Nathaniel and Yipsiv were locked in a fierce duel, each gunslinger determined to come out on top.
Yipsiv lunged forward, his cutlass flashing as he aimed for Nathaniel's neck. But Nathaniel was quicker—ducking and disappearing in a flash of darkness. In the next instant, he spun his pistols with deadly precision, firing two quick shots. Yipsiv, unfazed, deftly deflected both bullets with a swift movement of his cutlass and stepped back with a grin.
"Well now, Nate," Yipsiv drawled, the silver bullet between his teeth glinting in the dim light. "You just don't know when to quit, do ya? But I gotta tell ya, partner, a gunslinger like you, tryin' to take down someone like me? Ain't no chance." He gave a sly smile, chewing on the bullet as if it were a toothpick. "This here factory ain't exactly friendly to your lil' ol' bullets, neither. They're just gonna get in the way."
Tarot remained trapped in the iron cage, his clones trying in vain to break the bars, but the walls obstructed his view of the ongoing duel. His frustration was mounting, but he couldn't do anything from inside his confinement.
Nathaniel, guns lowered and still feeling the sting from the cuts he'd taken, stood tall despite the pain. His violin case was slung across his back, a reminder of the versatility he carried with him.
"You've lost your way, Yipsiv," Nathaniel called out, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Following Aurelio down this twisted path—stealing his 'world'? It's all just ridiculous." He shook his head, eyes narrowing. "You think you can create something worth following, but all you're doing is throwing yourself deeper into the mess."
Yipsiv sheathed his cutlass with a quick flick of his wrist, then reached into his coat, pulling out a heavy rifle—a deadly-looking shotgun. With a quick yank, he reloaded it, a grin spreading across his face as he aimed it squarely at Nathaniel.
"Don't you worry 'bout me, partner," Yipsiv drawled, his tone dripping with that cowboy confidence. "I got it all figured out. Once your ol' captain takes care of Aurelio, I'll be makin' my move. This here land? It ain't no place for folks like Bloomsque. I reckon it'll suit me just fine, though." His grin widened, his eyes cold and steely, a man ready for what was to come. "So don't go countin' on anythin' more than a good ol' fashioned showdown."
Nathaniel's grip tightened around his pistols as Yipsiv leveled his shotgun at him. He was on edge, every muscle coiled in anticipation. The pain from his earlier cuts was still fresh, but he pushed it aside, his focus solely on the cowboy aiming at him.
"You're talking big, Yipsiv," Nathaniel said, voice low and steady despite the tension. "But you don't realize how far you've fallen. You don't know an end."
Yipsiv chuckled darkly, the sound rolling out like gravel underfoot. "Partner, I reckon I know exactly where I'm goin'—it's just a matter of whether you make it there with me."
Before Nathaniel could fire, Yipsiv pulled the trigger, sending a blast from the shotgun toward him. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire, and Nathaniel leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast. His body moved with the speed and precision of a seasoned fighter, but the force of the blast kicked up debris, making it harder to see.
Nathaniel's pistols fired in quick succession, the bullets whizzing through the air toward Yipsiv, but the cowboy was faster. He spun, his body low and quick, deflecting one bullet with a well-timed twirl of his rifle. The second bullet missed by inches, grazing his coat.
"Not bad, partner," Yipsiv mocked, his grin widening. "But you'll have to do better than that if you wanna win this one."
Nathaniel gritted his teeth, knowing he needed a better strategy. Yipsiv's speed was something to be reckoned with, and the shotgun in his hands wasn't helping either. He ducked behind a large crate, reloading his pistols in rapid succession, his mind working quickly to come up with his next move.
Yipsiv sauntered forward, his boots tapping rhythmically against the floor, as if the whole thing were just a game to him. He reloaded the shotgun again, his eyes narrowing as he tracked Nathaniel's movements. "Come out, come out wherever ya are, Nathaniel," he called in that lazy drawl. "I don't plan on wastin' much more time here."
Nathaniel's heart pounded, adrenaline surging. He peered around the corner, catching a glimpse of Yipsiv reloading. This was the opening he needed. He dashed from behind the crate, moving with speed and precision. As he ran, he dropped down to the floor, sliding across the smooth metal ground toward Yipsiv, his pistols raised.
Yipsiv didn't have time to react. The first shot rang out, hitting him square in the shoulder. The second shot followed almost immediately, grazing his side. Yipsiv staggered back but quickly regained his footing. He growled, his eyes flashing with both pain and fury.
"That all you got, partner?" Yipsiv snarled, his rifle aimed at Nathaniel. But before he could fire, Nathaniel shot again, hitting the rifle out of his hands with a well-aimed shot.
The cowboy staggered back, cursing under his breath, his hand reaching for a spare weapon at his belt. "You're one persistent son of a gun, ain't ya?" Yipsiv spat, his grin still there, though it was tinged with annoyance now.
Nathaniel stood tall, his pistols raised, ready for the next move. "It's not about persistence," he said coolly, "It's about putting a stop to what you started."
Yipsiv's expression twisted into a dark smile. "Well, then, let's see who finishes first, partner." He dashed forward, swinging his fist toward Nathaniel's face in a deadly, close-range attack.
Nathaniel sidestepped just in time, landing a swift kick to Yipsiv's back, sending him stumbling forward. Without hesitation, Nathaniel spun and shot again, aiming for the cowboy's legs.
Yipsiv growled in pain, falling to his knees but quickly rolling to the side, narrowly avoiding another shot. He groaned, his hand gripping his injured shoulder. "This fight... It's just startin'."
Aurelio's gaze remained sharp as he faced Temoshí, his voice calm and composed. "Do you truly believe you can defeat me, captain? You've already taken so many hits from Jactur. And yet here you are, pressing on as if you're invincible—believing you have the strength to overcome me, a fully prepared warrior with no injuries, no weaknesses."
Temoshí stood firm, the weight of his injuries lingering, but his resolve unshaken. He could feel the oppressive aura of Aurelio's excessive luck, the force that seemed to tip every battle in his favor, but it was not enough to sway him. His voice remained steady, devoid of fear, as he faced his adversary. "I don't care what kind of shape my body's in," he said, his tone unyielding. "This so-called 'fortunate island' of yours is nothing but a blight on the lives of those who live here. It's time someone stepped up and put an end to it. You've ruined too many lives. This is where you fall."
With a slow, deliberate motion, Temoshí reached for his tuxedo jacket, the fabric dark and sleek. He didn't bother to fold or remove it carefully. Instead, with a flick of his wrist, he ignited the edges of the jacket, flames licking up the black fabric, causing it to smolder and burn away in moments. The heat from the fire illuminated his well-toned arms as the jacket was consumed, leaving him standing in just a simple, tight-fitting t-shirt, his eyes locked on Aurelio with cold determination.
Aurelio watched the display with a slight chuckle, his eyes never leaving his opponent. "You're desperate, aren't you, captain? Even after all the damage your body's taken, you're still here, clinging to the hope that you can take me down. But you're only fooling yourself. You've come this far, but that's where your journey ends. I've earned everything I have—this island, my position, and my power. No one is going to take it from me, not today, not ever. And no matter how many bruises you suffer, you're not strong enough to stop me."
Rai loomed over Sable, her shadow casting a menacing presence. The tense atmosphere was thick with anger, her eyes narrowing in on the terrified girl, who was struggling to hide the fear that danced in her wide, frantic eyes. Sable was crumpled on the floor, beaten and weak, her body covered in bruises and dirt from her failed attempts to resist.
Rai's towering figure seemed to dwarf the girl beneath her, her muscles coiled like a predator preparing to strike. With a deep, controlled breath, Rai stepped closer, her heavy boots echoing in the silence of the dimly lit room. Her tone was sharp and cold, the frustration in her voice unmistakable.
"Listen to me," Rai growled, her voice low but dangerous, "I'm not playing games. I want you to tell me exactly what's going on in that casino, right now. I don't have time for your lies. I'll give you one chance, and then..." She didn't finish the sentence, letting the threat hang in the air like a cloud of smoke.
Sable's heart raced, the terror in her eyes only growing as she looked up at Rai. Her body trembled, but she tried to force a confident smile, one that was weak and faltering, but she clung to it. "W-What casino? What are you talking about? I don't know anything about any game, or your... pirates..." Her words stumbled out, the fake cheer in her voice sounding more like a child desperately trying to lie their way out of trouble. She laughed nervously, wiping her brow, but the fear behind her eyes was impossible to hide.
She looked like a child trying to play a grown-up's game, caught in a lie she wasn't capable of handling. Sable tugged at her disheveled clothes, trying to straighten herself up as if it might give her some semblance of control, but the pitiful act only made her seem smaller in the face of Rai's towering presence.
Rai's expression didn't shift, but the fury in her eyes deepened. She stepped closer, her hand raising slowly, not in an act of violence, but one of absolute control. It was the kind of stillness before a storm—calm yet deadly.
"I don't care if you think you don't know anything, Sable," Rai said with venom in her voice. "I know you're involved. So why don't you stop with the little game and just tell me the truth?"
Sable flinched at the mention of her name, her cheeks burning with shame as she tried to suppress the fear gnawing at her. Her mind raced, her heart pounded, and yet, she still clung to the hope that she could get out of this. "No! No way!" she squeaked, her voice a mixture of panic and defiance. "I'm not telling you anything! You'll have to make me, and I'm not—"
Rai's fist slammed into the wall beside her, the force sending a small tremor through the room. The loud thud caused Sable to jerk back, her eyes wide in shock as she stammered.
"Are you sure?" Rai's voice was a cold whisper, her face inches from Sable's. "I don't think you're in a position to be playing games with me. Now you've got a choice, little girl. Tell me what's happening, or I can make you talk the hard way. But I promise, you won't like it."
Sable's breath hitched, her mind a whirl of panic. She could feel the pressure of Rai's gaze on her, the heat of the threat, and it was starting to sink in. No matter how she tried to play innocent, Rai was never going to let her go. Desperation bloomed inside her, and she knew she couldn't keep pretending for much longer. Her lips quivered as she opened her mouth, her energy suddenly drained, realizing that she was only prolonging the inevitable.
Rai gave a small, tight smile. "That's better. Now tell me everything."
Sable's posture stiffened as Rai's glare pierced through her, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. She had been cornered, but her usual energetic attitude didn't waver as she scrambled to put on a facade of calm.
Rai's voice was ice-cold. "You're going to tell me what's going on with the Phoenix Pirates, and why they're being dragged into this mess."
Sable forced a nervous, high-pitched laugh, trying to deflect. "Oh, c'mon, Rai, you know I can't just spill all the beans like that, right? Besides, it's not like you'd want to get involved in all this mess. You know how Aurelio plays the game." She twirled her fingers as if it were nothing.
But Rai wasn't buying it. Her fists clenched, and her patience wore thin. "Don't play games with me. You're going to tell me what's going on, now."
Sable took a deep breath, her voice becoming more strained, the energy behind it shifting. "Fine, fine, okay, you wanna know? It's not exactly a good situation for your captain, alright? But if you think you're going to help him, well, you're just falling for Aurelio's trap, and I can't let that happen. You're not gonna help anyone—least of all Temoshí."
Rai's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What are you talking about?"
Sable shifted her weight, a nervous twitch in her smile. "Oh, you see, it's simple, really. Aurelio's plan is already in motion, and the Phoenix Pirates—well, they're part of it. Temoshí thinks he's some big shot, ready to face Aurelio head-to-head, but that's exactly what Aurelio wants—a little fight, a little struggle, just to watch him squirm."
She let out a shaky breath, eyes glinting as she pushed the information out. "Aurelio always wins. He's got this whole island in his pocket, and he's made sure that everything, everyone, is playing into his hands. And guess what? Temoshí? He's walking right into the trap, and I'm part of the reason it's all going down."
Rai's eyes darkened with suspicion. "So, you've been manipulating everything...?"
Sable nodded eagerly, her voice sweet and overenthusiastic as she tried to play it off. "Yep! That's right, Rai! I've been doing my job—making sure that things go exactly how Aurelio wants them to. It's not my fault the Phoenix Pirates didn't see it coming. They're too proud, too stubborn to back down."
She chuckled nervously, but there was a dark satisfaction in her voice as she continued, "I mean, really, I tried to warn them... but you know how it goes, right? Temoshí's always gotta be the hero. He's too much for his own good. So... you see, I've just been doing my part, helping things along."
Rai's gaze grew colder with every word that left Sable's mouth, her patience wearing thin. "So, you've been working for Aurelio this whole time. And now, what? You want me to not help Temoshí? You want me to just sit back and let your boss win?"
Sable straightened up, her tone shifting back to that overly cheery, almost manic energy. "Exactly! See, that's the thing—you help Temoshí, you're just playing right into Aurelio's hands. You think you're saving him, but you're not! He's already been played, and once he faces Aurelio—well, there won't be any going back for him."
Her eyes gleamed with a strange, excited energy. "So really, I'm just trying to save you the trouble! If you really want to do something, just let things unfold the way they're supposed to. Aurelio's got it all figured out, and Temoshí's already lost."
Rai's expression remained unreadable, but the fire in her eyes was unmistakable. "So, you're hoping I'll just stay out of it. Let your master win. Well, I won't be a part of that, Sable. You're seriously underestimating the lengths I'll go to stop this madness."
Sable's smile widened, an almost manic edge creeping into her tone. "Oh, I'm not underestimating anything. But trust me, Rai—you're just not going to win this one. Aurelio always gets what he wants. And right now? That's the downfall of your captain and your crew."
Rai stepped forward, her voice low and threatening. "You might have your little plan, but I'm not backing down. If you think I'm just going to let Temoshí fall into your little game, you're sadly mistaken."
Sable's grin faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "We'll see about that, won't we?"
For a long moment, the two women stood locked in a tense stare. Rai wasn't backing down, and Sable—despite her earlier enthusiasm—knew deep down that things were about to get much more complicated.
To be continued...