Musical Selection For The Chapter...

Tekken 5 Devil Within - Stage 4

Kuroko No Basket - Jakuten

The Game - Scared Now (song or instrumental)

Onimusha Dawn of Dreams - Oni Mansion

Tekken 5 - Ka-En-No-Mai

Soul Edge Super Khan Session - Moonlight Shadows

Chapter 13 – Fight Your Fears

April 19rd, 2014, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, Stella's Castle…

After gathering up the remaining children survivors in Bucharest, the Manji Clan and Stella's minions took them back to their lair within the mountains. Zukumimefu returned to the castle as well, only to find out that her informant was successful in kidnapping Kunimitsu's son. She would have to leave out of short notice since there was a celebration of victory all across the castle. Bypassing drunken Manji clansmen and undead zombies, Zuku reached the bridge gate heading towards the mountains only to be stopped by her leader.

Yoshimitsu (behind Zuku): "Where are you going? Why the rush?"

Zuku (stops and turns around.): "Master Yoshimitsu! You scared me!"

Yoshimitsu: "You've been acting strange as of late. Now you don't want to join in the festivities? Tell me dear, what's the deal?"

Zuku: "Nue's been gone for a long time, I need to go find him!"

Yoshimitsu: "Really? Hmm…I didn't even notice."

Zuku: "Yes! He's been away for the past week, for who knows where. I wont be gone long Master. I'm just worried about him."

Yoshimitsu's eyes lit up as he remained silent. He wondered if Zuku was lying about leaving for her subordinate Nue. However, it was true that he had been gone for some time. In response, Yoshimitsu let her leave, but on one condition.

Yoshimitsu: "Return here in three days. If you or Nue don't return here. Then I will have my ninjas come looking for you both!"

Zuku: "Yes…master."

Zuku quickly runs through the bridge. The tone of Yoshimitsu's voice sent chills down her spine. Yoshimitsu was on to her for acting against his will. He may have also sensed her jealously brewing against Stella. The two never really had an interaction with one another and that concerned Yoshimitsu. Was Zuku willing to turn against Yoshimitsu. Only time would tell.

Temple of Amun, Karima, Northern State, Sudan…

The Ashrune blade once belonged to a famous pharaoh named Thutmose III. When he died a sorcerer under his kingdom infused the blade with magic and sealed it off within the emperor's old temple before it was discovered again allegedly by the same man who battled and defeated Stella. The sorcerer kept the blade until he mysteriously disappeared. The blade was buried at an undisclosed location in Romania until it was founded by spelunkers back in the 1960s. Instead of keeping the blade, the spelunkers sold it to the Romanian Government in exchange for cash. Fast forward today, and now Zafina is in possession of the Ashrune since she took it out of its secured position from the national museum.

If the revelation was true from Tarik about unlocking the Ashrune's real powers, then it would be more than enough to finish off Stella. Zafina finally arrived at the temple Tarik spoke about. Discreet as usual, Zafina calmly enters the temple and begins wandering inside. After descending into the main hallway, Zafina enters a room with an unusual design of a hyena. Once Zafina lit the room with fire for light, her head began to get fuzzy. Her eyes deceived her as the hyena figure began to transform itself into human form. The figure morphed a spear weapon in his hands, posed to make an attack. The guard thrusts his weapon at Zafina, she responds by dodging away. Because of how confined the room space was, it wasn't easy for Zafina to evade the guard's onslaught of attacks. Finally, an opening presented itself as Zafina kicked the hyena's head knocking off the mask he wore.

Zafina: "No! It can't be!"

The guard's face revealed to look just like Raven's without the shades. His eyes showed no care about killing the woman standing in front of him. Zafina then realized that a spell was cast upon her. This was a test to see if she had what it took to kill someone she cared about. In response, Zafina took out the Ashrune blade from behind her back ready to fight. The guard yelled in preparation for battle.

Meanwhile, The old Ling Sheng Su Temple, Hubei Province, China…

Raven's hovercraft landed at the basin of an open field near a creek overlooking the once famous Ling Sheng Su Temple. His DNA analysis of the piece of hair he tracked down allowed him to pinpoint the culprit's last location. Brandishing his blades, Raven exited out of the hovercraft and made his way into the temple.

The demon ninja Nue, could smell the scent of the intruder getting closer. He was inside the old hall where many shaolin monks once did training. The baby Karasu was placed just above the hands of the Buddha statue so he could not crawl out on his own.

Nue: "This must be one of your parents coming for your rescue little one, but I will make sure your reunion won't come into fruition." (Licking his hairy lips)

Raven ventured into the north side gate, looking at the ruins displayed in front of him. The tracker grew stronger on Raven's wristcom. Looks as though, the thief was inside. Carefully entering into the hallway Raven's sensed the thief's presence. Some shuriken was tossed just above his right side. Raven did some back hand springs to evade. Then a large broadsword came out of nowhere to try and slice Raven in half. Raven went down of his knees to slide under the attempted cut. Raven gets back on his feet and turns to see the mutated chimera, Nue.

Nue: "You are the one Zukumimefu mentioned about killing you! Jahahaha!"

Raven: "Zukumimefu? So this is her doing?"

Nue: "I don't know why she asked to kidnap your son and keep him alive, but whatever the case may be, I will get my reward by taking your head!"

Raven: "Taking your head my ass! Where is my son?"

Nue: "He's safe and asleep at the Buddha shrine. So shall we begin?"

Raven: "Let's go you freak!"

Back in the Sudan…

Zafina suffered some minor cuts from fighting this doppelganger of Raven. Finally a fatal opening presented itself while the guard twirled his spear to charge for another strong attack. Zafina crawled in Tarantula stance just after the guard made a slashing motion with the spear. Then Zafina pounces on the guard, pinning him on the ground. Zafina didn't hesitate as she closed her eyes, not wanting to see herself kill this man who looked like Raven. With the Ashrune, she stabs the guard repeatedly about ten times. Some tears crept across Zafina's face. It was a side of her personality that very few people knew about. Suddenly, a hidden door opened itself as a voice called out to her.

Woman: "Well done, young warrior. You have passed the test."

Zafina (opens her eyes): "Huh?"

Zafina then realized that the body turned back into the hyena statue. She stands up and walks into the very tomb of the emperor Thutmose's queen, Satiah. A phantom of the queen herself appears in front of Zafina ready to give her blessing.

Satiah: "In order to restore the balance of good and evil, you did the necessary thing by defeating anyone, even your loved ones for the better of the world."

Zafina: "It still didn't feel good."

Satiah: "Yes and this is why the Ashrune you wield now was created. For justice."

Zafina: "What's happening?"

Satiah: "Let go of the Ashrune."

Zafina obeys as the Ashrune floats in air begins to shine brightly. The colors changed from a lime color into a fiery orange. Indeed the Ashrune was fully unlocked. It was back to the level it was when it last battled against Stella.

Satiah: "Please, take the blade that I have blessed. Use it wisely, for it will be a deadly force if it is dispersed into the populace."

Zafina (Grabs the blade): "Thank you very much."

The phantom disappears as well as the orange glow the Ashrune displayed. Zafina was satisfied, yet still disturbed that she might have the possibility of eliminating foes and friends.

Back in China…

A fierce battle ensued between Raven and the chimera ninja, Nue. Nue had Raven into a corner of the hallway in which they fought. Nue sprayed an acidic poison out of his mouth. Raven teleported in response, but Nue could follow his movement as he threw shuriken from behind his head. Two of the shuriken caught Raven along the left arm. Raven falls on the ground and is slow to get up.

Nue: "Looks like you are running out of steam."

The chimera takes his sword and uses his long lizard tail to pick Raven up off the ground. Attempting to behead the Dark Talon, Nue prepares to chop his head off. However, Raven had a surprise for him.

Nue: "You got any last words?"

Raven: "Not me. YOU!"

Raven used an electric battery that was used to power his magnetic boots and wristcom and it acted as a tazer. Nue immediately lets go of Raven, because of the shock. Raven quickly goes into a copy jutsu making clones of himself. The three of his copies performed a special attack called the Tristar Ripper. Nue's vitals were split throughout his mutated body. He was through. The clones all returned into the original body of Raven. He turns around to see Nue's dying body covered in his own blood.

Raven: "Scum like you don't deserve to live longer days."

Nue attempted to speak, but his heart gave out as he finally passed. Not caring, Raven pressed onward. He could eventually hear the cries of Karasu within the large temple. Raven finally located the Buddha Shrine where his son was hidden. On top of the Buddha hands lay Karasu who was crying out of loneliness and hunger. Raven picks up his son and calmly speaks with him.

Raven: "Hey there. Forgive me and your mom for not being there again. This time we won't let those bad guys take you again."

Then Raven's wristcom buzzes. It was Lars.

Lars: "Raven! We heard about what happened. Are you ok and the baby?"

Raven: "Everything's good. The baby's fine. I'm returning to the island now."

Lars: "Really? Damn, that's was quick. However, Alisa and I have already rendezvous to your location. I even ordered our troops to come to that temple tomorrow in case Karasu was still missing."

Raven: "Have you informed Kunimitsu?"

Lars: "Yea. She and Jun will come on a private helicopter, so we'll just wait for them from where you are."

Raven: "Understood."

A small smirk of satisfaction crept through Raven's face. He proceed to head back at his hovercraft so he could feed Karasu, and wait for all of his friends.

Notes: Finally did another update for the tale. Despite my downtrend of dedication, I still have a few fans that have read the chapters all the way. I appreciate that very much. The battle is getting closer. How will Zuku respond once she discovers her informant's dead body? and will Jun participate in the battle against Stella? Stay tuned.