SailorStar9: With Chapter 34 uploaded, I present Chapter 35 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 35: Cheap Tricks
"So, you guys are all okay?" Ryo was relieved.
"We're not ones to be defeated by something like that." Sage assured.
"I'm surprised Mia and Yuli are here as well." Kento looked over at the two non-fighters.
"We were worried about you guys after all." Yuli nodded.
"You don't have to worry anymore." Kento replied. "I've got to make up for lost time."
"How insufferable are you." Kayura chuckled. "All that gusto, even after the pain you endured."
"You!" Sage glared. "Kayura, was it?"
"Careful." Rowen warned. "She's a lady warrior from the Dynasty."
"Then, you're up against me." Kento jumped straight into battle. "You're a sneaky one, huh?" he retorted, Kayura having nimbly dodged his attacks. "I see." he noted, Kayura knocking him back. "Ryo wasn't wrong about how tough she is."
"But now that the five of us are united, there's nothing we should be afraid of." Ryo remarked.
"Our true enemy is Talpa." Sage declared. "Get out of the way, Kayura."
"If you want Master Talpa, the only way is to defeat me first." Kayura posted her challenge. "Do you think you can do it?"
"Don't you get it, Kayura?" Rowen demanded. "How are you going to fight all five of us alone?"
"Ronin Warriors." Kayura droned. "Even with all five of you, this is still the Dynasty. Call it a home court advantage."
"Kayura is right." Sekhmet chuckled and the three Warlords shot out from the water they fell in.
"You guys want more punishment, huh?" Ryo snarled.
"It's not fair for Kayura to take all the glory." Cale remarked.
"We are indestructible in the Dynasty." Dais added.
"The three Warlords will bury you all." Sekhmet declared. "We don't need you, Kayura. Stay out of it."
"Fine, I'll sit this one out." Kayura shrugged.
"What're you blabbering about?' Kento snapped and jumped forward to engage Dais.
"Kento, not so fast." Ryo warned, and split up to take on Sekhmet.
Cye took the initiative to confront Cale. "Come on, three Warlords."
"Fools, you've fallen right for it." Dais chuckled.
"Guys, you might want to look out for..." Athena shouted a warning.
"Still don't get it?" Sekhmet taunted.
"This is the Dynasty." Dais supplied. "You're practically in the hands of Master Talpa."
"In other words, everything shall go as we planned." Cale supplied "We never intended to fight you in the first place." with a raise of his sword, he opened the trapdoors underneath the three Ronin Warriors' feet and letting them drop downwards.
"Trapdoors." Athena bemoaned. "Why do we keep falling for the same cliché?"
"Why you." Sage turned to the three Warlords. "How low are you willing to go?"
"Good for you, three Warlords." Kayura chuckled. "I let you your little tricks and you leave nothing for me."
"Watch your tongue." Cale growled.
"We'll leave the last two to you." Dais added.
"Treat them as you like." Sekhmet snarled and the three Warlords vanished to take care of the other three Ronin Warriors.
With the two remaining Ronin Warriors...
"Three Warlords, you're so troublesome." Kayura tsked. "Oh well. I still have all the advantage."
"What should we do, Rowen?" Sage asked.
"We'll just have to fight her." Rowen answered. "But be careful. She's tough, like you say before."
"Yeah, I know." Sage nodded.
"Now come and get me, Halo, Strata!" Kayura barked. "There's no point in waiting for the other three."
"No," Sage corrected. "Ryo and the others will definitely be back."
"I am Kayura." Kayura started. "Don't think you can defeat me so easily."
"Careful, Sage." Rowen cautioned. "Don't let your guard down."
"I know." Sage replied. She did toy with Rowen, after all. She doesn't leave herself open.
"The best you can do is perhaps to graze me." Kayura mocked, using her speed to dodge Sage.
"Sage." Rowen provided backup support, firing off his arrow at Kayura.
"Now." Sage charged in, after Kayura erected an energy shied to block off the arrow and slashed at her amulet.
"I'm impressed, Halo that you're able to follow me." Kayura jumped back.
"What the..." Sage frowned, seeing the golden amulet glow. "Her breastplate is glowing."
"Perhaps..." Athena mused.
"What are you thinking, Athena?" Rowen cast a look at the young Goddess.
"That amulet." Athena answered. "It could be the source of her power. Or, alternatively, if she is indeed human like the three Warlords, then the amulet could very well be Talpa's way to keep her under his thrall."
"More Dynasty Soldiers." Yuli stated, as six soldiers burst out from the water and surrounded him and Mia.
"Purifying Light Circle!" Athena raised the Nike Staff and released a widening light halo at the soldiers, instantly purifying them.
"Who said Athena is a defensive Goddess?" Sage noted amusedly.
"Focus on your own fight, you two." Athena warned, fending off the soldiers for Mia and Yuli.
"We can't go forward unless we defeat her." Sage reminded.
"Do you think you can actually defeat me, Halo?" Kayura rebuked.
"Won't know if I don't try." Sage retorted.
"Hang on, Sage!" Ryo shouted, returning to the group with the others and Anubis in tow and stopping Sage's fight with Kayura. "We can't defeat her with our individual powers. Let's focus our powers and fight her with the Inferno Armor."
The other four Ronin Warriors nodded and transferred their powers to Ryo, allowing him to don the Inferno Armor.
"I suppose that's it for playtime." Kayura remarked. "I'll have you take on my Starlight Swords." she let loose a wave of starlight energy at Ryo.
Crossing the Swords of Fervor in front of him, Ryo blocked out the attack.
"Your Swords of Fervor are quite impressive." Kayura praised.
"Ultra Ballistic Rage of Inferno!" Ryo countered with his attack, the swirling fire steam honed in on Kayura's amulet, cutting the chain off.
"Anubis!" Ryo blinked, the Ancient's staff has prevented him from finishing the stunned Kayura off.
"I..." Kayura muttered, her control device gone and her mind started clearing. "You're..." her eyes settled on Athena. "Athena-sama!"
"The Jewel!" Yuli exclaimed when the Jewel of Life started glowing.
In Talpa's throne room...
"I fear that those humans who known nothing of fighting may not be countered by the power of the Dynasty." Badamon reported.
"Return to me, Kayura!" Talpa ordered.
With the group...
Kayura let out a startled gasp when she found herself being lifted into the air, along with her cut-off amulet. "Athena-sama!" she cried out.
"Why did you stop him, Anubis?" Kento demanded.
"Tell us." Sage insisted.
"I am not sure." Anubis admitted. "But this staff is avoiding a fight with Kayura for some reason. And the fact that she called Athena 'Athena-sama'..."
SailorStar9: This chapter is officially over. Read and review.
