"This must be the plAAAAAAAAAAAce!" Anubis said as he fell into a deep hole.
He fell a long way. When he finally landed, he was in a room, filled with paintings of his armor.
"That's strange, I didn't feel any pain from the impact. This must be where my armor was created."
Anubis assumed the lotus position and began to meditate. Slowly but surely, energy began to surge into his armor once more.
Meanwhile, Sage was back in his crystal, in a coma like state, recharging. Kale looked around, attempting to find the place where his armor was supposedly kept. In the back, behind Sage, he found a wall. His instincts, or rather his sword, made him search along the wall, where he found a switch, which opened a door, which led to a set of stairs, which he descended. At the bottom, Kale was in a room which was completely dark. Somehow, he noticed paintings of his armor on the wall.
"Obedience." He thought, causing his kanji to appear on his forehead. "Yes. This is the place, Jackal." a voice said. Kale began to meditate as Anubis did.
In the Taipan Swamp, where Sekhmet and Sun Devil had been dropped off, the two surveyed the area.
"Piety...Yes. The armor was indeed made here."
"And it will die here as well." a voice said.
Ryo appeared again.
"So, you fools are trying to recharge your armors...It'd be a real shame if you should loose yours. But I'm going to be nice and let you and the others recharge. But remember this, it is only the lull before the storm. Enjoy your rest while you can...You'll need all your strength to beat me..Bwahaha!"
Ryo faded away. Red Torrent stood in his place.
"Fitting that I use a being you created to destroy you." Ryo's voice said.
Sun Devil charged Red Torrent, who struck, poisoning him.
"Sun Devil! Do not touch him! Use your weapons instead!" Sekhmet shouted.
Sun Devil launched his darts, harming Red Torrent. He then struck with his whip, sending him even further back.
"I have had enough of this. Tomb of Black Ice!" he shouted.
Red Torrent became covered in ice, and was destroyed.
"That was easy." Sun Devil said.
Sekhmet stood there, puzzled about what was necessary to reveal his place of recharging.
"Piety...Snake Fang Swords, lead me on my journey!" he shouted.
Sekhmet unsheathed his swords, which led him to a particular spot. An energy dome surrounded him. He fell into a deep trance. Sun Devil left him.
Kayura, Saber Strike and Sun Devil landed near Dais, who was attempting to find his source.
"Serenity...Armor of Illusion, show me the path!" he shouted.
Fighting their way through a sandstorm, they came upon a temple.
"That must be it!" Kayura said.
"No. It can't be."
They watched as the mirage faded away. The group pressed on, until a hole opened in the ground, causing Dais to fall in.
"Dais!" Kayura shouted.
Inside, Dais found webs and mist.
"Just like my dream." Dais said.
The Ancient's spirit appeared.
"Dais...The hiding places of the Warlords were kept secret...but now you and the others have found them."
Dais climbed into the web, and fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Hariel was searching for something in a damaged city.
"It has to be around here somewhere!" he shouted. "Where did I put it before..."
He continued to hunt for something. "Why can't I remember?" he asked himself.
"Because you are a fool, that's why." a voice said.
Hariel whirled around to find an African man in tribal clothing.
"Who are you?" Hariel asked.
"Oh, so you don't remember me, do you, Ryo. Perhaps this will refresh your memory." the man said.
"Mopezia izizudi Toamamba rumi!" he chanted.
He raised his hands to the sky, and black crystals erupted from the ground. An armor was laying down and sat up. It's helmet appeared, and butterflies made of energy flew out. He held out his hands, and the butterflies formed his armor right over his garments.
Hariel observed that he was wearing an armor like his own, but darker in color.
"I am Mukara, master of the Black Inferno Armor! Prepare to be destroyed, Ryo no Rekka!"
He drew his boomerang, and whacked Hariel with it. It flew back to his hand. Hariel charged with the Soul Swords, but Mukara performed a roundhouse kick, sending Hariel flying.
"You are not going to win this time, Ryo no Rekka!" he shouted.
"I told you, I'm not Ryo! My name is Hariel!" he shouted.
"Ah, so now you are a liar! All the more reason for me to destroy you!" Mukara shouted.
He whacked Hariel with his boomerang again.
"I'm getting sick of you." Hariel placed the Soul Swords together. "Rage...of...the Inferno!"
A white hot blast of energy flew at Mukara.
"So, you choose to fight like that, do you? You were able to defeat me before with that, but this time you will fail! Sen...Kou...Zan!" Mukara said.
A black burst of energy flew at Hariel. The antipodes met in the air. Hariel's succeeded in striking.
"So, you have gotten stronger since last we fought, Ryo no Rekka!" Mukara said.
He swung at Hariel with his boomerang, but Hariel swung at the same time with his Soul Swords, causing their weapons to lock. They fought to disarm one another, but they both lost the fight.
"Fine Ryo no Rekka, we will settle this by hand to hand combat!" Mukara said.
Hariel had about had it with this guy. "For the zillionth time," he said. "I" he said as he punched Mukara in the face, "am" as he kicked him in the chest, "not" as he backhanded Mukara, "Ryo!" He said as he sent him flying with an uppercut.
"Got it?" Hariel said as he landed.
"I refuse to believe your tricks!" Mukara shouted as he recovered his boomerang.
"Well believe this!" a voice said. An energy bolt slammed into Mukara, sending him flying.
"Well, well, if it isn't that fool Mukara. You never were a match for me, and you never will be." Ryo said. He had appeared on a building.
Hariel removed his helmet. "See? Ryo," pointing at him, "not Ryo." he said while pointing at himself. "Got it?"
"Yes. What do you suggest we do?" Mukara asked.
"Follow my lead." Hariel said, placing his swords together. "Rage...of...the Inferno!" he shouted.
"Sen...Kou...Zan!" Mukara shouted.
Both blasts slammed into Ryo.
"You may have won this battle, but I will win the war!" Ryo said.
With that, he disappeared.
Hariel turned to Mukara.
"Now, why did you call him Ryo no Rekka?" Hariel asked.
"Because that is his title." Mukara asked.
"I have never heard him called that. I have heard him been referred to as Ryo of the Wildfire, but never Ryo no Rekka."
"This Ryo you speak of, is he leader of the Yoroiden Samurai Troopers?" Mukara asked.
"No. He leads...or did lead, the Ronin Warriors. Why?"
"The Ryo that beat me was known as Ryo no Rekka and wore the armor that you have on you now, called the Kikoutei."
"You must be mistaken. This is the Armor of Inferno."
"Call it what you will. I will go to the place where the Yoroiden Samurai Troopers were last stationed." Mukara said. "Perhaps his companions will be able to tell me what has become of my former enemy. But I will help you fight this foe."
He changed into a large butterfly and flew off.
Hariel stood there for a moment, wondering who in the Nether Realm this guy was, before following him in a plume of flame.
To be Continued...