Naru watched as Keitaro struggled to stay on his feet.
"Keitaro, you still side with her", Masuka said. "Why do you do this? Why do you push yourself to the brink of madness? You only end up hurting yourself more and more."
"Naru never killed people", Keitaro pointed out.
"Their deaths were necessary obtain something greater", Said Masuka. "And I want you to obtain that greatness too."
"Obtain something greater", Keitaro said building up whatever of the Demon Blood Marking he could." If there's anything that I learned from the ERT, it's that all our powers weren't just given to us. They were achieved through all our trials and training!"
Keitaro roared as he charged Masuka head on. Her purple energy light up like a nightlight again to prepare for Keitaro's assault. Masuka was forced on defense as he assaulted her with all he had. Keitaro threw all his emotions and sense of duty to this exact fight.
Taka blocked three flying knives with the propelled power of his nun-chucks. In his attempt to block the weapons, he paid no attention to the incoming fireball. Luckily, Tokui always kept his eyes on his comrades. Wasting no time, Tokui counted the fireball with the Shinmei-Ryu's signature move.
"Stone Cutting Sword", Tokui yelled while unleashing a powerful gust of Ki powered wind.
"You're still alive", Taka said sounding surprised.
"Someone has to watch your back", Said Tokui.
"I'm rather busy to take care of you", Taka commented.
Tokui was forced back into a corner from Draconian's long-range attacks. Motoko was not a second too late as she jumped and raised her sword for a strong chopping attack. However, Draconian saw this coming and used his wings as a shield.
"My attack did nothing", She said jumping back.
A knife fell by her foot , belonging to Viperous. This time she blocked three of the knives with her sword. Taka struck at Viperous as fast and as hard as he could, but he just couldn't land that clean shot in. She was better at blocking and dodging while he was better at attacking. Aiming a single punch at Viperous, she bent completely backwards and kicked him straight in the jaw. Taka recovered as she landed gracefully on her feet.
Taka wiped the blood from the bottom of his jaw. Looking at his hand, he saw another substance besides his own blood. There was a thin purple ooze running along his thumb. Looking back to Viperous, she raised her leg. At the bottom of her stiletto was a steel blade, and not a spiked heel. At the edge of this steel blade was the same purple ooze.
"The Viper's Vemon. Do you like", Viperous said licking her lips.
Watching her perform her disgusting gesture, Taka noticed how blurry his vision actually was...And it was only getting worse.
Kanako used her rope as a grappling weapon for out-manuever Zeus who was hot on her tail. Swinging higher and higher into the pipes on the ceiling, Zeus chased after her. His greater speed combined with his lightning element was becoming a nuisance. As he appeared right in front of her, Kanako spiraled past his attack and slammed her foot into the back of his neck. A blow to back of the neck like this would knock a normal person out, but Zeus wasnt a normal person.
With an electric swing of his arm, Zeus back-handed Kanako in the stomach. She hit the wall with enough force to knock the wind out of her. Zeus fast approached her, in which she barely maneuvered to safety. Some of the electricity from his body burned the tips of her long hair. As he followed after her, the bigger man swatted at her foot, causing her to lose some of her balance. Kanako fell hitting one pipe after another before landing on her side.
Hitting the pipes broke some of her fall, but it broke her left shin, and three ribs in the process. It also damaged some of her rubber suit, making herself even more vulnerable to Zeus's attacks. Like some cornered animal, Kanako crawled for any cover or protection. It was all in vain as Zeus landed on top of her and pinned her to the ground. He roughly twisted her arm behind her back, causing her to yelp in pain.
"End of the line girl", Zeus said.
Shirai slashed at Neon's chest like an animal, which in a sense he was. Neon and Shirai exchanged fist to claw, power to power. While his punch approached, Neon caught it in his own hand. Both struggled in the battle for dominance and started to spin around still gripping the other.
Even with Shirai's new abilities, Neon was still stronger, and had better control of the green energy. As the glow intensified around the villain, Shirai roared and back fisted Neon across the face. The enemy rolled from the impact, but was immediately back on his feet.
Keitaro body rushed Masuka into the wall, pinning her there with no chance to escape.
"This ends here Masuka", Keitaro shouted. "I won't let you or Darius succeed in your plans!"
"You never could see the big picture of things Keitaro", Masuka said.
She crashed her forehead into Keitaro's nose. The pain threw him off-balance, and gave her the chance to land a spiral kick to his cheek. While Keitaro remained on the floor from her kick, he wiped the blood from his nose and looked at his shaking hand.
"The Demon Mark, it's starting to wear off already! The reocild is setting in again! I need to beat her quickly!"
"You need to see the big image Keitaro", Masuka yelled. "You can help humanity achieve its greatest form of evolution! We just need you and your demon powers!"
Keitaro yelled as he charged her again. Masuka was getting the better of him, and his attacks weren't even making contact with her anymore.
"Imagine it Keitaro", Masuka tried to reason while not letting up in their fight. "You wouldn't have to be treated like an insignificant soldier like the ERT trained you! You don't have to be a demon student like the Oni-Zakura Dojo made you into. And you don't have to be a mistreated whipping boy, like they did at Hinata Sou!"
"I would rather be all those things than be one of your pawns in Darius's games", Keitaro spat.
As he tried to throw one of his powerful punches, Masuka grabbed him and tripped him, using his own momentum against him. Keitaro landed on some machinery, breaking the control panel, and locking the only escape way. This trapped him, Naru, and Masuka in the same room. It didn't matter to Keitaro, as he didn't plan on leaving until he defeated Masuka.
Taka was now losing his battle. Viperous's venom was beginning to clog all his senses and limit his mobility.
The woman cooed, "Oh, what's the matter? Are you feeling sick?"
As Taka tried to swing at her, the deadly snake chopped him in the throat and flipped him over on his back. She held his arm and twisted his wrist while digging her stiletto into his abs.
"Poor little boy. You look so cute when you struggle. You're even cuter than when Keitaro struggled."
Hearing Keitaro's name, Taka began to focus back on Keitaro. Memories flooded back like a gate of water just opened. From the first time he was introduced to Keitaro by the Master, the many hours they shared training, to the day Keitaro left the dojo to carve his own path. Remembering back to what Keitaro experienced with him, Taka counted him not just as a student of the Oni-Zakura dojo, but simply as an honored friend. And his master always told him that friends needed to be helped when they needed it.
Taka closed his eyes and began to focus his power. He ignored the pain caused from the poison, the battle wounds, and Viperous twisting his wrist. His let his body relax, and focused his mind on just breathing. To Viperous's surprise, he didn't struggle any longer.
"Hey, are you dead", Viperous asked.
With one single movement, Taka opened his eyes, freed his wrist, and threw Viperous back with a palm strike. Viperous thudded before getting back up. Taka was now on one knee as the objects within a six-foot vicinity of him began to either move, float, or rumble.
"What is this", Viperous asked now a little nervous.
"This is an ability I wanted to challenge Keitaro with", Taka said opening his eyes.
His eyes began to turn a shade of blood-red and stand up as if spiked by jell. His muscles and some veins could be see from the exposed skin as it also turned to a pink coloration.
"Keitaro hold the Demon Blood Mark, but I hold the Sage Ki Mark! You can call it the yin side of his powers!"
"That's unreal", Viperous said with an awe-struck voice.
"It's real alright!"
Powered by his Sage Ki, Taka threw four palms into the air. They were nowhere near viperous, but all the attacks landed.
As Viperous flew back she questioned in her mind, "How did he hit me?! He wasn't even close to me!"
Before she could recover, Taka was already in front of Viperous. The Oni-Zakura railed an overpowering uppercut to Viperous's midsection, knocking her completely out. Taka set her down gently as the energy receded from his body, and his hair began to return to his normal color. He landed on his knees breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"I'm so tired", Taka thought. "I haven't mastered that power yet. My head is spinning from the effects and from that woman's poison."
The martial artist leaned on a wall as he looked back to Tokui and Motoko fighting Draconian.
"Don't worry guys, I'm coming", Taka grunted.
"No, go help Keitaro", Tokui ordered.
"What about you", Taka questioned.
Tokui fought back Draconian by holding his jaws from clamping onto his face, "Go! We'll be fine! Go, Go!"
Hesitant at first, but soon obeying, Taka went after Keitaro and his comrades.
"Please survive, Shinmei-Ryū", Taka thought while running through the corridors.
Naru watched as Keitaro fought his old girlfriend. Having no special powers, and with the doors locked, the controls broke, and no sign of reinforcements, Naru could only watch as Keitaro valiantly fought on.
"You choose to not share you power and abilities", Masuka said. "Why?!"
"This power is not something that can be tamed or controled", Keitaro yelled blocking her right elbow.
"Yet you willingly took this power to avenge MY death! For Me! Why can't you do this One thing that I ask for?! Don't you still care for me?!"
Keitaro was forced back and slid on his feet. Both Naru and Masuka noticed that Keitaro didn't answer her question.
"I know deep down you still care for me", Masuka said. "And I care about you too. I don't want you to suffer anymore. If you trade what you have now for something new and improved, you don't have to suffer anymore. I'll show you."
Masuka pulled out a small bottle from her pocket.
"What is that", Naru questioned in her head.
"No, that's", Keitaro began.
"That's right", Masuka said. "This is the adrenaline from your Demon Blood Marking. It's something that you went through all the trouble of training and fighting to master, but you had no base to start from."
Masuka opened the bottle's lid. The moment she removed the cap, the black ooze began crawl out and take over her hand.
"When you combine it with a base, such as my energy powers, it becomes something new and improved."
"No, don't Masuka", Keitaro pleaded.
But it was too late. The markings began to spread all across her body. Masuka's purple powers engulf her body while the markings along her skin began to glow the same color. This power, it was way more intense than the average Demon Blood Marking normally gave off. Keitaro readied to fight again, worried that this may be a battle he simply could not win.
Kanako struggled under Zeus's grip as he cranked her arm harder and harder against her back. Any more pressure and it was going to break.
"STOP IT", Kanako screamed.
"This is the best part of defeating an enemy", Zeus told Kanako while gripping her smaller arm even tighter. "Making the enemy suffer after all the hard work they put in to try and defeat me."
Kanako screamed as Zues electrocuted her with many waves of lightning. The only reason she survived was because of the shredded remain of her rubber suit. Zeus took a pause between his assaults to whisper into Kanako's ear.
"First, I'm going to electrify you! Then the rest of the girls! Then the soldiers, then Keitaro! I'll save the best for last! But first, I wanna finish you off!"
"ZEUS", A roaring voice called.
Zeus barely had enough time to watch as Han jumped and slammed a Lariat move into Zeu's neck. Zeus let go of Kanako and ended up on his back. Kanako remained on her stomach and looked behind her as Han furiously attacked Zeus. The mighty soldier threw every punch he could, straight punches, uppercuts, swings, hammer arms, all of them. Every attack Zeus used, Han either dodged, blocked, or simply took them, but Han still didn't let up on his assault.
To end the close combat game, Han grabbed the sides of Zeus's head and slammed it into his jumping knee. Temporarily blinding his foe Han grabbed his legs and swung him around and around. Finally releasing him after the fifth spin, Han let Zeus collide with the wall with a crash. He didn't break through the wall, but he landed with bone crushing force. Oh but Han didn't stop there.
Zeus shook his head to stop the throbbing headache HAn gave him, but that was the least of his worries. Looking ahead, Han approached the downed Zeus while carrying a 20 foot long Intermodel Container. A man only of Han's strength could carry a weight this big, and only a man of Han's strength was going to end a battle with it. Zeus tried to speak, but Han slammed the container down on Zeus before he had the chance to say a single word.
Han stared at the box for a moment or two, making sure Zeus wasn't gonna jump out or anything. When he was sure Zeus was defeated, Han collapsed onto his knees. Kanako limped her way to Han. He was just as tore up and bloody as she was. Kanako held him close to her body as they just sat there and breathed.
"I think I nailed him", Han muttered out.
Kanako slightly chuckled. She didn't know why, as they had just come so close to death.
"You got him Han...You got him", Kanako said petting his hair.
Motoko sped through the room jumping and dodging both fire attacks and thrown objects. She grabbed onto a chain hanging from the ceiling and used it to swing around a thrown metal girder. Doing a full 360, Motoko propelled her body towards Draconian, sword first.
"A frontal attack is bold, but I know your weakness", Draconian laughed.
By arching his wings above his back, and getting down on all four, the dragon now resembled a turtle. A turtle was one of Motoko's kryptonites, and something she absolutely feared. Seeing Draconian in this new form, Motoko lost her focus.
"No, TURTLES! GIANT TURTLES", Motoko yelled as she closed her eyes.
This was an oppurtunity Draconian was just praying on. Opening his gaping jaw to catch Motoko in a death grip, Tokui rushed the dragon before plowing head first into the enemy, stabbing his tanto into the dragon's belly while he was at it. The dragon roared as both Tokui and Motoko slammed into him.
"You attacked me", Draconian coughed out as he struggled to pull the tanto from his gullet.
Tokui answered the surprised dragon while pulling out the small hand device from his jacket pock, "I don't fear turtles you bastard!"
Seeing his enemy approach him, Draconian used his powerful tail to break at the already fragile pillar. The stones came tumbling down onto Tokui, injuring him very badly, and making him drop the small device in his hands. Luckily the device didn't break, and rolled to Motoko's feet. As she picked it up, she examined the small item. She recognized it. It was the same small device from behind the glass tank in Keitaro's war room.
"Tokui, what is this", Motoko yelled.
"It's a Sonic Screwdriver", Tokui yelled as he was pinned to the ground by Draconian's claws. "Use it!"
"How?"
"Use your imagination Motoko! It does everything", Tokui yelled.
Never having much of an imagination besides swords and samurai, Motoko did the only thing she could do. She pointed the Sonic Screwdriver at her Hina Blade, and pressed the button. The screwdriver made a small buzzing noise. Like some strange super weapon, the sword began to vibrate with an uncontrollable black aura. Draconian and Tokui watched as the energy became too much for the sword. Thinking on her feet Motoko came up with a new technique on the spot.
"Dragon Slayer Technique: Black Sonic Blade!"
Swinging the weapon with no grace at all, Motoko unleashed the power stored in her sword. Tokui saw this coming, and kicked Draconian in the jaws. This gave Tokui a chance to escape and duck for cover. The poor Draconian, didn't even have the chance to say a prayer as the black energy engulfed his body. The black aura created a massive shockwave that sailed literelly one hundred meters high, and for at least three miles out. Tokui looked to Motoko, still shaking, clutching the sword, and screwdriver, and breathing heavily.
"Not bad Motoko", Cheered Tokui.
While they were relieved to be alive, an odd sound caught their ears. It was the sound of some unstable machine. Turning around, a large object began to fade into reality. It began to take the shape, of a blue Police Call Box?
"Uh-oh", Tokui said. "Motoko, give me the screwdriver."
Motoko handed him the item, still being surprised by what was appearing before them. Why she was surprised was anyone's question. As she had seen demons, robots, dragons, and mutants just within the last hour. The call box opened to someone in a trench coat. Despite the many flashing lights coming from the background, his face remained hidden by shadows. The person pointed to Tokui and motioned him to "Come Here", with his index finger. Nervously, Tokui walked to the man.
Tha man stared at Tokui before opening his hand. Basically saying, "Give ME!" Tokui handed him the Sonic Screwdriver. In one swift and rude motion, he snatched the screwdriver from Tokui's hand.
"I'm sorry Doctor", Tokui said while hanging his head and looking to his feet.
The man, now known as The Doctor, ruffled Tokui's hair. As Tokui looked up, The Doctor playfully jabbed Tokui in the jaw, almost telling him, "You're alright Kiddo!"
"Okay, go on get outta here", Tokui said with a smile. "Go save the universe. We got this one."
With that, the call box closed, and it began to make that weird sound again. Within seconds, it began to vanish into thin air.
"What was that", Motoko asked.
"That, was The Doctor", Tokui said. "I'll tell you about him later. C'mon, we need to find Keitaro and the others. follow me", Tokui said taking his Tanto in hand from the floor.
Shirai surprisingly held his own against Neon. He chased after the Wild Dog who was running horizontally against the wall. Neon could stick to the wall using his energy, While Shirai was plain fast enough to run against the wall. Seeing an opportunity, Shirai grabbed a chain dangling from the ceiling and swung around the room to collide into Neon.
"Y'all ready for this", Shirai yelled.
Neon jumped from the wall and took a swing at Neon, hitting him in the temple.
"Aw man, he was ready for that", Shirai yelled while falling to the floor.
The moment Shiari landed, Neon was already up in his face. The enemy and him exchanged blows not letting up on their attacks.
"I can see why Keitaro always has such a hard time fighting him", Shirai thought.
Relying more on his instincts to fight Neon, Shirai found a possibly opening. His mind told him it was a small opening, but his instincts told him to go for it. Shirai struck Neon on the side of his head with a brutal swing, but Neon managed to burn the side of Shirai's face. In comparison, Neon suffered more damage, since blood and a burn made their mark on Neon's face. Now Shirai was feeling confident. Maybe he could beat Neon after all. The moment Shirai dashed for Neon, the energy surrounding Shirai faded away.
"Uh oh", Shirai said seeing the last of Neon's stolen power erase from his body.
"You put up a good fight", Said Neon. "But now, it ends in a single blow."
As Neon charged his dominant arm with immense power, a familiar voice yelled, "Single blow this!"
Starting from the very top of the ceiling, Haitani landed right on top of Neon with a powerful double stomp. The stomp broke some bones in Neon, and one hit K. his target.
"Total Mario Bro. Status", Haitani boasted.
"Hell yeah Mario Bro. Status", Shirai said as they triumphantly bumped fist with Haitani.
The two wild dogs grabbed their weapons along with a few others.
"C'mon, lets find Keitaro and get the hell outta here", Shirai said.
Nentou was still on the run from Darius. Outmaneuvering wave after wave of fire breath, and laser pulses from Darius's dragon ship, Nentou was running out of tricks.
"You can't outrun me", Darius yelled.
As more missiles came from the pursuing ship, Nentou pressed the button for decoy flares. However, nothing happened. In desperation, Nentou rapidly pressed the button.
"Warning: Signal Decoy Empty", The systems reported to Nentou.
"What?! All out of flares!? How can I be out of flares", Asked Nentou.
The boy looked for any means of getting the flares off of his back. To the left, was a large chunk of debris left behind by Motoko's Black sonic Blade attack. With no weapons on the rear of the ship, Nentou instead fired the grappling gun. The clawed hook caught the chunk of debris, dragging it along behind him. As the cord pulled the heavy metal closer and closer to Nentou's flying vehicle, the missiles struck the towed debris. It did it's job of blocking the missiles, but Darius was still right on his tail.
"Man, this guy just doesn't quit", Nentou muttered.
Taka lightly jogged on in hopes of finding Keitaro somewhere, or even signs of his comrades. Just around the corner, Taka heard an explosion. It caught the tired warrior's attention just enough to peer around the corner. He could see both Skinny and Shinobu, so they were okay at least. However, four Cybers stood on a ledge, one equipped with an RPG.
"Run", Skinny yelled as they prepared another rocket.
It was too late to run as the cyber had already locked onto their target. As the rocket soared through the air with killer intended speed. Reacting in ways that would surprise even himself, Taka rushed to save Shinobu and Skinny. By grabbing the rocket, and spinning it around his waist, the rocket returned to the Cybers. This destroyed their enemies and saved them all.
"Taka", Shinobu was both surprised and happy to see the Oni-Zakura Dojo student. "i though you returned to the dojo.
"I couldn't return", Taka said as he readjusted the black belt to his martial arts uniform, "Not without making sure Keitaro made it home safely. He's one of us, and we help out those of the Oni-Zakura."
"We need to get to the top of that tower to shut down the defenses", Said Skinny.
"Very well. Climb on me", Taka said as he motioned for her to climb onto his back. "I'll get you to the top."
Once she was securely on Taka's back, the martial artist pulled out a pair of claws similar to the Wolverine's from X-Men. With a good, strong leap, Taka jammed his claws into the purple metal. As quickly as his body could go, Taka began to scale the wall with Shinobu and Skinny on his back. Shinobu did her best to not be afraid of the heights. However, like anyone who feared of being too high up, she looked down. It was actually better that she looked down.
Scaling the walls of the tower were three Racers. Their wheels equipped with a magnetic like device rapidly approached them.
"Taka, below us", Shinobu warned.
The martial artist caught onto their pursuers thanks to Shinobu. When the racers were close enough, Taka slashed at one of them with his claws. It was rather hard to fight off an enemy on a vertical wall, with one arm, while protecting someone on your back. One of the Racers managed to slash a deep wound on Taka's side, but not before he cut its head off. The racer fell, knocking one of the other racers down.
The last one quickly approached them. Taka didn't take the offensive on this one. Instead, Taka climbed higher and faster to reach the too of the tower. The gap between them and the tower window grew smaller, but not as fast as the gap between them and the racer. Just when they were out of the window's reach, the racer grabbed Taka by the ankle.
"It hurts", Taka thought. "But, I can't let Shinobu fall!"
The racer's sharp claws sliced Taka's ankle open, missing the Achilles tendon by centimeters. As Taka struggled in the razor grip, he realized it was too strong for him. In a last-ditch effort, Taka grabbed Shinobu from his back, and threw her through the window of the tower. As Shinobu sailed through their air in slow motion for her, she could see the shattered glass flying, the distant fires burning, Skinny falling one way, and Taka taking out the Racer with his claws as he too fell. Both the boy and the martin plummeted with no hope of being saved.
"I should've stayed in bed this morning", Skinny yelled as he grabbed onto Taka.
"Don't give up yet tiny mammal!"
Taka used his claws and stabbed into the side of a building . The claws raked the steel frame throwing sparks everywhere. Taka closed his eyes and hoped that his plan worked. Sure enough, the claws did their job. Both stopped sliding down just about twelve feet above the ground. Removing himself from the building, Taka jumped down with Skinny clinging onto his torn shirt.
"Ha, we're alive", Skinny cheered.
"Yes, we're alive...But we're not finished yet."
Taka and skinny stared at the main building, engulfed in flames. It was their next destination, and most likely where Keitaro was being held.
As Keitaro predicted, this enemy was too much for him. The Cheetah Demon was on one knee while trying to not let Masuka overpower him. He held her right shoulders, and grabbed her left fist. With no protection for his midsection, Masuka gave a devastation front kick to his chest. Again, Keitaro was on his back.
"You've lost Keitaro", Masuka said. "You've lost all that you had going for you! Your family, you friends, your hopes, and your dreams!"
Unknown to Masuka, Naru picked up a piece of broken pipe from the ground. Without trying to be noticed, Naru moved closer and closer to Masuka from behind.
Masuka continued, "You don't need this anymore Keitaro! Come to my side! You can have it all! You don't need to lose anymore!"
Now in striking range, Naru swung the pipe with all her might. She was in Masuka's blind spot, she didn't know she was there, and she had a great aim for Masuka's head. This was a perfect sneak attack, but it was not a perfect blow. The pipe slammed into the side of Masuka's face with enough force to break a cinderblock. Yet it did NOTHING to Masuka. She didn't even bat an eyelash as the pile broke from the strike force. Masuka looked back to Naru, who was now frozen withy pure fear.
"Was that your best shot", Masuka asked.
Naru flew across the room as Masuka shoved her with a purple enhanced strike to the stomach.
As Naru the floor, Masuka was literally on top of her the exact second she landed.
"It's over Naru", Masuka told her. "You've lost Keitaro again."
"I won't lose Keitaro again", Naru shouted.
Masuka gripped her whole face, covering her eyes and grabbing some of her hair. Naru kicked and struggled as Masuka gripped her skull mercilessly.
"What makes you think that Keitaro will stay in this life?! He's lost everything!"
"He hasn't lost everything", Naru screamed. "I still have my promise to Keitaro! I promised I'd get into Tokyo U with him! I promised I'd make amends with him, no matter what! I know it's not a lot, but it's enough! It has to be enough!"
"Oh if only that were true", Masuka said.
The girl was suddenly body rushed by Keitaro into the wall, denting the steel plating.
"No, its more than enough", Kaitaro yelled.
Masuka spun him around and pinned him there instead.
"You just don't see the big picture Keitaro", Masuka yelled.
"Your picture, has no soul", Keitaro said throwing her across the room, and not letting up on his assault.
Kanako helped Han move through the base, even though their progress was very slow. With one arm in a sling, and her other supporting Han, Kanako tried to keep them both on balance.
"Do you need to stop for a minute", Han asked.
"No, I'll be fine", Kanako told him. "I'm more concerned about you Han.
The soldier told her, "Zeus really messed up my insides, but I'll survive."
"Han, Kanako", Someone called from the rear.
Not too far behind, Tokui and Motoko quickly ran to their aid.
"Are you two alright", Motoko asked supporting Kanako to stand up.
"You tow look terrible", Tokui said checking up on his badly wounded comrades.
"Me? You two look just as bad", Han responded.
"It was Draconian, what did you expect?! But we got him! We got him! What about Zeus", Tokui questioned.
"He's been taken care of. That's one less experiment we need to worry about", Said Han.
As they walked and talked, the sound of gunfire and missiles launches erupted from just up ahead. Pinned behind a fallen slap of metal and junk, Shirai and Haitani took cover and blasted as many enemies as they could.
"Shirai, Haitani", Tokui rushed to their sides. "Update, now!"
"Captain we're stuck", Yelled Shirai. "Keitaro and Naru are just behind that door, but Masuka trapped them all inside!"
"Can we hack the doors", Kanako asked as her and the rest of their team took cover behind various things.
"Negative", Haintai said reloading his assault rifle. "The control panels are scrap! If we can't ge through, not only are Keitaro and Naru trapped, we can't shut down the Racer and Cyber factory down. We'll be outgunned and over run this close to the factory!"
"We need a way to shut the factory down", Yelled Tokui.
Looking around, for anything that could help them, a small becon of hope appeared before them. And that beacon of hope, was named Shinobu Maehara.
Nentou's controls began to beacon red everywhere.
"Warning: All Missile and Laser Ammunition has been depleted", The beacon warned him on the speaker.
"Now, time to erase you from this world", Daruis chuckled.
The moment before he could fire a range of missiles at Nentou's aircraft, something hit his ship. As Darius looked at his monitor, he found out exactly where the attack came from. Down on earth, in a battered and torn Turtle Ship, Su peered through a pair of binocular back at Darius.
"A direct hit", Su cheered. "Fire another one!"
With the pleasure and honor of reloading another missile, Sarah loaded the damaged, but still functioning, cannon of the Turtle Ship.
"Fire in the hole", Sarah said moving away and covering her ears.
The missile fired beautifully and gave a direct hit to Darius's Dragon Ship.
"Insolent little girls", Darius said setting his ship into overdrive. Su watched through her binoculars as Darius raced in their direction.
"Uh-oh", Su said moving her eyes from the binoculars.
Darius's plan was to get close enough, and fire the Dragon's Mouth Laser Cannon, point-blank shot. Catching on his plan, Nentou tried to come up with a rescue plan. He was out of missiles, out of laser ammunition, and the grappling cord was not functioning. There was only one other option left for him.
Just as the dragon was within 100 meters of Su and Sarah, Nentou rammed his smaller aircraft into Darius's ship. The impact from this collision wedged himself within the Dragon's insides. Nentou knew this was the only way he could bring Darius down to earth.
"No! No! I will not be defeated by", Nentou cut off the communications between him and Darius.
"Ew Shut Up", Nentou told Darius even though the line had been cut.
The ERT pilot controlled the ship as best he could. Reaching for only last cigarette, Nentou decided to toss it. Instead, he turned on the communication radio to the channel his allies were on.
With a sigh, Nentou said, "Sorry guys, I'm not gonna make it to the after party."
Nentou watched as he willingly forced the two ships to dive for the ground like a peregrine falcon.
"Holy scrap, did you see that", Haitani shouted. "Nentou do you read?! Nentou?! "
There was no response from Nentou's commlink. Just when Shinobu was about to run to see if she could find Nentou, a barrage of bullets hit the ground a few inches from Shinobu's feet. Kanako was able to quickly pull her out of harm's way, and behind some cover.
"No Shinobu, you can't go out there", Kanako warned.
"I have to! I need to implant this virus to shut down the factory!"
Tokui spike out loudly, "Shinobu, the factory controls are behind the blast doors! We can't get through! Masuka trapped herself, Naru, and Keitaro behind the doors! She broke the control pad, now it can only open manually from the other side! There's too many Cybers and Racer's to deal with to open the door!"
"Shinobu go, I'll cut you a mouse-hole", Han told her.
Without hesitation, Han sprinted for the doors.
"Han what are you doing", Kanako yelled to Han.
Despite the ammo being unloaded into Han's body, the brave soldier grabbed the edge of the thick metal door to pry it off. He took to one knee in exhaustion and blood loss. However, as his comrades suppressed the firing of the Cybers, Han summoned more strength to open the door.
Han yelled as he strained his body for work, an his nervous system from pain. None of them had any warning as two Racers zoomed by. Both machines raked their claws against Han's body. This opened deep gashes across his thorax, and side. Kanako yelled, "Haaaaaan", as the soldier fell to the ground. He didn't get back up. Han's efforts would not be in vein, as there was now a hole big enough for Shinobu to slip through.
"Listen up everyone", Tokui spoke again. "Han opened up a hole for Shinobu to punch through and open the blast doors! Give her some cover!"
"Supressing fire now", Shirai yelled as he threw a grenade.
Shinobu Maehara ran with her head low as the soldiers unloaded their mags upon the enemies. The second Shinobu made it through the hole, Taka and Skinny had arrived on scene.
"Taka, you're alright", Motoko told him.
"Yes, I am alive! Where is Keitaro?!"
"He's through those doors there", Motoko pointed. "Shinobu squeezed through the hole to open the doors and stop the factory!"
Without a second thought, Skinny jumped off of Taka's shoulder and bolted for the gap.
"Hey Skinny, get out of there", Shirai shouted.
The brave little mammal ignored his orders to come back. He pressed forward while thinking, "Hang on Boss!"
Skinny scurried through the smoke and dense atmosphere. In his sights, he watched Keitaro tumbled one way, as Shinobu slid into a girder being used as a beam. This did a number on Shinobu as she slowly tried to stand back up. Standing was too hard for her. All she could do for now was crawl to her Sempai.
Just in front of Shinobu, Keitaro and Masuka battled in a fury of fist, kicks, and energy enhanced attacks. Keitaro didn't have his Demon powers activated. Now going against Masuka with her purple energy powers, it was going to put Keitaro at a great disadvantage. Keitaro blocked a blow to his head with an X like formation using his arms. However, this left his mid section exposed. An exposure Masuka seized with a strong kick. The soldier was now om his hands and knees from her blow.
"You could have been on our side Keitaro", Masuka said as she filled her hand with her purple power.
"Your side is the wrong path to take Masuka", Keitaro told her. "It's not too late to do what is right and change your path."
"Hmph, your naivety makes you stupid Keitaro", Masuka continued to fill her hand with an even brighter purple energy, "And the stupid will be punished!"
Without thinking, Shinobu jumped between her Sempai and Masuka just as the woman fired her purple energy.
"Shinobu No", Skinny yelled, but it didn't reach her.
Without putting any thought into this at all, Skinny dashed for his Boss, and the little girl. The blast hit Shinobu in the chest. It was a strong enough impact to send Keitaro and Shinobu tumbling backwards. Keitaro lifted his face from the ground. He was horrified to see who was laying across from him.
"Shinobu!"
Keitaro crawled to Shinobu. Her back was all he could see. As gentle as he could, Keitaro held her in his arms as he turned her over. The poor little girl had her eyes closed. They were closed with no signs of opening back up.
"Shinobu! No Shinobu! Not You Too! Please, Answer Me Shinbou", Keitaro called.
Like some miracly sent from the heavens, Shinobu began to open her eyes in flutters.
"Sempai", Shinobu wheezed.
Her breathing was delayed for a few seconds, but it almost immediately returned. She was fine. Keitaro and Shinobu looked down at her chest, there was blood, but thre was no wound. Not even the clothes were torn.
"But how", Keitaro asked.
As Keitaro tried to piece together his confusion, Shinobu called him in a gasp.
"Sempai", Shinobu said as she looked across the floor.
To their horror, Skinny lay on his side, with a small cloud of smoke coming from his chest.
"Skinny", Keitaro yelled as he and Shinobu crawled to the fallen Martin.
As gently as they could, Shinobu held his head, and Keitaro examined his tiny mauled body. The blast hit him dead in the chest. It's a miracle that he completely blocked Shinobu with his tiny body. It was an even bigger miracle that there was anything left of Skinny's body.
"Damn...I look like...That barbeque...From last weekend's lunch..." Skinny choked.
Masuka drew closer from behind, thinking she hit Keitaro.
"So you're still conscious I see", Masuka retorted.
Shinobu grew scared as she watched Keitaro tremble with anger. More of the Demon Blood Marks began to rapidly cover Keitaro's body. Keitaro gentle handed Skinny completely over to Shinobu.
"You know?! After all this time, I finally figured something out", Keitaro spoke.
"Yeah? And what's that", Masuka asked summoning both the Demon Blood Markings and her Purple Energy.
Keitaro's hand suddenly gripped her wrist. Without her even noticing him Keitaro stood before inches from her face. The markings nearly consumed eighty percent of his body. The Demon Blood Seal began to take over his body at an alarming rate. But Keitaro didn't care. All he wanted was to get his message across to her.
"Loving you, was the worst path I EVER took!"
Keitaro brutally sent her flying with an uppercut. As she landed, Keitaro was already jumping at her with a flying double hammer. Masuka maneuvered to the lest as both of his fist cracked the ground. She stood back up as he readied to take a stand against her. No matter what happened to himself, Keitaro was NOT going to let Masuka win.
WOW! This was my longest, record-breaking chapter! Just shy over 7000 words! I was also very lucky to post a second chapter in less than a week. I had a job interview with Best Buy less than two hours ago, and for some odd reason, I had more stuff to write and post. Wish me luck! Besides that, I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Murica! USA-USA-USA-USA! XD
Anyways, I know this chapter probably should have been broken into two or three chapters. But, as promised, I had to write what happened to Shinobu (I broke my promise already, and didn't want to do it a second time).However, I also warned that you weren't gonna like what happened instead, and I'm pretty sure I wrote something like, "Where there is death, there is always death" (I don't quite remember).
This chapter was not only long, but perhaps mky most intense one to write as well. Not only did it result in numerous deaths, it also had even me biting my nails for what was gonna happen next. I think I might have gone overboard with Keitaro getting beat up. And YES, I know Naru did almost next to squat trying to help him. Just hang in there guys, there's still more to happen. There's still more to happen.
This chapter also filled in the rest of the gaps about what was going on when Shinobu was planting the viruses into the towers. And as requested, Shinobu is gonna live. But as for the rest of the ERT, that will all be decided with time. For some reason, or other, the songs "Waiting For The End", by "Linkin Park", and "Crossing Field", by "LISA" (Better known as Opening 1 from "Sword Art Online") inspired me as I wrote this chapter. Anyways, I'll update another chapter soon. I feel like I'm starting to get my writing motivation again. I still have school, and hopefully work, to take care of, but I'll keep writing till I finish. Take care everyone. USA!