The Zombie Tournament

Act 28 : Gastamo

 There are two paths to reach Gastamo. Anybody could climb up by hand and traversing through the mountain within meandering roads to the summit. This route has been there for the course of supply wagon and alternative means to hike for adrenaline rush. Otherwise, zombie owners are presumed to enter the city by the battered walkways, as Gastamo’s zombie storage is located close to the main entrance at the end of the route. Its starting gate is located on the northern side, a rock’s throw to the group at the moment, so they have no concern of time in need to spend hereupon.

For the other, regular bystanders of Gastamo would prefer a quick teleportation transporter. It is constructed within a small pod available for five digital dollars at most. Everybody that wished to be brought up in seconds should enter themselves within the box, and they would arrive at the precise location within the city that they desired to be.

There are approximately 20 of them at the bottom area of the mountain. No need for a person to wait in queue, as it always operates in a blitz.

(kriek-kriek)

As for Tonado’s fighting club, They reached the base of Gastamo’s mountain in the evening. Its automatic mover on their regular-size wagon has been depleted, so Fistfighter zombie of Tanya Rushdi has taken a ride at the spearhead of their carriage. Despite its seemingly useless feature in close combat, the living dead’s formidable structure and stable output of power has been proficient in carrying luggage.

“We’ll have to charge your zombie again, Tanya. He’s tired.” Juno Rumondor commented, then pointing at the source of his worry,“Just see his mouth. It’s drooling.”

“What would be his food then? Our remaining stock has been ravaged by Damon an hour ago.”

Placing his palms under the chin, Juno Rumondor rubs them in thoughts,“Yeah, that would be a catastrophe. What’s your suggestion, Tony?”

“Zeno’s feet, perhaps? We have it on the back, still clean and spotless.” Tony Simmons peeking at Zeno Gunnar on his side. However, the young knight has no aspiration to reject such plea, even though a mild reluctance has appeared on his frown.

“Yeah, just hand him that. We’ll have to go uphill, correct? I’m fine with this.” He replied after a short pause.

“For sure?”

The young knight nods,”Yeah, Simmons. This bionic leg is compatible with me, so I’m gonna stick with it forever.”

(chomp-chomp)

Before they entered the premier start of rigorous path to the peak, Tonado Fighting Club had a small break upon the rest area of the mountain bottom for about fifteen minutes as planned. Along the way, streams of teleportation device has ringing within their ears. Buzzing sounds of whirring electrons has carried every single one of them aloft in almost instant fashion. It reverberates on each sessions of their teleportation and does so in consistency afterwards, transporting them away across the light-blue container after the snap beckoned.

Juno Rumondor’s bare eyes are glued to the transportation process implied. Being a scientist in essence, the man’s keen interest of technology made him inclined towards advanced machinery of Minopia at times. He always intrigued on the mysterious inventor of their knowledge, even attempting to dig in depth of their fabrication and have a research on them in his break.

“It’s always sounds like they gotta explode.” He mumbled, scratching his shallow beard on the tip of his chin,”I’ve done a homework on them, but there are no blatant information other than its mechanism to work.”

Against random blabbering of the man, Zeno Gunnar tilted his head in question,“What? Why are you-”

“Yeah, that electric current transmitted their molecules and disintegrated them for about half-millisecond to their destination.” He explained thoroughly, but outlay of his information goes into abyss in Zeno Gunnar’s ear as he was never inclined to know things in general. However, Tanya Rushdi seems absorbed into his leader’s open up thoughts, even laying on to listening of his further explanation afterwards.

“So, in other words, they just zapped out to the place?” She tried to verify. Against her question, Juno Rumondor nodded.

“True, it’s kind of flowing down that way, I guess.”

---

In about three more hours of travel, they reached the end of their path at complete dusk. The mountain stands around 1500 meters tall. There are concrete palisades on both of the road’s edge to cover their way across, blocking horrendous tides of mountain winds nearby. Other than their group, it appears that a team has arrived to Gastamo, as well. They were far ahead of Tonado’s wagon, at least five hundred meters, but their credentials could be seen slightly from distance.

As Zeno Gunnar overviewed their symbols, it makes him rattled a bit in rage,“blooming skull-flower, it means they’re from Welodge.” He mumbled,” They want to wage a war with us here.”

Juno Rumondor rejected Zeno Gunnar’s thoughts with a wave of his palm, “Don’t jump into the bushes, Zeno. We’re here to consult. Otherwise, how could they arrange a war if there’s restrictions laid down?”

The young knight falls into his own thoughts, but fails to find a proper way to deny. Tony Simmons noticed his late partner’s fury within such commentary, so the vice-captain drops a pat to his back for consolation.

“Don’t worry, Zeno. After northwest city, we’re supposed to go north.” He said in determination, “ We will punch that rascal when we arrived.”

At the end of their dozen counts of turn, Gastamo’s southern gate entrance has finally been unveiled. The funnel design of the road’s roof at the final progression of the path protected them against elements, providing them with stable warmth and comfort. Two shades of metal are engraved with marks of crown, bestowed on either side of the door handle for themselves to push. Nevertheless, it was never intended to be shoved down by the visitors involved, as an automatic inspection will do such petty errands for them shortly after.

(zuuuuuu)

One line of red beam scanned them in profound. It functions as a point of inspection for going inside the city at peace. Of course, being contestants of Minopia’s death battle saved them a privilege to enter, since it would take them a few minutes at most to gain permission from the security guard on standby. However, any sort of precautions would be required nevertheless.

‘Tonado Fighting club, welcome to Gastamo. Please follow the left pathway for zombie storage area.’

A bold announcement speaks in loud for themselves to cross the gate. Its metal doors opened deliberately as they were granted permission from the city’s automated system. For the other trains behind, they would have to go along with thirty minutes of inspection for ensuring their carriage was out of harm.

(zuuu-zuuu)

In the wake of their entry, seas of white-painted buildings embroidered the entire surface of the city. A massive dome is erected above their heads to preserve hotness temperature around the clock. There are a pair of enormous screen at the center, standing in opposite to each other for some reason. From this distance, anyone could see advertisements and current headline news of Minopia for a stint of entertainment on the road.

Of course, it is mainly occupied with Tonado’s business proposal at the time, but there are others that goes in-line to the mogul behind.

To the south, they could see a massive structure lies adjacent to Gastamo’s government’s main capitol. A red cross applied on the highest tower of the building’s castle-like construction. Its green-adorned paint separates them to the other structure in the region, even to the municipalities itself. Indeed, there are certain purpose for such differentiation, namely due to Tonado’s definitive aim on emergency situation in recurring diseases and excruciating ache.

“Whoa, I never seen anything like this in my country before....” Sounded Zeno Gunnar in glimpse of veneration, “They certainly have backgrounds for this similarities, do they?”

Juno Rumondor nods,”Yes, they were known and recognized because of Tonado’s presence. It is dedicated for their business here.” He described.

“Really? All of them subdued to their will?”

Before Juno Rumondor could deny, Tanya Rushdi leaps to the man’s shoulder and whispering to his ear.

“No, Zeno. But I’ll be more than willing to be subdued by you...” She said,” What if...”

(ahem!)

As Juno Rumondor coughs, Tony Simmons reacted to it and dismissed her out of the young knight’s back. Tanya Rushdi clenched her jaws to the blonde-haired man’s demand, but then follow suit as Tony Simmons points two fingers to his own eyes.

“Don’t lure him into your trap, Rushdi.” He said,”He’s still new to this, so..”

“Nah, I’m not interested with her. Move along, please.” Zeno Gunnar interrupted his claim with a yamn.

----

As the city’s dome blocked their direct view of the sunrise, the two huge screens has become its substitute for daily reminder of the morning that arrive. It plays a hymn for wake-up lullaby and a color of its main function at large. It plays a news line of cockcrow’s current happenings afterwards. For the update to share on the monitor, sports will be the headline for the sole channel afloat. At first, the city’s virtual football team has scored and triumphed against Militistaro, the military-base city on the northeast section of the pentagon fortress. The news anchor announced it in mockery to the visitor’s team, especially since they have taken first-position among five cities’ national league from their enemy’s hand.

Tonado’s hospital advertisement trails on the lead subsequently. They are offering 50 % discount on numerous medicines purchase. Moreover, first-aid payment is 20 % off and free of ambulance charge until next week.

“Hoahm. A day with Tonado’s ads once more.” Groaned Zeno Gunnar as he furls the curtain.  

Tonado’s higher-ups has supported them with grand-suite hotel room for each and every one of them to ease off their muscles. Yesterday, the company’s staff even gave them a top-class masseur in private to aid their strains of problems on the flesh. Their meeting will be held in the afternoon, and it was handed down in specifics to Juno Rumondor and Tony Simmons. No boundaries or obligations for the other member of the group to attend. They could disembark and dismiss straight away whenever it fits nicely to the schedule ahead.

(growls)

Zeno Gunnar returned to the bed, only to find somebody has been accompanying him for some time. Tanya Rushdi was sleeping underneath the blanket. The young knight has remembered of the drinking party at midnight, on how he goes wild and drinks bottles of liquor to the brim. He released all emotions that time, laying out despairs to the ground for everyone to chew. Tanya Rushdi has been so close with him shortly to the hotel’s main event, and his mind was blurry for everything that ensued afterwards.

“Ugh....” Tanya Rushdi moaned slightly.

“Hey, wake up.”

The girl tried to open her eyelids, but it was never an easy task to be done. Due to her failure on making it unsealed, She puts a curling smile to the lips.

“Yeah, you’re a beast, Zeno. I lose my willingness to fight because of it.” She teased, “You know that second round? I still-“

“Enough with details, Rushdi. I have to go.” The young knight stopped her for saying it further,” Wanna come with me? I’ll get nowhere if it’s all by myself.”

Suddenly, Tanya Rushdi springs up from the bed. She rapidly thrashing on the wardrobe and picking a perfect attire to depart.

“You’re asking me for a date, right? If so, then yes, I can be your guide today!”