Standing at the center of the massive theater, Temoshí found himself at a crossroads, both literally and figuratively. His sharp eyes locked onto the towering puppet before him, every muscle in his body tense as though anticipating a catastrophic showdown unlike anything he'd ever faced.
He called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. "Aurelio! What the hell is this supposed to be? What kind of casino has a giant theater tucked away inside it?! And what's the deal with this oversized puppet?"
Aurelio's smooth, amused voice crackled through the speakers once again. "Ah, the Grand Theater… A spectacle unlike any other. Since you've been such a determined player, I suppose I can enlighten you."
The puppet loomed silently, its crimson eyes glinting faintly in the dim light, as if waiting for its cue.
"This theater," Aurelio continued, his tone shifting to one of pride, "has existed long before you ever set foot on Casinova Island. It was my first masterpiece, built as a monument to my victory over this once-thriving paradise. Before I claimed this island, it was nothing but a den of disorder—a haven for small-time gamblers and crooked schemers. But I had a vision, a dream to transform this lawless wasteland into a place where fate itself would dance to my tune."
Temoshí kept his stance firm, his brows furrowing as he listened. "So, you built this… what, as some kind of symbol of your ego?"
Aurelio chuckled darkly. "Not just ego, my dear captain. It's a tribute to control. Every gambler, every visitor who walks through the doors of Casinova becomes a performer in my grand play. The games, the stakes, the risks—they all culminate here, in this theater. A stage where the true nature of luck, fate, and power is revealed. You see, the strings of this puppet? They represent the unseen forces that govern everything in this world. And I, of course, hold those strings."
Temoshí's eyes darted to the massive cables suspending the puppet, tension brimming as he processed the revelation. "So this is what you've been doing? Playing puppet master over an entire island? Controlling people's lives just to satisfy your twisted sense of power?"
"Precisely," Aurelio replied with a cold, calculated tone. "But don't mistake this for mere entertainment. The Grand Theater isn't just a symbol—it's my ultimate game. Every piece of this casino was designed to lead people here. To strip them of their illusions of control and make them see the truth: that in the end, luck, fate, and power are mine to command."
Temoshí sneered, the weight of Aurelio's words igniting a fire in his chest. "You think you're some kind of god? Pulling strings and deciding how things play out? You're just a coward hiding behind your games!"
Aurelio's laughter echoed through the theater, mocking and unapologetic. "Perhaps. But if I am a coward, then what does that make you? A foolish captain, walking willingly into my stage, thinking you can defy me?"
The puppet began to stir, its limbs creaking as the strings holding it stretched taut. Aurelio's voice grew colder. "You've survived this long, captain, but now you're on my stage. Jactur the Fateweaver will show you just how fragile your defiance is. It's time to see if you can survive the performance of a lifetime."
As the puppet's massive form fully came to life, its glowing red eyes locking onto Temoshí, the captain felt the weight of the moment.
Aurelio's voice continued, calm and laced with an unsettling confidence. "If you manage to destroy my greatest creation—the guardian who ensures this theater's perfection—then, and only then, will I consider gracing you with my presence. Until then, enjoy the show."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, the strings above Jactur tightened, pulling the massive puppet into motion. Its first step sent a thunderous shockwave through the theater, the vibrations rippling beneath Temoshí's feet as debris fell from the ceiling. The puppet raised a massive hand, its sheer size and weight making every movement deliberate but devastating.
Temoshí wasted no time. He dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the enormous hand that smashed into the ground, cracking the reflective floor into jagged shards. The impact sent a powerful gust of air that knocked him off balance momentarily, but he quickly recovered, his eyes blazing with focus.
"Slow but heavy. Alright, big guy, let's see what you've got," he muttered, his hands igniting with bright orange flames.
Jactur swung one of its massive arms in a wide arc, aiming to crush Temoshí against the wall. With a burst of speed, Temoshí rolled forward, sliding beneath the swing and coming to a crouch. He thrust his hand forward, releasing a concentrated blast of flames that struck Jactur's side. The fire licked at the puppet's wooden and metallic frame but seemed to cause little damage.
The puppet responded instantly, raising its foot and stomping down with earth-shaking force. Temoshí leapt backward, flipping through the air just as the ground where he'd been standing exploded into splinters and rubble.
"Alright, you're tougher than you look," Temoshí muttered, circling the giant while flames danced around his hands. He planted his feet and fired off another burst, this time aiming for the strings that controlled the puppet's arm. The fire hit its target, singeing the cables and causing the arm to twitch unnaturally.
Jactur retaliated by slamming both fists into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the theater. The floor beneath Temoshí buckled, and he stumbled, struggling to keep his balance. The puppet seized the moment, sweeping its massive arm toward him again.
This time, Temoshí didn't dodge. He crouched low, his flames intensifying around him, and with a burst of strength, he leapt upward, vaulting over the incoming arm. Mid-air, he twisted his body, releasing a spiraling wave of orange flames that struck Jactur directly in the face.
The puppet reeled back, its crimson eyes flickering as if momentarily disrupted. Temoshí landed on the ground in a low stance, panting but determined.
"Come on, big guy," he taunted, the flames around his hands burning brighter. "You've got size, but I've got fire. Let's see how you handle the heat!"
Jactur roared—a deep, mechanical sound that echoed through the theater. It raised both arms high, the strings pulling taut as it prepared to deliver a devastating double-handed slam.
Temoshí's heart raced as he calculated his next move. He could feel the oppressive heat of his own flames intensifying, ready to unleash their full power in a decisive counterattack.
Temoshí steadied himself, his eyes locked on the towering puppet as it loomed over him. Its massive limbs creaked as the strings tightened, preparing for another attack.
Jactur's right arm swung downward in a crushing motion, aiming to obliterate him in one strike. Temoshí dashed to the side, his speed leaving a faint blur in the air. The ground where he had been standing shattered into jagged fragments, the force of the impact reverberating through the massive theater.
"You hit hard, I'll give you that," Temoshí muttered, circling the puppet and studying its movements.
Jactur turned slowly, its crimson eyes glowing brighter as if acknowledging the challenge. It stomped forward, each step shaking the ground beneath them. With a sudden burst of speed for something so large, its left arm swept out in a wide arc.
Temoshí ducked low, rolling beneath the swing and coming up behind Jactur. He delivered a powerful punch to the back of the puppet's leg, his knuckles meeting metal with a loud clang. The hit forced Jactur to stumble, but it quickly regained its balance, its strings adjusting to keep it upright.
"Gonna have to up the ante," Temoshí said, taking a deep breath. He raised a hand, and flames erupted around it, bright orange and fierce. Closing his eyes for a moment, he focused, channeling his energy. The flames grew hotter, the color shifting rapidly until they turned an intense azure blue.
"Maybe this'll be more effective," he said, his voice calm but laced with determination.
With a quick dash forward, Temoshí leapt onto Jactur's leg, using the puppet's own bulk to propel himself upward. He scaled its massive frame with practiced agility, blue flames flickering around his hands as he ascended.
When he reached its shoulder, he planted his feet and thrust his palm forward. A wave of searing blue fire surged from his hand, slamming into Jactur's head. The puppet's crimson eyes flickered erratically as the flames engulfed its face, the intense heat distorting the air around them.
Jactur staggered back, the strings above it groaning under the strain. The flames subsided after a moment, leaving scorch marks across its metallic surface.
"Not so pretty now, are you?" Temoshí quipped, dropping back to the ground with a controlled landing.
Jactur let out a low, mechanical growl, its movements becoming more aggressive. It raised both arms high, preparing to smash them down in a devastating double-fist strike. Temoshí's eyes narrowed as he gauged the attack.
The massive fists came down like twin hammers, but Temoshí darted forward, slipping between them with ease. He retaliated with a spinning kick to Jactur's midsection, the force of the blow causing the puppet to stumble once more.
He extinguished the blue flames around his hands, returning to a more controlled approach. "An easy target to hit," he muttered to himself, his muscles tensing as he prepared for the next exchange.
The puppet adjusted, its crimson eyes locking onto him with renewed intensity. Its strings twitched, and its movements became sharper and more unpredictable.
Temoshí smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, big guy," he said, his voice steady. "No need for such problems..."
To be continued...