The 14th Zoalord

Chapter 26

Confrontation

"We had our people check the coordinates, Master Agito, satellites show a newly formed island." "It's a trap, obviously, Shizu," Agito sat with folded hands, "But the gauntlet has been thrown. Any word from our operatives within CHRONOS." "Most of them have been captured, sir, a mass crackdown." Shizu began, "And there are rumors that Czyvek has gone insane." Agito laughed. "Mikhail Czyvek has been insane for years." "He has taken on a completely new identity since the attack on Cloud Gate by Aptom. He's begun calling himself "Typhon." "Zeus defeated Typhon once, I needn't fear him now." Agito's voice was flat, emotionless. "Ready things for me. After all the trouble Typhon has gone through to bring about his own death, we would be rude to disappoint him."

Lord Typhon still hovered above the cooling mass of rock that made up the newborn island, waiting for Zeus to come. He would come, he couldn't ignore such a . . . Forceful invitation. He gazed across the horizon toward the west, toward America, where the traitor maintained his home base, and clicked his fangs in anticipation. Soon enough he saw several dark figures approaching. Agito, Griselda, and . . . Is that a helicopter? A military type transport helicopter, loaded, no doubt, with Libertus. He probably thinks I've surrounded this island with my Aquatic brothers. Typhon smiled. I could blast that chopper from the air with a flick of my finger, but that would be rude, and it would spoil the surprise. He made no move toward his approaching enemies, they'd be there soon enough. Yes, drive him swiftly to his tomb.

That arrogant . . . he's just hovering there, watching us. He's not even going to come greet us. Agito signaled for Griselda to circle around. Czyvek was the only Zoalord in sight, the only other person in sight, but safe was better than dead. He approached the island warily and came up level with Typhon. "You surprise me, Czyvek. I knew that you were insane, but this is a bit much, even for you." "That is "Lord Typhon" to you, "Zeus!" "So you have truly gone insane . . . well, more insane." "Are we going to fight, or do you want to have tea? You kept me waiting a long time. I want to kill you as soon as possible." Agito laughed at Typhon's presumptuousness. The weakest Zoalord I have ever faced, and he believes he can destroy me! "Very well then, Typhon." Guyver Gigantic's arms blades shot out, Agito was certain not much more would be needed.

Behind him, Agito heard the sounds of screams, he turned just in time to see his Libertus transport shatter the ground beneath it and tumble, fully manned, into a pool of lava, exploding into a massive ball of flames. "It appears that the lava hadn't completely cooled, a pity." Lord Typhon struck the distracted Guyver in the face with force of a small meteor. "And you should not allow yourself to be so easily distracted!"

Within a matter of seconds the skies around the island began to swirl into a massive hurricane, as Typhon deftly avoided a blast from Griselda. Agito immediately rushed back towards the Zoalord, fighting against the howling winds and rain that suddenly inundated the island. Griselda rushed Typhon from the other side, but the diminutive Zoalord easily dodged both and vanished into the howling winds. "Master Agito?" Griselda looked around desperately for any sign of Typhon, as the winds began to grow even more vicious. "He's camouflaged against the weather somehow.! Just fire into the storm!" Suddenly Agito felt a powerful force beneath him as a tornado of wind and flames began to form on the island, followed by another, and yet another. The force was incredible. "This is for Lord Yentsui!" Agito turned as an invisible fist propelled him into Griselda, knocking them both into the howling winds of a tornado. Griselda was the first to emerge, forcing her way through the centrifuge and blasting a wide arc towards the direction that Typhon's voice had come from. Agito emerged seconds later, the winds were deafening now, and hail was falling along with the rain. Where is he?

Above the storm! Czyvek is a small man, he couldn't possibly cope with these winds any better than we can, could he? Gigantic Dark opened his Mega-Smasher cannon and fired directly into the eye of the hurricane. And then the island exploded. The small mountain that had been the center of the island erupted with a monstrous fury. Both Agito and Griselda were flung into the raging wasters.

Lord Typhon watched them struggling nearby, safely camouflaged against the soot darkened seas. He had closed off his lung slits and breathing tubercles to avoid drowning, he could hold his breath for hours, and sunk to a calm depth of dark ocean, before activating the explosives planted around the fragile volcano. It had worked perfectly. Soot, ash and molten rock were pouring down from the skies, blanketing the ocean surface in a thick, black mire.

Typhon moved back further, careful not to betray his presence. Now for the second phase. Zeus, meet Charybdis!

The waters beneath Gigantic Dark began to swirl into a massive maelstrom, dragging the Guyver deeper into the heart of the ocean. Griselda, rushed to help him, and was caught within the whirlpool herself. I wonder how deep the ocean is here? The pressure at the bottom must be incredible... I wonder how much pressure it takes to crush a Guyver...

To be continued . . .