SailorStar9: Figured I needed to get this chapter out before you guys hunt me down and really kill me. So this is Chapter 17. Read and review.

Disclaimers: Nothing here are mine, well, except the plot.

Chapter 17: The Legend of the Armor


Back in the Netherworld, lightning crackled across the sky as Ryo was knocked off Talpa's castle by the dark overlord himself. Screaming, he slid down the building before his fingers encountered the over-hanging roof of the pagoda which stopped his rapid descend. Not being able to hung on anymore, his fingers slipped and Ryo fell heavily onto the stone roof below.

Sekhmet grinned at the fallen Warrior of Fire and was about to strike when Cye intervened.

"Ryo, take care of Talpa!" the Warrior of Water told his leader as he blocked Sekhmet with his yari.

"Cye, I'm on my way!" Ryo nodded and headed back upwards.

"Damn it Talpa!" he hissed as he leapt up. Once up top, Ryo dived straight into the castle.

Slicing through the wall, he demanded, "Talpa! Where are you? Show yourself!"

At that, the ghastly head of the evil lord appeared behind him.

At Talpa's laughter, Ryo turned around.

"Talpa!" he hissed.

"Prepare yourself!" he challenged, jumping forward to attack the wicked overlord. His first slice had no effect on Talpa. Instead, the dark lord entangled the Warrior of Fire with his hair.

"Damn!" Ryo cursed as he tried to slice through the tangles of hair.

"You monster!" he hissed as Talpa's hair finally caught him.

"You are the foolish one." Talpa told his captive. "How dare you challenge me, Talpa, the Master of the Netherworld? You must suffer more. Struggle in pain! And then die!"

That said, Talpa's eyes glowed red as he blasted Ryo away. Ryo screamed as he was blown out of the castle.

"Ryo!" Cye gasped when he saw his leader flying out of the castle.

After parrying Sekhmet off, Cye turned his head, shouting for his leader.

Ryo ended up crashing against one of the massive pillars of the castle.


Back on Earth, Whiteblaze roared at the energy bridge.

"Whiteblaze?" Yuli blinked. "Mia, something's happened to Ryo."

"Mia, I want to go in!" he added determinedly.

"If you go in there, you might not make it out alive." Mia replied after some time. "But I feel there's something we can do for them."

Yuli beamed and nodded.

"Whiteblaze! Let's go!" he told the white tiger.

Seconds later, the pair rode on Whiteblaze as the white tiger burst out of the store they were hiding in. as they neared the bridge, a wind blew against them. Mia hung onto to Yuli as Whiteblaze continued onwards. With a leapt, Whiteblaze jumped into the bridge. Once they were out of the energy bridge, Whiteblaze continued on.

"We made it!" Yuli beamed.

As Whiteblaze ran along the roofs, the Dynasty soldiers threw their weapons at the intruders. Dodging each and every one of the spears, Whiteblaze then leapt down, pinning a Dynasty soldier down. Using it as leverage, the white tiger leapt to safety.

"All right!" Yuli beamed as Whiteblaze headed towards the castle.


Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, the Ronin Warriors clashed once again with their adversaries. As Sage and Cale met in mid-air, a rain of golden arrows intervened as Rowen entered the battlefield.

Back in his command room, Talpa watched as the battle raged on.

"To think my Warlords with their nether spirits powers could have this such difficulty." the evil lord mused.

"Their five armors have grown in strength." he chuckled. "Good. Become even stronger. Once I absorb all of them back, I'll become more powerful than before. It's time to summon back my armors!"


Back on the battlefield, the Ronin Warriors and the Dark Warlords clashed once again with each other.

"Where did Ryo go?" Rowen asked as he was faced the sea of Dynasty soldiers.

"He took a blow from Talpa and got thrown off." Cye replied. Taking his moment of distraction, Sekhmet attacked, forcing Cye to dodge his blow.

"I doubt we can take down this castle without all five armors." Sage remarked as he blocked Cale's sword.

"Let's all go to Ryo then!" Rowen instructed as he destroyed the Dynasty soldiers surrounding him.

"Right!" both Kento and Cye chorused.

"Let's go!" Sage agreed.

Calling forth their powers, the four glowed their respective colors.

Dais threw his kamas at them. The four merely dodged the attack. Sekhmet attacked next, using his swords, to no avail. Cale attacked next with his sword. The four simply dodged the flying rocks. Parrying off the Warlords' weapons, the four Ronin Warriors emerged from the fight cloud.

"Hurry!" Rowen urged.

"Halt! My three Warlords!" Talpa called out, just as the Warlords were about go after them.

"Is there a problem, my Master?" Cale asked.

"My Warlords..." Talpa replied. "I am pleased with how well you have fought and proved your loyalty. However, the power of the Ronin Warriors' armors has surpassed that of your own armors. Do not forget, those pesky pests have Athena protecting them."

"Yes." Sekhmet added. "But we're sure we can defeat them now."

"Now, now Sekhmet." Talpa objected. "Leave this one to me. You must now give me your armor."

"What?" Sekhmet gasped.

"Master Talpa, please explain." Dais requested.

"Is this part of the armors' secret?" Cale asked.

Talpa chuckled, "You do not have to worry. I will show them the power of the Dynasty!"

"I understand." Sekhmet replied.

"May we witness your power?" Cale asked.

"Mystical armors! Come to me!" Talpa boomed, summoning the three Warlords' armors back to him. With three of the nine armors returned, Talpa's power increased as his arms manifested.

"Ronin Warriors, you are next." he warned.


Back with Ryo, the Warrior of Fire, after being thrown off by Talpa, laid on the roof of a lower-leveled building.

"Ryo!" Yuli called out as Whiteblaze rushed to his master's side.

"Ryo! Are you okay?" Mia asked.

"Ryo..." Yuli gasped as the two humans rushed to his side.

"Yuli..." Ryo opened his eyes. "Mia..."

"Ryo!" Mia gasped as she supported the Ronin leader.

"Why are you here?" Ryo asked. "This isn't a place for women and children."

Whiteblaze's warning growl alerted them that they were surrounded by enemies.

"Damn!" Ryo hissed as he stood up. "We're surrounded!"

As the sea of Dynasty soldiers closed in, Ryo was ready to defend the two non-fighters with Cye entered the scene, slicing through a soldier in the process. Sage was next, cutting through the Dynasty soldiers.

"The guys are here!" Yuli beamed as Kento bodyslammed another.

Using his kantas to parry off another soldier's attack, Ryo was left undefended as a second soldier proceeded to attack him, only to have Rowen block off the attack.

"Are you alright, Ryo?" Rowen asked.

"Yeah." Ryo replied. Then, he winced in pain.

"Ryo!" Rowen gasped.

Deciding to end this battle quickly, Rowen called forth his surekill.

"Arrow Shockwave!" he called his attack, sending a charged-up arrow at the Dynasty soldiers before them. The attack was so powerful, it totally obliterated the soldiers in front of him.

"You guys!" Ryo smiled.

"Ryo, are you alright?" Kento asked.

"It is now the time to unify our powers and fight them!" Rowen commented.

Cye parried off a weighted chain that was thrown at them. Sage cut through a Dynasty soldier, with Kento tossing another off his shoulder.

"Now!" Rowen called out as his armor glowed its color. "Bring our spirits together as one!"

"Shield barrier!" Kento shouted as each of the Ronins glowed their respective colors. "Justice!"

"Trust!" Cye called forth his 'kanji'

"Wisdom!" Sage evoked his symbol.

"Lifeforce!" Rowen called his sign.

The four armors' powers connected, forming an energy pyramid, the outburst of power destroying the soldiers surrounding them.


"Not even the Dynasty's power can be compared to this." Talpa noted. "Your strength has grown, Ronin Warriors! And listen, your armors are even resonating with Anubis' armor!"


"That Talpa!" Anubis hissed as he rushed to the battlefield. "He wants to take all the armors! I won't allow it!"

"Loyalty!" he called out his 'kanji'.

"Get out of my way!" he barked, removing one Dynasty soldier after another. "I will no longer serve evil!"

"What is this feeling?" Ryo blinked as his armor glowed.

"Virtue... my armor is reviving!" he realized. Jumping up, he connected with the topmost point of the energy pyramid. With the last virtue in place, the energy burst destroyed the rest of the Dynasty soldiers.


Talpa laughed, "Ronin Warriors, the power of your armors is impressive! The power of the armors! Return to me!"

"What?" Ryo demanded.

Talpa chucked, "Then let me tell you what the Ancient didn't tell you. If you trace them back, you will find that the armors belong to me!"

"Nonsense!" Yuli retorted. "Their armors don't belong to you!"

"Those armors used to be mine until that accursed Ancient broke them apart." Talpa said. "But they are about to join as one! Ronin Warriors, prepare yourselves!"

His eyes glowing an eerie red, Talpa unleashed his power, breaking the ground the Ronins were standing on apart.

Rowen, Sage, Kento and Cye were thrown off as Talpa's hand emerged from the ground, catching Ryo between his fingers.

"Yuli!" Mia called out as Rowen carried her off.

"Ryo!" Sage cried out as he jumped to free his leader.

"What's this hand?" Kento asked, turning back.

Talpa has absorbed the armors of the three Warlords. Came Athena's reply, her Holy Cosmo surrounding the five Ronins.

"Athena!" the five warriors gasped.

Now that he has three of the nine armors he needs to regain his full power, be careful everyone. Athena warned.

Sage jumped up, slicing Talpa's hand to free Ryo.

As Talpa's hand failed wildly around, Kento parried it off, grabbing Yuli in the process.

"Ryo!" Mia screamed as Talpa's hand crashed onto the ground, taking the Warrior of Fire with it.

"It's dangerous here! Take Yuli and get out of here!" Rowen warned as Kento used his weapon to knock on Talpa's armored hand.

"Let go of Ryo!" Cye demanded, using his trident to break Ryo free.

"Cye!" Ryo gasped as he leapt out, the Warrior of Water taking his place under Talpa's hand. Cye barely managed to use his spear to prevent Talpa from capturing him, when Talpa used more force, knocking the lance off.

"Cye!" Ryo blinked before screaming in pain as his armor dissolved.

"Ryo's armor...!" Kento gasped.

"It's dissolving!" Rowen noted. "Get Ryo out of here!"

"Damn!" Ryo cursed as his helmet melted off.

Sage jumped in and took the unconscious leader away from harm's way just as Talpa's hand crashed onto the ground.

"To think he was able to neutralize the Armor of Wildfire." the Warrior of Light remarked, carrying Ryo off. "We must defeat him now!"

"Cye!" Kento called out to his best friend as Talpa's hand punched onto the fallen Warrior of Water. Rowen fired his arrows in response, only to have Talpa's hand come after them. Kento and Rowen split apart as Talpa's hand came between them. Kento momentarily forgotten, Talpa went after Rowen first, the Warrior of Air dodging each and every hand thrust. Rowen landed to take a moment's respite, only to be forced to dodge when Talpa's hand came for him again.

"It is now time to reclaim my armors!" Talpa declared. "But Wildfire is not here. This is your last stand!"


Whiteblaze, having taken the non-fighters with him, was dodging the numbers spears thrown at him by the Dynasty soldiers. Jumping off the roof, the white tiger was about to head for the exit when a spear knocked Mia off.

"Mia!" Yuli called out. Whiteblaze had no choice but to stay as the sea of soldiers closed in.


Back with the big fight, Talpa's hand crashed down on the remaining Ronins, splitting them apart. Grabbing Rowen, Talpa knocked the Warrior of Air against the fallen Warrior of Water.

"Damn you!" Kento hissed, twirling his split-up sanjiegun. Jumping up, he attacked Talpa's ghastly hand. Talpa simply knocked the Warrior of Hardrock aside.

"Kento!" Sage gasped, still supporting Ryo who was reduced to his subarmor.

"This is nothing!" Kento replied painfully.

Just then, Ryo opened his eyes and watched in shock as Talpa proceeded to reclaim the two blue armors.

With Rowen and Cye half claimed, Talpa continued to claim the others.

"Rowen and Cye have been taken!" Sage noted in horror.

"What?" Ryo gasped.

"Why, you..." Kento hissed angrily. "How dare you take Cye and Rowen!"

Realigning his weapon, the Warrior of Hardrock unleashed his surekill, "Iron Rock Crusher!"

However, his attack was useless as Talpa's hand closed in on him, knocking the Warrior of Hardrock off.

Talpa chuckled as he claimed Kento's armor, "Return to me, my armors!"

"Kento!" Sage gasped as the orange warrior was about to be taken.

"I'm counting on you!" Kento managed to choke out before he disappeared into Talpa's body.

"Kento!" Sage cried out as the three fallen warriors were taken.

"Now, Kento is gone too." he noted as the three disappeared.

"Don't worry about me Sage." Ryo told him. "Do what you have to to destroy Talpa!"

"I can't just leave you!" Sage replied.

"It doesn't matter now!" Ryo answered.

"You fool!" Sage rebuked. "There is power if we can unify our armors. Ryo, I believe in your armor."

"Sage..." Ryo blinked.

With three more armors absorbed, Talpa's body solidified as he grew legs, his armor becoming more defined.

"Now, this is what I'm talking about!" Talpa boomed as he grew in size. "The rest of the armors shall not escape my grasp!"


Back with Whiteblaze, the white tiger found itself surrounded, his charges entangled in a web of chains.

"Yuli!" Mia gasped as the boy writhed in pain.

One of the Dynasty soldiers threw its weighted chain at the boy, intending on killing him.

"Mia!" Yuli screamed out.

The attack was intercepted when Anubis dispatched the soldier.

"You're..." Mia blinked as Anubis freed her.

Using his weighted chain, Anubis proceeded to destroy the rest of the soldiers, freeing Yuli in the process.

"My spirit... Loyalty..." Anubis commented as his 'kanji' glowed on his forehead. "Has responded to the call of the other armors. Athena has awakened me to the right path."

"Anubis!" Mia blinked in shock.


Back on the battlefield...

What is this? Ryo wondered. What is this burning aura I feel?

Shutting his eyes, he focused as his power returned.

"What?" Sage exclaimed. "I can't believe your power can be revived after suffering such damage!"

Their conversation was cut short when Talpa's hand attacked them, splitting them apart.

"Oh no!" Sage gasped when he realized Ryo had fallen off.

Falling off the roof, Ryo dug his fingers into the concrete, pulling himself back up.

"Ryo!" Sage called out to his leader as Talpa's runaway hand flew back and forth.

Closing his eyes, Sage focused his power onto his sword. As Talpa's hand flew towards him, the Warrior of Light used his weapon to slice the bottom of the thumb. A stream of darkness flowed out of the wound before closing itself. Sage's sword then splintered apart.

Taking the Warrior of Light's moment of hesitation, Talpa's hand clashed onto him, knocking Sage down.

"Sage!" Ryo screamed out as the green warrior fell off the side of the roof.

Knowing that he was utterly defeated, Sage closed his eyes and allowed himself to be taken.

"Talpa!" Ryo hissed, his 'kanji' burning on his forehead.

"Armor of Wildfire, Tao Jin!" he called forth his armor.

Just as Talpa's hand was coming towards him, Ryo turned his head back and was stunned to see Anubis jumping into the battle.

"Anubis?" Ryo blinked in confusion.

"I have come to fulfill the Ancient's wish and Athena's hope." Anubis replied, his 'kanji' glowing on his forehead.

"Anubis, were you the one who gave me that power?" Ryo asked as his 'kanji' flashed on his forehead.

Their conversation was cut short and Talpa's hand attacked.

"Let's go Wildfire!" Anubis declared, throwing his weighted chain at the disembodied hand.

"Yeah!" Ryo agreed, jumping up simultaneously.

"Quake With Fear!" Anubis unleashed his surekill.

"Flare Up Now!" Ryo let his attack loose at the same time.

The two attacks combined with each other, forcing Talpa's hand to remain open.


Back on the ground...

"Way to go, Ryo!" Yuli cheered. "You're amazing! You're amazing!" (A/N: Who agrees with me that Yuli needs a pom-pom at this time, raise your hand.)

"Ryo and Anubis are working together... to fulfill the Ancient's will." Mia remarked in awe.


Back in the battle...

Talpa's hand finally closed, pulling Anubis with it. Re-attaching his hand back, Talpa then proceeded to claim Anubis' armor.

"Anubis!" Ryo called in horror.

"My armor is almost complete!" Talpa declared. "I will avenge my humiliation of one thousand years!"


Back on the ground, Yuli and Mia gasped as Talpa's true power manifested.


SailorStar9: This chapter is officially over. Read and review.