Episode 35: Guardon: Dual Soul!
"Hey Alsius, are you sure you're alright?" Tenma asked.
"Yes... I'll be fine." She forced a convincing smile. The captain nodded and went to check up on the other members' conditions.
Zephyr walked up to the midfielder, "Alsius, take this." He handed her a bottle of water.
"...thanks."
Matatagi frowned and Minaho noticed this, "Is something bothering you, Matatagi-kun?"
The striker had nothing he wanted to tell him, so started to walk away.
"Why do you think the Melfen joined our team?"
Matatagi stopped, "How should I know..."
"I believe they are searching for something, no someone." Minaho continued, "I don't understand why, but I believe that is the most reasonable answer. In return for us letting them on board, they teach us about souls."
"...and you are telling me this because?" Matatagi frowned.
"No particular reason."
"Hmf."
Both teams took their positions back onto the field. The game comensed with Guardon ball.
Rodan started to dribble the ball up.
"Konoha Roll!" The small defender stole the ball using her hissatsu. "K-Kusaka-kun!"
The midfielder quickly shot the ball, "Kyoubou Head!"
However, it was easily stopped.
Alsius slowly started to show her fatigue. "Quiet everyone..." She mumbled to herself. "Why now, of all times..." She then remembered Zephyr offering her the drink. She looked in the defender's direction.
Zephyr nodded sternly, "Remember our mission, Alsius." He whispered passing her the ball.
"Not now! In the middle of the game!"
"He's crazy..." Han growled.
Against her will, a dark blue light surrounded Alsius. "No..." She desperately tried to hold it back, though her efforts were useless.
"What's happening!?" Tenma gasped.
"Thank-you for everything, cheif..." Shindou bowed to the old winged Guardon leader. "But why? We are enemies aren't we?"
The old bird laughed, "This is the best for our planet's future... and you promised to save the entire galaxy, did you not?"
Shindou smiled, "Yes! Of course."
"Before we take you to the stadium, I have a few things to inform you about..."
"What is it?" Ibuki frowned.
"If Guardon ever brings their entire team forward, don't attack."
"Huh?"
"And second, those Melfelse players... They seem to have a differing objective than you." The bird stroke his white beard, "I'd just oberve them closely if I were you."
"How do you know this?"
"We have no time to waste, Shindou. Hurry, to the stadium!"
"Ah... Argh...!" Alsius held her head in great pain. Ice energy flowed out of her freezing the field around her, despite the heat.
Zephyr calmly observed the noises around him understand what was happening. The players on the field, one by one, were getting their feet frozen on the spot, stopping their movements. He then noticed one player completely unaffected by the Melfen's berserk.
"Bingo. Got the info I needed. Komori!"
Komori quickly ran towards the bench and grabbed her stuffed dragon. "Seiryu, please...!"
The button eyes glowed and thick tree roots grew out from the ground constraining the blue-haired girl.
A blue light then enveloped Alsius, from there, a azure furred beast emerged. It had a wolf-like face with two large horns on the back of its head curving inwards. On its back were two magnificent feathered wings.
"Wasn't h-her soul a kitty?" Konoha gasped.
Leaping into the air, the beast gathered energy onto the ball shooting it towards the net, Earth Eleven's net.
"What!?" Han gasped. He tried to stop the icy shot, however failed. "Argh!"
"Han!" Tenma gasped. He tried to move, but his feet were frozen on the spot.
The beast started to fly upward letting out cries of pain.
"Alsius! Stop!" The captain screamed.
"W-what is that girl!?" Rodan cackled, "She's soo crazy..."
"Try again, Komori!" Zephyr instructed calmly.
Komori nodded and more roots grew from the ground wrapping itself around the beast's body. The beast was obviously growing weaker and easily dragged down to the ground.
Slowly the beast turned back into Alsius. She was unconsious.
"Huh? Already over... Boring!" Rodan sighed.
Han coughed, the previous shoot from Alsius had completely drained him.
The members of both teams stared dumbfounded at what had just happened. The ice on the field melted when Alsius turned back to normal, so Tenma ran over to her and Komori.
"I-Is she..."
Komori nodded she then slowly turned towards Zephyr exchanging nods with him. "If you submerge in a tub of cool water, she'll recover in no time."
"That's a relief..." Tenma sighed.
"Just... She won't remember any of this." Komori added.
Aoi came running up to them, first aid kit in hand. She helped Tenma carry the injured Melfen player off the field.
The captain turned to the coach when he stated his further instructions, "Shindou will go in for Alsius and Ibuki for Han."
"Is Shindou-senpai and Ibuki back?"
"No, but they will be."
"We still have players on the bench," Minaho frowned, "I don't understand why you insist on people who aren't here to be on the field..."
"I am the coach, I make the decisions." Was all the Coach answered and the players just could obiediently listen.
As instructed by Komori, Aoi brought Alsius back to the Galaxy Notes to cool her off.
"Aoi-san...?"
The manager turned to see Narukami behind her.
The boy gasped when he say how beaten up his friend was. "What ha..." Narukami started, but then seemed to answer his own question, "Zephyr... That brat...!" He growled.
"Um..." Aoi mumbled.
"I'm going to beat some sense into that..." Narukami started, but as he opened the door outside, the boy was unable to stand the heat, fainting.
"Na-Narukami-kun..." The manager laughed nervously.
"Are they seriously playing without a keeper!? That's so hilarious!" Rodan cackled.
"What is that coach thinking..." Matatagi growled.
Komori nervously glanced at the other forward.
"What?"
"N-nothing..." She whispered.
The match continued. Matatagi started to dribble the ball up. However, since they lacked a keeper, it made it difficult for Earth Eleven to go out on a full attack. It was only a matter of time until Guardon could get their 3rd point.
"Haah!" Tetsukado released his soul once again, preventing the bird aliens from getting closer to the net.
"Captain!"
Tenma recieved the ball. He knew he had to keep playing, that as captain, he couldn't show any signs of uncertainty. Shindou and Ibuki will come back.
"Keep going everyone! Komori!" Tenma passed the ball to the Dragonis girl.
"Enryuu Houkou!" She used her hissatsu, though it was stopped by their keeper, Arbega.
"Hmf, these arms are the results of our evolution. Your petty shots will never get through them!" The captain laughed.
"Nn..." Komori pouted.
"Go up!" Arbega threw the ball almost past the centerline. The Guardon players were almost in front of the net!
"Hurry back!" Tenma desperately yelled.
Zephyr and Minaho went to stop the incoming forwards, though they were easily past. Nothing was left to stop the ball.
Jumping on top of the ball, the forward fired the ball towards the net, "Kazangan!"
"Leave it to me!" A voice yelled from above. A large beast crashed down on top of the ball, completely stopping it. The smoke rose keeping anyone from seeing clearly who or what it was.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Tenma." A familiar voice smiled from within the dust.
"Shindou-senpai, Ibuki!" The captain smiled.
Ibuki knelt down, ball firmly caught underneath his hand. While Shindou stood, arms crossed next to him. A large crator was made beneath them.
"What!?" The Guardonian forward cursed.
"Looks like we just made it..." Shindou sighed.
"Yup."
"Tch..." Rodan growled, "they just had to come out at this timing... Arbega, we're going to go as previously planned."
"This isn't your team, Rodan!" The Guardon captain argued.
"Its for your victory, you have no choice in the matter."
"Manabe, Tsurugi. Go in for Zephyr and Komori." Kuroiwa Coach instructed.
"Yes..." Manabe nodded immediately.
While Tsurugi hesitated before giving his response.
With a full team of 11 finally on the field, it was time for Earth Eleven's comeback!
Ibuki passed the ball up to Tenma who started to dribble the ball forward.
"Go!" Rodan cackled and the entire Guardon team, excluding the keeper, ran to Earth Eleven's side of the centerline. The entire path to the Guardon net was completely free!
"What!?" Tenma gasped. Though unsure what was happening, the captain still continued to move up.
Shindou remembered the words the Eastern Guardonian cheif had said to him. "Tenma! Don't go up!"
"Sh-Shindou-senpai!?" Tenma frowned confused.
"Trust me, Tenma!"
"O-okay..."
Suddenly the entire field started to shake. From the sky, large balls of fire flew down. It crashed onto the Guardon side of the field.
"T-the field!?" Tenma gasped. If he had continued, he would've been caught in the mess. "How did you know, Shindou-senpai?"
Shindou shook his head, "I didn't know, but the cheif warned me not to attack if the entire Guardon team moves up onto our side of the field... To think this would happen..."
"Argh... My plan failed!?" Rodan screamed.
"Tenma the game is still on!" Shindou yelled as he started to run up. Tenma nodded, quickly passing the ball up to the midfielder.
The Guardonians quickly returned to their positions, "we won't let you past!" A defender hissed.
Shindou sneered and a soft blue light enveloped him. A beautiful blue peacock emerged. Ball underneath its talon, the bird spread its colourful feathered tail. While the defender stared at its beauty, Shindou quickly ran past the defender.
"Shindou-senpai awakened his soul!?"
"Matatagi!"
The striker unleashed his soul and shot the ball successfully into the net. The score was finally tied!
"Useless...!" Rodan growled under his breath. "Pass the ball to me!"
The Guardonian listened to the Shitenou's order. A dark red light surrounded his small body and an armoured tiger-like beast emerged from it. Rodan's soul!
Letting out a roar, the ball rocketed towards the net.
"Now that's what I want to see!" Ibuki grinned. Putting his hands in the ground, he too, unleashed his soul. A large mammoth appeared. Stomping on the incoming shoot with its foot, the keeper easily stopped the Shitenou's soulstrike.
"The keeper got his soul too!?"
"Wow Ibuki!" Tenma gasped.
"I won't let any more points through!" Ibuki proudly announced. "Captain!"
Tenma nodded, "Z-Slash!" After avoiding Guardon's defense, the captain passed the ball to Matatagi.
Quickly unleashing his soul, Earth Eleven was able to get the lead point at the very last second. The whistle blew indicating the end if the game.
"...no way..." Rodan whispered, "you've got to be kidding me!?"
"Shindou-senpai, we did it!"
Shindou grinned, "Yeah."
Zephyr sighed, "I got the info I needed, Coach..."
Kuroiwa Coach just stated, "You still have yet to fulfil your side of the agreement."
"Yes, yes, I know..."
"Is this really what needs to be done..." Han whispered looking up at the Earth Eleven players. "Is he really the one we were searching for...?"
Episode 36 preview
Earth Eleven has won their match against Guardon, however it was too early to celebrate. A new enemy appears abducting Shindou. This brings Earth Eleven to a new planet, Dorudella. What is the enemy's motive and who are the Shadowborn? Meanwhile, back in Faram Obieus an unexpected dual make a team. Episode 36: Shadowborn.