Episode 12- Collateral Damage
Castle In Grandoria- War Meeting Room
A meeting is being held with Mash and Red Dawn in the same dim room, only lit with candles all over the room and candles connected to chandeliers. A Grandoria soldier bursts into the room with the two. "Zero Justice has entered Grandoria and is causing an uproar and destruction to the townspeople!", says the soldier. "I guess there is no need for strategy when the target walks right to the front door", says Red Dawn. Red Dawn smiles at Mash, "Don't worry, I know how you like your one on one battles". General Mash puts on his helmet and walks out of the room.
Grandoria
Zero walks towards a fruit stand. He brings down one arm that smashes into the wooden stand, destroying it and scattering pieces of wood everywhere. Zero disappears and reappears at another wooden stand with gemstone necklaces hanging from hooks in front. Zero swipes his left hand to the right, destroying the stand, followed by a streak of dark light that cuts the broken pieces further. Zero leaps to another stand while forming a large dragon scaled claw. He then lands into another stand connected to a hut. The hut explodes into pieces, sending large pieces of debris towards other nearby stands and huts. Dust bursts everywhere as Zero stands to his feet.
As the dust starts to clear a bit, a stocky figure is seen standing roughly fifteen feet behind Zero.
"Merchandise. Homes. The innocent. Hard working Grandorian citizens with families. You crush their progress with ease. "It is my duty and honor to show you how that feels", says Mash. Mash brings his arms upward in front of himself, does a slow spin backwards, then positions his right hand close to his body with his right palm facing outward. His left hand extends further with his left palm facing outward. "I have a big back", says Mash, "Let me carry the weight of your frustration".
Zero teleports to the back of Mash. Mash quickly turns around to parry a powerful downward slash by clashing with the wrist of Zero. Zero throws a flurry of attacks. Left slash, blocked. Right slash, blocked. Right foot, blocked. A second right foot, blocked. A roundhouse kick with the right leg, crouched under. A downward slash with the left hand, blocked. Zero does a short hop and kicks with both feet towards Mash. Mash dodges the kick by moving to the left side, then quickly grabs the ankles of Zero and attempts to slam him to the ground. Before Zero collides with the ground, he teleports high in the air. Mash closes his eyes, extends his arms, then finally brings his hands together. Zero falls towards Mash at high speed with a large dragon claw formed in his right hand.
Right before the dragon claw can collide with Mash, a violent vibration of water explodes from Mash, destroying and pushing everything within a 50 feet radius. Zero gets forcefully knocked back and sent flying at high speed in the air. Mash extends both palms outward, quickly rotates both of his arms counter clockwise, turns his head to the left, then back forward, and finally stomps the ground while extending his right arm forward. "Crescendo!", shouts Mash. A thin stream of water pierces from the extended fist of Mash towards Zero. The stream shoots faster than a star piercing the sky. The stream of water hits Zero and pierces through his stomach, then comes out through his back. Black and red blood spurts from the body of Zero. Zero hits the ground hard then tumbles continuously until finally stopping. Zero stumbles to his feet then clutches his stomach with his left hand.
In the distance, Mash walks towards Zero. "The mantis shrimp", says Mash, "a peculiar creature that kills its prey using powerful streams or 'punches', some may say.". "Who are you?", asks Zero. "All Infantry General Mash Aikawa of the Grandoria Army. Allies call me 'Godfist Mash'. And you?". Mash places his right hand close to his body with his palm facing outward, then extends his left hand outward with his palm facing outward, then stomps the ground with his right foot. "I would love to know the name of the man I'm about to kill in this exciting match". The light of the moon shines behind Zero, piercing through the night sky. the wound inflicted on Zero starts to sizzle as black smoke appears from it. The wound slowly begins to heal. Zero lets off a dragon-like roar then charges at Mash. Zero slashes with his right hand, and gets parried, then a follow up right kick gets parried. Zero roars again then gives three powerful kicks with his right foot that get blocked. Zero teleports behind Mash and slashes in an X shape with both claws. Mash rolls forward, quickly stands, then assumes his familiar stance with palms outward. Zero charges at Mash with a right hand claw slash. Mash crouches under the slash, grabs the right arm of Zero, and attempts to slam Zero to the ground. Before Zero can hit the ground, he teleports above Mash. Mash quickly places his knuckles together as another burst of vibrated water explodes around his body. Zero is knocked upward but immediately teleports to Mash and slashes upward using the same upward motion that propelled him. Mash leans back to dodge the slash. A streak of dark light follows the slash which strikes Mash in the chest causing blood to fly upwards. Mash flips backwards causing his feet to collide with Zero, knocking Zero backwards. Mash looks at his arms, noticing the bruises and dents from the attacks of Zero, then feels the cut on his chest. "What are you and why do you fight?". asks Mash. "The trash of Grandoria must die. I'm the one that knows the truth about your fearless leader!", says Zero. "And what is this truth? Pray tell", asks Mash. "Your great leader is a sham. He stole an item from the dragons which is why they don't fight back. He does whatever it takes to win, even if it's at the cost of innocence. And most of all, he's a damn murderer. He must die tonight!". Mash pauses for a moment. "Whatever the case may be, I can't let you simply kill him, if that's even possible for you. I've fought beside him during wars and although he is rugged, I trust him with my life. I can't let you act without looking into this matter myself", says Mash. "Then tonight you die with him!", says Zero. "I've given my reasoning. If you cannot accept it, then so be it, warrior of rage.". Mash extends his arms outward with both palms facing outward. He then brings in his hands close to his body, makes fists with both hands, then smashes his right fist on the top of his left fist at the center of his chest. On both sides of Mash, water spills from each side, forming water clones fashioned in the exact same pose with the right fist on the top of the left fist. Mash then takes his familiar fighting pose and both water clones take the same stance. "Now we go on the offense", says Mash.