The next day, few hours after the start of the second part of the race and the real start of the Steel Ball Run Race, me, Stocking, Gyro and Johnny were taking a completely separate track from the rest of the racers but overall a shortcut so long as we know where we are going.
"Gyro! You sure we are going the right way? We're taking the route to the farthest away watering hole, sure it's the fastest route but if we go off course even a little bit then we will be stranded in this damn desert!" Johnny shouted out at Gyro who was leading our group for the most part.
"It's fine! It's fine! I know we're are definitely going the right way….. probably…." He said which ticked off Johnny.
"Probably?! Did you just say probably you asshole?! Are you trying to get us fucking killed from a lack of water!" He shouted out at Gyro who grimaced as he didn't have a clear picture where they were going and only a general direction.
"Alright give me that! Let me figure it out." I say taking the map from Johnny and looked at it.
"Holy shit, did you guys buy the cheapest map you could get or something?" I said looking it over and while it had some topography to it, it was extremely basic at that.
I looked towards the mountains in the distance I pulled out an extremely detailed map instead on top of there's, "Well I guess we didn't get any of your shitty luck Gyro cause we are heading in the right direction and I'd say we're about 30km to the next watering hole." I say tossing the map back to Johnny before we all picked up the pace and began heading in the direction we were already going.
"See? I told you it would be fine Johnny, you just needed to put more fai-"
*Shoom Shoom Shoom*
Suddenly three very small and fast objects passed right by our heads making us stop and turn to see what just happened.
"Oi Gyro! Your ear." Johnny pointed out before Gyro lifted his left hand towards his left ear as he felt his hand cover in blood from the three holes within that those things had caused.
*Shoom Shoom Shoom Shoom Shoom*
"Shit! It's coming from in front of us!" Johnny said as he was covered in cuts while I covered my face with my arms as Stocking got out her swords while they were distracted as she deflected what was attacking us.
"We got to stop moving, mother fucker it's a bunch of Cholla needles!" I say as I pull off the needles from my jackets sleeves.
"Cholla's? Ahh man this sucks, we get to close to these things they will spray us with their needles from the vibrations alone!" Johnny couldn't help but say while Gyro looked not to far behind us.
"Damn we got company as well, this shit keeps getting worse huh!" Gyro couldn't help but frown at the sight of the approaching guy, and it was none other than Mrs. Robinson.
"Ugh, I'm getting Queen Bee vibes from this guy Hifumi, we should just deal with him." Stocking said and her example wasn't off the mark.
Johnny was confused hearing about that, "It's an Old enemy that me and Stocking took care of a few years ago, point is that I can feel the killing intent off this guy and I wouldn't be surprised he has a way to set off the Chollas somehow from a distance." I explained a little before tilting my head to dodge the incoming needles aimed at my face.
"How? If we launch any attacks then you'll get penalized and even be kicked out of the race!" Johnny said to which I just smirked and I took several of the needles that had been sent my way into my hand.
"How about I show you a bit more of how the Spiral can be used?" I said before the needles began to spin and spiral upwards in my hands as I tried my damndest to use even the most basic of Spiral abilities without the help of magic.
To their surprise they levitated off my hand before shooting out towards the approaching man, but none hit him, however-
*SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM! SHOOM!*
"UGAH!!!" Mrs. Robinson couldn't help but scream out after being suddenly hit by hundreds of needles on all sides and ultimately falling off his horse and lying motionless as a result.
I trotted over on horseback to check the guy out before grimacing at what I saw, "that's fucking disgusting…. But whatever he's not dead and yeah guys! I think this guy was attacking us with the Chollas!" I shouted on back to the group before heading towards them.
"The hell? But you need to be really close to do that." Johnny said as he was confused but didn't believe I was lying.
"That guy over there, was doing the disgusting thing of growing bugs inside of his eye socket, he was most likely controlling them and letting the Chollas near us to shoot at us in return, but enough about that since he's not dead but out of commission from the pain, besides the suns going to set soon so let's just get the hell out of here." I say to which they all agree and we head on out.
******
A few hours later at sun set.
"Why the fuck did you make me have to make my own camp over here! We could have just shared the campfire for the night!" I shouted out at Gyro who just shrugged.
"Hey your the one that got your own girlfriend into this race, and if you both are going to do the deed at night I don't want to hear any of it." Which I guess made sense.
"You think I'm going to do this in the middle of a desert? Besides as Hifumi is now I'm not gonna want to do it in the first place." Hearing that made me roll my eyes as I knew what she was getting on about.
"What? Trouble in paradise already?" Johnny couldn't help but ask while I shook my head.
"No it's just….. Haaa she has a thing for fat guys, and specifically me when I'm fat…." I said to which both of them looked at me weirdly.
"Gyro you know that the Spin while mastered can do rather miraculous things to the body right? Well the Spiral is the same in that aspect, though it allows for body modifications in a way, if I felt like it I can change my body's shape into a fat man and I can easily go back to how I look now." I explained and while Johnny seemed skeptical, Gyro was just rubbing his chin.
"Well your technique are similar in that regard, although even with my years of experience I haven't figured out a way to expand my body to become fat, but I never saw the need or reason to do so, but with my spin it's probably possible, alright whatever move your shit over here and you can share our campsite for the remainder of this journey." He said giving us a pass to stay in this campsite.
"Well now I don't have to waste my time setting up my own camp then." I say before slamming my heel into the ground while a spiral left from my foot and towards my tent and causing it to collapse before being pulled back towards me from the 25m distance between our campsites.
We have a long way to go on this journey, but this night isn't over just yet as the number of enemies is going to just keep going up and up.