Disclaimer: See previous chapters
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Chap. 23
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Dwelling
The warriors had returned back to the shrine to recover from their latest battle against Lady Saberstrike. But the group was silent upon their return. The Warlords inform Kayura and she too was surprised by the power of their new enemy, but she kept silent about it. Judging by the looks on some of their faces, it wasn't something they need to be reminded of.
"Ughhh. I'm going to be sore for weeks." Hilde moaned to herself.
"Tell me about it." Sage added, overhearing her. "This new Saberstrike fights as brutally as the old one."
Kento grumbled aloud. "I can't believe that we couldn't take her. There were thirteen of us and she beat us all."
Some of the group glared at him for bringing it up, but it made no difference now. Truth was truth and the truth is she had beaten them all. Celestial, Ronin, even Warlord, bested by a single warrior.
"Not quite." Trowa said from his place by the wall. "She merely maneuvered us into a closed situation and hit us in one attack." But this silver lining came with a price as he continued. "She will not do the same thing again."
Rowen added on. "Right. But that just shows that she knows how to fight us. And she has the power to enforce it too."
"So what will we do?" Yuli asked.
"I'll...face her."
The response came from Wufei, who had emerged from one of the other rooms. Sally came up beside him from behind. "Wufei, what are you doing up?"
Wufei ignored her. "I'll to deal with this dynasty creature myself. Guah!"
Wufei grimaced and bent forward slightly. He would have fell but managed to catch himself beforehand. Bu the others already seen his condition.
"No." Kayura warned. "Wufei, you're not fully recovered from your last fight with her."
He gritted his teeth. "I don't care." He stumbled again, but this time he was unable to catch himself. But Sally caught him and pulled him back.
"Don't be foolish, Oceania." Kale snapped. "She will kill you if you face her now."
Wufei looked up at him, but was unable to hold his glare at the Warlord, largely because the Warlord shared his pain. As warriors, to be defeated in such manners were shameful to them. But they had to get over it if they were to defeat the Dynasty.
"We need to plan out an attack strategy." Lady Une said. She had been silent since her arrival there and now decided to voice herself.
"But how?" Quatre asked. "We don't even know what Saberstrike is after."
"Yes we do." That came from Ryo. He then looked over at Heero and continued. "Us."
Kento was about to ask, but Hilde beat him to it. "What do you mean, Ryo?"
"She wants me because I was the one that defeated Lord Saberstrike. And she's after Heero since he dished out a few solid victories."
Wufei grimaced with realization. "She wants…the strongest."
"So what?" Duo shrugged. "Do we use them as bait or something?"
"Mission accepted."
The group now turned to Heero now, wide-eyed. Duo shook his head and chuckled. "You've got to be kidding me."
But to a guy that would blow himself to complete a mission or assignment, up to complete a mission or assignment, he was dead serious.
And they all knew that…
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Dynasty
"How is your meal?"
Trieze and Mariemaia were once again together. But this time, Trieze had taken her to another room were a small lavish table and food awaited. They had eaten in silence up until now.
"……."
"You still don't trust me." Trieze said when she held her silence. "It has been awhile and you were brought here under very…unusual events. But you have no need to fear me. Of this, I promise."
"I'm just…"
"Thinking." He said, cutting her off lightly. "Yes, I recognize the look on your face. It is something we share. The last time I held that gaze, the Libra was just before us."
At this, Mariemaia's eyes lit up. She had always been fascinated with the story of the final battle of the Eve Wars, particularly concerning her father. Her curiosity soon won out over her.
"…Tell me."
Trieze took a spoonful of soup to his mouth, hiding the small smile that lit up on his face. "Milliardo had brought the Libra in close to Earth and I was the only thing in his path. He knew I wouldn't turn back and I knew he wouldn't stop until he destroyed the Earth." His eeys then lowered. "Perhaps I shouldn't have stood in his way."
Mariemaia blinked at that statement. "But…Ms. Une told me…Because of that battle, that war, mankind was able to bring about true peace." Now her eyes lowered down. "I didn't understand that and I almost destroyed what you brought about."
"Did you?" His eyes shifted up to gaze at her. "Or did you see my mistake and try to rectify it?"
"W-what do you mean?" she asked, baffled.
"As long as humans exist, they will always battle. For dark emotions exist within them all and thus bound in a cycle of battle and death." His voice softened. "But it is this same darkness that can be their salvation."
'Darkness…as salvation?' "I don't understand."
"No." he smiled. "You are mature, but you are also still a child. There is still much for you to learn." He stood up from his seat after wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Perhaps when I come back, I can teach you more. Is there a meal you would prefer next time?"
"No." She said softly, still in thought. "This…is fine."
With that, Trieze left the room and into the dark hallway. As he did, his garments soon changed into his sub-armor.
"Soon. Very soon."
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Earth
Heero and Ryo stood in the middle of a desolate field, long destroyed in one of their earlier battles. In fact, Ryo chose this very spot. It was the same place where he had duel Lord Saberstrike. It was something Lady Saberstrike wouldn't resist. At least he hoped so. Otherwise their trap wouldn't work. A distance away, by the hillside were the remaining Ronins and Celestials, already in armor and waiting for Lady Saberstrike to appear.
She did…
Black clouds swarmed in quickly and lightning split the skies. Amid the storm, a single lightning bolt flashed down before them and a single form emerged from within the light.
Lady Saberstrike.
"Well this is certainly unexpected." Her crimson eyes shimmered. "I was expecting just one of you to face me."
"Well, we're here." Ryo replied
"Indeed. All of you." She lifted her hand before either of them could react to her statement. "But there's no need to include your friends in this."
A black ball of energy sprang suddenly from her palm and shot up into the air. It flew straight up for a while and then exploded in a massive sphere, surrounding the three. The other moved in to help, but were stopped by the dark energy.
"A forcefield." Trowa muttered.
"I've got it." Kento locked his nunchuku and held it back Armor of Hardorock…!"
"No Kento." Rowen held his hand up to stop him. "If you do that, you may end up hurting Ryo and Heero too."
"So we just leave them in there?" the Ronin exclaimed.
"We don't have a choice." Quatre said quietly. "Saberstrike got us again."
Inside the sphere, Saberstrike continued to stare at the two as she unsheathed her blades from her back and whirled them forward. "Now that the playing field has been set, let's begin."
Both warriors were trapped, with no other option but to fight.
"Armor of Wildfire! Tao Chi!"
"Armor of Reflections! Tao Kosei!"
Both armors formed around their respective summoners, encasing Ryo in the fiery red armor of Wilfire and Heero in the cool blue armor of Reflections. Both warriors drew their swords and stood ready to face Saberstrike. Had she had a mouth to she, they would have noticed that she was smiling.
'Brother…Today, I avenge you…'"Yaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"