i know short chapter, curse me and all that good stuff. but i spent a lot of time trying to figure out how the last part of this chapter fit into the story. anyways i hereby dedicate the last part of this chapter to FalconMage because he has faithfully reviewed every chappy since he started reading it.

As Lu, Ren, Viper, and Tigress all pushed the enemy towards the edge of town they found that said enemy became more and more numerous.

As Lu defeated another batch he leaped onto a low roof and scanned the village. Realizing that there were too many enemies he leaped from rooftop to rooftop searching for the others. Surprisingly, they were all grouped together in a small clearing trying to fend off two dozen soldiers at once.

Lu looked around for something that he could use to his advantage but there was nothing in sight. He glanced down at the heavy wooden beams that comprised the roof he was standing on and then looked back at the others.

Fear swelled in his chest as he realized what he had to do, but at the same time he felt an overwhelming desire to save the ones he cared for. 'we all do what we must,' he thought 'and I'm no different'.

He decided quickly ,knowing that time was of the essence, and sheathed his blade. Turning his back to the battle he closed his eyes and focused with all his might upon the seething flames hidden deep within his subconscious feeding his anger and fear and feeling the writhing flames grow with it. With all his might he fanned the flames and they grew to an inferno spreading throughout his entire being.

When he opened his eyes they glowed like the embers of the burning buildings near him. Heightened senses let him know exactly what was going on around him as he bent over and grasped one of the wooden beams. The hellfire that he held in his body increased his strength as he pulled on the beam, the wood splintering in his hands under the strain.

He pulled harder and harder still until with a resounding crack! A plank of wood 8 feet long came off the roof. He turned, hefted the plank over his head, and flung it with all his might at the soldiers below, it smashed into a group of 8 soldiers killing several and incapacitating the rest.

Lu leaped off the building and drew his sword, slashing a nearby soldier across the chest and proceeding into the fray.

Ren had attained a spear from one of the soldiers and spun it in a wide arc slashing a pig in the space between his helm and chest plate.

Tigress and Viper were back to back trying to fend off several soldiers at once. Seeing this Lu crouched low and prepared to strike with the same technique he used on Deringe only 3 days ago.

It was a simple technique, the user simply has to channel all of his energy into speeding up his vital organs. Adrenalin fuels the muscles while accelerated heart beats keep a good supply of oxygen going through the blood stream. As long as every part of the body accelerates at the same time then the user can be as fast as he wants to. The trick is to retain enough energy to slow the process or else the users heart would overreact and seize up effectively killing him.

However at the moment Lu had no worries about lack of energy. The hellfire coursing through him would provide far more than enough of that. The space around him seemed to slow down in response to the backwash of energy emanating from him as he focused his sights on the group of enemies.

And then he struck.

To anyone else it would have seemed as if the group of soldiers had simply sprouted fatal wounds and fell dead.

Lu came to rest next to Tigress, but as he fought down the hellfire once again his vision began to fade.

Tigress caught him as he fell and asked "Lu, what's wrong?"

"Run," Lu gasped, fighting to remain conscious "there will be more… you have to run"

And then he blacked out.

60 miles away, a convict safe house

There was very little light in the small underground tavern. The low ceiling and musty odor added to the effect that anyone who wasn't evil or a convict didn't belong there.

There were several patrons there including two cougars talking amongst themselves

"hey did ya hear about that new army that showed up recently" one said

"yea," the other replied "no one knows exactly where they came from or what they want"

"I heard that they're taking over all of china"

"that must mean they're going for the valley of peace"

At this a lone figure sitting in a corner perked up.

"heh, those assholes that call themselves the furious five are in for a big one now"

"I wonder if either of you would be kind enough to explain all you know about this army to me" neither cougar had noticed as the figure stepped into the dull light ,silvery spotted fur glistening in the light.

both thugs gasped and one stuttered out "T-Ta-Tai Lung"

told ya it was short. i hate myself! need more discipline. anyways, FalconMage i told ya he is one of my favorites you didnt really think i would get rid of him just like that did you? review please! see i said please so you have to review.