CHAPTER 55: Onward to the Moon Ruins


We crossed the ocean and made our way to the main land. Guntz told me we were heading north of La-Lakoosha and further into the mountains. We were currently in a forest on our way to what Guntz told me was 'His objective', though i'm unsure what he means by that. It was still around nighttime, so we rested there. I was currently asleep...

Klonoa Jr was sleeping against the Red Clan while Guntz made a campfire out of sticks and was trying to stay awake. Guntz was deeply in thoughts while sitting in front of the campfire after he was done.

Guntz (Thinking): I still don't believe how i even got so far as up to now... How did i even get the title of 'The Golden Killer' again?

Guntz thought back to what was just about two years ago. He closed his eyes and began so roam into thoughts. It was as if memories quickly flashed by again...


A 15 year old Guntz arrived at the mountain roads of Mira-Mira at night on his Red Clan. There were a few bandits on motorcycles hanging around there. Guntz stopped as soon as they began blocking the road in front of him. They were all silently chuckling while staring at him. One of the bandits came up close and started to speak up.

Bandit: Heh! Hey boy, This is our turf. What makes you think you can just drive around here at this time?

Guntz seemed completely silent for a bit. But then he spoke up.

Guntz: ...You guys are the bandits i've heard about, huh?

Bandit: Oh wow, and what makes you think you can convince me to turn ourselves in?

Guntz: ...

The bandit then pulled out one of his knives and pointed it at Guntz.

Bandit: Well, speak up! Or get outta here before i'll kill you!

Guntz: ...Kill me, huh? Well, how about we do one race around here to decide what will happen? I'm not one who easily wants to kill others that quickly.

Bandit: ...Shit! I'd have no problem to kill a kid like you!

The bandit began to run and immediately jumped on his hoverbike, starting to take off and following the road at an intense speed. Guntz immediately followed soon after. The bandit pushed his engine and tried to make the corners of the mountain road. But he was driving pretty sloppy. Guntz however... he pulled pretty easy drifts at great speeds. Eventually, Guntz almost bumped into the Bandit's bike from the rear. He seemed pretty nervous.

Bandit: G-goddammit...!

Then Guntz tried to overtake him in the next corner. As it came up, Guntz easily pulled it off and stopped his bike in front of him. The bandit immediately stopped and seemed pretty terrified, but also furious.

Bandit: Screw you...! What do you think you are?!

Guntz: Me...? I'm just a hunter who's giving others a second chance. Now...

Bandit: You rotten piece of shit...! You think you could change our minds?!

The bandit reached for his revolver, but just before he could even aim, Guntz already grabbed his own pistol and easily shot the bandit through the head. The bandit immediately dropped dead on the road. Guntz sighed, spinned his own pistol and put it back.

Guntz: Geez... what a bunch of uneasy-going people you guys are...

The other few bandits came running up to the scene, where they immediately couldn't move out of fear after seeing his dead body. They even couldn't say a thing anymore. Guntz then turned his head towards them.


Then it cuts to a year foward. A 16 year old Guntz was in Volk City, deep and hidden underneath the city, at an organization in front of the boss at his office.

Guntz: The other three bandits that were wanted just gave in like that. But as for that other wanted guy... i had to kill him out of defense.

Boss: Oh? I see... So it was you who did that. You appear to be quite young. I'm surprised you haven't even made a name for yourself yet.

Guntz: Well... i don't think about it all too much. I just do my tasks. But there's numerous other things i have done you may recognize... Like the death of that well-hidden serial killer in in this city two years ago, Arresting that group of vandals in Joilant a few months ago...

Boss: Ho, ho... so you were into this kind of work for a longer time, huh?

Guntz: Right...

Boss: You should really make a name for yourself. Wait, i got a perfect one for you... the Golden Killer.

Guntz seemed to be a bit gleaming after hearing that.

Boss: What do you think?

Guntz: That... actually sounds pretty fitting.

Boss: I'm glad you like it. Well, i've gotta hand you a reward for all the deeds you did.

The boss reached for under his desk and handed over Guntz a bag of 500 dream stones. Guntz seemed pretty amazed. It was like nothing he's ever received before.

Guntz: Whoa...!

Boss: I hope this makes up for it.

Guntz: T-thank you! But anyways, that wasn't the main point why i came here...

Guntz started to speak up a bit better. Now it seemed he was asking for something actually serious.

Guntz: ...I need to know the whereabouts of both The Dream Traveler and that one bastard known as Janga... I'd pay you as much as you need if you want!

The boss lighted his cigarette, and started to slowly, and calmly inhale and exhale on it.

Boss: Alright, i can handle that for you for free.

Guntz: Hm? For free?

Boss: Yes... it's no biggie. My men are good enough to find the location of those two. Give it a few hours, and i'm sure to have results for you.

Guntz: Right. Thank you in advance.

Guntz then began walking out of the office. Then after a few hours passed, He returned. The boss sighed and lighted a cigarette again. He then slided over a picture to Guntz from the other side of the desk. He started to look at it. It was a picture from an area around south of Breezegale.

Boss: So this is what i received of the whereabouts of The Dream Traveler from my men. This one was an easy job. But as for the other...

The boss slided another picture over to him. Guntz looked at it carefully. This one was from what seemed like the ruins of a temple in the middle of a forest. But it was all blurry.

Boss: We got the picture, but a few of our men died... They suspect it's from somewhere around La-Lakoosha.

Guntz: I'm sorry to hear that...

Boss: It's okay. But Guntz, when you're going to visit that Janga, make sure to pay him back for what he's done to me and our men.

Guntz: Don't worry...

Boss: Hm?

Guntz stood up, turned his back and started walking towards the door. Just as he was about to exit, he turned back to the boss again.

Guntz: ...I was already planning on doing that regardless.

Then the memories faded... and it cuts back to the present.


Guntz (Thinking): Right... it was that boss who showed me the path of fate. Honestly, for how bad some make him out to be, he was actually a pretty nice guy...

But while Guntz was thinking, he sensed something flying towards him. He immediately opened his eyes, stood guard and catched what came towards him. He then looked carefully at it and noticed it was a dagger that was thrown at him.

Guntz: A dagger...?

Then a criminal came out of the darkness of the forest, while heading over slowly towards Guntz. He seemed to be chuckling a bit menacingly.

Criminal: Well, call me surprised! Catching my dagger at that speed?

Guntz immediately turned towards the criminal and started to look more serious towards him.

Guntz: Who are you...?!

Criminal: Me? Oh, who cares who i am. You two are setting foot in enemy territory. In the name of our master, i'll kill you both right now!

Then it struck Guntz... He gained a short memory back of the day his father died. Almost the exact words he heard of a certain someone before...

Janga (Flashback): In the name of Garlen, i shall assassinate you!

Guntz: Kch... So YOU'RE WITH THAT SHITHEAD CAT?!

The criminal grabbed another dagger and pointed it at Guntz. Guntz then grabbed his machine gun and shot at the dagger which made it fly out of his hand. The criminal seemed shocked and now a little bit feared while weaponless. He tried to immediately run away into the dark forest again, but then Guntz, while full of anger, shoved his head against the tree close by with quite some force. The criminal seemed to be a bit bleeding now.

Guntz: Tell me, who is it you're working for?! TELL ME!

Criminal: Urgh... Ehehe... Like hell i'd ever tell youuu...

Then Guntz aggressively shoved his face even harder against the tree and then pointed his pistol with a suppressor against his head. The criminal seemed to be almost bleeding out from the wounds he gained. But the criminal tried to keep chuckling and grinning.

Guntz: Now... if you don't tell me where he is, and WHO you're working for... I'll kill you right here!

Criminal: E-...ehehe... Garlen... and that temple close by a few miles...

Guntz: Garlen, huh? ...Just as i thought... Well, thanks for the info...

Guntz then pulled the trigger of his pistol, and shot the criminal through the head. He went flying a few meters into one of the bushes nearby.

Guntz: ...But i can't let you live with the choices your 'master' made.

Guntz sighed, then walked back to the campfire. He looked at Klonoa Jr who was still sleeping peacefully. Guntz smiled a tiny bit from seeing this. Guntz then started to lie down on the grass near the campfire and began trying to sleep.

Guntz: Sleep well, Klonoa...


Time passed, and it was now late-morning. Back over at Phantomile, Klonoa was in the woods near Breezegale looking for the largest tree he could find. Eventually he found it and knocked it down with one punch, making it fall over. He then picked the log up and started carrying it over to Balue's tower. Just as he got out of the woods however, Lolo got out of the front door of their house to call Klonoa over.

Lolo: Klonoaa~! Breakfast is ready!

Klonoa put the log down for a second and shouted back to let her know he heard it.

Klonoa: R-riight! I'll be there soon!

Klonoa then started to walk back to his home. But just as he was about to arrive, a soldier from Cress with a special telephone in his hand came from above and stopped in front of Klonoa.

Cress Soldier: Mr. Klonoa? Prince Huepow wanted to make a call to you.

Klonoa: Man, Huepow really could make the calling process a lot easier than it is...

Cress Soldier: Sorry, but the Queen wants it like that. I can't change it.

Klonoa: I know, it's okay. I know that it's not your problem.

Then the telephone in the hands of the Cress Soldier began to rang, and Klonoa picked it up.

Klonoa: Yeah?

Huepow (Telephone): Hey Klonoa. Umm... Do you might have an idea where our first son could be?

Klonoa: Your first son?

Huepow (Telephone): Yeah. You know, Hewpoe? I haven't seen him for three days...

Klonoa: Ohh... right...

Huepow (Telephone): Huh? What is it? Do you know where he could be?

Klonoa: Well, how do i say it... my son left on a journey. And i'm quite sure he was still in the Wind Ring.

Huepow (Telephone): What?!

Klonoa: Sorry... i should've told you that sooner. I'm sure he'll make it back safe in the end.

Huepow (Telephone): No, it's okay. I don't have any problem with him going as well myself... It's my wife who has a problem with that. That's why i'm calling right now.

Klonoa: Lephise is still pretty overprotective about him, huh?

Huepow (Telephone): Hehehe. Yeah, absolutely... But i'll try to argue it out with her. Anyways, have a good day, Klonoa.

Klonoa: Have a good day too, Huepow.

Klonoa hung up and returned the phone back to the Cress Soldier. The Cress Soldier took off, and Klonoa looked at the sky and the clouds while thinking to himself.

Klonoa (Thinking): I'm sure my son will make it back just fine... I'm sure of it.


Back over at the forest north of La-Lakoosha in Lunatea...

Guntz slowly woke up and tried to get up. As he opened his eyes, he checked himself and their belongings to see if everything was still intact. Nothing happened. Guntz seemed relieved.

Guntz: Thank goodness, everything's still here...

As the campfire was still on, Guntz picked up a piece of large raw meat they bought at Jugkettle and started to roast it. With the air nearby smelling a lot like cooked meat, Klonoa Jr slowly woke up as well after a while from the scent. Klonoa Jr yawned.

Guntz: ...Morning. Slept well?

Klonoa Jr: M-hmm...

Guntz: Good to hear it.

Klonoa Jr slowly got over to the campfire as well. Guntz was eventually done roasting the meat, and split it in two. He gave the other piece to Klonoa Jr. He seemed pretty surprised from just looking at the piece of meat alone.

Klonoa Jr: Ooohh...!

Klonoa Jr started to take a bite of his piece, as was Guntz of his own. Guntz never saw Klonoa Jr so happy before.

Klonoa Jr: Now i've been missing something that is as filling as this for quite a while...!

Guntz: Hah. I must say myself, this is pretty good.

Guntz then stood up after he finished his own piece, stretched his arms while yawning a bit, and started to walk back to the Red Clan.

Guntz: Yaaaawn... Well, tell me when you're done, okay? I wanna head out to our objective as soon as possible.

Klonoa Jr: Right!

Eventually, Klonoa Jr was done with his piece as well. He put out the fire using a tiny bit of the Wind Ring's wind energy and hopped on the Red Clan's back.

Guntz: Alright, now let's head out!


So the two went further to the north on the Red Clan through the forest. Eventually they arrived at what seemed like the giant ruins of a temple. Just before the entrance were a lot of tents and a few shops nearby. Guntz stopped his Red Clan just before the entrance and they both stepped off.

Guntz: Well... This is it. Klonoa, let's go immediately.

Klonoa Jr: Hmm... Maybe we should gather some info before entering ourselves?

Guntz: ...Doesn't seem all that bad of an idea.

Klonoa Jr and Guntz walked over to one of the tents nearby. It appeared to be the tent of a traveling merchant. Klonoa Jr speaked up a bit.

Klonoa Jr: Hello?

Then a merchant slowly got out of the tent as he heard Klonoa Jr. It's revealed to be Diglo. He seemed a bit confused.

Diglo: Huh?

Klonoa Jr: We were just about to head in over to the ruins over there... could you tell us some things we need to know?

Diglo: ...Don't enter.

Klonoa Jr: Wha-? Why not?

Diglo: Just don't go. Please. I don't want you two to get hurt in there as well.

Guntz: Well, that's quite a thing for you to say. I don't know, but don't look down on me, lad.

Klonoa Jr: What he said. We will be fine!

Diglo: I'm glad you have a lot of courage. But my comrades haven't returned for days since they left... I don't know what happened. But all i know is... to not go in there again.

Klonoa Jr: Haven't returned, eh? Well. That seems like all the more reason for me to go in there!

Diglo: But there's monsters wandering in the ruins... and there was a certain unknown group going in there who are truly frightful to us all! We don't even know who they are, because nobody ever made it that deep into the ruins and returned alive...

Guntz: Certain group...? Well that's certainly the seal of my mind for me. We're going in. Klonoa, i got a great plan for this.

Klonoa Jr: Yeah?

Guntz went to a shopping tent to buy something and came back with two walkie-talkies and handed one over to Klonoa Jr.

Guntz: We're splitting up. You'll enter the left side of the ruins, while i'll go to the right. These two devices are for communicating at a distance. We'll contact when necessary.

Klonoa Jr: Oohh... That's a pretty good plan, yeah!

Guntz: I know right? I'm a total genius.

Then the two started to head off to the entrance of the temple. But Guntz stopped for a second and yelled back at Diglo.

Guntz: Hey man, didn't you say "nobody ever made it that deep into the ruins and returned alive"?

Diglo: Ummm... y-yeah...

Guntz: That means you must know there are deeper areas, right? What do you know that i don't?

Diglo: I-i won't say anything...

Guntz: Tch. Whatever. Klonoa, let's go!

Klonoa Jr: O-okay...

Diglo sighed. The two were running over to the entrance of the temple and started to enter it. With Klonoa going in from the left side, and Guntz going in from the right side. What could await them next?