Outside the thieves' tent Ixnus lay on the grass, trying to pick himself from the ground. But before he could stand he was lifted up by his neck by a monstrous hand.

"Look at me!" growled the mutant creature, spitting it's green spit in Ixnus' face "This will be your end!"

The creature threw Ixnus back down on the ground and lifted his foot over his head. Before the monster's could even go down a sharp stick penetrated his knee.

"AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!" gargled the monster.

The thieves then saw, coming in on horseback, Leo, Rain and Erigg riding in to save Ixnus from the terrifying mutant.

"Kill them!" hissed the mutant to his thieves.

The scrawny thief pulled out his bow and arrow and pointed it at Leo. Once fired Leo grabbed the arrow, leaped off of his horse and threw the arrow back at the thief, hitting him in the shoulder.

"Aaaauuugh!!!" cried the thief, trying to pry the arrow from his shoulder.

"Kill them! Kill them all!" commaned the mutated Captain.

The thieves ran towards the turtles, their weapons held high as the three turtles ran towards them. Rain swung his club into their chests and faces as Erigg splashed potions on a couple of them to make them itch.

"Ha, I love that spell!" chuckled Erigg, as Leo ran by dodging attacks.

As soon got to the mutant he leaped high, stabbing his katana into the mutant's chest.

"Grrraaauugghh!!!" screeched the mutant.

"You... came back for me?" uttered Ixnus, picking himself off the ground.

"Yes, I did." answered Leo.

"Why?"

"You never leave a companion behind."

"GRRRRRAAAAAUUUUGH!!!" screeched the mutant, it's green blood splattered across his chest "I.., WILL KILL YOU!!!"

The creature lunged towards Leo and Ixnus, who dodged his attack. The creature turned towards Ixnus who had picked up a torch. Ixnus shoved the torch in the mutant's face.

"NOOO!!!" screamed the mutant, backing away from the flame.

The creature swung it's claws, knocking the torch out of Ixnus' hands and prepared to strike. But Leo jumped in front of him, slashing the mutant's eyes.

"GRRRAAAAUUUGHH!!!" screamed the mutant, holding to it's bleeding eyes "DIE!!! DIE!!! DIE!!!"

From out of the mutant's mouth a ball of green liquid was shot. The ball hit the face of one of the thieves who had been fighting with Rain. The thief's face began steaming as soon as it made contact with the liquid and he fell over, his face burned completely. The other thieves looked at their mutant captain and ran away so not to be hit by the dangerous stuff, as Rain and Erigg hid behind a rock.

"I can't believe this!" said Rain "There must be some way to get close to him without being hit."

Rain looked around and spotted the torch laying on the ground that Ixnus had before. He picked it up and turned towards Erigg.

"I have an idea." said Rain.

As Rain and Erigg hatched up a plan, the mutant wandered through the camp, searching for Leo and Ixnus, who were both hiding behind trees.

"You can't hide forever shadow assassin." spoke the creature.

The creature inched closer to the trees, smelling the stench of the still assassin, before hearing flames crackle from behind him.

"Who is there?!?" shouted the blind creature, walking towards the sound.

As the flames hit the ground a circle of fire erupted around the mutant. He could feel the heat on all sides of his body. Knowing he could find no way out, he thought to coerce the assassin in.

"You think fire will stop me?!?" shouted the heated mutant "I too was shadow assassin, before they cursed me and left me to die! Imagine that! Me! The Shadowlord's top assassin! Left in the wilderness to fend for himself!"

Ixnus was taken aback. He couldn't believe his master, the one who raised him, made him who he was would abandon him.

"YOU'RE A LIAR!!!" yelled Ixnus.

"Am I?!?" said the mutant "There's far more about the Shadowlord that you have yet to understand!"

Ixnus looked down at the ground in shame. Was what this was saying true? Did he have his own master figured out all wrong? Ixnus hopped on one of the thieve's horses and rode away.

"Ixnus!" yelled Leo, watching Ixnus leave.

"Come out and fight." growled the mutant, green blood oozing from it's mouth.

"Ahhh!!!" yelled Leo, jumping over the flames and slicing the mutant in the arm.

"Grrrwwlll." gurgled the mutant "You are good with the blade... but it will take more than to finish me."

The creature lunged at Leo, but Leo rolled out of the way and sliced the creature's hand off.

"Rrrraaaawwwrr!" screeched the mutant, picking Leo up by the neck with his other hand "I will finish you!"

The creature tightened his grip around Leo's throat as he let out a bloodcurdling scream, his side pierced with the beast's claws.

Far from the camp Ixnus stopped his stolen horse and turned to hear the screams coming from the camp.

"They don't need me." thought Ixnus "They can all take care of themselves."

Before Ixnus could keep riding he heard yet another scream.

"Fool." Ixnus said to himself "They had the decency to come back for you and rescue you from that beast. Here you run as a coward... just like the assassins you trusted. But... I am a Shadow Assassin... they would not accept me. What if they left me too? Bah! I have to show them I'm not a coward! I'm a warrior! Though my mission was clear. But... was what he said true? Why would the Shadowlord leave his top assassin behind? Was it for someone better? Did he just not have any use for him? I cannot piece it together. I know what I need to do."

"Urrrghh!" moaned Leo in pain, being tossed on the ground, his face an inch away from the fire surrounding him and the beast.

"Kill! Kill!" hissed the mutant, inching his way towards Leo.

The mutant lifted it's arm for one final strike, but as he did so his came flying off.

"AAHHHOOOWWWW!!!" screamed the mutant, holding to his bleeding wrist.

"Y-You... came back..." whispered Leo.

"Yes. I did." panted Ixnus, staring down the creature with his staff in hand.

"You can't kill me!" screeched the creature "You are weak!"

"I'm not the missing a hand, am I?" Ixnus remarked.

The mutant charged at Ixnus, spitting his green balls of liquid from his mouth. Ixnus knocked them all back with his staff, aimed the end for the creature's heart. Ixnus lunged his staff into the mutant's chest and pulled it back out. The creature fell to it's knees as Ixnus pointed his staff at his throat.

"I should kill you..." started Ixnus "But I won't. I want to live, cursed by thought of being defeated by someone so weak."

Ixnus loosened the grip on his staff and placed it on his back. He turned around and walked, but as he did the creature stood back up, ready to attack, until katana wizzed passed Ixnus' head, hitting the mutant in the chest, this time piercing his heart. The beast fell back lifeless before a heavy rain blew in. Ixnus pried the sword from the dead beast's body and tossed it to Leo, getting up from the wet ground.

"If you think this changes anything..." said Ixnus "It doesn't."

Leo watched Ixnus go to his horse as he stood up, holding to his wounds. Ixnus hopped on the horse and stood for a moment, until he headed into the direction of the campsite. Leo smiled, knowing now that he could trust Ixnus.

Within the Shadow Realm, where Shadowlord dwelled, Hun approached with an urgent message to his Lord.

"My Lord..."

"What brings you here?"

"Ixnus... I'm afraid... he has betrayed us."

The Shadowlord clenched his fist in rage.

"Have him killed... along with the others."

"How so my Lord?"

"Lead them towards the Muckman of Raynemire."