Chapter 9: The fighting way of Kamata Crafters
The Shadow Talos prepares to attack the crafters, but in an instant, the first opponent is the samurai boy, he blocks its path with his blades crossed and making it jump back a little.
-If you want them, defeat me first, you damn thing! – Musashi menaces the shadow with his swords in hand, but the shadow just tilts his head.
-if you insist, anyways, you will the first one I will crush, little pest- the shadow says with disdain, after say that comment, he produces a replica of Musashi's swords with the black fire, both fighters launch themselves to then clash their blades at high speed, the fights keeps like this during some minutes until the shadow gains the upper hand, its speed suddenly overcomes the speed of the samurai, Musashi tries to gain more speed but in a second of distraction, he gets open to receive an elbow blow in stomach leaving him breathless, the samurai tries to get some air and take another swords, but then is beaten again with a strong kick to the head launching him far from his spot, the crafters and the summoner see this shocked by the ruthlessness of Shadow Talos.
-Hephaestus…you made him like this, isn't it? You must know what to do in these cases…- Takemaru asks him overwhelmed trying to keep composure.
-I never c-considered a situation like this, I need some time to know w-what to do- Hephaestus answered concerned and thinking about the possible ways to stop Shadow Talos.
-whatever you thinking, think fast now Heph-niki…- Kurogane says to the Olympian equally concerned, and pointing to the possessed robot coming to them.
The Shadow Talos proceeds to attack again, but is stopped in a moment by another opponent, Jūtarō uses Boundless Tail using the rule to cut distances, at the same time Amatsumara uses his sacred artifact to beat down Shadow Talos, but the blow is stopped in air catching the hammer with its hands, this distracts it and receives the long slash, but it doesn't affect it at first, the summoner runs and slashes the shadow's thorax giving time to Amatsumara to use his hammer again, Jūtarō keeps fighting alongside the older crafter, the shadow Talos starts to feel the slashes from Boundless Tail and is pinned down by its opponents at both sides keeping it at bay to make another move, then the shadow screams furiously and releases a shockwave to stuns them, after that, Takemaru helps Amatsumara, Kurogane and Hephaestus help Jūtarō to rise up.
-Lend me your sword a second, Construct of the Gods! - the youngest crafter touches the sword and uses his artificial arm to copy Boundless Tail and makes another sword in air.
- Old Man! Stay behind me! – the oni stands in front of his adopted grandpa and takes his hammer sacred artifact from his belt.
- I can still fight, Takemaru! -the older crafter replies and prepares to fight again.
-M-Mama, I promised you I will protect you, rest now please- Hephaestus says to the summoner and ignites his inner fire, making his scars from his head burn in blazes, stepping in front of him.
-Do you really think you will defeat me, fucking bunch of geeks! You will perish before I accomplish the original purpose of this puppet I'm manipulating right now!- the shadow replies with its twisted voice and this time throws black fireballs from its hands.
-Takkoku No Iwaya!- Takemaru screams and creates a miniature black hole hitting the air with his hammer sucking up all the black fire until consume the last embers.
-Hitotsume No Muraji!- Amatsumara yells hitting the ground with his sledgehammer creating whirlwind of fire enclosing the Shadow Talos, meanwhile Hephaestus talks to Jūtarō and Kurogane.
-Kurogane, listen to me, when the whirlwind has vanished, you will attack first- then the Olympian burns brighter his fire and takes some screwdrivers from his belt impregnating them with his it.
-and what you will do then? - Jūtarō asks to the transient a little reluctant with the plan, Hephaestus responds with seriousness
- I-I will fight like I did before I made Talos, I h-hope this results- the whirlwind of fire vanishes, but there is a black sphere where the whirlwind was triggered, the sphere is dissipated and Shadow Talos comes back to fight jumping out toward the oni and the older crafter, Takemaru and Amatsumara prepare themselves to make the same movement, but Shadow Talos was faster this time making a punch to the ground after landing from the jump generating a black geyser stunning them, Amatsumara get unconscious but Takemaru resists but is weakened by that attack.
-damn you, shitty tin man! – the oni says still weakened to use his sacred artifact but he still holds it to use its power, the shadow prepares to give the final blow to the carpenter until he feels another slash from behind, Kurogane had used his replica of Boundless Tail and Hephaestus throws the screwdrivers like darts in the shadow's back, later the Olympian snap his fingers to make his screwdrivers explode, Shadow Talos is stunned by the explosion for some seconds to be hit again by the summoner's sacred artifact, this buys enough time to Kurogane to pick up Takemaru and the unconscious Amatsumara to their side, the older crafter was regaining his conscience slowly.
Shadow Talos gets up from the ground with a little difficulty, it stretches its possessed body and reincorporates to fight again, the remaining crafters and the summoner repeats the same fight plan, but this time Shadow Talos grabs Kurogane's neck and menaces to snap it.
-listen me you both, if you want to save him, drop the weapons and make Hephaestus come with me-
-why you want Hephaestus? What he did to you? – Jūtarō asks to the shadow in a determined tone.
-that is not of your concern…wait, it is of your concern! you're the cause of this, Mama! - the Shadow responds angered.
-Me? The cause? explain yourself! – Jūtarō orders to the shadow.
-why I have to say it? It will be better if Hephaestus reminds you why he made Talos and his secret droid platoon - the summoner remembers that detail when Shadow Talos said those words, but during their conversation, Kurogane still at the shadow's grasp he takes some of the black fire from the shadow's joints.
-Construct of the Gods! – the Guild Master of the crafters takes his replica of Boundless Tail to imbued it with the black fire to reenforce it before disappears and stabs the shadow's arm joint to separate it and free himself, it works, Shadow Talos tries to caught him, but it's attacked again by screwdrivers in the chest and another explosion is triggered.
-fuck you Hephaestus! just let me accomplish the original purpose you gave to this puppet! – Shadow Talos yells with more anger in his distorted voice after it restores itself because of the explosion.
- what does that shadow means, Heph-niki? Why Talos is attacking us? – Kurogane asked him concerned.
-If I told you, all of you will hate me, I can't do it- the Olympian says afraid of tell the truth, but another voice tells him what to do.
-It's OK Hephaestus, you can tell us after this fight is over- Amatsumara said still weakened by the black geyser, but conscious enough to hear their arguments.
-Old Man…-Hephaestus said with a feeling of unawareness of what will happen after their fight is over, for now, all the attention has to go to Shadow Talos, who was recovering strength to keep fighting.
-Did you finish, damn shitty geeks! GIVE ME HEPHAESTUS NOW!- Shadow Talos yells and shoots its cannon arm to them, the group scatters to avoid the shot, but the shockwave it made was enough to leave some of them indisposed, Amatsumara, Kurogane and Takemaru from one side, Hephaestus and Jūtarō at the other, the old crafter and the oni were injured to keep fighting, Kurogane was weakened to keep using his sacred artifact because of using the black fire and the cannon shot leave him without enough strength, now it depends of Jūtarō and Hephaestus to fight.
- M-Mama! Are you Ok? - the Olympian transient rises his head after the explosion from the cannon shot was settled, he sees the summoner a little stunned but still living and kicking.
-my head is buzzing a little, but I can keep, and you? – the dragonborn answers and asks to his Olympian friend.
- I'm l-like you now, my back hurts M-Mama, but I can still fight too- the transient says while both stand up from the ground, Shadow Talos runs toward them fast to reach them, Jūtarō seeing this, grabs Hephaestus and uses the rule to cut gravity and both avoid any attack to land in another spot.
Shadow Talos takes speed again, the summoner and the transient cannot escape this time, the shadow forms a claw with its hand engulfed in black flames to slash them both, but in a quick movement, Hephaestus protects Jūtarō receiving the slash in his back, the summoner is shocked while the Olympian yells because of pain and falls over his knees.
-Hephaestus! why?!- the summoner yells watching him fall but the Olympian still has some strength.
-I told you…I-I will protect you… Jūtarō…don't worry for this, I can cure myself, it would be just another scar, just give me some time- Hephaestus says still in the same position.
The shadow was in a standby mode to attack again with the claw, while Hephaestus was recovering from the injury, the summoner was preparing his sword to defend himself and the transient, but something was happening, after the claw it made slashed Hephaestus' flesh, the flames from the Olympian nullified the black flames, decomposing the claw, no just that, the summoner notices the injuries from the screwdrivers were not healing well, making some spots in the possessed robot's body.
-Give me Hephaestus "Mama", I must finish this now…- Shadow Talos ordered with its distorted voice.
-Over my dead body- Jūtarō responds with determination, but slightly tired at the same time.
Shadow Talos don't answer to him, instead it reassumes the fight, this time, the shadow fights with just its bare hands, the summoner keeps fighting using Boundless Tail, both have a clash of blows against slashes, it was like the previous fight with Musashi, Jūtarō resists the blows with all his strength looking for a clear path to cut through the barrier of blows from Shadow Talos, Hephaestus was still recovering slowly, but what he feared most was the welfare of the summoner, he stands up still injured and runs to the summoner's side, Jūtarō keeps receiving blows and tries again to slash the shadow, but like Musashi did, one moment of distraction make him being hit and leaving him breathless, Shadow Talos was going to give the final blow, Jūtarō closed his eyes but after a brief lapse of silence, he notices nothing happened, opens his eyes and notices something happened, Hephaestus was stand up in front of him facing Shadow Talos with his arms extended, the shadow hold the blow when he saw finally who he wanted.
-hmph…you finally decide to fight me, "Creator"- Shadow Talos said with confidence to Hephaestus, who was breathing heavily from the run, but his flame was burning brighter than before.
-you took my creation, my T-Talos was suffering because of you, I'm still don't know who you are, but what I can assure you is…IF YOU TOUCH MY GUILDMATES, OR MY MAMA…YOU WILL BECOME JUNK BY MY OWN HANDS, NOW GIVE ME BACK MY TALOS NOW!