S1E4: Partners in Crime? / The Beauty Queen and Her Guardians
2088 Words
Meanwhile, in another worn-out road somewhere in The Plains of What Was Sung, in the eastern part of the continent of Dillingtonlandia, two men halt a passing delivery truck.
“Give us money, or I'll exchange your head for one!” the one with metal claws as weapons threatens the driver.
“W-what taxes? Dillingtonlandia is just a small continent with no true ruler! You just wanna kill me 'cause you'll rule this damn land!” answers the driver.
“We don't have ambitions to rule,” says the short one, whose weapon is a dagger. “All we want is money since we want to get out of this forsaken continent, that's all!”
“Money, eh? Then you two must switch to being beggars instead,” the driver recommends.
“Beggars? Oh c'mon! We can't get wads of cash with that job!” the clawed one talks back.
“Plus, we want mega moolah in no time, you birdbrain!” the short one follows.
The driver's blood boils as he states with rage...
“What birdbrain? I'm no birdbrain! You disrespectful kids should pick someone your own size!”
Unbeknownst to the two...
No sooner does the driver rev up his truck and intentionally run over the two.
“Nyehehehehe! Just when you thought there's no ruler, there is one! And she's the most appropriate for this land! So long, dimwits!”
The driver gives his apparent final disrespects to the two before he spits on them.
He then speeds away, leaving them high and dry as monster chow.
Thirty minutes later...
A beautiful woman wearing an unusual gown and carrying a staff walks along the dirt-laden road alongside five bodyguards.
One of the bodyguards is a big, brawny man carrying a huge hammer-axe, while the rest of them carry shotguns.
The six mingle in some casual conversation along the road...
...until they spot two unconscious boys, who are clearly left for dead.
“Oh, the humanity! Those men are left alone to rot. I must help them,” the woman exclaims.
“Miss CJ, do not do that! What if those two men are petty criminals?” the huge man reacts.
“Sir Christian, I have a humanitarian heart. I care for everyone, whether rich or poor, light-skinned or not, an ordinary citizen or a member of the elite society," the woman clarifies in a calm voice.
“There goes your excessive kindness! It might kill you! I and my buddies will lose our jobs if anything bad happens to you!”
“It matters not! All of us are loved by God Himself!”
The big man ponders on his liege's moral standings, then intones calmly...
“Do what your heart wants. You are both a princess and a beauty queen, and we are just your subordinates, Your Highness. But be careful of your actions that will always have consequences.”
He and his buddies then salute her.
Suddenly, a big, dark cloud hovers over the sky. It then abruptly approaches the two unconscious bandit wannabes.
“What? That cloud possessed the two?” the princess nicknamed CJ is surprised.
“Looks like we have no other choice but to fight! Guards, ready your arms!” the princess's chief retainer commands.
***
[Battle: Possessed Thief A, Possessed Thief B]
Party: CJ, Christian, Hyosuke, Kenichi, Matsuo, Shun
CJ chooses to attack Possessed Thief A.
Christian chooses to attack Possessed Thief A.
Hyosuke chooses to attack Possessed Thief A.
Kenichi chooses to attack Possessed Thief A.
Matsuo chooses to attack Possessed Thief A.
Shun chooses to attack Possessed Thief A.
Possessed Thief A attacks CJ, dealing her 102 damage.
CJ attacks Possessed Thief A, dealing him 33 damage.
Christian attacks Possessed Thief A, dealing him 43 damage.
Hyosuke attacks Possessed Thief A, dealing him 47 damage.
Possessed Thief A is knocked out.
Kenichi attacks Possessed Thief B, dealing him 47 damage.
Matsuo attacks Possessed Thief B, dealing him 43 damage.
Shun attacks Possessed Thief B, dealing him 30 damage.
Possessed Thief B is knocked out.
The counter-terrorists win! That's us.
152 EXP and 220 Double Pesos acquired.
***
CJ and company breathe sighs of relief, but the dark cloud reappears and quickly possesses the four guards.
The princess can only worry, “God, please help us!”
***
[Battle: Possessed Guard x4]
Party: CJ, Christian
CJ chooses to summon Yuki-onna as her Innate Skill on all targets.
Christian chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Possessed Guard A.
Christian performs his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Possessed Guard A, dealing it 423 damage.
Possessed Guard A is knocked out.
CJ summons Yuki-onna.
“Maiden of the wintry cold, freeze our foes! Pure Snow!”
Her Innate Skill deals an average of 207 damage on all targets.
Possessed Guard B is knocked out.
Possessed Guard C is knocked out.
Possessed Guard D is knocked out.
The counter-terrorists win! That's us.
572 EXP and 960 Double Pesos acquired.
CJ leveled up, from Level 10 to Level 11!
Christian leveled up, from Level 10 to Level 11!
***
The princess and her chief retainer pant a little as the dark cloud's possession wears off on the four bodyguards.
“Uugghhh...”
“Looks like I got into an unconscious state.”
“Master Christian, what happened?”
The retainer wastes no words.
“You were all possessed by that dark cloud.”
“Where'd it go, sir?”
As if in desperation, the dark cloud comes back with a vengeance, trapping the four guards within its amorphous interior.
“AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! MASTER CHRISTIAN, MISTRESS CJ, HELP US!”
The princess can only reflect, “I didn't expect this... Is this payback for what I've done?”
She can then hear faint yet still audible voices of the two bandit wannabes, who are slowly regaining their consciousness.
The clawed bandit murmurs, “Please... help us...”
“What?”
The dagger-wielding bandit follows, “We'll join you... if you could help us.”
“Why not?”
She then begins to cast the first-tier healing spell.
“Hilom!”
As the two's stamina levels are immediately restored to their maximum...
Christian notices CJ doing the unexpected act on the bandit wannabes.
“What the heck did you do, Your Highness?”
“I just helped them.”
The chief retainer, appearing resigned, approaches the thieves.
He states after a brief pause...
“Just who are you two, anyway?”
The two bandit wannabes waste no time introducing themselves.
“I am Juniper Clarence.”
“And I'm Bearwin Coulthard.”
The princess and her retainer introduce themselves in response.
“This is Your Highness Princess Carmina Johnston of the now-defunct Dillingtonlandia Kingdom. Just call me CJ.”
“And I'm her personal guardian, Lieutenant Christian Eamon Rhames, an officer of the paramilitary organization Ishi-shiro. The question is, why are you here?”
Juniper answers, “We wanted to steal because we wanted to get out of this absolutely forsaken place.”
The retainer raises his voice after hearing such a lousy explanation.
“IS THAT AN EXCUSE?!”
CJ interrupts, “Wait! They only acted out of impulse. God must guide them on what is best for them.”
Christian, after clearing his throat, calmly proposes something.
”It may be against the principles of my organization, but saving lives is more important. Now then... you two will join us in one condition.”
Bearwin asks, “What?”
The retainer answers, “Please cease...”
However, the dark cloud interrupts Christian's statement, as it charges at the four, with the cries of anguish of the four helpless guards alerting them all.
Juniper quips, “No time to speak! We must kick his sorry butt!”
***
[Boss Battle: Kukurikabumon]
A dark cloud formed from negative thoughts of The Movement's captives. Easily possesses anyone unsuspecting of its presence.
Level 8 | HP: 1060 | MP: 250
Party: CJ, Christian, Juniper, Bearwin
CJ chooses to perform her Innate Skill, Pray and Wish, on all allies.
Christian chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Kukurikabumon.
Juniper chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Steal Money, on Kukurikabumon.
Bearwin chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Steal Money, on Kukurikabumon.
Kukurikabumon attacks Bearwin, dealing him 36 damage.
Juniper attempts to Steal Money from Kukurikabumon.
“Drat! I failed to steal!”
Bearwin attempts to Steal Money from Kukurikabumon.
“Say bye-bye to yer 705 double pesos!”
CJ performs her Innate Skill, Pray and Wish, on all allies, with an average of 77 HP restored.
Christian performs his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Kukurikabumon, dealing it 305 damage.
CJ chooses to summon Lava Dragoneer as her Innate Skill on all targets.
Christian chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Kukurikabumon.
Juniper chooses to attack Kukurikabumon.
Bearwin chooses to attack Kukurikabumon.
Kukurikabumon attacks Juniper, but Juniper dodges the attack!
Christian performs his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Kukurikabumon, dealing it 274 damage.
Juniper attacks Kukurikabumon, dealing it 0 damage.
Bearwin attacks Kukurikabumon, dealing it 0 damage.
CJ summons Lava Dragoneer.
“Dragonic monk, purify with your sacred flames! Fire Wall!”
Her Innate Skill deals an average of 231 damage on all targets.
CJ chooses to summon Apolaki as her Innate Skill on all targets.
Christian chooses to perform his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Kukurikabumon.
Juniper chooses to attack Kukurikabumon.
Bearwin chooses to attack Kukurikabumon.
Juniper attacks Kukurikabumon, dealing it 0 damage.
CJ summons Apolaki.
“God of the sun and of war, let out your divine anger! Bolt of Wrath!”
Her Innate Skill deals an average of 117 damage on all targets.
Bearwin attacks Kukurikabumon, dealing it 0 damage.
Christian performs his Innate Skill, Big Man's Punch, on Kukurikabumon, dealing it 305 damage.
Kukurikabumon is knocked out.
The counter-terrorists win! That's us.
2642 EXP and 900 Double Pesos acquired.
Immortal Bird's Feather acquired.
CJ leveled up, from Level 11 to Level 14!
CJ learned Hilomwa.
CJ learned Buhay.
Christian leveled up, from Level 11 to Level 14!
Juniper leveled up, from Level 10 to Level 14!
Bearwin leveled up, from Level 10 to Level 14!
***
After a tough battle that decimated the dark cloud for good...
The retainer declares, “Now that you helped us, you can join our force now.”
Bearwin can only whisper a “Thank you”.
Juniper then segues, “Wait a sec, how about those four guys over there? They who were trapped in that dark cloud thingy?”
Christian approaches the guards, who just stand at attention after recovering from their unfortunate two-in-one run-in with the dark cloud.
“Privates Hyosuke Mizuhara, Kenichi Nanami, Matsuo Sarashina, and Shun Sakurasawa...
“I am sorry to inform you guys, but from now on, I will let you all go from guard duty.”
The four guards are all startled, but they quickly realize why their leader did such a thing.
“This doesn't mean you are out of Ishi-shiro for good. I am still your superior, and I will give you all a brand-new mission: Guard Dillington High School from lawless elements. Do you all understand?”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
“Now then, go forward! For world peace, Remember the Stone Fortress!”
“Remember the Stone Fortress!”
The four guards all salute their boss, as well as their now-former client, before heading out towards the fantasy Dillington High School.
Christian continues.
“And as for Juniper Clarence and Bearwin Coulthard, you will share my duty of protecting Her Highness, on one condition: Please cease your criminal activities.”
“We understand, sir,“ Bearwin accepts. ”Banditry was never in our minds before. We did it out of desperation.”
But their moment is interrupted by something just as menacing as the dark cloud.
Juniper gasps before stating, “Hey! What's that floating thingy?”
No sooner does the floating thing utilize its magical suction powers.
No matter what the four, as well as the shotgun-wielding guards, do; they are all powerless before the mighty suction power.
Bearwin can only exclaim, “It's pulling us!”
The princess just resigns to her eventual fate as she says, “What? Another bad omen? Oh... God, please help us!”
The floating thing, which is an over-sized blade, sucks Juniper, Bearwin, Christian, and CJ inside.
And the blade just flies towards the direction of a building directly east of Padronas Twin Towers.
- Writer
