"Back off lads." Their captain told them as several pirates drew their swords and pistols, some of them already approaching the winded Englishman. "These brigands are mine." Falcon hoisted himself to a fighting stance as Kraken shot across the distance between them with his metal claw draw back.
"Knock 'em dead captain!" Puss yelled over from the side lines.
Falcon ducked as the large metal instrument shot overhead. A directly blow from that and swung with Kraken's strength could very easily kill a man. Despite its weight the pirate king swung the claw as if it was as light as a feather, bringing it down sharply as Falcon rolled to the side just in time. Already crouched low the English swung his leg around trying to knock the pirate's feet out from under him. Kraken anticipated the move and jumped; his thin body doing a graceful 360 degree flip and as the tip of his boot came around it slammed directly into the underside of Falcon's chin sending him flying backwards.
Forcing the pain silent the Englishman managed to right himself in mid air long enough to land clumsily on his feet. Anger guiding his movements he charged in with a fist at the ready. Kraken parried away the blow with his one good arm, pushing Falcon back a good few feet. At the last second his right arm shot forward and the metal pincer clamped itself around Falcon's arms with them pinned to his sides he could hardly move. "Come on!" Kraken hissed at him drawing his hand back. "I know for a fact…" He slapped the Englishman hard on the right check, then brought the back of his hand sharply across the left; repeating the process several times. "That you…" Kraken's leg raised itself. "Can do better than that!" A kick was shot forward directly into Falcon's stomach sending him rocketing down into the ground. The turf broke open on impact and the Englishman's red jacket was covered with mud as he skidded across the grass.
The pirates watching all around cheered loudly as Falcon failed to get up, their boss standing over his opponent in apparent victory.
"Finish him boss!" Octo called over waving as fist in the air.
"Yeah, 'off the little runt!" Puss added in amidst the cheers from the crew. Distracted by the entertaining fight before them, the raiders never saw the attack coming. Wang-Tang came at them from behind with kicks that sent two pirates flying into the ground unconscious in moments. Several of the pirates turned to see what was the matter, only to get a frying pan in the face as Gourmand literally threw himself at them with a battle cry on his lips. It was a terrifying sight, the fat chef hurtling through the air like a comet on collision course. The pirates only had time to exclaim loudly before they were struck down. "Hey what's going on back there?" Puss demanded before the officer of the watch came flying out the front door, spiralling through the air before colliding with a tree.
Ayame's small frame, natural agility and trained skill in stealth was a great asset to her now. Darting through the swipes of swords and the loud ringing of pistol and rifle fire like a translucent shadow she could land expertly placed kicks and punches. She was too small and fast for any of the pirates, all crowded together in the front of the Falcon mansion, to see let alone strike down. Through the chaos, she could see far better than they could. Her training allowed her to pick out targets from amidst turmoil and all she had to do to fell the raiders in her path was carefully time the throws of her shuriken.
Kraken looked back briefly as his crew began flying left and right, their attempts to defend himself proving futile against the attacks. The loud echoing sound of a frying pan hitting bone floated out for him to hear. A loud hiss brought him back to more important matters and swiftly his metal claw lanced up block a swipe from a Katana blade.
"You'll have to better than that mate." The pirate king told Ryoma giving the samurai a side glance. Ryoma slid backwards as the metal claw swung around trying to strike him. Naturally swift and agile the samurai charged in with a sword in each hand, spinning his entire body around becoming a near cyclone of blades. Kraken stayed outside the reach of the swords using his metal limb to parry the strikes away.
"POWER FUSION!" The pirate king glanced to the side to see Falcon rise up into the air, the clothes on his body twisting and morphing; becoming blood red plates over his skin. Ryoma paused in his attacks for a single moment distracted by the transformation and that left him open to a sharp blow to the forehead as Kraken swung his head forward and head-butted him in the face. Staggering backwards Ryoma couldn't defend himself as the arm with the pincer on it slammed into his chest forcing him hard onto the ground.
"Arh, that's what I like to see Falcon me lad." Kraken sneered as Falcon's power fusion loom fully manifested itself, an armoured almost robotic warrior. "Remind me what the Power Stone of Metal can do!" And that request, the Englishman was more than happy to oblige.
"Power Missile!" Metal hands flew from the wrists, screaming through the air towards the pirate, who simply raised his metal vice and smacked both of them out of the air with one swipe. The projectiles staggered off course before exploding into the lawn nearby. Falcon retraced both hands back to him and each one slid back into the slot in the wrist.
Placing one foot behind the other, Falcon bent his legs and clenched his fists at either side. "POWER ROCKET!" The jet rocket on his back roared to life in a blast of heat and sound that shattered some of the windows at the front of the house. The shockwave that passed through the air was so intense some of the pirates were knocked over. The unconscious body of Ryoma was picked up like a rag doll and tossed into a bush nearby. Kraken anchored his feet down as best he could, one arm held up to defend his good eye from the stinging wind.
With a sonic boom Falcon broke the sound barrier as he shot forward towards Kraken, clearing the distance of the lawn between them with ease. Throwing a metallic fist forward at the last second he made contact. A flare of blinding light erupted outwards forcing anyone watching to shield their eyes, it was so bright that for a brief moment it appeared like a second sun was rising on the horizon.
Being smaller enough for the winds to toss her into the abyss, Ayame grabbed hold of a doorframe and hung onto it for all she was worth, Wang-Tang just behind her with a hand clamped around a pipe.
"Oh my goodness!" Apollus exclaimed in dismay, watching everything from out a window on the top floor.
Finally the light died away and Ayame looked up to see Falcon crouched nearby, his fist still thrown forward; his eyes wide open in exclamation.
"How…. how did you do that?" He demanded. Looking up, Ayame looked stunned to see Kraken still standing there. The pirate king had his back to them and appeared to have suffered no damage at all. Ayame had never seen an attack like that before in her entire life and Kraken had survived it without so much as flinching. The pirate king glanced back over his shoulder, the smirk so wide it showed how many teeth he was missing. "That attack never fails."
"Oh my dear boy, how could you have forgotten?" Kraken asked sadistically. "I owned that stone for over a century. You should know that by now I know how it's magic works, and more importantly…." Falcon finally felt the pain slam into his chest as the pirate king's grin widened. His good hail trailed up, showing that it had the Power Stone of Wind in its grasp, the emerald green rock glowing brightly. "..how to reflect the affects." As if he'd been hit by his own attack Falcon gagged forward, collapsing onto his knees. Using one hand to hold himself up the Englishman brought the other to his chest, the fingers arched over his heart. Even in Power Fusion form his body was screaming with pain. The pirates began cheering again as their boss drew his leg back and dealt a crushing kick into Falcon's side. The Englishman was thrown through the air before rolling along the ground and up against the side of a tree. Falcon's Power Fusion state did not break, but all he did was lay there struggling for breath.
"That's the way boss!" Puss shouted over. While most of the raiders had their attention drawn to the fight, those at the back did not forget the attackers behind them. Swords and thrown fists began flying through the air, followed swiftly by sounds of pistol fire and the gleam of throwing stars. Ayame was easily able to dart through the fray and out of the house into the front lawn.
"Hold still ya little pipsqueak!" Octo snarled throwing a fist out as Ayame slid around it like water.
"He may have forgotten." A voice stated. Kraken glanced back to see Ryoma standing nearby with both of his swords held in each hand, the surface of the blades gleaming brightly. Leaves from the bush had clung to his hair. "But I certainly have not."
"Aye?" Kraken asked. "Well then, then let's have at it Samurai!"
Ryoma had the speed advantage over Kraken. Even being surprisingly physically strong for a two hundred year old man, the extra weight of the metal claw weighed his right arm down and while his left was considerably faster it couldn't use that to deflect the swings of the samurai's blades. Forced to rely on agility, Kraken's footwork was fast and precisely well placed, allowing him to keep his metal limb to the right and use it as a shield.
The samurai's blades clashed repeatedly into the metal claw, trying with relentless persistence to find a way around its defence. Finally souring a hit across Kraken's arm Ryoma used the opportunity to go on an all out offence. Given a single moment Kraken could have a man broken in two; Ryoma had seen it happen and wasn't going to give the pirate king the opportunity to do it to him. The tip of a katana lanced forward trying to strike Kraken's head. The pirate swerved to the side to avoid it and fell into Ryoma's trap. A leg was already arching out and before Kraken could defend himself against it, he found his own feet swept out from under him. With his opponent toppling backwards the samurai slammed his elbow into his stomach and forced the pirate down into the ground. A hushed whisper echoed through the pirates who stopped and stared. None of them had seen their boss floored before.
Octo looked back stunned and left himself open to a blow as Ayame slammed an upper cut across his chin. Despite his large size, the well aimed blow sent him relying backwards, collapsing on-top of his smaller brother who had just enough time to cry out before his brothers far larger bulk pinned him to the ground.
"Get off me you oaf!" But his cries were beyond his brother who was lying there unconscious.
With Kraken on the ground, Ryoma brought his sword up and prepared to deliver the finishing blow by driving his katana through the pirate's heart. Before he could, the Power Stone of Wind activated again; glowing brightly in Kraken's grip. Its elemental magic was unleashed and with a strong howl, a powerful gust of wind that could only be found in the strongest hurricanes struck Ryoma full in the face, throwing the samurai back forcefully.
Kraken picked himself up and holding the stone afloat, channelled its magic down to mingle with his own necromantic skills and finally out through his arm. Elemental wind mixed with black magic appeared like a bolt of purple lightning that screamed from Kraken's good hand towards the samurai. As a good conductor, the sword the samurai held in one hand attracted the attack and channelled it down into the samurai's body. The pain was immeasurable and Ryoma cried out; trying to release his hold on the sword desperately but the more he willed his hand to let go, the tighter his fingers grasped the hilt. Lightning as black as night was coursing through his arms causing every part of his body they past to write in utter pain..
"In a bit of discomfort are we?" Kraken asked as Ryoma stood there, unable to move and incapable of resisting.
"Power Missile!" The pirate king glanced sharply to see Falcon back on his feet, his arm raised towards him. The instant later the metal hand flew forward. Unable to turning in time, Kraken found the end of this attack hitting him straight in the face. Several more of his teeth were knocked out and saliva trailed of his mouth before finally he toppled to the side. The spell ended itself and Ryoma collapsed to the ground; thin white steam floating up from his shoulders
Wang-Tang flew out through the house entrance and out into the estate grounds and as soon as his feet were on the ground more pirates attacked him. One he sent flying with a sharp punch and another two, he back flipped over before striking them down with a single kick.
"You look like you've been having fun." He commented, seeing the collapsed pirates lying around with one Ayame standing. The young ninja was watching the fight and it wasn't long before his attention was drawn to it as well. Sighting Kraken the boy shivered inwardly. He had hoped beyond hope that Falcon had been right, that he had simply imagined the earlier encounter, but seeing him now dispelled all those wantings.
"So this is Kraken?" Ayame asked sighting the expression on Wang-Tang's face. All the boy did was nod slowly.
"Wait!" He called out suddenly as Ayame rushed forward with several shuriken already in her grasp. Kraken heard her coming and turning about one heal whipped a pistol from a holster at his side. Ayame easily dodged the bullet and soared past him before he could bring his metal claw back. He made a lunge for her and missed and using this to her advantage she rebounded off a wall and smacked a kick right into his face before somersaulting right over his head. As he staggered around half blinded, she landed a short distance away and readied her throwing stars.
Kraken slid to the side dodging the thrown weapons so they passed through his coat instead of him, before racing forward. A boot lashed out and Ayame caught it, spinning it around in her hands so Kraken was sent for a twirl in the air. Catching himself on his good hand, the pirate king rebounded with surprisingly acrobatic skill and came back so hard at Ayame she was sent flying with a kick to her chest.
She landed in the mud with a loud thud and instantly Kraken was coming at her with his metal hinged claw raised high. Wang-Tang darted in at the last second and caught the blow before it hit home. The pirate kings physical strength was impressive for his apparent age and he began to push the boy back, before Wang-Tang swung a kick forward and they broke apart.
"Ah ha, now all the invitees have arrived, the party had really begin." Kraken announced gesturing to all those assembled.
"Was he this relentless the last time?" Ryoma asked, looking up at Falcon as the pain spreading through him began to subside. Falcon didn't answer; he kept his gaze locked onto the pirate as he hoisted himself backup; a pit of darkness coursing over his face like fire as he whipped the blood away from his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "I will transform, you need all the assistance you can muster." All Falcon did to acknowledge the statement was nod once.
The samurai reached into his robes and withdrew the Power Stone of Lightning, its soft presence restoring his strength and quelling the pain in his arms to nothing. As he used it, the sky overhead began to darken, thick storm clouds stirring up out of nowhere, buzzing with loud thunder before a bolt of white lightning coursed down ton the heavens and struck the stone Ryoma was holding aloft. In that single instant his clothes changed, becoming the silver armour of his Power Fusion form. The sword in his grasps began sparking with blue bolts of electricity. Once the transformation was complete, Kraken stood up; observing the two before him.
"On guard!" Gourmand declared scuttling his large round form across the lawn towards Kraken, who simply swung his elbow back without even looking sending the fat man rolling backwards into a rose bush underneath one of the mansion's windows.
"Oh yah really mean business don't ya?" The pirate king asked, sadistically twisting his mouth into a smile. "Well then, if you're so adamant about finishing what we started a year ago..." He spread his arms out wide. "Then give it your best shot!"
"Captain, what are you doing!" Puss declared pulling himself out from under his comatose brother. Falcon and Ryoma shot each other a side glance and nodded simultaneously before fixing their attention completely on Kraken.
"You may want to stand back." Wang-Tang commented stepping back a few paces. Ayame's gaze trailed from him to the two transformed warriors before she quickly followed him to a safe distance. Apollus watched the two of them slowly approach the pirate king, recognised that something was going to happen and quickly retracted his head shutting the window after him.
"Power Explosion!" Falcon declared, crossing his arms in front of his chest in an 'X'. Ryoma held his sword up, two armoured fingers held against the back of the blade. The lightning sparked down the blade, across his hand before carrying on to the hilt.
"Madare-Zantou!" Taking hold of the sword with both hands he began slashing at the air repeatedly, each swipe giving birth to a crescent moon shaped beam of energy that began hovering in the air like a swarm of bees.
Those compartments hidden on Falcon's body opened up again and dozens of missiles were let loose into the air, every one of them heading directly upwards before turning around and targeting Kraken and as soon as they did, those crescent moons Ryoma had been creating turned and following them. The combined attacks mingling together in the air to become one, giant blur that screaming towards the pirate king; who stood there with a wide smile on his face his arms spread very to accept it.
"Captain!" Puss cried out again and it struck his boss head on and Kraken disappeared in a short flash of light.
Celebrations anyone could make were cut short as a hideous laughter began echoed out into the air.
"All yee learned was controlled Power Fusion?" Kraken asked, that wide sadistic smile refusing to leave his face. "That's all?" The combined attacks were just peeling off around him, diverted to either side not a single piece of the hostility hitting him. Falcon scowled angrily, his metal fists clenching and unclenching by his sides. "If that's all you've learned this game will be over before it's even begun!" In his metal pincer, Kraken held the emerald green Power Stone of Wind up high into the air and instantly it began to glow.
As if a hurricane had been summoned, horrible and savage currents of wind began smashing themselves against Falcon and Ryoma. Even in their Power Fusion forms it took all the strength they could manage not to be torn off the ground and tossed into the sky. The clouds and fog encircling the city were sucked into the encircling vortex, a thick swirling cloud surrounding the estate within moments. Even Kraken's pirates had to retreat back into the mansion as several of them nearly went flying.
Ayame held her arms up to cover her face as the wind stung her eyes.
"How's he doing that?" She demanded into the howling off the wind.
"My Power Stone." Wang-Tang groaned, his own arm up protecting his eyes. "Each stone controls the element they're aligned to. Mind is the Element of Wind!"
The edges of his coat flapping around his legs and his long hair dancing widely behind him Kraken grinned inanely. For him control of magic was child's play; two centuries of practise and he had perfected it's use. Elemental magic such as that of the Power Stones was very potent and the familiar energies of the Stone he had owned for so long before it was stolen was like fine wine flowing through his veins.
Still Ryoma and Falcon stood their ground against the wind, their Power Fusion forms clinging to them. Their use of Fusion was admittedly quite impressive for novices but they were still nothing compared to him. The pirate king released his grip on the stone and it floated in the air before him, spinning faster and faster as the typhoon around him began ripped at anything that wasn't anchored down. Tiles began flying off the roof of the estate and off into oblivion, half the garden going with it. His Turbine Ship the Prince Octopus swayed as the wind buffeted it from the side, it's anchor keeping it pinned to the ground.
Falcon, defying the wind, stepped forwards; both arms held up to shield his eyes. Another step and the wind pushing against him increased in intensity. In the city below, people looked up in mute awe and horror as the hurricane encircled the estate on the cliff; a swirling vortex of black that was drawing its slower from the heavens themselves.
"Why don't I remind you what a true Power Fusion looks like?" Kraken asked with a maniacal gleam to his eyes. Falcon snapped his head up, recognising the evil glare across the pirates face. Kraken's good hand lanced forward and seized hold of the rock out of mid air, the fingers tightening around it.
"Oh no…" Wang-Tang muttered, his eyes widening in horror. Not this again, anything but this!
"No you don't!" Falcon cried racing forward but even if the wind hadn't been slowing him down he never would have reached the pirate in time.
"Power Fusion!" Kraken proclaimed and instantly the green stone flew from his hand and slammed directly into his chest. Falcon watched in mute horror as the all too familiar transformation began.
The typhoon arched up into the air, the eye constricting to a single point above; that channelled itself into the stone not embedded in the pirates chest. It looked to an outside observer as if the entire might of the cyclone was being channelled down into Kraken himself.
Shadows began encircling the pirate king, more culminating in the vortex with each passing moment. Very soon they covered the pirate instantly, spinning faster and faster. A gust of wind smacked into Falcon with such force he was sent flying back across the ground to land with a loud thud against Ryoma. Within seconds all that remained was that encircling darkness. Suddenly a metallic pincer lanced out to the left, now changed. Several jagged metal teeth lined the inside and each side of it curved around in an arch, the metal a shinning silver. To the right, the forearm of a skeletal limb flew out, rags of black cloth hanging from it. In it's grasp was a large cannon shaped gun.
Two feet came out the bottom, now completely skeletal and clad in old purple and black rags and boots. Each limb wasn't attached to the main body at all, it just floated there as if bound by invisible thread. When the head emerged, Ayame had to shrink back in horror at the sight of it.
Kraken's new form was the most horrific and demonic thing Ayame had ever seen. No flesh, only bones held together by some force in mid air. Hanging over the rib cage was a long black cloak of rags, giant holes ripped in each side allowing a perfectly hideous view of the bones inside. All the limbs, even the giant metal pincer were all forearms. Nothing connected them to the main body yet they moved to the whims of the transformed pirate king. But the face was the worst, the skull moving as if powered by muscle; each tooth in the mouth now as jagged as a sharks and twice as long. The eye sockets were far empty, taking up a space within the darkness inside was single point of red light for each.
Ayame had never seen anything like this in her entire life.
"Knock 'em dead boss!" Puss called out still with his brother unconscious beside him.
"CANNON FODDER!" Kraken raised his left arm and the bony finger closed around the trigger of the cannon in his hand. As if he was firing a depth charge, a loud explosion rocketed out as a large cannon ball erupted from the cannon with a tremendous spray of gunpowder and smoke and soared towards Falcon and Ryoma on a collision course. The two of them each darted in opposite directions. The cannon ball soared past them and ripped a gigantic hole in the ground behind them, mud and turf flying up in a wide spray. Several garden gnomes exploded in a tremendous puff of dried clay. The ground shook from the impact and Ayame tipped over unable to keep her balance, Wang-Tang caught her in his arms.
"Raijin Ken!" The samurai announced, bringing his sword around in arch as he darted past Kraken. The sky ripped open with a bellowing blast of thunder and lightning crashed down towards Kraken. The pirate king held his metal claw up at the last second and something blocked the path of the attack, parrying it away in mid air and right back towards Ryoma at twice its normal strength. Struck by his own move the samurai was sent hurtling across the ground before sliding to a stop a short distance away.
"Power Missi.." Falcon's declaration of an attack was silenced in mid air and turned into a garbled gasp of pain as Kraken's metal claw lanced through the air, separated from the body by a good twenty meters before it bit into Falcon's mid section. Kraken catapulted across the distance between them, drawn closer by a string of energy that manifested as a line of purple lightning bolts between him and his claw. Falcon struggled to free himself despite the metal teeth trying to bite through his Power Fusion armour but his efforts were not enough. Kraken reached him in the very next instant, his cannon raised and the large barrel pointed directly into the Englishman's chest.
"Falcon!" Ryoma yelled as the explosion rang out, a thick cloud of smoke blasting out from the cannon and engulfing them both. Kraken was thrown clear by the blast, his skeletal hand slowing him down by dragging itself through the earth. The smoke cleared and Falcon was standing there, his red armour covered in black scorch marks across his front. Instantly he dropped down to one knee, one hand struggling to keep him from falling over entirely. His face betrayed his desperate intention to keep his Fusion form from breaking. If it did, he would be at Kraken's mercy.
Despite the lack of muscles, Kraken's form was fast, agile, strong and ultimate very powerful. He had reduced Falcon to his knees in less than a minute and he himself showed no signs of fatigue. Ayame was left standing there staring at it in a strange mixture of awe and utter horror with Wang-Tang's hands on her shoulders. The Power Stone in her pocket now felt like the most horrific burden in the world. What good was it, when in the end all it ultimately did was land her on the sidelines of these strange and destructive battles?
"Oh yes, this is what I've waited a whole year for." Kraken sneered through his lipless mouth, the red glow inside his eye sockets burning brightly. "Thought you were a match for the king of the pirates did you?" Again he raised his left hand, the cannon in it aimed directly at Falcon. In his present fatigued state, Falcon would not be able to withstand a direct hit. He could barley move never mind jump out of the way, any sudden action on his part would break his Fusion.
The Englishman managed to look back over his shoulder to stare directly down the barrel of that cannon, the smell of gunpowder still all too pungent in the metal. Despite the lack of facial muscles Kraken managed another smirk. "Think again." At the last second he aimed his cannon away from Falcon and pointed the barrel directly at the samurai who was still standing. The roar burst through followed by the cloud of flying gunpowder and Ryoma darted swiftly to the left, the cannon ball heading right over his shoulder and shattering through the windows of a green house with the whole structure collapsing after it.
"Oh no, not the greenhouse!" Apollus exclaimed from the upstairs window, his hands pinned to his forehead in utter dismay as the structure Pride had paid a good deal of money for crashed to the ground.
"Get up back Englishman!" Kraken demanded standing over the fatigued Falcon. Their gaze locked, that single hostile moment lasting so briefly it could never have existed. "I could take my Power Stone back right now it's that easy, but I want you crying for mercy when I do." He raised his metal claw. "I like to hit men when they're down but after all the trouble you and your companions caused me I want a good fight before I end this. So get back up and defend yourself!" The claw swung down and at the last second Falcon's armoured hand lashed out and grabbed it with a loud metallic clang. The two elemental forces of Metal and Air met in conflict in that single second, a brief exchange of energy lashing between them before each of them passed back and back stepped to a safe distance.
Falcon was breathing hard, struggling to keep his fighting stance before the pirate king. Kraken seemed completely unfazed. "That's more like it." The skull muttered. The Englishman began running through his options frantically. There had to be something they could do to win. Kraken was surprisingly strong and skilled with a Power Stone, but their victory over him aboard the King Octopus had proved he wasn't invincible.
"I'll stand by you my friend." Ryoma muttered as he stood on Falcon's right, his sword held before him.
"This has to be a bad dream." Falcon thought out load, pausing to try and catch his breath.
"A bad dream?" Kraken asked as one eye socket widened, the shape of the bone portrayed facial expressions instead of skin and muscle. "Believe me lad, the nightmare's just starting." He looked back over his shoulder to his supporting crowd, the first mate Puss at the front. "Get the boys back on the ship. Take her up to a good height." The small first mate looked a tad confused.
"But Captain, what-tabout you?" Even as he said it Puss saw the evil gleam in Kraken's un-dead eyes. "Oh…Aye sir." Kraken waved his boney hand about writing incantations in the air and every crew members in or around the estate, be they knocked out or conscious disappeared in a puff of thick mist and smoke, transported through space to the Price Octopus. The anchor was hoisted and the gangplank withdrawn. The underside fans bellowed to life and with a blast of compressed air the Turbine ship rose into the sky heading higher and higher.
"That does not bode well." Ryoma repeated, his eyes tracing the Turbine ship as it moved up to settle some distance away within come cloud cover.
The pirate king crossed his arms in front of himself in an 'X', the glow in his eyes changing from blood red to bright neon blue. The sound of swirling wind around them changed pitch subtly, becoming hoarse cries of terror and fear that swam in a circle around and through the entire estate, all being drawn down towards and even into the skeletal pirate. Ayame looked up and around in confusion trying to see where those heart wrenching cries were coming from.
It sounded like the cries of those locked away from the light, condemned to remain in the darkest shadows for eternity. In an instant she saw them; ghostly apparitions moving through the air. Wraiths with no substantial form, thick blue mist trailing after them fading as it past. Screaming at the sight of transparent head hidden behind a thick cloak and hood, she stumbled back into Wang-Tang.
"God in heaven…" Apollus breathed as one of them floated into the upstairs bedroom through a wall, drifted past him before vanishing out through another wall.
"What…what are these..." Ayame began glancing left and right as more and more of these things filled the sky, all slowly making their way towards Kraken. Once they arrived at him, their forms welded together with one another becoming a ball of light that was steadily increasing in size.
"Ghosts of the damned." Wang-Tang replied watching one of them, a mere small child float through the air to join the others. "Souls captured by Kraken's necromantic magic over the centuries." He looked away as the small child vanished into the ball, absorbed into the growing collection. "We thought we set them free a year ago."
Ayame watched them all and once her eyes grew accustomed to the vague features, she make out men, women and even children in their dozens.
"I'll be taking my stones back now." Kraken announced once all the ghosts had culminated inside the ball floated before him, a neon blue sphere; the surface rippling like the surface of a pond. Hushed whispers and eerie moans echoed from it chilling anyone who heard them to the bone. "Last chance to hand them over." He added giving all those before him a side glance.
"In your dreams." Falcon hissed. Falcon chuckled deep in his throat.
"I'd say you just made a terrible mistake, but the truth of the matter is…" He heaved his metal claw up and the ball followed it. Now it hovered above him, the glow changing from blue to bright violet. "I was going to kill you whether to gave them to me or not!"
The spirits had their sight blinded. They could not tell who it was their culminated anger and frustrations were unleashed upon. Kraken was manipulating every sense they had and propelling their rage by keeping them locked in the darkness. Screaming in torment their combined energies formed together, the ball separating into three glowing violet liquid like blobs that quickly morphed in mid air becoming gigantic apparitions of spectres; each one reared up into the air and screamed, the mouths expanding to impossible proportions. Separating from each other they shot through the air, twisting in impossible ways arching backwards and forwards towards Falcon and Ryoma.
The jet pack on Falcon's back pack roared to life and instantly he shot directly up into the air avoiding one of them as they came right at them. His speed enhanced by the Power Fusion Ryoma took flight, darting swiftly to the side as the ghost surged at him. There could be no hurting these ravenous spirits, they had no physical form of their own to attack and through magic's unknown could and would cause fatal injury to those they touched. The third and final spirit already had its target and this one didn't have a Power Fusion to protect it. Wang-Tang shoved Ayame out of the way before hitting the dirt himself as the wailing ghost arched over them like a giant serpent, pivoting around in the air to flow like a rushing river towards the boy.
"CANNON FODDER!" Falcon looked down just in time to see a thick barrage of cannon fire flying at him from below. Diving down in a free fall the Englishman avoided it, but the twisting serpent like ghost was still following him and it was speeding up, long bony arms reaching out whenever it got close enough trying to catch him. It took every airborne tactic Falcon had learned to stay ahead of it.
"Rajin-Ken!" Ryoma declared, slashing the air and instantly an half money crescent beam of electricity shot forth from his sword and then passed right through the ghost chasing him. It paused briefly, sparks travelling up and down its length before it carried on as if it had burly stung. Clearly magic still did not affect these manifestations.
Darting on the silver clad Samurai's best course of action would be to keep running. He had seen these manifestations of necromantic magic before and was well aware of their destructive capabilities. His mind raced as he tried desperately to remember what they had done to keep them at bay before.
Through his minds eye ran the entire encounter Wang-Tang, Falcon and himself had shared with the pirate king a year ago, the ransacking of their ship in the northern sea, the first disastrous duel with Kraken himself and even the raid on the pirate keep SkullHaven.
He fast forwarded to the part where the pirate unleashed his captive spirits on them and in that second, the samurai had the answer. Turning about on one foot, he held both swords to his temple and began channelling his Power Stones elemental energy through the blades. A bolt of lightning lanced down through the weapons where they met. The spirit jerked back at the yellow light that shone from lightning's bolts unable to withstand it. These spirits while once living men and woman were now creatures of shadow and could not withstand any form of light. The clouds Kraken had called forth using his magic had nearly completely blocked out the sun, no chance of light from that source. But Ryoma had another source of light more than capable of substituting for it.
"Tenchi- Rohdan!" Gripping one sword in both hands, the samurai leapt up into the air and started spinning head over heals going faster and faster. The elemental energy of lightning surrounded his body in a sphere of white light. The blinding flash slammed into the ghost like a brick wall and it screamed in utter agony, parts of it's serpent like form fading away. Slowly it shrank, growing smaller and smaller until it was on the verge of disappearing all together.
"Nice try Samurai." Kraken sneered and tapped his metal claw together several times. The darkness around seemed to grow in strength and intensity as the pirate king cast another spell. All of a sudden it was like the middle of the night and drawing strength from the darkness, the three spirits grew in power and strength until finally not even Ryoma's elemental lightning glow was enough to keep them at bay.
"Oh you son of a bi…" Falcon began before the one chasing him sprouted wings and claws, changing from a ravenous spirit into a demonic giant that dwarfed him. Ryoma dropped to the ground just in time as the demon soured over him with giant bat like wings spread out wide.
"I don't remember him doing this last time." Wang-Tang commented, trying his best to stay ahead of a demonic dragon like creature made entirely out of the darkest shadows. Wang-Tang wad a natural runner, but the demon had the advantage of height and speed and the obvious affects of advanced fatigue were spreading over the boys face.
"Little trick I picked up a few months ago." Kraken replied, before raising his cannon towards them. "CANNAN FOD.." He was in the midst to declaring before he noticed someone standing before him. "You again?" He demanded glaring down at the youth barley little more than half his size. Ayame stood there staring unblinking up at the pirate king, a flat emotionless expression on her face. "Get out of my way ya wee runt!" He swung his claw down sharply at her and as stunned to find his attack blocked as Ayame parried off his swipe with what to an outside observed appeared to be a simply flick of her wrist, but Kraken could feel the clashing elemental energies during the blow.
He glared down at her just as her eyes changed colour from, chocolate brown to sea blue, sharp shafts of blue light lancing out her pocket. "A Power Stone!" And not one of his, one of the six others he had not yet encountered! "Give that to me!" He lunged forward but with her speed easily matching his, Ayame side stepped to his right avoiding the grab. Adrenaline pumping through her blood Ayame could feel the stone burning with energy, flowing from itself directly into her. As if controlled by her more basic instincts it finally began working. In one sudden lurch the culminating elemental energy of water reached a pitch and then it happened.
Kraken shot backwards as the young girls clothes began changing, morphing over her body. The green robes turned pink and spread up and over her head and down each arm. Silver chain mail spreading underneath followed by a giant shuriken across her back.
Kraken thrust his metal claw forwards in a desperate attempt to snap her in two. Ayame dodged the attack with ease, jumping over it and coming down hard on the pirate kings skull with a dropped kick. Kraken staggered back from the blow, before raising his cannon and firing it at close range towards her. Ayame seemed to disappear and then reappeared out of harms way coming in for a sharp blow across the pirates back. Kraken blocked the attack, then swung his metal claw back striking the girl across the side. Ayame shot back several paces, before darting in again.
Falcon watching them fight from above, dodging through the clouds with Kraken's deadly sprit following close behind. Suddenly an idea hit him and he snapped his head down to see Wang-Tang running for his life from the second ghost. Falcon's rocket roared to life and he shot towards the ground, going faster and faster. The demonic entity roared before following him.
"Head's up!" The Englishman called out. Wang-Tang glanced back to see him a red and silver object hurtling at him before a pair of metal hands scooped themselves under his arms and carried him up into the sky. The two ghosts nearly collided into each other, twisting around in the air to follow them both up into the sky.
Having no experience with the Power Stone of Water, Kraken found himself as a slight disadvantage during the exchange of attacks. He could not predict them while Ayame had watched him fight. The ninja landed a strong punch across his chin and finally Kraken's patience was lost.
"Time to die girlie!" He snapped, a ripple of magical energy passing through his body as he called upon all the powers of the Power Stone of Wind. Suddenly his head began expanding out, growing larger and larger while the rest of his body remained the same. Ayame watched in a mute culmination of surprise and awe. Once his skull was about twice the size of his entire body, the mouth began opening revealing the dagger like teeth expanded to insane proportions.
The second it was fully open a gust of powerful wind began dragging Ayame down towards the open mouth. The girl dug her heals into the ground trying to resist it but the pull was far too strong. Inch by inch she began moving down towards the crushing darkness behind the teeth.
"Ayame, JUMP!" Falcon's voice shouted from behind and acting on instinct she did so. Kraken watched her volt into the air before being caught by the Englishman who came flying in with Wang-Tang on one shoulder and Ryoma on the other. Ayame landed with a loud thud on his shoulders. The next instant the rocket shook the ground with it's roar as it shot directly upwards into the sky. Kraken watched them go, only to realize that wasn't where he should have been watching. Glancing down he saw the three demonic spirits he had summoned come charging at him, following the trail left by their targets but being drawn in by his own attack at the same time. Kraken tried to stop but by then it was too late, all three ghosts crashed head first into his mouth. All three seemed to detonate on contact, spraying out in a deadly but admittedly beautiful display. The sky around suddenly began clearing, the clouds and fog engulfing the city dissipating in the air as if they had never been there. The sun began shining and everything seemed just as it had been.
Falcon, with three people weighing him down slowly decended until his feet were on the ground. The purple smoke cleared and there was Kraken, his Power Fusion broken and down on one knee breathing hard. The Power Stone of Wind lying on the ground next to his good hand. Snarling, the pirate king glanced up at him. The face a pit of utter darkness.
"You haven't won." He spat unsteadily hoisting himself back to up to his feet. He nearly toppled back showing how much strength he had lost. He snatched the Power Stone from the ground holding it aloft ready to fight again. Falcon blinked once, before smiling.
"Actually, I say we just about have." Kraken was ready with a retort when he realized that Falcon wasn't looking at him, the Englishman was looking past him. Glancing back them pirate king was just in time to see a volley of cannon fire roar across the sky and smash into the side of the Prince Octopus above, the deck exploding in a spray of wooden shards. "I don't believe you've had the pleasure of meeting the RAF yet." Falcon added as three Turbine Ships with full English colours flying from their rafters advanced, their guns pointed directly at the pirate ship.
Kraken snarled so loud people in the city could have heard him. He didn't know the British Air Force had Turbine ships! Another volley of fire shot forth, this one coming narrowly close to striking the Prince Octopus across the bow.
"Don't look so smug Englishman." The pirate king snapped glaring back at them. "I'll be back for you when I have the other five Power Stones in my grasp." He tore a glass bottle out of his coat and uncorked the top. A thick violet mist began leaking out, quickly consuming Kraken's body. Then the wind dispersed it and the pirate king was gone. A form of translocation spell used to move the caster from one location to another, Ryoma mused angrily glancing up at the Prince Octopus. Nearly instantly it turned and fled, flying at full speed away from the British ships following close behind.
But the pirate ship was faster and soon was lost upon the horizon. Falcon let his Power Fusion form go and he dropped to the ground, looking exhausted. He had spent a lot of his energy during the fight and the taxing drain of Power Fusion had left him tired beyond measure.
"I'm sorry Wang-Tang." He stated suddenly. The Chinese boy glanced down at him a bit confused. "I wanted to believe he was gone so desperately… I was in denial. I should have listened to you" Wang-Tang laid a hand on his shoulder.
"That's alright Englishman. I saw him first and even I wanted to believe you."
"We all have our reasons for wishing him gone, but people very rarely have their wishes granted." Ryoma stated with his back to them. Ayama dropped her power fusion and watched them all. There was so much she didn't know about the Power Stones. The thought that an enemy was deadly as Kraken could use them did not sit too well with her. She was so inexperienced. Falcon, Wang-Tang and the samurai had had over a years practice and Kraken had near wiped the floor with all three of them. What chance did she have against an opponent like that? The neon blue burden in her pocket now felt heavier than ever. "Now we have much work in front of ourselves."
"What do you mean?" The ninja asked out load. The samurai shot her a glance over his shoulder.
"Kraken knows of the other Power Stones." Ryoma replied flatly giving them a side glance. "And if he finds them before we do, nothing we can do could ever stop him."