SailorStar9: With Chapter 30 uploaded, I present Chapter 31 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 31: Strategies of the Dynasty
At his prayer alter...
"Power of the Nether Spirits, allow me the ability to resurrect the awesome, unimaginable powers hidden within the armors." Badamon was channeling his powers to review the Ronin Warriors' past battles involving the Inferno Armor. "I can see."
Elsewhere...
Ryo, Rowen and Whiteblaze were taking a short rest underneath a nearby building.
Whiteblaze let out a low growl in warning when his ears picked up incoming footsteps.
"Quiet, Whiteblaze." Ryo hushed the tiger.
"You think they saw us?" Rowen was worried.
"Don't know." Ryo admitted. "Are they gone?" he peered out, after the patrols turned the corner.
"The soldiers might've spotted our boat." Rowen reasoned.
"How're you feeling?" Ryo asked.
"I feel much better." Rowen nodded.
"All right." Ryo took the lead and the trio sprung out from their hiding place.
Why is there another castle in the Dynasty? Rowen wondered.
In Talpa's throne room...
"What is it, Badamon?" Talpa questioned as the spirit floated in.
"So remarkable that you knew I was coming." Badamon presented himself.
"Never mind the niceties." Talpa retorted. "Now, have you figured out a good plan?"
"Are you aware, Master Talpa, that the armor powers of the three Warlords and those of the Ronin Warriors are the same?" Badamon inquired. "Moreover, the Inferno Armor that Wildfire possesses is activated by drawing upon the powers of the other armors. We transfer the Warlords' armors powers to Wildfire. Along with that of the Nether Spirits. If we do this, even Wildfire will not be able to withstand the mental and physical assault and the Inferno Armor will surely become your loyal servant."
"I see." Talpa noted. "Excellent idea, Badamon. But make sure the three Warlords are not aware of this."
"I understand, Master." Badamon bowed. "They are only men. If they know they were being used, they may cross to the other side like Anubis. As such, I would like to take Kayura with me to ensure the success of my plan." he revealed a cloth pouch. "This is called 'Kousa'." he poured out the glittering dust within. "It's no ordinary sand. Kayura, use this Kousa and sett the trap."
In the Warlords' quarters...
"Why does Master Talpa favor Kayura instead of us?" Dais fumed.
"Perhaps he thinks our powers are less than hers." Sekhmet guessed.
"No way." Cale insisted. "We cannot possibly be considered weaker than a mere girl."
"How many times has she hurt our pride?" Dais wondered.
"We cannot let this be." Sekhmet sneered. "Once we finish off the Ronin Warriors, we'll finish her off as well."
With Ryo, Rowen and Whiteblaze...
The trio were making their way deeper into the castle, sneaking past the patrols, until they clashed into a group of patrols at a T-junction and Ryo and Rowen were forced to take out the patrolling soldiers. Before he fell, one of the soldiers tossed his chained scythe into the air, alerting the others about the intruders.
At the main gates...
"The time has come to destroy Wildfire and Strata." Talpa sent the three Warlords out. "Go, my three Warlords."
"Open the gates." Sekhmet ordered.
"Do what you have to, Kayura." Talpa gave Kayura her orders.
"As you wish, Master." Kayura smirked, the bag of Kousa dangling from a finger.
With Ryo, Rowen and Whiteblaze...
"What?" Ryo gasped when the landscape started changing and the group found themselves cornered and any escape route was cut off.
"So, you've made it this far into the City of Desire." Sekhmet greeted the two Ronin Warriors with his own platoon of soldiers. "I'm impressed."
"But this is as far as you go." Dais added. "This is where you will die."
"At the hands of the three Warlords." Cale declared.
"We don't have a chance here." Rowen informed. "What should we do?"
"It'll be over quickly." Sekhmet remarked.
"We're not like we were before." Ryo retorted.
"Then, let's see what makes you different." Sekhmet smirked and opened a trapdoor underneath the two Ronin Warriors' feet, making them fall downwards.
"Let's do it, Rowen." Ryo looked up at the soldiers jumping down with them. "Armor of Wildfire, Tao Jin!"
"Armor of Strata, Tao Inochi!"
Both armored up, the two Ronin Warriors started fighting their way through the underground maze.
"This way." Ryo led the way upwards.
Riding on Whiteblaze, the two Ronin Warriors made their way to a bridge.
On the bridge...
"Nice to see you again." seated on the railing, Kayura greeted the two Ronin Warriors.
"I haven't seen you in a while, Kayura." Sekhmet stated, the three Warlords having caught up. "What have you been up to?"
"Why do you show up now?" Dais demanded.
"You going to take what's rightfully ours?" Cale snapped.
"You did well, considering." Kayura scoffed. "But you shall leave the rest to me."
"You cannot get away with such insolence against the three Warlords!" Sekhmet snapped.
"You will not be forgiven." Dais glared.
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained it." Kayura sighed. "These are Master Talpa's orders." she then released the Kousa sand at the two Ronin Warriors in front of her.
"Jump, Whiteblaze!" Ryo barked, the white tiger leaping over to the river bank to avoid getting showered by the golden dust.
"What are you doing to us, Kayura?" Dais inquired as the three Warlords were bathed in the golden dust.
"All those who bath in this light..." Kayura started.
"Shall become my slaves and shall give their lives to me." Talpa's voice took over.
With the three Warlords incapacitated, Kayura made her way to the two weakened Ronin Warriors. "You didn't breathe in. I'm impressed."
"You trapped them." Rowen realized what happened to the three Warlords.
"What are you do to?" Ryo snapped.
"I want just one thing." Kayura replied. "The Inferno Armor."
"That again?" Rowen notched an arrow on his bow.
"Now way!" Ryo roared, Kayura easily deflecting Rowen's arrows.
Kayura responded by showering Ryo with a blast of wisteria petals. Laughing mockingly, she poured the Kousa dust on the downed Rowen and Whiteblaze.
"What's the matter, Wildfire?" Talpa's image was imposed on Kayura. "Never mind Torrent and the others. You can't even save Strata and Whiteblaze."
"Why you!" Ryo growled and summoned forth the armor powers of the three Warlords and Strata.
Kayura's laughter rang as the four armors' powers entered Ryo, along with the Nether Spirits. "Let's see what happens." she grinned, certain that Badamon's plan would go off without a hitch. "What an awesome light." she shielded her eyes when Ryo was forced into the Inferno Armor.
"I won't let Talpa control me." Ryo hissed, realizing the Nether Spirits had tainted the Inferno Armor.
"Why do you resist?" Kayura chided, kneeling in front of the unconscious Ryo, the Inferno Armor had patches of gray, indicating the interference of the Nether Spirits. "If you give into the Dynasty, the pain will stop. What are you doing?" she demanded, Cale resting his sword on her shoulder.
In Talpa's throne room...
"Master Talpa, I didn't expect this to happen." Badamon reported, the thee Warlords had seemingly awoken their armors' virtues.
"The virtues of the three Warlords have awoken after losing their powers and consciousness." Talpa explained. "The Inferno Armor has merely shone its light on them. They are now being controlled by the will of the armor and are merely trying to protect Wildfire."
"I am very sorry." Badamon apologized.
"Let's watch for a while to see how the three Warlords and Kayura fight." Talpa replied.
At the bridge...
"The powers of the armors?" Kayura realized what was going on. "If that is the case..." she jumped off, and Dais fired off his nunchuka at her.
Kayura merely dodged the afterimages of the weapon and blocked Cale's claw with her jitte. She then jumped to dodge two of Sekhmet's swords. A blast of wisteria petals blasted Cale and Sekhmet away and a shower of stardust took out Dais. "If you interfere anymore, I really kill you." she threatened. "Such a nice color you have taken on." she turned back to Ryo, the patches of gray had now covered the entire Inferno Armor. "Beautiful. Now Wildfire, join me and together we will go and destroy the rotten human world." she released the remaining Kousa dust on Ryo.
However, Ryo's willpower was too strong and he overcame the Nether Spirits' influence. The Inferno Armor's power flowed out and Whiteblaze took on Blackblaze's form.
Kayura covered her ears at the incessant ringing from the Fist of Inferno as Ryo drove out the Nether Spirits before retrieving the Swords of Fervor from Blackblaze.
"Cry, my stardust." Kayura readied her attack. "Roar, my Starlight Swords. My ultimate: Star Storm Scream!"
"Ultra Ballistic Rage of Inferno!" Ryo countered the attack, easily overpowering the 'Star Storm Scream'.
In Talpa's throne room...
"The Inferno Armor has powers even beyond my expectations." Talpa was pleased at the sheer destructive capabilities of the Inferno Armor, the powered-up 'Rage of Inferno' having devastated the Dynasty gates that led straight into the heart of the castle.
SailorStar9: This chapter is officially over. Read and review.
