Dark Emissary: The Emperor arrives & the hour of Discordus

Chapter 10

Dark Emissary:

The Emperor arrives & the hour of Discordus

Sometime in the middle of the afternoon…

"Dude! Where did it go?"

"Where did what go?" Bamboo questioned.

Axe was in the middle of searching for his guitar. Looking under every table and top cabinet. He then checks by the desk counter.

"Maybe you misplaced it, perhaps?" Alistor said.

"Nah! I swear I had it last night. I left it right by the cabinet before locking up last night."

The rest of the party begins searching the entire perimeter of Bamboo's restaurant.

"You don't think someone could have broken in, do you?"

"Not that we know of." Bamboo intensely thought.

Maigashi suddenly hollered to the rest. They all head out to the backside of the restaurant. An empty guitar case was left on the scene.

"Oh no!"

Axe stood fazed for a moment. Then, shocked with disbelief as he speechlessly fell into despair. They recovered the case back inside.

"A mystery for us yet to unfold. Who or what could have taken this guitar."

The party begins searching for any clues left at the scene. Auroa suddenly uncovers a bag left by the edge of the storage room.

"Does this happen to be yours?"

He hands the bag over to Axe as the party checks through the contents. From spare dirty clothes to old pictures. A cassette tape catches their eye.

"What do we have here?" Maigashi wondered.

"Oh, that's just my old demo tape. Back when I was on top." Axe clarified.

"Well, can we hear it?" Alistor asked.

"Ugh... Sure, dude."

Bamboo popped the tape into the music player. The sound of an electric guitar begins rifting through the roof. In a matter of seconds, the rest starts rocking out to the track. The sound of the drums and synthesizers followed along.

"Man, this isn't half bad at all," Maigashi admits. "You sound completely different."

"Were you in a hairband?" Auroa asked.

A guitar solo begins playing in the middle of the track.

"Yeah, this song was my grand debut." Axe nodded. "Back when my band was still around."

"Exceptionally tolerable." Bamboo agreed.

"But sadly…We never got any airplay on the radio. I use to be an Ace guitarist before my playing went downhill."

"Well then, they're missing out," Alistor added.

The party continues to listen through Axe's tape. Meanwhile, back at the Aggerona lair. Somewhere in a recording studio, the Emperor is seen composing a song through the glass. The sound of an organ plays as it echoes through the labyrinth. Scrap-Ram reports on the other side of the screen.

"Our monster is now ready."

"Bring it forward!" The Emperor commands.

"May I present to you. DISCORDUS!"

A guitar monster emerged from behind the general. Taking the spotlight on the screen as the Emperor continued his song.

"Ah, Splendid!"

"Discordus is our most powerful monster yet. It will ensure the energy for our labyrinth plus dispose of Alistor and his pitiful party.

Vilevelious then completes the final chorus of his song. A cassette pops out from the recorder as the tape hovers above his palm.

"I have an assignment for you." He pointed to the monster.

"Do tell!"

"Your mission is to break into the local radio station. Once you do, ensure that this tape plays."

He sends the tape over to the monster on screen.

"What will this do?" The general asked.

"Anyone that listens to this song will produce negative energy. Further speeding the process for the labyrinth."

Discordus and the general begin evilly laughing on screen.

"Now go!"

The scene shifts back to the abandoned theatre as Vilevelious exits on screen. Scrap-Ram prepares the location for Discordus to deploy down.

"You do know where the radio station is, right?"

"Of course!" The monster quarreled.

"Now, this will just take a moment. I just have to adjust the previous coordinates."

The general readies the teleportation device, but Discordus quickly rushed without any patience.

"NO, WAIT!"

Discordus teleport out of the room without any further ado. The monster arrives crashing down behind a familiar building.

"Oh, hey? It's the restaurant."

Discordus enter the back door, finding himself in the kitchen. Bamboo was seen thoroughly occupied cooking while customers were seated at the table. The monster attempts to stealth its way past the kitchen but knocks over some pans.

"Can you pass over the salt?" Bamboo ordered. "And then the pepper."

Bamboo was too focused on his cooking to notice as the monster hands over the requested items without question. Discordus take leave, stumbling out of the kitchen doors. Alistor and the rest were not around as it crept its way past ignoring customers. The monster then trips over a chair, losing the tape as a few things came dropping to the floor.

"The tape!"

Bamboo's music player is seen on the ground as Discordus stood confused with two cassette tapes now on the floor. Discordus quickly grabs the closest tape before rushing out. A moment later, Bamboo came right out, noticing his things knocked over.

"Darn, kids!"

He placed the tape player back on the counter. Picking up the tape that was on the floor, Bamboo then pops the tape back inside.

"Don't want Axe's tape to get lost. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to listen again."

Without hesitation, he pressed play, and within seconds an unbearable sound starts playing. The customers are seen in pain as Bamboo stumbled back for a brief moment. Then, covering his ears as he reached for the stop button.

"What was that?"

Bamboo then turns around to notice all his customers lying flat-out unconscious. Meanwhile, Alistor and the rest are seen making fliers for Axe's lost guitar downtown. The monster Discordus slips past them without notice. The demon then bumps through an oncoming crowd. A small child is suddenly seen crying over his ice cream.

"Watch where you're going!"

The crowd confused stares back as the monster readied its guitar. Then, with one flick of its finger, Discordus unleashed a booming sound dispersing the traffic. Windows completely shatter all around as an explosion commenced. The monster then takes one look at the map on the side.

"Got to get to that station."

The monster pressed on, leaving the entire block destroyed. Sprinting through downtown while others staggered. In a matter of minutes, the radio station came into view. A secured gate stood in Discordus path.

"Objective reached!"

Without hesitation, Discordus fires a shockwave destroying the metal gate. The monster storms through the doors while bystanders begin to panic. Explosions commenced across the whole building as Discordus made its way through the floors without retaliation.

"It's time for a new song!"

The monster arrives at the very heart of the station. The radio host quickly bolts out of the room as Discordus inserted the cassette tape.

"Mission complete!"

Meanwhile, Alistor and the others observed the destroyed block downtown.

"Did we miss something?" Maigashi asked.

"Dunno…Dude, this block is totally wrecked."

They find a man still barely conscious on the sidewalk. Auroa goes to help the man up as Alistor questioned him.

"Do you know what happened here?"

The man quickly explains the situation to them in a few words.

"A monster attack, you say? Figures…"

"By the way, have you seen this guitar?" Auroa presented a flier to him.

"Hey! I've seen it!" The man pointed.

"Yeah, where?" Maigashi asked.

"The monster was carrying it around during the attack."

They leave the man to be as they huddled up for a plan. Then suddenly, a familiar song begins playing through the radio.

"Dude…Am I tripping? Or is that my song playing on the air."

Back at the Aggerona fortress…

"What is the meaning of this?" The Emperor pounded as he contacts his general from the other screen.

"Is something wrong?"

"Your monster played the wrong tape!"

Scrap-Ram stumbled for a brief second.

"Well, this is no good. What should I do? Shall I commence action?"

"One moment!"

The Emperor was deep in the middle of thought as the general kept an eye on Alistor and his team's movements on another screen. Then, Vilevelious suddenly takes a stand.

"Oh! So you have the orders?"

"Scrap-Ram! Prepare the red carpet."

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me!" The Emperor snapped. "It's time I make my grand debut. I won't tolerate any further failures. My tape must be played."

Within moments, Vilevelious arrives at the station alongside the general. A platoon of Whoopers surrounds the entire vicinity. Axe's song comes to a stop.

"Discordus, you happen to remember where our tape went?" The general asked.

The monster attempts to recall its step.

"Oh yeah! I remember now. I bumped into a few things back at that Bamboo joint. The restaurant by the very front corner." Discordus answered.

"Well…then get over there!" Vilevelious shouted.

Discordus immediately take its leave as Alistor, and the crew approached close to the station. However, the monster came bolting back out as it crossed the path with the party outside.

"Dude! That's my guitar." Axe pointed.

"You wanna piece of me?" The monster replied back.

Discordus readied the guitar as the party enters to battle. Maigashi and Auroa start off with a few lightning and wind attacks at the monster.

"Careful! My guitar is on the line." Axe reminded.

Then suddenly, with a smug look, the monster unleashed tremendous pressure. A force of sound stops their attacks in midair. The two were astonished as the monster sent it back at them. The four are sent flying as Discordus laughs away.

"Right back at ya."

"Star Breaker!"

Alistor came rushing in with his attack, but Discordus countered back with a shockwave. Axe suddenly came from behind, attempting to take his guitar back. A struggle that only lasted seconds as his fingers touched the keyboard part on Discordus forehead.

"Gah!"

Axe got sent back by the wave of sound. Discordus unleashed a further pressure of sound slowing things down. Finally, the pavement begins cracking up.

"Hahaha! With my state-of-the-art defense, your ranged attacks are worthless. My 360 degree sound is impenetrable."

"Then we'll just have to get close and personal," Maigashi said.

"What?"

The monster suddenly stumbles as Maigashi and Auroa got close. Avoiding some lightning while Auroa's whip trips the monster over. Discordus begin rolling across the pavement as Vilevelious watched from the window.

"Our monster is struggling!" The general informed.

"I'm aware! Looks like we'll have to get involved. The time is now!"

Back outside the station, dark clouds poured across the sky as sunlight became eclipsed. A more tremendous pressure begins raining down in the middle of battle.

"What is going on? Such great force. Is this all coming from the monster?" Alistor questioned.

"No! It's something else." Auroa sensed. "We should step back."

As the party moved back, a red carpet roll in as Scrap-Ram emerged from the floor. A platoon of Whoopers followed from behind.

"It's the general again."

"Wrong!!!"

A different voice came from behind as the general moved out of the way. Emperor Vilevelious appeared before them.

"Who are you?" Maigashi pointed.

"The one and only. Yours truly, Vilevelious!"

The party stumbled back for a brief moment.

"Oh snap! Dude, it's really him?"

"You've meddled with our plans long enough. Our labyrinth must feed!"

The Emperor turned his face to Discordus, getting back up.

"Now go! Retrieve that tape!" He ordered. "Whoopers! Go and create some havoc downtown. And general, do not let anyone inside the station. Go!"

Vilevelious forces begin spreading out as the party stood fazed for a brief moment. Finally, Discordus leaves the scene as Scrap-Ram walls off the building with his body.

"Dude! They're everywhere; we must think of something fast. And my guitar! Alistor!"

A sudden surge of confidence sparked through Alistor's eyes.

"Just leave the emperor to me…."

"Come again?" Maigashi asked.

"You heard me! The Emperor's all mine! You guys take care of the Whoopers downtown."

"Dude! You'll get destroyed out here. And what about the monster?" Axe reminded.

His attention turned towards Auroa.

"Auroa! I want you to take care of the monster." He pointed. "Now go!"

"It's your funeral." Maigashi pestered.

The party dispersed, leaving Alistor to face the Emperor alone. He readied his blade, pointing it at Vilevelious.

"It's about time you showed your face. You've hidden behind your generals long enough."

"So…little boy wants to play?"

The Emperor begins to levitate in midair.

"Little!!!" He snapped. "I'll show you I'm not little."

He charges straight at the Emperor to unleash a swing, but Vilevelious easily avoids by moving up. The Emperor begins leaving the scene.

"Catch me if you can."

"Hey, get back here!"

Alistor follows the Emperor's trail. Meanwhile, Maigashi and Axe attempt to halt the Whooper's mischief downtown. Auroa pursues Discordus downtown as bystanders get drained on the way.

"Get tape! Get tape! Get tape!"

Auroa commenced downtown as the monster unleashed its pressure upon victims. The labyrinth is seen overshadowing the streets above. The Emperor continues to lead Alistor away from town. Pursuing through the woods, followed by an empty path. Vilevelious then comes to a sudden stop.

"So you finally ready to fight?" Alistor pestered.

An extraordinary summit rests far from a distance.

"Like what you see?" The Emperor asked.

"What is this place?"

Vilevelious lets off a slight chuckle as he slowly descends down.

"The Shooting Star Summit, of course. This place may serve some significant importance one day heh heh."

"What do you mean?"

"I know what you are." Vilevelious pointed. "You may be able to fool anyone but not me."

Alistor draws out his blade.

"Enough talk! Shut up! You don't know me."

He charged at the Emperor.

"Hit me with your best shot."

Meanwhile, Axe and Maigashi arrived at a busy shopping center. The Whoopers are seen causing chaos by a women's clothing store. Finally, the two come across Cheryl and her friends.

"Hey, Cheryl!" Axe waved.

"Gah! Creeps! Give back my purse!"

She is seen tugging a purse back and forth with an enemy soldier.

"Sigh… Didn't expect to come across Cheryl's group." Maigashi groaned.

"Well, we got to help them."

The Whoopers are seen flamboyantly dressed as they jumped in to surround the two. Axe and Maigashi stood side by side, ready to throw down.

"Whenever you're ready."

One block just away from Bamboo's restaurant, Auroa continues to chase Discordus down the streets.

"I can't let that monster get the tape."

Auroa took a detour through an alley. In seconds, his whip came lashing in front of the monster taking it by surprise.

"You're getting on my nerve. If that's the way, you want to play channeler. Then have at it."

Discordus begin sending shockwaves towards him. Auroa rushed, dodging a few shots attempting to get close, but the monster jumped back.

"Trying to get close? Think again."

The monster unleashed a wave of pressure, slowing Auroa on his tracks. The pavement around begins to crack as the foe charged back in. Discordus knocks him right down as he attempts to counter with a wind blast.

"You're more cunning than I thought."

"Ha! As I was saying. Your ranged attacks are useless." Discordus reminded. "My soundproof defense is impenetrable. And if you think that's all I can do, think again."

Discordus begin emitting the gravitational pressure once more. Auroa attempts to anticipate the move but gets caught off guard. The monster starts absorbing the tension within its mouth.

"What are you up to now?"

The monster held its breath for a brief moment. Then, within seconds, vast bolts of cannonballs spew out from Discordus mouth. Auroa attempts to take cover behind a dumpster, but it got destroyed within seconds. He tries to counter the attack back with his air but gets blown around in the open. A shock gets sent through his system as he lay paralyzed for a brief moment.

"You like that? That's my special Shock-Cannon."

Auroa slowly got back up. Slightly shaken up as he kept his ground.

"And I thought Maigashi's thunder was strong."

"You still want more?" Discordus asked.

The monster attempts to unleash its pressure again, but Auroa got close to fire some wind from his whip.

"What did I tell ya?" The monster pestered.

Auroa suddenly disappeared for a brief moment.

"Wait, huh?"

He reappears right from the opposite side, lashing a secondary round of wind. Discordus defense attempts to respond, but he takes damage by surprise. Sparks and smoke in the air.

"Just as I thought. A flaw in your defense." He figured.

"What! But, how?"

Auroa begins briefly explaining.

"Normally, my first attack would have been deflected, but I increased the speed of my second wind to match the timing with my first."

"Come by that again?"

"You're so-called defense may have been able to repel any of our attacks from earlier. But if two attack lands at the same time, your defense won't protect you. That split-second gap, in other words, means you're only capable of blocking one indirect attack per second."

Discordus hesitated for a brief second.

"Lucky shot! It's not over yet."

The monster attempts to unleash the Shock Cannon once again. However, Auroa didn't hesitate to continue his strategy rushing close to the creature.

"I must end this quickly."

As he jumps to the other side to fire his second wind, Discordus made a slight grin. Both attacks impact, but Auroa soon found himself trapped within a paralysis state. The sound of a bone suddenly cracks as blood dripped on the floor.

"Heh Heh! Bait and sink!"

The smoke clears away. A blade of lightning came right out of Discordus mouth as it's seen pierced through Auroa's right shoulder. He let off a scream in pain before getting tossed aside the ally.

"Wasted enough time. I got a tape to get!"

Discordus leaves off as the scene cuts to Maigashi and Axe. The two are seen in women's clothing and makeup. A cold chill was felt in the air as they wrapped the battle with the Whoopers.

"Yeah! We totally cleared them out. Ugh, something the matter, dude?"

"Something's not right," Maigashi muttered. "This is taking too long. We need to find the others and regroup."

He leaves in a hurry as Axe follows behind.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Cheryl pouted.

He halts for a brief second as her friends are seen emerging from under the pile of merchandise. But, unfortunately, their hair was completely ruined.

"Ugh, Cheryl. Now's not the time."

"Some help you guys are. It's all your guys' fault. I just had my hair done, and you ruined my new dress."

Axe suddenly grabs a perfume bottle right from her hands.

"I'll need to borrow this."

"Hey! Get back here."

As Axe leaves the scene, Discordus meanwhile arrives at the entrance of Bamboo's place. The sound of a bell rings.

"Oh, another customer." Bamboo smiled.

Discordus spots the tape still intact within the player. Without hesitation, the monster jumps over the table. He makes a grab for Bamboo's radio. Pulling it right off from the wall as Bamboo reacted.

"What? My radio!"

Bamboo intercepts, grabbing hold of the player from the other side. The two are seen yanking it back and forth.

"It's mine!"

Meanwhile, back with Alistor…

"Heh! Your attacks are so predictable." The Emperor pestered.

Alistor is seen swinging his blade mindlessly as the Emperor continues to dodge without effort. He then resorted to his final attack.

"Star Breaker!"

Alistor rushed in with the energy surging from his blade. Vilevelious didn't hesitate to move out of the way. With one hand, the Emperor quickly reduced his attack to nothing within seconds. Then, holding the tip of his blade with one finger, Alistor got sent flying back.

"Is that the only move you got? Don't tell me. It's true, isn't it?"

"No way! My Star Breaker…."

"Face it!" The Emperor laughed. "You're no match against me."

He quickly got right up to attack as the Emperor turned his back.

"I'll never give up."

Before Alistor had the chance, a root suddenly trips him over. He falls flat on his face as the Emperor continued to laugh away.

"I wasted enough time with you."

Vilevelious fires a set of lasers as Alistor quickly took cover behind a tree. Unfortunately, some roots and branches begin grabbing hold of him.

"What the heck!"

He slashed away the roots stumbling back into the open.

"Now to show what I can really do." The Emperor grinned.

More roots emerge from under the ground. Snaking its way as he struggled to hack them down. He was entangled within a matter of seconds.

"What kind of power is that?" Alistor questioned.

"I hold power to manipulate Wood. The life-giving element. An essential foundation in nature."

"Then why are you trying to destroy it?"

"Hmm, I never did such a thing."

"Liar! How do you explain those monster attacks?" Alistor objected back.

The Emperor continued to laugh for a moment.

"Hahaha. Just like your father, but with the stupidity of the reckless mother. Mr. Rare had this set from the very start. But why in this timeline?"

"What? You know something about my parents. Tell me!" Alistor demanded.

"Whoops! Almost slipped that one right there. So soon, you'll be joining them."

Before the Emperor had a chance to continue, a bottle explodes by them. A pleasant scent expels through the air.

"What is this? This smell."

Vilevelious lost his grasp on Alistor as he backs away to cover from the smell. It was none other than Maigashi and Axe arriving at the scene.

"Gnarly, dude! Knew that perfume would come in handy."

"I did not expect that to work." Maigashi shrugged as he lowered his bow.

Vilevelious starts to back away from the smell.

"Too nice!" The Emperor gagged. "You'll pay for this! Till next time."

He immediately teleports away as Alistor regroups with them. He gives a strange look at both of them.

"Um…Why are you guys dressed in girl's cloth?" Alistor asked.

"Don't ask…." Maigashi mumbled. "Let us head back to that restaurant."

Meanwhile, Bamboo continues to engage in a tug of war against Discordus over the radio at the restaurant. Alistor and the others made their way back quickly downtown. They immediately spot Auroa by the ally.

"Auroa!" Alistor gasped.

A sudden shock was in store for them. The scene of blood seeps through Auroa's shoulder from an open wound. Axe and Maigashi quickly helped him right up.

"We need to get you to the hospital." Axe suggested.

"Not yet! The monster!" Auroa muttered.

Maigashi temporarily reseals his wound with a cloth.

"Where is it? Back at the restaurant." Alistor pointed.

The party arrives at Bamboo's restaurant in a matter of time. The tug of war escalates outside the front street of the restaurant.

"This is my radio. Get your own!"

"That tape is mine!"

Maigashi suddenly fires a shot destroying the radio. The cassette tape was reduced to merely nothing as Discordus stood fazed in shock. Axe jumps in to disarm the monster knocking it down.

"Awesome! I got my guitar back." Lights suddenly shot out from his instrument. "Whoah! Gnarly, this thing can now shoot lasers."

"That radio cost me $29.99." Bamboo cried.

The party quickly surrounds the monster as Auroa explains the situation to them.

"Discordus can only repel one attack within a given time. If we all attack at the same time from multiple angles, it should be enough to finish it."

"No problem!" Alistor said.

"Remember! At the same time and not a second too short." Maigashi reminded. "On a count of three. ONE! TWO!"

The four ready their weapon in place as the monster got right back up.

"THREE!!!"

Discordus get impacted from four sides. First, massive sparks burst right out from its body with smoke. Then, an explosion commenced sending it flying through the air. Leaving only a tiny twinkling glint in the sky.

"We finally did it…." Auroa whispered as he got to the ground, losing consciousness.

"The wounds open!" Axe shouted. "We need to get to a hospital. Fast!"

Moments later, the party was waiting by the medical center. Alistor nervously walked back and forth. A feeling of guilt on his hands while the others were patiently seated. A nurse then opens the doors.

"So…Is he going to be ok?" Alistor asked.

Auroa emerged right out from the doors behind. An enormous cast wrapped around the right side of his shoulder.

"My battle against that monster left my right arm completely dislocated. Sorry for being a bit careless."

"No! It's not your fault." Alistor nodded. "It was me. Things got out of hand today. With the Emperor arriving, I wasn't thinking straight."

Auroa let off a brief smile.

"Well, the good news is Discordus didn't hit my good arm. So I may still be able to battle, but not effectively."

"No!" Maigashi objected. "You get some rest for now. We weren't prepared this time, but next time we'll be ready."

"Yeah, dude! No worries."

Axe's demo tape suddenly airs on the radio once more. In a matter of seconds, their mood lifts back up as they rocked out to the song. Forgetting all their troubles as they head back to the restaurant.

"Tonight! Dinner is on the house." Bamboo jumps.

Meanwhile, back at the abandoned theatre…

"Discordus may be down, but don't count it out just yet. In a matter of days, we'll be back."

General Scrap-Ram is seen repairing the monster while Vilevelious contacts from the other side of the screen.

"That plan worked better than expected, general. When you're finished with the repairs, I have a new monster for you to try out." The Emperor announced.

"A new monster? How so?" The general questioned.

"Let's just say, it will amp up the situation!"

The silhouette of a new monster appears behind the Emperor.

Later that following night, Alistor is seen sitting on the top balcony. At home, reflecting back on everything that has happened so far. From his fateful encounter with Mr. Rare to his first victory against Mushogun. The Emperor suddenly crossed his mind.

"Vilevelious…What do you really know?"

A peaceful breeze of wind passes by. The scene ends with Alistor gazing upon the crescent moonlight. Pondering with many questions still left to be answered.