That's right, it's the Elasmotherium Orphenoch
Part 75: Elasmotherium
4 years ago if anyone ever told me I would one day become a superhero, which would be a dream come true, I would think that they were being crazy. Despite my abilities, I wasn't really the type to be a hero. That was a childish dream.
Pause.
Alright, I admit it! I've always wanted to be a superhero and I never grew out of it. My mother's tales of heroes from the past, the Elemental Rangers and the Kamen Riders, fueled me with the need to one day use my abilities for the greater good; to fight for goodness, justice and the lives of the innocent.
When I finally got the chance, it was not exactly what I was expecting.
-Ryuki Leonard Hasuma.
ZANDIA…
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!"
The large thing that lumbered into the large hall could only be described as a monstrosity. In terms of appearance it was like a huge rhinoceros. Of course, unlike rhinos, this thing had rows and rows of sharp looking teeth and armored plated grey skin. Plus, it was a good 30 feet tall. 40 if you count the horn. It bellowed loudly as its 4 eyes were locked on the teen heroes.
"Oh…" Beast Boy began, eyes bugged out.
"…my…" Cyborg added.
"…GOD!" Wyvern, finished.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!?"
The monstrous Orphenoch bellowed and sized up its prey. It huffed as it set its sight on the 12 teens that dared to fight its master.
Occultus chuckled, "You didn't think that behemoth was the only one I had, did you?" He then commanded, "Kill them, and make it slow and painful."
The Elasmotherium Orphenoch unleashed a roar before charging at the heroes.
"SCATTER!" Mortuary and Draco shouted, taking command, "AND TAKE THAT THING DOWN!"
Occultus watched as the teenagers scrambled to get out of the way of the rampaging beast he'd ordered to kill them. As fun as it would be to watch as his hated foes being killed in front of his eyes, he had more pressing matters to attend to. Right now, all of his minions were watching this on their little television screens and cheering on the giant Elasmotherium Orphenoch.
Draco had faced something like this before and won. He took out his Zodiac Deck and got ready to transform but had to roll away as the monster's foot came down on him, thinking quickly, he shouted out to Wyvern, Snow Blood and Renia, "Restrain it!"
The three girls nodded and activated their powers, along with Draco. Renia slammed both her palms onto the floor and a transmutation circle appeared. An energy bolt traveled along the ground and hit the Orphenoch's front right leg, encasing it in thick crystal. Snow Blood's ice beam hit the front right leg while Wyvern used her elemental magic to summon ice to engulf the right hind leg. As for Draco, he froze the left hind leg, engulfing it in ice. This was to buy them some time.
"HENSHIN!" Draco called out and those who could transform did as told. The Scarab, Cutter and Hopper Inzecters leapt into their mistresses' hands as Mortuary dug the Aries Deck from his back pocket.
"EMPOWERMENT OF THE ZODIAC DRAGON!"
"EMPOWERMENT OF ARIES!"
"HENSHIN!"
"CHANGE PUNCH LOCUST!"
Warren slid a buckle onto his belt, which looked like a skull. "SHATTER!" he called, slamming his fist into the buckle, making it crack. Chains made of shadow energy flew out from nowhere and covered Warren. They soon exploded off of Warren, revealing him in a new outfit. He wore a black leather bodysuit and heavily strapped black boots. He wore black gloves with spikes on the knuckles. Chains ran up his arms. On his chest and going over his shoulders was onyx colored armor with chains running across it in the shape of an X. In the center of the armor was a skull emblem. Around his waist he wore his belt. The center of the buckle depicted a skull. Attached to the belt were twin guns, one was pitch black and depicted an angel, while the other was stark white and depicted a demon. Next to each gun was a button, a white one and a black one. Lastly, his head and face were hidden by black skull-like helmet.
Introducing the Skull Rider, Kamen Rider Wraith!
Draco and Mortuary were immediately clad in their respective armors of the Dragon and Aries while the girls were in their Inzecter Suits. Occultus watched in curiosity at this. He'd hear about this but never actually saw it in person before.
The Elasmotherium Orphenoch managed to free its legs from the ice and crystal binding it legs and roared. A sonic energy beam smashed it in the head, sending it staggering backwards. It roared loudly and charged straight at Cyborg, but a green brontosaurus in armor smashed its tail into its side, sending it toppling to its side. Beast Boy morphed back to normal and the two friends high-fived one another. The monster slowly got back to its feet and roared, causing Beast Boy to scream and run. Cyborg then activated his new wrecking ball option and threw it at the monster's head. However, it grabbed the wrecking ball in its mouth and then threw Cyborg into the wall, floor and ceiling, repeatedly. This forced the cybernetic Titan to blast it with his sonic cannon and missiles. It let go as it roared in pain. Cyborg pulled back the wrecking ball into his arm and then reconverted it into his fist.
Wraith leapt up into the air and shot two spiked chains at the Orphenoch. They both impaled the creature, causing it to roar in pain. Wraith used the chains to swing himself onto the creature's back, where he delivered a powerful drop kick.
Falconer quickly activated his armor. He pressed a series of command on his PDA and then locked it into a port attached to his left forearm. Immediately, a suit of armor began to fold out on his body and when it was done he was clad in a suit of hi-tech armor themed after his namesake, the Falcon. He spread out his wings and aimed his hands at the monster, revealing lenses in his palms that fired powerful lasers. He began to rain lasers upon the monstrous Orphenoch and it roared in pain.
Jinx fired her hexes at the monster, causing it great pain, as did Terra with her shoulder mounted vulcans. Wyvern chanted a spell and an electrifying energy bolts were released from her hands to electrocute the monster. Snow Blood used her powers over 'holy ice' to create basketball sized 'ice balls' and threw them at the monster's face. The ice balls shattered violently against its mouth, causing it to bellow in pain. It charged at her but a powerful beam of necroplasmic energy forced it back. Snow Blood saw her armored boyfriend and smiled.
Wraith gathered a large amount of shadow energy and launched it at the giant creature, causing it to stumble and nearly fall over.
The Orphenoch saw Bruiser in its path so it charged at the Red Wolf. It rose up its leg to stomp him, but when it came down Bruiser's incredible strength helped him to hold the foot above his head. With a grunt, he pushed the Orphenoch back. Bruiser didn't have any long-ranged capabilities like his friends, so he had to wait back until the thing came at him.
Draco used whatever powers he had and began to pummel the monstrous Orphenoch with fire, ice and rocks. His elemental Zodiac Powers, as well as his friends, appeared to be damaging the monster. Of course, he knew from experience of how thick an Orphenoch's armored skin was and judging from this thing's size it wasn't going to be easy to take it down.
"LOCUST JUMP! LOCUST PUNCH!"
With a crystal coated gauntlet, Renia leapt up and rammed her fist into the monster's horn. The horn cracked a little at the impact point but it didn't do much. The Orphenoch then swatted her away and she slammed into the wall before falling onto the ground face first. Wyvern ran to her friend, worried. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Renia chuckled. "This armor's not just for show, you know." She then yelled, "Watch out!"
Wyvern chanted a quick spell and created a barrier around herself and Renia, blocking the Orphenoch as it rammed straight at it. It roared as it tried to get at them whilst the others tried to take it down with their powers. Beast Boy even morphed into a T-Rex, albeit one with armor along its back, head and legs, and began to chomp on the Orphenoch's left hind leg. It kicked the changeling backwards and roared out in rage. Draco ran towards it before sliding across the ground until he was under the monster's belly. Terra was with him. Both looked to each other and nodded before activating their powers over the earth. They then erected a large platform of stone that smashed the monster in the belly, knocking the wind out of its lungs. It also threw it onto its back. It struggled to get back to its feet but with little success.
"Well, that was easy," said Wyvern, dropping the force field.
"I don't think so," Occultus growled as his eyes glowed blue. The Elasmotherium Orphenoch's eyes glowed too as a blue aura surrounded it. It stopped struggling and carefully picked itself up. With a roar, it charged at the heroes once more.
"What does it take to make this thing stay down!?" Bruiser yelled out as they scattered from its wrath.
"Hit him hard, and hit him fast!" Mortuary ordered as he slid his Final Vent card into his right kneepad. Draco did the same and slid his own Final Vent into his Dragauntlet. Wraith activated his Oversoul, and then pushed it one step further.
"GIANT OVERSOUL!!" roared Wraith. His entire arm changed, becoming a more organic looking than his Oversoul, and also extending to the point that it measured equal to a normal human. The center of the new weapon was a glowing orb of black energy. Two black angel wings appeared on his back. "Heaven's Judgement!"
"Final Vent!" both Knights called out loudly before executing their attacks. Draco leapt up as Dragonzer appeared. With a roar, the dragon launched Draco at the Orphenoch with a powerful stream of fire. As for Mortuary, his own Zodiac Beasts, the Gazelle herd, appeared and jumped straight at the monster, striking at it acrobatically before Mortuary leapt up, using his Zodiac Power to duplicate himself and smashed his knee into the Elasmotherium Orphenoch's body, head and horn. Wraith began pelting the creature with large blasts of shadow energy. The dual Final Vents and powerful shots were damaging, but the Elasmotherium Orphenoch shrugged them off. Draco and Mortuary landed back on their feet, the Aries Knight restoring himself to solo mode, and then jumped out of the way as the monster tried to stomp them flat. It roared and saw Falconer flying about and attempted to grab him in its mouth. It did, but a laser blast forced its mouth open and he flew out hastily.
Occultus watched in amusement. It was like insects fighting against an elephant. There was no contest here, really. These 'heroes' were fools to even attempt to fight against him.
"OK, this isn't working so well," said Draco as he looked at the hulking monster, which dwarfed them all together in the size department.
"Why not use that Keyblade of yours?" Mortuary suggested. Draco blinked and slapped his face.
"Why didn't I think of that!?" The Dragon Knight drew out his Pactio card and called out, "Adeat!" He summoned his Keyblade and charged straight at the monster. He aimed his Dragauntlet at the Elasmotherium Orphenoch's face and fired the Dragrappler from it. The grappling hook snagged the horn. The cable then retracted into the Dragauntlet and pulled its owner up to the Orphenochs face. When he landed on the horn's base, he began to swing his Keyblade, landing powerful blows upon its hideous face. The monster roared and then tried to throw the Dragon Knight aside, but Draco kept his hold on the horn. He then took a leap into the air before he landed on the Elasmotherium Orphenoch's back. He banished the Keyblade for a second whilst saying, "Now, to use what obaa-sama taught me." He was, of course, referring to Cologne.
"KACHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!!" In a blur or motion, Draco smashed his fists repeatedly and rapidly into the Elasmotherium Orphenoch's back, causing it to roar out in pain from the painful blows to its body. He was causing a lot of damage to it. It tried to shake Draco off, but the Dragon Knight held firm via telekinesis. He then shouted out, "NOW!" before summoning his Keyblade once more and then swinging it down. The force of the strike from the legendary weapon caused the monster's knees to buckle and it fell onto its belly, its four legs spread out around it. The floor trembled when it fell. Occultus just gawked at the sight in shocked fascination.
Wraith took this as his chance. "DIVINE PUNISHMENT!" he called. The shadow energy gathered at the barrel of his weapon. As soon as he had enough, he blasted at the creature, but was shocked at the recoil. "Damn, gotta train a bit more with this," he muttered. He then surveyed the damage, seeing a large hole where he had fired, and the Orphenoch was missing a large chunk of its shoulder.
Cyborg smirked and his battle mask slid over his face. He then activated the 'Bomb Fist' and charged forward at the downed Orphenoch. The fist slammed into its horn and upon impact there was a huge explosion.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!
The others took cover but were blown away by the blast. The Orphenoch was thrown high into the air and dropped hard on the floor, causing it to tremble.
Cyborg grinned but got whacked in the head. He looked to see Jinx, who was glaring at him behind her helmet, "We've told you once and we've told you 1000 times…give a little warning before you use that punch."
"Sorry," Cyborg apologized. The Elasmotherium Orphenoch growled in pain. Its horn had been completely broken off and most of its teeth were missing because of the explosion. Its armor-like hide was also cracked in a few places.
Mortuary turned towards Renia and asked, "How strong are your regenerative powers, Ren?"
"Well, I did grow back a head that one time," Renia shrugged, causing everyone who didn't know her that well to stare. "Hey, I'm a Homunculus. I'm pretty tough."
"Here's the plan," Mortuary said before whispering into her ear.
"My scanners indicate that the thing cannot last much longer," reported Falconer as he scanned the Elasmotherium Orphenoch, the HUD appearing on his visor and allowing him to view its condition clearly. The huge Orphenoch struggled to roar but it was in too much pain. Blue flames were licking its body as it tried to charge at them.
"Draco, Wraith, make it open its mouth!" Mortuary shouted. The Dragon Knight and Skull Rider looked at their friend strangely. "Just do it!"
"OK," Draco nodded before focusing his telekinesis on the Elasmotherium Orphenoch's maw. It was trying to stop him as he was trying to force its mouth wide open. A vein throbbed on the side of his head as he struggled, his body trembling. Wraith then used a long chain to hold the lower jaw open, but he too was struggling.
"Well, now let's give it some indigestion!" Mortuary announced as he held Renia by the arms. He spun the Inzecter Rider around before throwing her straight at the Orphenoch's open jaw. Renia dove right inside, much to everyone's horror.
"MORTUARY!!" many of them shouted, horrified, thinking he'd sent the little female Homunculus to her untimely demise. Draco was unable to hold and the jaw snapped close.
"Wait for it," Mortuary said and then the Orphenoch froze. All of a sudden, crystal spikes began to sprout right out of its body. The crystal spikes multiplied as they struck the beast from within. The spikes came out through its eye sockets, from its back, under its belly and even its mouth. The monster was already dead by now as blue flames engulfed its entire form before it crumbled down to organic grey ash. The crystals remained though and in the centre was Renia who still in her armor, digging her way out of the ash, but slightly exhausted from what she had to do with her crystallization powers.
"Now that took a lot out of me," said Renia as she collapsed forward but Terra caught her before she hit the ground. The Homunculus snored as she immediately fell asleep and her Locust Inzecter hopped off the belt, taking her armor away along with it.
"Rest, Ren," Terra smiled under her helmet. "You deserve it."
There was a faint sound of applause which made the teenage heroes look up at Occultus. "Well, that was an amazing show of teamwork, my young friends."
"Save it, Occultus!" Mortuary shouted, pointing straight at the villainous cult leader. "Now, stay where you are because we're coming for you!"
Occultus' smile turned sinister, sending chills down Wyvern's back. "Now, why would I want to do that when there's more fun to be had?"
The heroes exchanged looks of confusion and bewilderment. What did he mean by fun?
"I'd watch where I was standing if I were you," said Occultus in a foreboding tone. Draco's eyes flashed at the remark and he panicked. He finally had a vision and it wasn't a good one.
"Everyone, we have to get-!" Draco began to shout, but suddenly the floor began to tremble before breaking apart, revealing a large pit under their feet. Screaming, the team of heroes fell down the hole.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Occultus smiled as he took out a small communicator, "Wait for them. They're coming." He shut off the communicator, "And once they're out of the way, I can reveal my master plan." He turned around, "Oh, Grave."
"Yes, Master," spoke Grave in monotone.
"Prepare yourself for our guests. If by some miracle they do survive, deal with them."
Grave bowed, "As you wish."
4 years ago if anyone, especially my parents, ever told me I would be engaged to a beautiful girl, I'd have them committed to an asylum for intensive therapy. Do I look like someone who could settle down to raise a family? I doubt it. Love was pointless. Who would love someone like me?
Pause.
Alright, there was Misha, but she was a one of a kind. She never judged me for who or what I was. She didn't care that my powers were…dark. All she cared about was me.
Then she died, and I ended up alone again.
Not anymore. Now, I have Raven and I actually proposed to her. My parents adore her. Well, my mother showed it. My father just accepted it in his own way. My siblings were also supportive.
Now, if only I could convince her mother I was right for her without revealing too much.
-Ichijyo Desmond Amakusa-Akuma.
NEO AZARATH…
Ichijyo followed Arella into a spot where Raven could not hear them. Arella needed to do this. It was her duty as a mother to interrogate the boys her daughter was interested him. That was the way it was back where she came from, on Earth, a long time ago.
"What are your intentions towards my daughter?" Arella asked immediately.
Straight to the point. Good. Ichijyo wasn't one to beat around the bush. He would be honest. "I wish to care for her, love her, and make her happy."
"But how can you do that?" Arella asked, crossing her arms. "You don't look any older than she is."
"Looks can be deceiving, madam," Ichijyo said, smiling. He was going to have to impress Arella, even if it killed him. "Back on Earth, I run a branch of my family's company. It's called Smart Brain Corporation." Arella eyes widened slightly. No doubt she'd heard of it back when she used to live on Earth. "I earn an estimate of 5,000,000,000 dollars a year just for running it."
"Well, at least that proves you can financially provide for her," said Arella, keeping her stoic expression, "But money isn't everything. It cannot buy her happiness."
"That is true," Ichijyo agreed. Money never really made him happy, "But I know in my heart that I care for her. There is no doubt in my mind that I love her. It's the honest for goodness truth, I swear."
Arella's gaze softened a little. So far the boy's words were sincere, but he was still a teenage boy. She decided to question him more, "So, how did you and my daughter meet?"
"Well, I am part of the team she is with, the Teen Titans," Ichijyo began, "But I wasn't one of the founding members. I met her a few years later, actually, whilst searching for a friend of mine." He wasn't going to say that the first time they'd met was when he'd been sent to assassinate her under Yoshido's orders. "I decided to join the team since my friend didn't seem to want to leave."
"Sounds plausible," said Arella, though there was a degree of suspicion in his mind, like he wasn't telling the whole story. "So, if you are part of her group, you must have exceptional abilities. What can you do?"
Ichijyo knew this question could come into the conversation. He wasn't going to tell him all that he could do, but maybe he could tell him about some of the abilities he'd gained himself and from his mother's side. Arella didn't need to know now that he mainly used darkness. "I know some magic, and possess a few psychic abilities, telekinesis, teleportation and telepathy mainly." Arella noted that Raven shared the same abilities too. "I can also heal, and create light energy constructs in battle." He demonstrated by creating a blade out of light. "I can also turn invisible." He demonstrated this as well. He finished, "Also, as a last resort, I can neutralize powers."
Arella blinked. "Neutralize powers?"
"In a nutshell I can turn a person's powers OFF. However, it only works on one person at a time. I don't use that ability unless it's absolutely necessary."
Arella dwelled on his words. Such an ability could be dangerous in the wrong hands. She looked Ichijyo over. So far, it was like looking at a male version of her daughter so there was no doubt they shared something in common aside from powers. However, this boy…this young man seemed more expressive. It was strange how her daughter could gain an attention of this young man.
"Is that all?" Ichijyo asked. The question shook Arella out f her thoughts.
"You do know about my daughter's situation, that she is a…" Arella began.
Ichijyo finished, "I know she's half-demon." Arella blinked in surprise at this. "And I don't care. To me she's Raven, my fiancée, and the girl I love." Ichijyo added, "Is that answer satisfactory for you?"
Arella recovered a little. She'd never expected someone to just accept Raven for being half-demon. It came to a shock to her that this boy knew about that. Of course, since he was a member of the Titans, he would've known if he he'd fought Trigon alongside Raven. "For now," Arella said. "Well, so far, you seem alright. However, I feel that you are still hiding a few facts about yourself."
Ichijyo knew she was right. He was secretive by nature. It was a trait he'd inherited from his father. It was also a trait he'd developed whilst functioning as commander of the Deathtron Secret Police.
4 years ago if anyone ever told me I was going to fall in love with an alien girl and go to her home planet, I'd ask them, "What the hell have you been smoking?" followed by, "And can I have some?"
I would laugh, and loud, like a maniacal mad scientist, which was what I was known for being.
Well, despite being someone with my level of genius, I could never predict the future (without a lack of trying). I never expected that anything could fall into my lap like that.
Actually, she grabbed me and planted one on me, but that's another story.
Well, while visiting an alien planet, you need to respect their culture and customs. As they say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," or something along those lines.
I can't believe I'm on an alien planet, AGAIN!
Geeks of the world eat your hearts out!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
-Yoshiyuki Takada.
TAMARAN…
Pluto belched as he walked alongside Robin, behind the two princesses, their long lost brother and Galfore as they were headed to the throne room.
"I cannot believe you did that," Robin spoke to Pluto, referring to what'd happened at the feast/carnage. "I mean, I saw it, I just couldn't believe it."
"I know," Pluto responded, "But when in Rome do as the Romans do. Or in this case, do as the Tamaraneans do."
"But you actually ate the stuff on the table," Robin reminded, feeling green. "How did you stomach it all?"
"I guess you can say it's because my nanobots adjusted and modified my taste buds so that I can handle any alien food without gagging," Pluto shrugged. "I just took a bite and it tasted like chicken."
"Unbelievable," Robin shook his head.
"So, what's the deal with this Ryand'r dude?" Pluto asked.
"Dunno," Robin shrugged. "Even I'm surprised that Starfire kept this a secret from me."
"Uh huh," Pluto nodded.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Robin demanded.
"Well, seeing as you do keep secrets from her, I'm saying that fair is fair," Pluto elaborated.
"This isn't the same."
"Excuses, excuses, my friend," Pluto said in a sing-song voice. "All I know is that Starfire is entitled to her own secrets too."
Robin begrudgingly agreed.
"Want to know something else?" Pluto questioned. "I think one of those dishes was still alive. I felt something trying to wiggle its way up my throat."
Robin made gagging noises in disgust.
CHRONOLINER
Back aboard the ChronoLiner, Brimstone was barking loudly. Andie looked down curiously at the demon dog, asking, "Are you hungry, boy?" She went to pet him but got growled at.
"I think you should leave the dog alone, Andie," said Ant as he looked at the dog. "I know, boy. I'm scared too." Ant was forced to stay on the ChronoLiner so that the others would have a ride once they finished their mission. However, he knew something was definitely wrong. He could feel it in his bones. He knew that they would need help and this was it.
"I better go pick up some more passengers," said Ant firmly. "Because I have a gut feeling that those kids are gonna need all the help they can get." He exited the dining car via teleporter as Brimstone barked loudly. The demon dog's master was in danger and he was here lying down doing nothing.
It just wasn't fair.
To Be Continued…