Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
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Chap. 28
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Rooftops
'What in the name of…?'
Shin froze in his tracks on the rooftop of a building. A second later, Kenji did the same, but not to see what happened to Shin. He already knew why he stopped. It was the same reason he stopped. The surge of beast power they felt was…terrifying. He never felt anything like it. It was as though a bomb had exploded and they were feeling the shockwaves.
"Kenji…"
Shin strode over to him, a hint of fear in his eyes. Kenji didn't blame him. If anything, he had the same look in his own eyes. This was…out of their league.
Way out of their league…
"We…we have to keep going."
Shin nodded slowly. "…Yeah. As fast as possible."
It took them two full minutes to get back in motion again.
Shrine
Long and Reiji stood by as both the light and the loud roar that literally blasted from it. Long's eyes were wide as the light faded. 'I never expected…it would be like this.' It was seemingly unending waves of power and energy coming from whatever it was. The light soon disappeared altogether, revealing what had occurred to Ryoho. He had changed.
Radically…In the place of the warrior monk was a massive black creature. Dark scales covered its entire body. Large claws were armed on its hands and feet. A long serpentine tail flailed out from behind and in front, a near equally long neck. A snout containing rows of sharp teeth glistened forth and red eyes glared down at him. Black wings spread out slowly as the creature rose on two feet. No, not just a creature. Long knew what it was. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing. Not since the Unborn had he seen something like this.
A dragon…The black dragon continued to stare at both Long and Reiji, who was standing behind the tiger. The dragon unleashed another roar, shaking the entire shine. It then lifted its head up and it mouth began to glow brightly. Long realized what was about to happen, but before he could even react…
BRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!
The dragon dropped its head and released a blast of fire everywhere. Long was right in front as the flame engulfed him and shot him right into the shrine wall, knocking him out of his beast form. Reiji was hurled back as well, but ironically, Long's body had shielded him from the brunt of the flames so he was still in good shape. Rising up, he saw the entire shrine was now lit up with fires. Reiji grimaced within, but resumed his usual vigor upon turning to the dragon.
'The ultimate test… At last.'
Reiji cawed at the dragon and took high to the air. The dragon snarled as Reiji continued to climb, whirl around and dive in on the dragon's head. Reiji flew down sharply and quickly landed a blow, smashing into the monster's head with his foot. Reiji smiled within, 'That's gotta hurt.'
But it didn't. The dragon was totally unfazed by the blow and snapped at Reiji. Reiji rebounded, flying away and soaring about in the air. Picking up speed, Reiji dove at it again, this time forward with the intent to slash with his hand claws this time. But as he flew in, the dragon spun around and lashed its tail out. Reiji was totally floored and was flattened against the ground. His beast form relinquished, Reiji grimaced and rolled just as a massive foot smashed down, almost squishing him. But upon rising, Reiji was slapped across by the claws of the dragon and again, tossed aside against the wall. Reiji groaned aloud as the dragon approached him, mouth beginning to smoke and glow in preparation of a blast. Only at this range, Reiji would not escape as easily as before.
"Waaaaah!"
From out of the side of the shrine, Long swooped through the air and kicked the dragon in the side of the head just as it released its fire blaze. The blast shot into the wall and blew it off, with the flames flaring outside. Long jumped away from the dragon as it turned back, irritated by the interference of the Kempo warrior. Long set up to attack again, but he knew this was bad. He was barely able to endure against the energy blast of Ryoho's transformation and his body was strained. Plus his fighting against both Ryoho and Reiji had tired him out. He was basically working on fumes now. A motion of movement caught his attention and his eyes veered off to the side. To his surprise, Reiji moved up beside Long, setting his fists in front up to fight. Long turned to him further, but Reiji simply snarled.
"Don't get any ideas. When I'm done with him, I'm finishing off you."
Long didn't trust him anyway, but at the moment, they had bigger problems. The dragon had to be stopped. Different reasons, same goal…enough for a brief alliance. The dragon roared at them and reared up to strike. Simultaneously, Reiji and Long rushed at him, leaping out into the air in a joint attack.
The dragon must be stopped…
Streets
Alice and Yugo continued on their path toward the shrine. They had both froze earlier upon the awakening of the dragon but after a minute, they continued onward. Alice was worried as she ran alongside Yugo. The dragon's power was something she had never felt before. Immense, awesome, terrifying… She didn't understand how Yugo could keep moving. She didn't even understand how she could keep moving. She just felt very, very weak. She never felt that way before. Even when Tylon tortured her when she was younger, she never really broke, although there were times where it was close. But this was new. It almost felt like some inbred instinct, telling her to stay away, to hide, anything to keep away from it.
"Wait, stop."
Alice stopped and Yugo soon afterward. Yugo looked at her strangely. She couldn't have been tired. She normally had more energy than he did and could run for much longer. Her face told a different story though.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"I…I can't…I don't know if I can go on."
Yugo's face softened and he moved over to her. Her face in turn, lowered sadly. "I'm sorry. But…it's just…"
"Instinct." he finished. He was feeling the exact same things she was. Perhaps being a more viscous animal lessened the senses for him, but they were still there. Instinct was always a strong sensation and difficult to ignore.
"Whatever it is that's going on, it's using that against us." he continued. "But we have to fight it. We may be zoanthropes, but we're not animals."
Alice looked at him. She has never known Yugo to be reasonable. At least not like this. But what he said made sense. Perfect sense. She clenched her hands into fists. "So…we just…keep going."
His voice lowered and he held her arms. "Yeah. And hope it's not as bad as it feels."
Looking up at him again, she nodded and together they continued on their path, fighting the instinct that was raging within their bodies for them to stop and run the other way. Even as they approached what was turning into ruins, they continued on, until at last they reached the shrine.
Or at least, what remained of it…
Fires were scattered around the shrine and the surrounding area. That was in addition to the damage and wreckage that littered the whole place. The instinct was strong against them here. And the resounding roar from within didn't help things
"I guess it is that bad." Alice murmured.
He cast a glare at her, but she ignored it. "But there's no sense in turning back."
"Right."
Shrine
Long was hurled back by the tail of the dragon as both he and Reiji continued to battle against the it. But it was a one-sided fight. Even with their combined strengths, they were unable to bring the dragon down. The armored scales deflected their strongest attacks and despite its bulk and size, the dragon was amazingly fast in its attacks, always knocking them away into the walls or floor with its tail, feet, or claws. Not only that, but Long was spent from his previous fights. Even at full strength, he didn't know if he would have been able to take him.
And he was far from full strength.
Meanwhile, Reiji continued to harass the dragon with hit and fly attacks, swooping in with quick attacks and flying away before the dragon could retaliate. The dragon snapped at him continuously as Reiji pressed his assault. Long moved away from the wall, staggering a bit to straighten himself upright. He had to keep fighting. If they didn't stop this creature here and now, he could very well wipe out the planet. He didn't know how he knew this, but he knew it was true. Currently, Reiji's attacks weren't doing anything other than annoying the creature. But while it was distracted, it left itself open to Long. It was the perfect opportunity to strike. But if he was to strike, it has to count. This dragon would not go down to conventional attacks. He had to go for broke on this one.
'Have to use it all.'
Long clapped her fist into his palm and focused his energies inward. A swirl of energy whipped around him and sparks shot out of his body. His vital energy and his beast power converged into one single area and then in a blast of energy, he transformed in his tiger form once again. Only this time, his body was aglow with all the energy he had amassed. His strength and power was now far more than before as he stabilized his hyper-beast form. With a roar, he brought forth more power into his being and stomped toward the dragon. The dragon turned his attention to the tiger too late as the tiger reached him, grabbed hold of his claw, swung it around, stabbed a short kick in and with his paw reared back, shot it forward with tremendous force, completing his beast drive. But while normally this would send his opponent straight into the wall and smash him with continual force, the dragon skid, stabbing its feet into the ground and fighting the tiger-force Long was pressing against him. Seeing this, Long continued to force his power and energy to drive the dragon back, unleashing more and more of his energy as he tried to overpower the creature. It was as if the mythical story came to life.
Dragon verses Tiger…SRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!
Reiji watched the two opposing forces battle each other, trying to overcome one another in this desperate battle. Reiji fluttered down to the ground nearby and a thought occurred to him. Whoever loses this fight would be his for the taking. If Long won, then he would be too spent to fight any more and Reiji could keep his promise to finish him. If the dragon won, then it too would be weakened and Reiji would be ready to finish it off. But there was no need to take chances in this, now was there? With this in mind, Reiji spread his wings, silently calling forth his own energy into his beast drive. Whomever it was that won, they would get a nasty surprise in the end.
Long's fist held forward as he poured forth his power to conquer the dragon. The dragon meanwhile was holding its place, fighting against the energy Long was blasting at him. Long felt his body literally burning at he pressed the remainder of his strength forth. He had to win…he had too…
SRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
With a blast and another roar, the dragon spread his wings, negating the energy and slamming Long back into the wall again. But this time, Long didn't move. He had used up more than his strength. He had used up his own vital life-force in that attack. As a result, he risked his life in stopping the dragon. But unfortunately, his attack was in vain. He could do nothing more now. As darkness began to overcome him, Long could only think one thing.
'I've failed…I'm…sorry…Jane…'The dragon roared in triumph as it saw the limp body of the fallen warrior. Reiji chose that moment to strike. In a flash, Reiji dashed at the dragon, creating a blade of energy that shielded him in the front and ripped up the floor before him. The dragon was only able turn in time for Reiji to strike him right at his core. A pained roar followed as the dragon was once again propelled across the ground by the crow. Reiji ceased in his beast drive attack and reverted into his human form. He laughed aloud as the dragon's head swayed back, apparently about to collapse.
"That's right. Now die quietly, you filth."
But Reiji's comment was premature as the dragon's head came back and with it, a blast of flaming energy. Reiji was completely engulfed and blasted straight through the wall, continuing outside of the shrine where he disappeared from sight. The dragon lifted itself up and stomped down, letting out another roar. Hidden in the background, Mana watched the display. Two powerful zoanthropes were taken down and they gave it their best. She had underestimated the power of the dragon.
'Ryoho…'"Whoa! A dragon!"
At that moment, Yugo and Alice enter the shrine and faced the monstrosity that was there before them. Unfortunately, Yugo's exclamation had alerted the dragon to their presence and it turned its crimson eyes to them. Mouth ablaze once again, the dragon fired a single ball of fire at them.
"Look out!"
Both Alice and Yugo jumped aside to dodge the blast and it flew past them and right on outside. Yugo lifted himself up from the ground, growling as he looked back at the monster.
"You have to stop him."
Yugo blinked and turned to see Mana standing behind to him.
"You have to stop him. It's the only way I can seal him again."
Yugo blinked and looked back. "Stop that?" But as he said that, his adrenaline began to build. Fight a dragon… He never expected to actually feel anxious in facing this creature. But his blood was beginning to boil and his eyes narrowed. Mana was surprised that Yugo stood up and grinned at her.
"You got it" he answered as he changed.
Outside the shrine, two shadowy figures arrived at the damage area. The area was pretty much in flames and the shrine was the source. Yet the figures showed no surprise to this. In fact, they smiled at it.
"Shall we?"
"We wait. An opening will present itself."
AN: Ryoho's dragon form...A red-eyed black dragon...Just an observation, heh.