Chapter 14: Training
"Serena have you lost you mind?" Ryo asked when he found out I appected the challage. I truned to him qiuckly with murder in my eyes, he was the fourth person to ask me that. " No I haven't lost my mind and if someone asks me that again I going to kick thier ass!" I said harshly and walked off leaving Ryo stunned. As I walked I heard someone following me, it was Yuli. " Serena?" He asked, I stop and waited for him to said what he wanted. " Be careful please." I was suprised he didn't ask me why I was going to fight the warlords but I smiled. "I will be. Don't worry Yuli." " But I am. They nearly killed you last time and I don't want you to died." "Don't worried I won't died, it take more then the likes of the warlords to kill me." I said then I thought for a moment, I removed my bracelet from my wrist.
"Here Yuli. If I get in trouble hold this barcelet really tight and think about the our virtues and I'll win as long as you have faith in me and think about those virtues." I said remembering what the barcelet did for me once. " Now I am going to train. Hopefully the Seasonal will help me, they know the tricks of the Dynasty and will probaly know to fight the Dynasty better then Ryo and the others." I said to him as I walked to where I knew Anubis and the other Seasonals would be. I stop a moment wondering what to do. I knew they probaly wasn't be too happy about me going to fight the warlords but I knew if I didn't appect the challage then the warlords wouldn't fight us and we would have to come up with another plan.
"So here you are." I jumped five feet up I didn't hear someone come up behind me, it was Dais. "Will you stop doing that? You're as bad as the others." I said but I wasn't as angery as I was suprised, it was rare for someone to be able to sneak up behind me. " You should focus on your surroundings, you walked right past me. If I was a warlord I would have killed you already." He said, I deiced to ask. " I know, that why I came here ..... the warlords appected the challage but only if I fought them and I know the four of you know the tricks of the Dynasty and I ...." " You wanted our help?" Sekmeht asked coming forward, I nodded cursing myself for not speaking but the Sesonsal warriors was very imataing and even if I didn't admit to them or anyone else they scared me sometimes even if they had changed to the side of good.
"I can train on my own but I wanted to see if you would help me. A lot rides on this battle." I said. "Why did you appect the warlords's challage?" Anubis asked. "If I didn't appect the challage then the warlords won't fight us and we would have to come up with another plan. And then the Dynasty may come after us with more then we can handle." I said to him, he nodded. " How long do we have?" "The battle starts at three o clock, it's eight o clock now. We have eight hours." " Five to trian you in two for you to rest and one to get ready and go to the spot you are souppse to go to fight at." I nodded stopping myself from sighing in relive knowing I might be going over my head.
We had five hours of trianing with my armor and I promised myself I would never ask those four to train me again, they put a new meaning to the words: intense training. "You look like you just fought a hunderd Dynasty soldiers and lost Serena." Saber said as I flopped down on the ground right after training. "I feel like it. Remind me to never ask those four to train me as long as I live. I gratful for the help but they are like slave divers." I complained as I put my armor orb up, Saber smiled sheepishly. " You shouldn't have just said that." I look at the dircetion he was pointing and almost had a heart attack. " Uh oh." I said and scambled away from the four Seasonal warriors. "Slave divers huh?" Cale asked raising an eyebrow, I smiled nevrously,I didn't see Anubis slipped in behind me.
"QUAKE WITH FEAR!" was the cry, forcing me to jump as the chains tried to ensare me. "How many times have I told you to be careful about what you say Serena!" asked Anubis, I quickly moved, while listening to what he was telling me. I looked at the Seasonals like I thought they just lost their minds but I was smart enough to know I got to move away from them and thier attacks. As I moved away from Anubis, I felt a major sting to me back. "BLACK LIGHTNING SLASH!" Cale had struck! "Never give your opponent an opening!" he said, as suddenly, the entire area turned pitch black! " Try and find me if you can Serena." he said mockingly to me.
I truned around in the darkness starting to panick. "Stop it Serena I can't panick or I'll make a mistake. Where is he?" I asked. I have to get to the forest and maybe I have a chance but how to get there and have these four to follow me is a problem. I quickly reviewed the layout of the training area in my head, trying to figure out who would strike next and where. As I proceeded toward the forest, I felt another blast from Cale but it was to my left, he had missed me on purpose. "Aren't you going to try and use your senses to find me, little girl?" he said, in a mocking tone of voice. My blood start to boil at that comment, if there anything I hate it's being call it's little girl. I remembered what Cale had taught me once, I closes my eyes blocking out what I saw, to hear. It was quiet other then the sound of my breathing, and soemone else's. I turned the my left where I heard the breathing coming from and tried to kick Cale across the face.
"Is that the best that you can do? Anubis is half my age, and he can hit me much harder." mocked Cale when he blocked my kick, as he prepared another strike with his no-datchi. Unfortunetly for him, he took too long, and this gave me the edge that I needed. Hearing him pull his sword and prepare to use his sure kill again, I zeroed in on
the sound and hit him hard in the chest, knocking him to ground, and restored light to the area. " Alright Cale but you asked for it." I said tried of his wise cracks at garbing a dagger I alway carried with me in a small pocket in my left boot, I held the dagger close to his thoart, Cale looked up at me. "O.K. Serena, you've won this round. But do you think that you can still beat Dais, Anubis and Sekmeht also? That is the challange that is laid out for you in this training session." he stated. "You mean this was a setup to begin with?" I asked more shocked then I should have been as I removed the dagger from his thoart and stood.
"Well, when you insulted us, we came up with a plan that would allow us to get back at you, as well as see how far you had come along on your training." said the former Warlord of Corruption and Darkness. I don't want to fight you guys. You're my allies and my friends even if you are creepy. I thought to myself but nodded trying to see if Dais, Anubis or Sekmeht was aporching, one thought chased another my knowing this was training and pay back for my insulting them but I was relucture to fight the four. " I know that you look upon us as allies, Serena, but today, we are teachers. And your job is to show your teachers how much you have learned. Now go, and make us proud." stated Cale, as he started to stand up. I never thought I heard that from anyone escally not from Cale but nodded knowing he was right and mental perpared myself for the training ahead but I couldn't help but shiver slighty knowing my worse fear was the training aganist Dais: the master of illusion. As I moved from where Cale was, I started wondering:Who would be next? Would it be Dais or Anubis or would it be Sekmeht?
As I moved towards the woods, I suddenly felt a chill run down my back. As I turned, I heard some all too familair words: " SNAKE FANG STRIKE!" I doged to the left with not a moment to lose. Okay Sekmeht the one to fight now. How did Cye fight this guy? I don't have my armor and I can't fight him with my one dagger. I thought to myself. "What's the matter Serena? Snake got your tounge? Or are you too afraid to use your senses and your mind to figure out how to beat me in combat?" half sneered, half challanged the Ronin of Venom. " Oh brother, not the wise cracks agian." I muttered to myself then I trying to remember anything Cye told me about his battles with Sekmeht. Water! Sekmeht's amor is weak aganist water! I knew that somehow, I was going to have to get Sekmeht near water to negate the effects of his sure kill. The trick was going to be how to get him there and stay in one peice. Ok there a river but that two miles from here. How can I get him there? I asked myself but Sekmeht decied to stirke again with his sure kill this time, I manage to get out of the way but it still caught me in the shoulder. I bit down a cry of pain as my mind raced. A lake not far from here. I remember, Ryo and Saber fought the warlords near there. If I can somehow reach that body of water, without him doing more damage to me, I can defeat him. I thought and with that I began to run a zig zag course through the woods, leaving just enough of a trail for Sekmeht to follow. " Ha, so you run from me? Well we play snake and mouse." Sekmeht said as he followed me just like I planed.
I groaned inward. Again with the bad jokes. Well, this is one mouse that is going to outsmart the big snake. I thought, trying to come up with a plan of attack, I jumped up on a branch of a tree near to the lake and held my breath as Sekmeht run right under it. " Hiding?" He asked me. "Hey, snake breath!" I yelled and swung down putting all the streange into my legs and kick Sekmeht right in the chest which made him fall into the lake only a foot behind him, but I hung on to the branch not sure if it was the end of the fight. "Curse you Serena! Now you've gone and gotten me wet. For that I will make you pay!" Sekmeht prepared to fire another Snake Fang Strike, but this time, to no avail! I smiled a bit gald I listen well to Cye's stories of his and Sekmeht's battles.
"That what you get for the bad jokes and for attacking me." I said and dorpped to the ground ready to move if I needed to escape. Sekmeht could not believe it. "Torrent must have told you of our battles, you and Torrent seem to stick together." I nodded but looked over my shoulder wondering if he was trying to distarct me from something. " Yep, we Mouris stick like glue Sekmeht. And I listen well." "Well, you have defeated half of your teachers, but you still have a pair to go, young lady. And these two will not be so easy to defeat as Cale and myself. Dais and Anubis are a pair of seasoned warriors. You will need all of your wits to defeat them." stated a dripping wet Ronin of Venom. " That what worries Sekmeht." I said not knowing I said it loud enough for him to hear it. The question now is, which one will strike next? Will it be Dais I'll admit he's the one that scares me or will it be Anubis, the most noble of them. I thought worried. " And unfortunely for me I think with my heart. I don't know if I'll be able to strike at him." I said to myself talking about Anubis, I amdire him and wasn't sure what to do when the time came to fight him.
As I moved along the edge of the forest, I caught a glimpse of metal out of the corner of my eye. As I turned, I quickly was engulfed by black chains! "So, you didn't keep your mind on what was going on. That could cost you in a fight." said a voice that was familiar to me. It was ANUBIS! Knowing I had to get out of those chains I struggled to my best and was able to garb my dagger and cut thourgh the chains making them release me, I stood facing Anubis. " So, my young apprentice, are you ready to fight with honor, or will I have to grind it into you?" growled Anubis, swinging his no-gari around his head. "I don't want to fight you but if I must I will." I said choking down my emotions moving back to give me room to fight. "Then so be it! But remember, not all opponents will fight with honor." proclaimed Anubis, as he jumped into the air, preparing to strike at me. I move to the side and slashed at Anubis but my hand was unsteady.
"You let your emotions guide you, my pupil. Instead of guiding you, allow them to aid you in a fight! Use the power that they have to aid you in a fight!" stated Anubis as he blocked my blow with ease. I have to figure out a way to make him lose his armor, so that I can take him out, it won't be easy though. He is easily the most intelligent of all the Seasonals. I thought as I dodged his attacks, then I noticed something. Wait he not wearing his helemet. Of course he never does since he stoped sevreing Talpa, that his weak spot. I thought to myself and then not letting my emotions get the best of me, I slashed at Anubis's face with my dagger. "ARRGH! What have you done to me Serena!" Screamed an irrated and hurt Anubis, I stepped back from his anger. I felt a bit of shame at the attack but harden my feeling. I can't let my emotions get the best of me. Anubis forgive me but I have to do this. And with that, I unleashed a series of quick strikes with my dagger, forcing Anubis to his knees. I stop parying I had to do no more to him to stop this battle, but I stood ready to fight if it was still needed.
"Very.. well ... done, Serena. You used your emotions to your advantage, and sought an opening. I am very proud of you." said an exhausted and bloody Anubis. "And now, you have to face the toughest challange of them all. I know that you can do it Serena. If you could defeat the three of us, you can handle... Dais." said a very proud Anubis. I nodded placing my dagger back in it's resting place. I can't believe this, I haven't even fought him and I already feel I'm way over my head. I just hope what Kento keeps says about him is not ture or I am dead. I did my best to hid my worry. I was a good acteress but I think Anubis knew what was going thourgh my mind. "I wish I could offer more support Serena, but each Seasonal has his own abilites. It wouldn't be honorable for me to give you any aid in defeating Dais. You have to do so on your own." he stated. I nodded and walked off to find Dais before he found me.
As I moved into the forest, I began to think about illusions. What makes illusions different from other visual stimulation? If I can figure that out, I can beat Dais. Suddenly I saw a flash of chains and heard. " Web of Deception!" I ducked and roll to the side barely avoiding the attack but Dais disappered. "Blast it! That was too close. I need to start paying attention, or else, I'm toast!" I muttered to myself. Suddenly, I saw Ryo in front of me! "Ryo, what are you doing here? I thought that this was supposed to be my training session?" I asked and I almost stepped to him when I saw he has no shadow. "Oh no." I mutterd realiztion hitting me like a ton of bricks and I moved away from the illusion qiuckly. "Not bad, Serena. You're using your head. But will that save you from what awaits you in this forest? Surrender now, and I will go easy on you." Dais gloated.
"Over my dead body!" I yelled back to him trying to find him. " That can be arranged! WEB OF DECEPTION!!!" Called out Dais, as a sticky string of web hit me, causing me to be stuck to a nearby tree. I stuggled but felt the web tighen on me refusing to budge. "Now I remember why I hate spiders." I said trying to get out of the web and get away but I couldn't reach my dagger and the more I struggled the more the web tighen it's grip on me, Dais moved in closer. "Well now, my pretty, will you surrender or do I have to get nasty?" he smirked at me. I growled at Dais knowing now why Kento really hated this guy in the Dynasty Wars, fighten I was but I really is getting angery.
"Never." I harshly in almost a whisper since the web was so tight I was having some trouble breathing. "Very well then. But before I am through, you WILL surrender." And with that, he sent morning stars at me! "You just have to say the word, and all this will end." he stated calmly, I bit my bottom lip hard enough to make it bleed as I bit back a cry of pain. Suddenly things got cold and the chains started to release me. I garbed my dagger and slashed at Dais as the chain fell to the ground. " I don't think so." I said sensing the tables may be turning. "What! How could you escape my webs?!" " Times to turns the tides Dais, better surrender." I thearten. "You should know that I will never surrender. You will surrender to the power of my abilites!" And with that, he disappeared into the shadows. I looks around cautionly and nevrous knowing I had to be fast on my feet or Dais could get the upper hand again.
While I was looking around, Dais was planning another illusion to cause me trouble. If Ryo didn't work, maybe her brother will work. he thought to himself. I looked around feeling just like when Cale used his power to make everything dark. Suddenly, I looked up and saw my brother right in front of me! "Cye, is it really you?" I asked. Then I stop myself and shook my head. " I not dumb enough to fall for that twice Dais." I called and moved away from the illusion and watched for Dais to stirke. "So, you figured out my illusion. Very well then. Prepare for a beating!" he said, as morning stars began to fly toward me. I mange to avoid most of them but few caught me. Then it got colder as I got angerier, I could see my breath.
Then without thinking about it I summon up the cold that I felt, I focused it toward where the morning stars are coming from, and shot a blast of ice toward Dais! Both Dais and I was greaty suprised. " How the heack did I do that?'' I asked myself in shock. Dais was especially surprised! So, she is learning more about her powers, whether she is wearing her armor or not. Interesting! he thought to himself, as he escaped the snowblock that was enveloping him. I wipe the blood from my lip wondering but deceied to use my power as long as it didn't get out of contorl. Finally after many more blasts, dodges and near captures, Dais stopped attacking me as we came to a darw. "You managed to defeat me, which few have ever managed to do. You'll do well in the battle against the new Dynasty Warlords." he said.
I nodded but sank to my knees tired from fighting all four Seasonal warriors without armor and summoning ice, I discovered my wounds was many as I rested for a moment. Anubis who had been wacthing moved over to aid me. "I'll help you over to Sage and Kayura, so they can heal you." I looked up at him suprised. " Where did you come from? I thought you and the others went back to the camp." I said but tried to stand on my own not wanting help, Anubis smiled. "After you went to battle Dais, Sekmeht, Cale and I followed you. We didn't interfere, but we saw how well you fought. Now stop being so stubborn, and let me help you over to Sage and Kaurya." he said.
"If I can handle fighting Dais and the rest of you without armor I can handle the walk." Sekmeht and Cale shook thier heads from where they was wacthing the exchange. "If you are having trouble walking, then you need help. Stop being so stubborn!" Sekmeht said, I shot him a look and start to limp on my own. But then I saw the wisdom of what Anubis was saying. The others won't let me fight if I seem to be weaken. I thought to myself and said. "OK, I'll let you help me, but first we go see Sage about healing me, then we go see Kayura in regards to what happened during that fight with Dais." I said. " Oh? About what?" Anubis asked, I remembered Dais was using a illusion to cover himself when it happened so the others might not have saw what happen. "Ask Dais he the one it hit."
Dais's face turned red. "She put me on ice without her armor, that's all." he muttered. Anubis, Cale and Sekmeht turned in surprise. " She put you on ice without her armor! We definetly need to talk to Kayura about this!" said Anubis, his voice showing shock and wonder. I nodded but started to feel the effects of battle and the effect from certian attacks. " Why did it happen Anubis? I don't even know how I did it." I admitted. "I'm not certain either Serena. That's why I think we need to talk to Kayura about this." Said a wondering Anubis. "But lets get you healed. After all, you did get hit by both a Snake Fang Strike and Black Lightning Strike inculding both my and Dais's attack!" he said. I rolled my eyes remembering what else Cale and Sekmeht threw at me, not just their attacks. And with that, I was picked up and taken to Sage at the camp.
But I saw a red faced Cye heading our way as we got into the camp. " Uh oh. I don't think that a illusion." I said as I stood on my own two feet. " Serena where have you been?" Cye asked sounding worried. "Um ..... training." I said parying he didn't see the blasts mark from the Seasonal's attacks. "If you were out training, then how did you get those marks?" he asked angerly, I gulped knowing I was in trouble now. "Um ... well... I ..." "Well, what? Now answer me!" I gulped more looking at the Seasonals for help.
"Serena needed some sparing partners for this upcoming battle against the new Warlords, so we volunteered." said Dais. "More like the second part was volunteering as payback." I muttered luckly Dais didn't hear me nor did the other Seasonals warriors. Cye looked at Anubis, Dais, Sekmeht and Cale with a dark look in his eyes. "If she gets hurt, you are going to be in so much trouble!" "A little late for that Cye." I says qiuetly then seeing Sage and to avoid trouble from Cye I qiuckly walked over to where Sage was but Cye wacthed me and opened his mouth to say something. "Serena!! How badly did you get hurt by them?" I ingored Cye in fear of what he may do as I walked over to Sage. "Sage, I need your assistance over here, if you aren't busy!" I called out. " Serena answer me!" Cye yelled. " Not badly." I said lying knowing he may not leave me alone untill I answered him.
"If you are lying to me, I will make sure that you are grounded for life!" he yelled at me. "Too late." I muttered to myself, Sage came out of his tent. "Serena! What happened to you?!" he asked me looking alittle shocked. "You don't want to know." I muttered to him and looked over my shoulder at Cye who was wacthing. Sage nodded seeing the look on Cye's face and he began to heal me. As he did so, Cye came over. "Serena, I want answers and I want them now. What went on with you and the Seasonals?" "Nothing." I says careful not to look him in the face, Cye moved around to see my face as Sage finished and stepped back not wanting a part of this fight. "Quit lying to me sis. Now answer me, right now!" Buzz off Cye!" I said and started to stand. " I'm fine! They was just helping me train!"
"You call coming to camp with bruises and burns training? Now answer me!" he yelled at me. " Lay off Cye! I needed some extra training, and the Seasonals were willing to do that! Now, if you will excuse me, I need to speak with Kayura!" And with that, I left the group in front of Sage's tent. Everyone wacthed the agurement and me strom off. " Remember Serena he's only looking out for you." Mia whispered as I walked past her. " I can take care of myself, Cye needs to learn that." I muttered and walked to find Kaurya knowing I going to get it later.
A few minutes later, I arrived at Kayura's tent. "Excuse me Kayura, could I talk to you please?" I asked, Kayura came out. " What is it?" I asked but unknown to me, she heard what just took place. "Earlier today, while I was training with the Seasonals, something happened. I unleashed a blast of cold and ice at Dais, without using my armor! That has never happened before, I don't know if I'm bonding with my armor on some level I didn't realize I was capable of. Do you have any idea what could have caused that?" I enquired.
Kaurya thought for a moment. " I hate to admit it but I don't know. Maybe there more to you then you or the rest of us knows." I looked away, I didn't know why it was happening. "Serena?" I heard Ryo call my name, I groaned to myself. "Kayura do you know anything that could help me disapper right now?" I asked Kaurya knew what I meant. " No, you have to face him and the others sooner or later. And believe me, Serena, it's better if you face the problem sooner." She said fixing me with a look that said that I wasn't getting any help from her on this matter. "Oh brother, this is just not my day." I muttered and walked outside and while I tried to get away I came face to face with Ryo.
I turned to qiuckly walk away but Ryo garbed my wrists before I could get away. " Ok Serena time for you to explain." He said I was seriously thinking of making him let go but I made the mistake of looking him in the eyes, I can't look someone in the eyes and tell a lie at the same time. And I knew that look he shot me, the one that said if I lied to him I would regret it later, soen Ryo asked again I told him. "I see." He said thinking over what I told him. "Well I think you better go rest we don't have long before you have to go fight." He said, I nodded and went into my tent and rested what little time I had left.
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Hi Icefire here, frist thing I like to say I don't own Ronin Warriors. Seacond I like to say this story isn't just mine, it aslo belongs to my friend and panter Harry since he and I are cowriting this story. Harry helping me alot in this story so he desevre the cerdit too.
The Seasonal was trianing Serena but then after her smart mouth comment they turn it up a nocth and Serena ends up in a stiution I wouldn't wish on anyone. But during her battle agansit Dais she summons ice with out her armor! But she still have to deal with the warlords. Will her training be enough? Will the warlords try something? It looks like you have to find out in Chapter 15: Power grows
"Serena have you lost you mind?" Ryo asked when he found out I appected the challage. I truned to him qiuckly with murder in my eyes, he was the fourth person to ask me that. " No I haven't lost my mind and if someone asks me that again I going to kick thier ass!" I said harshly and walked off leaving Ryo stunned. As I walked I heard someone following me, it was Yuli. " Serena?" He asked, I stop and waited for him to said what he wanted. " Be careful please." I was suprised he didn't ask me why I was going to fight the warlords but I smiled. "I will be. Don't worry Yuli." " But I am. They nearly killed you last time and I don't want you to died." "Don't worried I won't died, it take more then the likes of the warlords to kill me." I said then I thought for a moment, I removed my bracelet from my wrist.
"Here Yuli. If I get in trouble hold this barcelet really tight and think about the our virtues and I'll win as long as you have faith in me and think about those virtues." I said remembering what the barcelet did for me once. " Now I am going to train. Hopefully the Seasonal will help me, they know the tricks of the Dynasty and will probaly know to fight the Dynasty better then Ryo and the others." I said to him as I walked to where I knew Anubis and the other Seasonals would be. I stop a moment wondering what to do. I knew they probaly wasn't be too happy about me going to fight the warlords but I knew if I didn't appect the challage then the warlords wouldn't fight us and we would have to come up with another plan.
"So here you are." I jumped five feet up I didn't hear someone come up behind me, it was Dais. "Will you stop doing that? You're as bad as the others." I said but I wasn't as angery as I was suprised, it was rare for someone to be able to sneak up behind me. " You should focus on your surroundings, you walked right past me. If I was a warlord I would have killed you already." He said, I deiced to ask. " I know, that why I came here ..... the warlords appected the challage but only if I fought them and I know the four of you know the tricks of the Dynasty and I ...." " You wanted our help?" Sekmeht asked coming forward, I nodded cursing myself for not speaking but the Sesonsal warriors was very imataing and even if I didn't admit to them or anyone else they scared me sometimes even if they had changed to the side of good.
"I can train on my own but I wanted to see if you would help me. A lot rides on this battle." I said. "Why did you appect the warlords's challage?" Anubis asked. "If I didn't appect the challage then the warlords won't fight us and we would have to come up with another plan. And then the Dynasty may come after us with more then we can handle." I said to him, he nodded. " How long do we have?" "The battle starts at three o clock, it's eight o clock now. We have eight hours." " Five to trian you in two for you to rest and one to get ready and go to the spot you are souppse to go to fight at." I nodded stopping myself from sighing in relive knowing I might be going over my head.
We had five hours of trianing with my armor and I promised myself I would never ask those four to train me again, they put a new meaning to the words: intense training. "You look like you just fought a hunderd Dynasty soldiers and lost Serena." Saber said as I flopped down on the ground right after training. "I feel like it. Remind me to never ask those four to train me as long as I live. I gratful for the help but they are like slave divers." I complained as I put my armor orb up, Saber smiled sheepishly. " You shouldn't have just said that." I look at the dircetion he was pointing and almost had a heart attack. " Uh oh." I said and scambled away from the four Seasonal warriors. "Slave divers huh?" Cale asked raising an eyebrow, I smiled nevrously,I didn't see Anubis slipped in behind me.
"QUAKE WITH FEAR!" was the cry, forcing me to jump as the chains tried to ensare me. "How many times have I told you to be careful about what you say Serena!" asked Anubis, I quickly moved, while listening to what he was telling me. I looked at the Seasonals like I thought they just lost their minds but I was smart enough to know I got to move away from them and thier attacks. As I moved away from Anubis, I felt a major sting to me back. "BLACK LIGHTNING SLASH!" Cale had struck! "Never give your opponent an opening!" he said, as suddenly, the entire area turned pitch black! " Try and find me if you can Serena." he said mockingly to me.
I truned around in the darkness starting to panick. "Stop it Serena I can't panick or I'll make a mistake. Where is he?" I asked. I have to get to the forest and maybe I have a chance but how to get there and have these four to follow me is a problem. I quickly reviewed the layout of the training area in my head, trying to figure out who would strike next and where. As I proceeded toward the forest, I felt another blast from Cale but it was to my left, he had missed me on purpose. "Aren't you going to try and use your senses to find me, little girl?" he said, in a mocking tone of voice. My blood start to boil at that comment, if there anything I hate it's being call it's little girl. I remembered what Cale had taught me once, I closes my eyes blocking out what I saw, to hear. It was quiet other then the sound of my breathing, and soemone else's. I turned the my left where I heard the breathing coming from and tried to kick Cale across the face.
"Is that the best that you can do? Anubis is half my age, and he can hit me much harder." mocked Cale when he blocked my kick, as he prepared another strike with his no-datchi. Unfortunetly for him, he took too long, and this gave me the edge that I needed. Hearing him pull his sword and prepare to use his sure kill again, I zeroed in on
the sound and hit him hard in the chest, knocking him to ground, and restored light to the area. " Alright Cale but you asked for it." I said tried of his wise cracks at garbing a dagger I alway carried with me in a small pocket in my left boot, I held the dagger close to his thoart, Cale looked up at me. "O.K. Serena, you've won this round. But do you think that you can still beat Dais, Anubis and Sekmeht also? That is the challange that is laid out for you in this training session." he stated. "You mean this was a setup to begin with?" I asked more shocked then I should have been as I removed the dagger from his thoart and stood.
"Well, when you insulted us, we came up with a plan that would allow us to get back at you, as well as see how far you had come along on your training." said the former Warlord of Corruption and Darkness. I don't want to fight you guys. You're my allies and my friends even if you are creepy. I thought to myself but nodded trying to see if Dais, Anubis or Sekmeht was aporching, one thought chased another my knowing this was training and pay back for my insulting them but I was relucture to fight the four. " I know that you look upon us as allies, Serena, but today, we are teachers. And your job is to show your teachers how much you have learned. Now go, and make us proud." stated Cale, as he started to stand up. I never thought I heard that from anyone escally not from Cale but nodded knowing he was right and mental perpared myself for the training ahead but I couldn't help but shiver slighty knowing my worse fear was the training aganist Dais: the master of illusion. As I moved from where Cale was, I started wondering:Who would be next? Would it be Dais or Anubis or would it be Sekmeht?
As I moved towards the woods, I suddenly felt a chill run down my back. As I turned, I heard some all too familair words: " SNAKE FANG STRIKE!" I doged to the left with not a moment to lose. Okay Sekmeht the one to fight now. How did Cye fight this guy? I don't have my armor and I can't fight him with my one dagger. I thought to myself. "What's the matter Serena? Snake got your tounge? Or are you too afraid to use your senses and your mind to figure out how to beat me in combat?" half sneered, half challanged the Ronin of Venom. " Oh brother, not the wise cracks agian." I muttered to myself then I trying to remember anything Cye told me about his battles with Sekmeht. Water! Sekmeht's amor is weak aganist water! I knew that somehow, I was going to have to get Sekmeht near water to negate the effects of his sure kill. The trick was going to be how to get him there and stay in one peice. Ok there a river but that two miles from here. How can I get him there? I asked myself but Sekmeht decied to stirke again with his sure kill this time, I manage to get out of the way but it still caught me in the shoulder. I bit down a cry of pain as my mind raced. A lake not far from here. I remember, Ryo and Saber fought the warlords near there. If I can somehow reach that body of water, without him doing more damage to me, I can defeat him. I thought and with that I began to run a zig zag course through the woods, leaving just enough of a trail for Sekmeht to follow. " Ha, so you run from me? Well we play snake and mouse." Sekmeht said as he followed me just like I planed.
I groaned inward. Again with the bad jokes. Well, this is one mouse that is going to outsmart the big snake. I thought, trying to come up with a plan of attack, I jumped up on a branch of a tree near to the lake and held my breath as Sekmeht run right under it. " Hiding?" He asked me. "Hey, snake breath!" I yelled and swung down putting all the streange into my legs and kick Sekmeht right in the chest which made him fall into the lake only a foot behind him, but I hung on to the branch not sure if it was the end of the fight. "Curse you Serena! Now you've gone and gotten me wet. For that I will make you pay!" Sekmeht prepared to fire another Snake Fang Strike, but this time, to no avail! I smiled a bit gald I listen well to Cye's stories of his and Sekmeht's battles.
"That what you get for the bad jokes and for attacking me." I said and dorpped to the ground ready to move if I needed to escape. Sekmeht could not believe it. "Torrent must have told you of our battles, you and Torrent seem to stick together." I nodded but looked over my shoulder wondering if he was trying to distarct me from something. " Yep, we Mouris stick like glue Sekmeht. And I listen well." "Well, you have defeated half of your teachers, but you still have a pair to go, young lady. And these two will not be so easy to defeat as Cale and myself. Dais and Anubis are a pair of seasoned warriors. You will need all of your wits to defeat them." stated a dripping wet Ronin of Venom. " That what worries Sekmeht." I said not knowing I said it loud enough for him to hear it. The question now is, which one will strike next? Will it be Dais I'll admit he's the one that scares me or will it be Anubis, the most noble of them. I thought worried. " And unfortunely for me I think with my heart. I don't know if I'll be able to strike at him." I said to myself talking about Anubis, I amdire him and wasn't sure what to do when the time came to fight him.
As I moved along the edge of the forest, I caught a glimpse of metal out of the corner of my eye. As I turned, I quickly was engulfed by black chains! "So, you didn't keep your mind on what was going on. That could cost you in a fight." said a voice that was familiar to me. It was ANUBIS! Knowing I had to get out of those chains I struggled to my best and was able to garb my dagger and cut thourgh the chains making them release me, I stood facing Anubis. " So, my young apprentice, are you ready to fight with honor, or will I have to grind it into you?" growled Anubis, swinging his no-gari around his head. "I don't want to fight you but if I must I will." I said choking down my emotions moving back to give me room to fight. "Then so be it! But remember, not all opponents will fight with honor." proclaimed Anubis, as he jumped into the air, preparing to strike at me. I move to the side and slashed at Anubis but my hand was unsteady.
"You let your emotions guide you, my pupil. Instead of guiding you, allow them to aid you in a fight! Use the power that they have to aid you in a fight!" stated Anubis as he blocked my blow with ease. I have to figure out a way to make him lose his armor, so that I can take him out, it won't be easy though. He is easily the most intelligent of all the Seasonals. I thought as I dodged his attacks, then I noticed something. Wait he not wearing his helemet. Of course he never does since he stoped sevreing Talpa, that his weak spot. I thought to myself and then not letting my emotions get the best of me, I slashed at Anubis's face with my dagger. "ARRGH! What have you done to me Serena!" Screamed an irrated and hurt Anubis, I stepped back from his anger. I felt a bit of shame at the attack but harden my feeling. I can't let my emotions get the best of me. Anubis forgive me but I have to do this. And with that, I unleashed a series of quick strikes with my dagger, forcing Anubis to his knees. I stop parying I had to do no more to him to stop this battle, but I stood ready to fight if it was still needed.
"Very.. well ... done, Serena. You used your emotions to your advantage, and sought an opening. I am very proud of you." said an exhausted and bloody Anubis. "And now, you have to face the toughest challange of them all. I know that you can do it Serena. If you could defeat the three of us, you can handle... Dais." said a very proud Anubis. I nodded placing my dagger back in it's resting place. I can't believe this, I haven't even fought him and I already feel I'm way over my head. I just hope what Kento keeps says about him is not ture or I am dead. I did my best to hid my worry. I was a good acteress but I think Anubis knew what was going thourgh my mind. "I wish I could offer more support Serena, but each Seasonal has his own abilites. It wouldn't be honorable for me to give you any aid in defeating Dais. You have to do so on your own." he stated. I nodded and walked off to find Dais before he found me.
As I moved into the forest, I began to think about illusions. What makes illusions different from other visual stimulation? If I can figure that out, I can beat Dais. Suddenly I saw a flash of chains and heard. " Web of Deception!" I ducked and roll to the side barely avoiding the attack but Dais disappered. "Blast it! That was too close. I need to start paying attention, or else, I'm toast!" I muttered to myself. Suddenly, I saw Ryo in front of me! "Ryo, what are you doing here? I thought that this was supposed to be my training session?" I asked and I almost stepped to him when I saw he has no shadow. "Oh no." I mutterd realiztion hitting me like a ton of bricks and I moved away from the illusion qiuckly. "Not bad, Serena. You're using your head. But will that save you from what awaits you in this forest? Surrender now, and I will go easy on you." Dais gloated.
"Over my dead body!" I yelled back to him trying to find him. " That can be arranged! WEB OF DECEPTION!!!" Called out Dais, as a sticky string of web hit me, causing me to be stuck to a nearby tree. I stuggled but felt the web tighen on me refusing to budge. "Now I remember why I hate spiders." I said trying to get out of the web and get away but I couldn't reach my dagger and the more I struggled the more the web tighen it's grip on me, Dais moved in closer. "Well now, my pretty, will you surrender or do I have to get nasty?" he smirked at me. I growled at Dais knowing now why Kento really hated this guy in the Dynasty Wars, fighten I was but I really is getting angery.
"Never." I harshly in almost a whisper since the web was so tight I was having some trouble breathing. "Very well then. But before I am through, you WILL surrender." And with that, he sent morning stars at me! "You just have to say the word, and all this will end." he stated calmly, I bit my bottom lip hard enough to make it bleed as I bit back a cry of pain. Suddenly things got cold and the chains started to release me. I garbed my dagger and slashed at Dais as the chain fell to the ground. " I don't think so." I said sensing the tables may be turning. "What! How could you escape my webs?!" " Times to turns the tides Dais, better surrender." I thearten. "You should know that I will never surrender. You will surrender to the power of my abilites!" And with that, he disappeared into the shadows. I looks around cautionly and nevrous knowing I had to be fast on my feet or Dais could get the upper hand again.
While I was looking around, Dais was planning another illusion to cause me trouble. If Ryo didn't work, maybe her brother will work. he thought to himself. I looked around feeling just like when Cale used his power to make everything dark. Suddenly, I looked up and saw my brother right in front of me! "Cye, is it really you?" I asked. Then I stop myself and shook my head. " I not dumb enough to fall for that twice Dais." I called and moved away from the illusion and watched for Dais to stirke. "So, you figured out my illusion. Very well then. Prepare for a beating!" he said, as morning stars began to fly toward me. I mange to avoid most of them but few caught me. Then it got colder as I got angerier, I could see my breath.
Then without thinking about it I summon up the cold that I felt, I focused it toward where the morning stars are coming from, and shot a blast of ice toward Dais! Both Dais and I was greaty suprised. " How the heack did I do that?'' I asked myself in shock. Dais was especially surprised! So, she is learning more about her powers, whether she is wearing her armor or not. Interesting! he thought to himself, as he escaped the snowblock that was enveloping him. I wipe the blood from my lip wondering but deceied to use my power as long as it didn't get out of contorl. Finally after many more blasts, dodges and near captures, Dais stopped attacking me as we came to a darw. "You managed to defeat me, which few have ever managed to do. You'll do well in the battle against the new Dynasty Warlords." he said.
I nodded but sank to my knees tired from fighting all four Seasonal warriors without armor and summoning ice, I discovered my wounds was many as I rested for a moment. Anubis who had been wacthing moved over to aid me. "I'll help you over to Sage and Kayura, so they can heal you." I looked up at him suprised. " Where did you come from? I thought you and the others went back to the camp." I said but tried to stand on my own not wanting help, Anubis smiled. "After you went to battle Dais, Sekmeht, Cale and I followed you. We didn't interfere, but we saw how well you fought. Now stop being so stubborn, and let me help you over to Sage and Kaurya." he said.
"If I can handle fighting Dais and the rest of you without armor I can handle the walk." Sekmeht and Cale shook thier heads from where they was wacthing the exchange. "If you are having trouble walking, then you need help. Stop being so stubborn!" Sekmeht said, I shot him a look and start to limp on my own. But then I saw the wisdom of what Anubis was saying. The others won't let me fight if I seem to be weaken. I thought to myself and said. "OK, I'll let you help me, but first we go see Sage about healing me, then we go see Kayura in regards to what happened during that fight with Dais." I said. " Oh? About what?" Anubis asked, I remembered Dais was using a illusion to cover himself when it happened so the others might not have saw what happen. "Ask Dais he the one it hit."
Dais's face turned red. "She put me on ice without her armor, that's all." he muttered. Anubis, Cale and Sekmeht turned in surprise. " She put you on ice without her armor! We definetly need to talk to Kayura about this!" said Anubis, his voice showing shock and wonder. I nodded but started to feel the effects of battle and the effect from certian attacks. " Why did it happen Anubis? I don't even know how I did it." I admitted. "I'm not certain either Serena. That's why I think we need to talk to Kayura about this." Said a wondering Anubis. "But lets get you healed. After all, you did get hit by both a Snake Fang Strike and Black Lightning Strike inculding both my and Dais's attack!" he said. I rolled my eyes remembering what else Cale and Sekmeht threw at me, not just their attacks. And with that, I was picked up and taken to Sage at the camp.
But I saw a red faced Cye heading our way as we got into the camp. " Uh oh. I don't think that a illusion." I said as I stood on my own two feet. " Serena where have you been?" Cye asked sounding worried. "Um ..... training." I said parying he didn't see the blasts mark from the Seasonal's attacks. "If you were out training, then how did you get those marks?" he asked angerly, I gulped knowing I was in trouble now. "Um ... well... I ..." "Well, what? Now answer me!" I gulped more looking at the Seasonals for help.
"Serena needed some sparing partners for this upcoming battle against the new Warlords, so we volunteered." said Dais. "More like the second part was volunteering as payback." I muttered luckly Dais didn't hear me nor did the other Seasonals warriors. Cye looked at Anubis, Dais, Sekmeht and Cale with a dark look in his eyes. "If she gets hurt, you are going to be in so much trouble!" "A little late for that Cye." I says qiuetly then seeing Sage and to avoid trouble from Cye I qiuckly walked over to where Sage was but Cye wacthed me and opened his mouth to say something. "Serena!! How badly did you get hurt by them?" I ingored Cye in fear of what he may do as I walked over to Sage. "Sage, I need your assistance over here, if you aren't busy!" I called out. " Serena answer me!" Cye yelled. " Not badly." I said lying knowing he may not leave me alone untill I answered him.
"If you are lying to me, I will make sure that you are grounded for life!" he yelled at me. "Too late." I muttered to myself, Sage came out of his tent. "Serena! What happened to you?!" he asked me looking alittle shocked. "You don't want to know." I muttered to him and looked over my shoulder at Cye who was wacthing. Sage nodded seeing the look on Cye's face and he began to heal me. As he did so, Cye came over. "Serena, I want answers and I want them now. What went on with you and the Seasonals?" "Nothing." I says careful not to look him in the face, Cye moved around to see my face as Sage finished and stepped back not wanting a part of this fight. "Quit lying to me sis. Now answer me, right now!" Buzz off Cye!" I said and started to stand. " I'm fine! They was just helping me train!"
"You call coming to camp with bruises and burns training? Now answer me!" he yelled at me. " Lay off Cye! I needed some extra training, and the Seasonals were willing to do that! Now, if you will excuse me, I need to speak with Kayura!" And with that, I left the group in front of Sage's tent. Everyone wacthed the agurement and me strom off. " Remember Serena he's only looking out for you." Mia whispered as I walked past her. " I can take care of myself, Cye needs to learn that." I muttered and walked to find Kaurya knowing I going to get it later.
A few minutes later, I arrived at Kayura's tent. "Excuse me Kayura, could I talk to you please?" I asked, Kayura came out. " What is it?" I asked but unknown to me, she heard what just took place. "Earlier today, while I was training with the Seasonals, something happened. I unleashed a blast of cold and ice at Dais, without using my armor! That has never happened before, I don't know if I'm bonding with my armor on some level I didn't realize I was capable of. Do you have any idea what could have caused that?" I enquired.
Kaurya thought for a moment. " I hate to admit it but I don't know. Maybe there more to you then you or the rest of us knows." I looked away, I didn't know why it was happening. "Serena?" I heard Ryo call my name, I groaned to myself. "Kayura do you know anything that could help me disapper right now?" I asked Kaurya knew what I meant. " No, you have to face him and the others sooner or later. And believe me, Serena, it's better if you face the problem sooner." She said fixing me with a look that said that I wasn't getting any help from her on this matter. "Oh brother, this is just not my day." I muttered and walked outside and while I tried to get away I came face to face with Ryo.
I turned to qiuckly walk away but Ryo garbed my wrists before I could get away. " Ok Serena time for you to explain." He said I was seriously thinking of making him let go but I made the mistake of looking him in the eyes, I can't look someone in the eyes and tell a lie at the same time. And I knew that look he shot me, the one that said if I lied to him I would regret it later, soen Ryo asked again I told him. "I see." He said thinking over what I told him. "Well I think you better go rest we don't have long before you have to go fight." He said, I nodded and went into my tent and rested what little time I had left.
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Hi Icefire here, frist thing I like to say I don't own Ronin Warriors. Seacond I like to say this story isn't just mine, it aslo belongs to my friend and panter Harry since he and I are cowriting this story. Harry helping me alot in this story so he desevre the cerdit too.
The Seasonal was trianing Serena but then after her smart mouth comment they turn it up a nocth and Serena ends up in a stiution I wouldn't wish on anyone. But during her battle agansit Dais she summons ice with out her armor! But she still have to deal with the warlords. Will her training be enough? Will the warlords try something? It looks like you have to find out in Chapter 15: Power grows