The Phantom War Goddess. Empousa's Scarlet Flame.
Phantom Hideout
"How are you feeling, my lady?" Beelzebub asked from his normal kneeling position before his lounging mistress.
"Quite well, actually." The petite Phantom leader chirped from her bed, stretching her back and arms experimentally. "In fact, I would say I am in better shape than I was before. It seems the lack of stress from baby-sitting that insufferable bird has lessened the weight from my shoulders and hastened my recovering."
"That is stupendous news my lady!" Beelzebub rejoiced, though never bringing his eyes from the ground. "Soon enough, you may even be able to go about as you please once more."
"Indeed." The Phantom leader smirked as she reached out to stroke Beelzebub's head affectionately with one of her vines. "For now, I will continue to rely on you, my dear attendant."
"I am happy to serve." Beelzebub replied. "I have come to report the issue of the possible dissenters within our ranks."
"Proceed."
"Yes. For now, we can attest that over a dozen Phantoms are confirmed Phoenix sympathizers. Almost half of them have already been wiped out by the mahousukais, a few have been sent out to recruit the…new member you requested."
"Then they are as good as dead. Hopefully they could at least get the message across before they were slain." The mistress stated in grim pleasure.
"Yes, hopefully." Beelzebub coughed uncomfortably. "As for the remaining dissenters, they are apprehensive but they are aware of where they stand. As I have come to understand they are planning out their next moves carefully as to how they may return to your good graces."
"Hmph! They can try." She scoffed disgusted by the notion of those turncoats begging her for her forgiveness. "And what of our other headache? My dear wild flower?"
"Yes…her." Beelzebub's tone shifted and his hidden face contorted to a grimace. "We have been unable to contact her for some time. She has taken steps to outright avoid our summons instead of her usual denying them and sending our messengers back to us in tatters. By all appearances, she wishes to have nothing left to do with us.
"Oh dear." The female Phantom sighed dejectedly. "And here I hoped we were getting along, like friends."
"Ahem! Furthermore…" Beelzebub started as he revealed a photograph which one of the many vines around the bed retrieved for his mistress to view. "I have found our latest Gate target and have assigned one of the remaining dissenters to go after them."
"Excellent. Let us see just how these traitors try to appease me."
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"Begin!"
"1! 2! 3! 4! 5!..."
The sounds of shuffling feet and wood implements slicing through the air resounded in the wide, polished wood floor studio. Teenage men and women clad in white kendo gi called out in unified effort as they stepped in, chopping down with their bokuto in simultaneous, uniform discipline.
The spirited exercises were watched over by a single upper classman in a black gi. The hard faced supervisor was tall, cutting an imposing visage that matched his shadowy dress. His hair was brushed up, keeping it clear from the sides of his face, which he took advantage of as he was constantly watching all of his fellow kendo practitioners even in his peripherals.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Immediately, the supervising teen noticed one of his fellows was out of step with the rest. It was a younger male member and he was currently performing his drills in faster steps than the rest and not letting up as he was clearly working hard at a constant, rapid pace. This wouldn't normally be considered a bad thing, however…
"Ryuugamine!" The younger member stopped mid swing as his senior marched on him, eyes set and stony. "Why are you going out of sync with the others?" The booming teen asked down to his slightly cowering colleague.
"I-I-I..." The younger boy was too nervous to speak.
"Spit it out man!"
"Senpai! I know I need to improve the most of the entire class, so I'm trying to put in double as much effort as everyone else to catch up!" He spouted out, red faced.
"I see." The senior thought on this as he glanced over the shivering youth. "And swinging faster is how you plan to improve?"
"Umm…yes?" The answer was unsure and hesitant. In response, the older teen lifted up his own bokuto and leveled it in front of him in a basic guard against an overhead blow.
"Hit my sword with the same speed you were just using." The senior ordered. His junior looked complacent, uncertain as to the point of the order. Still, he did as he was told and swung downward, putting his all into swinging as fast as he could.
Thwack!
"Again!"
Thwack!
"Again! Keep it constant like you were doing!"
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Over and over the junior's bokuto struck against the senior's, who budged not an inch as his guard was assaulted by a rapid storm of quick strikes. This went on for another half a minute before the strikes began to slow in pace as the juniors arms began to sag and he wheezed from the effort.
"That's enough." The senior instructed as the junior collapsed to his knees, winded utterly. "Tired right, and my guard did not break once." The senior glanced and nodded to one of the closer students who was watching the exchange. "Enoshima, demonstrate your strike for us." He instructed, this time to the nearby female student, another upperclassman like him.
"Hai!" The young woman raised her blade up as well, just as the now exhausted young man did. And just as he did, she struck down with her full power behind her swing as it hit the senior's guard.
Thwack!
"Again!
Thwack! Clang!
Contrary to before, this time the guard did break as the wooden sword was knocked from the seniors grip to fall onto the floor. The young woman and senior bowed to one another and the supervisor turned his attention back to his stunned prospect. "Understand now?" He asked as he lifted the tired boy to his feet. "You were sacrificing striking power for speed. Not putting your all into every attack as you should." The junior bowed his head and nodded in understanding. "Effort is good, but effort placed in the wrong area can be detrimental for your growth, remember that."
"Hai, Hatake-senpai!"
"Good. Take a break, regain your stamina and then return to your exercises with the others." Hatake instructed, patting the teen on the back for his good effort. "What are the rest of you gawking at?!" He bellowed as he noticed a few students had slipped during their exercises to watch. They immediately corrected themselves.
"Man oh man." Ryuugamine sighed as he dried the sweat from his face with a wash cloth and took a seat on a bench at the back of the dojo. It was only then did he notice an unfamiliar face sitting in the bench to the right of him.
"Quite an interesting fellow, your instructor." The raven haired woman stated bemused as she watched the exercises with a subtle fascination. Ryuugamine flushed red at the sight of the beautiful woman and wondered who she was. It was not unusual for relatives or close friends of members to drop by, but that was normally once the practice was over, not fresh from the beginning.
"Um, excuse me." He stuttered, prompting her obsidian gaze to fall on him. "Who are you?"
"I would like to know that as well." Ryuugamine jumped in his seat as Hatake marched over to the join them as he stood before the seated woman and addressing her suspiciously. "If you are a relative of a member I suggest you wait till after practice, unless your business is an emergency."
"No, I'm not related to anyone here. I'm just here to observe. So please, continue and don't mind me." The woman requested, appearing quite comfortable where she sat.
"That may be a problem." Hatake responded, arms crossed and tone stony. "An unfamiliar presence may become disruptive for everyone's focus while training. I'm afraid I must ask you to leave."
The older woman regarded the towering teen thoughtfully and then snickered to herself as she rose from her seat. "I'm terribly sorry I distract you young man." She apologized with a teasing tone as she patted the taller teen's cheek assuringly, this instantly caused the stoic mask to fall from his face as he had to look away, ashamed of the red blush on his face. "I'll show myself out."
Just as the raven haired beauty was making her way to the exit, she found her path impeded by a wooden blade and the young woman demonstrating with Hatake earlier glaring daggers at her.
"Can I help you?" The older woman asked, curious of the girl baring her path.
"I find it a bit suspicious that a woman as old as you would want to observe our class. I wonder what motives you have for doin-!" The teen choked on her words instantly as the dark haired woman instantly stepped toward her, peering down at her so that they were face to face and she could see the dangerous gleam in her black eyes.
"I'll let that 'Old' comment slide just this once." The woman whispered, and then smiled in amusement as she pulled away. "As to my reasons for intruding…to say it simply I find myself with a new found curiosity for swords play yet unfamiliar to me. And since I am obviously too old to enroll, the next best course of action would be to sit in and pick up what I could by observation. I found what I saw to be…enlightening."
"You can't possibly think you learned everything about Kendo just by watching a few minutes of simple exercises?" Enoshima inquired skeptically.
"No. But with what I did see I'm sure I can figure it out on my own."
"Impossible." She scoffed in response.
"Not for those with true talent like myself." The raven haired woman grinned proudly and turned her back on the scowling girl.
Clunk!
The woman had just reached the door when a wooden sword landed on the ground just beside her feet. The woman picked up the sword and looked to the fuming teen incredulously.
"I'll show you the difference between a true practitioner and one with your fake talent."
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'Well…this is a right mess.' Carter thought to himself as he began to sweat profusely while attempting to hold the most innocent smile possible. The gallant Kamen Rider Wizard; defender of Gates and destroyer of evil, knew few moments of true terror. But being held against a wall and being glared down to by the deathly serious eyes of his dear friend and student's elder brother, this moment was certainly up there.
It happened faster than the mahousukai was able to process. He was just minding his own business one minute, walking down the market street he had walked nearly every morning since coming to Tomoeda, partaking in the special sweets his favorite stores had for sale that seemingly mundane morning. Next thing he knew, while he was busy stuffing his face, the elder Kinimoto had snuck up behind him, hooked an arm around his shoulder and led him toward a nearby alley, away from prying eyes. It had happened so quickly, yet so subtly, Carter merely continued to eat his pastries as if unaware of what was going on around him. It wasn't until he had his back to the wall and Toya gripping his collar did his mind snap into reality, forcing him to quickly work out a plan of escape that didn't reveal him.
"Um-Oh! Kinimoto-kun! What a pleasant surprise. How has your family been lately? You know, class goes by so quickly that I don't get to speak much with Sakura-"
Smash!
"-chan…" Toya's fist landed just inches from Carter's face, the imprint it left prompting a very noticeable shiver to run across the terrified man's body as the slightly taller youth kept his gaze level, and cold.
"Start. Talking." He practically whispered with murderous intent.
"NO PLEASE! I'M JUST AN ENGLISH GENT! I DEPLORE VIOLENCE! THE SHARPEST OBJECT I'VE EVER HELD IS A BUTTER KNIFE! I BRUISE EASI-hrrrrrm!" Toya quickly covered the screaming, not to mention bare faced lying, man's mouth with his hand to stifle his tirade before he attracted any attention.
"Ok, I'm going to move my hand, and you're going to stop screaming. Ok?" Carter nodded, showing with his eyes that he was perfectly calm. Toya slowly removed his hand.
"YOU BRUTE!"
"Agggh!" A large anger mark formed on Toya's forehead as he growled while cocking his fist back.
"Toya-kun!" A soft hand suddenly held back the angry youth's irritation fueled punch as Toya looked back to find his best friend pleading at him with his eyes. The elder Kinimoto hissed in frustration but inevitably released the grateful teacher who nodded Yukito's way in thanks.
"There you two go again!" Toya snarled, turning on Yukito as well as Carter. "You think I haven't noticed how you two greet each other every time we meet. I know something ups!" Toya declared angrily. "Something you are a part of." Toya pointed at Carter and then to Yukito. "And because you seem to want to hide what it is from me, it has to be something to do with Sakura."
"Toya-kun…I…" Yukito was at a loss on what to do. He wanted to keep Toya safe from what was going on more than anything, but he knew lying to him about the dangerous things his little sister was involved in, was a total betrayal of his trust. Carter suddenly placed a hand on Yukito's shoulder, smiled and nodded as he stepped forward, expression open and trusting.
"Alright. I suppose it's only right that we tell you, her brother." Carter explained as he placed his hands on Toya's shoulders as if to brace him against the information he was going to reveal. "Kinimoto-kun, the truth is, about what Sakura-chan and I are involved in is." There was almost a pregnant pause. "I am tutoring your little sister personally."
(Des-D: You know, what am I teaching kids by having my main character be such a blatant liar? Please enjoy Carter Hughes: Master of Bull Shit everybody.)
"You're tutoring her?" Toya repeated back, sounding skeptical.
"Well, career counseling rather." Carter explained, smiling to Toya's raised eye brow. "You see, after that incident some time ago where I gallantly braved the burning school building in order to save my precious student's life, dear and grateful Sakura-chan came to me one day after class and declared her desire to follow in my heroic footsteps as a compassionate and upstanding molder of young minds."
"Sakura…wants to be a teacher?" If Yukito didn't know any better, he could have sworn he heard a hint of awe in his friend's voice as he took in everything being said.
"Of course I told her such drastic action such as mine were by no means the actions entailed by an educator and that she should always seek caution in her actions. Still, I could not turn away from such a passionate desire, so I took her up on her desire and have been mentoring her as to the path she will need to undertake."
"So…all those times she said she was out with her friends, even to the point where it gets really late?" Toya inquired. Carter was impressed by the younger man's keen eye, he was clearly paying close attention to what Sakura was up to without actually following her around for fear of upsetting her. As an elder brother himself, he respected Toya's resolve to look after his sister despite being powerless. Still…it was not safe yet to tell him the truth.
"I cannot account for all times that my students spend on their own, but I have made a point on making sure she returned home at a timely interval. What she does after I have released her from her extra studies and our counseling sessions is her own discretion. I can only hope whatever times she has spent outside of home has been healthy or productive in some manner." Carter lied as smoothly as he could. Toya's relaxing demeanor and calm gaze filled him with relief as things seemed to be going smoothly.
"I see…I suppose that makes sense." The elder Kinimoto admitted as he placed his hands in his pockets and turned to walk away. "Thanks for looking after my sister, sensei. I really appreciate it."
'Fui!' Carter released the breath he had been holding the entire time. Yukito smiled to him in appreciation as he chased after his best friend.
"That's great right?" Yukito asked. "Sakura-san wants to be a teacher, just like her father." He added, feigning pride.
"Yeah, a teaher." Yukito finally noticed his friend's anger marked brow and irritated expression. "Tutoring my foot. He's hiding something." Toya muttered surely. It was clear he didn't believe one bit of Carter's story and merely left because he knew he wouldn't be able to scare the answer's out of the tricky man.
'Oh no.' Yukito sighed with a defeated expression.
"Excuse me! Coming through!" Toya and Yukito stepped to their respective sides as a teenage boy wearing the uniform of a Tomoeda High School student ran between them. The boy suddenly stopped and regarded the older men in recognition. "Kinimoto-senpai? Tsukishiro-senpai!"
"Oh, Jiro-kun!" Yukito greeted as he and the younger boy shook hands.
"It's been so long, how have you two be-geh!?" When the teen reached to shake his former upperclassman's hand, he instantly reeled back in fear as he saw the irritation plastered across Toya's face. "Ki-Kinimoto-senpai is still as scary as ever." The boy chuckled and sweat dropped good naturedly.
"So where are you off to in such a hurry?" Yukito inquired, noticing the boy's haggard breathing implying he was in a hurry to get some place.
"Oh! Maybe you two should come with me. I was running late for practice and I just found out that the kendo team is apparently being begrudged by some kind of woman dojo challenger, and Enoshima-san is taking her on."
"This challenger lady, is she hot?"
"Well I only just got a text about some things but…wait who are you?" Jiro addressed the new face that had joined their conversation, listening with deep interest.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Toya demanded to the foreign teacher who intruded on their conversation, still fuming from being lied to by the older man.
"Just a passing acquaintance of your two seniors here whom was drawn by the tales of blades and beauties. Now, details man, details."
"Umm…well. One of my friends in the Kendo team texted me what was happening. He said she's a foreign woman with short, jet black hair and she has this really arrogant way of talking to people."
"YAHOO!" Carter suddenly crowed as he broke away from the three who watched him with bewildered stares as he dashed off at high speeds to the direction of the kendo hall. "I'm on my way, my warrior goddess!"
"Um…senpai? Who is that man?"
"An idiot. After him!" Toya ordered as he and Jiro chased after the hooting and laughing mahousukai, leaving Yukito to sigh tiredly in defeat as he trodded behind his friends.
"This does not look good." He knew all too well just who it had to be to create this much of a reaction in Carter. Hopefully, she was in more control of the situation than he feared, because he knew things were on the verge of getting out of hand, very soon.
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"Isn't this abit extreme, Enoshima?" Hatake inquired to his colleague, unclear as to the need for such a sudden bout against someone who has revealed herself as an amateur.
"I hate her type." The teenage woman spat as she warmed up with a few practice forms, striking at some invisible enemy with her bokuto slicing through the air with punishing force and intent. "Talking down to others just because she thinks she's better than everyone. She thinks her talent can make the difference against actual experience. I'll show her!"
As the two were discussing in hushed tones, the source of Enoshima's ire was pondering over the items she was given in anticipation of the match. After being instructed to remove her jacket and shoes, the elder woman was given an odd assortment of gear that consisted of a helmet with metal wires for protecting the face and had attachments to extended to cover her shoulders and nape. She was also provided with a breast plate, mitten like gloves and an odd half skirt/thick cloth she was supposed to wear around her waist. All of these were parts of the traditional kendo armor known as Kendogu. Noticing how her opponent was adjusting her own gear, she decided to follow suit, if only to play along.
"To the center!" One of the other senior students volunteered to referee and motioned the two combatants to the middle area of the dojo as all the other students sat parallel on either side of the two, giving them a long rectangular area to themselves.
"Is all this really necessary?" Empousa inquired as she leaned forward on her own bokuto as if it were a cane. "All this gear is stifling to move in, and I can barely see through this helmet."
"If you don't like it you can take off the helmet and whatever else you like."
"Enoshima!" Hatake proclaimed, shocked by the girls clear disdain to the point of ignoring safety precautions.
"But won't you be slowed down in your gear?" Empousa asked as she began lifting off her helmet.
"I'll be quite fine. I've trained to fight this way." Enoshima retorted acidly, her eyes burning through the slits of her helmet.
"As you wish." Empousa hummed as she dropped the last of her gear and raised her own wooden sword up in front of her, in a very un-Kendo like stance. "Whenever you're ready, little girl." The gathered onlookers glanced at the under equipped woman nervously. They all knew she was a beginner, but for someone to forego fighting in equipment, even rookies, was unheard of and ultimately bodily harmful.
"Enoshima…" Hatake begged her in a hushed tone.
"I'll hold back my attack." She promised. "I don't want her hurt, just humiliated." Though as she starred into the cocky expression of her foe, she had to admit, it was going to be a tough promise to keep.
"And…Begin!"
'I'll show you what real Kendo is!'
"Men!" Enoshima cried as she rushed forward just as the call was made, raising her sword overhead in order to bring it down atop her foe's head. She was just about to clear the distance between them when her eyes widened and her feet squeaked against the polished floor as she came to a sudden stop.
Just one step. Just one step more and she would have instantly ran straight into Empousa's waiting, extended sword point. The elder woman held her bokuto out with one hand, pointing the wood blade directly for Enoshima's chest. If she had continued her charge, she would have impaled herself on the end of that sword while leaving herself completely open to attack.
'Impaled herself'? She didn't know why she was thinking such a thing, but in that instant before she stopped, that simple pole of wood looked like a real, deadly sword in the Raven haired woman's hands.
"Done already deary?" Empousa remarked with a hum in her voice, though her eyes were glancing to and fro, as if scanning every angle of her foe, taking in every detail.
"Sh-shut up! You don't chat during a match!" Enoshima spat as she knocked the elder woman's sword aside and stabbed with her own weapon, both hands on the handle. "Do!" Then…her opponent vanished. "Nani?!"
"I see…" Enoshima's heart leaped into her throat as she heard the cool voice coming from behind her. "So you hold the blade in both hands, even for a thrust, in Kendo. How interesting."
'How did she do it?' Enoshima asked inaudibly as she realized what her opponent had done. Obviously, her opponent had dodged her oncoming thrust and circled behind her, taking advantage of her lack of armor and vision obscuring helmet. But to have done it so fast and silently, to seem as if she had moved to that spot in an instant. It was impossible.
Enoshima refused to give in, constantly moving against her opponent and aiming toward the practiced targets she had always been trained to attack. Her simple one attack pattern quickly desceneded to an onslaught of thrust, side to side swipes and overhead chops that only increased in speed as she called out: "Men-Do-Kote-Men-Do-Kote-Men-Do-Kote!". And always was her foes mocking grin just out of reach of her sword, always stepping just out of range or encircling to her back as she had done before yet still not going for any blows of her own.
Empousa continued her observations unabated by the slicing hunk of wood constantly being driven toward her face with harmful intent. She saw every move, every bodily posture, and every time she saw a move or step she found interesting she would whisper: "Ah! So that's how its done.", a habit that was slowly increasing the ire of her frustrated opponent.
"Would you..." Enoshima suddenly shifted her stance and pointed her blade back and to her left as she dashed in with all the speed her legs could give her. "Just take this seriously!" She slashed upward with all her power behind her blow. The dark haired woman looked on utterly fascinated by the odd angled stroke and took her sweet time to avoid this time, allowing the blade to just barely miss her while her roving eyes took in every detail as she swiftly and instantly moved to her foes wide open flank. Enoshima was wide eyed, she had put all her power and speed into that attack and it still could not connect. And beyond that she was already tired while her foe looked like she could still run a marathon despite their constant swift movement.
"Just…who are you?" Enoshima asked, her mouth dry from shock and exhaustion as she turned to face her grinning foe, the fight draining from her.
"Just a fellow enthusiast of swordsmanship, studying a new style I found quite fascinating."
"I see…" Enoshima removed her helmet, to the shock of all those present, and bowed to the elder woman respectfully. "I give up. I now understand the difference in our skill level."
Empousa cocked her head to the side and looked almost disappointed at the sight of the earlier firey eyed youth lowering their head in defeat. "Are you certain? The fight has barely just begun."
Enoshima's eyes were blank as she raised her head vertical once more. "Yes, I'm sure. If we continued I know I would lose." There was no doubt in her mind of that simple fact. She had taken up Kendo as a past time, a hobby in simplest sense. The woman before her was a pro in every sense. She put her all into her practice, a warrior bred in modern time.
Enoshima turned on her heels and set her equipment down on a nearby bench as her colleagues watched her confused. "Captain."
"H-hai?" Hatake responded, still confused by the strange match's outcome.
"I'm done for the day. I'm going home." Enoshima muttered as she marched slowly to the changing room.
"Enoshima? Wait! Hold on!"
'Oh my.' Empousa thought to herself as she noticed the lifeless way the defeated girl marched. 'This wasn't my intention.' Her eyes then narrowed as a foul sensation struck her being. A dark source of mana was near.
"All of you get down!" She called suddenly, stopping Enoshima in her tracks and grabbing the attention of the gathered teens. They all became aware of a sudden whooshing noise, as if the wind had picked up. And then…
Whoosh! Bang!
"Damn, one of them showed up." Empousa cursed as a miniature gale of silver-blue wind crashed through the doors of the wide studio. The high speed winds knocked all of the gathered teens off their feet and pinned them to the walls as a figure stepped forth from the silvery tornado.
"Good morning, everyone! I, Phantom Slyphi, come barring the good news. The news of Despair."
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'Phantom!' Carter's paced suddenly quickened even more as he dashed to the area he felt the corrupt magic emanating from. It was different from Empousa's. And since she always preferred to work alone, he assumed it must have been another Phantom attacking the students of the Kendo club looking for a Gate target. He needed to get their quick, there was only one problem…
"Anyone else hear that?" Toya asked as the trio following after Carter were starting to keep pace with him after they all heard the loud rush of wind and a clear sound of something being blown down. Yukito and Jiro heard it too, but it was only the white haired young man who noticed the leader of the chase's sudden change from excitement to urgency in his running stance.
The four were hastily making their way in the direction they believed the disturbance emanated from, when suddenly, Carter veered left, in the opposite direction of their destination.
"Where the hell are you going?!" Toya called out in confusion and outrage.
"Away from whatever that was! Saving a student is one thing but I wont risk my neck for strangers!" Carter called back as his form was growing more and more distant. "I suggest you lot wise up and do the same. Later!" He instantly vanished around an unseen corner, his companions looking on dismayed at his exit.
"That spineless…!" Toya smashed his fist into his palm, already planning out the harsh punishment he was deciding for the cowardly man next time they met.
"My friends are in danger! I have to go!" Jiro had barely stopped to catch his breath before he was off once more.
"Toya-kun, we need to go." Yukito reminded his fuming friend. The elder Kinimoto snarled under his breath but nodded as he took off after Jiro, the white haired man right behind him, starring after the direction the magician had disappeared to. He knew better than to believe Carter would ignore a possible dire situation, in fact, he could already sense the familiar surge of magical power, assuring him that the Kamen Rider was on his way.
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"Guys!" The three had finally made it to the studio, after pushing through civilians trying to move away from possible threat, and were shocked to find that the situation had spilled out onto the streets. Many teenagers clad in Kendo uniforms were splayed out across the ground, knocked out thankfully, with broken bokuto's scattered around them. And at the center of the one-sided brawl, two figures still stood standing.
The first was an older teen in a black uniform, still clutching his wooded sword in scratched and bruised hands while gasping for his next breaths from pure fatigue and pain. The other, was the clear perpetrator to this incident. It was a humanoid creature with blue skin and an almost insect like body with blue swirls patterned over his face, chest and limbs. In its hand was a long silver pole-axe, but based on its stance of leaning on it while it was stuck into the ground gave the impression the weapon wasn't seeing much use.
"Out of my way!" The teen cried in challenge as he rushed in once again with his useless weapon. The Phantom only sighed and shook its head at the sight of such futility. In counter, the Phantom suddenly flicked its index finger upward, suddenly prompting a powerful gust of wind to rush toward the teen, halting him in his tracks and knocking him on his back with a painful sounding thud. The Phantom then began directing its finger in a slow swirling motion that began to pick up in speed as a miniature tornado suddenly formed around and lifted the helpless teen into the air.
"Around and around!" The Phantom called in glee as the tornado carried the teen higher into the air, trapping him in its dizzying rotation and high speed gusts.
"Hatake-san! We have to help him!" Jiro watched in horror as his respected teammate was being carried to already fatal heights. If the Phantom decided it was bored with its play…
"Jiro-kun, you need to go and get help." Yukito suddenly took the younger boy by the shoulders and instructed him, calmly. "Toya and I will try to get the others to safety while it's distracted."
"Senpai…I understand. Be careful!" Jiro was already off running again, in search of help Yukito knew probably might not come in time or be of much help in this situation. Better to keep the civilians casualties low.
"So, I'm guessing when you said 'we would save the others' you meant 'me'." Toya smirked as he noticed the blue glow in his best friend's eyes.
"I'll try and draw him away while you get the others to safety. I've never fought one of these alone, but I suppose I have to try." Yukito stepped forward, preparing to change into Yue, when a loud call resounded out.
"Nani?!" Sylphi had been so caught up in his cruel play that he didn't sense the danger of an unseen threat prowling about until it was right on top of him, pouncing in anticipation of his next meal.
"GAO!" A golden figure suddenly burst onto the scene, leaping for the blue Phantom with claws raking through the air hungrily. The Blue Phantom was suddenly knocked to the side as Beast caught the now free falling teen before he crashed against the ground. "Safe." Beast sighed in relief.
"Another one?!" Toya exclaimed in shock as he and Yukito rushed to take their injured friend from the Kamen Rider.
"I'll take things from here. Clear these kids out while I hold him off. This is my fight now." He said the last order more to Yukito, whom Shishido had become aquainted with once Carter and the senshii's introduced them. The white haired youth nodded in understanding and thanks as he and Toya carried their junior away, looping his arms around their shoulders for support.
Then, Hatake's eye sudden shot open and he attempted to struggle free of his old classmates grip. "Let me go! I have to go back!" He cried out desperately.
"Oi, Hatake, calm down!"
"The others are still in there!" He exclaimed still futiley struggling. "We have to…help…them…" The exhausted and beaten teen's adrenaline fueled reserves finally gave out and he slumped forward, unconscious. Toya and Yukito starred to each other confused by the sudden outburst, when they suddenly locked eyes on the slowly collapsing dojo, its front entrance having caved in no doubt by the actions of the Phantom and his powerful wind abilities. Hatake and the others with him must have been the only ones who were able to escape before the way in or out was blocked off.
"Bastard." Beast growled, having heard everything and now glaring angrily at the recovering Sylphi. "If there are kids trapped in there…I'll just have to be quick about eating you." Beast summoned his Dice Saber from his buckle and readied himself to engage the Phantom.
"Hmhmhm. Are you so certain you can before I bring the whole thing down?" Sylphi raised his hands to the air as a sudden gust blew in, and began to rise higher into the air. "The winds are ever at my commands. My little show from before is barely a fraction of my true power." The air suddenly became very cold as a ring of high speed air surrounded the Phantom who began chortling to himself arrogantly, safe inside his own personal tornado. "With but a thought, I could flatten this entire street.
Shing!
A clear, beautifully pitched ring suddenly resounded from the within the dojo, drawing the attention of the two combatants and the two who were slowly dragging the injured teens away. For a moment, it appeared as if nothing had happened as the studio's entrance remained caved in.
Zaku,zaku, zaku*
Crash!
The wall just to the side of the doorway suddenly exploded outward as the sound of several fast and precise sword swings could be heard from the other side. Unbelievably enough, the pieces of the broken wall fell apart in angled sections, like they had actually been cut apart. As unbelievable as that sounded, it paled in comparison to the surprise the onlookers experienced as several figures dashed from the new entrance, clinging to one another or carrying out those who were injured.
"The other students! They're safe. " Yukito sighed in relief as he and Toya pulled the last of the unconscious kendo team away.
"Guess my job just got a lot easier." Beast snickered happily.
"Inconceivable! How on Earth did they break that wall down?!" Sylphi cried in outrage as the last of his would-be hostages slipped through his fingers.
"They didn't." A voice called out irritably as a figure stepped from the cut open wall, glaring angrily at her fellow Phantom. "Sylphi…I sincerely wish you could explain to me why I had to cut my way free from a building nearly collapsing on top of me?"
"Em-em-em-EMPOUSA?!" The Phantom's personal hurricane suddenly died out as the now cowering kaijin had fallen onto its haunches and backing away toward Beast, clearly fearing the Phantom woman more. "I-I-I-I didn't know you were in there."
"Unlucky for you, I was." Magenta fire instantly crackled across the woman's body as her human appearance shifted to a form clad in purple-pink armor and her face becoming doll-like, the cruel, painted on smile striking greater fear into the trembling Sylphi.
"Hyeeeeee! Save me!" Slyphi bawled as he grabbed the nearest support he could latch onto, which just so happened to be Beast's leg.
"Oi! Get off!" The mahousukai cried in disgust as he tried to kick his meant to be prey away. Still, his stomach growled in elation at the sight of new quarry, so he wasn't nearly as mad as he let on."
"Would you mind leaving that one to me?" Empousa requested politely to the Kamen Rider she had learned was named Beast. "I need to teach him the consequences of his actions." As if hinting to her intended plans for her fellow Phantom, a shaft of fire suddenly formed in her open hands. The swordswoman grasped the flaming implement with one hand, extinguishing the summon flames and revealing her weapon as a katana with a golden hilt and scabbard with a blue cord trailing from the end of its hilt. "Besides, I've been looking for an excuse to break in my new sword."
"As much as I'd hate to turn down the polite request of such a fetching young woman, I'm afraid I can't oblige." Empousa starred at the Rider curiously while Sylphi glanced up in hope. "I'm afraid I already planned on making him my next meal. Stick around, and maybe you can try breaking that fancy blade of yours in before I eat you too."
Seconds passed in silence as both kaijin took in the bold declaration. Their reactions were quite different.
"HYEEEEEEEEEE!"
"Hmhmhmhm! My, you are very different from the other one, aren't you?" Empousa snickered in amusement, impressed by the gilded Rider's gall. "By all means then, I can certainly wait till you've had your fill."
Sylphi was listening to the exchanges between the two long enough to know its situation looked bleak. On one side, a fellow Phantom that showed often that she held no actual allegiance to her own kind and was more often than not openly hostile toward them. On the other, the magician whose infamy among his fellows for hunting them down for the sake of devouring their life sustaining mana had grown to outstrip even Wizard's since his recent debut. He was stuck in the middle between the two worst possible opponents he could come across. His life expectancy was looking extremely low and he had absolutely no where to go…
But up.
"HYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Sylphi cried out in desperation as he suddenly shot up to stand on the tips of his toes and from that position began rotating at high speeds, creating a spiraling updraft that quickly formed into a towering funnel. The intensity of the gust were so strong that even Empousa had to guard herself from the shear wind speed attempting to repel her and Beast. "You'll never take me alive!" The blue skinned Phantom declared as a shower of black stones shot from his artificial hurricane.
"Ruuuurrrrrr!" A pack of Ghouls rose up from the dirt just as Sylphi climbed higher and higher into the sky, carried by the updrafts he created.
"Oi!" Not willing to let his coveted prey escape him, Beast leaped upward toward the retreating Sylphi, bringing his sword to bear as he collided with the wall of gale force wind. Beast growled in frustration as he pressed against the repelling barrier, glaring indignantly as Sylphi taunted him from inside and out of his reach. "Dammit!" The gale soon became too much for him and we slung backwards, hitting the ground at a roll.
"I'll let you go today since my target wasn't even here. Later losers!" Sylphi feigned arrogance as he rose steadily into the air.
"Coward." Empousa spat in disgust as the two watched Sylphi depart, cackling madly in relief and victory.
"Can't believe I let him get away." Beast smashed his fist against the ground in frustration, seemingly unaware of the Ghouls creeping up behind him.
Smash!
"Is this really the time to sit there and pout?" Beast glanced back, finally noticing the Ghouls and the female Phantom who remained, standing between him and the Ghouls and having already smashed the head off of one with her sword still sheathed. "I do not wish to turn my new blade on peons like these, so I do wish you would stop acting like a child and MAN UP."
"Oooooh. A Phantom with some fire in her." Beast quipped before leaping over Empousa and split kicking a pair of Ghouls. "Almost too good to eat. Almost." His appetite ignited, the ancient magician brought his sword to bare once more as he rushed into the throng of growling Ghouls, hacking and slashing into their stone bodies and devouring their mana as each one fell to pieces at his heavy handed blows.
Though Beast was already too much for them, the Ghouls did not seem capable of ignoring Empousa in the least as they rushed at her with crude weapons at the ready. "Pitiful." She tutted as she easily side stepped and bare handed parried every futile attack of the lesser monsters. "Not even worth the stone they're made of." She accentuated her point by looping her still sheathed sword behind the head of one Ghoul and forcing its face down to her waiting knee, sending it sprawling back onto its backside before she smashed her armored heel down atop its already broken head. "This is a waste of my time."
"Don't say that, I just got here." Empousa perked up at the familiar voice and glanced back to find Wizard; glad in his emerald dragonic armor, making his way toward her with twin swords reverse gripped and slashing away at any Ghouls that dared impede his path. "I never got the chance to thank you for last time. Had you not stepped in, the fight against Phoenix may have ended very differently." The two cut down the few rock monsters that stood between them before standing face to mask, swords lowered at their sides. "I owe you my life..." Allowing one of his blades to dissipate, Wizard gently took one of Empousa's hands and brought it to his masked face, where his lips were, and pecked the top of her hand respectfully. "My warrior goddess."
Empousa stood silently as the affectionate words reverberated within her. For a time, the world seemed to melt away for the two as they only looked toward the other, the battle going on literally around them forgotten. Someone however did not forget.
"Oi! Quit flirting with my Main Dish!" Beast called in outrage as the last of the Ghoul's mana flowed into his buckle. "Plus, I already informed your friends I would handle this battle."
Though the second comment just barely registered to him, the first remark prompted the green clad wizard to tense up, slowly turning his face to stare toward his fellow Rider with his expression unreadable behind his mask. "Eh, pardon?" He inquired.
"Err...right. He has challenged me to a duel and by my honor I must see it through now that all the impediments are out of the way." Empousa explained hastily, jerking her hand from Wizard's while trying to ignore the warmth she was glad didn't show on her doll-like face.
"See, I've got things covered here." Beast nodded in approval. "But another Phantom did get away, so once I'm done here we should-."
"Oh. HELL NO!"
"Light, please!"
The area was suddenly cascaded by a brilliant flash of light flaring forth from Wizard's outstretched hand, blinding both Beast and Empousa. "Wait what's going-."
"No time!"
"Cho-ine, Special! Saikooo!"
Through the spots blocking his vision, Beast could make out Wizard suddenly taking to the air on a pair of metallic wings, the female Phantom in his arms. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"What I need to." Wizard replied as he shot upward into the air, Empousa complaining in his arms the entire way. By the time Beast's vision had fully recovered he was already a distant speck, completely out of his reach even if he wanted to waste the mana required to use Falco.
"Why do all my meals keep flying away?!" Beast just couldn't catch a break today.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Heee! Heee! I think I got away." Sylphi panted anxiously as he surveyed the streets and skies from his roof top hiding place for any signs of the feral Beast and vengeful Empousa, and thankfully not spotting either. "This is beyond cruel." The cowardly Phantom whined as he huddled against the edge of the roof, still trying to calm his mile a minute beating heart. "I should just high-tail it out of this damn city. Someplace those magicians and those other ingrate Phantoms can't bother me."
"Well that is unfortunate news." Sylphi's rapidly beating heart suddenly stopped for half a second. Now visibly trembling, Sylphi looked up to find the cruel grinning visage of Beelzebub peering down at his seated state.
"Be-Be-BEELZEBUB!" Sylphi squealed and quickly scrambled over the side of the roof and channeling the winds to carry him upward and away. He had just cleared the street below and crossed to another rooftop, only to find the monstrous butler waiting for him with his hands held behind his back leisurely. "Hyeeee!" Sylphi instantly U-turned in midair, soaring away from the cityscape and open air.
"You'll find I'm much harder to escape from those Magicians." Beelzebub called from a blue window in space that appeared in Sylphi's way.
"Please, just leave me alone. I tried to do what you asked but the Gate you wanted never even showed up where you told me he would and then I was ambushed by that cannibal magician and that traitor Empousa!"
"Oh?" Beelzebub placed a hand to his chin in thought at the news. Sylphi was suddenly encircled by a ring of blue portals, cutting off his escape. "Be that as it may we cannot allow you to simply walk away. In the face of turn coats like yourselves we can't appear to forgiving."
"I swear, I only agreed to side with Phoenix because I knew he would kill me if I didn't." The blue Phantom explained beseechingly.
"Now, now. We are aware of your plight." Beelzebub explained, his voice oddly soothing.
"You…you are?"
"Though we cannot overlook your transgressions my lady is not above aiding those who wish to return to her good graces. We shall give you the strength to complete your task and not even the Kamen Riders will be able to stop you."
"What must I do?" Sylphi would do anything for forgiveness. If he could get in the Phantom Mistress's good graces, he'd be untouchable. He'd have nothing to fear from anyone.
"Simply a test of loyalty." Beelzebub's clawed hand extended from the portal, holding out a floating, sickly green crystal." Do you know what this is?"
"It's one of the Mistress's Zetsubousekis*." Sylphi stated. "It's what she uses to turn even normal humans into Phantoms."
"Indeed." Beelzebub confirmed grimly. "It is our Mistress's desire for you to have this."
"What-what will it do to me? It's usually meant for human beings right?" He responded nervously.
"This stone, in essence, can fill the user's body with great magical power. Changing it to a form that matches the great power it provides. We are curious what these stones will do to a true Phantom. And you have the honor of showing your loyalty by being the first Phantom to accept this power."
"Why not you, you are the lady's most loyal subject are you not?" Sylphi reasoned, his apprehension at being used as a guinea pig clear in his nervous tone.
"This stone will have no affect on me I'm afraid. So the duty falls to you. Now return to us, Sylphi."
"I…accept this honor. In the name of our Lady." The green crystal instantly flew to Sylphi's out stretched arms. He pressed the relic to his chest and allowed it do its work.
"Ha. Ha. Hi-aaaauuuugh! Hiaaaaaauugh!" The Phantom instantly hunched over in pain as the stone began to worm its way into his chest, leaving a sickly green marking on his skin where it entered. "What's…happening to me!?" Sylphi cried out in pain as his arms were uncontrollably thrown out to the side and were engulfed by twin gales of purple wind.
"You are becoming exactly what you always were meant to. What my lady needs you to be."
The mutating Phantom's body began to give off purple mist that hovered in the air and obscured the struggling kaijin inside. Beelzebub watched on satisfied as the thrashing within the cloud became more intense as the form within began to grow in size and their body twist in agony as it became something new altogether.
"Congratulations Phantom Sylphi. You have succeeded in proving your loyalty. Not that it matters since I doubt you even understand me anymore while in that form. Oh well."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
'Well isn't this familiar.' Carter thought to back how not even an hour ago he was being held up by his dear friend's elder Brother who seemed ready to break his nose into several pieces. And though he didn't mind the gorgeous woman straddling his waist; keeping him pinned to the ground, he could go without the incredibly sharp knife being leveled dangerously close to his eye. "Umm…let me explain."
"I don't appreciate being carried off like some damsel, oaf." Empousa hissed down at him, pressing the still sheathed sword she had been carrying closer against his throat to keep his head straight.
After Carter flew the two of them away from the ending battle and the likely still hungry Beast, he found an empty parking deck the two of them could take cover in, untransform and, initially, talk over what just occurred. And though things were looking calm once Wizard set the originally struggling Empousa down and they both retook human form, it wasn't until he realized she had pulled out her bone hilted dagger that he should have been wary of the silently seething lioness, waiting for her moment to pounce.
Through his slightly choked windpipe, Carter managed a chuckle as he grinned cheekily. "Well as long as we're lying to ourselves. I can't say I appreciate the view either."
"What?" Empousa lifted a brow at his confusing statement. She then followed his line of sight, which lead to her shirt collar which was currently hanging open due to her propped up state. The magician cheekily flashed both his brows up and down in a knowing gesture.
"The 'View', you see."
"You…Pig!"
"Liquid!"
Just as soon as Empousa let up her hold on his throat in order to raise both her weapons upward in preparation to strike, Carter quickly passed his slipped on Liquid ring over the WizarDriver, changing his body to luminous blue water. The liquefied mahousukai quickly slipped from beneath the surprised Empousa's hold and slipped behind her, wrapping both her hands in watery hands, forcing the Phantom woman to drop both her weapons as he returned to solid form.
"Now just let me explain-oof!" Reminding the upstart Rider that she was no slouch with unarmed combat, Empousa quickly pumped both arms back, driving her elbows into Carter's ribs and forcing him to release her in order to grip his damaged abdomen. She then wheeled on him, stabbing at him with her fingers pointed out as if it were a blade.
"Whoa! Time out!" Carter just barely ducked his head to side before Empousa's "blade" came close to gouging his eyes out again.
"I have nothing to say to an oaf like you!" She suddenly leaped up, cracking off a quick roundhouse aimed to take his head off his shoulders. The thankfully trained magician quickly fell back, falling into a bridge pose which he quickly twisted on one hand from in order to get into a crouching position with his back turned to the enraged woman, already preparing her next move by cupping her hands together in order to hammer them down on Carter's vulnerable skull.
"Ok, if that's how you want it." Empousa's eyes widened as she stopped mid smash. In the seconds Carter had before the space between them became too small to maneuver, he quickly spun on the balls of his feet, twisting to the side and shooting up in order to bring his leg around in an improvised round house that he stopped short of her head. "We always did get along better when we fought."
The female Phantom couldn't hide the devilish grin displaying her pleasure at the idea. The two immediately jumped back from one another, shaking off the near hits before and retook fighting stances; Empousa's a closely guarded stance with both her arms positioned close over her chest with her right hand leading in its bladed position once more, and Carter's a make shift stance he devised with his left arm horizontal before his abdomen and his right arm pointed up in front of his face and hand facing inward as if he were showing off a ring he currently did not wear.
"Come, Wizard!" Empousa moved first, dashing toward the solidly stanced magician with an expression almost frightening given the wide grin she was wearing. She dived the last few steps, forcing her elbow forward into Carter's quickly solidified cross guard. He responded by forcing both his arms apart to force her away and drive his fist forward in a straight, which she swayed her head to the side to avoid.
"Do you make this face every time we fight?" He quipped as he quickly kept up the momentum in his favor by pulling his right arm back in and flicked out rapidly with his left, keeping the woman on her toes and forcing her to back step as the quick jabs came inches of her face. "It's kinda hot, in a creepy kind of way."
"Shut up." More than fed up with his taunts/flirtations, Empousa suddenly stopped backing away and instead stepped inward, avoiding Carter's next oncoming jab and smashing her own fist in between the opening in his guard.
"Fui…" Carter quickly covered his face with his right hand, catching Empousa's counter blow before he actually broke his nose. "Can I explain now? I can't exactly hide a broken nose or black eye from my class by tomorrow."
"You had best expect worst than that by the time this is over." Empousa pulled her fist away and lanced out both of her hands, stabbing forward rapidly as her dagger like hands cut through the air. Carter was just barely able to fend her off as he had to parry and redirect her barrage of hand-blades but he wasn't able to completely keep up as one hand grazed his cheek, drawing a line of blood that nearly reached his ear. "Besides, I have no intention of listening to someone who has shamed me so."
Carter grimaced at the words and his reactions began to slow. Empousa's blade-like hand shot directly for his unprotected face, aimed directly for his eyes. Her opponent's effort to stave her off had all but ceased, she had the perfect opportunity to land her blow, leaving a permanent reminder for him to never disrespect her again.
But she stopped, her nails inches away from his blue, melancholy orbs that locked with her onyx ones.
"Go on." He pressed her, his expression blank. "If I have insulted you in some way, I don't mind losing an eye or two. Or an arm if you'd prefer. Or whatever you'd like, except my life."
"You do not fear dismemberment but you refuse to give up your life?"
Carter smirked and pulled his hands into his jacket pockets. "I told you didn't I? I want to go on living, not just because I have a duty to fulfill, but because I want to keep on fighting you for the rest of my life. Though, I must admit, I will severely miss this handsome mug of mine if you decide to take an eye?" He rubbed the side of his face affectionately to accentuate his point.
"Sigh. I suppose I will too." Empousa conceded, though she lightly smacked him across his other cheek before pulling her hand away. While Carter cradled his now smarting but thankfully still whole face, Empousa retrieved her knife and sword, looking over them both for signs of dirt or wear, finding none and sending them off in burst of flame.
"By the way, that's a pretty impressive looking blade. I guess it's to replace your rapier Phoenix broke."
"Indeed. I found it abandoned after the battle with that fiend and his minions died down. I have been trying to learn the style such a blade requires as my former style is not suited for such a weapon." It was an odd encounter to say the least for the Phantom woman. When Empousa stumbled upon the katana at the sight of the four Mages and Cherufe's battle, it seemed as if it were shivering in the night air, like a child without its parent. When she first picked up the blade, she did not feel the familiar chill of steel. The blade seemed to give off heat that only grew as it remained in her hand. Having lost her companion blade that had served her for many years, she felt a strong desire to keep this odd weapon with her, to master it and make it her own.
"I see…that must be why you were causing trouble for Jiro-kun's Kendo team. You were trying to pick up a few moves by antagonizing them into fighting you, to see what an attack with combat intent truly looks like." Carter deduced. Empousa's expression suddenly became troubled as she remembered her battle with the young Enoshima. She sighed in guilt, puzzling her companion. "Something wrong?"
"I fear I may have unintentionally broken the spirit of the one I goaded on. Though our fight was brief, she easily gauged our difference in skill level and suddenly lost all will to fight. I worry that girl may abandon the way of the sword because of me."
"Not likely." Carter said assuredly. Empousa's questioning gaze demanded he elaborate.
"I speak from experience. Losing to you doesn't mean she'll lose her complete confidence. She'll take a day or two to get her head wrapped around it, realize how big the world is and that she is just at the cusp of understanding it. Then, before you know it, she'll be training ten times harder than she ever has before, all for the sake of just catching up to the person who taught them such a valuable lesson."
"I see." Empousa thought back and giggled. "I do recall the sound thrashing I'd given you in our first encounter. So that is how you bounced back so quickly."
"That and an overwhelming desire to learn your Phone Number…which I now I have!" He cried in sudden realization and triumph. Empousa then conked him on the side of the head in order to get him to cease his moronic cheers.
While Carter was sheepishly massaging his bruised skull, the female Phantom seemed to be in thought. Finally, she gave a sigh and stated; "It occurs to me that against my better judgment you have convinced me to continue speaking with you. Alright, out with it." Carter tilted his head confused for a only before he realized she meant she would now hear out his reason for absconding with her, as he had been trying to do from the beginning.
"Well, as to why I intervened in your fight…to put it simply I did not want you and Beast to fight at all." Empousa's even gaze told him she was listening but also wanted him to further elaborate. "To be honest, I fear that you are in fact the worse match up for magicians like me and my friends. You'd be a danger of nightmarish proportions if you were like other Phantoms."
Empousa knew his argument had merit. Her ability to steal mana with but the tiniest scratch from her knife made her a threat to magicians, possibly equal to or greater than monsters like Phoenix who wield their overwhelming power without restraint. Plus, Carter's actions were not entirely new to the Phantom woman if she recalled one of her earliest meetings with the young mahou shoujo and Carter's almost protective stance between the two of them. Even against her, he would protect his friends at all cost. But that just proved how much he actually feared and respected her power.
"I see, then I feel I must apologize." Empousa admitted. "You were doing simply what I have come to expect you to do, I was the one who overreacted."
"Whoa let's not go that far!" Carter held up his hands for cease in such talk. "I'm the one who should have warned that nut job ahead of time. His mana is a much more precious commodity to him than mine is to me. Had he been informed ahead of time, he would have thought twice before picking a fight he can't afford."
"Hmhm, it seems I can count on you to spread my infamy accurately and respectfully."
"But of course." Carter bowed respectfully. "I would spread word of your terror and beauty to the four corners if you but ask me, my Warrior Goddess."
"Just this city will be fine, thanks." Empousa smiled and patted Carter on the head affectionately. "I think I will retire for the day."
"You sure? I'm still raring to go if you want to pick up where we left off?" Carter grinned cockily and shuffled from foot to foot in a display of readiness.
"Don't you have a Phantom to track down?" Empousa smirked as Carter's eyes widened in remembrance. "Ta!" She waved as she disappeared within a shroud of magenta flames.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kinimoto residence; 6:00 pm
"Ittadakimasu!" The three Kinimoto's called in unison as they sat down to dig into the dinner Sakura and her Father had prepared. Sakura and Fujitaka were pleasantly enjoying their meal; Sakura more so as she stuffed her face with her father's special curry, one of her favorites that she enjoyed every bite of it. Toya however was not eating with the same energy as his family, practically only picking at his food while wearing a troubled expression.
"Is something wrong, Toya-kun?" Fujitaka noticed his son's depressed demeanor instantly and had a hunch what it was about. "I heard your school's kendo team was attacked by one of those monsters in the news? Do you know if any of your old school mates were hurt?"
"Some were put in the hospitable, only for minor injuries though. Probably would have been worse if that Kamen Rider hadn't shown up." Toya muttered slightly relieved as he willed himself to bring a proportionately good sized bite to his mouth.
Sakura's ears perked up at the comment and she suddenly eating. "Onichan you saw Kamen Rider Wizard?"
"No. That other one did. The gold one that looks like a lion."
"Well, we can be grateful they showed up when they did, whoever they were." Fujitaka said, relieved for his son. "I'm glad to know this city at least has someone trying to keep people safe from those terrifying creatures I keep hearing about."
"Right!" Sakura agreed whole heartedly, Toya soon began eyeing her suspiciously. Part of the reason for his lack of energy was that he was still in a bad mood over not getting any answers out of that lying rat Hughes. And since his little sister seemed so interested in hearing about these monster attacks and the mysterious Riders who fought them, it did more than just make him a little suspicious.
"Hey, Sakura." Toya got his sister's attention. "I ran into that teacher of yours today. The foreign one."
"Oh! You and Yu-sensei met today? What did you talk about?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Mainly you. He speaks highly of you as one of his students." Toya half fibbed, prompting Sakura to blush embarrassed. "He says you're an earnest learner and a joy to have in class. Not much on the grade scale though." Toya smirked while taking a big bite out of his curry.
"Yu-sensei wouldn't say that!" Sakura barked defensively. "Yu-sensei is really nice and supportive. He always helps me in class if I struggle with something, same as he does with everyone in our class."
"He sounds like quite the teacher." Fujitaka said, impressed.
"Mhm! He's a great teacher! I want to be just like him."
"Cough! Cough!" Toya suddenly started choking on the food he was about to swallow.
"Toya-kun?!"
"Onichan, daijobu?"
"You…" He finally swallowed as he starred dumbfounded at his younger sister. "You want to be a teacher?"
"Yup!" Sakura said earnestly. "I want to be super smart just like Dad and super fun and helpful like Yu-sensei."
"Being a teacher isn't all fun and games." Fujitaka budded in, making sure his daughter understood what she wanted to do. "It takes years of hard work and more studying than you've ever had to do in school."
"I know. So I'm gonna work 10X harder than ever."
"Well, at least we know you have a good role model to point you in the right direction." Fujitaka smiled pleased and soon the two were eating their meal again, more pleased than before. Toya however stopped eating all together, utterly dumbfounded.
'He…wasn't lying?'
Throughout the entire conversation, a certain "role model" had been elsewhere, trying and failing to make his way home as he was suddenly caught in a fit of sneezes, wondering if he had caught some sort of bug.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Next Day
The school week continued on, as they always did, despite the events that occurred at the Kendo Dojo yesterday. Classes continued to be held; Kendo practice however, had been canceled for the foreseeable future. Not surprising considering several of the students, including the team captain, had been hospitalized from trying in vain to fend off the monster responsible. And besides that, some of the students were considering quitting either out of fear, or for one, having suddenly lost the will to practice.
"I run late one morning and suddenly it's like the entire world's coming apart." A particular Kendo club member sighed to himself dejectedly. He knew couldn't have really done anything even if he had been there. He was after all only the club manager and probably the weakest member of the team, even weaker than some of the beginners. Still, he wished he had been there to at least console Enoshima. He had heard from another member that after she seemed to lose her duel against the mysterious intruder that she seemed to have completely lost her drive for the sport. An unexpected tragedy considering she was probably the most dedicated member of the team, even more so than Hatake.
"What a mess."
"Truly, you have no idea." The Tomoeda High Student lifted his head at the sudden remark and found someone he did not recognize barring his path. "You're quite the lucky man, Asano Jiro-kun." The younger looking teen smiled devilishly.
"Umo…who are you?" Jiro backed away nervously as he inquired to the strange boy's identity, completely put off by his odd expression and dangerous seeming presence.
"I'm no one in particular. Just a simple messenger…" The wind suddenly picked up as a thick cloud cover blotted out the sun, casting the street in an unnatural shade that chilled to the bone. "And I'm here to tell you: Your luck has run out."
Whoooooooosh!
A towering column of silver-blue wind suddenly touched down between Jiro and the sneering messenger who remained unconcerned by the hurricane force gale while Jiro was just struggling to stay on his feet. The winds suddenly died down completely, revealing a hunched over, drunkenly swaying Sylphi in its place.
"Th-that monster from yesterday!" Jiro finally did fall back, though the winds could not be blamed as he scrambled back from the creature responsible for hospitalizing his friends.
"Deja-vu. Wouldn't you say so, Sylphi?" The devilish teen chuckled, placing hand on the haggardly breathing Phantom without fear or concern. "There is your prey right before you. You know what to do."
"Hai…Beelzebub-sama." Sylphi muttered lifelessly as he summoned his silver pole-axe to his waiting had and marched forward toward Jiro, his weapon dragging at his side and cutting across the ground while he slowly shuffled in a zombie-like manner. "I must teach you the fear of death." With only one hand, Sylphi's axe was raised over his shoulder and poised to come down upon the too terrified to move teenager.
"Not so fast! Gao!"
In the instant just as the blue-skinned phantom brought his axe down for the kill, a gold blur leaped in between the Phantom and his prey, catching the shaft of the axe in his armored clutch and stopping it in its descent. "You won't be getting away from me this time." Beast growled, angry and hungry as he forced the silver weapon back and drove his fist into Sylphi's face, knocking the Phantom back. "And that goes double for you, Beelzebub." Beast challenged the sneering Phantom with his claws outstretched.
"And here I thought we could learn to coexist. Are you that unwilling to make peace with my lady?" Beelzebub inquired, switching his tone from devious to diplomatic.
"This and that are two different issues." Beast countered, wiping the mouth of his mask expectantly. "I just hate leaving whatever was once on my plate uneaten. I'll figure out if I want to 'break bread' with your mistress after I finish where you and I left off."
Beelzebub sighed as a portal appeared behind him. "Another time then. I sense we will soon have more guests and I wish to not be seen just yet. For now…" Beelzebub tossed a twin handfuls of black stones into the air as he began to recede into his portal. "Sylphi, I leave this to you. Do not disappoint our Mistress."
"Tch. Guess I'll deal with him later." Beast cursed as Beelzebub's portal disappeared with him long gone inside it. By now the black rocks had fully formed into a new pack of groaning Ghouls, many of which appeared to be of the artillery variety. Beast looked behind him, grimacing to find that the Phantom's Gate target was still here, cowering in fear of having almost been on the chopping block moments to go. The gilded Rider did not like his chances of defeating all of these morsels while keeping this kid safe. Luckily, he could already hear the cavalry on its way.
Vroom!
Beast grinned under his helmet as he heard the motorcycle pull up behind him, as well as the flapping of wings and several soft footfalls as several costume clad figures stepped up beside him to stand between the Gate and the pack of snarling Kaijin.
"Glad we didn't miss all the fun." Wizard quipped as he, the three senshiis and the transformed Clow Guardians formed a literal wall of bodies before the Gate and cutting a heroic figure with their weapons drawn and their gazes set. Jiro had finally escaped his terrified stupor to gaze in awe at the line up before him, just barely comprehending that they had come only to protect him.
"For once I'm glad you could make it. I was never really good at baby-sitting other people's kids." Beast cracked his neck, happy that he had someone to help him fight, for once. "Oh, before I forget…"
Pow!
"Bloody…!" Wizard croaked, clutching his head after Beast's sucker punch sent his brain rattling inside his skull, even through his helmet. "What was that for?!"
"For stealing my Main Dish yesterday." Beast clarified unapologetically.
"I thought we went over this!? I said I was sorry!"
"You still deserved it. Now then…" Beast clapped his hands together expectantly. "Ittadakimasu!" Beast charged in first, growling hungrily as he engaged the Ghouls with his fist and claws bared.
"Let's get in there too!" Meiling called out to her fellow senshiis who nodded in agreement and rushed in to follow the older man's lead.
"Is no one going to ask if I'm ok?" Wizard inquired indignantly while cradling his head.
"You kind of deserve it after that one time." Kero reminded him, prompting Jiro to blanch in shock that the already peculiar Winged Lion could also talk.
"You're the salt of the Earth mate." Wizard sighed in acceptance as he too rushed in, drawing his Sword-Gun and cutting down an unlucky Ghoul as he joined the fray. Keroberos and Yue stayed behind to guard the Gate, because as past experiences showed: unattended civilians usually wound up in more danger later. And they made for a formidable defense as their flame breath and energy arrows instantly mowed down whatever Ghouls happened to slip past the charging Riders and Senshiis.
"You're mine!" Beast declared as he charged straight through the mob of Ghouls and making a beeline straight for the oddly passive Sylphi. After clothes-lining the last Ghoul that dared get in his way, Beast pounced straight for the Phantom, drawing his Dice Saber from his belt. "Gao!"
"Don't get in my way." Sylphi snarled uncharacteristically as he brought his axe around to intercept. The two weapons clashed as Beast brought his sword down in a heavy handed vertical slash.
The impact was tremendous. Not just because of Beast's incredible physical power being put behind such a powerful blow, but because Sylphi was strangely able to counter the attack might for might, leaving the two in an unexpected stalemate."Well now, someone's been eating their protein since yesterday." He quipped as he found an unexpected amount of resistance from the formerly cowardly Phantom.
"You're in my way. Stop making me suffer!" Sylphi howled and now it was Beast struggling as the axe was beginning to force its way forward. "I have to kill him!"
"What's up with that Phantom?" Meiling asked stunned as she knocked a Ghouls head back with the bottom of her palm. "It's totally focused on killing this guy."
"Phantom's normally try violent means to achieve their goals, but besides Phoenix most never actually try to kill their targets." Wizard clarified though he was equally confused by the kaijin's odd behavior. He didn't have long to mull over his thoughts though as he still had Ghouls pressing in from all sides.
"Bind!"
Wizard promptly summoned a web of steel chains from a ring of portals forming around him, binding the stone beast where they stood, leaving them open for him, Syaoran and Sakura to cut all of them down with their swords.
"Haaaaa!"
"Sorya!"
"Eiiiiii!"
Blades cut through stone in flashes of silver as the three mahosukai dashed, twirled and slashed, cleaving the pack of captured Ghouls into stone chunks, allowing their steel restraints to fall free as they slid to a stop. "These Ghouls are just no challenge when you have back up." Wizard swiped bits of dirt from his blade while giving an appreciative thumbs-up to his two friends.
"Shield!" Sakura quickly summoned her pink, dome-like barrier to surround them as a volley of fireballs exploded harmlessly against it, mere inches away from an off guard Wizard.
"You were saying?" Syaoran smirked as he readied a fuda.
Carter chuckled as he placed his elemental ring over the scanner of his sword-gun. "Mind giving your girlfriend a thank you kiss for me later?" Their blushed expressions prompted a satisfied snicker to escape as Sakura prepared to lower her shield.
"Raitei…Shourai!"
"Flame! Shooting Strike! Hi-hi-hi!"
The barrier dropped and a lance of lightning and burst of fire escaped the moment it did so, merging together to form a literal firestorm that engulfed and vaporized the cannon wielding Ghouls caught in its wake. "And that's why these Ghouls are no challenge." Wizard quipped, twirling his gun around his finger.
Bash!
"Waaaaagh!" The three magicians blanched in shock suddenly as Beast fell back at their feet, having been hurled away during his struggle with Sylphi. The golden rider growled as he picked himself up, still smarting from being repelled so fully. "He's different from before. He barely even tried to fight me before he ran off." He explained readying himself along with his three allies as Sylphi stomped his way toward them.
"Stop getting in my way…I have to force him to despair!" The Phantom snarled desperately as it swung its axe forward widely, sending forth a powerful gust that threatened to blow the mahousukai from his path.
"HAAP!"
An emerald crescent soared past the struggling four and literally sliced through the overpowering wind, bisecting the gust and striking Sylphi full on. The now unburdened combatants looked back in relief to see Meilin; having cleared out the rest of the Ghouls, smirking with her wind anklet clad foot raised post kick. "We Senshii's can handle this breeze! You two focus on wiping him out" Sakura and Syaoran nodded in affirmation as they all regrouped to enact their new strategy.
"Don't get me in my way!" Sylphi screamed again as it began swiping out with its axe left and right, sending walls of gale force wind racing for the Riders and Senshiis.
"Here we go you two!" Meilin set her leg back, letting her anklet gem glow bright green while Sakura and Syaoran readied their own spells. Wizard and Beast stood back, knowing their chance to move would come. "Now!"
"Windy!"
"Fuuka Shourai!"
"Kirai!"
Empowered by the additional gusts of the two winds spells, Meilin's crescent wind kick grew to greater power and speed as it crashed through the oncoming gales, bisecting and dispersing them and clearing a path straight to Sylphi, which Wizard and Beast were already charging through.
"Gao!" Beast led the way as he smashed into his foe's guard with his knee crashing against the Phantom's pole weapon. Wizard was right behind him, flipping over the entangled pair and blasting Sylphi in the back with a burst fire of silver bullets. The distraction caused Sylphi to lose his grip on his weapon, allowing Beast to swipe upwards, ripping the axe from his grasp and following up with a clawed strike to Sylphi's chest.
"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" Slyphi howled madly as he stumbled back and turned to grab at Wizard who switched his gun to sword mode and slipped through Slyphi's grabbing claws while cutting across his stomach for good measure. "The Pain! Please make it stop!"
"I know how to make it stop." Wizard stated as he turned on his heel and jabbed his boot into Sylphi's unguarded torso to keep him upright and unable to rush at him.
"Rider…Hell Stomp!"
Wizard's other boot caught flame as he leaped off the ground, using his other leg on Sylphi's chest as leverage and standing tall to deliver his flaming kick straight down into Sylphi's face. The Phantom reeled back as the variation finisher exploded across his body, but though wounded, he was still very much alive.
"Oi, I told you this one's mine!" Beast reminded his comrade who was too shocked by the Phantom's miraculous survival to respond. Sylphi was now clutching at his chest in pain, not from Carter's kick, but from whatever internal agony had been ailing him the entire battle and forcing him to fight harder than he ever had before.
"Look what you've done! It's too late!" Sylphi screamed at the top of his lungs as something within his body began to pulse and bulge. "I can feel it! It's crawling inside me! It's trying to get out! I can no longer…contain it!" Slyphi gave one final howl of agony as his face literally split horizontally from ear to ear like some crooked jack-o-lantern smile and his arms exploded as twin tornadoes sprouted in their place.
"What on Earth?!" Utterly shocked and horrified, Wizard and Beast could only watch as their opponent underwent a grotesque and seemingly agonizing transformation. His formerly sky blue skin had become an ugly gray and his legs too were absorbed by a single column of wind like a swirling gown. Giant, hole-filled wings resembling those of a fairy's suddenly sprouted from his back and then massive, long talon claws formed from the sleeves of his tornado arms. The once humanoid/insect like face had become completely twisted, encompassed by the gaping, malicious grin smiling down at its would-be prey.
"Gyaaaaaaarrrr!" The transformed Sylphi roared monstrously, brandishing its new claws and letting its wings reverberate loudly and filling the area with a locust like buzz that was practically deafening.
"Ok…that's a new one for me." Wizard admitted before he and Beast had to leap to opposite sides to avoid the monstrous Phantom's claw slamming into the ground where they once stood, digging through the concrete as it scraped its wicked talons back. "It's like he's somehow reverted to his primal state before becoming a full Phantom." Wizard surmised as he leveled his Gun-sword at the mutated Phantom's face, letting loose a quick burst of gunfire that impacted dully against the monster's grey skin. Unfortunately, the attack only seemed to make the thing angry as it leered at the tiny magician. It hissed rabidly and leveled both its arms Wizard's way, tucking its claws back in just as its tornado sleeves converged into a single maelstrom that exploded outward, catching the Kamen Rider in its wake. Wizard was sent tumbling through the air, his body jerking to and fro, perpetually at the mercy of a gust he could not escape from.
"Wizard!" Sakura cried out in fear as the Senshii's watched in shock as their friend was entrapped by the dangerous seeming wind tunnel.
"Drop him!" Meiling cried in outrage as she suddenly rushed forward with her fist glowing with magical power.
"Wait, it's not something you can take alone!" Beast cried in warning just as Meiling leaped into the air, careening straight at the malicious beast, when it suddenly turned its wicked grin on her, opening its toothy maw wide.
"Gyyyyyyaaaaaaarrrr!" Two massive, black, smoking stones suddenly jettisoned from the Phantom's gaping mouth, narrowly missing Meiling who turned her body at the last instant but also forced her to withdraw from her attack as she realized the monster was not as defenseless as it seemed. But worse, the stones it had shot at her didn't just shatter on the ground. Instead, they released a very familiar purple mist that shot into the air, materializing two massive forms within the smoke that instantly put everyone on edge.
"Ruoh!" The twin stone Titans rumbled as one as they flanked their slightly smaller master, towering over the remaining combatants and Gate, who at this point was on the verge of wetting himself as he trembled uncontrollably.
"Yue-san! Kero-chan! Get him away from here!" Sakura ordered to her two familiars, who exchanged worried looks at the prospect. On one hand, they did not like the idea of leaving their master and friends to fight such a force without them, but they also knew that with them taking the Gate's safety as priority the fight could be much easier for their friends if they were to move him away from immediate danger. The two nodded together in understand and turned on their charge who suddenly snapped back to a semblance of right mindedness to notice that he was being lifted off the ground and placed on the winged lion's back.
"Hold on tight." The white haired angel instructed him as they suddenly lifted off of the ground.
"Whoa! Hey! Where are you taking me!?" Jiro cried in fright as he clung tightly to the lion's soft neck, praying he wouldn't fall as they climbed higher and higher.
"Ease up would ya! We really might fall if you keep choking me." Kero growled out as he and Yue departed. The Titans saw this and rumbled angrily, lifting their arms and leveling them at the fleeing Clow Guardians. Their raised hands suddenly morphed into stone cylinders that glowed like magma and began to give off heat as they took aim with their newly formed arm cannons.
"RUOH!" Massive fireballs exploded from the twin cannons, streaking across the air like miniature comets and headed straight for Yue and Kero.
"Fly! Sword!"
Falco! F-f-f-f-Falco!
Sakura and Beast took to the skies the moment they noticed what the gigantic Ghouls were up to, quickly catching up to the hurtling projectiles and slashing through them with their Star Wand (sword mode) and Dice saber respectively, bisecting and dispersing them before they ever came close to the retreating guardians.
"I'll look after your mistress, you two just keep that kid safe!" Beast instructed them letting them know the Senshiis were in good hands. "Now, ojou-chan, shall we?" Beast invited as he held his Dice Saber at the ready.
"Hai!" Sakura nodded, bringing her own blade to bear as she and Beast set their sights on the two Titans who had now chosen them as their next targets. The gilded Rider and Card Mistress dive-bombed the still aiming Titans, swerving evasively through the air as the dived further and further. "Eeeeeeeeeiiiii…" Sakura was the faster as she gripped her blade with both hands, swerving to the Titans shoulder at the last second and bringing her sword down in a mighty vertical chop that sliced through the stone appendage, sending the arm cannon crashing to the ground uselessly as Sakura flew away for another attack. Beast had a far less delicate strategy in mind for his Titan.
Buffa! B-b-b-b-Buffa!
Crash!
Dropping his flight capabilities altogether so that he could make his drop all the more affective, Beast crashed sword first into his Titans chest, knocking it off balance as the speeding, man-sized bullet caved in its heartless chest. "I think I'll wet my appetite with you!" Beast proclaimed as he slotted his Buffa ring into the Dice Saber.
One! Buffa! Saber Strike!
"Well I guess one's enough!" Undeterred, Beast slammed his blade home into the Titans cracked chest, filtering golden light through the cracks in the beast's stone body. A mighty bellow like that of a mad bull resounded before a golden projection of a charging bull crashed straight out of the Titans back, finally forcing it to fall over backwards in defeat as its life faded. The Titan crumbled and its mana was hungrily devoured by Beast who sighed in pleasure. He immediately set his sights on the remaining Titan and grinned knowing he was not even close to being full yet.
"Sit tight, kid! We'll have you out of there in no time!" Beast called to his entrapped friend, hoping he could hear him in that state.
"Take…your…time!" A muffled response called from within the mutated Sylphi's swirling grip. "Haven't…puked…yet!"
While Sakura and Beast dealt with the remaining Titan, Syaoran and Meilin rushed forward to face the towering mutant Phantom as it shifted its hold on Wizard to its left arm and reforming its claw on the other. No! More than that! Its right arm was beginning to split down the middle, forming two trunk-like talons that shifted through the air like serpents and suddenly sprang forward at the two Li's with claws pointed like spears.
"Move it!" Meilin hissed as she pulled her guard in while her fist charged with power. The massive claws were just in range to impale the small girl when she rushed in through the empty space between the two hands, fluidly turning her body on an axis as she blasted both talons to the side with quick but explosive jabs. Syaoran was right on her heels as he sprang off her shoulder to leap straight for the growling Sylphi, jamming his sword in one of its eyes. The gigantic Phantom roared in pain, but did not release its grip on Wizard and retracted its segmented limb to attack at the human brat that dared draw so close and wound it.
"Syaoran-kun!" The masked teen smiled and fell back off the Phantom's shoulders, grabbing Sakura's outstretched hand as she flew to his aid. She dropped him off lower to ground where they regrouped with Meilin.
Gulp!
The seconded Titan's mana was finally absorbed into Beast's belt after he and Sakura sliced off its remaining limbs so that Beast could finish it by crushing its head, and now the feral Rider and the three senshii's found themselves back to square one, with their friend still trapped.
"This things just as powerful as an Inner Phantom, something I'm only used to bringing down with Chimera's help." Beast admitted as he shifted his grip on his Dice Saber.
"Maybe now might be a good time to call for Garu-tachi's help." Meilin suggested as Sylphi began to hover toward them menacingly, its twin rights arms now splitting into four for each of its hated foes.
Sakura shook her head disappointedly. "I forgot the whistle at home, and besides…" Sakura still vividly remembered Unicorn and the others being wounded to the point of breaking apart during their battle with Phoenix. She didn't want that to happen again, especially not against a foe this powerful.
"Then we'll just have to make do." Syaoran assured them as he shifted his grip on his own sword and retrieved a fuda from his robes. "Our priority should be freeing Wizard."
"Then please, allow me."
Shing!
"Gyaaaahhhhrrrrrr!" Just as the four heard the haughty reply seemingly from nowhere, Sylphi's left arm containing the trapped Wizard was suddenly dispersed in a flash of fire and steel, its occupant sent flying through the air at an angle before he inevitably plummeted back to the ground with a crash and a skid.
"Uuuuuooooh!" Wizard moaned inside his mask. Whether thanks to magic or the air tight function of his helmet, Wizard was still able to breathe despite being trapped in a vacuum, but that wasn't going to help him get over his dizziness or motion sickness. "I feel I may vomit inside my helmet. " Gasp! "Don't let me drown!"
"It's your own fault for being captured so easily." A familiar voice tutted disapprovingly down at him. "How shameful of you, oaf."
"Empousa-san!" Sakura called gratefully as the Senshii's rushed to check on Wizard.
"Hello child." Empousa's tone turned pleased as the female Phantom knelt and caressed Sakura's cheek almost dotingly. "I've heard much of your abilities. You are certainly turning out to be a warrior worthy of respect." Sakura blushed at the compliment from the proud women. Empousa then turned her attention to Syaoran and Meilin who seemed to be keeping back either out of respect or suspicion. "I do not believe we've had the pleasure? I recall seeing the boy during your battle with Phoenix, but I did not stay long enough to be acquainted." The two looked to each other nervously. They had heard about Empousa enough times from Carter and Sakura assured them she was not like other Phantoms, but that didn't mean should wouldn't be a dangerous enemy if they weren't careful.
"My name is Li Syaoran. It's an honor." Syaoran introduced himself politely, bowing with his fist placed in his hand.
"Li Meilin. You're the hot lady who kicks Yu-sensei's butt all the time, right?" The group heard Carter moan indignantly while Empousa snickered at the straightforward introductions.
"Oh I like her. You have some fine comrades Sakura-san, the oaf notwithstanding."
'I'll admit it any day to anyone that I'll fall for any woman who shows she is my better. But even I have my pride you know?' Carter would have said if he wasn't still fighting back vomit so all that came out was another anguished moan.
"I hate to break up this reunion…" Beast called as he had to weave and roll to the sides as Sylphi; having spontaneously recreated his inviolable limbs, bombarded the area with a swarm of gouging and smashing talons and hurricane force presses. "but I could use some help!"
The three teens were about to move in to assist the older Rider, when Empousa stepped ahead of them, holding an arm out for halt. "Please allow me. I have unfisnished business with that one as well. And now…" Flames jumped to the Phantom woman's open hand, dispersing to reveal her newly acquired blade that seemed to pulse excitedly as she tightened her grip on around it. "…he finally seems like a worthy challenge for my precious blade." Empousa wrapped her hand around the sword's hilt and began to release it from its gold/ivory sheath as she marched slowly to the massive Phantom. Just as one inch of the blade was revealed, scarlet flames instantly filtered through the cracks as if they had been cooped up in a furnace.
Sylphi finally noticed the oncoming swordswoman and hissed hatefully, remembering well who it had been that sliced off its arm and interfered in its play. It suddenly coiled up all of its tendril like limbs as it turned on Empousa who showed no fear for the easily telegraphed attack. At once, all, now dozen, limbs shot straight for the unflinching woman who finally pulled her sword free, revealing its perfect silver blade that, to the astonishment of all, was covered from guard to tip in scarlet flames that ignited the hair like a torch. Empousa let her sheath fall to the ground as she took her sword in both hands. She pointed the blade back and to her left and then dashed straight into the oncoming storm of blows, slicing her blade upward.
"Red Fang!" As her sword arced through the open air, the flames surrounding it flared brighter and hotter, extending and then exploding outward as a plume of scarlet fire that blew straight through the mass of limbs and exploded full force against Sylphi's vulnerable body, sending the mutant kaijin reeling and screaming in pain as its body was coated base to head in fire. "Your screams are just as pitiful as ever, Sylphi!" Empousa mocked as she leaped forward to attack the beast head on. But Sylphi still had limbs to fight with and as its hated adversary grew closer it swiftly retracted its arms again and smashed its palms together, crushing the Phantom woman between them. "And your attacks are just as pitiful." The audacious woman snickered as she appeared from thin air before the Phantom's face. In the blink of an eye she was gone again, only to appear elsewhere, and again, and again, and several times more until the it seemed like multiple copies of her were appearing in mid air surrounding the fiend.
"Let me show a real attack. Reppu Gari!" The after images suddenly began to converge on Sylphi, soaring through the air and slicing across and through the giant beast, scarring its grayish hide with lines of fire that formed a criss-cross pattern up and down its body. The creature gave a howl of pain before it fell to the ground, barely being supported by its arms.
"Truly pitiful, Sylphi." Empousa stated coldly as she held her blade up vertically at her side. "Beast I promised you this kill earlier but I must now renege on that arrangement. "I will put this poor abomination out of his misery myself."
Before Beast even had a chance to oppose her decision, Sylphi suddenly slammed its palms against the ground it desperation to right itself once more. It forced its wounded body to rise into the air and suddenly began to rotate on its base, limbs spread out. It rotated faster and faster as the force of its rotation began to pull in the surrounding air currents. Soon, the giant Phantoms entire body was enshrouded by a massive tornado, far larger than any it had formed before and getting larger still by the second.
"Desperate coward." Empousa scoffed, forcing her feet to remain steady in the same spot despite the wind attempting to force her and the other combatants into the oncoming column of death.
"He'll really crush the whole neighbor at this rate, maybe even the whole city!" Beast grimaced as he placed himself between the ravenous current and the small teens who were struggling to not get pulled in. "We have bring him down now!"
"But there's no way we'll be able to get through that wall of wind!" Syaoran stated, holding on tight to Sakura and Meilin who were the lightest out of all of them.
"We'll have to gradually slow his rotation speed by applying a contradictory rotation of our own. Leave that to me."
"Hurricane…Dragon! Byu-Byu! Byu-byu-byu-byu!"
"Excellent time to clear your head, Wizard." Empousa smirked as her now emerald clad rival stood tall, willing a dome of greenish gust to surround his friends and Empousa, shielding them from the overwhelming pull of Sylphi's hurricane.
"Sakura-chan, I'll need your help so that I can punch my way through that wall. After that, Empousa-san and Beast, I'll make sure you can take your shots." His tone was commanding and tactical, lacking his usual gallantry and theatrical heroism.
"Hmhm. Very well. I wait to be impressed." Empousa snickered, quite enjoying seeing his more stoic and business side for once.
"I can live with that I guess. But you sure you want to go back in there after what you went through?" Beast asked worriedly. As if in response, Wizard forcefully passed his trump card over his buckle's scanner.
"Cho-ine! Special! Saikooo!"
Wizard shot from his domed confines, undeterred by the hurricanes pull as his dragonic wings hovered seemingly effortlessly in the storm. "Sakura-chan, tanomu yo!"
"Ehm, Yu-kun!" Sakura nodded in agreement as she lifted her wand to the sky, knowing just the card her friend needed. "Through! Grant him intangibility!" In response to her command, plumes of clear white magical energy shot from the surface of the card and shrouded Wizard in its magical power, changing his form to become more obscured and see through. Confident nothing could stop him now, Wizard dived straight into the wall of tearing winds, disappearing from sight. The Through flew back to Sakura's hand, signaling her that its power had ceased and that Wizard had once more become tangible so that he could begin his plan.
"Do you think this will work?" Meilin asked nervously as the oncoming hurricane still continued to expand ever outward.
"Just trust in Carter. He's not the type to go back on his word." Empousa assured them confidently as she rested her now extinguished sword on her shoulder.
And then, before their eyes, the tornado's expansion had ceased. They all smiled in relief and excitement as they finally noticed a dark green blur moving at high speeds against the rotation of the gale force winds, replacing them with emerald green winds of his own. Soon the formerly threatening tornado had dissipated into a tiny column that was being engulfed by a larger column of greenish wind. Soon the previous column had faded altogether, revealing Sylphi as the one trapped inside the gale this time as it was swept along in a trap it had devised before.
"Vengeance is mine!" An indignant roar resounded in joyous expectation as the green column began to rise taller into the sky and then dip back down at an angle, bringing Sylphi back down with it. "Eat this! Rider…Hurricane Suplex!" The head of the tornado suddenly crashed into the ground, crushing its victim with the force of its impact and releasing its hosts as he ceased his flight and skidded to a halt back on the ground. "Wipe him out!"
"Red…Fang!"
"Buffa! Saber Strike!"
Empousa's fire ball and Beast's bull shaped projection blasts raced neck and neck as they sailed down upon the vulnerable Sylphi who could only wail in fear as it was instantly engulfed by both attacks. Its massive body finally gave way and the mutant Phantom exploded in defeat at last, releasing a massive octagram of golden mana into the air that was greedily absorbed by Beast.
"Urp! Pardon me!" Beast excused himself as he gave a satisfied belch after his long overdue meal. "I think this is the first time I've ever actually over eaten."
"Come on man, there's a lady and children present!" Carter scoffed arrogantly. "Are you trying to ruin our Super Hero credibility?"
"Right. And you almost losing your lunch in the middle of the street was any better?" Beast countered with an impish tone that instantly shut the ashamed Wizard right up.
"Both of you Riders need to shape up. The fact that I had to intervene at all should show how both you two are truly lacking in ability." Empousa snapped at them both, causing the adult men to flinch like frightened little boys. The Phantom woman then turned on the onlooking Senshiis as she returned her blade to her sheath. "It has been a pleasure, dear Senshiis. Continue to do your best, grow stronger and I may consider you all prospective opponents in the near future." She chuckled lightly at their blushing faces and patted Sakura on the head for good measure before she backed away, her body fading in a flurry of magenta flames. "Sayonara."
"Quite the unusual Phantom, that one." Beast pondered, fairly shocked to meet a Phantom that compassionate and practically human-like.
"Yeah, she's the best isn't she?" Carter replied, his tone dreamy and his head up in the clouds. Beast had to shake his head at the ridiculous sight of a supposed hero mooning over his enemy. As all began to slowly recover from the experience, their minds shifting from combat readiness to an off-guard state, they failed to notice the sickly green gem mixed amongst the remains that were once Sylphi, nor noticed the small blue window opening in space that allowed a hand to reach through and extract the strange item and disappear along with its portal before anyone even noticed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
'Has she not come out yet? Or was she even here to begin with?' Empousa pondered worriedly to herself as she surveyed the recently; albeit hastily repaired, Kendo club studio as the students began to file out one by one, having finished the day's practice. Empousa was searching, moderately from a distance, for a certain promising member whose continued attendance was something she absolutely had to verify for herself. She continued to scan for the face she sought, all but blind to the presence slowly creeping up beside her.
A sudden soft whistle caused her to jump and she whirled around in time to see Carter grinning at her and pressing something soft and powdery against her lips. "Blah! Oaf, what are you doing here?!" She spat as the fool magician pulled his doughnut away, licked his lips and took a bite out of the spot where it touched her mouth.
"Stealing an indirect kiss." He admitted shamelessly as he seemed to thoroughly enjoy his pastry. "Now it's your turn. Shall I ask what my dear rival is doing spying on a bunch of kids?"
Empousa pursed her lips together as she scowled at the nosy man but in the end she gave in to his innocent smile and sighed in defeat so she could go back to her business. "I'm looking for that Enoshima girl that challenged me to a duel before. I needed to confirm whether she actually quit or not."
"Hmm. I see." Carter nodded as he fished out another doughnut from the paper bag he held in his arms. He politely offered one to Empousa but she declined by shoving the treat away from her as if it were poison being offered to her. "I suppose our reasons align then. I'm also here on lookout." He explained, not at all insulted to his offering being rejected, actually the happier for it as it meant more for him.
"For the Gate?" Empousa guessed.
"Correct." Carter affirmed as he too watched the group of children exiting their place of practice, while talking and making plans for what to do now that their practice had finished. Before too long, Carter finally noticed young Jiro file out, discussing plans for the next meeting with Hatake and Ryuugamine who both still sported some bruises from the events with Sylphi. "Most times, I can anonymously contact Gates I can save from falling into despair and convince them to leave the immediate area so that they would no longer be targeted by Phantoms. Though this is a case where just packing up and moving isn't something I can easily ask anyone. So for now, Shishido and I will be watching out for him until it seems he's fallen off their radar. From what I understand he'll be moving to a different school after this year so he should be a little harder to track after that."
"A sound plan." Empousa agreed, not taking her eyes off the doorway. "You know, after the recent skirmishes with Phoenix and now with Sylphi's strange new power, the Phantoms have only doubled their efforts. This battle could escalate very soon."
"I know. Though the Phantoms have seemed on the meek and desperate side lately, there is still that feeling that they are only being pushed by some unknown, greater force I have yet to understand. This Mistress of theirs has yet to reveal her full hand." Carter stated, his tone once again serious and even a bit nervous. "Have you met her?"
"I have, though our meetings have always been behind a closed curtain. I can only say this for certain, she wants you dead."
"Just me? Then that's brilliant." Carter grinned as he tossed his empty paper bag into a nearby trash can. "If I'm all she has to worry about then Sakura-chan and the others should be in no danger once this reaches its climax."
"Always more concerned about others." Empousa scoffed and turned to look at him with a wry smile.
"I could say the same about you." Carter smiled back and gestured with his head to the dojo exit. Empousa turned to finally see the young and vibrantly smiling Enoshima exit the studio, chatting with her friends and clutching a bokuto tight in her arms. Empousa smiled in relief. The girl whose heart she had thought she had shattered was still beating with will to train at the art they both loved.
It had been Empousa's desire to simply watch from afar and admire the youth's drive for betterment. Someone else suddenly gave a shrill whistle, having a better idea. Empousa turned on the mahousukai with the intention to throttle him so that he'd choke on his doughnuts but he had already ducked down a corner, out of her reach and out of sight.
"Onee-sama!" Empousa stiffened at the call and turned to see Enoshima dashing across the street with an excited smile on her face. "Onee-sama, it's great to see you again!"
"O-oneesama?" Empousa asked unnerved as she pointed to herself for confirmation. Enoshima nodded vigorously.
"Onee-sama is now my idol! I'm going to train even harder so that I can one day fight you at an even level. So I'm going to keep at it and not lose to anyone until then."
"W-wait! Why me?!" Empousa had to know why a woman this girl should hate by all means is now the figure of her admiration. By all means, she should have been humiliated beyond repair.
"Who else but Onee-sama is as strong and beautiful? To have cut straight through that wall to let all of us out, and then stand up to that monster so the rest of us could escape. Onee-sama must be as strong as the Kamen Rider, even stronger!"
"Well…you're not wrong." Carter listened to the exchange from just around the corner, grinning as his dear rival was slowly easing into the conversation. He slipped away unheard, confident in knowing he had been right in the end.
'You just bring out peoples latent desire to become stronger, my warrior goddess…No perhaps Goddess of Victory would be better." Carter understood her warnings all too well. The fights were only going to get worse from here and the closer he got to ending this battle. But he would be ready for anything to protect his dear friends' home. After all, he had a Goddess he had to impress.
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Somewhere off the Coast of Japan
An inconspicuous Container ship, following the path through the ocean it had always traveled as it ferried cargo from one side of the globe to another. However, unbeknownst to the crew, this ship carried a particular stow-away; a stow-away that until this point had remained hidden. But as the ship came closer and closer to its destination, the stow-away could not contain himself any longer as the urge to come top side and smell the sea air and look out to the coming shores of the country, of the city he would soon be unleashed in. The excitement was so overwhelming that he forgot himself for a second and crushed the steel guard rail he had been holding onto with his bare hands.
"Better brace yourself Tomoeda, cause there's a new star in town. And me and Wizard are gonna give you a show you'll never forget!"
"Hey! Who the hell are you kid?!" A harsh voice bellowed as a large crew member stomped his way over to the stow-away who cursed under his breath for his loudness. "You lousy stow-away, give me one reason to not send you over board so you can swim to shore!?
The stow-away only chuckled under his breath and released his hold on the rail, revealing the crushed and bent metal his fingers had wrapped around and shaped with his own strength. "Let me tell you something, sir. A lousy stow-away would be afraid of getting caught. I'm another breed of stow-away altogether." The boy cracked his knuckles as he grinned knowingly at the man. "Let me show you just what I can do."
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Just one moment please! (news paper strikes Des-D across face.)
Thats a bad fic author! Bad! Taking so long to update and only having this garbage to show for it! Bad!
Gasp! Gasp!...So, yeh. That's my feelings on this. Sorry it took so long guys, procrastination and all that.
Have some "fanservice" for you all in the form of a sword I'm sure most of you will instantly recognize. If you're gonna ask questions do so through pm please.
Also, sorry but no christmas special this year if you were looking forward to another one. Kinda wouldn't make sense considering how little time has passed in this story.
Zaku*: rough sound affect noise for slashing/cutting, I wanted to try using Japanese onomatopieas for once.
Zetsuboseki*: Roughly "despair stone", think of it like an antithesis of a Mahouseki. Its a fake word i came up with so don't try looking it up.
I'll try to get the next update out as fast as possible as a late Christmas gift to you guys. I'm hoping it will be shorter and more on point, and tons of fun with what I have planned. Look forward to our mysterious stow-away's big reveal!
