Enter Admiral Bombshell
Chapter 12
Enter Admiral Bombshell
By a distant realm someplace far out of the way... A reunion between numbers of evil forces gathers at a banquet. The majority of the guests were only visible as a silhouette. Vilevelious is seen mingling with a couple dark figures before him, chatting it up.
"Oh Vile dear, you have to come out from that maze more often. Destroying is soooooooo last season. I shall make the world fabulous, Hun."
"Well, you haven't even done much or even succeeded in capturing a pure target in your turf. You got nothing." He argued back.
The dark figure brushes his hair while the Snake emperor ranted back.
"Ah hush, true art takes time and planning. My fashion will one day be top of the line in Lavendhite. And once that happens, I'll be sure to send a memo."
The other dark figure steps in. A man was barely visible with long dark hair and tentacles slithering behind.
"And you're having any success stealing energy for your labyrinth? From what I see, more than half of your generals are already gone hoo hoo."
A chart appears behind the emperor, showcasing his progress. Gossip begins to quickly spread across the room.
"Only 45% towards your goal? That's kind of embarrassing hoo hoo."
"Shut up!"
He pounds on the table.
"Vile dear, you're barely even halfway feeding that labyrinth. It's too slow, even if you did collect enough energy. Have you considered another strategy?"
The snake king got right up.
"The last three generals were a minor setback. Especially Mushogun! This time I have a real general that will get the job done."
The crowd was skeptical of his claim.
"What will make this next one any different compared to your last? Who, by the way?"
"Admiral Bombshell. Come forth!"
Moist begins to fill the room, a dampened mist of energy bursts into the scene. Admiral Bombshell appears before them. The room suddenly became silent. His anchor drags across the ground with the sound of the chain dangling.
"You called my lord?"
A jealous feeling is expressed by the other figures.
"What? Him? It can't be."
"I couldn't even get him to stay on my side."
A smug look of confidence was on Vilevelious face. The Admiral took a bow as the light was all focused on him.
"Admiral Bombshell! You are now in charge of gathering energy from where Scrap Ram left off. You have a plan ready?"
"Already set in motion."
The Admiral takes his leave, vanishing from the mist in the room.
"Don't let me down."
Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Alistor arrives with a bunch of mail. Finally, Maigashi and Auroa took a break from their shifts.
Bamboo took a moment to skim through the letters.
"Let's see some bills, junk mail, and more junk mail. My catalog and oh a letter for you."
Bamboo hands the letter over to Alistor.
"It's from Sairori."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Open it." Maigashi orders.
He opens the letter, Sairori's voice comes to his mind.
To Alistor and his new companions...
Hope you are faring well with your battles. As your master, I'm sorry to say I'll be gone much longer than anticipated.
I wish I could have stayed to further train you, but I'm needed elsewhere at this moment. Lavendhite is a complete war zone, and you are still young and not ready. Aside from that, hopefully, you are learning some things with Bamboo.
I'm aware you expressed distaste for training under a chef. I know it's difficult, but please, you have to understand. No matter where you train, you just have to make the best of it. Remember, you can learn from the best but won't be guaranteed a job.
P.S By the way, I have an old friend who just came back from his journey. I have informed him, and hopefully, he may be of great help to your team. Please check his calling card attached below this mail.
Yours truly: Sairori
The letter ends from there. Alistor took a moment to look over the calling card clipped at the end. A skull insignia marked with a number on the card.
"Mr. Tannen. Top class Detective for hire. What?" Alistor became lost for a brief second.
"Well, give the number a call," Maigashi suggested.
He took a moment to make the call. Silence for a brief second, but there was no answer on the line. He tried once more.
"Sorry, but the number you called is no longer in service."
Auroa took a close look at the card. A date is set on the card.
"It seems there is a date set right below for his service. From the years 69-75. The number expired, it seems?"
"Well, so much for that. Now what…"
Bamboo suddenly comes in with a package.
"It's a package for you guys."
They didn't hesitate to open it. Filled with confetti, Alistor finds a small pumpkin, a candy box, and a card attached. Auroa opens the card.
"It's an invitation. To a costume party of some sort?"
"In the middle of July? But it's not Halloween." Maigashi said.
"Well, you can count me out."
Alistor lost interest, drifting away as Bamboo looks it over for himself.
"It's settled then! We are all going." Bamboo announced.
The party stumbled back for a brief moment.
"What? You can't be serious. How is this going to benefit my training?" Alistor abruptly asks.
A severe look was in Bamboo's eyes. He suddenly felt belittled.
"Well, sometimes you need to enjoy some of the fun things offered in life. Don't take everything too seriously. It's not good to strain yourself. Plus, parties are nice! I never get invited to any, and this is a first. I'll just close for the day. So this is your next mission."
"What choice do we have?" Maigashi sighed.
"Come on! This might be fun." Auroa cheered.
And so Bamboo closed for the day. The party leaves town for the event. A few hours passed, and the night quickly falls. They arrive in costumes at the entrance of an abandoned manor. A crowd of guests waiting outside.
"Is this really the right address?" Maigashi checks over the flier.
"No one seems to be entering? Is there something wrong?"
Bamboo didn't hesitate to approach the front. He knocks on the door, but there was no answer. So he hits once again, and the door suddenly creeps right open. They entered the house, and the light turns on. Music begins playing in the background. A line of waiters in ghost outfits greets them.
"What?"
They were lost for the moment but quickly blended in a matter of minutes. Then, finally, they stumble upon a section of barrels filled with apples. A mysterious man in a barrel outfit approaches them.
"Come over and dunk them. Give it a try! A free prize!"
Neither of the three was in the mood to try as the party only noticed the host's facial features. A nice mustache fixed to him.
"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to get wet." Maigashi pestered.
"I'll go!" Bamboo volunteered.
They watch as he takes a dunk into one of the water-filled barrels. The barrel suddenly explodes, shattering to their surprise. After that, everyone got wet and doused.
"What just happened?" Bamboo confusedly asked.
"Ah, sorry, but not a winner. But here, take this complimentary prize for playing."
He hands a cheap lollipop over to Bamboo. The party heads right to the tables with food and drinks. They mingled with the other crowds in costumes as the man in the barrel costume leaves in a corner.
"All is going according to plan, Admiral. The room is filled. When will the monsters be ready?"
The Admiral was on the other side of the screen.
"In due time. Continue to entertain our guests. Keep them busy."
"Will do, Admiral!"
The music then got louder as the crowd danced the night away. The smoke of fogs filled the floor as the neon lights shine on. A giant disco ball is fixed at the top. Barrel man kept the crowd busy with cheap games and karaoke as the hours passed.
One moment later….
"What do you mean we can't leave? We had enough, and it's getting late." One person yelled.
"Who do you think you are? I'm getting tired."
Alistor and the other three overhear a small crowd complaining by the doors. The barreled one laughs at them mockingly.
"Who am I? I'm Barrel Man! And the party just started."
They suddenly hear a big shaking sound in the room.
"Ah, just on time."
All the exits inside the manor were sealed shut. A colossal ship comes crashing through the roof. The disco ball shatters, revealing a skull draining energy away from the crowd as panic commenced.
"What is the meaning of this?" Alistor asked.
"Huh ha! Your very demise! The names Barrel Man! And don't forget it."
The ghostly waiters removed their disguise.
"Just as I figure…enemy Whoopers," Auroa said,
"And yet another trap we fell into. Sigh…just great." Maigashi nodded.
Alistor pulls his blade out at the Barrel Man.
"Oh no, I'm not your opponent for today. I'm just the mere host." Barrel Man explained as he geared their attention towards the ship above.
A massive monster with a witch hat plows on them from above. Taken by surprise, the party is knocked down from the sudden entrance. Bamboo goes to take cover from behind a table.
"The names Kinetica. And your energy is all mine."
Maigashi and Auroa got right back up. Unfortunately, Alistor was injured as the monster got close.
"Damn you. I'm getting sick of this." Maigashi fires an electrical blast at the monster but suddenly loses his breath.
"What's wrong?" Auroa asked.
Barrel Man laughs at them.
"Haha, you fools have exhausted yourself from too much partying. Just as the Admiral planned."
He could only watch for a brief moment resting to regain some will to fight. Kinetica grabs hold of Alistor and begin sapping his energy away.
"I could care less what happens to him. But I'll get you for this." Maigashi threatened back.
Auroa quickly breaks Kinetica's grasp on Alistor with a wind blast. He pulls him away from the battle.
"You're still able to fight?"
"I happen to take a five-minute break every hour. So I still have some energy left." Auroa briefly explained.
Kinetica began firing a ray of beams at them. Auroa blocks her incoming attacks with his wind shielding them.
"Well, look at the time. That's my cue! And I got to get going." Barrel Man announced. "Sorry to say I must leave, but here's a parting gift."
Barrel Man presses a switch causing all the barrels in the corner to explode. A huge gaping hole is revealed before teleporting away from the scene.
"You can't keep playing defense forever. We need a plan." Alistor suggested.
"At this rate, we're at a disadvantage the longer we stay inside. We need some open space, and our best bet is to get outside from that hole left behind." Auroa pointed out.
"We got nothing to lose."
The three of them make a run outside as Kinetica follows them. A slight fog begins to build around, vapors start to surround them. They lost sight of the monster for a brief moment.
"Just where are we?"
They took a moment to study their surroundings. Finally, the smoke slightly clears away, revealing a row of tombstones.
"Looks like some sort of cemetery. We must be somewhere behind the manor. So keep your guard up."
Auroa took a few steps behind the graves. His leg suddenly bumps into one of them, causing the ground below him to shake. The tombstone below bursts out from the ground before he had a chance to react.
"What the hell. Don't worry, I got this." Maigashi fires a few shots at the object behind him. "Yes! A direct hit."
The smoke from his attack clears away, revealing a second monster.
"What is that?"
A monster composed out of tombstones stares down at them. Levitating in the air, it grips tight to Auroa. Energy begins to leave his body.
"Zeus Geist at your call."
Kinetica reappears in the scene.
"No use running, haha. Just give it up."
Alistor and Maigashi were surrounded by two monsters. Auroa continues to struggle while the monster drains him away.
"We have to do something."
"Yeah, but what?" Alistor wondered.
"Just attack me now. Don't hesitate. Just do it." Auroa suggested to them.
Alistor rushed in while Maigashi kept Kinetica busy for a brief moment. Then, he leaps into the air as his blade glowed with a heavy charge of energy.
"Star Breaker!"
His attack came towards Auroa. Zeus Geist immediately loses control in midair as the winds shifted. Changing the way it faced, the attack rams straight behind the monster forcing it to let go. The beast came crashing down to the ground.
"Are you okay?"
Auroa took a moment to hold his neck, regaining breath.
"The battles not over yet."
Zeus Geist was back up. Maigashi came stumbling back from his battle with Kinetica. Both monsters circle around them.
"I'm losing ground. So we have to pull further back."
Zeus Geist suddenly pulls out its scythe, intimidating Alistor. Lightning rains on them as they fell flat to the ground.
"This is pointless. We need a way out of this."
Before Zeus Geist had the chance to attack, Auroa breaks open a fog sphere confusing both monsters.
"Hey? Where did they go?"
The three make a run for some cover. The party stumbles into a ditch to regain breath. Both monsters continuously scout around. Finally, they hear the sounds of unsuspecting victims from the party being drained.
"Nothing we can do for those people at the moment." Auroa nodded.
"Well, we can't hide forever. The enemy will eventually find us." Maigashi noted. "So, any ideas?"
Auroa took notice of the card in Alistor's pocket. So he brings up the calling card once again.
"Are you serious? You want to make a call at this time?" Alistor asked. "If no one answered before, how is this going to work?"
Both monsters continue to attack any suspecting guests that they stumble upon. Auroa continues to explain things to them.
"Well, I happen to recall a phone post somewhere when we came outside. So if any of you have some spare change, that would help."
None of them had any spare change. Auroa suddenly hears a sound; Bamboo caught up to their position. Somewhat breathing hard, he takes a moment to sit back.
"Those monsters … they're attacking the guests."
"You happen to have any spare change by chance?" Auroa asked.
"Yeah, why?"
He begins explaining his plan to them. A moment later, Bamboo finds himself by the phone booth. He gets ready to make the call on the card. Inserting the coins while Kinetica chased down other victims.
"Let's see 111-111-1111."
The phone begins to ring, attracting Zeus Geist. There was no answer; Bamboo redials the number once again. Finally, the operator came on the line.
"Yes, I would like to make a long-distance call."
"Please hold and wait one moment."
Still with no answer, Bamboo abruptly hangs the phone. He sensed Zeus Geist directly behind but didn't dare to look back. The phone suddenly rings. He answers the call for a brief moment.
"It's for you."
He passes the phone to the monster. But, unfortunately, Zeus Geist soon became lost, distracted by the voice from the operator.
"Now!" Maigashi yelled.
Auroa emerges out right from behind the booth. Bamboo ducks and cover as glass shatters by the wind catching Zeus Geist by surprise. Maigashi rushed in to disarm the monster with a couple ranged attacks.
"Now I got you."
His wind materialized to a long whip piercing through the monster. Zeus Geist's body begins to erode from the impact. Auroa pulls the whip right out, unleashing an explosive storm tearing the demon away.
"Rip Tide!"
Zeus Geist crumbles apart, exploding with the phone still on hand. Kinetica reappears back on the scene.
"Argh! That fool… You'll pay for this. Eat lasers!"
Kinetica begins firing spread shots at them all. Bamboo stumbles, falling flat on his face while the three make a run for it.
"Okay, Auroa, do you have a plan for this?" Alistor asked.
"To be honest, not really."
The other two stumbled for a brief moment. Alistor got back up to quickly grab Auroa by the neck sleeve.
"Are you serious? Nothing for the second monster. Just great." Maigashi gives a facepalm.
The three continue to run while Kinetica followed.
"We'll just have to improvise somehow."
"I'm tired of running."
As they venture more deeply through the cemetery, they stumble upon a dark cloaked figure through the fog of smoke. The three come to a halt. The cloaked figure turns, revealing a skeleton. Alistor hesitates for a moment, pulling his blade out.
"A third monster, this isn't good."
Kinetica caught up to them as she got ready to blast them away.
"You're all finished." She snickered.
A reaper card suddenly hits the front tip of Kinetica's hat. Paralyzing her as the party turns their attention back to the cloaked figure.
"What? I can't move."
The three kept their guard upon the cloaked figure.
"Friend or foe? Who are you?" Alistor asked.
The cloaked figure springs in the air to pose. A scythe in one hand while giving a brief introduction.
"You called, of course; it is I Tannen. How can I be of service?"
"Didn't expect you to be a skeleton. Well, better late than never."
They turn their attention back to the monster, unable to move. Maigashi readies his bow, a surging rush of energy focused on one big attack.
"I had enough running for one day. Surging Thunder!"
"Noooooo!"
Kinetica gets blasted at point-blank range. A beam of thunder pierced through her body, causing her back to lose balance. Then, the monster collapsed, falling flat to the ground in one big explosion, leaving her hat behind.
"Phew…and that's that."
The ground suddenly begins to shake once more.
"Now what?"
"It's coming from back inside." Auroa pointed.
From the ship, a massive pumpkin deploys down and plows through the manor. Two giant pendulums swing out from the sides as they took the form of a tank. Revealing a face, it stares down at the party.
"A third monster?" Alistor gasped.
He fell flat back along with the rest, tired and completely exhausted. Tannen immediately steps in.
"Leave this one to me." He insisted.
Pulling out a long staff, it turns to a scythe as they watch him in action. He rushes towards the giant monster. The Pump Tank opens its mouth, blasting flames, but Tannen makes a big jump into the air.
"Haha! Now watch my masterful art in action."
He readies his scythe in midair. The monster throws its two massive pendulums in the air, but he easily dodges them. Alistor and the others fell back for cover as the two pendulums came crashing by them.
Darkness quickly emits from his weapon as he makes one massive slash through the oversized Pump Tank. His scythe piercing through its shell, sparks begin to burst out. Tannen takes one big jump back as the rest watches the tank explode in fireworks. A moment later, they returned back to the scene inside the manor.
"Hey! There's the item that was stealing everyone's energy." Auroa pointed.
From the remains of the Pump Tank, they spot the skull. The party goes to check it out, but an anchor suddenly comes crashing down on them before they had the chance. Alistor and the rest jumped back to avoid the damage.
"Who's there? Show yourself right now." Alistor demanded.
Admiral Bombshell materializes right out from the smoke before his very eyes, standing atop his massive ship in the air.
"I'll be taking what's mine."
The skull falls right into the general's hands.
"Who are you?"
"For now, that does not matter. Till we meet again…."
The Admiral disappears with his ship from their very sight. Light begins to break in as they helped the victims back outside. They looked back at the old manor. A complete total mess left behind.
"Well…so much for the party." Maigashi shrugged.
"It couldn't be helped." Auroa nodded.
"Not a bad night at all. We had enough fun for the day. At least it all ended with a bang." Bamboo nodded.
Returning back home, an apron gets handed over to Tannen.
"What? A restaurant? Is this is the training ground? Wait, I work here?"
"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of this. I was surprised just as much as you." Alistor assured him.
"And you can start tomorrow. Here's some grass jelly. It's on the house."
Bamboo hands a plate of grass jelly to Tannen. He takes a try while Alistor and the others backed away for a brief moment. Seconds later, a disgusted look was on his face. He was close to barfing but took it all in one hard swallow. He reached for the glass of water, his head bent entirely down.
"Sigh….no more. Never again! How can anyone eat this?" Tannen gasped.
He took a moment to regain his posture as Bamboo gives him a slap on the back.
Meanwhile, back at Vilevelious lair…
"My, you've to collect a great deal of energy today, Admiral. Keep up the work. We'll be needing much more."
"My next plan will be ready in due time, my lord. More energy will be on the way." He assured him.
The Admiral takes his leave.