SailorStar9: Figured it was about time I restarted this fic before you guys hunt me down and really kill me. Therefore, with Chapter 23 uploaded, I present Chapter 24 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimers: I only own the plot.

Chapter 24: Torrent's Evil Twin


After the fight against the Sun Devil...

With a lighted torch in hand, Sekhmet walked towards the revived Talpa.

"Who is it?" Talpa demanded, roused from his sleep on his throne.

"Your Warlord of Venom, Sekhmet." Sekhmet responded.

"Come forward." Talpa ordered.

"You wanted to see me?" Sekhmet inquired.

"Now that the Ancient is gone, I want to take the power of that new armor which Wildfire bears and show the human world our power." Talpa voiced. "My ambition, stemming from a thousand year grudge, must surely be realized."

"Master Talpa." Sekhmet started. "I would like another chance to prove my worth."

"Fine." Talpa gave the go-ahead. "You shall go and wreck my vengeance upon them. What is your plan?"

"First, I shall stop Cye of the Torrents." Sekhmet replied. Tossing the still burning torch, he sliced the wooden stake with two of his six swords and dipped his poison on the greenish flame, revealing a blood-red Torrent armor from the billowing smoke.

"That's the Armor of the Torrent." Talpa instantly recognized the replica.

"It is, Master." Sekhmet bowed. "Everything about it is the same as the Torrent. But please, take a look. His power is greater than that of the real Torrent." he bragged after Red Torrent demonstrated its sure-kill technique.

"But can you defeat the real Torrent with that armor alone?" Talpa was skeptical. "In the past, we relied too much on the power of the armor."

"I assure you I have taken other measures." Sekhmet assured.


Meanwhile, in Mia's mountain mansion...

A new power that synergizes with the Swords of Fervor, huh? Ryo mused, lying on his bed. What a furious power. This practically makes me one of them.

"Hey, onee-chan." Yuli called out at the dining table, stopping Mia as she wiped down the table. "What's wrong with the guys? They finished eating dinner and just disappeared."

"They're just trying to come to grips with that white armor." Mia explained. "That power is like that of the Nether Realm itself. Will they be able to use that new power properly?" she wondered.

Ancient, what am I supposed to do? Ryo turned to his armor orb. Please, show me the way. Athena... his eyes followed the golden Cosmo dust that trailed into his room from the window.


In Ryo's dreamscape...

Can I slice through this rock? Ryo found himself stopping before a large boulder.

"This will not do, Wildfire." Athena's stern voice chided after Ryo used his sure-kill technique to cut the rock into half. A golden fire burned from the bird symbol of her Nike Staff and she teleported them to dark room with four burning candles around them. "While it is true that all of you have gotten strong, but you cannot defeat Talpa with that power alone. Power against power will result in mutual destruction. Try to cut through this." she produced a blazing bonfire in front Ryo. "See if you can cut through your own element."


In Rowen's dreamscape...

"You must understand the limits of your power, Strata." Athena advised Rowen, said blue-haired archer having blasted the clouds apart with his sure-kill technique.


In Sage's dreamscape...

"Listen to your spirit, Halo." Athena voiced, Sage was in the forest near the Catasota Gulch Pinnacles.


In Kento's dreamscape...

"Work on your spirit." Athena droned, Kento was in the middle of the desert. "You will be able to see the vein of the sand."


In Cye's dreamscape...

"Train your mind, Torrent." Athena warned. "Body, skill and spirit, you should know better than anyone there's no limit to training your spirit."


The next morning...

"I thought about it all night." Kento was already down at the dining table when Cye awoke. "But I finally understand it. Whatever we do, the most important thing is our spirit. It was from the time when I crossed the deserts of China." he gulped down his pack of milk. "These big sand dunes were blocking my way as I traveled. I concentrated on the dune and found its vein. When I close my eyes, I can see right through the vein. I lined up my sword along with the vein and cut right through it."

"Are you saying the sand dune split apart into two, Kento?" Cye piped in.

"Very impressive, Kento of Hardrock." Sage teased, both elemental warriors were at the foot of the staircase.

"Perfect in body, skill and spirit, huh?" Rowen joked.

"Are you guys going out?" Kento spotted the overnight bags the others had.

"Unlike you, we all need a little more training." Cye replied.

"Athena-sama gave me a vision last night." Rowen added. "So, I'm heading off to Amanohashidate."

"I"m headed to Akiyoshidai." Sage supplied.

"I"m going to the waters of Naruto." Cye stated.

"And I'm off to Mount Fuji." Ryo remarked.

"Hold on guys." Kento gobbled down the rest of his breakfast. "I'm going, too. I'll be off to Mount Daisetsu."

"You're going, too?" Cye blinked. "I don't think you need to go."

"You can even see the vein of the sand, after all." Rowen teased.

"Vein of the sand?" Kento echoed. "You've got to be kidding."

"You were just pulling my leg?" Yuli whined as Kento followed the others out.

"Just wishful thinking." Kento popped his head back.


At the Straits of Naruto...

In his undergear, Cye dived straight into the water.

"So, this is where you are, Torrent." Sekhmet chuckled on shore, with Red Torrent by his side. "Just play in the water in ignorant bliss for now." Raising his hand, he summoned a fleet of Dynasty warships.

I'd go right in and swim through these whirlpools. Cye decided, upon seeing the orca avoid the swirling whirlpools. What incredible force. He found himself carried off by the power of the whirlpool. But it's nothing I can't handle. Once he swum through the whirlpool, he surfaced for air. "Talpa's troops?" he was alerted by several tossed spears thrown at him. He dived back into the water for cover, only to have a group of Dynasty soldiers jump off their warship to engage him in combat. There's no end to them. He cursed, fighting off the soldiers in close-quarter combat. "Armor of the Torrent, Tao Shin!" he donned his armor. He summoned a whirlpool of his own, throwing the Dynasty soldiers out of the ocean. Jumping out of the water, he landed on a nearby warship and fought his way through.

"So, you've come, Torrent." Red Torrent chuckled.

"That's my armor." Cye gasped.

"There's only one Armor of the Torrent." Red Torrent retorted. "How dare you take my name all this time."

"What?" Cye snapped. "I'm Cye of the Torrent. Who are you?"

"I'm not wasting my breath with talk." Red Torrent fired back and attacked Cye head-on.

"His power is awesome." Cye admitted, jumping to dodge Red Torrent's trident strike, the force of the slash taking down the warship they were on. "Armor, weapons, everything is a duplicate of me. What's going on here?" he landed back into the water to avoid Red Torrent's attack.

"You can't escape." Red Torrent declared, entering the water as well. "My armor is at its best in the water."

"Don't be stupid." Cye snapped. "That's my line. That's poison." he realized, seeing the fishes were dying from the streaks of poison that emitted from Red Torrent. The fish is dying. He must be releasing poison. If I keep fighting like this, the poison will spread. He clashed with Red Torrent. Parrying Red Torrent off, he headed back to shore. I'll have to fight him on land.

"What do you think you can do?" Red Torrent mocked once the two adversaries landed on shore and wasted no time in knocking Cye onto the sand. "To think that with such weak power, you'll call yourself Torrent."

"How can you call yourself Torrent when you're polluting the water?" Cye barked back. "The Torrent is supposed to protect the water."

"Shut your face!" Red Torrent snapped and struck first, forcing Cye to defend himself.

What power... Cye winced, forced on one knee. Is he stronger than I am?

"Now, do you understand the power of the true Torrent?" Red Torrent barked.

"My Torrent's power appear to be beyond him." a pleased Sekhmet was watching by the sidelines. "It's time to show him the Super Wave Smasher."

Red Torrent jumped back, putting some distance between him and Cye. "Know the true power of Torrent." he held his trident in the 'Super Wave Smasher' stance.

"These vibrations..." Cye recognized the attack wavelength. "He can use the Super Wave Smasher? Then..."

"Super Wave Smasher!" both water warriors fired their attacks at each other, Red Torrent's water wave easily overwhelmed Cye's attack and blew Cye onto the sand.

"What's the matter?" Red Torrent taunted the downed fighter. "The Super Wave Smasher is the power of the Torrent. The one who possesses that power is the true Torrent. Take this!" he smacked his trident on Cye's back.

Damn... Cye cursed, taking the beating.

Torrent, remember, your armor originally came from Talpa. Athena reminded. The more power you seek, the closer you become to Talpa.

Come to think of it, that orca was avoiding the whirlpools. Cye recalled.

That is correct. Athena concurred. That's why you must give up the desire to win and see the flow of nature. Clear your mind and your armor will respond.

"Very well, Torrent." Red Torrent noticed Cye was unconscious. "Seeing that you can't win, have you given up? Then, let me put an end to you. Die, Torrent!" he jumped back. "Super Wave Smasher!" he fired the attack.

Torrent is the armor of Water. Cye stood up, letting the wave wash past him. The Super Wave Smasher only works in sync with the waves. I will accept that wave. He absorbed the attack with his armor. "Armor of Torrent, purify the wave that was corrupted by evil."

"Torrent has mastered his technique." Sekhmet realized what was happening. "But this will be the end of you."

"Ultra Ballistic Super Wave Smasher!" Cye released his powered-up attack at Red Torrent, smashing the armor into pieces. "The poison will spread." he realized, seeing the red poison fly towards the water and redirected the poison back towards his armor.

"That compassion is your undoing." Sekhmet declared. "It's been a while, Torrent." he grinned at the weakened fighter.

"You're the Warlord of Venom, Sekhmet." Cye recognized the other fighter. "I should've known it was you." overpowered by the poison, he fell unconscious.

Sekhmet just smirked, claimed his hostage and opened a gate to the Dynasty.


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