Ch.125: A Crew's Loyalty! Desert Beasts vs. Corrupted Arid!

What is the role of a captain?

Is their job merely to give orders to the crew and get them along through the next mission? Are they the guiding force that leads the crew to victory? Are they the pillar of leadership they lean upon for support?

In the realm of pirates, that's all sentimental junk. Really, one should ask what the relationship between a captain and their crew is. Trust? Debt? Honor? Why would anyone follow a single man into battle?

Why did the Desert Beasts follow Arid?

Indigo panted heavily, doubled over on the craggy, dusty plains of the Fire Zone and clutching to her bag with the last of her feeble strength. Her stomach growled with a vengeance, gnawing at her for food. She wanted to appease it, but the last of her rations were mere breadcrumbs. Her trek alone through the Fire Zone met with poor results.

She clenched her teeth. "I…I refuse to die out here. Just need to keep…moving forward." She dragged herself by her claws, pressing her bag close to her side with her stumpy arm. "I will succeed…the slums and live a fruitful life. I won't live in poverty ever again."

The strength in her arm finally gave out. She pressed her face down, panting with greater exhaustion. If only she could shut her eyes, but she feared she wouldn't wake up again.

She lifted her head, peering ahead for any sign of fortune to her struggle, and noticed a shape parked out in the distance. It was hard to make out in the light, but it looked like a ship.

"A ship? All the way out in the Fire Zone?" She narrowed her eyes. "Either I'm delusional or that's a…" She noticed something approaching her, emerging from the dark shape. A figure of great size compared to her.

Minutes passed as Indigo watched the figure draw closer. A fierce Darmanitan, he was, with his eyes set on her. Indigo, for a moment, feared she was being robbed, unable to defend herself.

Then she noticed something being carried at the Darmanitan's side. A new set of clothes and a canteen of water.

"W…What?"

Leigh sat against the walls of the alleyway, wiping the blood off her lip. An unsuccessful assassination. Apparently, the weasel who hired her was working for her target. They drew her out because she assassinated the target's brother, a drug lord stationed out in the Desert Zone. She barely escaped with her life, only taking a few lives with her.

"Damn it," she grumbled. "Feels like everyone's got a bone to pick with me. Hard to find decent jobs these days."

"Hitmen and assassins. A profession I've come to respect and question." Leigh glanced to the front of the alleyway, spotting a cloaked figure. "A mark of pride in the lives claimed. Hitmen tend to work in the professional underworld. Assassins, like you, are the dark side of hitmen."

Leigh narrowed her eyes. "Tch. Want an autograph?"

"Leigh, the Unchained Beast. You've earned quite the reputation as an unrelenting killer, yet I see you need better company."

"Who's asking?" Leigh threatened, flashing her claws. She paused as the man extended his hand to her. "Huh?"

"That killer instinct can be channeled into something else. Would you do me the honor of hearing out a small proposal?"

"And stay out!"

Lyra shrieked as the barkeep through her out into the rain and into a mud puddle. Her concertina and the bits she collected scattered across the ground. She sat up on her knees, sniffled, and wiped her eyes. She reached for the money, but a couple of kids ran past her, knocked her back into the puddle, and scooped up her money. She watched them flee in their laughter.

"H-Hey!" she cried, trying to chase after them, but ended up slipping onto her face. She curled her fist and pounded the ground furiously, wanting to scream but couldn't find the words. She rested her face in her arms and cried into them.

She heard her concertina make a sound. She looked up from her arms and saw someone picking it up. Her eyes shrunk, protective instincts taking over. She tackled the man to the ground and snatched her concertina back.

"Don't touch it!" she growled. "No one touches my dad's concertina!"

The man didn't seem angry that he was assaulted. He stood up and wringed his drenched cloak. "So, I was right. You were the lass playing in the bar." He pulled his hood back. A Darmanitan probably in his forties from her best assumption. "You're quite talented."

Lyra blinked, then looked away shyly. She played a few notes on her concertina out of habit.

"Shy all of a sudden?"

Lyra tensed up. "I…don't like talking. I never really have anything meaningful to say. I just want to play my music. That's all."

"May I listen to your music?" Her eyes widened as the Darmanitan presented a sack of bits. "After all, you look like you need the money, and I would love to listen to you play."

Lyra's eyes twinkled in admiration, for the money and for the kindness she longed for. No one wanted to listen to cheerful music on a dreary, rainy day, but how can she not when she had so much love in her heart? She longed to spread that love for music to everyone, no matter what.

She beamed happily and played on her beloved instrument, dancing in the puddles, as her audience of one watched with a relaxed smile.

Malcolm panted heavily, shaking with excitement and drenched in sweat. The second he saw pirates invading, he knew he had to keep himself safe. Six of them tried to take his money, but they weren't prepared for the Golduck to fight back, not to mention brutalize them. However, the Barbaracle of their crew was tough and easily apprehended him before dragging him back to their ship for questioning/possible torture.

He stared down the captain with a cold state, while the Darmanitan had a look of intrigue and surprise in his eyes. "He took down six of our guys?"

"Yes sir, he did," the Barbaracle confirmed. "They'll have to be treated immediately. Some of them might have concussions."

"I see." The captain narrowed his gaze on the duck. "I must say, it takes a brave and often foolish lot to attack pirates in the midst of their raid. Why risk your life?"

Malcolm scoffed. "Why not? Anything you do wouldn't compare to my drunken old man. I can take a beating."

"What is your name?"

"Why are you asking?"

The captain smirked. "Why? I want to know the name of my newest crew member, of course."

Malcolm's eyes widened. "What?"

"My name is Captain Arid, captain of the Desert Beasts." He nodded at Jones, silently ordering for Malcolm's release. "I can't have such talent go unused. What do you say? Interested in leading the pirates' life?"

Malcolm stared at the captain in awe, barely noticing his outstretched hand. Without thinking, he reached out for it. Was it really that simple? Was he seriously saying yes?

Then again, life would be better than dealing with an abusive father.

"Kill the witch!"

Cheshire's evil grin, in the face of danger, never left his tense face as the villagers backed him into a corner with torches raised. Blood dripped from the knife clenched in his fist.

"You got it all wrong," Cheshire whispered through his zippered mouth. "I wasn't planting a curse."

"We saw you performing witchcraft!" someone pointed out.

"I wasn't trying to kill anyone. Back off," Cheshire growled, still grinning. "Don't make me reconsider, you worthless meat bags."

The mob swung their torches at Cheshire. The Banette raised his dagger to protect himself, but stopped as sand whipped up around him. The torches went out and the mob fell back, buried under a mountain of sand. The sand wrapped around Cheshire's wrist and pulled him away.

"Whoa!" The sand dropped him on his face. He groaned and picked himself up. "What's the big idea, you lousy—?" He lifted his head and stared into the eyes of a stern-looking Darmanitan. "Uh, hi?"

The Darmanitan blinked at him, then looked at the buried mob. "Magic was once despised by puritans centuries ago. Now witchcraft is despised for the longstanding tradition of communing with demons and hellish forces. Someone like you, brought into that practice, must know the dangers."

Cheshire huffed, then wiped the blood knife across his shirt. "Those damn kids deserved it for threatening me. I wasn't trying to kill them. I just wanted to mess with them a bit as punishment. It's that mob's fault for ruining the ritual."

"You look like you need a place to go."

"They set my home on fire."

The Darmanitan sighed. "No surprise there. Well, allow me to make the necessary accommodations for you."

"Excuse me?"

The Darmanitan smirked. "Ever thought of becoming a pirate?"

"Hey captain, look at that kid over there."

Arid lifted his hood and turned to his two new crewmen, Drake and Zerif. Zerif played with the stuffed bear he carried with him everywhere while Drake pointed out into the crowd. A Tyrogue, probably a teenager, wandering along with his right arm hidden under a cloak. Though, a few lucky looks revealed the gauntlet hidden underneath.

"What about him?" Arid asked.

"Call it my intuition, but I sense something off about that gauntlet he's wearing."

"He's right," Zerif chimed in, sticking his teddy bear back in his hair. "It's tainted in some pretty dark magic. Don't know why anyone his age would have an item like that."

"Hmm." Arid followed after the Tyrogue, who kept nervously looking over his shoulder and scratching his arm. "You. Kid."

"AH!" The Tyrogue whipped around and faced the intimidating pirate. "W-What?"

"What's with that thing on your arm?"

"W-What thing?" he murmured, hiding it under his cloak.

Arid glared. "Don't mess with me. I'm not stupid."

The Tyrogue held the stare for a few seconds, then sighed. "It's…It's complicated. Actually, I need some help."

"Help?"

"I can't get it off my arm. It's bound to me or something." He flinched. "I accidentally got my arm cut off once trying to remove it and even that didn't work. It just mended itself back to my arm. I don't want to live the rest of my life with it on my arm, so I've been looking for a way to break the curse."

"Is that so?" Arid chuckled to himself, then patted the Tyrogue's head. "Well, young man, perhaps I can be of some assistance."

"Y-You?"

"I'm sort of an expert in magical relics. I could help find a way to remove that thing."

The Tyrogue beamed excitedly. "You can? That's awesome!"

"Though, under one condition."

"Anything! What?"

Arid smirked. "I can't have something like that out in the open. You might as well make use out of it by joining my crew."

The Tyrogue's face fell. "W…What?"

"I'm a pirate. Captain Arid of the Sand. Stick with me and I'll make sure you'll never see that gauntlet ever again."

Banama stood before Captain Arid, surrounded by Julius, Pain Train, Rico, and Ray. His head hung low while the captain glared him down.

"You're quite a troublesome Raichu," Arid mumbled. "In the many times we've crossed paths, I've concluded you are a powerful individual." Banama clenched his teeth. "A magical amulet that lives on inside you and the ability to wield a powerful curse. You aren't like most I come across. Still, it would be a bother to have you as an enemy."

Banama clenched his teary eyes shut. "What do you want?"

"Fact is, you and I are after the same thing. A man known as The Sheer. He stole from me. And he made you use that curse of yours on an innocent girl." Banama's eyes widened. "It didn't take long for my informant to find that information." Arid leaned in, glaring at Banama. "You'll go to prison if you go back out there. No matter the circumstance, the people of Mysto will be wary of someone who wields such a deadly curse."

"I…didn't mean to kill her."

"Of course you didn't." Arid grabbed Banama's head and forced him to face his eyes. "I'll cut to the chase. The Sheer stole some valuables from me. He ransacked my ship. I won't let that go without punishment."

"Then why search me out?"

Arid narrowed his eyes. "A man that cruel and cowardly doesn't deserve the sympathy of the men he wronged. Do you wish to go on with the guilt you wield hanging over you, or will you follow your heart and seek vengeance against the one who vexed you?"

Banama looked over the side of the ship, glaring to where the aforementioned Sheer flew off to. That curse has led Banama to more trouble than he wished to admit, despite the few times it got him out of trouble. He wanted the Sheer to pay, and he couldn't do it alone.

What was that old say? The enemy of my enemy is my friend? Well, now Banama had a slightly different interpretation to work off of.

"Captain Arid, you've got yourself an alliance." Banama bowed to him. "Allow me to travel with you so that we can avenge these wrongs."

Arid smirked. "Good lad."

"Get back here with that!"

Graham dodged bullet fire from the Desert Beasts. He ran around the ship with a bag of jewels held under his arm. He jumped onto the quarterdeck, whipped out a flintlock, and fired a few rounds at the crew to force them back.

Graham smirked. "You lousy pirates have a lot to learn. Go back to robbing retirement homes or underdeveloped villages." He snapped his fingers and opened up a Warp Tunnel. The swirling purple vortex appeared with a loud boom, like thunder cracking or a gong booming. "It's been fun, but I have prior engagements to attend to." He put one foot through the tunnel.

Suddenly, sand seeped from the floorboards and wrapped around Graham's other foot. Before he could do anything, the sand threw him over the quarterdeck and onto the main deck.

"Entrapment!" Pain Train called, summoning a magic circle underneath Graham and locking him down in chains.

Graham didn't bother struggling in the chains. They were too strong for him. "Well damn," he mumbled nonchalantly, like he dropped a carton of milk. "Guess you aren't complete idiots—"

Malcolm pressed his foot against Graham's head. "Save it for later, buster," he growled. "You've got a lot of explaining to do for the captain."

Graham rolled his eyes. "What fun."

Arid stepped out onto the main deck with sand swirling around him. He narrowed his eyes on the trapped Gallade. "We meet again. What is this, the seventh time you've tried to steal from my ship?"

Graham closed his eyes and smirked. "We should really stop meeting like this. I'm getting tired of dodging gunshots."

Leigh huffed. "Let's throw him over the side."

"He's a nuisance, that's what he is!" Jeffery shouted. "I second Leigh's suggestion!"

"Hold," Arid ordered. "Pain Train, release him."

"Huh?" the Klefki gasped. "Sir?"

"It's fine. Just do it."

Pain Train looked nervously at the others before relenting and undoing the Entrapment spell. Graham stretched his legs ad flipped onto his feet. "Something on your mind, captain?" Graham asked smugly.

"Just about." Graham's eyes widened as the stolen riches flew from his grasp wrapped in a cloud of sand and landed in Arid's hand. "There's no point in disposing of you, but we both know you can't defeat me." He tucked the riches inside his jacket. "Go about your business somewhere else. We don't need troublemakers like you on our crew."

Graham smirked. "Heh. I'm not part of your crew."

"Then get off my ship." Arid turned and headed back to his quarters.

The crew looked at each other awkwardly, then went about their previous business. Graham huffed and leaned against the ship's mast. By now, someone would've thrown him off or he would've made a daring escape through his Warp Tunnel. First time he was forcibly jettisoned from the ship.

"Hmm." Graham pulled out a map and looked it over. "Heh. I suppose a free ride wouldn't hurt. I'll just stick around for a couple days."

"AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" the monstrous blob of darkness roared as it squirmed on the ground. Claws dug into the stone floor, peeling out shavings and dust. The only thing visible in the twisted mess was Arid's golden gauntlet, wrapped in a myriad of shadow tendrils.

The Shadow King paced around the mass, stroking its soft, yet gooey form. "I don't often seek to corrupt Pokémon, captain. When I bestow power, it is to those who will serve me well. That was my intention with your dear Ambrosine before you interrupted the ritual. My shadows gain strength from other living creatures, however, so they serve their purpose.

"However, shadows are somewhat finite. While they can multiply endlessly, their existence does hinge on despair and reckoning. Do you not see, captain? Shadows are the physical embodiment of a creature's dark sides. Their despair, their fears, their hatred, their grudges. We are living grudge. They need to come from somewhere. I assume you can figure out where.

"Though, I can't naturally bring them to life. When someone dies, the soul leaves an imprint on the world. If the soul is clean of bad thoughts or without strong emotions, it goes on to the afterlife without consequence. Ever heard the old folktales of Ghost Pokémon and their origins? Ever wonder where those stories come from?

"Revenge is a powerful force that triggers strong emotions. If you die with regret, shadows are born from it. That's the cycle. As I said, though, I can't bring this out without killing someone, and I can't influence that residual imprint post-mortem.

"That's where my dear Callista comes into action." Callista bowed to the king. "The Dark Medium, Chantal, has a unique ability to communicate telepathically with others, but that is not the extent of her ability. She can call upon dark spirits if she so wished. With the help of my extensive knowledge on shadows and Barrett's skills as a Curse Weaver, we drew out her true potential.

"If this is what you must endure, Captain Arid, imagine this feeling when used against all of Mysto. A shadow bonded with its true host draws at the real power of darkness. Heh, I wonder how many would survive warring with their own dark side?"

"Uh, my king?" Voss finally spoke up.

"Yes, Voss?"

"I, uh, don't think he can hear you."

The Shadow King looked back at Arid, having completely drowned out the captain's incessant and agonizing screams. "Tsk. And to think, I spent hours preparing that monologue. Puck, make a note. Next time we cross paths with Ravenfield and his friends, remind me to infect his shadow after I deliver my speech."

Aeternus chuckled. "Of course, my king."

Zaros narrowed his eyes. "What do we do with him?"

"We send him after Ravenfield and his little friends," the Shadow King answered. "We still need the necessary materials to fully unleash this curse upon Mysto, but it's a start. We'll test its full capabilities against them and see the true might of the shadows."

Reuben crossed his arms. "What about the Desert Beasts?"

"They're inconsequential. They won't bother us again." The Shadow King snapped his fingers. "Arid. Follow."

The mass of darkness felt compelled to obey and followed the possessed Scrafty out of the dock, followed by the king's followers. Suddenly, an arrow whizzed from above and exploded in front of them in a cloud of smoke.

The Shadow King lifted his arm against the smoke. "What is this?"

Isidore coughed and swung her staff around. "We're being attacked? By who?"

Aeternus smirked evilly. "I have a theory." He turned and fired a beam through the smoke.

The beam struck the escape hole made by Arid and detonated the wall. Bursting from the debris was Indigo, loaded with her prosthetic claw in crossbow bow. She loaded an arrow and fired on the group.

Callista deployed her darkness and swatted the arrow away, letting it explode off to the side. "Would you look at that? One of them came back."

"She's not the only one!" Leigh lunged from the smoke and slashed at Callista. She stopped the claws with her darkness. Leigh pushed back and swung her arms wildly. "Hunter Frenzy!" A sphere of slashes expanded out from her.

Voss activated his armor and held back the torrent of slashes. The Shadow King, witch coven, Zaros, and Nightmare jumped out of its range. Nightmare hissed angrily and asked, "Why have they returned? Do they wish the release of death that badly?"

"More like the release of vengeance, ye spooky freak!" More of the Desert Beasts flooded out from the exit, with Julius at the lead with Malcolm. They fired on the group with cannons and guns while the rest charged with swords in hand.

Zaros raised his palm. "Vento Nero." He fired dark winds on the pirates, pushing them back.

Smith and Drake jumped over the winds and swung down with their swords. Zaros stopped them by calling out his Guardian. It caught the swords in each hand, but Drake let go of his katana in exchange for the second one. Zaros raised his arm and stopped the blade from hitting his face.

Pain Train rose above the crowd and raised his arms. "Secured Land!" Chains sprouted from his body and merged with the walls. The shadow forces watched as the chains wrapped around the entire room before securing shut. A thin layer of magic flashed across the walls.

"No escape now, Your Majesty!" The Shadow King turned and blocked a flying kick from Rico.

Rico pushed off and swung his leg at the king's face. His leg, however, came to a dead stop against the king, like he struck a metal tower. The Shadow King gave Rico an annoyed glare, grabbed his ankle, and slammed him into the floor. Rico spat blood before going limp.

"Pathetic," the king grumbled.

"Ha!" The Shadow King dodged a knife swing from Cheshire and elbowed him in the face. "Agh! My nose!" Cheshire covered his face while keeping a tight grip on his knife. The king saw the blood marking on the knife.

"You're trying to plant a curse on me. Clever, but futile." The Shadow King snapped his fingers.

Cheshire looked to his right, then dodged a set of throwing knives. They imbedded into the wall, which crumbled instantly on contact like it was made of a thin, brittle sheet of ice. Cheshire looked back, locking eyes with the Curse Weaver, Barrett.

"I had hoped we'd be friends, but some dreams weren't meant to happen," Barrett said as he pulled out more knives from his sleeves. "And some men were born to die in pain."

Cheshire's grin grew. "Too scared to get any closer?"

"Why would I get closer? I wouldn't be able to get the perfect view of your entire body crumbling to dust." Barrett threw more knives at Cheshire, who rolled out of the way of them.

Isidore tossed out an entire sleeve-full of stone flunkies. "Destroy the opposition!" They grew to full size, hollered and roared with excitement, then charged at the Desert Beasts.

Jeffery squawked and flew away from them. "Don't touch me, don't touch me, don't touch me!"

The goblins leaped for his tail feathers, but were thrown back by a sonic blast that crumbled them to dust. Ray twisted his sound orb closed. "Nice distraction, birdbrain."

"R-Right…distraction," Jeffery mumbled weakly.

In the midst of the fighting, Jones had snuck off around the other side of their still ship. He scaled the side, digging his claws into it, and pulled himself onto the main deck before racing to the wheel.

"I got you, Wasteland," he told the ship as he checked the wheel for damage. "I'll get you and the others out of here in no time. Just need to get the emergency jets started up and—"

Spires of darkness emerged right under Jones' feet. The shipwright gasped as spikes impaled his body and held him aloft. Shadows seeped out of the ground and snickered at him as blood dripped from his wounds. "Death to all mortals. Death to all mortals," they chanted.

Jones coughed onto the wheel. "D-Damn…"

The shadows rose over him and morphed their arms into blades. They drove their blades into Jones and tore him to pieces, sending his arms, legs, and head flying through the air. The shadows laughed in hysterics, until they realized something. There wasn't any blood coming out of Jones anymore. It looked more like orange goop.

"Huh?" the shadows grunted.

"HA!" Suddenly, Jones popped out behind them and lacerated them with his cutlasses, glowing in a teal aura. The shadows scattered into the air as wisps. "I knew there were more of these freaks hiding on my ship. Thanks for the help, Tyrone."

The orange, goopy pieces of Fake Jones merged together and reverted to Tyrone's form, who collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion. "I…don't know what was worse: being cut to pieces like that or the fact I had to hold that transformation for so long."

Jones clenched his fists. "Ambrosine's power boost came in handy." He looked over the side of the ship, spotting the Steenee as she kept her distance in the fight. "She's our only lifeline now." Jones went to the ship's wheel and opened the hidden controls.

Down below, the others were holding back Isidore's flunkies. Malcolm smashed a couple heads together, then swung one into its comrades, smashing the rest of them open. "What is with us and trying to fight for our lives while Jones' taking his sweet ass time with the ship?"

"Quick complaining," Zerif growled, viciously stabbing into a flunky and kicking it away.

Banama and Lyra destroyed some of the flunkies before setting their sights on the real target. The glob of darkness that held their captain prisoner. Banama cracked his knuckles. "Any ideas how to break him out?" Lyra shrugged. "Seriously? Was that the one and only time we're ever going to here you speak?"

Lyra grinned, winked at him, then raced towards their captain.

Banama blinked, then sighed. "That girl drives me nuts, I swear." He followed after her.

The Shadow King noticed their approached, then glanced at Arid. A sinister thought came to mind. "Hmm, it would be too easy to kill them. Why not have a little fun? Isidore, call off the rest of your flunkies."

"Sir?" the Ambipom questioned.

"I found a new test subject." With that, the king clicked his fingers.

Banama and Lyra immediately stopped and gasped as the dark blob bounced to life, flying over their heads. It landed with a loud boom before extending a tendril at lightning speed, sending the duo flying across the room before they knew it.

The Desert Beasts suddenly noticed the flunkies were withdrawing to Isidore, reverting to their tiny charm states. It took all of three seconds to notice it was only them and the blob of darkness that was, in fact, their captain.

The Shadow King and the rest of his forces took to the safety of the air, suspended on a platform of darkness. The king raised his arms to them. "Desert Beasts, the loyalty to your captain is astounding. I commend you for braving the journey back to our wonderful little game, but I'm afraid this is where everything ends. Fight to your heart's content, for this is a test of your true loyalty."

The Desert Beasts gawked at the dark blob as it contorted in shape. Banama and Lyra pulled themselves free from the wall, panting lightly. Banama noticed the blob changing shape. "I've got a bad feeling about this." Lyra nodded in agreement.

Two arms burst from the darkness and slammed down hard. Spikes popped out from the sides. The fingers were gangly, stretched out as purple, serrated knives for claws. The right hand, however, was a tainted gold, bulky and metallic. Black goop stretched over the gauntlet, appearing as a massive set of claws. Their touch across the floor was like the lightest graze of acid. Legs popped out from behind, extended to the same length as the arms with cloven hooves crushing the floor.

The dark shell melted off. Dark tendrils fluttered off the back like scraps of cloth, bending with the air like tangible mist. The fiery eyebrows blazed a vibrant purple coated in an outer layer of darkness. Rows of teeth flashed into a sinister snarl, dripping with an acidic quality.

And those eyes. Those evil, ravenous eyes. The pirates felt those eyes staring on their beings, focusing, almost studying. Those eyes had their attention on all of them at once, yet simultaneously focused on them individually. It hungered for their flesh.

Jeffery quivered behind an equally petrified Ray. "C-Captain?"

"Crap," Ray murmured.

Drake put his katanas away, then carefully approached the beast. "Captain? Are you in there? It's us, your crew. Do you recognize us?"

The monster lowered its head, meeting Drake on his level. For a moment, all felt still in the exchange, until it howled a rumbling, booming roar that shook the crew to their cores. They covered their ears and groaned as vertigo suddenly set in.

The Shadow King laughed to himself. "I think you'll find your captain quite too far gone for idle chitchat. Will alone can never overcome the gravity of darkness. Your captain will never wake up again. He is mine."

Julius growled furiously, then aimed his pincer cannon at the king. "Shove it up yer ass, freak!" He fired.

The Shadow King, not even his subordinates, made a move. A spire of sand shot from the ground and obliterated the shot, scattering its particles through the air. The Desert Beasts gasped at the darkness exuding off the sand. Sand nearly resembling tar with particles scattered about taking the shape of foreboding clouds.

"Thank you, Arid. You're a marvelous help," the Shadow King praised. "Now then, follow my orders without delay and execute your former crew." He clicked his fingers.

Julius didn't have a moment to respond. The shadow monster that was their captain appeared before his eyes, almost like teleportation, and smashed him into the floor. Julius couldn't speak or scream, but displayed panic in his eyes. Blood spilt from the back of his head.

"Julius!" Pain Train cried out.

"Shit," Malcolm growled, whipping out his guns and firing on the monster.

The light bullets melted into the body, barely disrupting the surface. The monster roared and rushed down the Golduck. Malcolm quickly dodged a swipe of its bare claws, then threw his foot straight into its chin.

"Eat light, shithead!" Malcolm pressed the barrel to its temple and fired.

The monster recoiled, darkness spilling out from its head, and collapsed to the floor.

"What the hell, Malcolm?!" Rico screamed.

Malcolm sneered. "Oh, I'm sorry, did you want him to tear my face off instead?"

"That's our captain!"

"That thing isn't our captain any—" The monster extended his arm and seized Malcolm by the neck. "Agh!"

The monster rapidly bashed Malcolm's face into the floor, then blasted him into the walls with a cyclone of sand. The sand hardened around Malcolm, sticking him in place to the walls. With its fingers clenched, it manipulated the sand to crush Malcolm's body, squeezing him like an orange ready for juicing.

"Gy-AAAAHHHH!" Malcolm screamed.

Leigh bared her teeth nervously. "Captain or not, he's going to kill us if we stand around."

Jeffery sighed. "I hate to say it, but she's right." He glared at the monster, then shouted, "Desert Beasts, stop the captain by any means necessary!"

For the first time as a group, the Desert Beasts obeyed the Chatot's order and charged at their corrupted captain with swords, gun, and other weapons in hand. The idea of hurting their captain wretched at their hearts, but seeing him act like this was an even greater sin.

The monster stopped crushing Malcolm, allowing him a moment to breathe, and flicked its wrist at the pirates. The ground split open at their feet, then sent them flying under a wave of corrupted sand. A cascade of cracks traveled all over the floor of the dock. The ensuing fight jostled the Wasteland, throwing Jones and Tyrone around.

"Wah!" Tyrone stumbled into the side and fell over.

"Hang on!" Jones whipped out a dagger and threw it with such speed and strength that it pinned the Tyrogue's cloak into the ledge.

Tyrone, now dangling over the ship, gripped into the hull as he watched the others get buried in sand. "Is nowhere safe?!"

"Just hurry up and get back in here!" Jones yelled over the noise. "I need you to load the cannons!"

"That won't stop the captain!" Tyrone cried, pulling himself over.

Jones jumped down onto the main deck and raced down below. "They're not for the captain."

Aeternus kept a watchful eye on the two stragglers. Callista noticed and asked, "Shouldn't we do something about them?"

Aeternus smirked. "Please, what can they do? If they intend on blasting their way out, they're delusional. We're a little way underground. Their ship had to be teleported into this docking station. They'll exhaust their ammunition by the time they reach the surface."

Callista glared suspiciously. Then why did they bother escaping? They're not that stupid, right?

Back below, the crew pulled themselves from the sand, coughing some up. "We're so screwed," Zerif grunted. "There's no way we can compete with the captain like this."

"Too early for pessimism," Rico said. "There's still a chance."

"Elucidate, because I don't see one," Drake said.

Indigo shook the sand from her clothes. "I hate to agree with Drake and Zerif on this, but how are we going to compete with the captain like that? He's clearly too powerful for any of us."

Cheshire flashed his knife. "Easier to kill than to retrain."

"We're not killing the captain!" Indigo shouted.

"Do you have a better idea?!" Cheshire fired back. "If you suggest a heartfelt speech, I'll curse you!"

"Wait, that's it!" All eyes turned to Ambrosine, who instantly felt small at the attention. "Uh, I mean—"

"If you have an idea, spit it out," Smith said as he helped Julius to his feet.

Ambrosine looked down on her feet. "W-Well, I don't know if it'll work or not, but I suppose we can't waste time fighting him." She pointed at Cheshire. "Cheshire's right. We should curse the captain."

"Curse the captain?" Banama repeated confused. "That sounds like it would cause more problems."

Ambrosine shook her head. "No, I mean we need to curse the captain's shadow. If we can't bring Arid back to his senses, we need to force that thing off."

Indigo narrowed her eyes, contemplating the plan, then turned to Cheshire. "Is she on to something?"

Cheshire scratched his head. "If you're asking me to unbind Arid's shadow with himself, that sounds more like a job for a Ritualist than a Curse Weaver. I never removed spirits, much less shadows."

"You're not removing a spirit, though," Banama reminded.

Cheshire narrowed his eyes, then combed through his brain for ideas. "Hmm…I may have something. A Curse of Binding. I can often curse people to have their souls linked with other objects, but that's temporary. I can weave a powerful one and bind the shadow into an object."

"Can you, though?"

"I can make the curse, but I need a powerful medium to trap it in." He held up his knife. "Definitely wouldn't be able to hold it in this thing."

"That's a problem for later." Leigh flashed her claws. "Cheshire, you work on the curse. The rest of us will hold off the captain."

Cheshire nodded. "Sounds like a plan." He turned and ran, putting distance between himself and their corrupted captain.

"Desert Beasts, restrain the captain!" Jeffery ordered. "Use everything you have! He can take it!"

The Desert Beasts split up, surrounding the snarling beast. It unleashed a frenzy of tendrils at them, breaking up the floor with every whip crack. Indigo ducked under one and fired an explosive arrow into the monster's face. It roared, rubbing its eyes vigorously.

Leigh jumped onto its back and sank her claws into the sides. "Hunter Mania!" A violent red aura crackled around her. She pulled her claws out, then rapidly shredded into the monster, tearing the tendrils to pieces.

The corrupted captain swung its arm around and bashed her across the face. Leigh went flying, but Pain Train swooped by and caught her before pillars of sand impaled her.

Rico and Ray ran over to Malcolm, who was barely awake, and tore into the sand. "How are you holding up, Malcolm?" Rico asked.

"Don't ask that like I wasn't being crushed in sand," he grumbled.

Ray pressed his sound orb into the hardened sand, vibrating the shell until it shattered off. Malcolm fell free, then stood back up. "Save the bickering for another day. We've got a captain to save."

Malcolm dusted his shoulders. "Found a way to save him?"

"We just need to keep him busy for Cheshire."

Malcolm smirked. "Fine by me." He tossed away his pistols and pulled out two daggers. "Charge!" He raced towards their corrupted captain. Rico and Ray followed behind.

The monster slammed its fists down and summoned up a wave of spikes shooting out from the ground. Lyra leaped through, hopping between spikes, and flipped directly above the beast. She squeezed her instrument and pushed the captain into the ground with a melodious sound blast.

"Lyra, down here!" Lyra spotted Ambrosine waving her down and landed next to her. "Invigorate the crew! I'll power your song up!" She pressed her hands against Lyra, filling her with power.

Lyra grinned, then played her energetic tune throughout the room. The crew felt their spirits rise as an orange aura blazed around them, stronger than ever before.

Drake and Zerif jumped at the spikes and slashed them down in a few strokes. Their boosted strength obliterated the spikes back into fine sand. They landed on both sides of the monster, then dashed into it with a single slash. The monster roared out in pain, then bashed the two with its gauntlet arm.

Drake raised his arms and blocked the impact, gritting his teeth tightly. "Sh-Shit."

Zerif jumped and threw a dozen knives into the monster, drawing its attention to him. "Now you see me, now you don't!" He faded into smoke.

The monster looked around for the Zoroark, then felt two cutlasses slash across its eyes. It wailed in pain and swung its arm around violently. Drake jumped back, drew both katanas, then swung them both right into its exposed underside. The force knocked the shadow monster into the air.

Pain Train flew right above the flying beast and raised his arms. "Imprisoned Status!"

Chains sprouted from the walls and ceiling, locking around their corrupted captain and holding him in place. It roared and flailed in the chains while Pain Train met him face to face.

"Sorry Captain, but this is for your own good. You'll appreciate this some—" His eyes widened as the corrupted beast fell apart into black sand. "Oh…shit. Guys, he still on the ground with you!"

The ground split open under Drake and Zerif. Two massive hands of sand rose up and slammed down on them. Ambrosine's power boost allowed them to stop the hands, but a tendril of darkness snuck out and grabbed them by the waists. They were tossed at the far wall.

Pain Train flew down, trying to reactivate his spell. "Even corrupted, he still fights like the captain—" The monster suddenly faced up, scaring the Klefki, then snatched him out of the air. "Oh shit—!" The corrupted Arid bashed Pain Train right into the ground.

"Snap out of it, Captain Arid!" The monster took a hard kick to the side of the face. Rico spun on his hand and slammed his knee down on the monster's head. "You're better than this! You can stop it!"

The irritable laughter of Aeternus met his ears. "Oh, foolish idealist. What part of buried in darkness did we not make clear?" Aeternus grinned evilly. "Your captain is never going to wake up."

Rico sneered. "Only we get to decide that!" He dropkicked the monster, knocking it across the room. "Julius, fire!"

The monster dug its claws down and caught itself, then turned to a cannon barrel aimed right at its temple. Julius, though exhausted from his previous injuries, smirked. "Boom."

Incendiary rounds exploded off the monster's head. Julius raised his pincer and bashed it down on the monster. Rico ran over, flipped forward, and slammed both feet down on the monster, pressing its face into the floor. Julius pressed the barrel down again and unloaded multiple rounds into their captain's back.

Rico cupped his hands together and yelled, "Cheshire, how's that curse coming along?!"

Cheshire had written out a magic circle in his own blood and was chanting in an unknown dialect. He paused and yelled back, "It'd go faster if you'd leave me alone! I told you, I never done something like this before!"

"We're not going to hold the captain off forev-WHOA!" Sand kicked up around Rico and Julius, blowing them apart.

The monster rose to its feet and roared. It slammed its fists down and send out a straight shot of rising sand spikes towards the two. Rico swung his leg through the first set, but more extended out and pummeled him in the gut. Julius didn't stand a chance, so opted for the defensive route. His natural armor took the full force of the hit.

Smith cowered beside Indigo, biting his nails. "We're dead. We are so dead!"

"Pull yourself together, Smith!" Indigo shouted.

Fulke lifted his club and stamped down with his peg leg. "Some of our best are getting creamed out there!" He gasped and ducked under one of their crew members, a Nidorino. He slammed against the wall, covered in blood. "He's going to kill all of us."

Indigo gritted her teeth. "Time and patience. That's all we can ask for." She loaded her crossbow and fired more arrows into the monster.

The explosions drew its attention to her, and subsequently Smith and Fulke. Smith shrieked out in terror. "I'm hanging out in the ship!" He bolted for the Wasteland.

The monster took priority toward the escaping Simisear and extended sharp tendrils after him. "Smith, duck!" Fulke and Indigo shouted.

Smith saw the tendrils coming and, unfortunately, was too scared to dodge them. He covered his face, waiting for his imminent death when a bolt of lightning came flying down and incinerated the tendrils. The shock through Smith onto his rear as he gazed up at the flickering sparks in the air.

The monster turned around and snarled at the interloper. It locked eyes with Banama as he swished his tail back and forth. He glared sternly at the monster, but not in anger or hatred like most enemies. He felt only pity and compassion.

"Captain, this isn't who you are. I know you can't control your actions anymore, but I know you're a good man. You taught me that." Banama clenched his fists. "I was nothing but a murderous rouge until I met you. Funny, learning that from a pirate. It almost makes no sense, but there's not many like you in the world."

The beast snarled and stalked up to Banama, who was undeterred. He crouched onto all fours, cheeks sparking wildly. "Approach me, if you dare, but I won't hold back if it means saving you from your own destruction."

The monster roared with sheer force and volume, then lunged at the opposing Raichu. Banama growled in return and fired off a massive bolt of electricity. The beam engulfed the corrupted captain and tore apart the floor. The monster slammed into the wall, wailing in pain.

Banama kept up his attack as he approached his pinned prey. "I hate seeing you like this captain, but I will bring you to your deathbed if it means saving you. Now, do us all a favor and stay down."

The Shadow King glared at the Raichu, then to his pinned monstrosity. "How annoying." His eyes flashed. "Arid, do not let this child control you. You belong to me. Do as you're told and eliminate every last one of them."

The monster's eyes flashed in response, then it roared a sickly wail that stunned Banama in place. He stumbled away and clamped his ears shut. The monster, freed from the electrical attack, lunged and socked Banama hard in the stomach. Banama spat blood and went flying into the far wall.

The Shadow King smirked. "Excellent. Now, rip his head off."

The monster charged at Banama, who was curled up on the ground trying to breathe. It lunged with its claws extended out. Just as it got close for the kill, a sonic blast knocked it out of the way. Banama looked up wearily and found Lyra joining his side, helping him to his feet.

Banama grinned tiredly. "Thanks." She beamed and wagged her tail happily.

The monster picked itself up, then roared at Lyra. Lyra glared and stood protective in front of Banama, who was still doubled over. It growled and send a wave of spikes her way.

Leigh and Malcolm suddenly race past the two, breaking through the spikes with brutal efficiency. "That's quite enough of you," Leigh growled.

The monster pounded the floor furiously, breaking it down into more particles, and sent waves of sand flying at them. Malcolm and Leigh weaved through the sand with Leigh cutting through the brunt of the attack. Malcolm sped past Leigh as she fended off the sand and swung a heavy punch across the beast's face. The blow knocked it back, but wasn't enough to deter its assault as it summoned up sand all around Malcolm.

"Not this time, pal!" Malcolm kicked through the sand and tore an opening out before it hardened around him. Once he jumped through, he yelled, "Indigo, Ambrosine! Now!"

The monster immediately scanned the pirates for the duo and found them standing side by side. Crossbow loaded and Ambrosine lacing the arrow with her magic. "Sanitatem Contrarium!" they cried, firing the arrow.

The arrow nailed the beast between the eyes, causing it to roar out in pain. It plucked the arrow free, but the damage was done. Its black, shadowy skin started bubbling and deteriorating, breaking down the tendrils and making the claws brittle.

Ambrosine huffed. "To understand healing, you must also understand how to undo it. It doesn't last long without direct touch, but now's your chance. Hit him with everything you've got!"

Banama slammed his foot down, pounded his chest, and hollered a battle cry at the top of his lung. Electricity flooded his entire body. "Leigh, Malcolm! Take him down!" With lightning fast speed, Banama kicked off the floor and slammed his fist into the dazed monster.

It nearly went flying, but Banama grabbed it leg and swung it back around toward Leigh. She swung with a powerful uppercut and knocked the monster into the air. Malcolm raced up to Leigh, who cupped her hands and helped toss Malcolm after it. Malcolm grabbed the monster's back and lifted himself to meet its eyes.

"I'll break your neck!" Malcolm snarled, wildly pounding on the monster's face as they freefell back to the floor.

Leigh and Banama wound up their legs, then threw strong kicks into the monster's back the second it reached the ground. Malcolm jumped off right as they kicked and tossed a couple of explosives at it. Banama fired an electrical spark and ignited the explosives before they turned away and shielded themselves from the blast.

The Desert Beasts jumped back as the flaming monster slammed into the wall and went limp. Drake, leaning on one of his katanas, asked aloud, "Is he finally down?"

"Too early to say," Jeffery said. "Cheshire, how's that curse coming along?"

Cheshire pulled his knife from the circle and raised it over his head. An indigo aura blazed off the blade. "Curse complete. I just need to find something to bind the shadow to and we can get started."

"What about his gauntlet?" Banama suddenly suggested.

Cheshire's eyes widened. "Bind his shadow to the Harenae Gauntlet? Are you serious?"

"What else can we bind it to? You said you needed a powerful medium, right? Nothing more powerful than a magical artifact, right?"

Cheshire glared. "Grr, I suppose not. I better hurry before he wakes up." He raced over to the flaming body.

The Tribe of Shadows watched the witch approach their downed monster. Nightmare hissed angrily. "Your Majesty, I should stop them."

The Shadow King smirked. "Let them try. It's not over yet."

They were too high up to be heard, but Lyra heard them clear as day. Her eyes widened, then she whipped her head at Cheshire, who was now in close proximity of the captain.

Cheshire approached the monster, waving his hand at the flames. "Got to put a blood symbol on the gauntlet, then I can—" He paused, suddenly noticing a shadow looming over him. "Wha—"

"Cheshire, look out!" Lyra cried, pushing him out of the way just as a huge hand slammed down on her.

Cheshire landed on his back. His knife flew out of his hand and clattered on the floor. He sat up and yelled, "Lyra!"

Banama's eyes widened in horror. "Lyra, NO!"

The reverse healing spell finally ended, and the flames parted on their own. The monster stood up, shaking its head, and roared towards the ceiling. Its fiery eyebrows crackled fiercely. It finally acknowledged the Zangoose crushed under its hand.

Lyra lay face first in the ground, pressed firmly down as blood trickled from under her. When the monster had squashed her, it had spiked up the ground, slashing up her fur and skin. Her clothes were torn up by the bed of spikes as well.

Worst of what they could see, however, was her left arm. When she pushed Cheshire, she had it bent at a weird angle. The crushing blow had snapped her arm back.

The Desert Beasts covered their eyes and faces in horror as their corrupted captain picked Lyra up by the head. They could see the blood stained over her fur as blood trickled from her nose and mouths. Her ears were torn up, one bent awkwardly.

Ambrosine collapsed onto her shaky knees, tears flowing from her eyes. "Lyra…"

"Shit," Leigh mumbled. She felt her fur standing on end suddenly. A weird sensation coursed through the immediate area. "Huh?" She turned toward Banama and saw the electricity crackling over his body.

Hot tears drizzled down his face, which wore a scowl of pure, bloody rage. His hands trembled badly, clenching into tight fists that drew blood from his unseen claws.

"Banama?" Malcolm muttered.

"I'll…I'll…" Banama stumbled forward, then took off at blinding speed. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

The monster intercepted his attack with a wall of sand. It stopped a ton of Banama's momentum, but he punched a hole through it. He tackled into the beast and furiously pounded on its head, delivering one electric shock after the other.

"Get your CLAWS off my FRIEND!" He slammed both fists down on its head, then wrapped his tail around its neck, delivering an excruciating wave of electricity through its body.

The monster released Lyra in its agony and tried to rip the tail off its neck. Zerif sped by and caught Lyra before she hit the floor. He raced her over to Ambrosine, who was already prepping her healing magic.

"Oh my Arceus, oh my Arceus," Ambrosine muttered frantically.

"Hurry! Don't let her die, please!" Indigo begged, trying to control her tears.

"I won't let her die, I won't!" Ambrosine cried. Whether it was to reassure them or herself was up for debate. She pressed her hands against Lyra and poured all she could into mending the injuries. "Her heartbeat is weak. Oh Arceus, these injuries look terrible."

"Stop freaking out, you're not making us feel any better!" Zerif yelled, clutching tightly to Mr. Pooky.

"I'm trying! I don't do well under…under…" Ambrosine gritted her teeth, feeling the familiar signs of erratic beating in her chest. I need to keep myself together until I stabilize Lyra's bleeding.

A sharp thud turned their attention back on Banama, who was thrown and pinned against the wall. The monster panted heavily at the Raichu, even sneering at him. Banama, no matter his injuries, still glowered with the same ferocity for his injured friend.

"Look at yourself, Arid! Look how close you came to killing your own crew member! Answer me, damn it!" Banama screamed.

The monster roared in response and pressed harder against Banama, now beginning to choke him.

Cheshire picked up his knife, rushed over, and jumped onto the mosnter's back. "Captain, hold still! This is for your own good!" Cheshire bit down on his finger and tried to write a blood symbol on the gauntlet.

The monster effortlessly shook Cheshire off and grabbed him with his twisted hind foot, like some monkey abomination. It pressed Cheshire to the floor, with his arms pinned together.

"Shit!" Indigo loaded an arrow, but couldn't steady her shaking arm, too frazzled with Lyra's injuries. The laughter above her further demotivated her, losing the strength in her arm.

The Shadow King raised his arms. "Now do you see what you are up against. We are the shadows. We are the very underside of your world given form. Your silly opposition was only met with tragedy. To be consumed in darkness is to wash away those pains. The loss of your captain, and the death of one of your own. That is the fate bestowed on those who stand against the shadows."

Indigo glared at them and yelled, "We're not out yet! We will-!"

"Will what?" he asked in a tone that sent chills through the Sneasel. "It's over. There's no point in this senseless violence. You'll know nothing but pain if you continue opposing me. Just end it all. I can remove that pain. You can trust me."

Indigo clenched her tearful eyes. "I…I can't—"

"No way!" Indigo gasped as Ambrosine stepped up. "I know what you're capable of! Don't twist your actions as something noble! All you care about is destroying our way of life! I don't care what your deal with us Pokémon are! I don't give a shit if you feel oppressed or whatever!" Ambrosine sneered. "You'll pay for this. You'll pay for everything you've done, I swear it."

"Ambrosine!" Indigo cried. "What are you doing? You need to heal Lyra!"

Ambrosine shook her head. "I placed her body in stasis. She won't get any better or worse." She glared up at the shadow forces. "I just can't stand here and listened to this. They're nothing but pure evil, all of them. I don't care what any of you went through to go this far. You're nothing but evil. That's all you are and all you shall be, no matter what you say or do! I hope all of you burn in Hell!"

Admittedly, the shadow forces were quite stunned that such a timid figure carried a bold tone. Aeternus smirked gleefully. "Ooh, I love that fire. Where did that come from?"

Voss sighed. "Her words are meaningless, just like the rest of this world."

Callista huffed. "You can throw your tantrum all you like, but darkness is inevitable. Either join us or die. There's no third option, brat."

Ambrosine bared her teeth. "I'll die when I'm good and ready, which is never."

The Shadow King chuckled. "As amused as I am with your boldness, your defeat is inevitable. Even if you stop your precious captain, there's nowhere left for you to run. You're trapped down here."

Ambrosine's lips twitched into a smirk. "Oh? I'm sorry, I'm afraid you're not familiar with us."

The Shadow King raised his brow. "Huh?"

Ambrosine took a mocking bow. "Allow me to introduce ourselves. We're the Desert Beasts, a group of bastards forsaken from this land that raid the skies in the name of our freedom. And bastards like us…always stick together. Graham, now!"

A figure dropped down from above and slammed his battle axes right into the monster's back. It threw its head back and wailed in pain as the axe heads sunk deep under the skin.

The monster dropped Banama, who looked up in shock. "Graham?!"

The Gallade bared his teeth, visibly annoyed. "I don't know who's the bigger idiot. You fools, who went back into danger under the false assumption you could stop a force far bigger than anything you've faced…or me, for actually having the audacity to care about you knuckleheads."

The monster swung its arms and tried to pluck Graham off, but he had his axes firmly pressed into its back. He kicked one of its arms away, then slammed his foot down on its head.

"Whatever you're doing, do it now!" Graham yelled.

Cheshire quickly retrieved his knife and raced towards them. Ambrosine cupped her hands together and shouted, "Everyone, get into the Wasteland, now! We're busting out of here!"

The pirates pulled themselves off the floor and raced for the boat. Rico picked Lyra up and carried her back. The pirates were quickly pulling themselves onto the ship before lowering a platform for the Scrafty and his cargo.

Callista glared. "What the hell is going on? They know they can't escape from down here, right?"

"A desperate last resort?" Voss suggested.

Aeternus now narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I don't like it, but I guess we can't take any chances." He raised his finger and charged up for a spell. "One blast of this and their ship with go up in flames."

Jones noticed this, then yelled, "Tyrone, fire the cannons!"

Down below, with a Flame Charm in hand, Tyrone fired into the cannon fuses. The cannons fired off all over the room and exploded into a thick cloud of black smoke, instantly obscuring everything.

Aeternus recoiled, canceling his spell, and coughed into his arm. "W-What the hell?"

The monster roared and swung at the smoke, still trying to shake Graham off. Cheshire used the cover of the smoke to jump onto the gauntlet arm. He bit down on his finger again and quickly drew a blood symbol.

"Target locked." Cheshire spun the knife into a reverse grip. "Time to wake up, Captain Arid!" He stabbed deeply into the monster's shoulder.

It roared in pain, finally shaking Graham and Cheshire off in its fury, but the damage was done. The curse took effect. The blood symbol glowed in the same indigo light as a suction force drew into it. Inky darkness split off the monster like wet paint and flew into the symbol.

The monster screeched and roared as its body tore to pieces. Claws and spines crumbled to dust. The black matter peeled away, revealing the red fur underneath. Arid's eyes faded to normal as the shadow peeled off his face. It was like ripped a layer of skin off like tearaway pants.

"NNNOOOOOO!" the shadow screeched as the vortex dragged it into the gauntlet. It desperately clawed at the ground, but the curse was far too strong. It let out a shriek of agony before vanishing into the symbol. The blood symbol glowed brightly for a moment, then seared itself into the metal.

Cheshire and Graham stood up and ran through the smoke. They found Arid, on his feet, staring up at the ceiling with glazed eyes. He tilted over, with Graham catching him in time.

"Easy, Captain," Graham muttered. "We got you."

"Let's hurry to the ship and get out of here!" Cheshire yelled, running toward the ship. Graham placed Arid on his back and followed.

Indigo ran to the edge of the ship and shouted, "Graham, Cheshire! Hurry up!"

"Start up the ship!" Graham yelled. He stopped as the smoke suddenly started to clear up. "What the—" He saw it getting sucked away towards the ceiling. "Shit, they're clearing out the smoke." He picked Cheshire up under his arm and ran faster.

"What are you—!" Cheshire yelled before being interrupted.

"Shut up and trust me! Jones, kick the ship to maximum speed!" Graham raised his free hand and pointed at the ship. His eyes flashed purple. "Now, Warp Gate!"

With the escape underway, the shadow forces were trying to hold up against the smoke. It was surprisingly potent, burning their lungs even. Fortunately, Isidore summoned up a portal to drag the smoke away. All the smoke flushed through the portal in a matter of seconds.

Once Aeternus could breathe, he yelled, "That's it! Killing you all! Particle Eraser!" He clapped, then released the wide, pale yellow flash at the ship. Everyone turned their eyes away from the light.

Once the smoke cleared, and when Aeternus stopped firing onto the floor, they looked down to see the aftermath. There wasn't a shred of the Wasteland left. Nothing but burnt stone.

The Shadow King lowered his allies onto the floor. "Well?"

Callista hissed. "Good work, Puck. You managed to erase them before they escaped."

Aeternus, however, wasn't impressed with his efforts. "They got away."

"Sir?" Zaros questioned.

"The Gallade used Warp Gate and transported the entire ship outside the castle. Maybe even the whole dimension."

Zaros glared. "There's no way someone could transport a vessel that big with a Warp Gate."

"No doubt he's exhausted then."

Voss looked down at their leader. "My king, what are you orders? Do we pursue?"

The Shadow King crossed his arms. "Well…"

"I may have a better option, my king." The Shadow King turned to Chantal. "While Arid was trying to resist the corruption of his own shadow, I poked around in his mind for a moment. We shouldn't have to sully our efforts hunting feeble prey like them. They're wounded from dealing with one beast." She raised her new amulet. "But why not an entire crew of them?"

The Shadow King smirked. "Go on."