Their short peace came to an abrupt end. Macera started causing trouble in the city once again. This time, it didn't just extend to one institution and establishment. It was nearly a whole town that the Triske Monster had targeted. Not to mention that there were a lot of Gargonema all around to let that happen.
"Stop moving! You're all too fast! It's getting annoying!" Macera kept on shouting as it fired beam after beam from its camera-like hand towards the escaping and screaming citizens.
Some groups got hit and were petrified on the spot, while others were able to avoid it even if it was just barely done. And yet they were scrambling to get away from there.
More beams were fired toward the citizens and horrified screams resonated throughout. During the commotion, it could be seen that others were shouting something different from the fearful ones.
"Everyone, this way!"
"Hurry!"
"Don't look back! Just run and get away from here!"
It appeared that several people remained in the area to help the others escape. Though they were in different areas, they all did their best to make sure that everyone would be able to escape.
"Amuro, how was it on your end?"
"No one's left in the stadium, even here in the parking space. The area's pretty much empty now," he replied to his uncle Yushiro who decided to stay and help the people in their way. "How was it on your end, uncle?"
"They were able to get away even before that monster started attacking. In any case, let's meet at the plaza. I think I saw a few more people over there who needed help."
The other people in the plaza -- at least the moving ones -- were able to escape, thanks to Natsume and Akira who decided to leave the house for a bit to buy some snacks so that the Vessels could have something to eat while discussing their strategy. Unfortunately, they got caught up in the middle of the panic when they saw Macera appear together with a group of Gargonema.
"Let's do what we can to round up everyone and help them get away from here. I'll take this direction and you take the other," Akira suggested and then pointed to the right.
Natsume nodded and the two teenage boys started running in opposite ways. Not long after, they were able to gather the unpetrified ones and have them run and take the road that most likely, Macera wouldn't consider taking.
A few more minutes passed by and the four people that helped the citizens escape inadvertently met up at the center of the plaza. All four of them were panting.
"What are you two still doing here? Shouldn't you be escaping from here, as well?" Uncle Yushiro inquired with a frown.
The two teenagers looked at each other first before Natsume decided to answer. "Well... you could say that we have to do something that duty made us do."
Pretty vague for an answer, in Amuro's opinion. But before he could say anything about that, a roar from someone enraged disrupted them. They all faced the direction in which it came from and their eyes widened at the sight of Macera approaching together with a few of the Gargonema.
"How dare you disrupt my fun, huh? How dare you?!" Macera screamed and raised its camera-like arm in the four people's direction.
Before they knew it, the monster fired two light beams. The targets could only raise their arms and close their eyes as it was too late for them to avoid it.
But before it could hit them, a pink flash of light distracted the Triske Monster when it hit its eyes along with the appearance of a twirling pink lotus in front of the four people. That twirling lotus acted as a shield for the people who were about to get hit by the beams and it appeared to have worked.
Natsume and Akira heard the Triske Monster's vexed screams that made them put their arms down that they used to shield their eyes from the blinding light. To their confusion, they could only make out a silhouette of a pink lotus between the four of them and Macera who was still vexed, for some reason, and not just because its attack didn't hit them.
Even though curiosity was about to kick in at the sight of that, they still had important things to deal with.
"Come on! Let's get out of here before that monster starts striking at us again," Akira urged just to snap everyone out and started running away from there together with Natsume.
Uncle Yushiro and Amuro started running, as well. But it could be seen that the racer looked back and saw that Macera was still shouting in frustration, probably because of what happened. And in his mind, especially with another image appearing in his mind upon recalling a certain event that made him decide to help his uncle allow the citizens to escape, his eyes showed a certain determination about something.
Whatever it was that he thought about for his eyes to show such emotion, only he knew that at the moment.
xxxxxx
Around the same time, while the Vessels were currently discussing one strategy after another aside from the one they already thought about, they froze upon hearing several familiar beeping sounds. None of them wasted any time checking on their Celestial Shifters and opening them to know the reason for the beeping.
Both Shuichi and Itsuki's Shifters projected the footage of the current situation in which Macera and the Gargonema started causing trouble and spreading fear in the town plaza. It could also be seen that a lot more people than the last time were petrified on the spot. As for Misae's Shifter, it projected a map of the town, with a blinking dot on the area of the attack, indicating the monster's current location.
"I guess that monster couldn't stay still and wait in the Tareus Dimension for the remaining hours, huh?" Itsuki couldn't help commenting as he could see the footage of the event.
"If it's acting on orders, then that means it got an even more sinister plan up ahead," Misae said as she closed her Shifter.
Itsuki sighed upon closing his Shifter. "Then that means we have to put that to a stop before any of the Tareans here on the surface could implement that."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Shuichi ordered with a tone full of determination. "But don't let your guard down."
"We know that."
With that, all three Vessels stood up from their seats and started running. Then again, Itsuki halted to a stop and looked around as soon as he noticed something. "Where's Erika, by the way?"
"She already went ahead," Nanami answered as she entered the room. "She was in the garden a while ago when her Shifter beeped and told me she'll go ahead of you."
Of course, what the woman said made Itsuki confused. "Why would she do that?"
"I don't know. But I have a feeling that it has something to do with Helen-chan since there was something that she had to investigate somewhere in the town, anyway."
As much as the composer would like to feel irritated at the mention of their guest's name, it appeared that the word "investigate" had started to pick his curiosity, for some reason. But they all had other worries to deal with at the moment.
"Let's bet that Eichirou is starting to deal with that camera monster as soon as we reach the scene," Shuichi said, only making the others laugh.
Then again, it doesn't seem to be something impossible at all.
"Let's go!"
xxxxxx
One thing was for sure, it was chaos. Then again, anything related to the Tareans would bring them nothing but trouble and destruction. That was what the five Vessels were thinking as soon as they arrived at the site of the attack. More people were petrified around them and there were still citizens who were doing their best to escape from Macera, only to be hit with the light beam.
"That jerk seriously knows how to rile people up with its actions," Eichirou commented and brought out his Shifter from his pocket.
"Rile up? No one could even fight against it, even with meager human strength. We should've arrived sooner."
"No time to be regretting, Misae. Right now, we have a job to do," Shuichi said as he too pulled out his Shifter. Misae followed suit.
When Erika was about to take out her Celestial Shifter, she noticed that Macera hadn't spotted them yet. But it seemed that it would only make the Tarean Monster determined to petrify more people. They could afford to let it go on any longer.
"Gargonema, start destroying the petrified humans!"
The order they heard from Macera was loud and clear that the Vessels' eyes widened in shock and made them face each other.
"We better put an end to that Tarean Monster. Now!"
The rest couldn't agree more to Itsuki's suggestion, given that Macera's order to the Gargonema only spelled a great trouble. With that, with no hesitation, all five of them charged towards the group of Gargonema specifically tasked to strike down the petrified humans.
"Hyakurei Laser!"
Each of them fired towards the Gargonema approaching the petrified victims. Of course, it caught the other groups' attention but the Vessels paid no attention to that. The Vessels' priority was to prevent casualties as possible. The only casualties they would consider would be that of the Tareans that caused trouble in town.
When more Gargonema started approaching them after Shuichi and the others defeated the ones that tried to destroy the affected civilians, it was then that the Vessels activated their Celestial Shifters.
"Spirit Shift, Start!"
It didn't take long for all five of them to don their suits and become the Seitengers once again.
"Heaven's Hundred Blaze! SeitenFire!"
"Heaven's Hundred Outpour! SeitenWater!"
"Heaven's Hundred Tremor! SeitenEarth!"
"Heaven's Hundred Howl! SeitenWind!"
"Heaven's Hundred Shine! SeitenLight!"
"The Hundred Heavens' greatest legend! Reiyouki Sentai Seitenger!"
They materialized their Hyakureiders and each of them dealt with the remaining Gargonema that were about to attack them.
"It's time we set up the stage for you!" SeitenFire exclaimed and motioned the others to prepare for a group attack.
"Five Heaven Slash!" They cried out as a group as they fueled their Hyakureiders with their respective Hasureiki and threw energy blade attacks towards the approaching enemy group.
In no time, only Macera was the monster remaining in the area. And from the looks of it, the Tarean Monster didn't like it one bit.
"Argh! You're all annoying pests!" Without warning, Macera raised its camera-like hand and fired beam after beam towards the Seitengers. And one by one, the Seitengers deflected them using their Hyakureiders.
Another vexed growl coming from Macera resonated in the area. It was loud enough that SeitenWater and SeitenEarth had to cover their ears. Or at least, it looked like it --- but as a joke.
"Any more growl coming from this monster and I'm going to put a gag around its mouth," SeitenEarth stated that only earned him chuckles from the female Seitengers.
"Or maybe we could petrify it, instead. If only we could actually do something like that," SeitenWater added that only made SeitenFire groan and slap his forehead.
"You are all seriously acting like kids right now, you guys."
But both the blue and the green warrior shrugged, as if the comment from their friend didn't affect them at all.
That rather simple moment didn't last long, however. Before any of the Seitengers could prepare themselves, another barrage of dark energy beams coming from Macera hurled towards the young warriors. The beams came fast that it was a few moments late for SeitenWater and SeitenLight to set up their defensive spells combined. The spell that should've acted as a barrier seemed to be only half the strength of the original one they've once set up.
They still managed to deflect the beams using that spell. But the Triske Monster didn't appear to be vexed as the Seitengers would expect. Taking the warriors' confusions as a chance, Macera fired another beam --- the one that could petrify --- towards the Seitengers.
"What the --- !"
"This one's bigger than before!" SeitenLight exclaimed.
With those reactions as a cue, the Seitengers jumped away from their position. Moments later, the beam pulverized the spot where they once stood, creating a large hole with depth similar to a well.
"Okay... Now I think we've only angered our enemy too much this time." Even at such a dire time, the rest couldn't believe that SeitenWater could still say such a light-hearted comment.
Though they wanted to comment back on that, the monster did not want them to. Macera fired another massive light beam from its camera hand towards the Seitengers.
SeitenWater pointed his Hyakureider towards the incoming beam and channeled his Hasureiki to it. The sword started to glow in blue light.
"Blue Ice!"
Streaks of blue light appeared from the tip of the Hyakureider's blade outward, forming the four cardinal points. Moments later, the lines started spinning from the tip. It formed a circular energy field, acting as a shield.
It didn't take long for the beam to finally hit the shield. But the force coming from the attack was strong enough to push SeitenWater back. It was also getting hard for him to block the beam from hitting him and his friends.
"Don't push yourself too hard, blue Seitenger. Just disappear together with your friends and these pesky humans!" Macera taunted.
SeitenWater gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his glowing Hyakureider. But he held his ground. Then again, he couldn't deny that the force coming from the beam steadily strengthened. He wasn't sure how long he could block the said attack.
"Begone!" That and a growl resonated in the area, followed by a push from the strong force coming from the beam that soon cracked the ice shield.
The blue warrior gasped at the sight, distracting him for a few moments. Next thing he knew, he felt himself thrown hard as he heard his friends scream, as well.
The beam had not only destroyed SeitenWater's ice barrier, it also hit the team. It was powerful enough to even disable their suits, turning them back to their civilian forms. All five of them groaned in pain, fully realizing that the beam had injured all five of them.
"Urgh! Who would've thought that Macera would get stronger like this?" Shuichi commented as he rolled and tried to raise himself up, while clutching his left side.
"They're really desperate. At least that is obvious," Itsuki responded while clutching his right shoulder.
As they all tried to stand up and fight again, their eyes widened at the sight of Macera already charging up its camera-like hand aiming at them.
'This isn't good!' Eichirou thought as he struggled to even balance himself while crouching on one knee. 'I have to do something! I'm not letting this monster have his way and destroy all of us!'
"Die, Seitengers!" Macera screamed with a hysterical laugh and soon fired the beam towards the Vessels.
As much as the team wanted to close their eyes thinking that it would be over, they didn't. Instead, they got distracted because of a bright light coming from Eichirou's Celestial Shifter. The said light dissipated the incoming beam attack almost immediately and made the Triske Monster raise its arm to block its eyes.
'Could it be...?'
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