------------------------------Chapter 22 Tiger Awakens -------------------------------------

Ryo dashed through the cave barely keeping his balance, but the managing of his equilibrium was the least of his concern. He could sense Lan Di ahead and that is what matter, it was the only thing that mattered. It only took him a short while to reach the chamber in which Lan Di and Shenhua had already cleared. The magnificent treasures littered the chamber took Ryo by suprise, he didn't think such treasure could exist so freely. He slowed his pace and looked around in amazement, before quickly regaining his composure...

"Shenhua..I'm coming."

Again he picked up his pace, a long corridor led the way to the next chamber. A loud creaking noise echo from behind him; stopping him dead in his tracks. He spun around ready to meet whatever dared him; only to feel the weight being released from up under him, he plunged down a cavity that had appeared from under his feet. It was like a melancholy dream, one minute your running to save someone, and in the next instant your praying to be save, ironic.

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh" Ryo hollered at the top his lungs as he plunged endlessly.

"Splooooosh" Ryo crashed into a shallow pool of water, it had saved his life. He rubbed his head disoriented from the sudden plunge, but without harm. His attention now was drawn to a brilliant light that sparkled over an altar. It was almost surreal, maybe something you'd see in a fairy tale.

Ryo walked slowly towards the light, he was drawn to it almost. The altar was much like the one Lan Di had discovered. However, this one read differently in place where a mirror would be placed.

"The Phoenix...?"

Ryo took phantom riverstone piece from his pocket, already realizing what its purpose was. He placed the mirror into the slot, stepping back as he did so. A gust of wind shot from beneath the altar, and the ground begin to move. Ryo looked around in disbelief as the entire chamber begin to move from its dormant surface.

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Lan Di eyes shot wide open, he felt the cavern was transforming. He rose to his feet, and turned around. Shenhua placed her hands across her mouth, for she knew what was come to play. The chains of fate could not be severed it would all end soon.

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"Awaken Tiger, and you will realize your destiny." A familiar voice spoke out to Ryo as the cavern around him continued to transform.

"What, father?????"

"Yes my son, you have started, what has been written since ancient times..."

"How can you be speaking to me?"

"Son, do not waste time by asking questions that have little importance..."

He was right, he would ask about Zhou....

"Father about Zhou...did you.."

Iwao cut him off before he could finish.

"Zhou is one of the convictions a man must atone for." Iwao responded.

"What does that mean?" Ryo asked confused.

"If reason is what you search for in my response, then your quest has no purpose." Iwao said full of wisdom.

"But it was for you father, I must get revenge...he took you away..." Ryo searched for words to describe the way he felt.

"Ryo, do you think my spirit would rest easy if you killed Lan Di?"

He did not have to answer that, he knew his father was correct.

"You have matured much in such a long time, surpassed masters of unspeakable skill."

He paused.

"Son your skill at your age even surpasses mines at the time of my death. You have carried the Hazuki named proudly from the shores of Japan to the heart of China. If only you realize the dangers you put yourself through for revenge, yet you are still here."

"Father...." Ryo could barely absorb so much praise.

"These mirrors, they will destroy the world. Understand this my son. When you meet Lan Di, fight with my spirit as guidance, virtue as a light, but not for revenge. Awaken Tiger..."

With these ending words a visible orange glow succumbed Ryo's body, and the chamber in which Lan Di and Shenhua resided became one with his.

"Finally, you have awaken, so you are the Tiger.." Lan Di observed from the other side of the chamber.

"Lan Di..." Ryo's eyes were burning with a firey essence.

Shenhua ran over to where Ryo stood, her heart pounding with joy, she couldn't believe he was here.

"Come then..." Lan Di begin to walk forward both hands behind his back. A jade aura invested itself around his body.

The supernatural occurence that had just befallen the room was unseen to those in the outside world. Both auras begin to intertwine causing an uncanny force of power destroying the very ceiling in which sheltered the cave.

Both auras shot up to the farthest reaches of the sky, none being the dominant force, seperating the clouds on the eve of the sky; causing the clouds and horizon to fade to black. In the center of the chaos a manfestation begin to form.

Ryo looked up and could see it as could Lan Di, who smirked as if he understood what was occuring.

"Yes, it is finally almost complete." Lan Di spoke in a generally normal tone.

"What is?" Ryo questioned.

"Chi You's ressurection...ultimate power."

"You fool, ultimate power!? Chi You will devour the world, kill us all!"

"You don't understand, you are to naive to understand."

Ryo grew angry, what was there to understand. The descrution of the world as we know it was about to come to play, it was as simple as that.

"We are chosen, us three, the phoenix and the dragon would shape the future. I am the dragon, and she is the phoenix...you, the tiger..." Lan Di pointed at him as he spoke.

"The tiger...what is the tiger significance in this...?"

"It is written, the tiger would attempt to stop the cycle, 'The cleansing.' 'The tiger was consumed by the dragon flames' it reads. Your destiny, everything, is to be destroyed by me."

Ryo could not believe what he was hearing, it all seem to be to much for him. Was it really his destiny to be destroyed.

"Don't listen to him Ryo...defeat him..."

Shenhua words were but a mere whisper, but in those words were hope.

"You murdered my father, and now you sought to take a world that doesn't belong to you; you wish only to take...."

"Do not preach to me. Soon it will be over Hazuki, when you lay dying, catch a glimpse of the greatest destiny ever to sway the land."

Hazuki charged at Lan Di making contact with his opponent's right forearm; with his unmolested shin. The ensuing contact sent shockwaves through the chamber.

"Why didn't you just dodge!?" Ryo taunted.

"I wanted to see how much power you could suffice into that blow..weak." Lan Di countered back.

Lan Di broke contact; and followed the motion by bringing his right leg across Ryo's face. The impact caused Ryo to slide back a few feet, but not lose his footing.

"Why didn't you block?" Lan Di said with a smirk across his face.

"I wanted to see if you could knock me off my feet...weak."

Ryo wiped the blood from his mouth and got back into his stance. He begin to throw a series of jabs at Lan Di, who easily evaded the punches, yet he could not find a opening for a counter.

Hazuki stopped jabbing, and immediately lunged forward with his right hand; stepping in with his right leg at a ninty-degree angle. Lan Di was taken by suprise by such an uncompromising move, and he immediately stepped in blocking the blow, Ryo switched his stance, smashing his elbow into Lan Di's unproctected side. Lan Di countered just as the shock hit him with an open palm strike to Ryo's rib cage.

Both warriors fell back stunned by the others blow.

Lan Di looked at Ryo with great interest, he had no idea how he had found a way into his guard, but surely he would not let it happen again.

"This is a different battle Lan Di, I will not lose."

"He speaks with so much confidence, surely his skill could have not improve in such a short time..." Lan Di pondered to himself.

Hazuki fought on will alone.