THE MERCENARY OF TIME AND SPACE

 

 

Chapter 12

 

 

--Chamber of Burning Flame--

 

 

As Lantis approached the final door, he eventually met Hikaru, with the ring of fire getting a lot closer to her.

 

 

Lantis : There you are. Don't worry, it'll end soon.

Hikaru : Hmmmmpphh !!!

Lantis : I said, it's over soon enough. So, calm down.

Hikaru : MMMMMMPPPHH !!! *shakes head*

Lantis : ... Want to say some... What !?

 

 

Lantis then stepped back, dodging a fireball launched to him. In front of him stood the guardian of the chamber, the man covered in flames.

 

 

Lantis : Looks like I have to defeat him first.

 

 

Lantis charged, but he first has to dodge a barrage of fireballs from the guardian. As he got close, he impaled the guardian with his sword. However, the guardian just vanished and reappeared behind, and Lantis was burned. The guardian's arm formed a blade and it tried to slash Lantis, but was blocked. Both entered a massive sword fight, faring evenly... until Lantis realize he's wasting too much time and the ring of fire got even closer to Hikaru.

 

 

Lantis : I have to end this quick...

Guardian : GRRR !!!

Lantis : So, this ends up to be one huge clash of power... LIGHTING STRIKE !!

 

 

As Lantis used his sword beam attack, the guardian launched a huge beam of fire. Both clashed, and was still even... But as Lantis saw the ring of fire again, he knew he has no time to spare.

 

 

Lantis : Just... a little... more...!! HAH !!!

 

 

Lantis gave all his might to his beam, and eventually it prevailed and the guardian was pierced with it. It started to explode. The ring of fire also fizzled.

 

 

Lantis : Much better... Now, then...

 

 

Just when Lantis thought it's over and Hikaru will be free, a yellow bolt struck her and she vanished without a trace.

 

 

Lantis : Hikaru !? Hikaru, where are you !? Damn, what trickery is this...?

 

 

--Chamber of Natural Beast--

 

 

Nakoruru was drawing close to the hungry alligators and man-eating plants. She struggled harder, but still didn't produce a good result. Until Galford arrived.

 

 

Galford : There you are, Nakoruru ! Don't worry, I'll save you !

Nakoruru : Mmmmmpphhh !!

Galford : Hey, what's with the worried face ? I won't be late !

Nakoruru : Mmmm !

Galford : Let's go... UGH !!

 

 

Galford was suddenly kicked from behind by the reptilian guardian. He almost fell to the pool of alligators, but he managed to hang on the edge of the floor.

 

 

Galford : Dammit !

 

 

The guardian started to stomp on Galford's hand, but he did his best not to stagger and fall. And Nakoruru was drawing even closer to the beasts.

 

 

Galford : Not now ! Not until Nakoruru is safe !

Nakoruru : Mmmmmpphh !!

Poppy : WOOF !!

 

 

Just then, Poppy tackled the guardian and tried to pounce and bite it on its face. The guardian's attention became reverted, and it gave Galford enough time to get back to the ground, and grabbed the guardian from behind.

 

 

Galford : Nice tag, Poppy. Now I'll finish this... STRIKE HEAD !!

 

 

Galford leapt, carrying the guardian as well and dove down, delivering a ninja piledriver to the guardian... heading to the pool ! However, they were both caught by one man-eating plant. Nakoruru thought Galford was really eaten. Knowing that he died for her, tears rolled from her eyes.

 

 

Nakoruru : Mmmmpphh... MMMMPPHH !!!

Galford : Hey. I'm here !

 

 

Nakoruru was shocked and looked above, and she saw Galford standing there, looking okay !

 

 

Galford : That was just some ninja techniques combined ! Now look below. *points down*

 

 

Below, the man-eating plant that 'consumed' Galford turned out eating a piece of log. Not just that, the log created an electric explosion, and it was also delivered to the water below, electrifying the alligators as well.

 

 

Galford : And now, the most heroic moments !

 

 

Galford leapt to save Nakoruru, but before he reached her, another yellow bolt struck her and she vanished too.

 

 

Galford : WHAT !? All that... for nothing !? But ! Until Nakoruru is saved, I will never give up !

 

 

--Chamber of Steel Metal--

 

 

Fayt arrived to the room where Maria was being kept. However, he found the walls were drawing close.

 

 

Fayt : Damn, there's no time ! I'll get you out, Maria !

Maria : Mmmmpphh !

Fayt : .... Huh !?

 

 

Just when Fayt drew close to Maria, the walls that was approaching her stopped. And the surrounding started to change... into a virtual environment like inside a computer !

 

 

Fayt : What's this...? A virtual room ? So, this is what Luther meant... Steel Metal was a decoy theme. This is the real theme !

 

 

 

Just then, the guardian leapt from above. Fayt readied his sword, but the guardian just planted himself to the place where the door used to be. Then, the wall started to grow a lot of tentacles. Just then, Fayt read something above the guardian.

 

 

Fayt : "Data drain tentacles ready" !? That means...!

Maria : MMMMPPHH !!

Fayt : Whoa !!

 

 

The tentacles started to go after Fayt. He managed to defend himself, even though some scratches were made, but he never got a very vital hit, so he was never drained. Just then, some tentacles charged over to Maria.

 

 

Maria : MMMMMMPPHH !!

Fayt : Don't you dare touch Maria !!

 

 

Fayt reacted and leapt to the tentacle and slashed it into 2. But to his horror, the tentacle regenerated. After several rounds of defending, he learned something.

 

 

Fayt : (They keep coming and coming... But, there's always the source of this... That's it !) Come and get me !

 

 

Fayt taunted and beckoned the tentacle to attack him, and they did. However...

 

 

Fayt : Now you see me... now you don't ! DIMENSION DOOR !!

 

 

Just before Fayt made a contact to the drainer, he vanished through a black aura and reappeared in front of the guardian and slashed it. Then he continued.

 

 

Fayt : Don't mess with me... AIR RAID !!

 

 

Fayt leapt with a rising slash to the guardian, creating energy bullets on the way. Then, he waved his hand down, and the bullets rained down to the guardian like meteors and created a lot of explosions. The impact was too much to handle. The guardian exploded, and soon the room reverted back to normal. The wall didn't move as well. However, just like Hikaru and Nakoruru, Maria was also struck with a yellow bolt and vanished.

 

 

Fayt : Huh ? Maria ? She was here just a moment ago ! Damn... what does this all mean ?

 

 

--Chamber of Deadly Poison--

 

 

As Cao Pi entered, the guardian was already in front of him, guarding Zhen Ji behind it.

 

 

Zhen Ji : MMMMPPPHHH !!

Guardian : Ssshhhaaa !

Cao Pi : You're in my way between me and my wife. Buzz off !

Guardian : SSHHAAAA !!

Cao Pi : If you refuse... then, die !

 

 

Cao Pi leapt and attacked the guardian. It retaliated and tackled him, trying to bite him with its poison fangs, as well as trying to sting him with its poison tail. Cao Pi threw it with a leg toss and leapt to slice its head. However, it spitted venom from its mouth, and Cao Pi blocked it with one of the edge of his blades. However, it showed a little sign of melting.

 

 

Cao Pi : Man. I need to see the blacksmith after this...

 

 

Just then, he saw Zhen Ji struggling even harder, and the treasure chest was almost open fully.

 

 

Zhen Ji : Mmmmmpppphhhh !!!

Cao Pi : My dear !

Zhen Ji : MMMMPHH !!

Cao Pi : That treasure chest must have something to do with... UGH !!

 

 

Cao Pi was suddenly grabbed with the guardian's scorpion claw and was cornered to a wall. It also tried to bite him again. Just then, the treasure chest finally opened and the poisonous animals started to approach Zhen Ji.

 

 

Zhen Ji : MMMMMMPPPHHH !!!

Cao Pi : .... Bastard !! Get lost !!

 

 

Cao Pi then kicked the guardian's stomach, and it let out a painful groan, releasing him. Cao Pi didn't miss the chance to slash its neck with his blade. It exploded, and just when the poisonous animals was very close to Zhen Ji, they all turned to ashes.

 

 

Cao Pi : Looks like its death destroyed the animals too. Do not worry, dear... You're now...

 

 

Just before Cao Pi finished his words, Zhen Ji was struck with a yellow bolt and vanished.

 

 

Cao Pi : ... safe ? What kind of joke is this !?

 

 

--Chamber of Drowning Water--

 

 

When Tadakatsu arrived, the level of water was already on the level of Ina's breasts. Wasting no time, Tadakatsu leapt to save his daughter.

 

 

Tadakatsu : I'm coming, Ina !

Ina : MMMMMPPHHH !!

Guardian : GRRROOOAARRR !!

Tadakatsu : What !?

 

 

The shark guardian leapt and tried to drag Tadakatsu with its fangs. But he swoop it down with his mighty spear. Tadakatsu made a safe landing, but the level of the water was now on Ina's shoulders.

 

 

Ina : Mmmmpph !

Tadakatsu : This water is slowing me down... but not enough to stop my will.

Ina : MMMMPPHH !!

Tadakatsu : Now... *grubble !*

 

 

Tadakatsu was suddenly bitten on his leg and he fell down, his head drowned to the water. The shark bit him from behind. And then, it started swimming in circles, dragging Tadakatsu along the way. Other than having difficulty to breathe, Tadakatsu was often smashed to the walls.

 

 

Tadakatsu : *grubble grubble grubble* (I have to act quick now ! Lord Ieyasu still needs me, and Ina has to be saved now !)

 

 

It was a good thing Tadakatsu still held his spear. He then gave all his might to smash his spear to the ground, creating a ground wave. The wave was strong enough to launch the shark guardian above the water, in quite a height. Tadakatsu resurfaced and caught some air to breathe, just to realize that the shark was diving back down after being sent airborne. He then swung his spear in circle above in quite a lot of times, and the shark fell to the circle's edge. It was soon sliced into pieces. As the guardian died, the water began to submerge again.

 

 

Ina : Mmmmpph !

Tadakatsu : Save that for later. First we're getting out of here...

 

 

Tadakatsu was about to untie Ina, but just like the other girls, she vanished after being struck with a yellow bolt.

 

 

Tadakatsu : ... Looks like it'll still be a long way.

 

 

--Chamber of Death Entrance--

 

 

The five men, Lantis, Galford, Fayt, Cao Pi and Tadakatsu, exitted their chambers with disappointments on their face.

 

 

Galford : DAMN ! I couldn't save her...

Cao Pi : Curse that Dong Zhuo ! Should anything happen to my wife, I'll castrate him even if he begs for mercy !

Fayt : Wait a minute, guys... You couldn't save your girls ?

Cao Pi : What ? Do you want to mock me ?

Fayt : No... but, I couldn't save mine too !

Cao Pi : Fool...

Galford : I don't get it... Where did that yellow bolt came from ? It suddenly make Nakoruru vanish !

Lantis : Yellow bolt...?

Tadakatsu : Happened to me too.

Galford : EH !?

Lantis : So, looks like everyone's having the same case.

Fayt : I wonder if Luther has something to do with it...

Cao Pi : ... We haven't much options left. We'll have to follow Kelvin for now.

 

 

 

And so the five heroes entered the door that Kelvin entered... What will happen ?

 

 

To be Continued