Chap 5: Surprises
"Woah!" Ranma cried as he rolled out of the way of Draco's attack. He stood up and glared at the Zodiac Knight. "Are you serious?!"
"Well, I was going to bring you here to train anyway," Draco shrugged, "Might as well start now."
"Heh," Ranma smirked as he took a battle stance. "Then let's see what you got!"
Outside of the Mirror Dimension and back in the real world, Akane had stayed at the window that Ranma and Draco had vanished through. She wasn't sure how they did it and since Hagemoto was of no help she really wasn't going to ask. While she gazed into the reflection, she thought she caught flashes of Ranma (in his Caucaus armor) and Draco fighting what seemed to be monsters. Then she blinked and they were gone. What were Ranma and Draco doing in there?
Back in the Mirror Dimension, things were heating up. Draco had summoned his sword and was attacking Ranma ruthlessly. He was quickly proving himself to be hundreds of levels beyond anything Kuno could dish out. Ranma realized that this wasn't going to be easy so he had better kick off the kid gloves. For the last minute or so, he had been trying to get Draco mad so he could lure him into the Hiryuu Shouten Ha, but he wasn't biting. Ranma did notice that some angry ki was coming off of him but it was diluted, like it wasn't him giving it off but something inside of him.
"He's pissing me off!" Ifrit bellowed to Draco. "Let me at him!"
"That's what he wants you to do," Yaminekoryu snorted and then said to Draco, "I remember one of your ancestors dealing with this attack while he was traveling in China. Hiryuu Shouten Ha. A very impressive move. In fact, I think by overcoming this attack is how one of your ancestors met his wife. Now she was a woman I could get behind."
"This is not the time," Draco muttered to his partner. "Ranma-san is proving to be just as powerful as I expected."
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!" Ranma yelled out as he fired a ki blast at Draco but the Dragon Knight teleported at the last moment and got behind Ranma before slashing him across the back.
"Clock Up!" Draco commanded.
"CLOCK UP!" the Excel Watch echoed and Draco went into Clock Up speed, slashing at Ranma repeatedly and relentlessly. Ranma's armor had sparks flying off it as Draco kept attacking him.
"CLOCK OVER!" Draco turned to see Ranma who was slowly getting up and rested his sword on his shoulder. "Of all the rumors I've heard about you, I guess that's all that they were. Just rumors." Ranma's eyes narrowed under his helmet as he slammed his hand on the button.
"CLOCK UP!" Ranma vanished. Draco did the same.
"CLOCK UP!"
Draco and Ranma rushed at each other and swung their fists, hitting each other in the faceplate with enough force to send each other staggering. Ranma's eyes were on Draco's sword and he began thinking, 'I might need a weapon with this.' Automatically, as if responding to his thought, an axe appeared in his hand. Ranma stared at it.
"The Kunai Axe-Gun," Draco said. "A pretty useful weapon. It can be used for close range and long range. However, you have to learn how to use it!" Draco charged and swung his sword down but Ranma blocked it with his axe and then kicked Draco in the chest before slashing down on Draco's chestplate, sending sparks flying and the Dragon Knight staggering. Ranma continued his assault and slashed at Draco repeatedly. Draco was on his knees from the last strike and as Ranma was ready to finish him off, Draco brought his sword up to block the axe and then Ranma felt that he was frozen. Draco looked up, the eyes on his helmet glowing as he sent Ranma flying with telekinesis. A freeze ray surged towards Ranma, freezing him solid and then Draco charged before jumping up and executing a tornado kick that sent Ranma into the side of a building, taking a chunk out of it and shattering Ranma's frozen prison. Ranma groaned.
"Ugh…damn, I forgot about that," Ranma muttered. He couldn't exactly call Draco cheating even if this was a training battle. As far as Ranma knew, a martial artist was allowed to use any advantage he had. In some fights it was the only way a person could survive. Some viewed it as dishonorable while others viewed it as resourceful. Ranma looked to see Draco creating a fireball and then he hurled it at Ranma.
"MOUKO TAKABISHI!" Ranma cried and fired his ki blast that blew up on contact with the fireball, creating a smoke cloud. Ranma's vision was obstructed and he could barely see what was in front of him. Suddenly, the smoke cloud dispersed thanks to Draco's telekinesis. Ranma tensed up but got a shocking response from Draco.
"It's over," Draco said.
"CLOCK OVER!"
"Hey!" Ranma protested, "We were just getting started!" He then noticed that Draco's armor was fizzling. "Hey, what's wrong with your armor?" he then felt a tingling sensation too and looked down at his hands. "What's wrong with my armor?"
"It's the environment here. The Mirror Dimension will break down any matter from the real world. We Zodiac Knights can survive here for a short period of time thanks to the armor since it generates an energy field, the same one that lets us enter here. However, the energy field weakens the more we fight. It's like a time limit. The Inzecter armor works the same way. We better get out of here before nothing of us is left." He then added, proudly, "By the way, that was an awesome fight, Caucasus-san."
Ranma questioned, "Caucasus?"
"Your new code-name," Draco elaborated. "You need to have a secret identity or else people like that Kuno person might go after you."
"They already are, unfortunately," Caucasus muttered.
Draco and Caucasus both leapt out the window and allowed their armors to disappear off them. Ryuki's disappeared by shattering off his body like glass while Ranma's armor vanished as soon as his Inzecter left him. Akane stood in front of them with Hagemoto.
"So, what happened in there?" Akane asked impatiently.
Ryuki just replied, "Your friend, Ranma here, seems to have a natural talent to handle Clock Up. Looks like my job here is done. Ja ne." He began to walk away.
"Hey!" Ranma called after him and Ryuki stopped before looking over his shoulder. "Next time, you and me, one on one," Ranma challenged with a confident smirk.
Ryuki smiled and nodded, "Very well. I look forward to that, Ranma Saotome." Ryuki then continued to go on his way. He was going to meet up with his girlfriend and mother.
"You seem to like him, aibou," Yaminekoryu said to his host.
"Hai, I do," Ryuki replied.
"Hmph, he's still nothing compared to me!" Ifrit growled. Ryuki sighed in response to his other half's remark.
"Ranma-san is an amazing martial artist. Though he's not much when it comes to manners, based on what I've read from his file about how his father raised him (making me grateful that okaasan raised me), I can't really blame him." He shrugged, "Besides, when it comes to the Inzecters he's still a beginner."
Ranma relayed all that had happened to Akane and Hagemoto and the man with them whistled.
"Well, if you can keep up with Ryuki then you must be good. Ryuki, so far, is the only person that can equal the boss in terms of skill and power," Hagemoto told them.
"So, you're called Caucasus now?" Akane asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I guess I am," Ranma said as he stared down at his belt.
"So, this ancestor of mine…he married a Chinese Amazon?" Ryuki questioned.
"Yep," Yaminekoryu confirmed. "His name was Koinosuke Hasuma, another one of your ancestors that held the name Draco. He was also known as the Blind Dragon."
"Why?"
"Why else? He was blind! But, he was able to master the 'Eyes of the Heart' and another technique that allowed him to fight in his sleep."
"So, tell me about this Chinese Amazons?" Ryuki continued to ask.
"They are known as the Joketsuzoku and are a fierce warrior race rumored to have been descended from the Greek Amazons who fled to China. The day your ancestor met his wife, he had traveled to China to pick up their cooking techniques."
"Cooking?"
"You might not have known this but despite being blind he was a really great chef in his own right. With the Eyes of the Heart, his senses were so strong that he could tell how good his cooking was before he event tasted it. Anyway, he met his wife when he stumbled into the village and one thing led to another and he had to fight one of their warriors, his soon to be wife. Long story short: he won, she gave him the 'Kiss of Marriage', fell in love and he stayed there for a bit and had a kid. Then, he took his kid and wife to Japan for the whole ceremony to pass on the name Draco to their son," Yaminekoryu explained.
"What was her name?" Ryuki asked.
"Pronounced properly, it would be Khu Lon."
"Souka…" Ryuki nodded. Suddenly, his danger sensed flared up and then…
"SAOTOME! MEET YOUR DOOM!" Ryuki immediately leapt back as a large steel and spiked ball connected to a chain came down on him, sending pieces of the ground flying as it made impact.
"Nani!?" Ryuki questioned in confusion. He looked ahead to see a boy close to his age with long black hair, blue eyes and wearing a white Chinese robe. The guy in the robe then sent daggers flying out of his sleeve, straight at Ryuki, but the Knight of Dragons uses his telekinesis to stop them in mid-air.
"Hey, who are you!?" Ryuki demanded.
"Stop asking questions and just let me kick his ass!" Ifrit roared.
Ryuki really didn't want to let Ifrit out. If he did then Ifrit would go nuts and that usually wasn't a good thing. Of course, his opponent sent a claw attached to a chain at him and he raised his arm to allow the chain to wrap around it.
"Now you're mine!" the robed man shouted and he tugged…but Ryuki didn't budge.
'Super strength,' Ryuki thought in amusement. 'Gotta love it.' He watched as the guy who had just attacked him pulling pathetically at the chain, trying to pull him over. Ryuki rolled his eyes and used his free hand to break the chain, sending the guy tumbling. He got up angrily and was about to attack when…
WHAM!
"Stupid Mousse! Put on glasses! That not Airen!" yelled a purple haired girl who was holding a pair of bonborri, Chinese maces. The young man in the white robe reached into his sleeve and pulled out the thickest glasses Ryuki had ever seen.
"Guy must be blind as a bat!" Yaminekoryu quipped. Ryuki chuckled.
Then, a short old woman in green, with white hair and hopping on a stick hopped over and bowed her head, "I apologize for Mousse's conduct. He thought you were someone else."
Ryuki smiled and bowed back in respect, "That is alright, Obaa-sama. No harm done."
Cologne squinted her eyes. For some reason, the boy reminded her of someone. "Tell me, what is your name?"
"Oh, Ryuki Leonard Hasuma," Ryuki answered. Cologne's eyes went wide as dinner plates as she nearly had a heart attack. Hasuma? It couldn't be possible. After all these years...had she actually found another one of her descendants?"
"Did…did you say…Hasuma?" Cologne questioned.
"Hai, I did," Ryuki nodded. "Ano…who are you all?"
"My name…is Khu Lon."
Now it was Ryuki's turn for his eyes to go wide. He then kneeled down and gazed at the small old woman. "Ano...was your husband's name Koinosuke Hasuma?"
"Indeed it was," Cologne smiled brightly as she gazed at the young man in front of her. "You look so much like him."
"Oh my god," Yaminekoryu gasped. "The years have not been kind to her. Hell, she even shrunk! What happened to that voluptuous beauty that Koinosuke kicked ass against? This is just...ew."
'Be quiet for now,' Ryuki said to his partner mentally before turning back to Cologne. "Um...it is good to meet you, Obaa-sama."
"The pleasure is mine, child," Cologne smiled, feeling rather emotional for the moment. It wasn't everyday that you met a long-lost relatives.
By now, Shampoo and Mousse were long lost on the conversation. Shampoo wasn't sure why this foreign boy was acting so familiar with her great-grandmother. She had to admit that he was very handsome and the ability to stay on his feet despite being tugged at by Mousse showed that he was physically strong. Breaking it showed he was stronger still. He even possessed some considerable skill if he managed to avoid Mousse's attacks. Maybe if Ling-Ling or Lung-Lung were around, she could suggest this boy as a husband for them. They were at that age after all.
Mousse just kept an eye on Ryuki. He wasn't paying any close attention to what they were saying. His mind kept going over how the boy had overpowered him and broke his chain. Of course, it wasn't long before his thoughts turned back to finding Ranma and defeating him so he could release Shampoo from his clutches.
Shampoo finally got too curious and finally spoke, "Great-grandmother, who this?"
"Oh, I guess more introductions are in order," Cologne laughed. "Shampoo, this is your cousin, Ryuki Leonard Hasuma."
"Aiyah!" Shampoo gasped. "He is Shampoo's cousin?"
"Yes, child," Cologne nodded. "I must say, it is somewhat of a surprise to find a supposedly lost part of our family here. Then again, nothing should surprise me anymore since living in Nerima."
Ryuki blinked. Nerima? Didn't Ranma and Akane come from there? And that Kuno guy too? Talk about coincidences. "You came all the way here from Nerima? Why?" Ryuki asked.
"To look for Airen!" Shampoo squealed excitedly as Mousse scowled.
"Airen?" Ryuki again questioned.
"A fine young man who has bested Shampoo and won her heart. You might just know him. His name is Ranma Saotome," Cologne told Ryuki.
Ryuki swallowed deeply. What was he supposed to do? If Mousse's previous behavior had been any indication, bringing them to Ranma would no doubt be a bad idea. Of course, they were also family, so it wasn't really right to lie to them. Maybe he could…
"Gomen nasai, I don't know where I can find this Ranma person, obaa-sama," Ryuki apologized, bending the truth ever so slightly. Cologne's eyes narrowed but then she smiled.
"That is alright, Ryuki," she said. Ryuki breathed a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, obaa-sama, I'm going to be meeting my okaasan and girlfriend," Ryuki began. "Would you like to come with me?" he invited. 'I might even get some more information and help Ranma at the same time. I just hope obaa-sama does not see through me.'
The large doors of Ichijyo's office swung open with such force that they slammed into the walls, creating a thunderous sound. Ichijyo looked up from his paperwork to see Ranma walking in, confidently, followed by both Hagemoto and Akane. "So, you came back, I see," Ichijyo spoke, fixing his glasses. "Learnt everything you needed to know about your Inzecter and armor?" he asked.
"You bet!" Ranma said confidently, the Caucasus belt shining as it was strapped around his waist. "Let's go!" he challenged. Hagemoto gulped. Did Ranma not know any respect.
Ichijyo chuckled and put down his pen as he pushed aside the document he'd been signing. "It's time for my break anyway and I'm tired of signing all those documents. Very well then. Let us depart." Ichijyo got off his chair and walked out the office as did Ranma, Akane and Hagemoto.
"Baby!" Jinx exclaimed happily as she swung her arms around Ryuki, her beloved boyfriend. She was using a glamour spell to disguise herself as an Indian girl with healthy dark colored skin, shining ebony hair with pink streaks, and beautiful brown eyes. Ryuki actually preferred if she'd assumed her real appearance, but this was her request. Either form, she was gorgeous.
"Konnichiwa, Jinxy-chan," Ryuki greeted as he hugged the girl to himself. She was dressed in a black tank top and a black skirt with her usual striped blue and black stocking and combat boots. She also had on black bracelets and her black choker with the stone dangling from it. On her finger was the Promise Ring he'd given her. It was her most precious treasure. Her hair was long and went straight down her back. He looked over Jinx's shoulder to see his mother. He let go of Jinx and hugged his mother, who was dressed in a sharp business suit as usual. "Konichiwa, okaasan," he greeted, embracing her.
"Konichiwa, Ryuki-kun," she greeted back. Ryuki had promised to meet the two of them outside of one of the many restaurants located within the area of Red Horse Institute. Emiko and Jinx then noticed the extra people Ryuki had brought along. "Ryuki-kun, who are these people?"
Jinx was glaring at Shampoo. "Yeah, who are these people?" Jinx asked. 'Back off, hussy! He's mine!'
Cologne hopped over and bowed her head, "I am Elder Khu Lon of the Joketsuzoku," she introduced herself.
"I'm Emiko Narukawa Hasuma," Emiko bowed, "Please to meet you, Elder."
"This is my great-granddaughter, Xian Fu," Cologne introduced Shampoo, "And another member of our tribe, Msu Tse."
Shampoo bowed and Mousse bowed as well, but his gaze was still on Ryuki. He knew there had to be something about Ryuki. How could anyone descended from Cologne end up born in the city and possess such skill and strength? It just didn't make any sense to him.
"It is an honor to meet you, Mrs. Hasuma," Cologne said respectfully.
"So, who exactly are you people?" Jinx asked, hands on her hips.
"And who you?" Shampoo asked.
"His girlfriend," Jinx said, hooking an arm around Ryuki's possessively.
"Well Shampoo is Ryuki's cousin!" Shampoo retorted. Both Emiko and Jinx looked surprised.
"Cousin!?" Emiko and Jinx exclaimed in shock and then turned to look at Ryuki.
"It's a long story, really," Ryuki said, chuckling nervously. He pulled up a chair, "Here you go, obaa-sama," he offered. Cologne sat down after hopping off from her staff. It was nice to see such a polite young man who respected his elders, unlike Ranma.
"It is indeed a long story," Cologne coughed, "Allow me to begin."
"Better sit down then," Mousse suggested and soon everyone was seated.
Both Ranma and Ichijyo stood opposite each other as they were in the training room. Akane, Hagemoto and Yuriko were up in the observation room to watch and record all this.
"You ready, Ranma?" Ichijyo said as he gripped his Snake Deck and summoned his belt.
A buzzing sound could be heard as the Caucasus Inzecter flew into Ranma's open hand, "I'm always ready."
"Good," Ichijyo nodded, "Well, let's do this." He called, "Empowerment of the Zodiac Snake! Henshin!" Ichijyo slid the deck into his belt.
"Henshin!" Ranma called as he slid the Inzecter onto his belt. It responded, echoing his words, "HENSHIN!"
Their armors encased them. As they were about to do combat, Shadowcobra suddenly stiffened and placed the palms of his hands onto the sides of his helmet where his ears were, hissing in pain. Caucasus grew concerned.
"Hey, you okay there?" Caucasus asked in concern.
"No…" Shadowcobra whispered under his breath. He'd heard the ringing…that meant a monster was coming…but this wasn't ONE monster coming…
Ryuki grunted in pain as he placed a hand on his head. Cologne had just finished the story of how Ryuki and she were related. Emiko and Jinx were surprised to say the least. Suddenly, Ryuki stood up.
"I…need to go," he groaned before stepping away but then he saw the various reflections on the windows and other glass objects in the area. "No…"
He was seeing white figures…and a lot of them.
"Everybody down!" he shouted before all hell broke loose.
Out of every reflective surface around them, dozens of white insect-like creatures started leaping out. Ryuki had instantly recognized them from his many encounters with Mirror Monsters. They were called Whitesleepers. Normally they weren't too much of a threat but it was either when they got together in large groups or started their metamorphosis was when they began to get dangerous. Ryuki was already up and ready to fight while Jinx made sure that Emiko was protected. The Amazons seemed a little surprised but were already drawing their weapons.
The Whitesleepers came hard and fast. It was obvious that they were hungry and that they were not going to wait. Ryuki had no space to transform and Jinx was having the same problem. They were able to use their natural powers so the Whitesleepers would be having trouble actually getting their meal as well. The Amazons were proving just how strong they were by keeping up with the Mirror Monsters and actually beating them back. Shampoo was whirling her bonborri and breaking the heads of several Whitesleepers. Mousse was whacking several of them with his 'Blow of the Swan Fist,' but Ryuki could have sworn that he had glimpsed a swan-shaped training potty. Cologne was also proving that her extreme age was not a hindrance as she avoided blows and beat back several Whitesleepers.
"Oh, this is so exciting," Emiko smiled as she whipped out a camcorder. "I've never managed to catch my little Ryuki fighting monsters before."
"Okasaaaaan!" Ryuki moaned as he torched several Whitesleepers. "Is this really the time?"
Emiko just giggled as she continued recording the fight. She obviously had much faith in her son's abilities and those of his friends.
The battle continued but the Whitesleepers were proving determined as more of the spilled into the Real World. Ryuki grimaced as he saw this and wasn't quite sure if he would be able to continue fighting like this unless he was able to transform. A Whitesleeper actually slipped past his defenses and was about to attack when laser blasts lanced into the mob of Mirror Monsters and began to blast them away. Several Whitesleepers went down and the smoke cleared to reveal a motorcycle with a sidecar speeding towards the battle.
"Shadow! Caucasus!" Ryuki cheered.
The vehicle continued to race towards the battle. Shadocobra was driving and he turned his attention towards Caucasus, who was riding in the sidecar, "Are you ready?"
"Let's do this!" Caucasus laughed.
With a single jump, Caucasus leapt high above the heads of the fighters and Whitesleepers. With the attention solely focused on him, he reached to his belt and unlocked the horns of his Inzecter. Energy ripped through his body and unlocked the bulky armor fitted on him.
"Cast Off!" Caucasus called as he pulled the horns back.
"CAST OFF!" the armor echoed as the thick pieces of metal suddenly fired off in all directions.
The pieces of armor collided with several of the Whitesleepers and put them to the ground. Caucasus landed in the centre of the fallen enemies as his horns folded up onto his helmet. "CHANGE CAUCASUS BEETLE!"
Cologne watched the golden warrior descend on the battle and land. She easily recognized the aura as that of her reluctant son-in-law, 'Oh ho. So this is what you're up to, Son-in-law.'
Caucasus had spied the three Amazons when he arrived at the battle and he resisted the urge to groan. First Kuno and now the Amazons had appeared. He only knew it was a matter of time before the other headaches in his life made an appearance. Ignoring the grim thought, Caucasus turned his focus back to the battle.
Shadowcobra came to a halt as he got to the battlefield before dismounting his vehicle. He began shooting at Whitesleepers that came to close using his SNK-Gunblade. He looked to see Ryuki and Jinx taking a moment to catch their breath after fighting so many opponents on the fly.
"I'd transform now if I were you," he spoke. "Caucasus and I may be good, but we aren't good enough to take on this many Whitesleepers without backup."
"Hai," Ryuki nodded as he drew his deck, summoning his belt. "Empowerment of the Zodiac Dragon! Henshin!"
Ryuki slid his deck into his belt and his armor quickly made its appearance in a flash of light. Emiko had to withhold a delighted squeal as she caught the event on tape. The Amazons were shocked to see this, even Cologne. She had heard about the Zodiac Knights from old legends and stories. She was just so surprised to see that her own great-grandson had been chosen to become one of the legendary warrior of the Zodiac and representing the dragon as well. She felt great pride as well.
Jinx took a calming breath before she raised her hand into the air. A buzzing sound filled the small group's ears as a black mechanical beetle flew down from the sky and came to rest in Jinx's open palm.
"Henshin!" she called before snapping the beetle onto her belt.
"HENSHIN!" the Inzecter echoed before Jinx was engulfed in a black and purple suit of armor which covered her entire body. Shampoo was surprised to see the girl she'd jus met donning a suit of armor that just appeared upon her body.
Shadowcobra nodded before he pressed a switch on his ZX-Shadow Basher. The entire vehicle began to shift and change. The side care split apart and shifted to look like a pair of legs while the motorcycle itself twisted so that the wheels began to look like hands and the front like the head. The left hand held a claw while the right hand was armed with 6 cannons. The two sections combined and the vehicle was now a rather intimidating robot.
"Let us begin," Shadowcobra spoke before everyone turned their attention to the mob of Whitesleepers.
The following battle was something that many would call the Great Whitesleeper Massacre. While the Whitesleepers themselves were a formidable force in numbers, when they were up against two Smart Brain warriors, two Zodiac Knights, three Amazons, and one large mech with a ridiculous amount of firepower, their numbers were cut down very quickly. Soon, there were only a few Whitesleepers left.
"We'd better finish this soon," Draco commented. "You never know what these things are going to do."
The Whitesleepers seemed to hear him before they got to their knees and started hugging the ground with their hands over their heads. A number of the warriors there seemed to take this as a symbol of surrender.
"Ha!" Shampoo smiled. "Strange monsters know they beat!"
"Damn!" Shadowcobra cursed. "We need to destroy them now!"
Everyone was confused at his sudden desire to destroy them, but it was quickly sated when the Whitesleepers' backs started bulging as if they were about to explode. No one was able to move fast enough before the Whitesleepers' bodies popped open and new beasts came flying out.
These new monsters had sapphire colored bodies which looked covered in armor. Their heads were similar to that of a dragonfly's that they even had wings on their heads that matched. They were also giving a somewhat stronger aura than the Whitesleepers did.
"Dragoonflies," Shadowcobra growled. "This just got a lot harder."
"Then I think we shouldn't hold back," Draco spoke as he reached to his belt.
"Agreed," Shadowcobra nodded as he reached for his own belt.
Both Zodiac Knights drew their cards and turned them over for all to see. Draco had drawn his Survivor Rekka card while Shadowcobra had drawn his Fusion Vent card. Flames seemed to leap around Draco as his armguard changed into his Dragblaster.
The 'mouth' of Draco's Dragblaster opened and he slipped the Survivor card onto a port within in before snapping the jaws close. "SURVIVE!"
As for Shadowcobra, he slid the card into the head of his staff, just like he usually did.
"FUSION VENT!"
The flames whirled around Draco in searing hot vortex before dispersing themselves and revealing Draco, who'd know changed. At the same time Shadowcobra's monsters; Stingdiver, Metalceros and Genosnaker, had all come together to create Genocide. It was his composite and strongest beast.
Draco stood now in a full suit of crimson armor with golden trimmings. His helmet's visor had also changed, now edged with gold and held a pair of antennae at the brow. This was his Survivor Mode.
Shadowcobra's monster, Genocide, was a hulking beast with a metal plated body, golden claws, a long purple neck and tail as well as a pair of pink wings. The head resembled a cobra, but with a sharp horn on top of its snout. Shadowcobra stood in front of his creature as he got ready along with Draco,
Everyone collected were watching this in awe, and Cologne wondered if she could introduce her long-lost great-grandson and his friend into the Amazon tribe. Their strength would be worthy additions.
"Let's go!" Shadowcobra shouted as he leapt onto his ZX-Shadow Basher and began taking the controls
"Hai!" Draco nodded before taking flight as well. He reached for his DRA-Phone and summoned his ZX-Jet Slinger.
While Draco and Shadowcobra were using their cards, Jinx did her own transformation as well. By tapping the thorax button on her Inzecter, she, like Caucasus, also activated her Cast Off system.
"Cast Off!" she commanded.
"CAST OFF!" the Scarab Inzecter echoed before her armor detached and fired in all directions. The purple eyes of her helmet flashed as the Inzecter announced, "CHANGE SCARAB BEETLE!"
Caucasus, seeing Jinx's Speed Mode, got an idea, "Ready to go Clock Up, girl?"
Jinx gave Caucasus a look under her helmet and replied, "You didn't even have to ask. Clock Up!" She slammed her palm on a button on the side of her belt.
Caucasus did the same, slapping the button on his belt as well. "Clock Up!" he commanded.
"CLOCK UP!" their Inzecters roared loudly, activating their Clock Up systems.
The Jet Slinger zoomed into the area as Draco landed in the cockpit. The huge white and black combat bike emblazoned with Smart Brain's emblem was armed, dangerous and ready to take down all opponents. With the fire power of a tank and the maneuverability of a hovercraft, the Jet Slinger was Draco's most prized vehicle.
Shadowcobra took careful aim and began to fire at the flying Dragoonflies. He fired six missiles from the Shadow Basher's left hand. The missiles then split apart into 4 each, before they exploded upon impact with the Dragoonflies.
Draco, meanwhile, was firing at the flying monsters with his own ammunition. He aimed carefully and pressed a button to allow his vehicle to activate the missile trays that were flanking the front. 8 missiles, on each side, 16 in total popped out and then flew straight at the monsters, destroying them.
While all this was happening, Jinx and Caucasus were taking down the Dragoonflieas at Clock Up speed. Their opponents never stood a chance.
"CLOCK OVER!"
Soon, only a few Dragoonflies remained. Shadowcobra leapt off his robot and brought out his staff. At the same time, Draco leapt off his own vehicle and got ready with his own Dragblaster. They reached to their belts and drew out their Final Vent cards.
They then simultaneously slid them into their card readers, thus activating them.
"FINAL VENT!"
"SURVIVOR FINAL VENT!"
"DARKHOLE CRUSH!" Shadowcobra dashed towards the Dragoonflies and leapt into the air before coming down on them with a devastating corkscrew kick. They were sent flying from the hit and towards Genocide that had created a vortex in its chest, sucking them in.
"DRAGON METEOR FIRESTORM!" Draco summoned forth Dragonzer, that had evolved into its Survivor Mode of Dragonrizer before he leapt out and rode on its back. As the powerful dragon descended, it began to fold in its body as a wheel popped out of its chest and another wheel popped out from behind. The monster had morphed into a motorcycle. The motorcycle's wheels screeched as they came onto the ground. Draco then popped a wheelie, allowing Dragonrizer to shoot fireballs at the Dragoonflies to block their paths of escape and also destroying a few. "The Dragon Motorbike then smashed into them, destroying them once and for all.
Draco put on the brakes of his bike and dismounted from it, looking over the area. He let out a sigh of relief as all the enemies were gone. His own monsters popped into existence and began to gobble up the energy cores floating around. Even Dragonrizer and Genocide got in on it. He reached down to his belt and slid out the deck, allowing his armor to shatter off and vanish. Jinx removed the Scarab Inzecter and let it fly, thus undoing her own transformation.
Shadowcobra, meanwhile, merely walked away along with Caucasus. Actually, he had to drag Caucasus away. Seeing the Amazons here of all places was not a good thing, so he decided that Caucasus needed to go before his identity was exposed. The Shadow Basher converted back into vehicle mode before Shadowcobra got on the bike as Caucasus leapt into the sidecar. As they both drove off, Cologne was keeping a watchful eye on Caucasus before chuckling. There was still enough time to confront her 'Son-In-Law', but now she wanted to get to know her long-lost great-grandson.
"RYUKI-KUN!" Emiko squealed shrilly as she went up to her son, "That was amazing! I got some really great shots too!" Ryuki could only groan in embarrassment at his mother's enthusiasm. Jinx giggled.
"Well then, Ryuki," Cologne said as she hopped over to her great grandson, "I would've never believed that you were a Zodiac Knight. You live up to the name Draco. I am proud of you and Koinosuke would've been proud too that you carry his name with honor."
"Arigatou, obaa-sama," Ryuki nodded.
Shampoo hopped over and glomped her cousin. Jinx just glared and hissed. Even though Shampoo was related to Ryuki, she was a distant cousin, so there was still a possibility for anything to happen. "Cousin Ryuki, that armor was too too great! You amazing warrior!"
Ryuki, blushed, "Arigatou, Xian-chan."
Mousse, of course, didn't want to make a big deal out of it, even though it was. However, things were starting to make a little sense to him. Despite Ryuki being born in the city, he still had Amazon blood in him and seeing him fight was proof that he was indeed Cologne's great-grandson. Cologne's line always gave birth to the strongest warriors of their tribe.
"You must simply tell me everything you've been through as a Zodiac Knight," Cologne prompted, "After I give you some training."
"Training?" Emiko echoed, looking up from the recording she'd made.
"Training?" Jinx echoed, while she was still glaring a little at Shampoo.
"Training?" Ryuki echoed, curiously.
"Why, yes," Cologne nodded, "You are my descendant, and as such have every right to learn the secret techniques of the Joketsuzoku."
Mousse protested, "But, Elder, he's an outsider!" He got a whack on the heads from Cologne's cane.
"Watch your mouth, Mousse! Even if he was not born within the walls of the tribe, he still has Amazon blood, my Amazon blood. And as you have seen, his abilities are amazing."
Mousse grumbled, "Only because of that armor."
"I heard that, and the armor only increases the skills of the wearer and Ryuki's skills were already amazing to begin with." She then turned to look at Ryuki, "So, Ryuki, how about it?"
Ryuki contemplated it. It would help him rediscover a part of his heritage, and maybe the new techniques could help him in the future. He then bowed and accepted, "I accept, Obaa-sama."
Cologne cackled in amusement, "Good, very good, now you have a lot to learn so we better start soon."
"But, Great-grandmother, we are supposed to be looking for Airen!" Shampoo cried and got a bop on the head.
"Patience, child, we have all the time for that. I feel he is not too far, but this has become a priority."
"Maybe you'd like to stay with us," Emiko offered.
"Hai, please come and stay with us!" Ryuki added.
Jinx just kept her eyes trained on the Amazons, Shampoo especially, and sighed, "Fine…"
Back at Smart Brain, Ranma's armor quickly vanished as his Inzecter flew off. He had a troubled look on his face. "Why the hell are they here!?"
Ichijyo had also banished his armor as he looked at Ranma in concern, "I have a feeling you have a history with them."
"Like you'd never believe."
"Try me."
And thus, Ranma began to tell Ichijyo everything he knew about the Amazons and what they'd put him through. Ichijyo listened without interruption.
ZK: Wow, Ryuki is actually a descendant of Cologne! I bet he'll get to learn the techniques Ranma and Ryoga have mastered and become better at them. What techniques should Ryuki be able to learn?
Anyway, do you think Kuno should return or do you want Ryoga to make an appearance? Tell me, ok? Can u guess where Kuno is? Anyway, who else from the NWC should arrive and I have a plan to give Ryoga an Inzecter as well…and maybe Mousse too once he finds out about the Inzecters' power. Give me any suggestions, ok?