SailorStar9: With Chapter 28 uploaded, I present Chapter 29 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 29: Talpa Turns the Tide
"It's horrible." Yuli muttered. "They messed up the city again."
"Don't worry about Wildfire." Anubis assured. "The staff, the power of the Ancient, will protect them. Until Wildfire and the others return, I will protect the human realm, even with my life. That is all I can do to repent. Four hundred years ago, during the Warring States Period, I was a wild warrior from a small domain." he started recounting his past. "Like every samurai, my aim was to unify Japan and our clan fought day and night. However, my ambitions seemed so distant. We were barely able to protect our domain with our numbers. It seemed impossible to conquer another domain and gain power. I was irritated and impatient. It was that spirit that draw Talpa's attention to me. I abandoned my clan, my domain, left my past behind and became the Warlord of Cruelty serving under Talpa. However, even after my spirit and body turned evil, Athena-sama and the Ancient saved me. My spirit indeed open upon embracing Athena-sama's benevolent Cosmo, freeing me from the evil power of Talpa. I recalled my past and regained my human spirit. The three of you, get back." he warned, the Staff's rings started ringing. "Keep your distance from me."
"A enemy from the Dynasty?" Mia looked at the rapidly downcast sky.
"I can hear it." Anubis frowned. "Their breath. I can feel it. Their vibrations. There!" he located the enemy. "Face me." he shot up a beam of light from the staff, revealing Dais on the horizontal bar.
"It's been a while, Anubis." Dais chuckled.
"Dais." Anubis glared. "How foolish of you to still be serving Talpa."
"How dare you!" Dais snapped. "A traitor who brought dishonor on the Warlords. Do you know how furious Master Talpa is?"
"I have nothing to do with Talpa." Anubis reiterated. "He's only after the armors."
"We already have the armors of Torrent, Halo and Hardrock." Dais bragged. "And we'll soon have those of Wildfire and Strata in a matter of time. Give up your fight."
"You are lying." Anubis snapped. "Wildfire and Strata have not fallen into your hands yet."
"Once they're in the Dynasty, it's only a matter of time." Dais was confident. "They've fallen into our trap."
Anubis parried off Dais' thrown nunchuka with his staff and jumped back to dodge the tossed morning star.
"Web of Deception!" Dais released his sure-kill technique, only to have Anubis twirl the staff, deflecting the scythe web.
"Is that your best, Dais?" Anubis barked, parrying off one of the undamaged scythe and dashed forward, ducking under the Warlord's outstretched hand. He then slammed the staff onto Dais' chin, sending the Warlord to the ground, his helmet dislodged.
"Why didn't you use your Dynasty technique?" Dais questioned.
"Dais, you still don't understand?" Anubis sighed.
"Are you trying to humiliate me?" Dais glared.
"Why are you alive?" Anubis posted a question. "Isn't it because that armor has protected you?"
"So what?" Dais challenged. "I was granted this armor by Master Talpa. That's why I was able to counter your techniques."
"It's not Talpa's doing." Anubis shook his head. "It's the virtue of your armor. The root of the armor is not to create power. It's to control power. Now, a white armor has appeared that aims to bury the evil powers of the armors. And I saw the future of that white armor. That's all that is to it." he led Ami, Mia and Yuli off.
On the fringes of the Dynasty...
The unconscious Ryo was floating in the middle of a lotus pond. "Where...?" he peered his eyes open to see a white butterfly fluttering in the air. "Where am I? I'm sure I entered the Dynasty." he sat up. "Is this the Dynasty?" he stood up, looking at the moons in the sky.
The fog cleared, revealing Rowen and Whiteblaze in the distance behind him.
"Rowen, did we really make it to the Dynasty?" Ryo wondered, the trio were reunited.
"To be honest, I can't believe it myself." Rowen admitted. "But I do know we're no longer in the human realm."
Whiteblaze's low growl alerted the two Ronin Warriors of incoming enemies.
"Ryo, over there." Rowen pointed to the huge rainbow that arched across in the sky and a large Nether gate appeared in the horizon.
"Let's go, Ryo." Rowen nodded and the three charged the gate which then opened, allowing them entrance. "I suppose demons will appear next." he noted, the trio landed on a grassy meadow. "Nether Spirits!" he barked, the horde of Nether Spirits surrounding them in a wind barrier.
The Nether Spirits then converged into a huge Nether Spirit head and addressed the two Ronin Warriors. "Welcome to the City of Desire, the capital of the Dynasty. A city of pleasure, where those who are chosen are free to do whatever they wish. All of your desires shall be fulfilled. Any wish you want: even to become the king of the human realm. Your friends are waiting for you with our lord, Master Talpa. Come, enter the City of Desire, the land of pleasure. You do have the right, you know. That armor of yours proves it all."
"Shut up, Nether Spirit!" Rowen snapped. "You think we believe a word you say?"
"Listen," Ryo glared. "You can be sure we will rescue our three friends. Get out of there, Nether Spirits!"
"I wonder how long you can keep up with that attitude." the Nether Spirit mocked. "If you are going to to reject the City of Desire, you will have to endure hell right here. You will regret it." laughing, he melted by into the castle.
In the basement of Talpa's castle...
The Nether Spirits were still pulling out power from the three captured Ronin Warriors' armors.
"Enough, Nether Spirits." Talpa entered the tower. "I have good news, Ronin Warriors."
"Threaten us all you want, but we'll never submit to you." Sage snapped.
"Ryo and Rowen will definitely strike you down." Cye added.
"Such bravado you have." Talpa chuckled. "But that will be your undoing. Wildfire and Strata have fallen for our plan and are now within the Dynasty. They will suffer the same fate as you. We will capture them and they will submit to me."
"Shut up"! Sage snapped. "I don't remember submitting to you."
"Don't get carried away, Talpa." Kento retorted. "We, the Ronin Warriors, will defeat you."
"I suppose you haven't realized yet." Talpa taunted. "Your powers are supporting me now. That sword is drawing out the power of your armors and converting it into an evil power. Do it, Nether Spirits!" he ordered.
The gathered Nether Spirits formed a circle and shot their combined powers into the sōrin, completing draining the three Ronin Warriors' armors of their energy and leaving the three teens in their undergear.
"Give me the powers!" Talpa summoned the charged-up sword to his hand. "The magnificent Sword of Doom." he held the sword hilt, the blade was brimming with the stolen powers of the three armors. "Look at this, Ronin Warriors. Your powers shall be the source that will enable me to realize my evil ambitions. Now, who will die by this sword?"
"You're not going to use that sword!" Sage snapped.
"You're quick." Talpa chuckled. "That's right. The first victims of this sword shall be Wildfire and Strata. Your sense of justice and friendship is nothing but an illusion now that you are before me."
"You're wrong!" Sage barked. "The armors were resurrected by the just spirits of people. "Even if all of us Ronin Warriors were to be destroyed, we will be sure to bury you first."
"How dare you!" Talpa raged. "You annoying little pests. Know that their days are numbered as the Sword of Doom shall leave them hanging by the neck. Nether Spirits, show them the fury of my wrath."
The Nether Spirits then proceeded to draw out the last vestige of power from the three captured Ronin Warriors.
Outside...
"We'd better hurry up, Rowen." Ryo remarked, the two Ronin Warriors were riding on Whiteblaze's back. "Whiteblaze, take us to Sage and the others."
In front of Daala's encampment...
"What do you want, Kayura?" Daala asked, as Kayura approached him.
"Take it, Daala." Kayura summoned the Sword of Doom and tossed it to the general. "It's a gift from Master Talpa. Use that sword to destroy Wildfire and Strata."
"It's a magnificent sword." Daala gawked at the sheer power emitting from the blade. "I can feel the sword's power surging through my hands. I understand. I will use this sword to destroy Wildfire and Strata."
With her job done, Kayura retreated by to her tower.
In Kayura's tower...
Kayura shred off her battle armor and donned her kimono. "Master Talpa, to what do I own this pleasure?" she prostrated before the arriving Talpa.
"Kayura, you've worked hard for me." Talpa acknowledged. "I offer you my gratitude. I can feel a great power within you. A power I have not felt in others. I need you to assist me with that power."
"Yes, Master." Kayura answered. "Most certainly. At your service."
With Daala...
Daala, armed with the Sword of Doom, led his troops out to engage Ryo and Rowen. "Onward, Army of Doom! Destroy Wildfire and Strata!"
Meanwhile...
"What's that?" Rowen inquired, the two Ronin Warriors jumping off Whiteblaze as they heard the army up ahead.
"An army of Dynasty soldiers!" Ryo picked up the charging army. "Rowen!"
"It's an all-out attack, Ryo." Rowen warned.
"Armor of Wildfire, Tao Jin!"
"Armor of Strata, Tao Inochi!"
"What should we do, Rowen?" Ryo asked.
"With those numbers, we can't mess around." Rowen replied. "Hit them straight on."
"Ultra Ballistic Flare Up Now!" Ryo released his charged-up attack at the army.
"Ultra Ballistic Arrow Shockwave!" Rowen followed suit, both powered-up attacks wiping out the front-line Dynasty soldiers.
"That had no effect on them." Ryo realized as the soldiers at the back quickly filled up the ranks. "Come and get us." he snapped, the trio were rapidly surrounded by the army.
"Wildfire and Strata." Daala oversaw the battle from a cliff. "Come to Daala quickly. I will then end it for both of you with my Sword of Doom."
In Kayura's tower...
Alone now, Kayura was bombarded by images of the Ronin Warriors' fights, with the single memory of the Nike Staff invoking a long-buried memory. "Athena-sama..." she mumbled painfully, reaching out a hand. Her amulet glowed, sealing off the memory.
SailorStar9: This chapter is officially over. Read and review.
