15 Chapter 13: Guardian

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Downtown

1821Y 04M07D 0500H

"Dios mio, Menan." Baby shouting outside the boy's room. "We're leaving get your sorry butt out now, or we are leaving."

"Okay, okay, sheesh... Just dressing up."

Smirf and the others already packed and checking everything is ready for the trip. Baby arrived dragging Menan outside. "Capitàn, we're all here."

"Good, is everything ready?"

"T'is all we can afford, about a month's worth of food and supplies." Smirf patting her wagon.

"Pal, what you think is outside the gate?" Acki asks Mat. "The truth, I don't know... best be ready."

Smirf took the leash and started to walk, eyes fell on them as they pass by. Calor greeted them at the town gate. "Friends, we are you off to now?". Behind him was the giant Mat sent to the Cathedral. The group ignored him and went through but the giant block the way. He stood in front of their Captain, looming over him like a tree. "Undead, I Galidor, a captain of the NewWorld, representing our esteemed leader Aldrish, offer you a position among our ranks."

"Whoa, wait a rank!?" Calor coming from the sides. "You mean a high position among the top ranks of Acedia - Trestia?" Galidor sent him an invite. "Yes, you will have rank, power, and most of all honor."

A hand appeared from Mat's side trying to push the 'NO' button on the invite but the finger just passes through the console. Mat gave out a deep sigh and look at his back; there was Smirf.

Calor grinned "Oh, you can take your girl with you, of course, we don't want you getting... lonely." Steamed puff out, as Smirf buried her face on his back, talking gibberish.

"That dumb cat is not his girl," Azaleah interjected.

"If a girl is your wish, that we can provide as well." Galidor wave his hand and a bunch of warrior girls came out from a building. Smirf's steam change to a white aura emanating from her eyes.

"Is it me or Smirfy is really different from all the girls here?" Looking at the girls' warrior-like bodies then comparing it with Smirf's. "I mean..."

"Madre... Could you?" Baby looks at him, Menan back away instantly.

"Money power, women, we can provide... that I can assure you, Undead." Calor putting his hand on one of the girl's waists then showed him millions of chips. "Well, how about it?" On cue, a couple of girls was to come near Mat, but Smirf was hissing and clawing at them.

Lucy let out a chuckle. "Pardon me, continue."

"Cat... " Azaleah waves the invitation away. "I hope you get what that means, big guy."

"Is that your choice, Undead, or just your 'friends' whims." Acrid, as Galidor spoke. "Got nothing I want, move." Galidor steps aside silently. "You will regret not taking this opportunity, Undead." Calor taunting him

"Bleh!" Smirf sticking her tongue out, taunting Calor.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Central

1821Y 04M07D 1700H

The black gate is far west of the walled city. Mutants stay away from its premises as the Guardian attacks anything biological and the wall defenses fires at anything that flies or in swarms.

"Menan, ya quit starin' me" Smirf starting to get irritated. Menan shook his head. "I don't get it, why are you so... Plump?" Then looking at the entirety of Smirf. "Plump!? Ya really gettin' in mah nerves." Smirf ran after him swinging her ladle. "Help, don't let me be the ladle's first victim." Laughing as he ran away. "Smirfy, I meant plump in a nice way."

"Capitàn, there's the firehouse." The ruined building showing up on the clearing. "Let's set up camp for the night, we'll leave at daybreak."

The piles of corpses were gone, no trace that they ever existed in the first place. The firehouse was still in ruins but defendable as it is. They set up camp inside as Smirf started cooking. Everyone is checking their equipment, anything that could hinder them.

"Boss, how strong is the Guardian?" Menan asks seriously. "Four times that of the Warbeast; much more annoying."

Azaleah showed them the video log of the Guardian battle. "As you can see the guardian is composed of two bodies fused together, bigger than the Warbeast. Each can attack independently, has a wide range with fair accuracy "How about its armor?" Baby inquired.

"Here," a light mage fired a light beam similar to Luci's Grand Arrow. The Guardians upper body spun blocking the shot with its shield. "We have no record of a clean hit landing on the Guardian, that already says a lot on what we are up against."

"No blinds spot, hmm. Guess we will just have to bash it into pieces. I see no other way. Hah ha!" Acki contributed.

"Not that, no one has tried." Film change to melee attackers trying to overwhelm the guardian. It spins around to block big spells then do wide swings with its swords accurately hitting the attackers. "Its combat algorithm is... not that impressive, I could do better. Hoh ho ho." Azaleah combing her hair.

"The wall defenses?" Luci pointing out at the screen. "Oh, they fire if... more or less when sixteen biological life-forms engage the Guardian or within the gates premises." Azaleah showed the cannons firing at the hapless warriors. "I see, the cannons are... negligible, I presume."

"Maybe..." Azaleah answering Luci.

Smirf called the boys to pick up the food.

"We will just need to give Luci an opening, got one shot at it." Mat said it to the group. "Captain, if the spell doesn't take it down?" Luci asks nervously. "Just don't miss, we'll figure it out."

"Here ya go, y'all dig in while it's hot." Smirf serving up dinner.

She sat down besides Mat. "Finally, the big day, huh." Stirring her stew. "We'll win. Right?" Looks at her, and gave her a faint smile. "Well, defeat is not an option."

"Tell ya the truth, am quite scared." She stopped stirring and looked down. He held her hand. "Don't be..." She looked at him, but he stood up. "All of you get some rest."

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Black Gate

1821Y 04M09D 0700H

The Guardian stood in the middle of a vast cemented plain, the line of trees encompassing the area marks its territory.

Menan jumping around, shaking his hands. "Pendejo, relax... It is just a moving statue." Baby pointing it out to him "I am relaxed, just... limbering up. That's all." He countered, continued on with heavy breathing exercises.

"How do we do this, I charge in you guys follow." Acki rearing up. Baby held him back by the belt.

"If we fire from here?" Luci pointing her wand towards it. "Witch, it will just block... no matter how strong your spell is." Azaleah answered. "Besides, we should all be inside."

"We'll engage in the middle. Luci, Mhirfa stay by the wagon and get So'liel out." Mat putting in his helm. "Me and Acki will take each statue, we will position the statue, the rest will support with these in mind. So that, a sword side will face Luci, and keep it that way till she fires the spell."

Acki taps Luci on her back, making her cough.

"After that, if it is still on its feet... we bash it into pieces."

Acki put his fist forward. "Fuck today!" Menan put his fist in "Oh, you got it, brother. Fuck to—day." Baby bump her fist with the others. "Ese puta will know what's coming, put them fist up." Shiro came out of the shadows laughing ominously and put his fist in, the rest followed.

Fuck today!

. . .

The two charge as planned. "Okay pal, You go right I'll go to his... other right." Acki ran forward then split up. "Agree," The Guardian move swung their swords at the two with Acki rolling under it and Mat deflecting his. The other three move in. Luci stood on top of the wagon preparing her spell. Smirf held the leash with So'liel ready to run at any given notice.

A crowd started to form outside the area. Smirf looks behind her, Galidor and the others are watching with Calor laughing by his side. She ignored them and focus on the task at hand.

"Keep him still," Mat holding his position against the Guardian "Easier said than done, pal." Acki barely evading a swing.

Shiro on top of the statue jump forward and slice it's face landing on the other statues shield laughing ominously. It made a mark on the statue, making Shiro laugh harder sheathing his katana. "How he got up there?" Menan running around its feet cutting at them. Then he saw baby use her whip to swing herself up, then grab the statues shield with her claws. "You got to be kidding me."

"Azaleah now," Mat shouted. The wagon released a lot of small spheres. "Distance yourselves."

"Those are the ones Mat was workin' on the lab." As Smirf looks at them flying towards the guardians.

Shiro disappeared instantly. Baby whip at Mat, he caught it with his hammer; pulled her back. Menan and Acki ran the opposite side.

The balls turned to small fairies and clung to the Guardian. The wall defenses started to move, then fired a volley at the guardian. Smoke envelops it, the small spheres fell down the ground.

Mat signaled Luci. "Sage Art," Energy overflowed as she held Nar'vash with her left hand. Energy fell from the spheres' eyes like tears. "Pink... Ruyi... Jingu Bang!"A stream of colossal pink laser blew away the dust; blasted the guardian, pinning it to the Black Gate. Everyone watching was awestruck by the sheer destruction of the spell.

Nar'vash drop lifeless, as Luci collapse on the wagon. "Lucii..." Smirf running towards her.

Smoke and dust covered the Black Gate. They can see the Guardian's body crumble down, debris falling on the ground. Its huge sword shattered, shield on the floor with its arm still attached. Menan jump. "Luci, that was awesome!" Shouting at her from way beyond. When he realizes Smirf was agape looking pass him. He looks back, the cloud of dust rose high. More debris crash to the ground.

"Formation!" Everyone ran away.

As the Guardian stood tall, its other half crumbled. The lone statue turned, swung its sword blowing the dust away, threw away the shield and pick up the shattered sword then ran towards them.