Chapter 34: The Ryokuryuu's Revenge
"My, My, look at you." Jae-ha's voice caught Yona by surprise. "You really did it."
As Jae-ha caught the attention of everyone, Zeno pulled his arm free from his captor and bit his hand; hard. Yellow scales appeared on his other hand, with both hands covered in them Zeno could now fight better. Grasping his captor by his tunic, Zeno threw the man overboard. The commotion caught the attention of everyone. The other guards gasped in surprise as Zeno pulled his now bloodied dress off to reveal a half clothed man's body instead of a woman's underneath it.
"SHES A MAN!?" The guards yelled in surprise.
Jae-ha took in Yona's beaten look along with Yun's. He also saw the deranged look Zeno was getting in his eyes. Oh dear. He thought. "If either of you take a step closer towards them," Jae-ha spoke with a menacing voice. "I'll kill you." The guards looked terrified for a moment. "You lay a finger on her, you'll see what happens when I stop holding back."
Yun felt his strength leave him and fell forward. "Yun!" Yona cried out. That scream seemed to be the breaking point. The guards ran forward to take Jae-ha on. Another went after Zeno. The two dragon warriors attacked in sync. Yona, having been momentarily forgotten ran towards Yun. "Are you okay?"
Yun's body hurt. He felt pain just breathing. I'm alive. So is she. He saw Zeno and Jae-ha moving back to back fighting off guards left and right when suddenly a blue blur joined in. Shinah? He wondered as Yona helped him sit up. "They're amazing." he commented.
Yona turned her attention towards the fighting. "They are."
"Rina!" a cry caught her attention causing Yona to turn towards the entrance to the cargo hold.
"Yuri!" Behind Yun and her were the rest of the girls whom Yuri had released. Each girl was armed with either a piece of wood, ropes or some other type of weapon. "Let's get 'em girls!" Yuri screamed as she raised the pipe in her hand and hit the guard fighting Zeno. The blonde man looked at her in surprise as the guard fell. "Need help Zeno?" Yuri asked cockily.
Missy has given them courage. He thought as he watched the girls take on their captors. Yona snagged a bow with a full quiver. She shot one man in the back as he went after Jae-ha in his blind spot. Jae-ha looked surprised when the man fell from his injury.
"Left Yona!" Yun instructed her. "Now to the right!"
Yona reached for arrow after arrow. Shooting as Yun instructed her where to shoot to be the most effective.
Meanwhile Hak kicked a man away from him and ducked as Kija's extended arm suddenly slapped a dozen men off the ship. "Pick up the pace, White Snake." He quipped as their backs pressed up against each other.
"Look who's talking!" Kija quipped back realizing this was Hak's way of keeping him on his feet and alert.
Suddenly both men felt a breeze go between them along with a thump. Looking to the man pinned to the deck by six daggers they both look opposite of them and saw Gi-gan with a grimm look. "I know you boys are restless, but since you're here, work will you? The longer you both dilly dally, the worse my aim will get." She looked off in the distance. "We've crushed most of the enemy. All that's left is to catch Kum-ji. As soon as he's dead, this battle will end."
Back on the ship with the girls, Yona looked around and realized something. "Where is Kum-ji?" He wouldn't be far from his merchandise."
"If he's not here. He has to be on a nearby ship protected by his best fighters." Yun stated.
Yona watched Yuri and the other girls finish binding the unconscious men with ropes as Zeno, Shinah and Jae-ha walked up to them when one of the girls spotted a small row boat headed for land. "He's escaping!" she yelled.
Jae-ha ran towards without much thought of where he'd land. "Fleeing and leaving your soldiers behind is not a terribly elegant move!"
"Lord Kum-ji!"
"So you're the Ryokuryuu." Kum-ji stated. "I've always wanted to shoot you from the sky!" He grasped his fancy bow and launched and arrow just as Jae-ha threw knives at him. Once hit the man with Kum-ji but missed his true target but Jae-ha got hit in his shoulder and fell from the sky.
Back on the ship Yona felt her blood run cold as she grabbed her last arrow. At that moment she felt anger like no other. Somebody dared hurt her friend. Someone dared touch the free spirit that was Ryokuryuu Jae-ha!
"You can't take flight from water!" Kum-ji laughed. "You fool!" He lifted his bow and was about to launch an arrow at him when chill ran down his spine. Where? Where is it coming from? Fear entered his soul. Someone out there has me in their sights. A flash of memory. Red hair. Why? Why am I so afraid of that girl? I only saw her for a moment, but I saw her hair reflect that of sunlight. That girl was Princess Yona. He spotted her on the ship before him. As the sun crested the horizon he realized why she reminded him of that girl. Now I know. You really are her!
The sound of an arrow being released echoed as the shot hit its target. All saw the red haired girl release the kill shot that killed Lord Kum-ji. As his body hit the water. The sun fully rose over them all. The battle was over. They had won.
"Captain! Captain! Kum-ji was shot down by an arrow! He has fallen into the ocean!" one of the pirates cried out in surprise.
Gi-gan smiled. "Dawn is breaking. Let us return home."
Zeno stared dumbfounded at Yona. Moments before she had shot him, Zeno swore he had seen Hirryu's spirit overlap her. Quickly running up to her, Zeno pulled her into his arms. "Are you okay Missy?"
Yona turned herself towards him and looked up at Zeno with tear filled eyes. "Ask me tomorrow."
Zeno nodded as he pulled her against his chest. "Of course." He leaned his cheek against the top of her head and hid her face. He could feel her hot tears against his chest. He felt something drop onto his shoulders and saw that Shinah had placed fur piece onto his shoulders. "Thank-you brother."
M-Angel: Oh my, look what did today? Two chapters in one day. Hope it was good. Originally I was only going to do 35 chapters to this story but I think I will do 40. So almost done.