The skies began to shift, the immense energy being released twisting the sky and shifting clouds. The sun was blocked out by encroaching gray clouds, the Ninninger all standing in complete, horrified awe at the sight before them.
Because before them was a warrior donning pitch black armor with little to no color. Only shimmering white eyes and a glittering diamond in the back of his right hand colored the demonic knight before them. This was the monster that they had grown so petrified of.
The suit rolled it's shoulders, casting it's attention to the group. "Will you face me unarmed, or with your weapons?" he asked, and the group seemed hesitant. The Knight could feel that he was at a numbers disadvantage, and that in the shadows were at least three of their allies.
"Takaharu!" they all heard, turning to see two more rangers, donning identical suits to the red ninja. Ata knew this was the Igasaki Clan's elder and their current patriarch. The group, now numbering eight visible, turned to face Ata.
"Why would you do this!?" Takaharu called, and Ata held his hands up. Energy began to form around his hand, Ata closing his eyes as he materialized his original set of weapons. The broadsword, a standard weapon, and the shield, both familiar to their opponents.
But, they were different. Now, spanning the length of the blade and across the surface of the shield were tribal markings, much akin to those Ata would speak of casually. They were colored red, blue, green and yellow. It was an odd pairing, the colorful weapons and the pitch black wielder.
"Do you know what my weapons are called?" he asked, and they all hesitated, drawing their swords and anticipating an attack. Ata shifted his stance, holding his shield forward. "My Shield is called Kaki Maro, because it is unyielding." he said.
The old man, who was wearing a gold sash on his red suit, surged forward with incredible speed, and Ata simply held his shield forward and blocked his sword. "Papahu."
The red markings on Ata's shield began to glow, and a burst of flame shot out from it, sending the ninja flying back. "My Sword is called Haepapa. Not only because it annihilates, but because it delivers justice."
Takaharu charged forward, coming down with his blade and clashing swords with Ata. "Don't give me that shit! There's nothing right or just about what you do!" he shouted and Ata remained composed, calm and quiet. "Auripo."
The blue markings on his sword began to glow, and a surge of water erupted from the blade, Ata shoving Takaharu back with little effort. He looked to all of his opponents, who seemed hesitant. Beneath his helmet, he frowned.
They stood, Outnumbering him greatly, and yet, they all hesitated, fearing his base form. He noticed that a few of them had only taken a step back, unable to face him with confidence and conviction. Could he truly bring himself to kill them? He inhaled, casting his weapons away and taking his Wuhuri Kapunga stance. "Come."
As if coaxed by fear, they all surged him, surrounding him, weapons in hand as Ata simply waited for an attack. Nagi attacked first, coming down with his sword fiercely. Ata stepped to his left. Before he could attack, Yakumo jabbed out, the group maintaining a perimeter around the Maori.
Without dropping his stance, Ata took another step back, lifting his left knee at the same time his left elbow came down. His two armored joints shattered Yakumo's blade, and Ata moved his arm, shifting his weight and throwing a high left kick at Nagi.
The yellow ninja used his sword to block the attack, Takaharu coming at Ata from the right. With his leg still extended, Ata caught Takaharu's blade with his right hand.
He shifted his weight to the right harshly, knocking Nagi back so he could focus on Takaharu. Tsumugi, Takaharu's father, came from behind, his sword crashing into the back of Ata's armor. The massive knight remained stalwart, snapping Takaharu's blade in two. He threw a left elbow at close range, Takaharu ducking at the last second.
He rose up, throwing a lift kick that struck Ata in the chin, both of the female Ninningers coming from above and swinging their blades at Ata's face. "Kaki Maro."
Ata lifted his shield up to protect his face, their blades shattering from the force, the Maori keeping track and noticing that the only blade undamaged was Kinji's, and that none of his enemies had suffered a single injury.
Ata came down, using his shield like a weapon and trying to strike Takaharu. The red ninja dodged, and Ata cast his shield away, throwing a left bodyblow that found purchase.
Kinji came from the left, striking Ata in the shoulder as Takaharu fled. Ata shifted stances as he turned to Kinji, his right hand open. "Zenith Palm Thrust."
The gold ninja was struck in the solar plexus, his body being launched like a missile into the distance. Ata inhaled as he felt Yakumo attack from behind. Shifting his posture, Ata was able to see that a left axe kick was being thrown, and he could calculate how to defeat it.
However, the female Ninninger began to fire on him with their firearms, those annoying, toad shaped guns that Ata always found rather displeasing. The projectiles distracted Ata long enough for Yakumo's attack to find purchase, Ata gritting his teeth at the force. "Haepapa."
Materializing his sword, Ata released a massive pulse of energy to back all of his opponents off, the sword fading away as he inhaled. Ata nodded. "You all took up my offer to train. I'm glad." he said, flexing his right hand, the gem in the back of his glove shifting to a glorious emerald. Ata inhaled.
"Pumotu Whakaahua, Rangi Samurai." he said, a gust of wind and green colored energy blowing about and blinding his opponents as he shifted forms, his armor shifting as his eyes glew green, his mask changing from a sleek knight to a demonic mask complete with large horns, something the ToQgers were very familiar with.
"I am the Samurai of the Gale Winds that has come here to blow away your hopes, the Tornado of Terror that overwhelms all. I am the Sky God's Chosen, The Emerald Enigma, Kamen Rider Maori, Rangi Samurai."
With the final word off his pre-battle speech, Ata opened his hands, materializing a pair of hooked swords that he held out before twisting his posture. He spun, unleashing crescent shaped waves of energy that the Ninningers scrambled to avoid.
Suddenly, one of their allies erupted from the trees, a red garbed ninja with gold plating on his visor, a short sword in his hand. Ata met him blade for blade, inhaling at his silent foe. He swung his other sword, his opponent dodging it by jumping back.
Ata jumped forward, tossing one of the hooked swords in an overhanded arc, his opponent blocking it without a bit of difficulty, parrying Ata's remaining blade as Takaharu came from behind.
Ata pushed forward with his sword before releasing it from his grip. The other red ranger stumbled forward, giving Ata time to spin around and catch Takaharu's fist.
Ata used his free left hand, striking Takaharu in the stomach before throwing him to the side. He spun, his opponent having caught his sword, using both to strike Ata in the chest, nicking his armor with the sheer force.
Ata grit his teeth, surprised that this silent ally of theirs was able to damage his armor. He opened his hands, inhaling as he thought about his next move. "Zenith Palm Thrust."
He thrust both of his hands forward, his opponent dropping down and avoiding the palm strike before leaping back up. He used a broad, overhanded grip to catch the swords by their handles and pin Ata's arms between his own. He jumped back and flipped, Ata cursing at how skilled his opponent was.
The silent ranger kicked off of him, allowing him to crash head first into the ground. Ata rolled to his feet quickly, only for three of the Ninningers to come from behind and throw a trio of dropkicks into his back. Ata stumbled forward, the silent ranger able to strike Ata in the jaw with a right hook that cracked his mask and sent him to the ground.
Ata inhaled, remaining calm as he rose to his feet and opened his hands. He realized that using the awkward hook blades of Braco wasn't ideal, especially in a form he'd not used them much if at all in. He summoned his next set of weapons. The pair of swords hit his hands and Ata immediately spun. He would not fall wielding these.
"Do you remember these swords, Igasaki!?" Ata called, surging forward as they hesitated at the sight of the swords. Using the longer blade in his right hand, Ata swung, striking Nagi, Kasumi and Fuuka and sending them back. He spun to meet the silent ranger, clashing blades with him.
"My brother told me about you. You're the red Hurricanger, aren't you? Why help these idiots?" Ata asked, the two almost evenly matched in strength. "They fight for the good in the world and to protect the weak. That's a lot more than I cam say about you." he said, and Ata smiled, shoving him back.
He spun, throwing a roundhouse kick that caught Yakumo in the jaw as he came from behind. Ata scanned the field, seeing that he had enough time to act before anyone he'd struck recovered and attacked, glad this form increased his speed to the degree it did.
He spun as quickly as he could, swinging downward and slashing the suit of the Hurricanger. The man stumbled back, and Ata shifted his stance. He dropped down, crossing his blades as they pointed at the ground. "My apologies, Sir." Ata said, the blades erupting in bright, hot bolts of lightning.
Ata spread his arms as he rose them, the blades high above his head, the skies rumbling with Ata as he inhaled. "Garyudo: Raigen Giri!"
He swung in sideways arcs, rolling his arms and coming down, four streams of lightning flying from his blade and striking his wounded opponent. Takaharu had just recovered, calling out to the ranger as he was struck, sparks crackling off his body as he stumbled back, his skin seared black where he was struck, his body wobbling as everyone stood in silent shock.
Ata turned away from the man, sheathing the blades and bowing his masked head as the man fell back, an explosion ringing out as his body erupted from the attack. The Ninningers all screamed, Ata feeling more people charge him.
Ata drew his blades again, clashing blades with Kinji and another, mysterious red ranger. This one was completely red except for a black visor, and Ata was aware who this was. This was another ally of theirs that Poe told him about. This was KakuRed, the one Poe called 'the original red ninja'. Ata shoved them back, ready for their next attack.
They charged in unison, and Ata blocked their attack again. KakuRed brought his knee up, striking Ata in the abdomen and shifting his posture slightly. Kinji shifted his odd, guitar shaped blade, shifting his grip on the hilt as some form of bullets began to pelt Ata in the face, sending him stumbling back.
KakuRed followed up, kicking the blades from Ata's hands as Kinji came down. Ata felt his armor crack and tear as he was force to one knee, where both rangers both kicked him in the face.
Ata rolled to his feet, realizing that speed wasn't going to help him in this scenario. He needed something different, and as he flexed his right hand, he knew exactly what. He lifted his fists before bringing them both down.
A massive gust of wind blew out as Ata shifted the ground, unbalancing everyone in his immediate vicinity, opening his right hand, his eyes cast to it's brilliant sapphire. "Pumotu Whakaahua, Tangaroa Viking."
A surge of energy erupted from his being as his form continued to twist and change, his eyes shifting to a sapphire color as his armor morphed like liquid, his shoulders taking the shape of bear's skulls, his body coated in various tribal markings all in shades of blue, his helmet looking like something from the middle ages, his stalwart posture only accenting the intimidating appearance of this form.
They watched his chest swell as he inhaled, and when he exhaled, the temperature about them dropped. Odd, cold steam began to flow from his his body as he opened his right hand, summoning a lone axe with a bearded blade as he shifted his eyes to all of them.
"I am the Einharjar of the Northern Winds that has come to freeze you in fear, the Aurora of Annihilation that rampages all in it's path. I am the Sea God's Chosen, The Sapphire Savage, Kamen Rider Maori, Tangaroa Viking."
With the last words of his next pre-battle speech, he exhaled, the ground beneath his feet freezing as he shot himself directly at Kinji, realizing quickly that he was the biggest threat here. However, he was met with KakuRed, who parried his swinging axe with a blade of his own, the experienced ranger unable to match strength with the beast in front of him.
Ata roared, shoving the ranger to the side and continuing his assault. Kinji was able to jump back and avoid the axe. When it struck the ground, the earth shook, the dirt and soil torn into as a spire of ice filled the hole the attack made in the ground. Ata looked up to him, his free hand shooting out and touching the spire.
Using only the tips of his armored fingers, Ata hurled the spire upwards at Kinji, feeling his body lurch forward when Takaharu, Nagi and Yakumo all struck him from behind at once. He spun, ice trailing his axe as he whirled about, the sound of clattering shards of frost striking the grass beneath them.
The three of them were all able to avoid him, Ata's attention shifted to the female ninja, who struck him from behind. He moved to strike at them, but the male ninja began to unload on him with their Toad Toad Guns, their female relatives following up as they tried to sentence him to death by firing squad.
However, the Sapphire Savage was far to impervious to staggering. It was as if he was in a rage, adrenaline pumping through his armored veins that prevented him from stumbling and recoiling at the strikes he took. He simply lifted his right arm and balled his fist, his axe long cast aside due to it's ineffectiveness.
"Horokaka."
With the call, Ata's fist slammed to the ground, and ice began to form around him. It shoot out in vine like tendrils and branches off like leaves and roots, ending in a flower shape at each of his attackers, who were able to avoid him with little effort. However, the attack wasn't meant to harm, it was meant to distance.
With the distance given, he was able to pull the bear skulls from his shoulders and place them on his hands like gauntlets, rolling his shoulders as he felt a presence from above. His azure eyes shot to the sky, seeing Tsumugi coming from above. His eyes narrowed, as he swore that he dealt with the other two red Igasaki. He chose not to ponder it a fraction of a second more, as he remembered that the Tangaroa Viking form diminished his thinking power ever so little.
Instead, he blocked the glimmering, shining sword with a left hook, throwing a right uppercut that struck the ninja in the abdomen, a right hook catching him in the face. His hands continued to alternate at increasing speeds, each blow leaving a slight bit of frost on the man's crimson suit as he was effortlessly juggled by a vicious flurry of frostbitten fists.
Ata soon spun and loosed a monstrous right hook, sending the man's body spiraling and crashing into a tree, his chest and abdomen weight down by not only the pain of the flurry, but by the chunks of ice attached to his body. His body slumped against the tree, and Ata only stood and stared as the rest of his attackers all regained their footing. He wanted them to push him, and so far, they were failing.
"Dad!"
He watched Fuuka run away from the battle, over to the man's side as she began to shake his freezing body. Ata knew that her tone was stricken with grief, as there was likely no chance for the man to survive such a rush in his diminished state. He was old, and out of practice. To attack someone like him alone was a forfeit of his life, and he watched the man's head loll to one side as the girl shook him. He dropped to one knee in respect, bowing his head as he heard the girl's fearful, pained scream.
"You piece of shit!"
The entire group surged him again, their minds off balance as they allowed their emotions to take over. Ata was fully aware of how this would affect the battle, as their increased adrenaline and emotion would only enhance their combat abilities. Now, with eight opponents to one, he could truly test the limits of their strength.
He flexed his right hand, the gem shifting in color and texture as he threw his arms up, a dome of stone forming around him as their blades rang against the stone, cracking it as Ata pondered how many blades they carried on themselves. He was sure that he specifically broke them, but if they had backups or were disguising fakes at the start, than he realized that he had more work to do than he thought.
When the stone wall shattered away, their blades landed on a huge, riot like shield that shoved them back. They watched their opponent rise back to a standing position, his armor now far more minimalist, and varying shades of golds and yellows in color. His helmet again shifted, closer to his original form, but more grandiose, complete with plumes of golden hair as they looked to his right hand, which held a spear that they recognized from his days spent with them. It was made of gem like stone, much like his eyes.
The gauntlet was also a golden color, and they watched him inhale as he cast the huge shield away in place of a smaller, more convenient shield that was round in shape. They watched him carefully, unsure of how to deal with such an odd looking enemy.
"I am the Champion of the Earth that has come to duel you for the pleasure of the gods, the Gaean Gladiator that is as immovable as the Earth. I am the Earth Goddess' Chosen, Kamen Rider Maori, Papatuanuku Spartan."
Again, with the final words of his speech, he took a stance meant for combat. However, unlike the other forms, this stance was defensive, as if he wanted them to attack him first. Was he taunting them, or was this golden form made for defense? It was an odd dilemma they had, but KakuRed and the Last Ninja moved first, surging him with the other ninja spreading out behind them.
KakuRed reached him first, coming down with his blade. Ata was able to parry with his shield, his opposing wrist twisting as he flipped the stone Taiaha in his other hand, using the blunt end to parry the other blade that was swung at him from the opposite angle. When Kasumi reached him third, he allowed her blade to clatter across his breastplate.
"Papaneke."
With the command, the earth beneath him shifted, spires rising up all around him to deflect the attacks of all of his foes, allowing him to take the offensive. He flipped the Taiaha in his grip, jabbing out at Kasumi. His attack found purchase on her left shoulder, piercing through the suit and spraying blood. He swiped to the right, tearing the stone from her wound and slashing the tender flesh of her shoulder.
He continued moving, his Taiaha colliding with Nagi's blade and forcing him back. Ata inhaled, releasing the spear from his grip and dropping to a crouch to avoid Kinji's blade as it came at the back of his neck. He sprung back to a vertical base with his left arm up, striking the golden ninja in the face with his shield and making him stagger. He tossed his shield into the air, grabbing his spear and hopping southeast.
He spun, twisting his stance and posture to a completely different style as he watched his breathing. Yakumo reached him next, energy coating his sword as he tried to strike a finishing blow. Ata shifted the spear to a dual handed grip and blocked with the center of the staff. He shoved his right hand forward and released his grip on the weapon as Yakumo stumbled forward and to Ata's left.
The momentum of Ata's release caused the staff to spin, whirling around Yakumo's shoulders until he fell face first atop the weapon with it laying along his collarbone. The pain winded him, and Ata hopped in place. He stomped down on the top of the blunt end of the weapon, the force flinging Yakumo back to a semi vertical position.
Ata gripped the weapon tightly, and Yakumo watched as it was swung like a club at his face, the blunt stone end closing it at both a snail's pace and light speed at all at the same time, his heart hammering in his chest as he panted in fear. However, a blade blocked the fatal blow, and Yakumo fell back winded as he looked to his grandfather.
"You will not take another life so long as I'm around!" he screamed, incensed and enraged as he swung up with all of his strength, wrenching the weapon from Ata's grip and all the way into the air, his righteous fury and protective pride allowing him past the defenses of the living fortress.
"Now!"
Voices rang out, all crying in enraged unison as a horde of colored forms blocked the sun from Ata's vision, replacing it with a beautiful rainbow of ninja and their glowing blades swathed in some form of enhanced energy. Beneath the helmet, Ata only smiled.
"Igasaki Clan Secret Technique! Pride of a Shinobi!"
Blades rang down, one by one by one as the struck him, rending his breastplate asunder and tearing through the protection beneath them, the ninja finally seeing blood fly through the air and hit the ground as their enemy stumbled back. His knees wobbled, and they watched as he lurched forward on weak, bent knees as blood trickled from gashes all along his chest.
They remained cautious, their blades resting in an offensive stance across their shoulders, the group bunched closely together, still numbering eight. They had gotten passed the Gaean Gladiator, and with the time they spent fighting, they knew that they could get past each of his other forms. This fight was theirs.
However, the only one of them who was cautious was another ninja, a final ally they had that was still observing from the shadows. He noticed something about their enemy that they did not. As the second passed on, his remained unmoving. They entertained the idea that he died on his feet, but the hidden warrior was able to see something most peculiar. The blood that trickled from his wounds did not hit the ground. It evaporated beforehand.
He leapt from the shadows, realizing that something was wrong. He had to intervene, and he needed to do it quick. "Get back!" he shouted, his unexpected scream catching their attention, distracting them from the fact that the wartorn warrior lifted his head, his form still the same but his eyes now a bright orange.
They heard a boom, turning back to see Ata standing straight, his posture hunched forward slightly. They were confused, but they watched him bob up and down, slowly at first, until he sped up and began to almost hop in place. His feet began to shuffle back and forth, his golden fists rising up to his face as he threw punches at the air. It was an odd display, and it spoke to the durability of this form.
However, their hesitance and confusion soon turned to shock and horror as their grandfather began to fall back, their eyes starting to realize exactly what happened. That booming noise was some kind of high speed or projectile attack, because Ata was still in the same spot, but the vaunted Last Ninja was falling back, the visor of his helmet melted to reveal dim, lifeless eyes.
Most of them didn't even notice this due to the monstrous gaping hole that spanned almost his entire chest.
They all stared for a second that felt like it lasted far too long, in shock and confusion at how quickly both of their ancestors had fallen. They all turned to him, the group, yet still numbering eight with their new ally, all roared and charged.
Ata knew of their newest ally. As he weaved through a flurry of attacks, his footwork light, fluid and bouncy much like the flight of a butterfly, he pondered this new foe. He was known to some as 'The World Ninja', and his name was Jiraiya. He was likely the strongest of their allies, but with Hurricane Red and both elder Igasaki struck down, Ata was aware that he could likely still win. He just needed to shift his style from defensive to offensive.
KakuRed was the first to offer him an opening, and swung with his right hand. It was a quick, jab like punch that barely missed. However, the resounding boom still shook them, watching as the grass in the range of his punch was completely vaporized, the group starting to realize that his punches weren't earth based, but closer to fire. They realized that they needed to stay out of range of the attack, possibly even counter it.
With the Spartan now shed of his armor and more like a brawler than a vaunted warrior, the Igasaki realized that they needed to keep hold of their emotions and not fall to his aloof behavior. They were fighting like thugs, mercenaries with no formal training. Their teamwork was even failing, and it cost them three of their closest allies, two of which were family.
Ata watched them take formation around him, his bouncing, always moving stance not changing. He knew that when he was like this, a state he barely ever trained in that he called 'Mekemeke-A-Ruamoko' after the finishing move of his Spartan form, that if he didn't continue moving, he'd lose power and force on his attacks.
He twisted to his left when he felt an attack coming. He cursed, lifting his arms to protect his face at the dragon shaped torrent of water than slammed into him. It drove him back, where a wall of steel stopped him from moving as he was doused with water, the sound of sizzling ringing out from his body as Kinji, Nagi and Yakumo all attacked with their blades cackling and sparking with streaks and bolts of golden lightning, the combined force of the attacks causing an explosion to ring out.
Dust, stray flames and torn earth and shattered metal flew all about, the group coming back together and taking defensive stances in a defensive formation as they waited. Surely that was enough to stop him? They watched the dust float about, and prayed with every fiber of their being that this tandem offense was enough to at least disable this dangerously effective form.
When the dust cleared, Ata stood panting, his chest coated in still bleeding gashes and black, bruise like scars about his shoulders and arms in the shape of the lightning bolts. He looked like he could drop dead at any point, but they could see in his eyes that he was nowhere near done. Even still after all this time outnumbered eight to one, the warrior fought on.
Takaharu, the leader of the group and the most emotional, barreled forward. He had enough of this. Despite the torment they'd suffered, the defeats and embarrassment, the losses, he could still stand. Blood poured from his body, he was scarred from being electrocuted, his transformation was cast away by the sheer damage he took and yet he never left his feet. He was like a wall that they couldn't knock down. He'd had enough of it.
He came down with his blade, roaring with righteous fury as Ata cast hazy eyes to the blade. He shifted his stance, dropping his stance and tensing his muscles. He held his right forearm up, using the gauntlet to stop the blade as he looked to Takaharu. "Pumotu Whakaahua."
The gem in the back of his gauntlet changed color as his body erupted in a bright red light. Heat radiated from his being as he shoved Takaharu back, rolling his posture as he the heat soothed his aching wounds.
Fire began to coat his body as his suit began to slowly reform starting with the boots. They were a bright ruby color, and had lingering flames about the calf like the fur of a moccasin.
The gauntlet shifted colors, becoming a bright, pearly white with the gem in the back of the hand glinting against the flickering embers coating his body, the ruby showing that this was yet another form that he had cultivated, his eyes lingering on them as they remained cautious.
Flames lingered about his fingers like burning claws, the red metal layered atop ethereal white fabric that spanned the length of his arms and legs. His chest was covered in a flaming breastplate that appeared closer to a coat than a suit of armor, the flames almost solid as they covered his shoulders, chest and trailed down his back. Atop the flames, with embers slipping between their metallic jaws, were a pair of canid skulls that were red in color with pearly white eyes.
They watched the flames twist and roll about his skull, taking the shape of a wolf's head before shrinking back into a snarling, demonic face that gave way for glimmering ruby colored metal, his eyes pearly white, much like the helmet's wolf like fangs. However, instead of pointed ears, there was a crown of fire about his temples, a mane of white hair sitting atop the crown.
He looked unusually regal, like some form of albino demon lord, the snarling, canine visage of his helmet looking rather unusual given his ruby and pearl color palette. Flames were cackling about his entire body, and as his body slouched slightly with an exhale, smoke began to pour from the edges of his helmet's maw.
"I am the Lord of the Underworld that has come to conquer you without fail. I am the Horseman of War, as violent as a rampaging fire. I am the Shadow of the God of War, Kamen Rider Maori, Subutai-O-Te-Tanga-O-Te-Ra."
With this final speech, he made the first move, vanishing instantly and appearing in front of KakuRed. The rest of the group were unable to react, his speed far to impressive and shocking for their bodies to respond to any command.
The ranger was caught by the throat, feeling the searing how claws of the warrior who called himself 'Subutai' dig into his flesh, the heat drying out his throat and making it hard for him to breath. They watched KakuRed come off his feet as he was hoisted into the air, the demonic suit unmoving and silent as the flames cackled across it's eerily bright form.
When their bodies allowed them to move, their minds back into the fight and focused on saving their ally, they watched Subutai release him, his body slouching forward as his left fist clenched, flames coating the length of his forearm and wrist.
"Kopere Tupua."
He lurched back and launched this flame coated fist upwards, the ground and air alike singed by the heat as a monstrous column of flame burst forth, coating the sky in orange hues as the heat forced them back, their bodies erupting in a humid, slimy sweat as their suits began to singe away. When the flames ceased, the demonic suit stood with one arm raised on high, as if celebrating a victorious match, KakuRed nowhere to be seen.
The first person to reach him was Jiraiya, and they watched how fluidly the huge hulking suit covered in fire moved, weaving like liquid away from the angered, powerful limbs of the World Ninja.
They moved to join in, praying that they could avoid another loss. With KakuRed, Hurricane Red and both of their ancestors, they had lost four of their initial eleven. And yet, their foe still stood stronger than ever, his right fist clenching at his side as he hopped back.
The Ninninger reached Jiraiya, shoving him out of the way as a right hook caught Nagi in the center of his collarbone, his weapon falling from his hand as his helmet cracked. His body flew back, slamming off into the forest with sickening thuds and crunches as they took the offensive.
Flaming forearms came up to block a pair of blades from the female rangers, who pushed against him to keep him moving backwards, keeping him off the offense and away from Jiraiya. They couldn't lose him too.
As the flaming suit continued to take steps back, Yakumo and Kinji attacked head on at his exposed chest, their blades clattering against his flaming chest, their aggression and emotion overwhelming their ability to think and plot properly, the blades clamoring and slamming against his Ata's body like a mallet on a steak, the force sliding through the flames and finding purchase, wearing him down as he was backed towards a tree.
Jiraiya and Takaharu were waiting, both of them primed and ready to go with glimmering blades aimed at the back of his neck. The group was getting closer, their focus narrowing and attacks increasing in strength, quantity and tenacity as they used their blades like clubs, simply beating and pummeling the flaming warrior back, closer and closer to their strongest members, who were prepared to exert all of their power in one fell swoop.
Smoke trailed from the maw of the warrior that called himself the 'Horseman of War'.
"Wuhuri."
The three syllables, which sounded like a cough or an exhale to their hyper focused ears, seemed to be just that. No change in his body, in the flames that cackled and struggled to remain lit against the sheer force of the attacks that were being laid into Ata.
Suddenly, the ninja came under attack.
Their bodies were singed in places, their suits burnt through as flames began to latch onto them like they had physical forms, the entire formation thrown off by the abnormal assault.
It wasn't until they backed off of Ata and beat the flames from their bodies that they realized exactly what this was. He called himself the Horseman of War, a conqueror, the shadow of a War God. They saw him stand stalwart, watching as the flames that besieged them flanked to his sides, sentient and physical in the shape of wolves, the flaming canines possessing the same vile snarling face and pearly dead eyes as their master.
His hands, covered still in flaming claws, began to flex and twitch as he inhaled. The sheer amount of energy he produced caused the mane of white hair atop his helmet to stand as if blown by the wind, flames extending from his palms as weapons took shape, curved blades with flaming tassels handing from their pommels, the warrior standing with his hellhounds at his side.
They watched him crouch forward before leaping forward, the wolves howling as they charged with him. The group understood that they'd be broken up, and that the hounds with him turned this into a battle between opposing forces. They made this a war.
Ata himself had one primary target. Despite his previous attacks always targeting others, his next surge was aimed directly at Takaharu, bringing both of his blades down against Takaharu's, the snarling face of his flaming helmet baring down on the red ninja.
Takaharu shoved back, coming down with both hands on his blade. Ata flipped one of his blades into a reverse grip and laid the blunt end along his arm to parry the attack. He shoved forward while releasing his blade, the shock and force knocking the blade from Takaharu's grip as Ata switched his stance and threw a right hook.
Takaharu ducked underneath it, coming up with a right uppercut that struck true, following up with a left hook that hit Ata in the chest, Takaharu far too incensed to care about the burning sensation erupting throughout his knuckles. He needed this, a right jab finding purchase. He'd cave the damn bastard's chest even if he burnt his hands down to the stubs of his wrists.
He continued to lay into Ata with stronger and stronger jabs and hooks, causing as much to his chest as he could, roaring with righteous fury and pained grief all at once. He wouldn't be denied this chance to get revenge, to end all of the suffering they'd been through all because of one unreasonable foreigner. He wasn't going to let his pride, his life, his family fade away. He was Takaharu Igasaki, the strongest ninja to ever live.
Ata caught his fist.
Takaharu snapped out of it, looking hesitantly to the huge suit of armor that seemed to mock them, it's vile canid snarl almost looking like the face of a cackling hyena, amused at his attempt at revenge. He was tugged forward and his fist released, caught in a standing arm triangle. He tried to fight free of the warrior's grip, finding his side being burnt as he continued to struggle. Ata lifted him up and fell forward, slamming him to the ground as hard as he could before rebounding.
Takaharu felt the wind fly from his lungs, his vision blurring from the force of the slam as Ata weaved away from him, like a wolf slinking back into the shadows. With his hazy vision, he saw Jiraiya standing over him, as if he was trying to defend him from Ata. Takaharu struggled to move, knowing better than anyone else that it was the other way around.
"What drives you, demon!?" Jiraiya shouted, angered that he'd lost so many comrades on this day, the flaming demon standing across from him immobile. Pearl colored eyes glanced to his flaming wolves, who were all slain by their opponents, the Igasaki quickly regrouping as the group now numbered six. With Nagi knocked away and KakuRed incinerated, the group was continuing to thin out.
With a flex of his flaming claws, Ata summoned his curved blades to him, his eyes passing over the group, realizing that they were putting up a far, far better fight than he'd anticipated. He was incredibly grateful for this, because the last thing he'd ever want was to have to kill a bunch of weaklings. With this incredible strength that they gained, they were worthy of fighting, and of being killed. Ata looked back to Jiraiya, pondering the ninja's question for a moment.
"Strength. I seek to be the strongest creature on Earth. To know all techniques, to fight all styles. I am an avatar of Tu-Ka-Nguha. It is why I chose to call this form as I did. Subutai-O-Te-Tanga-O-Te-Ra is a name meaning 'Subutai of the Setting Sun'. It is a sign that my strength will conquer all before me. Great Warrior, you are no exception."
Ata came down.
Yakumo and Kinji blocked the blades with their own, pushing Ata back as Fuuka and Kasumi came from behind. Ata twisted his wrists and slid his blades to his left, spinning as his now horizontal blade was able to hold back both of the male ninjas, his swinging arm coming to block the females. He exhaled smoke, his mind far more prepared for this clash than they were.
He spun in a circle to pushing them back, charging Yakumo first. He came down with his right blade, watching the blue ninja take a step back. Jiraiya came from above, the flaming warrior taking a step back to avoid a flying stomp. He swung his left blade upward and inwards, Kasumi able to extend her blade to block his.
Jiraiya used her as a stepping stool, grabbing her shoulder and vaulting over her and kicking him in the face with his metallic boot. Ata stumbled back slightly dazed, his body shifting to the right and swinging his arm out on instinct, parrying Fuuka's blade as he hopped up himself, flipping past Fuuka and Kinji, whose blade carved through the air where he just stood. He jabbed his elbows back, feeling them crash into the much smaller female, sending her stumbling forward into Kinji, the two of them collapsing to the ground long enough for Ata to spin and parry Yakumo's blade with both of his own.
Ata shifted his grip, jerking his arms to the left and releasing his blades, much like he did with Takaharu. Yakumo didn't fall for it however, releasing his sword and drawing his Toad Toad Gun and pointing it directly at Ata. All he had to do was fire before his feet hit the ground. His hand moved to squeeze the trigger.
Flaming claws wrapped around his throat.
Ata charged forward, Yakumo struggling to aim and fire as Ata ran aimlessly like a beast with him caught by the throat. Ata spun and tossed him forward. Yakumo glared to Ata, aiming with both hands and shouting as he flew through the air, loosing shot after shot that seemed to either miss or do no notable damage. Ata's chest swelled slightly as he inhaled and threw his head back.
Smoke began to trail from his maw as he lurched forward and roared, the maw of his helmet splitting as he released a monstrous blast of flames from his mouth, the torrent of flame barreling towards him so quickly he could barely process it much less think of a way to avoid it. He was dead meat if he got hit by this, but as he cast his gun away and moved his hands to cast a substitution technique, his mind froze again.
Because Jiraiya stepped in front of the attack and spread his arms wide, the blow hitting him with the force of a volcano, sending Yakumo crashing to the ground, rolling and rebounding as they all rose to their feet slowly, seeing the silvery form of the World Ninja standing proud, defiant and stalwart as flames licked at his flesh. They could see from the damage to his body, his immobility, and the flames still licking at his flesh where smoke wasn't, that he was no more.
They were all in shock as the flames died out and his body, still unmoving and resilient, fell back with a dead thud, the Igasaki realizing that once again, they were alone. It was just them, and all of their allies couldn't guide them or assist them anymore.
With all of their external allies defeated, it was just the six of them, and Nagi was in no condition to fight, the yellow ninja barely able to breath much less move to his family to regroup and start another clash. It was five to one now, the odds slowly and slowly starting to seem even.
Ata inhaled, his hands flexing as he summoned the twin curved blades once more, looking to the Igasaki and realizing that this was the end of his journey with them. He didn't like a sad ending, and as he realized that Nagi was nowhere to be seen, he wondered exactly how severe his injuries were. Would he survive? Could he? He shook his head slightly. Now wasn't the time to think about this. He needed to finish this.
He swung both of his blades out in an arc, releasing a boomerang shaped arc of flame that the group scattered to avoid. Pearly orbs scanned the group with laser focus, Ata picking his target carefully. He cast his blades away as he surged forward, his flaming claws lunging forward and catching Yakumo by the arm.
The blue ninja was slammed to the ground as Ata exhaled, weaving backwards to avoid Kinji's blade. He caught the ninja in a rear waist hold, throwing him backward and rolling to his feet just as the cowboy crashed into the ground on his shoulders and the back of his neck.
Ata lunged forward arms first, his posture allowing him to leap over Fuuka's blade and beneath Kasumi's, the white maned warrior surging forward on all fours like some kind of wolf man, leaping up with his claws spread at the recovering golden ninja.
He was on him like a plague, tearing into his chest with searing hot claws, digging into his chest as he wailed in agony, hoisting him up by the claw filled holes in his chest, tossing him up before grabbing Kinji's thighs and slamming him down on his shoulders and neck again, his claws digging into the ninja's legs as he hoisted him up again, a second slam causing light to erupt from Kinji's body as his transformation faded, Ata lifting him up a third time.
The demon called 'Subutai' moved to slam him a third time, but his battered and torn body was rended from Ata's grip as he moved. When Ata realized that Kinji was no long in his grip, he turned to the remaining Igasaki.
"Kinji! Kinji!"
Takaharu had recovered, and saved the golden ninja from a final slam that would have surely been the death of him. However, with the seared claw marks in his lithe chest and across his legs, along with his damaged shoulders and neck, the cowboy was only able to cast them a small smile with blood trickling from the corners of his lips, a cough and a whispering exhale following suit.
Ata watched closely, his combat filled life not dulling him to the value of human life. He knew that this was hard for them, and he wasn't going to interfere with this moment. He could hear the cackling of his own flames as the fire in Kinji's eyes died out, the four remaining Igasaki thoroughly crushed by his demise.
Ata thought carefully about his next move. Did he truly care enough about his own cultural viewpoint of his honor and pride that he was willing to do this to four more people, all for slander and a lack of free time? He narrowed his eyes beneath his helmet. He inhaled, realizing that for all of his common sense and intelligence, his traditional views overrode that. At the very least, Yakumo had to pay. He's the one that initiated this, as did Takaharu. The females did nothing wrong.
"He was a great warrior. They all were."
Takaharu stood, his fists and body trembling as he growled and grit his teeth. Ata could see that he was enraged, and rightfully so, but he needed to get through to him.
"I want Fuuka and Kasumi to leave. I enjoy fighting them, to be true, but I see no reason for them to die." he said, and Takaharu stepped closer to him, Yakumo rising behind him. He could see that this was a vile dynamic, and that between the arrogance of the two of them, the family would have ended up dead one way or another.
The two males looked between each other, realizing that this was quite the odd offer from an enemy. Dare they take him seriously?
"I swear on my family and my brothers that no harm will befall Fuuka, Kasumi or Nagi should he still be alive. My only qualm is with the two of you." he said, his eyes laser focused on Takaharu. He needed to settle this here and now, and he'd much rather strike down the two who were at the forefront of this entire debacle.
"Kasumi… find Nagi and get out of here."
Takaharu's fists were clenched, but Ata could see something in one of his hands. It was some form of odd piece of equipment that had the face of a lion on it, and Yakumo seemed just as prepared, Kasumi and Fuuka silently staring at the red ninjas back before casting one more look to Kinji, who seemed oddly peaceful despite how ravaged his body was.
"Win this for all of us, Brother."
Even though he was wearing a helmet, Ata could hear from the chuckle that Takaharu had quite the smile on his face, and this made the flaming warrior rather happy. He was glad to see that his foes could still fell happiness, because a miserable foe was a sloppy one.
The female ninja vanished, off into the forest to search for their weakened and possibly dead relative, Ata staring down the two strongest members of the group, remaining as still as Kinji's heart as Takaharu placed the lion headed device on his arm.
With a spin of the big cat's head, energy pulsated from the red ninja, whose body became swathed in crimson armor, a second ruby colored sword appearing in his other hand, his helmet staring at it with a forlorn look before glancing to Kinji, Yakumo flanking him with his blade in one hand, glimmering magick dancing across the fingertips of his free hand.
Summoning his blades one final time, Ata smiled beneath his helmet. He could tell from the confidence oozing from his opponents that this would be one of the most honorable and enjoyable battles of his life.
The magickal ninja and his partner, the powered up, reinvigorate and armored red ninja, stood stalwart, their posture and blank stares showing that beneath their helmets they had a fire in their eyes like the ones that cackled across their foe's body.
With a respectful nod of his head, the pearl eyed demon readied himself. He knew that this wouldn't be an easy battle, but no battle worth winning was ever easy, and the Rider that called himself 'Subutai of the Setting Sun' knew this better than anyone.