"I sense a disturbance in the force…" Brittany said.

The Diggers were currently walking through one of the streets of Hong Kong. "What?" Gina asked.

"A disturbance," Brianna said, "You know… in the force."

"I know, I've seen Star Wars more than anyone," Gina said, "But why did you suddenly say that."

"A really, really big foreboding feeling," Brittany said, "Through my connection with Rhys."

"Could the trip have gone awry?" Theo asked.

"No, it doesn't have fear or anger in it, just a feeling of something really bad is going to happen."

"Where is this cannon you speak of?" Cologne said.

"The half that is in this realm is situated at the top of a neighboring mountain to Mount Jusendo," Aloe said, "The Phoenix tribe were the first ones to see it, and their attention drew our own. But we cannot go investigate it."

"Why's that?" Rhys asked.

"The Phoenix God, Saffron, has already completely revived," Aloe shook her head.

"How is that possible?" Cologne asked, "After Rhys defeated him, he was reduced to that of an infant. How could he grow so fast is such a short amount of time?"

"He hasn't," Aloe said, "His physical body is still of a very young age, but his mental capability and powers have already returned due to Rhys being a magical creature. The ki he shot off had traces of Magick in it, which energized Saffron at the same moment it destroyed him."

"So I not only turned him into an infant," Rhys said, covering his face with a furry hand, "I preserved his intellect."

"He's gotta be pissed," Ryoga noted.

"And if our intelligence is correct, he will be going through the transformation process tonight," Aloe said, "By tomorrow night, he will be at full strength, and in full adult form."

"Its impossible to infiltrate the mountain range tonight," Mousse said, "Even with your speed, Rhys, the mountainous terrain would be a pretty big hazard. That and the scouts ARE phoenixes, and will sense any magickal presence."

"We dared not try to infiltrate the area around Jusendo," Aloe said, "Even if he is but an infant, he is still dangerous. But now that his conqueror is again here, we may be able to at least bargain for a visit."

"A scare tactic, huh?" Rhys said, "Eh, why not."

"Good, then go to the Jusenkyo Guides mountain villa," Aloe said, "From there the trek upwards is not hard, as you may remember.

Theo picked up the receiver.

"Yes?"

"A person is at the front desk asking for you, honored customer," The clerk said.

"May I ask a description?" Theo asked.

"A woman of short stature," The clerk said, which was preceded by the loud sound of a wooden staff hitting flesh. The line went dead.

Theo hung up the phone and went to the room door.

"Going somewhere?" Julia asked from her seat across the room.

"Cologne is downstairs," Theo said, "I'll be back shortly."

"When did Cologne say she was gonna be back?" Ryoga asked, leaning out a window to look at the mountainside.

"Tomorrow night," Mousse said, "With Diggers."

"Then we should prepare," Rhys said, smirking, "Who's up for a little spar?"

"Halt!" A voice came, a woman's voice. Rhys and Ryoga, who had volunteered to be the welcoming party for the Phoenix people, glanced upwards. Their eyes while in their human form couldn't pierce the cloudy skies that hid the Phoenix guards, but they could sense his presence, "Who goes there!"

"We've come to have a quiet meeting with your lord," Rhys called up, "Kindly let us pass or we will be forced to let ourselves pass."

"Foolish earth walkers," The guards voice called, "None may meet Lord Saffron."

Silence for a moment.

"You can see who we are, can you?" Ryoga called up, sarcastically.

"I do not need to, smart mouth!" The voice called, as the guard came closer, "None may meet our…"

"You…" A voice came from behind the guards.

"Oh, hello Kima," Rhys said.

"What do you want?" Kima spat, "Haven't you done enough?"

"I simply wish to see Saffron," Rhys said.

"I will not let you hurt him further, human," Kima said, nearing him.

"I resent you calling me that," Rhys said, "I merely wish to talk to him. I do not desire a rematch."

"You resent your nature and your species?" Kima laughed darkly, "Truly humans are an odd race."

"I agree there," Ryoga said, "They are pretty weird."

"And who are you?" Kima stared at him, "You look familiar?"

"I am Ryoga. I was present when Rhys here defeated Saffron, and I am his equal in combat."

Kima stared at him; her expression became slightly worried, although she tried to hide it.

"I will not let your through," Kima said, preparing to fight them, "No matter w…"

"Kima," A voice called from higher above. Everyone present looked up to see adult Saffron above them.

"Ah, Lord Saffron," Rhys smiled, "Good to see you in prime condition again."

"I should have killed you when I had the chance, werecreature," Saffron said.

Kima gasped, and stared at Rhys.

"Awe," Rhys smirked, "Coulda woulda shoulda."

Saffron glared at the two.

"You may enter," Saffron announced, "But you must take your true form."

"Gladly," Rhys and Ryoga both shifted into hybrid form, causing Kima to gasp again, "Show the way. It'll be quicker to fly."

Saffron continued to glare at them, but his cold expression took on a more amused and curious look.

In retrospect, Rhys and Ryoga began to hover above the ground.

"I remembering it being UP, correct?" Ryoga smirked.

Even Saffron was surprised as they blew past him, soaring through the air.

"Before we talk of anything," Saffron hissed at the two still hovering werecreatures, "I have a dept to repay you."

"A rematch?" Rhys said. "I have been wondering what you would be like at full power. I'm intrigued."

"The courtyard, now," Saffron hissed at him.

Rhys shot a glance at Ryoga. He shrugged and the two followed the seething God of Fire.

"I must warn you Saffron," Rhys said, "I WILL be fighting in my hybrid form. Expect more of a resistance."

"I expect nothing less from the only mortal to ever defeat me," Saffron said darkly, "But you must expect more from me as well."

"It seems we both have aces up our sleeves," Rhys said, spreading his arms and smirking, "Lets see who has more cards. I'll even allow you a free shot."

Saffron just glared at him.

"Go ahead," Rhys said, "Fry me."

"Gladly," Saffron said, pulling his hand forth, and firing a rather large fireball at Rhys. Saffron smirked as he saw Rhys calmly stand there as his form was engulfed.

Saffron, at the first fight, hadn't been a full strength. The fireball he just sent at Rhys was small in comparison to the ones he had been firing, but it was a thousand times hotter and more powerful.

His smirk fell as he saw Rhys appear. His form none the worse for where, not even his fur was singed. Of course, his clothing were completely different. Rhys wasn't about to stand there naked, so when the fire destroyed his clothing, he brought a spar set in from his displacement.

"Now let me show you MY fireball," Rhys said, bringing his hand forward. Saffron's eyebrow cocked with curiosity.

The air around Rhys' hand started to waver, as it was super heated to astonishing levels. There was no seeable fire at first, but the heat eventually caught the gases in the air on fire.

The fire burst from his fingertips; a large fireball formed and flew towards the surprised Saffron. The ball of fire was much smaller, but nonetheless just as powerful as Saffron's own. The fire passed over the fire god and blasted the asbestos walls without harming anything.

"I would expect nothing less from a survivor of that massacre," Saffron said, smirking, "I grieved for your clan that day."

"And why would you do that?" Rhys asked, amused.

"Werecreatures and Phoenixes alike are both Jaden creatures," Saffron said, "We share a connection to each other, as we also share a connection to all the other magickal races."

"I see," Rhys said.

"I am surprised that you have a werewolf in your company though," Saffron said.

"I pledged upon my families graves to protect the survivors from that day from coming to harm by my people," Ryoga said from the sidelines, "My kin killed my family just as they did Rhys'."

"I see," Saffron said, "Come with me into the counseling room. We will discuss what you wish to discuss."

"So," Saffron said, sitting on a lavish thrown. Rhys and Ryoga sat in front of him on less lavish but equally as comfortable chairs, "What is it that you wish to speak of?"

"The Joketsozuko and the Musk wish to know about the giant cannon that half appeared on the mountain neighboring this one," Rhys said, "And we are also interested."

"The Joketsozuko knew of your existence and let you live?" Saffron asked, cocking an eyebrow, "Impressive even for you."

"We managed to teach them a lesson they won't soon forget," Ryoga said, "Rhys here publicly turned the chief were-hunter into a werecreature herself. The ensuing conversation was interesting to say the least."

"I would imagine so," Saffron said, "So the Joketsozuko and the Musk have formed a impromptu treaty."

"Being as a huge transparent cannon appeared nearby," Rhys said, "I don't see it far fetched for the two to join temporarily."

"Truly it isn't," Saffron shook his head, "And you wish to know about it?"

"As much as we could," Rhys said, "Being as it is in two realms at the same time, it threatens not only Earth, but Jade as well."

"It does not exist in Earth nor Jade," Saffron said, "If it did, even though it was in both, it would still be solid. Warped and discolored yes, but not a ghost image."

"So where do you suppose it exists?" Ryoga asked.

"The third realm," Saffron said, "It reeks of corruption. It can only be of the realm of the dead and the damned."

"You suggest that the realm of the undead had breeched the barrier somehow?" Rhys said, "That would explain the immaterial form. But who in the realm of the undead would have that sort of power?"

"No sole person," Saffron said, "Even the famed Lich King couldn't breech the wall. Only a person on the outside can breech it, and bring the dead back from the grave. Conversing with others in different realms, however, would be quite easy."

"So the Lich King finds a person in Jade versed well enough in necromancy to summon a large structure in from the undead realm," Ryoga said, "I do know of some people that would be powerful enough, but to side with the Lich King is not likely."

"That theory does explain why it would appear from the undead realm, but it did not appear in Jade, but on Earth," Saffron told them, "The one who summoned it is from or was on this plane when he did it."

"So the Joketsozuko weren't wrong in their ideas of it being in both worlds," Rhys said, "It IS in two worlds, just not in Jade."

"Exactly," Saffron said.

"That still leaves out who summoned the building," Rhys sighed, "No one from Earth would be that skilled in necromancy or summoning."

"That remains to be seen," Saffron said, "We do not any leads on who did the Magick. But we do know what the machine is to be used for."

Rhys and Ryoga glanced at him, waiting.

"The machine is an artifact, created by the liches in the undead realm. The physical form remains in the undead realm so the power that fuels it still can flow into it. Its ability was summoned into Earth, making a large ghost figure in the process."

"The cannon is not necessarily a cannon. It seems, from our translations of the runes, to be an artifact that merely amplifies energies pumped into it. Be it heat, light, Magick, or ki."

"So they plan to use it to send a large wave of some sort of energy somewhere in this world?" Ryoga said, "If they filled it with the proper spell, it could easily wipe out nations."

"Yes," Saffron said, "We do not know what they plan to do with it, whoever they are. But I do not think that they are going to focus it on the earth."

"Why is that?" Rhys asked.

"The cannon is pointing strait up," Saffron shook his head, "If anything, they wish to blast some energy off into space or cover the entire planet with it. It could be a dooms day device either way."

"I doubt we'll be able to figure it out just between the three of us," Ryoga said, "If it is okay, we would like to send a select few people to study the cannon."

"And who would this be?" Saffron said, "Even if they come in peace, I cannot let the entire Amazon or Musk army in my kingdom."

"No, no, nothing like that," Rhys said, "My sisters adopted father happens to be one of Jade's best Aura Mages. Only three Amazons are coming close to your borders. Cologne and Shampoo of the cat clan, and Mousse of the wolf clan. They will stay with Ryoga and I at the Josenkyo guides mountain villa. I do not know of anyone from the Musk that is connected to Jade well enough to know runes."

"True," Saffron said, "Very well. Tomorrow, Kima and I will come to the mountain villa and escort you to the cannon."

"Thank you, Lord Saffron," Rhys nodded, smiling.

"I do it only because I have a profound respect for you, Rhys, and I welcome your family, friends, and equals into my kingdom," Saffron said, "And although I do not enjoy living on Earth, having it destroyed would most definitely hamper my current life style."

Rhys smirked.