Chapter II: Into the Darkness

Chris had walked through the barren landscape and ventured into the forest which Hazama spoke of. Within minutes of entering he had already felt like he was lost in a maze of trees. Frustrated, he pulled out one of his knives that he received and started slashing all of the trees, each swing greater than the last. After about the seventh tree slice, he pulled out his cell phone; there was no service but the that didn't matter, he was just checking the time. The digital clock on the front screen read "5:30pm", after that Chris looked up and even though there were many trees blocking the view, it was obvious the sun was still out. When he looked back down, something peculiar caught his eye, it looked ancient and definitely out of place.

"Now that's better. Let's see if tall, green, and creepy wasn't making this up," he said.

He kept one knife in hand and walked forward carefully looking around for anything suspicious until he finally reached his destination; the temple. It wasn't very large on the outside, but after watching so many "Indiana Jones" movies he figured it was a lot bigger on the inside. He stepped in front of the entrance and took one last look behind him before taking another step. He looked forward but he jumped back at the sight that stood before him; a figure clad in white and black armor with very long, light blue hair. He wore a mask so his face was not shown. On his back was a very long sheath carrying a sword that was at least six feet long.

"What brings you to this unholy place child?" he asked in a grand but slightly muffled voice.

"Wait, don't tell me, you're the guardian of this temple right?" said Chris.

"Correct. Now answer my question."

"No. I've come too far to just quit now."

"Brave words, but I'm afraid you've stumbled upon something far beyond your understanding child."

"I have a name..." Chris drew both of his knives. "It's Chris," he continued.

The man in white armor chuckled and then drew his long, flat tipped katana. "Very well, allow me to introduce myself. I am the white void. I am the cold steel. I am the just sword. With blade in hand I shall reap the sins of this world, and cleanse them in the fires of destruction. I am Haku-men, the end has come!" Haku-men got into a stance.

"Oh will you just shut up! I'll take you down right now!"

Chris lunged at Haku-men and swung one of his knives. Haku-men lowered his guard and when Chris's knife connected, it merely bounced off his armor. Chris jumped back and was about to counterattack but, he suddenly felt a very powerful aura emanate from Haku-men. It felt like the gravity was turned up ten degrees. Chris was forced to a knee because the energy was so dense. He felt his breath shortening and clasped his chest.

"What is this? How is he drawing out such power?" he thought.

Chris looked back at the armored knight that stood before him and he seemed to be drawing even more power.

"Now come child. I shall show you the error of your ways," said Haku-men as he released a surge of energy from his body.

He took his massive blade and swung at Chris, slicing a few trees like they were made of butter. Chris managed to roll away but he realized that he could not win, so he ran for the temple yelling, "I KNEW IT THAT BASTARD PLAYED ME!" Haku-men chased after him but Chris managed to outrun him. Chris ran threw many corridors all leading to nowhere. Left, right, left, right; he kept running nonstop until he finally reached a dead end.

"Shit, this isn't good. I need to find what's in this temple or I'm a dead man," he thought.

Chris suddenly remembered what Hazama had said earlier. "And here, take these. You'll need them."

"Need them for what these things did absolutely nothing for me!" he yelled as he threw one of the knives in anger. Once the knife hit the ground, he noticed something, a little notch in one of the stones on the floor. It looked like he could fit one of the knives in it, so he took the one other one he had in his hand and place it in the slot. Then the stone sunk into the floor and the wall to the left of Chris opened up to reveal a flight of stairs. He heard Haku-men yell so he took off down the stairs. It seemed to take forever but he had reached the end. What awaited him was a very large room full of technology and one large gate.