W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria
by Galistar07water
Chapter 08: A Mermaid's Tear pt. IV
"YOU WILL DIE!"screamed the young Jaya as he ran towards Princess Huyền Trân with his father's sword.
Quickly, General Chung deflected the blow. "Touch her and I won't hesitate to kill you, King of Champa!"
The young King Jaya seethed. "You dare threaten a king? I will not stand for this! Either she dies honorably by our nation's tradition," he points his sword at the frightened princess, "or so help me I will ensure that you all die with us today!"
Before Chung could answer, a Champa soldier quickly ran up towards them and grabbed the princess. She screamed for Chung's help.
"NO!" he cried.
"Cornelia!" Will ordered.
"I got it!" Cornelia nodded as Will blasted the soldier against the wall. Once the princess was safe by Chung's side again, Cornelia created a wall of crystals between the Annamite and the Champa.
The young King Jaya glared venomously at Emperor Trần Anh Tông, whose feelings were mutual. "This means war! To hell with diplomacy and peace between our nations! Soldiers, attack!"
Chaos erupted in the great hall as both sides struggled to fight their opponents while protecting their own delegates. The Guardians quickly jumped into the fight only to find that some of the Champa soldiers were elemental-wielders. It was difficult to fight them without actually hurting them. The hall was so crowded with people that the risk of their magical blasts hitting an innocent passerby is high. Worse, Zhu Que and his demonic soldiers were pounding away against the magical barrier surrounding the palace.
"We need to take this battle outside!" Kimi cried. A Champa soldier used his earth magic to fire bullets of stone at her, but she quickly ran towards him protected by her own light shield. Once she was close, she used it to ram him down. When more and more soldiers came, Kimi found little room to use her magic, resorting to hand-to-hand techniques.
"Well, no duh, Miss Genius!" Irma cried as she, too, has her own problem. "How the hell do you propose we do that?!"
We have too much on our plate! Taranee thought, switching to their telepathic channel. We simply can't fight the Champa while defending the Annamites! Not to mention Zhu Que and his demonic army AND protecting the rest of the Annamites from their Wrath!
Where's Orube? We could really use her tactical brain right now! Hay Lin thought, using her fans to deflect stray fireballs.
No, but we have two Guardians with their newfound powers and me! Kimi said. She turned to Will and Cornelia. We need to get rid of the Champa! Will! Cornelia! Can I count on you?
Kimi quickly sends them images of her plan in their minds. Will and Cornelia seemed skeptical, but agreed to it. Hay Lin and Taranee noticed Queen Tapasi ordering her men to grab her late husband's corpse and bring it with them as they tried to head towards the exit. The young King Jaya cut down anyone foolish enough to stop his mother and her men. Taranee and Hay Lin flew in.
"Hold it!" Taranee cried, blocked their exit with a wall of fire.
Hay Lin used her fans to force all of the Champa together in one group. To prevent them from breaking out, Cornelia created a crystal dome over the Champa. King Jaya and his mother were not pleased.
"What is the meaning of this?! Release us, Guardians!" Tapasi spat.
"How dare you imprisoned me?!" her son screamed. Glaring at Kimi, he demanded, "Are you not the Guardian of our world?! How dare you help them?! As king, I demand you release us at once! How dare you disrespect your ruler?"
Kimi's piercing eyes glowed dangerously white. "How dare you disrespect your Guardian? You are not my ruler and I answer to no one but my heart!"
"You're going to kill us?" Jaya challenged.
Kimi scoffed. "As much as I would like to see you and your barbaric kingdom burn to the ground, you and your treacherous mother are not our priority!" She turned to Will and said, "Now!"
Jaya and Tapasi looked to see Will glowing brilliantly with sparkling pink light. She then pointed at them and then somewhere else in the distance. Jaya felt lighter and when he looked down, he saw himself fading away is disbelief.
"We'll certainly release you," Kimi said, "back to Champa!"
Jaya screamed furiously. "YOU ARE FOOLISH TO LET US LIVE!" Glaring at Emperor Trần Anh Tông and his family, he shouted, "THIS ISN'T OVER! SHOULD YOU SURVIVE THIS NIGHT, I'LL RETURN WITH A MASSIVE ARMY TO CONQUER YOUR LAND AND KILL ALL THOSE YOU HOLD DEAR! I'LL SEE THAT YOUR HEAD SITS ON A PIKE WITH BIRDS FEEDIN—"
He didn't get to finish his threat as Will teletransported him and the rest of the Champa back to their homeland. Emperor Trần Anh Tông huffed and declared, "And I'll be there with my trusted generals, including Chung, to defeat you."
The Guardians barely breathed a sigh of relief when, suddenly, a deafening shriek of a bird split the sky. Everyone covered their ears and recoiled in pain. Zhu Que's bird-liked cry continued before he breathed a giant column of fire at the magical dome. To everyone's horror, there was no sound of the drums. The fire made contact with the dome and under the immense heat and pressure, it began to crack! When the fire subsided, the dome shattered into pieces! For a moment, everyone stopped fighting to gaze at the sight of the disintegrating shield.
"Lord Zhu Que has done it!" cried the fire demon Agni, Zhu Que's lieutenant. The other demons and warriors cheered, crying to their master's name as they continued to pillage the city. "Annam will be ours by twilight! Long live Lord Zhu Que! Long live the Celestial Warriors!"
"No! The drums have stopped beating! The shield is gone! Our kingdom is lost!" someone in the hall cried. "We must surrender and beg for mercy!"
"NO!" Emperor Trần Anh Tông's voice boomed throughout the great hall. At the sound of his tone, everyone fell silent as they gazed upon their ruler. With regality, the Annamite Emperor stood tall and brave. "We must stand our ground and fight! For centuries, we've stood against invading barbarians and have earned the right to be one of the Five Great Elemental Kingdoms! If we lose our courage now, then the dreams of our forefathers will die. If you want to leave and survive then go! Live your life knowing that you've forsaken your people! If I were to die today, then I chose to die knowing that I am a ruler who refused to abandon my position to save my life!"
Inspired, his people bowed and his soldiers cheered.
Kimi walked up to the emperor. "The Guardians and I will do what we can to protect Annam from Zhu Que. However, time is short! Your Majesty, take your family with you. Your private guards will protect you."
Emperor Trần Anh Tông nodded and gestured for his sister to join him and his relatives. The princess, however, was reluctant to leave Chung's side. The general clasped his hands in hers and tried his best to reassure her.
"I have to join my men. You must go with your family! As our princess, you have to be strong. I promise that my men and I will keep all of you safe!"
"Promise that you'll come back to me," she whispered.
Chung wanted to reply but now was not the time. As the general, he must focus on the battle. He simply nodded as he watched her leave with her family and personal guards.
"Soldiers! To arms! We must hold back Zhu Que's army from taking the palace walls!"
The Guardians followed Chung and his men outside where they saw more soldiers readying themselves for the onslaught. The sight before them was overwhelming. After the protective shield disappeared, thousands of fire demons and corrupted warriors are trying to take the palace walls. Chung ordered the men on the walls to shoot at any intruders with flaming arrows. Some were shot and they fell to the ground wounded, others dead. Chung ordered them to continue fighting as he ordered more men to barricade the gates from being rammed down.
Above them, they could see Zhu Que in all his fiery-bird glory.
"Why doesn't he just swoop in?" Cornelia asked. "He knows that he could easily take them all!"
"He's a demi-god," Will pointed out. "If I were him, I would probably want to see my victims' suffering last longer."
As if hearing her, the firebird shrieked and emitted a plume of red mist onto General Chung and his warriors as well as his own demonic army. To their horror, a small number of the Annamite soldiers started to attack their own comrades! Blinded by Wrath, the soldiers' aggression increased. They wanted nothing more to do but to inflict pain upon their comrades. As for Zhu Que's own followers, being induced by Wrath seemed to have increased their morals and made them even more bloodthirsty!
"By the fires of Kandrakar!" General Chung cried when one of his own lieutenants tried to attack him. Luckily, Chung's will was too strong and he wasn't affected by Zhu Que's Wrath. He quickly blocked his attacker's weapon with his own. "Lieutenant Việt Dũng! It's me! What has gotten into you?"
Words have fallen on deaf ears as the lieutenant tried to impale his own commander. Before he could, Hay Lin shot a gentle wind funnel at Việt Dũng, knocking him to the side.
"We have to stop Zhu Que from infecting more people with his Deadly Sin!" Will stated, pulling Chung to his feet. Glancing at Cornelia, she said, "You and I are going to go distract Zhu Que and keep him busy. With our Power Girl transformation, we can go toe-to-toe with him. Irma, Taranee, and Hay Lin, you girls go and fight Zhu Que's army and save as many people as you can! After that, come back and help us with Zhu Que."
The others nodded and took flight into battle. Will quickly looked around and didn't see Kimi. Switching to telepathy, Will asked, Kimi! Where are you?!
I'm searching for Orube! I fear she is in trouble! Do what you can to stall Zhu Que and his forces until I come back with her!
Before Will could protest, Cornelia cried out and Will looked up in time to quickly dodge a fiery attack. Will breathed in and quickly a lightning claymore appeared in her hand.
As soon as the wedding ceremony turned into chaos, the soldiers guarding the drummers tensed up.
"Increase the shield's strength!" the captain ordered and immediately, the sound of rhythmic beating grew faster and more war-liked. The protective dome of light increased in intensity, glowing brilliantly.
"Perfect! Not even all five Celestial Warriors can pierce through that!"
"Captain! I've received a mind-message from one of our own from within the great hall!" said one soldier. "The Champa king has been assassinated! It's chaos in there!"
Everyone was shocked, some of them wanted to rush back into the hall to join the battle but the captain glared at them.
"We hold our positions, men! General Trần Khắc Chung and the Guardians are doing their part to protect everyone! We must stay and guard these drummers! That shield must not go down! Without us, Zhu Que and his army will break in and we cannot let Annam fall!"
"Hmph, ever the patriotic ones, you Annamites are," said a voice.
The captain and his guard tensed up, but relaxed a bit when Kenji stepped out of the shadows.
"Master Kenji! What are you doing here? What is happening in the great hall?"
Kenji held up a hand to calm them down. "All is chaotic in there, men. Chung sent me to help you guard the drummers."
"That is considerate of you, but as a foreign diplomat, you must be escorted elsewhere for your own safety!" the captain insisted. "I cannot protect both the drummers and you at the same time! We are too few in numbers here as it already is! Anh, take Master Kenji back to his quarters!"
His soldier nodded and the captain turned his attention back to his men and the drummers. Kenji smiled and before his escort could ask him what he was laughing about, a shadow appeared from behind and stabbed him through the chest.
The soldier didn't have time to scream before he dropped dead. The captain cried as he and his men turned around in time to see a strange woman appearing out of nowhere.
"INTRUDER! STOP HER!" he ordered. "MASTER KENJI! YOU MUST FLEE!"
Kenji smirked, glancing at the new arrival as if he recognized her. "Fear not, Captain, for she's not here to kill me…"
The captain and his men realized that Kenji had been working against them from the start!
"You traitor! How could you d—" Before he could finish, the captain found himself impaled through the heart by an ice spike. Kenji barely lifted a finger as he smiled wickedly. "You were too focused on keeping Zhu Que and his army out that you failed to screen for any potential spy from within."
"CAPTAIN!" the other men cried and rushed in to attack.
Kenji rolled his eyes, glancing at his mysterious companion. "My dear, would you do the honor of killing them?"
The stranger, who appeared to be an Annamite at first glance, huffed in annoyance, but nevertheless smiled at the idea of slaughter. She pulled out a chakram from beneath her robes and went about to draw some blood.
Kenji pushed the captain's body away and smiled as he watched the demon butchered her victims with ease. A few specks of blood splattered all over the floor, causing him to frown in annoyance. "Watch it, you vixen! You're spilling blood all over my new robes!"
Waving one hand, ice spikes exploded from the ground and impaled all of the remaining guards in the throats and hearts. The drummers weren't aware of their death approaching as they were too focused on beating the drums, and the loud beating muffled all other cries of pain. Little did they know that the song they were playing would be their requiem.
Orube ran down the hall as fast as she could, trying her best to see where Kenji disappeared to. But to her amazement, he eluded her despite her superior tracking skill. Tuning into her acute hearing and sense of smell, Orube realized something horrible must have happened in the courtyard where the bronze drums were.
Orube cursed and soon found herself in front of the doors to the courtyard. Pressing her ears against its surfaces, Orube could hear the dying sound of soldiers. And the smell…it was blood! Lots of it! And there was something else, an unfamiliar scent that puts Orube's hair on edge. It was the scent of something evil! Orube could wait no longer. She must act! With one hand, Orube unsheathed her sword and dove right in.
"Freeze!" she screamed, breaking down the door.
Before her lay the bodies of soldiers and the drummers they were ordered to protect. Their corpses were mutilated in such a display of gore that the weak-hearted would faint. Standing in the middle of the carnage was a figure. Orube recognized her as the Annamite noblewoman with strands of white hair standing close to Kenji during the wedding earlier. However ordinary she may appear, Orube's sixth sense kicked in and it sent chills down her spine.
Orube growled under her breath. This was no ordinary Lusteria. This is the person who slaughtered these men in cold blood. Sure enough, the Lusterian turned around and Orube saw that she was holding a pair of chakrams with fresh blood dripping down from the bladed sides.
Alarmed, Orube aimed her sword, "Who or what are you?! Identify yourself or face my blade!"
The figure glanced over her shoulder and grinned wickedly.
"You haven't changed much, Orube," the murderer said gleefully. "Here I was minding my own business, slaughtering these mortals for sports. I was expecting one of the Guardians to appear, but instead the mighty warrior from Basilíade arrived! My lucky day! Now I get enjoy the scent of your blood dripping from my chakrams!"
Before Orube realized her long hair shot out like arms and grabbed Orube, flinging her into the air and ice-blue fireballs slammed into her, causing Orube to crash into the wall. Orube grimaced in pain as she tried to pick herself up. She grabbed her sword and glanced up to see the Annamite shedding her disguise. The glamour faded, revealing long white hair that spreads out like nine extended arms. Her crimson robes turned black, trimmed with blue and white embroideries and black laces. A golden armor belt wrapped around her waist with a decorative carving of a fox.
Orube couldn't believe her eyes as she laid them on an old enemy. "Kitsune!" Orube seethed.
The White Fox Spirit smiled, showing canine teeth protruding from behind her lips. "The one and only," she purred as she disappeared in a flash before appearing again in front of Orube, slicing her with her long, razor-sharp, manicured nails.
Orube screamed. She was barely a match for Kitsune, which surprised the Basilíadian. Last time they fought, Orube was the one who came out victorious. Now, every time Orube tried to get closer to slice her sword at her opponent, Kitsune either blocked her with her chakrams or grabbed her with her long hair and slammed her to the walls and the ground. The flaming fire blasts weren't much help.
"Pathetic," Kitsune said, using her hair to grab Orube again, squeezing her like a boa constrictor. "I expected more of challenge coming from you, especially after you trapped me in that temple to rot for all eternity! Where's that famous ferocity of yours I've heard so much about?!"
Orube screamed in pain as she tried to free herself but it was pointless. Kitsune's hair was strong as steel and her lungs were screaming. "H-how?" Orube demanded, struggling to speak. "How are you h-here?"
"Curious to know how I escaped?" Kitsune laughed maniacally. "Well, let's say that Lady Seiryuu freed and offered me a chance at revenge and a position by her side."
"C-can't be surprised that a vixen like her would pick you as her lieutenant," Orube spat. "You…you where there at the wedding…you were the one who killed the Champa King, didn't you? And…and Seiryuu sent you here to sabotage the shield so Zhu Que could get it!"
Kitsune's eyebrow arched up as she grabbed Orube by the throat with one hand and the other emitted a molten ball of white demonic fire. "Kill the Champa King? Why, you give me too much credit, Orube. Then again, I'm not here for the merriment, but for some blood and some answers." She squeezed Orube's throat harder, but not hard enough to prevent her breathing. "Now tell me what I want to know or I will shove this molten ball of fire down your throat!"
Orube struggled to get free, but it was no use. Kitsune was too powerful.
"Now tell me, little kitty," Kitsune purred sadistically. "What happened between the Guardians and Lord Zhu Que in that little village?" Orube's eyes widen. The question surprised her.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Orube said, her voice sounding hoarse.
Not amused, Kitsune brought the molten fireball closer to Orube's face. She could feel the intense heat near her skin.
"No games, Orube! Lady Seiryuu wants to know what happened in that jungle that caused the Lord of Wrath to spare your pathetic lives! Zhu Que is hiding something and I'll bet it has to do with one of you! Tell me, what secret is he hiding?!"
Orube struggled to speak. Kitsune smiled and leaned in to listen.
"Go to hell, bitch," Orube replied defiantly.
Kitsune looked annoyed, but then smiled at the thought of shoving molten hot fireball down her arch-rival's throat. "Well, looks like I'm shoving thi—"
Before she could finish, a powerful water stream came between them, forcing Kitsune to release Orube as the water extinguish the molten fireball.
"Well, well, well," said Kenji who appeared out of nowhere. Behind him were Kiyomi and Kazumi. Both were shocked by the bloody murder scene before them. "Orube-san, I knew you were reckless, but I never thought you would disregard others' lives for the sake of your personal vendetta against an old enemy…"
"What?!" Orube gasped, not believing what Kenji just said.
"So it's true!" Kazumi spat, glaring at Orube. "You and the Guardians are corrupted and have been secretly working with the Celestial Warriors!"
"No, you're wrong! This is a misunderstand!" Orube glanced down to see herself battled and bruised and her sword was stained with the blood of the slaughtered victims. It must have fallen into the pool of blood during her fight with Kitsune! Glancing at Kenji, Orube urged, "Kenji, talk some sense into them! You know the Guardians and I have been trying to stop the Celestial Warriors from conquering your world and the universe!"
Kenji's face seemed skeptical. "Honestly, I'm not so certain if I really do know you. You and the Guardians claim that you're fighting against the Celestial Warriors, yet I see your sword stained with the blood of these men."
"But I never touch—"
"You said you would help with the wedding ceremony, and yet King Jaya died when his throat was shredded by ice," Kenji continued. Then pointing to Kitsune, he said, "And last I heard, the White Fox Spirit was imprisoned in an ancient temple years ago by none other than you, Orube! And yet, here she stands with you in this room littered with corpses and with the shield down!"
Kitsune seemed insulted at first. How dare this human accused of her working with Orube? But then she realized something and a wicked smile curled upon her lips. She gave a maniacal laughter, pointing one of her chakrams at Kenji and said, "You really are a clever boy!"
"Stop right there, witch!" Kiyomi ordered and held up her hand to stop Kitsune with her shadows. But Kitsune smirked and shot two powerful fireballs at her and her twin, knocking both sisters back.
Glancing at Orube, Kitsune said, "It's been fun, Orube, but it looks like I'll see you later. I do hope that you'll survive all of this. Be a shame if we can't finish our match."
She disappeared in a burst of flames.
Kenji blinked, and glanced at Orube accusingly. "Well, it seems that you really were working with the Celestial Warriors."
Kiyomi and Kazumi got to their feet and glared at Orube. "You treacherous bitch! You've betrayed our world and for what?"
"You're wrong!" Orube cried, she held out her sword in a defensive position should they attack her. "This is all a misunderstanding! You two have been deceived by a spy who's working with the Celestial Warriors! Whoever it is, he manipulated you against us!"
"Lying your way out, huh?" Kazumi growled, blasting a bolt of light at Orube who quickly deflected it with her sword, but its light blinded her to Kiyomi's attack that knocked her back hard.
"It's not a lie!" Orube insisted, trying to stand up. "Please, listen! Back in Joseon, you were under Xuan Wu's compulsion spell! It made you blind to the truth and more susceptible to do their bidding!"
"Xuan Wu is dead!" Kenji retorted. "No one is compelling us but you!"
Orube tried to defend herself, but the twins wouldn't give her a chance to take a breather as they fired one attack after another, knocking Orube down again and again mercilessly. Kenji smirked, watching the scene with savage glee. His plan to scapegoat Orube and the Guardians was going perfectly.
"Please, stop!" Orube cried. "Stop and listen to reason! Have you no compassion? You girls were never like this before."
Kazumi stopped dead in her track as if affected by whatever Orube just said. Kenji glanced at her and saw that the light-wielder was frozen. Typical! He has to do everything himself! Shoving her to the side, Kenji walked up to Orube and glared at her with contempt.
"Don't lecture us, traitor!" he said, continuing his charade. "You speak of compassion and yet it was your friend Irma who kill King Jaya! She shredded his throat by turning the wine into ice shards!" He blasted her hard with water. "And then you came here to kill these men without warning to lower the barrier!"
Orube breathed heavily, struggling to get up. How did Kenji become so powerful? That blast was colder and felt nothing like before. And what Kenji just said about Irma killing King Jaya…wait…that didn't sound right. Something clicked in Orube's mind. She remembered seeing the Champa king collapsing to the ground and assumed that he had been poisoned before trying to follow Kenji out the hall. If Kenji had left before then, how did he know about the details of King Jaya's death that not even Orube knew? Unless…
Orube gasped as it all came together…the mission in Joseon…the attack in the jungle…Kenji's magic being more powerful…his timing and position…
"You!" Orube glanced at Kenji in surprised. "You're the spy!"
Before Kenji could deny it, Kazumi came at her with her fist flaring with white magic and punched Orube square in the chest. The attack came out of nowhere and surprised everyone in the room, including Kenji. Orube gasped as the air is knocked out of her lungs. Apparently, Kazumi had broken a few of her ribs with that attack. Orube groan as the pain ate into her body. Through her blurred vision, she could see Kazumi coming closer at her with such fury in her eyes.
"Kazumi…" Orube gasped. But there was no reasoning with her.
Kazumi glared down at Orube and held out her hand to conjure several light constructs in the shape of spears. Curses! If Orube doesn't do something, she'll be skewered alive.
"The Kazumi you knew died with Seiji…" Kazumi answered darkly. "Compassion is for the weak. It got him killed…there is no compassion in this world, Orube…I tried to move on, I tried to find someone new who could help cement my social standing and future. And I almost had it back in Joseon as well as here, but you and the Guardians keep getting in my way! You ruined the wedding ceremony, and any marriage deal that I was promised is gone! Don't you see? I have no choice but to follow Kenji. He's the only hope left for me and my sister. You accusing him as a spy for the Celestial Warriors? Well, you're a fool and even more so by trying to get us to play your games. No more. I'm done with you!"
Kazumi raised her hand to command the floating constructs to come down on Orube, killing her once and for all. "Sayonara!"
Orube braced herself for impact, but a shield construct appeared between them, protecting Orube from Kazumi's powerful attack. Before Kazumi could question it, a beam of laser blasted her to the side.
"If you really think Kenji is your only salvation to find true happiness, then you're the fool!" said Kimi, appearing by Orube's side.
"Cousin Kimi!" Kenji smirked. "How nice of you to meet us."
Kimi glared at him with daggered eyes. "I should have known you were up to something, you snake!"
Kenji raised his hands in defense, feigning innocence. "My dear, it's hardly my fault when the Guardians are the cause of Kazumi's misfortunes."
Before Kimi could interject, she sensed an attack and quickly pulled up a shield in time to deflect Kazumi's magic. Kazumi attacked her with such ferocity that it surprised Kimi.
"DAMN YOU, KIMI! DAMN YOU TO HELL FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!"
Kimi infused her chi into her shield, strengthening it. "You're still hanging on to Seiji's fate? I told you before to only remember that he was an honorable warrior!"
This seemed to tick Kazumi off even more. Kiyomi cried for Kazumi to stop in her recklessness, but her sister is too consumed with her rage to listen. Kiyomi tried to run to her sister, but Kenji grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Don't you DARE talk about my Seiji like that!" Kazumi growled. "Especially when I discovered you were the one who killed him!"
"I didn't kill Seiji!"
"Liar! The two disappearing arrows that shot through his heart? They were light constructed made by your magic, weren't they?! Admit it!"
Kimi lowered her head in shame. Seeing this, Orube couldn't help but doubt Kimi's word. "Kimi…did you or did you not kill Seiji?"
"I didn't want to kill Seiji," Kimi sighed, "He was the one who wanted me to kill him."
Kazumi stopped her attack for a moment. Kimi's words pierced her heart and she felt it going numb. Kimi looked at Kazumi and saw herself in this girl. Kazumi was only a year younger than her, but she, too, had lost so much. Kimi took a deep breath and decided that she must help her cousin.
"Kazumi, you must listen. You're just like me," Kimi began. "I know you want vengeance because you think I killed Seiji. But you're wrong! I didn't kill him and your sense of loss and hopelessness only fuels a baseless thirst for revenge. Take it from someone who has been down that path!"
Kazumi's eyes snapped back at Kimi, and Kimi could see her cousin's aura flaring with anger and rage.
"What do you know? You never lost someone who truly loved you—"
"That's where you're wrong!" Kimi interrupted. "I watched my mother died in front of me when I was a child! All my life, I was taught to hate my father, but after realizing what kind of person he truly is, I regretted every second that I've wasted trying to hate him…to push him away! My father sacrificed himself to save me and my friends and I watched him die by Xuan Wu's hand! For every moment after that, I wanted nothing to do but to rip Xuan Wu's heart out and kill her for what she did to my father! That's why I went to Joseon! To finish her once and for all and I didn't care whether or not I was going to get hurt! I would stop at nothing to get to that pile of evil death worshipping garbage…and send her to the depth of the underworld!
"I had Xuan Wu at my mercy, but facing her in her own environment? Even without all that frigid wasteland, she was the one who was victorious against me! I nearly lost myself! Don't you understand?! Revenge is a loser's gambit and I nearly achieved it at the cost of my own life."
Kazumi seethed through her teeth. "You think I wouldn't risk it?!"
Kimi matched her stare. "Honestly. I'm not certain. And I'm not dying to find out either. What of you? Are you willing to risk your life for something that's pointless to begin with? I didn't kill Seiji, Kazumi…but I'll help you find out what really happened to him when this battle is over if you and Kiyomi would just please help us stop Zhu Que from taking over Annam…Please…"
Kazumi shook her head in frustration, tears threatening to burst from her eyes. For a moment, Kimi saw the rage in her cousin's aura subsiding and thought her words were finally getting to her. Kazumi wanted to cry. Was Kimi telling the truth? And if she was, why did Kenji told her Kimi was the enemy? She felt so conflicted. She could see Seiji's face in her mind, his brilliant green eyes matching his beautiful smile. But then it was gone and she was left alone. For two years, the circumstances surrounding his death was all but a mystery to her…could Kimi really help her move on?
Kenji frowned. Not liking this at all. Damn that Kimi! Kenji thought. If she's successful, then he'll lose his two pawns in his quest for power! He secretly drew out his hand behind his back, ready to use his newfound power if Kazumi made the wrong decision.
Feeling the tension and the stress, Kiyomi grew increasingly concerned for her younger twin. "Kazumi…?"
Kazumi glanced at her sister, her face saddened by what she has done. She has decided. Turning back to face Kimi, Kazumi was about to open her mouth when suddenly, a plume of red mist poured into the courtyard.
"Kimi! Watch out!" Orube cried, wincing in pain. "Zhu Que's Deadly Sin!"
Quickly, Kimi created a protective dome over the two of them, but to their horror, watched the Deadly Sin of Wrath slithering its way towards Kazumi.
"Kazumi!" Kiyomi cried, trying to run to her sister.
"Kiyomi, no!" Kenji said, holding her in place.
The evil red mist latched itself into Kazumi's soul and to Kimi's horror, her cousin's aura became tainted. Kazumi screamed in pain. She then glared at Kimi with a look that was filled with so much venom and hatred, it was frightening. Her body began to glow and emitted a flaming red aura that was visible to everyone.
"Lies and deceit!" Kazumi growled. "You'll pay for this, Kimi Watsuki! You and your friends are finished! I want nothing more than to see you dead at my hands!"
"Orube! Brace yourself!" Kimi ordered, trying to strengthen her shield for the incoming attack.
Kazumi charged towards them, her power flaring dangerous. Infused with the Sin of Wrath, Kazumi saw nothing but the desire to unleash her fury upon her cousin. "You've killed my husband and ruined my life! I'll return the favor by killing you in kind! And once I'm done with you two, your Earthling friends are next!"
Kimi gasped when Kazumi's flaming white light connected with her shield. It was raw with power! Guardian of Light she may not be, but Kazumi definitely had the strength of one! Kimi tried to push back, but to her horror, her shield was cracking! Zhu Que's Deadly Sin tapped into Kazumi's raw strength and made her more powerful at this moment.
"Kimi! Your shield!" Orube cried.
Kimi tried to fight back, but it was no use. Light on light collided and under the immense strain, Kimi's shield finally shattered as Kazumi's attack came through and exploded, causing Kimi and Orube to slammed into the wall.
"DIE!" Kazumi screamed, running at them with another powerful attack.
Kimi knew that she didn't have time to conjure up another shield or a counter attack against Kazumi. Orube was too injured as she lay next to Kimi. Was this really the end for them?
Suddenly, a burst of pure, sparkling light emitted between them! Kimi looked up to see the Jewel of Life preventing Kazumi from delivering her deadly attack. Kazumi gasped as the light from the talisman blinded her.
"What?!" Kazumi gasped, recoiling from its immense power.
"What's going on?!" Kenji demanded, trying to shield Kiyomi. He couldn't see anything. It was too bright.
Whatever the Jewel of Life was doing, it was working. Orube could feel its healing magic washing over her body. Kazumi seemed transfixed by the Jewel as it washed away Zhu Que's Wrath from her body and soul. It continued to shine brilliantly, and Kimi realized her talisman was trying to tell Kazumi something. When it was done, it flew back into Kimi's hand and disappeared.
Whatever the Jewel of Life was trying to show Kazumi, it was too much. Kazumi gasped and fell to her knees.
"Kazumi!" Kiyomi cried, running in to catch her little sister and cradled her in her arms. "Kazumi-chan! What happened?!"
"I…I…" Kazumi stuttered. Kiyomi saw that Kazumi's eyes were filled with tears, her face was stricken with a look of shock. "It…it can't be true…Seiji…"
Kiyomi glared at Kimi and Orube. "What did you do to my twin?!"
"I don't know, my love, but from the looks of things, I think it's wise for us to get out of here," Kenji said.
"Freeze!" Orube said, holding out her sword. "You're not going anywhere, traitor!" Glancing at Kimi, she ordered, "Kimi use your magic to confine them until the siege is over!"
Kimi nodded and quickly encased the three of them in a dome like she did to the other Guardians when they first met. Kiyomi wasn't too pleased with his.
"Release us, Kimi Watsuki!" she ordered. "Or so help me, I'll—"
"Oh, come now, my love!" Kenji said with a smirk on his face. He held out his hands and immediately, Orube and Kimi knew that he was up to something. "Let's do what Orube said for once…and…FREEZE!"
Instantly, Kenji's magic froze all three of them with an icy blast. When the vapor subsided, Kimi and Orube saw all three of them had turned into ice-crystal statues. A second later, they cracked and crumbled to the ground.
"Dammit!" Orube cried in frustration. "They got away!"
Kimi sighed. "Leave them," she said. "I'm certain we'll see them again soon. Are you well? You seemed pretty battered before I came in."
Orube winced. "I'm better now, thanks to your Jewel. My ribs are healed but I can still feel the sore."
"I'm surprised Kazumi and Kiyomi gave you a hard time. You're normally not that easy to take down."
Orube frowned. "Luckily for them, another opponent softened me up before they got to me."
"Who?" Kimi asked with concern.
"Kitsune, the White Fox Spirit," Orube replied darkly.
Her answer set an alarm in Kimi's mind. "Kitsune-sama?" Kimi gasped. "But you defeated her years ago when you and Luba were last here on Lusteria! I've heard you sealed her away in an ancient temple deep within the Dark Forest."
Orube growled. "I thought so, too, but apparently that temple was close to the ziggurat where we first encountered the Celestial Warriors months ago. Lady Seiryuu freed her and made her her first lieutenant. Kitsune came here to slaughter all of these men!" Orube gestured at the bloody murder scene around them. "She and Kenji killed these soldiers and the drummers they were sent to guard.
"I arrived but the men were already killed and Kitsune revealed herself to me. She disguised herself earlier and infiltrated the wedding before coming here. We fought, but Kimi…" Orube seethed through her teeth at the memory still fresh in her mind. "Kitsune's more powerful than before. I barely stood a chance against her! She toyed with me mercilessly and even attempt to interrogate me about Zhu Que."
This caused Kimi's eyebrow to arch in confusion. Why would the White Fox Spirit want to know about Lord Zhu Que when she's working with his sister? "That is certainly peculiar."
"She wanted to know what caused him to spare our lives in that village days ago," Orube replied solemnly. "Zhu Que didn't tell Seiryuu and Hwang-Ryong about the sudden appearance of the Jade Dragon." Orube paused as the thought lingered in her head. "Kimi, do you really think that deep down, Zhu Que still loves Ngọc Long enough that he didn't mention her to his siblings in order to protect her from his sadistic relations?"
Kimi sighed and shook her head. "I don't know, Orube. But right now, I don't think it's wise that we linger. These men are dead and the shield is already down! Zhu Que and his army are already at the palace gate and now we're the only ones who stand against them from getting to the Annamite Emperor! We need to get back out there! Will and the others are fighting alongside Chung and his men and Ngọc Long has yet to arrive with the promise of reinforcement!"
Orube nodded as she picked up her sword. "You're right, Kimi. We must take our leave."
The two of them made their exit. To get to the palace walls faster, Kimi used a spell and spirited them to where they needed to be.
Unbeknownst to them, a shadow still lingers in the corner. Kitsune stepped out, a wicked smile curled on her lips. "Well, well, well…so Lord Zhu Que has a wife? And it's none other than the Jade Dragon! Lady Seiryuu would love to hear this!"
While Will and Cornelia were trying to distract Zhu Que, Hay Lin, Taranee, and Irma were doing their best on the ground either aiding General Chung fight off against Zhu Que's forces or helping any citizens who were too slow to get out of the city in time. The entire scene was a battlefield of humans, demons, and spirits tearing each other apart. Chung's men were dying by the number for they were not only outnumbered, but also outmatched by some of Zhu Que's best warriors.
The nastiest one was none other than Zhu Que's first lieutenant, the fire demon Agni. Irma ran into him when she noticed a mother trying to flee the scene with her infant in her arms. Agni swung his sword and slashed her from behind, causing her to cry in pain as she dropped her infant. Agni laughed wickedly as he grabbed the mother's hair with one hand and with the other grabbed the blanket with the baby still crying.
"No! Please!" the woman cried.
Agni didn't reply but shoved her into the dirt and threw the infant into the nearby well to drown. The mother looked up in shock and shrieked in horror.
"NO!" Irma cried, holding out her hand.
The water from the well rose up and gently caught the infant and encased him in a protective bubble.
"What?" Agni blinked in surprised.
Before he could turn around, Irma blasted him hard to the side with a water pillar. She flew up towards the bubble and grabbed the infant and returned him to his injured mother.
"Thank you, Guardian!" the mother thanked her tearfully, wincing at the pain in her back.
"Are you all right?" Irma asked. The mother shook her head. "Hold still, I'm sending you somewhere safe!" Irma quickly teletransported the mother and child to where Đạo and Đức are: on the outskirts of the capital where everyone is safe for the moment.
Agni growled, glancing up to see Irma. "You're the one who's causing my master so much trouble? A mere child?!"
Irma is insulted and the dark voice inside her agreed.
"I'm not a child!" Irma answered defiantly, getting into a defensive position. "I'm the Guardian of Water."
Agni was amused as he got up and brandished his sword. "Well, child," he mocked her. "I'm the fire demon Agni, First Lieutenant to Lord Zhu Que! And unlike my predecessor, nothing will stop me from helping my master achieves his goal except death!"
"Give me your best shot!" Irma challenged. "You caught me on a bad day!" she said. "After all the crap I had to live with these past few days, things were starting to look fine! Until you and your army showed up, I've been stigmatized for ruining the wedding! Now I'm just itching to take all my anger out on someone!"
Irma shot several streams of water rapidly at Agni who managed to dodge and sliced them with such ease. Their battle drew them farther out into the bay. Surrounded by water, Irma smirked. For a fire demon, this one isn't very bright since she managed to lure him out to her terrain. Even though Agni could fly, he was still surrounded by bodies of water on all sides and appeared to be trapped.
"Game over for you!" Irma said, conjuring up pillars of water all around them like a cage.
With a flick of her hand, she tried to pummel Agni with the water. To her shock, Agni created a fiery aura around him so hot that her water attack turned into steam upon contact, creating a cover for Agni. The next thing she knew, Agni suddenly appeared mere inches in front of her, his hands glowing with fire. He knocked her pretty well in the face before punching her in the stomach, knocking the air out of Irma's lungs. Irma gasped but not before Agni threw Irma across the watery field and she landed on the beach painfully.
"Pathetic," Agni said, floating before her. "I've heard rumors of Guardians with powers so great, they had brought two powerful Celestial Warriors to their knees! Clearly, you're anything but!"
Irma struggled to her feet, her hand reaching towards her stomach painfully. Agni looked at her condescendingly.
"I could finish you off right now," Agni said, but then turned his attention back on the city. Waving a hand, he gave his soldiers order to continue the carnage. "But why waste my breath on you? Clearly you're worth less than the sands beneath my feet." Suddenly, Agni spotted an illuminating giant avatar of the sun goddess Amaterasu near the palace walls and smiled wickedly.
"Perhaps the Guardian of Light would provide me a more interesting challenge," he said and began to stroll towards the palace, his footsteps turning the sands beneath his feet into glass.
Agni's words cut deep into Irma's mind and before she knew it, her anger began to boil. She was worth less as an opponent to him than Kimi? It was bad enough that her friends sided with Kimi but now even an enemy would rather ignore Irma and pay attention to the Guardian of Light?!
Suddenly, the dark voice whispered in her again, its tone full of fury. Are you really going to let him get away with it? You're the Guardian of Water! He's the one who's nothing!
Irma trembled with fury. Suddenly, there was a deafening screech coming from Zhu Que in the distance as he emitted a giant plume of red mist. The Deadly Sin flowed everywhere, consuming those with weak hearts and compelling them to fight with their own comrades. Parts of it managed to make its way towards the bay and before Irma knew it, it noticed the anger in Irma's heart and began to infect her further.
A part of her mind tried fruitlessly to urge Irma to fight it. The voice told her to remember what Yami said and what she's been fighting for. Unfortunately, the dark voice was becoming louder, drowning out the other. Irma didn't care. She was sick and tired of people looking at her as if anything she does is the result of her personal flaws.
Irma screamed and tried to blast Agni again with a pillar of water. Agni smirked, and swung his sword, slicing the oncoming pillar in halves.
"Not a very bright Guardian, are you, child?" he mocked. "Only a fool would think to use the same trick twice!"
"SHUT UP!" Irma cried. Tapping into the power of the ocean behind her, Irma conjured a water hydra with eight serpent-liked heads. "NOW WE'LL SEE WHO'S WORTHLESS!"
Irma fired the serpent at Agni, never realizing her water attack mirrored the one used by Kenji on Kimi several months ago when they first met at the university in Edo. Ironically at this moment, Irma had become Kenji Kinomoto: Aside from their water-wielding magic, both have become victims of their inner demons created by a society that, in their minds, rejected them.
Agni was amazed at the sheer strength of Irma's attack as it pushed him back. Taking this moment of distraction, Irma flew in, her hands iced up in order to punch him with such force and fury, that it would either cause a large shockwave, or disintegrate him on the spot.
"I AM NOT WORTHESS!" Irma screamed.
Irma expected a collision, but to her shock, Agni moved so fast that she missed. He quickly turned around and slammed his fist into her back. The impact was so powerful that it caused the two of them to repel back. Before Irma could get back up, Agni appeared before her again and seized her by the throat, threatening to strangle her to death.
"You're a fool, Guardian," Agni said, tightening his grip and causing Irma to desperately gasp for air. "You're a fool to ever think you could fight against me as you are now! We both may have been induced by Zhu Que's Deadly Sin, but unlike you, his Wrath invigorates me!" With these words, Irma could see the blurry image of Agni's fiery aura saturating the air around them. "My master's Wrath strengthens me. Every blood spilled feeds my soulless heart! You, on the other hand, can't even come to grip with your inner demon! You're burdened by rage, yet deep down you wrestled with the hopes of returning to what you once were! And that is what makes you weaker than me!"
Irma tried to pry Agni's hands off her throat and kicked him. But his grip was too powerful and she couldn't feel the sand beneath her feet. Irma's vision began to blur even more as she slowly loses consciousness.
"This is the end for you, child!" Agni laughed maniacally.
Suddenly without warning, Agni released Irma as he felt a searing pain in his shoulder. He was so focused on Irma that he failed to notice a newcomer attacking from behind. Irma glanced up, still barely conscious and saw her savior pointing his sword at Agni. But he wasn't alone. Behind him were thousands of warriors rising from the sea! Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling noise coming from the ocean. The water churned and bubbled furiously before a giant platform with a golden dragon throne emerged. There sat the Great Dragon King of the Eastern Sea of Annam, the mighty Lạc Long Quân. By his side was his guest, the mermaid Queen Umi from the Sea of Nihon.
"Warriors! Take up your arms and defeat these wicked creatures before you!" Lạc Long Quân cried, his voice booming. "Let us aid our surface dwelling brethrens! We may come from two different worlds, but never forget that the Annamites are also descendants from a union of land and sea!"
The army of merfolks, dragons, and nymphs cheered. Agni and some of his men closest to the beach were stunned to see reinforcement so soon! Irma's savior glanced down and placed a hand on her gently and Irma could feel a warm feeling spreading through her body. With her body slightly healed, Irma's vision returned to normal and she saw before her a young man in crimson and gold scaled armor.
"I am Quang Long, the Crimson Dragon," he smiled, offering Irma a hand. She took it hesitantly. "You must be the Guardian of Water my older sister informed me of."
"Sister?" Irma blinked.
"The Jade Dragon," he replied. "Now, on your feet, Guardian! The battle is not yet over!"
Agni winced at the pain in his shoulder, but tried his best to ignore it as he brandished his sword. "Demons! Warriors!" he cried. "Do not falter for we are the servants to the Lord of Wrath! Remember, nothing will stop us from taking over the southern hemisphere except death!"
Agni's demonic army cheered and before any of them knew it, both armies rushed at each other.
"KILL THEM ALL!" Agni roared.
"TO BATTLE! FOR ANNAM AND FOR LUSTERIA!" Quang Long cried.
Quang quickly grabbed Irma and said, "Go! Your fellow Guardians need you! I will handle Agni!"
"But—" Irma began to protest, but Quang Long already crossed sword with Agni.
"FLY! YOU ARE MORE HINDRANCE THAN HELP TO ME HERE!" Quang Long said.
Irma frowned but did as she was told. Quang Long smiled and pushed Agni back.
"You may be a first class fire demon, but I am the Crimson Dragon! Shall we see whose fire burns hotter?"
After fighting for what felt like hours, Will and Cornelia found themselves at a stalemate. The only reason they were still alive is thanks to their new transformation. They never faced someone as pragmatic as Zhu Que before. His attacks were precise as his emotion cold and serious. After combining their powers in various forms of attack, they were no closer to defeating Zhu Que than they were before!
Taranee and Hay Lin managed to evacuate the city of its remaining citizens before rejoining Will and Cornelia.
"Where's Irma?" Cornelia asked.
"Evacuating the last remaining citizen near the harbor," Hay Lin replied.
"We can't wait for her!" Will said. "Let's try to immobilize Zhu Que. I have an—AH!"
Zhu Que created two swirling columns of fire to surround them. Taranee tried to push them back, but they were too powerful for her to tame. Cornelia created a shield of crystal around them like an orb to protect them from the heat. Blinded by the fiery tornadoes, the Guardians couldn't see the giant fire bird grabbing their protective orb by the talons.
They screamed and realized they were like tiny lizards being trapped in a glass bottle with a giant eagle trying to break it open to consume them! Sure enough, that was exactly what Zhu Que was doing. But rather than letting the orb drop, he simply flung them hard to the ground! They screamed as the gravity pulled them closer to the ground. But suddenly, something caught them gently. The Guardians opened their eyes to see they were being held by two giant, ethereal hands made of pure white light. They gazed up to see a giant avatar of the sun goddess Amaterasu who caught the orb in her hands.
"Kimi! Nice save!" Taranee cried in relief as Cornelia dissolved the crystal shield. Taranee quickly lean to the side of the goddess' hand and tried to hold back. Now I know what a hamster feels like in its plastic ball if you kicked it.
"Orube! Are we glad to see you!" Hay Lin said. "Where were you? What happened?"
"Had a nasty run in some familiar faces," Orube answered. "But if we survive this, I'll tell you about it later. Right now, I have to help Chung and his men hold the walls! You girls go deal with Zhu Que!" And with that, Orube swiftly climbed and jumped onto the walls, her sword hacking away oncoming arrows and slicing ladders for those attempting to climb the walls before moving on to the her next victim.
"Light Guardian!" Zhu Que's voice echoed above her. "How foolish-minded of thee to have forgotten our last encounter! I needeth to remind thee of thy goddess is no match for me?"
"I haven't forgotten," Kimi replied darkly. "But then again, you had caught me on a sick day. So I didn't get a chance to do this!" Quickly, Kimi closed her eyes and held both hands outward, her giant avatar mirroring her movement. She whispered a spell and suddenly, clumps of white crystals appeared in mid air, sparkling like diamonds. But their appearance is deceptive. When Kimi clenched her hands, each floating clumps of light crystals exploded, blinding and stunning Zhu Que's followers. This allowed General Chung and his men the opportunity to push them back. The crystals continued to exploded like volleys of flashing grenades.
"Quickly!" Kimi cried, glancing at Will and the others. "This spell will only give you a few more seconds of cover!"
"Right!" Will nodded.
Zhu Que shrieked, using his wings to shield himself from the constant flashing lights. Seeing that he's temporarily blinded, Will and the others dove in, their magic at the ready. Hay Lin and Taranee used their combined elements to counter Zhu Que's fiery tornadoes by creating their own that flowed counter-clockwise, resulting in one tornado being canceled out and the other being pushed back against Zhu Que. Cornelia summoned giant vines to tie him down. The crimson bird struggled fiercely and Will dove in, slamming her electrically-charged-up hand onto Zhu Que's feathered breast.
A deafening shrill pierced the air. The painful voltage caused Zhu Que to thrash back and forth, destroying nearby watchtowers and barracks. (Luckily, no one was in them.) Cornelia cried from the strain of trying to hold him down. To her horror, his powerful thrashing was causing her vines to snap!
"I CAN'T HOLD HIM!" Cornelia cried.
Suddenly, several long water tentacles reached over her head and snaked themselves around Zhu Que's body hissing into steam as it made contact with his flaming feathers. They squeezed and pulled Zhu Que down.
"Irma!" Hay Lin cried. "You're here!"
"Sorry, I'm late," Irma said. "But it looks like you could use a hand."
The Guardians glanced over Irma's shoulder and saw a huge army coming from the sea!
"Look, General!" one of Chung's warriors cried, his eyes no longer reflecting exhaustion. "Reinforcements from the sea!"
"By the gods! It's the great Sea Dragon King!"
Chung smiled as he pushed back one opponent. "Fight on, men!" he cried joyously. "Let Zhu Que and his dark army know that Annam will not fall! Fortune has smiled upon us for our brethrens from the sea has returned to fight by our sides once again!" Chung's men cheered and with their morals boosted, they fought their enemies more fiercely.
Zhu Que struggled and Will backed away. Irma tightened her strangled hold and Cornelia tapped into the earth to produce thick trees to reinforce her vines. Kimi's avatar approached and used both hands to hold down the giant bird, albeit with some difficulties as Zhu Que was very powerful.
Switching to their telepathic channel, Kimi said, I won't be able to hold him for long. Will, shock him again!
Will, remember, we don't want to kill him! Hay Lin said.
Kinda hard doing that when he's trying to kill us! Irma snapped. Hurry! My water tentacles are evaporating quicker!
"Here goes…" Will whispered. Tapping into her Virtue of Temperance, Will manifested a huge glowing orb of energy from the Heart. It won't kill Zhu Que, since fire is a form of lightning. Will only wanted to shock and stun Zhu Que, at least long enough to try and bring him back to the good side. Will sighed heavily and focused. Sensing her desire, the orb of energy shot a beam into the sky, creating storm clouds to cover the entire city. Soon the wind began to howl as lightning strikes the sky. The other Guardians winced when a few struck the ground too close to them.
Will held her breath and collected all the lightning into one big bolt and aimed it for Zhu Que. The Guardians, saved for Kimi, shielded their eyes from the intense light. They could hear Zhu Que's bird like shriek piercing the sky as it slowly died down. When they looked up, the giant fire bird was no longer there. Instead, Zhu Que had reverted back to his human form and he looked a bit worn and exhausted as he fell to one knee, his sword fell in front of him. Quickly, Cornelia shackled him with crystals, immobilizing his limbs.
"C'mon, let's end this," Will said as they all approached the Lord of Wrath cautiously. "It's over Zhu Que! We've won."
Zhu Que didn't raise his head nor laughed in an attempt to mock them like his siblings. Stoically, Zhu Que replied, "Thou art fool-minded to bethink this could hold me." Glancing up at Kimi who was still situated inside her avatar, he darkly challenged her. "If it be true thou art to kill me, best thee do't now, child of light."
Kimi frowned. "We're not here to kill you."
"She's right," Will declared. "We don't want to kill you."
Zhu Que glared at them, as if disgusted at their attempt to show him compassion. "Knaves art thou! Compassion and mercy in thy hearts prov'd thy weakness!"
"You're wrong!" Will argued. "Compassion and mercy is more powerful than any form of wrath or hatred! Out of all the Celestial Warriors we've faced so far, you have shown mercy towards us before!"
"You could have killed us back in that jungle, but you didn't! You were the one who helped Kimi thawed from her prison! You even helped me defeat Xuan Wu back in Joseon!" Cornelia said. "You may be the Lord of Wrath but there is still some form of compassion left in you! You're not all lost!"
"Zhu Que, please listen! We asked that you stop this siege," Hay Lin pleaded. "Our mentor…your wife…told us you weren't always like this! She said the two of you used to protect Annam together."
Zhu Que glared at Hay Lin darkly. "Watch thy tongue, mortal! The Jade Dragon has forsaken our reunion and is gone to me!"
"Is that what you really believe?" Cornelia argued. "You really think the Jade Dragon has abandoned you? You were the one who left her! Ever since our last battle in the jungle, Ngọc Long has been thinking of you day and night! She was saddened when you left her years ago but we saw she's more heartbroken to see what you've become! She still loves you, Zhu Que, and despite your seriousness and your wrathful god complex, you still care enough for Jade to spare her—"
Pathetic! Do you honestly agree with your friends in converting the Lord of Wrath? said the dark voice in Irma's head. Irma shook her head, trying to ignore it, but it will not be silenced!
"What doth thee knoweth of love?! Thou art merely a child! Love is for the weak!"
"I may be young, but I have experienced true love and it is not weak! Your Wrath has blinded you! Admit it! You still love Ngọc Long after all these years, but I think you're just afraid of finding happiness again—"
"Thou shalt not mock me, Earth Guardian!" Zhu Que said coldly, his tone so frightening that Cornelia couldn't help but recoiled back in fear. "I fear no man, mistress, or creature! I am the offspring of the Vermillion Bird! I am the Lord of Wrath! Man and spirits tremble ere me!"
To their horror, the magical bindings around Zhu Que began to steamed up and slowly catching on fire!
"Once I am free, I wilt destroy thee and all thee hold dear! Mine loyalty is to Hwang-Ryong and our goal is to bringeth Lusteria into the center of the cosmos! Mine brethrens wilt seize control of this world and declare war upon Kandrakar! All worlds shalt bow to their knees! Corpses of Elders shalt be the foundation our thrones and new Guardians shalt becometh our commanders to spread our reign across the universe!"
The dark voice persisted. Look at Zhu Que! He's too far gone and won't ever change! Your friends are pathetic to ever think they could save him!
"Is all of that really worth it?! You would really resort to killing millions for that?! Your wife wouldn't—" said Taranee.
Irma couldn't take it anymore as she shoved her way towards Zhu Que. "Shut up, Taranee! Stop coddling to this hot-headed fire turkey! It's clear that he's never going to change! You guys and the Jade Dragon were stupid to think that love could even save love! What does our mentor ever see in him?! Some wise dragon she is to ever think that this bird brain could ever be—"
Will and the others glanced at Irma in horror at her cold words. They knew she went too far, because the next thing they knew, Zhu Que was freed as he burst into flames. Although not in his bird form, the Guardians had forgotten how biblically terrifying Zhu Que can be as a divine human torch. The shockwave sent them all back and when they looked up, the Celestial Warrior of Fire was illuminating quite magnificently.
"Although Ngọc Long is dead to me, I'll not have an imbecilic human befoul her name! Speaketh ill of mine spouse and thou shalt bleed where thou stands!"
Zhu Que swung his sword and a blade of fire emitted from it, slicing a watch tower. It crumbled to the ground and what remained exploded in a blaze of inferno. He pointed his talisman at the Guardians and fired. Will, Cornelia, and Kimi quickly created a shield to protect themselves, but Zhu Que's fire grew so intense that it was causing their shield to crack!
He's too powerful! Will seethed mentally.
Nice work, Irma! Cornelia said darkly. You just had tick him off! You really are a piece of work, you know that?! Urgh! Why couldn't you just stay home like Orube asked?!
Enough, Cornelia! Irma's not herself so stop blaming her! We have bigger issue to deal— Kimi thought, but that sets Irma off even more. Unintentionally, Kimi's words reminded Irma of her encounter with Agni and how Quang Long came to save her.
"Shut up, all of you…SHUT UP! SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!" Irma screamed. "I'M THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM, HUH?! YOU'RE ALL SAYING THAT I'M WORTHLESS, RIGHT?! YOU ALL THINK I'M A HINDRANCE THAN HELP TO YOU?"
"Irma, that's not what I—"
"I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP! I'M DONE WITH YOU! WITH ALL OF YOU TALKING BEHIND MY BACK…I'M SICK OF YOU ALL LOOKING AT ME AND THINK THAT I'M THE ONE WITH THE BIGGEST PROBLEM! I'LL SHOW YOU! I'M ENDING THIS NOW!"
"Irma, stop!" the others cried. "This is suicidal!"
Too late. Irma flew over the shield and went straight for Zhu Que. Her fury allowed Irma to create a large volume of water as she shaped it into a giant ice drill onto Zhu Que. It barely made an impact on him as it hissed against his heat wave. Quickly, Irma brought down hundreds of pound of water pressure on him. It created such a huge steam that it was difficult for Zhu Que to see where Irma would strike next.
Irma froze the water on her arm into a large ice dagger. Quickly, she got close to Zhu Que and plunged it into the third chakra in his solar plexus, the one weakness Kimi told them about earlier that day. The third chakra…the source of Zhu Que's weakness…the center of his lack of self-control and his anger…striking it would put an end to Zhu Que forver.
But before Irma could even touch him, a hand came out of the steam and grabbed Irma by the throat. To Irma's horror, the person choking her is none other than herself! At the back of Irma's mind, she knew that it's Zhu Que, but through her blurry vision, all she could see was the dark voice in her mind finally appearing before her. Dark Irma laughed maniacally, her eyes glowing eerily and she appeared to be absorbing all of Irma's hatred and fury.
"IRMA!" the others cried, trying to reach for her.
From the others' perspectives, Irma was definitely being choked by Zhu Que. He barely glanced at them before conjuring a huge wall of fire to block their attempt to save Irma.
"Thee bethink mine Deadly Sin is the root of thy misery?" said Dark Irma. "Motley-minded little wench! Wrath only strengthen it! The Darkness hath at each moment been in thy heart! Thee art simply too weak to contain it! Now I shalt destroy thee!"
Was Zhu Que/Dark Irma right? Was her heart too weak to defend itself from this demi-god's Wrath? Irma couldn't think anymore as she slipped away into the darkness.
With his free hand, Zhu Que conjure a molten ball of fire and was about to shove it down Irma's throat when suddenly a deluge of water rained down upon him. It was so powerful that it put out his fire wall and forced him to let go of Irma as the strong current pulled her away.
"IRMA!" Kimi cried.
Her avatar reached out a hand to grab the unconscious Guardian, but before she could, the current swept Irma away to the far side of the courtyard. Unfortunately, the ground beneath her was so saturated with Irma's water attack from earlier that it began to give way. The sinkhole opened and Irma was swallowed into the darkness before her friends' eyes.
"IRMA, NO!" the Guardians cried but it was too late.
Zhu Que looked up to see a dragon with green jade colored scales hovering before him. Instantly, the dragon burst into emerald flames as she reverted back to her human form. Rather than her usual robes, she was clad in armor, her hair tied up, and in her hand was a sword.
"Ngọc Long," Zhu Que whispered darkly, pointing his own sword at her.
"Husband," Ngọc Long said. "So…it has come to this?"
"You would fight me, my love?"
Ngọc Long's eyes seemed sad, but her expression was determined. "Yes. I can no longer stand idly by and watch you destroy my home, my world, and the Guardians. I will fight you!"
"Thee knoweth thee cannot win against me. I am more powerful than thee."
"We shall see."
"I shalt cease at nothing to achieve dominance," Zhu Que said. "Annam shalt fall and soon Lusteria, Kandrakar, and all the worlds shalt fall under our might! No one shalt prevent me, not even thee, mine treacherous wife!"
"Is that really your dream, husband? Or the dream of a mad man?!" Jade declared.
"Do not soiled Hwang-Ryong's name! His dream is mine dream and I won't cease until fruition it comes! Anyone who stands in our way shalt die! I shalt showeth no quarter, even if it be true I wilt bring upon my beloved's end…"
There was a moment of silence between them. A thunderstorm had rolled in and lightning struck the sky. With a flash, both Ngọc Long and Zhu Que flew at each other, crossing swords.
One is the son of the Vermillion Bird god and the other the daughter of the immortal Sea Dragon King. Long ago, destiny brought them together. After centuries of being apart, neither of them would think destiny would reunite them under the cruelest of fate.
To be continued…
Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long with these chapters. Between work and taking care of my family, I don't have a lot of free time to write, draw, or read anymore. Plus, this chapter was another hard one to write. Don't worry, I'm still writing this story until it is done.
Cultural note: While Ngọc Long's name means "Jade Dragon" in Vietnamese, her brother's name, "Quang Long", actually meant "Enlightened" or "Brilliant" Dragon. I named this character after my own younger brother because he loves dragons.
Kitsune is a Japanese nine-tailed fox from mythology. I thought it would be interesting to give Orube a rival of her own.
Story Trivia: Originally, "A Mermaid's Tear" was supposed to be 3 parts as well, but there were so many important scenes to write, I had to extend it to 4 and now 5 parts.