Welcome back to the next chapter of American Drago, I hope you enjoy it.

When a Plan Falls Apart

The next day Drago was celebrating his victory in obtaining the Fire Chi by turning downtown San Francisco into an inferno. With his own firepower augmented by his father's chi, Drago's power was immense, massive waves of fire gushed from his palms and mouth, scorching everything in their path. All the while the fiery teen laughed maniacally, watching as any living thing nearby fled in terror! The Ice Gang wasn't far behind, hurling fireballs like baseballs at anything lucky enough to escape their leader's blaze.

Eric flew high in the air observing everything that was going on. Silently he prayed for anything alive would have the common sense to flee. Although he was infused a bit with Drago's demonic chi and enjoyed wanton destruction every once in a while, Eric still retained a small bit of his goodness and secretly hoped for the safety for living things. Unfortunately his prayers were not answered; even as the civilians and wild animals fled the scene, a group of SWAT soldiers approached the scene. Eric tried to stay out of sight as he observed what was going on.

Several SWAT soldiers had posted themselves in places where they could snipe out Drago but the son of Shendu could easily smell his foes and blasted fire. Another wave of soldiers charged towards Drago with their weapons aimed straight at his scaly, spiky head. Drago grinned maliciously as he concentrated on his inner energies, summoning a ring a fire that issued from his own body that continued to expand and ripple, smashing the human warriors, melting their weapons and armor and searing their flesh.

Not soon after that Drago heard a series of loud noises coming from behind him, as if many large machines were approaching. The dragon was greeted by a small battalion of tanks! The army saw Drago as a major threat and decided to pull out some big guns to put an end to his threat. Drago's grin just continued to widen. Before the tanks had a chance to fire he leapt with lightning-quick speed, snapping off the top porthole of the nearest tank and snatching up its driver and hurling him away before diving into the tank himself. Drago laughed evilly as he turned the barrel of the tank's cannon in the opposite direction, towards the remaining tanks! He again focused on his chi and used the cannon as a medium to launch one more massive fiery blast that blazed over the tanks, burning the top half of them cleanly off revealing their vulnerable drivers. The attack was so powerful it blew off the top of the tank Drago inhabited! Having no further use for this feeble human weapon, Drago leapt out of the charred remains of the tank and landed with feline grace in the street. Nearby the Ice Gang had finished up beating up any remaining SWAT soldiers.

"This power is exhilarating!" Drago roared, opening his palm towards a large building and unleashed another blast of fire that completely demolished the top portion of the building, leaving only a stump of the bottom floors remaining. "I must have more! MORE POWER! If only the other powers were locked away in Section 13, although with my new power I bet we can take them on!"

Eric landed, rejoining the group. "You know, Drago, I was just thinking of something…"

Drago calmed down for a moment and turned towards Eric, "Hmm? And what's that?"

"You mentioned that your aunts and uncles had been released from their prison before and resealed again, right?" Eric inquired.

"That's correct."

"So, if the Chans had used the same technique the Eight Immortals used to seal them away in the past, couldn't there possibly be a chance that the items they had used had more Demon Chi rubbed off on them?"

Drago's eyes widened in surprise, and then with glee, "Then that would mean there are even MORE items with Demon Chi in them, making me even MORE powerful!"

"Hey, yeah! I say we go over to the Chans' and beat the items out of em'!" Ice butted into the conversation.

Drago smirked, "I agree, I think it's time we paid our friends a visit." Suddenly Eric was starting to regret his suggestion.

After some meditation Drago was able to locate the Demon Chi-infused items at Uncle's antique shop. The five dragons hid in an alley nearby. Ice contemplated out loud why the Chans were keeping all of the items stocked up at home? Drago surmised that the Chans didn't even realize the items they had used on the Demon Sorcerers retained their Chi. this would be a surprise attack.

Drago casually stepped forward and opened the door, "Honey, I'm home!" Uncle, Jackie, Tohru and Jade all turned in horror to see the dragons at their front door.

"How did you find us?" Tohru asked.

"Better question, why are you here?" Jackie asked.

"Duh! Drago and his flunkies are tired of us getting in his way so he's here to off us once and for all!" Jade said aloud.

"While the idea is deliciously appealing, I'm here for another reason, I want my Chi!" Drago growled hungrily.

"What? But we don't have any of the Immortal Items!" Jackie wailed.

"No, I figured out that there is another way to get the Chi. Didn't you twerps seal up my dad and my aunts and uncles behind the Eight Portals too? If you did what I think you did you should have what I'm looking for."

Uncle then just realized what Drago was hinting at, "AI YAH! Jackie! We used the same spells the Eight Immortals did to seal away the Demon Sorcerers! The items we used may have Demon Chi on them!"

"That's what we figure, so hand over the goods and we'll cut this house call short!" Cobra

"Hmm…in light of the situation, Uncle's answer is…no…Besides you won't even find the items, we've got them hidden someplace safe so there, HA CHA!"

"Let me guess, they're in some closet in here, right?"

"…AI YAH!"

"Uncle, you're such a pack rat…" Jackie moaned.

"Fine, if you won't hand over the Chi willingly, we're going to have to tear this place apart until we find it!" Drago snarled.

"We're razing the roof, ya'll!" Ice shouted.

"Heh heh, nice pun, Ice." Eric chuckled.

The Ice gang began by knocking over shelves of books and breaking antiques while Drago burned anything around him. "AI YAH! Stop! You're destroying my priceless books and antiques!" Jackie began fighting his way through Drago's posse.

Eric did not like seeing priceless items like ancient books and antiques go to waste so he attempted to put out the fires that threatened to consume them. While this was happening Tohru, Uncle and Jade approached Eric. "Okay, so what's the deal? You work for Drago but you saved me, one of his enemies, why?" Jade asked Eric.

"I told you, it just wasn't right, no one should suffer or die if they don't have to."

"Why do you serve Drago knowing that he does these atrocities?" Tohru asked Eric.

"Drago is…my friend…he gave me this power! I'm now a true dragon because of him…besides he would probably kill me if I refused." Eric said somberly.

"I can sense that this young dragon's chi is essentially good, but it has become tainted and corrupted by Drago's influence," Uncle explained, "but it's not too late for you, some people can be influenced by ignorance or fear, these people can be saved…" Eric looked away almost shamefully. "Well, whether or not this of important doesn't matter right now, Tohru, I expected Drago to come after us and after failing to get the Fire Demon Chi from the last time I started concocting a reverse Chi Spell to at least take away Drago's excess fire chi, I have everything set up so if you'll help me."

Tohru retrieved the Chi-O-Matic while Uncle prepared the correct Chi Spell. "No, you mustn't do that!" Eric attempted to stop them but Uncle quickly chanted another Chi Spell, this one caused magical ropes to entangle Eric's body, restricting him. Eric watched in shame as the Chi-O-Matic vacuumed up Drago's extra fire chi, but before the Chi-O-Matic began to vibrate, indicating it was completely filled up and could not take any more. Drago growled in frustration, "Fine, take back my dad's chi, I don't need his power to finish you off, and then I'll get the rest of the Demon Chi!" Drago readied himself with another fireball when everyone heard sirens outside.

That was when a tall, muscular bald man wearing a black leather jacket and several similarly dressed soldiers barged into the building. "Freeze, Drago, you won't get away this time!" the bald man held a pistol aimed at Drago.

"Captain Black! I'm sure glad you and your Section 13 agents were able to get here in time!" Jackie said happily.

"This gives us a good opportunity to test our new weapon, bring em' in boys!" That's when some of the soldiers came in with advanced bazooka-like weapons, all of which were aimed at Drago. Waves of freezing cold water charged with electricity were fired from the bazookas. Drago cried out in agony as the combination of water and electricity drained his strength and caused him to drop the Dragon Talisman.

"Drago!" Seeing Drago in pain gave Eric enough strength to break free from his bondage. He swiftly moved from soldier to soldier, effectively destroying the weapons with his sword and knocking the agents unconscious. He then glided to Drago and lifted him onto his shoulders before fleeing the scene with the Ice Gang not far behind.

The five of them returned to the dump that was their hideout. They all felt the disappointment of losing both the Fire Chi and the Dragon Talisman. The Ice Gang wrapped Drago in old rags they had found around the dump and built a fire to help warm their fiery leader. "Eric…" Drago groaned painfully, beckoning his newest recruit closer, the son of Shendu then placed a claw on his shoulder, "…Thank you…" he whispered before drifting into a healing slumber, Eric nodded in affirmation, happy that his leader was thankful.

That night Eric saw the gray wolf hiding in the shadows, Eric heard a familiar voice in his head, "Come, follow me, and bring that shield there with you," the wolf motioned towards the sleeping form of Strike Master Ice before dashing away. In Ice's clutches he held a round shield, it looked like an artifact from the Chans' shop, it looked to be the same shield that the Rooster Talisman had originally been embedded in, and Ice must have stolen it during his brief visit. Eric carefully crept towards his fellow dragon hybrids, seeing them fast asleep, he then carefully slid the shield from under Ice's clutches and claimed it for himself, and then proceeded to follow the wolf. The wolf led Eric to a clearing in the dump and suddenly leapt at Eric and his vision turned white, coming back to the white, misty field. The gray wolf sat peacefully, before howling and transforming into Omni Link. "So, we meet again," the green-clad knight proclaimed, "I saw fit that it was time to teach you something new, young warrior…"

"Why do you keep coming to me?" Eric asked fearfully, "What would you possibly want from me?"

Link closed his eyes and exhaled slowly and for a few moments there was silence, then almost hesitatingly he opened his eyes and spoke, "Normally, I would only reveal myself to one of my incarnations, or to a member of the Royal Family of Hyrule, but I have been ordered by powers on high to come before you."

Eric was even more dumbfounded than before, "Powers on high? What do you mean?"

Link shook his head, "In due time, everything will be revealed to you, that is all I can say. Right now I must assess your abilities. Before we begin I would like to see if you have mastered the last technique I taught you earlier, the finishing blow, show it to me!" Link then drew his sword and poised for attack. Eric sighed, but obeyed the spirit's command, he drew his sword and rushed forward, attacking Omni Link with all his strength, pummeling the spirit knight and felling him. Seeing his opportunity, Eric raised his sword and leapt, once again embedding the blade into Omni Link's chest. Being a spirit Link felt no pain from the attack. Eric pulled the sword from Link's chest and helped him to his feet. "Good, you've proven that you have learned this skill, you are ready to learn the next, the Shield Attack, learn it well, for it will be helpful for later."

Link then began to teach Eric the next skill. "There was a reason I asked you to retrieve that shield from your heathen acquaintances, it's a good thing you obeyed, because obviously a shield is required for the Shield Attack. Anyway, when it comes to battle, no matter how well-tempered a blade is, if your foe is clad in armor and carries a shield, the blade will do it no harm. When you are faced with such a foe, thrust your shield against the defenses of your enemy," Link then demonstrated by thrusting his shield forward, "this should temporarily stun your enemies, now, practice this move on me. You have learned much, so I am sure you will know the moment when you can use a Shield Attack!" The two then crossed their swords together in a sign of respect before beginning. Eric did exactly as his sensei had ordered and thrust his shield against Omni Link, causing him to stumble. Although dazed, Link smiled, "Excellent! Open a hole in your enemy's defenses and use your sword to strike without hesitation!" Eric nodded.

"Now, let me show you another convenient use for the Shield Attack." Omni Link then stepped back several feet away from Eric. "The Shield Attack I have just taught you can also be used to repel an enemy's projectile attacks. Would you practice? Then repel my magical attack with your Shield Attack!" Suddenly Omni Link summoned a sphere of energy from the tip of his sword and flung it at Eric. The young dragon panicked and hid behind this shield, causing him to skid back a few inches. "You must time it just as my spell hits your shield to reflect it back at me!" Link shouted from where he stood several yards away, "You must also focus, mentally lock onto your target! This is a fundamental of combat" Eric nervously nodded and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Let's try again!" Link again formed the magical sphere from the tip of his sword and flung it at Eric. This time the young dragon was focused and was able to thrust his shield forward just in time to deflect the magical sphere back at Omni Link. The knight staggered a few paces before regaining his composure and smiled once again. "Perfect! When your enemies assail you with projectiles, this is how you will defeat them with ease!" Eric smiled as well, almost in embarrassment but also with some pride. "Done! You have learned the second of my hidden skills, the Shield Attack! But I have five more secrets to teach you…in time. Do not forget your discipline with the blade before we meet again!" And just as before, the white, misty field faded and Eric found himself back where he was before in the dump. Fortunately none of Drago's posse had awoken so no one knew Eric had left. He lay down in his usual spot and drifted quietly to sleep, his mind processing…

Meanwhile, somewhere in New York City

"Are you sure it is here, Professor?"

"Indeed, I am positive it is here, Hunts Master."

Scum Labs was a corrupt multinational corporation that exploited the use of mutagenic materials, regardless of who was affected. The company is infamous for the creation of over forty Kaiju, the generic word for giant monsters who possessed immense size and strength.

In New York City was situated one of Scum Labs' many headquarters and it was here that a burglary was in the process. "Excellent, it was fortunate that Scum Labs was able to 'obtain' the cells we're looking for from the Global Defense Force, with it we can use their power to destroy all magical creatures." New York's Scum Labs branch was invaded by what appeared to be ninja warriors. They wore black and scarlet form-fitting suits and carried bladed staffs. The higher ranking of this group wore the skulls of slain dragons on their heads to distinguish and boast their status as dragon-slayers. They were the Hunts Clan.

"According to the schematics I've downloaded, the main laboratory we are searching for is on this floor, my lord," announced the Hunts Clan professor in a soft, British accent. He was of a broad, muscular build and as a symbol of his status his head was clad with the scarred, broken skull of a dragon and on his left eye he wore a monocle. The Hunts Clan was sophisticated in developing and using technology, including cybernetics. This was evident in the professor as he no longer possessed an organic right arm, replaced with a much larger, cybernetic claw.

The Hunters stealthily made their through the halls of the building. They at last came upon a set of white double doors. "It is here, Hunts Master," the professor whispered. A pair of the younger warriors opened the door, allowing their superiors to enter. The inside of the laboratory would seem clichéd, with various computer monitors and other advanced machinery set up inside. Along the back wall was over forty enormous cryogenic tubes, but the contents of which were obscured by condensation. This was of no importance to the Hunts Clan; their true objective was nearby. A metallic cooler was placed on a table nearby. The cooler was sealed with a sophisticated lock.

"Yo, Hunts man, let 88 and me take care of this one." Two of the younger recruits made their way to the canister. One was a stout, chubby teenager with a badge depicting a large number #88 on the left shoulder. The other was a taller, thinner boy with a #89 badge on his left shoulder. The two boys attempted to pick the lock themselves but instead fumbled stupidly. One of the older recruits, a young woman with her blonde hair set in a long braid, rolled her eyes in frustration and used her staff to slice through the lock. The two younger boys glanced back at their superiors sheepishly, "We were just about to get it."

That was when the leader of the Hunts Clan warriors stepped forward and took the case into his large, strong hands. To his enemies he was known as the Huntsman, but to his followers he was the Hunts Master. He was a tall man of similar muscular build to the professor and his red eyes burned with evil will. The Huntsman opened the case. Inside was a cylindrical canister filled with a viscous substance. "It's fortunate that the GDF had encased them in a radiation reinforced container, otherwise we would risk poisoning," the Hunts Man said in his deep, gruff voice, "But we cannot risk the chance of a leak, Prof. Mythosbane, bring me the radiation-proof container. The monocle-wearing professor rushed to his master's side with another briefcase.

Just as the Huntsman took the jar from the case, the building's alarms blared, signaling the security of the Hunts Clan's presence. Right on cue, several security guards arrived, unfortunately Scum Labs was an incompetent organization and their employees were equally as such. The Huntsman gave the guards a fleeting glance before turning to his subordinates, "#88, #89, Hunts Girl, take care of this little annoyance."

"Yes, Master, Hi-yah!" The blonde-braided girl leapt at the security guards. With one swipe of her staff, Hunts Girl dispatched three of the security guards and quickly followed by roundhouse kicking two more. The two Hunts boys, #88 and #89 followed, trying to intimidate the security guards with poorly imitated marital arts moves and sounds.

Suddenly one of the security guards pulled out a bazooka and aimed it straight at the Huntsman. "Hunts Master, look out!" The professor cried out. Two of the lower-ranking warriors closest to the Huntsman shoved their leader out of the way just in time when the security guard fired his bazooka. This caused the two Hunters to be propelled to the back of the room and against one of the enormous cryogenic tubes.

Prof. Mythosbane angrily turned towards the security guards and pointed his mechanical arm at them, which then morphed into the barrel of a cannon and fired a bullet of energy and blasting the security guards with the same ferocity as the bazooka. The professor hurried to the injured hunters, "Are you well, lads?" the professor asked.

The two younger warriors rubbed their sore heads and backs. "Yes, sensei, we're all right," they groaned in reply.

The professor smiled and nodded, "I'm relieved to here you say that." He extended both arms to help up his fellow warriors. Just as he was helping them to their feet he noticed the smudge on the cryogenic tube where the Hunts boys had slammed against them from the blast and had removed a small bit of condensation, giving a small glimpse of what was inside. The object gained the intrigue of Mythosbane, with his organic hand he wiped away a little more of the condensation to see what was inside. What he saw horrified him, an enormous hoofed foot. This further attracted his curiosity, so he turned towards one of the Hunts boys, "Let me see your staff for a moment, son," he said and the warrior he addressed happily obliged. He faced the blade of the staff and set it so that the water-spraying gun was set and doused the rest of the tank where he could not reach. The water removed the condensation at the top of the tank, better revealing what lay inside.

An enormous bipedal animal stood inside, it had gray white fur growing all over its body, a brown face and a pair of curved, goat-like horns jutting from the sides of its head and as stated before it had hoofed feet. The professor next noticed a plaque at the base of the tank. It was mostly a collection of statistics and numbers, but one word stuck out from all the rest: "Ramsey the Ram." The curious professor moved to two other tanks and repeated the procedure he did on Ramsey's tank. Again the water revealed two more giant beasts. One was humanoid in appearance but its body was completely composed to earthworms, the plaque underneath read the name "Squirmy the Worms." The other held another giant creature. This one was also bipedal but its back was hunched over, it had blue fur all over its body except for its back, which had an orange tinge and covered in spines, the creature had a long snout. The plaque underneath the cryogenic tank read "Icky the Echidna."

"I knew it, so this is where Scum Labs was containing its Kaiju!" Professor Mythosbane exclaimed. Just then many more Scum Labs security guards filed into the room. The Hunts Clan aimed their staffs at their enemies and fired lasers from the blades of their weapons. The professor ran to the Huntsman's side that he had almost forgotten. "Are you well, my lord?" asked the professor.

"Yes, professor, I'm fine, we have gotten what we've come for, and we don't need to concern ourselves with these dogs!"

"True, master, but even a pack of dogs can be dangerous; they are blocking our escape route and we are outnumbered!"

The Huntsman then turned to the cryogenic tanks and an idea formed in his violent mind. He quickly rushed over to the tanks and used his staff to smash through one of them. Klaxons throughout the room blared and the lights flickered from the damage. The life in the cryogenic tank began to stir. In a loud voice the Huntsman shouted over the din, "Hunts Clan, I command you, damage these tanks!" Obeying their master's command, the Hunters abandoned their battle with the guards and repeated his actions, smashing several of the tanks either from physical force or from firing lasers from their staffs.

Just a few feet above the Huntsman's head a large purple fist smashed through the glass from inside the tube he was standing at. He leapt out of the way just in time to see another enormous beast. Just before he escaped the Huntsman read the plaque at the bottom of the tank, it read: "Philbert the Ungulate." The glass shattered as the rest of the beast emerged, like most of the other monsters it two was bipedal, it had a purple hide and like Ramsey it had a pair of horns jutting from the sides of its head and hoofed feet.

Philbert let out a high-pitched screech and stomped around the room, smashing things with his large fists and feet. The Scum Labs security guards averted their attention from the Hunts Clan to Philbert, firing their array of pistols and bazookas at the giant deer-like beast. The bullets and rockets did little to affect the giant ungulate, Philbert turned around and looked down at the much smaller humans and giggled. He swiftly snatched up one of the security guards and popped them in his mouth and devoured the poor guard. After swallowing the ungulate turned to the other guards and stomped towards them, still hungry.

All around them, more of the tanks shattered, revealing their monstrous charges. #88 and #89 screamed pitifully in fear of the giant monsters. "Hunts Clan, move out!" The Huntsman yelled. The Hunts Clan warriors quickly retreated from the room, leaving behind the battle between the Scum Labs employees and the monsters.

Prof. Mythosbane was especially pleased to leave. "It serves them right for their arrogance and greed, now they will be punished by the, quite literal, monsters they've created!"

"Yes, those idiotic fools did not know what power they attempted to control and exploit, that power belongs only to those who truly comprehend and are able to wield it efficiently," the Huntsman replied, "tonight we've obtained an incredibly rare and valuable resource, one that could greatly aid us in our goal of the extermination of all magical and supernatural creatures and the domination of the earth!"

Several hours later

The battle between Scum Labs and its monsters had finally ended, poorly one might add. Millions of dollars worth of collateral damage was caused and casualties had climbed into the hundreds. These thoughts weighed heavily on the ill-fortuned manager that was to give his report to the CEO. He nervously scurried through the halls of the building like a mouse until finally finding and plowing through the double doors into the conference room where the CEO awaited him.

"What's the situation?" the CEO asked his employee who nervously handed him the report. The CEO shook his head in anguish after reading the statistics. "Were you able to contain the damage at least?"

"We managed to re-subdue some of the test subjects, but unfortunately some of them managed to escape…"

"WHAT?"

"It's in the report sir…"

The CEO flipped through the pages until he found a list, the names of the "Test Subjects" that had escaped their grasp: "Let's see…Rocky the Granite, Amanda the Armadillo, Nick the Demon, Lizzie the Dinosaur…"

The Next Morning in San Francisco

It seemed like a lazy morning for Drago's posse. The Ice Gang was busy fooling around, skateboarding and rollerblading around the junkyard like it was a skate park. Drago sat cross-legged on the hood of a broken car, meditating, and Eric was resting nearby. Suddenly Drago's eyes snapped open and he growled.

The growl was loud enough for the Ice Gang and Eric to hear and they all strolled up to their leader. "Yo, what's the problem, D-man?" Ice asked.

Drago sighed and gritted his teeth; a seething anger welled underneath his scaly surface. "Boys, while I was meditating I received a vision, not of any Demon Chi, but of something that really disturbs me."

"Boy, it must have been really awful to upset the boss," Cobra said sarcastically. Drago heard his remark and snarled, dousing Cobra in a light fire, not enough to seriously injure but enough to get his point around. "Sorry…" Cobra said nervously.

"Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I received a vision. Apparently there's a group of dragon-hating jerks calling themselves the Hunts Clan lurking in New York City."

"I can understand why that would upset you, Drago, but why does this concern you? They are all the way across the continent?" Eric asked.

"In my vision I realized that just recently they've come into the possession of an enormous source of power, with something like that in their hands it can't be good, and I want that power for myself!" Drago announced.

"Does this mean what I think it is?" Ice asked.

"Yup, we're heading to New York City!"

The Ice Gang was definitely excited by this new development. "All right! Road trip!" Cobra shouted excitedly.

"Yeah, to the city that never sleeps! It's time to party!" Ice shouted in reply. Even Eric was a little excited to be going to New York. He wondered what he would see and experience there.