Chapter 14: From One Battle to Another
The four monks were ripped from their shared bliss to turn to Chase Young, whose face was plastered by a twisted smile. To the side, Wuya and Hannibal watched with jaded expressions, and Jack Spicer took the opportunity to sneak off unnoticed.
"Fine. What is it that you want, Chase?" Raimundo asked, barely able to restrain the sudden rush of anger from within.
"Change of plans: You take out the hag." The Heylin warrior replied, smirking, "I'll crush the plant…"
Raimundo gently set his sweet treasure on her feet, kissed her lightly on the forehead, and turned to Omi, tossing him the newly acquired Shen Gong Wu.
"Omi," he began, with a seriousness that contradicted his usually playful manner, "take the 'Conversion Clay' and shape it into a copy of Dashi's puzzle box."
"Why should we use the Shen Gong Wu for-" Omi started to ask before the Brazilian cut him off.
"Don't ask questions. Just do it…"
After Omi activated the Wu to morph into a earthen mimic of the puzzle box Dashi gave him 1500 years ago, Raimundo pulled out the 'Voice of Tao Tsueng' and held it out so that Wuya could see her reflection in it.
"This is the end for you, Wuya! 'Voice of Tao Tsueng'! Grandmaster Dashi, I call thee!"
The mirror illuminated and the translucent spirit the Xiaolin Master, Dashi, emerged from the face of the mystical artifact.
"You know, Wuya," the Chinese ghost told the witch, "I'm getting tired of this 'steal-your-body-and-lock-your-soul-up' routine. Can we try to make this the last time?"
With a quick dive, he passed straight through Wuya's body, removing her fleshy form like he did the previous year in her citadel. With the "Voice' Raimundo imprisoned the ghost Wuya into the 'Conversion Clay', and watched as Dashi gave him a thumbs up and vanished.
"Raimundo, won't Wuya's spirit be able to control the 'Conversion Clay'?" Omi asked.
"It's in the shape of a box and she can't change its form. How dangerous can a cube be?" Rai replied.
A roar ripped through the air, and the monks turned to find Chase in his reptilian body fighting an enlarge Hannibal Bean. With savagery and consuming fire, Chase Young tore through the plant until the scatter remains of the bean were either charred or trenched with fang marks. The humanoid dragon gazed over his kill for a moment before turning back to the Wudai Warriors.
"What to do with you next…?" he asked Raimundo.
"Rai," questioned a worried Kimiko, "what's going on? What's he talking about?"
Her boyfriend sighed before replying, "In exchange for training me to rescue you, I gave Chase Young my eternal loyalty…"
"No! Rai, how could you promise him your soul?"
"How could I let Hannibal and Wuya keep yours?" His voice returned to the calming tone he reserved just for her. "Even if my mind and body belongs to evil, my heart and soul will always belong to you."
Chase Young called out to him, "You don't have to relent your freedom…" Over Chase's side was Master Monk Guan, looking down in a solemn and guilty manner. The dragon unveiled his jagged staff and held it out at Raimundo in a fist.
"…if you wish to play for it..."