AN: Alright guys (and girls), its time for this chappie, a whole new one! OMG! Anyways, this one was NOT in the original story. It has some changes in it, and it is NOT set one year after the last one. This happens like... 20 minutes after... I guess... Read and Review!
Ryker slipped through the wall of vines, a Hwabi star in his hands, cutting the plant-growth. Akuji stood farther back, his bow at the ready. Aradia crouched in the dense undergrowth next to Akuji, ready to heal if necessary. Ryker signaled and they ran forward into the newly opened path. They stood in a clearing, the sun blocked out by the tall trees overhead. Golems wandered through the clearing, leaving huge footprints in the ground. "Ready?" Ryker asked.
Akuji nodded. He stepped forward into the view of the golems. They turned slowly to look at him, they're black eyes staring blankly from their hollowed sockets. Then one roared, a deep sound of pure animal instinct. Akuji nocked an arrow to his bow and took aim. "Inferno!" The arrow soared from the bow, glittering in the dim light. The golem prepared to defend itself, but before the arrow reached him it began to glow. Within the next instant it exploded, bringing up a huge cloud of dust. The dust began to clear, the surving golems grunting dumbly. Ryker burst from the cloud, throwing stars flying through the air. A golem fell, its stone pieces falling apart in a pile of debris.
Aradia ran into the clearing, her weapon-of-choice, the Hinomaru Fan, raised. "Ice Strike!" She called. Ice rained down, freezing the golems. Akuji flipped backwards, avoiding the pounding fists of his opponent. He shot an arrow in-between the eyes of the golem, killing it instantly.
Ryker leaped on top of his enemy. He raised his hand, energy growing in his palm. "Avenger!" A huge shuriken appeared in his hand. Ryker slammed it into the monster's head, splitting it in two. The trio defeated all the golems in quick succession. Ryker stood panting, surrounded by the huge corpses of the golems. "Well, that was fun!" He said, grinning.
Aradia dusted herself off. "Indeed. I think we'd better be getting to Henesys don't you?" She asked, slightly impatient from the diversion from their path.
Ryker smirked. "Of course! Wouldn't want to keep Athena waiting would you?" He remarked, winking roguishly to Akuji.
Akuji grinned and Aradia sent an icy glare Ryker's way. "Right. Well, let's go. If we stay here any longer, Aradia's gonna commit murder!" Akuji and Ryker dashed off into the underbrush, followed by a disgruntled Aradia.
XxX
Caden sighed, letting a group of mages pass by after they killed the monsters in the area. He shouldered his Devil's Sunrise, watching the last of the mages leave. Man, I hate magic... He thought bitterly. He was used to the abilities of the long range overcoming his own, but he was still bitter afterwards. He walked out of the huge limestone cavern that was Sanctuary. A scream from within caused him to stop abruptly. He readied his sword and dashed inside. A Crimson Balrog held all of the mages in his claws, strangling them. Caden stepped into the shadows. What the hell... Crimson Balrogs didn't come into Sanctuary, at least as far as he knew. He shook the thoughts of confusion from his mind. Even with his bitter dislike for mages he couldn't let them die in front of him. He backed into the wall and his polearm, Hellslayer, banged loudly. Caden cursed as the balrog looked up. It grinned evilly and dropped the mages. Caden stepped into the open and pulled out his Hellslayer. The Crimson Balrog stalked forward menacingly. Caden charged forward with reckless abandon. "Buster!" He bellowed. The balrog stepped back, avoiding the crushing blows of Caden's weapon. "Dragon Roar!" The balrog covered its ears in a vain attempt to drown out the primal roar of a dragon. Caden took this chance to attack again. He swung blow after blow, knocking back the balrog with each heavy attack.
"Enough!" The balrog bellowed. Caden stumbled back, shocked. Balrogs weren't supposed to talk, even Crimson Balrogs resorted to the guttural grunts of their lesser kin. "You humans have become a nuisance lately!" He caught Caden in a vice-like hold.
Caden's eyes watered. If he didn't do something, he would be crushed... "Sac... sacrifice!" He choked out. His eyes glowed, his health draining. He was empowered though, and he used the mighty strength brought on by his ability to strike the monster with the flat of his weapon. The beast staggered back, clutching his bloodied head. Caden leaped forward. "Dragon Fury!" He shouted. He brought his weapon around in a mighty arc, catching the balrog in the chest. The beast groaned as it was flung against the rock walls of Sanctuary.
Caden fell to the ground, his weapon falling to his side, his arms hanging limply. The balrog staggered upright. "I... have had... enough of this... You have proven yourself to be a worthy opponent though... Perhaps I chose wrong...," The beast muttered.
Caden gaped up at the monster. "H-how..?" He asked weakly.
The Crimson Balrog smirked. "I cannot be killed by your vain, pathetic, mortal attempts. I am as one invincible to you," He grunted.
Caden stood, grabbing his weapon. "I'll kill anyway..." He groaned.
The monster laughed. "A noble attempt. But I would have some use of you..." He shot forward, gripping Caden in his giant claw. He soared upwards, breaking through the roof of the Sanctuary. They continued in their ascent, breaking through the many levels of earth. In moments they reached the surface, appearing in a small clearing. The balrog threw Caden into a tree, splintering the bark. "Look around you! This is my army, which I will use to take over this mortal world!" Caden coughed blood and looked around the clearing. A sea of monsters met his eyes, grinning with devilish delight.
"How..." He muttered.
The balrog laughed. "It has been difficult. I had to bring enough monsters that we could overcome the humans, but a small enough number that the humans would not be suspicious. And, amazingly, I have succeeded! Now nothing can stop me! I am Kronos! The Lord of All Monsters! I am better than the original, demon Kronos, the lord of demons! I give you a choice, warrior, join me and rule over all others, or fight for me against your will. No matter what, I will have a servant," He threatened.
Caden glared at Kronos, hatred pouring from his eyes. "Never!" He hissed.
Kronos frowned. "Very well... You shall be a mere puppet to me. I would presume you chose wrong...," Kronos raised one of his gnarled claws. Caden convulsed as a dark energy flowed into him. Cade writhed on the ground, trying to fight off the sinister forces that were taking hold of him. Kronos scowled. "You are a very strong-willed person... Perfect," Kronos snarled. Caden stood, his eyes distant.
"I serve no one!" He growled. He raised his own sword, angling it towards Kronos. "Especially ignorant monsters!" He swung the sword around, aiming not for Kronos, but himself.
Kronos's eyes widened. "You would kill yourself rather than work for me? Interesting..." Caden convulsed again and dropped the sword.
"Damn..." He muttered, then he suddenly went limp. His eyes were distant, clouded over as if they were covered in fog.
Kronos grinned. "Stand." Caden did. "Good... Now, I have a job for you... I want you to watch over Akuji... Be sure nothing... too painful happens to him."
AN: Yay! I finished it! Okay... My original readers... Please don't hurt me! I know what I did to Caden... and I can give an excuse... But I'm not telling! Hah! Anyway, review please.
