Chapter Thirty-Two

Xi'an's thunderous voice boomed across the sky like an omniscient god from the heavens. It came from all directions at once.

Ranma turned around, trying to pinpoint its source, but then halted knowing it would be moot. A ghostly shape began to emerge about thirty meters in front of him like some dark mass out of no where, and he glared at it, wondering what it was...

It was like some black hole in the middle of time and space. Everything within that space vanished with the ever expanding emergence of this mysterious phenomenon, something that was now beginning to resemble a human body.

And Ranma knew it had could only be Xi'an. His ghostly powers were awesome. They were so intense that Ranma wondered if he'd finally come face-to-face with an opponent he couldn't defeat. He had never felt such a strong aura.

Ryoga came to stand next to him, obviously feeling it too. He had an intensity on his face that indicated "do-or-die!"

But he knew Ryoga was scared. Ranma knew his friend would never show weakness so carelessly. Ryoga was not a person to admit defeat, going to such lengths as to border on the psychopathic - even suicidal to win. (When he battled Ryoga's perfected Shi Shi Hokodan was a perfect example.)

With just a mere look, they knew they'd have to work together to beat Xi'an. This pseudo-god had to be stopped at all costs. And if he wasn't defeated here, all would be lost.

The laughter intensified. A laughter so cold and sinister than it made Ranma's heart beat with trepidation, and sweat dripped down his face. It was the sort of laughter that a being with incredible power and total confidence had, knowing he was unbeatable.

Shampoo put her hands over her ears, she didn't like it. "Tis frightening noise," she said. "Make it stop!"

Ryoga grit his teeth. "An annoying laugh," he commented. "So evil."

"He thinks he can intimidate us," Ranma said unimpressed. He turned to the house. "Everyone inside, now! Xi'an wants only us!"

He also wanted Ranma's father, but Ranma'll would have to protect him. It was a difficult thing to admit that his own father was just too weak to stand up against Xi'an. But Genma Saotome didn't have the fighting abilities to face off against Xi'an's supernatural feats.

His father had taught him courage and wisdom, to believe in himself no matter the odds. To believe that the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts was superior in technique than any other martial arts in the world, but that's where his father's influence stopped. Atypical martial arts would be no match for Xi'an. Ranma would need to rely on his special skills to win this fight and to utilise his Chi to its fullest.

And swallow his pride. He gave Ryoga a nod. Wordlessly, Ryoga seemed to read his thoughts and nodded back. They were rivals, but right now they allies against a common deadly foe.

Xi'an fully formed. He had Oro Hiroshi's face and body, but he was dressed as ancient Chinese field general marshall of Xi'an's time era, 1,000 years ago - adorned with a golden breast plate and other assorted armour with a battle helmet. But in his hand was something modern: an egg timer? He held it between forefinger and thumb of his left gloved hand. The mouve sand trickled through the hourglass neck as if counting down time.

What could Xi'an mean by holding that, Ranma wondered. Was it some psychological thing to psych him out, as if that's all the time he gave Ranma and others to live?

Heck, others tried to do the same. But he was never psyched out. He met each challenge with the same fortitude and fought each opponent with all he had. And yet, he had to admit, he was a little freaked out right now. He had never met a more powerful enemy than Xi'an.

He shook his fear away. He'd fight! He'd win! He always did. He always found a way! Eventually.

But he couldn't handle Xi'an like he did Ryoga or Mousse or all his other opponents. Xi'an was different. And flat out aggression wouldn't do it. He'd have to handle this with a little martial arts finesse while at the same time show Xi'an he can't win!

"You may have defeated my generals..." - he looked to Ryoga, and then at Copycat Ken standing in the distance behind him - "...and my dark army, but your pathetic efforts are futile against my power!" Xi'an eyed the timer symbolically. "Time to die, Saotome. You and your father will open the gates of Hell with your deaths and my family will be expunged from an ever-lasting purgatory!"

"Bring it on, Xi'an," Ranma retorted aggressively. "Time to finish this once and for all!"

"Quite true," Xi'an replied. "It's time for me to bring all this to fruition. No more wasting time, no more tricks!"

Genma Saotome suddenly emerged from the Tendo residence. He stood straight and tall, as if about to walk out into battle. His chest was pumped out.

He was a big man, muscular in stout. When he was a panda, he was fierce looking when angry. Just by his stance now, he looked powerful as human. But in appearance only, Ranma knew.

Ryoga smiled. For a moment, he felt proud to know Ranma's father. Genma Saotome was going to stand by his son's side and face Xi'an. To the bitter end if need be. He wished he had known his father longer to get to know him before his death.

"Pop! Stay there! We'll handle this!" Ranma waved him back.

Genma released a deep breath and then slumped. "I thought you might say that." He smiled relieved. "Good luck, son!" And then ran back into the house.

Ryoga blinked. "How the hell were you trained by such a coward?" he said to Ranma.

Ranma rolled his eyes and hissed out annoyed. "Don't ask. He used to be braver. Now, he's nothin' but big fat coward!" Ranma shouted back.

Genma Saotome was just inside the back door, and he peered out from the wall. "Just preservation, boy! If you die, then I can always sire more children. One of us has to survive. I believe in you, boy! Tak'em down!"

"Maybe you should get a DNA test to see if he's really your father?" Ryoga said.

"I've been waiting a very long time for this," Xi'an spoke godly. "The last descendants of the Saotome Clan will be washed away in a sea of blood, along with your companions." He eyed Ranma distinctly. "Your ancestors banished me and my followers to the depths of Jusenkyo. As a result, such actions also cursed my family into limbo. Past and future generations can never rest unless restitution is made - meaning your deaths!"

"Tell it to someone who cares." Ranma readied himself for an attack. "What I hear is you were bloodthirsty, attacking the Emperor of China. You lost."

"True, but only because of your ancestor's interference. Both of yours!" Xi'an eyed Ranma and Ryoga. "And now the prodigal sons have again joined forces against me once more. This time things will be different. I have take possession of Oro Hiroshi's body and my powers are undeniable. I am the undead resurrected, and I have come for revenge!"

Ranma snorted. "Typical revenge mentality. You sound just like some sadistic cartoon villain. All you power-hungry talk. All you meglomanics want the same thing. Nothing satisfies your thirst for power. But my ancestors are also dead. I can't help you. But if you wanna fight, I can oblige there!"

"You fool! This isn't about fighting. It's about lifting my family's curse and letting them rest in peace, and only by killing the last of the Saotome family line, namely you and your father, will my ancestors be freed. That's all I want!"

"So me and my father have to die just to set some already dead ghosts free? Not gonna happen!"

Ryoga put up a hand, and then said, putting a momentary halt on the aggression happening. "What if there was some way for your ancestors to be set free and Ranma and his father don't have to die? If one such option can be found?"

"Impossible! And this isn't a negotiation!"

"Yeah, man! When did you start talkin' instead of fightin'?" Ranma demanded. "What's with you lately? You've gone soft!"

"Having someone die in your arms makes a man question certain things," Ryoga reflected. "But this isn't the time or place for such things." Mentally focusing on the issue at hand, his face changed. It grew hard and determined. "Let's do this! We fight! Let's take this bastard down!"

Ranma smiled. "That's more like it."

To be continued...