Chapter 61: New Challenger

As Gelato Capriolo and Zanna ran with the barrel, Rosso (Akamaru) was placing Flash Grenades (Explosive Tags) from a special vest he wore down along the way. So when Zephyr decided to pursue them, he accidentally stepped on one Flash Grenade causing him to flinch from temporary blindness.

"That's it," Zephyr growled as squiggly lines appeared on half of his face. "You're going to pay, little dog."

With unnatural speed, he lunged himself toward Rosso who was in the process of putting another Flash Grenade on the roof. Noticing this, Zanna turned back and grabbed Rosso just as the Flash Grenade went off. As a result, Zephyr and Zanna were both disoriented. They fell into one another and stumbled off the roof into the courtyard below. Gelato and Capriolo contemplated heading back when Borea suddenly came into view. She started to gain on them but then abruptly stopped. Looking ahead, the boys abruptly halted when they saw a man standing in front of them.

He was wearing a violet-colored jacket with the same purple sash the other Suono Four (Sound Four) members had that was partially unzipped showing a black mark on his chest with three swirls. His hair was white like Casco's (Kabuto's), only shorter and unevenly cut. A pair of red circles were marked on his forehead and there was matching eye-shadow under his turquoise-blue eyes. In one swift motion, the man kicked the barrel out of Capriolo's hands and caught it in his own. Next, he leaped over the two boys and landed right in front of Borea.

"Astraeus (Kimimaro)," Borea realized and bowed before him. "We—

"None of your excuses will suffice, Borea," the man interrupted. "You and the rest of Suono Four have greatly disappointed Typhonragazzo. Because of your tardiness, he had to pick a temporary host for the time-being!"

"I-I'm so sorry," Borea said as her normally stiff features briefly softened. "Did Father Typhonragazzo send you here to kill me?"

Astraeus frowned and walked past Borea. "No, I came to pick up Tony. Dispose of the Foglia kids, and we'll discuss your punishment later."

Then he left, leaving Gelato and Capriolo stunned.

"Who was that guy?" Gelato asked out loud.

"I don't know, but we can't let him get away with Tony," Capriolo stated. "Come on!"

The two charged at Borea, who got in a fighting stance. But to her surprise, Gelato just soared over. Then while this was going on, Capriolo shouted, "Mocking of the Shade (Shadow Imitation Technique)!"

Hearing that, Borea looked down leaped out of the way before Capriolo's shadow could capture hers. Meanwhile, Gelato continued running in the direction Astraeus went.

###

Sometime later, Gelato caught up to Astraeus who stopped in a small park just as the sun was starting to come up.

"You!" Gelato cried angrily, as his eyes changed from blue to gold and the scale marks on his face stretched. "Tell me…why does Typhonragazzo want Tony so badly?"

Astraeus turned around and raised an eyebrow. "If you must know, it's because Typhonragazzo wants to live forever."

"Forever?" Gelato exclaimed. "But that's impossible!"

"Ever heard of the Philosopher's Stone or the Elixir of Life?"

"Yeah, but my mentor told me that they're just myths."

"Maybe, though Typhonragazzo managed to unlock one way that doesn't involve a magic rock or a mere potion. However, there is a catch to it: while his soul is immortal, his body isn't. So he requires numerous host bodies to act as vessels for his soul, though their durability depends on the body's own strength and power."

"And he plans to make Tony one of these hosts?"

"Exactly."

Letting this information sink in, Gelato clenched his fists and used his Centurion of Homunculi ability (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique) to create a thousand versions of himself which surrounded Astraeus on all sides.

###

"I'm assuming you're the leader of this little charade you call a Squad," Borea guessed as she stood across from Capriolo with several feet between them. "Sacrificing members right and left, letting weaklings like the shrimp go…and for what? To retrieve one stupid kid that everyone seems to care about for some reason. Seems to me your leadership skills suck!"

Taken aback, Capriolo flinched for a moment and then he sighed. "This is my first assignment as a Capo, so of course I'm not going to be very good right off the bat. But I don't think any of my teammates are dead, because I have faith in them."

Borea gritted her teeth. "What a load of crap! I summon thee!"

Slamming her hand on the ground, there was a large cloud of smoke and three giants appeared behind Borea. One was covered in bandages from the waist to his head, the second had long hair covering his face and was carrying a metal club, and the third was bare-chested and blind-folded with spears strapped to his forearms.

"Oh, boy," Capriolo muttered. "This can't be good."

"Damn right," Borea smirked and held up a metallic flute she had been carrying underneath her jacket the whole time.

Next, she played a melody on the flute which seemed to make the giants sway. After a few moments, though, the giants scattered and attacked Capriolo from several angles.

She's using the flute to control these things, Capriolo realized as he dodged the giants' attacks. If I can just get it out of her hands, she'll be powerless for sure!

###

In the courtyard a ways back, Zephyr had kicked Zanna several yards into a pond while a red-furred Rosso ran after him.

What the hell was that? Zanna wondered. I definitely hit him, but—something pushed me back.

After getting out of the pond, Zanna nodded to Rosso who transformed into his Beast Man (Beast Clone) form then the two of them attacked Zephyr from both sides with the Hellhound Hunt (Fang Passing Fang) attack. But when the dust settled, they were not only blocked by Zephyr but a duplicate one sticking out from behind him.

"Well, well," said the duplicate Zephyr. "Looks like there's one for each of us, brother."

End of Chapter 61