Garoma: Rise of a Legend

by Leonidas1994

When Kaiju rise in the universe, the only way the kill Kaiju, is to become one. Join Ryosuke and his team as they embark on a journey, of colossal proportions. Rated M: Kaiju action, violence, sexual content (Lemons), adventure, romance.

4. Chapter 4

I own the rights to this story, I made the leading Kaiju hero myself and any human character that came along with it.

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Chapter 4: The Search Part 2

(Daruk, 22 Hours Ago)

Hours ago before Blair obtained Aquaria, Jirou stepped through the portal that was provided for him to reach Daruk, the savage planet. He walked into a dense jungle that was hot enough to match the Amazon. He let out an exhale and looked around the area, seeing nothing around him as he started walking through the jungle. "Lady Yuki said that the locals would meet me here, but where are they?" He asked as he wiped some sweat from his brow and looked at his wristcom and activated it. "Jirou to Ryosuke, I'm at the coordinates, but I'm not seeing anybody here." He announced.

"They should be there, it's possible they were spooked and went into hiding." Ryosuke responded.

"I don't know Ryo, I mean this place doesn't seem so dangerous." Jirou replied as he walked ahead and noticed something in the clearing. It was a large stone monolith that had the carvings of two creatures battling it out, one he recognized as Balduroc, the guardian from the temple on Sephoria. But he couldn't recognize the other one, it almost looked like a jaguar, but had more of a humanoid body. "Wow, someone's quite famous around here… Ryosuke, I'm snapping an image of a monolith, stand by." He told him as he pulled out a camera and activated it as he aimed it at the carvings and snapped a picture of it. He turned off the camera and pulled out the SD card and put it in his wristcom, he accessed the card and pulled up the photo he took and sent it to Ryosuke's. "All right, you should be receiving it now." He informed him.

"Got it, you're definitely in the right spot. If Balduroc is on that planet, then so is the creature he's fighting. Be careful Jirou." Ryosuke told him.

"Hey, I was born careful, okay?" He replied as he deactivated the wristcom.

---

(Sephoria)

While on Sephoria, Ryosuke saw that he cut off communication, causing him to let out a sigh as Sylvia walked up and looked at him. "He wasn't serious about being born careful, was he?" She asked him.

"What, are you kidding? He made that up, Jirou once knocked an expensive vase down and shattered it in a museum." He replied to her as he looked at the image of Balduroc and the other monster. "Least we know Balduroc is there somewhere, and these carvings almost look similar to ancient aztec or mayans." He pointed out to her as she looked them over.

"That creature is a fierce rival to Balduroc, it goes by the name Gor'boc. A savage feline that was considered to be Balduroc's worst adversary." She informed him.

"I think we can tell by the image that these two did not like each other." Ryosuke chuckled a bit as Misato approached and said.

"Amusing as it may be, we can't underestimate one's strength." She glanced towards him. "You of all people should know that by now Ryosuke." She reminded him as she walked away.

Sylvia watched her go and looked at Ryosuke. "She seems pretty harsh towards you when she wishes." She said to him, a bit concerned.

"Well, I guess that's what happens when you have a commander as a mother figure. Misato may be hard on me, but she means well. She's always been there for me, even when my mother died." He explained.

Sylvia looked at him surprised upon hearing it. "How did she die…?" She asked him.

Even though he didn't wish to speak of it, it was difficult to avoid. "My mother was the Leader of exploration ship Valeria before Misato ever was, she was my mom's second in command. She always saw Misato as a sister, always looking out for her, but when an alien fleet was coming close to Earth, she and Misato were both pilots of mech armors that could stand up to anything." He explained as he looked towards Misato. "But… the invaders annihilated half the squadron, leaving only Misato… and my mother." He told her as Misato looked down and pulled out an image of her and Ryosuke's mother, seeing them with their arms around each other's shoulders, smiling together.

(Flashback)

During the battle against the alien fleet, two mech suits were in the heat of battle against the alien squadron that took out their own. Misato steered her mech and blasted several ships to keep them from getting her. But they just kept coming, they were relentless as some managed to hit her, causing her to grunt as the cockpit shook within the mech, "Damn it, there's too many of them!" She shouted.

The other mech, piloted by Ryosuke's mother, took a few hits as she let out a grunt as she held her side as it was bleeding. She panted from exhaustion but let out a hearty chuckle. "You're not giving up on me yet, are you Misato?" She asked her.

Hearing it, even Misato let out a chuckle as she looked at her. "Not a chance in hell Haruka, I'm in this to the end… no matter what it costs me." She told her as an alien ship came flying towards her, she quickly took out a blade and sliced the ship in half as it exploded. "COME ON YOU BASTARDS! YOU THINK I'M AFRAID OF YOU?!" She yelled as she slashed at every ship that came at her. Haruka smiled as she pulled out her blade and helped her cut down each ship that came at her, she wasn't going to let either of the invaders get by as she let loose a strong battle cry and slashed through three of them. Each ship exploded as Haruka struck down each ship with her blade, but out of nowhere, a ship charged at her arm and slammed against it, causing it to explode as Haruka let out a painful scream from it. Misato turned to it and her eyes widened seeing how badly damaged Haruka's mech was. "Haruka!" She went to assist her.

"No Misato, stay back!" She ordered her as She used her only remaining arm to grab hold of one of the ships and threw it at the others as it combusted on impact. But the other ships blasted at her from behind, continuing to cripple her as she pulled out a blaster and shot them but her arm got blasted off as she painfully grunted from it and looked towards Misato. "You need to live! I am leaving you in command" She declared.

"No Haruka, we still need you! I'm not ready!" Misato argued.

"Yes you are… you always have been." Haruka told her as a smile formed on her face as she looked at her best friend. "I wish we could have been sisters… more than anything." She told her as tears welled up in Misato's eyes as she saw Haruka appear on screen, seeing her smile as well as some tears. "Misato… honor one last request from your leader." She said, feeling her tears run down her face.

"Anything… what is it?" She asked her.

Haruka took the chance to send her an image of her son Ryosuke, once received, Misato opened it and saw Ryosuke as a young 13 year old. Haruka smiled as she looked at Misato one last time, "Take care of my son…" She said as she clutched her necklace. "He has a big future ahead of him, and he needs guidance." She told her.

Misato stared at the image of Ryosuke, and looked at Haruka as tears ran down her face. "I swear, I will. You have my word Haruka." She told her.

A sad smile formed across Haruka's face as she nodded at her best friend. "Thank you Misato, tell Ryosuke… that I lo-" Her transmission was cut off as the alien mothership blasted her mech suit, causing it to explode with her inside it.

Misato's eyes widened in horror upon seeing it. "HARUKA!" She cried out as sadness and anger filled her heart.

(Flashback End)

Present day, Misato put the picture away as she wiped away a tear from her left eye. Ryosuke noticed it, knowing that she thought about her every day, knowing she could have saved her. But he could never blame her for not being able to save his mother. "Since that day, Misato looked out for me like I was her own son. And since then, I have come to accept her as such." He told Sylvia.

Who at that moment had tears in her eyes from hearing such a tragedy. "Oh god, Ryosuke, I'm so sorry." She said to him as she held her hands over her chest.

He looked at her and smiled as she walked up and wiped up her tears. "It's okay, someone needed to hear it. I'm just glad it was you." He told her as she blushed and turned away and moved her hair behind her hair. Ryosuke looked back to the screen of the image of Balduroc and Gor'Boc. "So this Gor'boc, what are the chances of it being there?" He asked.

That was when Yuki approached to answer that question. "Odds are more than likely, because when the guardians were scattered across the galaxy, so too were the Dark Ones. The gods of each pantheon didn't want to take any risks keeping them all in one place where they could all be released at once, so each Dark Kaiju was placed on different planets, to keep from being found." She explained.

"That is comforting to hear Lady Yuki, oh yes, real comforting." Jirou said sarcastically on the other line. "Cause that really helps my situation a lot more." He said only for Ryosuke to end his sarcastic transmission.

"Was he always so negative?" Sylvia asked him.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Ryosuke replied, but she knew that only answered her question.

---

(Daruk)

Back on Daruk, Jirou turned off his comlink and looked around. "Well, I better find the nearest town or city. Assuming I don't walk into something worse." He commented only to feel something run into him as he fumbled back but held his stance as he looked ahead and saw a female tribal woman on the ground. "Whoa… hey, you okay?" He asked her as he approached, only to see tribal warriors running towards him. "Oh crap!" He grabbed the woman and pulled her up and got her behind him as the warriors surrounded him. "Whoa…" He watched as they aimed their spears at him. "Whooaa! Easy now!" He yelled as the woman got out from behind him and gave him something covered in cloth. "Hey, don't give this to me, it's yours!" He whispered as he gave it back to her.

"Well I don't want to get gutted if that's what you want, just take it!" She whispered her response as she gave it back while the warriors watched in confusion.

"Well I just got here to find something else, so here you go." He argued and gave it back to her, but she scowled and gave it back to him, to which he returned with an annoyed look on his face. The warriors watched as they looked almost like they were playing a game of hot potato with one another. Jirou turned to them as he was about to speak, but the woman tossed the object at him, only to hit him in the head with it, "OW!" He cried as he shot a glare at her for it as she grimaced and chuckled a bit and hid herself, while Jirou cleared his throat and looked at the warriors. "Hello, I know this looks bad, but I assure you, this is not how I expected to meet any of the tribes on this planet, but I was sent here by Lady Yuki of Sephoria. Anyone know her?" He asked them as the woman raised her hand, catching his attention, but he ignored it. "Anyone other than her?" He asked as she growled and gave him a scowl.

The leader of the warriors approached as he held up his spear and stuck it into the ground. "The only one to receive Lady Yuki's message was our chieftain, we were expecting you to arrive, then we saw this thief running from our city. It is good that you caught her." He told him.

"A thief huh?" Jirou asked as he looked at the woman with a look as she panicked and turned away about to sneak off, only to get grabbed by the other warriors as she pouted, "Well, that is one good deed I've done all day." He looked at the warrior before him. "Take me to see your chieftain, and I'm sure we can work something out." He told him.

"This way." He gestures as he leads him away as Jirou walks with him and his warriors as they escorted the woman behind him. She growled knowing he was gonna get back at him for getting her caught, which he may be lucky enough to survive. 15 minutes later, the warrior leader led Jirou into a cave that had an entire carved system of tunnels around it, with stone pillars that supported the ceiling. Jirou was impressed by the architecture but soon glanced towards the woman who held the item with a protective demeanor. A piece of the cloth began to unravel the item and he saw a crystal inside, which made his eyes widen a bit as the woman covered it back up.

He looked at her curiously but looked ahead as they were nearing the exit of the cave, the sun shining through it as his vision was obscured by the blinding light. But the light began to dim as he exited the cave, his eyes opened up and soon began to widen as he saw the home of Darukians. It was a grand city made of stone and gold, something he never imagined to lay eyes upon. The warrior leader meanwhile headed towards a temple to inform someone, while one of the guards amongst the civilians reported to the chieftain. He was with his family as he held his youngest child, the moment was perfect, till the guard walked in. "Chief, the warriors have returned… but they brought a visitor." He informed him as the chief looked at him and looked out with a serious expression.

Meanwhile, the warrior leader rushed into the temple to inform the high priest as he saw him worshiping what anyone could only describe… as dark magic. He chanted as his eyes were glowing, but his chanting was interrupted as the warrior leader touched his shoulder, interrupting his session. "High Priest, we have a visitor." He told him as the high priest was surprised, but his surprise shifted to a look of delight as he shocked him away and looked at the monolith that had the same image of Balduroc and Gor'boc on it.

Meanwhile outside, Jirou walked with the warriors and looked around, seeing several frightened civilians. He knew that something was off about this situation, he just couldn't tell what it was. "Boy, I would usually expect a welcoming committee, but this is a downer." He admitted.

"BEHOLD!" Called out the high priest as he approached. "The hour judgment is NOW!" He announced as Jirou looked up to him as everyone looked at him with fear, causing him to gulp as the high priest looked to the citizens. "Citizens! Did I not predict that the vessel to our god would come to us?" He asked them as Jirou raised an eyebrow in confusion and looked amongst the civilians and looked back at the high priest and pointed at himself as he watched him approach with a chuckle. "My lord, I am Za'Lek, your devoted high priest, and speaker of the gods. It is an honor to finally be in your presence." He said to him, grinning with sinister delight.

"Wish I could say the same, if everyone wasn't so fearful." Jirou admitted ss he saw the chieftain approach.

"I am Chief Tu'Lok, what name might we call you?" He asked him.

"My name is Jirou, I just recently arrived here with the help of Lady Yuki of Sephoria. Surely one of you received her message?" He asked them as Za'Lek took notice of the thief behind him and reached behind him and pulled her out.

"Ah ha! I see you even managed to catch this temple robbing thief!" He said as he held a tight grip around her arm and dragged her away. "How would you have us punish her?" He asked.

She panicked and needed to con her way out of the situation. "No, no, no! My lord, I am not a thief… I was the first to receive the message from Lady Yuki, so that I may bring you tribute to guide you here. My only wish is to serve the gods." She looked at Jirou and gestured to him to play along.

Seeing this, Jirou knew that she was trying to con her way out, but Za'Lek approached him curiously, "What shall we do with her my lord…?" He asked him.

Taking a moment to consider it, Jirou looked at the thief who was scared out of her wits of Za'Lek. He didn't know what it was, but he could tell that something was off about him as he grabbed her and pulled her away from him. "You can start by letting her go, I didn't travel here to suddenly see someone get hurt." He told him.

Za'Lek let out a sigh and released her. "Then you will begin by returning this." He takes the crystal and gives it to her. "To its rightful place." He told her as he backed away, while the woman walked off towards the temple.

Meanwhile, Tu'Lok approached Jirou with his own questions, "My lord, we indeed received Lady Yuki's message, and we were expecting your arrival. We just didn't expect you to arrive so soon. We had no chance to announce it to the citizens." He informed him.

"Instead, we informed three of the four other tribes of our world." Za'Lek stepped between them. "To prepare for the trials." He told him, which made him completely uncomfortable.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, trials? What trials?" Jirou asked him.

"Why the God Trials, to see which champion is to obtain the spirit of Balduroc, our sacred protector, and most feared god. Which is what you will in fact become, should you win these trials." Za'Lek explained.

This immediately threw Jirou through a loop as his gears in his brain were grinding in his head as he held it. "Ohh, boy… this is a lot to take in." He admitted.

Tu'Lok touched his shoulder to help him calm down. "My lord, I know it is a difficult thing to process, but if you are not up for the trials, maybe we can-"

"Don't be foolish! He has no choice! The other tribes are to be here tomorrow, and that is when the trials will begin. Our last champion fell in battle against the savage brutes who we have kept out for so long." He told him.

"Only because the Chu'Baru Tribe asked for participation, and it was you who turned them away. And who is to say they won't try again?" Tu'Lok asked him.

"If they do, they will be greeted with violence, not words." Za'Lek answered.

That immediately made Jirou snap out of his dilemma and push the chieftain and the high priest away from each other. "ENOUGH!" He shouted as the crystal in the woman's hands began to react to his outburst, surprising her as she looked back at Jirou who pants from what he was going through, taking the chance to calm down as he looked between the two who were arguing. "I didn't come here for bloodshed, nor will I let you keep the Chu'Baru tribe out of these trials." He told them.

"Ahhh, so you may personally eliminate them yourself I see." Za'Lek suggested.

"No!" Jirou yelled, catching him off guard. "I'm not here to obtain Balduroc's crystal to become a tyrant, I'm here to retrieve it to help my friends stop the Dark Ones from returning. One more thing, stop calling me Lord… I am not a god. Nor will I ever be, do I make myself clear?" He asked him with a serious expression on his face.

Seeing it, Za'Lek certainly saw the fiery pride he carried, but he can even see the need to kill someone. Which made Za'Lek grin sadistically as he backed away from him. "Very well then, i will let the chief get you sorted out once you've settled in. See you at the trials." He said as he walked off.

Jirou watched him go as he sighed and held his hand over his chest. "For a minute I was about ready to beat him to death." He admitted.

"I assure you Jirou, he has that effect on people. For that, I must apologize." Tu'Lok apologized to him for what they were close to going through.

"It's okay chief, I know a ninja warrior who can be equally annoying, only he is more tolerable." He told him.

"Well, at least you won't have to worry about him till tomorrow." The chief replied as he gestured to where Jirou will be staying. "Come, let me show you to your living quarters." He said as he led Jirou to his place of stay until the trials, unaware that he was getting a sinister sneer from Za'Lek who wanted nothing more than to have him dead.

(A moment later)

Jirou and the chief were making their way up the steps to reach his living quarters, which was a few stories high from ground level as Jirou was panting a bit from the long climb. It made Tu'Lok chuckle as he nudged him. "Come on Jirou, you're not giving up yet are you?" He asked him.

Jirou chuckled back and nudged him away. "I'm just getting warmed up." He answered as the two made their way to the top, and upon reaching the top, Jirou saw the entrance to his place of stay and walked to it and saw the interior to it which was big and vast. "Wow… look at this place." He said as he saw multiple statues of other gods.

"I trust it is to your liking?" Tu'Lok asked as Jirou nodded his head and kept looking around. "In that case, I leave you to go about your business. If you like, you are more than welcome to join me and my family for dinner." He offered.

Considering it, Jirou did feel the need to eat something as his stomach growled a bit and he looked at the chief. "I suppose some dinner might do some good before the trials, which I will need more information on when I join you for dinner." He told him as Tu'Lok nodded and walked out of the chamber. Seeing that he was finally alone, Jirou activated his comlink to contact Ryosuke. "Ryosuke, come in." He called.

Answering his call, Ryosuke appeared on screen. "Jirou, looks like you managed to find the tribe. How are they treating you?" He asked him.

"You mean besides being given the royal treatment? Ryosuke, I'm in a real pinch here… the only way I'll get that ding dang crystal, is if I participate in those trials they mentioned." He informed him.

Sylvia stepped into view of the camera screen, "Then you have to know right now, these trials are taken very seriously. It takes the best warrior to make it through them, and given your build, you might make it through them." She told him as he was unaware of a pair of watching eyes behind him.

"That's all well and good Sylvia, but with Chad on his way here in an attempt to arrest Ryosuke and Misato? These trials might take all day tomorrow, and the day after, not giving me a chance to return in time to help you guys." He told her and looked out. "Also, I noticed a lot of tension between Chief Tu'Lok and the high priest. Like something happened between them long ago." He said.

"That's because the champion he told you about was his eldest son." Said the woman he caught as Jirou jumped in fright and saw her behind him as she giggled.

"You again? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? If I were a god, I would have you struck down with a lightning bolt!" He declared.

But the woman paid no heed to it as she looked up to him. "Save it for the High Priest honey, you're gonna need it." She told him with a devious smirk.

The whole god part managed to catch Ryosuke's ear as he looked at Sylvia then to the screen. "Hold on, back up. Jirou, what was that about you being a god?" He asked him about it.

Sighing at the question as he held up his wrist com and looked at him. "That's another thing, Za'Lek thinks that when I do get Baldurok, I'll obtain the powers of godhood." He explained as he looked at the woman. "And when I got here, I caught her stealing the crystal." He directed the camera towards her as Ryosuke and Sylvia looked upon her.

This managed to infuriate Sylvia as she looked at her. "You tried to steal the crystal of Balduroc?! Did you think you would be able to obtain its power for yourself?!" She asked her, angrily.

"Oh no, that wasn't the reason I tried to steal it. I was trying to keep it safe, and separate from Gor'Boc's crystal." She informed her as Jirou's eyes widened along with Ryosuke's and Sylvia's. "And besides, my only wish is to serve the gods, remember?" She asked as she walked with Gor'Boc's crystal to one of the pedestals.

"Wait, if that's Gor'Boc's crystal, where's Balduroc's?" Jirou asked her.

The woman placed the crystal in a safe compartment and closed it up, locking it down tightly. "I took it to the chief's house, it's with him instead so he can be its protector, whereas Gor'Boc is Za'Lek's responsibility. But I've seen the way he looks at it, almost like he is in a trance-like state. If you're going to participate in the trials, you'll need my help." She told him.

But Jirou scoffed upon hearing it and crossed his arms. "And what makes you think I need your help?" He asked her.

"Actually Jirou, she might actually be useful." Ryosuke told him.

"Your friend is right, after all, you're not a god." She reminded him.

Stuttering on what to say, Jirou growled and looked at her. "All right, fair enough. But seriously, who are you, and what's your angle?" He asked her.

She chuckled a bit when she heard it. "No angle, if you're going for the crystal of Balduroc, I can help you." She told him.

"And why would you want to?" He asked her.

"So I can get out of here." She replied.

"Here? Like out of the city?" He asked.

"More like, off planet." She replied as she touched her hip. "Think you're the only one who dreams of better things? Of adventure? You have your reasons, and I've got mine. Let's not make what happened between us earlier personal, okay? It's just business."

"Ohh." Jirou looked at Rysouke in his comlink

She walked up to him and leaned against his shoulder. "So when you are ready to go back to Sephoria, I'm going with you." She told him.

But hearing that caused him to laugh as he got her arm off his shoulder. "No, don't think so." He replied.

The woman scowled and hit him in his chest pushing him away. "All right, after all, I'm sure you know the trials by heart by now, the obstacles you will be facing, oh, and I'm sure you know all about She'Balba." She asked while pinching his cheek, causing him to pull away and rub it. "Okay, good luck. Cause I'm sure you know there will be an execution later." She said as she walked away.

Ryosuke's and Sylvia's eyes widened upon hearing it as they looked at each other and looked at Jirou. "Jirou, I highly suggest you reconsider her offer, cause you're not looking to have yourself killed on the day of the trials are you?" He asked him as Jirou panicked and looked at the woman.

"Wait! Hold it!" He rushed to her as she turned around with a smirk. "All right, rightfully so, I know nothing of your guys' traditions, or your culture, or even the trials. But who better to tell me than you or the chief?" He asked.

She smiled and held up her hand. "I guess that means we have a deal?" She asked him.

"Not yet, but we will take it into consideration, after we get the crystal. Let's just see how this turns out, okay?" He asked her.

"Uh-huh, then I suppose you want this back?" She held up a necklace that had a crystal and a pair of feathers around it.

This surprised him as he checked around his neck for it, finding that it wasn't there anymore as he looked at her surprised and snatched it out of her hand. "How did you get that?" He asked her.

"Where was she keeping it?" Ryosuke asked out of plain curiosity.

The woman smiled as she lowered her hand. "Call me Sira, your new partner. Now, let's get you ready for dinner with the chief." She walked and grabbed a set of tribal attire and gave them to him. "It should be just about your size, and fair warning, his wife can be a wild one." She warned him.

"Yeesh, talk about no pressure." Jirou muttered as he was about to undress, but saw that Sira was watching intently, making him very uncomfortable. "Do you mind?" He asked her.

"No." She replied, only to realize. "Oh, oh! Right, excuse me." She stepped out as he started removing his pants, unaware she was secretly checking him out. She grinned as she closed the curtains. "Bye!" She headed down the steps.

Ryosuke heard it and knew exactly what she was thinking, "Mmhmm… looks like you're becoming quite popular with the ladies in the universe, Jirou." He told him.

"Must be my charming personality." He replied sarcastically.

"Oh come on Jirou, you saw the way she was looking at you." Ryosuke reminded him.

"That's the thing Ryosuke, she's trouble, with a capital T." Jirou told him as he was getting into the tribal warrior attire. "I may have been pretty popular with the ladies on the Axalor, but I know a troublemaker when I see it." He explained.

"Ahem! Gentlemen, as much as I would love to give wooing advice, we have very little time for this." Sylvia said to them.

Ryosuke sighed upon hearing it, knowing she was right. "Right, right, we have only a few days before Chad gets here with his crew to arrest us. Jirou, learn what you can from the trials, and the other tribes. Because you'll need a higher advantage against them." He told him.

"Easier said than done, I'll contact you as soon as I can." He told him as he turned off his comlink and finished getting the tribal attire on and looked at himself in the golden reflection. "I look ridiculous." He admitted as he headed out to the chief's home, even if it meant going down all those steps which nearly exhausted him the first time he took them.

A few minutes later, Chief Tu'Lok and his family were preparing a feast that could almost be fit for a king. Jirou moved a cloth out of the way and saw them as he stepped in, earning Tu'Lok's attention as he stood up. "Jirou, welcome to my home." He said as he noticed his attire. "I see that Sira has helped you get into our warrior attire, how does it feel?" He asked him.

"Like I'm wearing someone else's wardrobe?" He responded with his own question.

"That's because it is… that belonged to my eldest son, Tal'Set." He told him.

This immediately made him panic as he facepalmed himself. "Shit! I am so sorry chief, I'll change out of them immediately ." He was about to leave, but Tu'Lok stopped by grabbing onto his shoulder.

"No, it's all right, he would be honored for you to wear his Trial Attire." He told him as Jirou was surprised by it. "Come, meet the rest of my family." He walked with him to the dining room. "This is my wife Na'Kia, my eldest daughter Rosetta, my son Ta'Kun, and my youngest new born son, Se'Loc." He introduced them to Jirou.

Who looked at them surprised as he looked at Tu'Lok. "Quite a big family you have here." He complimented them as he sat down with them.

"When you are a Kotalan Warrior, you have longer years." He said as he chuckled.

"So, Jirou… you really plan to participate in the trials?" Asked Na'Kia as she smirked at him.

"Honestly, I have no other choice, if I am to obtain the crystal of Balduroc, I need to face whatever challenges that lie before me." Jirou explained to her as he and the family began the feast.

"He's right beloved, it is how our traditions have been for centuries. Even I tried to gain it through fair and even combat. But after all my efforts, I was not worthy of the mantle." Tu'Lok informed his wife and Jirou of what transpired.

Jirou put it together as he looked at the chief. "Your son tried to earn the mantle, didn't he?" He asked him.

Everyone in the room fell silent upon the mention of Tal'Set, and Jirou felt like he just touched a nerve. Chief Tu'Lok let out a sigh as he looked at Jirou. "He did… Tal'Set was our strongest, he was able to get through two of the three trials. But during the third and final trial… he was killed by one of the other tribe warriors. The Chu'Baru tribe was not present for it, but the Sa'Mara tribe, along with the Camatol Tribe, even the Ma'Toka Tribe witnessed it, and it was a Ma'Tokan Warrior… who took my son's life." He explained to Jirou what happened.

Hearing his story of how his son perished, Jirou sympathized with the chieftain and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to open old wounds." He said.

"It is fine, for all we know, our son is in the heavens, watching over us." Tu'Lok said as he looked at him. "And now you are here as our champion, and I can only pray that you succeed where my son couldn't." He told him.

Jirou looked at him and nodded his head. "That is good to know, but I will need to know what I am up against before the trials start." He told him.

Tu'Lok nodded his head as he pulled out a scroll, and unrolled it across the table showing a map of their world. "The trials will take place in our land, there are three in total, two of which are easy, but it is the third challenge that is the hardest." He informed him as Jirou knew it was the fight to the death part. "The first challenge, the Mountain Climb, where you must climb an active volcano, and retrieve our tribe's flag before the other tribes can retrieve theirs. But be warned, the other tribes have no problems playing dirty." He told him.

"There's an expression on my planet, fight fire with fire. If they plan on cheating, I'll simply outsmart them every chance I get." He told him.

"You may need it, for the second challenge, the endurance race, you and the other champions must race through the jungle, where you will encounter dangerous creatures, and man-eating plants. For that challenge, you will need speed and agility, and judging by your strapping physique, you might have some issues with that." He chuckled.

"Hey, looks can be deceiving, now, the third challenge, it's the fight to the death right?" He asked.

"Yes, it goes by many names… one most common… is the Mak'Gora." He told him.

Which immediately surprised him as he looked at the chief. "Okay, there's a word I hoped never to hear." He admitted.

"Survive all three, and Za'Lek will present you with Balduroc's crystal… and we will see for certain if you are to be his chosen host." Tu'Lok told him as he rolled up the scroll.

Jirou let out an exhale knowing this was not going to be easy for him. But it wasn't going to stop him from trying his hardest to get that crystal. "I won't let you down chief, you or your family." He told him.

He soon felt Na'Kia leaning against his shoulder as her E-Cup breasts rubbed against his arm. "We know you won't, and if you win, there might be a special reward in it for you." She told him as Tu'Lok laughed.

Jirou immediately blushed as he pulled away. "Jeez, Sira wasn't kidding about you being wild." He told her.

"That she is, she'll go after anyone younger than me. But they always ran, because they knew better, and I see you do as well." Tu'Lok said to him as he chuckled.

"Well, believe me, I know well enough not to sleep with another man's wife. And I have no plans to sleep with anyone before the trials, or after." He told them.

Tu'Lok chuckled as he patted him hard on the shoulder. "That's the spirit boy, now come, let us eat!" He said as he started eating along with Jirou and his family, it had been so long since Jirou ate with anyone besides his family. But when he joined the Garrison, he also considered them to be his family.

(Meanwhile)

At the temple, Za'Lek paced around the temple waiting for a guest to show up. Right on cue, Violet Queen appeared through shadow as her eyes were glowing intensely, causing him to panic. "Ahh, my lady… so good to see you." He said to her with much fear and enthusiasm on his face.

"Spare me the pleasantries, where is Gor'Boc?" She asked him.

"In the temple where that human is staying apparently, while that fool of a chief is holding Balduroc's crystal in his home, where I cannot access it." He informed her.

Hissing upon hearing it, Violet Queen turned towards him as her claws opened up and she held one to his chin. "You will obtain Gor'Boc, by any means necessary, or so help me..." She started digging her claw into his skin causing him to bleed. "There will be severe consequences." She warned him.

Feeling the pain he was receiving, Za'Lek gulped knowing she was deadly serious. As he noticed her swaying her stinger around on her tail. "I won't fail you mistress, I swear, on Shenrah's name." He told her.

Soon, a second pair of eyes appeared in the shadows as he quickly noticed and panicked. "See to it that you don't, my time is drawing near." He told him as two more sets of eyes opened up.

This caused Za'Lek to shake in fear upon seeing them. "My lord, rest assured, the human will die before he reaches the third trial." He assured him.

"Your promises have been less than convincing as of late, Za'Lek, I have waited 8,000 years to be freed of my petrified state. I will not put my faith in promises you claim to keep, which is why I shall ensure that the human, Jirou, does not survive." The voice told him while a growl was heard as the eyes vanished in the darkness, while in its place, a group of demon predators emerged in its place.

They growled and snarled at Za'Lek as he watched them out of fear, while Violet Queen grinned in delight to see him shaking in fear. "Do not disappoint us, High Priest… or else you will be their next meal." She warned him as she walked into the shadows and disappeared, while Za'Lek looked at the predators that almost resembled that of a jaguar, but were covered in scales with glowing veins as they growled at him.

He came this far to get where he is, he narrowed his eyes knowing he wasn't going to let anything get in his way, "Let the games begin then, I won't let anyone get in the way of my moment of triumph." He commented as he walked past the kaiju jaguars and looked out. "For I shall take fate into my own hands, and this city will be cleansed." He said with a grin.

(The Next Morning)

Morning broke, and everyone in Kotala was wide awake for the trials. Not only them, but three of the other tribes that gathered for the trials. Jirou meanwhile had warrior garments put on as he adjusted them to get comfortable as he even had warpaint drawn on him. "Boy, I never thought I'd be nervous for anything in my life." He admitted as Sira painted along his arm.

"Relax, everyone gets nervous before the trials. It's the competition you should be worried about." She told him.

"Oh yeah, that makes me feel so much better." He replied sarcastically as she finished and he stood up and looked at his reflection. "Well, can't say it's the best look I've had all day, but it'll do." He stated.

"You look much like a Kotalan Warrior already." Tu'Lok commented as he approached.

Jirou saw him as he turned around to face him. "This is a big deal for me, I mean… the other tribes will notice I am not one of your people." He told him.

"Whether you are or not, it is what's in your heart that counts." Tu'Lok said while pointing at his heart. "That is where the true strength of a warrior lies." He stated as Jirou looked down to his chest, he closed his eyes and raised his head inhaling and let out an exhale. "Now, let us go meet the other tribes." He told him as he walked out with Jirou.

As they exited the temple, Jirou looked around seeing three out of the other tribes that arrived. He even noticed that one particular tribe was not among them. "We seem to be one tribe short, chief." He pointed out.

"The Chu'Bara tribe will be here, they sometimes like making an entrance." He told him as Jirou shrugged as they proceeded down to see the other tribes' champions. "Here they are, we have the Sa'Mara tribe… a tribe of female warriors. Their champion, La'Kina, is the fastest runner of their people, as well as strong." He said as La'Kina was avoiding spears from her tribe warriors with great agility and used her strength to break the spear tips off.

Jirou was quite impressed by her skill as he walked with Tu'Lok. "Now that's an independent woman." He complimented.

"Yes, you'll have to watch out for her." Tu'Lok advised as he looked to the Camatol Tribe. "There we have the Camatol Tribe, people who prefer high ranges. Their champion, Zots, is a skilled climber, he might have you best before you finish the first challenge." He pointed out as Zots practiced his climbing skills on one of the posts. Jirou rolled his eyes and looked ahead with Tu'Lok to the next tribe, which was a grim reminder of the past. "And there we have the Ma'Tokan tribe." He stated as he saw their champion.

"Let me guess, that's the guy who killed your son, isn't it?" Jirou asked with much disdain towards the champion.

"That's him… his name is Sa'Rak… he is strong, but brutal. So be careful when you face him." He advised him.

Jirou nodded to him as Sa'Rak chuckled as he approached him and the Kotalan Chief. "Chief Tu'Lok, have you become so desperate to win the trials, you called upon another to fill your son's position?" He asked while chuckling, taking no mind from the glares he was getting from Jirou and Tu'Lok as he turned away. "I suppose you had to replace him somehow, cause now, you get to watch your champion die all over again." He stated.

"That depends on your point of view Sa'Rak, is your mama here to watch me humiliate you in front of all your followers?" Jirou asked him as the Sa'Mara and Camatol Tribes laughed from hearing it, and they were laughing mostly at Sa'Rak for he was starting to fume in anger as he took out an ax and prepared to cut him down. But a giant spear landed between them, stopping Sa'Rak before he could strike as he and Jirou looked to see who threw it. To their surprise, it was the Chu'Bara tribe, massive warriors that almost looked like gorilla's in muscle density.

La'Kina looked at them and scoffed. "Who invited them here?" She asked.

Jirou looked towards her to give her the answer she needed. "I did…" He confessed as everyone was shocked upon hearing it. "Everyone, hear me out… I know you all have a bad reputation with them, but if these trials are to begin, would it not be fair to allow the Chu'Bara tribe to participate?" He asked them.

"Of course it wouldn't be fair, they are massive brutes that have very little honor!" Za'Lek pointed out.

"Is that what you think of us?!" Asked a voice as a massive warrior stepped out from the Chu'Bara warriors and looked at him with a stern glare. "Is that how all of you view us? As monsters who crush anyone who gets in our way?" He asked them as everyone looked at one another. "We only asked to have fair participation, and this young man." He pointed at Jirou. "Was kind enough to invite us to this great gathering… and you spit on us like we were nothing but primitive savages. Well, I… Baku! Swear to each and every one of you… that we are not what the stories say." He assured them.

"And we greatly appreciate that you joined us today, and I look forward to facing you." Jirou said to him.

Earning a chuckle from Baku as he approached him, showing just how massive he was compared to him. "The honor of fighting you, will be a noble one." He replied to Jirou and lightly punched him on his shoulder and looked at Tu'Lok. "I like him Tu'Lok, he has a great spirit within him." He complimented his champion.

"And just as great a skill as you, Chief Baku." He replied.

"This is unacceptable!" Sa'Rak argued as he put his ax away. "Why should we believe a word from this brute? He could cheat any chance he gets!" He was about to further prove his point, till La'Kina stepped between them.

"Like you are one to speak after what you did to Chief 'Tu'Lok's eldest son." She argued while defending Baku. Sa'Rak sneered as Baku grinned at him and let out a few hoots like an ape as a way of laughing at him. "Now return to your tribe of bastards." She told him as Sa'Rak growled and walked away to be with his tribe. Jirou watched as he let out an exhale as La'Kina looked towards him. "That was a rather bold move, speaking the way you did towards Sa'Rak." She told him.

"When I learned he killed Tu'Lok's eldest son, I knew I Shouldn't show any respect towards him." He told her as Baku touched his shoulder.

"Well you better watch yourself my friend, cause he will try to kill you first chance he gets." He warned him.

"Baku is right." Zots approached them. "If he killed Tal'Set, he would certainly try to kill you." He warned him.

"If you want, you can still leave the trials and return to where you came from. There will be no shame in it." La'Kina suggested.

"I appreciate you guys trying to protect me, but I don't need it. I'm going to win that crystal, no matter the odds." Jirou replied to them.

A chuckle is heard from Baku as he holds his staff. "I like this boy!" He yelled as he patted him hard on his back, knocking the wind out of him as Jirou coughed while Baku laughed while walking away.

La'Kina shook her head at him and looked at Jirou with a smile. "I should also thank you for standing up to him, to honor Tal'Set's memory and name." She told him as he walked back to her tribe.

Jirou watched her go as Tu'Lok approached him with a smile over his face. "Making friends already, I see." He said as Jirou looked towards him as Tu'Lok looked towards La'Kina. "La'Kina's tribe has a tradition that they would only marry true warriors, those who would show courage, honor, and integrity to others. Tal'Set was one such man." He informed Jirou.

Surprised upon hearing this, Jirou's eyes widened as he looked towards La'Kina who was currently doing her stretches with her tribe. "You mean, she was to marry your eldest son?" He asked him.

"Yes, but… they never had the chance. All because of Sa'Rak." Tu'Lok pointed out as he glared at the man who killed his son in uneven combat.

Jirou understood how it felt, for he lost someone important to him as well. He shook his head and looked out. "We better get ready for the trials, the longer we wait, the quicker they'll get impatient." He said as he walked towards them with Tu'Lok to get the welcoming started.

They stood together as they looked upon the champions of the other tribes. "Welcome everyone, today we begin a new competition of the Warrior Trials, to see which of you will obtain the spirit of Balduroc. Only one will obtain it, only one will be the guardian." He informed them.

A chuckle came out of Sa'Rak as he looked at the chief. "If anyone deserves that power, it is me. Maybe perhaps even more, should I win the crystal, I can take your eldest daughter as my bride." He stated as Rosetta glared at him with much hatred in her eyes.

"We did not come here to watch you lay claim to whatever you want, Sa'Rak, so put your manhood back in your loincloth before one of my sisters decides to cut it off." La'Kina warned him as all her tribe held up their blades and showed their evil eyes towards him.

Jirou felt a tingle go up his spine upon seeing it as he shuddered. "Whoa, that's intense." He commented.

"Yes, and it will get even more intense." Tu'Lok said to him as he looked back to the tribes. "Now then, if everyone is ready to proceed, I want all five champions to prepare for the Volcano Climb." He told them as he walked away.

The champions gathered together to prepare for it, Jirou walked to the area where they were to prepare for the climb as he looked upon the volcano, seeing the heat and smoke rising out of it. "You have got to be kidding me." He said as Baku nudged him.

"Don't worry, it's like any other mountain, but with a little something extra. All the challenges will have dangers that we will be unprepared for." He assured him as the Kotalan Maidens approached them with something to cover their skin. "But there comes a safety measure for each challenge." He said as he spread his arms out and let them cover his skin with a protective layer of mud that will shield them from any magma. Jirou saw it and held his arms up as they started covering him. "So, you're from a different world, huh?" He asked him.

"I see the rumors have been spreading fast." Jirou replied as he felt the maidens cover his sides in mud. "But to answer your question, yes, I did come from another world… my people have been traveling through the galaxy to explore other worlds." He explained.

"I trust you've also met some very special women in your travels?" Baku asked with a smirk.

This caused Jirou to chuckle as he let them cover his legs. "Well, there were a few, but they weren't exactly Miss Right." He told him as he looked out. "I'm looking for the right kind of woman… to live a long happy life with." He explained.

Baku nodded in approval as he looked towards Jirou. "You'll find her, I assure you, finding the right woman is all any man would ever want. It just takes time." He informed him.

"I'll be sure to remember that." Jirou replied as the maidens finished their work and he looked at Baku. "Best of luck to you in this challenge." He held up his hand.

Baku reached and grabbed him by his forearm. "You as well." He told him as he let go and walked off.

Jirou walked ahead as he looked at the volcano, feeling that climbing it would be hard, even for him. Zots approached him and patted his shoulder. "The longer you stare at it, the more you'll feel like a statue, believe me. I've been climbing this volcano since before this trial began, to learn the patterns and to learn the safest route." He told him.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out… the first rule of exploration is to observe the terrain and to better understand where to go." He explained.

"Smart thinking, but don't think it will be easy my friend. Cause I got this challenge in a heartbeat." Zots chuckled as he walked ahead, while Jirou rolled his eyes and smirked as he followed after and reached the starting line.

Tu'Lok saw all the champions at the starting line as their tribes awaited them to start the trial, he soon noticed Za'Lek approaching Jirou, making the Kotalan Chieftain wonder what he could be up to. He approached Jirou with his arms behind his back as smirked. "Well my lord, I see you're becoming quite acquainted with the competition." He said.

"Is that a problem, Za'Lek?" He asked him and pointed a finger at him. "And I told you to drop the lord, shtick." He told him.

"Yes, forgive me, but I must warn you, they may seem like your friends, but they aren't. They're cunning, like snakes. Slippery and dangerous, and they are as untrustworthy as rats, and they will weave webs of lies like spiders." He told him.

But Jirou knew that he was trying to sway him as he narrowed his eyes at him. "I already got that from Sa'Rak, so unlike you, I do not see the bad in people. So do yourself a favor, and get lost." He told him.

"As you wish… crush them in the dust." Za'Lek told him as he walked away to be beside Tu'Lok and his family. Jirou knew that he was trouble, but turns out he was more than that, he was down right insane.

Tu'Lok stood up and looked at the champions as they were ready at the starting line. "Champions! Prepare yourselves, for this will be a dangerous challenge, but we wish you all the best of luck. Get into your starting positions!" He called to them as each of the champions approached the wall of the volcano, preparing for the climb up. "Get set… CLIMB!" He shouted as the champions grabbed onto the wall and began to climb, with La'Kina, Jirou, Baku and Zots in the lead, while Sa'Rak was dead last as he climbed after them.

Everyone watched as the five champions climbed up the wall of the volcano, Zots was climbing into first place, while Baku climbed into second, and Jirou reached third. They managed to get to at least 23 meters as the minutes go by, Jirou climbed to try and keep up with them. Baku climbed as he used his strong grip to hold onto the rock wall and look towards Jirou. "Having fun down there?!" He asked him.

"You'll know soon enough! Just watch your step!" Jirou warned him as Baku climbed up, only to feel his right foot slip as rocks fell down. Jirou leaped to his left avoiding them as he looked up. "See what I mean?!" He asked him as Baku chuckled as he managed to get his footing back on the wall, meanwhile Zots climbed up as fast as he could to reach the top, but he soon started looking around at the terrain, seeing some of it is different from when he last climbed it. Jirou climbed up as he began catching up to Baku and noticed Zots was having trouble. "What's the matter Zots, you lost? I thought you knew your way around this mountain?" He pointed out.

"I did, but something is not right, the terrain, it's not the same as it was then." He told him as Jirou looked at the wall he was near.

Jirou noticed it too, for he saw it was different the other day when he first arrived. "That is quite peculiar." He commented.

"How so?" Baku asked him.

"Yesterday, there was a clear path up this volcano, but now it's gone." Jirou pointed out.

La'Kina climbed up and noticed. "Indicating what…?" She asked.

"It indicates that someone sabotaged this volcano, and that someone doesn't want any of us to win." He told her and the others, but Sa'Rak didn't care as he continued to climb up without stopping.

Zots watched him go and scowled. "And I can point out who." He pointed to him as Jirou saw him climbing up with a grin on his face.

He scowled at him, knowing Zots might be right, he looked to Zots knowing what to do. "I know we're supposed to be enemies, but we all know that Sa'Rak doesn't deserve to win, agreed?" He asked them as they nodded to him in agreement. "Zots, you're the fastest climber, you can get to the top before he does." He told him.

"You are willing to risk your place in this challenge so that I can win? Why?" He asked him.

"There's a saying on my planet, without sacrifice, there can be no victory." He held out his hand to him. "I'm willing to let you win this challenge, now you ready for this?" He asked him, Zots looked at him and smirked as he took his hand and nodded. Jirou nodded back and looked up as he pulled Zots and swung him back and pulled upwards and threw Zots up towards Sa'Rak.

Unaware of it, Sa'Rak chuckled as he climbed up the mountain. "Those fools, they're so busy contemplating, they can't focus on the challenge. Guess I'll have to thank Za'Lek for making it so easy for me." He commented to himself, just until Zots flew past him, catching him off guard as his eyes widened. "What?!" He asked in shock.

Zots grabbed onto the volcano wall as he made it to the 33 meter height and looked back at Sa'Rak and stuck his tongue out at him. "Go Zots! Get to the top!" Jirou shouted as he began climbing after them, Zots nodded his head and started climbing.

Sa'Rak growled and climbed after him to try and get past him, but the volcano began to shake as the champions struggled to hold onto the wall of it. Jirou held on but saw magma shooting from the interior of the mountain and fell down towards them, the champions took cover from the magma as some small drops of it fell past them, while some of it did manage to hit Jirou and Baku as they both hissed from the intense heat and knocked it off of themselves and saw more coming. The two along with La'Kina climbed and avoided the falling magma to prevent themselves from getting burnt. Meanwhile Sa'Rak climbed after Zots to get back in the lead, but Zots remained the fastest on this volcano to an extent. But Sa'Rak relied on brute strength to climb up and reach to his leg and grab hold of it as Zots let out a grunt and looked towards him.

He struggled to get his leg free from his grasp, but Sa'Rak grinned as he kept a tight grip around his ankle and told him. "You're not going anywhere mountain boy, except down!" He tries to pull him down, but Zots holds onto the wall with a good enough grip. But he could feel his strength leaving his hands as Sa'Rak shook him around to try and get him to let go.

La'Kina noticed it as her eyes widened. "Zots is in trouble, if Sa'Rak keeps shaking him like that, he's going to fall." She told Jirou and Baku as they looked up seeing it.

Jirou needed to do something before a death is caused on his account, he looks towards Baku determined. "Baku, how's your throwing arm?" He asked him.

Baku knew where he was going with this, and he smirked as he held his hand up. "You even need to ask?" He asked as Jirou leapt down and landed in his hand as Baku reared back and used all his might to throw Jirou upwards towards Sa'Rak.

While he continued to shake Zots like a ragdoll, Sa'Rak pulled as hard as he could to get him off the wall. "Give it up little monkey, your time is up!" He said only for Jirou to fly up and kick his wrist and crush it against the wall as Sa'Rak screamed from it and let go of Zots as Jirou caught his hand and climbed up safely.

"Come on, let's go." Jirou said to him as he and Zots climbed up the volcano, while Sa'Rak glared at him for the injury he caused and climbed with his only good hand to try and catch up to him. But the two were too far ahead to let him catch them, Jirou and Zots climbed up to the top of the volcano. Jirou climbed up first and exhaled seeing the magma ahead of him. He turned towards Zots and saw him having trouble climbing up and walked to him. "Come on… up you get." He grabbed him and pulled him up and set him down and dusted him off. "You okay?" He asked as Zots grabbed hold of hiw flag.

"You saved my life… why…?" He asked him.

Sighing upon hearing it, Jirou walked towards his tribes flag and grabbed it as he looked out to the jungle in the distance. "Let's just say I saw too many of my fellow cadets die while on the training field. Both were by accident, and some were on purpose, because there have been other cadets who wanted to be better than them. I'm not going to add you to the list of cadets who perished… I didn't even come to this planet to take a life so that others may live, I came here to get that crystal, even if I must risk my own life." He told him.

Hearing those words, Zots began to feel a genuine respect for the earthling as he stood up and patted him on his back with a smile. "You are a good person, Jirou of Earth, but remember, we are still enemies in this competition. So-" Before Zots could continue, Sa'Rak leapt above them and pulled out his ax as he yelled angrily at Jirou for crushing his left wrist and went to kill him. Zots pulled him out of the way as Sa'Rak missed both of them as he glared furiously at Jirou.

"You Earthling filth! You crushed my wrist!" He yelled at him.

"Be glad it wasn't your head, cause I'm saving that for the third challenge." Jirou told him.

But Sa'Rak growled angrily as he gripped the ax. "No, we will settle this here, and now!" He went to charge at him as Jirou readied a fist, only for Baku to get between them and stop Sa'Rak as he snatched the ax from out of his hand.

"You will wait till the third round for this, that is the rule." Baku reminded him as Sa'Rak growled like a rabid dog, but it didn't take him long to put his ax away and storm off in anger.

La'Kina smirked as she looked towards Jirou and walked towards him. "Quite a bold move you pulled, now he will surely go after you." She told him.

"Hey, we all know he's nothing but a cheater, you saw what he tried to do." Jirou reminded them.

"That may be, but from here on out, it is every champion for themselves. The second round will require us to go 27 miles through the vast jungle, and win by any means necessary." She told him as she walked away to get her tribes flag along with Baku and Zots as followed after her as Jirou watched her and sighed while rubbing his head. But he smiled, knowing the second challenge will be a breeze. He soon followed after them to prepare for the second challenge.

(A Moment Later)

After getting cleaned up from the mud, Jirou checked the spots where the magma had touched his skin, seeing some spots that were not serious, and would slowly recover. Sira walked in with a balm that would help. "Here, this will help with those burns." She told him as she applied it to his burnt skin.

He hissed a little from it, knowing it stung a little. "That's certainly something… but listen, something happened on that volcano, the terrain wasn't what it used to be when we climbed it. Zots climbed that volcano for years, he knew every cliff by memory, but something caused him to stop and not recognize it. But Sa'Rak managed to get ahead while we staggered behind." He told her.

This surprised Sira as she finished applying the balm. "Are you saying that somehow Sa'Rak cheated?" She asked him.

"That's one way of putting it… and I think he had help." He replied.

Sira thought about it and quickly realized. "I think I know who is responsible, but I need to check and make sure. Be careful during the second challenge, okay?" She asked as she ran off, leaving him in a state of confusion as to how frantic she was when she stormed out. He didn't know why at first, but something told him something was off.

As Sira walked to find Sa'Rak in his hut, she heard a conversation taking place as she approached. She immediately recognized one of the voices, it was Za'Lek inside the tent with Sa'Rak as she approached and peaked into the tent. "You told me that you would guarantee my victory to claim Balduroc, and yet that accursed human managed to help Zots win the first challenge!" Sa'Rak yelled.

"Keep your voice down Sa'Rak… you want the other champions to hear it?" Za'Lek asked him as he was unaware that Sira was watching. "I can guarantee that not all of them will get past the second challenge, specifically, Jirou." He told them as the Kaiju Jaguars were next to him.

Sira's eyes widened in seeing them and hearing what Za'Lek said to them, but she kept quiet to hear the conversation. "You expect me these beasts will take care of him?" Sa'Rak asked him.

"I assure you, Lord Shenrah has provided me with the best predators to take care of Jirou. They will not only take care of him, but the rest of the Champions." Za'Lek explained as he touched one of the kaiju jaguars, only to see it snarl at him as he pulled his hand away. "As long as I keep them fed." He admitted.

"You better be right Za'Lek, because I want Balduroc's power, and I won't be denied by a human welp!" Sa'Rak yelled as Sira panicked as she accidentally knocked over a spear as it hit the floor, catching the attention of the kaiju jaguar as they snarled while Sa'Rak and Za'Lek looked to where the noise came from. "What was that?!" Sa'Rak asked.

"Let's find out." Za'Lek replied as he snapped his fingers to the kaiju jaguars as they lunged at where Sira was hiding, passing through the tent as they found no one around. Za'Lek walked out and looked around, seeing no one around. But that didn't stop him from suspecting that someone was spying on them. "Find the spy… and leave no evidence." He ordered as the kaiju jaguar snarled and ran to find Sira by following traces of her scent that managed to linger around.

Meanwhile Sira was running for her life as she could hear the kaiju jaguar chasing after her as she started to panic, running as hard as she could to escape them. She panicked as she looked back seeing them running after her, she looked ahead and saw a wall ahead of her. Giving her a chance to rush toward the wall and grab onto the wall and climb up it, just as the kaiju jaguar were close to catching her, they leapt at her at great heights and snarled as they were close to killing her. She screamed as she narrowly avoided their claws and gnashing jaws as they almost caught her, she fell and hit the ground as she panted and looked at the kaiju jaguar who leapt down to the ground and growled approaching her as she panicked. "Why couldn't I have been a warrior instead of a priestess…?" She asked herself as she got up and ran off, but she used a lot of her energy in trying to escape them, but she tripped over and fell to the ground. The kaiju jaguar rushed towards her to finish her off, till a giant spear came out of nowhere and scratched one of them on its arm, causing it to shriek and land on the ground and look to who threw it.

Baku walked out of the tree's and held up another spear and yelled like a mad ape. "Go on! Get out of here! Or I will finish you here and now!" He yelled as he beat his own chest, the kaiju jaguars ran off in fear of him as Sira watched them go and looked towards Baku as he approached. "Those cats have a lot of nerve… attacking a defenseless woman like that." He said as he walked up and helped her stand up.

She got up and looked at him in surprise at what she did for him. "Why save me…?" She asked him.

"If blood filled these grounds, people would suspect that it was treachery between one of the tribes. I cannot risk that, even if it is a trial." He explained to her.

"Believe me, there is already treachery between two of our tribes. Sa'Rak and Za'Lek are working together to try and steal Balduroc before anyone could even get his crystal." She explained.

But Baku looked at her in disbelief. "But why would they want to do that?" He asked her.

"Surely you know that Za'Lek has his own agenda when it comes to our city, and Sa'Rak wants war between the tribes, don't you think that's too much of a coincidence?" She asked him.

Baku thought about it for a moment, sighing as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. "I suppose you're right, Za'Lek has been preventing us from participating in the trials for as long as my people can remember. And Sa'Rak was responsible for killing Chief Tu'Lok's eldest son, leaving La'Kina in a state of mourning. So clearly it is as you believe, it isn't a coincidence." He told her.

"Which is why we have to warn Jirou and Chief Tu'Lok before it's too late." She told him.

Baku nodded but looked around, knowing the kaiju jaguars were still around. "They might not let us live to tell the tale." He muttered as he picked up the spear he tossed and looked out. "Let's get back to the trials, warn your chieftain, I will warn Jirou." He told her as Sira nodded her head and walked with him.

(Meanwhile)

As Jirou and the other champions prepared for the long run through the jungle, Baku and Sira returned safely as they noticed Za'Lek standing beside Tu'Lok. This was indeed going to be difficult for Sira to warn the chief of what Za'Lek was plotting, so she will have to rely on Baku to warn Jirou as she cleared her throat and walked towards Tu'Lok. While Baku approached Jirou who was readying himself for the race through the jungle. "Jirou, what do you know most about the High Priest, Za'Lek?" He asked him.

Hearing it as he was stretching, Jirou groaned a bit as he stood back up and looked at him. "You mean besides being the speaker of the gods, a devoted high priest, obsessed with blood sacrifices, and being absolutely insane? Basically that much I know." He told him.

"What if I told you that he and Sa'Rak are plotting together behind Chief Tu'Lok?" Baku asked.

Jirou's eyes widened as he looked at Baku in surprise. "But why? Why would they work together?" He asked him.

"Sa'Rak wishes to take Balduroc for his own, to become warlord of Daruk… and he will kill anyone to get his hands on that crystal." He explained to him.

Jirou took in all this information to ponder over it and looked at Baku. "We need to call off the trials, we need to warn Chief Tu'Lok." He told him.

"We can't, Za'Lek would sooner deny the accusation, and the trials would still continue. Right now, it is best that we keep this between us, and be ready for what we must face in the second trial." He told him.

Jirou knew this was risky, but he couldn't let this mad priest get what he wanted, whereas Sa'Rak would get Balduroc, should he win the two remaining trials. Decisions, decisions, what choice did he have? He walked towards the starting line with him to meet with the other champions.

Tu'Lok watched it as he stood up from his seat to speak to the champions about the second challenge. "Welcome champions, to the second challenge, here you must test your endurance and agility in a 27 mile run. But be warned, there will be dangerous predators, and man eating plants that will try to kill you. So your best advantage is to evade them, and get through the jungle as fast as you can to get to the final challenge." He told them as the champions stood ready and exhaled. "Champions, prepare yourselves!" He told them as Jirou got into an olympic running stance, while the others stood ready in their own running stances. "On your marks… get set… GO!" He yelled.

Jirou quickly ran off as La'Kina was hot on his heels and Sa'Rak ran past Zots and Baku and went after Jirou. Sira watched it as she was worried about what would happen, while Za'Lek grinned as he glanced towards the trees, knowing the kaiju jaguar's were in its branches as they ran after the champions to begin the true hunt. 5 miles into the race, Jirou and La'Kina were neck and neck as they ran through the jungle side by side. She exhaled as she kept the pace with Jirou and glanced at him. "Not bad for a human, are you sure you're not a Darukan?" She asked him.

"Believe me, I'm all human, and what happened to us being opponents, huh?" Jirou asked her as he leapt over a fallen log and flipped over a boulder in a single bound. She smirked as she leapt towards a vine and swung past a few trees and landed against the base of one of the trees and leapt past Jirou gaining the lead. He was surprised by it but smirked as he focused all his energy into his legs to pick up speed to catch up to her. He parkoured over a few logs and leapt over her as he pulled her ponytail in front of her face, causing to yelp from it as he landed on the ground and ran ahead.

La'Kina shook her hair out of her face and spat a few strands from her mouth as she growled from it and ran after him. "You will regret doing that to me!" She declared as she ran to keep up with him.

"You will have to catch up to me for that to happen." He replied with a chuckle, only to see a fist flying towards him as he panicked and ducked from it as Sa'Rak flew past him as he punched his fist into a tree. He grunts from it as he ripped his fist out and glared at Jirou while La'Kina took the lead. "Whoa, might want to check for splinters pal, cause you might lose that hand." He told him.

"The only person losing anything is you, losing your head for what you did to me…!" Sa'Rak told him as he flexed his hand as he walked towards him.

"Not to ruin your moment, but we still have a race to finish, and I need to catch La'Kina before she gets any further." Jirou replied as he quickly ran after her, only to see Sa'Rak's ax plunge into the tree, stopping him from advancing further.

"I wouldn't worry about her, she will be dead before she even reaches the finish line." He informed Jirou as his eyes widened in shock, while Sa'Rak snarled as he went to rip his head off. Jirou narrowly avoided his grasp and grabbed hold of his arm and threw him over as Sa'Rak rolled across the ground and landed near a patch of greenery. He snarled angrily as he went to charge at him again, only to feel vines snaring his arms as he felt them constrict his limbs, holding him in place as a giant man eating plant emerged behind him. Sa'Rak panicked upon seeing it as he struggled to get free. "Human, help me!" He pleaded.

"After you just got done trying to kill me? Forget it." He replied as he took the ax from out of the tree and tossed it a few feet close to him. "But I will give you a little leverage… good luck trying to get it." He told him as he ran off to find La'Kina, while Sa'Rak fought for dear life to get free of the man eating plant.

Once getting within 15 miles of the jungle, Jirou ran but stopped as he looked around for La'Kina. There was no sign of her anywhere as he looked around carefully, only to look down and see three sets of paw prints on the ground. He knelt down and placed his hand against one of the paw prints and saw just how big it was compared to his hand. They were massive, he even found a set of La'Kina's footprints next to them. His eyes widened as he heard a scream in the distance and quickly ran towards it. La'Kina whimpered as her left leg was covered by deep cuts from one of the kaiju jaguars, the trio growled at La'Kina as she tried to crawl away from them. "No, get away!" She yelled.

But bloodlust and hunger drove the jaguars as they snarled and went to kill her. Jirou leapt out of the bushes and rammed one of the trio against its brothers. The trio crashed against the ground as they thrashed around and saw him, they snarled madly as the eldest brother charged first and pounced on him. But Jirou avoided it and caught the eldest by its tail and used all his strength in one hard overhead swing as he pulled down hard and slammed the kaiju jaguar against a rock, breaking its back and damaging its skull to no repair, killing it instantly as the two brothers snarled and charged at him Jirou saw it and yelled as he swung the eldests body around and slammed it against the two brothers, knocking them away. La'Kina was stunned from what she was witnessing, a lone human, facing down two apex predators. The two brothers snarled at Jirou as one charged and leapt at him with its jaws wide open, Jirou used his arm to block it as the jaguar snarled and bit down on his arm, making it bleed as Jirou let out a painful yell. The other jaguar ran behind him and snarled as it leapt and bit down on his shoulder while using its claws to dig painfully deep into his skin to hold onto him as he cried out in pain.

La'Kina's eyes widened in fear as she reached behind her and pulled out a knife and threw it towards Jirou, gaining his attention as he immediately caught it before it could reach his face. He took the knife and stabbed the one that was biting into his shoulder, causing it to yelp and limp dead as Jirou grabbed its body with his only free hand and smacked it against the jaguar that was biting his arm. Once released of its painful bone crushing jaws, Jirou backed up as he held La'Kina's knife in hand, while the jaguar growled at him for killing its brothers. Jirou grew impatient as he gripped the knife. "Well come on then, you gonna kill me, or just stand there?" He asked it as the beast snarled and charged at him as it leapt into the air expecting him to use the knife in and upward motion, but Jirou actually dropped the knife and grabbed its upper and lower jaw as the massive reptilian cat wrapped its giant paws around his body, trying to pull him into its jaws. But Jirou glared as he applied all his strength into his arms to push down on its lower jaw, while pushing up against its upper jaw, ripping the lower jaw off as he used its fangs to pierce through its skull, killing it.

La'Kina saw it as the jaguar's body twitched a bit from its nerves, but the body finally fell down as it revealed Jirou covered in blood as he panted from his injuries. She looked at him as she saw Tal'Set standing in his place, she shook her head from the vision and looked back at him as the vision of her to-be husband was gone. He dropped the body and walked towards her to help her, but she pulled away from him to reject his help. "Leave me… we are still opponents in this trial." She reminded him.

"Not with an injury like that, now let me help you." He told her.

"I don't need help!" She retorted, only to get a two finger smack against her forehead. "OW!" She cried out.

"Don't give me that, you're injured, you can barely move that leg." He told her as he tore a piece of his tribal wear and started to wrap it around where her leg was scratched.

She watched him work on it as she looked away ashamed. "You should leave me, I have disgraced my people by being overconfident. Believing I could have won this trial, when I couldn't even defeat these beasts." She told him.

But Jirou didn't want to hear any of it as he tightened the bindings, causing her to scream in pain. "Sorry… but that isn't how I work. I find that the universe will be more lonely if you're not in it." He told her as she looked at him surprised, he was not just strong, brave, he was wise, and noble. Soon both their ears heard something as they looked out and saw man eating plants coming out of the jungle as they growled hungrily. "But in regards to the trial, we better get moving, now!" He said as he lifted her onto his shoulder and ran from them as they pursued them.

La'Kina held on the best she could as she saw vines trailing towards them. "Vines, behind you!" She yelled as some tried to reach and grab hold of Jirou, he leapt over avoiding them as he ran as fast as he could to get away from them. The man eating plants did not let up as they tried to snare and devour them, La'Kina held on as she watched them getting closer to them. Jirou looked back, seeing them getting closer as he picked up his feet to go faster. "Jirou, I'm slowing you down, you have to leave me and save yourself!" She yelled.

"Not a chance! I will not leave you behind! Tal'Set would want you to live!" He argued as he kept running from the vines, leaving La'Kina stunned from how he mentioned Tal'Set. 17 miles later at the finish line, Baku and Zots were the first to arrive. Baku looked back to the jungle while his tribe cheered for him, he grew worried about Jirou and anyone who Sa'Rak wanted out of the way. Speaking of whom, Sa'Rak emerged from the jungle as his tribe cheered for him as he jogged towards the finish line. Baku scowled at him knowing he did something, but before he could confront him, Jirou rushed past him with La'Kina over his shoulders. "COMING THROUGH!" He cried out as he knocked him down as Sa'Rak's face landed in a pile of crap that was dropped by some of the cattle animals as the Kotalan Tribesman laughed.

Even Baku and Zots laughed at him as he pulled his face out of the crap pile, opening his eyes and saw him and La'Kina running ahead and looked back seeing the vines of the jungle approaching. Tu'Lok noticed and slammed his staff on the ground as the guards formed a barricade to block the vines from getting past it. "We have our winners, Baku and Zots, for first and second place, Jirou and-"

"La'Kina needs healing, she and I were attacked." Jirou interrupted him as her tribe gasped in shock as Tu'Lok looked at her with a shocked expression. The healers rushed to her and Jirou to check on her.

Tu'Lok approached Jirou and saw the scratches on La'Kina's leg. "What happened?" He asked as he noticed the injuries he received from the jaguars.

"I don't know what they were, but they were like some sort of reptilian jaguars." He replied as he rubbed his injuries. "I Barely made it out alive." He told him.

"He fought like a warrior…" La'Kina told them as they looked towards her. "Even for a human, he showed immense strength." She informed them as she and Tu'Lok looked upon Jirou. "He saved my life, when I didn't need it."

Jirou looked at her and smiled a bit, as did Tu'Lok as he looked to the healers. "Take her to the infirmary, get her leg treated." He ordered as the healers carefully lifted her up and took her away.

Meanwhile Jirou smelt a foul odor in the air and followed the scent, only to see Sa'Rak standing near him with crap still on his face as he glared at Jirou for knocking him over earlier. "Ohh, bud, you should really take a bath, cause you smell worse than a skunk." He commented as Jirou and Zots chuckled in amusement,

"Know this human, you have been lucky so far. But I promise you, you will be very unlucky…! Cause the third trial shall be your last. The Mak'gora is mine… and you will perish before you even land the first strike." He threatened him and stormed off to his tent as Jirou watched him, while Za'Lek watched scornfully as he lost faith in Sa'Rak's plans to deal with Jirou, and walked off to do what needs to be done,

(Infirmary)

At the infirmary, La'Kina was getting her leg treated for the claw marks she had. She hissed in pain from the herbs the healers were using as they carefully stitched her wounds, Jirou walked in to check on her, seeing that she was having issues with the herbs they were giving her. "Guess you are not used to being treated like this, huh?" He asked as he walked over.

"I never had to go through this many stitches before." She replied with all honesty as she looked at him. "But why are you here, you should be getting ready for the last trial." She reminded him.

"I wanted to see if you were okay… I even came to get treated myself." He told her as he looked to where he was bitten and clawed. "Took some really risky moments… I just hope they won't hinder my performance during the Mak'gora." He told her.

Sighing upon hearing it, La'Kina looked away knowing her injuries will. "At least you get to move on, but I will be stuck here in the infirmary." She told him as he looked at her surprised. "The healers told me that due to my injury, I won't be able to participate in the final trial. Making me feel disappointed in myself." She told him.

Hearing this, Jirou looked at her feeling sympathy for the female warrior. He looked at the healers and gestured to them to leave and give them a moment to themselves. They nodded to him as they carefully set their tools down and walked out, while Jirou sat down next to La'Kina. "You think just because you are now currently handicapped, you think you are useless?" He asked her as she looked away. "I have known veterans and cadets who have gone through the same physical trauma you have. All but a few retired, or took their own lives because they felt they didn't belong in the world. Especially those who died of other causes." He explained as La'Kina looked at him feeling surprised.

"What happened?" She asked him.

Looking out the tent, Jirou was reminded of his childhood seeing a brother and sister playing together outside. "When I was 15, my little sister and I would play in the meadows when we got home after school. We would play out there for hours, even in the rain." He chuckled in amusement, but his smile faded as quickly as his joy came and turned into sadness. "But one day, she got sick." He informed La'Kina as her eyes widened in shock. "The doctors told us that there was no chance of her surviving it, and that she only had a few days to live. But I wasn't going to let it happen, I pleaded to every doctor available to help her." He explained as he looked down with tears building up in his eyes. "But, none of them could help her. In the end… and all I could do was watch as my sister lay dying. She told me to stay strong, never to let anyone share the same pain I had. She died the next day." He said as his tears ran down his face.

She looked at him, feeling the pain he felt from that day. "That is… I can't imagine, what did you do then?" She asked him.

"I joined the Earth Garrison, applied my physical skills to help those who have suffered a lot. So that no one would have to be at the end of a gun by their own hand, or die of any diseases." He informed her as he wiped his tears away.

La'Kina felt her heart aching for the first time since her fiance's demise, tears filled her eyes as she felt sympathy towards this human for losing his sister. She reached to his hand and gently grasped it, earning his attention as he looked at him. "I am sorry for your loss, and… I am sorry that I saw you as nothing more than an opponent, when I should have treated you more as a friend." She apologized as she lowered her head.

Jirou looked at her and smiled as he reached under her chin and raised her head up to get her to look at him. "It's only a simple contest, and no matter what happens… I will win it. Not for myself or personal glory, but because I want to protect those closest to me." He told her.

She looked at him as she felt him wiping away her tears. "Even me…?" She asked him.

He smiled at her and nodded his head at her. "Even you." He replied to her, she smiled at him as her tears continued to run down her face and she pulled him into a warm embrace. Jirou was surprised by this action, but he smiled and held in return.

(Meanwhile)

At the temple of the gods, Za'Lek walked into the temple to where Gor'Boc's crystal was contained. He approached the vault and looked upon it as he pulled out a stone hammer and smashed the lock that kept the doors from opening. He dropped the hammer onto the ground and opened the vault, looking upon the dark crystal within, making him grin. "Seems all isn't going accordingly my friend… it is time to take matters into our own hands." He told him as he held up the crystal in his hands.

It glowed intensely to his touch as a set of eyes opened within the crystal, and a furious growl came out of it. Sira walked up in the entrance of the temple, only to see Za'Lek hold the crystal as she silently gasped and hid herself and peaked around the corner. "What is that filthy rat doing…?" She asked through whispering.

He held up the crystal and grinned sadistically. "Join me now Gor'Boc… and let us cleanse this planet, and devour the wicked and the unrighteous. And head to the other worlds, so that they will share the same fate. Starting with Earth…!" He declared as he placed the crystal into his chest, feeling it burn him as Sira gasped in horror. Za'Lek cackled as the magic energies flowed around him as his skin became covered in dark fur, with even darker spots, his eyes burning fiery red as fangs and claws grew. Sira panicked as she took this opportunity to run off without him noticing.

(Meanwhile)

At the third trial, the four remaining combatants were preparing to face each other in the Mak'gora. La'Kina stood amongst her people for she was now out of the trials and watched as Jirou and the other champions were preparing themselves for the final trial. "Champions, though one of you is now out of the trial, one of you still has a chance of winning the final trial." Tu'Lok explained as Jirou looked amongst the other champions, quickly taking notice of Sa'Lak's menacing glare towards him, knowing he will be going after him. "The Mak'gora is one of our most sacred traditions, but know that this trial ends with the last man standing. In other words… it is a fight to the death." He told them.

Jirou exhaled knowing he was serious in that regard, and he was prepared for it. "And I will take great pleasure in making your champion suffer for the humiliation he caused me, Tu'Lok!" Sa'Rak declared.

"Pretty sure that was all you, not my fault you're clumsy." Jirou commented as everyone laughed at Sa'Rak.

Sa'Rak growled as he was about to kill him, but Tu'Lok slammed his staff on the ground. "That is enough! You two will be the first to settle this fight, once and for all. Step to the field, and prepare yourselves." He told them, Jirou and Sa'Rak looked at each other, one glaring, the other grinning sinisterly as they proceeded to the fighting ring. Loud deep drums were being struck as Jirou and Sa'Lak were preparing for the fight, Jirou removed his necklace and set it on the ground as he stood up and rolled his shoulders back and popped his spine, while Sa'Rak cracked his knuckles and pops his neck as he growled at Jirou. "Champions… prepare for combat!" He ordered as Jirou and Sa'Rak prepared themselves for battle, and assumed their fighting stances. "BEGIN!" The chief yelled as Sa'Rak was the first to charge and throw a punch at Jirou, landing a solid hit against his face, causing him to stumble back from it.

Sa'Rak punches him relentlessly to keep him dazed, La'Kina's eyes widened in shock as she recognized that tactic when Tal'Set fought against him. Jirou felt him repeatedly punch him against his face, till finally he had enough as he caught his fist, blood flowing from his nose as he glared at Sa'Rak and yelled as he punched him hard in the right cheek, forcing him to stumble as Jirou landed a few blows to his stomach and kneed him in his stomach as he grabbed hold of his arm and threw him over slamming him against the ground. Sa'Rak's people yelled out in anger towards Jirou, but he didn't care as he went to stomp on Sa'Rak, but he avoided it and rolled away as he snarled angrily and went to grab his face to gouge his eyes out.

Jirou managed to grab his wrists and hold him back as he glared at him. "You're not getting these eyes pal!" He headbutted against his nose, breaking it as blood spurts from it. Sa'Rak glared and threw punches at him, but Jirou avoided his pouches as he yells and punched him hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him as he swung his knee and slammed it against his right cheekbone and fractured it as he knocked out a few of his molars. "That was for Tal'Set!" He yelled.

"That pathetic excuse of an heir doesn't deserve Balduroc, and neither do you!" Sa'Rak spat out the molars he lost and yelled going for a strike against him. Jirou felt a few punches from him, but he knocked away the next punch and sucker punched him in the face as he landed a few hard punches against his stomach and chest, till Sa'Rak blocked his next punch and clobbered his face. "Luck! That is all this is!" He yelled as he grabbed him by his neck, choking him.

But Jirou growled angrily upon hearing it and glared at him. "That's not how I see it…!" He slammed his fists against his arms, grabbed his head and knees him against his jaw, knocking out the front teeth and knocked him away as the Kotalan Tribe cheered out. Baku watched in amazement of how well he was facing down the Ma'Tokan warrior, no one has ever been able to go against Sa'Rak since Tal'Set's passing. But this mere human, a soldier, was standing toe to toe against him with all his might. La'Kina was equally impressed with his skill as she watched him fight Sa'Rak with all the strength he possessed. Meanwhile Jirou blocked his next punch and held him back. "It wasn't luck, I did not murder a chief's eldest son through blind fucking luck!" He yelled as he kicked him in the back of the head and threw him down. "Dumbass!" He yelled as he punched at him but Sa'Rak blocked his attack. "You thought you could come here, declare your rights, think you're worthy of Balduroc? That ain't how it works, he would never choose a murderer as pathetic as you are!" He told him.

"We will see about that when I finish you!" Sa'Rak yelled as he managed to grapple his arms around Jirou's waist and slowly tried to crush him with his pure muscle. Jirou struggled from it but glared at him as he looked down and realized where he was positioned as he raised his left leg and slammed a kick against his groin, causing Sa'Rak's eyes to widen and tear up as he let Jirou go and kneeled down holding his balls as he was in sheer pain.

Everyone, even Baku and Zots moaned and groaned upon seeing it as they both held their hands over private areas. Finding that was their most sensitive area now, they knew not to mess with Jirou as he backed away from Sa'Rak. "You made a mistake, threatening those who would deny you everything." He told him.

Panting from his injuries, Sa'Lak slowly got up and glared at him as he held his groin as it was still hurting. "Balduroc… is mine…! Za'Lek promised I would have it!" He yelled as everyone gasped in shock, even Chief Tu'Lok as he looked around seeing that he was gone.

Right on cue, Sira ran towards the trial to warn everyone. "Stop the trials!" She yelled as she ran into the arena. "Everyone needs to leave now! Za'Lek has fused with Gor'Boc, he's-" Her speech was interrupted as a loud snarl was heard, and Gor'Boc bursts out from the temple in its full form, snarling at the people as they screamed in terror of the monsters appearance. It was humanoid, patches of its fur missing, and long fangs on its upper and lower jaw.

Gor'Boc snarled viciously as it looked towards the five tribes and grinned with a hungry smile, making Jirou backed away and looked towards the tribes. "Everybody go, go! Get out of here!" He told them as everyone ran as Gor'Boc marched towards them and got on all fours and snarled as he went to kill them all. "Baku, Zots, get the people to safety," He ordered.

"What about you?!" Zots asked him.

"I can hold this guy off for as long as I can, their safety is top priority." He replied as Baku approached him and patted his shoulder.

"Where is the spirit of the fight? You might have fought off small cubs, but this thing is beyond your league." He informed him.

"Baku, I'm the one he's after, I can handle it." Jirou replied.

But Baku chuckled as he nudged him away. "Self sacrifice for those closest, can't say I blame you." He told him as he landed a hard pat on his back, knocking the wind out of him. "But I'll help you lure Gor'Boc away the best I can." He said to him as Jirou smirked, knowing that this Chu'Bara warrior was insane as he looked towards Gor'Boc and ran towards him with Baku.

Meanwhile, Gor'Boc snarled as it swiped its claws at several Kotalan warriors that tried to run interference, they tried to stop it with their spears, but it saw them as nothing more than mere toothpicks being tossed by mice as he roared out and bit down on a few of the warriors, killing them instantly with its fangs as they pierced their flesh and crushed their bones. One of the Kotalan warriors avoided being stepped on as he rolled across the ground. He panted as he checked himself as he chuckled a bit. "I'm okay!" He cheered only to get stepped on. "I'm still okay!" He cried out from under the giant paw.

Meanwhile La'Kina was ushering her people as well as many others to safety, only to gain the attention of Gor'Boc as it snarled at her as she turned towards it, her eyes widened with fear as she tried to limp away from the massive overgrown jaguar. But it had no intention of leaving any survivors as it went to devour her, but its face was soon struck by a rock that made it shriek and turn to the source. Jirou held up a large rock with Baku as they glared at him. "Hey ugly! You want a meal? Come and get us!" He shouted as he and Baku threw their rocks, hitting Gor'Boc, making him snarl at them viciously. They ran off as Gor'Boc gave chase, La'Kina took this opportunity to rush towards Chief Tu'Lok.

"Chief, he can't handle Gor'Boc on his own, he'll get killed!" She said worriedly.

"Which is why you need to get this to Jirou." Tu'Lok held up the crystal of Balduroc to her, and handed it over. "He has displayed the true qualities of a champion, he needs the crystal now, more than anything." He told her.

La'Kina looked at it as she carefully reached for it, placing her hands around it as she took it from Tu'Lok. But before she could proceed to go after Jirou, Sa'Rak got in the way holding a blade in his hand as he was covered in his own blood. "I want… that crystal…! Balduroc is mine!" He yelled as he had a look of insanity written over his face.

Tu'Lok glared at him and stepped between him and La'Kina. "You want that crystal, you will have to go through me." He told him as he looked towards La'Kina. "Go, now!" He ordered as La'Kina nodded her head and ran off. Sa'Rak went to chase her, but Tu'Lok grabbed him and threw him down with his superior strength. Sa'Rak rolled across the ground and glared at him and ran towards him with his knife and went to stab him, Tu'Lok caught the blade as it made his hand bleed, but he didn't care as he threw Sa'Rak over and slammed him on the ground. He redirected the blade towards him and started pushing it towards him as Sa'Rak struggled to keep it away from him. "This… is for my son…!" He pushed it and slammed his palm against it and pierced his throat with it.

Feeling the blade in his throat, Sa'Rak choked on the blood that was filling his throat and coughed from it. He struggled to hold onto his life, but Tu'Lok had no intention of letting him live as he took the blade and slashed his throat open to keep him from getting up. He panted from what he had done, and dropped the blade, for he had finally avenged his son. Meanwhile, Jirou and Baku ran from Gor'Boc as it chased them through the canyon, Jirou grabbed a stone and took a piece of his warrior garments and made it into a slingshot. He stopped and looked back towards Gor'Boc as he swung the stone in the slingshot he made and threw the stone toward Gor'Boc's eye, landing a hard hit against it as Gor'Boc shrieked from it and held a paw over his right eye. "Good shot, now you just angered him more." Baku commented.

"Just keep running!" Jirou yelled as he ran with him, Gor'Boc snarled as it went to pounce on them. But they leapt past a small crevice as Gor'Boc reached through, but only managed to get it half way and barely able to reach them as Jirou and Baku ran from it. Gor'Boc growled angrily and used all its might to destroy the entire wall that was blocking its path, the stones that flew landed right in front of Jirou and Baku as they stopped at the foot of it and looked back to Gor'Boc. "Oh crap." Jirou muttered.

"This is not how I wished to die." Baku admitted.

"Not my way of dying either, but… at least it's alongside a friend." Jirou told him as he and Baku chuckled a bit, while Gor'Boc prepared to slaughter both of them.

"JIROU!" Called out La'Kina as Jirou looked ahead and saw her at the cliff's edge. Gor'Boc turned around and saw her. Jirou's eyes widened in fear as thoughts of death ran through his mind, not his death, but the death of someone he befriended.

"La'Kina, you have to get out of here!" He told her.

"Not until you get this!" She argued as she tossed out the crystal of Balduroc as it glowed intensely and shot towards Jirou, piercing into his chest as he let out a painful grunt from it as energy began to flow around him, causing both immense pain as Baku watched his muscles grow and skin was replaced by scales, and spikes began growing out of his back. Meanwhile as Jirou was going through his painful transformation, Gor'Boc snarled and smacked the ground La'Kina stood upon, causing her to fall down and hit the ground.

She groaned as she felt her leg burning from the scratches and stitches she was given, but she soon looked up and gasped as Gor'Boc was looming over her, and growled with an evil grin as its fangs were dripping of blood and saliva. It roared as La'Kina screamed as she shielded herself, preparing for death as Gor'Boc went to devour her. But before it could clamp its jaws around her, it felt a strong pull by its tail, causing it to look back as its eyes widened as it saw Balduroc holding onto its tail. Balduroc growled and snarled as he pulled hard and tossed Gor'Boc away, seeing it crash against the ground as it rolled back up and snarled at him. Balduroc let out a menacing snarl towards Gor'Boc and roared as he pounded his chest like a gorilla, slamming his fists against the ground.

The tribes gathered to where they were and saw the sacred guardian, facing down Gor'Boc as he charged and pounced on Balduroc and knocked him down, pinning him as he went to bite down in his jugular. Balduroc stopped him just in time to keep it from clamping its jaws around his neck and pushed it down to the ground and swung his fists down on the massive jaguar, letting out a snarl as he went to crush it. But Gor'Boc swiped at him and clawed his chest, causing him to wince from it as Gor'Boc managed to get behind him and pounce on his back, biting onto his shoulder as Balduroc roared out in pain from it as he struggled to get it off. Once he got a good grip on the scruff of Gor'Boc's neck, he threw it off as he slammed his fists on the ground to prevent himself from falling. But the scratches and bites Gor'Boc made were worse than that of the jaguars he fought in the jungle, he soon looked to see Gor'Boc circling around him.

It snarled viciously and went to kill him, but Balduroc was far from out of the fight as he roared out and backhanded Gor'Boc with his right hand, seeing it crash against the wall as it let out a shriek and hit the ground. It shook its head and snarled angrily at Balduroc as he backed away, growling back as he and the jaguar titan circled each other. The tribes cheered as La'Kina and Baku watched from the sidelines, waiting to see who would win this battle. Gor'Boc growled and soon dashed towards Balduroc leapt at him, this caused Balduroc to duck underneath him as Gor'Boc barely missed him. It went to attack him again as Balduroc leapt over Gor'Boc as it chased after Balduroc and snarled trying to slash at him with its claws. It leapt at him and managed to pounce on him to get a good bite out of him, only to get blocked by Balduroc's massive arm as he smacked Gor'Boc away, managing to leave three scratch marks on his arm with his claws as it fell to the ground.

The tribes cheered for their guardian as Gor'Boc looked at the scratches in its arm and looked at Balduroc, letting out a hiss as Balduroc growled at it. He and Gor'Boc circled each other as the dark jaguar snarled and attacked Balduroc, slashing at his chest again as it left deep claw marks into his chest. But the marks over his chest, and the ones from before began to heal. Balduroc saw it and growled at Gor'Boc with a powerful glare as the jaguar lunged at him again to get a piece of him, meanwhile Balduroc blocked its attack to keep it from trying to reach him as he snarled and clobbered the jaguar in the face, causing its right cheek bone to fracture as Gor'Boc let out a shriek as Balduroc continued to strike against the jaguar, only to get bitten on his arm as Balduroc shrieked from it. Gor'Boc held onto his arm with his jaws and pulled him down and slammed him on the ground.

La'Kina panicked as she watched Gor'Boc pin the guardian down to the ground and slash at him with its claws. Balduroc snarled from it and glared as he dug his hand into the ground and ripped out a massive boulder and smacked it against its chest, causing its rib cage to crack as Gor'Boc shrieked in pain from it as it hit the ground. It held its chest from the pain it was feeling from the bolder and went to get back up, but Balduroc snarled and wrapped his arm around its neck in a chokehold as Gor'Boc shrieked and thrashed trying to break free of the hold. But Balduroc held onto him, trying to prevent him from breathing. Gor'Boc was slowly losing consciousness as its eyes were rolling to the back of its head, and after a few seconds of choking the jaguar out, it passed out from the lack of oxygen. Balduroc felt it and released it as Gor'Boc fell to the ground. He panted from the injuries he received, but his wounds healed due to the crystal's power as he heard cheering and looked at the tribes cheering for him.

He looked at them and smiled a bit as he stood up straight and inhaled as he started beating his chest, letting out a powerful roar as it shook the earth around him. He finished his roar and reverted back to being Jirou as he stood before the tribes as they all rushed towards him to congratulate the Kotalan champion as they gathered around him. He chuckled from all the attention as some of the Sa'Maran women kissed him on his cheeks, which made him blush a bit as Baku made his way past the crowd. "All right everyone, move aside, back away, best friend coming through, that would be me." He gestured to himself and looked to Jirou, "And you, don't make a habit of that, not everyone can be the big hero around here." He told him.

"I'll try to remember that." Jirou replied with a smirk, but noticed La'Kina far from the crowd. She smiled proudly but her smile faded as she walked away, leaving him surprised as she left the area. He soon turned towards Gor'Boc, who's body soon disappeared, leaving no trace of it anywhere.

The tribes were surprised as they wondered what could've happened. Tu'Lok approached Jirou and asked. "What happened…? Where did Gor'Boc go?" He asked.

Jirou looked at where Gor'Boc used to be, and narrowed his eyes as he looked out. "I don't know Tu'Lok, but wherever he is, he and Za'Lek are sure to keep making trouble for everyone in the universe. And I won't rest till he is found and put out of his misery." He declared.

---

(Violet Queen's Palace, Earth)

On Earth, Za'Lek was placed on the ground as Gor'Boc's crystal was still in his chest, he gasped as he woke up and looked around the area. "As expected, you did fail. Just like we predicted." Said Violet Queen as she was currently Kiriko Ayanami.

"All too predictable, but still, Gor'Boc has chosen a rather unworthy host." Said Shenrah as he was against a wall in his petrified state as Za'Lek looked at him with fear in his eyes. "You not only failed to kill the human, you failed to keep him from obtaining Balduroc!" He yelled.

Za'Lek winced from the harsh tone his master was giving him as he worked up some courage to look at him. "My Lord, it was not my fault, Jirou, he-"

"SILENCE!" Shenrah roared at him as Za'Lek lowered his head in fear. "Though you have failed me, you still have your uses, Za'Lek." He told him.

Za'Lek let out a sigh of relief as he looked up to his master. "Thank you my lord, thank you." He said to him as he bowed to him.

"Now leave us, I must converse with my mistress." Shenrah ordered as Za'Lek stood up and walked out of the room to give them their time alone. "The mortal is gullible, but the worship is appreciated." He commented.

"But can we afford to keep him around? He is rather mad when you look at him long enough." Violet Queen said to him as she approached her master.

"His usefulness will come to an end… as will Chadwick's. He is a dependent mortal, but all who serve are expendable to a degree." He replied to her.

She looked upon her master fearing her own fate should she fail, she reached up to him and touched his face with both hands. "And me…? Am I expendable to you my lord?" She asked him.

Feeling her touch, though he was encased in stone, Shenrah looked upon his mistress wishing he could touch her. "You are the exception my dear… you are the most loyal, most devoted, my beloved Violet Queen. For you are perfect in every way, no matter your form." He told her.

She smiled gently as she looked into his blood red eyes. "But I was nothing, till you found me. Remember?" She asked him.

"How can I forget?" He replied as he thought back to when he first met her.

(Flashback)

8,000 years ago, in the lands of Japan amongst a great battlefield. Many were dead as Shenrah, shrouded in shadow, wandered through the battlefield, looking amongst the dead who were scattered across the field. He sneered at the mere sight of them, throwing their lives away to honor their emperor. He soon noticed a mortal woman, Kiriko Ayanami, lying on the ground with a spear in her chest. Seeing her beauty, Shenrah felt something from her that he could not explain, he formed himself into a human and grabbed hold of the spear, ripping it out of her chest as he summons a violet crystal, letting it fly down to her as it went into where she was stabbed, healing her wound as her eyes opened wide, letting out a gasp from her mouth as she was revived by the crystal.

She looked up and saw Shenrah standing before her in his human appearance, not knowing the true demon kaiju that he really was. She sat up and looked upon him, believing him to be something else. "Are you… a god…?" She asked him.

"Close enough." Shenrah replied as he twirled the spear and swung it towards her, holding it to her neck showing her blood as she gasped in shock. "You are now immortal, and shall serve me for an eternity. On all accounts, you are much too beautiful to kill." He complimented her for her beauty, and pulled the spear away from her.

She looked at him as her face was slightly red from the compliment, but she soon closed her eyes and bowed to him out of respect. "Thank you, my lord." She said as he smiled at her for her devotion.

(Flashback End)

"I restored your life, knowing you had much to live for, I even helped you avenge your village against those who wronged you. But left you to handle the very human who was responsible for your death to begin with." Shenrah reminded her.

Kiriko Closed her eyes remembering that night, but opened her eyes as she looked upon her master. "But I could not do anything to stop you from being trapped in this humiliating state." She gestured to his petrified state.

"Yes, which is why you need to find my crystals, the ones that the gods have taken from me. My life, soul, and power crystals. You have retrieved my soul crystal, but two remain hidden. Only with all three, may I be able to be freed from this petrified state." He informed her.

She reached to his face and caressed it gently. "I will not fail you my lord." She assured him.

Shenrah let out a soft chuckle as he felt her hand. "I know you won't, my dear, you are my greatest warrior, and well trained assassin. But be careful my love, for Garoma and his guardians will not rest until they rid the universe of the Dark Ones." He informed her as she bowed to him respectfully and headed out of the room. Once the doors closed, a hiss came from Shenrah as he remembered that fateful day he was petrified. "And once I am released, Garoma will pay dearly for his betrayal." He declared as his eyes glowed intensely.

---

(Daruk)

Back on Daruk, everyone was celebrating Jirou's victory against Gor'Boc, and even celebrated his becoming of Balduroc. But not all were celebrating, La'Kina was distant from the celebration as she looked upon the moons that she and Tal'Set once sat under together. She held in her hand, a necklace that gleamed within the moon's light. Approaching from behind her, Jirou walked up and noticed the necklace in her hand. "A beautiful necklace." He complimented it.

She smiled upon hearing it as she looked towards him. "Tal'Set gave it to me as a wedding gift… it was tradition on our planet to exchange gifts with our betrothed." She explained.

"In other words, it's like exchanging wedding vows." Jirou surmised.

"Something like that." She replied as she and Jirou chuckled as he sat down beside her and looked at the moon's with her. "Though, I am rather surprised you're not with Chief Tu'Lok, celebrating your victory," She pointed out.

"Ehh, I'm not really one for parties." He replied to her as he crossed his arms over his knees. "Not since my sister passed away." He admitted.

La'Kina looked at him, sensing the pain was still there, but she smiled softly and touched his shoulder, earning his attention as he looked at her. "She would be proud of the man you have become." She told him.

"You think so?" He asked her.

"I know so…" She smiled at him as she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, Jirou blushed from feeling it as he looked at her.

He wanted to pull away, but that would be rude and disrespectful as he smiled at her and looked out as he rested his head against hers. "And Tal'Set… would be proud of you as well." He told her as La'Kina smiled and reached down and touched his hand.

"Stay with me tonight, and when tomorrow arrives… I wish to accompany you back to Sephoria." She told him.

He was surprised as he looked at her. "But, your people, they-"

"They can survive without me being present, they are capable warriors. You've seen first hand what I can do, unless of course you were going to take someone else back with you?" She wondered as she glanced towards him.

He panicked as he knew Sira was wanting to go with him. "Well, I was going to take Sira. But she could be more trouble than she is worth." He admitted.

This caused La'Kina to chuckle as she smiled and looked at him. "At least you won't go back empty handed." She told him as Jirou let out a sigh, knowing that the return to Sephoria was going to be a lot of trouble for him, and him alone. He could only wonder how his friend Shawn was doing on his search for the crystal of Talosus, the Moonlight Guardian.

---

(Hey guys, Leonidas1994 here, boy this was the longest chapter I ever worked on. Supposedly, but hey, give or take. Anyways, this is the latest chapter of Jirou's journey while Jaden and Blair were on their journey for Aquaria's crystal. The Search chapters will take place at the same points of time they took place to find their crystals, and I even included flashbacks for certain characters. And yes, I may do some mech suits that will appear in the story. Which won't be easy, because gooooood! Mecha designs are hard! You'll find examples of them on my deviantart page: Pyrus-Leonidas. Hope you guys enjoy the chapter.)