Ghede: Guerrier Extraordinaire #8: Pages 23-24

Page 23, 7 Panels- Kagu-Tsuchi's Mountaintop Dwelling Panel 1-2: Same setting/layout as the last panel of the previous page (at least in Panel 1). It's here that we see Kazuo/Kagu-Tsuchi summon, aided by the magical staff, a phalanx of wooden boards snapped from the wall behind him and shot out toward its target. We cut to our titular heroine in Panel 2, quickly dashing back to her Molltach (which appears in the distance in the background). Her body evading the first of the wooden spears which pierce the ground just near her. GHEDE [translated from Japanese, referring to Kazugu-Tsuchi; Panel 2]: Actually, Kazugu... Panel 3: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. She ducks from right to left moments later as another wooden spear hits the ground next to her. The far-off sword now closer in view at this point compared to Panel 2 (within five steps to be exact) as the shaking continues on in the setting around her, which starts to degrade into nothingness. GHEDE [Cont.]: I don't see it that way. Panel 4: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. A beat later, we see the Haitian guerrier duck a pair of subsequent wooden spears that pierce the ground mere inches from its intended target. The sword is now closer than ever in panel view as the shaking increases. The degradation of the environment around them also continues on unabated. GHEDE [with a groan]: I just call it... Panel 5-6: A two-part set of panels, centered on our heroine as she finally arrives at her Molltach. In Panel 5, she slides in from left to right of the panel view, grabbing the handle of the sword. And in Panel 6, we see her back on her feet ready to fight. Her eyes glaring intently at the off-panel antagonist. SOUND EFFECT [from Ghede, Panel 5]: YAAHH! GHEDE [to Kazugu-Tsuchi; Panel 6]: Another reason to kill you! KAZUGU-TSUCHI [Off-Panel, to Ghede; Panel 6]: After what the human has done, I would not blame you for killing him Ghede... Panel 7: Close-up on the younger looking Kazuo's face as this goes on. The setting around him continues to shake, signified by the sound of cracking off-panel as if it's being pulled apart at the seams. There's a look of pure supervillain glee and delight on his face as he looks at the off-panel Haitian guerrier. KAZUGU-TSUCHI [Cont.]: But you are far too late to stop me, for the die has already been set! Page 24, 6 Panels- Kagu-Tsuchi's Mountaintop Dwelling Panel 1: A wide side shot of the room moments later as the shaking inside starts to subside. The crack in the middle of the room that was alluded partially in the last panel of the previous page is now seen in fully. It separates the room into two distinct areas, with Kazugu-Tsuchi on the left side and our titular heroine Ghede on the right side. In the center area, which has become a large pool of black, we see a screen form with a picture of the Los Angeles skyline shaking in the middle of an earthquake. The screen looks similar to the water-based screen we saw Kagu-Tsuchi wield earlier in the series. KAZUGU-TSUCHI [translated from Japanese, to Ghede]: The Ring of Fire-tectonic plates under the earth's crust that are born of fire and chaos as well as parts of my former living being. Panel 2: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. There are two main differences to be seen though. First, we see the inhabited titan of industry start to take a step forward toward the gaping chasm at the center of the panel view. And second, the screen has changed to show a view of Mexico City as it shakes just as violently as it had been in L.A. The sight of the impressive Popocatépetl visible somewhat of the foreground chaos in the background. KAZUGU-TSUCHI [Cont., clenching his free hand into a fist]: It is here where my revenge will commence against humanity and their glittering palaces and their natural 'wonders...' Panel 3: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. The changes in the previous panel are visible once more as Kazugu-Tsuchi proceeds forward toward the gaping chasm. As for the screen, the image cuts to a shot of Blue Hill in the Galapagos islands of Ecuador which has had the same fate as the two major cities have. Its scenery shaking violently, causing a small collection of rocks to tumble down the side of it. KAZUGU-TSUCHI [holier than thou, 'divinely inspired']: All those, such as my father (and the weak human form I inhabit), who got fat by corrupting the natural land, sea and air for transient pleasures will be cleansed by the warm fires of their planet... Panel 4: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. The Japanese water god, hiding in the body of the human businessman, has now reached the edge of the gaping hole and stopped. As for the screen in the center of the panel view, it has changed to an image of Lake Toba in Indonesia. The few ethnic Batak people that live in the area running for cover from the violent natural disaster. As for Ghede, she starts to move forward toward the antagonist, dragging the sword on the ground. KAZUGU-TSUCHI [Cont.,on a roll]: Along with those who stood by and watched, yet did nothing to stop it! Panel 5: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. A split second later, we see Kazugu-Tsuchi start to ascend up to the sky as he reaches the very edge of the floor leading to the dark chasm. Ghede also moves another foot or so from her previous position in Panel 4. As for the screen above them, it now changes to a show of the Taal Volcano located south of Manila, Phillipines. Unlike the others, this is the first one that has shown to start spurting out a gust of fiery lava into the sky. KAZUGU-TSUCHI: And from those on that ball of dirt and mud who survive... Panel 6: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. We cut to the screen an image of Mount Bandai in the background. The skyline of the small Inawashiro-town in Fukushima prefecture visible in the foreground, beginning to crack and fall apart as a result of the violent quaking. You can see the top of the active volcano beginning to crack and open up. The inhabited Japanese water god, now four feet off the ground, starts to drift toward the center of the gaping chasm (which now has a little dot of white appear in the bottom center of the panel view). As for our titular heroine, she is suddenly driven back by a force field. A portion of which appears briefly in view. KAZUGU-TSUCHI [Cont., chucking the Asson to his side]: I will rule with a true divinity by my side! VOICE [Off-Panel, singing faintly]: "Tremble, tyrants and you traitors The shame of all parties..."