Chapter 16: Unwelcome Foes
The team dropped off Farrell and Millie without any trouble and were en route to Wasteland's Desert. Before they left, though, Dae and Nyte handed Ren and Riza their own cloaks, to shield out the sand. Like Charlie's and Josh's who had their kingdom's insignia with their own little design tweak back, so did Ren and Riza. The back of Ren's was silver lion roaring while Riza's had a fox snarling on her's.
The gummi made to the sandy planet in record time. Descending into the eternal sandstorm that was the desert, the ship received an incoming message, Josh opened the link. "This is Itoh Josh, who is this?"
"This is Sig, leader of the Wastelanders and friend of Jak's. He said if you guys came back, head to the Haven City. Sending the coordinates now," the machines beeped with the incoming coordinates of the city mentioned.
"Thanks Sig, coordinates received, heading to Haven City now," the engines roared once again and left the sandstorm in its wake. Within minutes the ship hovered over the city entrance. It landed with a soft thud, the doors opening to let out its passengers.
"So, I guess we should go find Jak," Riza said looking at the awesome metal doors blocking entry into the city.
"Yeah. And looks like we didn't need our cloaks anyway," Charlie mentioned. Everyone but Josh and Riza left the cloaks in the gummi; Riza wanted to enjoy her cloak a little while longer. The doors opened with a slight push from Ren and Josh, opening them to the sight that was Haven City. It was in a disgrace as the walls bore bullet and claw marks. The street littered with permanent blood stains of past and, possibly, present battles. The zoomers, that were still functioning, were left unclaimed. The group wondered how this place could be called a Haven? A soft sound of little animal feet brought them back from their musings.
"Riza! Josh! Charlie!" it was Daxter, Jak's ottsel and best friend. "Thank Mar you made it! Jak is having a helluva time trying to fight off those dark creatures." He waved around his paw trying to remember the name of the creatures. With a snap of his fingers, he continued, "Heartless, right? Hurry, this way!" The orange furball ran back the way he came, the team followed.
They made it to the safe house not too far from where they were without any incident. Dax lead them downstairs of an abandoned warehouse. Jak and Torn were there. "Jak!" Riza spoke up.
"Riza, Josh, Charlie, you guys made it. For some reason those Heartless are back and stronger. Our forces can't keep up with them," Jak went into explaining when it happened, how long, and when it started to get really bad. Afterwards, Riza introduced Ren to Jak, Dax, and Torn.
"This is not good. First InuYasha's world, now here too. I wonder who is behind this?" They all looked at Riza like she had six heads, "I know, I know it's the Troup Grimm, but which one."
"Maybe it's that bastard Uso," Charlie mentioned. "When we got here, there was a lot of blood. Heartless can't draw blood from their attacks. And Haven City is full of people, right? A lot of people mean a lot of souls."
"Soul Edge. He'll pay. He won't get away with this," Riza summoned the Keyblade, "I vowed on this weapon, he won't live the next time I see him."
"Let's worry about Uso when he comes up, right now, we have to deal with the Heartless," Josh pointed out. Torn took over explaining the battle plan to the group. Jak, Josh, and Riza would head into the second sector of the city, where the power for the defense systems lay. The Heartless or their commander has knocked it out and the defense system was shut down. Since Jak and Daxter had experience with it, they're going in with Josh and Riza as an extra pair of hands and eyes. Torn, Charlie, and Ren are heading to the once Freedom HQ to recapture it. That's were everything is, extra weapons, ammo, assault vehicles, documents from past battles, everything an enemy commander would want. With the old HQ back in Torn's possession, they could just turn the tide in this massacre. With the plan throughly gone over, it was time to move out.
Riza, Josh, and Jak, with Daxter in his usual perched spot, made their way to the second sector. Charlie, Ren, and Torn hopped on a large zoomer, a Hell-Kat, and headed toward the old Freedom HQ.
"Fools, they all are. They don' know wha they're dealin' wit, do they?" a burly voice snickered within the shadows. His yellow eyes pierced through the darkness, watching the two parties split up. "I see that the lit'le Ukaizr met up wit the older one. This is getin' interestin'," Uso, from the shadows followed to watch Riza's group.
"Are you sure you guys can handle keeping the Heartless out until I get the defense system back up and running?" Jak inquired.
The two nodded, "We can handle a few Heartless, right Riza?"
"Yeah, of course! They're no match for us! Jak! Watch out!" A neo-shadow launched itself at the mentioned man. He drew his scatter gun and blew the Heartless away. More joined the fray, surrounding the group.
"And we were so close," Jak groaned, the group looked up to see the lab.
"Josh, can you get rid of these guys quickly?"
"No sweat," the twenty year old took a few seconds to chant a spell, "Ixion Gigaspark!" the massive columns of lightning crashed down, destroying all the Heartless that surrounded them. "Hurry Jak while we hold these guys off!"
"Right, be careful!" Jak called to them.
"Riza, go protect the door," Josh ordered.
"But Josh...what about you?"
"I'll be fine, Jak needs the help more than me. Go!"
"Right!" Riza rushed up to the door, striking down a Heartless before it crossed the threshold. "C'mon! Is that the best you got?"
"No, girlie, it's not!" Uso, in his human form, landed right in front of Riza, drawing up Soul edge, which transformed into an ax; it looked like his old ax, but had that reddish eye in the middle and veins wrapped themselves around the hilt and around the eye. "Looks like you're dealin' with me!" Riza quickly switched the Brave Lion eychain with the Soul Calibur keychain to better combat Soul Edge. Uso took this time to unleash his Heartless form. He launched himself at the keybearer, the ax came down. The swift girl dodged the blow and went in to strike from his side. He quickly blocked with Soul Edge, the two slashing, their weapons clanking against each other. They broke away for a brief moment. Riza went in for another try to strike down the man that had given into the darkness. Uso brought his ax across, but Riza leaped over it, and countered. The Keyblade made contact with his right shoulder. She kicked off of the half-Heartless before he could retaliate. Her Keyblade pulsed, as if trying to tell her what to do.
She nodded, "Release!" a beam shot from the blade and struck Uso in the chest. He froze, the darkness lifted itself from his form and he returned back to his normal self. "Now, let's try this!" Riza rushed in. She swung once in striking distance. Uso could hardly keep up, his dark powers was the reason for his speed. The swift ninja was able to cut the muscular man across the chest before he could push her away and call back his powers. Heartless Uso was once again on top of Riza, his powerful ax swings pushing her into a corner. Uso tried a horizontal swing, but Riza ducked, and launched herself. She pushed the the Keyblade against his throat, forcing him back.
"You..miserable..bitch..." the darkness opening to reveal his mouth, he coughed out.
"I remember using that move on you a while back. Too bad you had the darkness unleashed or you might be missing your head by now," Riza took her stance.
"This ends now! Hear'less!" The dark beings came into view. "I'll let them finish you off. If you somehow survive, come find me, girlie." Uso disappeared.
"Damn him," she cursed, quickly switching the Soul Calibur back to the Brave Lion. "C'mon, you don't scare me!" The Heartless attacked.
"How much further?" Charlie called over the loud hum of the zoomer's engines.
"Not much, we should see it come into view right...about...now," Torn turned the corner. There in front of them was the Freedom Headquarters, but it was covered in darkness. "My God, what the hell?"
"Darkness.." Ren replied and a quiet tone. He leaped from the zoomer, summoning his Night Steel from a dark portal. He charged and the Heartless reacted.
"Ren!" Charlie shouted running toward the elder Ukaizr.
"Damn them," Torn flew higher, just out of reach before the Heartless could attach themselves to the ship. "I'll provide cover fire!" the Hell-Kat's machine gun rang out, blasting the Heartless on the ground and the ones forming in the air. Little bee like Heartless formed along with ones that looked like robots with lasers for arms.
Ren and Charlie were now forced back to back, "Geez, there has to be at least hundred of them!" Charlie growled through clenched teeth.
"Think you can handle them?" Ren said, in a light tone.
"Well, if one more shows up, it might be hard."
"Guess I'll take that one!" Ren and Charlie launched themselves at the surrounding Heartless, their sword strokes taking out two or three at a time. With Torn providing cover fire, the Heartless seemed to be destroyed faster then if it was just Ren and Charlie or just Torn. With in ten minutes, the Heartless were destroyed. Torn landed the Hell-Kat near the still dark building.
"You would think if we destroyed all those Heartless, this dark haze would lay up," Torn grumbled.
"Guess not. Hey! I wonder if my light power could get rid of this?" Charlie leaped back, the two guys cleared the way. Charlie unleashed the light power, "Saint's Answered Prayer!" the beam shot forth, the dark barrier began to rip away with this new force. After about a minute, it seemed to crack. The crack expanded until finally the barrier was destroyed. "'Bout time," Charlie collapsed to one knee, panting heavily. "Can we take a breather?"
"Sure. Just hold on." Ren looked at the building. "Who know's what'll be inside to greet us." The three rested for five minutes before they were ready to advance.
Charlie got up, "OK, I'm ready. Let's go!" the three went into the building, a dark aura still seemed to linger. On the elevator ride up, a small band of Heartless appeared. "Dammit. You two stick close and close your eyes! I got this! Holy Light Flash!" Charlie thrust her weapon into the ground, a blinding light blasted from the jewel on Charlie's sword. When the light cleared, the Heartless was gone.
"Charlie, you ok?" Ren asked.
"Fine. That little light show is only strong enough to destroy weak enemies and stun stronger ones. I'll be fine, trust me," Charlie put on a smile but it wasn't convincing. Ren and Torn just let it go. The three made it to the computer room, where the main planning happened. The doors opened with the small hiss.
"Be on your guard," Ren said. "This is the source of the dark aura." The three made it to the near center of the room before the Heartless struck. There were numerous neo-heartless along with a new, program looking Heartless, small bolts of lightning passed over their body. "Split up and take out as many as you can!"
"But try not to destroy the computers as well!" Torn yelled. The three leapt at the Heartless, Ren and Charlie slashing away while Torn opted for his pistols. Five minutes into the fray, the Heartless seemed more daunting than when the fight began.
"Where are they all coming from?" Ren asked no one in particular. From the corner of his eye he noticed Torn was doing fine. But when he looked at Charlie she didn't look so good. A second later she swayed then fell, "Charlie!!" Ren leaped in as the Heartless launched themselves at eth fallen teen.
"Riza you ok up there?" Josh called slashing through a Heartless.
"Just peachy!" Riza doing the same. "Jak, how are things going?"
"Just a few more seconds. C'mon Vin, wake up!" Jak muttered to the computer. A few more keystrokes and the neon blue lights flashed one. The projected transparent head of Vin, the known computer genius, appeared.
"Jak!" went his electrical voice. "Boy aren't you a sight for sore optical senors!"
"Great to see you Vin. Now, how about getting that defense system up and running?"
"It's as good as...done! Defesnce system for Haven City is back online, my friend!"
"Great to hear." Outside, small lasers planted around the sector turned on, blasting away the Heartless.
"Finally!" Riza cheered.
"About time," Josh uttered. "OK, let's head to Freedom HQ and get this whole thing sorted out!" Jak and Riza joined him on the ground, following Jak as he hopped onto an abandoned two-seater zoomer, speeding all the way to the Headquarters.
"Here we go!" Jak called .
"Let's hurry, who knows what shape they're in," Josh remarked.
Ren. Charlie. Please be ok. Riza's mind prayed. They rode the elevator to the computer room, unhindered by Heartless. The doors opened, Ren and Torn were backed into a corner, Charlie was over Ren's shoulder. "Damn it. Ren! Torn! Hold on!" Riza charged in, slashing away the dark creatures. "Rage of the Vulpes!" The keybearer went into a berserk state, destroying all the Heartless that dared to try and stop her. Within minutes, the Heartless were gone and, surprisingly, the computers were intact. The berserk state receded and Riza was back to normal. She went over to Ren and Torn, Josh and Jak behind her. "What happened?"
Ren put Charlie down, seeing as it was safe, "It started outside. After we defeated an army of Heartless, Charlie used a lot of power trying to bring down the dark barrier that was preventing us from entering. Afterwards, we waited a few minutes then went in. She seemed fine after the breather. Then we were attacked on the way up. There wasn't much room to swing our swords so Charlie used her Holy Light Flash and that got rid of the Heartless there. I asked if she was ok, she said she was, but something still didn't seem right, but she was too stubborn and wouldn't slow down. Five minutes after we got here and was fighting the Heartless she collapsed. That was about ten minutes before you arrived. I'm sorry, sis. I couldn't stop her."
Riza kneeled to Charlie's unconscious body, "It's ok Ren. No one could have made her change her mind. With a little rest, she should be fine," Riza smiled at her brother. "How about you guys go over there and think of a plan to stop the Heartless and I'll watch Charlie."
Jak was about to object but Josh placed his hand on his shoulder, "Sure, kiddo. C'mon, we gotta think of a way to get rid of the Heartless." The four guys walked away; Josh turned and winked at Riza who mouthed 'thank you'.
The teen sighed, Why did you have to push yourself, Charlie? You should have known better. The guys would have watched your back or at least let you rest before you charged into battle. You could have lost your heart. And what about that promise. You won't die on me if I don't die on you. Riza mentally sighed, I guess it couldn't have been helped. Your so thick headed and stubborn. When this battle is over, you're gonna get such a tongue lashing from me! And don't you dare call me mother afterwards.
"...ok, so we got it figured out?" Torn said. "Ren and Riza try to find this Uso and stop him. Josh and Jak will hold off any Heartless threats to the building. I'll stay behind to watch over Charlie and try to contact Sig. See what's happening in Spargus City and, if he can, lend us a hand if need be. Understood?" Torn finished.
The guys nodded. Riza stood up and joined the conversation just to hear the review.
"Sounds like a plan," Riza added.
"Uso...Uso...Why does that sound so familiar?" Ren asked his baby sister.
"He was the one with a grudge against Dad. He sided with the Heartless and now has a powerful weapon called the Soul Edge. As well as siding with the Heartless, he gained tremendous power. He can take the form of a Heartless. You'll know him when you see him," Riza explained.
"Hmm, I didn't think he would take his vengeance for Maikeru on you?"
"He doesn't. I have a grudge against him. He's the one that stole Komaru-Sesnsei's heart. I saw it happen. He doesn't deserve to live, that bastard," Riza's eyes flashed with anger and rage.
"If he took out Komaru-Sensei, than we'll take him out," Ren smirked. Komaru was Ren's teacher as well as Riza's and Maikeru. The Ukaizr-Kyuubi style stemmed from the teachings of Komaru, a style he called Wild Dog Sword.
"Then we better hurry! I have a score to settle with him. Take care of Charlie, Torn!" Riza was in the elevator soon, followed by Ren. On the way down she changed keychains, Brave Lion to Soul Calibur.
"Why did you change keychains?"
"Soul Calibur is meant to fight with Soul Edge. You can still use Night Steel, but to destroy, or at least seal its power, I have to use Soul Calibur." The two made it down the elevator shaft and headed to the dark feeling. Ren, having some experience with the dreadful feeling, lead the way to Uso. They made it to the first sector before the Heartless struck. "Ren, don't worry about the small fry! We got bigger Heartless to destroy."
"Right," Ren only slashed through the ones blocking his path. "Don't these guys ever give up?"
"Unfortunetaly, no. Uso! Show your ugly mug!" Riza called to the Heartless infested sector.
"Riza! Behind you!" Ren called. Riza looked and dodged just before Soul Edge collied into the pavement, sending asphalt chunks everywhere
"Ah, girle, I see you brough' Maikeru's bas'ard son as well. Let's play!" Uso charged, the shadows swallowing his body.
"Playtime is over!" Riza met him halfway, Calibur and Edge meeting once again in an eternal struggle. Ren slipped behind Uso and tried to stab his back, but the Heartless beast was too quick. Ren's blade missed Uso completely and just missed Riza. The small ninja leapt after Uso, the two weapon clashing against each other. Ren watched as they began to fall.
"Looks like this is the end for you!" Uso slammed Soul Edge against Soul Calibur, the force sent Riza speeding toward the ground. She flipped and landed without injury, however, the ground was smashed and dented as small rocks and a dust cloud flew up. Uso dive-bombed at the girl. Riza waited to the last second and evaded. She landed next to Ren. "I'm not done yet!" The Heartless charged, his ax drawn up high.
Ren and Riza split as the ax came down. "Midnight Slash!" Ren cried out his attack. The dark slash cut through the air striking Uso in the side. Uso fell to one knee gripping his side.
Riza's Keyblade pulsed again, "Release!" The beam shot from the Keyblade struck the beast in the back, the darkness disappearing. Ren used another Midnight Slash before the darkness could return. Uso used Soul Edge as a shield and blocked the attack. The darkness returned and Uso made a mad dash to Ren. The Brave Lion attacked with his sword but missed when Uso evaded. Uso grabbed Ren by the front of the shirt lifting him up of the ground, his feet dangling, his blade fell with a clank.
The darkness pulled back around Uso's mouth, "If one Ukaizr coul'n't beat me, wha' da think two woul' do?" he growled.
"Who said anything about beating? We intend to kill," Ren snarled. He swiftly kicked the brute in the stomach, making him double over and letting go of Ren. "Riza!" The keybearer nodded and released Uso form the dark power, "Assault of the Pride!!" Ren disappeared then reappeared, striking Uso, then disappearing again. He did this for a minute, until his speed picked up, to Uso it seemed like a whole group of Rens were attacking him; like a pride of lions. The attacks were fast and powerful catching the large man off-guard. Uso, thinking Ren would be behind him, turned around but didn't see the silver haired man. A powerful uppercut kick to the jaw sent Uso into the air. Uso was suspended for a few seconds before Ren continued his assault, "Lion Body Slam!", Ren leaped and was infront of the large man. A swift elbow to the gut, followed by a kick to the side then a powerful kick to the face, sending the large man into a building, deep into its center. Ren retreived his weapon and took up his stance at Riza's side."It's not over yet," Riza mentioned monotoned.
"Yeah. Be ready," Ren replied.
"Wai'ing fer me?" Uso appeared behind them, clad in darkness.
The siblings let out some vivid curses, jumping away before Soul Edge came down. The two were gone before Uso could make another swipe. "He can sneak through the shadows?!" Ren growled through his clenched teeth, sweat falling from his brow.
"We have to find another way to cripple him. Just getting rid of the darkness isn't doing anything since he could just call it back," Riza mentioned.
"How about we try to fuse again, like we did against Tairon," Ren suggested, his eyes running over the landscape.
"I'm up for anything!" Riza ran toward her brother, something that did not go unnoticed by yellow eyes.
"That won't help her. Hear'less, go!" the dark creatures appeared out of the shadows and pounced on to the Ukaizrs just as Riza made it to her brother, his hand just out of reach. The dark mass grew larger and larger until the ambush stopped. Uso waited a few seconds but nothing happened, "What the hell? Where's their hear's?!" he commanded to know; the Heartless should have brought him their hearts by now.
"You won't be getting this heart!" a flash of light, the dogpile of Heartless destroyed in an instant. Ukaizr stood tall and proud, Night Steel in the left hand, Soul Cailbur Keyblade in the right. "How about we start for real?"
"You wanna star' this fer real! Let's go!" Uso leapt off a building, Soul Edge high over his head. The ax came down, was halted by Soul Calibur and deflected. Night Steel came around striking Uso in the other side. The Heartless backed off gripping his side once more.
Ukaizr attacked, Night Steel behind the Keyblade, "Night follows the Day!" The first slash destroyed the darkness shielding Uso and the second slash hit its mark. Night Steel dug deep into the brute, opening a nasty wound from his right breast to his left shoulder. Darkness seemed to seep from the wound as well as blood. Uso staggered backwards, his legs giving out on him. Soul Edge fell from his weakening grasp. The dark guise washed away, slithering back into the shadows, except from his left forearm to his hand. Uso was left bleeding and defenseless.
"How could this have happen'?" His gaze became distant from the massive bloodloss. It seemed the Keyblade was able to penetrate the Heartless shield and Night Steel slice open the bleeding brute before the fused warrior.
"You opened your heart to darkness. It saw your strength and allied with you to gain that power. Now that your strength is gone and your life fading, the darkness has abandoned you. Relaying to heavily on that darkness will only leave you weak in the end. Uso, you made that mistake when you burned the bridge with our father," Ukaizr explained emotionless.
"But why is e'erything goin' black? Have I los' me light?" Uso was becoming slightly delusional with the bloodloss.
"Uso, you lost your light a long time ago. Your vision is becoming less because of the bloodloss. Now, to finsh this," Ukaizr slashed his left arm with the Keyblade, opening it, releasing it from the darkness and a heart. "Komaru-Sensei. That better find him again, Uso, or so help me, I'll come to the after life and kill you again."
"I won't...le' it end...like this...it can't...Soul Edge!" Uso reached to the fallen ax. He gripped it with his weak grasp. The eye began to glow a bright red, the veens taking life and wrapping themselves around Uso's injured arm. The veins digging deep into the wound and extending over his body, the man crying out in agony. His left arm began to quiver and crack like it was an egg. In sections the arm's original skin blew off, making room for the larger arm beneath it. The new demonic skin crawled up Uso shoulder, spikes sprouting from the new skin, and clamped on the back of his neck, attaching the new veins to the spine. The dark brown skin made its way across his left cheek and branched off, curling around the eye and on the temple. It made its way to his ear, creating a demon-like ear, long and pointed. The skin spread to his chest wound, creating a demonic skin with teeth-like spikes, creating a make-shift bandage, but this was permanent. Throughout the process he wailed in pain. He collapsed to his knees, the weapon leaving his new arm. The skin finished off the last of the transformation, making a large three-fingered claw.
The brute's cries of pain ceased, but they still echoed throughout the sector. From the doubled-over man, a low growl-like voice rumbled, "Yes...I am freed. This will make quite the suitable host," the head lifted, his left eye red and the iris yellow, the pupil small and black, "My power is released." The creature stood up, neither Uso or a Heartless. This demon was in a whole different class, tis power was even higher than when Uso was a Heartless. "This soul is perfect for harnessing my power. I will be returned to my former glory," the demon looked up from his hand and claw, "You. You seem familiar. As if we have crossed paths before. But at the same time you feel different. Hmm, let's see if I can jog my memory!" the demon charged, Soul Edge now in claw. The demonic ax collided with Night Steel and Soul Calibur. Ukaizr pushed the creature away with a strong push. "Yes, I've faced your power before, but we did not battle. Argh!" The creature held the right side of his head.
"Ge' out of my..head!" It was Uso's gruff voice. His right eye still normal.
The creature's voice returned, "You asked for help and I gave it you! Now, as retribution, you must give your soul and body to me! Now, begone with your pitiful self!" The demon roared and it seemed Uso's soul has lost this internal battle. The demon's right eye now matched the left.
"So, now that you took over Uso's mind, body, and soul, what do you call yourself, Demon?" Ukaizr addressed the creature, pointing the Keyblade at it.
"Over the countless centuries I've existed I've been known as Nightmare, and I believe it's quite fitting. Death and ruination are my doing. Quite a 'Nightmare' for the souls I collect."
"So, you are the same being that existed in Souls and Swords. I thought Siegfried destroyed you?"
"Siegfried...ah that name. Yes, Siegfreid, he did destroy my old being, but this Uso provided the perfect soul to channel my power. You are keen. I've seen few in my long lifetime as keen as you."
"Well, your dealing with a warrior with the combined strength of two."
"I knew you were no ordinary fighter. But alas, I've seen unique warriors as well. Berserkers wielding giant swords or maces. Swift samurai with their sharp blades. Ninja of all shapes and sizes, with their kunai and shurikens. Monks with awesome skills with staffs. Swordsmen and women with different disciplines. A pirate with duel swords thirsting for my power, an alchemist with a living sword, a god's creation wielding a battle ax, and an assassin with a ring blade. As well as a man with a death scythe; yes, I've truly seen many fighters, but you might just be the most amazing. Indeed, most majestic. A fusion of two already powerful warriors. The next generation of fighters will be extraordinary. Let's see how extraordinary they will be?" Nightmare readied his weapon.
"Are you done yappin'?" Ukaizr looked at the demon. The fused ninja looked bored, the Keyblade resting against the right shoulder, and Night Steel erect in the ground, point down.
"Insolent youth!"
"Because I was getting really bored with your monologue. Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap. I can see why those people would give you their soul, it was the only way to shut you up!" The silver haired warrior smirked.
"You think you will live after that insult!" Nightmare charged forth, his red eyes burning with fury, "Think twice!"
Ukaizr easily dodged the sluggish swing of the ax and evaded the next attempt. For two minutes this was the scene, Nightmare attacking the ninja dodging each strike. "This is your awesome power? It's disgraceful. Lay down your weapon now and I'll promise a quick and painless death!" Ukaizr offered.
"Fool! I'll never lay down my weapon and surrender! Feel my wrath!" Nightmare swung and missed. He saw the warrior land just feet away. He slammed his massive claw against the ground sending a powerful energy wave through the ground. Ukaizr jumped, missing the wave. "Are you scared, warrior?"
"Hardly!" Ukaizr charged then disappeared just before Nightmare could strike the agile ninja. "Double Spinning Slash!" Night Steel was hurled and the Keyblade soon followed. Nightmare dodged the first blade and deflected the second. Ukaizr appeared behind the demon of the sword and went into a lightning fast combo attacks. The fast paced punches and well placed kicks caught the dark warrior off-guard, making it easier to strike. Finishing off with a powerful double kick to the upper-body, Nightmare went tumbling, Soul Edge falling along the way. With arms extended out front, the weapons appeared back to their master's grasp. "Are you finished? I'm all fired up and read for another go!" Ukaizr taunted, twirling the blades then settling them in a offensive stance.
"Not..yet," he got up, staggering a bit, "Nightmare is not going to lose to you," the monster ax-wielder ran picking up the weapon on the way to the duel-wielder swordsman.
"Looks like this isn't over yet," Ukaizr blocked a strike; the fight continued once again.
"You think Torn got in touch with Sig?" Josh questioned the hero of the city. The Heartless has been surprisingly quiet.
"He's probably talking to him as we speak."
"I hope so. If the Heartless unleash a whole army, I don't know if we could handle it. I mean, Charlie is out for now, Ren and Riza will be exhausted from their battle with Uso, and if any Heartless attack us, how long could we stand?" Josh made it sound hopeless.
"Keep your chin up and think of the now, stay alert!" Daxter quipped.
"Dax is right. We'll pull through this," Jak put a reassuring hand on the shoulder of the twenty year old. Josh nodded a small smile made its way onto his face.
"Damn it!" Torn slammed his fist against the computer. "Why can't I get through!" A slight moan in front of him touched his ears. He saw it was Charlie stirring in her sleep, "Charlie." The man walked over and kneeled by the teen. She mumbling something in her sleep.
"Ri...za...Jo..sh...Ren...Hold on...Wait...No...Stop..Don't...NO!" Charlie shot up, Torn falling on his behind from surprise. "What happened? The hHartless!" Charlie went to stand but Torn stopped her.
"Woah there, you've been out cold for a good hour. Take it easy." Torn explained the story to Charlie after she fainted, how Riza, Josh, and Jak made it just in time and now that party was split up and fighting the fight on different fronts. He continued with how he can't get through to Sig and the Wastelanders.
"I might not be a whiz at the computers like Josh, but maybe I can offer up something," Charlie stood up and shuffled to the computer. She glanced over the screens, "Maybe..." she hit a few keys and within seconds Sig's voice came over the speaker.
This is Sig! Over! the static buzzed. Torn looked at her dumbfounded and Charlie just a had a victorious smirk on her face.
"Sig, it's Torn. We need your help here. The Heartless are back and we have a good idea that they might be siding with the Metal Heads. Over."
Metal Heads? They're good as dead! And explosion rang out. In the background a soldier's voice could be heard but no words could be made out. Damn it! Torn I can't help. Metal Heads and those Heartless are attacking the palace. Get yer asses over there! Sig yelled to the soldiers. I can handle my damn self! Click. The line was dead.
"Sig...Damn it!" Torn slammed his fist onto the keyboard, "What now?"
"Riza has to defeat Uso..." Charlie said, her voice muffled by the electronic noise of the humming computers.
Ukaizr and Nightmare was in a blade lock. Ukaizr was slowly pushing Nightmare back. Nightmare slowly was gathering energy, unbeknowst to the opposing warrior. After a minute of this stalemate, Nightmare gathered the maximum amount of energy. He prepared to release it; his claw's muscle expanded, small bolts of orange energy shot off in every direction, his other muscles expanded, and his hair began to flutter. "Die, mortal!" With a deafening roar, Nightmare released his pent up energy, a flash enveloped the fused warrior and the demon. Explosion. When the dust settled, Nightmare was left standing, a victorious smirk on his face. He was standing in the middle of a crater he created with a powered up version of his shock wave technique. Out of nowhere, he was kicked in the face. He tumbled a bit to his left, his weapon never leaving his iron grip.
He got up to look around. He saw no one, just more smoke. "Where's all this smoke coming from?" He had no time to get an answer, a fist made contact with his face, making the demon stumble but he stayed on his feet. Nightmare's head swished back and forth, up and down. No one. Not a trace. "What the hell?"
"Looking for me?!" Riza dropped down from the sky, landing in front of the demonic brute. Her legs shot out in a flurry of fast kicks. Nightmare tried to block, but the smaller ninja was too quick. Riza jumped back and threw more smoke bombs, the small spheres exploding, clouding the demon's veiw. Nightmare calmed down and began to gather energy again. His claw and Soul Edge began to glow, small bolts of energy shooting off.
"Not this time!" it was a male voice. Nightmare's head snapped up and jerked back just in time to see Ren's fist slam into his face. "Riza!" From the sky a rain of shurikens and kunai fell. The demon tried to avoid the attack with his weapon, but there were too many. He was impaled with the small stars and knives. When the rain of the weapons ceased, Ren kicked the demon hard, he landed on his back, skidding across the deformed pavement. Landing by his head was the small female ninja, too his feet was the male.
"You won't win," the demon growled, the pain of the steel weapons stinging his flesh.
"I think we have," Riza commented. With a roar, Nightmare released what energy he gathered. The two were blown away, the attack unexpected. "Damn it...How did he do that?"
"He must have had energy stored before I attacked him," Ren replied. "Riza watch out!" The demon charged, bloodlust burning in his eyes. Riza called her Keyblade and grappled with the crazed beast of Soul Edge. Riza pushed him back then attacked him. Her weapon slammed against his, the demon deflected the attacks. The younge ninja jumped back and launched a shuriken and charged after it. Nightmare knocked the star away and blocked the Keyblade. Riza struggled but saw wasting her strengh was useless. She moved before Nightmare could attack.
"How do you think you'll defeat me when your fused self couldn't?" the low growl echoed through out the deserted sector.
"Easy." Riza croutched down low her weapon low to the ground and pointing toward her foe. Ren recognized the stance and smirked, his sibling mimicking the expression. With in seconds, she was gone.
"What?" Nightmare backed up and readied a defense. One foot was out in front while the other was behind him.
Gotcha, Riza's mind laughed. High above, she drew a handless kunai. With swift jerk the kunai flew and embedded itself into the outstretched foot of the demon. He let out a pained howl. His other foot came into view as he shifted his stance to try and dislodge the weapon. With another quick flick of the wrist, another kunai was in the other foot. Another, louder howl was heard. "And to stun him...Thunder Clap Slap!" Riza called forth a bolt of lightning, striking not Nightmare but the kunai. The electricity shot through the weapons and traveled through the demon's body. He was left defeneseless, just standing ther, weapon in a weak grip, his red eyes glazed over.
"This ends now!" Ren charged forth, slashing open the paralyzed demon's side. The blood spurted, the pain awaking the beast form his trance like state. Letting out a bloodcurdling roar, Nightmare grasped his wound with his free hand. Riza landed a distance from the bleeding demon.
"Time to finish this once and for all." She pulled a key chain from her pouch, Brave Lion. The ninja switched it quickly and dismissed her keyblade. "Soul Calibur, show your true form!" She threw the keychain into the air; a light blue light enveloped the keychain, then fading showing Soul Calibur as its trueself. The blade fell into Riza's grasp. "Now!" Riza appeared before the demon and slashed an upward diagonal slash from the right to left. She turned and sliced through Nightmare's claw, the claw and Soul Edge falling off the arm. Riza jumped by Soul Edge, "Soul Calibur, seal Soul Edge's power!" Riza brought the sacred blade above her head, and with a twirl, brought it down, stabbing Soul Edge deep. She turned it, as one would turn a key in a lock, activating Soul Calibur to seal the demonic sword. She stepped away as the blade did its job.
"Fools! I'll raise again, then where will you be?" Nightmare threatened.
"Hopefully there to stop you!" Ren exclaimed behind the dying demon. He swiftly sliced Night Steel through the neck of the defeated creature. The head fell off, blood spruting fomr the neck like a fountain. The headless body swayed, finally falling forward. "Burn in Hell."
"Let me help with that," she summoned her keyblade, a flame appearing, "Ember Buster!" The pyro ball shot forth consuming the body of a demon. The flames snapped and crackled was the body was destroyed. "Let's get out of here." Riza looked at Soul Calibur and Soul Edge, the former was wrapping itself around the latter.
"Need help carring that?"
"No, I got it," the young ninja picked the two blades, falling into step behind her brother.
Jak looked around, his gun in his hands, poised for combat. Daxter, perched on his best bud's left shoulder, looked around as well. Josh scanned the area, too, but something caught his attention. "The...darkness. It seems to be going away. Hey! I think Riza and Ren beat Uso!" Josh cheered.
"Maybe. Well, we won't be sure without them here to prove it us right?"
"Heeeeey!" a familar voice rang out.
"Riza?!" Josh questioned the disembodied voice.
"Hey!" Riza leaped from building to building, carring the swords locked in their Soul's Embrace.
"You guys are ok!" Dax cried out happily.
"Of course," Ren gave a thumbs up.
"Are Charlie and Torn still inside?" Riza asks, putitng the swords down.
"Yeah. They're trying to reach Sig," Jak answered, looking up the building.
A window opened, "Get your asses up here!!" Torn yelled form the window. Not waiting for a second command the four, five counting Daxter, run to the elevator and ride it up.
"Damn it!" Sig cursed, firing off his weapon into the mass of Heartless and Metal Heads. "Where the hell are they coming from?!"
"I don't know, sir!" a nameless wastelander replied, back-to-back with the Wastelander leader.
"Screw this! Charging Peacemaker, make way unless you want your asses blown off!" the particles of the gun chaged, crackling like lightning trying to break free from Zeus's hand. "Fire!!" the blast exploded, the energy reaching out and destroying everything. When the light subsided the room was clean of the dark creatures...and no one's ass was blown off.
"Now what sir?"
"Since this place is secure, we head out. Pecker! If Jak or Torn tries to contact us, tell them to get here ASAP!" the tall armored wastelander boarded the elevator along with the three other wastelanders and rode the rickty lift down to the utter chaos of Spargus.
"Hurry, Jak," the monkaw squawked. Behind him, the radio came to life with heavy static.
"Sig! Sig! This is Jak! Are you there?!" The hero's voice was hard to hear but the message got through.
The bird-monkey hybrid fumbled with the mouthpiece, its hard to work with wings for arms and feathers for fingers, "Jak! This is Pecker. Sig said to get here ASAP! We are in deep trouble!" the monkaw relayed the early message.
"Got it! We're on our way." The radio was once again silent.
"Hurry Jak."
TBC
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