Disclaimer: as I said, I don't own all those characters. How can you own a
character anyway? Well beside the whole copyright thing anyway.
The Blade Breakers sat in their hotel room, or more precisely, the beautiful, luxurious living room of their hotel suit provided by the sponsor of this tournament. It was near dusk, out side the large windows draped with dark red velvet, one could still catch a sign of the fading sun in the smoky grey sky. Inside, none of the serenity was present however. The Blade Breakers were sharing a tense discussion, all wearing a concentrated and wary countenance.
"Here is the map." Kenny unfolded a piece of large paper to reveal seven small floor plans, drawn out in black and red ink. He pointed his finger and said, "The whole complex is right beneath the beyblade stadium. The main computer room is here. There is no visible single staircase or elevator that leads all the way down to the deepest level where the main computer room sits. They are all built on different sections of the building so that you must cross the building at every floor to go down another floor. That is, of course, for security reasons. But we did find a secret elevator just outside the artillery room." Here he added a mark on the floor plan with a red pen and continued, "We will get down to the main computer room through there."
Harry asked, "How can we get past the security around that section of the building though?"
"That will not be difficult." Kenny answered, "The security of the first level is relatively low anyway, since it depends more on secrecy."
Kai nodded at his words, and said in his dark voice, "Tomorrow night then. Chief, you, Tyson and Max go through the front entrance, and also it will be your job to disenable their security devices. Shea and Harry can go through the western entrance, and Ray and I will take the eastern entrance. We meet inside."
"Good plan, but why tomorrow night?" Tyson asked in a confused voice, "Shouldn't we be concentrating on the games? We can do this on the last day of the tournament, can't we?"
Kai rolled his eyes with mock exasperation and said, "Tyson, please note that for once beyblade is not the most important thing in this world. We do it tomorrow night. It will be more unexpected. In the mean time, worry about your quarter-finals and semi-finals tomorrow if you want."
Tyson made a face, "Beyblade not being the most important thing for us?"
Shea laughed, "I know, Tyson, completely out of the character for you."
"Forget all that then!" Tyson lied down on his back, "I am hungry. Let's get some food."
"Well, that's not so out of character for you, Tyson." Max said with amusement, "Should we call room service?"
Ray suddenly straightened. He shook his head just the slightest and threw a glance at Shea. Deciphering his message the girl stood up and shouted in a carefree manner, "Who want fancy shmancy room service! I will go get you guys burgers and fries." Here she took Harry's hand and pulled him off the floor, "Come with me, Harry. Don't be stuck here with them."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only a short distance away, sitting before their computers, Voltaire and Voldemort burst out laughing. They heard every sentence of the conversation shared by the Blade Breakers, and they could not help feeling amused.
"How naïve of them!" Voltaire said with a cackle, "Thinking us unexpected. Tomorrow night, huh? What would you say we do? Wait for them down here, or shall we obliterate them before they can even come in?"
To that Voldemort answered with a glint in his eyes, "Of course we wait for them down here. It won't be much fun the other way, now would it?"
Voltaire laughed again, "No, it wouldn't be much fun. Let's wait for them down here then. They are in for a surprise tomorrow night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Shea and Harry disappeared from their view, everyone relaxed.
"That's so very..." Kenny said, but he was stopped by Ray, who had a strange expression on his face and raised his hand in gesture of silence.
The others stared at him, puzzled, but the Chinese teen did not reply. He stood in front of the wall, studying something unseen by his teammates. There was indeed nothing much too see, only an ordinary light switch. Ray pulled out a small knife from his pocket and used it as a screwdriver. A second later, the plastic board dropped from the wall, revealing the head of a small microphone behind it. Everyone's eyes widened. Tyson let a small gasp involuntarily, but he quickly covered his mouth. Kai stood up also, wearing an angry countenance. He raised his hand, and a small fireball hovered above his palm. But Ray held his arm firmly and shook his head. Reluctantly, Kai lowered his hand as the fire vanished without a trace. Ray pointed a finger at the device on the wall. There was a quick flash, and then a shield of white light formed in front of the microphone installed on the wall.
Ray sighed in relief, "There, they can hear nothing we say now. But we must be quick with our discussion. We do not want to stir their suspicion."
"But how did you know there was something of that sort behind the light switch?" Kenny asked in amazement, "Sometimes I really wonder if you have x- ray vision!"
Ray answered with a light smile, "Well, this room is provided by our sponsors, I would be surprised if there was no such instrument. I have looked everywhere else, and this is the only light switch that doesn't work."
"Good thing you found it out just in time." Max said quietly.
"But they have heard much of our conversation already!" Tyson muttered angrily.
"It is fine, do not think too much on it." Kai said coolly, "They heard nothing but those we want them to hear. Let's not waste time and get this over with. Chief, fill us in on the details."
"Alright." Kenny nodded and said, "So here it is."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day Harry was filled with apprehension and anxiety. Even when Malfoy and his partner were defeated by Tyson and Max in about thirty seconds flat, his joy was not so great. The semi-finals came much faster than he expected. To his amazement he found himself and Shea pitted against Ray and Kai. Shea was looking at the list over his shoulder, and finally she sighed.
"How about let's forfeit this one?" She said in a subdued tone.
"What?" Harry exclaimed incredulously, "Forfeit? Why?"
Shea sighed, "Normally forfeiting isn't something I would do. But think on it, Harry, the odds are against us. And our purpose here isn't beyblading anyway."
"What do you mean the odds are against us?" Harry said with irritation. His already uneasy mind is not taking this well at all, "What made you so sure they will win."
"Listen, Harry." Shea explained quietly and patiently, "I know those two. Their skill and power are off the chart. Impregnable does not even begin to describe it. I may match one of them, barely, but against both there is nothing I can do. And you can do little to help. No offence meant, but you simply do not have the experience."
"So you are going to quit? Just because the odds are against us?" Harry said forcefully. The anxiety inside him has just evolved into anger and determination, "Then why don't you forget about tonight as well? The odds are surely against you then. You don't just quit when the chance seems slim. I learned that over the years the hard way. I do not quit, and I won't let you either!"
There was a long silence, but finally Shea laughed. A clear laugh tainted with a grey shade of sorrow. At last she said, "Everyday I see you, Harry, you amazes me anew. Let's go then. We will fight."
The announcer shouted over the noisy stadium for the semi finals to begin. Harry walked up to the dish, no longer fearful of the match or the venture that will come this night. He was determined. Shea walked beside him, with the same confidence and grace that she always carries with her. Kai and Ray stood before them, on the other side of the dish. There was clear approval and admiration in Kai's eyes, and Ray was wearing a smile.
"Give me all you got, won't you?" Shea said, "Don't you dare hold back."
Kai smiled and replied, "Don't expect anything less from us."
With that, they all pulled the ripcords and the four blades sailed into the dish. None of them wasted a single moment. Shea's black blade and Harry's green one were spinning side by side. They charged boldly into battle. Their opponents were not idle. Ray's white blade turned aside and circled around the rim of the dish, while Kai's blue blade avoided their attack and swerved away, sweeping towards the edge of the dish. At the precise moment when the blue blade was on the rim of the dish, the white one zoomed near and collided with it, sending the blue blade into the air, flying so high it almost vanished from their sight. Harry was puzzled, but a second later he understood. The blue blade came crashing down, its sharp edge dug into both his and Shea's blade.
"Turn!" Shea hissed.
Both the green and black blade shifted their position and zoomed away from each other, throwing Kai's blue blade into the air again in process. But there was a flash of light as the white blade zoomed near, hitting them both and forced them near the rim. A fraction of a second later the blue one came smashing down in their direction again. Harry's breath was caught in his throat for a second. But Shea's black blade hit his green one first and sent it to the other side of the dish and took the hit alone. It was now caught between the blue and the white blade, struggling in vain.
"Didn't I tell you those two can pull off the most extraordinary manoeuvres?" Shea said with a smile, "But I haven't lost yet! Descant, let's spice up the game a little!"
A beam of silver light shot from the black blade as it spun faster and faster, finally throwing the two blades around it back. From the light an elegant silver bird emerged, its long, graceful wings beating slowly. The bird dove and hit the blue blade, sent it flying across the dish.
"Ready for some serious battle, then?" Kai smirked, "I will give you one. Dranzer! Attack!"
The blue blade glowed red as the form of a bird emerged, bearing flame about its slender form. The silver songbird let loose a single smooth quiet melody as glowing water slowly shrouded its shape. The two birds clashed in mid-air, and quickly parted again. They flew off to different directions, then sharply turned and headed towards each other again, anticipating another collision. But suddenly the situation was changed again. New green vines shot out of nowhere, waving their slender arms. They wrapped around the silver bird tightly, encaging the creature. The bird let out a shriek and struggled in vain to break free.
"Descant! Do not panic!" Shea called, "Just change your tactic!"
In response to her words the bird sang another melody, hard like a clashing of steel. The wings of the bird hardened and now bore a metallic light, like the blade of a knife. She turned her wings and cut the vines loose with ease. But even as the vines broke loose they vanished in a green flash, and instead the form of a tiger suddenly emerged, roaring as he charged. He raised his paw and with a single sweep sent the silver songbird tumbling in the air.
"It is over, Shea." Kai said.
Even as those words escaped him, the fire phoenix came sweeping down. The silver bird let out another shriek as it shrank back into the black. The small black blade was thrown into the air and flew off in an uncontrolled fashion. It seemed that the battle was definitely over.
"This is not over yet!" Harry suddenly shouted, surprising all three bladers around him.
His green blade suddenly leaped and hit the black blade lightly. Both blade fell and landed into the dish with a clang.
"Have you completely forgotten about me?" Harry said fiercely, "Well, if that's the case, you made a serious error of judgement. I say this battle is far from over!"
There was an explosion of light as the silver songbird emerged from the black blade again. This time it sang no songs or melodies. Instead it flew straight to Harry. The bird circled the dark-haired boy once, twice, before its shape slowly shifted in a sheet of blinding light. The finally the light dimmed they could see the form of a swift-footed stag. His coat was a warm gold, and his hooves and antlers of burnished silver.
Everyone stared at the magnificent creature wordlessly. Finally Shea said with an awed voice, "I swear I didn't do this."
The stag lowered its long power neck as a pair of full silver wings grew from its side. He shook those wings and took the air. He lowered his antlers and charged into the fire phoenix, sending the creature tumbling away in the air, shrieking indignantly. Then he half folded the wings and dove at the tiger. The tiger leaped in reply. There was a collision, and one more, and the tiger was also thrown back forcefully. The phoenix shrieked in the air, and the tiger roared. Kai and Ray shared a look before turning back to the battle with unreadable expressions. The forms of the tiger and the phoenix wavered and slowly melted back into light of green and red. The light slowly mingled and melded together, and from the light a new form emerged. A tiger appeared from the light, with fire about its paws and tail and a pair of long red wings. He roared, a deep sound like the rolling of thunders. The two creatures charged and battled. There was flash of light as they leaped, pranced, flew and glided. Silver white and golden red wings wove in and out of each other.
"Let's not drag this on forever." Shea shouted, "Now it's the time. Attack!"
"Here comes the end." Ray said calmly as he and Kai together ordered the assault.
The two creatures met in an earth shaking collision. There was an explosion of light that made all people in the stadium to close their eyes. When the light finally faded, only the fire-winged tiger was still there. Both the green and black blades were outside the dish, but the blue and white ones were still spinning.
Shea picked up her blade and breathed a sigh of relief. And amidst the sound of thundering applause, she laughed.
AN: Well, here is another chapter. Hope you enjoy. Vacation is here now, but I am still rather busy. I will try to update as soon as possible. Give me reviews! I love to hear from all of you. Oh and if you don't mind knowing, this story is nearing its end. There are three or four glorious chapters left. LOL. Shameless bragging indeed.
The Blade Breakers sat in their hotel room, or more precisely, the beautiful, luxurious living room of their hotel suit provided by the sponsor of this tournament. It was near dusk, out side the large windows draped with dark red velvet, one could still catch a sign of the fading sun in the smoky grey sky. Inside, none of the serenity was present however. The Blade Breakers were sharing a tense discussion, all wearing a concentrated and wary countenance.
"Here is the map." Kenny unfolded a piece of large paper to reveal seven small floor plans, drawn out in black and red ink. He pointed his finger and said, "The whole complex is right beneath the beyblade stadium. The main computer room is here. There is no visible single staircase or elevator that leads all the way down to the deepest level where the main computer room sits. They are all built on different sections of the building so that you must cross the building at every floor to go down another floor. That is, of course, for security reasons. But we did find a secret elevator just outside the artillery room." Here he added a mark on the floor plan with a red pen and continued, "We will get down to the main computer room through there."
Harry asked, "How can we get past the security around that section of the building though?"
"That will not be difficult." Kenny answered, "The security of the first level is relatively low anyway, since it depends more on secrecy."
Kai nodded at his words, and said in his dark voice, "Tomorrow night then. Chief, you, Tyson and Max go through the front entrance, and also it will be your job to disenable their security devices. Shea and Harry can go through the western entrance, and Ray and I will take the eastern entrance. We meet inside."
"Good plan, but why tomorrow night?" Tyson asked in a confused voice, "Shouldn't we be concentrating on the games? We can do this on the last day of the tournament, can't we?"
Kai rolled his eyes with mock exasperation and said, "Tyson, please note that for once beyblade is not the most important thing in this world. We do it tomorrow night. It will be more unexpected. In the mean time, worry about your quarter-finals and semi-finals tomorrow if you want."
Tyson made a face, "Beyblade not being the most important thing for us?"
Shea laughed, "I know, Tyson, completely out of the character for you."
"Forget all that then!" Tyson lied down on his back, "I am hungry. Let's get some food."
"Well, that's not so out of character for you, Tyson." Max said with amusement, "Should we call room service?"
Ray suddenly straightened. He shook his head just the slightest and threw a glance at Shea. Deciphering his message the girl stood up and shouted in a carefree manner, "Who want fancy shmancy room service! I will go get you guys burgers and fries." Here she took Harry's hand and pulled him off the floor, "Come with me, Harry. Don't be stuck here with them."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only a short distance away, sitting before their computers, Voltaire and Voldemort burst out laughing. They heard every sentence of the conversation shared by the Blade Breakers, and they could not help feeling amused.
"How naïve of them!" Voltaire said with a cackle, "Thinking us unexpected. Tomorrow night, huh? What would you say we do? Wait for them down here, or shall we obliterate them before they can even come in?"
To that Voldemort answered with a glint in his eyes, "Of course we wait for them down here. It won't be much fun the other way, now would it?"
Voltaire laughed again, "No, it wouldn't be much fun. Let's wait for them down here then. They are in for a surprise tomorrow night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Shea and Harry disappeared from their view, everyone relaxed.
"That's so very..." Kenny said, but he was stopped by Ray, who had a strange expression on his face and raised his hand in gesture of silence.
The others stared at him, puzzled, but the Chinese teen did not reply. He stood in front of the wall, studying something unseen by his teammates. There was indeed nothing much too see, only an ordinary light switch. Ray pulled out a small knife from his pocket and used it as a screwdriver. A second later, the plastic board dropped from the wall, revealing the head of a small microphone behind it. Everyone's eyes widened. Tyson let a small gasp involuntarily, but he quickly covered his mouth. Kai stood up also, wearing an angry countenance. He raised his hand, and a small fireball hovered above his palm. But Ray held his arm firmly and shook his head. Reluctantly, Kai lowered his hand as the fire vanished without a trace. Ray pointed a finger at the device on the wall. There was a quick flash, and then a shield of white light formed in front of the microphone installed on the wall.
Ray sighed in relief, "There, they can hear nothing we say now. But we must be quick with our discussion. We do not want to stir their suspicion."
"But how did you know there was something of that sort behind the light switch?" Kenny asked in amazement, "Sometimes I really wonder if you have x- ray vision!"
Ray answered with a light smile, "Well, this room is provided by our sponsors, I would be surprised if there was no such instrument. I have looked everywhere else, and this is the only light switch that doesn't work."
"Good thing you found it out just in time." Max said quietly.
"But they have heard much of our conversation already!" Tyson muttered angrily.
"It is fine, do not think too much on it." Kai said coolly, "They heard nothing but those we want them to hear. Let's not waste time and get this over with. Chief, fill us in on the details."
"Alright." Kenny nodded and said, "So here it is."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day Harry was filled with apprehension and anxiety. Even when Malfoy and his partner were defeated by Tyson and Max in about thirty seconds flat, his joy was not so great. The semi-finals came much faster than he expected. To his amazement he found himself and Shea pitted against Ray and Kai. Shea was looking at the list over his shoulder, and finally she sighed.
"How about let's forfeit this one?" She said in a subdued tone.
"What?" Harry exclaimed incredulously, "Forfeit? Why?"
Shea sighed, "Normally forfeiting isn't something I would do. But think on it, Harry, the odds are against us. And our purpose here isn't beyblading anyway."
"What do you mean the odds are against us?" Harry said with irritation. His already uneasy mind is not taking this well at all, "What made you so sure they will win."
"Listen, Harry." Shea explained quietly and patiently, "I know those two. Their skill and power are off the chart. Impregnable does not even begin to describe it. I may match one of them, barely, but against both there is nothing I can do. And you can do little to help. No offence meant, but you simply do not have the experience."
"So you are going to quit? Just because the odds are against us?" Harry said forcefully. The anxiety inside him has just evolved into anger and determination, "Then why don't you forget about tonight as well? The odds are surely against you then. You don't just quit when the chance seems slim. I learned that over the years the hard way. I do not quit, and I won't let you either!"
There was a long silence, but finally Shea laughed. A clear laugh tainted with a grey shade of sorrow. At last she said, "Everyday I see you, Harry, you amazes me anew. Let's go then. We will fight."
The announcer shouted over the noisy stadium for the semi finals to begin. Harry walked up to the dish, no longer fearful of the match or the venture that will come this night. He was determined. Shea walked beside him, with the same confidence and grace that she always carries with her. Kai and Ray stood before them, on the other side of the dish. There was clear approval and admiration in Kai's eyes, and Ray was wearing a smile.
"Give me all you got, won't you?" Shea said, "Don't you dare hold back."
Kai smiled and replied, "Don't expect anything less from us."
With that, they all pulled the ripcords and the four blades sailed into the dish. None of them wasted a single moment. Shea's black blade and Harry's green one were spinning side by side. They charged boldly into battle. Their opponents were not idle. Ray's white blade turned aside and circled around the rim of the dish, while Kai's blue blade avoided their attack and swerved away, sweeping towards the edge of the dish. At the precise moment when the blue blade was on the rim of the dish, the white one zoomed near and collided with it, sending the blue blade into the air, flying so high it almost vanished from their sight. Harry was puzzled, but a second later he understood. The blue blade came crashing down, its sharp edge dug into both his and Shea's blade.
"Turn!" Shea hissed.
Both the green and black blade shifted their position and zoomed away from each other, throwing Kai's blue blade into the air again in process. But there was a flash of light as the white blade zoomed near, hitting them both and forced them near the rim. A fraction of a second later the blue one came smashing down in their direction again. Harry's breath was caught in his throat for a second. But Shea's black blade hit his green one first and sent it to the other side of the dish and took the hit alone. It was now caught between the blue and the white blade, struggling in vain.
"Didn't I tell you those two can pull off the most extraordinary manoeuvres?" Shea said with a smile, "But I haven't lost yet! Descant, let's spice up the game a little!"
A beam of silver light shot from the black blade as it spun faster and faster, finally throwing the two blades around it back. From the light an elegant silver bird emerged, its long, graceful wings beating slowly. The bird dove and hit the blue blade, sent it flying across the dish.
"Ready for some serious battle, then?" Kai smirked, "I will give you one. Dranzer! Attack!"
The blue blade glowed red as the form of a bird emerged, bearing flame about its slender form. The silver songbird let loose a single smooth quiet melody as glowing water slowly shrouded its shape. The two birds clashed in mid-air, and quickly parted again. They flew off to different directions, then sharply turned and headed towards each other again, anticipating another collision. But suddenly the situation was changed again. New green vines shot out of nowhere, waving their slender arms. They wrapped around the silver bird tightly, encaging the creature. The bird let out a shriek and struggled in vain to break free.
"Descant! Do not panic!" Shea called, "Just change your tactic!"
In response to her words the bird sang another melody, hard like a clashing of steel. The wings of the bird hardened and now bore a metallic light, like the blade of a knife. She turned her wings and cut the vines loose with ease. But even as the vines broke loose they vanished in a green flash, and instead the form of a tiger suddenly emerged, roaring as he charged. He raised his paw and with a single sweep sent the silver songbird tumbling in the air.
"It is over, Shea." Kai said.
Even as those words escaped him, the fire phoenix came sweeping down. The silver bird let out another shriek as it shrank back into the black. The small black blade was thrown into the air and flew off in an uncontrolled fashion. It seemed that the battle was definitely over.
"This is not over yet!" Harry suddenly shouted, surprising all three bladers around him.
His green blade suddenly leaped and hit the black blade lightly. Both blade fell and landed into the dish with a clang.
"Have you completely forgotten about me?" Harry said fiercely, "Well, if that's the case, you made a serious error of judgement. I say this battle is far from over!"
There was an explosion of light as the silver songbird emerged from the black blade again. This time it sang no songs or melodies. Instead it flew straight to Harry. The bird circled the dark-haired boy once, twice, before its shape slowly shifted in a sheet of blinding light. The finally the light dimmed they could see the form of a swift-footed stag. His coat was a warm gold, and his hooves and antlers of burnished silver.
Everyone stared at the magnificent creature wordlessly. Finally Shea said with an awed voice, "I swear I didn't do this."
The stag lowered its long power neck as a pair of full silver wings grew from its side. He shook those wings and took the air. He lowered his antlers and charged into the fire phoenix, sending the creature tumbling away in the air, shrieking indignantly. Then he half folded the wings and dove at the tiger. The tiger leaped in reply. There was a collision, and one more, and the tiger was also thrown back forcefully. The phoenix shrieked in the air, and the tiger roared. Kai and Ray shared a look before turning back to the battle with unreadable expressions. The forms of the tiger and the phoenix wavered and slowly melted back into light of green and red. The light slowly mingled and melded together, and from the light a new form emerged. A tiger appeared from the light, with fire about its paws and tail and a pair of long red wings. He roared, a deep sound like the rolling of thunders. The two creatures charged and battled. There was flash of light as they leaped, pranced, flew and glided. Silver white and golden red wings wove in and out of each other.
"Let's not drag this on forever." Shea shouted, "Now it's the time. Attack!"
"Here comes the end." Ray said calmly as he and Kai together ordered the assault.
The two creatures met in an earth shaking collision. There was an explosion of light that made all people in the stadium to close their eyes. When the light finally faded, only the fire-winged tiger was still there. Both the green and black blades were outside the dish, but the blue and white ones were still spinning.
Shea picked up her blade and breathed a sigh of relief. And amidst the sound of thundering applause, she laughed.
AN: Well, here is another chapter. Hope you enjoy. Vacation is here now, but I am still rather busy. I will try to update as soon as possible. Give me reviews! I love to hear from all of you. Oh and if you don't mind knowing, this story is nearing its end. There are three or four glorious chapters left. LOL. Shameless bragging indeed.
