The Sixth Ronin Warrior
Chapter 6
The Dynasty's Emperor
We knew what Kayura came here to do. She was here to bring back the remaining warlord back to the service of the Ancient. However, we also knew that we were here to rescue the scouts and banish the dynasty from the mortal world once and for all.
"Man, I'm hungry," Kento whined.
"Well, Kento, if I had something to cook and something to cook with I'd get you something to eat. However, food should be the last of our worries right now," Sai declared.
I agreed, but I could feel and hear the uneasiness in my stomach because of my hunger. I brushed off the idea of food quickly.
The halls formed an intricate labyrinth that didn't help us in saving time. We finally stopped and thought about where the scouts could be. I heard another sound. This time it wasn't a scream of agony, but a big blast of power. It came from the same direction as Serena's cry. That worried me. Could they be being tortured? Is it their own power creating the big blasts?
"That's strange," Sage said. "Are they free or did they feel that blast?"
I stared straight ahead. It was hard to tell anything.
"I don't know, but we need to find out or there won't be any scouts to save," Ryo declared.
Once again we ran toward the direction that the sound came from. Eventually we arrived at a gigantic door. There were a few dynasty soldiers to fight with and the ronins finished them off quickly. The door was over twelve feet tall. It wasn't as big as the dynasty gates, but it seemed that way.
"Iron Rock Crusher!"
Kento blasted our way through the doors. Behind the crumbled remains we found the statue-like scouts hanging from their wrists in individual sections.
This is too easy, I thought. There has got to be something here to keep us from getting to them so easily.
The ronins didn't go after the scouts right away. "Something's not right. This is too easy," Ryo said aloud. "Come out whoever you are!"
A sinister and smoky voice spoke. "You are not as dumb as you look Ronin Warriors. Of course you can't just pick up your friends and leave. Sekhmet finish them."
"My pleasure my lord," Sekhmet said as he stepped forward from the fog.
"So this is how you deal with us," I yelled. "Through your servants! Man! You're lazy!" I knew my words would come back and hit me in the face, but I didn't care.
"Sekhmet, we don't want to hurt you," Ryo explained.
"No, of course not, I want to hurt you. I'm not as weak as the other fallen warlords."
"They didn't fall. They're themselves. This is not who you are, Sekhmet," Ryo said.
"Enough, I've heard enough! Snake Bite Strike!" His swords of poison came at us with lightning force and speed. We had no time to react. The force slammed us to the ground. The effects of the blow were intense.
"Man, he's juiced!" Ryo declared after we were on the ground trying to pull ourselves up. I groaned like the others as I did my best to stand and raise my bow and arrow. Ryo raised his twin katanas at the same time.
"Flare Up Now!"
"Love Star Arrow, Strike!"
Sekhmet failed to pay attention to us after he had shot us down. The attack hit him directly. He faltered, then fell to the ground.
I stood observing our handiwork. Rowen, Sage, Ryo, Sai, and Kento were standing tall (they had recovered quickly after the warlord's attack) and watched as Sekhmet's armor disappeared to reveal a human being with green hair and big snake eyes. I wavered a little. A great deal of my energy had left me. I managed to keep upright.
Kayura arrived and spirited the remaining warlord back to where the others were. The Ronin Warriors waited for the mysterious dynasty ruler to reveal himself.
* * *
The smoky voice spoke again, "Well, it looks like I've got a little challenge."
"You've got more than a little challenge in store for you!" Kento yelled.
"Calm down, boy," he cooed, "I am Black Devil, sworn to continue Talpa's rein into the mortal realm as he once wanted. All I want is your armors. The warlords' armors are weak and useless to me. Yours on the other hand have proven several times that they are powerful."
I shifted nervously. I had no idea what to do. Ryo saved me from my thoughts.
"There is no way you or anyone from the dynasty is going to get our armors. So, you might as well forget about our armors or go down trying to get them!" he said.
I stood out to the side as the ronin armors began to glow brilliantly. My eyes grew wide. The power of five came together in flashes of light and burst of flame. Through the blaze I saw the white armor of inferno. The sight was unbelievable. Black Blaze ran up behind Ryo so he could grab the fervor swords.
"So this is the Armor of Inferno. Very impressive," he said. His dark form stepped out from the shadows to reveal an armored warrior that greatly resembled Talpa.
Everyone gasped. "If I knew any better you could actually be Talpa," I said.
"That I could. You will find that I will be more of an adversary." He laughed evilly and leapt into the air.
"Raven Lightning Scream!"
Blackness surrounded me. Where is everyone? I can't see! It's as if I'm totally blind! No! I raised my bow and arrow as a possible defense. It was in vain. I screamed in agony with the others as I felt the full force of the attack.
* * *
I could see again. The other ronins were lying on the ground as I was. I turned my head toward Ryo and Black Devil. I couldn't have been out of it for too long because they were still going at it like they didn't need any rest. The ronins, to my surprise were still unconscious. Black Blaze was standing at my side like a bodyguard.
I tried my best to get up. I groaned loudly because of all the effort it took. Black Devil took a look my way and gave me a very surprised look. He continued to fight. I had a clear shot of him. I raised my bow and arrow and aimed. Careful not to let him see.
"Love Star Arrow, Strike!"
The golden arrow soared over Ryo's shoulder. "Ryo! Use the Rage of Inferno Now!"
Without hesitation he charged up the armor.
"RAGE OF INFERNO!"
The red and white-hot power of the Inferno engulfed the new emperor as his body and armor disintegrated before my eyes. His scream of pure terror and humiliation echoed throughout the Nether Realm, which, once again, held no more of the dynasty.
* * *
To my dismay the scouts had not stirred. They still stood as cold statues in their bonding.
The ronins were standing behind me as I noticed this. Ryo placed his hand on my shoulder as Rowen stepped forward.
He retrieved five golden arrows from his pack and held them between his fingers. As he brought his hand high over his head he said, "Since my armor is Life Force I may be able to bring them back. Sailor Scouts wake up! Arrows of the Armor of Strata bring them back!"
He threw the arrows toward the scouts. Before an arrow sunk into their flesh, the arrows melted into a gold dust and flowed over them. Their eyes opened and they fell to the ground. Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury landed softly on their feet, while Sailor Moon landed very clumsily. She began to wail loudly.
"That hurt!" she whined.
We all laughed.
"Now that's a sound I never thought I would have missed!" Sage said aloud as we laughed all the harder.
* * *