Chapter 75

15 Smoke filled the underground shelter, and Pawoo’s motorcycle lay embedded in the ground. Around the room lay the scattered remains of what was once rather intricate machinery, now battered into scrap by her staff. Joy sat on his knees, gazing down at the broken wreckage of his control device. “…My City Wall program…” “An impressive magic trick, but with the source destroyed, you’re nothing.” Pawoo swung her staff menacingly, pointing it at Joy while casting him an unimpressed leer. “I don’t want to have to strike down an unresisting foe. Stand and fight if you can.” “…How are you so full of yourself? You only broke one of my toys, that’s all!” Joy looked back up at Pawoo, and his bright-red eyes flared. “Launch:City:Snake!” He swung his right arm, and from his palm erupted a long chain of small buildings that he gripped in his hand like a whip, scattering blue particles as it coiled at his feet. “I am Joy, Apollo’s avatar! Do not think yourself my equal, monkey!” …I don’t think I’ll be winning this one. Though she didn’t let it show, Pawoo could already see that her chances were slim. Even if she was more skilled and physically stronger than her opponent, it was going to be nigh impossible for her to damage Joy when he could reform his body at will. Perhaps I can take advantage of his short temper… “I’m going to flay that pretty little skin of yours off the bone,” Joy taunted. “Just like you did to my toy!” “Ooh, tough words for someone who spent the entire battle hiding in his basement,” said Pawoo with a chuckle. “If you want to shut me up, you’ll have to tear out my throat.” “Oh, I think I’ll do just that!” Joy flew toward her, swinging his whip, and Pawoo intercepted it with her staff. Sparks flew as metal collided with metal, and for a few exchanges it looked as though the two were equal. However, the flexible nature of Joy’s weapon meant that it was capable of curling around Pawoo’s staff and raking deep scratches into her skin. “…! Grhhh!” “You moron. How are you gonna defend against the City Snake with that lousy stick of yours? C’mon, monkey, let me hear you scream! Ook! Ook!” Joy’s weapon acted unlike anything Pawoo had ever faced. It bent as though it had a mind of its own, and though she fought back valiantly, soon she was coated in cuts, spraying blood with every strike. “Come on! Scream for me! Beg for death!” “Grh! Gwraah!” “Take this!” Finally, Joy’s whip of buildings struck a solid blow, leaving a deadly gash across her shoulder as deep as if it had been cut by a knife. However, even through the searing pain, Pawoo landed skillfully and got back to her feet, leaning on her staff for support. Her warm blood pooled at her feet, and in her wounds, small buildings had already begun to grow. And yet, she clenched her teeth, took a deep breath, and shot Joy another murderous glare. The deep-blue light in her eyes had not faded, even for an instant. “What the hell is wrong with you, lady?” Joy’s arm hung weakly by his side. He, too, had exhausted much of his energy in the fight, and his breathing was now heavy and labored. “You can’t turn off your pain receptors, and yet you haven’t given me one scream! You’re so boring!” Pawoo had taken dozens of blows so severe that the pain from just one would have killed an ordinary man in an instant. Joy was not only shocked but starting to feel genuine fear. “Heh. Heh-heh-heh. Is pain the only way you know to make a woman scream?” “…What?” “…Joy. What a disappointing name.” Pawoo smirked through bloodied lips. “The only one you’re capable of bringing joy to is yourself. And I’m sure Apollo is no better.” “How dare you…? How dare you mock Apollo?!” It seemed the slight against his creator spurred Joy to an even greater fury. The blue particles surged as he lashed his whip and flew toward his battered foe. Swinging his weapon high above his head, he was just about to finish Pawoo off, when… …Now! Time slowed to a crawl as Pawoo stared down the killing blow. At the most opportune moment, her indigo eyes flickered. She raised her staff to receive the blow and, once the whip wrapped around her staff, launched it like a javelin into the shelter’s far wall. As Joy was dragged off-balance by his own weapon, Pawoo pulled something small and sharp from her pocket and tackled him with all her might, driving it into his chest. Joy staggered back and fell on the staff, impaling himself. “Ghblh!” He let out a choked cry, and white particles spilled from his mouth like blood. Pawoo looked up at his face and grinned, leaping back while leaving the object she stabbed him with in place. “So quick to anger. You should have just left me to rot.” “…You took me by surprise, that’s all! This isn’t over!” Joy’s body creaked as he stepped forward, pulling himself off the staff. “You can’t win! My body is made of Apollo Particles! Unlike you monkeys, I won’t die, no matter how many times you—” Gaboom! A golden mushroom, blazing like the sun, burst from Joy’s neck, cutting him off. Joy was only able to gurgle a cry of surprise as he hurried to pluck it out. “That’s the Rust-Eater vaccine. The product of my brother’s knowledge and hard work.” The object sticking out of Joy’s chest was a syringe, filled with the medicine that Milo had created from Bisco’s blood. The golden liquid flowed into Joy’s body, gorging itself on the Apollo Particles. “Careful. Pull it out too quickly and an even bigger one might spring up. Not that that won’t happen anyway.” “N-no… I can’t lose… Not to apes!” “Heh. I guess we made a monkey out of you.” “Aaaaughhh! Shut up! Shut uuup!” Mushrooms burst from his body one after the other, yet still Joy staggered forward, letting the staff clatter to the floor. He raised the City Snake whip in one hand, and… …Splat! The whip came down on Pawoo’s skullcap. The half of her face once marred by the Rust was now slick with blood. But she didn’t so much as blink as the whip tore at her flesh. She stared right back, with a determination that could kill. “N-no…! That’s impossible…!” “Now it’s my turn to make you cry.” Pawoo stepped down on the tip of her staff, flipping it into the air and catching it in her hands. Fwoom! Fwoom! A cross-shaped pair of slices tore Joy’s body wide open. His insides leaked golden radiance, bathing the room in a brilliant glow. “Waaah! Aaah…! Aaaaaah—!” Gaboom! Joy’s body exploded with such violent force that it knocked the staff from Pawoo’s hands and sent her flying across the room. She collided with the far wall and crumpled. “…Ha! Ha-ha…! Ha-ha-ha! Did you see that?! I won!” Unable to so much as lift a finger, she just laughed with all the glee of a little girl. Before her, the Rust-Eater shook the very earth in anticipation of its monstrous growth. Pawoo looked at it, at the wounds all over her body, and at the city growing within them, and yet she smiled and gently closed her eyes. I have…no regrets. There’s nothing else I want. Because I lived like the wind… …and died for their sake. Oh, but… I suppose there is one thing. When I die, I would like whatever god there is to turn me into a shield… …and use me to protect those two. Please… …protect them both…! Bagoom! The Rust-Eater obliterated the cellar and rose into the night sky, glorious and golden, like a beacon guiding the two boys’ way.