The Kurayami leader watched as ribbons of black energy swirled together. "It seems that I cannot trust anyone with the task of finding the Catalyst. Even Kasei is starting to disappoint me, choosing to focus on finding the Fukumen. The Ningen are destroying our numbers faster than they grow and the newly formed Kurayami are nowhere near as strong as their predecessors."

The black energy began to take on a new shape, flowing wildly like dark fire as it created a new form.

"How will this one be any different?" Ohjah hissed from the corner of the throne room.

"Every plan you've had as failed." Kibala interjected Why should we bother listening to this one?"

"Because..." The shapeless figure groan, it's voice that of a thousand Kagedoron which fought for supremacy. Without warning, two black tendrils shot from the form, piercing through Kibala and Ohjah before either had a chance to blink.

"Because it is time you two truly paid for your failures. This new Kurayami will require every bit of strength to accomplish its task."

The two cloaked Kurayami fell to their knees, watching helplessly as their dark energies were drained from their bodies.

"Do not worry, you won't be left completely drained," The leader continued. "But it should be enough to keep you from escaping the dungeons for a while."

The shapeless Kurayami began to glow a deep purple. Seconds later it took on a new form. It's left side was a twisted combination of green and black scales, partially covered by the shredded remains of a black robe. The creature's left appendage had formed into a large snake's head, separated by black fur along it's wrist.

It's right side was a disturbing mixture of scales and fur. A dark grey pelt hung loosely over it's shoulder, connecting to the monster's head – a mane of fur with a wolf's skull resting ontop of it. It's face was covered by a blank, white mask.

A month had passed since the OniRangers found themselves in the dark green caverns. Hideo was finally able to catch up on his homework and even found time for soccer camp. Eiji was spending time with his dance group, having escaped Hideo's constant lectures about focusing on his school work. Life was slowly starting to return to normal, except for Sanjo.

Sanjo wandered the empty hallways of the Hikari Museum. It was Sunday, so the building was closed to the public. It was on days like these that Sanjo would visit the many exhibits to educate herself on Earth's history – but that was not the only reason.

The girl stepped into the small Ningen exhibit. The display had been relocated from the main showroom, in favor of a new showcase opening the next day. This small room was all that was left of her past life.

While Sanjo slept for a thousand years, her people slowly died out – an entire civilization of human forgotten by the passage of time. Even their very name all but a memory. In the modern language, 'ningen' meant human. Sanjo took pride in that fact – a Ningen's world, free of the Kurayami's hold.

Sanjo approached the remains of the large statue. She was sealed in that statue along with the Fukumen, sworn to protect the world should the Kurayami rise again. Now the monsters have arrived and the masks, scattered were around the world - a desperate attempt by Sanjo to free them from the Kuraymai's grasp.

The young shaman wiped the tears from her eyes. Had she caused more harm than good?

Gin entered the room, carrying a large box. "Sanjo," He beckoned. "Hideo just called. He is forcing Eiji to stay at the school with him for a study period. Did you want to go into town and pick up some decorations for tomorrow's opening?"

Sanjo turned around, pushing her thoughts away once again towards the next task. "Into town, by myself?" She hesitated. "What about you?"

"I've got to finish things here." Gin sighed. "You've been in town enough by now, you should be fine. Just remember to watch the traffic this time. Red means stop, green means go." Gin reached into the large box and pulled out a map. "Here, I've drawn out the route for you. It's not that far at all." Gin shoved the map into Sanjo's hands, along with a handful of money. "I've already ordered the decorations, just go pick them up. Thank, Sanjo!"

Sanjo was speechless as she watched Gin turn around and leave the room with out another word.

Within minutes, Sanjo found herself roaming the streets of the city. In the past month the city flourished. Any damage caused by the Kurayami had been cleaned up or closed off.

She stopped at along a three-way intersection and scanned the small map. Even with a guide, the city was much to large for Sanjo. She wasn't even sure she was on the right street.

Before she had time to find herself, a strong gust of wind blew the map from her hands. "No!" She cried as she jumped into the air, her fingers grazing the paper as it floated from her reach. Sanjo swore under her breath. There were to many people around for her to use her magic in public – Gin had already warned her against freaking out civilians. She had no choice but to chase after it.

After several minutes she found herself turning into an alley way. "This isn't right." She whispered to herself. "It would seem that I am being lured."

"Correct, OniBlue!" The hybrid Kurayami spoke, its voice a chorus of thousands. It stood at the end of the alley way, surrounded by Kagedoron. The monster's arms were folded, with the map resting in his hand.

Sanjo stepped back and assumed a defensive stance. She had never witnessed anything like it – she could not sense this Kurayami at all. Even looking at the monster hurt her eyes – as if her mind was trying to block it out. What magic was this?

"Nin-Ningen Chant!" Sanjo stammered as she rose her OniChanger in the air. "OniChange!"

With a flash of blue light, the Ningen girl was transformed into The Mystic Shaman, OniBlue.

"Hmph." The Kurayami chuckled a thousand chuckles. "Get her." They spoke, commanding the Kagedoron to attack.

The shadow monsters charged at OniBlue. Even with the power of her Fukumen, she was still blinded by the presence of the monster. She swung her YuraYura Kanabou wildly at the drones. She needed to get to take down the Kurayami first if she was ever going to survive this.

"I don't think so." The monster mocked. The Kagedoron swarmed together, transforming into a large black ribbon of shadows. It struck OniBlue in the stomach, spinning her back into the alley in a wave of sparks.

Sanjo gasped for a breath as smoke smoldered from her tunic. Her transformation faded in a pale blue light, leaving Sanjo dazed and defenseless.

"H-How..." Sanjo gasped as she got to her knees. "Such strength...not..."

"Not possible?" The monster chanted. The wave of Kagedoron flowed around it, absorbing into its body. "WE are the Kurayami. WE were born from supremacy – many souls fighting for dominance. It is in our nature to do the impossible to survive."

The monster rose it's snake-hand into the air, ready to deliver the final blow. A large green beam passed over Sanjo's head, striking the monster in the chest. More sparks spilled into the air as the monster stumbled.

Sanjo looked back to see OniYellow standing in the alleyway, donned with the Zou Fukumen and resting the large PhantCannon over his shoulder.

"Looks like the party started without us." Eiji mocked. "Care to save a dance for me?"

OniRed jumped from the rooftops, landing beside Sanjo. "You're lucky we happened to be crossing by." Hideo said as she helped Sanjo get to her feet. "If Eiji never escaped from the study group, I wouldn't have chased him here. Are you alright?"

Sanjo, despite the haze in her mind, signaled she was okay with a nod. "Be careful...his magic prevents you from focusing."

"Well it's not effecting me!" OniYellow boasted as he ran passed Hideo and Sanjo. With a quick flash he switched to his default Fukumen. "Strong Hammer!" He exclaimed as he swung the heavy weapon at the monster.

The Kurayami's snake-hand struck the hammer aside and launched at OniYellow. The barbarian dodged the attack and swung again. The two parried each others attacks again and again, to the growing annoyance both parties.

"Enough!" The monster roared as another wave of shadows poured from him. The wave knocked OniYellow back with ease. OniRed acted quickly and pulled his companions up before the wave got any closer.

"Tactical retreat." OniRed commanded. The group ran back down the alley as the wave approached. "Kumo Fukumen!" The skilled warrior ordered as the orange mask flashed onto his face. A stream of webbing shot from the mask, attaching itself to the roof. Hideo grabbed his friends and leaped into the air, grappling them out of the wave's range.

"Ningen Chant: Gyakukave!" Sanjo chanted. A blue barrier appeared around the enterance of the alley, sealing the wave off from the street.

After a moment the group looked down, watching as the wave slipped back into the shadows. The Kurayami had also made a tactical retreat.

"Phew..." Hideo sighed. "Way to close."

"Are you alright Sanjo?" OniYellow pressed, holding Sanjo upright.

"I am alright..." The Shaman stated. With the monster gone, her senses were returning to normal. "We-We need to return to the museum."

"Bravo!" The Kurayami leader praised. "Your trial run was a complete success. Who would have thought putting those two idiots together would prove this useful." The demon laughed, resting his shoulders on the silent Kurayami-hybrid.

"With Sanjo's magic disturbed by your mere presence, taking down those two Ningen mutts will be a piece of cake. We just need to give you a little more power.

"Power..." The many voices of the Kurayami repeated. From the many pews that surrounded them, hundreds of Kagedoron dissolved, melding themselves with the collective conscience of the monster.

Deep below the throne room, Kibala and Ohjah were slumped against the walls of the dungeon, barely surviving.

"Curse him..." Ohjah panted. "When I get my hands on him..."

"Give it a rest, Ohjah..." Kibala sighed. "It's useless." Her gloved had reached for the mask on her face. "I'm done playing this game." The mask slipped from her face and fell to the ground. "I've failed our lord. He will never be freed."

Ohjah looked up at Kibala, her face hidden by a mess of hair. "We will get our power, Kibala. Not just the ones he stole, but the ones the Ningen robbed from us all those years ago. We will be freed from this curse."

"Tea?" Gin asked, holding out a tray to the rest of the group. They had reconvened in the deep basement of the museum. The group sat around the table, focusing on Sanjo.

The girl sipped from her mug and tried to collect her thoughts. "I can not describe it exactly." She tried to explain. "It was as if my mind did not want to sense the Kurayami. Instead, it overwhelmed my own senses the closer I got to the creature. It is not like any Kurayami my people have faced.

"Well I certainly got a good look at it." Hideo stated. "The monster was part snake, and part wolf. I've never seen one with two animal forms."

"I thought that tall creepy one was the Snake Kurayami?" Gin chimed in.

"Once, yes,' Sanjo replied. "And Kibala once embodied the spirit of the wolf. However their powers were sealed away in the final battle a thousand years ago. That is why they wear those cloaks, to hide the forms they were reduced to." The girl put her cup down. "Somehow, their remaining powers seemed to have merged into this...unholy creation."

Sanjo stood up and walked around the couch. "When Kagedoron become full Kurayami, one mind becomes dominate, absorbing the others to create a true conscience."

"But I heard a lot of voices coming from that thing." Hideo said. "What would happen is all the Kagedoron were...alive inside its head."

"Such a feat would require tremendous energy, that must be why Ohjah and Kibala's powers were merged – to create a container for all those dark souls." The girl grew pale with fear. "We...we must stop it as soon as possible."

"Hideo and I should search the city." Eiji suggested. "If it is still in the barrier, then it must be looking for the Catalyst or whatever."

Sanjo nodded in approval. "What ever it is planning, we must stop it before it decided to terrorize the city. I shall remain here and figure out a spell to counteract the Kurayami's magic.

Hours passed as Hideo and Eiji combed the city, with no sign of success. Sanjo sat alone in the museum's basement, the only source of light emanated from her small crystal ball. Something in the mystic tomes of the Ningen had to reveal a way to defeat the monster.

"Any luck?" Gin said as he stepped out of the elevator.

Sanjo sighed. The rooms lighting returned to normal as she broke her concentration away from the magic orb. "Nothing yet." Sanjo replied with defeat. "I have been unable to find anything that might shield me from the monsters influence."

Gin furrowed his brow. "There has to be something." He mumbled as he began to pace the room. "You said it overwhelmed your senses, but Hideo and Eiji seemed unaffected."

"Yes, but I do not know how." She repeated. "There is no Oni Chant that could cause a mental overload like that."

"Then perhaps it wasn't mental." Gin deduced. "Maybe it was channeled at something neither Hideo or Eiji have." Gin paced the room for a moment, then yelled in excitement. "YOUR MAGIC!"

Sanjo pondered on the idea for a moment. "Yes...yes it is possible. With the monsters impure magic, it could have tainted my own...which means..." Sanjo reached for the magic ball..

"Is there a spell that stop it?" Gin asked.

"Yes, but-" Sanjo was cut off by a sudden rumble coming from above. Immediatly, Gins phone began to ring.

"Guys!" Eiji's voice screamed from the phone. OniRed and OniYellow stood in the city streets. Eiji held his cellphone against his helmet as the two stared into the sky. Standing far from them was the Kurayami-hybrid, standing hundreds of feet tall over er the city "We've found the Kurayami. He's jumped right to giant form."

"I am on my way." Sanjo said, leaping from the couch.

"No!" Hideo ordered, grabbing the phone from Eiji. "There's no telling how his magic might effect you at that size. Eiji and I will Gattai and hold him back."

"Finally." OniYellow said as he began to stretch his arms and legs. "I've been meaning to try out this mask more."

"Oni Dai Henge" The two OniRangers chanted. They both rose an arm, revealing the Kumo and Zou Fukumen. As the duo began to grow, the large Spider and Elephant Kurayami flew around them.

"Ningen Gattai!"

The Titans bellowed. The animals broke apart, attaching themselves to the Titans like armor.

KumoRedTitan and ZouYellowTitan landed next to the large monster. The demon slowly turned its head. "You cannot stop us." The monster said, it's many voices louder and more aggressive. "We have all the power to stop you now."

"I'm really starting to hate this guy." Eiji said, unsheathing his sword. "Time to flex some muscle."

The large titan charged at the monster, slashing at the creature with his Trunk-Sword. The monster stood its ground as the sword sliced the monster open. Shadowy tendrils spilled from the monster and wrapped themselves around Eiji's green and silver sword. With a quick flick, The titan was thrown aside with ease.

"Foolis mutts!" The Kurayami chanted. "The reign of ALL humankind ends today!" Shadows spilled from the monster and flowed into the air. Like dark clouds, they covered the skies of Hikarienma.

The OniTitans fell to their knees as the black smog surrounded them. "W-What is going on?" Eiji gasped. The mighty warriors's mettalic bodies began to tarnish and rust as the mist surrounded them.

***

Sanjo collapsed on the ground, screaming in pain. Her crystal ball fell to the ground. Shadows filled the magic ball from within, filling the orb like a dark liquid.

"Sanjo!" Gin yelled as he rushed to the girl's side. The girl gripped her head, trying to overcome the pain to her senses. "I-I recognise this now." She managed to wince before finally passing out.

Gin looked at the girl, calling her name over and over. Finally, he looked up at the ceiling, tears welling up in his eyes. "Guys...you better be alive up there..."

TO BE CONTINUED