Disclaimer: I do not own Bloody Roar or its characters. Shin, Zeta, and Gamma are my creations though

Sorry to keep everyone waiting, but I kind of developed a small case of writers block. But I'm over it now so let's begin.

Chap. 8

After being dragged through the facility, Yugo finally reached a large gate. The guard opened it with his keycard and they pushed Yugo in. The gate closed behind him and Yugo found himself in a large open ring.  Parts of the floor retracted behind him, revealing a molten pit underneath him. He was trapped.

"Yugo Ohgami."

Yugo looked up and saw a skybox above him. In it were two figures, both of which were hidden in shadows.

"Who are you?"

"For now, you don't need to know. All that you should know is that you have been chosen to test the power of our Z project."

Another pair of doors opened and a woman came out, wearing a bio-technical suit. Her eyes completely blank, showing no pupils.

"Looks familiar? This is project Z, but you can call her Zeta. She has a striking resemblance, don't you think?"

Yugo looked carefully. The hair, the facial features, even the way her eyes were set.

"Uriko?"

"Ah. Bull's eye. But not quite. See, Uriko was merely a prototype for this one. We managed to clone her and recreate it in our own fashion. The sheer power of Uriko's former form, the heightened skills and speed of the Bakuryu's and an infinite energy drive all rolled into one creature. But rather than spoil it with details, how about a demonstration? Zeta, attack!"

The girl moved so fast that by the time Yugo blinked, she was right before him.

"Wha…"

Zeta lashed out with a kick, hitting Yugo in the face and electrifying him at the same time. Zeta then disappeared and reappeared behind him and used another kick to send him airborne. As Yugo was in the air, she leapt up after him grabbed him, and twirled with him upside-down, ramming his head into the ground. She then vanished away as he slowly got up.

"I bet you recognized that technique as well. It was Kenji's."

Yugo snarled as the girl floated there. This is going to take awhile.

Elsewhere…

Gamma proved to be much more of a challenge than the trio thought as he was able to use the confined space of the room to his advantage.

"What's the matter? Are you giving up so soon?"

Shina snarled as she charged at the ninja, but he merely jumped around her. Gado rushed in, but Gamma somehow managed to avoid the blow, grab his arms, swing under him, and kick him from the back side. As he was in the air, Alice launched her knee into him, backing him off. Angered, Gamma gave her a double-kick, but left himself open to Shina, who speared him into the ground. Gasping for breath, the ninja somehow hopped up and jumped on a nearby table.

"Seems like you need help, brother."

Two puffs of smoke emerged beside him and in its place stood Shin and…

"Kenji!"

"No longer. I am Bakuryu Beta. And you will die."

_____

Mitsuko and Uriko were in their cell, with Mitsuko in her beast form trying to smash down the door without much luck. Another door opened and a troop of guards came in, weapons trained on the two. Mitsuko kept her daughter in the back to protect her and stood ready to take down as many as possible before she dies. Suddenly, a shadow appeared and attacked the guards. The remaining ones fired all over the place, but wound up hitting their comrades instead and they were quickly taken down. The shadow then stopped and switched forms.

"So are you coming or not?"

"Jenny!"

"Save the pleasantries for later. The others need us right now. Come on."

______

Yugo was not doing well. The girl was beating him all over the place and he couldn't manage a single hit. Zeta vanished again and caught Yugo in the ribs, causing him to gasp for air. In response, Yugo struck up, but connected only with air. Zeta grabbed his neck and set volts of energy in him causing him to yell in pain and then hurling him aside. Yugo slowly arose, his body giving off smoke as Zeta disappeared again. Seeing no other alternative, Yugo transformed, the energy burst causing Zeta to reappear and be knocked down.  Zeta levitated up, emotionless as she watched Yugo rushed at her and attacked, each blow making contact and she was knocked down again. Again she rose and Yugo could see that none of his attacks were doing anything. She then vanished again and kicked him right in the gut. Hard. Yugo stumbled back, gasping for air. She vanished again and this time, he was hammered in the back. Yugo rolled around and growled. But as she began to fade again, Yugo glowed briefly. She disappeared and reappear before him to attack again, but his senses caught on and he had rushed at her, hitting her skyward. He then followed, using a series of attacks on her while going up. Then as a final blow, hit jaws bit into her shoulder and he charged down with her like a comet, smashing into the ground. The drive complete, Yugo reverted back to his human form and looked at the downed Zeta.

"Well done Yugo. I didn't think you'd be able to defeat her in that form."

Yugo was busy taking in air, but he heard the words, "In… that form?"

The unknown figure laughed, "Have you forgotten? She is a zoanathrope."

Yugo slowly turned to see the girl arise again and transform. She grew in an immense size, towering over Yugo. When the transformation completed, Yugo stood eyes wide in shock. She had transformed into some monster, a mixture of animals. She was mostly covering in fur and her claws were extremely long. Her head was of an unknown beast, possessing rows of razor-sharp teeth like a great white shark. And her back had a set of enormous wings. Zeta then dropped into a fighting stance.

"It's safe to say that you will die, Yugo. But it will be interesting to see what you'll try."

Yugo snarled, still facing the monstrosity that stood before him.

"In that beast drive of yours, you've used up a lot of your energy and it will take you some time to transform again. But I don't think you'll last that long. And even if you do, it won't make a difference."

Yugo clearly saw that he was trapped. It took him a lot of his strength just to beat her in her human form and now he has to fight her in this form. Yugo put his fists up ready to continue the fight. Even if it is his last. I guess this is it. I'm sorry, Alice. He prepared to charge when two figures joined beside him.

"I'm glad we're not too late."

"Long. Shenlong?"

"Don't worry. He's with us."

Shenlong snapped, "Speak for yourself. I'm here by myself. You just happened to be here."

The two Kendo master looked at the beast before them.

"So that is Zeta."

"Not much to look at, is it?"

The figure above them spoke, "Long Shin. It's been awhile."

Long looked up, "I don't believe we have met."

"No we haven't. Not formally anyway. And I see you brought your doppelganger as well."

Shenlong looked up, "Watch your mouth. Before I remove it."

A small laugh was heard, "Yes, yes. I'm sure you would try, but based on your current situation, I don't think you'll live long enough. Zeta, playtime is over. You can kill them now."

Zeta roared and the three men stood ready to fight.

"No, Yugo. You stay back. You have to recover. We'll handle Zeta."

Shenlong interjected, "Besides, you'll just get in our way."

Yugo snorted at the comment, but he backed off. The two fighters slinked toward Zeta, who didn't move.

"Now!"

The Kendo warrior leapt into action, unaware of the beast that they will battle.

To be continued…