Rowen landed on the wooden floors as lightly as he could to not alert the attention of the two Nether guards at the room's entrance. It looked like he was in one of the Palace's offices that housed artifacts that were being processed to be displayed.
Carefully he pulled out his bow and arrow to notch an arrow. Walking slowly and crouched he got closer to the guards before letting his arrow fly to the guard on the left while he twisted his bow around and swung it over the other guard's head and choked him until he fell to the ground limp.
With another notched arrow Rowen edged his way into the hallway only to find it empty. He didn't lower his guard though; he knew better when it came to the Nether Realm.
As he made his way through the silent halls of the Imperial Palace he couldn't help but wonder where his other brother in arms were and how they were faring, as well as, wondering if Riska was being successful on her own path into Zetsumei's headquarters.
Several floors under Rowen's feet Riska was walking past the prison cells that belonged to the Nether Realm. Most of the cells were empty, however, she would pass one occasionally that held a prisoner. None, though, held any being from the mortal realm. She felt sorry for those in each small room, but odds were they wouldn't welcome her breaking them free if she tried.
Quickening her steps she moved past them keeping her eyes forward so that she didn't linger too long in the damp dark space.
As she walked up the steps she could feel herself pass back into the mortal world, which left the same heavy sting in her chest as it did at the wall when her and Rowen had jumped into the Palace grounds. It was a residual effect from her time with Talpa, and made her uncomfortable, it reminded her of when she was under the old emperor's control.
At the top of the stairs she found herself looking at yet another long hall of dark wood with the only light being provided by candles attached to the walls. Riska took out her razor fans and slowly went forward.
"I know you are here." Riska called out calmly, "I know your stench anywhere."
She heard laughter echo in the hall, the memories that went with the laugh sent an involuntary shiver up her spine.
"Is that anyway to greet your brother, Shōkōjo? It has much too long since we had seen each other." Zetsumei stated as he appeared to walk out of a wall down the hall. He turned to face Riska the candles cast ugly shadows across his face and emphasized the scars over his left eye. "I was hoping for a warmer greeting from you."
Riska let out a snort, "what made you think I'd greet you warmly? Unless, of course, you meant this. Soul Riser!" Riska twisted her fans around and went out her armor's energy to strike Zetsumei.
The white-haired man simply raised a hand and seemed to brush it away. It made Riska freeze, she wasn't expecting that.
"You still underestimate me, Shōkōjo."
"Don't call me that." Riska hissed.
"Why? You liked the nickname when we were growing up together." Zetsumei said in an innocent voice.
"I can't say I was myself when I was growing up."
The emperor of the Nether Realm's smile grew, "and who are you exactly? Guardian to the Ronins? Ha! You haven't done a very good job with that. Your Ronins are on the Palace grounds right now fighting my warlords. They are wounded and tired, and will soon fall. Much like the ones before." Zetsumei stated without care. "And this time, you will not be able to save their armors for any successors. I'm providing you a service, Shōkōjo, when the Ronins are dead and their armors no longer exist you won't have to continue to protect anything."
"Then what? You take over the world only to destroy it and kill all those who live in the mortal realm?" She questioned.
"Only those who do not serve me willingly. I will spare a few as slaves as well; I can't do all the work."
"When have you ever done any work?" Riska spat.
Zetsumei's green eyes lit up, suddenly Riska found herself on her back with Zetsumei's hand around her throat. She couldn't fight against him, he had her pinned.
"I worked hard for my throne, sister; while you ran from power I welcomed it." Zetsumei hissed, Riska turned her head as his spit hit her cheek.
"You still spit when you speak." She grumbled then gasped as Zetsumei's hold tightened. "Mother would be disappointed in what her son had become." She managed to choke out.
With a growl Zetsumei lifted Riska by the throat. As he stood Riska could feel herself be lifted from the floor until only her toes grazed it.
"That woman was not my mother." Zetsumei told Riska, "My mother was father's first wife. Beautiful and stern, she died and then father decided to make one of his consorts his new wife. That's your mother, a whore."
Riska glared at Zetsumei, she knew he was lying. Yes, it was true that they had different mothers but her mother loved no one but her father and treated Zetsumei as her own son.
"Don't give me that look; it's the same look she wore when I killed her. And I'm not going to kill you." Zetsumei dropped Riska to the ground. "I have other plans for you."
Before she could catch her breath she suddenly felt her hair get tugged as Zetsumei grabbed a chunk of her hair and began to drag her behind him. She gripped at his hand and her hair trying to separate them.
"You were so much more powerful as Talpa's assassin. Do you remember that, sister? Do you remember how you killed all those people with ease?"
"What do you want from me?" Riska demanded as she continued to struggle against her brother's hold.
Zetsumei didn't answer at first; he seemed to be considering her question with care.
"I wish to see you break your vow that you made with the Ancient Clan. I want you to end the Ronins with your own hands."
"Never!" Riska yelled.
"You've done it before." Zetsumei pointed out.
Riska suddenly let go of Zetsumei and stopped struggling, she fell limp. With a satisfied grunt Zetsumei let go of Riska and looked down at her.
"What's wrong Shōkōjo; did I bring up bad memories?" He crooned.
Riska looked up at Zetsumei; he said tears threatening to come from her eyes.
"I didn't have a choice. He had to be stopped." Riska told Zetsumei in a voice as strong as she could muster.
"You didn't, did you? Hariel had gone out of control; the Inferno armor had eaten his soul alive. He killed so many; the Ronins couldn't even stop him he even managed to kill some of them before you decided to put a stop to it." Zetsumei pouted then let out a laugh, "it was glorious! Lady Yuki allowed me to watch as you had to kill the very person you fell in love with."
Riska didn't respond she glared at the emperor as hatred flared in her heart. She knew if she spoke she would regret her words. She wanted to get up and attack him but felt as if her legs were made of lead and wouldn't allow her to rise. Never in all her years did she not try to fight back.
Zetsumei's laughter only grew louder as he looked down at his sister.
Zetsumei's laughter cut out when a Nether Realm soldier came running into the hallway. The armored demon stopped a few feet from Zetsumei, ignoring Riska who still sat on the ground at his feet.
"Master, we have found Strata at the west end of the palace. We have soldiers fighting him now." The soldier reported.
"Very good, very good indeed. Make sure you capture him and bring him to the throne room. It's time that I get to meet the Ronin in person. Come Riska." Zetsumei reached down and grabbed Riska by the hair again, ignoring her cry of pain as he dragged her behind him.
Rowen used his bow to dodge the Nether soldier's spear as he continued to beat down any that came near him. Their numbers were overwhelming, and they were coming out of nowhere. He didn't know how much longer he could hold them off.
In the distance he thought he could hear heavy footsteps, against his will he looked up and saw a Nether soldier in red armor coming towards him with a large club dragging behind him.
"Great." Rowen muttered as he shot a bow at another soldier nearby.
He flipped kicking another two in the face as he tried to retreat to get away from the behemoth of a Nether Soldier.
However, he only found more soldiers waiting for him around the corner. He looked around but saw no escape. Turning around again he suddenly faced the large Nether soldier who lifted his club then swung down at Rowen.
Quickly Rowen notched an arrow and braced himself, "Arrow Shock Wave!" He cried out as he released the arrow. He felt the power from his armor pulse around him then into the arrow. It shot down the hall and into the crowded grouping of Nether Soldiers and ended by hitting the oversized Nether soldier in the chest.
The giant fell back with a loud bang and Rowen saw that in addition to beating the giant with one blow he also managed to wipe out over half the soldiers as well.
"Whoa." He muttered, "This armor really is more powerful."
Before he could ponder any longer on his new armor he suddenly found himself getting lassoed by the other soldiers that were left behind. Soon he found himself tied up and falling to the ground. His bow slid across the floor until it hit the foot of a Nether soldier.
The tin heads around him chuckled as one lift him up to carry him away. Rowen ground his teeth as he tried to get loose. As he struggled he heard something hit the roof above him, not knowing about the battles his friends were in outside.
They carried him through the halls until they dropped him onto the floor in front of two large doors. Rowen would always remember the doors that served as the entrance to the Nether realm's throne room. They untied him limbs then grabbed him back the arms and led him inside.
The soldiers kept his head down until they approached the pedestal where the throne to the Nether Realm sat. Then one kicked the back of his knees, forcing Rowen to his knees. It was then that he was finally able to lift his head. However, his glare quickly turned into wide eyed surprise as cold fear filled his veins.
Rowen looked at the face of the newest emperor of the Nether Realm, Zetsumei. The man was tall and his white hair was the only thing that showed his age. He couldn't help but notice the four long scars that went over his left eye. However, it was what Zetsumei had sitting at his feet that caught his attention longest.
Riska and Rowen locked eyes; Rowen had never seen the bearer of the Souls armor look as scared as she did in that moment.
"This isn't good." Rowen whispered.
"Hello, Strata. Welcome to my court." Zetsumei said with a bright smile, he then reached down and grabbed Riska by the hair.
Rowen jerked against the hold the Nether soldiers had on his wrists and arms, but it proved to be futile.
Zetsumei stood on the top of the stairs that led to his throne he wore a smile that was wide and full of glee. He gripped Riska's hair tightly making her wince from the pain.
"Let her go, Zetsumei. You want me, not her." Rowen yelled at the Nether Realm emperor.
"Oh, this is cute." Zetsumei said as he tugged on Riska's hair so that she got closer to him, "who would've thought that my little sister would end up falling for a Ronin… again. I thought you learned your lesson the first time."
Rowen glared at Zetsumei who only smiled more.
"You are right about one thing Ronin; I do want you more than her. However," he jerked Riska who let out a gasp, "what I want more is to see my sister destroy what she loves the most."
"What do you mean by that?" Rowen demanded.
"Did Riska tell you about how she was once an assassin for Talpa? She was the greatest soldier he had… next to me of course. But, did she also tell you how she willingly did it all after I killed her?"
"Yea, she told us something along those lines." Rowen replied, he grunted as a Nether soldier kneed him in the back causing him to fall forward and forcing his arms back where the soldiers held him. He felt his right shoulder pop out of place from the force; he hid his face to hide his expression of pain.
"I wasn't done." Hissed Zetsumei, he smacked away Riska's hand which was reaching up to try to stop her brother.
Riska looked at Rowen with worry, tears filled her eyes from the pain of her hair feeling like it was about to get ripped from her scalp.
"Talpa was a powerful leader for the Nether Realm; he put Riska under his control as he brought her back to life with the help of Nether spirits. I, however, don't depend on those creatures as much as my master did. Instead, I learned a trick or two from a necromancer. Shall I show you, Strata?" Zetsumei raised his free left hand as a black orb formed in his hand, from where Rowen was held he could hear whispers coming from the orb. Zetsumei smiled as he brought the orb close to Riska's chest.
Rowen ground his teeth then let out a cry as he tried to break free from the Nether soldiers. He felt their grip jerk and he took his opportunity to get out of their grip. He felt as his already dislocated soldier sent a shooting pain down to his hand, but he ignored it as he tried to jump at Zetsumei.
Instead, Rowen suddenly got knocked down as someone sat on his back while laughing.
It was Lady Yuki, her hair was a mess from the battle she just came from, and she dug her shuriken knife between his shoulder blades.
"Watch." She hissed gleefully next to Rowen's ear then held his face up to look Riska in the eyes.
Riska looked scared and mouthed how sorry she was to him. Then without any more interruptions or hesitation Zetsumei pushed the black orb into Riska's chest and simultaneously released his sister.
Riska's silence was broke with a scream as she fell. Rowen watched in horror as Riska convulsed on the stairs at Zetsumei's feet. She scratched at her chest trying to rip the orb out of her body.
"Riska!" Rowen yelled trying to get Lady Yuki off of him.
Riska suddenly went still, Rowen couldn't see if she was even still breathing. Suddenly Riska arched her back and let out a scream as her green eyes turned black like ink spreading onto paper.
Then, silence.
Riska's body fell slack on the stairs, her eyes were closed.
Zetsumei never stopped grinning, he seemed to enjoy every minute of watching his sister be in excruciating pain.
"Riska rise." Zetsumei ordered finally.
Rowen watched as Riska slowly sat up then stood up to stand beside her brother. Her eyes were solid black not even the whites could be seen. Rowen felt his chest ache as if someone put ice around his heart and squeezed it.
"Now bow to me." Zetsumei told Riska. Rowen snarled as she did as Zetsumei ordered.
"Good, good. Now, transform into your armor." Zetsumei watched as white light surrounded Riska and when it disappeared she now wore her armor. He laughed gleefully like a child watching his favorite show, "this is so wonderful!"
"Release her!" Rowen yelled which was then silenced when Lady Yuki pushed his head down knocking his forehead on the floor.
"Careful Yuki!" Zetsumei hissed making her back off.
"I am sorry, my lord." She whispered.
Zetsumei nodded then turned his attention to Rowen.
"Now, as for you. I am going to have Lady Yuki release you, and when she does you are to run back to your friends and prepare."
"Prepare for what?" Rowen asked.
"To die of course. To die by the hands of the very person who was sent to save you." Zetsumei smiled. "Yuki." He nodded at Yuki who then released Rowen.
Rowen hesitated to get up at first but when he did he approached Riska instead of leaving. Zetsumei didn't say a word as he watched Rowen approach the girl.
"Riska, Riska, please, I know you're in there." Rowen said softly, he reached his hand out to touch her. However, Riska didn't move from Zetsumei's side. "Riska?"
"Shōkōjo, kill." Zetsumei ordered.
Rowen jumped back in time as Riska suddenly took a swipe at him with her dagger.
"I warned you boy, but now she'll have to take care of you first before going after your other buddies." Zetsumei said as Riska continued to attack Rowen and Rowen dodged each move.