Chapter 18: End of the Sins Part 1
Pride's eyes began glowing blood red behind his blind fold and without him so much as flinching the castle they stood in vaporized and disappeared. The building vanished into the air, leaving all of them in the frozen wasteland surrounded by snow and an army of the Sin's minions. He next raised one hand into the air and it started surging with green electricity. His hand flashed the same color and a small force field suddenly enclosed around him, soon expanding greatly. It passed by the Sins, not fazing them in the slightest, and then passed by the seven Virtues, the five elemental dragons, Dojo, and Nina as well. Everyone else and all of the Sin's minions were flung backwards, trapped outside.
"The fourteen of you will be permitted to battle us in two on one brawls… and the battles will be to the death." Pride explained. "The rest of your companions will remain here and do battle with our minions in an endless fight until all of us on either side are dead." With that all seven Sins became transparent and sank into the ground, disappearing and leaving a dark portal behind. "Follow us if you dare." Pride's voice sounded.
"This is it." Chief muttered. "Today the Sins die!" Without hesitation Chief charged at the portal. Dojo, now fully conscious, grew to his flying size and followed him. Nina wrapped her arms around Jack who activated his helicopter back pack and went after them. Soon only Omi, Jess, and Charity were left. Jess seemed hesitant to follow, but then noticed Charity silently praying to her god before slowly walking into the portal. Jess followed her example, prayed, and walked into the darkness as well.
Omi waited for them to go before looking over his shoulder. He saw the others fighting for their lives… Panda Bubba charging through walls of skeletal soldiers and robots like a raging bull while his two goons fought them off with martial arts; Jessie and her Vipers doing their best to fight without their bikes; Katnappe, Vlad and Tubbimura standing back to back, fighting as wave after wave of robots came at them; Mala Mala Jong and Cyclops were crazy, not caring who or what they hit; Julia and Elena doing their best to protect each other; Guan and Jermaine fighting off the Sins underlings side by side…
And then he saw Mimi, successfully hurling her fist through a skeletons skull and then stealing its sword. Omi wanted so much to go back and fight by her side, but he knew that not only would the force field prevent him from doing so, but he had an obligation to go fight the Sins with the others. He sighed, "Please be ok," before rushing at the portal and disappearing into the darkness…
He failed to notice Chase and Hannibal come through after him before the portal vanished.
~ENVY'S CHAMBER~
The fourteen stepped through the portal into the first of the seven chambers… It was the same as last time the five monks had been there: just a large cave with boulders and rocks dotting the floor with torches lining the room and a large pair of double doors on the other side. This was Envy's chamber.
"Come out, Rush!" Chief called. "We know you're here somewhere. Face the ones you once loved and die like a true warrior!"
Nothing. Chief's voice echoed off the walls, but that was all. Rush didn't appear.
"He must be somewhere else." Rai said. "Sloth pulled the same trick last time we were here."
"Just to be safe…" Chief turned to Raven who shook her head. Rush wasn't in the room, but he was close. "Damn… let's move."
~SLOTH'S CHAMBER~
The entered Sloths chamber and found it completely different from last time… defiantly more fit for combat. The furniture, the TV, even the bar had completely disappeared. It was now a simple room with only torches on the walls and the double doors across from each other… and Jacks brother standing before them. "Hey, little brother." Gabriel said with an evil grin.
"Gabriel." Jack growled.
"And I see you brought your girlfriend with you too! How's my predecessor doing?"
"This guys really your brother?" Clay asked.
"Unfortunately." Jack growled. "You all go ahead…" A golden aura flashed around Jack's body as his anger flared up. "I'll take care of this one…"
"I believe the agreement was two on one." Gabriel pointed out.
"Who said he was going to be alone?" Nina stepped forward from the crowd and took Jack's hand. "You're as much my problem as his… and I'm not about to let Jack take you down by himself when you being the Sin of Sloth is my fault."
"Nina…" Jack said.
"Well, it's true." She said. "If I wouldn't have left the Sins he wouldn't have been able to become Sloth."
Jack slowly nodded, understanding what was going through her head. But still, he couldn't help but be concerned. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked.
Nina chuckled and clenched her free hand tightly. "Oh yeah." She growled.
Gabriel laughed. "Well then, come on down! You're the next contestants on The Price is Right!" Everyone gave him a confused look. "Sorry, but I've always wanted to say that… the rest of you are free to move on."
The remaining twelve walked passed Gabriel into the next chamber. Dashi, however, stayed back for a moment and placed his hand on Jack's shoulder. "He annoys me… beat him to a pulp." He said before following the others.
"No problem." Jack agreed.
Dashi passed through the double doors and they closed behind him, trapping Jack and Nina with the Sin of Sloth. When the creaking of the door finally stopped, all was silent for a moment. Gabriel smiled mischievously, taking in the tension in the room as Jack and Nina glared at him. "And here… we… go."
"Would you stop quoting stuff and fight already?" Jack snapped.
Gabriel shrugged. He was about to respond when he noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. He grinned and pushed his sun glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Looks like I'm going to have to cancel that order, Li'l Jackie… we've got company."
~GREED'S CHAMBER~
Rai, Kim, Clay, Saya, and Omi remembered the next room very clearly. It was exactly the same as the last time they'd been there. The huge Persian rug, the walls lined with pillows, and the statue of Greed in the center with the fountain of wine. Once again, Greed sat cross legged in front of it. "Welcome." She said.
Jess stepped forward. "Greed… you killed my brother."
"He was dead the second he stepped onto the battle field." Greed retorted.
Jess clinched her fist and gave Greed an evil stare as tears welled in the corners of her eyes. A faint golden aura surrounded her body. "I hope you enjoy burning in a lake of fire." She growled. "Because when I'm through with you, you're going straight to hell."
Greed laughed, stood up, and started walking towards them, her two swords magically appearing in her hands. "I'd like to see you try." She said, pointing one sword at her. The next second there was a flash of lightning coming from the group which struck the sword, knocking it out of Greed's hand and sending it flying through the air, vanishing just before it his the ground and reappearing in Greed's hand.
"She won't have too." Saya said as she took her spot next to Jess. "I'll make sure it happens."
Greed nodded and the double doors behind her statue opened with a loud creak. "You two have opted to die at my hand… the rest of you may go pick your own poison… I'm sure my brother will enjoy smashing which ever of you stay to fight him."
The remaining ten passed through the double doors, Clay giving Saya one last kiss before he went through. The doors closed and then it began.
Greed took one last sip of wine from her fountain before throwing the cup to the floor, shattering it, and then threw her sword at the two girls, spinning it like a saw blade. Saya pushed Jess out of the way and was barely able to move herself in time. The blade still cut through a few strands of her hair. Thinking quickly, the dragon of lightning shot a bolt of lightning at the sword and kept the energy coursing between her and the object long enough to hurl it back at the Sin. Greed caught its hilt with no problem, but was still zapped from the electricity it held. Greed fell to her hands and knees.
"That was… unwise." She growled. She vanished and reappeared behind Say with one sword raised, ready to slice her in half. She almost brought the blade down on her, but she soon found herself on the ground again. Some energy had hit her side and knocked her over. She found Jess glaring at her, cracking her knuckles with the golden aura now glowing around her brightly.
"I'm the one you should be worried about." She said.
Greed roared in rage and swiped one sword through the air, causing a thick cloud of dust to rise up from the Persian rug. She disappeared into the dust and the two blond girls moved closer together, back to back. Greed reappeared in front of Jess with one sword pressed lightly against her throat and the tip of the other against her stomach. Without a twinge of fear or a second thought a surge of the Virtue energy went through her and she punched Greed in the jaw. The punch h may not have done much damage, but the energy sure as hell left a burn on her cheek as well as caused the veil on her face to fall off.
Greed touched the burn on her cheek lightly and then growled. "You'll pay for that." Before she could even get up, though, she was hit with another bolt of lightning and she fell onto her back. The two girls stood over the Sin of Greed, knowing that it was over now… she was done for. "What are you going to do now? Go against all of your gods morals and teachings… are you going to kill me?"
"Normally I would agree with you." Jess said. "But certain evils of the world need to be purged… I'm not doing this out of revenge for my brother… I'm doing this because my god wills it." With that Jess's hand began to glow brightly and she touched the tip of her index finger against Greed's head. The Sin's eyes rolled back into her head and she fell limp.
~GLUTTONY'S CHAMBER~
"I thought that Lust's room was next." Kim said blankly as they entered Gluttony's chamber. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Damn… I was really looking forward to kicking her ass."
"You'll get to." Dashi reassured her.
As they continued further into Gluttony's chamber, the goliath burst through the double doors on the other side and stomped towards them. Immediately Charity's body began to glow with a golden aura. "Is this the virtue?" she questioned.
Gluttony lifted his club from his shoulder and pointed it at his sister Charity stepped back, obviously terrified of her brother. Gluttony started toward them and Clay quickly stepped in front of the Muslim girl. "Ya ready fer a rematch, ya over grown sack of potatoes?"
Gluttony growled at him and smacked his club on the ground, cracking the floor. Rai, Kim, Omi, Dojo, Dashi, Chief, Fung and Raven ran passed him into the next room. The doors slammed closed this time and Gluttony growled at the remaining two. "We'll see who's a sack of potatoes when I'm through with you two." The giant then raised his club high and slammed it on the ground again, sending a fissure in the floor straight at Clay and Charity. Clay threw Charity out of the way and used his elemental power to redirect the crack at Gluttony. The giant grinned and waited until the last second to punch the ground exactly where the crack was at that moment. Clay took this opportunity to go on the offensive, charging at Gluttony tackling his legs, knocking him to the ground. Unfortunately, Gluttony turned this against him, rolling backward and sending Clay flying, slamming into the wall.
Clay staggered back to his feet. "… ow." He grumbled. Then he noticed the ground shacking as Gluttony charged at him with his club raised again. Thinking quickly, Clay jumped into the air, used his elemental powers to ripe the bronze club in half with his bare hands, and then jumped off of it to punch Gluttony right in his stone mask. The stone shattered and cracked in half, the two pieces falling to the ground. Gluttony went into a blind, yet controlled, rage, the expression on his face absolutely infuriated but he remained stationary. He roared at Clay, who was now on the floor before the giant.
"Sorry, big guy, but I've got a world to save." Clay shouted before tackling Gluttony to the ground again. "Charity, now! Take him while you can! I can't hold him down forever!"
The Muslim girl nodded and ran over to them, kneeling down next to her brother's colossal head. She sighed and placed her hands on his temples. "Forgive me, brother… and may Allah have mercy on you…" As she spoke, she gently applied more pressure to her brothers head and send the Virtue chi into her hands… Gluttony roared one last time, the ear splitting sound slowly dying away as his life faded.
~WRATH'S CHAMBER~
Cannons lining the walls and Guns placed all over them, a dozen light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and the smell of gun powder in the air. "Wrath." Omi growled.
"Indeed." Fung agreed.
"So where is the crazy bastard?" Rai asked.
The double doors on the other side of the room were suddenly flung open and Wrath stepped in… the same crazy, skinny Chinese man with shaggy black hair… only this time he was wearing a pink dress and holding a microphone. "Isn't she lovely!" he sang. "Isn't she wonderful!" Then he realized they were there, watching him. He abruptly dropped the microphone and the dress turned back into his usual black jean, green T-shirt and black vest. "Crap, you guys are already here?"
"You know, I think crazy is and understatement." Chief stated.
Wrath sighed. "Well… this is embarrassing… let's just get this over with. Short-and-bald and old-and-bald stay, the rest of you go on ahead."
"What makes you think that they're staying?" Kim demanded.
"Because old-and-bald is the Virtue of Forgiveness, my opposite, and short-and-bald has a bone to pick with me after the last time you were here. Isn't that obvious?"
"Good point." Kim agreed.
With that Wrath allowed Rai, Kim, Dojo, Dashi, Chief, and Raven to pass. The double doors closed behind them, trapping Omi and Fung inside the room with the psychopath. Wrath began to count. "And three… two… one…" Just as he finished counting the doors that Omi and the others had entered through opened. "Welcome to my humble abode… bitch." He said to the new comers.
~LUST'S CHAMBER~
Kimiko recognized the next room immediately. Completely bare and lit only by a large hole in the ceiling, light pouring in from seemingly nowhere. Wuya stood in front of the double doors opposite of them. She laughed as the six remaining and started walking towards them. "So, here you are, ready to die to save this pitiful world… I admire that, and yet I find it ridiculous at the same time."
"Save it." Kim growled. "We're here to make sure you don't walk out of here alive."
Wuya laughed and snapped her fingers, causing the final set of double doors to open. "Well, I can see that little-miss-anger-issues is ready… but what about you dearest?"
Dashi stepped forward. "Wuya, you have caused so much pain." He said. "To the world, to these children… to me… I remember a time when you were the embodiment of goodwill and peace… what happened to that you… what happened to the woman I fell in love with?"
Wuya glared at him, unsuccessfully trying to hold back the tears in her eyes. "She opened her eyes to see how the world really is… a dark and unforgiving place where the strong and powerful survive."
Dashi sighed, nodded, and motioned for Rai, Dojo, Chief and Raven to continue. They made it passed Wuya without trouble from the witch and the doors quickly closed behind them. "Well, let's get this over with." Dashi said.
"Wait five seconds, will you?" Wuya chuckled. "You were the same way in bed way back when."
As Wuya finished speaking (approximately five seconds later) the doors behind Kim and Dashi swung open and twelve darkened figures walked in. "It's about time you got here." Wuya said.
"My apologies." Chase said. "Hannibal and I had to convince some of these imbeciles not to harm Sloth and Wrath."
"I still say we can't trust them." Omi grumbled. "Including you." He glared at Wuya.
"Especially Gabriel." Jack growled.
"Save it." Hannibal snapped. "They want Pride dead as much as we do, even if for different reasons."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Fung said.
"Even if the enemy of my enemy is the same enemy?" Omi questioned.
Wuya rolled her eyes. "Ok, here's the plan…"
~PRIDE'S CHAMBER~
The Shoku Warrior, the dragon, the elderly African man, and the mute girl stepped into Pride's pitch black chamber. The same as last time, the doors closed behind them, leaving them in complete darkness at first, but a spot light soon flashed above them, allowing enough sight to see at least each other.
A second spot light went off across the room, revealing Pride sitting in his throne with Rush standing obediently next to him, both emotionless. "Time to see if mortals truly can walk among the gods." Pride smirked.
"Yes, my lord." Rush agreed.