Takato opened his eyes... He found himself in the middle of a field. He sat up and saw Henry's airship, smashed up. "No... Where is everyone? Am I... the only survivor?" Tears of grief welled up in his eyes. He got up and walked over to the wreckage. Pieces of the airship were scattered everywhere... He hung his head.
"Takato? Takato! Takato!"
Takato turned around suddenly. He saw Ryo running up to him.
"RYO! You're alive!"
"Yeah! You are too!"
They hugged each other, the way old friends would. After they pulled away, Takato asked if Henry or Suzy were alive.
"I don't know..." Ryo said sadly. I didn't see them. It's a miracle that we survived..."
Takato fought back the tears and held his head up. "We won't forget Henry... It's because of him that we were able to get to Greece. We can't stand around moping. He wouldn't want us to do that... We have a job to do..."
Ryo nodded. The 2 boys began to walk into the town of Athens. Up above, they were being watched, by a familiar face, and the reason why they survived.
Rika ran a manicured hand threw her long hair and watched as the 2 vampire hunters walked off. "I can't have those 2 dead now. Especially not goggle- head..." She held a goblet of human blood to her blood red lips and drank... As she finished she tossed the goblet away, she watched Takato intently. "I hope to see you again, Takato my love..." She said with a lustful, yet soft and confused tone... "Iwish I could know, just what has made me fallen for you. I'll be waiting for you..." She blew a kiss to Takato's retreating form, before vanishing in a swarm of bats.
Takato and Ryo walked around the streets of Athens, Greece. They stopped into a tavern and entered. They saw a few gladiators drinking about.
"Must be a tournament going on..." Takato assumed. He walked up to the Bartender. "Excuse me sir. Has anything strange been going on recently?"
The Bartender eyed him for a moment. 'Those clothes... He's some sort of adventurer... Maybe he'll be interested?' "Actually, there have been rumors that nearby, at sea, the ruins of the lost city of Atlantis have been found."
Takato's eyes grew wide. "ATLANTIS! You mean it actually exists!"
"Apparently so. A few days ago, it rose from the see, without warning. No one has gone there though. What do you think? Are you interested?"
"Very. I want to see what's inside for my very self..." Takato paid the bartender for his info and ran to Ryo. "I just got some info. Apparently, at sea, the lost city of Atlantis has been discovered. If we go there, maybe we can find something." Takato rushed out of the door in a frantic pace.
"Hey!" Ryo called out and took off after him.
The 2 walked through town over to the sea side. Sure enough, Takato and Ryo saw ruins of an ancient city, sticking out of the water. Apparently part of Countess Rika's magic...
Takato looked around the beach and saw a boat vender. He raced over to him. "How much is it for one boat?"
The old man looked at him and smiled. "Boat rental is 15 Drachmas."
Takato pulled out some Greek money that he acquired earlier form Ryo. He paid the man and headed toward the boat. Ryo followed close behind. They found the boat up on the beach in good condition. Takato sat in the boat and held on to the oars, while Ryo pushed the boat in the water. Once the boat hit the water, Ryo jumped in. They began to row towards the ruins. The boat treaded gradually through the water. It was about 15 minutes until they reached a landing point. Takato lashed out his vampire killer and it wrapped around a piece of stone at the top. "We can use my weapon as a rope." Takato explained, as he climbed up. Ryo followed suit. Surprisingly, the weapon was strong enough to support the 2 men. When they got to the top Takato retracted his weapon, unraveled it and put it back within his coat. They walked across what appeared to be a small stone bridge. They looked down below and saw another walkway, and there seemed to be an armed guard upon it but it looked bulkier, muscular and much burlier than gladiators. Its feet looked almost like hooves and his head was cow like and had horns...
"Minotaurs!" Ryo yelled with shock.
Takato had to slap his friend on the mouth. "SH! They'll hear you!" He whispered as they ducked down. Just their luck, there was an axe-wielding Minotaur on another walkway they needed to jump down onto. "Great... How are we gonna get down there, with Wooly Bully waiting for us?"
"Let me have a go." Ryo suggested. He crawled to the end of the walkway and stood up slightly. He watched as the Minotaur walked towards them. It made a snort and a bull like moo, only more threatening. Ryo got out his spear, and waited for the monster to turn around. It turned around and began to walk the other way. Ryo stood up fully and lept into the air, with his spear pointed downwards. He thrusted it and it jammed into the bull's neck coming out from the throat.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The creature gave a dying roar as blood spewed out from its neck and mouth and splattered all over the place. Ryo lifted his spear out of the creature and it fell to the ground, still spilling red blood everywhere.
Takato jumped down and surveyed Ryo's work. He looked at him. "You do know you could've been killed yourself?"
Ryo gave a cocky smile. "Hey. You gotta take risks in your life, and take what comes at ya!" He struck a valiant pose.
Takato rolled his eyes and pressed on, and Ryo followed. They came to what looked like a door frame, and entered. They reached what looked like ruins of a temple. Crumbling stone stairs and platforms lay everywhere. "Guess we gotta climb'em all." Takato said. The 2 stepped up and began to walk carefully, knowing the stairs could break any minute. Takato looked down as they reached the top of the first stair case. "Does water usually rise in seconds?" He asked suddenly.
Ryo thought for a moment. "It usually shouldn't raise quickly under natural conditions... why?"
Takato turned to him with an alarmed expression. "Because... It's rising up below us! And fast!"
Ryo looked below, and sure enough, the sea water was beginning to rise up towards them at a quick pace. "OH FUCK!" Ryo screamed.
Takato and Ryo started running on platforms and up stairs, trying to get to the top before the water drowned them. It seemed to rise faster and faster. The stairs didn't help much as they'd often crumble and either Takato or Ryo would almost fall.
Takato galloped up on set of stairs, and Ryo ran after him, but suddenly he stepped on a weak stair, which gave away immediately.
"AAAAAAAAH!"
Ryo began to fall, and would have if Takato hadn't grabbed onto him. Takato had to carefully pull Ryo up onto the stairs. The one underneath Takato was beginning to crack, and the water was getting closer... Takato finally pulled Ryo up and they both ran up before the stair crumbled. The water was rising faster as they ran to the next set of stairs. They soon found their feet splashing slightly in water as they reached the next set of stairs. No matter how fast they were running, the water seemed to rise at the same speed. As they reached the second top platform, the water suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
Takato looked down, with relief and was panting heavily. "Wooh, shit... The water must be 50 feet deep now..."
Ryo fell to the ground, and sat. "Ah man, my feet hurt..."
They rested for a few minutes before standing up, ready to press on. As they waked toward a section of stone pillars, a voice rang out through the area. "Don't think you're high and dry yet. In fact you're all washed up." Takato and Ryo looked up to see a glittering ball of energy that seemed to sprinkle magic. What was worse was that IT was causing the water to rise at dangerous speed, and once more too.
"Ah Damnit!" Takato said as he saw the water coming up on them. He looked forward to see a blue robed man with glasses floating towards them.
The man smiled evilly and his glasses shone omniously. "Hello, I'm Kenta, the Water Magician. So you're Takato. I hear you're going after my mistress of Rika... I'm afraid I can't let you see her. These ancient ruins will be perfect for your grave, as will the water... Burial at sea will be quite honorable for you..." The glittering ball was levitating over Kenta's head head as he suddenly teleported to one side of the bridge.
Takato swung his vampire killer in Kenta's direction, but Kenta merely vanished, and reappeared in another spot.
Ryo ran at Kenta and thrust his spear at the vampire magician. The vampire vanished in a flash before the spear hit. Kenta was teleporting all across the field, laughing. "You'll never be able to hit me... You'll drown before you can hit me..."
Takato and Ryo were trying to attack Kenta left and right, but each hit only struck a hologram of the mage.
BLAM!
Takato was struck from the side by an energy bolt, and fell to the ground clutching his side.
BLAM!
Ryo was hit in the back by a similar attack and fell to his knees.
Both of them heard Kenta cackle as he teleported all around. Takato stood up still clutching his side. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. He listened closely to the sound of Kenta moving, and waited. In his mind he saw Kenta moving through his mind, and then suddenly sensed him stopping behind him. Takato's eyes shot open and he turned around suddenly, swinging his weapon.
CHOOM!
The vampire killer tore through Kenta's body with a flesh ripping sound. Black blood pumped from his body, and he shrieked. "BRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Takato yanked his weapon out, and it was covered with rotting flesh and blood.
Kenta hunched over covering his deep wound, as blood leaked from his body. "I'm not finished yet..." He vanished, and the glittering ball shattered.
Ryo and Takato suddenly heard a metallic stomping sound and looked forward. A giant shape was walking towards them. It was coming closer and the shape began to take a form. It resembled a giant mechanical knight was coming towards them.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Takato gasped.
"GROWR!" The huge knight growled and swung its axe down upon Takato and Ryo.
CRONCH!"
Takato and Ryo jumped for cover to avoid the giant axe. They were on their back as they looked up at the Mecha Knight. Takato reached into his coat pocket and pulled out what looked like a large boomerang. "This should keep him away." He stood up and threw it at the Knight's body, causing it to stumble backwards, with a big dent in its chest, but nothing more.
The knight swung its axe at Takato's head, but Takato managed to duck in time. The knight was big, but it was agile and fast... Another swipe from the axe almost gave Ryo a haircut.
Takato was trying to think of someway to bring the giant to its knees or at least stop it. He then saw the visor move slightly and he spotted a person inside, with a blue robe. "Kenta... So he's controlling this monstrosity..." He called to Ryo. "Kenta's piloting this knight! I'm gonna toss a weapon at the head, and when the visor opens, you toss a weapon at it!" Takato back flipped as the axe came down once more. He tossed a boomerang at the helmet.
BANG!
The knight stumbled back with its visor open.
Ryo saw this as the signal and tossed an explosive vial into the open visor.
BLAM!
There was an explosion and loud groan as the knight's insides were destroyed. It stumbled about in flames, with Kenta screaming inside, and then the knight fell into the sea.
SPALSH!
BLOOM!
There was an explosion in the water, and black blood and scrap metal littered the portion of water...
Takato and Ryo sighed with relief.
"That magican is finished. He certainly was tough... Never fought someone like him before..." Takato said. "Come on. We've got a way to go."
The 2 continued on their way and noticed that the water level was beginning to drop. They saw another stair case that seemed to descend into another area. Takato hopped up to the top and began to climb down the stairs, with Ryo behind him. As they climbed down the stairs, they stepped on a platform which began to descend as it was in the water. They waited as they floated down into an underground tunnel, with a huge statue of a Sphinx. It was the winged body of a lion with a woman's head. As the water lowered, Takato looked closely at the statue. "I swear, it looks like that statue is rising while the water lowers..." He told Ryo. As the water drained and the 2 were on solid ground, Takato faced the sphinx statue. To his shock it was on all fours. Its head turned mechanically to face them. As its mouth moved, a voice spoke from it; a familiar one.
"You thought I was dead didn't you? I managed to transfer my soul into this statue... Now I'll crush you beneath the rock!"
The stone sphinx slowly began to move, scrapping the ceiling, bringing down rubble on Takato and Ryo who jumped and ducked to avoid being crushed by the falling rock and concrete. The statue was able to take big steps and inch closer to Takato and Ryo as they were trying to run from the cave in.
Takato was running through the dark tunnel with his partner. They had a giant statue pursuing them, and the tunnels were threatening to cave in on them. 'Each place I go to, there's always some supernatural horror awaiting me... How many more demons must I contend with?'
Ryo looked behind him and looked at the statues face. In its forehead was a strange blue jewel that glowed brightly in the dark. 'What an odd jewel... Hey! I bet that's where that wizard's power is being held!' Ryo suddenly skided to a halt and turned around.
Takato stopped and turned. "Ryo! What are you doing!"
"Something I should've done earlier!" He lifted his spear like a javelin thrower and stepped back. He aimed carefully for the jewel. He stepped forward and threw the spear straight for the statue's forehead.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Kenta's voice screamed.
The javelin pierced the jewel. Light glared out everywhere as the sphinx screamed an unnatural sound.
Out of the jewel came the shrieking and writhing form of Kenta's spirit. "YOU HAVE KILLED ME, FILTHY HUMANS! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHH!" His face and skin melted away gradually, revealing a gruesome sight of muscle and organs, before the muscle and organs rotted away, revealing bones. The bones still screamed until, they disintegrated into dust.
Takato could still hear the bloodcurdling scream throughout the dark, shadowy tunnels as he and Ryo stepped out into the outside. The spirit extraction had terribly frightened them, to see the horrible screaming ghost rot away. When they returned to shore, they watched as the Ruins of Atlantis sank back into the sea...
From a distance, the brown haired Kazu watched them and frowned. "Kenta isn't as good as he says... Bet watching him die scared the shit out of them. Let's see how they fare next time... For 'Death' will come quickly." He swung his scythe around and vanished.
At the inn, Takato lay on his bed, still trying to forget the encounter with Kenta and the vampire wizard's horrible death... As he closed his eyes, he could hear Rika's evil, eerie, yet alluring, voice beckoning him...
"Come to Italy, if you think you wish to continue... I'll be waiting Takato... Hahahaha..."
The strange thing was, Takato found him self drawn to that voice and laugh...
(Brrrrrrr... Takato will try and follow Rika to Italy now. What Horrors will he find there? R+R)
