Ronin Warriors: Next Generation: Forever You Will Know Me

Ronin Warriors: Next Generation: Forever You Will Know Me

By: Shadow Chaser

Chapter 8

Rowen felt himself slowly tumble towards the Earth and back to the Nether Realm. If I don't do something soon, I'm gonna get fried by reentering the atmosphere, Rowen thought to himself. He glanced behind him and saw Raven and Kayura following him at a close distance and gaining.

"Strata, you will not escape me!" Raven cried out, bringing his crossbow to bear on Rowen.

Rowen ducked instinctively as a black colored arrow of energy whizzed by the side of his head. He closed his hands together and a protective sphere of blue energy surrounded him, slowing his decent and acting as a cushion to the fiery heat of him entering the atmosphere. He glanced back again and saw that Kayura had disappeared and Raven was forming his own bubble. Damn! Either he has almost the same power I have, or his armor was specially made to defeat the Strata armor, countering all it's attacks and powers. Hell, we even have almost the same weapons, Rowen thought bitterly as he saw the cold unforgiving ground of the Nether World come slowly up to his feet. He touched down and looked up for any sign of Raven. Suddenly he felt a metal chain wrap around his throat, cutting off his air supply. He automatically reached with his hands to pry off the chain, gritting his teeth as the chain slowly squeezed his neck, choking him to death. He suddenly felt himself yanked into the air and the chain uncoiled from his neck. Rowen saw a figure whiz pass him, and then he saw bright flashes before his eyes, followed by intense pain as he slammed into a rocky cliff. He laid there, stunned from the force of the impact.

"Are you happy now Raven? I got him in sub-armor mode" Kayura's voice could be heard from his closed eyes.

Rowen slowly cracked them opened, and stared into a horridly scarred face with dark blue eyes that matched his own. He noticed that his armor had faded away, leaving him with his slightly cracked sub-armor.

"So how does it feel Strata, to be helpless, with no one to help you," Raven sneered, stretching a particular scar across his left cheek into a hideous smile.

"Sanjuro was right, you are not who you were," Rowen commented, glaring back at Raven.

Raven's eyes flashed suddenly with inhumane fury as he backhanded Rowen across his face, splitting his lip. Rowen grinned a bit as he found the weak point of Raven. He tasted blood, and reached up a hand; he felt three parallel lines running across his chin, a bit sore. Raven must have sharp knuckles for that, Rowen thought as he pushed himself up to a sitting position, wincing a bit as a sharp pain raced up his spine.

"Shadow soldiers! Take this one away to the pools. He needs a lesson he will never forget, and prepare my Cerberus whip," Raven said standing up.

Three Shadow soldiers materialized, and grabbed hold of Rowen, hauling him to his feet and forced him to stand.

"Reflect on your mistake Strata, because it would be your last one before you die!" Raven said, and waved his hand. The Shadow soldiers disappeared along with Rowen.

"My lord, Strata is back in our hands. Shall I proceed with the plan?" Raven asked the sky, knowing that Shadow Lord could hear him anywhere.

"Yes. Lady Kayura, Elements is attempting to escape again," Shadow's voice boomed over the sky, sounding distracted.

"Yes, my lord. I obey," Kayura said and flashed off to another area in the Nether World.

Strata, you will meet your end, Raven thought as he grinned maliciously.

* * *

Kareyn glared at the Nether spirits gathered around her, trying to get to her armor.

"Why don't you guys just piss off and take a vacation. Better yet, take a hike!" Kareyn yelled, her anger mounting up, as the spirits continued to chant.

"Oh, and have you ever tried to listen to the group Chant? They are even better than you!" she sarcastically said, and pushed against the bubble they formed around her.

"You will become one of us," one of the priest said, and Kareyn noticed that he had an elaborate hat on his head.

"Like hell I will. So you're the head honcho; why don't you shove your goddamn chants up your ass and let it stay there," Kareyn yelled, then winced as a bolt of black-lightning lanced at her hip, penetrating the armor and she felt intense pain coming from that area.

"Now, now, testy aren't we Elements?" Lady Kayura's voice said, and Kareyn snapped her head up to see the last of the Ancient's clan hovering above her containment bubble.

"What do you want traitor?" Kareyn demanded.

"I think you're not in a position to make such demands. However I do have some interesting things to show you," Kayura replied and floated to eye-level with Kareyn.

"Like hell I'll find them interesting. I've got nothing to do with the likes of you. You betrayed the Ronin Warriors and you expect me to just see what you have?" Kareyn said.

"Why did you come here then? To become the female Ronin who kicks everyone's ass?" Kayura asked, irritated, "if you had not come, then Shadow Lord's plan would be easier."

"Glad I'm the one who messes up things," Kareyn replied sarcastically, "I am not the female Ronin who kicks ass, I am a warrior. Trained to defeat the Red Dungeon and its evil forces, also to destroy Shadow Lord and Shadow Realm. I've only asked for the Ronin's help and they supplied it. Now I am going to be the one who will destroy Shadow Lord."

"I'm sure you will. While you dreaming, take a load of this! Quake With Fear!" Kayura yelled, and Kareyn felt blinding pain enter through every pore, every nerve of her body, paralyzing her.

She tried to use her healing powers to deflect the attack, but felt that the sure-kill was added on with a hint of intense dark power only from Shadow Lord.

"Kareyn of the Elements, if I were you, I wouldn't worry your pretty head off about Strata, he will soon be one of ours, as is your daughter," Kayura said, and disappeared.

"I'll get you Kayura, if it is the last thing I do. You will not harm Rowen or my future daughter," Kareyn whispered, her strength drained out of her, as she collapsed onto her knees.

She didn't even noticed the Nether spirits converging on her, as she passed out from Kayura's fierce attack and the black-lightning tendrils coming from the Nether spirits.

* * *

Cye for once since he escaped, was glad that Kento made it out of the prison Dais was holding him in.

"Come on man, let's take a breather. I'm exhausted from running," Kento's voice said behind him, followed by a couple of deep breaths.

"Kento, we have to find the others," Cye explained to his friend, who sat down, his back to a musty wall.

Suddenly the rumbling footsteps of Nether soldiers clamped near them. Cye used his sub-armor's enhanced power to jump to the roof of the wall. He felt the tiles on the roof rumble a bit as Kento landed next to him.

"How many on the ridge?" Kento whispered, glancing behind him to make sure there were no "smart-ass" Nether or Shadow soldiers creeping up on them.

"About four. Shadow Lord's beefing up security," Cye whispered back, keeping his head low as so the soldiers wouldn't see him.

Suddenly, a spiked ball lanced out at them from the middle of nowhere, hitting Kento in the chest and sending him sprawling to the ground. Cye glanced at the direction the ball had come from and saw Dais and someone who was decked out in a dark-crimson red European style armor. Oh no, not her. I thought I defeated and killed her, Cye thought with dread as he recognized the armor.

"So, Torrent, we meet again," the red-clad person said, holding out a very large and sharp-bladed death-scythe.

"Quasa, Warrior of Annihilation, I thought I killed you when we fought the Red Dungeon," Cye said, his sea-blue eyes narrowing in slightly controlled anger.

"Do I look dead, pretty boy?" Quasa said, her rich alto voice, slightly deeper and had a hint of dark aura around it.

Cye felt boiling anger bubbling up inside of him as he glared daggers at Quasa. Back, a month ago, when he and the Ronins were helping Kareyn fight the Red Dungeon, Quasa had tried to seduce him, and almost succeeded, but Kento intervened, and literally knocked him to his senses.

"Oh no. No, no, no! Not her again. Dais, why don't you just stay in your spider's lair instead," Kento complained, landing next to Cye after disposing of a couple of Nether soldiers, "Cye, you better watch yourself, last time, she almost had ya."

"Don't worry Kento, I'll be fine," Cye said, "Armor of Torrent! Dao Shin!"

"Armor of Hardrock! Dao Gi!"

There were two bright flashes then Cye and Kento appeared in their armors.

"Alright! I'm ready for you Torrent! Meet your doom!" Quasa said, and lunged at Cye.

What the hell? It's almost like she's eager to battle. Something's not right here, Cye thought as he brought up his yari to block the red bladed scythe. Cye brought up the yari in another parry as Quasa continued to lunge at him. Suddenly he slipped on a tile and fell down the roof-wall and onto the hard, rocky ground between walls. Cye felt himself short of breath as he had the wind knocked out of him. His yari landed a few feet away from him; it's bladed end sticking on the ground. Whoa, I could have landed that fall, what's wrong with me? Cye questioned himself, but he already knew the answer; he was still exhausted from the fierce battle with Blackhawk and from running around the maze of walls. He sat up, feeling a sudden dizziness wash over him, and shook his head a bit to clear it.

"Don't even think about moving an inch Torrent," the voice of Quasa said, and Cye glanced at the corner of his eyes, and saw the red tip of the scythe pointed at the side of his neck. He returned his gaze straightforward and heard the clomping footsteps of Quasa as she walked around to face him.

"I bet you're looking for this?" the Warrior of Annihilation said, holding up his yari in front of his face, "uh, uh. Don't even think of moving or you're going to be sliced and diced."

Cye reached his left hand up, and felt the tip of the scythe dig a bit into his neck, but he ignored the pain and rubbed his right shoulder, the one with the camouflaged dagger that came with the Torrent armor.

"Stand up," Quasa commanded and Cye stood up, glaring at her, "You know, I should kill you right now, but you're too handsome for that to happen, so I guess I don't know what to do."

Cye lifted the handle of the dagger a bit; "I know what you could do, Blackhawk! You could go to hell for all I care!"

He ducked under the scythe-blade and lifted the dagger up. Looking into the Warrior of Annihilation's face, he saw hints of Blackhawk in there, seething mad. Stabbing the dagger into her right shoulder he stepped back and grabbed his discarded yari.

"You…how could you…" Quasa stuttered, shock mirroring all over her features as she stared mutely at the dark blood running down her red-armor, deepening the color. She glanced up, her glowing green eyes flashing with inhumane fury.

Cye stepped back a bit, as Quasa charged at him, waving her weapon around like a halberd. He blocked her attacks, and one glance into her eyes, he knew that somehow, Blackhawk had managed to revive Quasa and possess her. Her eyes were psychotic.

"Feel the force of destruction Torrent, for you shall pay with blood. NUCLEAR WARHEAD!" Quasa screamed, swiping her scythe in a circle.

"SUPER WAVE SMASHER!" Cye yelled, holding his yari as blue-yellow energy burst though the bladed end of the weapon.

Both sure-kills met in the middle, creating a giant pressure dome of water-energy and nuclear energy. Armor of Torrent, lend me your power to defeat this foe, Cye thought, and he felt his armor tingle then felt power add on to his sure-kill. He looked up at Quasa and saw fear in her eyes, as his sure-kill combined with hers and ran a warpath towards her.

"NO! Torrent, you will pay! Some day I will get you!" Blackhawk and Quasa's voice overlapped each other as she was obliterated by the sure-kills.

Cye collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from the power drain. The only thing he could do was breathe.

* * *

Where am I? Rowen wondered as he saw though blurry, hazy eyes at the purple-red scenery.

"Welcome from back from the land of the unconscious," a deep baritone voice said, brining Rowen's head around to his left.

"Raven," Rowen sneered as if it was a curse word. He struggled from the chains wrapped around his arms and legs, binding him above the Spirit Pool.

There was a snapping sound as Raven cracked his Cerberus whip, the three heads of the whip digging sharply into the ground.

"Rowen of the Strata, my relative. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Raven said, draping the whip around him.

"Yeah, go to hell!" Rowen said, and suddenly felt incredible pain race across his back as Raven's wrist flicked, sending the Cerberus whip flying at him.

"Defiant to the end. Just like my traitorous brother Sanjuro. Allow me to introduce you to my Cerberus whip. It has three ends, just like the three-headed dog of Greek mythology. Except these could cut though your sub-armor," Raven said, and flicked his wrist again.

Rowen winced as the bladed ends rip though his sub-armor and scratched though his skin. He refused to cry out, not even giving an inch to Raven's pleasure. My sub-armor should heal me, but those damned Nether spirits are keeping it from doing it, he thought as he winced again as another crack tore at his suspended body.

"Come on, Strata, you know that you are in a lot of pain. Cry out, and I will stop it. Or do you want some more?" Raven taunted, and cracked the whips twice, making six fresh new lines appear over Rowen's sub-armor, and three fresh new cuts.

Rowen glared ahead, his head not moving as he stared at a particular point in the pool. I will not submit to him. I will be strong like the winds of my armor; they will give me Life, he thought stubbornly. Out of the corners of his left eye, he saw a purple flash then Lady Kayura appeared.

"Ah, my dear Lady Kayura, so glad you could join us. It seems that Strata is a bit of a problem. Perhaps you might be of an assistance," Raven said, mock politely.

"Certainly, my lord," Lady Kayura said, her voice dripping with honey.

Rowen saw her float up, toward him. He kept his gaze ahead at a particular spot.

"My, my Strata, such hatred. Are you up to your heroic act again? You know that you caught me off guard that first time, but I guess it won't work," Kayura said, one of her fingers tracing the outline of his face.

"Get your hands away from me," Rowen said angrily. He glanced deep into her eyes and saw the real Kayura inside, fearful and slightly pissed off.

"Oh, you don't like me? Your heart is still set on little, Miss Elements? Well, let me show you," Kayura said, and summoned a viewing portal.

"If you touch her or harm her in any way Kayura, I swear you will pay for it!" Rowen angrily said then his defenses came down as he saw her, beaten up, and hanging limply from the chains. An occasional black-lightning snaked its way up and electrocuted a part of her. "No," Rowen whispered, staring in horror at the way she was, defeated and barely a single drop of her usual fierceness coming from her.

Suddenly Rowen hissed in pain and his back arched involuntarily as Raven struck, the whip's three heads digging deep into his flesh. There were three more cracks and Rowen felt drained, from the assault. He slowly began to put up his mental defenses like Sage taught him.

"I think Strata is a bit more willing now Raven. If you do not need any more of my assistance, I will be checking on Elements," Kayura said her voice a bit shaky, and disappeared.

"Nether soldiers! You may start the process on this one now. If he resists, tell me," Raven said and waved the Nether soldiers, which converged on Rowen.

Armor of Strata…Life…hold on Kareyn, hold on Kaira, I will be there…soon, Rowen thought as he passed out from the blue-black lightning the Nether spirits threw at him.

* * *

Kareyn slowly opened her eyes, and noticed that she was still in the containment bubble, but there were no Nether spirits around her. What the hell? Where are they? She thought with curiosity, as she glanced down and saw that the pool was also calm. Suddenly there was a flash of purple and Lady Kayura appeared.

"What do you want bitch?" Kareyn asked, extremely pissed off.

"I…I…came to tell…you…I'm sorry," Kayura stammered, and Kareyn's eyes narrowed.

"What, that you're sorry for destroying my daughter and boyfriend!" Kareyn yelled into her face.

"I am not who you think. I subdued the Nether spirit within me, with the help of another," Kayura said, almost afraid to go near her.

"Yeah, right, and I'm Moe of the Three Stooges," Kareyn said, not believing a word she said.

"Trust her Elements, for she will free you," a voice said, around the room, making Kareyn turn her head around to see who it was.

"Where are you spirit! Is this a trick!" Kareyn said, suspicious.

"No, this is not a trick child," the voice said, and Kareyn recoiled as the spirit materialized next to Kayura.

"Rowen?" Kareyn asked, tentatively, not too sure of the blue-haired, blue eyed person without any legs.

The spirit laughed, "No, I am Sanjuro Hashiba, Rowen's ancestor and the first bearer of the armor of Strata."

"Oh, my god…tell me I must be dreaming," Kareyn exclaimed, shocked at seeing what was an almost exact copy of Rowen, but a bit more muscular and tougher build.

"You will be when I get though with you!" the voice of Sekhemet said, as Kareyn landed on the edge of the pool, freed by Kayura with the Ancient's staff.

"Armor of Elements! Dao Shi!" Kareyn yelled, forming up the Elements armor.

She put her hands together as if in prayer and her arms stretched outwards, making her arms and fingers look like a human arrow. Rolls of cherry blossoms shot around her and a black-silver glow erupted from her hands, as she gritted her teeth against the pain of the transformation. Suddenly there was a flash, and she spread her arms apart as the blossoms curled around her, and when they touched her sub-armor, they formed into the Elements armor. Lastly came her katana, draped across from her right shoulder to her left hip on her back. There was another flash and Kareyn found herself back in the Nether world. She pulled the katana out of its sheath and held it in an en guarde position.

"You are bold, Kareyn of the Elements," Sekhemet said, and launched himself at her.

"You are foolish. Fight the demon within Sekhemet," Kareyn yelled back and brought her katana up in a counterattack.

She parried and thrusted her weapon at the future-Warlord of Venom, as he dodged and countered.

"Snake Fang Strike!" Sekhemet yelled, and waved all six of his sword around his head.

"Earth's Fury Attack!" Kareyn yelled, bring her sword against her face and across her eyes, finally swiping it at Sekhemet.

Kareyn grinned a bit as she saw her sure-kill blow straight towards Sekhemet, and tossed him into the Nether pool, where he was converged by Nether spirits, tricked into thinking that he was Kareyn.

Re-sheathing her katana, Kareyn glanced at Kayura and the spirit of Sanjuro, "Let's go and get Rowen and the others."

Sanjuro grinned, and lead the way out.

* * *

Author's comments:

Okay peoples, the usual disclaimer, but in a shortened version. I do not own Ronin Warriors; they belong to whomever they belong to. Although I own Kareyn and the C-Ronins, they are my creations, so ask if you want to use them. Okay, next chapter: The C-Ronins chapter, (Yahh!!) and more on our escapees.

Character Info:

Quasa, Warrior of Annihilation-

She appeared in the Red Dungeon story (which I am going to write after I'm done with this one), and is the nemesis of Cye. In the Red Dungeon story, she had tried to seduce Cye, and almost succeeded but due to the intervention of Kento, she failed. Cye later killed her, when they faced off against the whole Red Dungeon.

Dedications:

Onyx, my buddy old pal and amiga! Also Chibi Shadow Chaser, for her contributions and reading this over. You guys are the greatest. Also a special note, for those of you who do not know Moon Guardian, she is a great friend of mine and this chapter is also dedicated to her.

Note:

I will be going on a short break due to projects and other stuff I cannot put off, so these chapters will be coming in slow. Email me if you have any comments!