【52 - The Breakup, the Breakdown! Journey to the Caves!】
YouTube: Tropical Night - Nature Sounds for Sleeping - Frogs & Crickets - 11 Hours Long - Relaxing HD Video
Endeavoring to free themselves took how long, forty minutes? An hour? It was hard to say, but the time passed tensely and Kanoa couldn't help looking around, trying to spot any Anemeon tribesmen who might appear. If they were watching they'd not cottoned on to what Dominic was doing. He crouched with head lowered, almost like he was praying, and Kanoa was standing so as to conceal Dominic's elbow from the direction of the forest as he sawed away. The makeshift exit was hanging on by threads when Dominic slid his father's pocketknife over to Luano. The jerk had been hissing at them to hurry up non-stop and now that he finally had the blade he scrambled to saw at the branches of his cage. Kanoa had almost decided to leave him behind. Almost. From the look on Heidi's face he could tell she'd been thinking the same.
When it was time to go they went fast. Kanoa and Dominic were strong guys and managed to rip their way out. It took Luano a few extra seconds of struggling but then he was free as well. They picked a direction and Heidi sprinted for the jungle as the fastest among them. She sprang over the sponge-colored ruins and landed in marsh. She raced into the trees and could only hope she wasn't about to disturb something poisonous as they dashed madly in the dark, bare feet thudding.
A whizzing alerted them. Darts flew through leaves and hit trunks. One pierced Luano in the neck and he managed a few more feet before collapsing forward.
"Shit!" Heidi exclaimed as they all paused with uncertainty.
"You guys go!" Dominic yelled and hauled the slurry guy onto his back.
"But what about-"
"Go!" Dominic cut Heidi off. "Save Meilani."
Kanoa nodded in appreciation. Dominic shifted Luano up his back then ran off into the wilderness. Another dart whizzed on by and Heidi raced after Kanoa, but inside she was deeply worried for her friend.
They tore through prehistoric ferns and oversized leaves. It was the coolest part of the tropical night, and they were stuffy and sweating. The moon was bright as it came in and out of view from the canopy above. Kanoa knew this island best, like the back of his hand, and in time the sounds of their pursuers grew distant. They didn't let up running until finally breaking out onto a beach, the white sand was eerie under the bright moon. The two had to stop and catch their breath for almost a full minute.
"I don't... know what to do." Heidi panted. "Is there some kind of distress signal at camp... where we can call the nearest authorities?"
"I'm going straight for Meilani." The weight in Kanoa's words struck her.
"We can't! We need backup! Look what just happened when we crashed one lieutenant's hideout, we got captured!"
"And then we got free and rescued Luano."
"Luano and Dominic might be dead right now!" Heidi screamed at him, unable to consider the risk of being overhead. "We had Dominic's knife! All of that was just luck!"
"I don't care!" Kanoa wasn't thinking straight. There was nothing to consider, nothing to be done, he had to find himself a canoe and sail to the caves. And if he was caught, well he couldn't afford to think about that now. "You go back to the village and tell the elders to send a message for help."
"I said I wasn't going to leave your side! Why can't you just be rational about this!"
Kanoa turned away from her and started going. Heidi bristled and followed, yelling after him "you stupid dumb bastard!"
"The village is the other way, Heidi." Kanoa said back, eyes forward.
"Kanoa! You're making a mistake! Idiot! Bastard!" She chased after him for several metres but when he wouldn't slow she stopped. Her eyes welled up, she hated everything about this. Cursing the day she ever wanted to meet the other chosens, she turned and ran back the other way.
Heidi ran for a while, angry and scared. Then she saw blazing torches ahead and knew she'd run into a search party still out checking the shores for Luano. At her shouts they hurried over and when Heidi saw Malo among them she wrapped her arms around the big guy and wept angry tears into his chest. He cupped her head.
"What happened?"
"The Anemeons had Luano and-and we got him free but then he-he got a dart in his neck and Dominic ran off with him so we could escape..."
"Ngā Hakatauākī..." he spoke softly and hugged her tighter, more reminiscent now of an uncle than ever before. "We'll take you back."
"I'll go send word to the chief." One man said and started running, another went to go with him.
"Kanoa's going to fight the pirates alone because they have Meilani." Heidi mumbled as Malo held on, directing them back to camp. "They'll kill him this time... and he still has Jupiter with him. We're going to lose everything..."
The remaining two tribeswomen ran ahead to the village because Heidi was still too worn out to run for prolonged periods. Instead she walked with Malo and he stroked her hair, tried to reassure her while the warm ocean waves washed over their ankles and pulled back again, a ceaseless rhythm.
Together they walked until a shadow darted in front of them. Suddenly the beach, the stars, the tropical heat was all gone. The two stood in a horribly familiar pocket dimension of swirling purple and blackness. The ground was smooth like black glass, it was cold and they wrapped arms around themselves, dressed in only bare tribal apparel. Before them was a feminine man with void eyes trained on Heidi. Long raven hair and the onyxes on his ears framed his face. His shimmering kimono was silver. He needed no introduction - it was Gatekeeper Pluto. This was a sick deja vu, a horrible replay and Heidi knew instantly what was coming.
"Please no," she shook her head at the impassive figure. She tried angling herself between them "Please don't do it!"
"What is this?" Malo was worried. "Who are you?"
"Don't talk to him!" Heidi shrieked but it was too late.
Pluto raised his head and noticed Malo. With a thought he exploded in a great mess of blood, bones and guts. Then with red splatter on his face Pluto returned his neutral gaze to her.
Just like with Soroban. Heidi grabbed her head and wailed, falling to her knees. There was so much blood. A huge puddle of it, and bobbing chunks of meat. She hissed breaths and Pluto just watched her.
"It seems the chosens are at their limit." Pluto finally said. "You couldn't put up a good fight against my General after all. How disappointing."
"...does the fact you're here mean we've lost one of us?" Heidi spoke bitterly, head still lowered and clasped between her hands.
"Yes."
"So is Kanoa dead, then?"
"No. I wasn't referring to the chosen nature duellist."
Heidi took a moment to process that "...not like it matters. We should've never stayed in one place. Of course this was going to happen. I give up..."
"You do?"
"I don't want to be the hero anymore."
"Then if you don't wish to entertain me there's no reason to let you live." At Pluto's words she felt herself tensing in place. "However... I won't be the one that ends you. I'll leave that to my General and his forces because while you humans are endlessly basic, sometimes... you are surprising." He gave the slightest of smiles and then Heidi heard the gentle crash of the surf.
She was back on the beach and Pluto was gone.
There was one last thing she could do. Heidi should be more concerned with the blood all down her front, but she wasn't. Her mind had finally snapped. Instead she pulled out her deck and extracted Mars. The card shone red in her hands, she closed her eyes and focused.
The phoenix became clear in her mind's eye, clearer than even her normal vision. He gave a songbird cry and watched her with smoking white eyes, aware of her great distress.
I sorted out my problems before. Heidi thought to her phoenix. But then life happened again. We're outnumbered, without the tribe together our only chance would be that boat we came in, I could grab Kanoa with or without Meilani and then try to outrun the pirate ship... I... Mars watched her silently. I don't like our chances. Kanoa is so stubborn! In some ways he's worse than Amira, at least she cared about keeping herself alive. Kanoa is blind-sighted by love. Guess it's been a while since I felt like that...
Heidi thought of Sione who was still out searching with the others. She thought of their 'almost' situation. The way the two of them danced around a line of being together. Heidi had dodged his kisses, but she still found herself meeting him regularly, alone. Mars gave a huff from his beak.
I wanted to say to you... that I don't care about this anymore. None of this is how things were supposed to go. I can't be the only one pushing for my team to fight some futile battle, when I don't even know what I'm doing anyway. Do you get that? Do you get that this whole mission is pointless, you big dumb bird!?
Mars unleashed a furious cry that snapped Heidi awake to her surroundings. The waves washed over her legs. The blood on her torso had dried there.
She looked down and saw she was holding two cards. As Mars dimmed down Heidi noticed on top of it was another phoenix. Supernova Apollonus Dragerion. It was the mysterious phoenix she'd dreamt of way back then. First at home before she'd ever faced a lieutenant, and then second when she was imprisoned in that government facility. All this time she'd wondered about it and whether she'd see it. Now here it was. Heidi held it close to her face in the dim, scouring over its stats.
It evolved from three dragons. It was on 15,000 but its meteorburn doubled its power when attacking and gave it world-breaker - the ability to break all shields. She remembered facing off against Abzo Dolba's 21,000 power and the way it'd subsumed her. 30,000... Now all this power was hers... How would it feel in a life-threatening Kaijudo duel, standing there and commanding this much power?
Her eyes burned into the card, the power was a thrill like nothing else. She started laughing, madly.
If nobody would help her be the hero, then her new ambition would be power. It was decided. She would seek all the power she could find, and fight all the powerful opponents she came across. She'd embrace the ecstasy of battle, commanding otherworldly power. Witness the clashing of forces, like suns exploding against each other, and she would be victorious. And she would never stop. It would never satisfy - the highs would make her seek it out more and more. She'd keep fighting always, seek greater and greater power always. Not to rule over anyone, but simply living for the fight itself. I'm power-hungry.
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🌴 Ocean Ambience on a Tropical Island (Maldives) with Soothing Waves & Paradise View for Relaxation.
Kanoa jogged along the beach with one thought in mind: to save his beloved no matter what. He knew it was around here somewhere... He rounded a familiar bay and there it was: the canoe him and Meilani had ridden ashore after seeing the pirates. It was angled, its sail still up and buffering against the night breeze. Kanoa ran to it, and after checking the insides for unwanted animal nests, he pushed it back out onto the water. Once the canoe was moving he ran into the ocean and swung himself aboard. Then like he'd done since he was little, he pulled on the strings, angling the sail and getting swept away from the island.
The moon had now dropped out of view behind the mountains, and there was barely enough light to see and dodge the various isles in the waters out here. But once Kanoa steered clear of the final one he was ocean-bound. With the temperate wind blowing through his short hair, he steered himself around the black water. It took about fifteen minutes to see the caves and Kanoa steered for the shore by the rocks.
Unfortunately the underside of his ship dragged against a rock, gouging a hole that started to fill with water. Kanoa started scooping water and aimed for the closest dry surface. The canoe was half-full when he stepped off onto a boulder. He turned around and watched the ship turn sideways and then sink. At least he didn't have to worry about hiding it. Kanoa turned and sprang to another rock across the water. He jumped between several more and then reached the rocky outcrop. The wide entrance to the caves was on the other side and Kanoa would have to do his best to sneak. So he stuck close to the cliff face and slinked around, eventually noticing a pirate atop an egg-shaped boulder, five metres tall. He was sitting and drinking rum. Kanoa snuck carefully, keeping out of sight and ducking into the caves.
There was light inside, an eerie cyan glow coming from the water. It was bioluminescent fungi. Kanoa crept along the tunnel. When he heard talking he stopped and did his best to hide. The voices got louder, echoing about the space before they got quieter without passing him. Kanoa continued on and found a bisecting tunnel, he rounded the corner and went away from the fading voices. The sea caves had one great passage, big enough to sail a vessel through, and many smaller gaps. Kanoa was sure Meilani would be with the ship, and that ship was probably in the heart. The still lake in the deepest bowels of the cave. The passage widened and Kanoa jumped down into ankle-deep water.
He heard a clang and froze. Clang, clang. It was getting closer. There was no place to hide here, even if he squeezed himself against the rocks he wouldn't be out of sight. Clang! A cutlass clashed lazily against the rocks ahead and a robust pirate with long matted hair stepped out and halted. A seedy smile worked its way up his face.
"Well well, what do we 'ave here?"
"Where is she?" Kanoa demanded in a low voice.
"She's a right pretty one. Strong-willed too. She ya girlfriend?"
"Pirate scum!" Kanoa zipped open his pouch and took out his deck, his hand igniting with green. "Kettou da!"
"Yarr the chosen, aint ya? The Hero of the Islands who can't control his phoenix. If ah bring ya corpse to Kaizoku ah'll be first mate for sure!" He held out his deck and it became engulfed in white fire. Tables appeared and they stepped carefully over wet rocks to take their marks. Kanoa was hoping he could somehow defeat this man without alerting more. The pirate took the first turn "Ah charge mana, don't I?" The multi-civilization card shone between darkness and nature.
Kanoa had once more started with his chosen phoenix in hand. His frown curved down his face, he charged Jupiter first. His opponent charged light-darkness and passed back, looking equally determined to bring down a chosen.
"I summon Yattar Wan and charge an additional mana!" Kanoa declared, dropping a second Marinyan beside his first. Aside from Jupiter reminding him of his recent loss against Luano, Kanoa was happy to see the rest of his hand allowed for a straightforward strategy. The spritely fox raised a fist in eagerness.
"Ah summon Berlin, Bell Gravekeeper!" The pirate announced after charging more dual-coloured mana. Kanoa saw the familiar hedrian atop its golden bell and frowned.
"You pirate bastards all use the same deck type, don't you?"
"Ah wouldn't underestimate our crew, islander boy! Turn end!"
Kanoa charged with his spell. "I summon Dandy Eggplant! I take Kabra Katabra from my deck and replace him with the Leaf Storm Trap in my mana. Done!" The big purple veggie tapped its club against its shoulder; beside him the fox's hanging tongue lolled about.
"Going slow, as expected." The pirate charged water-light "Ah summon Dreaming Moon Knife and boost King Alcadeias, Dark Gaia!" The otter somersaulted into play with its double-bladed spear, landing right beside the oozing Berlin.
Dark, light, nature and water. This seemed exactly like the duel Kanoa had months ago. At least I know what I'm up against, he thought as he drew.
"I summon Nam=Daeddo, Bronze Style!" The green beast folk landed on heavy feet. "Mana Arms 3, I boost mana. Go!"
"Ya really think ya can order me around, boy?" He gave his ugly smile "I expand the D2 field Wild Safari Channel, D of Great Revolution!" A golden lion head emerged, roaring as its eyes blazed. The surrounding boulders trembled and the water rippled. Sneaking his way to Meilani seemed all but impossible now. "Every multi-coloured card in me mana counts as two."
"But almost every card in your mana is multi-coloured!" Kanoa realised and the pirate started laughing.
Just like that his foe had doubled his mana, meaning now he could afford to summon his strongest creatures. This wasn't just like the other deck he'd faced after all. The only positive was the guy was on his last card, but if Kanoa was to win he'd need to act now.
"No charge. I summon Sasoris, Dragon Edge!" His six mana all turned. "I bring out Boaroaxe!" The masked squirrel raised his paw as a hyperspatial vortex opened, the dreaded tomahawk falling into his grip. "Boaroaxe lets me summon a nature creature from my mana zone that costs 5 or less when it enters play and whenever Sasoris attacks. So… I bring out Marinyan who brings out Reddull to make Sasoris a speed attacker!"
"What!" The pirate yelled with eyes bulging, furious that Kanoa was beating him to the punch.
The pink-haired cat-girl cheered as she entered play and a spiked red temple wedged into the path behind Kanoa.
Kanoa twisted his card "Sasoris attacks and I bring out a second Marinyan who brings out Euru=Bucca, Mystery Gathering Ruins!" There was another crash and shakes, brittle falling from above as the Jurassic green ruins fell in front of Reddull.
The pirate didn't block as Sasoris swung his weapon through glass. No trigger.
"I'm done and since the total cost of creatures on my field totals to 23, Boaroaxe dragsolutions into Boaropagos, Evil Emperor Ruins!" A third temple crashed even closer and this time rocks from above loosened and fell free, starlight flooding the space. Multi-coloured rivers flowed from the dinosaur statues' mouths. There were voices approaching, more pirates were rushing to investigate the scene and Kanoa felt his insides drop despite taking the lead.
"Ah summon Heaven's Rosia, True Dragon Edge and bring out Endless Heaven, True Holy Church!" The familiar gold soldier jumped out, decorated in green and blue. He raised his arms and evoked electric chains that sent a familiar gleaming structure crashing down behind the pirate.
"I was expecting that much."
"Wise guy, huh? Well now mana arms 5 will keep me shields safe until ah get to finish ya with Neverend."
"If you can bring him out. I start and since I have more than 2 nature creatures in the battle-zone Euru=Bucca dragsolutions into Reijiru=Euru=Bucca, Mystery Ruinskind!" The earthy dragon stomped forth amidst the others as Kanoa's seventh creature. With a total of 29 mana he didn't have enough to dragsolution Verokiboaros… it meant he had to rely once more on his less reliable trump. "I summon Kabra Katabra and from my mana I put into the battlezone… Supernova Jupiter King Empire!"
As Kanoa lifted his chosen card his body was fully engulfed in green energy. Yattar Wan, Dandy Eggplant and Kabra Katabra all fused together. Murmurings could be heard from those watching. Giant roots tore out from their surroundings and green enveloped the area, the startled pirate fell to his knees. White pollen swirled around them like snow and when he looked up on all fours it was into the burning tiger eyes of Jupiter's lower body. Its pincers cut through the surrounding stone. Kanoa inwardly prayed and pointed "Jupiter… give me your strength so we can end this. Triple break his shields!"
"Berlin blocks!" The pirate leapt up and dashed to his table, but paused when he realised the phoenix wasn't moving. "Ehe… Ehehehe!" All around them various pirates joined in with the laughter until it was raucous.
Kanoa grit his teeth, clenched his fists and tried to figure out what to do. He'd just given up three of his attackers for Jupiter who wouldn't budge. Attacking with less forces could be disastrous if he struck Heaven's Gate. But if his opponent was waiting for Neverend he might be willing to sacrifice his blockers instead. Then Kanoa could try for a win next turn with Verokiboaros.
"Sasoris, shield break!"
"Heaven's Rosia uses shield saver!" The gold soldier leapt heroically into the squirrel's path and was kicked aside. "Then I gain a new shield since me creature died."
"I'm done with my turn…"
"Ya may be the 'Hero of the Islands' but ya are without a doubt the worst chosen duellist! Can't even control yer phoenix? Ahahaha!"
"It's true…" Kanoa found himself speaking, despite the humiliation. "I didn't ask to be a chosen duellist. I was happy to be able to help my community, and our neighbouring islands, but I wanted nothing to do with Jupiter's plan: to unite the chosens and fight General Urobach."
"And that's why yar gonna lose… Denjara Switch! This turn ah can summon from me mana zone! Ah summon another Berlin, Bell Gravekeeper and evolve it into King Alcadeias, Dark Gaia!" He'd faced the Queen version before, but this was Kanoa's first time against the King. He was a gold and blue giant with purple wings on 9000 power. "Now all yar creatures cost 5 more to summon and any creature summoned for free is destroyed! So much for yer creature spam! King Alcadeias double break!" At his order it raised a palm, its evo-crystal pulsing with purple light that burst two of Kanoa's shields. He grunted; no triggers. "Dreaming Moon Knife, shield break!" The otter tossed its spear so it spun, breaking against a panel and bouncing back into its grip. Glass drizzled the rocks behind Kanoa. No trigger and those watching laughed. "Now as ah end me turn Endless Heaven dragsolutions into Neverend. What were ya saying about if it happens?" He wormed a finger into his ear and bellyfull laughter resounded from their audience.
The gold church transformed into a towering armored giant with 14,500 power. 500 points stronger than Jupiter, but 500 points weaker than…
"My turn! Dragsolution! Verokiboaros, Ga Ga Ga!"
The taunting laugher was silenced by the awful hissing of Boaroaxe's final form. The temple shone green and rocketed into the open sky, morphing into a green horned dragon with a multi-coloured weapon and armour. Kanoa stood strong beneath two giant, powerful nature creatures. "Attack King Alcadeias!"
"Berlin blocks!" The pirate snarled. While the mutant leapt at the dragon it was like a bug, easily getting sliced through by that axe.
+ BT- Nocturnal Transmission (The Fast and The Furious)
"Sasoris, shield break!" To Kanoa's dismay this time it was a shield trigger.
"The Grave of Angels and Demons to destroy both ya Marinyans!" A cone-shaped meteorite fell, lit by both holy and evil power. It crashed between them and the twin cat-girls yelped, blown away by the impact.
"Mystery Ruinskind, shield break!" It reared up and stomped onto glass. "That's it, I'm done."
"Am down to three shields… is that it?"
"I can't… I can't lose her…" Kanoa closed his eyes and could feel Jupiter's presence, however faint. I can't… please, for her I'd give my own life… to save Meilani I'd walk away from the tribe. I'd join Heidi and find the other chosens, if it meant Meilani could be saved. So I'll do it! Do you hear me Jupiter!?
Suddenly a wave of power washed over everyone and Kanoa's green aura was stronger than ever. Above his head the wisps were shaping into Jupiter's face.
"What… what are ya doin?" The pirate yelled as his greasy hair was blowing back against a wind.
"I'm accepting my role as the chosen nature duellist." His card turned itself and Kanoa raised his arm "Jupiter destroy King Alcadeias and meteorburn!" The phoenix complied, carving its pincer through the light-darkness being that howled as it dissolved. Nature sprang to life, mosses and vines climbing up the edges of the pirate's table. "I re-summon Kabra Katabra and take Huckle Kirin Sawyer to my hand. I'm done."
"Bastard! Ah summon Heaven's Rosia and bring out Migawari Nightmare Manji! I summon another Berlin Bell, Gravekeeper!" A giant haunted shuriken was caught by the draguner. "Neverend attacks Jupiter and prevents Verokiboaros from untapping next turn!"
"Nam=Daeddo uses guardman to take the attack!" At Kanoa's words his card tapped, the brave green fighter jumping into the path of the colossal gold blade.
"Grrr Dreaming Moon Knife breaks another shield!" The otter threw its spear so it spun, cracking into a panel. The pieces reassembled.
"Shield trigger, Samba Totem." The three-faced tiki sat and beat its drum. "Are you finished?"
"Ah… ah don't believe this."
"I suppose so." He drew. "I summon Huckle Kirin Sawyer on the Kabra in my mana zone. I activate Shield Force and now my creatures can't be blocked by anything weaker than them." The red giraffe fighter juggled gold swords. A shield hieroglyph appeared on one of Kanoa's remaining panels. "Sasoris shield break!"
"Ah use shield saver to destroy Heaven's Rosia! Instead Migawari flips into Karakurigaeshi, Ninja Mansion!" The weapon flung itself free and morphed, becoming a black Eastern temple with pillars, adorned in a multitude of gold shuriken.
"Mystery Ruinskind, shield break!"
"Berlin uses shield saver and dies!" The bell was whipped away by an earthen tail, gonging loudly before breaking against the rocks. "Since a darkness creature died me Ninja Mansion dragsolutions again into Utsusemihenge, Blame Demon Dragon!" A pale-blue darkness dragon emerged and sneered at the other giants.
"Samba Totem, shield break!"
"Shield saver! Heaven's Rosia goes." The tiki fighter aimed a karate chop and Rosia grunted before fizzling away into lights.
"Very well. Jupiter break his final shields and meteorburn!" The phoenix gave a mighty roar like the untameable, ancient spirit of nature. Duelist and creature were now fully unified. Ripples of power rocketed toward the pirate's table, giant roots bursting upward in a wave that wiped out the defences in a blizzard of glass. The pirate fell backwards. He didn't receive any other tiggers, not even something to stop Kanoa's strongest attacker. He looked around to see he was surrounded by flora, arcing around his table which had shielded him.
"No… ah won't let ya!" He crawled to his feet despite the pain and drew his cutlass.
"Huckle Kirin, todomeda!" While the pirate was mid-step the giraffe fighter flew and slashed him with a gold blade. He screamed and fell, blood painting the boulder behind him. While it wasn't a fatal injury that made it all the worse, because he wasn't going to get any medical care. His death would be slow, bleeding out into the shallows.
Kanoa saw the surrounding pirates approaching with their cutlasses drawn and he swept his cards together. He turned but there was nowhere to run.
He tried to stand firm despite the fear of imminent death "Where is Meilani?"
"Oh the captain's going to wanna see this one…" The nearest pirate said, glass eye staring in another direction. At least a dozen cutlasses were all trained on him.
『AN: Exams are done and I am as free as a bird! I think I passed all of them. Now won't I look silly if it turns out I failed. But no, I feel reasonably confident... Then again I always do... Segway! You know who else is feeling confident? Heidi after her, uh, shift. This story sure leaves the domain of shonen hero adventure when the only real hero has renounced her ways. What will happen? And thanks to Acuma for minimizing some of his enjoyment by agreeing to look over this duel for me, though I did end up putting in changes.』
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