The discussion at the Mizuhashi mansion was still ongoing as the rest of the Vessels still listened to Kanako's explanation and studied the notes written on the notebook that Itsuki gave to them. They were surprised, without a doubt, that the composer managed to list down information with regards to their Hyakureider and its possible functions.
They were immensely engrossed in reading the contents when it was rudely interrupted upon hearing their Celestial Shifters beeped. The sound startled them but it wasn't for long. They immediately turned on their Shifters. Soon after, each of the Vessels' Shifters projected holographic screens which enabled them to see the situation.
Shuichi clenched his fist at the sight of the people trying to flee from Cyone and the Gargonema which was played on the projected screen. Misae's worries escalated upon seeing the unconscious humans on her screen. Erika's Shifter projected a holographic map for her to locate the exact point of the scene of the attack. After that, they dematerialized the screens and faced each other.
"Let's go."
Determined nods were all that Shuichi needed for him to realize that Misae and Erika were in the same league as he is.
"I can't believe we're doing this again," he couldn't help murmuring as he faced the two girls.
Misae smiled as she tapped Shuichi's shoulder. "We've already chosen to do this, Shuichi. Indeed, there are still things we needed to clear about our choice with regards to becoming a Seitenger. But we can learn them as we go on. We'll be fine."
"Besides, it's not as if we're going to let those Tareans destroy the world that even our parents had protected for our sake. That's why they saved us that night, right? They knew we're meant to do this," Erika added.
"Now it's just a matter of choice whether or not we're going to fulfill this task that lies on the path that we're meant to take."
Misae and Erika nodded in a response to Shuichi's statement.
"But that didn't stop you, right? If that's the case, we need to head out. Itsuki and Eichirou will be needing our help." With that, the three Vessels immediately headed out.
Yet before they could even get out of the gate, they heard Kanako calling out to them. They turned to see the said young woman approaching them.
"Kanako, you should stay inside. You still need to rest," Shuichi said with concern.
Kanako heaved a sigh and shook her head. "Not this time. Besides, until now, I've been trained to be prepared for this day. I've been trained to help the Vessels with their battles. That's what I'm trying to do now."
The 3 youths frowned at the girl's statement. Kanako spoke again before they could even ask her about it. "I'll guide you during your battle with Cyone. You just have to remember one thing that will surely help you win this battle or even those that are about to come."
With that statement, they listened to Kanako as she stated her point behind her words.
= = = = = =
Itsuki and Eichirou arrived at the scene of the attack first. They were horrified at the sight of the unconscious victims and a few others trying to flee. The number of casualties was even greater than the last time. As one of the Gargonema tried to hit a little girl and his brother, the two Vessels rushed to their aid and fought the creatures out of the way.
"You go ahead. We'll handle it from here, okay?" Itsuki said reassuringly to the young boy. He smiled at the sight of the little girl looking worried and frightened at him. Then he faced the young boy once more. "Protect her, okay? Even if you're scared, I know you'll be able to protect her."
Though confused at the young man's reason for saying that to him, the young boy somehow understood what it meant. He nodded with determination evident in his eyes. But soon after, his eyes widened at the sight of the skeleton creature that was about to strike his savior from behind.
"Watch out! Behind you!"
Itsuki didn't have to turn around to deal with the Gargonema. All he did was to extract the blade of his Hyakureider to stab it in its stomach. He soon noticed four more Gargonema coming at him and the two frightened kids. The composer only dealt with it by firing energy beams toward the enemies from the bladeless end of his cylindrical weapon. After taking them all down, he faced the kids. "Go! We'll make sure they won't chase after you."
The two kids heeded Itsuki's words and fled the place. After that, Itsuki saw Eichirou easily dealing with the Gargonema with just the older Vessel's strength. The composer wasn't surprised at the sight, though. He knew even before that Eichirou's strength was something that the man was proud of. He soon focused on dealing with the other Gargonema using his Hyakureider.
But the two Vessels didn't anticipate the attack that Cyone sent to them. Two scales almost covered their faces which they managed to evade. However, those scales soon exploded as soon as they hit the ground in which the resulting blast threw them away.
Eichirou raised his head only to see Cyone laughing at the sight of them already hurt because of the explosion.
"I'm starting to hate this fish head whenever he laughs like that," Eichirou muttered as he braced himself to rise. Itsuki grunted in agreement and followed suit.
"What's wrong, puny Vessels? Can't take a hit on me?" Cyone mockingly laughed once more. "You're nothing like Siriso-sama had said. I'm even wondering how those puny skills of yours managed to defeat Juman."
"Well, I guess I can understand why you were created as a fish. Even your words stink," Itsuki retorted icily.
Of course, it was expected to send Cyone into a fit of rage almost easily. "What did you say?!"
"And I think your stinkiness made you deaf, as well," Itsuki added rather calmly. Soon after, he smirked. "Hey, Eichirou-san... Why don't we show this stinky fish head how our puny skills work on cleaning his dirty mouth?"
Eichirou wasn't surprised at the suggestion. He sighed and helped Itsuki stand up despite the pain from the injuries they received from the explosion. "I'll be glad to be of assistance to you on that."
"Well, don't leave us behind if you're serious about doing that."
The two boys turned around in the direction where the voice came from. They smiled at the sight of Shuichi, Misae, and Erika approaching them.
"Seriously, Eichirou... Will you please stop acting weird every time?"
The said man frowned and cocked his head to one side at Shuichi's words. "What do you mean?"
Misae smiled and slightly shook her head. "I think he means don't decide to disappear without even informing us. If you have a problem that truly bothers you, you can tell us. We've been doing that for ten years now. It won't make any difference if you still do that now that we're chosen to become Seitengers."
A sheepish smile while scratching the back of his head was the reply the archer got from Eichirou. "Sorry for that, Mi-chan."
"We're used to seeing you acting more childish than the rest of us almost all the time, Eichirou-san," Erika said with a grin. "We like you best trying to lighten up the serious atmosphere around us. If there's something that makes you sad or disturbed, tell us so that we'll try our best to help you out. Okay?"
Eichirou couldn't believe what he had just heard. To be honest, he wanted to cry. But maybe he could do that later. "Eri-chan..."
"We're not just friends, Eichirou. We're also a team, especially now that Hideoki-san told us the path that we have chosen to take," Shuichi added with a smile.
Though surprised, Itsuki and Eichirou faced each other with an 'I-told-you-so' look on their expressions. Soon after, they nodded in determination and agreement.
But the short moment was interrupted by a growl coming from Cyone. The Triske Monster didn't like the atmosphere hovering around the Vessels. The monster fired more scales toward the team. Eichirou deflected it all with his Hyakureider.
"I guess our opponent wants some of our attention, as well," Itsuki commented in a condescending tone.
"Then why don't we give our attention to him, Onii-chan?" Erika said as she went along with her brother's words.
The rest positioned themselves as they prepared to fight.
"Why not? We'll have to make that fish pay for what he did to Kanako-chan and the others, after all," Misae responded.
"Well, that's what we have to do now," Eichirou added.
The Vessels flipped their Celestial Shifters open. "Let's go!"
With that command from Shuichi, the Vessels' fight began.
"Spirit Shift, Start!!"
As soon as they recited their transformation phrases, the five of them began transforming into Seitengers armed with their Hyakureiders. Shuichi, Eichirou, Itsuki, Misae, and Erika's Celestial Shifters allowed them to transform into SeitenRed, SeitenBlue, SeitenGreen, SeitenYellow, and SeitenWhite respectively.
Just as before when the Vessels transformed for the first time, the Tareans were flabbergasted yet alert at the same time.
"So what Siriso-sama told me was the truth," Cyone uttered in slight disbelief but soon prepared himself. "The Seitengers came back."
"Heaven's Hundred Blaze, SeitenFire!"
"Heaven's Hundred Outpour, SeitenWater!"
"Heaven's Hundred Tremor, SeitenEarth!"
"Heaven's Hundred Howl, SeitenWind!"
"Heaven's Hundred Shine, SeitenLight!"
"The Hundred Heavens' greatest legends! Reiyouki Sentai Seitenger!"
"This time, we'll set up the right stage for you!" SeitenFire shouted as he pointed towards Cyone.