Rwdrw3
(OP SURREAL BY AYUMI HAMASAKI)

Ronin Warriors: Dragon's Wrath
Chapter 3: Code of the Warrior



"I can't believe how horrible we're doing against these guys!" Kento said, slamming his fist into the table.
"Relax Kento. We've only been fighting them for a short time, we'll figure out what to do eventually." Sai said.
"So optimistic are you?" Kento said. "We've faced far more and we've beaten them easily!"
"Yes Kento, but remember; all our former opponents thought spandex was a fashion statement." Sage joked.
"Besides, these warriors are about as bad as Drakka was when we fought him. And we didn't have these high-tech suits of armor when we fought him." Rowen reminded him.
"Rowen is right. These enemies are significantly harder than any of our previous adversaries. It may take time before we figure out their weakness."
"'It may take time before we figure out their weakness'" Kento said, imiating Anubis. "Well I know who knows their weakness, but isn't talking. NAVCASE!"
"Leave him alone. He has his reasons for not telling us." Dais said.
"Well, if he doesn't, we're all DEAD!" Kento said.
"Guys, sorry to disturb you, but you might want to come see this." Mia said from the next room.

The nine heroes got up from their seats and headed into the living room to watch what was going on on TV.

"Several people were rushed to the hospital early today after recieving burns from what eyewitnesses described as acid. They reported seeing a strange walking reptile near the waterfront demanding that the Ronin Warriors be brought to him at once. Citizens of Toyama are advised to stay away from this area."

"What do we do now Ryo?" Rowen asked.

Ryo thought long and hard. This new opponent had been giving them problems. They had scraped by their first two encounters with the Draconai; the first they won by luck and the second by Navcase's assistance. He did not know why they became so disoriented when Navcase appeared. He knew there was some secret to defeating them...he just did not know what it was. Furthermore, how had Anubis protected the Ronins from that head on blast? Something was definitely going on. And then there was the voice he heard in his head. Tsubasa no Hi...what was that supposed to mean?

"Ryo? What are we going to do?" Anubis asked.
"This guy wants us...so that's what we'll give him. Let's go." Ryo said.

The nine Ronins summoned their mighty Mecha Armor and flew off to the docks to deal with their latest problem.
Upon their arrival they came face to face with one of Ceiphied's Elite. As they had noticed before, his armor was cast and sculpted to look like it was dripping with acid.

"Greetings Ronins. I am the one called Gekidoku. Learn it well, for it will be the last name you hear."
"Bring it on!" Kento shouted, charging blindly, his staff ready for action.

Igniting the blade on the tip, he slashed down, but Gekidoku dodged and backhanded Kento, knocking him away. He then took a deep breath, and spit out a blast of acid, which Kento managed to block with his shield, melting it a little.

"Poison is my specialty." Sekhmet said. "I shall deal with this warrior." he said.

Sekhmet drew his swords and charged. He swung at Gekidoku, who blocked with his claws time and time again. He spun around and nailed Sekhmet with a roundhouse kick, knocking him back as well. He called upon his breath weapon, nailing Sekhmet, but it did not damage his armor at all.

"I should have warned you. I am the Warlord of Venom." Sekhmet said triumphantly.

Gekidoku roared and fired a Chi bolt at Sekhmet, sending him slamming into a building on the pier.

"And I should have warned you, I can use Chi attacks like my younger bretheren."

He held his hands at his sides and opened fire Vegeta style, pummelling the Ronins, causing them to fall backward and look for places to hide. Sai and Kento held up their shields, but they were melting fast.

"What the?" Sai wondered.
"This is strange..." Anubis noticed as with every hit his armor was also damaged.
"What's going on?" Dais wondered.
"I also should have warned you. My curiass allows me to pump poison through my Chi blasts, harming you, but not as bad as my breath weapon does."

The Ronins charged him one after another, each one being knocked back, and slammed into something one way or another.

"Perhaps we should switch our strategy and use our other armors." Anubis said, his armor slowly melting.
"No. We wouldn't be standing if it wasn't for these things on us." Ryo said.
"Pathetic. Completely pathetic. Is that the best you can do? I've fought demons that put up more of a fight than you nine." Gekidoku taunted. "Besides, I'm only interested in Wildfire."
"If you want me..." Ryo said, charging at him and leaping into the air, "YOU'VE GOT ME!!!"

With a double kick to the face, Ryo knocked Gekidoku to the ground, and as he got up, he swung with his left sword, but Gekidoku parried, swung it down and slashed his armor with his claw. Ryo knocked him away with his machinecannons, before retracting them and whacking him with his shield, sending him flying backward. Before he made contact with the water, he spread his wings and hovered in the air.

"You're mine Wildfire." he said, taking a deep breath.
"RYO LOOK OUT!!!" Anubis shouted.

As Anubis dove for Ryo, the blast hit Ryo, causing him to scream in pain as his armor took more than the usual blow. Weakened by the attack, Gekidoku began to attack Ryo relentlessly, each blow sending Ryo reeling. He charged up for a blast, Anubis tried to get in the way to take it for Ryo, but he knocked Anubis aside, nailing Ryo head on. He charged up and uppercutted Ryo, sending him crashing into the ground.

"We've got to help Ryo!" Kento shouted.
"He can't stop all of us!" Kale shouted.

Everyone brandished their weapons and went through their katas.

"Iron Rock Crusher!"
"Arrow Shock Wave!"
"Super Wave Smasher!"
"Black Lightning Slash!"
"Snake...Fang...Striiiiiiiiiiike!"
"Web of Deception!"

The attacks lashed out at Gekidoku, but he put up his AT Field, and blocked all of them.

"Fools." he said, aiming his hand at the group and firing, knocking them out. Now only Anubis and Ryo stood between him and victory.

Gekidoku walked over to Ryo, who was still trying to get up despite his weakness. Gekidoku grabbed him with his strength and lifted him up.

"You're mine Wildfire. Ceiphied will be pleased to have you in his ranks. Any last words?" Gekidoku asked.
"Yeah!" Ryo said, kicking him in the groin area and then grabbing on to him with the last of his strength, "YOROIJETS, MAXIMUM BURN!!!!"

With that Ryo rocketed skyward.

"What is he up to?" Anubis wondered. Then he realized. "Oh dear, he wouldn't...DAMN!"

Anubis fired his own thrusters up and rocketed skyward after Ryo, who was climbing faster and faster.

"Ryo! You're going too high! The air's too thin! Even you'll suffocate without your faceplate on!" Anubis shouted as he got closer and closer.
"Anubis, get away from here! Now!" Ryo shouted.
"I've got to! I can't let him win!" Ryo shouted.
"Ryo, this is suicide! I won't let you do this!" Anubis shouted, aiming his buster shield at Gekidoku. "I've almost got a shot..."
"No Anubis! You might miss!" Ryo shouted. "Now get out of here before you get hit too!"
"No Ryo! Not that!" Anubis pleaded. "Please! I beg of you!"
"I have no choice. A samurai gives his life so that others may live." Ryo said.
"RYO PLEASE!!!! STOP THIS MADNESS!!!!" Anubis pleaded again.
"Take the buster rifle, you're in charge now!" Ryo said, disconnecting the weapon and dropping it into Anubis' hands.
"No Ryo! Don't do this! I can't accept this responsibility!" Anubis shouted back.
"Like it or not, you're in charge now! Okay Gekidoku, GIVE MY REGARDS TO YOUR FORMER MASTER!!!!" Ryo shouted, engaging the self detonate.

(A Parting Eternal kicks up)

Anubis continued to scream for Ryo to stop his suicide attempt, as the timer slowly counted down. Nothing could be heard. Ryo closed his eyes, waiting for the end to arrive. Gekidoku laughed evilly, Anubis screamed, tears streaming, for Ryo to stop. But now it was too late.

Ryo's armor exploded in a enormous display of Pyrotechnics, causing Gekidoku to fall to the ground enflamed. The other Ronins and Anubis shielded their eyes from the attack.

Gekidoku landed with a thud, just as a saddened Anubis landed. Tears were streaming from his eyes. Gekidoku slowly struggled to his feet.

"No...NO!!!!!!" Anubis shouted. "HOW COULD YOU HAVE SURVIVED!!!! AAAAAAAH!!!!" Anubis screamed, charging with his blade lit. Gekidoku spread his wings, and went airborne, with Anubis barely scratching him with the blade.

"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Anubis screamed, so loud the heavens could probably hear. The other Ronins got up, and walked over to him, weakly, while Anubis stood there, standing contemplatively over the buster rifle. Ryo's last words to him echoed through his thoughts.
"Is he...?" Kento asked solemnly.

Anubis nodded. Kento began to swear every profane word he knew. Every one of the Ronins began crying. Even the other Warlords, strong as they were, were unable to hold back their tears.

"Goodbye...Ryo." Rowen said sadly.
"You fought well...Wildfire." Dais added.

Ryo's charred helmet then fell to the ground. Rowen walked over slowly and gathered it up. The others said their solemn goodbyes and headed back to Mia's...to tell her the bad news.

"Hey guys, why so sad?" she asked. Then she seemed to understand. "What happened?" Mia asked.

Rowen stepped into the room, and showed her the helmet. Mia's eyes filled with tears, and she burst out crying. Yuli came in, and saw what remained of Ryo, and he ran to Mia and cried as well.

"It's my fault...it's all my fault!" Anubis shouted.
"Anubis, it's not your fault." Sai tried to explain.
"YES IT IS!!!! If I...If I had just been a little faster...I could have saved him...WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BE SUCH A FOOL?" Anubis screamed.
"Anubis, calm down." Sage said.

Anubis stormed off to his room.

The Forgotten Souls came in and also learned the sad news. Placing Ryo's helmet on a makeshift funeral pyre, they burned it as the others flew over in the Missing Man Formation, saluting their brave ally.

Anubis was not there to watch. Staring out the window towards the docks, he whispered, "It's all my fault..."

Standing on a building near the scene, Navcase surveyed the situation. "Well done, Ryo of the Wildfire. You are truly a Samurai. Farewell..." Navcase said before flying off.

A knock came on the door of the lab to Osaki Industries. It had begun to pour out. Kinjiro opened the door to find Navcase standing there.

"Navcase..." Kinjiro said.
"Yes. It is I. I do not have much time. Ryo has been killed. And I fear the others may die as well if my armor is not brought up to date."
"Wait, who sent you here?" Kinjiro said. "I'll call security..."

Navcase removed his robes, and Kinjiro put the reciever down and gasped as he saw the effects of the curse.

"As you can see, the curse is spreading faster. The Ronins need my help, but my armor is far too outdated. I heard that you made their Mecha Armors and that of the She-Ronins, is that correct?" Navcase said.
"Yes, it is. I was a part of that. But I don't know about your armor. I'll see what I can do." Kinjiro said.
"Hurry. It will not be long until I am one of them..." Navcase said.


To be Continued...



(A Parting Eternal continues still)

Next Episode

AYAME: Hey everyone, it's me, Ayame. Next time, Ryo comes to stay with us at the Palace, since he's kinda...well dead. Don't tell my twin sister though! Navcase goes out in his new and improved armor to help the Ronins fight the newest member of the Elite, but their biggest threat right now is...Anubis? Join us again in Ronin Warriors: Dragon's Wrath; Demon of Cruelty. ::Yawn:: I'm tired...see ya next time!