Chapter 420
"Earth Overwhelming Essence!" Sailor Earth shouted. Her attack flew right at Sorophyte. He dodged it easily.
Sailor Uranus and Neptune matched his speed as they both drew their weapons. Sorophyte grinned and sent a barrage of energy in both directions. The two avoided them easily.
Sailor Earth shot forward swinging her staff, energy shot from it.
"So..this is what..you meet me with? Pathetic!" Sorophyte shouted firing back at her. She was knocked to the ground.
"Have you learned nothing from your combat with me. Perhaps not?" He said.
"Neptune..Deep Submerge!"
"Uranus World Shaking!"
The two attacks flew at him. He threw up a shield.
"I'm not impressed, I mean you're supposed to be the ones that can fight."
"Jupiter Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
The attack hit him dead on and from behind. He let out a shout and whirled. Neptune and Uranus leapt forward and this time they connected with their energy weapons. Sorophyte landed and shot a massive blast across the room hitting the two outers.
"Earth Overwhelming Essence!"
He dodged it and whirled towards Sailor Earth.
"You're not going to beat me with a little trickery!" he shouted.
Sailor Jupiter leapt forward. He whirled. She caught him in the face. He stepped back, but knocked her back with a rippling wave of energy.
"Hah!"
Sailor Earth connected with her staff.
"Earth!"
He threw out his own attack. The impact blasted them backwards.
"You stupid scouts," Sorophyte muttered standing slowly. The scouts all stood to face him.
As this occurred the Guardian Scouts were in the middle of a brawl with the
native inhabitants.
Guardian Earth raced forward shooting energy out of his sword as he did so. The enemies seemed to be handled easy enough once they were hit. They began to swarm him though.
This I have some trouble with. He thought.
"Earth!"
His attack blasted about twenty to the ground, but more raced towards him. He grinned slightly.
Never let them know you're scared to death of them. That way when they kill you they won't have the satisfaction of knowing you were afraid of them. He thought and charged forward again.
A shot of energy flew at him.
He dived out of the way.
Of course they are working very hard to knock down my defenses!
Another wave leapt at him.
"Ehh..sit down!" he shouted and shot a wave at them.
Guardian Pluto liked a good brawl. This was not a good one.
He knocked an enemy away and blasted another one, a small creature leapt onto his back. He grabbed at it furiously.
It's probably just a kid, don't want to hurt it or anything. He thought and moved to knock the kid off. Then it zapped him.
"Jerk!" he shouted and unleashed a massive attack scattering the enemies in all directions.
"Watch it!" Guardian Neptune shouted from nearby.
"Sorry," Pluto said. "Hey! Neptune! Little help!"
Neptune leapt forward and swung his sword, the creature leapt off of him.
"Oops!" Neptune said swinging his sword along Pluto's back.
"You idiot!" Pluto snapped.
"Sorry," Neptune said and backed off.
He should know better. Guardian Neptune thought and turned towards the horde rushing towards him.
"Neptune Tide of Destruction!" he shouted and knocked the wave into the wall.
"Hah! I'm the king!" he shouted.
The kid jumped on his back.
"You brat!" He shouted and rolled forward. The kid let out a shout and hopped away.
"Sorry kid," Neptune said and zapped him.
"Now! Who's next!"
A wave of energy flew at him.
"Apparently everybody!" he muttered and leapt out of the way.
"Hah! Missed!"
Another barrage flew at him.
"All right! Now I'm mad!"
He raced forward.
The creatures swarmed.
"Neptune Tide of Destruction!"
The attack shot out just as the enemies fired. Everything exploded. The whole group went sliding down a crater they had just formed.
"Hey! It's your fault!" Neptune shouted. The group all shouted and leapt up.
"All right..but I warn you this is your last chance to surrender," Neptune said.
They charged.
Guardian Mars was used to fighting massive amounts of troops. It was normal training for a starlight to face the entire army imperial guard as a final test. Still these enemies were unpredictable.
A rain of energy dropped from the sky.
He rolled under it and attacked.
Another wave of enemies fell to the ground.
He was hit from behind. He whirled only to be punched in the face. A hulking creature advanced towards him.
He sighed and swung his sword. The creature punched him again.
Mars fired yet again. The creature laughed and hit him with a right hook.
"Mars Star Laser!"
The attack hit the creature straight in the head.
It laughed and fell to the ground.
"What a dope!" Mars shouted.
A ball of energy bounced towards him.
"And now back to the normal problem," He muttered and leapt over it.
Guardian Venus was never a fan of fighting battles, but then again what choice did he have especially right now. He was having a hard time dealing with an especially group of pesky and highly accurate shooting enemies.
"Venus Star Burst!" He shouted blocking them for a third time. He raced forward. They took aim. He leapt upward and spun. They still hit him, knocking him to the ground. More enemies charged. He whirled and launched another attack. They fell down. A wave of shots hit him from behind he pitched forward, stumbled and leapt up.
The creatures fired yet again. He was hit and knocked down.
"These agents of Satan!" he snapped standing up.
Keep calm. Don't lose it over such a mess.
Another barrage of shots flew at him.
I'm going whether they like it or not! He raced forward, sword in hand. The creatures grinned and fired back. A shot slid over his ear. Another hit him in the chest, he let out a battle cry that double as a scream of pain. They hit him in the face. He shouted.
"VENUS STAR BURST!" He shouted falling backward as he did so.
The creatures were blasted to the floor.
"Take that!" he snapped wincing.
"You all right!" Guardian Jupiter said.
"Not really.." Venus said.
A new wave of creatures appeared.
"Jupiter Star Inferno!"
The creatures fell to the ground.
"Fun isn't it?" Jupiter said.
"DUCK!" Venus shouted pulling him to the ground.
Sorophyte leapt overhead spinning and unleashing an energy barrage. Sailor Neptune and Uranus avoided it and fired back. The group leapt into the maelstrom. Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Earth weren't far behind.
"Get to the back Venus..rest yourself," Jupiter said.
"YAHHH!" came a shout. More enemies appeared.
"Little time for that," Venus said and fired his sword.
Jupiter nodded.
What an awful conflict. He thought. Fighting former allies in the bowels of the planet. This is not glorious by any means. This is true war.
"Jupiter Star Inferno!"
The creatures let out a shriek as they were hit.
"They've gotta stop sometime," Jupiter said.
"The question is does that fit into our schedule at all," Venus said.
Guardian Saturn looked over the scene hurriedly. He had managed to clear out the right flank, and now tried to find where he could be most useful. He could see Neptune and Pluto embroiled in an all out firefight nearby. Venus and Jupiter seemed to have se tup a perimeter. Earth and Mars didn't seem to be too overwhelmed. He couldn't see Uranus. He looked around.
A red blast of energy shot upward. Monsters flew with it.
"There he is," Saturn said.
I'd better help. He doesn't look like he's in good shape.
He leapt across the battlefield all the while wondering if he had made the right choice. He winced and stared at his wounded right arm.
Can't worry about that now. He thought.
"URANUS FLAME OF DESIRE!" Uranus cried and blasted another wave away.
"I can do this all day!" he shouted kicking an assailant and spinning to swipe another one. They growled.
"Yeah! Come on!"
They charged. He leapt at them yet again and started using his hand to hand training.
"Energy is just a waste on you!" he shouted.
They charged again bearing various sorts of energy weapons, or just glowing fists. He blocked them and sliced and kicked with fury.
I don't mind this, actually I do, because there's so many of them and they all want to kill me. Still otherwise I wouldn't mind it. Good practice. What am I saying?
"URANUS FLAME OF DESIRE!"
Another wave was knocked down. He spun kicked swinging his sword as he did so. The troops scattered.
"Saturn Blade of Galaxies!"
The monsters backed off.
"You all right?" Saturn asked.
"I was just about to use my secret weapon," Uranus said.
"Oh..I..what secret weapon?"
"Exactly the point,"Uranus said.
The monsters all began to regroup.
"Maybe we should too," Saturn said. The Guardian Scouts came together.
"You all right Venus?" Mars asked.
"I will last a little longer," Venus said.
"So what do you think they'll try now?" Pluto asked.
"Good question," Jupiter said.
The monsters all seemed to be fidgeting.
"Let's just go for it," Earth said.
"No..we should take this time to rest too," Saturn said.
"Where are the others?" Pluto said.
"Over there," Uranus said pointing to deep within the cavern. Sorophyte was still fighting the four Sailor Scouts.
"That seems to be going well," Mars observed.
"We'll just see, either side could just be waiting for their opportunity to finish the job," Jupiter said.
"We can only hope it's our side that has the upper hand," Uranus said.
"Well if it is they're going to make Sai and Patterson awfully disappointed," Earth said.
"Why both of them?" Mars asked.
"Well Sorophyte killed their parents."
"Sai's too?" Jupiter asked.
"That could cause some problems with their vendetta," Venus said.
"We're not letting either of them near Sorophyte so it's not an issue at all," Saturn said.
"Here they come!" Neptune said.
The eight tensed. The monsters all growled and shot energy as they charged en masse across the cavern.
"Hey they may take our lands but they'll never take our freedom," Earth said.
"Dang it, that was just about to enter my mind," Neptune said.
"Never mind!" The others shouted.
"Hit him with everything we have!" Saturn shouted.
The eight launched their special attacks. The first several lines of monsters dropped. The others screamed louder and raced forward.
"Here we go again!" Pluto shouted.
The melee resumed.
Uranus..world shaking!"
"Jupiter Thunderclap zap!"
"Wrong again!" Sorophyte said leaping forward and shooting a bolt of energy in Sailor Earth's direction. She knocked it away with her staff.
"Neptune Sparkling Reflection!"
Sorophyte whirled in time to be hit.
"Now's the time!" Uranus shouted and shot a bolt from her sword. Sorophyte whirled and knocked it away.
"I think this game is over!" he shouted and unleashed a wave of energy that hit Uranus, Earth, and Jupiter knocking them to the ground. He spun.
Sailor Neptune starred at him.
"Come on..make your move Neptune!" he shouted.
"No..no..you first," Neptune replied trying to remain cool despite the stress of the situation.
"Hmm...no..I'll wait.."
Neptune stared at him trying to figure out the best way to strike. With his attention focused on her, even weakened like he was she would have to make the right move first. After all she was weak too.
She pulled her mirror out and flung it into the air. Sorophyte hesitated. A dark crystal slipped in Neptune's hands. She flung it. Sorophyte's eyes changed focus towards the crystal.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!"
The attack shot straight at him. He blocked it. Neptune leapt at him and caught him with a kick he spun back.
"Galactic Moon Retaliation!"
"What?" Sorophyte snapped.
The attack hit him head on and threw him into the cave wall.
"Now Sorophyte, let's end the cycle!" Guardian Moon said.
Sorophyte teleported away.
"Dang it!" Guardian Moon said.
"What are you doing here?" Sailor Neptune asked.
"I figured that with Sorophyte and all the rest here there wouldn't be anyone left to attack Patterson. Looks like I was right."
"Still..you gambled."
"It paid off didn't it?"
"Perhaps," Neptune said. "You get back to the hospital."
"I'm on my way," Guardian Moon said calmly and leapt off.
"You three all right?" Neptune asked.
"Ehh..no.." Uranus muttered.
"What hit me.." Jupiter said. "I didn't even see it."
"I believe I hate him even more now.." Sailor Earth said.
"Ehh....I think we're done.." Guardian Neptune said. The eight Guardian Scouts, covered with bruises and standing in a smoke filled ditch looked around. Not an enemy was in sight.
"Well..I guess we showed them.." Guardian Mars said. The eight collapsed to the ground.
"Good days work I thought," Guardian Earth said.
"I never fully appreciated pacifism before today..but.maybe.." Pluto said.
"Yeah..I quit.."
"Well you eight look like..." Sailor Neptune said walking up.
"Don't bother us Neptune we have a major owie," Guardian Earth said.
"Oh as a group then?" Sailor Neptune said.
"Whatever," Earth said.
"One question," Guardian Saturn said. "What exactly do we do with all of them?"
"Heal them?" Sailor Neptune said.
"Heal them?" the group moaned. "That could take us forever."
"Or at least all night," Mars said.
"Oh...take it like men," Sailor Neptune said.
"Why can't you take it like men for once?" Guardian Earth said.
"Actually we do, remember we're the actual functional branch of the scouts," Sailor Neptune said.
"And what are we!" the eight shouted.
"Actually I guess today, you're victors," Sailor Neptune said.
"Break out the champagne!" Guardian Uranus said.
"Yeah!" the eight shouted and fell to the ground again.
"You will all be eternally hopeless.." Sailor Neptune said. "Uh..Guardian Moon come back, we need your help," she said into her communicator.
"Oh make up your mind," Guardian Moon snapped.
Elsewhere.
"Well here's another one," Sailor Mars said pulling a crystal out of the ground.
"Guess so," Sailor Venus said.
"They're around here somewhere," Sailor Moon said. "You know it."
The group looked around.
"I don't sense anything amiss," Sailor Pluto said.
"Maybe this one is just a gimmee," Sailor Moon said.
"Well then let's get out of here before they change their mind," Sailor Mars said.
"Always a good idea."
The group hurried away.
"Sorophyte, you are.." Ircanite muttered.
"I got my butt kicked..yes..that is true," Sorophyte said lying on his makeshift bed. "But I'll be back."
"I see we'll have to keep you away from more then one on one confrontations."
"That's what I'm best at," Sorophyte said.
"That's what I've noticed," Ircanite said. "How long is it going to take you to heal?"
"Hard to say..."
"Of course you realize that our whole operation has been discovered."
"Yes..but they still don't know what's down there..furthermore, just assuming that they get all those creatures back to their side, which will take time mind you..it'll take them weeks to get down to the source of energy. I figure let them do it. We'll wait, build up our strength, and then take it from them."
"Not a bad idea," Ircanite said. "Very well..you conserve your strength. I must check on the pursuit of the crystals."
"Go for it," Sorophyte muttered and winced.
"They really got you this time," Ircanite said.
"They'll never again," Sorophyte said.
"We'll see," Ircanite said and walked out.
"Yeah...I'll get'em all..curse that Mercury...if he hadn't interfered, I would have taken care of Guardian Moon once and for all..but..then again..they both want me..and I want them..I'm sure we can work out some sort of arrangement..in time.."
Yes..indeed. He thought.
"Traveling by train..this is insane," Sailor Moon muttered.
"We can't teleport anymore," Sailor Mars said. "It's just too dangerous."
"Ehh..but this train hardly stays on the tracks," Sailor Moon said.
"Actually it's reliability rating is very good among transportation in this area," Sailor Mercury said.
"Is there anything you don't know?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Maybe," Sailor Mercury said.
The others sighed.
"We have almost have the rest of the crystals though," Tuxedo Mask said. "That's a good sign isn't it?"
"But they have plenty themselves," Sailor Moon said.
"In the end we'll probably just balance out, which is acceptable, after all, we believe Ircanite needs these crystals to gain an advantage over us, if he can't do that we can beat him," Sailor Pluto said.
"I wonder, he's being awfully cautious though," Sailor Mercury said.
"Maybe because he knows I can blast him into several other galaxies," Sailor Moon said.
"Not anymore you can't," Sailor Mars said. "Remember, you're not as strong as you once were."
"Never thought I'd hear that until I was at least eighty," Sailor Moon said.
"Yes...well..I'll be glad when this war is over, I mean we haven't done anything really social in weeks," Sailor Venus said.
"I know, I need to get back to helping the unfortunate through my charm and personality," Sailor Moon said.
"They can wait.." Mars said. "But I have to clear everyone out of my house! What we're they thinking?"
"I'm sure they thought you would be a good host," Sailor Moon said.
"Like heck! It's not meant to hold that many people and look what they did to Amy's place!" Raye.
"I hear construction is coming along well though," Mercury said.
The train rocked.
"So much for their safety record!" Sailor Moon snapped.
The door slid open.
"HAH!" Zoisite shouted.
"Mars Fire Ignite!"
"Eeep!" Zoisite shouted and was blasted across the train car.
"No time for caution! Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
The entire right side of the train exploded, Zoisite went leaping out of it.
"Drat!" She shouted.
"That showed her.." Sailor Venus said.
"We need to set up some sort of defensive position!" Tuxedo Mask said.
The roof exploded caving in on them.
"Jeez...why don't they just go away!" Sailor Moon said.
"Hah! We'll never leave you alone!" Malachite said forming a large energy ball.
"Oh not another one of those! Mars Flame of Desire!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
Malachite let his attack fly. The explosion ripped the train car off the tracks it skidded to a stop in the grass.
"How nice that they gave us a car to ourselves!" Sailor Pluto noticed.
Nisiran charged at them.
"You'll never beat us!" he shouted.
"You just keep thinking that!" the scouts all shouted in reply.
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