And here I am with the next chapter. to the guest who wrote about me taking too long to update, I have to agree with you, I am taking a bit long. But that is not by choice. I write these chapters as I have the time to and although I don't want to take so long to update, sometimes there just isn't anything I can do about it. I apologize for the wait, but that is all I can do. Apologize. and for the record, 8 days does not equal 2 weeks.
Enjoy the read.
Chapter 29
The Titan Rising
One by one, each of the beams of light soared through the sky and raced towards the Moon. Each beam was traveling at such an incredible speed, that in a matter of seconds all three managed to strike the moon at once, before enveloping it within their power before moving on to the first of the 3 worlds that were positioned just behind the moon.
The older Raven watched the ritual take place with a sick grin on his face as the entire volcano continued to shake around him. Looking up, Drizen saw that his younger counterpart was completely engrossed in a trance like state, as the younger raven continued to muter the incantation that the older bird had taught him automatically, completely unaware of the current events happening around him.
"Soon…in just a few short moments all 3 worlds will be connected. And once their combined energy reaches the Great Sun…then the fun can truly begin. Everything I have ever planned for…. Every moment that was perfectly calculated and researched, is all going to lead to this." But as Drizen was continuing to bask in his glory, a single voice managed to pull him away from his thoughts, "We won't let that happen!"
While releasing an annoyed groan, the older Raven turned his head to see the Dragon Warrior was now standing before the others glaring daggers into the Raven as the Panda hollered, "We're not letting you get your wings on that Power…or…Titan, or whatever it is that you want. You can't have it!" Drizen then turned around completely as he asked, "And you think you are going to stop me? Don't you see Panda? You CAN'T stop me. No one…can stop me. At the most, you may manage to delay the inevitable…but even that is no longer certain thanks to our young friend here."
As Drizen said this, he turned and sneered at Li, who was now growling threateningly at the Raven. "Father…we must stop them. If they succeed, then everything I've risked will have been for nothing!" Po just looked over at the Panger as he stated seriously, "I know…and I won't let that happen. There is way too much at stake this time." as Po said this, his eyes drifted over towards Tigress for an instant, and Tigress knew he was thinking about their child back in the Valley.
Tigress then walked over to stand beside her husband as she said, "That's right, there is too much at stake. But that doesn't mean you get to skip out on your Promise to me, just because things are looking bad." Po stared at Tigress as she finished, "You said we were both going to get back to Li…together and that's a promise I intend to hold you to, Panda." At this Po smiled gratefully as he gripped Tigress's paw and whispered, "And I'm glad."
As Li watched his parents, he couldn't help but allow a small smile to spread across his face. It had been so many years since he had seen his father smile like that at anyone else and Li knew right then that his Father spoke the truth on the last day Li had ever seen him back when he was 15 years old… back at his Mother's memorial. There truly was no other woman for his Father other than his Mother.
Po then looked over to the rest of his Comrades and shouted, "Let's get going!" and with that, the warriors nodded and all 9 began to race for the Altar, even as the Volcano continued to shake all around them. Drizen then shouted "You fools, as if I will allow you the chance to interfere with the ritual!" At this, Nightshade then shouted, "Not even you can stop all of us from reaching the Altar in time Drizen! You can't stop us all!" But the Raven simply chuckled as he declared, "Well it's a good thing that I don't have to, isn't it?"
With a quick flick of his wing, the Older Raven shouted, "Skylveck!" (SKEEL-VEK) and suddenly the pathway beneath the Warriors began to shake about even more, as rock and rubble began to quickly fall into the magma below. Po Tigress, Nightshade, and Li were at the Head of the group as Li shouted, "Keep moving! If we don't move faster the path will-" But Li never needed to finish his sentence as they all heard Viper scream from behind, "AAAIIEEE!"
Turning around, Po's eyes widened in horror as he watched the ground beneath his friends begin to crumble and Viper and Mantis were the first ones to start falling. "Crane!" Po shouted, as his Avian friend was already airborne and on the move. In a swift grab with his talons, Crane managed to catch Viper, while also making sure Mantis landed safely on his hat. But unfortunately they weren't the only ones in trouble.
The ground beneath Master Shifu, and Monkey had also fallen out beneath them and Crane Shouted, "I can't catch them all!" but Po was already ahead of him as he shouted, "Tigress!" Immediately Tigress leaped forward and dove for Monkey, since he was closer to her while Po dove after Shifu with Li shouting, "Father! Mother No!" but before Li could go casing after them, Nightshade held him back shouting, "Trust them!" Li cringed as he forced himself to watch and prayed that this wouldn't be the end for his parents. He already lost everyone once. He couldn't lose them again.
Tigress reached Monkey in a matter of seconds as she dove into his mid-section shouting, "Hang on!" Instantly, Monkey had rolled over onto Tigress's back and wrapped his arms around her neck, as she continued to hurl downward towards the rock wall. As soon as she was close enough, Tigress growled as she released her sharp claws and reached out with her paws and grabbed the rock wall. As soon as her claws made contact her decent slowed immediately and eventually Tigress slid to a stop. But before she could ask if Monkey was okay, she immediately turned in the direction Po had dove towards to follow Master Shifu.
Master Shifu was falling and unfortunately for him, there weren't any pieces of falling debris around for him to use to leap back up towards the ledge he had been on seconds before. For a moment…Shifu felt like he was truly going to die. Until he saw a familiar black and white bear hurling towards him at an incredible speed that is. As Po hurled towards Shifu he immediately reached out and caught his Master with both arms while shouting, "I gotcha Master!" only to have Shifu shout back, "Yes, only to have us both boiled alive! Are you insane Panda!?" but Po simply chuckled as he shouted, "Just trust me and hold on!"
Shifu nodded as he rolled over onto Po's left shoulder and grabbed the Panda's fur tightly. As they fell Po concentrated as hard as he could to call forth the Heroes Chi, and much to his delight, as soon as he called out to it, his entire being began to shine with the familiar golden aura. Shifu then called out, "How is this supposed to-" But Po just silenced his Master as he shouted back, "I said, Trust me!" and with that, Po reached out with his right Paw and released a powerful roar as he called forth as much of the Heroes Chi as he dared and shot forth a mighty Chi blast at the magma below.
Seconds earlier…
Li watched with baited breath as his Father caught his Grandfather in midair and was now moving Shifu onto his shoulder. but as soon as he saw his Father summon the forces of the Heroes Chi, the Topaz gem embedded within his Dragons Bracer began to shine brightly with the same aura of the Heroes Chi. Nightshade looked over at the Panger and demanded, "What do you think you're doing!?" But Li simply shook his head as he shouted, "I swear it's not me! Sometimes it just starts resonating like that." But Li soon became distracted as he watched his Father shoot a rather large Chi Blast at the Magma below and the two warrior's decent was quickly slowed…and then it stopped altogether…and then they soon began to rise!
Po was literally using the Chi blast to fire him and Shifu back up to the ledge where Li and Nightshade were waiting. "Whoa…Father…he…that's incredible!" But Nightshade just nodded his head as he muttered, "Leave it to the Dragon Warrior to figure out a way for a Panda to fly without wings."
Tigress was watching nervously from where she and Monkey were hanging onto the wall and as soon as she watched Po and Master Shifu soar up past them, she released a sigh of relief and whispered, "Thank goodness." Losing either Po or Shifu would have destroyed Tigress…but losing both of them? She couldn't think of a worse torment. Tigress then looked back at Monkey and repeated, "Hang on." But Monkey just said, "As if I would even consider doing anything else!?" and so Tigress began to scale the walls, launching herself up as far as she could go with Monkey holding onto her for dear life.
As soon as Po and Shifu reached the height of the ledge Li and Nightshade were standing on, Po released the Heroes Chi and landed onto the ledge with Shifu sill on his shoulder. But as he did so, he did catch a brief glimpse of the Bracer shining before he landed. It was then that Po could hear Gladir muttering in the back of his mind, "How interesting..." But before Po could inquire as to what the Dragon Was referring to, Tigress managed to reach the group just as Crane was landing by with Viper and Mantis, "Is everyone alright?"
As she asked this, Monkey was climbing down off of her back while saying, "About as alright as an over baked Almond cookie! A few more seconds and we would have been roasted alive! I think some of my tail fur got singed!" Tigress just glared at Monkey and snapped, "Quit your complaining. In case you forgot, we still have a ritual to stop." Shifu nodded as he climbed down off of Po and shouted, "Tigress is right, we have to keep moving, NOW!" and so the warriors were off once again.
As they ran Li looked over to his left as he ran alongside his Father and asked, "How did you know using the Heroes Chi like that would work? And how were you able to concentrate so much of it so quickly?" Po just laughed as he looked over at the Panger and noted the curious look in his eyes. Po then laughed as he said, "Well to be honest I didn't. But one time I did use the Heroes Chi to push your Mother through a giant fireball, I'll be sure to tell you that story when we're done."
At this Li's eyes widened in surprise when Po then asked "What? Don't tell me I never taught you how I learned Chi control?" Li quickly looked away at that point and Po's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "What? Seriously? That was something I was really hoping you could learn. Why didn't I ever teach you?" but Li's next answer almost stopped Po in his tracks as the panger whispered, "You never got the chance."
Po's eyes widened as he nearly shouted, "Well why not-!?" but Shifu called back from the lead to the Panda, "Po…perhaps it is best we do not ask questions about the future…I believe it to be incredibly unwise. Especially if the information is becoming increasingly unreliable by the minute." At this Po looked over at Shifu and then back at Li, who was now avoiding the Panda's gaze, as he listened to the Panda mutter, "Yeah…ok."
Drizen was watching as the Masters each made their way closer towards the Altar. He had to admit, the warriors were far more stubborn than he recalled ever giving them credit for, especially the Grandmaster and the remaining members of the Furious Five. For not having any sort of power that could be of any consequence to him, those Kung Fu Masters rarely ever let the destined 3 go into battle alone. It was a subject he found both incredibly interesting, yet also revolting.
Just as the Warriors were nearly upon him though, the old Raven noticed all three crystals were now each glowing a solid white beam of light and upon seeing it, a huge grin spread across the raven's beak. Drizen then turned over towards the Masters and shouted, "You're too late Panda! All 3 of the worlds have been linked together and now…WE have the power to summon the greatest beast to ever walk this World. You have lost Dragon Warrior!"
But Po just narrowed his eyes as he shot past his comrades shouting, "As long as I'm still standing we haven't lost!" but the instant Po finished his sentence, the entire mountain shook violently, forcing Po and the others to lose their balance and fall to the ground. Li looked up instantly and shouted, "We're too late! It's coming, the Titan, its rising!" Immediately Li got up to his feet and shouted, "We can't stay here, if we do the monster will crush us all as it wakes. We have to get out of the Mountain or else we'll be buried alive!"
Immediately, Mantis hopped over to the Panger and asked, "Just how big is this Titan thing supposed to be anyway?" but Li's response did nothing to comfort the insect as he revealed, "Big enough that if we don't get out of here, we'll be buried alive just while it tries to escape!" Viper then asked as she slithered up to the Panger's side, "What is it exactly?" but Li just shook his head no as he only revealed, "It is too horrible for words…it…it's an Abomination."
Again the Volcano shook violently and this time it was Shifu who decided, "The young Panger is right, we must evacuate immediately before this entire mountain comes down on us." Tigress then stepped forward and asked, "But Master, how are we supposed to get out of here? The way we came in is too far away and the path back has been destroyed!" but Po suddenly stepped forward and placed a paw on her shoulder as he said with confidence, "Then we make a new path!"
With those words, Po stepped forward and faced the wall off to the right and motioned for his friends to step back. Once they did, Po readied himself to fire off another Chi blast when he heard Gladir warn him in the back of his mind, "Po, just be careful. You're going to need a significantly larger amount of Chi to dig through a Volcano than just like breaking down a few walls in an estate." As Po recalled how he had created an exit to escape a burning fire with Tigress on his back. "I know, any chance you can lend me a hand with this?" Po asked when Gladir nodded inwardly and answered, "Of course my friend."
And with that, Gladir began channeling some of his own energy to Po, and Po immediately began to feel the sudden flow of energy, as he pulled his one fist back and thrust if forward in a quick motion shouting, "HYAAAH!" The Chi blast instantly made contact and began to dig through the solid rock at a surprising rate, as Po stepped forward and called back to his friends, "Come on!" and one by one each of the Warriors began to follow the Panda into the new tunnel he was carving out for them, with Nightshade being the last to enter the tunnel.
But before Nightshade could follow Po and the others he took one last look over his shoulder and watched as the remaining mercenaries were finishing up hauling their unconscious or wounded companions out of the Volcano through one of the lower tunnels that the warriors had used to gain entrance to the mountain. As Nightshade's eyes scanned the remaining wolves he soon spotted Yin carrying her twin brother on her back over to the Exit, while two other wolves carried his Father out over their shoulders. Before Yin entered through the tunnel though, it was as if she could feel Nightshade's gaze upon her, as she slowly turned her head to look up at the Black wolf and for just a moment their eyes met.
They stood there like that for a long moment before the Volcano shook once again and Yin began running through the tunnel. As he ached her run, Nightshade then whispered to himself, "Perhaps…perhaps one day sister…we can finally see eye to eye again." And with that Nightshade ran after his Alpha and into the new tunnel.
Drizen watched as the last of his foes scurried off into the cave and could not help but start laughing. It was happening! Everything was now going better than he could have ever expected. The Warriors were on the run and his Younger self was completely untouched! Now there was nothing that could stop them from ruling over this world, and he would finally be able to return back to his own era.
Suddenly a sudden flash of light caught his attention and Drizen turned to look back at his younger counterpart who was still muttering the incantation. Slowly but surely the Altar was beginning to rise up from beneath the younger raven as stone walls soon sprouted up from around the altar forming a small wall around the young sorcerer, and the older Raven knew that they have succeeded.
The beast was rising, and not even the destined 3 could stop that now. Thanks to the power of the 3 worlds surrounding their own, The Titan has finally been awakened and the final step to the Raven's plan could finally begin. Total domination over all of China and then the world. But first…there were a few pesky Kung Fu Masters that needed to be dealt with first.
Soon the younger Drizen finally finished his incantation and immediately slumped forward, catching himself on the altar beneath him. He was so exhausted that he almost never even realized that the entire mountain seemed to be shaking beneath him as he looked around frantically searching for his Partner and shouted, "Hey! What is this!? Where have you gone you insolent-"
But before Drizen finished, the older Raven swooped down in front of him and surprised Drizen immediately as the younger Raven asked, "You…are you him?" the older Raven just grinned as he said, "Come now my friend, don't tell me you have forgotten about me after all the time we've spent together now?" As soon as Drizen heard the unmistakable voice of his Partner he knew this other Raven was the same one he had been plotting alongside for the past few years.
"I did everything as you instructed and yet the entire Mountain seems to be falling down upon us! What is it that I have done wrong and where are those Insolent Kung Fu Imbeciles!?" The Older Raven simply continued to hover beside his counterpart as he explained, "They have fled to outside of the Mountain, but it matters not. They can no longer escape the Fate we have in store for them. Finally after all this time, the power of the Ancient Titan is ours! Ah hahahahahahahahaaaaa!" Now Drizen, show the world the object of our strength. Raise the Titan above the surface and strike fear into the hearts of thousands. Starting with the Dragon Warrior!"
And with that, the younger Raven sneered as he turned back to the 3 Keys which were now resonating with one another in perfect harmony as he declared, "It will be my pleasure…Arise my puppet of destruction. Awaken from your long slumber, and look upon the world that has been your prison for so long. Obey the one who summons you and together we can make those descendant from the ones who imprisoned you suffer for all eternity!"
As soon as Drizen finished, the entire mountain shook violently once more but this time there was a new sound that followed it, as the roar of the Titan echoed throughout for the first time in 1500 years. Drizen looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the creature's cry but he didn't need to look long as the entire Altar slowly began to rise from its ledge with the Raven still standing on top of it.
It took Drizen a few seconds to understand, but eventually the Raven whispered, "I don't believe it…the Altar…is on top of the Titan's head!?" it was then he heard his Partner cackling madly as the older Raven shouted, "That's right my friend! And now it's time to show the world the limits to our power!" and with that the Younger Raven turned back to the 3 keys and waved his wing over the 3 keys and shouted one final time, "ARISE!"
Meanwhile…moments later with the Masters…
As the mountain continued to shake violently, many of the rocks and boulders were falling down alongside the mountain and into the water below. High above a massive explosion could be heard as a golden beam of light shot out from the Mountain and into the fresh air. Soon the Dragon Warrior emerged from within the tunnel he had just dug out and was panting heavily as he breathed out, "See? Piece of…Moon cake…Hah." Immediately both Tigress and Nightshade were at the Panda's side ready to support him in case he was too exhausted when the warriors all heard a sound that sent shivers along the shivers of their spines(And yes that is written right).
"GWOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR"
Po and the other Masters looked back along the tunnel that they had just escaped through and it was Mantis who asked in a tiny whisper, "What…was that?" slowly everyone turned to Li, who looked like he had gone eve whiter than his own fur if that was possible, a s the Panger stated, "It's here…Drizen…he has raised the beast. The Titan…is alive."
Again the creature within the mountain roared and once again the mountain shook as a response. Shifu immediately looked around and spotted a nearby ledge beneath them as he ordered, "Everyone, move!" and with that the warriors save for Crane, Mantis and Viper, each all slid down the side of the mountain and onto the ledge beneath them, while Crane flew Viper and Mantis down ahead of them. Once everyone made it to the ledge, Po suddenly heard Gladir warning him in the back of his mind, "Po…it's here…"Po quickly spun around and shouted to his comrades, "Here it comes!" while Tigress asked, "But what exactly is IT!?" But as soon as she asked, Tigress also had her answer.
Suddenly the 3 white beams of light that were shooting out from the Volcano disappeared and were soon replaced by a massive stream of fire shot out from the top of the Volcano and into the open sky, causing Monkey to panic and shout, "We got to get out of here! This whole mountain is going to blow!" but before Monkey could go anywhere, Shifu stopped him by saying, "Calm down Monkey…I don't believe that was the Volcano." Monkey then turned on Shifu and nearly shouted, "Then what the heck was it?" when Li answered in foreboding tone, "Something far worse."
But just when everyone was about to look at Li in question, the creature from within the mountain cried out again and soon the warriors were finally introduced to the Ancient power of the Prophecy. "Oh man." Po whispered as he reached over grabbed a hold of Tigress's paw quickly and looked up at the mountain top. Unfortunately Tigress barely even noticed s her eyes were too rooted to the ring Volcano's head as they all watched the creature climb out of its prison.
The Masters watched in horror as the creature slowly climbed out of the top of the Volcano, it's long serpentine like body slowly wrapping around the entire mountain itself as the sounds of the monster's rage echoed throughout possibly all of China. Everyone wanted to run. Everyone wanted to escape. But nobody moved. Instead they each watched in fear as the creature reached out with its claws and grabbed a hold of the Mountain with its front legs. It's black and red scales were coated in rock, dust and dirt. Throughout its entire body you could see hunks of exposed flesh while its bone structure was easily notable, giving the appearance that this creature was more like a skeleton with skin than anything else. But throughout all the horrors this creature displayed, it's black eyes were the most disturbing of all as they appeared to be able to stare into one's very soul.
High atop of the creatures head, where pieces of the Altar were now crumbling apart, as the 3 keys slowly embedded themselves into the forehead of the creature in the shape of a triangle, Drizen stood triumphantly atop of his newest ally, as he looked down into the fear covered faces of his enemies. The older raven soon followed the massive creature as he flew up through the Volcanos ring and landed just on the edge of the ring, also looking down at the warriors.
Li finally managed to find his voice as he whispered, "It's here…the Titan…is here." It was Viper who had slithered back and away as she nearly screamed, "What in the name of China IS that thing!?" while Crane managed to stutter out, "I-I-It kind of l-l-looks almost like a…a…" But it was Po who finished for the bird, as he breathed out while he stared upon the horror before them all, his eyes wide with fear and uncertainty,
"It's a… Dragon."
And that's the chapter! Hope you guys enjoyed it, and I will be going more into detail with the titan in the next chapter. Thanks for reading and remember...
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