H18 Scourge of the Beanstalk

Book Cover

**Scourge of the Beanstalk**, the 18th book of The Golden Age of Adventures series, was published in January 2018. It is the English language edition of the original Chinese comic, **狂战士之种**, which was published in July 2017.

## Synopsis

AIMING FOR THE TOP! BATTLING GARGANTUAN BEASTS!

Back at his house, Alex follows a treasure map left behind by his great grandfather to a treasure chest in Cameron Highlands. In it, he finds a bean said to be from the very legend of Jack and the Beanstalk; yet the fact that his great grandfather couldn't make the bean grow must mean that the legend is false. Or is it?

## Cast

* Alex
* Lulu
* Alex's father, mother and sister
* "Pahang Tiger" Khairul
* "Lorry Singh" Baljit Singh
* "Masked Muay Thai King" Kamon

## Plot

***Spoiler warning!** Plot and/or ending details follow.*

### Chapter 1: Home

Alex's great grandfather told his friend the story of Jack and the Beanstalk because he has those beans. He planted some, but they didn't grow the next day. He buried the beans and made a map to put in the basement, so when his descendants will find, all they'll find is a wothless box.

Alex returns home with Lulu. His family gives him cleaning tools. The house hasn't been cleaned in two months. There are also a clutter of cats. Lulu proves to them she is a cat by her claws. She orders them to move away, so that Alex can clean. In the basement, Alex finds a hidden compartment. He opens them, and two parchments come out.

### Chapter 2: Treasure Hunt

Alex has made a nice dinner for his family. His father accidentally says he and the family knew Jones wasn't dead and he visits them every two months. When Jones returned and saw Alex being hardworking, he decided to keep him in the dark so he'd become independant.

The next day, Alex, Lulu and cats go search for the treasure in Cameron Highlands, guided by the map. They first need to find a rock with the number 0. Behind the rock was written: "South; 1500 steps". They find rocks with different numbers. The number of squares on a cat on the map shows the number. Behind the rock bearing the number 8, it was written: "East; 3000 steps". They reach the final cat and have found the treasure.

### Chapter 3: Big Changes

The treasure box's puzzle is to pick the odd one out. Alex solves it. Inside is a note from great grandpa, telling the reader to try to grow the beans themself. There is another paper written Old Norse: the beans can only grow by the blood of the red general who comes from the tropics and whose thorns don't hurt. Lulu squeezes a rambutan, and the liquid pours onto the beans.

The next day, Alex, Lulu, the cats and everyone else discover a beanstalk has appeared. Overnight, the beanstalk grew and Alex's tent was carried by a leaf. Beans fall from the sky, and one of the cats eats one. Its size increases. There are giant birds flying, who are then shot down by Global Alliance for Humanity helicopters. They were planning on shooting the giant cat, but they don't as Alex holds up his flare.

### Chapter 4: Magical Tree

All the forests have wilted. A monkey eats a bean and turns giant and monstrous. Alex informs a general of the Malayan GAH that he caused this. In the Odette, an announcer says Alex caused a beanstalk incident in Malaya. Charlie decides not to tell Marie Wright as she is torturing Richard. At the GAH HQ, the commander wants to limit adventurers to their own countries. His secretary informs him about the beanstalk.

Alex's family forbids the GAH Malayan forces to kill the giant animals. Alex's mother gives the general tranquillisers because the animals stop being violent after they sleep. The general does not care. Alex's father tells him most of the animals killed were livestock. The Alliance has made farmers suffer more. The general is speechless.

A soldier informs the general the roots of the beanstalk can't be cut, so a herbicide was injected into the soil, but didn't work too. There is also a rain of beans dispersed by the wind to villlages. Atop the beanstalk is biological heat making the sounds of a beating heart. While the Alliance takes care of the giant beasts, Alex's family take cares of the other animals and the adventurers will go up the beanstalk.

### Chapter 5: Thunderclouds

The adventurers consist of Alex, Lulu, Khairul, Baljit Singh and Kamon. Alex's mother gives them the tranquillisers. The Alliance forces go to the beanstalk by HT-3 Crawler tanks. After tranquillisng all the animals, Alex notices clouds gathering at the top of the beanstalk. A helicopter shoots a giant beetle, but the bullets have no effect and it is destroyed. Lightning strikes more helicopters. A soldier from a tank is snatched by a giant chameleon's tongue.

The general is informed about the beanstalk gathering clouds. It is suspected that since all river water has been dried up, the beanstalk uses rain water. On a speaker, a soldier from the beanstalk warns of leaf insects. Alex decides to help them, not caring if the general reports him. Khairul and Kamon will help too. They go there by Baljit's lorry.

### Chapter 6: Out from the Snake's Belly

In the Strait of Malacca, an Alliance battleship will reach Pangkor Island in five hours. They plan to bomb the beanstalk.

Lulu reports a lot of beans have been collected. Alex tells her to handle them, the animals and air force men. At the foot of the beanstalk, Baljit activates his lorry's climbing mode. It goes up by crow bars attached to the wheels. They see tank 1's men down. One soldier tells them about the colossal snake above.

The snake crushes the tank that's attacking it with its mouth. The soldiers managed to escape and take cover under the leaves. Baljit's lorry, carrying Tank 1 men along, rides up the snake. The snake bites it. Baljit activates the separation, which separates the driver's seat and the load. It slits the throat open from the inside, killing the snake.

The Alliance battleship informs everyone in near the beanstalk to evacuate, as they will bomb the place in one hour. Everyone decides to go down, but Alex wants to proceed higher. If the beanstalk is destroyed first, the Alliance won't bomb the place.

### Chapter 7: Foul Fruit

Kamon has hardly had a chance to shine. Khairul will not let his homeland be destroyed. The corporal had a honeymoon with his wife here two years ago, so the place holds memories. The other soldiers agree too. The leader, with no other choice, agrees. Baljit has arrived in his lorry. It is placed vertically and Baljit activates flying mode: heating gas from gas tanks inside the wheels. They manage to reach the heart, which bears a foetus inside.

There are bean pods above, which are the source of the beans. They are all burned. Missiles are fired to the foetus, but it has no effect. It seems it has absorbed the nutrients of all Cameron Highlands. The foetus opens its eye. Poisonous burrs shoot from the ground, making everyone immobile, but Alex can still move.

### Chapter 8: Alien Strength

The bombing is five minutes away. Alex ropes himself to the foetus. Now it's two minutes left. Alex, with Akhazane's cells, succeeds to crack the heart. He wonders if his emotions caused it, same for in the Tomb of Pyramids. But that is not important now. Alex uses his fullest power to destroy the whole beanstalk. The Alliance battleship is informed to cease the fire.

The next day, ten lorries from the World Adventure Union are carrying saplings and seeds, water and builders to rebuild homes. Alex's family assists in nursing the giant livestock. Although it was unintentional, the damage caused was too great. The court judge declares Alex forbidden from adventuring for six months.

GAH Commander Steel Fang protests Alex's status should've been revoked. He wants the Union abolished because adventurers endanger Earth by uncovering dangerous things buried away. Robert says he has still not let go of the Adolf Hitler matter. Steel Fang shock blades the wall and does not want to hear that dreaded name again.

The foetus will be sent to America for research. The general asks if the beans are going to be burned. A soldiers replies they cartainly will. The general secretly puts four beans in his pocket. His golden finger ring bears the Neo-Nazi symbol.