Author's note: Yo! I'm back, sorry for not updating last week, but I was in the middle of some really extensive talks with a fellow writer to iron out ideas for a new story, So I didn't had time to write last week. Anyway here we are again and moving with this story.
Now recommendations… Go and watch Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, that's a badass anime with an actual intriguing plot. It's one of those High level productions where you can clearly tell when someone actually is putting some effort in delivering a good story.
Alright, with that done, let's go on with the show…
Disclaimer: I own nothing, any material or copyright depicted in this story belongs to their respective owners.
Fall of YAMI
Round 4
!
Pan was simply standing there with her crew trying to discern how much it was going to cost her to fix all the damage brought by her minions. I mean seriously an entire building; that was why she had decided to met with the YAMI leaders in an isolated construction site, to avoid these kinds of shits. Yet it seems her precautions were not enough, just great.
She was pulled out of her musings by a sudden tremor that shook the ground so unexpectedly as to almost make some of the people present trip for being caught unaware. Everybody glanced towards the source of the tremor to discover a very ginormous muscled man walking towards the gathered fighters with a face that screammed Bloody Murder!
A NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHES!
"Who the hell are you…?" Pan asked with a frown, looking at the interloper.
"Me…? Oh, no one, just the man in charge of the construction of the building you and your lackeys just blew up." The man said with dripping sarcasm.
Pan had the decency of looking embarassed at that declaration. She brought a hand up and face-palmed. "Ah fuck! Of course you are…!" She turned towards Kazuya and grumbled. "Goddammit Kazuya, couldn't you have tone it down a little… Now I have to deal with an unnecessary mess that I didn't want."
Whatever response that was about to come forth was interrupted by the appearance of another man, a thin long haired brunette man wearing robes of all things. "Brother! Raoh, please! Stop going around antagonizing other people." The man said as he put himself in front of the bigger man, Raoh, to keep him in place and offered a bow to the alien girl's group. "I'm sorry in behalf of my brother. Please forgive him; he tends to let his anger get the better of him."
The man in question simply snorted. "Hmmph, Toki… If you weren't my brother, I would hurt you for daring to get in my way when I'm trying to teach some irresponsible maggots the meaning of respect."
Ma Sougetsu was not in the mood to be dealing with interlopers. "You should be on your way and stay out of this boy." He mocked with a hint of disdain. "You should not try to test the patience of a grandmaster, who knows when it may run out and we decide to end you…"
Raoh didn't like that comment, so he wordlessly approached the Chinese Kempo master and stared him down with an intimidating glare. "I would like to see you try…"
The air around the two men suddenly grew heavy as the tension between them suddenly became pretty thick as to be easily noticeable to any casual observer. Sougetsu simply let out a rasp throaty laugh. "Well, well, seems someone is pretty eager to die. Who am I to deny such wishes?" Sougetsu says… Before taking a step forward and slamming into Raoh with thunderous strength as to push him several meters back, his feet dragging through the ground.
TETSUZAN SHIPPO KOU
Despite the powerful attack, Raoh remained on his feet even though the blow was strong enough to hurt him making him glare at the Kempo grandmaster; he quickly composed himself and gave then an arrogant smirk. "It's that all! Let me show what a real attack looks like!" He declared before pushing an arm forward as if making a palm strike. He was too far away for his attack to connect with his enemy, yet somehow a pressure was seen traveling through the air at great speed, catching the Kempo Grandmaster off-guard before striking into him in full, blowing the bearded man away.
Sougetsu struck the ground hard in pain; he rose back again clutching his side, his expression was one of shock as he didn't know how the other bigger man had struck him. "Wha-What the hell was that!?"
HOKUTO GOSHO SHA!
北斗剛掌波
(Iron Palm Wave)
"Feh! It seems your confidence in your abilities is misplaced. A weakling like you should not go around making such empty boasts." Raoh said with an arrogant smirk making Sougetsu seeth in anger at the insult.
Before the confrontation could escalate further, another voice interrupted the battle about to ensue. "That it's enough Raoh! We shouldn't be making enemies where it is not needed." A short haired brunette man wearing glasses said, as he walked into scene accompanied by a long haired blond man wearing a suit.
Raoh just scoffed dersively. "Kenshiro… Will you too stand in my way, little brother?" He said giving a hard stare to the newcomer.
The brunette man was about to reply, but he found himself distracted by Pan, who suddenly appeared floating at his side while staring at him intently with a measuring gaze… Kenshiro just remained quiet as stoically as he could before adressing the alien girl. "Yes… Can I help you?" He asked with a pointed look.
Pan didn't immediately reply and kept assessing Kenshiro while floating around him, at length she spoke. "You and your friends are strong… Who are you people…?" She asked with curiosity.
Kenshiro didn't answered right away and just stared back at her for a moment before finally speaking again. "What makes you think we are strong?" He asked pointedly.
The alien girl simply snorted at his question. "Please, do not take me for an idiot. I am a member of an alien warrior race composed of battle-hardened fighters in its entierity; my kind has been sailing through the stars for centuries fighting against the most powerful opponents this universe has to offer. I am a direct descendant of the most renowned and mighty warriors known to my species, individuals so powerful that are thought to rival in strength our most iconic figures from our ancient legends. And I've been trained personally under them… I know strenght when I see it and my senses tell me you're strong…" Pan explained as she began to circle around Kenshiro as she kept floating in the air. "I can tell you're supressing most of your power, concealing the real heights of your strenght just like the rest of your friends. But also, I can feel you are a special man, there's more to you than what meets the eye; it seems there is a more impressive power hidden within you. A strenght just beneath the surface that it's bidding its time wating for the right moment to be released; maybe you're not even aware youself of the hidden depths lying inside you. But I can tell you this… You are a real warrior through and through, the kind that my race enjoys to fight against. Oh! How much would I like to fight against you…" Pan said as she got on Kenshiro's face with a predatory smiled. The glass-wearing man simply held her gaze without flinching, keeping any emotion from showing in his expression even though he was mildly disturbed that the short girl in front of him was able to do such a deep assesment of his true capabilities with only a glance.
Their little standoff was broken by Pan turning around and giving her back to Kenshiro. Before she passed her hands behind her head and blew some air. "But it's not enough… You're still not strong enough to face me and give me a decent challenge, even if you are from the right breed of warrior; your power is still to low to hope to last more than a few seconds against me. You're probably the most powerful human I have encountered so far on my stay on this planet, and yet that is still nothing compared with my level… (Sigh) What a pity… And here you are making my warrior's blood boil in all the right ways…" She said as she floated away a few steps, then she turned towards Kenshiro again. "I shall repeat my question and you better answer me this time… Who are you people?"
Kenshiro just stood stiff for a moment considering the girl's words, eventually he decided it would be best to answer Pan's question as to avoid an uncessesary conflict. He nodded and spoke. "My name is Kenshiro Kasumi, these are my brothers… Raoh and Toki…" He said motioning to each man. "Behind me is my best friend Shin…"
"And what of your style? What is the name of the martial art's school you employ?" Pan asked without missing a beat.
Kenshiro once more was surprised by her intuition; he slightly, almost unnoticiable, shifted in his stance pondering for a moment if he should reveal the name of his school… Eventually, he reached a decision. ""We, my brothers and I, are the future heirs in training of Hokuto Shinken. One of the most ancient style of martial arts in history…"
The answer seemed to satisfy Pan, who that name meant nothing, but several of the people present, especially the YAMI grandmasters seemed to recognize that name and be surprised by it. "Hokuto Shinken! Impossible! That style is supposed to be a myth! It cannot be real!" Said an utterly shocked Sugetsu Ma from his position still in the ground, many of the YAMI grandmasters also wore expressions of shock as they too knew or had heard about the legendary killing art of Hokuto. Cyril Rahman was openly gaping, and Kushinada's eyes actually opened wide in shock. Ishinsai turned his head towards the newcomers with curiosity.
"I take you know what he's talking about…" Pan guessed turning towards Sougetsu. "Well…!?" And prompting him to speak.
"Legends tell of an assassination art created 2,000 years ago. An art so terrible and deadly that can destroy the body from within through the use of the opponent's pressure points, it has the reputation of never been defeated by any other art in history… Hokuto Shinken, the Divine Fist of the North Star. In the world of martial arts it is known as the ultimate killing technique… But how can it be that you three are disciples of this art? According to rumors, Hokuto Shinken can only have one successor per generation due to its deadliness…" Sougetsu described still in a state of surprise.
Kenshiro acknowledged his statement. "That is true. But as I had said, my brothers and I are just simply potential successors still in training. The day has yet to come were we will be forced to battle each other for the mastership of Hokuto…" He explained with small foreboding…
"I see…" Was Pan's simple reply.
Raoh just scoffed unconcernedly. "There's no need to waste time in such an absurd confrontation… It is already clear who will become the next successor of Hokuto." He boasted displaying his impressive physique. "For I would not let anyone, not even you little brothers, from keeping me from achieving my goals…"
The brothers in question just turned to look at their elder sibling with stoic, penetrating gazes. Clearly there was some underlying tension between the three of them despite their fraternal relationship. Pan didn't care a gnat ass about that, however. "Whatever, I am not interested in your family grudges. I've had my fair share of drama of that kind with my own family… Anyway, what about your friend?" She inquired turning towards the blonde man, Shin.
"I'm pretty sure the masters of YAMI can also tell you about my brand of Martial Arts. For despite wanting to attain the supremacy of their own styles over all other schools, not even they dare to defy the superiority of Nanto so carelessly…" The blonde man said with a hint of arrogance in his smile as he stretched the fingers of one of his hands in front of him, making his nails glint under the light of the sun…"
The YAMI grandmasters actually reared back a little at that revelation. "Nanto Seiken…" Was heard being murmured with an equal amount of fear, respect and scorn. It seemed the members of YAMI did truly know about the art practiced by the blonde man.
!
In Kanto the Ryozanpaku Masters were also astonished by the revelation of practitioners of both the most deadly styles of martial arts ever known in existence.
"By Kami! I never I thought It would ever come the day that I would be able to witness such legendary and terrible arts in action… To tell the truth, I'm feeling a little apprehensive about this, but at the same time, I cannot keep myself from looking away." Shio Sakaki said in a strained voice, he knew quite well about the reputation of both killer arts and the rumors that has been flying about them since ancient times.
The self-declared Superman Hayato Furunji nodded in acknowledgement, his own countenance grim. "I have bore witness of the lethality of both arts during the days of my youth." He said, as his mind began to recall the memory of a man with a great resemblance to that of young Kenshiro, another man with the Kasumi surname. "All I can say is that they are as terrible as all the stories make them out to be…" He stated ominously before focusing his entire attention to the projection in front of him… Kenichi, alongside all the young fighters of the Shinpaku Alliance and the Kanto schools, turned to look at the old man. Wondering how terrible could these styles be as to make a man like him to grow silent.
In the rooftop of a nearby building overlooking the gathered troops of both the Shinpaku alliance and the Kanto Schools, a group of tough looking armed girls oversaw the unfolding proceedings from their advantageous position. All of the girls were dressed in their school uniforms except for the apparent leader. A young lithe woman of long dark-bluish hair carrying a wooden practice sword, who was dressed in a white pants-coat combo, her coat wide open as to show her bandaged chest and bare midriff. Her second in command, a red-head mature looking girl wearing a tie with her school uniform leaned forward to whisper on her hear.
"It seems things are getting interesting again, eh! Nee-san?" She said with a playful inflection in her voice.
The long haired stoic girl simply nodded in response. "Seems like it…"
!
"So! It appears you're quite correct, they do know about your style. Very well then, care to explain that too…" Pan demanded of Sougetsu once more, seeing as how the YAMI masters had all the right answers.
"Nanto Seiken, The Sacred Fist of the Southern Cross, is the only style that it's said that could rival the lethality of Hokuto Shinken in terms of power. It's a more spread and numerous style than Hokuto, since there is a total of 108 sects of Nanto, each one teaching their own different version of the style. But the schools are highly reclusive and are not know for teaching their style to anyone outside their own disciples. Once you become a practitioner of Nanto, there's not going back, for you'll never be allowed to leave the sect unless is in a body bag… We YAMI have had our; encounters with several of the Nanto sects in the past and agreed not to do anything to incur their wrath as long as it didn't get in the way of our plans…" The Chinise Kempo grandmaster explained seriously.
The man, Shin, just laughed after hearing those words. "Indeed, certainly that is true. Allow me to fully introduce myself… I am Shin. Of the 108 sects of Nanto Seiken, I am one of the top six strongest masters, practitioners of the strongests styles that rule over all the other sects, whom from ancient times have guarded one of the six gates of the Emperor's palace. The Nanto Roku Sei Ken! I am Shin! Of the Nanto Koshu Ken, The Southern Cross Lone Eagle Fist, that flies under the Junsei Star, the star of martyrdom!" He declared proudly as he took a Nanto stance.
"Impressive assortment of titles that's for sure, but they don't actually mean anything to me." Pan deadpanned in a dry tone, she then began to pace around with a smirk of amusement. "There is only one way among my people to prove the worth of an individual… I'm sure you must have an idea of what I'm talking about." She said turning back towards the newly arrived warriors. "Since you all decided to getting involved with our business, it's only fair you should also participate in our fights. The question is… Who will you all decide to fight against? My people…? Or YAMI…? Or maybe you will take the most interest path and decide to face us both at the same time…?" Pan stated with a self-assured smile.
Raoh just smirked at her words, before he began to crack his knuckles. "I don't mind having to fight, since that was my intention from the very beginning. At least this way I can rearrange the face of that worm for daring to insult me…" He said darkly as he gazed towards Sougetsu with a terrifying stare.
"Now that's the spirit!" Pan remarked. "What about the rest of you? Would you too rise up to our challenge?" She asked towards the rest of Raoh's companions.
Toki didn't answer immediately, as gazed over the field to measure every single one of the gathered warriors. He let out a sigh after finishing with his examination. "It seems we don't have much of a choice… We always get ourselves dragged into a fight every time we time to rein my brother's temper."
"Fuh! As if I need your help to end my own battles!" Raoh snorted in dismissal at his brother.
Kenshiro just turned towards his best friend for his opinion. "What do you think Shin?"
"I say we should accept her challenge. Sounds like fun… and besides we need to test our skills regularly in real battles, lest our hard earned skills become dull." The blonde man said with a cocky smile.
"Very well, since you are the ones barging in our own fights. I will let my adversaries from YAMI decide who to pair you with." She declared motioning to the remaining YAMI grandmasters.
Most of the most warrior-minded masters of the terrible organization were taken by surprise by the alien girl generosity. "Really, we can challenge these fine warriors on our own if we want!? That's mighty generous of you!?" Ogata Isshinsai exclaimed, beaming a big wide smile of anticipation.
"Consider it a little repayment for not having restrained Doctor Jackal from getting all crazy on you guys. This way I can keep anybody from saying that my side is hoarding all the best fights. So fell free to have your fun with these undoubtedly very talented fighters, I'm sure it will be a very entertaining show to watch!" Pan stated nonchalantly. She then turned almost lazily towards Kushinada. "Except you Kushinada… Since you managed to defeat one of my minions, we still have some matters to address you and me."
Kushinada acknowledged those words with a graceful nod.
Pan floated towards the century old beauty and focused her attention on her. "As I had promised, those who managed to defeat my minions would be given a choice, whatever decision you chose, it would be respected and fulfilled. So, what will you decide? Either you walk away from here and I promise never to bother you for the rest of your life… Or you decide to face me in combat… But if you lose, your life is mine… So, what will it be?" She asked while she smirked.
Kushinada pondered her options for a moment, she knew the smart choice would be to walk away as she knew the girl's power greatly surpassed her own, but doing that would be to turn her back to the beliefs she has held for most of her life. The strong rules while the weak follows; he who is strong does not need to have any consideration for the opinions of those weaker than himself. Yes, that is true; this is the first time she is not on the side of the strong, a rather jarring new sensation for her. But whether she is among the ranks of the strong, or the ranks of the weak, the rule of the strong is absolute regardless of her personal feelings. She knew exactly what her decision would be. "I will fight…!" She declared with determination, knowing there was only way to determine if one is weak or strong in the world of Martial Arts, and whatever the outcome it may be, she will face it the same way she has faced all the challenges on her life.
Pan looked at her, taking notice of her unflinching gaze at the face of a much powerful opponent, and approved of her decision. "I am actually surprised you decided to face me, knowing of the great chasm between us. I don't know whether you are brave or foolish for doing that. But know that I respect your determination either way… If a fight against me is what you want, then a fight you shall have. I just hope you are prepared to accept the consequences once you lose…" She declared as she pointed at the older woman. Kushinada's gaze didn't waver in the least at the threat, her eyes becoming more resolute instead. Pan was very pleased of that and grinned in amusement.
"So, while you girls go at it. Can the rest of us, chose one of these guys to play with?" Isshinsai said smiling at Shin, eager to do battle. "I've always wanted to battle a practitioner of Nanto, ever since I joined YAMI I had the hopes of witnessing such legendary killing art in action… Sadly, our illustrious leader shot down that idea and forbade us from ever seeking to challenge the Nanto sects." He gestured in disappointment towards an aggravated Senzui.
Shin just smirked arrogantly in response. "Well then, it seems your wish will finally be fulfilled." He said as he once more poised his sharp nails. Ogata reply to that was to smile even more.
Raoh just scoffed at their talk. "I care nothing about that… I already know who my first victim would be." He stated before looking towards Sougetsu with a hard terrible stare once more. The Chinese Kempo Grandmaster said nothing and only began to prepare himself for the incoming battle.
Cyril Rahman walked to the front and addressed the two remaining Hokuto practitioners with a bow. "I've always wanted to pit my mastery of Kalarippayattu and vast knowledge of Marma points against the legendary mastery of Tenketsu points of Hokuto Shinken to see how my art would stack against it."
Toki glanced towards Kenshiro for a moment and gave him a nod to signal he would handle this. He stepped in front of Cyril and returned the bow. "If you allow me esteemed elder, it would be my honor to help you solve that inquiry… And show you the knowledge acquired and developed by Hokuto in its two thousand years of age." He said respectfully.
Cyril smiled as he acknowledged that response. "I would like that."
"Well then, that means I'm the only one left… So, who will step forward and be my opponent." Kenshiro said, as he just stood in his place and glanced over the remaining Grandmaster.
It was Akira Hongo who immediately answered to his challenge and walked in front of him. "I too have heard about the stories surrounding Hokuto and can't deny that I have dreamed of someday facing such art in combat to pit my own mastery of Karate against it." Was all the sun-glasses wearing grandmaster said, as he matched Kenshiro's stoic gaze with one of his own.
The young potential Hokuto successor just acknowledged those words with a nod.
So it seemed that all the players for the next round of combats were ready, Mills Lane began to walk towards the combatants to carry out with his function and let them begin their matches. But there was one who did not like this new turn on events. Senzui, was seething, seeing how his chances for either keeping the alien girl from destroying his organization or somehow convince her of accepting the views of YAMI as the right ones, were fleeing from his grasp. It was hard enough to be tip-toeing around Pan's temper to keep her from getting angered and wipe out YAMI in a single blow, but now with one of the Nanto Roku Sei Ken and the so called successors of Hokuto Shinken meddling in his business, his probability of getting out here as still head of YAMI were almost nil. He couldn't allow that! He couldn't allow all their carefully laid plans, all the sacrifices he had made to get to this point end up like this! On that thought, he brought his hand inside one of his pockets where he held a small inconspicuous remote and pressed it to send out a signal to the troops of the army of YAMI that were lying in wait for his command.
The people on the construction site found themselves caught off guard when the top of the building in front across the street suddenly blew up in a fiery explosion as a high ordinance shell suddenly impacted on it. The sudden shockwave shook the ground and brought several of the gathered fighters down to the ground as they all were deafened by the loud explosion.
"What the hell was that!?" Exclaimed an alarmed Whip, as she gazed upon the conflagration and falling debris. "Was that a cannon strike!?"
Suddenly the sky was darkened by hundreds of choppers that appeared and blocked the light of the sun, ropes came down from the sides of the transport helicopters and armed soldiers began to slide down to the ground from them. Soon enough, the entire construction site was flooded by a black mass of men, armed troops wearing full body armor, gas masks and carrying heavy assault rifles and other heavy ordinance. All were pointing their guns at the confused fighters in the field.
"What is happening!? What kind of treason is this!?" Demanded an increasingly irate Kazuya.
"These are YAMI's elite assault troops!" Exclaimed Cyril Rahman in his own shock, glancing in all directions at the surrounding troops. "Only a high member of YAMI would be able to mobilize all these men in such short notice. And I know none of us grandmasters gave the order for such military deployment!" He turned to look at Senzui with an accusing glare. "Senzui! Is this your doing!? Have you no honor! How can you stain the sanctity of the battlefield with such interruption!?" Cyril then turned and spoke to Pan with a desperate look. "Pan! We assure you we grandmasters have nothing to do with this!"
The leader of the nine fists simply laughed, confessing his hand in this sudden development. "Of course this is my doing!? Do you simply expect me to come here and let an alien girl to push us around and bring down our organization!? No! Of course I came prepared in case I failed to make her see our way of things. I will not let anyone stand in YAMI's way. Not when we are so close to initiate the last step of our plans and bring about the eternal sunset!" He declared, laughing like a madman. "And just so you know... Armed troops are not the only thing I had in store in case of emergency." He declared as he pointed towards the bay with his finger."
The people gathered followed his indication and turned to look towards the waters beyond Tokio bay. At the distance, they manage to spot dozens of battleships and destroyers, an entire fleet of war vessels, a whole battle group of a hundred ships that was making its way inside the bay.
"Are you fucking kidding me!? Where did this people acquired a whole navy!?" Mature exclaimed in total surprise at seeing such military might.
Senzui just keep laughing, self-assured of his victory. "Surprised...! This is but a taste of the power that YAMI has under his command! I had made sure that our victory was secured from the very beginning!"
Pan was mostly unconcerned that her group was suddenly surrounded by heavily armed soldiers and under the sights from the ships cannons on the bay. "Why did you bring your toy soldiers to this fight? You do know that you're just throwing their lives away needlesly?"
"They are actually here just to keep you ocuppied while I implement the real measures to take you down. You could try to stop me of course. But I don't think most of your minions would be able to withstand a hail of bullets, but by all means do try to attack me and put that theory to the test." He gloated while several of Pan's followers began to grow nervous, as they knew it will be really hard to come out unscathed if a confrontation with all these soldiers were to break out since many among their numbers were still either tired o injured from the previous fights.
Pan just looked at Senzui with a slight degree of disbelief, before thinking the best way to make her point across. "I believe you still haven't realized the seriousness of the situation you all find yourselves in. You should have taken heed of my words from the very beginning. Seems I'll have to show all of you how greatly outclassed you truly are." She said before rising high in the air and turning her head to the side, the soldiers immediately oppened fire on her but she simply ignored the bullets as they all bounced harmlessly off her skin. Pan looked at the bay towards one of the warships, her eyes flashed briefly, and then all the military vessels in her line of sight suddenly went boom as she swept her gaze over every single one of the destroyers.
"Oh... my… god… ohmygod… ohmygod… ohmygod…!" Ethan Stanley simply babbled in disbelief, utterly shocked at the feat he had just witnessed.
"Did Pan… Just made an entire battlegroup explode just by looking at it…?" Whip asked flabbergasted. She knew Pan was pretty ridiculously powerful because she is an alien, but damn some things were simply too outrageous to be true. Guess the joke's on her then.
Raoh let out a whistle after seeing the destruction brought forth by the short girl. "Not bad, not bad at all…"
No one else dared to utter a word, even the assault troops were too shocked to move a muscle after what they had just seen, their entire moral shattering into pieces as they began realize the futility of trying to go against the alien girl from another world. Senzui too was to stupefied to do anything but stare, all his plans and tactics suddenly amounting to nothing, not even activating the eternal sunset right now would be enough to bring him justice today, after what he just saw, He now believed Pan's boast that not even a nuclear strike will be enough to stop her.
Before anyone could open their mouth or do anything to shake themselves off their stupor, a high pitched yell began to echo all around the place.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!
Out of nowhere, and entire line of soldiers turned stiff, as lines of light began to trace all around their bodies in a grid, before they were all sliced in hundreds of little pieces in a shower of blood, utterly freaking out everyone that was watching the sudden developments and sending the rest of the nearby soldiers into disarray.
YOW!
"What the hell just happened!? How all those soldiers did suddenly got shredded into ribbons!?" Exclaimed a flabbergasted Ethan Stanley; the people watching around the globe wondering the same as they shut back their hanging jaws.
From among the bloody mist, a figure appeared leaping into the air and landing in the middle of the recently shredded troops. It was a young good looking man, of long dark teal hair wearing jeans and a traveling multi-pocketed vest. "Well then, it seems we have arrived just in time for the party." He said with an arrogant smile. The remaining soldiers around him rearing back in fear at his appearance.
Shin seemed to recognize the newcomer as he adressed him with familiarity. "Ah, Rei! Seems you guys did receive my message after all, I had though for a moment that wasn't the case when my call was sent into the voice-mail… I assume the rest of the Nanto Roku Seiken should be arriving shortly?"
"We are all already here…" The man Rei replied. Suddenly more high pitched shrills began to echo throughout the field like otherwordly wails that announced dead. Many of the soldiers in the ground began to shiver and look at their surroundings in nervousness, before several sizable segments among their ranks were sliced apart in more gory showers of blood.
From each one of the thick red mists a new figure slowly was able to be seen, the remaining members of the Nanto Roku Seiken had arrived. The first figure to be seen was another red-headed good looking man, almost too much good looking, as his face was too much androginous in appearance. He was dressed in magenta shinobi clothes, a white scarf wrapped around his neck and flowing freely from behind his broad shoulders.
The next man was a tall long sky-blue haired man, dressed in jeans and combat vest similar to Rei. His now distinguishing feature was that each of his white-milky eyes had four long claw marks running all the way from above each of his brows down to his cheeks until reaching his jaw. It was more than obvious that the man was blind.
The last man to appear was another good looking short haired blonde man dressed in a white suit, his most distinguishing feature being a small crimson dot right in the middle of his brow.
Senzui became alarmed the moment he saw the last blonde man, his eyes turning as big as plates as he began to perspirate with cold sweat. "No… Not him! What is he doing here!?" Indeed, Senzui knew full well who the Blonde man was, for he was the main reason why Senzui had ordered YAMI to stay far away from the Nanto sects. "Sou… Souther…!" He breathed with barely restrained fear, if discovering how Pan was truly an monstrous invincible enemy, the appearance of Souther just made matters worse and sealed his destiny.
The man, Souther, let out a cruel chuckle as he gazed towards the nervous Senzui. "Well, well… What do we have here? It seems YAMI is still being quite the troublesome bother as always. How quaint Senzui… Are you still pretending that you and your little club are the top dogs that exist out there? I thought I had snapped you from those dellusions years ago when you had the stupid idea of challenging the might of Nanto… Do you remember? It was back then when you had first assumed the leadership of your little organization. To think I decided to spare you and not chase after you when I eleminated all those so called grandmasters that you had brought with you and you turned tail and fled like the dog you are! Should have put a little more effort and finish the job back then…" The man explained with an arrogant demeaning attitude.
Pan turned to look at the newcomers curiously. "I take it you all must be masters of Nanto Seiken just like Shin, though I would really appreaciate if some introductions were to be made." She requested.
"But of course, where were my manners…" Souther replied, still grunning before offering a bow. "Nanto Roku Seiken, Souther of the Nanto Ho-oh Ken, The Southern Cross Fenghuang Phoenix fist that flies under the Shosei star, the star of leadership!" The blonde man said assuming the only stance that existed in his style, the Tensho Juji Ho as he stood straight with his arms raised aloft at his sides.
The next man to intruduce himself was Rei. "Nanto Roku Seiken; Rei of the Nanto Suicho Ken, The Southern Cross Waterbird Fist that flies under the Gisei star, the star of justice!" He said assuming a Nanto stance.
Next came the tall blue-haired scarfaced blind man. "Nanto Roku Seiken; Shu of the Nanto Hakuro Ken, The Southern Cross White Heron fist that flies under the Jinsei star, the star of benevolence!" He declared assuming a stance of his own.
And finally, the long haired red headed man introduced himself. "Nanto Roku Seiken; Yuda of the Nanto Kokaku Ken, the Southern Cross Flamingo Fist that flies under the Yosei star, the star of enchantment!" He declared with a carefree pose.
"Ah, so it seems we have the most powerful practitioners of this Nanto style gathered in here. What an interesting development." Pan mused out loud, intrigued by this new development. "And apparently you are well acquainted with the leader of YAMI." She hazarded a guess.
The man Souther simply snorted. "Bah! He is just a fool who thought he could force the Nanto sects into swearing loyalty to YAMI and his so called way of the killing fist. What would these maggots know about a true killing art, when the superiority of Nanto as one of the true assassination styles has remained undisputed for millennia."
"No… It's too soon! We weren't supposed to dare a direct confrontation against the Nanto sects, much less the entire Nanto Roku Seiken until after the Eternal Sunset had been implemented!" Senzui rambled in his desperation, uncaringly on who might hear him.
"What was that!? What does the Eternal Sunset has to do with facing the Nanto sects?" Cyril Rahman inquired, having taken notice of that last comment. "I thought the Eternal Sunset was supposed to ignite a war to bring about an age of strife in which we grandmasters would be able to keep the purity and true killing nature of our styles from dulling out and losing their edge. What do the Nanto sects have anything to do with this?" The old man demanded, not liking the implications that Senzui's latest revelations described.
"That was just a front! An excuse to gather the support of all the Satsujiken followers around the world! The true aim of the eternal sunset was to launch a nuclear strike and bring about a nuclear war in order to wipe out most of the Nanto Sects that stood in my way from claiming the title as the most lethal and powerful art in the world, ensuring the superiority of the Kuremisago style. After that, the conquest of the world was all but guaranteed!" Senzui declared to the shock of all, even that of his fellow YAMI grandmasters who had been unaware of the true nature of their organization master plan.
"What!? What kind of treasonous way is that to claim the title of the strongest!? How could you dare to call yourself that through the use of such cowardly tactics!?" Aagard Jum Sai demanded in outrage, not liking those means to achieve superiority over all other arts.
"I agree! The only way that exists to claim the title of the strongest martial art in existence is by putting your life on the line through the use of your own fists. To claim the title of the strongest without having it truly earned it through your own sweat and blood is an insult to all of our most sacred beliefs as followers of the Satsujiken!" Akira Hongo declared, as he too didn't approve of such underhanded ways to conquer all other arts.
Most of the others Grandmasters were of that view; even Isshinsai was appealed by that plan. "I care not for the world! All I ever wanted was to fight against strong opponents in order to ensure the continual development and evolution of my art. Even if it meant I had to lose my life in the process to achieve that! This cheap way to obtain victory disgusts me! This is not what was promised to me when I had first joined YAMI!" The lilac haired fighter denounced, pointing accusingly at the One Shadow of the nine fists.
Not all of the YAMI masters were outraged at Senzui's deceit, some like Mihai Stirbey were simply too amoral to mind whether if their leader was a cheating bastard or not. "I don't care if our esteemed leader is using us or not! All I care is to have the chance to kill as many people as I can and bathe my scythe in their blood." He said with a disturbing look in his eyes as he licked the blade of his scythe with his tongue. Earning the sneer of many of his fellow grandmasters.
Kushinada turned towards the head of YAMI, her demeanor completely serious. "Senzui… Have you been using us all this time to achieve your own goals? Has this been your true aim from the very beginning?" She demanded with a cold expression, although she is a woman who wouldn't shy away from using underhanded methods when necessary to achieve her own goals, to use such cowardly backstabbing tactics to dethrone more powerful opponents is certainly not of her liking as she has always preferred to deal with any opponent personally and upfront. Even when employing treasonous or deceitful tactics, she has always personally dealt the killing blow, there are things not even she would sink low enough to do, using weapons or proxies to kill her opponents instead of doing it herself, especially against a truly strong warrior, was one of them.
"Of course! You all were nothing more than tools to achieve my goals! Disposable assets to help me achieve dominion over all other martial art!" The madman declared in his frenzied desperation, not caring anymore to keep his plans in secret as he felt himself backed into a corner by two terrible opponents that he knew he didn't had the strength to go against.
Souther just laughed at what he considered a pathetic sight that was watching the leader of YAMI losing his mettle. "I am not surprised that this little insect came out with such puny and laughable plan. He's always been a weakling and a coward at heart; this is not the first time I've had to deal with his pathetic attempts to go against the might of Nanto. His underhanded and deceitful methods may have been enough to bring down a weak and simple-minded clan like the Kuremisago… Oh yes, we the Nanto Roku Seiken are fully aware of the little deception this maggot has carried out. But against a real powerful art like Nanto Seiken, his plans are nothing more but child's play." The blonde man declared with a cruel disdainful tone, making it seen how much he believed Senzui to be trash to be stepped under his boot.
The One Shadow of YAMI obviously didn't take kindly to the insult. "We'll see how much my method's are child's play when you and the rest of the Nanto Sects are burned to the ground! Soldiers! Open fire! Kill everybody still standing!" He ordered in his crazed frenzy. The troops still alive in the field however, were not much of the mind of carrying those orders however, as they were reticent of going against such powerful opponents, men that have prove more than capable of shredding scores of heavily armed and armored soldiers in an instant and an alien girl immune to all weapons able to destroy entire fleets of destroyers with only a glance.
Souther took notice of their hesitation and chuckled even more. "Seems your little toy soldiers are smart enough than to try to go against a stronger opponent! Sadly, after giving them that order, you've done nothing but forfeit their lives. As we cannot allow any proclaimed threat against Nanto to live…" He declared ominously, before displaying his nails that glinted under the sun. And that was when the screaming began…
All the members of the Nanto Roku Seiken lunged against any nearby soldiers, like sharks pouncing on a wounded prey, and began to cut them apart into tiny little pieces with the power of Nanto. Yuda began to cut through the packed lines of soldiers by launching powerful vacuum blades that traveled through the ground and teared apart anything standing in their way.
DENSHO REPPA!
伝衝裂波
(Tradition-Defying Rending Wave)
Shu just jumped in the middle of a great congregation of soldiers and landed on his hands upside down before spinning around like a mini-tornado while delivering a kick that decapitated every single soldier in range, their heads simply separating cleanly from their shoulders in a single move.
NANTO REKKYAKU ZANJIN!
南斗烈脚斬陣
(Beheading Formation Of The Fierce Feet)
Rei took into the air and began to bombard all the troops underneath his advantageous position with a barrage of vacuum blades that sliced them all apart in showers of blood.
NANTO HICHO RANGEKI HA!
南斗飛鳥乱戟波
(Flying Bird Wild Halberd Wave')
Souther simply rushed at the closest congregation of soldiers and smashed into them, sending them all into the air due to the strength of the impact. Once there, he simply turned in their direction with an overhead kick, before all the airborne soldiers were sliced apart in a shower of gore by an unseen force.
TENSHO GUNSEI KYAKU!
天翔群星脚
(Heavenly Star Kick)
Shin also joined his fellow peers of the Nanto Roku Seiken by attacking the soldiers around him, slashing at them more quickly that what the naked eye could hope to follow, only air distortions could be seen as Shin quickly rushed among their lines until he was standing behind them showing them his back. Then suddenly, all the soldiers simply fell apart into thousand pieces under more torrents of blood.
SENSHI KANSHU!
千刺貫手
(Thousand Torn Piercing Fist)
The remaining soldiers finally got out of their stupor and began to open fire upon the members of the Nanto Roku Seiken, but by that time it was already too late, as the Nanto Masters easily moved faster than any bullet and began to shred apart every soldier in their vicinity with only their nails.
Not wanting to be outdone by the Nanto users, Raoh too lunged at any nearby enemy. "Well, it seems is up to me to defend the honor of Hokuto, I'll show these weaklings what a true killing art looks like!" He declared before he swatted away and entire line of soldiers with a swing of his arm. The soldier crashed into the ground not too much worse for wear, but when they tried to stand back again, their bodies suddenly froze and began to seizure. Their limbs and heads began to deform, as bloated fleshy tumors suddenly began to rapidly grow on their bodies, their helmets quickly being discarded to try to alleviate the pressure. But any effort was hopeless as their bodily deformations inflated until they reached a critical mass before exploding in gory displays that blew their entire bodies apart. Everybody watching was simply horrified at the gruesome scene.
"Wha-What the hell happened!? How could their bodies explode in such a horrible manner!?" Exclaimed a freaked out Ethan Stanley, as never in his entire years as a disciple of YAMI had he seen martial arts as terrible as these.
"That is the power of Hokuto Shinken…" Kenshiro replied to the shock of all. He then turned towards Toki. "I guess is time for us to do our part." He said before turning around and delivering a hand chop right in the head of an armored soldier and caving his skull in despite the helmet and gasmask. The rest of the soldiers watching simply jumped back in fear at seeing such display of terrible strength.
GANZAN RYOZAN HA!
岩山両斬波
(Rocky Mountain Splitting Wave)
Now the Hokuto potential successors became targets under sights too, but bullets also proved ineffective on them. Raoh simply increased his Ki, creating a deadly red aura around him that killed anyone that dared to get too close to him instantly, the soldiers falling victim under a terrible pressure before their bodies detonated into gory and grizzly mists. He also turned towards any sizeable enemy congregation that he could see and opened his hand towards them to send almost invisible pressure waves of KI towards them causing their bodies to convulse and explode as if he had touch them with a regular Hokuto Technique.
Toki rushed at his nearby attackers evading all bullets easily, before going straight through their lines and touching their Kensei pressure point so quickly that everybody watching thought he wasn't doing anything. Once behind them, all soldiers simply let down their weapons as if staring into space, their heads hanging limply from their necks as moans of pleasure were heard escaping from their mouths. Suddenly their heads split by the middle and exploded, launching blood and brain matter everywhere.
HOKUTO UJO DANJIN KEN!
北斗有情断迅拳
(Sattva Swift Judgment Fist')
Kenshiro simply attacked all the soldiers in his vicinity by launching a flurry of hundreds of punches in the span of seconds, hitting all enemies all over their bodies and keeping them unable to move due to the massive barrage of punches.
HATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA… WACHA!
HOKUTO HYAKURETSU KEN!
北斗百裂拳
(Hundred Crack Fist)
All the soldiers then began to contort and bloat just like with the previous techniques before exploding in gruesome showers of blood.
The rest of the people in the construction site didn't jst simply stood idle while pandemonium was being unleashed. All the soldiers that turned and tried to shoot at Pan's followers found themselves being skewered by dozens of red scalpels as Doctor Jackal once more let his bloodlust run free as he slaughtered any soldier in his vicinity, uncaring of the bullets that impacted on his body as he slammed into their lines in full. Whip laid cover fire with her own weapons as Vice and Mature let their snake arms run free, Giru easily protecting the entire group with an energy bubble.
The YAMI masters were not idle either, as they too turned against the soldiers under Senzui command. Hongo, Cyril, Isshinsai, even Kushinada dealt with any troop in their way, as they were not going to let the One Shadow of YAMI interfere in their own businesses. Soon enough the entire regiments of soldiers that had locked up the site were decimated and left for dead in the ground, none survived, as anyone that tried to flee was quickly cut down by one of the many terrible fighters on the field. Through all this, Pan had simply stood unmoving on her spot taking upon the slaughter happening all around her. Senzui was simply left gaping terrified at seeing all of her plans turning to ashes.
!
In Kanto, both student bodies were left in silence after witnessing the lethality of such terrible martial arts.
"So that is the power of Nanto and Hokuto… My god! They are truly monstrous arts!" Sakaki said, deeply shocked at the frightening display of techniques.
Kenichi simply gazed at the projection, he too shaken by what he had just seen, but his determination remaining irresolute. "I am still not strong enough…" He whispered to himself.
!
In the residence of the Norns, the three sisters plus Keiichi were also staring at the TV screen in disbelief.
"I… I never though such monstrous arts existed in our world. I had heard rumors, but all this time I simply thought them to be a myth, a thing that could only happen in TV shows and movies." The young man said deeply in shock.
"It seems there are many things we didn't know about humans…" Urd said in an uncharacteristically serious demeanor, her two sisters still too much in shock to comment.
!
In Nifelheim, Hild was once more smiling broadly. "Ah! I had forgotten how humans could be such wonderful creatures! It's been many centuries since I've seen such an entertaining show like this, I had thought many of these styles to have died out over the years. I'm glad to see they're still around…" She said pleased as she knocked back on her seat. Hagall was still too astonished to comment.
!
In the basement of an abandoned building, another blonde woman with red markings on her face was watching the fights accompanied by many rats wearing lab coats and sunglasses. "Damn! That was freaky! These humans surely like to play rough!" Mara said as she ate from a Ramen cup.
!
Up in heaven, in the Yggdrassil control room, the goddess in there simply could not believe what their eyes were seeing. "Dear Kami-sama! How can it be that these humans are so powerful!?" Peorth asked incredulous, she like most goddesses thought all humans to be weak, mundane creatures compared with her kind. Although they can be quite curious and interesting like Keiichi, she always thought them to be physically much frailer than her… She never expected that humans could become such monstrous and fearsome creatures like these people.
While she and the other goddesses were still reeling in shock, Lynd was still focused appraising these new styles, to her eyes they were the epitome of a true warrior art. At her side, Chrono was making her company, her little apprentice having too taken notice of the masterful precision of such arts. "I've never seen or heard of such powerful techniques before, have you know anything about the existence of these impressive arts Lynd-Sama!?" She asked to her superior officer.
Lynd shook her head sideways in a negative, her eyes never leaving the screen. "No, this is the first time I too have seen such masterful martial arts… They are wondrous isn't it…?" She said as the yearning in her heart for battle kept growing.
!
Back in the construction field, Pan simply oversaw the massacre around her and nodded. "Alright! Now that all interruptions have been deal with, we can continue and move on."
Cyril Rahman turned at her with mild incredulity. "To do what!? Our own leader has betrayed us; the goals that we have fought for so hard all this time have turned out to be a lie, what can we possible do in the face of these revelations!?" He asked, his mood turning sour a little.
"Why!? But finish your fight that's why!" She said as if that explained everything, the people in the field simply gaped at her in disbelief.
Well this is where we going to stop for this week. To any of you who may think Senzui's plot in this story was pretty ridiculous, exaggerated and over the top, I only have one thing to say to you. Welcome to Anime!
Anyway now were going to move into more battles, Hokuto No Ken style, so expect much manliness to come in the next update.
As always, leave a review and tell me what you think.
