Chereads / Cross Heart Adventurers / Chapter 14 - Map Protection

Chapter 14 - Map Protection

Luna, Dion and Paolo stood inside of the Dal Ship, Amik and Conis, one of his guards, stared them down.

"Before I hand you the map, why do you want it?" Luna asked. "I need to at least know it's getting into the right hands."

"By right, that piece of paper belongs to the Russ Clan, but your idiot father betrayed our clan and married a witch," Amik said. "We just want to take what's ours."

A spark of anger lit in Dion's eyes. "I didn't betray anyone I simply married the woman I love."

Amik waved it off. "Anyways, we want the map to bring it back under the Russ Clan's control."

Luna sighed, not wanting to argue with the annoying person in front of her before pulling out a piece of paper from her jean skirt pocket. Amik grinned, pulling open the paper slowly.

"Finally I have th-"

A huge explosion blew the ship apart as soon as the paper opened up, Luna holding Paolo and her father on a floating cloud. They stared at the smoke and debris on the ocean, some of his men struggling in the water.

Unfortunately for them, a bunch of Amik's vines had instinctively protected him and Conis, so now the vines carried them to steady ground.

"Looks like plan A failed," Dion commented.

"I had a feeling," Paolo said.

Amik's face turned a deathly shade of red, his glare lethal. "How dare you do this to us? I'll end your pathetic lives alongside your island."

"M-master Amik."

Amik turned sharply at Conis. "What?"

"It seems a bunch of people in the sky have destroyed all the rooted flowers," Conis stated, dropping the receiver of the hub in her hands. "And our guards have fallen to them."

"What!" Amik snapped.

True to the report, Shinzo scoped out the island for the poisonous flowers while Aline chopped them up. The men posted to protect the flowers had been defeated, Aline stepping on the last hoard of men.

"Did you moron's think you could touch me?"

Shinzo jumped down from the broom, landing beside Aline. "Are you sure you're a woman, why don't you change your gender? You'd be amazing as a boy you even have the chest to-"

The tip of her sword touched his neck, blood dripping to his white kimono jacket. "Continue that statement, let's see if you'll be able to use this throat tomorrow."

Shinzo regarded her threat calmly, his hands enclosing the blade. "I dare you, my throat won't be the only thing being removed today."

They glared at each other, the tensions completely high. Their aura's reminded one of a tiger and bear about to spar, Aline being the former and Shinzo being the latter.

A few of Amik's guards came in from the rear to attack, but Aline cut some down while Shinzo punched others away.

Aline pushed up her glasses, glaring down at one of them, Shinzo doing the same,

"Don't interrupt our conversation."

Amik didn't understand the situation, grabbing Conis by her shoulder. "You, go stop those impudent fools while I deal with these ones."

"Yes sir."

She left to meet Shinzo and Aline while Amik glared at Luna, Dion and Paolo. "I tried to be civil, but you leave me no choice, but to take that map by force."

Luna summoned her wand, eyes glowing green while Paolo's eyes reacted to him punching his palm by glowing brilliant gold.

"We'll just have to see about that, Mr. Dal."

.....

The two reacted immediately, jumping as an axe with a red handle spiraled towards them before going back like a boomerang to the owner in front. Conis twirled the axe, her lips in a thin line. "You two are pretty good for a bunch of amateurs, but I'm going to crush you for hurting the Dal Family name."

She charged forward, but her axe blade got caught on Aline's swords. Shinzo came from behind her, ready to land a punch, but a cloud of smoke evaded their senses, Aline not being fast enough to avoid the axe to her shoulder.

She hissed in pain, the wound stinging harshly. Shinzo ran to meet her, but got sliced on the stomach by the axe. She moved in to hit him again, but Aline stopped her blade in time.

Conis moved back, twirling her blade around. "You have no chance against me."

Aline pulled off her glasses, tucking them into her suit skirt. "Oi Shinzo…"

Shinzo rose to his feet, ignoring the stinging in his stomach as he pulled his hair up. "I hear you."

The two stood still, not bothering to move. They took a deep breath, Aline dropping one sword to the ground and Shinzo putting one foot in front of the other. As Conis' axe made for them, Aline crouched her knees and put her hand on her second swords hilt while a white glow surrounded Shinzo, his eyes glowing yellow.

Like lightning, Aline cut Conis from the left while Shinzo punched her stomach from the right. Her axe clattered to the ground along with her body. Aline put her sword back in the sheath and Shinzo's hands fell to his side, their breathing both heavy.

Even though both were incredibly injured, they turned with their pride on their sleeves and stepped on her body. "Don't underestimate us you pig."

...

"Luna, I need you as support," Paolo stated simply. "Remember what we discussed."

She nodded. "I'll do my best from the sky."

Vines snaked towards Paolo with all ill intent, two swords appearing in his hands with his acquired object creation and slicing through the vines. He managed to dodge one with ominous thorns only grazing his skin slightly.

One came from the back while Paolo destroyed the ones upfront, grabbing Paolo in its grip and sending thorns through his body. To Amik's dismay, Paolo fizzled away.

Paolo suddenly ended up in front of him about to critically injure him with his blade, but he successfully dodged his attack and created vines to go after Paolo.

Luna flicked her wrists, a mist forming in the air and altering Amik's senses. The Russ Clan member frowned,

He sent vines straight at her, but Paolo came in and sliced them. Unfortunately, Amik had planned for him to protect her, sending a vine that passed through his shoulder.

He hissed in pain, his sword clattering to the ground. "If you hadn't sided with a witch, you would have been fine."

Paolo steadied himself, holding his injured arm. "Well that witch is my navigator, so shut the hell up!"

Amik's eyes widened as the mist thickened, Paolo grabbing his sword and charging towards Amik. As Amik moved to injure him with his vines once he appeared in front of his face, he disappeared and then sliced his back.

Blood splashed heavily from the wound from his back, but before he landed on the floor Luna jumped from her cloud and pressed her palm on his chest. As small blitz of electricity went through his body, the inability to move numbed through his bones.

"D-damn you, what did you do to me?"

Luna smiled. "Let's just say you won't be able to move for at least five hours, gives me enough time to run away."

"Does that mean…"

Luna gave him a thumbs up. "I'll be joining your crew."

....

Dion had contacted the mayor who locked Amik up to be deported back to the West Sea where he originated from. The havoc on the harbor had brought about a few onlookers, the guild getting called to gather some of Amik's men and give first aid to Aline, Paolo and Shinzo.

After a long discussion, Luna decided they board the ship coming in that evening and head to Badeus Island. So now, the three stood at the harbor waiting patiently for Luna alongside the villagers who heard she would be leaving and came to say goodbye.

"She's late," Aline mumbled, her fingers tapping her arm.

Shinzo looked up from his mirror. "Maybe she lost interest."

Paolo hummed. "She'll come."

"You guys."

Aline looked around then blinked. "I can hear her voice, but I can't see her."

"Me too," Shinzo said.

"Look up."

Their heads moved in sync, Luna sitting on her broom in the sky drinking out of a bottle of alcohol. Tied to the end of her broom was her luggage for the trip.

Paolo grinned. "Looking good."

"I feel good too," she said, swinging her bottle.

"Isn't it too early for alcohol?" Aline asked, eyes narrowed.

She snorted. "It's never too early for alcohol."

"I feel like we just brought a loony into our crew."

"Luna."

The villagers started to gather round the ship, Luna landing her broom and slipping down from it. "Hi everyone."

"We'll miss you," the mayor said remorsefully.

"No one to protect the town anymore," the head of the guild added.

"You'll be fine, just get your men to the scene faster," Luna said.

He frowned. "I guess, but it just won't be the same without you."

Dion pulled his daughter into his embrace, smiling softly. "You're finally going to achieve your dream."

Luna smiled into his chest. "Yes I am."

"I can't tell you not to die because the world is unpredictable, but don't do it with any regrets." He stroked her hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Remember, I love you."

She nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. The ringing of the bell in the ship behind them interrupted their family bonding, signifying her time to leave.

"Looks like it's time."

Dion watched his daughters back as she walked into the ship with her new found crew, praying to God that he would see that back once again.

....

Amik bowed, a woman with long blue hair seated in front of him. She had brilliant green eyes, the two green balls staring at him with chilled anger.

"So you failed, Amik."

"I'm sorry my lady, some punks got in the way... if you like I could..."

She lifted her hand, signaling an end to his rambling. "I don't want excuses, Amik."

If his head could go any deeper, he would break his neck, so he stayed as low as he could without any repercussion to his body. "I-I'm really sorry, Lady Monica."

"Now tell me the name of the fool that got in the way."

Amik cleared his throat, lifting his head to stare at the beautiful woman in front of him.

"Paolo, Paolo G. Rigards."