6: To Tenkai!

Things had happened very quickly after the Mad Gigginox was slain. The civilians who had been panicking and fleeing for their lives mere minutes before it's death had quickly returned to clean up the debris, corpses and spilled resources (many vats full of water and been spilled and countless pieces of scrap metal littered the floor). It was both inspiring and unnerving (in the sense that they barely seemed to register the bodies, simply chucking them into the incinerator along with the Gigginox) that the soldiers at Yii-Do could so easily resume with normality.

Not long after, Archminister Grimsley had said his farewells to the group before departing the island in the Hyperion. Aaron and his friends had watched as the sleek, sophisticated black vessel had powered up its rear engines, which, like most modern airships, ran on this expensive new substance called "petroleum". It had been created using old "fossils", remains of ancient animals and plants, found in the ground. As the Guild had realised its usefulness, they had set up dig sites all over Altus, mainly in Kojo and Tarin, but there were even some being put into place in Eridias, the captial region. But the two regions with the most dig sites were Jonton and Chi'Huen; Jonton was one of the most well-known and respected regions in Altus, and seemed to be an all-round rich region, in terms of zeni, food and water, natural resources and even these "fossils"; Chi'Huen was a region in the far east of Altus, not quite on the coast but not located too close to main civilisation either. The teenagers had read about Chi'Huen in school. It was a rustic, welcoming place with immense historical value (not to mention immense amounts of sand), and myriad ruins, carefully preserved. It was no surprise to hear that the Guild had headed there to find more fossils. It sort of saddened Aaron- and Dante agreed with him- that the Guild hadn't taken the time to examine the fossils they collected before burning them up (or whatever they did to them, he had no idea, not may people did) to obtain the petroleum. He didn't know for sure if they didn't- perhaps they did- but he just didn't like the thought that they might've missed out on the only proof that a certain species had ever existed just to power their aircraft more efficiently. He also sensed the Archminister's hand in this detail, too. Like most things, it seems, Aaron thought.

After watching the Hyperion until its black form was consumed by the midday clouds, the party had all returned to their rooms under Irvine's instructions. They had to gather all their belongings- not that they really had any, being simple Kairu folk with simple lives. In fact, they had no doubt in their minds that they'd be living in squalour like most other residents of poor outer regions such as Tarin if they hadn't taken up hunting. For many, hunting was the only lifeline, the only barrier between eating a filling meal in a decent home or being naked in the streets with not a zeni to their name.

It hadn't taken Dante, Alexis, Yumi, Ruby, Ichiro, Teiko and Ash very long at all to gather their things and return dwonstairs to the old barracks, where Irvine and Miyuki- and the small black ops team that would be accompanying them to Tenkai- waited patiently. It was strange when they had seen the other black ops soldiers for the first time; the only one they'd seen in so far was irvine, and when he stood next to the others they could barely tell him apart as they all wore the signature Rukodiora armour. There were five of them, four males and a female: one with a greatsword, two with lances, one with a hammer, and the other- the female soldier- with a light bowgun, all Rukodiora-made, of course. The only things that made Irvine stand out from amongst them was the fact that he had two weapons- a greatsword and a sword (with no shield)- and the fact that none of the others had a sword (well, not of that kind).

It had taken Aaron longer than most to prepare. Like his friends, he didn't really have anything to his name but his Rathalos Soul G armour and his Shiny Rathalos Sword G. But, of course, he had to say his goodbyes to April. How could he not?

As he knocked on the door and came through it simultaneously (much like she had done to him the other night), he saw that she was standing by the bone sculpture that held her Gurenzeburu armour for her, pulling it off piece by piece and donning it. He had just finished placing her helm upon her head. She clasped her hammer with delicate fingers and swung it over her shoulder, holding it aloft. She turned around, her face, determined and slightly excited. The thing Aaron noticed most was that colour and vitality had returned to her skin once again (she was a tad pale when last he saw her). And, for the first time since the night before the fateful trial in the highlands, she was smiling, and her eyes, an icy, ephemeral blue (in contrast to Aaron's flatter, less eye-catching shade of blue), were gleaming like starlight. Her lips were a luscious rosy red.

"Wha...? Where are you-" Aaron began.

"I'm coming too, silly. There's no way in hell you guys're leaving me behind!" she said, psyched.

"But you're still-"

"No, I'm absolutely fine. The medic came and checked up on me. She said my wound has healed well and I'm strong enough to go back to normal. C'mon, Aaron, I'm holding this giant hammer up; I wouldn't be able to even lift it off the ground if I was still weakened. Let's go!" she chirped. Aaron smiled, shook hsi head and chuckled to himself.

"Boy oh boy, you've got a lotta moxy holed up in there, April," he sighed with a sense of fondness.

"Too right I have," she retorted, almost barging past him on the way out.

The only thing that Aaron found strange was that nobody had questioned April when she had told them all that the medic said she was good to go. Anybody could say that. But still, April wasn't a liar as far as anybody knew. Her friends believed her and that was all that was needed.

"Very well. Follow me to the west dock; an airship is docked there for us. We leave now, and we'll be in Tenkai by nightfall," Miyuki informed them all. Slowly, silently, the ten teenagers strode away through the still damaged industrial metropolis of Yii-Do proper, headed for their ride, their destination and their target.

Whether they liked it or not, they had become a part of this war now. There was no turning back. Failure was not an option.

The Akura Jebia scuttled swiftly through the cold, damp cave in the jungle below the highland ledge where its quarry had faced a Gurenzeburu. It was angry, very angry. The humans had not come to the cave like it had expected. The Gigginox hadn't been there either. There was just water, moss and an empty shell of rock, and many other openings that led to different routes. Clearly something had happened to make the nasty little creatures not travel here today.

As it scurried along angrily, its mandibles wriggling inanely in its ire, it felt something coarse and rough collide with it, before the world turned upside down with a *thump!*.

As it squirmed helplessly, its legs writhing in the air, it felt a large, strong claw clamp down on its chest. Seconds later, the intimidating and imposing shape of a Gurenzeburu's face met its gaze. Its left eye was missing. It was the same one, the one it had seen yesterday. It snorted at him with suspicion.

What are you doing here? This whole nexus of caves and tunnels belongs to me, you've no business being within its walls! Looking for something to steal, I suppose?! it growled impatiently, outraged and accosted.

I was looking for prey, there's no need to get so antsy! the Jebia hissed back. It screeched with pain at the Gurenzeburu lifted the foot that had it pinned down and stomped on its stomach.

Curb your tongue, Carapaceon, or I will tear it out! the Gurenzeburu roared back. It was clearly accustomed to being in charge around here and didn't take kindly to backtalk at all.

Alright, alright! Please, just listen to me! I was lying in wait here for some humans, about ten or eleven of them. The ones you were fighting up on the rocks earlier. I was seeking revenge, that's all, I swear. I wasn't trying to steal anything from you.

At this, the Gurenzeburu seemed to soften up a bit. He slowly stepped back and flipped the Akura Jebia back over gently, and stood passive.

Those humans...they hurt me. But one in particular, the blue one... that one took my eye many years ago. They must all pay for crossing me! And you... You claim to be seeking revenge, and revenge, I respect! the One-Eyed Gurenzeburu bellowed. He never seemed to say anything quietly, and he always sounded angry or irritated. He was clearly a bit of a loose cannon. The Jebia mad a mental note-to-self to keep on his good side, just in case things turned ugly.

I want to see them all dead. But I care not how. You may have this "Blue One", and any other you wish to deal with yourself. As long as I get my revenge, the Jebia said honestly. A short pause followed.

Well then, Carapaceon, I believe he have ourselves an agreement! the One-Eyed Guren boomed. Then, it pinned the Jebia to the floor again, this time the right way up, with its foot. But listen well: if you even think of betraying me, I'll pull your innards out through your eyes and make you eat them until you choke! Is that crystal clear?! the Flying Wyvern added, chuckling a little at his accidental pun. The Jebia moved its face ever so slightly in agreement. The One-Eyed Gurenzeburu let go of him. Very well. Lead on, Carapaceon!

The Akura Jebia did as he said, not wanting to incur the wrath of the Barbarian Wyvern.