The Ronins let Sakura and Ryo have their long overdue time together, but they had a job to do and needed to get on with it.
"So," Cye said good naturedly. "Who gets to be the lucky person to break up their love fest?" he said pointing at the two love struck Ronins.
"Guess I will," Kento said as he loudly cleared his throat. "um… I wonder how far it is to Talpa's castle." He loudly said.
Ryo and Sakura exchanged embarrassed glances.
"Thank you captain obvious." Sakura said jokingly.
"We can't move on yet," Ryo said.
"Why not?" Sakura questioned as the others came closer to where they stood.
"You're hurt," Ryo said gesturing to her leg.
"Oh, that." She said scoffing, "it's nothing. I'll be fine."
"How is that fine? Your bleeding." Ryo said worry in his voice.
"I won't be for long." Sakura argued.
"Awww, they're first lover's fight, how cute." Sage joked.
He was rewarded with looks that could kill from both of them. Ryo turned his attention back to Sakura. "How then, do you intend to stop the bleeding?"
"With my magic." Sakura said putting her hand on her leg. A soft glow issued from her hand and completely healed the cut.
"I didn't know you could do that." Mia said.
"Well, it depends on the type of injury; I can really only do cuts and bruises." The others nodded their understanding as they headed off towards the next gate. Once they got there, Kento pushed open the door. They got to about the middle of the courtyard when they stopped.
"Why haven't they sent anyone to attack us yet?" Sage asked looking around.
"I have a feeling that they are all waiting for us in the inner courtyard." Sakura said. "We are such a big enemy to them that they are just waiting with all of their forces and going to attack all at one time."
"Then let's not keep them waiting." Sage said as they hurried to the inner courtyard. Sakura was right, the warlords and Talpa was there waiting to attack them. They barely had time to transform into there armors when the warlords sent out their attacks. Dais was sending out webs left and right and using illusions to confuse the Ronins. Cale was using the dark to his advantage, while Sekhmet was spewing poisons and anyone who got close to him. Anubis was also in the middle of the fray attacking right and left. The Ronins were having so much trouble dodging the attacks and defending they couldn't go on the offensive. Once the warlords had weakened a member of the Ronins, Talpa would shoot them with a beam of red light from his eyes paralyzing them long enough for him to swoop down and absorb their armor. Kento was the first to get absorbed.
"Watch out for my fathers beams!" Sakura yelled to the others as she knocked a jet of poison away from Sage with a strong gust of wind. "If he absorbs you he'll grow stronger and we are minus one team member."
The others nodded their acknowledgment as they continued to battle the warlords. Cale started covering the entire courtyard in darkness. The Ronins could only swing their weapons wildly about in hopes that they would hit the enemy. Sakura and Rowen bumped into each other and fought back to back.
"Is there any way that you can get rid of the darkness with your magic?" he asked her as he fended off what he hoped was the enemy.
"I don't think, most I could possibly do is make it slightly brighter and I can't help you fight while I'm doing it." She said as she swung her sword at her opponent.
"Anything is better than nothing," Ryo's voice came out of the darkness. "and don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you."
"Ryo, concentrate on the fight, not me." She admonished as she clutched her crystal in her hand. Her crystal transformed into the staff again as Sakura placed the tip on the ground. A barrier similar to the one that held off the ghosts surrounded her and the other end of the staff gave off a blue glow. The glow gave just enough light for the Ronins to make out who they were fighting. Once they could see they were able to go on the offensive. Sakura had to concentrate to keep the light steady. If she didn't the glow would fade and they would once again be plunged into darkness. Talpa noticed his daughter concentrating on her magic and advised the warlords to distract her.
"Don't let her use her magic," Talpa yelled. "Attack her, now!" The warlords leapt into action as the rushed Sakura. But the Ronins were one step ahead forcing them away creating a ring around her. Cale was soon temporarily knocked out and the darkness disappeared. Sakura returned the staff to the crystal from and started helping the others. But Talpa was still absorbing them. It wasn't long till he had gotten Sage, and Cye. It was just Rowen, Ryo, and Sakura left and they were starting to show signs of weary. Rowen soon fell pray to Talpa's absorption and it was just Sakura and Ryo, mostly dodging her fathers blows who was now a gigantic man. Sakura and Ryo jumped on top of a nearby building, but Talpa smashed it with his hand sending Sakura and Ryo flying in different directions. Talpa set his sights on his daughter as he paralyzed her with the beams preparing to absorb her. Sakura was already weak from using her magic so much and wasn't able to hold of the paralysis.
"Hold on, Sakura." Ryo yelled as he headed toward her to help her. "I'm coming!"
But he got there to late. Talpa had absorbed her.
"NO!" Ryo cried falling to his knees. 'Not her too'