"My thanks for disposing of Flying Fox for the time being." Nariko said to Tanya as the group kept running away from the pit. "A shame I could not be the one to take his arm."
"In all fairness, the guy had it coming." Legolia commented.
"So, what are we gonna do now?" Aqua asked.
"We escape this fortress. We came to rescue Shen and the other clansmen, so mission accomplished." Ethox said.
"We still need to stop Bohan as well." Simon said. "Chances are he's sending his soldiers after us right now."
"Well then, let's proceed!" Darkness said as the group took off, approaching a bridge with soldiers and Molded blocking the path, including a variant with more bulk than the others.
Heavy Molded
"You called it, Simon." Legolia said. "The only way out is through."
"Then let's do it!" Ethox declared as the group engaged the enemy.
Tanya's piercing spells managed to get through the defenses of the armored humans, making them only a marginal threat. Nariko, meanwhile, managed to use Power Stance to deal with the new Molded Variant.
After the mob had been cleared, the group opened the gate, allowing them to continue forward. However…
"That will be far enough." a voice declared, as the group saw Verde Oz-Borne standing at the end of the bridge. "You have strength, woman. But it fades with every swing of your sword. How much more can you lash out until your body gives itself to death, I wonder?"
"Until Bohan himself is defeated and the Land is free from his tyranny." Nariko said.
"Ha! Freedom? Is that what you truly fight for?" Verde laughed. "I can see it in your eyes. Full of hate and anger. Whiptail must have truly stoked your flames into a raging inferno. You fight for vengeance, and nothing more!"
"So what, you're going to try and stop us?" Aqua asked.
"No…not yet." Verde said. "There are only two I wish to die at the hands of, and they are not here. I am here…to fan those flames even higher!"
Verde's arm, the one torn off during Onigashima, then turned black as night before he thrust it out, the arm extending at lightning fast speeds and grabbing Kai by the neck before drawing back.
"You care for this one, don't you?" Verde asked as he held the struggling girl. "Then…her death should rob you of any humanity left in your heart. If you want to prevent that…then come and try!" he taunted as he jumped out of sight with Kai in tow.
"KAI!" Nariko called.
"C'mon, we gotta chase Verde down!" Ethox said as they pursued Verde across a cliff and into a camp of sorts, with Verde addressing a group of soldiers.
"Worthy prey has wandered into your camp, humans! Hunt to your heart's content!" the goblin paladin declared as he left, the hunters arming themselves against the group.
"We don't have time for this!" Ethox said before he saw two cages with Orangumen in them. "Let's give them something else to worry about."
Ethox then dashed towards the cages and cut the locks on them, allowing the wild animals to break free and attack the hunters, letting the group pass them by up the scaffolding.
The group found themselves at the base of a dilapidated temple, Verde standing around a pile of dead Orangumen, Kai nowhere in sight.
"Where's Kai, you bastard?!" Legolia demanded of the goblin.
(Cue: The Force In You - Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories)
"The foolish fox has her now." Verde said, turning to the group with a black-and-red sword in hand. "You want to get to her? You'll have to get through me!"
Demon General
Verde Oz-Borne
The goblin paladin made the first move as he charged Nariko, his evil blade locking with the Heavenly Sword.
"You left Kai at the mercy of that Madman? I should expect nothing less of a monster such as yourself." Nariko said.
"So you know, do you? What happened to the child's mother, and what Flying Fox did to her?" Verde asked as he and Nariko clashed blades.
"Wait, Flying Fox and Kai have a history?" Ethox asked as the group ran around looking for an opening to jump in.
"No kidding. That crazy bastard murdered Kai's mom. It's why she's so messed up in the head." Legolia said.
"I get it… I wondered why she was acting so strange." Simon said. "She suffers from PTSS. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome."
"That can really mess someone up in the head if it's not treated." Tanya noted. "But at least now we know why she was acting like everything was just a game to her."
"Yes. Kai's condition made her mind create a sort of 'happy place', where the problems going on around her couldn't reach. She wasn't completely unaware of the violence around her or the seriousness of the situation, though." Nariko said. "However… the moment Flying Fox entered her vision, that place must have shattered as her memories returned. Damn him…!"
"Focus on the enemy in front of you!" Verde yelled as he pushed Nariko away and prepared a follow-up strike, his sword glowing red. "Demonic Blade Skill, Uper-Tier: Ziz Strike!"
"Horned Barrier!" Ethox got between Nariko and Verde, his barrier protecting them while it shattered against the Demon General's strike, throwing them back and clearing the sky behind them of any clouds. "Yep…he's way stronger than last time…"
"We do not have time for this. Every minute we waste fighting this creature, Kai is at the mercy of Flying Fox." Nariko informed.
"But we can't waste this opportunity to take out one of the New Heavenly Kings! It would make our job against Zenos so much easier!" Aqua said.
"You think you can take him?" Tanya asked the goddess.
"...Good point. Simon, help!" Aqua asked.
Simon summoned Thrace and charged at Verde as he swung it at lightning fast speeds at him. "Trample!" he called, masquerading with Diomedes and swiping his bladed hands as 5 slashes occurred at once.
The attack managed to knock Verde back a bit before his sword glowed red once more. "Demonic Skill, Upper-Tier: Hell Expansion!"
Verde's body was surrounded in a black aura before it exploded outwards, the surrounding area being decimated by the force of the attack.
"He's too strong, we can't take him on with just us!" Aqua said.
"Aqua's right. We need a way out of here." Ethox agreed, then got an idea. "Oh, I know! A musical number!"
"...What." Tanya deadpanned.
"Ethox, this isn't the time for one your stupid on the spot plans!" Aqua chided.
"I think I may know what he's referring to." Simon said as he drew Ribbit Libido-BZ55.
"If you've got something that can help, then do it. As for me…" Ethox said, pulling out a Heartbinder in the shape of a shell. "I'm calling in some help of my own!"
"~Get out of the way! You're not even worth the time of day. So how 'bout you stop wasting yours and mine. Here's the bottom line: we're gonna leave you scarred. You will not get that far. Your rose dies here with no bloom. Prepare to meet your doom~!" Simon sang in a techno voice as music played and multiple demonic hands popped up and waved to the beat before masquerading with Baal and singing a high note at the end, unleashing musical waves that dealt massive damage to Verde while also boosting his strength and defense for a time.
"Alright, let's try this out!" Ethox said, raising the Heartbinder over his head as it glowed…
"Hey, that's..!" Aqua said, seeing Sayu's Heartbinder as it glowed.
"Let's go!" Ethox called as the entire area glowed.
(Cue: Vs Sayu (1:36 Start) - No Straight Roads)
A ring of water formed around Ethox and appearing from it was Sayu as she held her right hand out to him as he grabbed it before throwing her into the air as she then dove into the ground with Ethox following as the two continued to do so back and forth, leaving small pools of water behind while also splashing some onto Verde.
"What sorcery is this?!" Nariko gawked in shock.
"Oh, so THAT'S what Ethox Meant!" Aqua said.
"Huh, I was wondering when he'd use that." Legolia remarked.
Verde was thrown for a loop as he tried to attack Sayu and Ethox as they dived in and out of the ground, but he couldn't keep in sync with the beat, and kept missing every time.
"What game are you playing, Nobody?! Stop splashing around and face me as a warrior!" Verde called.
"Don't worry, he's not messing around." Legolia noted. Once enough pools were set, that's when Ethox sprung his trap.
"Ready?!" Ethox asked as and Sayu stood back to back as they held hands on a water spout as the pools of water they formed from their diving formed into water fountain pillars, dealing massive water damage to Verde.
(End song)
"Argh!" Verde cried, buffeted by the water as he fell to one knee, breathing heavily. "I will say…you're getting stronger. But not nearly strong enough for what's coming. That fool of a king will be the least of your worries soon enough."
The Goblin Paladin then got to his feet and leapt up to the temple's roof, sparing the group one last look and sentence. "Beware Life Nevermore." Verde then turned and walked away, leaving the group free to press on.
The group continued to give chase and fought off more of Bohans troops before reaching a large cage of some sort and inside it was Flying Fox as he held Kai by the neck. The man's appearance was slightly different, his eyes yellow and an emblem plastered on his bare chest.
"He's gone. Nothing but a pawn of the Heartless now." Simon said.
"Ah, my friends! I'd hoped you'd arrive!" the Heartless of Flying Fox called out to them. "You're just in time…for the show!" he declared as he threw Kai out of the cage, the group seeing the rope tied around her neck.
One second. It only took one second for her to fall. One second for the rope to tighten. It was one second none of them could take advantage of. They could only watch in horror as Kai was left dangling by her neck in the wind.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Nariko screamed. "Kaaai…" she cried.
(Cue- Vim and Vigor- Kingdom Hearts 2)
"The death of one so young is so…delectable. And now, you're all here to enjoy the spectacle…" Flying Fox said.
"Is she…?" Darkness asked in worry.
"No, don't worry." Simon said. "She is very much alive, but we don't have much time."
"How long do we have before Kai dies of asphyxiation?" Tanya asked.
"I give her about one or two minutes."
"Then let's finish this guy fast, before Kai kicks it for real!" Ethox said as the group engaged the Heartless Version of Flying Fox.
Mad Beast of the Shadows
Flying Fox
"I hope you've all learned a few lessons since we last danced, children." Flying Fox said. "Let us see…"
"Keyblades are one of the only things that can kill Heartless." Ethox siad. "Don't worry Nariko, we'll beat this guy and save Kai!"
"I'll put my faith in you. Flying Fox dies today!" Nariko said.
Ethox stared down Flying Fox with determination in his eyes, before the Heartless threw one of his blades at him, which the Nobody easily swatted aside.
"You've caused enough trouble." Ethox declared before he dashed towards Flying Fox, his Keyblade clashing against the Heartless's spear. "You need to die."
"And leave my work unfinished? I think not!" Flying Fox cackled as he grabbed one of his blades and swung at Ethox, forcing him to back off.
"You won't get close to him with all those blades he's swinging around!" Aqua said.
"Yeah… I gotta stay focused." Ethox said. "(Those blades of his can be used for offense and defense. There's gotta be an opening in his moves….)"
With time ticking down, Ethox had no choice but to rush in and attack Flying Fox with all he had. Fortunately, he was able to take advantage of an opening in Flying Fox's attacks, and struck him hard with Silver Wolf, followed by a big Firaga blast that sent him flying back.
That chain was followed up by Tanya and Nariko, Tanya riddling Flying Fox with holes with her machine gun and Nariko shredding his flesh with the Heavenly Sword's Speed Stance.
Meanwhile with what strength she had, Kai held up her crossbow and fired an arrow planting straight into Flying Fox's head, getting a perfect headshot.
"Peek-a-boo…Asshole!" Kai said.
"Oi! Language, Kai!" Ethox said.
"Hey, it's well deserved after all the hell he put her through. Now c'mon, lets get her down from there!" Legolia said.
The group rushed to the cage and worked fast to free Kai from her ropes, saving her just before she was out of breath.
"Are you okay? Breath Kai." Ethox said.
"Okay. Hand…through rope!" Kai breathed, as the group saw that she had put one of her hands through the makeshift noose, reducing the amount of force on her neck.
"You little genius, you!" Darkness smiled. "And you managed to end that horrible man! Well done!"
"Uh, guys? If Flying Fox is supposed to be dead, why do I still sense darkness coming off him?" Aqua asked.
Flying Fox had an arrow through his head, but he didn't yet go down, and like Aqua said, darkness was coming off him in spades.
"Uh oh… he hasn't completed the transformation yet! Kai, you need to-!" Ethox started.
"N-No. The man is changing to monster…and Kai is not scared of monsters!" Kai said as she leveled her crossbow at the shifting form of Flying Fox, whose body was growing larger.
"Then get ready, because here comes the beast!" Ethox said.
(Music Shift: The Deep End- Kingdom Hearts)
When the darkness cleared, in Flying Fox's place was a large, black furred fox with piercing yellow eyes and red claws. Behind its back, nine silver tails were seen, looking sharper than blades. The Heartless stared down at the group before its snout curled into a wicked grin and it let out a piercing laugh.
Nine Tails of Terror
Huli Jing
"This is where the real battle begins, Nariko! Don't hold back, that's not Flying Fox anymore, he's lost all his humanity!" Aqua said.
"He wasn't even human to begin with." Nariko replied.
"Have to agree with her on this one." Simon said. "Now what say we wipe this bastard's smirk right off his face?"
Ethox smiled, leveling his Keyblade "Let's go fox hunting!" he said as everyone got ready for round 2.
The Huli Jing started the fight as it leaped onto the floor of the cage, its nine tails slashing towards the group like swords.
"Too slow!" Simon called, dodging at the last second and activating Witch Time. "What's say we go for a combo, Ethox?" he said before masquerading with Malphas.
"Works for me!" The Nobody agreed as he leaped into the air.
"Hope you don't mind us fanning the flames!" Simon said, flying around the Huli Jing and forming a miniature tornado. Ethox, meanwhile, came down towards the Heartless with Deep Diver and hit it straight back down with great force.
"If you can't take the heat…" Simon started before masquerading with Phantasmaraneae and thrusting his stinger into the ground underneath the Heartless. "Get out of the kitchen!" He finished as lava erupted underneath, flaring the tornado, dealing massive fire and wind damage to the Heartless before he leaped back to Ethox as they bumped weapons.
The monster was far from done, however, as it leapt up and, before the group's eyes, split into four different foxes, each of them slinking around them before they all threw out wind slashes, the attacks surrounding the group in a circle.
"Yipe! Nowhere to go!" Aqua yelped.
"No…not quite." Nariko said, looking at one slash that was less solid than the rest.
"It's playing illusion tricks on us. But we're too smart for that." Legolia said.
"It'll have to try harder than that." Simon added.
The group noted the less solid slashes and charged them, passing through them unharmed while the solid slashes collided with each other, canceling themselves out.
After breaking Huli Jing's illusion, the group rushed the Heartless down and attacked him relentlessly.
"That's enough death and destruction from you!" Ethox said as he used Eternal Sword to slash the monster rapidly.
"You have no place in this world!" Nariko yelled as she stabbed the Heartless emblem on its chest.
"Go to Hell!" Kai yelled before she took out its eyes with two arrows.
(End Song)
The creature stumbled on its legs as it backed to the very edge of the cage. As it started at its killers with bloody, eyeless sight, its expression twitched into something resembling a surprised, yet satisfied grin.
"...Style…That… had… style…" the Huli Jing spoke before it fell off the edge, its body plummeting into the sea below, all that rose up was a crystal heart.
"That felt good, didn't it Kai?" Legolia asked Kai, who had finally avenged her mother's death.
"Oh, it sure did…" Kai smiled.
"We can finally leave this temple, right?" Aqua said.
"Let's see, Shen rescued, Sword out of Bohan's hands, two of his commanders down and out… yep, we can leave." Ethox said.
With that, the group made their way out of the temple and followed Nariko through the long trek to her clan's final holdings, a large fortress in the desert. As they approached, Shen, Feng, and several other tribesmen rushed out to meet them.
"You've returned! May the gods be praised." Feng said in relief. "What happened?"
"We killed a snake and a fox." Tanya smirked. "All that's left is the Heavenly Kings, the king and his son."
"But Kai was pretty banged up, even though she slipped through a hanging. Is she okay?" Ethox asked as shen checked on Kai, who was out of it after the fight concluded, Nariko carrying her the whole way through.
"She is very weak…"
"We know."
"She will survive these injuries, but her future… that is tied to the fate of our people." Shen said.
"That is why I am here." Nariko replied.
"To fight for us?" Shen asked.
"They are." Nariko said, referring to the Fatebreakers and Simon. "But not me. I'm fighting for her." she referred to Kai.
The group then looked up to the sky to see the Raven King circling above them.
"The Raven King!" Shen recognized the bird. "Bohan's raven scout."
"It followed us!" Nariko realized.
Shen then thought about what Legolia said to him before at the temple, and made his decision. "Then it has found what he is looking for. Archer, earlier before you asked of me if I was tired of running and hiding."
"And?" Legolia asked.
"You are right. We have run for too long. Now is the time to stand our ground and fight." Shen acknowledged. "We are ready."
"I have been waiting to hear you say that, Master Shen." Feng smiled.
"Send this message to your loathsome master!" Nariko called to the Raven King. "If you have the courage of a real warrior, then you will come and meet our steel. We are ready, Bohan. We are waiting!"
High above, The Raven King heard Nariko's words…and smiled.
