Called by the Thangiens, Ouagli
By Mardrena
Mia wasn't sure what caused her to sit up in bed all of a sudden. She glanced around her room then at the alarm clock. Satisfied that she had ample time to sleep before work, she sank back down onto her pillow and tugged the sheets over her shoulder.
The second time she sat bolt upright in bed she was fairly certain she heard a scream. She frowned and looked about the room, wondering if the cry existed only in her mind, until a second shriek assured her it came from the waking world. She peeled off the covers and nudged her feet into her slippers then headed for the door. A third scream came from down the hall, the closest room being Ryo's. Mia opened the door and peeked inside, startled to see the Ronin Leader thrashing about in bed, arms lashing out wildly in the air. Mia sat down beside him.
"Ryo? Ryo! Wake up! You're having a-" Despite her efforts to placate him, Ryo continued whimpering and crying. Mia grabbed his arms and tried to pin him down, but underestimated his strength and cried out in alarm when he shoved her away, sending her against the wall. Ryo curled up into a ball then convulsed and began flailing about in bed again. Mia frowned, at first in worry, then in confusion when she heard another scream, this time distant. She closed the door behind her as she entered the hall and identified screams from separate voices in the other rooms.
"MIA! What the freaking f-" Tanya growled as she yanked her door open and stormed out into the hall. Mia held up a hand to quiet her and cocked her head to listen.
"You hear that don't you?" Tanya rolled her eyes in exasperation but Mia turned around. "…It's affecting all of them! Not just Ryo! Go check on Cye and Kento, I'll look in on Rowen and Sage," Mia said and headed down the hall. Tanya huffed irritably but complied. Mia felt especially concerned when she found Rowen and Sage-both typically sound sleepers-exhibiting the same hysteria as Ryo. Rowen had half of his face buried in his pillow and shuddered frequently. Mia initially thought Sage less affected until she saw long scars in the sheets and the mattress underneath; runs caused by his fingernails as he'd clawed frantically.
Mia jogged downstairs and plucked a sticky note off the fridge and quickly dialed. She expected the phone to ring a few times given the hour, but Kayura picked up after the first ring.
"Kayura! Listen, something's wrong with Ryo! Just a few minutes ago he started acting up as if suffering a nightmare. I tried to wake him but he didn't respond, and now I think the same thing is happening to the others. I haven't checked Kento and Cye yet, but-" Mia frowned when she heard more screaming, this time coming from the phone. "…Kayura…is that…?"
*"The Elders. I'm afraid so. Do you remember the exact moment it started over there?"*
Tanya stood by Kento's bed. The typically energetic Warrior of Earth showed surprising restraint as he suffered, clutching the sheets to his chest and clenching his fists so hard the knuckles went white. He twitched from side to side occasionally and whined. Tanya put her hands on her hips and watched the pathetic scene a few moments longer before leaning over his bed and reaching out with her right hand. She struck him once across the face, and when that failed to achieve a reaction, she slapped him again. For some reason she found those large cheeks of his an irresistible target… She wrinkled her nose when successive slaps produced no results.
She turned around to check on Cye only to find him not in his bed. Tanya walked over and noticed the sheets and comforter pulled to one side. She took a step to the side and leaned towards the wall, finally locating Cye on the floor, curled up and crying with the sheets pulled tight around his shoulders. Frustration faded into genuine concern from the Lady Ronin.
Tanya raised an eyebrow when she thought she heard a phone ring. She poked her head outside and looked down the hall. The study phone rang once again, and Tanya shuffled over and opened the door. She picked up the phone and raised it to her face. "Yes?"
*"Mia?"* Tanya recognized the voice but apparently Michelle didn't recognize hers.
"…No…" Tanya scowled but before she could say anything else, Michelle continued.
*"Oh, Ryo's sister!"* Tanya raised an eyebrow and made a face. *"Listen, something's wrong with Dad! He started pitching a fit little after midnight and nothing I can do seems to wake him! It's like he's being attacked in the dream! I tried calling Lady Kayura but the line's busy."* Tanya's expression relaxed when she recognized a familiar voice screaming in the background.
"…Um…lemme put you on hold for *just* a second," she said and raised a finger.
"That sounds about right…Midnight is often the hour of ill deeds. That you woke before the disturbance itself occurred is both unusual and disconcerting..."
"MIA!" Mia lowered the phone and looked over her shoulder. "MICHELLE'S ON THE OTHER LINE! SHE SAYS ANUBIS IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!"
"You heard that, right?"
"I did…and it confirms my worst fear…"
"What can we do to help them?"
"For now, nothing. All that can be done is to wait for it to pass. When the Elders…manage to compose themselves, I'll bring them over. I suggest you retrieve Anubis as well."
"I've checked and re-checked the remains. Every shard is accounted for."
"Excellent…I will begin the ritual soon." Dygra looked over her shoulder then turned and walked over to Black Hawk. The Demon Warrior stood rigid at attention. "You have done well these past weeks. You not only followed commands precisely but displayed cunning and initiative above and beyond what I required." Black Hawk kept her gaze down submissively, but gasped when Dygra tilted her chin up with a finger. "You have proven your worth, and because of that, I will relegate command of my legions to you." Black Hawk opened her mouth to protest, but Dygra shook her head. "The ritual will at best leave me incapacitated for an indefinite period of time, if not outright kill me. The Emperor will need a strong leader in the battlefield as well as one versed in the customs of the Mortal Realm.
"Very few mortals have desired my gift in this Modern Age, much less attained it. Out of all those whom I have bestowed power upon, none have proven themselves more capable than you. Despite your failures and shortcomings…I am pleased with you. It falls to you in my absence to act as the Emperor's harbinger of vengeance. Now, the hour of awakening draws close. I will-"
Dygra didn't know what to think when Black Hawk threw her arms around her shoulders and buried her face against her neck. The Demon Warrior's eyes squeezed shut and tears trickled down her cheeks. Dygra remained still, and for a few moments, looked happy. Then she narrowed her eyes and reached up and grabbed Black Hawk's shoulders, pushing her away.
"Steel yourself. The way is made clear for his return. As I frown upon failure and weakness, so will he. Serve him as faithfully as I, and you will share in his final triumph over the Ronin." Dygra turned around and stepped into a large patterned circle drawn across the tiles in dark-red fluid. She unfurled her spiny wings and raised them high. Black Hawk watched anxiously as violet energy crackled within the circle, arcing across Dygra's body and splayed fingers.
Pieces of shredded and twisted metal rest on an altar behind her. As the energy output peaked, the pieces began pulsing with colored light. The shards began glowing, then began warping, melting and coagulating into a large mass of molten metal. Arcs of violet light flew off like lashing tentacles and blobs of metal shifted across the altar. Bulges formed and rose, and details appeared such as seams, crests, and skull-shaped decorations on the chest and knees.
"BOWWFH! BOWWFH!"
"Goldie! Sit still damn you! You're not a Fyrhund anymore!" Roxi crouched on the porch and kept her arms wrapped around the squirming Labrador Retriever. Just before midnight the dog had gone into a fuss and ran outside. Now, despite her assurances and commands, the dog continued barking at the horizon. "Just be glad Britania sleeps like a brick!" Roxi looked to the horizon just in time to see a wall of violet light erupt into the sky from further down the mountain range. It somewhat resembled a brilliant aurora, except just looking at it evoked sickening dread. "I see it…I see it…It's okay, I'm here…" Roxi comforted.
An echoing cry erupted from the heart of the disturbance, causing Roxi to cover her ears and the previously belligerent dog to whimper. It sounded like a bellowing shriek straight out of a nightmare. Goldheart's claws scrabbled against the planks of the porch and he bolted straight inside the cabin. Roxi heard Britania's surprised remarks as the dog clambered into her bed seeking sanctuary from the terror. Her eyes remained fixed on the tainted aurora as it contorted into a shape like that of a long sinewy neck with gaping jaws and wings that spanned the sky.
Dygra collapsed to the floor after the ritual finished. Only the faint scratching caused by the twitching of her fingers against the tiles indicated she yet lived. "Take her to the infirmary at once! Have all available spirit priests attend to her!" Black Hawk ordered. Chaizar in his leonine form knelt down and scooped up the fallen Beast Warden, carrying her gently out of the throne room. Black Hawk waited until they left to dare a glance at the result of the ritual.
A large form composed of intact armor instead of shredded scraps rest atop the black marble. Black Hawk stepped towards the figure cautiously, full of apprehension and curiosity. She swallowed a squeak when the form began moving. Fingers twitched and armor rattled. Glowing reddish light flared within the sockets of the face mask, and an echoing sigh rattled out of the fanged mouth. The figure sat up slowly then swung both legs to the side, setting taloned boots on the floor. The light in the eyes shifted to Black Hawk's direction.
"Who…are you?" a deep gravelly voice uttered from the gaping fanged mouth of the mask.
"…I am Black Hawk. Dygra has appointed me to serve you. The ritual completely exhausted her," Black Hawk began and sank to one knee. "I welcome you, Emperor."
The figure rose to its full height slowly and clenched its' fists. It seemed to stretch, as if reveling in new life and strength. Then something happened, and Black Hawk reacted on impulse, rising to her feet and holding her hands up, bracing her palms against the decorated cuirass as the figure faltered. She frowned in genuine worry when the previously vibrant light in the eye holes dimmed abruptly. A frustrated growl echoed from the mouth.
"Curse Hariel and his insidious descendants! Inferno's corruption proves so potent even the Beast Warden's skill cannot wholly cleanse…"
"You should regain your strength in time. It's more important that you're alive. Please, Master, you shouldn't be seen this way." *Steel yourself…* Dygra's final advice came to her, and Black Hawk knew she had to be strong for her master too. "Your guests will arrive shortly. Here, I'll escort you to your seat," she placed an arm around the figure's waist-he stood well over twice as tall as she- and guided his right arm to her shoulder. Armored fingers grasped her shoulder tight, and slowly the two walked towards the elaborate throne.
Mia poured out hot tea and offered cups to the Ronin seated on the floor and sofas. Only a few of them accepted and even fewer drank. They all had blankets wrapped around their shoulders despite the room being relatively warm. Shannon had come to assess their conditions and found them perfectly healthy on the surface, but 'rattled' thinly described their mental well-being. Michelle stood behind the sofa her father sat on, and held his right hand in her left, squeezing it occasionally in reassurance. Sage and Sehkmet sat on the sofa with him. Tanya paced about the room, the only Ronin unaffected. Ryo sat on the floor with his fingers clutching Whiteblaze's thick fur. Rowen, Cye, and Cale sat on the sofa behind him. Kento and Dais sat on the floor next to each other, their old rivalry forgotten in the night's trauma. Kayura sat alone on the third sofa and kept her hands on her knees and eyes to the floor. Mia finished distributing teacups to those who wanted and set the tray with the remainder on the coffee table.
"This is…all my fault!" Kayura exclaimed as the tray rattled. "I saw the signs! I knew the possibility! I should have acted!" she shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Kayura, you're being unnecessarily hard on yourself. You can't be responsible for whatever happened tonight-" Mia sat down beside her and placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
"He's back, isn't he?" Cye said abruptly. Silence fell over the room once more, only broken after Tanya frowned and glanced from Kayura to Cye.
"Does 'He' mean who I think 'He' means?" Kayura said nothing but bowed her head in shame. "What? What the hell! He's supposed to be dead! Ryo and the guys tore him a new asshole at the end of the Second Dynasty War! How can he be back?" Tanya argued.
"I'm not entirely sure … I didn't think-I didn't think anyone was capable… I should have taken the proper precautions back then. It would have been simple enough to purify the remains!"
"Kayura, we all agreed that we would not meddle anymore in the Mortal Realm until we'd straightened things out in the Nether Realm," Sehkmet walked over and put his hand over hers.
"If a few moments more of meddling would have prevented what happened this night, then maybe we should have lingered that much longer! What kind of Staff Bearer am I supposed to be if I can't foresee this sort of threat! It's-I-I don't know…" Kayura stammered.
"If thus far we've encountered Pharaohn, however briefly, it stands to reason Dygra survived the Battle at the Citadel as well," Sage commented.
"She certainly is capable of executing such a ritual. Only Badamon and Pharaohn rivaled her skill…What…What did you all feel, when it happened?" Kayura asked no Ronin in particular.
"…It felt…like something grabbed a hold of your soul and tore a piece out…" Kento began.
"And there's no getting it back," Dais finished numbly.
"In order to repair such extensive damage, Dygra had to steal part of your very essence. But to bind such a powerful spirit into this world would require a vast amount of life energy…"
"The ninety-nine victims from Arizona! We never were able to recover them," Michelle lamented. Kayura tapped a finger against her lower lip and nodded slowly then shook her head.
"It would have taken much more than that…Dygra would need the spirit of a single being to compensate for the loss of the Nine; a creature of Antiquity, like a roc or even a kraken…"
"Or a dragon," Tanya spoke up and glanced at Anubis. He said nothing nor returned her gaze, but he didn't need to to confirm her suspicion.
"Yes…I suppose a dragon would suffice…" Silence fell over the room yet again.
"So…what do we do now? We barely beat him in the Second War! We gave it all we had and it almost wasn't enough! How are we going to beat him this time?" Rowen fretted.
"We do what we've always done," Ryo spoke up for the first time since the disturbance. "We fight as we always have, with all our heart and soul. We stand together, and we never give up."
"You sound awfully confident considering you remember firsthand what he's capable of," Kento grumbled.
"Why shouldn't I be?" The others looked at Ryo, surprised. "Why shouldn't *we* be? We've become much stronger since then. More than ever we've come to rely on each other and work as a team. We shouldn't let something like Talpa's return upset us." Ryo's words seemed to stir the other Ronin out of their malaise. "Think about it: this only shows how desperate the Dynasty is," the Ronin Leader stood up, shrugging off the blanket from his shoulders. "Ever since Talpa bit the big one, all the other lesser lords tried to fill his shoes. They wanted a piece of the pie. That didn't work out, so they brought him back, but they'll have to take orders from him again, and we're all aware of Talpa's *glowing* track record when it comes to treating his flunkies."
"Ryo's right," Tanya spoke up and folded her arms over her chest. "Three years ago it was just five of you against Talpa and his endless army of goons-no offense," she said quickly in the Elders' direction. "You weren't nearly as powerful back then as you are now, and you still managed to pull a victory out of your ass. Now shouldn't be any different."
*Three years…has it really been that long? Somehow, it doesn't feel that long ago, and at the same time it feels like a lifetime's passed…* Ryo's mind wandered in recollection before snapping back to the present. His eyes narrowed in a determined glare. *We can't forget the lessons we've learned, or ignore the lessons we continue to learn. I can't allow myself or the others to be upset over Talpa's return, because as powerful as he was, as he might be now, there are evils out there that make the Dynasty look like small potatoes.*
*I almost wonder how Talpa himself feels about everything that's happened. Our souls might be weakened, but I can't imagine he'd be in tiptop shape either. He still poses a threat to our survival. Even the Thangiens know about him. They have their own name for him; Ouagli, the Demon King. Granted, he's typically referred to as a way to scare children into doing their chores, but that he IS known as far away as Thanged stands as a testimony to his legacy of evil.*
The massive lacquered doors groaned as they swung open and several figures entered the decorated throne room. "Lords of the Dynasty, I greet you in the name of our master reborn: Emperor Talpa," Black Hawk proclaimed grandly and curtsied. Behind her, seated in an elaborate chair, the terrible Dark Lord of the Dynasty regarded the visitors arrayed before him.
"I welcome you who have remained loyal to me in my absence. It pleases me that there are yet those who have not forgotten their gifts," Talpa rumbled.
"We swore oaths to you long ago, and we would not forsake them for whatever reason," a tall armored figure with a many-crested helm said with a hollow voice and bowed.
"Unlike others…" a similarly-armored figure hissed.
"'Lord' Mabu shall be dealt with in due time. Once the troublesome protections left by my deluded former servants are removed, the Nether Realm shall be reclaimed," Talpa declared as Black Hawk walked over to stand at his right side.
"Unraveling the wards will take time, but I am certain it is not above my skill," a floating robed figure said officiously and pale blue lips curled in a smirk.
"Bah! You call Mabu the fool? You all are greater fools if you think THAT is Emperor Talpa!" The gazes of the other three guests turned towards the fourth, a somewhat stocky figure with a decorated serpentine mask covering his face. "As far as I am concerned, that is nothing more than a puppet engineered by that demon-spawn witch Dygra to trick us into serving her! Her deformed-reject human servants failed against the Ronin, and now she seeks to enlist US to pick up her slack? I will not waste any courtesy or resources on this farce!"
Chaizar, Balthazar, and Scar-all in their beast forms- growled angrily, and Black Hawk placed a hand on her coiled whip intending to smack the arrogant noble's face clear off his head. They halted, however, when Talpa raised a hand solidly then leaned back in his throne. He set his elbows on the armrests and drew his hands over his chest, his fingertips touching almost lazily. Small points of red light flickered to life within the empty sockets of the face mask.
The noble convulsed suddenly and let out a croak. Black Hawk and the Night Warlords watched with awe as he slowly rose off the floor, twitching as he floated in the air. The glow in Talpa's eyes intensified and the noble's body began to contort. The armored twins and the spectral priest remained calm-almost indifferent- as the noble's body exploded. Limbs fell scattered to the floor and the ornate mask bounced once before clattering to a stop.
"Your criticism has been received, Baron Zelso, -poorly-." Talpa's eyes flared at the word before dimming. "When you reassemble yourself from the far reaches of the void, I suggest you approach me once more and we shall see if your opinion remains the same."
"See, we don't *think* this is Master Talpa, we *know* he is," the priest sniffed. The armored twins laughed richly, and even Black Hawk snickered. She stopped when she heard a soft growl from Talpa and glanced at him, concerned. The Emperor's armor shuddered slightly and Black Hawk recognized discomfort despite the motionless face mask. The display of power proved not only effective, but taxing. Chaizar seemed aware of the situation and moved quickly to draw attention from the Emperor's brief weakness.
"As you are all aware we have attempted to secure a suitable foothold in the Mortal Realm, with limited success. Before we commit our forces to a fresh campaign, you should be informed of the opposition. First and foremost are the Ronin Warriors," Chaizar summoned down the viewing screen and the guests turned to look at the displayed images. "They've ever been a thorn in our sides, and have proven harder than vermin to exterminate. Ryo Sanada, Rowen Hashiba, Kento Rei Faun, Sage Date, and Cye Mouri as you know possess five of the nine rogue armors."
"Hrm…a rather curious, if a bit archaic, stylization…I don't recall the armors being of this design," the priest commented and thumbed his chin.
"Archaic nothing. We suspect they've been upgraded sometime recently, within the last year. From what we've observed, they afford their wearers with increased power overall as well as the ability to more directly manipulate their respective elemental domains, as you see here," Black Hawk stepped forward to stand next to the priest as images of Rowen halting a train and Ryo summoning fireballs from the sky played on the screen.
"The design suggests vague European influences as well as elements of traditional mortal art forms…" While the priest continued his historical ramblings, Black Hawk glanced down at the dangling edges of his frayed robe. She tilted her head to one side, trying to determine the location of his legs as well as how he remained in the air. She even reached up and waved a hand under him, brushing her hand through the tattered fabric. "Ahem…" Her gaze snapped up and she saw the priest giving her an annoyed glare. Black Hawk meekly withdrew her hand.
"Even with their enhanced abilities, they are still mortal and fall easily to pride. We very nearly had them until an unexpected complication arose," Balthazar began and the images shifted to those of a feminine figure in magenta armor.
"WHAAAAT! IMPOSSIBLE!" Talpa's bellow drew startled glances from others in the room as he stood up and clenched his fist. "SHE SHOULD HAVE *DIED*!"
"Master, please!" Black Hawk hissed under her breath. Thankfully the twins and the priest turned their attention back to the screen before Talpa slowly sagged back into his seat.
"The Westerner? Impossible she would have survived to this day," one of the twins remarked.
"Mardrena the Great is long since dead. The person you see now is Tanya Sanada, sister to the Ronin Leader," Scar informed as the current Lady Ronin removed her helm on screen.
"Incompetence! The agents I sent to dispose of her years ago should have run their spears through her corpse to insure the deed was done! That she exhibits such complex training suggests that thrice-cursed monk interfered yet again. Still…she does not seem to inspire the same cohesion among the Nine as her predecessor. Mardrena had much experience in dealing with others…this one is still young…haughty…that could prove her undoing…" Talpa mused.
"And if that wasn't bad enough, your favorite angsty ex-minion is back," Black Hawk flicked her hand again and the screen shifted to images of a newly risen Anubis.
"He lives? I thought he sacrificed himself foolishly in the Second War," the priest blinked.
"Well…that's kinda sorta Dygra's bad. See, she thought if she brought him back she could use him to play some mind games with the Ronin, but it didn't work out the way she intended."
"He began subtly defying her control. Rather than murder the Ronin's civilian companions-weaker targets- he decided to attack the Lady Ronin-a stronger target- because his absurd honor required such. He even departed the Citadel and challenged the Lady Ronin of his own volition. Dygra tried to reinforce her control, but the ensuing battle against the Ronin disrupted Dygra's spell over him and they managed to sway him to their cause," Balthazar explained.
"Hah hah hah…Clearly his memory of the humiliation suffered at the hands of Mardrena has not faded through the centuries, and persists even through death," Talpa chuckled.
"Anubis had always been a formidable warrior, with but one glaring flaw. It is unfortunate he made such a poor decision," one of the twins shook his head and sighed.
"To make matters worse, they managed to enlist the support of the other Dark Warlords. The Nine have united against us, with the Lady Ronin aiding them," Scar added.
"My venerable teacher, Lord Badamon, once told me of specially designed safety measures he created for such an event. Perhaps they could be brought under our control with the Spheres of-"
"No." Talpa interrupted loudly, drawing startled glances. "The Armors are lost to me. They have been too deeply corrupted by their mortal attributes. While Dygra was able to utilize their essence to secure my spirit, it is only because of Graunin that I have regained physical form. The tainted Armors cannot be salvaged, they can only be eradicated. I am certain you will have no problem with that, General Duratir and Admiral Duratin…"
"Indeed, Emperor Talpa. We will begin assembling our forces soon."
"Well before you go off charging into battle, you should know the threats you'll face," Chaizar interjected and folded his arms over his chest, turning back towards the screen.
"Yeah, we're not just showing you all this for your viewing pleasure. It's because we don't want you to end up like Cerberus and his pack mates as you'll see here," Black Hawk waved her hand and summoned up scenes of various members of the Were Pack being dispatched in gruesome fashion ranging from a red lion and pink jaguar lethally tackling Wargal to Slayena being devoured savagely by a light blue shark. Finally, the guests watched Cerberus charge towards the Ronin in a fit of rage. They fired energy bolts from weapons mounted on their wrists to no avail, and the Demon Warrior lunged, aiming to tear out the Ronin Leader's throat.
The viewing screen, however, showed the view from further back, so the Dynasty observers saw what the Ronin themselves had not at the time; a massive white reptilian form shoving aside trees in its path as it lumbered towards the combatants. It pulled one enormous hand to the side then swept it forward, its claws coming within inches of the Ronin themselves, but striking Cerberus with such force it sent two of his heads to the ground and his body flying miles away.
"Incredible! Badamon always suspected Graunin had an altruistic counterpart living in the mountains, but he could never track the beast."
"Indeed, Bautan, and it would seem that once again The Ancient managed to intervene and beguile this one. The armors associated with it are yet another product of his meddling. Evidently the assassin I employed to dispose of the 'Mystic Alliance' failed to complete the task properly. He shall regret his folly...whenever I am compelled to discern his current whereabouts."
"Not only do you have the AnimArmors to worry about, but you have these three. Despite the clear hazard to their wellbeing, civilians have a curious tendency to gravitate toward the Ronin. This one seems to have taken to Strata. She has limited combat experience and is quite proficient with guns, as seen here," Chaizar conjured images of Roxi warding off a pursuing Slayena and fighting on the front lines at the Battle of the Citadel. "This one lacks fighting capability, but it seems just her mere presence inspires Torrent to fight with uncharacteristic ferocity." Images shifted to scenes of Britania clocking Balthazar upside the head with a book and bashing the horn of a vehicle to distract the Were Pack long enough for Roxi to escape.
"This one, however, provides the greatest threat. She's descended from members of the Mystic Alliance, and carries yet another artifact of their design: the Ronin Cross. She wields power on par with that of Lady Kayura, and she can use that power to replenish the Ronin's strength in battle as well draw upon their associated elements to defend herself if needed. Halo carries a strong attachment to this her," Balthazar explained as the screen depicted Shannon.
"We have attempted numerous times to slay them and failed, whether as a result of their own survivability or through the intervention of others. They may appear suitable targets due to their association with the Ronin Warriors, but they are not to be underestimated," Scar rumbled.
"There is one more threat you should be informed of," Black Hawk called up an image of a fearsome lavender-haired amethyst-eyed battle maiden. She glanced at Chaizar when he growled deeply and raised a hand to the puckered scar in the middle of his chest. "She calls herself 'Chi Chi Lina, Da-nay-tan-air-ah, herald of somewhere, daughter of some dude, yada yada. She arrived to pull the Ronin's fat out of the fire when they attacked the Citadel. We're not exactly sure where she comes from, and thus far we've only seen two others of her kind. We suspect she comes from an entirely separate planet. They seem to favor close range combat with various weapons, but they employ mechanized steeds that carry enough firepower to rival a gunship."
Talpa said nothing but drew his arms up and clasped his hands close to his chin. His glowing red eyes seemed to narrow. "So…they have returned…" The others looked at him, confused. "I have seen these outworlders before…long ago in a great battle. They were led by one who called himself Memner, the Sky King. However, last I saw them they rode steeds of flesh, not metal…"
"Three of them alone were powerful enough to give Dygra's armies pause, and it looks like one of the metal creatures has taken a liking to that boy that hangs around the Ronin. They're extremely dangerous and seem to have no exploitable weaknesses," Black Hawk commented.
"All mortals have a weakness, and with these outworlders, it is their insufferable pride and willful nature. They may be invulnerable to my influence, but they can be their own undoing."
"That might be true, but there's something else we observed about them. When Wildfire sent us packing, Dygra used her power to undo the spell keeping Anubis animate. By all rights, he should be a pile of bones, yet we've seen him in action several times recently, still alive and much stronger than before. Watch this." Black Hawk called up an image of a red-haired outworlder with her fingers twined in a curious gesture and her lips moved rapidly as she uttered words in her strange language. "She did this the exact same time as Anubis started to decompose, but watch what happens just seconds after." Anubis' body continued to deteriorate, but then his body began pulsing with golden light, and then as if peeling away a shell, the death and decay taking him over vanished. "These outworlders tapped into a strange power that preserved him. We're going to be in a heap of trouble if more than three decide to attack us in the future."
"They are mortal, and all mortals are weak no matter what façade they erect to indicate otherwise. The Ronin believe they strengthen themselves by gathering allies, but they merely endanger their so-called 'friends'. Humans are only brave until faced with life-threatening harm. We shall see how strong their bond remains when tested by the might of darkness. As for the Ronin themselves, they think they are pure of spirit and immune to the temptations of evil. Even the Dark Warlords claim they have shed the sins of their past, but no human, no matter how pure they believe themselves, is incapable of wickedness, mistrust, or despair. If they refuse to admit this, I will remind them of the darkness inherent in all mortals.
"Let them have their respite while I gather my armies to unleash my might upon the pathetic Mortal Realm. The Ronin Warriors will no doubt oppose me at every turn, but their strength will falter, and in the end, when my shadow consumes all, they will remember how to feel fear!"
"You said there's other Dynasty lords who still support Talpa. You have any dirt on them?"
"Dirt?" Dais wrinkled his nose in response to Ryo's query.
"He means information, and booooy, do we," Sehkmet placed his fingertips together and tapped them craftily. "The first one you should be worried about is Bautan, a protégé of Badamon. He kinda looks like a Nether Priest, except more elaborately dressed."
"Gaudily is more like it…" Cale snorted.
"He isn't as powerful or skilled as Badamon was, but well versed in the dark arts regardless. With Pharaohn dead and Dygra likely incapacitated from her ritual, Bautan will be Talpa's new go-to-guy when it comes to sorcery."
"Then we have the brothers, Duratir and Duratin. Duratir commands Talpa's entire ground army, while Duratin leads his vast sky fleet. They were human generals centuries ago, but when faced with death from old age, they gave their souls over to Talpa in exchange for immortality as Nether Warriors. With Dygra's standing forces more or less nonexistent, they'll be providing the muscle to back up any push Talpa sends out."
"So we can expect more cheerful Nether Soldiers? Shouldn't be too bad," Rowen shrugged.
"Rowen, the armies you faced in the Dynasty Wars numbered in the tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands. The forces Duratir and Duratin command number well over five million." The younger Ronin looked dismayed upon hearing Anubis' comment. "All those overwhelming forces you fought back then comprised only a fraction of Talpa's full army."
"At least we have the Thangiens on our side, but they'd have to send more than three riders if it came to that… There any others we should know about?"
"A few minor nobles, but I doubt any would flock to Talpa's banner. He did a surprisingly good job of alienating his own supporters in the Dynasty Wars. There are those like Lord Mabu in other realms who want nothing to do with him again," Sehkmet explained.
"Throwing servants who have obeyed you loyally for over four hundred years under a bus tends to have that effect," Cale grumbled bitterly. While the Ronin discussed potential foes, Kayura listened, oblivious to the golden orb atop the Staff pulsing and humming with light.
"Uhh, Kayura, I think you have an incoming call," Mia pointed out. Kayura blinked and looked down at the Staff orb. She left the room and returned a minute later with a large bowl and a plastic pitcher full of water and filled the bowl to the rim. She touched the orb to the water gently and pulled upward, dragging bluish smoke through the air. She drew a ring with the ornamented top and pulled back. The others in the room watched, curious.
"Lord Mabu?" Kayura remarked, surprised by the appearance of the Nether Regent.
"Lady Kayura! I doubted the capability of my clerics, but I am glad I was able to contact you! I must inform you, just recently we were approached by an individual from *outside* the Nether Realm! She presented herself as an 'Emissary of the Master' and attempted to solicit aid. We refused, of course, but the fact of the matter is that she was able to bypass the wards!"
"Did she identify herself or her master?"
"No, but I can tell you what she looked like. She seemed young, partially human with avian features and black hair and yellow eyes…I'd strongly wager one of Dygra's products…"
"Black Hawk!" Ryo hissed angrily. Kayura glanced at him and waved her hand to hush him before looking back at the portal, biting her lip.
"Although I wish otherwise, I have my own grim news to convey. Your fears aren't unfounded; this intruder is an agent of the Beast Warden, and the master she referred to is Emperor Talpa revived! He is consolidating his power and seeks to reclaim the Nether Realm."
"Aiiee! This is terrible indeed! I will begin mobilizing my forces immediately to brace for an invasion, but I fear that if Duratir and Duratin have joined him, that the Nether Realm will fall."
"We'll do what we can to keep the Dynasty busy here, but Talpa's welcome back party took a lot out of us. It'll be some time before we're back to full strength," Ryo offered.
"I thank you for your consideration, Ronin Leader," Lord Mabu nodded respectfully. Just then the portal image seemed to distort. "Ahh, the spell is losing power. We have, as you would say, 'lousy reception' in the Nether Realm. I say to you farewell, and wish you good luck," the Nether Regent said before the portal shredded into wisps of bluish smoke that wafted away.
"Well, I suppose that confirms *she* survived," Dais muttered.
"How in the blasted hells was she able to enter the Nether Realm? *WE* couldn't go back even if we *wanted* to!" Sehkmet argued.
"If the Nether Realm is a physical plane like our own, it's possible the Dynasty used a dimensional rift similar to the Transgalactic Gate," Rowen theorized, but Kayura shook her head.
"Lord Mabu indicated Black Hawk came and left at her leisure. Even if she used such a rift, I've always understood them to be naturally occurring phenomena; hard to navigate and even harder to control. Only the Thangiens have shown capable of taming a rift both ways."
"Maybe it's because she's still part human and the wards didn't perceive her as a major threat," Cye put forth.
"There's nothing human about her!" Shannon interjected, speaking for the first time that night and drawing startled glances with her tone. "Jennifer Carole is dead. She threw away her humanity to become a monster and not once has she regretted her actions. If she entered the Nether Realm, she did it with magic, not because she's 'still human'," she spat angrily. Cye frowned and opened his mouth to protest Shannon's harsh attitude and unforgiving stance, but much to his surprise, the last person he expected to beat him to it.
Cale bit his lip and glanced from side to side, looking uneasy, and then looked at Shannon. "Look girl, I'm not one to toot my own horn or anything, but you really shouldn't sell your former friend so short. We served the Dynasty for centuries and we came back," he reasoned, gesturing to the other Elder Ronin. Shannon glared at him for a few seconds then looked at Sage.
"Do you remember when I told you why I didn't come to the beach?" Sage nodded slightly then Shannon turned her gaze to the rest of the room. "One of my colleagues was killed recently, along with the staff of a forensics lab in Tokyo AND an entire security detail. They were studying a partial set of metallic remains taken from Toyama, with the remaining set kept in the evidence vaults of a police station in downtown. I don't think I have to tell you where they came from…" Kayura looked away in guilt, but Shannon continued. "The victims were practically butchered, suffering multiple stab wounds and mutilations. The investigators promised they'd find the killer, but that didn't satisfy me. I had to call in a lot of favors, but eventually I found out that the killer left behind a murder weapon: Several, in fact.
"They're described as being knives several inches long, black with ridge detailing along the edges. One investigator even said they looked like feathers… There is no humanity left in Black Hawk, and I'm not going to stand here and listen to anyone say otherwise! Jennifer Carole sold her soul to the Dynasty over a test, a TEST! I'm sure you all had less petty reasons for joining the Dynasty when you did," Shannon snarled before storming out of the room. Cale knew she couldn't be reasoned with and remained quiet. Sage stood up and calmly went after her.
"Kayura…is there any way to reinforce the wards on the Nether Realm?" Ryo asked, breaking the dismal silence.
"Ryo, they're as strong as can be made. I don't see what-"
"Would the Dynasty know that?" Ryo interrupted. Kayura grimaced hesitantly and shrugged, wobbling her hand in the air. "Let's hope they don't, then. We'll wait a day or two and rest up, try to get back on our feet. Assuming Sage gets her to calm down by then, I want you and Shannon to go out to the city and pretend you're performing some big ritual to strengthen the barrier. Historically, Black Hawk has it in something big for Shannon, so we'll use that to lure her out. Once she shows her ugly feathered mug, we're going to take her down."
"Ryo!" Cye objected. Ryo shook his head, frowning sadly.
"Look, I don't like the idea of passing judgment on someone any more than you do, but the sad fact of the matter is in the short time she's been a Demon Warrior, Black Hawk has caused more damage than all four Dark Warlords *combined*. She's attacked our friends and family, and if what Shannon said is true, she's directly responsible for making sure Dygra had Talpa's remains to bring him back into this world. I doubt she thinks anything she does is wrong."
"We didn't when we were in her position," Sehkmet commented.
"Well we can't exactly afford to wait four hundred years for her to turn over a new leaf. If she can bypass the wards, we can't let her live to pass this immunity on to others. If you want to sit this one out, feel free to, but our survival depends on taking out Talpa's support before he takes out ours. Talpa thinks he can just breeze on back and start his grand plans again, but we all know what's coming in the future. There are bigger things out there we have to be ready for." The other Ronin nodded solemnly in agreement, and Cye kept any argument to himself.
"That sounds all fine and everything, and you can count me in for kicking Black Hawk's scrawny keister, but before we try to recover from an experience that's probably traumatized us for life, I have to ask one thing…Does anyone else's face hurt like hell? I feel like the Dynasty hit me with a brick-stuffed pillowcase!" Kento complained and rubbed his left cheek, wincing from pain.
"I don't know, Kento. You all were tossing about so much, you might've hit yourself on a bedpost or something," Mia offered.
"I guess," Kento mumbled and lowered his hand, working his jaw from side to side. Dais, who sat to the left of Kento, cocked his head to one side when he noticed an angry red mark on the younger Ronin's cheek. This close, Dais could make out distinct details like that of a palm and five long impressions like fingers. The imprint looked small, as if made by a lady…or Lady Ronin, for that matter. Dais glanced over his shoulder at Tanya, who stood behind the sofa with her hands on her hips. Even with a single eye, he discerned a slight inflammation on her right hand, particularly on the palm and fingers.
Tanya noticed him looking at her, and initially looked confused, but then hastily tucked her hands under her arms and averted her gaze timidly, blushing ever so slightly. Dais said nothing out loud, but his single eye winked with mischief and his lips turned up in an approving smile.