Ch 25 Another Sacrifice.
Splinter jumped down from the rafters and landed in front of Leonardo. He looked down at him with compassion in his eyes for the son he knew to still be there, but the anger on his face showed clearly as he faced this evil entity.
The turtle looked up at him and smiled coldly. "The soul of your ancestors live within you." The demon's voice could now be heard coming from the turtle's mouth. "I have waited years to face you again Hamato." He held his sword and twirled it around, slowly and deadly, preparing to fight. "After I defeat you, I will allow Saki to finish you off. Then one by one, I will destroy all your children." He sneered menacingly and tossed a katana at him.
"You will not harm ANY of my children!" Splinter caught the blade and the two faced each other. "You will release my sons, ALL of my sons!" He demanded.
"Pathetic." The demon spat out. "You think you can defeat me and get me to release your sons?" He shook his head and laughed. "I will fight you and this time you will die, as will they." They began to circle each other. "And don't worry father, I will not hesitate."
Splinter felt his fur bristle as he heard his son's voice speak to him once again. He faced the turtle and the two ran toward each other. Leonardo charged with the sword thrusting forward, electric sparks flying from it. Splinter stepped to the side and dodge as Leonardo turned and attempted to slice the sword through his side.
Splinter could hear his sons in the background begging Leo to stop and for their Sensei to defeat the demon. He found himself torn between fighting his son and destroying the evil that laid within. He saw the boy before him, the one he loved, looking angry and hateful at him. In the eyes that were normally blue, he saw only cold and darkness. And although he put every muscle he had into defeating this enemy, the thought of killing the child he loved held him back from bringing a deadly blow upon his son.
Splinter brought his blade up and blocked another deadly blow to the head. He watched as the demon turtle continued to thrust and turn in an attempt to force Splinter to his knees. Splinter found he was staggering and weakening with every blow brought down upon him. The demon was strong and he could see his power coming through the sword from the ring on his hand.
"Leo!" Mikey cried out. "I know your in there bro. Please stop this!"
The demon turned quickly and jumped into the air bringing the sword once again down upon Splinter. When Splinter attempted to block, the turtle kicked his foot out and caught Splinter in the face causing him to reel backward giving the demon what he needed to bring the sword down and across to slice through Splinter's side.
Splinter barely managed to side step before the blade slice into his side. He felt the cold steel as he turned away, the tip of the blade cutting into him. At the same time, he grabbed the ring on Leonardo's hand. Locking his katana with the sword of Tengu, he kept the blade from coming down on him while wrestling the ring off the turtle's finger. It felt like hours as the two struggled against each other. Splinter could feel the energy surge through him, pained filled his very core as the turtle fought to keep the ring on his finger and force the blade down into him. Finally, with a loud yell, the two broke apart and Leo caused the katana to go flying across the room while Splinter managed to get the ring off Leo's hand and tossed it in the opposite direction.
Splinter groaned and grabbed his side while falling to his knees. Exhaustion pulled at him as he panted hard and shook from the fight. The ring had taken his energy and he was now fighting to stay awake. He stared up at the turtle who was turning to look at Mikey. "I will put a stop to it Mikey." The demon growled, angered at having lost his ring by a mere mortal. He brought the sword up and under Splinter's chin. "I could slice your throat and put an end to your miserable existence," He yelled angrily. "But I will allow Saki to have his turn at you first."
The turtle stepped aside and looked at Shredder. "Your prize Saki, as promised." The demon turned his back on Shredder and looked over at the turtles with a cold smile, watching as the bounded turtles huddled close together in fear. "You get one slice Saki, then I get the rest." He told him, playing his sword in front of the turtles threateningly, pointing it at their faces.
Shredder walked over toward Splinter and slowly withdrew his blade. He stared coldly down at him, his face filled with hate. He slowly brought his arm back. The venomous hate in his eyes so evident as the two looked at each other.
"Finally." Shredder intoned in a low dark voice. "I will have my revenge."
He raised his arm high above his head, with a loud yell, he brought it down toward the large brown rat. Splinter opened his eyes wide as the blade came toward his head, but suddenly Shredder turned and aimed his blade toward the demon possessed turtle. Just as he was about to slice the blade into the turtle's head, Shredder's loud yell was cut off by the Tengu sword suddenly being thrust into his gut.
"You mortals are so stupid." The demon laughed, turning to see Shredder's blood flowing on to the floor. He withdrew the blade, causing a sharp hiss to come from Shredder's throat and watched in fascination as the blood began to drip down along the blade. He smiled at Shredder as he fell forward on his knees. his hand putting what little pressure he could muster to his middle as he felt his body slowly grow cold. He stared up at the turtle in shook, watching him loom over him with a chilling smile. "Did you really think you could even come close to killing me?" He asked. He shook his head and placed his foot on Shredder's chest and pushed him backward onto his back.
"I know your every thought and actions long before you do them." He said, standing over him, the blood dripping down along the sword. "Karai will never be safe no matter what you do." He brought the sword back down and knelt next to Shredder and placed his hand on Shredder's bleeding chest. "You couldn't kill me all those years ago, and you couldn't do it now." He smirked "And to think...at one time...you were a Shinto priest." He shook his head in disappointment. He stood back up and walked away from him.
All eyes widen in shock and a loud roar echoed throughout the room. Tiger Claw ran forward and knelt down. He hovered over Shredder's now limp body in disbelief and screamed out at the Demon. "I will finish you cub!" He pulled a tanto blade out from his belt and threw it point blank at the demon.
The turtle raised his arm and held out his bloody hand catching the blade and dropping it onto the floor by his feet. He then turned to Tiger Claw and brought his hand back up and held it out as though he were clutching something. He began to slowly make a fist. Tiger Claw clutched at his throat as he began to choke. He stood and attempted to run toward the turtle but instead he found himself lifted up and flung back toward the opposite side of the room where the rest of Shredder's mutant army stood in shock, watching the whole scene play out before them like a horrible nightmare.
"I am not a cub." He told him. The demon's angry voice seemed to vibrate throughout the darkness of the lair. "I am your master and destroyer. Continue to be disobedient and we'll see which one you bow to." He stared at all of them with an vicious look and held out both his hands. He let out a loud yell and suddenly all the Shredder's mutants were flung roughly against the wall.
He turned away from Shredder's army. "I do not require any of you to fulfill my destiny, but you will come in handy for future entertainment." An evil and mischief glint could be seen in his eyes as he contemplated the groaning mutants. "Besides, I have my own dark army awaiting to assist me in taking back my rightful place." He turned toward Splinter and the other turtles and gave a cold evil smile. "Now...back to business."