Chapter 166: Xiquiripat

Honey, Nojiko and Vivi jumped down the hole. They fell down. 

"We are falling," Vivi said. 

"The ground is still far away," Honey said.

"We are going to die," Vivi shouted.

"No we are not," Nojiko said. Nojiko held her hands out. "Cloud Surge," Nojiko said as she created a huge dense cloud in front of Vivi and Honey. The cloud grew larger and larger. 

They landed on the cloud. "This cushioned our fall," Vivi said. 

"Clouds don't have this property usually," Honey said. Honey was able to touch the cloud. It had a soft fluffy texture. 

"You are right. Clouds are usually water vapor. However I can control the density of these to such an extent they become walkable," Nojiko explained.

Nojiko, Vivi and Honey got off the clouds. Nojiko tried to walk however she tripped and was about to fall when Vivi caught her.

"Are you okay?" Vivi said. She was concerned for friend.

"I am but a little tired," Nojiko said.

"That must have tired you out," Honey said. She looked at the large clouds. They started to disappear. 

"How are we going to get back up?" Vivi asked.

"Well they are going to have trouble landing," Honey said.

Nojiko and Vivi looked up and saw a dozen men falling. They landed on the ground directly. Some broke their legs and some broke their backs. However a luck few landed on top of their comrades which cushioned the fall, 

"Ouch that was close," a pirate said. He looked down and saw he was on top of someone else.

"Sorry," the pirate said as he got up. 

There were 5 pirates who had survived the fall with no or little injuries. The rest had major injuries. 

The 5 pirates looked at Vivi, Nojiko and Honey. 

"You girls are a little lost," the pirate said.

"We can guide you," another pirate said. 

Viivi pulled her gun out. It was the Gero Gero gun. She shot it at the pirates. A bullet which looked like a frog fired and hit the two pirates. An explosion was seen as they went down.

"Why you?" the pirate said. 

Honey raised her hand. "Liquid Air Blast," Honey said as she blasted purple liquid from her hand and hit two pirates. They went flying back and hit the ground. They both landed with a thud on the ground and were unconscious. 

"You will not defeat me," the final pirate said. 

"Lightning blast," Nojiko said as she created a small cloud from her hand and a lightning bolt blasted the pirate. He got hit and went down. 

They looked at the rest in pain. "Let's go," Honey said.

Vivi and Nojiko nodded. They looked around. It was a large cavern. Stalactites hung like ancient teeth from the high ceiling, while stalagmites rose from the cave's floor, as if reaching out to touch the unseen depths below. The air inside was cool and damp, carrying the earthy scent of wet stone and moss. The vastness of the place invoked a sense of awe. 

They started walking. The cavern had many large rooms and tunnels. "We could get lost easily here," Nojiko said.

"Yeah we can, we should be careful here," Vivi said. 

"How are we going to find the treasure?" Nojiko asked.

"We don't know what it looks like either," Vivi added. 

"But Ben has trusted this task with us," Honey said.

"He has," Vivi said. She smiled. Her heartbeat got louder.

"Yes he has," Nojiko said. She smiled and had renewed energy. 

Honey used her power to wet the wall. "I will keep my hand on the wall so we can find our way back," Honey said. 

They continued walking down the tunnel. They entered a large opening. They saw some drawings on the wall. 

"Take a look at this," Nojiko said.

"These look old," Vivi said.

Honey nodded. The drawings decapitated a large monster surrounded by other beasts. The large monster.had a large circular body. It had sharp teeth and a long mouth. It has three arms, with one extending from the middle of its torso. The arm joints looked robotic in nature. It also had two large cylinders on its back. 

"That thing looks like a monster," Honey said.

"It does," Vivi replied. 

"It also has smaller monsters," Nojiko said. 

They saw monsters with spherical torsos with two mechanical arms. Their necks were long and, while their heads resembled different animals. On top of their heads and hands they possessed gemstone. 

"So this must be its minions," Vivi said. 

"I wonder who drawed this and why it's here?" Nojiko wondered. 

"This feels like a pirate adventure," Vivi said.

Honey and Nojiko smiled. 

"It sure is," Nojiko replied.

"Let's keep moving," Honey said. 

They continued to walk around the tunnel. Honey kept her hand on the wall. They eventually reach another wide open area. This area was different. In the middle of the cave was a pedestal with a blue orb. They saw a monochrome stone statue next to it. 

"This was easy," Vivi said, referring to the chest.

"A bit too easy," Honey said.

"That statue looks like the small monster from the drawing," Nojiko said. 

They got closer to the pedestal and the stone statue. The stone statue started shaking. The top of the head had a circular light. It glowed blue. The statue broke out and a large blue spherical torsos with two blue mechanical arms came to life. He had a long neck with the head of a dog. On top of its head and hands there was a blue gemstone-like hemisphere. 

"Maybe this is the reason why it's still here," Honey said.

Vivi read it`s chest. "Xiquiripat," Vivi said. 

"It must be a guardian protecting it," Nojiko said. 

"Let's be careful," Honey added.

Xiquiripat looked at the three girls. His eyes focused on them. He opened his mouth and fired a blue beam at the girls. 

"Move," Honey shouted. The girls scattered at the Beam hit the ground. They all dodged the attack. 

"We need to take it out," Nojiko said. Honey and Vivi nodded.

"Double Air Blast," Honey said as she raised her hands and blasted purple liquid from them. It hit Xiquiripat. He was pushed back slightly. Honey stopped the attack.

Xiquiripat looked at Honey. He launched his hand at her. The hand had a small rocket which gave it momentum. Honey jumped out of the way. The hand returned back to Xiquiripat. 

Vivi then aimed her Gero Gero gun and fired it at Xiquiripat. The frog shaped bullet hit Xiquiripat. An explosion was seen. "Did we get him?" Honey asked.

The smoke cleared. They could see a scratch on his body. Xiquiripat looked okay. The gemstone glowed. He looked at Vivi and fired a beam towards her. Vivi jumped out of the way. She narrowly missed the beam. 

"That was close and guess not," Vivi said. 

"Cloud Surge," Nojiko said as Nojiko summoned dense storm clouds around Xiquiripat. Xiquiripat looked around. The cloud surrounded him. Nojiko then made the white cloud dark. "Lightning Barrage," Nojiko added as lightning hit Xiquiripat from all angles. He got hit. 

Xiquiripat threw a blue tornado which dissipated the cloud around him. Xiquiripat was hit by lightning. There were more scratches in his body but it looked okay. 

"It's tough," Vivi said. 

Xiquiripat threw his fist at Nojiko. Nojiko jumped out of the way. The fist returned. Vivi ran up and aimed the gun at Xiquiripat. She fired her gun at Xiquiripat. She shot three times at Xiquiripat. Three explosions could be seen. 

Honey followed up. "Liquid Bomb," Honey said as she created a red ball of liquid with both her hands and threw it at Xiquiripat. The red ball hit Xiquiripat and created another explosion. 

They stared at the black smoke cloud. They waited. All of a sudden, a gust of air dissipated the smoke cloud.

"It used that tornado again," Vivi said.

They saw Xiquiripat, there were more scratches on him. "The long metal arm has some sparks," Nojiko said.

"Let's focus on the arms first," Honey said. Nojiko and Vivi nodded.

Honey ran up. She made a shape of a gun with her hands. "Liquid Bullet Barrage," Honey said as she shot purple liquid bullets at the left arm of Xiquiripat. It turned around and fired a beam at Honey. Honey jumped away from the beam.

Nojiko jumped in the air. "Lightning Blast," she said as she created a small dark cloud in her hand and shot a lighting bolt at the arm. The arm got hit again with the attack. Xiquiripat fired his other arm at Nojiko. It went through the air and hit Nojiko. However it went through her body. Nojiko transformed her body into clouds. She landed back on the ground. 

"Nojiko are you okay?" Vivi said.

"Yes, I am logia so it cannot hit me easily," Nojiko said. Nojiko was panting loudly. 

Vivi turned around and fired her Gero Gero gun at the arm again. The frog shaped bullets hit his left arm and an explosion was seen. There was a loud bang sound following it. As the smoke cleared, they could see the left arm had fallen off. 

"We are making progress," Honey said. 

Xiquiripat, charged at Vivi. Vivi tried to move away however she was slow and Xiquiripat punched Vivi in the stomach. She went flying back and landed on the ground. 

"Vivi," Nojiko shouted. Xiquiripat was in front of Nojiko and tried to punch, however his fist went through and hit the ground. Nojiko was still panting loudly. Her breathing was heavy. 

Honey came and said, "Double Air Blast," as she used both her hands to blast purple liquid at Xiquiripat. He went back. 

"Re-energy blast," Honey said as she blasted golden liquid at Nojiko. Nojiko felt her energy come back.

"Thank you," Nojiko said.

"No problem, that initial save cost you stamina," Honey said.

Vivi spat some spit out. She wiped her mouth. "Ouch that did hurt," Vivi said. She got up and headed towards the other two girls. 

"Vivi, are you fine? Nojiko asked. 

"I am okay. He hit my stomach but I am fine," Vivi said. 

"Re-energy blast," Honey said as she blasted golden liquid at Vivi. Viiv felt her energy come back. "Just to be sure," Honey said. 

"Thank you," Vivi replied.

"Let's be more careful," Honey said.

Nojiko and Vivi nodded. "We should go for the other arm next," Nojiko said.

"Yes we should," Vivi agreed. 

"Let's go," Honey said.

Vivi ran up and fired the Gero Gero gun at the right hand. She unloaded five frog shaped bullets at Xiquiripat. A black cloud of smoke could be seen from the attack. 

Honey followed suit and she aimed for the right hand. "Liquid Burst Cannon," Honey said as she put her hand together and formed a concentrated ball of red liquid before compressing and shooting it out like a cannon. The red liquid ball went towards Xiquiripat. It hit Xiquiripat and created an explosion. 

As the smoke cleared, the arms was still intact. There was some damage but no sparks or any serious damage. Xiquiripat fired a tornado from his mouth. 

"Liquid Air Blast," Honey said as she shot purple liquid from her hand. It hit the tornado and pushed it away from them.

"Good thinking," Vivi said. Honey nodded. 

Nojiko surrounded Xiquiripat with clouds again. "Cloud Surge," she said. She then darkened the clouds. "Lightning Barrage," she said, however she focused her lightning bolt on the right arm. All the lighting bolts hit the right arms. 

A loud bang could be heard. There were still clouds and smoke around Xiquiripat. It cleared out. The second arm was gone. It now looked like a large circular monster with a long neck and dog face. His eyes looked drained. The gemstone was glowing weak on his head. Xiquiripat fired a beam from his mouth. Nojiko dodged it. 

Xiquiripat did not move. It looked tired. 

"It's time to end this," Vivi said. 

Nojiko and Honey nodded. 

Vivi aimed her Gero Gero gun. 

Nojiko surrounded Xiquiripat with clouds again. 

Honey prepared her attack. She put her hands forward. A red ball started forming. 

Vivi fired her Gero Gero gun. The frog shaped bullets hit Xiquiripat. 

"Lightning barrage," Nojiko said as lightning bolts hit Xiquiripat. 

"Liquid Bomb," Honey said as she fired a red ball of liquid towards Xiquiripat. It hit Xiquiripat. 

All three attacks hit Xiquiripat and he exploded. Xiquiripat went down in a ball of fire.

"Finally he went down," Nojiko said.

"Yes we did it," Vivi celebrated. 

"Yes we did," Honey added. 

"Lets see the treasure," Vivi said. 

Nojiko nodded and they both headed to the pedestal. Honey followed. "It's pretty," Nojiko said.

"A red gem ball," Honey said.

Vivi approached it. "Should I pick it up?" Vivi asked.

"Sure," Honey replied.

Vivi picked up the treasure.