10th Shot: Final Battle

Kingdom of Science began making their way towards the cave of miracles by foot, accompanying the tank which moved smoothly even with the tires made from wood. Meanwhile, Shinko led them to what she considered a desirable place to park and lay low before they began their ambush. She insisted it would be better if she stayed up, for both a clearer view and also a form of lookout in case some of Tsukasa's men were out in the woods.

Senku watched her swinging from branch to branch with ease, sometimes disappearing behind the thick canopy accompanied with rustlings before popping up to the other tree further. Soon she halted to stop on one of the sturdy branches–where he noticed another figure already waiting for them there by standing on it.

It was a young man dressed in yellow shirt with high neck and short sleeves that reached his elbows, furs tied around his waist, legs clad in long greyish pans, and feet wearing orange shoes. He wore a hat with the same color as his shirt, a quiver and a bow smaller size than Shinko's over his shoulder.

By the bow and quiver alone, Senku instantly recognized him as Ukyo–a person with crazy hearing Nikki mentioned, also the person who tore their impersonation with only the slightest mistake. Currently, he's also their ally by the deal they've come to agree.

When he noticed the Kingdom of Science, he smiled as a form of greeting–however, when he noticed [First Name] on her way to approached him, Senku witnessed another form a smile he gave her. Once, his partner landed on the branch he stood on, he immediately patted her shoulder and saying something Senku couldn't comprehend from how far they were. She replied him with a smile of her own, something he assumed only being given to Ukyo–it radiated differently than the one she showed them.

What Senku knew, their interaction just reduced the entire Kingdom of Science as background characters at the moment.

"What's with them?" he deadpanned, knowing Gen would give him an answer.

The mentalist laughed nervously. "Did I mention that they're really, really close? This wasn't the first time they acted like… that. It happens to me when Shinko-chan treated my wounds. They don't do anything at all, but you'll feel like you're interrupting their time together."

By 'that' meaning they practically oozed those disgusting couple things Senku had seen way back in their modern time. Relationship in this stone world? It sounds like disaster.

"I think they're lovely," Kohaku commented, arms crossing over her chest as she watched the interaction with approval.

Senku scoffed. "Something we ten billion percent won't need at the moment."

"Why must the pretty ladies already have someone?" Ginro whined.

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Then they assessed the situation based on real time–hiding quite far away from the cave and opening field, they observed it. The place was heavily guarded by a lot intimidating men with bulky figures. Senku knew this from the start, he was expecting it. Tsukasa wouldn't want to take any risks about the precious source being compromised. For Senku, it's been roughly two years since he went there–the place where everything started.

"That's where we get the stuff from bat guano," Chrome remarked.

"Nitric acid." Senku finished, smirking.

It only took a few minutes of observation before they returned to the group–preparing for the frontal assault. The scientist noticed the two archers were absent at the moment, however he didn't worry the slightest bit. Ukyo wasn't a man who would ditch on the deal he's made, especially when that deal involved the faith of humanity and his trusted partner.

Not long after that, he heard thudding on the branch above him, looking up Ukyo already kneeling on it. "Tsukasa and Hyoga are at the grave. It's pretty far from here."

"That's fantastic to know." commented, not once his voice wavered with nervousness. Senku was sure their carefully made plan would bring them victory. "One blast of this tank's bluff cannon and any modern person's morale will immediately tank, ten billion percent. But the enemy will only panic and have the instinct to run away for the first twenty seconds. After that, the enemy will come to their senses and retaliate. If we fight, people will die."

Ginro gulped. "T-twenty seconds later, we're killing each other!?"

Magma cackled, completely enjoying the probability of ending his enemies. "That's when we kill them all!"

"No." Kinro argued. "Nobody dies. That's the condition of our alliance. Rules are rules. Break them, and the course of war becomes uncertain."

Senku cackled in amusement. "In other words, we're conquering the miracle cave without scientific lightning attack without killing a single person."

He then glanced at Ukyo, who sat leaning on the bark. The said young man scoffed with a smile. Soon, there were rustling and another thudding, signaling the other archer was finally back from wherever she went. "I saw Tsukasa-san and Hyoga-san at the grave. But I'm concern about what they're doing. Tsukasa-san kneeled on the ground by the cross, he will find the phone at this moment. We have to act fast."

"It won't be a problem," Senku replied, making her averted her gaze towards him. "The surprise only lasts for twenty seconds. It's fast and we'll be done even before they start digging for the ghost communicator."

He then reached for a pouch from inside the tank, pulling out a bundle of long items wrapped in leather. Senku gestured for Kohaku, who nodded in understanding. The young woman took the item and threw it upward with such force it reached the place where Shinko stood.

Thankfully she responded to it well–catching it with ease.

"We need another bluff for the canon." Senku stated, noticing she started to unravel the bundle. "That's why, put your god-like sight for a good use."

"What are these?" she questioned, referring to the long arrows with different kind of head–it was cylindrical and held quite a weight, must be containing something.

"Jar of sulfuric acid surrounded by fuel made from alcohol and coal ash. Once it hit the ground, it will explode a Hollywood-budget of explosion." the scientist answered, smirking as he explained. "Hit the sides of the cave. It won't be a problem to you, right? The signal will be the first explosion."

She nodded. "Understood."

"Well, then, let's get started!"

Time to charge–and their only bluff shot from the cannon already in the air, flying straight upon the cave's entrance.

Senku could already feel the triumph as he watched Tsukasa's men ducked instantly in respond of the explosion. Now, the first explosion already set perfectly, they needed another two in order to make their morale even more tanked. He was ten billion percent sure Shinko wouldn't miss such a loud signal.

As if responding to his thoughts, he could hear heavy whizzes through the air. Watching as the special arrows he made launching through the air, landing on the exact sides of the cave, and exploded at the same time. People immediately crouching on the ground, fearing they would be the next target of it.

"Oi, mentalist, she's far away from here, right?"

"You know, Senku-chan, she never missed." Gen replied, not losing his concentration in driving the tank. "From the place we were before, she's not moving an inch."

"What!? That far!?" Chrome exclaimed in disbelief.

Senku chuckled in amusement. "Good to know."

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"The tank fell into one of the traps." Shinko said, watching the on-going battle which Kingdom of Science taking an upper-hand so far even with the tank was out of commission.

The surprise element really did work–everyone's mind was in frenzy, all the swinging and hitting were made based on instinct and reflexes alone. Taiju didn't bring any weapon in his possession, however he did use a shield as his weapon–charging and slamming on to people with such force they're toppling away.

Kohaku was agile and quick–in just a few moments, she managed to cut stone spears and broke it. They didn't use the swords to hurt others–they used it to destroy weapons, rendering their opponents immobile, and tying them up securely on the other side.

"They probably have tricks in their sleeves." Ukyo commented, giving her a smile. "This is Kingdom of Science."

Shinko averted her gaze towards him, smiling in return. "You're right."

When she looked back, the biggest man of the group–is his name Magma?–took out an object which has similar shape to a parabola made from copper. He didn't charge blindly with it, instead Chrome placed something right in front of it before lighting it up. Shinko moved to jumped and landed on the branch Ukyo was sitting on.

"Wear this Ukyo-san," she immediately thrusted a pair of primitive earplugs onto his hands. "They're using sound bombs. It'll hurt your hearings from how loud it's going to be."

The young man wasted to time to covered his ears with it before an extremely loud sound resounding throughout the forest–even reaching the place they're currently residing. It was an effective weapon–in just one try, their foes were down almost instantly.

Ukyo flinched for a moment, and when the sound was gone, he sighed in relief. "Thank you, I thought I'm going deaf."

Shinko chuckled in respond.

Then he stood up quickly, eyes focusing on the line of trees not far from the cave. His sudden gesture made her blinked in confusion. "Ukyo-san?"

"Keep supporting everyone, I'm going to stop Minami. She's probably going to report this to Tsukasa."

"Understood. Be careful." she reminded. He gave her a smile of assurance.

"Same for you."

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"CHROME!"

Thankfully the said young man was quick to look back, missing a stone axe being swung to hit him. However, he didn't secure his grip on their second sound ammunition–sending it up in the air and explode. Now, they couldn't possibly send another sound bomb. Magma acted quick to tackle the man to the ground, followed by Kohaku with her swords ready to disarm him.

With Magma occupied, there's no one strong enough to held onto the parabola. It took them off guard–distracting them for a moment.

"SENKU!" Kohaku yelled, snapping the scientist back to his concentration. Looking over his shoulder, a man was charging towards him with stone spear thrusted. Before he could even close the gap, something landed on the ground between them–instantly exploded, sending the man a few feet away.

Senku threw his gaze towards the direction his exploding arrow came from. Noticing a certain figure stood on the high branch, preparing herself for another aim.

"Not bad, huntress." he smirked.

"THEY'RE COMING!" Magma yelled, still holding their attacker down.

An army of men were running towards them with their weapons ready–no, they couldn't possibly hold them back with the number of people they had. Magma was focused in pining their attacker, the sound bomb didn't have any spare ammunition, Kohaku didn't have enough strength and agility to fight all of them at once.

However, Taiju sprinted and stood facing them. He took a deep breath–Senku and Chrome immediately knew his spontaneous plan. Both of them raised the parabola while Kohaku covered her ears.

He screamed so loud onto the parabola, sending shockwaves to threw their opponents back into the cave with such force it brought debris flying and knock them unconscious.

The commotion ceased to a silence. Senku looked over his shoulder, observing their condition.

He smirked in triumph. "Casualties: zero."

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Shinko lowered her bow when she began to hear cheers of happiness, specifically from Taiju who made sure to show it clearly. Of course, he would be extremely happy with no one getting hurt from the ambush. She knew they finally succeeded–Kingdom of Science managed to take over the Miracle Cave with zero casualties, just as they promised to Ukyo and fulfilled their initial ideal.

She sighed in relief shakily, feeling the tension began leaving her shoulders–half of her mind still trying to get a grasp of their situation. It was like a fever dream she couldn't comprehend clearly. "They did it… zero casualties."

"Yeah, they did." Shinko almost jumped from her skin by the sudden voice. She looked towards the direction, noticing Ukyo sitting on a branch smiling in satisfaction. The twinkle in his teal eyes was what anchored her to reality. They really did it–all of this was real. Her body moved on its own, landed on the branch he currently sat on.

Automatically, he reached out for her, throwing an arm over her shoulder–holding her close, resting his head against hers. She put her hand on his, holding firmly–welcoming the warmth presence and feeling of safeness he provided.

"You did a great job," Ukyo said, pulling her even closer if it's possible. "Thank you."

"It's not a problem." she shook her head, leaning against him and sighing in content. "I'm glad everything went well."

The two stayed on their position for a little while before pulling away, sharing laughs and smiles of glee. Even if they didn't lean against one another, their hand didn't detach away–still intertwined securely for a little longer. Soon they did let go, Shinko pushed herself to stand up whereas Ukyo hadn't move from his spot–both of them watching as Senku brought a big glass jar filled with black colored powder from the tank.

Chrome and Gen also trying to relocate the stuff they brought out from the fallen vehicle seeing as it still laying on the ground unable to move.

"You're well-prepared," Gen commented, sweat running down his temple. He referred towards to the instant gunpowder making kit that Senku made. It only needs nitric acid and sulfuric acid in addition then they have the most powerful scientific weapon in the stone era.

"Damn straight, we don't have time." Senku replied, knowing it wouldn't take long before Tsukasa realized something suspicious going on and on his pursue. They needed the weapon to go against him–the strongest man in this world.

"Alright, then! Finally! Victory for the Kingdom of Science!" Taiju cheered.

"We've got gunpowder!" Chrome added.

Shinko could've smiled freely at the two's enthusiasm if she didn't hear Ukyo gasped in alarm–teal eyes widened in horror, face became pale in an instant. Heart dropping to her stomach, she immediately moved to the line of trees behind her–an explosive arrow ready on her bow.

Glimpse of extremely familiar brick red and black approaching them in such speed it almost blurring. She knew Tsukasa and Hyoga are extremely strong, but managing to run here in just a matter of seconds straight from the graveyard was absurd. How more inhuman could they get? Without a second thought, she launched the arrow to them. It didn't hit the ground, not when Hyoga furiously swung his spear to broke it into pieces–rendering the chemical reaction useless. Gritting her teeth, she reached for another arrow–even though it was futile to do the same thing, at least she had to stall them with everything she got.

However, she couldn't even place the weapon on her bow–not with Hyoga suddenly showed up right in front of her, thrusting his spear towards her without hesitation. Shinko managed deflect the attack with her bow with a yelp, but her strength was nowhere near Hyoga's.

"I'm sorry, Shinko-kun," he apologized without a hint of guilt in it. "But we're currently in a hurry, and you're in the way."

She couldn't react fast enough.

The next thing she experienced was blinding pain erupting from the left side of her waist and air being knocked out of her lungs–it sent her falling from the branch, towards the open space. No, she didn't have time to land on a safe footing–the pain distracted her. If she hit the ground, there would be fractures or broken bones.

"Kohaku, catch her!" Senku yelled.

She braced herself for the incoming pain. However, instead of landing upon the hard ground below, she her back hit another kind solidity–the sensation of falling was no more.

"Hey, are you alright!?" Shinko opened her eyes, instantly met with another pair of blue ones staring at her with concern.

"K-Kohaku-san?" she shifted, trying to sit properly on the ground–only to winced, hand immediately went to her left side. She could feel the area soaked in warm liquid, she didn't need to look to realize it's blood.

"You're hurt!" Kohaku exclaimed in panic, helping her to sit down.

Shinko gritted her teeth in pain. "I-I'm fine…"

It's just a graze, not that deep. It shouldn't endanger her life, but if she didn't stop bleeding soon then it would be a problem. Was there anyone else injured aside from her? She scanned the view upon her, everyone tensing from Tsukasa and Hyoga's abrupt appearance.

Her eyes caught a familiar color of yellow by the corner, she turned her head–only for her eyes to widened in horror witnessing a figure lying motionless on the ground surrounded by thick red, her ears ringing loudly in state of her panic.

"UKYO-SAN!"