Chapter 55: The trap
Yoshimitsu, Maxi and his about 30 men went into Kunpaetku's temple's ruins, most of them frightened but determined.
Holding their weapons up high (most of them swords and sabers, but for Maxi's nunchaku) they descended into the main chamber, which was underground.
Down there it was almost completely dark. The floor was covered with puddles and the outside light slightly reflected in the water.
- What are we exactly looking for? – asked Maxi to Yoshimitsu.
- The monster who killed both my father and your brother.
- Astaroth? What makes you think he is in here?
- Do you remember I told you his intelligence is almost human?
Maxi nodded.
- Well, he isn't intelligent enough to avoid being cheated.
- What are you talking about? – inquired Maxi suspiciously.
- How much do you want revenge, Maxi?
Maxi didn't like Yoshimitsu's tone at all.
- What…?
- I found Astaroth. – confessed Yoshimitsu. – I met him before I met you in Ryukyu.
Maxi was shocked. He didn't know what was happening.
- What…what happened?
- Astaroth enjoys killing people, Maxi. He lives for killing and destroying. However, what he really likes is slaughtering. And he prefers people who can protect themselves.
Maxi's crew was starting to feel terrified.
- I told him I would draw a group of fighters to his hideout…the ruins of the temple where he was created. I made him believe I was doing it in exchange for money.
Maxi gulped.
- However, what I really want is not money. Just revenge. – claimed Yoshimitsu. – When I found him, I was on my own. I could have never killed him.
- You mean…you brought us here to help you to kill him.
- You're just a crowd to slaughter for him. Just defend yourselves. If you manage to kill him, that would be perfect. If you don't…I'll take advantage of him being distracted killing you, I'll show up and I'll kill him.
Maxi's face changed surprise for rage.
- You cheated us! – he yelled. – You're just using us as bait!
- I can see you understand.
Maxi, really angry, grabbed Yoshimitsu's neck.
- What prevents me from just killing you right now?
- Come on, do it. Kill the only person who can help you to get rid of that monster.
Maxi realized he was right. Without Yoshimitsu's help, he would never manage to kill Astaroth.
- Kill him! – yelled some of his crewmen.
- Let's get out of here! – suggested a few of them.
However, before they could do anything, a thunderous noise made everything rumble, and everybody shut up.
Short after, the same noise sounded again. And again. And again.
Maxi soon knew what they were. They were steps. Steps of someone really big.
Then, they saw a huge leg entering the chamber. A giant was slowly descending the same way they had followed before.
Seconds later, Astaroth was right in front of them.
He looked incredibly human. Only three features made him different. His enormous size, his red skin and, the most impressive: his heart wasn't inside his body. Instead, it was beating right in the middle of his chest, in sight.
Astaroth looked around in satisfaction, while everybody looked at him in fear.
- So we're going to have fun! – he said with a resounding voice.