim. Michael hovered a few feet above the ground, preparing to approach and confirm the lieutenant's defeat, when suddenly a sharp crackle of energy surged from the fallen cyborg's chest.Michael's heart sank. No... it can't be.With a mechanical groan, Cyborg 5-6-5-6's body jerked back to life, the red glow returning to his eyes. His metallic limbs twitched as he slowly stood up, smoke rising from the cracks in his armor. Sparks flew from his chest, but despite the damage, the cyborg's voice remained steady."Captain Gargle," Cyborg 5-6-5-6 growled, his mechanical voice rasping. "You thought this was over? Blaguda has prepared me well. I fight in installments—you'll never defeat me in one go."Michael's eyes widened. The cyborg was repairing himself—piece by piece—while his internal systems recalibrated. It was like the battle had only reset, and now Cyborg 5-6-5-6 was back in action, albeit slower and with more damage.Before Michael could react, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 raised his arm and fired a blast of coins—his infamous Coin Punch—directly at Captain Gargle. The force of the attack hit Michael square in the chest, sending him crashing into a nearby building. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and for a moment, everything went black.When Michael regained his senses, pain shot through his body. He had fought through exhaustion before, but this was different. His muscles screamed in protest, and his head throbbed from the blow. Still, he forced himself to stand, hovering shakily a few feet off the ground.Cyborg 5-6-5-6 slowly approached, each heavy footstep causing the ground to tremble beneath him. "You're weak, Gargle. You might have dented me, but this fight will stretch on. I can keep coming back, and every time, you'll get weaker."Michael wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, trying to steady his breath. He couldn't take much more of this. But he knew one thing—if Cyborg 5-6-5-6 really fought in installments, this wasn't the final battle. The lieutenant was gearing up for a drawn-out fight, picking his moments to strike and retreat."I don't have time for your games," Captain Gargle muttered, his body aching with every movement.Cyborg 5-6-5-6 chuckled, his voice metallic and taunting. "Then you'll lose this fight."With a flick of his wrist, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 extended his arm toward Michael, charging up for another Coin Punch. But just as the attack was about to hit, the cyborg stopped, his red eyes flickering for a moment. He hesitated, then stepped back, his body crackling with energy."I'll be back, Captain," he said, his voice lower, almost as if rebooting. "Consider this... Installment One."Before Michael could even think about pursuing him, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 activated his jet boosters, rocketing into the sky and disappearing into the night, leaving Captain Gargle battered and injured in the rubble.-----Captain Gargle floated down to the ground, his body sagging with exhaustion. The pain from the battle was unbearable, but what hurt even more was knowing that Cyborg 5-6-5-6 had gotten away. Michael wasn't used to leaving a fight unfinished, and the idea of fighting in "installments" made his skin crawl. The thought of Cyborg 5-6-5-6 recovering and coming back even stronger was almost too much to bear.His communicator buzzed. It was Commander Floss."Michael, I saw what happened," Floss said, her voice filled with concern. "Cyborg 5-6-5-6 isn't finished yet. You need to rest before he comes back. He's going to stretch this fight out.""I know," Michael replied, wincing as he touched his ribs. "He's stronger than I thought. I wasn't ready for that.""You're hurt," Floss said urgently. "Get out of there and regroup. He'll come back, and when he does, you need to be at full strength."Michael nodded, though frustration gnawed at him. He hated running from a fight, but Floss was right. His body was barely holding together after that last exchange. He needed to recover if he had any hope of defeating Cyborg 5-6-5-6 the next time he showed up.He took one last look at the wreckage around him, then transformed back into his civilian form, his superhero suit fading as he became Michael Halloway once more. The exhaustion was overwhelming, but he pushed through the pain, knowing that the battle wasn't over yet.As he made his way home, the weight of the unfinished fight bore down on him. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 wasn't like the other villains he had faced—this was a battle that would drag on, testing his limits not just in one encounter but in several.And Michael wasn't sure how much more his body could take.-----Three days passed, and the city had returned to a strange calm. Michael spent his time recovering, his mind constantly replaying the fight with Cyborg 5-6-5-6. The bruises on his body were healing, but the mental strain of knowing the cyborg would return ate away at him. He wasn't ready to face him again, but he knew that Blaguda wouldn't give him much time.Late in the afternoon, just as Michael was about to leave the office, his communicator buzzed. It was Floss again."He's back, Michael," she said, her voice tense. "Cyborg 5-6-5-6 is in the industrial district, causing massive damage. You need to get there fast."Michael's heart sank, but he didn't hesitate. Transforming into Captain Gargle, he took to the skies, his mind focused on the battle ahead. This was it—the second installment. He had to find a way to outsmart Cyborg 5-6-5-6 before the fight dragged on any longer.As he neared the industrial district, he saw the damage. Factories and warehouses were in ruins, smoke billowing into the sky. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 stood in the middle of the destruction, his mechanical body fully repaired and gleaming under the dim light."So, you've come back," Cyborg 5-6-5-6 said, his voice colder than before. "Welcome to Installment Two."Captain Gargle landed on the ground, his eyes narrowing. "You're not getting away this time, 5-6-5-6."The cyborg's lips curled into a mechanical grin. "We'll see."With a roar, Cyborg 5-6-5-6 charged at Captain Gargle, his fist glowing as he prepared another devastating Coin Punch. The fight was on again, but this time, Michael knew he had to be smarter. He couldn't let the fight drag on like before. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 was designed to wear him down in waves, and if Michael wasn't careful, he'd be too weak to survive the next installment.The battle was brutal, with each punch and attack echoing through the industrial district. But despite the pain and exhaustion, Captain Gargle refused to back down. He wasn't going to let Cyborg 5-6-5-6 win—not this time.-----As the battle raged on, Michael felt his strength fading. Cyborg 5-6-5-6 fought relentlessly, his installment-based strategy working perfectly. Every time Michael landed a blow, the cyborg seemed to recover, preparing for the next phase of the fight.Then, just as Captain Gargle managed to knock Cyborg 5-6-5-6 to the ground, the cyborg stood up once again, his body crackling with energy."This isn't over," Cyborg 5-6-5-6 sneered, his red eyes flashing. "I'll see you in Installment Three."With that, the cyborg rocketed into the sky, disappearing into the night once again.Michael dropped to his knees, his body aching and battered. He had won the battle, but he knew the war with Cyborg 5-6-5-6 was far from over.The fight would continue, and with each installment, Michael feared he was losing a little more of himself.
---Chapter End---