Reunion: The Nova Tower

Chapter 3

Reunion:

The Nova Tower

In the middle of a vast snowfield, Alistor ventures with a group on a journey as he summarizes what happened.

It's been nearly two weeks since my first encounter with Auroa. In that time, I somehow managed to run into Bow and Blade, who got stranded behind in Snowpike during the middle of Axe's latest concert. So two members of the Steel Specters now joined in my quest.

"Hopefully, you'll be able to reason your differences with Auroa. Maybe Maigashi might be able to help if we can find him." Bow said.

"We were scheduled to play at Snowpike, but an evacuation order just had to happen. But, man, it sucks being left behind." Blade added.

They continue walking down the cold path.

Word has spread that Katty was hiding out in a cave somewhere around the Glacier region. Not far from the Snowpike resort. So we agreed to rendezvous with him before setting foot in Havok's tower.

Inside the Ice Cavern at last. They make their way to an inner chamber. They find an angel statue sitting aloft in front of them. Katty's scarf is seen hanging over it.

"Is that Katty's scarf? Someone help me with a boost." Alistor said.

Bow and Blade go to help give him a lift. A shadow is seen lurking high up on the other corner. The two holds on to his legs while he tries to keep balance. Alistor pulls his blade out to reach for the scarf.

"Katty has to be close by."

"Whoah!"

Immediately an umbrella spears its way towards them. They lose balance leaving Alistor to tumble over them.

"Ow, get off me." Bow said.

They took a while to get back on their feet.

"Great, now what? What's with the umbrella?" Alistor wondered.

"Ha Ha! Not so fast, young ones. You didn't think Havok leave you off easy, did you?"

The umbrella returns to his hand.

"Who are you supposed to be? Alistor asked.

"You may call me Umbrella master." He begins to pose dual-wielding umbrellas. "More than meet the eye. In the end, you'll be left fascinated."

The three stare blankly at him. An awkward moment for them.

"Is this guy serious?" Bow wondered.

"I don't know?" Blade said.

Umbrella master stumbled over.

"Enough talk! Prepare to Die!!!!"

He leaps in to make the first move—umbrellas poking at them at a super-fast pace. The team didn't have much time to counter back. Bow and Blade immediately tumble over, struggling to keep up with him.

"Not even a minute, and we're already struggling? Who is this guy?" Alistor jumped.

Alistor dodges the best he could against the Umbrella master's attack but gets pummeled under his barrage of assaults. The party pulls back to gain some ground. On the defensive, the Umbrella master charge at them.

"What! Thinking of escape? You can't run from me! My umbrella will find you."

He begins taking flight, shurikens firing out from under his cape garment. Alistor and the team continue taking damage. An umbrella twirls towards them at high speed shattering through the ground. A smoke screen upon impact left them blind.

"Damn it! I can't see him." Alistor said.

He gets hit from behind.

"Yoo-hoo! Over here."

Alistor swings but misses. Bow and Blade blindly attacked each other.

"Now it's time for a spin."

The smokescreen clears, and Alistor and his team get caught within his vortex. Getting dazed and then flung across the room.

"I think I'm gonna be sick…." Bow said.

"HAHA! Is that all you fools got? Now for the encore!"

He launches another wave of umbrellas once more. Scourging through the grounds. They hold their ground, trying to block the impact. The three are knocked down once more by the force of his Umbrellas. They quickly recovered back up. Alistor wipes the blood off his lip.

"He's too fast. If only we have a chance to strike back." Blade said.

"This guy is something. There must be a way around him. But, somehow, just one opening is all we need." Alistor stated.

Alistor gets flung back once more from trying to counter back against his umbrella combo.

"Give it up! You can't win!"

He moves in bulling through Bow and Blade. Umbrellas scrapping through the hard flooring.

"Behind you!" Bow shouted.

Umbrella master wasted no time to attack. Alistor gets hoisted up in the air, bounded by the neck between both his umbrellas.

"Ha Ha! It all ends here. It was nice knowing you."

Suddenly a flashing light intercepts between the two. Umbrella master gets knocked back.

"What? Who's there?"

Katty appeared before their very eyes.

"Sorry for the wait. I got held up by traffic."

"Hey! You want a piece of me too?" Umbrella master snapped.

He interrupts them in the middle. Pointing at Katty, eyes fixed for his next target. He immediately closes his umbrella to make a clacking sound. Katty readied his kunai.

"Let's take care of this clown first. Together!" Katty said.

"Just like the old times." Alistor nodded.

"Enough talk! Now you both will die."

Pillars of water rose by the clack of his umbrellas. Then, swirling in a motion, he gets ready to unleash something big. Alistor and Katty charge straight at him. A massive gushing pump of water rushes directly at them. The two make a jump in the air.

"What I missed? But you'll never get past my defenses. So super Umbrella Combo go."

Katty and Alistor unleashed their attacks at Umbrella master.

"Nova Crusher!"

"Star Breaker!"

The both of them crush through his defense from both sides, shattering his umbrellas. Gold and blue energy impact him, causing mass amounts of damage. The master struggles to stand his ground.

"What? You're still standing after all that?" Alistor dropped.

Katty kept his guard up.

"You're better than I thought. I underestimated you. Havok can deal with you for all I care. His problem is not mine. Hear this! I'll be back next time, but even better than ever."

Within an instant, the Umbrella master vanishes.

Back at the dark fortress…Havok contacts Auroa from the other screen.

"So what's the news, Havok?"

"Alistor and his team were able to best our assassin. Umbrella master has retreated at this time. They're heading straight to the tower at this moment."

"This should be interesting…."

The scene transitions to Havok

"Leave them to me. My tower will test Alistor's new team to their limits."

Down below with the party…

"My goodness! What is that?" Bow asked.

Alistor and his team arrive at the gates to the tower. From their sight above sits a massive cannon perched from the building.

"I never have seen anything like this. It's huge…." Katty said.

"This doesn't look good. We have no time to waste. Come on!"

More than ready to enter, they take their first steps into the Nova Tower. A light shines beyond the door.