VII - Endeavor

"Captain Kaizo." The Pirate King mentions his name with a smug smile, "So good to see you survived the cursed poison Xavis pierced on you..."

Those words he mentioned really irritate his pride. Xavis, back then, was very precise that the arrow landed on Kaizo's heart, and he threw him away from the galaxy. He's dead. He was sure that Kaizo's dead.

"...alive" His smug face disappears.

Yet, how come the ghost is standing still in front of him? How did he survive?

The Captain comments, "I guess you're nothing now, without Xavis."

"Oh, you are dead wrong, captain." Ziorta lets out a small chuckle, "With this Armor I created, my powers have been doubled." He adds, "Much to my surprise, you have brought yourself a companion, captain."

Kaizo replies, "She cured me. That might answer your unasked question about how I survived."

"Well...That doesn't matter. Thanks to it, I can finally test this armor and see if I could kill you!"

His fist controls the slightly hardened lava on the floor and begins to launch it towards them.

"Lava Burst!"

Nerissa quickly summons a big red shield made of her blood. It's powerful enough to hold the burning lava. The Pirate King never saw that kind of power before. He began to think if she had any power sphere. As far as he knows, no power sphere could bear a force as strong as that. The lust for power controls him.

"Fascinating..." Ziorta comments.

The blood shield ceases. Kaizo and Nerissa began to march their way to the Pirate King.

Nerissa speaks, "Let us not waste our time, Captain."

"This station is in its worst shape. We need to hurry before it starts to collapse." Kaizo agrees.

They're starting to focus on one thing. Defeating this Pirate King. The captain leaps to the king's back and withdraws his blade. The Pirate King couldn't notice his sudden move.

"Energy Slash!"

The slash didn't really do much. However, Kaizo could see a slightly burned mark and cut on his armor. Kaizo attempts his slashes to see if there are any improvements. Ziorta begins to feel very annoyed that he tried to attack in any way. He couldn't reach him because his dodges were fast.

Nerissa summons her blood swords from her palms and sprints to the distracted pirate. She slides under him, and her swords pierce his legs. It kind of works, yet, it didn't do all the way through. They slowly learned that the armor recovers quickly from all those cuts.

When Ziorta was about to lay his fist on Kaizo, he suddenly couldn't feel his movements, even his head.

"Wha-What?! My body?!"

He struggles to look behind only to see the girl, with her hands glowing red. It's like she has possessed his entire being.

"You!" Ziorta shouts, "What have you done to me?!"

Nerissa throws him away from Kaizo, making him slam to the wall. Kaizo focused his energy power on his fist, and so did Nerissa. She gathers her blood in her fist.

"Forcefield Punch!"

"Berserk Punch!"

Those fists lands on the alien's chest. Yet, because of his thick armor, their fists could become really numb.

"Damn! That is one hard armor!" Nerissa comments while easing the pain.

Even Kaizo agrees with her, "Too thick!"

Suddenly, they witness the giant alien jump high with all of their hands forming a fist. The moment Ziorta's about to smash them, they quickly summon layered shields.

"Multi-Energy Barrier!"

The layers quickly shatter into pieces, including Nerissa's shield. His fists landed on the floor, and the vibration threw them away.

"Captain! Nerissa!" The kids shout.

Nerissa rises and carefully helps Kaizo to get up. She was surprised that the metal wall bent because of the hard slam.

"Kaizo! Are you alright?!" Nerissa worries.

He struggles, and he gets helped by her, "I'm alright, Nerissa."

"I guess it's almost pointless to destroy his armor after all." She utters.

"We need another way. Any ideas?" Kaizo questions.

She knew at this time she needed to be helpful. Her eyes analyze the giant alien from afar, putting on his smug face. To be honest, she is really disgusted by it. In a quick moment, she notices something. It worked when she attempted to control him, but it was cumbersome because he was big. She has thought of an alternative.

Nerissa calls his name, "Kaizo."

"Anything good?" He asks.

"Try to distract him." She suggests, "Get as much blood as possible out of him."

Kaizo had thought of it for a while. He speaks, "Wait a minute, didn't you just bloodbended him earlier?"

"I know. But that monster is hefty. I doubt my hands would be able to take it." Nerissa replies.

"Alright, but how? You saw it yourself. His armor is thick!" He speaks half-aloud.

Then her finger points at something, "See those gaps?"

It took a while for him to notice it.

"Yeah? What about it?"

Nerissa replies, "Try to get your sword to pierce his skin through those gaps. Get some blood out of it. Once you do it, I'll try to control him."

Kaizo comments, "Well, I think it's worth the try."

"Now go on. Shoo."

"Fuck you."

She watches him as he sprints towards the Pirate King. She ponders, "When?"

The Pirate King smirks, "Nobody in this universe would be able to destroy this armor! All of you, TAPOPS, will be finished, IN MY HANDS!!"

"Finished?! Are you really sure about that?" Nerissa queries.

Ziorta notices that taunting tone, "Who said that?!"

"I did!"

He turns his back. Its the girl who controlled him, "You?!"

"What? You're not pleased?! Fuck you!" Nerissa jeers.

Kaizo thought to himself, "What the hell, Nerissa?!"

"Who do you think you are, you imbecile?! How dare you?!"

"Who am I, Hulk?! Your special someone, I guess, I don't know!" She shouts. "Oh, one thing before you say anything stupid, you should keep an eye on someone."

"What?!"

Kaizo slashes the armor in a dash. Ziorta didn't even notice his presence. The captain sees the gap Nerissa talked about. He must take the perfect time to get his sword to pierce the skin. With the perfect angle position, Kaizo finally managed to do it. It didn't drip much, so he needs to keep hitting it.

"You damn insect!"

Unfortunately, the Pirate King notices it. Kaizo knew this would come. Ziorta raises his fist, and a brutal punch lands on his body. It threw him to the wall.

"Kaizo!" Nerissa shouts.

Kaizo stumbles, "Do it, Nerissa!"

She glances at to pool of blood around Ziorta. She thought that should be enough. Her hands glow red, and the drops of blood move toward the mad king. He was disgusted by seeing his own blood crawling on his feet. The liquid absorbs through the skin. With a quick of her hands, she snapped his knee bone.

CRACK!

Screams of pain filled the entire station. Everyone on board covered their ears until it ceased. They all witnessed the Pirate King getting crazy over the broken knee. It may be annoying, but to slow him down, she must do this.

"YOU CRAZY BITCH!!"

He suddenly leaps towards Nerissa. She couldn't believe he could still move. She felt a punch on her stomach, and Kaizo witnessed it in shock. Before hitting her body on the wall, she felt a warm body holding her from behind. Thanks to that, she won't feel pain in her back. Her eyes looked behind her to find out that Kaizo had saved her.

"Nerissa, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Kaizo apologized.

She coughed blood and replied, "At...least you covered...my back."

The Pirate King lumbered, upset with his broken knee. He is getting even mad. Kaizo thought of another way to beat him.

"You should go berserk." Kaizo made his decision.

"W-What?" Nerissa was unsure.

He speaks, "We need to speed things up. This station is near its destruction. At least we've made some progress, and he's slowing down. That is why you need to go berserk."

She gave those words thought, and she agreed, "Fine. You should also go Amber, Captain."

He helped her get up, "That's what I thought."

Kaizo raises his fist, and his mask releases some steam and slowly turns yellow. From Fang's view, he knew exactly what he was trying to do, and it was something that would make him feel worried.

"Ca-Captain is going to use the Amber power again?!"

"H-Hey! What happened to Nerissa?!" Boboiboy shocked.

They witnessed her body turn into a black and red colored aura. It's something they haven't seen before, even from their first battle on Earth. Boboiboy thought this was what she meant when she said she didn't use her full power.

"AMBER MASK!"

"BERSERK MODE!"

The King sighted their enhancing power. Not caring about the broken knee, he felt enthusiastic.

"COME AT ME, UNWORTHY WARRIORS!"

They screamed, "KILL HIM!

The two warriors dashed towards the so-called pirate king, and their blades made a mark on his thick armor at once. Every opportunity Nerissa took to blood punch him. Every opportunity Kaizo took to harm the alien with his blade. Yet, the King still managed to assault them. Though judging from their visions, their opponent seemed to be overwhelmed.

Kaizo finds this as an opportunity, "Amber Energy Punch!"

His fist arrives on the king's back, arching in pain. Surprisingly, the back armor cracks open. The moment Ziorta's about to punch him, Kaizo quickly summons his yellow shield. The alien's strength made him fall back.

"Don't forget about me!"

That sound alerts Ziorta. He quickly tilts his head, only to see Nerissa with her blood sword raised. She clenches her weapon, and her blade touches his face with a quick move. Bloods dripping. He couldn't make it stop.

"AARRGH!" He shouts in rage, "MY FACE!

His hands are covered in blood as he touches his red face. Suddenly, he senses the blood slowly crawling on his skin. It felt like it was returning back to the wound, but no. The blood went into his eyes, blurring his visions to red. No matter how hard he tried to take it off, unfortunately, it kept sticking into his eyes. It hurts so bad the alien screams in pain, suffering. Everyone there witnessed the gruesome moment.

Nerissa manages to hold her horses, "Kaizo!"

"Got it!"

He clenches his hilt and dashes towards the angered king. His back is wide open. A perfect opportunity for Kaizo.

"Amber Slash!!"

His sword slashes the suffered king's back, causing it splurts so much blood. His pain screams hurt their ears. Unfortunately, she lost control of his blood. Ziorta furiously gazes at them, blood dripping from his eyes. Rage. Kaizo saw that horrifying look. He held Nerissa's arms to fall back with him.

"I...did it!" She pants, "I snapped it..."

"Then it's the time!" Kaizo exclaims.

Kazo and Nerissa both summon their powerful swords. Straightening their blades together, connected. They could feel the energy flow on their arms. It feels....complicated.

"Charge!!"

They both marched their blades aiming at the paralyzed Ziorta. Even he got stiffened to see their fiery spirits. But what gives? He couldn't move anymore.

"Kaizo and Nerissa Combo! BERSERKER ENERGY BLADE!"

Until their sharp blades successfully pierce into his chest. A right target. Kaizo saw blood dripping through his chest and his mouth. Slowly, his body fell to the floor. Does this mean victory is theirs?

"I've told you before..." Kaizo pants, "You'll die for that."

Ziorta coughs blood, still feeling the sharp thing piercing inside him, "I will... never..." He mumbles, "forget...your fucking...faces."

"May your generations forever be cursed," Nerissa speaks.

"Fucking....bitch." He curses, "Even if I'm gone...History will still...depict me as... the strongest pirate," He coughs for the last time, "in the entire...galaxy."

They both witnessed his clenched fist suddenly weakens. Eyes still wide open but don't show any signs of life. As his body slowly fell to the cold metal, their blades slid off the body.

Death. Ziorta, the galaxy pirate king, has died.

Nerissa kneels beside his dead body. Her fingers travel his face and close his eyelids.

"Why did you do that?" Kaizo questions.

She answers, "I just...felt really uneasy if I see a dead body with eyes still wide open. So, I'll close those eyes, let this beast rest completely."

"I see..."

Everyone witnessed the whole thing from afar.

"They...They won!" Gopal exclaims in the hype.

Boboiboy comments, "He died. But, I don't know....it's kind of...depressing."

"I know," Yaya agrees, "But at least were saved, right?"

"That's right!" Ying speaks.

On the other hand, Fang is very concerned about his brother: "Captain has to use the Amber Energy."

Suddenly, the entire station starts shaking. Metal containers fell on the floor, pipes blew steam, and everything collapsed. Kaizo accidentally gazes at the ceiling and sees an incoming metal ceiling falling above Nerissa. With a reflex, he quickly pulled her to his body. Nerissa could feel the chills on her back. Who knows what would happen if he didn't take action? Aside from that, she could hear his heartbeat. A slight blush appears on her cheeks.

"You're welcome," Kaizo said.

"S-Shut up!"

"The station is collapsing. We should go!" He suggests.

They both sprint to escape the room, along with the rest of the gang. Good thing that Lavabot was obtained by Gopal. Kaizo saw her slightly staggering as she ran. So, he held her hand through the rest of the escape. Everyone saw Ramenman from Tempur-A waiting for them to board the emergency ship until they reached the hangar.

Everyone is now on board. The ship starts to float and immediately escapes the collapsing TAPOPS Station. Leaving Ziorta behind and not looking back. Commander Koko Ci has done a quick group check. Nobody got left behind.

Kaizo and Nerissa are still panting from the run. They both look at each other, tired but satisfied. They felt their body slowly weaken.

"I thank you... for your assistance... Nerissa."

"The pleasure...is mine...Kaizo."

Passed out. It made everyone on board concerned. Ochobot identified that they were tired of using so much energy and strength during the fight. They both deserved a rest. The ship goes off its journey to the temporary camp.