Kidd and Ryuu managed to make it out of the building and into the plaza in front of the outpost. They were confronted by Federation soldiers alongside a large group of Steel Dusk mercenaries led by the Hydrogenite Notics Twilight. Kidd and Ryuu stopped in place, standing just outside the entrance of the building.

“Shit…” Kidd said.

“I thought I explicitly said to make sure this place was free of nonsense.” Notics said in a brusque voice.

“We’re sorry sir… we captured these two earlier and they’re posing a problem.” The head of the outpost said.

“Very well… squadron! Flurry Formation!” Notics shouted.

The group of Steel Dusk mercenaries jumped in front of Notics and held their guns up, sights pointing at the two as red dots.

“So…” Ryuu said.

“FIRE!” Notics shouted as the mercenaries opened fire on the two.

Ryuu and Kidd jumped up to avoid the bullets and started hitting with their own attacks.

“RHINOSHOUT!” Kidd fired a pair of heavy bullets from his guns.

“BIG BANG DRATOMIC!” Ryuu slammed into the ground with his arms, creating a shockwave that sent the mercenaries away.

Notics turns to where his soldiers were launched, they were either hit against each other, hanging from trees, or up against walls.

“I see, we have two unknown entities… you’re rather powerful aren’t you?” Notics turned back to them. “I’ll just have to take you out myself.”

“Unknown? You don’t recognize me do you?” Kidd asked.

“I only know you as Point Blank Kidd, I do not believe we have ever met before.” Notics said.

“Vegar 5… Monoceros System… Five years ago.” Kidd said.

“That was quite long ago, you don’t expect me to remember such a simple operation.” Notics said.

“Simple!?” Kidd said. “You burned down my home… everything I ever lived for… the woman I loved…”

“He what?” Ryuu looked over at Kidd.

“Collateral damage, that’s all it was.” Notics stated.

“Collateral? That’s all it is to you?” Kidd asked.

“What the hell did you do it for anyway?” Ryuu asked.

“We were hired for a simple retrieval mission… we were after a weapon called the Monoceros Horn.” Notics said. “It was one of the Rothmorian Relics, a group of treasures scattered after the death of Asterios Rothmore.”

“Why didn’t you just ask for it?” Ryuu asked.

“We were denied by the townsfolk.” Notics said. “So we took it by force and when we didn’t find it, we had to report back to our buyer.”

“Well, it’s your lucky day then!” Kidd shouted as he held up one of his shotguns, which had a large rhino horn attachment on the front.

“How did you get that?” Notics asked.

“I’m afraid that’s not any of your business, fella.” Kidd said. “You can look at it all you want, the closest you’re ever getting to this gun is when I fire off a shot into you.”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.” Notics exposed a silver bangle on his wrist, it had a brown gem in it.

“Shoot, that’s a Cosmic Gem!” Ryuu shouted.

“Smart one, this is the “Form” Gem.” Notics said as he planted the palm of his hand onto the ground. “But why explain when I can show you… FORM!”

The ground around the group began to shake and rise up and an orange light came from the Cosmic Gem.

“What are you doing?” Ryuu asked.

“My Cosmic Gem allows me to create constructs from any non-living material…” Notics said as the ground started to take tall, humanoid forms. “For example… CLAYMAN!”

The humanoid clay creatures came emerged from the ground, taking on an appearance similar to simple Japanese Hanewa, the only features they had were the three holes on their heads that resembled a face.

“What the hell are those things?” Ryuu asks.

“A product of my Cosmic Gem.” Notics said. “So long as they remain active, then you won’t be touching me!”

“You’re a coward! Hiding behind an army!” Kidd shouted.

“What you call cowardice, I call strategy… if my golems stand between us, then I’m as safe as can be.” Notics said. “Creatures created with my ability are virtually unbreakable! I will enjoy watching you try to break through my wall! Claymen, attack!”

As the Clay Golems started to charge Ryuu and Kidd, they followed suit. Ryuu leaped at a golem, ready to hit it, but was smacked away by it. Ryuu wiped some clay off his shirt and looked over at Kidd, who was shooting at the golems. The golems kept taking the bullets, leaving holes in them.

“We can’t even hit these things… why’s it all over me?” Ryuu asked.

“Didn’t you hear him? These things are made of clay!” Kidd said.

“Right you are, nothing will harm them! No matter what kind of attack you might use!” Notics shouted.

Ryuu and Kidd continued to fight the golems, Ryuu slamming his body into them and Kidd filling them with bullet holes. After dozens of failed attacks, Ryuu got an idea.

“Hey! Clay dries under heat right?” Ryuu asks.

“Yeah, but it takes a while!” Kidd said. “Why?”

Kidd looks over at Ryuu, who has a smirk on his face, burping out a little fire. Kidd realizes what Ryuu meant and ran over to him, who jumped up into the air.

“What are you imbeciles doing now?” Notics asked.

“We’re lighting the kiln is what!” Ryuu shouted as he landed on the butt of Kidd’s gun, he got launched towards the golems.

As Ryuu flew towards the golems, his mouth turned into that of a red dragon’s with smoke pouring out of his mouth. Flames started to pour out of Ryuu’s mouth, hitting the army of golems and superheating the clay that made up their bodies. The clay started to heat up, harden, and crack, turning it rocky and brittle. Some of the golems began to break apart.

“WHAT!?” Notics shouted. “I didn’t realize you’d be intelligent enough to do this… I figured two low-life criminals would be more… low-life.”

“We’re a little more than low-life, Twilight!” Kidd shouted and pointed his gun at the man. “If anyone is a low-life, then it’s you!”

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Notics asked. “You think you stand a chance against someone like me!”

As Notics talked, his Cosmic Gem glowed and water started to come from the ground and collect around him. 

“What’s he doing now?” Ryuu asked.

“I never thought I would have to use this ability, but you’re proving rather troublesome!” Notics shouted. “FORM CORPUS!”

The water formed a giant golem around Notics’ body, with him in the middle of the creature as a controller.

“WATERMAN!” Notics shouted.

“That’s a whole new problem…” Kidd said. “Those golems were a little tough, I can’t imagine this thing is a pushover.”

“I’ve spent a long time perfecting my abilities. Referring to this form as a pushover is severely underestimating it.” Notics said.

“So… what now?” Ryuu asked. “Say the word and I boil this punk alive!”

“That’s not a bad idea!” Kidd said as he was struck by a large pillar of water.

“KIDD!” Ryuu jumped up as he was about to be hit by a pillar.

“You may as well give up now!” Notics shouted.

“I could be saying the same to you!” Ryuu shouted. “You have a pretty big weak spot after all!”

“Oh yeah? And what is it?” Notics asked.

“You! Water isn’t exactly solid!” Ryuu said.

“And what are you gonna hit me with?” Notics asked. “Boiling this water isn’t going to hurt me. I’m Hydrogenite, heat doesn’t hurt me!”

“The heat won’t hurt you… but that doesn’t mean I can’t!” Ryuu shouted. “Kidd!”

“What?” Kidd asked as he stood up.

“Go for his body!” Ryuu shouted as he ran towards the giant water golem.

“Right!” Kidd aimed one of his guns right at Notics, who was now focused on Kidd.

“You really think a mere bullet will reach me? You don’t seem to understand water!” Notics yelled as Ryuu dove into the leg of the golem.

“Exactly!” Kidd shouted.

“What?” Notics began to look around. “Wait, where did the red one go?”

Ryuu swam up the golem until he reached Notics, grabbing onto his shoulders. 

“How did you get past me!?” Notics shouted.

“It’s pretty hard to pay attention to more than one person if your golems aren’t around, huh?” Ryuu asked.

Notics went to hit Ryuu in the side of the head, only for his arm to be caught by him.

“Is that the best you got?” Ryuu asked as he headbutted Notics, knocking him out of the golem and causing it to collapse.

Notics was struggling to get up after landing on the ground, he looked up to see Ryuu and Kidd standing over him. The latter was pointing a gun at him, angry, while Ryuu was cracking his knuckles.

“Dealer’s choice… what do you wanna do with him, Kidd?” Ryuu asked.

“Kill me! Show me that you’re just as much of a monster as I am!” Notics shouted. “Killing me won’t bring them back! It won’t bring her back!” 

“You’re right… it won’t bring anyone back.” Kidd said. “Which is why I’m gonna give you the chance to run, I may not be so merciful next time.”

“If I ever see you again, I’m gonna tear you a new one!” Ryuu shouted. “Literally!”

“This won’t be our final meeting, I will return to defeat you one day!” Notics shouted as he stood up and ran away, leaving his mercenaries behind.

“What’s say we get out of here?” Ryuu asked.

“Yeah, let’s run before they come back to find us.” Kidd shouted as the two ran out of the plaza.

Ryuu and Kidd made their way back to the partially destroyed saloon, with the ship already removed from the building. 

“You really held yourself up today, Ryuu.” Kidd said. “I’ll probably be seeing you up on the bounties sometime soon.”

“You weren’t too bad yourself, you know your way around a gun.” Ryuu said. “I suppose you’re going back on your own then?”

“Oh, aren’t you gonna try and convince me to go along with you?” Kidd asked.

“Nah, I’m not gonna make you do something you don’t wanna do.” Ryuu said.

“Now we made a deal didn’t we? You got us out, so I have to go with you.” Kidd said.

“Well, if you want to so badly… then it’s time to go, partner.” Ryuu said.

“Say, since you’re putting a team together? What are we calling ourselves?” Kidd asked.

“Never quite thought about it.” Ryuu said. “I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

As the two were talking, a small part of the ship had caught on fire.

“We should probably fix that up first.” Kidd said.

“Yeah, then we’ll get going!” Ryuu said.

Back in the present day, the Construction crew was in a tavern on the Exceed. While Ryuu was screwing around with Estrella and Gadget, Kidd was telling this story to Windy.

“Ever since that day, I felt that I owed my life to him.” Kidd said. “Ever since I lost everything, I felt that my life was going nowhere.”

“That kid saved your life it sounds like. I can see why you’re dedicated to him.” Windy said.

“He can be a little impulsive sometimes, but he knows what he’s doing.” Kidd said. “I would probably be rotting in a Federation cell if he didn’t crash into my life.”

Kidd looked over at Ryuu, who was laughing at something Gadget said. He looked over at Kidd and waved.

“I know he’s gonna go on to do great things.” Kidd said. “I’d put all your cards on it.”

“I can see what you mean, keep an eye on him.” Windy said as Ryuu began to shout.

“AY, KIDD!” Ryuu shouted. “I bet I can drink you under the table!”

“Oh, you’re on!” Kidd stood up and charged over to the table… remembering something from his past.

“Miss Betsy LaFontaine! Can I ask you something, it’s mighty important.” Kidd said as he took out a small black box. “Would you make me the happiest man in the 88 and marry me?”

“Bautista… it took you long enough to ask!” Betsy pulled Kidd into a hug. “I’ll be there for you… always!”

CHAPTER END!

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