CHAPTER 41: LOUD CITY

Defei and Kofron are chasing after Retbore, who is looking around and is way ahead of them. He smiles and takes a turn. Bystanders glance and lock onto him, some feel anxious as they notice two guardians chasing him.

"Woah, that must be a criminal."

"Two guardians in the flesh!"

"I hope they catch him."

"They definitely will."

People murmur. Some leave, some continue doing whatever they were doing and others pull out their phones to record.

…

Kofron: This guy can run, even though he has those metal thingies on him…. What do you think they're for?

Defei: Probably just accessories.

Kofron: No way this man put some metal on his back and thought it would make him look cooler.

Water blasts out of Defei's shoes and he's lifted.

Defei: I'm gonna go ahead!

He flies off, Retbore notices him and worries.

"What? He can fly? Why didn't he just do that from the start of this chase!?"

Retbore stiffly sticks his fists out in front of him and begins to run faster. He avoids several oncoming cars and turns into a street with fewer vehicles. Defei speeds up, some people are splashed by his cool water.

A brown coat of clay begins to form on Retbore's forearms. It covers all of it and even extends off them.

Defei shows up next to Retbore and kicks him in the face, launching him into a building. People scream and yell. Retbore jumps back onto the ground, 2 holes form on his clay arm stubs that when you look into them, reveal his hands. A dark purple boiling liquid begins to seep from the holes.

Retbore: Hey! Guardian! Let's see how well you can protect people!

Retbore turns to some people running and smiles broadly, he puts his arms together, and out of his clay molds, a stream of purple acid shoots out.

Retbore: Clay cannon time!

Defei flies past the acid and to in front of it, where he thrust both of his palms to shoot water that counters it.

Retbore shoots acid at some other people, Kofron shows up and flicks the guitar repeatedly, small soundwaves decimate the attack.

Retbore attempts to shoot one more time but defei flies and kicks him again. He's sent over to Kofron who stuns him and then slams his guitar into his head repeatedly.

Clay forms on the spot that is being hit and Kofron flinches the next time he strikes it. Retbore dashes up and crashes into Kofron.

Defei flies and collides his foot into Retbore's neck, pinning him to the ground. Defei's foot releases boiling water, Retbore yells in torment as it soaks his skin.

Clay rushes out of his neck pushing Defei's foot back. Retbore attempts to get up but Kofron vigorously swings his guitar like a golf club and strikes Retbore sending him away.

After some sliding, Retbore finally manages to rise. He looks up and notices Defei flying down to him.

He quickly shoots acid into the sky. Defei dodges it and zooms by, swiping Retbore off the ground by the back of his shirt.

Retbore: Put me down!

Defei: Sure… But please think twice before trying to hurt people near us.

Defei heads down and scrapes Retbore's body and face on the floor for a few seconds then flies back up.

Retbore: I SAID PUT ME DOWN!

Retbore's clay arms are chipped, his pants are torn and some skin on his face is gone.

Defei: Okay, I'll put you down.

Defei tosses Retbore high up and shoots him with water, pushing him farther and farther away until the water stops.

Retbore falls and hits the ground. For a few seconds, he lays still and dazed, staring at Defei fly away. Then he sits up.

"He left me alone?"

Retbore notices his steel pipes are now broken and detached from his body.

"That's gonna make acid production a bit harder. I'll have to get them fixed later."

Next, he observes Kofron using his guitar as a surfboard.

"That is so stupid."

By kicking the string on his guitar and releasing sound waves, he's able to blast himself forward. It's Kofron's main way of transportation.

Retbore rises and points his clay cannons at Kofron.

Kofron: Hey, man!

Retbore: Stay back or I'll shoot even more people!

Kofron looks up and spots Defei, who's showing him a thumbs-up.

Kofron: There's no one here for you to shoot and to hear me play my guitar.

Clay begins to form all over Retbore's body. Kofron steps off his guitar and picks it up. Retbore fires a powerful stream of acid from his cannons.

Kofron: There's not a single soul in miles to hear me play. HELL YEAH!

Kofron flicks his guitar, an extremely loud sound is released, glass near the area is shattered and rubble flies everywhere and the sound roars into the city. Some people's ears are ringing, others flinch. The acid is torn apart and Retbore's clay crumbles, his internal organs explode, his bones break and he bleeds from his ears and eyes, his body flops onto the floor.

Kofron lets a deep breath out.

Kofron: I haven't made a sound that loud in a long time. Thanks for the opportunity, Defei.

Defei hovers next to him.

Defei: You're welcome.

Kofron stares awkwardly at the destruction he caused.

Kofron: It's great to be that loud, but I feel bad for Liz cuz she's gonna need to fill out papers for the damage… So pointless.

Defei: Don't feel entirely bad, it's not like you're the only person causing damage in this city right now.

Defei and Kofron hear a sloshing sound and turn around.

"Ultimate skill: The Perfect Clay Being."

The mess of blood and flesh that is Retbore's body is devoured by clay. A blob of the material is formed and it only gets bigger and bigger.

Defei shoots boiling water at it, some of the clay melts but it's insignificant. Retbore's groaning can be heard.

Kofron points to the sky, informing Defei to fly up, which he speedily does.

Kofron flicks the guitar string again, the same things happen except Retbore being affected, only half of the clay blasts off. But it's instantly restored, Kofron walks to the blob, flicking his guitar frequently. The blob has its clay destroyed over and over again but it always replaces itself instantly. The blob was now the size of an average home

"I gotta play louder."

Kofron signals Defei to come down.

Defei: What's up?

Kofron: I have to make a louder sound. So we've gotta move from here.

Defei sticks his feet and hands out, he shoots hot water at the blob, the part that was hit melts but without delay comes back.

Defei: … Where should we go?

Kofron looks around and stops, he lifts his guitar and points using it to an area outside the city. A vast flat land full of palm trees and smaller plants.

Kofron: Over there. No one should be there.

Kofron looks back at the blob, it has stopped growing and is just convulsing now.

Kofron smiles awkwardly.

Kofron: It… looks like a giant pile of shit.

Defei: … How do we get it over to that place?

Kofron: I don't know. Let me think of something.

Kofron and Defei are pondering when the clay blob promptly morphs and swiftly changes into the shape of a human. A strong one at that, it condensed its size to give itself bulky arms and legs.

Retbore's face pops out of the clay head, smirking.

Retbore: I feel great.

Kofron points at him.

Kofron: He's a shit monster.

Defei chuckles.

Kofron: A dookie demon.

Retbore walks over to Kofron and Defei, he stares at them confidently.

Retbore: Look at what you've turned me into! A clay masterpiece.

A few seconds of silence go by.

Kofron: … Would you prefer being called a shit monster, a dookie demon, or a poop predator?

Retbore: Huh?

Defei shoots hot water at Retbore's face, clay is speedily crafted there to protect him. It melts off revealing his sour guise.

Retbore: You are not funny.

The clay recovers Retbore's face. Defei zooms up and shoots more water at Retbore. Several long sharp tentacle-like clay formations rush out of Retbore's body, some rise high aiming for Defei, and others rip through the ground aiming for Kofron.

Clay melts and melts due to Defei's water. He weaves around the tentacles, Kofron dips. The tentacles in the sky and on the ground continue following them.

Next, a few thick and flaily long clay tubes pop out of Retbore's body that violently shoots acid into the air.

Defei heads down still dodging the spikes and now avoiding the acid. He tries to kick Retbore in the face, but a long clay spike pops out of his face.

Defei dodges and goes for another kick, an additional spike comes out that he once again avoids. Defei emerges behind Retbore with another kick incoming, a small tube comes out of his neck. It sprays acid and the lower part of Defei's leg is burned as he dashes back.

Defei heads to Kofron while grabbing his leg and stares at the wound.

"At least my whole leg didn't melt off."

Kofron is still dodging clay, Defei hovers over him.

Defei: Have you thought of something yet?

Kofron: Yes, I'm gonna try to lure him to the area, if you see him close enough just blast him as hard as you can with the water, make him feel like he's using a bidet.

Defei: Don't bidets feel good though?

Kofron: I used one once, it freaked me out.

Defei: How about I blast him like 3 water jets combined?

Kofron: Yes, do that.

Defei flies away.

Defei: I'll blast him now, maybe I can push him out of the city… he hasn't moved so I doubt he's gonna follow you.

Kofron nods.

…

Kofron calls his skill "Being hella loud (sometimes I'm only loud) " It allows him to produce soundwaves that range from the quietest possible, 0 decibels to the maximum possible, 350 decibels. His guitar is what allows him to reach up to 350, normally he can only go up to 150.

At smaller decibels the most his skill can do is stun opponents, at higher decibels, things will be decimated.

Of course, he has to be careful with how loud he is or where he decides to use the skill as he could hurt or even kill anyone nearby. He's the only one not affected by his sounds. To him, it sounds like nice music.

Kofron claims he can actually make sounds higher than 350 decibels thanks to his guitar but proving it would be devastating.

…

Defei moves around Retbore trying to hit him but always getting stopped by tentacles or tube acid.

Defei looks at his palms and lands.

"Okay, 3 water jets combined."

…

Defei calls his skill, "Working With Water." He's able to shoot water from his palms or the soles of his feet. The water can be scorching, hot, cool, cold, or frigid and it has many uses.

He can fly with it, tear enemies apart or ruin their skin. Defei uses the flying part of the skill the most.

…

"I've only done this a couple of times."

Flowing water shoots out Defei's feet, it's the same speed as usual, fast. It speeds up to an insane degree, and Defei is quickly launched up.

"At this speed, the water is hard to control."

Defei whizzes around in random directions, he scrapes the surfaces of buildings by accident then heads towards Retbore.

"Is this guy okay?"

Water hits Retbore, and to his surprise, the clay on him cracks. He swiftly repairs it but it just keeps breaking. Different spots on his body break and are repaired.

Retbore: What are you trying to do?

Defei manages to get himself to hover near Retbore, he's on his right.

Defei: I'm trying to defeat you.

Retbore: Doesn't seem like you are.

Defei: I am. So be quiet.

Retbore turns to Defei and releases tentacles ready to demolish him. Defei puts both of his palms out and together. Kofron appears beside him.

Water as strong as he can make, shoots out, creating an enormous, dynamic beam. His hands are rattling. Retbore is swiftly pushed away by the water, clay drips off him.

"This hurts to do!"

Retbore attempts to get out of the water.

Kofron: Hit where his ears are!

Defei puts his feet up and together to match his arms, he slams into a structure behind him. The water coming from his feet hits Retbore's head and spots hiding his ear. The clay is melting and healing continuously.

Kofron flicks his guitar multiple times, the sound travels through the water making it faster, it manages to reach and just barely slip into Retbore's ears before he can cover them up and he's stunned.

Retbore continues being pushed and stunned until he gets to the edge of the sidewalk where he falls off and lands on the flat land.

He drops all his clay and bolts away from the city.

"I'm out of here! I'm not used to having to replace my clay so quickly, it's killing me!"

Defei flies up, his water is back to normal speed, he shoots some at Retbore. Retbore runs around in a zigzag to try and avoid the water but it doesn't matter and his back is hit.

Retbore lets out a gasp.

"Son of a bitch."

He continues running and after 20 seconds, he stops to rest. Retbore looks back at the city upon realizing water was no longer being aimed at him.

He observes Kofron high in the air, surfing on his guitar, coming down to him.

"Son of a bitch!"

Retbore thinks for a bit then he smirks, clay covers his body and tentacles rush out of him that fly up to Kofron.

"This guy is in a super vulnerable position! I'll kill him real quick!"

Kofron twists in the air a little and lands on one of the tentacles, sliding down it with the guitar. He quickly reaches Retbore's body, Retbore is bewildered.

Kofron: Bye bye, dookie demon.

Kofron kicks the strings on the guitar and hops off it. An extremely loud sound is sent out, Retbore is torn apart instantly. Trees and plants are ripped out of the floor, insects close by explode, the ground cracks and the sound gets to the city where it rattles some buildings and breaks more glass. Most of the city hears it, to some, it sounds like a volcano roaring to others a gunshot.

Kofron picks up his guitar from the pile of clay and blood left behind by Retbore. Defei flies down and carries him away.

Defei: That guy didn't have the orb piece… so we've got to go find someone else.

Kofron: What if I broke it?

Defei: Oh, that would be good, they would lose what they came to get. But I don't think that guy had it.

Kofron and Defei enter the city.

TO BE CONTINUED…