Disclaimer: No I do not own Yugioh. I do own Temarocia though, and everything in it.
From the Official Records of Mudeia:
It is said that the Warlord of Hell was a demon sealed within the body of a human. His strength was unrivaled, even before he became a Graftborn. The power he wielded was something beyond strength or speed, but it was the ability to somehow shake the world with his actions. No matter how hard or difficult the task, he could succeed. This is what labeled him as a danger to the rest of Temarocia. Such a man wasn't something that could be ignored.
It is also said that his son, the current Warlord of Hell, will become the successor of his father's land. Up to this point Kyris has shown that he follows his own whims, doing as he pleases with Evangela unopposed by the other Warlords and the Five Holy Guardians of Mudeia.
So one truly wonders, why hasn't Kyris the Hell attempted to remove Mudeia from the map? It is official speculation that he doesn't try so because three of the Five Holy Guardians working together are strong enough to defeat him, but with one of them out of commission this seems like the perfect time for him to attack Mudeia while it is short one of the only five people that can oppose him.
Perhaps he doesn't care? Who is to say what goes through the mind of that strange boy.
Song of Temarocia
Chapter 33: Evil Plot of a Strange, Strange Man; Aenpest's Bizarre Challenge
Aenpest sat in silence, his legs curled to his chest as he mulled over the last ten minutes and what he had heard. ("So things are changing so rapidly.")
"Princess Alita is aboard the train with you. As the one favor you still owe me, keep her busy as long as you can. I don't care how."
"It seems," He said to the empty and well-furnished room, "That I'm to play the part of a decoy. Very well, if it is Ky-chan that asked me this then I will comply." He had already sent Roe and Boe through to the train to find the Princess and her companions. ("Vanora may be needed though, but I had best get her myself. She must understand that this is a serious mission or else she'll play around far too much.") That girl had a mind of her own when it came to how she handled her business compared to how she handled business he gave her.
Standing up, the Warlord of Elegance's peacock-colored coat fell around his shoulders and he set his lips into a grim smile. "The man that defeated Don Karot is on board this transit as well. If I can beat him then I will have proven myself as truly deserving the title of Warlord."
Since the fall of the original Warlord of Hell Aenpest had tried to escape the shadow. It was the shadow that followed him everywhere he went. "No matter how hard I try, it won't leave me alone. I will separate myself from the connections I share with that creature. Merely remembering him leaves a bloody stain on my hands that cannot be cleansed."
-------------------------------
Alita yawned and fluffed her little pillow a bit harder. ("It's so hard to get some sleep…") A loud thud sounded above, followed by the sound of steel hitting steel. At that same moment a vein bulged out of her forehead and she grabbed her staff, using the butt of it to hit the ceiling a couple of times. "When a pair of idiots are fighting right above us!"
Saika kicked the air a couple of times, looking like she was having a bad dream, and rolled off the luggage shelf again. Hitting the ground with a thud, she lifted up her now frazzled hair and head, looking around sleepily. "Are we there yet?"
"I'm sorry Saika," Alita patted the other girl on the shoulder. "Unfortunately those two don't seem willing to let either of us have some sleep. Which is a shame…" She glanced darkly at the green crystal on top of her staff. "I wonder if I should create a high-powered whirlwind just above us. Maybe that would teach them to behave, eh?"
Saika sweatdropped fearfully, holding up her hands to try and sooth the blond-haired girl's anger. "I don't think we need to do something quite that drastic to calm them down. How about I just ask them nicely to please stop fighting?"
"I guess so." Alita pouted angrily, finding it extremely annoying that those two were so hot-headed that they had to settle everything with violence.
Just then a knock came at the door to the room. "Excuse us, room service!"
"Room service?" Saika reached over and opened the door slowly. "We didn't order any room service." Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a man wearing all orange, a bizarre attempt to look innocent and sweet on his face. "Ummm, are you really room service?"
"Of course!" Boe held up a heavy-looking metal plate with a cover over it. "We have an order for miss Alita Meijer. It's such a shame though that we weren't told which room she was in. Might this, by chance, be where she is?" He leaned in and his eyes twinkled at her.
"Hey Alita!" Saika said loudly, turning around to look at the twitching magician that was still plotting how to stop the fight happening just above their head. "You've got room service!"
"Huh?" Alita scooted forward in her seat and poked her head into view. "I didn't order anything though. Plus aren't you dressed a bit too flashily to be an employee of the transit?"
"Of course not!" Boe fluttered his eyelashes at her. "Would this cute face of mine lie to you?"
"…yes." She slammed the door in his face and clicked the lock closed. "Go away."
The man frowned in frustration and placed the plate down to his side. "It seems I have no choice." His hands rose up and he struck a dancing pose. "Princess Alita Meijer, I have been ordered to make sure you don't get away…" His right leg snapped up and kicked the door, blowing it open.
-------------------------------
"You're not bad," King growled out, his foot resting against Flair's katana as the two of them pushed against each other roughly.
"I'd thank you for the compliment, but it sounds like you're losing the will to fight." The samurai smirked confidently and pushed a bit harder, trying to throw the fake Frenchman off-balance. "Would that be the case?"
"You wish I was so easy to beat." King leaned in a little and smiled. "Sorry bathrobe, not every opponent you'll ever get will be so scared of your ugly face that they'll surrender on the spot."
They both pushed harder, the blade of Flair's sword and the sole of King's Iron Cotton shoe growing red from the building pressure and heat. Down below a crash sounded followed by a scream of surprise. "Alita!"
Both men broke away from each other and were about to make a run for the ladder that led back into the train car, but they found someone standing in their way. "That's far enough, boys. When the conductor told me that he could have sworn he saw a pair of people fighting on the top of the train I knew that it must have been friends of the Princess."
"And you are?" King asked, his jaw set and his fists clenched as he prepared to attack.
"Lord Aenpest," The Warlord elegantly swept his peacock-colored cloak behind him, the shining armor around his chest region reflecting the moonlight brightly. "A pleasure to make your acquaintances, I'm sure." His purple-painted lips curled back to reveal his perfectly white teeth, his long black hair blowing in the wind created by the speed of the train.
"Get out of our way." Flair sheathed his katana but prepared to quick draw it if necessary. "Or would your subordinates be down below and you don't want us interfering…is that it?"
"That would be correct." The Warlord was unarmed, but he didn't seem afraid of the two dangerous men in front of him. In fact he seemed far too relaxed.
"You're in the way of me reaching my angel," King lit up a cigarette and his face grew very dark and very angry. "Step aside before I break you in half with my kicks of love."
"How scary," The Warlord exclaimed mockingly. "I think your threat has paralyzed me with fear. I can't hope to move out of the way of your attack."
"You're a dead man," King launched forward and turned his hips to bring one foot up in line with the Warlord's nose.
---------------------------------------
Alita and Saika were both on their guard as Boe stepped into the ruined entryway slowly. "I have nothing against you ladies in particular, but we have our orders."
"That's right," Roe lisped from off to his brother's side, sauntering forward and cracking his knuckles. "Are you two ready to fight?"
"Hold it!" Alita glanced nervously at Saika, and realized the girl didn't know how to fight at all. ("If we do an Adventurer's Duel she might be able to fight but can I really trust her to watch my back against two enemies?") She picked up her staff and gulped. ("Where are Flair and King? They couldn't have not heard that!")
-----------------------------------------
"What's the matter?" Aenpest asked casually, not a single scratch or blemish on his face or body. "Are we done already?" Meanwhile King was collapsed at his feet, groaning in pain.
"Shadow Sword Style; Murder Under the Moonlight!" Flair launched forward and slashed his sword through the Warlord's midsection, appearing on the other side of him and sheathing the blade swiftly.
"Impressive," Aenpest glanced behind him as the samurai collapsed in a puddle of his own blood. "Such a killing strike would have more than likely taken me down instantly…"
"A Graftborn…" Flair dragged himself towards the ladder slowly, reaching for it with bloody and twitching hands.
"That's correct. Replacement Doll is the name of my Wild Fusion." Aenpest turned and walked in front of the samurai, kicking his hand away casually. "With it any damage I sustain is instead dealt to the one who caused it. Both of your strikes would have beaten an ordinary opponent instantly, but against me they merely sealed your own demises." Turning and climbing down the ladder, he didn't look pleased about that. "I will make her death painless."
--------------------------------
"Are you ready, brother?" Boe held up his Carrier, flexing the mighty muscles of one of his arms.
"Let's show these ladies how beautiful our dueling styles are!" Roe's Carrier appeared and he mirrored his brother's action. "Are you two ladies ready?"
"We don't have a choice," Alita's Carrier appeared. "We'll take this challenge!"
"Yeah, she'll take the challenge!" Saika squeaked while hiding behind the blond-haired magician.
"YOU'RE FIGHTING TOO!" Alita roared at the other girl.
-----------------------------------
Jason perked his ears and yawned loudly. "And so that's the deal. Sorry, I'm not really a Beastman."
"Oh," Vanora looked more than a little disappointed. "Well it's okay, you really weren't strong enough to be considered a worthy mate anyway."
"Oi." Jason did a strange backhand slap in her direction and looked extremely cross; mirroring an action he had seen Flair do once.
"Anyway," Triple R interjected to prevent a bizarre comedy scene from unfolding. "If there is a Warlord on this train then this is serious business. Shouldn't you head back to your friends, Jason?"
"Oh, don't worry about that!" Vanora grinned cheerfully. "The Boss is a really nice guy and doesn't like to resort to violence unless he has to. Since you guys seem to be gunning for Kyris the Hell and not him, he'll more than likely pass you by. So there's no need for any of that. Besides," She leaned in towards the ninja and whispered. "If this guy is their leader then we really don't have anything to fear."
"Oi!" Jason looked even more angry now, that strange backhand slap occurring again and hitting the back of Vanora's shoulder.
Triple R frowned through his mask. "Regardless, we should be careful. After all this Kyris the Hell, from what I've heard, is very resourceful. He might find a way to cause us some problems even from here."
"You're worrying way too much about it," Vanora winked and held up a finger. "If there's one thing you should know about my Boss, it's that he's a great guy with a really nice personality. He might even be willing to help you guys out too."
A knock came from the door. "Vanora, are you there?"
"See, there he is!" Standing up and straightening her hair with her nails, she danced over to the door and pulled it open while singing, "What can I do for you, Boss?"
The door opened onto Aenpest's cold expression of anger. "This isn't the time. It seems…" He stepped into the room and froze when he saw Jason and Triple R. "…"
Jason stared at the Warlord with wide eyes. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence he lifted his hand up and pointed at the man's face. "You've got a freakin' weird-lookin' face with that make-up on, dude."
"Kill them." Aenpest's expression didn't change. "Both of them. Jason Valerio, I apologize in advance for the deaths of your friends."
"What did you…" Jason's eyes widened as he was suddenly staring at a rapidly approaching white-blue flaming fist that went right into his face and stayed there, its flames burning straight into his brain.
---------------------------
Alita stumbled backwards and tried to keep herself from falling as another twirling ballerina-like move brought Roe's foot far too close for comfort. "Why are you attacking us?"
"Because Lord Aenpest has ordered it so," The twins said in unison grimly as they both skipped forward and did another duo ballet kick that was blocked by the mirror created by Saika, which cracked under the pressure but didn't break just yet.
-----------------------------
Triple R stood perfectly still, eyes bugged out of his head at the sight of Vanora plunging her flame-covered fist straight through Jason's head.
Aenpest frowned in extreme displeasure. ("This is for the best, it had to be done. With it, my connections to the Hell's line will be gone.")
Vanora's eyes were cold, having instantly recognized the seriousness of the order. In her heart though, she felt truly saddened. ("What did they do to make you order their deaths, boss? Was it that grave?") "I'm sorry Jason…"
"No problem," The Grafter said casually, her fist still phased into his face.
"Huh?" Vanora twitched at that. ("I must be hearing things.")
"After all, it's not your ass I've gotta kick." He leapt right past her, hair and arms a molten red, and punched Aenpest in the face full force. Then through his sneer he skidded backwards as he felt an equal amount of power strike his face.
"He's…" Vanora turned in slow motion, staring at Jason's back in amazement. ("He didn't even notice it…")
"So that's your trick," Jason wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth.
"Exactly," Aenpest said calmly, though deep down inside he wanted to express surprise at this development. ("Is this Graft of his immune to Vanora's flames?")
"Well then I guess hurting you is kind of out of the question." Jason popped his neck, completely ignoring the potential threat behind him in favor of the one standing before him. "That sucks too, cause I really want to pound your face in for saying my friends were dead. Trust me; they ain't even close to dead until I'm beaten."
"How can you be so confident?" Aenpest sighed in disappointment. "You don't even understand what Kyris the Hell has planned, do you? At this very moment, even if you beat me, it won't change anything. Alita Meijer's dream of saving her mother's kingdom will soon disappear."
"What?" Vanora's eyes widened in understanding. "You mean, what he was talking to you about those weeks ago…are you serious…"
"Yes." Aenpest looked disgusted with himself for even having a partial hand in such a plot. "That boy is truly not human, or else his conscience would have stopped him long ago. Evangela will soon change for the worse, as Kyris the Hell is even now moving with four of the other Warlords…to take over…" His fists clenched tighter and tighter, blood welling up in the center of his palms as his nails dug in deeper and deeper. "…Mudeia."
"…" Jason sighed sadly, his arms dropping to his sides. "I see. So that's the problem huh?"
--------------------------------
King stumbled to his feet and kicked Flair a couple of times. "Stand your stupid ass up. From the looks of it we've got to break down whoever is threatening the girls."
"You don't need to tell me stuff like that." The samurai forced himself to stand, his teeth clenched against each other.
----------------------------------
Alita and Saika screamed simultaneously as they were both kicked backwards into the wall of the cramped room.
As the blond-haired magician slid to the ground she forced herself to stand up, hands grasping her staff tightly. "I will fight…for my mother…for my homeland, and most of all…" An image of Jason sending Ruerto Masquil flying away flashed in her mind, followed by an image of the remains of Karot's Kingdom. "He…swore…that no matter…what would happen…with his help…" Her eyes hardened, determined.
"What can one boy do against the world?" The twins asked in unison, sick with their own actions but completely loyal to Lord Aenpest.
-----------------------------------
"Rick," Jason turned to glance at the ninja. "The Freaks Gang needs all of its members it can get. You want details…"
"Don't bother," Triple R muttered, standing up slowly with determination in his eyes. "I can smell a grand adventure standing before us. We may not be heroes, but we know what is right and what is wrong merely by scent. Your cause is the one of the just. It is bathed in a holy light that truly goes beyond merely revenge or something self-righteous." He nodded his agreement. "You, as always, have my great techniques in your arsenal."
Aenpest wondered what these two were talking about. "Are you both talking about me?"
Jason disappeared within a small pillar of fire as he reverted to normal, having no more need for Curse-Eater at the moment. "It might sound stupid to you, but you're of no consequence to me." He turned to look at both Vanora and the Warlord. "Neither of you. The only ones of importance are the ones you're trying to harm. My family…"
He smiled brightly. "It seems this entire world is extremely unfriendly towards Alita and the place she wants to protect. It's the kind of thing that…" His smile faded to a look of anger. "Really pisses me off."
"And what will you do about it?" Aenpest asked, suddenly feeling torn between the present and the past as his memory came forth with things he remembered far too clearly.
-------------------------
Amidst the smoke caused by the destruction of the main gates of the courthouse, there stood a single man with a sneer on his face. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of Temarocia's top level, allow me to introduce myself."
The view was one of the man's back, the view that Aenpest had at that time when he was foolish and had forgotten his conscience.
"This world of yours is far too boring for my taste," The man started to walk down the marble aisle, his shadowed face still sneering despite the fact that he was standing in the prescense of the most politically powerful men in all of Temarocia. "I come back and you've all established this order. Truly, it disgusts me to think you bastards would try to become peaceful."
He approached even closer, the guards in his path already cut down by the men who would one day become the Warlords. "The world moves on, and it tries to forget its past. Such a thing pains me so, and I cannot allow that to come to pass. I have to admit I'm not a fan of big speeches, so I suppose that's all I've got to say."
"You broke into the courthouse…you came all this way just to say that?" The shadowed form of a man standing behind the giant green crystal that symbolized Evangela yelled out, his white and grey blowing around him. "What did you expect to accomplish? What can you expect to do when your opponent is all of Temarocia?"
---------------------------
For a moment, somehow, past and present became one. Jason stood at the center, the person who battled in the present. Alita stood to his right, the future ruler of Evangela. The shadowed form of the original Warlord of Hell stood to his left, the dark shadow of the hated past. They all opened their mouths together, in perfect unison.
"I will change the world!"
----------------------------
Aenpest tried to hide the fear he was feeling now, but it wouldn't go away, for behind Jason stood the phantom form of the original Warlord of Hell. The sweat dripping down his chin wouldn't disappear just because he willed it away. There was no way to deny the power of the words that had just left Jason's mouth. "You…can't be…"
The air around Jason started to shimmer. "You made a mistake announcing that little bit of information to me, freak-face." He punched the ground and kneeled, his eyes closed. "You are immune to damage, or some crap like that? We'll see just how immune you really are."
"No matter what kind of power you use, you won't be able to defeat me with force!" Aenpest steeled his resolve as well. If he was to be the villain in this then so be it. "Do you really expect that mere words will change the fact that Kyris the Hell has already begun his attack? There is no preventing him…"
"Chimera…Double…" Jason wasn't listening, not anymore. The time for words was at its end.
To be continued…
And so the dreadful truth comes forth about Kyris' plan. Will Jason's sheer determination be enough to defeat an opponent that is unable to be harmed?
