Disclaimer: Zatch Bell is copyrighted to Makoto Raiku (characters, series, and concepts). The only things I own that are currently revealed in the story are E, Nylon, Shine, Angelica Tsukoro, Curtis Herrakoro, Harumi Kisamaru. Izo Uramori, Myriam, Mystrael, Metallix, and Professor Linda.
Chapter 4: Metallix Madness
Completely unaware of the test Dr Riddles and Kido put E and Angelica through, Izo and Nylon were currently on their way to the Tokyo Bayside Wind Power Plant. Izo was driving his silver Mitsubishi with Nylon in the passenger seat.
"OK, turn right and take the small bridge." Nylon read the direction to his bookkeeper. "Gotcha," Izo responded and then muttered, "Thirty minutes, my butt…" He was referring to the estimated time the map provided. They had taken at least forty-five minutes to get to their current position, and it was also considerably close to twilight.
"Ah-ha! I think that's it up ahead!" Nylon announced, throwing the direction carelessly into the backseat. Indeed, merely a bridge and a large parking lot ahead was the Tokyo Bayside Wind Power Plant. The white windmills functioning on the large patch of island reflected off the russet light of the sunset. "Oh yeah, only took almost an hour…" Izo said sarcastically as he pulled up into the empty parking lot.
"Get ready, Izo," Nylon cautioned as he exited the vehicle, "I can already tell we're going to clash blades with another Mamodo." As Izo gripped the dark brown spellbook tightly, he replied, "Sometimes I wish you weren't right in these situations." The two then sauntered out of the parking lot and down the small walkway that led them onto the artificial island that harbored all of the windmills.
"Nylon and Izo Uramori reporting!" Izo shouted, his voice echoing amongst the sea breeze, "Who summoned us? Who sent the letter? Show yourself!"
"Please continue forward. We're in your midst, Nylon and Izo Uramori." It was a loudspeaker, and a female voice was on the other end of it. Not letting these circumstances make them falter, Nylon and Izo continued walking until they reached the very middle of the island.
"Welcome to the Tokyo Bayside Wind Power Plant, Nylon and Izo Uramori. I'm your host, Professor Linda." An adult russet-haired woman was sitting within a technological, circular desk with a 360-degree keyboard on top. This was situated on top of a strange tube of considerable height that was glowing light blue.
"…A scientist sitting atop of a strange thing. Very suspect, ma'am." Nylon pointed out. "Good observation, you have reason to feel apprehensive." Professor Linda said while gazing at the spellbook in Izo's hands. She then, from under her desk, took out an Alice-blue spellbook, "My Mamodo has taken an interest in you two, so I wanted to do a little experiment."
"I figured as much." Izo responded as his shifted around to try and locate Professor Linda's partner, "So…where is he or she?"
"Right in front of you, human."
Izo and Nylon, with widened eyes, turned their attention to the glass tube before them. "I am Metallix." Every time the tube talked, the light blue glow flashed on and off in conjunction with the syllables of each word spoken. "Okay, now I've seen it all." Nylon announced casually, "A talking tube is the Mamodo partner of some scientist."
"If I'm correct, this is simply a summons to battle, right?" Izo asked seriously, gripping the dark brown spellbook. "Didn't I just confirm that?" Professor Linda replied, "But I'm also aware of your dreams to be an environmentalist, Izo Uramori. Consider this…a sort of contemporary entrance exam."
"Well, this is certainly sudden, but whatever." Izo said as opened up Nylon's spellbook and it glowed an ecru color, "Let's begin, shall we? Shigeru!" Nylon extended out his hand with his palms outward, both of his thumbs and forefingers forming a triangle, and gathered whitish-silver energy in it that formed into a steel ball that was fired at Metallix and Professor Linda.
"Datarudo!" Professor Linda exclaimed, the Alice-blue spellbook glowing brightly. The tube emitted a light blue glow that formed into a rhombus-shaped shield that blocked Nylon's Shigeru. "Not bad." Professor Linda remarked, "Let's see how you handle this. Datarum!"
Metallix then fired a small blast of light blue energy. Both Nylon and Izo jumped to the side to avoid it. "Datarum!" Professor Linda recited. "Here it comes, Nylon. Keep your eyes on Metal—" Unexpectedly, Nylon was then struck by the same attack, but it had from somewhere behind him, not straight from Metallix. "Wh-What?" Izo exclaimed in shock, wide-eyed. Nylon stumbled from the pain but managed to stay on his feet, "An attack from behind? That goes against chivalry big time."
"It's merely strategy." Metallix countered. Izo sneered as Nylon's dark brown spellbook started glowing a bright ecru, "We'll see how far that will take you. Ganzu Shigeru!" Nylon extended out his arms, thumbs and forefingers forming a triangle again, and multiple steel balls of whitish-silver energy shot toward Metallix and Professor Linda from around him.
Professor Linda smiled, chuckled, and leaned back in her seat as Metallix's spellbook glowed once more, "Datarudo!" Once again, Metallix emitted a light blue that formed into his rhombus-shaped shield. The defensive spell met the multi-hit spell. Nylon continued releasing the salvos of Shigeru shots while Metallix maintained the use of his shield; they were waiting to see which of their bookkeepers would decide to do something else first.
As the two Mamodo clashed, Izo's aqua green eyes guardedly moved about the battlefield. "That shot of Datarum that struck Nylon from behind…where did it come from? I need to find where before it becomes a hindrance later on. But all I see are just the island and these windmills; nothing else whatsoever!"
Eventually, Izo and Professor Linda stopped inputting heart energy into the current spells of their Mamodo in order to converse it for the rest of the fight. "For a piece of machinery, you're pretty tough." Nylon commented as he let his arms drop to the side.
"Sad to say, I can't say for you, Nylon." Metallix replied monotonously. "Ganzu Datarum!" Professor Linda shouted the name of the next spell. Five blasts of light energy shot from Metallix's tube and headed toward Nylon.
"Our turn to go on the defensive!" Izo yelled as pages of the dark brown spellbook flipped until they landed on the proper page, "Ave Shield!" Nylon extended his hands out and formed a steel, medieval-style shield to block those shots of Ganzu Datarum.
"Not very bright, aren't you?" Professor Linda affronted. Before anything else could be said, Nylon was struck in the back by other shots of Ganzu Datarum. This caused him to cry out in pain and dismiss his shield. "Nylon!" Izo exclaimed concernedly, looking at the kneeling teenage Mamodo. "Ugh…" Nylon groaned as he managed to get back on his feet, "I must have…let myself go since coming to the Human World…"
"Such a shame indeed." Metallix said, "Linda, terminate them with this next one." Professor Linda smiled as the Alice-blue spellbook glowed brighter than usual, "Okay, if that's what you want." Nylon and Izo gritted their teeth. They knew from experience that the brighter a spellbook glowed, the more powerful the upcoming spell was going to be.
"Gigano Datarum." Professor Linda recited the spell calmly. The first thing Nylon and Izo noticed was that nothing was coming from Metallix's tube. "JUMP TO THE SIDE!" Izo shouted in alarm, already knowing the attack was going to come from nowhere. Quickly, Nylon and Izo jumped away to opposite sides. Then, a giant blast of light blue energy crashed in the median of their current positions. The Gigano Datarum came a diagonal angle from the right, so Izo was grazed by the attack on his left arm while Nylon was jettisoned further then he wanted to from the resultant blast.
"Oh?" Metallix and Professor Linda sounded in unison and intriguingly. "Perhaps we underestimated them a little." Metallix admitted as he watched Nylon and Izo regrouped.
"Izo, your arm." Nylon pointed out. Some of the fabric of his shirt sleeve was eradicated to reveal wounds. "Not as bad it could have been." Izo reassured his Mamodo partner, "But it seems they used small spells like Datarum and Ganzu Datarum to mask that small implication that lets us know the attack is coming from another direction."
"We have no choice, Izo." Nylon said as he stood up, "We've have to abandon the use of other spells in order to use Shigeruk." the silver-haired Mamodo looked at the mechanical Mamodo and the environmentalist sitting atop it, "Besides, they are sitting ducks."
Izo stood up, went behind Nylon, and reopened the spellbook, "You're right, it may be for the best. I'd like to see how they'll be able to keep up with you!" The ecru glow shone from the dark brown spellbook once again as Izo recited, "Shigeruk!"
A metallic sheen coated Nylon's whole body and clothing, and a faint silver aura lingered around the outline of his body. Izo stood on Nylon's cloak while grabbing the back part of the collar and ordered vigorously, "Knock 'em down, Nylon!"
"Just don't throw up while I'm taking care of business!" Nylon said as he sprinted toward Metallix at high speeds. "Wh-What? An assist spell?" Professor Linda was momentarily taken aback at the radical increase in Nylon's speed. "Don't falter, Linda," Metallix reasoned. "Right!" The Alice-blue spellbook glowed once again as the environmentalist recited, "Ganzu Datarum!"
Multiple shots of light blue energy exited Metallix's tube and headed straight for the rushing Nylon; some even were fired from their mysterious position. "Hold on tight, Izo! Keep that book safe!" Nylon shouted determinedly as he continued his head-on charge toward Metallix.
Then, nothing but explosions was where Izo and Nylon were, and dust covered the remnants of those explosions. Metallix and Professor Linda gazed at the dust expressionlessly. "Did that get them?" Professor Linda mumbled in wonder.
Suddenly, a figure swooped out of the smoke. "Not even close!" Izo shouted victoriously. Both he and Nylon were virtually unharmed by the assault and were en route to Metallix's tube. "Linda! Hurry—" Before Metallix could even finish his exclaim, Nylon kicked the tube and broke with a loud crash. Like a malfunctioning speaker, Metallix's cries were warped and distorted. "Metallix!" Professor Linda exclaimed in horror.
Nylon landed on the ground as Shigeruk dispelled. Izo hopped off Nylon's back and explicated, "Shigeruk is a spell that allows Nylon to be coated in an aura of steel. It enhances his speed, power, and hardens his body for defensive purposes for a limited amount of time. Not being able to use other spells is a fair tradeoff, I think."
"Now you have no choice but to yield," Nylon said as he crossed his arms. "Don't take us lightly," Professor Linda sneered, "Like you, we have our own trump card." Izo and Nylon raised an eyebrow as the Alice-blue spellbook in Professor Linda's arms glowed brightly, "Dataraijo!"
Light blue electrical energy crackled in the ground around the totaled tube of Metallix, then these charges were absorbed into the tube as the crackles intensified.
As that occurred, Izo and Nylon separately noticed something amiss. Izo noticed the light blue electrical charges were occurring around the windmills and their foundations. Nylon noticed the nightlights of the city of Tokyo were flashing on and off at different places.
The electrical charges disappeared and revealed Metallix's tube back in the state before Nylon destroyed it with his Shigeruk-enhanced kick. "Ngh…I'll admit you caught me off guard…" Metallix stated groggily. "Wha-What?" Nylon exclaimed in shock before getting in a battle stance again. "Dataraijo gathers energy in the vicinity to heal Metallix in case he suffers major damage like that." Professor Linda explained.
"So that explains why we were brought to a power plant," Izo thought disdainfully as he opened the dark brown spellbook again. "Then why were the lights in the city blinking on and off in this island is our battlefield?" Nylon questioned heatedly. Izo looked at Nylon, "Say what?"
"Hm hm hm…" Metallix chuckled robotically and then said, "The Bayside Wind Power Plant is simply the gateway to the energy reservoirs my powers demand to have." Nylon narrowed his eyes at the mechanical Mamodo and his partner, "What do you mean…?"
"Let me explain this in a way you simpletons can understand." Professor Linda spoke, "Metallix's power is like plugging in a cord into an electrical outlet. The wires within are simply the path the energy must go, the plug itself is what gets the energy from the outlet, and the outlet is where the energy lies. That outlet, in order to satisfy Metallix, must be quite large, and you can say these windmills are simply the covering to the outlet. Have any idea what the true outlet might be?"
"The city of Tokyo…" Izo and Nylon uttered, their faces blanched and full of despair.
Professor Linda smirked as the spellbook glowed, "That's correct. Ganzu Datarum!" From Metallix's tube and wherever their secret, other sources may be, multiple shots of light blue energy were discharged to Izo and Nylon. Izo and Nylon decided to split up and run to avoid being shot.
"Nylon, we have to stop them! If they siphon too much energy, they could cause a citywide blackout for who-knows how long!" Izo shouted to his Mamodo as he ran different directions while safeguarding the dark brown spellbook with his arms.
"You need only say a spell, and you can leave the rest to me!" Nylon shouted back as his red-violet eyes locked onto the mechanical, stationary Mamodo, "By the Code of Chivalry, I won't allow him to affect Tokyo any further!"
"That's exactly what I want to hear!" Izo yelled affirmatively, "Now extend your arms outward to your right! Do it!" Nylon blinked once, finding the command odd for this sort of situation, but nonetheless obliged. "Shigeru!" Nylon fired the solid steel ball, made of whitish-silver energy, from the triangle formed by his aforesaid fingers. The Shigeru was launched directly toward a windmill and nailed it directly in the middle of its propellers.
The barrage of Ganzu Datarum stopped instantly as blue electrical charges crackled erratically around that windmill and around Metallix. Judging by the pained sounds coming from the mechanical Mamodo, it was definitely effective.
"Metallix!" Professor Linda exclaimed but flinched when some the electrical charges sparked on the keyboard she was surrounded by. "Nylon, as you can see, I finally figured out why they're so strong," Izo stated as he regrouped with the silver-haired Mamodo, "The windmills are how they were able to attack us from all those directions. As such, Metallix has to be connected to them in some way for that to work. Those are the "wires" that Professor Linda mentioned!"
"As expected of my bookkeeper. Always sharp on either the battlefield or in fencing." Nylon smirked proudly but turned serious again when he faced the recovering Metallix, "However, we're not done yet." Izo nodded as he pointed to the rightmost windmill nearest to Metallx, "One windmill down, five more to go! Shigeru!"
"D-Don't let them!" Metallix warned his bookkeeper as Nylon fired another Shigeru to the indicated windmill. "Right! Gigano Datarum!" From that windmill, a giant, concentrated blast of light energy was shot out. Because it was of a level higher than that of Shigeru, it ripped through the spell easily and started heading toward Nylon and Izo.
"Ave Shield!" Izo recited, and Nylon once again that steel, medieval-style shield against to block Gigano Datarum. Nylon kept his composure as his defensive spell worked against the Gigano-class spell. Izo placed a shoulder on Nylons' shoulder and whispered strategically, "Let up a little. We're going to hide ourselves so we can strike that windmill as a surprise."
Nylon nodded and did as he was instructed, making it seem like Gigano Datarum was overpowering Ave Shield little-by-little. Then, an explosion occurred that kicked up dust and smoke to hide them. "That was close." Professor Linda commented in relief.
"Shigeru!"
Suddenly, from the dust and smoke, a sold steel ball shot out and hit the windmill. The resulting explosion caused more blue electrical charges to crackle uncontrollably. "AHH!" Metallix screamed in pain, "L-Linda! Stop standing there!"
Professor Linda tried to oblige as she nervously opened the Alice-blue spellbook, but when Nylon suddenly jumped out of the smoke with his arms in position to fire another Shigeru at her, she lost her nerve. Izo jumped out of the smoke, off to the side on the ground, and recited the same spell again, "Shigeru!"
Nylon suddenly shifted his arms so that the Shigeru that was previously aimed at Professor Linda was now aimed at the windmill nearest and leftmost to her. With that successful strike, Nylon and Izo were left with three more windmills to hit.
"Keep it up, Nylon!" Izo encouraged as he continue to accumulate heart energy, signaled by the continual ecru glow of the dark brown spellbook. "A knight must stay dauntless and ready at all times, dear Izo!" Nylon responded as he landed on the ground.
"Enough of this…horseplay, Linda!" Metallix groaned commandingly. "Right!" Professor Linda finally managed to recite a spell, "Ganzu Datarum!" The three windmills remaining crackled with light blue electrical energy and then unleashed salvos of light blue blasts for Nylon and Izo.
Izo positioned himself behind Nylon and shouted, "Ganzu Shigeru!" Nylon extended his arms and unleashed a barrage of whitish-silver energy balls. Both Ganzu-class spells clashed together, minute explosion occurring every now and then.
"All right," Professor Linda spoke as the Alice-blue spellbook continued to glow, "While they're distracted with that, we can hit them from here!"
"No." Metallix objected, "That human is watching us intently. Besides, I can use their opportunity to recover a little after three of those windmills being hit." Professor Linda asked concernedly, "Will that small period of time be enough?" After she asked that, Metallix grew silent. He was starting to acknowledge Izo's and Nylon's skill and teamwork. Within time, they could possibly hit the remaining three windmills, and that would prove to be hazardous for him. "…No," Metallix admitted firmly, "It won't. Linda, stop Ganzu Datarum and prepare to use it. After that, I'll take it from there so you can regain at least a small sum of heart energy. Don't use a spell until I direct you."
"Very well." Professor Linda said as she stopped inputtong heart energy into the spellbook; thusly, its Alice-blow glow vanished. Izo—as Metalix said—was watching them, and when he noticed their book had ceased to glow, he too stop using up heart energy. As a result, both of the Ganzu-class spells ceased fire.
"Izo?" Nylon looked over his shoulder quizzically at his bookkeeper. "They stopped attacking on purpose," Izo responded with his aqua green eyes still locked on them, "They're planning something. I just know it."
"Congratulations, Nylon and Izo Uramori, for pushing me this far." Metallix boomed droningly, "But I am afraid that is as far as you shall go. Prepare for instant termination. Linda, do it. Cast the spell that will unleash my true form."
"True…form?" Izo and Nylon repeated those words cautiously.
"That's correct." Professor Linda spoke, "This current form you see Metallix in allows him to take the energy from the city and this plant. He possesses a second form that allows him to go all-out on his opponent with this energy." With that said, Professor Linda jumped off the top of Metallix and onto the ground beside him as the Alice-blue spellbook glowed again, "And here it is! Datar Muruk!"
The light blue material inside the tube illuminated brightly as electrical energy sparked around it calamitously. Nylon eyed the scene fearlessly but carefully, "Izo, get ready to summon my sword. The real fight starts here and now." Izo nodded tensely, "Right…"
The electrical energy present around the windmills travelled from them and formed a web-like structure with the glowing Metallix at the center. Slowly, the electrical energy thinned and raised themselves from the ground—those were the "wires" mentioned earlier that connected Metallix to the windmills. Pretty soon, the light-show ceased to reveal Metallix in his true form: a giant, dark blue mechanical golem with six wire-like tentacles protruding from its back.
Nylon tensed up slightly as he practically felt Metallix's glare upon him, "Mm…Houston, we have a king-sized problem."
"Targets sighted." Metallix spoke, the blue light bar on his head in place of normal eyes flashing with each syllable uttered. The artificial hinges on Metallix's body that acted as joints creaked loudly as he began moving around Nylon, "Initiating the assault!"
"Now, Izo! Hurry!" Nylon urged as he got in a battle stance. Izo gritted his teeth as the dark brown spellbook glowed, "Sorudo Shigeru!" A whitish-silver light appeared in Nylon's right hand and then solidified. In its placed was a sword; the blade was a sleek sliver color with a comparatively wide hilt guard.
"Sit tight, Izo, and regain your heart energy. Leave the rest to me!" Nylon directed as he held up Sorudo Shigeru determinedly, the blade reflecting Metallix's image with a glint. "Go, Nylon!" Izo encouraged.
"Vanish!" Metallix threw a punch that Nylon sidestepped to dodge, the ground cracking on impact. "Make me." Nylon taunted as he jumped and went for a slash; however, one of the six wire-like tentacles lashed out at Nylon and smacked him back to earth. "Challenge accepted." Metallix said as he raised both of his hulky, mechanical arms.
Quickly, while still on his back, Nylon swung Sorudo Shigeru right when those arms of Metallix came down. Metallix's strength was overwhelming; Nylon could only grit his teeth as his sword inched downward closer and closer to his body. "Roll out of the way, Nylon!" Izo directed hurriedly.
"Easier said than done, Izo." Nylon thought sarcastically with a roll of his red-violet eyes. But he had no time to think like that in this situation. The only thing that prevented him from being flattened by one ton of machinery was his fluctuating sword.
In one swift movement, Nylon used all of his strength to perform a push with his swords, placed his feet flat on the ground, and threw himself out of the way. Metallix's arms slammed on the ground thunderously, cracking the ground and kicking up a bit of dust.
"That…" Nylon paused to catch his breath and stand up, "Was cutting it too close…"
"Keep still." Metallix demanded as he lashed out one wire-like tentacle. "Not on your life!" Nylon shouted as he swung Sorudo Shigeru and sliced off that wire. "I have five more coming!" Metallix unfalteringly lashed out the others; Nylon only managed to dodge three of them before the remaining two ensnared his body. "Oh crap!" Nylon screamed as he struggled.
"Linda!" Metallix called out. Professor Linda smiled as she opened the Alice-blue spellbook, "Your timing is impeccable, Metallix. Read y to go." With that said, it began to glow. Izo, seeing that, found no choice but to put himself back into the fray.
"Gigano Datarum!"
"Shigeruk!"
The island practically shook as Metallix unleashed its attack on Nylon. Izo gritted his teeth uneasily as he watched Nylon skid across the ground from the blast, "Man, even with Shigeruk activated, that attack was powerful. More than before."
To prove that point, Nylon in his Shigeruk-induced state had finally shed blood—from above his left eye and his shoulder. "Man…I've…really let myself go…" The silver-haired Mamodo panted laboriously. "That is the power of my true form." Metallix said as he began walking toward Nylon, his mechanical joints creaking in tandem with heavy stomps.
"Izo, let this be a lesson to us." Nylon said ignoring the approaching Mamodo for a moment, "Never go anywhere opposing forces tell you to go. Let them come to you." Izo sighed exasperatedly, "I will definitely remember that next time."
"There won't be a next time." Professor Linda said menacingly and then said another spell, "Datar Rejun!" The light blue bar on Metallix's face glowed brightly, "Scanning…scanning." Metallix droned robotically. "What?" Nylon got in a battle stance again, not liking what was going on so far.
"That spell scans?" Izo thought, "Scans what? For a weak point, vitality rate, statistics, what?"
"Gigano Datarum." Professor Linda recited. Metallix raised one of five wire-like tentacles as it amassed light blue energy. Then, it released a concentrated blast of it. "Dodge that!" Izo yelled. "I know that!" Nylon responded as he expeditiously evaded to the right.
Izo grinned, "Perfect—" Right as he said that, Gigano Datarum , as if magnetized, pivoted back toward Nylon and struck him dead in his back. Izo's grin immediately faded as Nylon spat up blood, was knocked out of his Shigeruk state, and hit the ground. "No way…" Izo muttered in disbelief, his expression matching the tone of his voice.
"Datar Rejun allows Metallix to scan his opponent," Professor Linda explained, "so that the next spell casted will home on to the scanned target. It's inescapable."
Izo gripped the dark brown spellbook tightly in frustration, "This is what I get for coming into this blindly. Nylon and I are suffering because we fell into our opponents' hands throughout this whole battle!" Metallix turned to Izo and commanded firmly, "Relinquish that book. This battle is over."
Izo scoffed, giving both Metallix and Professor Linda the implication he was not going to hand it over. "Always the hard way." Professor Linda muttered forlornly.
"Of…course…it is…."
Metallix and Professor Linda shot surprised looks to a rising Nylon. Despite the bad injury he received to the back—which also nearly rendered his cloak nonexistent—from Gigano Daratum, the seventeen-year-old Mamado was standing back up, albeit painstakingly.
"I see you want to fight until the bitter end." Metallix said pointedly as he lifted up all of his wire-like tentacles. "A knight…never…flees his foe." Nylon replied determinedly. "A knight, you say? Interesting." Metallix said as light energy began convening in these tentacles, "Take that honor with you to the grave."
"Gigano Datarum!" Professor Linda said the spell loud and proud, hoping this would finally end the battle. "No! Nylon's strong but he can only stay up for so long!" Izo thought panicked, "I need to cast a powerful spell to save him—"
"GO BOREN!"
Out of nowhere, a powerful attack struck Metallix square in his torso. The mechanical Mamodo exclaimed in pain, and instantly lost the focus he was putting into Gigano Datarum. Metallix even fell on his back from the impact. Izo, and Nylon could only stare wide-eyed at the occurrence. It was certainly unexpected.
"Wh-Who's responsible?" Professor Linda shouted questioningly, knowing full-well Nylon could not have been the cause.
"So…you two are the reason for those blackouts at the airport." A calm and reserved voice said austerely. Nylon saw the person as he landed before him. He wore a long, white-haired Mamodo causing a Chinese-style outfit. "Do I…know you?" Nylon questioned.
"You don't," The male Mamodo responded as he looked at Nylon with a small smile, "Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Wonrei."
It was at this time someone placed a hand on Izo's shoulder. "Don't worry. You have allies now." The ash grey-haired male looked to see a dark-haired female wearing a predominantly red Chinese outfit like Wonrei. She was holding a royal purple spellbook. "Boy, am I glad to hear that. Things weren't looking up for me and Nylon," Izo said appreciatively and in relief, "My name, by the way, is Izo Uramori."
"And I'm Li-En." The girl know introduced as Li-En replied with a smile, "And that's Wonrei—"
Everone stopped talking when they heard a metallic thud: Metallix rising back to his feet with an aura of displeasure about him. "Now who do you think you are? You aren't invited here." Metallix said to Wonrei.
Wonrei tore his attention away from Nylon and gave Metallix a cold look, "I'm afraid that no longer matters. It seems you're responsible for the blackouts occurring at the airport and ultimately the city. Li-En and I are obligated to help assist Nylon and his bookkeeper from a threat like you."
"Hmph!" Metallix scoffed as his wire-like tentacles all aimed themselves at Wonrei and Nylon, "Linda, if you would so kindly." Professor Linda nodded as Metallix's spellbook began to glow again, "Certainly. Ganzu Datarum!"
"Li-En, a defensive spell!" Wonrei shouted as he extended his hands. "Rerudo!" Li-En recited, the royal purple spellbook glowing magnificently. As Metallix unleashed multiples blast of light blue energy, Wonrei created a green, glass-like shield in order to protect himself and Nylon from shots threatening to connect. "I wonder how long that small thing will work." Metallix said aloud as he kept up his assault.
"Ave Shield!" Suddenly, in addition to Wonrei's Reudo, a large steel shield manifested and further defended the two Mamodo against Ganzu Datarum.
"You still can fight, I see!" Wonrei said, looking at the struggling Nylon from the corner of his eyes. "Y-Yes," Nylon responded, "Even if reinforcements come…a knight must fight to the very last breath."
"Then let's do it." Wonrei said determinedly as they both dropped their defensive spells at the same time Metallix stopping using Ganzu Datarum. "Linda, have me scan them!" Metallix directed. "Datar Rejun!" Professor Linda, and the bar on Metallix's face glowing translucently.
"Redoruk!" In sudden flash of green light, Wonrei sprinted straight toward Metallix until he was right in front of them. "Go Redoruk!"
"HI-YA!" Wonrei then proceeded to kick Metallix's torso with great force, disrupting Datar Rejun and causing the mechanical Mamodo to drawl in pain.
"Shigeruk!" To futher add insult to injury, Nylon—coated in a silver aura and his body and clothing having a metallic sheen—jumped straight toward Metallix's face and drove his knee straight into that light blue bar.
The sounds of glass shattering echoed across the tense sea breeze as Metallix once again fell on his back. Professor Linda, meanwhile, could stand with utter disbelief in her hazel eyes. "I-Impossible…Metallix is getting knocked around in his true form!"
Both Wonrei and Nylon landed back on the ground, skidding on the surface for only two seconds before coming to a stop. "Gee, Wonrei. You certainly know how to fight." Nylon commented in an impressed tone. Wonrei shook his head as he said humbly, "It's nothing, really." Nylon arched a curious silver brow as he nodded in the direction of the struggling Metallix, "That was nothing? Your movements are both powerful and fluid compared to my rigid skills."
"And here I thought hand-to-hand wouldn't work against Metallix." Izo said as he looked at Li-En, "You two proved me wrong." Li-En replied, "That's just our power. The bond between Wonrei and I also strengthen the power of our spells. Through any situation, our bond makes sure we will win."
Izo smiled, "That's inspiring to hear." As the two bookkeepers conversed, Metallix attacked Wonrei and Nylon using either his wire-like tentacles, gigantic arms, or his powerful stomps. Much to the mechanical Mamodo's and his bookkeeper's chagrin, Wonrei and Nylon were evading the attacks. Li-En then asked, "But when do you suppose Nylon will reach his limit? I can tell it's a battle for him to continue dodging to the best of his ability."
"Not sure exactly; hard to tell in this situation." Izo replied, "I, on the other hand, am pretty low on heart energy."
With a roar of effort, Metallix attempted to punch Nylon, but the silver-haired Mamodo jumped back to dodge. When he landed, although he attempted to fight back, his injuries let loose a pang of pain throughout his body, causing him to fall on his left knee. "Now is my chance!" Metallix declared as pulled back his fist.
"Gar Redoruk!"
Professor Linda, unlike her Mamodo partner, noticed Wonrei coming at him as an energized, high-speed drill. This prompted her to say a defensive spell, "Datarudo! To your left, Metallix!" Hearing—and heeding—the words his bookkeeper, Metallix turned to the direction of Wonrei's Gar Redoruk and summoned a light blue, rhombus-shaped shield to block it.
"Well…I'm good for two more spells; a basic one and then one, last good one." Izo announced as Nylon's spellbook glowed ecru, "Shigeru." Nylon extended his arms, solidified whitish-silver energy inside the triangle formed by his forefingers and thumbs, and fired a steel ball at Metallix's right knee.
Because he was dealing with Gar Redoruk, Metallix was unprepared for the impact of it. As a result, he lost concentration to keep up his Datarudo, and Wonrei broke through it and struck Metallix in the head. "Great job, Wonrei!" Li-En said encouragingly as the fifteen-year-old Mamodo landed on the ground.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Metallx bellowed uncharacteristically, making everyone's eyes widen, "This travesty has gone on long enough! Linda, my strongest spell! Their deletion is now imminent!" Professor Linda hesitated; based on the sparks on Metallix's mechanical façade, she wasn't sure his body could handle the strain of their strongest spell against whatever Wonrei and Nylon could dish out. "I don't recall stuttering, Linda." Metallix spoke again sternly. "O-Okay!" Professor Linda went against her better judgment and decided to comply; the Alice-blue spellbook glowed vigorously as Linda poured the rest of heart energy into it.
"Uh-oh. Looks I don't have much of a choice." Izo said as he too put the rest of his heart energy into his brightly glowing spellbook. "Don't worry," Li-En said reassuringly as the royal purple spellbook glowed just as radiantly, "Our combined strongest spells will end this. Just trust in Nylon's abilities, and ours."
"Dioga Datarum!"
All of Metallix's wire-like tentacles glowed light blue as energy particles went into them. Then, he released all of this energy in the form a bright blue energy beam that seemed to engulf his body at the base of it.
"Rao Diboren!"
Wonrei slashed down, causing the apparition of a giant white tiger with three tails to appear from the arc of his slash. Rao Diboren and Dioga Datarum clashed powerfully, causing the ground to further crack from the resultant energy spike.
"Satetsu Shigeru!"
Nylon jumped high into the air and small silver lights appeared around and near his body. Then, Nylon sent out these lights, which assumed the form of glowing stainless steel blades. This powerful barrage assisted Rao Diboren in taking down Dioga Datarum and, since it also had more range than it, managed to attack the base of the beam. Professor Linda fell down from the initial shockwave, dropping Metallix's spellbook consequently, and one of those blades struck it, igniting it.
Now with this elimination for the tournament around the corner, Dioga Datarum started to falter in strength. With a cry of effort, Wonrei added pressure and Rao Diboren began going straight through Dioga Datarum. "…I've lost…" Metallix whispered in defeat the moment he saw the feral eyes of the white tiger glowering right in front of him.
It took a full two minutes for the dust and smoke to settle after Rao Diboren and Satetsu Shigeru ended the battle against Metallix. Li-En, Wonrei, Nylon, and Izo—the latter two were using each other as supports—all stood before a dematerializing Metallix with an unconscious Professor Linda at the side.
"You were a strong opponent, Metallix, I must admit. It was honor battling against you." Nylon proclaimed as Izo nodded in agreement. "That feeling is mutual. To you, and the newcomers." Metallix drawled, "Which is I must give you this information…"
The eyebrows of Li-En, Wonrei, Nylon, and Izo rose slightly in confusion.
"…You are being watched, so be careful." Metallix said mysteriously. When the last flicker of flames consumed his spellbook, Metallix disappear completely and returned to the Mamodo World.
"We're being watched? What does that mean?" Li-En asked aloud, looking at the now night sky pensively. "Whatever it means, let us all be on our guards from here on out." Wonrei stated.
"A knight is always prepared for the field of battle." Nylon responded resolutely, smiling. "And it was honor fighting alongside you two," Izo said thankfully, "It's odd how fate can be sometimes."
Li-En chuckled, "You're certainly right, Izo."
"And after seeing your skills, I would like to ask something." Wonrei spoke. Izo and Nylon looked at the Mamodo martial artist curiously, signaling him to continue. "Li-En and I are on our way to assist other friends. We're going to fight someone named Zofis and Mamodo from one thousand years ago in South America at Deboro Ruins. If it would be too much trouble on such short notice, we understand, but we would like to have as much allies as possible."
"Mamodo from one thousand years ago?" Izo repeated quizzically. "Sounds serious," Nylon said, "Well, I'm up for it, but we need to find out if it's too much on Izo's schedule. I can't go if Izo can't."
"Take your time! There's isn't that much of a rush!" Li-En responded, "Just make sure to let someone named Kiyo Takamine in Mochinoki City know your answer. We'll tell him about you two when we get the chance."
"Thank you!" Izo and Nylon bowed respectfully. "Oh, and Wonrei?" Nylon said to the Mamodo martial artist. Wonrei looked at the silver-haired Mamodo curiously, Yes?"
"Contemplate getting a haircut." Nylon joked as he grinned. Izo burst out laughing as Li-En giggled. For a moment, Wonrei simply gave Nylon a blank and expressionless look but smiling good-humoredly, "I'll keep that in mind. You just worry about building up your stamina."
As the four shared hearty sentiments after a victory well-earned, they had forgotten about Metallix's words—they were being watched.
"Deboro Ruins at South America…" Mystrael muttered as she leaned against one of the deactivated propeller wings of a windmill. "Seems like that is our next place is go, Mystrael." Myriam said, also leaning on another propeller wing.
"Let's just hope we're not leading ourselves on an unnecessary tangent." Mystrael stated. "We're not," Myriam replied, "You get to see what kind of candidates you have for Mamodo King, and I have the chance of possibly finding…him."
Mystrael smiled mysteriously, "So very true, Myriam. Now let us leave this scene." The lavender grey spellbook in Myriam's hands that were behind her back glowed lightly, "Maboruk."
In the darkness of the night, the two mysterious females disappear in search of their next clue.