Zatch Bell: Kolulu Story
By:CleruSonofShintetsu
[Chapter 5: A Dastardly Concert (Part 2)]
Maruss and Rembrant flew out the back door and tumbled onto the parking lot, slowly rising to their feet as they saw the evil grin of Kolulu, who was slowly walking towards them while sharpening her claws menacingly. Maruss admittedly found it exciting, but his chances to catch and burn Tia's book were slipping away by the second, and he needed to get her out of the way fast.
"Grah! You might be fun to fight, but you sissies are standing in the way of unfinished business! I'll gladly tear this whole auditorium apart if it means avenging today's humiliation! I'll demolish this building faster than ANY wrecking ball could ever hope to!" he yelled, stepping back to prepare for combat.
Kolulu chuckled and said, "Yeah yeah, keep on yapping, spaghetti hair! You'll be crying to your parents back home soon enough, you can count on that much! Now then, Lori..." she said, glancing back at her, "...what spell should we start with?"
Lori flipped through the book and landed on Zerusen. "This one, ZERUSEN!" she commanded, to which Kolulu's fists grew slightly in size, before shooting off to punch Maruss.
Rembrant yelled out a defensive spell swiftly. "GASHIELD!" he said as several pillars rose from the ground. They were tough, very tough, and Zerusen was genuinely bounced back by it, returning to Kolulu's wrists as normal. Maruss then let the pillars vanish on their own before his book wielder casted another spell.
"GANZU GARON!" he yelled, the iron balls rolling forward and Kolulu expertly dodging them with a laugh.
"What? Is that all you got!? I'm not like my sweet side ya know, I'm a killing machine, ahahahahahaha!" she cackled, anticipating a spell from Lori.
Lori would indeed cast a spell, yelling out "ZERUK!" and reinforcing Kolulu's power, sustaining the form for longer and giving her a burst of power and speed. Kolulu darts forward and slashes wildly at Maruss, overwhelming his defensive maneuvers and causing him to be ripped up before getting kicked in the mouth, spitting out blood and flying back.
"MARUSS!" Rembrant yelled out, looking behind him and holding his book above his head. He snarled and reeled his foot back. "YOU LITTLE FREAK!" he yelled, kicking Kolulu hard in the forehead with the enhanced force of his shiny shoes, surprisingly causing some pain to occur as the child growled, grabbing her forehead in mild pain.
"Oww! Jerk!" she said, grabbing him in the leg and dragging him down, spinning him around once, and throwing him into the fencing where Maruss landed, nearly crushing Maruss.
Maruss growled and rose to his feet. "DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT! I hate you! Who gave you the power to defeat me!? I am Maruss! I am the future king! I am meant for greatness! I didn't choose to follow the way of the strong just to get beaten by a rat! I admire his majesty...his strength, his passion, his glorious leadership...and I'll gladly succeed him and do right by his ways! REMBRANT, BRING OUT THE FINAL SPELL!" he roared, determination burning in his eyes.
Rembrant was in awe at the boy's determination, and gave him a proud smile. "That's good, Maruss...there's the power from within...alright, let's end this little charade!" he said, getting up and opening his spell book to the greatest of their spells.
"You fought well, little girls, but it is MY Mamodo who belongs at the top of the totem pole! BEHOLD, OUR ULTIMATE SPELL!" he said, pressing a hand to the pages of the book.
Lori finally caught up with Kolulu and her eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. "KOLULU, GET READY!" she called out, Kolulu preparing her finest defense.
"GIGANO GARANZU!" Rembrant called out, Maruss crying out with power as a gigantic drill manifested above his head.
Maruss said but one thing before he threw it, "EAT THIS, SHE-FREAK, MAYBE HAVING A CIRCULAR HOLE THROUGH YOUR TEETH WILL MAKE YOU LOOK BETTER, HRAAAAH!", and then he threw it, the drill speeding towards the two at high speed.
As much as they wanted to believe it, they couldn't block this, or dodge this from so close, Lori was going to try casting Zerurudo to get Kolulu out of the way, but then she heard a familiar voice yell out.
"MA SEISHIELD!" said Megumi, Tia leaping to Kolulu's side and summoning the powerful shield which intercepted the drill.
The drill tried it's hardest to push through, Maruss desperately pushed, but the shield wouldn't budge. Kolulu looked over at Tia and, in a rare moment of restraint, her monstrous expression softened and lost it's malice. "Tia..." she said, before pushing physically on the shield, to help reinforce it with her own strength.
This was unnecessary of course, but a kind gesture, and soon enough, the spell was dissipated and Maruss was furious at the result.
"W-what!? No! You just got lucky, punks! I'm still stronger than you, I'm still BETTER than you! Now lie back, and KNEEL! Rembrant, give me another spell already!" he commanded.
Rembrant was getting a bit exhausted at this point, and the knee injury was bleeding more than he expected. After all, he was stabbed by big metal claws, that's going to make walking very painful once the adrenaline dies down.
"Maruss...they...we can't-" but he was cut off by Maruss yelling at him.
"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH! You're going to lose EVERYTHING if I lose my book, now bite your tongue and only release it when you've picked out a spell, hurry!" he said, but the yammering left them open, and Kolulu was already launching a Zerusen at them. The two jumped out of the way at the last minute, the book nearly getting caught in the process.
Lori spoke to Kolulu firmly, "Kolulu, go all out! ZERUK!" she said, buffing her one last time and unleashing her on them.
"YOUR BOOK IS MINE, LITTLE MAN, MIIIIIINE!" Kolulu said with a cackle, darting forward in her bid to rip their book to shreds.
But something went wrong...very wrong. As she closed in, a third voice could be heard at last.
"BIRAITSU!" it yelled out, as two shots rang out from different corners of the parking lot. Both shots connected, one hitting Kolulu in the ribs, the other hitting her in a pressure point on her neck, causing her to groan in pain and stop mid-dash, now staggering back and shaking with shock.
"L-Lo...ri..." she said, rapidly fading back to her normal self and starting to pass out.
Tia and Megumi gasped, while Lori yelled out Kolulu's name as she ran up to protect her.
Maruss and Rembrant looked side to side, seeing TWO Robnoses. So THAT'S why he split earlier, it made sense in their heads now.
"It seems inevitable that, when a plan goes awry and a miracle occurs, that it is proof that not only do Gods exist, but they LOVE us! Consider me your miracle, Maruss, and let that be the first of your debts." said one of the Robnoses as they slowly stalked their way over to the injured duo, while Ruku followed suit in...well...his own suit.
"Goodness golly jeeze! Are you alright Rembrant?" he asked out of concern for the two, kneeling down as the Robnoses stood in front of the other three beings, as if guarding them like smiling soldiers.
"Honestly..." one of the Robnoses began, waving a finger, "today has been fun...but our plans are screwed now. Frankly, I say we should call it a day. I would attack you, but I have my subjects to look after, and I can't have any...potential disloyalties or escapes..." he said, squinting with an evil grin behind him.
"In truth..." the other started, "Maruss needs to be disciplined for talking out of turn there. Now then, Tia, Kolulu...run along, you earned your survival this day." he said, waving them off, much to the fury of Tia.
"H-how DARE you!? You cheap-shot Kolulu to save HIM!? Oh for the love of all Mamodo!" she said, wildly scratching at her own hair, desperately wanting to scream.
Kolulu was now back in her normal state, panting as she staves off the status of passing out. Her vision was blurry and her body was beaten up, today was possibly the worst by far for the poor girl.
Lori was relieved that she was okay, brushing her cheek and keeping her awake. Tia clutched her fists, looking at Kolulu and being utterly done with today. She first finds out her friend was forced into the tournament, then when she finally fights Tia's worst enemy, she's cheap-shot by Robnos. Tia wanted to scream, awaken some power that could cause a nuclear explosion, but she couldn't...and she likely never would.
Megumi noticed the tension in Tia's body and gently gripped her shoulder, kneeling down to her with a gentle smile. "You did good Tia...just stay focused, those people might attack us again, and we need both of you primed and ready to defend yourselves. There is NO way they're letting us off the hook." She said loudly at the end, wanting the enemy group to hear her.
Ruku jumped a bit and hissed. "Gh, you idiots...thank you for making your book burning all the easier." he said, putting on a smug facade. "Robnos, get ready!" he said, opening his book and facing the four.
Lori's heart jumped and she shook Kolulu gently. "Come on, Kolulu...please, get up, we need you right now!" she begged, Kolulu slowly getting up to make one last stand against the enemy. If she can't beat them, she can at least secure an escape.
Tia likewise stood by Kolulu's side, ready to defend them both if needed. It may seem hopeless, but they needed to try.
Ruku then said with vigor, "HERE IT COMES! GANZU BI-"
But Lori cut him off with the utterance of "FO GINISU!", which saw Kolulu making the triangle hand formation and flashing a blinding light at the two Robnoses and Ruku, blinding all three and particularly causing agony to the cybernetic twins.
Lori then grabbed Kolulu and yelled, "BOOK IT INSIDE!", knowing that if the enemy group didn't back off at this point, they'd need to set up a defense for the innocent people inside.
One complication after another...one mess after another...for their sake, may the exhaustion of battle prove enough to drive them off.
Eventually, the enemy group collected themselves and somewhat recovered. Maruss was growling with seething rage, Rembrant was disappointed with himself, and the wonder trio of Ruku and the Robnos twins were trying to think of what to do.
Maruss spoke up first, however. "Ugh! Fine, you want me to say it!? I OWE YOU FOR SAVING ME ALRIGHT!?" he said, which caused the Robnos twins to snicker at his expense.
One of them spoke up. "I'm glad you understand your situation, my friend. As the future king, it is my duty to protect my subjects, it is only logical after all. In truth, I grow bored of this miserable siege, and killing a bunch of concert goers is by no means a kingly act, now is it?" he said, managing to tug every string Maruss had.
The other one spoke next. "Come now, everyone, let us relax and head back to the warehouses. I have a feeling we'll need to rethink our plan of attack going forward, especially since that little girl Kolulu can use spells outside of that monster form of hers..."
"That's a good point actually," Maruss started, "WHAT THE HELL!? WHO HAS SUCH POLAR OPPOSITE ABILITIES!? You don't even have those when you split in half, so what gives!?" he questioned, before grunting in pain at his bleeding injuries and numerous sores.
Robnos and Robnos tapped their chins in curiosity. This WAS a predicament, and something was clearly off about Kolulu in particular.
"I have a theory...but it's a bit oddball to be sure. Maybe her spells involve the concept of yin and yang, Zeruk brings out yin in her, while yang prevails by default, it's night and day. I've heard of abilities like this, but for now...such speculation is best preserved. Let us gather our collective buttocks and move out." he said, punching a larger hole than was already there to begin with in the damaged fence. The twins then walked through it, with Ruku bumbling behind them.
Rembrant got to his feet and offered a hand out to Maruss, who slapped it away and got up on his own. "...I can handle myself Rembrant..." he said with a pout.
Rembrant shrugged and then climbed through the fence hole, Maruss following suit.
So ends the battle for the concert hall, and as the group scampered off, a particularly windy duo could see them from atop the roof, being dazed by the shock and awe of the battle they just saw.
"...Hyde, I don't think we're on easy mode anymore." said Eido...