Hello, fellow readers, I have returned once again with a new chapter. Kan-Ra is such a complex character, even in the video game world. Well, enough of my ramblings, so sit back and enjoy the story.
Disclaimer: Check out my sign: "I do not own Killer Instinct nor Carrie"
Rays of sunlight shone through a chamber's opening, filled with antiques, from golden statues to an orrery. Small burning torches lie in a circle on the floor, and drifts of sands leaked from the ceiling. Silence entered the room until a loud rumble echoed, and a blooming sand bud erupted from the floor, revealing Kim, Pemba, and a half-dead Jago.
"I got friggin sand on me!" Kim dusted the gravel off her body. "Where are we?"
"Welcome to my lair," a voice spoke as Kan-Ra emerged from a building pile of sand leaking from the ground. "I've brought you here out of necessity, and to shield you from Gargos' wrath for now."
"Thanks, I guess," Kim said, not lowering her guard.
Pemba shook any dust off her while keeping Jago near her. "What's your game, sorcerer? It's enough you made this mess, and now, you want to help us."
"The Shadow Lord tricked me to open the portal," Kan-Ra stated. "Had I known of his intentions earlier, I might've stopped, so now, I seek redemption."
"Hard to believe. A sorcerer of your caliber, I'd trust ARIA than you."
"I have no business with you, shapeshifter, for Ms. Wu and I have things to converse."
"On what?" Kim asked as Yeo emerged with narrowing eyes.
"Gargos is on the path to conquering Earth. He had slew most of the Astral Beings for their powers, but some escaped; your Dragon Spirit is one. Throughout the years, the Dragon Spirit goes from one vessel to the next in an endless cycle. Once you die, it'd move on to another vessel, so with that, I grant you an offering." With his magic, Kan-Ra produced a marble-sized relic within his hands. "In exchange for the Astral Being, I'll give you this as it grants you eternal life."
"Ha, as if she'd take such an offer," Pemba said, earning a glare from Kan-Ra.
"You shouldn't misjudge me. If Gargos kills the girl, it will be a matter of time before he takes the Dragon Spirit's powers. I only wish to spare her of the burden."
"See? What you said makes me agree with Pemba," Kim said. "I appreciate the offer, but I would rather die a hundred deaths than to live one eternal life. Not only that, it sounds as though you have doubts if I'm capable of saving the world as my ancestors did."
"Hmm, I sense you don't trust me, and I don't doubt your ancestor's heroic acts," Kan-Ra said, rubbing his chin. "I'll test your capabilities with a spar. If you win, I will leave you and your guardian to continue your destiny, even help your friend, Jago. If I win, then you must give up the Dragon Spirit."
"Don't take that bait, Kim. He's luring you into a trap," Pemba said, coughing from the side effects on her ability.
"I second that," Yeo added. "We'll look into other options to help Jago."
Although Pemba and Yeo have made good points, Kim glanced at the unconscious Jago. I don't know what Gargos did to him, but he needs help. "I'll do the sparring. Risky, but one I'm willing to take. Don't worry, Yeo, I won't let anything happen to you, not while I'm breathing." With such reassurance, the Dragon Spirit slipped inside his host, and she entered her battle stance.
The bandages around Kan-Ra's arms and legs flailed as he lashed out towards his opponent. Kim jumped away until the sorcerer grabbed her with the veils and threw her to the ground. She recovered and dodged an incoming sand trap and launched herself in the air. Kan-Ra formed a shield with his dressings, expecting a flying kick, but Kim flipped over him and kicked his back, almost throwing him off balance.
Kim whacked the sorcerer with her nunchaku until Kan-Ra kicked her away and whipped her with the dressings. He used the sand around his body as cover and assembled a sand spike, sending her flying. Kan-Ra exhaled a swarm of small, filthy insects to catch Kim, but she recovered enough to evade. She launched a flaming ax kick, but the sorcerer erected his shield to block. He spun, whipping the bandages, but Kim leaped away. She tried to land an ax kick, but Kan-Ra blocked, and using the bandages, slammed her to the floor.
Though pain wreaked in her body, Kim stood, panting. This guy is no pushover, and neither am I.
Kan-Ra teleported from behind, but Kim parried an incoming attack from him and landed two flying kicks. After a quick recovery, Kan-Ra grabbed her and placed a spell on her. Kim withdrew as small blue whirls surrounded her, but something substantial weighed on her.
"What is wrong with me?" Kim pondered.
"Kan-Ra has put a curse to slow your movements," Yeo explained. "Best to keep away for now."
Kan-Ra summoned a sand spike, but Kim dodged, missing by a few inches. The sorcerer whirled his body, forming a sand tornado. He sent the vortex, but the curse on Kim faded, allowing her to leap over it. Kan-Ra beckoned another sand spike, and although Kim moved, it left a pile, and a scorpion tail emerged. She was between a cursed sand pile and an attacking sorcerer.
Kim charged towards her opponent, but the scorpion tail struck, inflicting with the same curse. Kan-Ra mustered a sand spike, hitting her near him until Kim knocked him back. He cursed her again as blue swirls formed around her, but Kim learned how to defuse it. She tapped into the Astral Being's power, removing the curse and landed a powerful flying kick.
Kan-Ra landed on his back as sand splayed from his body. The adrenaline faded, and Kim placed her hands on her knees. Cuts and bruises painted her body, but Yeo healed the wounds, and the pain vanished.
"Well done, Kim," Yeo said.
"Thanks, and for the healing. Note to self: taking a long shower to get rid of the sand." A loud groan echoed in the chamber as Kim checked on Pemba. The Biànxíng Zhe squirmed, and the small aura around the Qilin's body flickered, keeping Jago close. "Pem, are you okay?"
"My powers...are waning...I can't let Jago's spirit slip...away. I see that...you defeated Kan-Ra," Pemba said.
"The power she's using to keep Jago's spirit bounded is taking a toll on her," Yeo said.
"Could you help?" Kim asked.
"It could, but I'll do it," Kan-Ra said, who had regained consciousness. "You won the fight, Ms. Wu, so I must honor the wager." He placed one hand on Jago's head and another on his chest, using a spell. He found something intriguing, but he kept it to himself for now. "Jago is dying, even with the shapeshifter grounding his soul. I have healing relics, but they need enchanted properties for them to work."
"Enchanted properties, huh? Wait." Kim pulled out the small orbs inside the pocket of her cape. "Will these do? They came from that Mimic I fought."
Kan-Ra grasped one and examined it. "Yes, they'll do. Hand me the rest." Kim did so without delay. "I'll be back with a healing relic." The undead sorcerer vanished within the sand.
"I still...do not...trust...that sorcerer," Pemba said, panting.
Kim stroked the Qilin's neck. "Neither do I, but whatever he has planned, it could be the only chance of saving Jago. Hang in there, Pem."
Kan-Ra returned with an item resembling a small bird emitting a golden aura. "Here. This Phoenix Relic will bring back anyone from the brink of death. Place it on Jago, and the rest will handle itself." Before Kim grabbed it, Pemba placed her paw on the woman's hand.
"Why do this?" Pemba asked.
"I didn't appreciate what Gargos did when he forced me to unseal the gateway," Kan-Ra said. "Regardless of what you think of me, you'll need my help."
"It'll be fine," Kim said but whispered she would give Kan-Ra another beatdown if it were a trick. Kim took the relic from Kan-Ra, and a warm sensation flowed from the item and through her fingers as though alive. Once she placed it on Jago's chest, the remnant gleamed brighter as it formed a gentle fiery cloak around the half-dead monk.
A/N: Kan-Ra tried to be slick, thinking he would take Yeo from Kim, but not today. Also, have they arrived on time to save Jago from the brink of death? Well, time for my brain to rest, so I'll see you later.