Running Man Blood in Bandages 2: Survival

Chapter 22: The Last Keeper, Aria the Rage

"The final game will now begin!"

The announcer's voice boomed within the Arena as the crowd of Pululus cheered.

The runningmen flipped their emblems into the air and watch it transform into their signature Takji Cards while the rest of the players simply pulled theirs out from their pockets, including Salena who pouts in jeolousy that hers doesn't transform unlike theirs.

As the crowd cheered further, Rema, hidden in the shadows of the crowd, watched the match through the holographic screen. She crossed her arms as she leaned against the wall. Her eyes narrowed Liu and the rest as if trying to determine something true of false. Then her eyes landed on Yuu and then on Miyo, the only two people close enough to be called her friends, except for Hanabi. Her eyes softened and her frown deepened and showed guilt. She clutched her hands into fist as if regretting not telling them something important when they reunited earlier.

"Players must flip the Gatkeeper's guard to win! The players will not be eliminated if their cards are flipped, they can only be eliminated if they fall off the Arena"

The announcer spoke once more as the two platforms, one where the running men are and the other where the Pululus and Iron beast stood, hovered closer to the Arena where the Gatkeeper's Pod floated above the center.

"From the fields of Serinty," The announcer began the introduction as a beam of light fire downwards from the pod. "Calm and Swift as a coursing river, strong and mighty as the raging fire, the Final gate keeper, Aria the Rage!"

The beam of light expanded and the final keeper materializes within it, hovering a foot above ground. Among the previous gatekeepers, he was the tallest, the biggest and had a complete suit of red and yellow. His hands pushed against each other in a meditative stance as his eyes remained closed.

" So... All of you like to play cards?" Aria questioned, his voice deep and calm. "Fine... I will play your game. I will humour you"

Then, a chunck of his Armour was ejected and landed on the center of the Arena. The chunk of red steal transformed into a large Takji bearing the same appearance as him. Takji Aria then closed his eyes as well before clasping his hands as if making a prayer, but the running men weren't impressed or surprised, rather they looked disappointed.

"He looks... Defenseless" Miyo voiced out their thoughts.

"Ha! This would be easy! Let me handle this" Popo stepped in, Takji card in hand and inserting another red card.

"Fire Dragon Card!" Popo shouted and threw his card at Takji Aria. Takji Popo combusted into flames as he hurdles towards the opponent who remained motionless and at peace.

Then, Miyo's communicator flashed in a dim yellow light right before Takji Popo's flame disappeared and his momentum vanished as he crashed onto Takji Aria. He rebounded off of him without much as a scratch but, to everyone's surprise, when Takji Popo collided with the ground, Popo was knocked back by an invible force that made him crash on the ground as well.

"Popo!" Liu and Salena shouted as the bunny, and some other Pululus that supported them, rushed to his aid. Liu looked back at Aria with wide eyes then spoke again. "The cards attack affect the players?!"

"Oh, this game just got way more fun" Yuu voiced out with excitement.

Then it was Miyo's turn to attack, she toosed her card sideways and watched it glide across the air like a paper plane as Takji Miyi sprouted gliders underneath her arms. She circled Takji Aria to look for the weak point and when she found one, she dived for the attack.