Disclaimer: I do not own anyone except Xardion and Crysta.

Chap. 14

You have reached the journey's end

Now against me, you shall fend

Led by Crysta, the ten travelers and Whiteblaze walked into the towering structure and into a wide corridor. Crystalline lights glittered around them as they approached a gate at the end. Crysta stopped before it and turned to address the warriors.

"Son Goku, Ryu, Ryo of Wildfire, Kazama Jin, Sho Fukamachi, Cloud Strife, D-Boy, Liu Kang, Tenchi Misaki, Megaman X. This is it."

She indicated to the gate, "Xardion awaits you behind this gate. You have all fought, both with yourselves and with others and have performed magnificently. But Xardion may be the most powerful opponent you ever face."

Goku grinned happily, "Really? You mean it?"

Crysta returned the smile, "Yes, I mean it Goku." She then redirected to everyone, "To defeat him, you must hold nothing back. I know for a fact that he won't."

The gate began to slide open, "If you can defeat him, then you can all return to your homes. If not..."

She didn't finish the sentence as the gate was now fully opened. Crysta gave the men a short bow before walking away in the opposite direction.

"So this is it." Ryu commented

D-Boy added, "There's no turning back now."

Cloud stepped through first, "Alright, guys. Let's mosey."

All of them stepped through the gate to the other side. Within was a massive chamber, towering high over their heads. Further down, there was a large opening, which led right back outside. And standing in front of it...

"You've come, at last. I've been waiting for you."

It was him. Xardion. He was still cloaked in his grey robes and hood, but now the robe seemed to be covered with blue-grey feathers. Xardion strode over to them a bit and removed his hood, revealing his face. He was dark skinned, with medium black hair. Gray feathers were intertwined with it and were partially over his face. But what were really shocking were his eyes. They were sapphire in color and glowing slightly, just like Crysta's. However, these eyes were more intense and focused.

"Those eyes." Ryu muttered. "He really won't be holding back."

The next surprise came when the bluish feathers on his robe began sliding off. But they didn't hit the floor. Rather, they shot upward revealing a set of large hawk-like wings. Jin was almost shocked by it.

"Wings? Are you...a devil?"

"No. But the race I'm a part off possesses such wings." He then cocked his head, "You would probably fit in nicely."

"Race?" D-Boy shouted. "You mean you're not human?"

"I'm only half human. The other half is of an alien race known as gemadors." He then looked over the side, "Much like you, Tenchi."

Tenchi blinked and then nodded at the meaning. Xardion's wings folded inward behind him.

"Now, let's begin."

The ten set themselves in fighting stance and prepared to fight. Those who weren't in their transformed state did so now.

"Armor of Wildfire! Tao Chi!!!"

"Guyver!!!"

Tek-Setta!!!"

Meanwhile, Goku decided to start off strong by transforming into his Super Sayia-jin form. A golden aura shot around him as his hair stood up and his eyes changed green. Xardion watched all of this, but didn't seem too impressed.

"Now that that's done with. Gemador!!!"

A flash of light encased around him and he transformed into a sort of armor. It was shaped much like Crysta's except that it seemed slightly more bulky. It was colored gray and black and had strange helmet over his head. A long blue cape billowed out from his back and hooked on his left side was a sheathed blade.

"Whoa. His energy signal is very great." X commented.

Ryo nodded, "This might take a while longer than we thought."

Xardion removed his helmet and dropped it on the ground, revealing his head once again. Only difference now is that his eyes were glowing intently. He settled into a fighting stance.

"Come."

Goku decided to fight first, launching himself at the warrior with a punch. Xardion blocked and Goku swung around in the air with a kick. That too was blocked. Goku decided to push it by releasing a barrage of punches on Xardion. But no matter what he through out, Xardion either blocked, parried or dodged the attacks. Goku backed away and grinned.

"Hey, not bad. This might be more fun than I thought."

Goku powered up and charged, but in a split second, Xardion ducked the attack and spun in the air, hitting Goku in the chin with a rising kick. Goku flew back in the air and Xardion jumped up above him and smashed him into the ground. He then followed up with a power sweep, sending Goku sliding on the ground.

"Fast."

But before he had even said that, X was in the air. His X-Buster fully charged, he fired a massive bolt at Xardion. Xardion raised his arms and blocked the beam of energy. As he stepped back, X came at him again, firing more bolts of energy. Xardion jumped and hopped around the beam and suddenly shot at X with a kick. X raised his arm and blocked the blow, but it was hard enough to rattle him. X stepped back and shot forward in a dash punch. Xardion dodged it, but the punch was a feint as X's body became filled with energy once again. Twisting around, he fired, at a closer range this time. Xardion was blasted by the beam, but he managed to flip off the ground. X however didn't see that and began charging up again. But upon seeing Xardion still standing, he fired, albeit prematurely. Xardion easily evaded the shot and smashed his fist on X's chest, hurling him back.

"Not bad, hunter. But I'm no mere maverick."

Xardion then turned to see Liu Kang running up to him. He was barely able to dodge the Flying Kick as Liu soared past him. Liu then landed on the ground, spun around and shot a mid-kick. Xardion raised his arm to block, but Liu spun again and his fist hit Xardion in the chin. Pushing it further, Liu launched two more punches. But Xardion had recovered from the first attack and blocked the second punch. The third punch, Xardion grabbed and reversed with a sharp kick in the ribs. Liu Kang backed off a bit but managed a forward flip in the air and kicked Xardion back. Landing briefly, he summoned his chi once again and went into another Flying Kick. But Xardion blocked it, leaving Liu wide open as Xardion ducked briefly and hit him with a powerful uppercut. Liu flew up into the air and landed with a thud. Xardion rubbed his cheek.

"That hurt."

Guyver I then flew into the scene and hit Xardion in the back with his knee. Xardion stumbled and rolled on the floor as Guyver I charged again. Reacting, Xardion suddenly leaped into a flying knee of his own, knocking the bio-booster unit back. Xardion now moved in to attack, but the sensor on the Guyver's head moved and the Guyver suddenly leaped up off the floor and put his hands together. A black sphere formed within and Guyver I launched his Pressure Cannon. However, protrusions on Xardion's back shot open and he suddenly zipped off to the left. The sphere flew past and exploded on the ground. As Guyver landed, Xardion leaped toward him again and gave him a direct blow in the chest. As he was stunned, Xardion swung his leg out, hitting Guyver's head and impacting the control medallion. At this, Guyver I was hurt severly and was dazed. Xardion finished it with yet another flying knee into Guyver's chin, sending him in the air and crashing into the ground. Xardion landed softly as he gazed at the six remaining fighers while Liu Kang, X, Goku and Guyver I were all on the floor around him.

"Next."

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Four of the greatest fighters leveled by this one warrior? What kind of powers does Xardion have? Will the others fare any better against him? Stay tuned...

AN: I have the images of Xardion and Crysta set up if you wish to see them. If you do, just ask through my e-mail, seeing as how I can't put it down here.