"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.
The next day, the group went up to the Cannon. Cologne was the representative from the Amazons, just as Herb was from the Musk. Some of the Diggers had come as well; Theo to study the runes and properties, Gina and Brianna to study it scientifically.
"Yes," Theo said, "It is definitely of the realm of the undead. I'd recognize my fathers influence anywhere."
"Your father?" Herb asked.
"My father is the famed Lich King," Theo said, "We managed to seal him in the realm of the dead some time ago."
"What more can you tell?" Saffron asked.
"You were correct in your hypothesis about it being an energy amplifier," Gina said from her computer set up, "It is also definitely of this world. This kind of technology doesn't exist in the other two realms."
"And although it is an energy amplifier," Theo said, "Most of the markings and runes on it don't correspond to it. Either this artifact was poorly made, or its purpose is something not well known to the Magick community."
"Any idea of who made it?" Saffron asked.
"The aura that surrounds it is also definitely of a werecreature," Theo told him.
"Yes," Herb said, "I could feel the presence of that aura from my own kingdom the day the cannon arrived."
"The design is actually closer to a satellite dish than a cannon," Gina said, "It can probably get the same results as a cannon, but it is probably going to be used to spread a certain type of energy out in a very large area. With enough of that energy, it could cover the planet."
"The question is, is what type of energy are they going to use?" Theo said, "The markings seem almost random and make nearly no sense. See here?"
Theo pointed to a large circular collection of runes.
"This is the place where one would pump the energy into the machine," Theo said, "But usually a Magick circle such as this corresponds to one type of energy. But this one has the symbols for life, death, fire, water, light, dark… No energy I know of could fit all these criteria."
"Would it be possible to mix energies?" Saffron asked.
"Mixing energies is hard, and dangerous," Herb noted, "Take your energy and my ki. If we tried to mix them, anything could happen, but I guarantee it that the reaction wouldn't be at all controllable."
"Correct," Theo said, "Mixing opposing energies is not something anyone should dabble in. Mixing them is nearly impossible."
"Mixing them should be impossible, yes," Brianna spoke up suddenly, "But it isn't."
"What do you mean?" Cologne asked.
"I don't know about you people," Brianna shook her head, "But I've been living with people that can mix fire and water energy with relative ease, myself included. The natural limitations are there, and are hard to break through, but if you know how to do it, it's as easy as breathing."
"Yes," Theo said, "That would make sense."
"What do you mean?" Saffron asked.
"The school of the Anything Goes Ideology," Theo said, "Everything in this universe has a polar opposite, and just as a mage who specializes in fire is bad at water spells, it should be very hard to mix them. But under the correct circumstances, one can learn what is directly in the middle of the opposites."
"Anything Goes…?" Saffron asked, "So that is how Rhys learned to create a fireball."
"Yes," Cologne said, "You, Saffron, are at the extreme end of that spectrum. You cannot be hurt in any way by any type of heat, but cold damages you greatly. If you can center your mind and body on what is in the middle between hot and cold, you gain immunity from both forces, and can control them. Rhys and Ryoga are in the middle. It is very hard for hot and cold to affect them in any way."
"It seems that this machine was made with that ideology in mind then," Herb said, "Am I correct in saying that only a very small amount of people know of this method?"
"Yes," Gina said, "There are less than a dozen on Earth who know of it, as far as I know. But with all the places that go undiscovered in this world and in Jade, it is very unlikely that only that dozen know it."
"This is grave news," Cologne said, "If that is truly what they are going to use to fill this cannon, they would have an almost infinite amount of any energy they want. This machine could literally do anything."
"Yep," Brianna said, "The teachings of the Anything Goes Ideology is situated around the idea that its powers is only limited by your imagination. This cannon could easily heal every disease in the world, or it could just as easily wipe everything on this planet out."
"If this is truly meant as a weapon," Theo said, "The only way to stop it would be to find out who is behind it. And that could be any number of people from all three of the realms."
"So basically, we're screwed at the moment," Gina said.
"Exactly," Theo nodded, "All we can do is wait until its used, and hope for the best."
That night, atop one of the roofs of the Jusenkyo guide's mountain villa, Rhys and Brittany sat, gazing up at the stars.
"So…" Brittany said, "Shampoo tells me you learned some new trick."
"Heh, you could call it that," Rhys chuckled, "I kinda just did it, I still don't exactly know HOW I did it."
"You turned a woman into a werewolf, something that's supposed to be impossible for a werecheetah to do, and you don't know how you did it?" Brittany asked.
"I was angry," Rhys said, "Crème was the one that hired the werewolves to kill mother and father. I was even angrier than I was when I defeated Saffron, or when revealed my species at Furinkan. I just kinda felt my body act by itself, and it happened. All I know is that it has to do with the center of ones very being."
"Anything Goes again?" Brittany asked, "That doesn't surprise me. Most everything has something to do with a center. But a center of ones very being?"
"Every time I think about it, and remember how I did it, I realize something about the differences between humans and werecreatures," Rhys said, "And the similarities."
"Like what?" Brittany asked.
"Tell me," Rhys said, turning to her, "Why is it that, even with their gadgets and inventions, humans are so lacking in natural defenses. They have no fangs or claws, no strength of speed to take advantage of, and no protection against the climate. How could such a species evolve to become so… vulnerable?"
"Hmm…" Brittany murmured, "I haven't though about it that way before. But if what your saying is true, where did they come from?"
"Why is it that werecreatures have the ability to infect a human with the ability to shift into a hybrid and an animal form, but we cannot infect elves, dwarves, or anything else?" Rhys asked, "It's because we share a similarity that none of the other species have."
"Back to the whole connection between humans and werecreatures," Brittany sighed, "But I understand what your saying. I used to think werecreatures and humans were just two species, but recently it's becoming feasible for us really to be the same thing."
"Feasible because it's true," Rhys said, "I took Crème's spirit, and awoke something inside her that I didn't know existed; that I shouldn't have known existed. I myself did not change her into a werewolf, her body did it by itself."
"So humans evolved from werecreatures," Brittany said.
"Not quite," Rhys said, "Humans did come from werecreatures, yes, but that would mean some of the werecreatures just suddenly became weaker and more vulnerable. That's not possible when it comes to evolution."
"It seems almost like a punishment," Brittany said, "Maybe ancient werecreatures did something that merited their powers locked away. Over time people forgot about it, and they became known simply as humans."
"Exactly," Rhys smirked, "That's what happened. If humans had evolved from werecreatures naturally, I would not have been able to change Crème into a werewolf. Infecting humans wouldn't be possible in the first place. That's why a werecreature needs to cut a human to infect them. It tears at the seal that keeps their abilities locked inside. It weakens, and eventually breaks, which tells why an infected human doesn't turn for a week or two. What I did was to tear it away all at once."
"But if they were naturally supposed to be one type of werecreature, why do infected humans turn into the werecreature of the type that scratched them?" Brittany asked.
"Because the seal, in those cases, only partially goes away," Rhys told her, "Only enough to allow the powers of transformation to flow. This is also why it makes them slaves to the werecreature; the werecreature is their link to their powers."
"So all the humans are basically only werecreatures who can't transform," Brittany said, staring at the stars, "That goes against every piece of reliable history kept in Jade. No one is going to believe you."
"Someone does," Rhys told her.
"Who?" Brittany asked.
"You do, little sister," Rhys said, looking at her.
Brittany laid in bed that night, silently reminiscing on what was happening around her. She laid on her back, staring up at the ceiling, allowing her mind to wander.
She had to admit, even though she saw Gina and Brianna as sisters, she felt happy to finally have someone that was truly related to her. It wasn't as if there was a hole in her that was missing, far from it.
But when Rhys came, she suddenly saw that that non-existent hole was filled. Some dark sadness she herself hadn't realized existed had been washed away.
Her life since Rhys' communication with her had taken a turn from only slightly weird to something she never imagined. Sure, she had known spells that allowed one to fly existed, but she never imaged herself actually flying herself.
The whole thing about the origin of humans troubled her, though. She didn't know why, but she felt a strong foreboding feeling. A feeling she has had since she found out about the cannon atop the mountain.
She could feel, down on some primal level of her being, that the two were closely connected.
But that meant that the cannon was going to be used for one of two purposes. Either to be used to turn all the werecreatures on the planet into humans, or to make all the humans werecreatures.
Making the werecreatures disappear would be priority around the area of Jusenkyo, Jusendo, and Joketsozuko.
But it was also slightly feasible that someone would want humans to be werecreatures.
Brittany was about to doze off when she was suddenly jerked away by a chill that went down her spine.
Something had happened to Rhys.
Suddenly, it all clicked.
"No…" Brittany said, running out of the room, not bothering to get dressed or taking the time to awake anyone else.
"Let me go!" Rhys yelled.
"Try all you want, boy," a figure said, "Your struggles simple make you bindings stronger and tighter."
Rhys pulled at the cuffs that secured him to the discolored shape that sat atop a mountain in Jusendo. He was cuffed to a circular inscription near the base. He could feel some sort of energy coming from the cannon through the circle.
A figure stood before him, hunched over with a cloak draped over it. Its was muttering silently, barely audible and not understandable. The figure looked weak and skinny, and it had a severe hacking cough that told Rhys that this person was definitely not healthy.
Rhys watched as furry hands came from the clock, checking the bindings that held him there. They were mainly covered in gray fur that had dark spots all over it. As the man tightened the bindings, Rhys felt a sharp pain in his wrists from under the metal cuffs. A burning hot sensation that almost caused Rhys to cry out in pain.
Rhys felt a small stream of blood roll down his furry arm. Small as it was, it was flowing quickly, and Rhys would soon feel its effects.
"Oh, and don't even think about going into your full animal or human modes, the spikes on the cuffs would tear your hands off. And they are made of silver, as you probably have guessed because of the burning sensation," The man chuckled in his raspy voice.
Rhys struggled again, and this time, he was rewarded with a completely new sensation.
A draining feeling coming from the cuffs. The felt like they were sucking the life strait out of him. He shivered as his body suddenly became cold. The pain was so immense that it went beyond normal comprehension.
"Oh my," The man chucked, "What's this? Cold are we? I thought you were supposed to be immune to cold."
Rhys just stared at him with an angry piercing gaze.
"Oh that's right," The man chimed, "The machine is sapping your energies. It is a good thing to know that my creation works."
The man walked up next to Rhys and placed a hand on the machine.
"Ooo," He said, "It's even warm to the touch."
Rhys almost gagged as he suddenly lost the ability to breathe normally. He had to force air in and out of his lungs just to keep from passing out.
"You see," the man said, "This machine was built to drain the life of one who can fuel it. One who can summon both fire and ice and can control the wind and the earth. You're training in your precious little ideology makes you the perfect battery for my machine. By draining your life essence, I will send a wave of energy attuned to that which you used on that Amazon woman just a few days ago."
"You expect to turn…" Rhys said, gasping for breath, "To turn all of the humans… into… us?"
"The ability for a werecreature to control any werecreature he or she might accidentally or purposely infect," The man said, raising his arms and turning towards the moon, "I will make all the humans into werecreatures. All of whom will obey my every command. And I will rule the world."
"Of course," The man continued, not noticing his ramblings, "I can't stop there, no. I will take my army into Jade, and destroy anyone who opposes me. And then… then I will open the gates to the Realm of the Dead, and allow my great teacher back into the worlds of the living."
"Oh," The man said, turning to Rhys, who was nearly unconscious by now, and was panting slightly. He took his hand underneath Rhys' chin, "And don't expect to live much longer. The draining will not kill you, but the backwash of me firing this cannon will certainly do the job."
"Not if I can help it!" A voice came.
The man whirled around. Rhys' head flopped down, but he still looked to see who it was.
Brittany, clad in pajamas and full werecheetah claws and fur, stood there at the edge of the cliff.
"You!" The man said, while sounding like he was about to cough up a lung.
"Let my big brother go!" Brittany yelled, stalking towards the man.
"Impudent brat!" The man yelled, "I will not be stopped by the likes of you!"
Brittany flashed forward as a speed she had never achieved before. A speed even Rhys had never reached. Her claws were unsheathed and glowing a pale white. They were not brittle at all, and streaked through the night air towards the man.
But even with this speed, Brittany suddenly found herself in a world of pain. The man's hand was outstretched, obviously from casting a spell.
"Foolish girl," The man said, "Do you think you could defeat me! The speed you were traveling at is a slow walk compared to the speeds that I can travel."
Brittany collapsed to the ground, still struggling to stand. The effects of the spell made her muscles cry out in pain, making it near impossible to move. The man chuckled and walked over to her. He gripped her hair, and pulled her head up close to his as he crouched down before her.
"Pity," He said, "Such a beautiful specimen of our race. I haven't seen fellow werecheetahs in ages. Pity that you would be the ones that would set off the chain of events that will eventually free my master."
"I'm afraid that you'll just have to die now, girl," The man said, holding his other hand up, holding a fireball within it, "For one so new to the concept, I hardly doubt you can survive anything I throw at you. Oh, but don't worry. You're brother will join you soon."
Brittany stared at the fireball for a moment, before again starting to struggle against the spell. She struggled for a while longer, before the man stood up, leaving her be. The fireball dissipated.
"Oh deary me," The man said, "I was so hoping you would break down a plead for me to spare your life. Whatever."
Brittany managed to glare up at him angrily.
"Now observe as a new world order is set into motion," The man said, turning to Rhys and the machine.
Brittany felt panic overtake her. Rhys looked horrible. His breathing was slow and erratic; his arms, sides, and legs were drenched in blood; and he looked to be unconscious.
The main raised his arms, and started to chant some odd spell. The winds around the mountain started to churn around the three werecheetahs atop the cliff.
"Rhys…" Brittany said weakly.
"Omnio dolir sandirina castinte zamaguchi!" The man yelled.
Rhys suddenly bellowed out in pain as the machine started to glow a vibrant red that faded in and out like the beating of a heart.
Rhys' body started to react to the pulse oddly. His body kept flashing from male to female and had a wide variety of colors. The swirling winds suddenly became very cold, and then very hot. Lightning flashed around the mountain, and the sky itself seemed to cry out in pain.
The pulsing red of the cannon quickened as the conditions surrounding the mountain worsened.
"What is this!" The man yelled, "This was not supposed to…"
The man was suddenly blown from the top of the mountain by a lightning bolt that ripped through the sky. The smoking body that was once the insane werecheetah fell limply into the canyons below.
Brittany instantly felt the spell dissipate from around her. She sprang up and ran towards Rhys, only to be stopped by a lightning bolt.
She flew back several yards as the bolt struck her and the ground. She skidded to a painful halt near the edge of the plateau.
Several seconds past without her moving.
Slowly, she stood up once again, and she started to amble towards Rhys slowly, clutching a now severely burned arm and multiple open wounds on her side from the exploding rock.
Rhys' body had stopped changing rapidly, settling back into its normal color, but in his female form. She was also not breathing or moving.
Brittany slowly took the bolt from the cuffs that kept the female werecheetah attached to the machine. She carefully opened them, slowly allowing the silver needles to leave Rhys' wrists.
Just as the last one was opened and removed, the cannon fired.
Brittany and Rhys were both sent rocketing away from the machine in the backlash.
Gina's eyes snapped open as a wave of energy washed over her. A horrible wave that bode only an ill tragedy.
Quickly moving to gaze out the window, she stared at the mountain not too far away. The top was glowing red, and another wave of energy just now burst from the tip.
At that exact moment, everyone in the world suddenly sprang awake or to attention. They all, simultaneously glanced towards the mountain, no matter where they were.
The next wave hit Gina like a sack of bricks. The woman was slammed backwards into the wall. She impacted it with a horrible thud and fell to the floor.
Gina weakly opened her eyes as another wave burst from the tip of the mountain, and another wave already coming
She fell unconscious just before it reached her, with just enough time to see yet another wave rip from the mountaintop.
