-It's begun
-Raphala region
Teepo's huge Dragon Lord form sped toward Mt. Zublo. He could tell something was wrong.... Karnak wasn't pursuing them. He pondered the thought as the sleeping volcano of Mt. Zublo came ever closer. Rei's slow spell must have done the trick; he must be back at the cabin still.
Rei was laying down on Teepo's back, thinking about the many rituals he knew of. The Great Bird ritual, the Woren's trial, he knew that Momo's clan must have had a ritual, and he figured that the Brood must have some sort of sacrifice to learn Accession. Those were all the rituals he knew. He couldn't figure out Karnak's except for the fact that it had something to do with Nina's soul, and that his was next. He looked over to his right to see Momo looking over Ryu's
wounds, now bandaged.
"There it is......" Teepo said, scanning the area for a place to land. The raging storm wasn't helping the situation any, and he was thankful that the wind wasn't blowing. He landed in a small tree grove, about thirty feet from Deis' cavern. His wing extended to the ground, and after everyone got off he reverted back to his human form.
"That's the guardian's cave?!" Momo said looking at the cave. It didn't look like much.
"Aw, hell Momo." Rei started, "If I got it wrong, at least we can use it to get out of the storm."
"Alright." Momo slung Ryu over his shoulder, and walked toward the cave. She had to admit, Rei always looked at the brighter side of things. Even in dire situations.
Meanwhile.......
In Ryu's mind.......
"COME GET ME KARNAK!!!!!" Ryu slashed again and again at Karnak's mind manifestation of himself. "WHAT'S WRONG?!" Ryu was straining to fight, then he stopped. He couldn't move..... Then Karnak dissapeared, the dark room disappeared, and Ryu found himself standing in a pitch black room, no, rather he was floating.
"What is this Karnak? Where are you?" what he got was terrifying.
"I am all around you......." Then a book floated in front of Ryu's face. It was what seemed to be bounded in black dragon flesh, with the dark dragon emblem
"What is this?" Ryu said, gazing at the book. Whatever it was, it seemed to have a very dark aura around it.
"Do you know what this is Ryu? Don't answer that. This is what gave me the power to kill your girlfriend. It will give me the power to destroy your friends. And do you know why that is Ryu? Because after many years of searching, I found the tome that gives me unlimited access to the forbidden powers of the Underworld.....yes Ryu, I sense your fear now......you probably know what this is don't you? If you don't know already, nimrod, it is the Dark Dragon Codex, and with it comes the power of the Underworld at my fingertips. It's game over Ryu, and there's not a GOD DAMN THING YOU CAN FUCKING DO ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!" What followed was a very disturbing cackle. Then the area went white, and Karnak.appeared right in front of him, book in hand.
"You know what Ryu?" Karnak said, flipping through the pages of the Dark Dragon Codex.
"Just kill me now Karnak. You got me where you want me."
"Oh how I'd love to!" He sighed, "But I can't. You see. That would be too easy. But then again. This chance happens once in a blue moon....." He got out his broadswoard, placing it just nanometers from his throat, "I could kill you right now. Thus killing your psyche and ultimately, killing you as well. But that's not bloody enough. If you ever wake up; I cou-"
"What do you mean, 'If I wake up?'"
"Oh yes that's right. When you had your little episode at the Western Checkpoint, and minutes before the rabbit came along, I casted my strongest sleeping spell on you!" He laughed again, this was getting really irritating. Ryu decided to use a little trickery right now if he wanted to wake up.
"Is that it?"
Karnak put the book away, "What do you mean by that? You done for! Your asleep for fifty frickin' years dumbass!"
"Ah yes, but you will never have your little ritual without me awake and alive and by then I'll probably be dead!"
Karnak cursed, because he knew Ryu was right, "Damn your intelligence! Fine then, your awake but I would be better off asleep if I were you!" Karnak disappeared, then Ryu could feel his eyes starting to open.......
-Deis' cave
This place hasn't changed. The elaborate walls, and the roman pillars were still standing strong. Deis was laying on a pillar, looking at the three. She was in her Indigo form, she slithered toward them.
"I foresaw you were coming." Deis said, her attention turned to Ryu, "He awakes."
Ryu vision was very blurry. When it focused, he saw all of his comrades above him.
"You're up!" said Teepo happily
"Bout time." Rei said, "You ok?"
Ryu moaned, "My head hurts."
Deis looked at him, "Your psyche was tapped."
"I know. It was by Karnak." Ryu said with much anger.
Deis' eyes shot open, she glared at Ryu, "What did you just say?"
"Karnak."
Deis breathing got heavy, "K-Karnak lives?"
"Look Deis." Rei started, "He's just as strong as Myria. The newest thing about him is that he can do some stupid ritual with Nina's soul."
"The ritual of souls......." Deis said somberly.
"The what?" Teepo said.
Deis sighed, "Relax, this is going to take awhile."
Deis started her story, "Three millennium ago. Two other indigoes, Laif & Slade plus myself were sent on a exploration mission to go beyond the western checkpoint, record our findings, and report back to the base, which was the cave you are standing in. Anyway, we found a strange ruin there, six black ziggurats that seem to be made of obsidian. Within the walls of the center ziggurat was an altar. On the altar was a book, bounded in black dragon flesh, and bearing the Dark Dragon emblem. We all knew what this book was. It was the Dark Dragon Codex. When I looked through it, I saw something called the Ritual of Souls. This ritual was to take place in a hidden room in the center ziggurat. And it was to have the heroes ofthe third destined cycle. In other words, Ryu, Nina, Teepo, Rei, Momo, Peco, Garr, and myself."
"But Garr's dead Deis." Teepo said.
"I'm not dead Teepo." A deep voice said. Out of the shadows of the cave came Garr.
However you all shall be dead soon enough........ Karnak appeared in a golden flame. The codex in his hand. "You are all invited to join my ritual!" He opened the book and a large portal appeared.
"I only have enough power to take three of you." Teepo was then being dragged into the portal.
"What the?! Rei! HELP!!!!!" Teepo yelled.
Do not interfere with the inevitable woren!!!!! A psionic disc was flung toward Rei cutting off his leg. Blood was flowing everywhere as Rei was screaming uncontrollably.
Garr was next, then Deis. They were sucked right into the portal.
"Thank you all! I shall be seeing you shortly." Karnak dissapeared in his gold flame.
Momo ran over to Rei's side, "Are you ok Rei?" she asked.
"Of course i'm not fucking ok! If you didn't fucking notice I lost a fucking leg here and i'm pretty sure I had two when I came in!!!" Rei yelled. He then submitted to the pain and passed out.
"Let's take him to your tower Momo. You could do something for him there and Peco might be around there." Ryu suggested.
"You're right I guess." They both took Rei and headed towards the tower, unaware of what was awaiting them.....
To be continued.....