Chapter 02: The Underworld T.C. Grand Prix Main Event
"We are moments away from the start folks, all the teams are lined up and ready to go!" The MC who refers to himself as 'the man who needs no introduction' shouts whilst holding his twin microphones so close to his mouth it looks like he is eating them.
We, the members of Team Pandemonium, along with all the other participants, are hovering several metres off the ground in two straight lines. I can see Ren in one of the Cerberus team's support capsules, I smile in determination as our eyes meet.
"..." There is no need for words, our eyes do all the talking.
(I never thought we would ever have to face each other like this, Ren.)
(Ohhh- Yuichi, I am no match for your strength, nor your beauty, please please, have mercy.)
"COME ON REN! EVEN THOUGH I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT THAT IS JUST TOO PATHETIC!" I scream as our conversation with our eyes took a turn for the pitiful.
"Onee-sama, what is wrong with Yuichi-niisama?" Lilicia-chan's angelic voice asks through the headset.
"Nothing is, that random outburst maybe weird for regular people; but for Yuichi, it's the norm," Alicia explains.
As expected of my fiancé, you know full well that my magnificent self has far surpassed the level of a regular person.
"Then, as I thought, Yuichi-niisama is a truly amazing person," Lilicia-chan chimes happily. Well said, I'll give you a 'Yuichi head pat' coupon after the race, Lilicia-chan.
"What am I going to do with the two of you?" Alicia asks as she droops her head from within her capsule.
Don't feel down, dear? I'll give you a 'Yuichi head pat' coupon too.
"And now, let me introduce you all to our guest commentator for this race," The man who needs no introduction's voice resounds throughout the entire area, "It's our headhoncho in person folks, HADES-SAMA!" The image instantly changes to the familiar figure of the flamboyant leader of the underworld.
"OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!" The entire area screams so loud I thought the sky was shaking.
"How goes it ya'll!? Doctor Des is here to rap ass and chew bubblegum; but I'm all out of gum," Hades pulls a very cool pose as his godly words exit his mouth.
What a guy, no wonder he rules the underworld.
"Now, I am a man of few words, so I'll keep this brief; participants, LOSE YOURSELVES!"
"OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everyone including me screams in response.
"Thank you, Hades-sama," Man who needs no introduction nods in satisfaction, "All racers prepare to start, the race begins in T minus thirty seconds."
"Yuichi, don't say anything for a while, you'll bite your tongue," Alicia warns through the headset as she looks at me, I nod in confirmation.
Several hovering traffic light like things float around the area, currently only the first one of the four lights is on.
Beep, beep, BEEP!
VOOOOOOOMMMMM! - All the capsules take off like rockets, the landscape quickly changes into a rocky ravine. We're moving so fast we can't even see the stadium any more. Thankfully, the many cables are keeping me from being thrown around too much.
"AND THEY'RE OFF!" Man who needs no introduction proclaims, "Bringing up the front of the pack is Team Thanatos, they have always been known for their quick acceleration, but it's still early days."
Alicia skilfully navigates us either above or below the many rocky pillars that connect the two sides of the ravine together. Slowly, the heavy vibrations from the Tri-Capsule become thinner, until I can barely feel a thing. We, Team Pandemonium, are somewhere in the centre off all the racers, so we've got some catching up to do.
"Yuichi, Lilicia, we're going on the offensive," Alicia announces, "Pivot round to the front, but don't block my view."
"Right!" We reply together, as we make our support capsules orbit round in front of Alicia.
"Yuichi-niisama, I'll handle the ones in the distance, you take the ones close by. This terrain is perfect for me," Lilicia-chan confidently explains the battle plan.
"Can do," I reply fearlessly, but I still don't entirely know what she means. I quickly create and launch several ice balls, however the supports on the defending capsule quickly react and block my attack with their own.
"Reaper Technique: Rock Geyser." Lilicia-chan's voice comes through the headset. As I look on ahead I see in the distance a huge flux of boulders are barraging the Tri-Capsules of some of our many opponents.
Is this Lilicia-chan's technique? It's really powerful.
More than just a couple of our rivals were teleported out of the race in that one move. However, the one at the very front magnificently dodged the attack without a scratch.
"Team Pandemonium is on the attack! But as expected of Team Thanatos, they were able to dodge Lilicia-sama's attack like it was nothing!" Man who needs no introduction announces the play by play.
"Lilicia has always had an affinity for Earth based Reaper Techniques, but for her to conjure up one as big as that at her age is a remarkable feat. My homie Alexander must be as proud as can be," Hades supplements.
Yes, Lilicia-chan is to become the mistress of this Yuichi Shiro, so this level of skill is only natural. You are our pride and joy, Lilicia-chan.
"Yuichi! They're attacking from the rear, leave the front to Lilicia and do something about them!" Alicia orders, breaking me free from my state of admiration.
"The incarnate of beauty is on it!" I scream back as I pivot to Alicia's rear.
Several fireballs are approaching fast.
"It's just like shooting clay pigeons," I say as I create several balls of ice, "PULL!" I shout as I shoot my ice balls at the incoming fireballs.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! - Huge explosions engulf the sky like fireworks where my ice collides with their fire.
"As expected of my man, such an attack is worthless against him," Hades compliments.
You really do understand me, don't you? Anyway, time for me to counter-attack.
"My soul is one that is of self confidence. Beautiful, intelligent and kind. Absolute belief in myself and those that surround me. And a will that never dulls, bends or breaks." I chant the lyrics of my soul's nature, playtime is over.
"Silver Manifestation!" I quickly create and manipulate my huge masses of silver into various shapes and forms.
"IT'S HERE FOLKS! THE RUMOURED SOUL TECHNIQUE OF YUICHI SHIRO!" Man who needs no introduction yells, he's really the excitable type isn't he? "THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN HOPING TO SEE EVER SINCE I HEARD HE WAS GOING TO BE IN THE RACE. THE POWER OF THE HUMAN ANOMALY WHO IS TO BE MARRIED INTO THE PANDEMONIUM FAMILY!"
Really? Then get your eyeful of my elegant power.
I quickly style several chunks of my silver into the shapes of a javelin, "Eat this." I launch the silver javelins at the many Tri-Capsules behind us, the supports try desperately to block my attacks, but it's meaningless, my silver pieces through the magical shields they erect like they're made of paper.
"It's no good! Yuichi Shiro-san's silver cannot be blocked. The only thing the supports can do to protect their linchpins is use themselves as shields," Man who needs no introduction declares. Just as he said, many supports resorted to sacrificing themselves to save the linchpins.
Such determination, you may have been my enemies, but I, Yuichi Shiro, salute your resolution. I see off the supports who are being forcefully teleported out the race with eyes of respect.
"Yuichi, get out of your happy mood, the hard part begins from now!" Alicia shouts.
"The racers are starting to move out of the ravine and into the magma cave. That place can really warm up some cold bodies." Hades announces, "I'm guessing this is where Team Cerberus will make their move."
The rocky terrain quickly changes into one of some kind of cavern with a huge sea of fire below us, streams of lava and molten rocks jump out of the fire sea like a snake after it's prey, Alicia dodges all the foreign objects with minimal movement, her concentration is second to none. Lilicia-chan and myself are constantly pivoting around the Linchpin yet not a single pebble or ember has scratched us. I quickly snap myself back out of my admiration towards my fiancé, there is something I don't get.
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"Why would Cerberus attack now?" I ask.
"The last terrain was one best suited for Lilicia who specialises in Earth type Reaper Techniques, that's why we didn't see hide nor tail of them, because we had the advantage there." Alicia, despite being busy navigating the Tri-Capsule, explains.
"The Cerberus family are renown for their affinity for fire based Reaper Techniques, and in this terrain, their power can be brought out to the maximum." Lilicia-chan supplements.
Just a moment later, "WHAT THE!?" A huge pillar of fire engulfs several teams, whom are quickly teleported out of the race. Thankfully the barriers around the capsules are exceedingly strong, so there is no threat of loss of life during the race.
I spot the likely culprits of the last attack: Ren, Elizabeth and the younger brother, I think they called him Reno. Their capsule starts to pick up speed and is gaining on us at a fast rate.
"JUST AS HADES-SAMA PREDICTED! TEAM CERBERUS IS ON THE ATTACK!" Man who needs no introduction yells out, I sure wish he would shut up already.
"Lilicia, Yuichi, never mind the front, just concentrate on Cerberus. I know it is asking a lot, but if possible try and keep Reno at bay!"
"Asking a lot?" I reply in confusion. Why just that Reno boy?
"Yuichi, Elizabeth maybe an embarrassment to Cerberus; but Reno is anything but,"Alicia harshly explains, I can only remain silent from hearing this.
Elizabeth is an embarrassment? You've really got a mean streak in you, Alicia.
I create more silver javelins and launch them at the Team Cerberus's capsules. However, before they reach them, "Holy shit! Is this happening naturally!?" Several pillars of fire shoot out from below us, one of which engulfs my silver, I can tell there is no way my silver would get through that inferno.
"Of course not! It's Reno's doing! Even if it's only within this terrain, his power level could very well be on par with Carrisa's." Alicia answers.
What seriously!? He's that strong!?
"Now, hang on tight and cut the needless banter!" Alicia orders as she navigates left and right, avoiding the fire pillars that would otherwise be on a collision course with us.
"YUICHI-NIISAMA!" Lilicia-chan shouts.
What the!? When did they get there!?
Bang Bang Bang!!
"URGHHH!" Several small fireballs smash into my capsule, "Shield life down to fifty percent," A automated voice warns. I glare at the one behind the last attack, "Ren..." I create a huge quantity of silver shrapnel and shoot them in retaliation. I doubt Reno can conjure those fire pillars quickly enough to block this attack. Just when I thought I was on the verge of forcing Ren out the race, he pivots around the linchpin to the back, dodging my attack, before returning to his original position. "Tch, as expected of my best friend," I compliment, Ren isn't going to go down without a fight.
"Now isn't the time for that, Yuichi!" Alicia shouts, "Reno is up to something."
I redirect my attention back onto Elizabeth's younger sibling. A small fireball is forming in front of his outstretched hand. "That small thing is no need for conc..." I stop mid sentence, why? "Okay, I take it back, that thing could be problematic," I deduce, the small fireball had quickly expanded to about half the width of the cavern. "No amount of sun lotion will be able to turn the disintegration into a fashionable tan with that thing," I state.
"Spare me the jokes and brace yourselves," Alicia orders as she steers us towards the ceiling of the cavern, "I'm glad the sponsors set up barriers around the terrain, otherwise that fireball would destroy the entire cavern. Anyway, get ready! Reno maybe a powerful support, but the driver and linchpin of Team Cerberus is still Elizabeth!"
Before I can even ask what she is planning Reno shoots his huge fireball at us. Is this the end!?
"Hang on!" Alicia shouts as she quickly turns the Tri-Capsule down ninety degrees, the fireball misses us, but wait, if you do that we'll fly into the sea of lava! However, before I can voice my concern, she adjusts the direction of the capsule another ninety degrees so we are flying parallel with the sea of lava, but in the opposite direction to the finish line, this flying upside down is making me queasy. Next, Alicia turns us one hundred and eighty degrees so we are upright and heading in the right direction again. I then notice something else, we're directly underneath Team Cerberus.
"The weak point of the Tri-Capsule is the bottom! The supports can only rotate left and right they cannot defend directly below themselves. Quickly, attack Elizabeth and knock them out of the race!" Alicia orders.
“"RIGHT!"” Lilicia-chan and myself respond in sync as I shoot my silver and Lilicia-chan unleashes a barrage of rocks on the defenceless Cerberus Tri-Capsule.
With a huge flash of light, the three of them have been removed from the race. Nice try, Ren, but I'm not ready to retire from my position of being the greatest guy in existence.
"UNBELIEVABLE! Team Pandemonium has defeated Team Cerberus in their forte territory! Alicia-sama's expert piloting saved the day in what looked like a hopeless situation," Man who needs no introduction announces in excitement.
But yeah, no kidding, those sharp reflexes and quick wit, you're the only woman suitable to be called my bride, Alicia.
"But that Reno sure is strong." I remark as I rub my hand across my brow, that last manoeuvre really made me sweat with worry.
"Yes, but thankfully Tri-Capsule racing is a team sport. Elizabeth isn't able to bring out the most in him, the supports are limited by there Linchpins after all." Alicia explains happily, she must be pleased that she has got a legitimate reason to look down on Elizabeth, a girl's wraith is truly a bottomless pit.
"Lilicia-chan, is Elizabeth really as pathetic as Alicia makes her out to be?" I decide to ask a third party about something that has been bothering me for a while.
"No, Onee-sama just doesn't like her. But I think it is true that Reno-kun far surpasses his sister." Lilicia-chan answers honestly.
"I'm going to pick up the pace. There is still the Thanatos triplets." Alicia warns as we speed on through the cavern, at long last we finally manage to get out of that huge oven.
"Most of the teams have now left the Magma Cave. The next area is the last before the home spurt. The Lightning Desert, thunder constantly rains down in this barren area of the Underworld. It will really leave a mark if one of dem bolts hits ya." Hades explains, "I wonder how many teams will even manage to make it to the finish line." Sounds like a really dangerous place.
A flash of light suddenly illuminates the area followed by a loud,
BRING! - A huge lightning bolt.
"Yuichi, this is our big chance, all the teams are being cautious due to the thunder. Create and maintain a wall of silver above us, that way we won't have to fear the random thunderbolts."
"To come up with such an idea, you really do know me inside and out, don't you, Alicia?" I say in amazement.
"Don't be a fool! There is still lots I don't know!" Alicia retorts.
"In that case, how about we get to know each other even better tonight then? My bed can easily support another person." I joke as I create a wall of silver to protect us from the lightning.
"It'll be your deathbed if you say any more bullshit!"
"Please forgive me," My body shrills up in fright, she's serious.
"I too...wish to know more...about Yuichi-niisama...on the...be...," Lilicia-chan states in a stuttering voice.
"Lilicia, don't even get me started," Alicia says calmly, but I can feel the invisible pressure.
"Forgive me, Onee-sama." And so can Lilicia-chan it seems.
BRING BRING BRING BRING! - The lightning echoes throughout the desert. Even with my silver shield protecting us, for some reason I still can't help but find this lightning scary.
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A few minutes after we entered the Lightning Desert, we finally spot our last big rival in this race, Team Thanatos.
The two supports pivot around to the back, acknowledging us as a threat. One of the supports starts to create several balls of wind, whilst the other creates several balls of fire. Wait, this is ringing some bells...Shit they're going to combine their elements like the masked man did! "Alicia they're going for the combustion!" I warn my fiancé.
"I know that. Yuichi, you can remove the wall blocking the thunder now, our priority is to defeat the triplets!"
Following Alicia's orders, I remove the silver wall I manifested to protect us from the lightning. The two Thanatos supports shoot their respective elemental balls.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!! - Alicia quickly manoeuvres the Tri-Capsule in complicated yet calculated trajectories, dodging all the explosions created from the combination of fire and wind.
I create a huge ball of silver and Lilicia-chan creates several boulders "TAKE THIS!" I shout as we launch our techniques towards Team Thanatos' Tri-Capsule, however…
"Tch, they dodged them, and they made it look easy." I can't help but grunt in frustration, even though I half expected this outcome.
"Yuichi-niisama, the second wave is coming." Just as Lilicia-chan said, the two supports fire their elemental balls.
Huh? Wait a second, the support who previously used balls of wind is now creating balls of water instead. "Fire and water? Have they given up on their combination attacks?" I ask in confusion.
"No, they're going for..." Alicia begins, but the fire and water balls intersect before she can finish.
"GUH! I can't see! Mist?" Is this their goal? They're trying to blind us!
"Get ready you two! There is only one reason why they wanted to obstruct our vision! We'll use this chance," Alicia warns. Care to enlighten me regarding that one reason, I maybe a genius with an unparalleled level of beauty; but when it comes to Tri-Capsule racing I'm still a newbie.
We quickly escape the fog, well given the speed we're going at it's only to be expected, however... "Where did Team Thanatos go!?" I ask in shock.
"Is this the end of Team Pandemonium!? Team Thanatos have managed to blind spot them!" Man who needs no introduction's voice echoes louder in my ears than even the lightning.
Blind spot? Underneath us!? "Shit we're finished!" I scream in resignation.
"Not yet! Yuichi, Lilicia ready your attacks to shoot through the top of your capsules!" Alicia orders once again.
I can't say I understand what she is planning, but Alicia has never let me down, so naturally I do as she orders. Then, suddenly, falling into my view from my capsule's ceiling, is none other than Team Thanatos' Tri-Capsule. The reason I can see something that should have been below us through my capsule's ceiling? It's simple, Alicia suddenly rotated our capsule one hundred and eighty degrees. We are now flying parallel with Team Thanatos whilst upside down. Meaning, they are no longer in our blind spot.
Lilicia-chan and I quickly unleash our attacks onto their exposed linchpin, and with a flash that is even brighter than the lightning, Team Thanatos is defeated!
"Amazing! Once again Team Pandemonium escaped from another seemingly hopeless situation. I think this race is now as good as over!" Man who needs no introduction announces.
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It was just as he said, with Team Cerberus and Thanatos out of the race, we breezed through the rest of it, and likewise took first place.
"The winners this year are Team Pandemonium!" Man who needs no introduction declares as Alicia, Lilicia-chan and I wave to the cheering crowd.
We did it, Father!
"Yuichi! Yuichi! OH! OH! OHHHH-!" The Yuichi Shout continues, I can only say I feel privileged that I have my very own special cheer. With this feeling of happiness and sense of achievement I can go home with my head held high.
The great Yuichi Shiro shines once again.