SailorStar9: Figured I needed to get this chapter out before you guys hunt me down and kill me. So this is Chapter 10. Read and review.
Disclaimers: Nothing here are mine, well, except the plot.
Chapter 10: In the Sea of the Sky
As Talpa's cannon ball was catapulted into the sky with Ryo in it, the Warrior of Fire was trapped inside the ball as evil energy crackled around him.
"My armor..." Ryo muttered, painfully stretching out his hand. As if sensing his movement, the dark energy centered onto him. The four Nether Spirits materialized before him.
"My armor feels like it's being ripped apart..." Ryo mumbled, gritting his teeth in pain as more of the dark energy concentrated on him.
"Just hang on Rowen. I'm coming to save you." Ryo promised.
In space, the unconscious Rowen was drifting about in a dark blue sphere.
Down below, the rest of the group watched as the cannon ball flew out into space.
"Ryo's riding that ball of light." Mia remarked.
"We're counting on you, Ryo! Hang in there!" Kento added.
"Damn!" Cye let out a rare curse. "There's gonna be something we can do."
"Don't worry." Yuli assured. "If anyone can bring Rowen back, it's Ryo!"
"Yuli's right." Mia agreed. "We have to believe in him and wait."
Just then, Whiteblaze growled lowly in warning.
"Over there!" Kento gasped.
"What?" Cye demanded as an image of Talpa's head appeared before them.
"I am Talpa, ruler of the Netherworld. Ronin Warriors, for you to have come so far, I'll give you credit for that." Talpa laughed evilly.
"Talpa!" Cye hissed.
"But this will be your last stand." Talpa chuckled.
"It's too early to say that." Cye challenged.
"That's right." Sage agreed. "As soon as Ryo brings Rowen back, we will defeat you."
You'll meet your end when the five of us are reunited." Kento added his two cents.
"Is that so?" Talpa chuckled.
"Take a look!" he told the group, showing them an image of the fireball Ryo was in.
"There it is!" Sage noted.
"The ball of fire!" Cye gaped.
"This cannonball will soon strike Rowen of the Strata and also destroy the insect that snuck onto it." Talpa informed them.
"It's Ryo!" Mia gasped.
"Ryo!" Yuli exclaimed.
"He was a fool to throw himself into the cannonball. It possesses the power to destroy his armor. He does not have very long. He will disappear along with his friend, Rowen of the Strata." Talpa added.
"Can you see it Athena? These pests whom had vowed to protect you but two of them have become so!" the evil lord taunted the Goddess.
"Is Ryo's armor going to be destroyed?" Yuli asked frantically.
"I felt the power of the fireball. It almost felt like the power of the armor." Kento replied.
"So Talpa wasn't lying what he said the cannonball can destroy the armor." Sage noted.
"We can't even imagine what power that fireball holds." Mia added. "Both Talpa and the armors possess a secret."
"He's in danger!' Cye gaped in horror.
"Ryo!" Sage added.
"Ryo!" Kento called out.
"Don't worry. All of you will be joining him soon." Talpa declared. "This will be the last stand you make with your armor."
As his voice faded, three red balls of lightning descended upon the group.
"That's..." Kento gasped as each of the three lightning balls split into three and hovered over the building surrounding the group. The lightning balls then turned into black electricity as a horde of Dynasty soldiers materialized around the group.
"Fight bravely..." Talpa's voice boomed again. "And then die! Ronin Warriors!"
"Ryo..." Mia muttered worriedly.
Back in Talpa's castle, Anubis demanded an audience with his master.
"Master Talpa!" the Warlord called out. ""Master Talpa!"
"What do you want Anubis?" Talpa questioned.
"I wish to fight Wildfire myself in fair and open combat." Anubis requested.
"Anubis, do you not realize that their armors have gained the strength to challenge us here at our castle?" Talpa rebuked. "It's best to finish them off using the cannonball of doom."
"Master I intend no disrespect." Anubis added. "Even if we defeat the Ronin Warriors in this way, it would simply mean that we relied on the power of the Nether Spirits. In order to defeat Wildfire, no the Ronin Warriors, we must engage them in a fair and honest fight. This is the true victory."
"Anubis, do you not realize what you're saying?" Talpa demanded. "In the Netherworld, there is no such thing as a fair and honest fight!"
"No!" Anubis protested. "I cannot stand to let Wildfire pass without defeating his armor! I beg you!"
"Anubis!" Talpa hollered, his eyes flashed an eerie pink as he sent his power to bind the Warlord.
"Master Talpa..." Anubis mumbled.
"Listen carefully, Warlord of Cruelty, Anubis! Your power comes from me! I will not permit you to disobey me!" Talpa rebuked.
"Dismissed!" he ordered.
"Master!" Anubis gasped as he disappeared from the main hall.
"Mu dear Warlords." Talpa mumbled once Anubis was out of earshot. "You may be too weak to help me realize my glorious ambitions. Not with your four armors."
Back in space, Ryo was struggling to pick himself up within the fireball.
"You're not going to beat me!" the Warrior of Fire swore.
Just then, his 'kanji' burnt on his forehead and Ryo knew he was getting close to Rowen.
"Rowen? Are you there?" Ryo wondered outloud.
But if this fireball reaches him, we'll both die. He realized.
"Damn!" Ryo cursed as he pushed himself up. "Rowen, I won't let you be killed!"
He screamed in pain as the fireball's energy attacked him.
The energy of this fireball is concentrated on my armor. If I don't stop it, it'll destroy me before I can help Rowen. Ryo mused. Now, if I can only use the power of the fireball.
That decided, he fought to stand up and ignoring the energy attacking him, painfully reached for his katanas.
"I'll take my chances." Ryo swore determinedly as he drew out both his weapons. "Armor of Wildfire, don't let me down!"
Jumping up, he unleashed his attack from within the fireball. His attack worked as the fireball was destroyed from the inside out.
Back on the ground, the remaining three Ronins were fighting the Dynasty Soldiers when they saw the huge flash of light.
"That light..." Kento gasped as he dispatched yet another soldier. "Could it be..."
"Did it hit?" Sage wondered.
"No way!" Cye objected.
"Ryo, Rowen..." Mia muttered worriedly.
"Ryo..." Yuli uttered.
The disintegrated bits of the fireball floated about in the stratosphere. Ryo had been sheltered from the explosion by his armor's power and he was encased in a ball of red.
"What is this? Am I still alive?" Ryo wondered as he opened his eyes weakly.
"Oh no! Rowen!" he gasped.
It's not use. I can't move my body anymore. Am I destined to be stardust? He pondered. Damn, I feel so sleepy. Mia, Yuli, I'm so sorry. I wasn't able to rescue Rowen.
Then he shut his eyes, resigned to his fate.
Wildfire! Wildfire! You can't die! Athena's voice sounded in his head.
"Athena!" Ryo gasped, as he sensed Athena's Cosmo surround him.
You've sworn that you'd return to my side with Strata. Athena reminded him.
"Please forgive me! I've used all my strength to fight. I'm sure Sage and the rest will defeat Talpa." Ryo replied in desperation.
Ryo! Athena gasped.
Back on Earth, Kento quickly killed a Dynasty Soldier which had attempted to attack Mia and Yuli.
"Damn, now that Ryo and Rowen are gone, we're going to have to take out Talpa on our own." the Warrior of Earth remarked.
"What are you saying?" Mia scolded. "We don't know that they're dead!"
"She's right." Yuli agreed. "Ryo won't go down that easy!"
"We all want to believe that!" Cye rebuked after he killed another soldier.
"But right now, we have to go through this." Sage agreed as he dispatched another soldier.
Then, he gasped when he heard his armor resonating.
"What is this?" he demanded.
"What on earth?" Kento gaped when he too, heard his armor resonating.
"Our armors are resonating." Cye remarked.
Back in space, the newly awakened Rowen saw Ryo's energy bubble drift further away. Reaching behind his back, he retrieved his bow, mounted an arrow and fired a stream of stardust in Ryo's direction. The flow of stardust pulled Ryo over to join his friend.
"What's going on?" Ryo pondered as he awoke.
"Rowen!" he beamed, relieved to see his friend unharmed.
The two bubbles then emerged together.
"Rowen, you've been revived!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Rowen?" the Warrior of Fire frowned at his friend's silence.
Rowen said nothing and turned around.
"Rowen, you're..." Ryo was confused.
Without answering him, Rowen willed the power of his armor back to Earth.
"What's that light?" Cye looked up at the falling blue comet as his 'kanji' glowed on his forehead.
"I feel them." Kento remarked, his 'kanji' burning on his forehead.
"Rowen, Ryo!" Sage noted, his 'kanji' radiated on his forehead.
In response, the other three armors glowed their respective colors as the resonating grew louder.
"The armors are resonating." Mia realized. "Is that you, Ryo, Rowen?"
"Look!" Yuli exclaimed. "Athena's Staff!"
The rest of the group turned to see Athena's Cosmo skyrocketing, her Staff creating a similar fire.
Back in Talpa's castle, Anubis who had been banished back to his room, was experiencing a very similar effect.
"I can feel them." the Warlord gasped, the 'kanji' of 'Loyalty' flashing partially on his forehead. "Is that you, Wildfire? After all, I am the one who must defeat you."
With that, he droned on his armor and disappeared.
"So Anubis seems to have awakened to a spirit other than that of evil." Talpa mused as he appeared in Anubis' room once the Warlord as gone. "Looks like he's turning after being exposed to Athena's Cosmo."
The blue bubble carrying Rowen and Ryo streaked across the sky and landed in a forest, but not before creating a long crater.
The armor's power then returned back to the armor and Rowen was fully awakened.
"Where am I?" the Warrior of Strata pondered as he looked around. "How did I end up here?"
"Rowen!" Ryo called out weakly from behind him.
"Ryo!" Rowen gasped at his fallen friend. "What happened Ryo? You don't look so good."
"You don't remember anything do you?" Ryo smiled weakly. "But this sure is a good thing. We've got all five of us now."
"What;s this all about Ryo?" Rowen asked. "Tell me everything."
Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Anubis.
"It's good to see that you're both alive, Wildfire, Strata!" Anubis declared. "Now I can bury you once and for all."
That said, he threw his weighted scythe at the two.
Ryo and Rowen were instantly blown away.
"Are you alright, Ryo?" Rowen asked his fallen comrade.
"Damn, I can't move the way I want to." Ryo muttered.
"What's wrong little pests? Can't fight?" Anubis taunted.
"Here I come!" he declared, throwing his weighted scythe at them again. Rowen quickly brought up his bow and the chain was entangled in it.
"Rowen!" Ryo called out.
"You take a break Ryo. Leave this one to me." Rowen instructed.
"You think you can stand up to me?" Anubis mocked.
"You fool!" he declared, pulling his chain and taking Rowen with it. The Warrior of Strata was sent crashing against the trees around them.
"Rowen!" Ryo called out.
"Damn!" he cursed and leapt at Anubis, his swords drawn.
Anubis managed to parry the Warrior of Fire away and sent Ryo crashing against a boulder.
"You're awfully weak Wildfire." Anubis mocked. "Come on, you're starting to bore me."
"Damn." Ryo cursed as he climbed out of the rubble.
"It's only just beginning." Rowen declared as he too stood up.
"Is that so?" Anubis mocked.
"Take this!" Rowen announced and fired his arrows which Anubis skillfully dodged. The Warlord tossed his chain at the Warrior of Strata who ducked to avoid the attack.
Ryo jumped at him and Anubis leapt to meet the challenge. They clashed in mid-air and Anubis threw his chain directly at Ryo who did not have the chance to dodge. In response, Ryo unleashed his 'Flare Up Now!' attack at Anubis. However, his attack failed and Anubis' chains got the upper hand.
"Ryo!" Rowen exclaimed in horror.
"Quake With Fear!" Anubis finally unleashed his sure-kill at the two Ronin Warriors.
"Ryo!" Rowen gasped when he saw Anubis' powered-up chains blast the weakened Warrior of Fire away before he too was blasted off by the same attack.
"Ryo!" Rowen called out to his unconscious friend, who like him, was tangled in Anubis' web of chains.
"Wildfire, is this the best you can do?" Anubis asked. "That's pathetic!"
"If I hadn't been weakened by the power of the Nether Spirits, I would've finished..." Ryo muttered weakly before he fainted.
"The Nether Spirits?" Anubis echoed. "I see, so you're aren't in your best condition."
"All right!" he declared, raising his chain to attack.
What are you waiting for Anubis? The Warlord questioned himself. He's unconscious. It would be easy to finish him off. No! I did not stand against Master Talpa to fight like this. I want a fair and glorious fight. Damn, what's happening? Our job is to defeat the Ronin Warriors. What... what's happening to me?
"Something's one his mind." Rowen reasoned when he saw Anubis hesitating.
Raising his bow, he mounted an arrow and poised to fire.
"Anubis!" the Warrior of Strata called out, breaking Anubis out of his thoughts.
"I won't let you touch Ryo!" Rowen promised. "Let's see you take my ultimate move!"
"Arrow Shockwave!" Rowen unleashed his attack.
Anubis stood still as the powered-up arrow flew towards him. The attack landed squarely on his helmet, breaking it into two.
"Anubis..." Rowen gasped when he saw the Warlord's true face. "You're human... I didn't know you were human."
"Human?" Anubis echoed. "This has nothing to do with our fight."
"Prepare yourself!" he declared, picking up his scythe to attack.
"What?" Rowen exclaimed when he saw a stream of yellow light descend from the sky and encased the Warlord.
"I can't stand to watch you Anubis!" Talpa told his Warlord. "Your heart is no longer true to the Dynasty!"
"Master Talpa! The fight is not over!" Anubis protested as he was carried up back to the castle.
"Silence!" Talpa hollered, bringing his waylaid Warlord back. "Disappear!"
Anubis was clearly human. Rowen pondered once Talpa disappeared. Then what kind of armor was he wearing?
"Hey!" Yuli called out as the rest of the group ran towards the two.
"Ryo!" Cye shouted.
"Rowen!" Kento echoed.
"Everyone!" Rowen beamed at the reunited group.
"Ryo!" he gasped and turned to his fallen friend.
"Are you okay?" he asked, running to the weakened Warrior of Fire.
"I'm fine." Ryo assured him.
"Ryo." Rowen smiled in relief and picked the weakened warrior up.
"Ryo, Rowen, I'm so glad you're safe." Mia breathed in relief.
"You did good Ryo." Kento remarked.
"Now that the Ronin Warriors are once again reunited." Cye noted.
"Talpa doesn't know what's coming to him." Sage completed the sentence.
"Everyone, now that we're all reunited, let's work together and do our best." Mia encouraged.
The five warriors nodded.
"Ronin Warriors." Talpa mused. "So you're united at last."
"Close the gates!" he ordered.
