W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria
By Galistar07water
Disclaimer: W.I.T.C.H. is owned and copyrighted by the Walt Disney Company Italia and is in no way affiliated with the fictional works of Galistar07water.
Author's note: If you would like to see drawings of W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria, please visit my Deviantart page and click the "W.I.T.C.H. Dreams of Lusteria" folder in the gallery section.
Chapter 04: A Wall of Earth and Iron pt. III
"I won't ask you again, Byakko," Kaishin warned, aiming one end of his bo staff at the Celestial Warrior of Earth. "Where is my son? What have you done to him?"
"I'm surprised how fatherly you've become," Byakko said, avoiding answering his opponent directly. "You were once called Kohaku Watsuki, the legendary shadow-wielder who could suppress anyone's magic with just the touch of his hand. Next to the Prince of Darkness, your name was once fear itself. And now look at you, nothing more than a repented monk while your children have been declared the new Twin Guardians of Lusteria. Pathetic."
"Enough of your rambling!" Kaishin declared. "I've gone too far in my quest and I lost my wife, my honor, and I almost lost my children in the end."
"How could you be afraid of the power of Darkness when it's so thrilling?" Byakko asked. "I, for one, am gluttonous for it."
"I'm not afraid of it, but I am more than aware of its dark potential and thus am caution in its use," Kaishin replied.
"You're a fool," Byakko laughed maniacally. "I find, coursing through you a darkness of formidable power growing! Well worth the trouble of aggravating you with images and voices of your sweet, little son. All this excitement has provided me with an opportunity to seek a private audience with you. I want to offer you a deal."
"What?!" Kaishin demanded, a bit surprised.
"Work with me and the other Celestial Warriors," Byakko offered. "Drop this pathetic pretense of a repented monk. You still have the drive and the power for Darkness and it's just what we need in our quest to launch Lusteria against Kandrakar."
Kaishin is shocked at the offered for it had completely caught him off guard. "And why would I do that?" he asked cautiously.
Byakko sighed and shook his head amusingly. "If you betray the Guardians from Earth and join our cause, we will allow you to be reunited with your son. After all, you haven't seen him since he was a little toddler."
"You're asking me to choose between my children?"
"Have no fear. We'll spare your daughter's life but the other five Earthlings and the Basilíadian won't receive the same mercy."
"I will never betray my daughter, not when she has forgotten her anger towards me!"
Byakko scoffed at the monk's statement. "You think she'll forgive you because you've changed? Don't fool yourself. Your heart hasn't changed a bit and I have seen it. After all, you did try to murder me during our last encounter. Tell me, what kind of monk tries to kill his opponent?"
Kaishin stepped back and lowered his bo staff in shame.
"I have seen your dark heart, Kohaku, and no matter how much you wish for it, it will never change. Let me show you who you really are!"
Byakko conjured up a golden mirror, showing him his reflection. Kaishin looked into its smooth surface and realized that his head is no longer bald and he wasn't wearing his humbled, tattered monk attire. Instead, he had a full head of dark blue hair and his black kimono. The man staring back at him wasn't Monk Kaishin but the former Kohaku Watsuki.
"Face reality," Byakko said. "This is who you really are and who you were meant to be. You will always be that same dark wizard on the inside. You will always choose the side of Darkness and your heart will yield to it. Your daughter will never accept you, no matter what you do."
What could Kaishin…Kohaku say? Byakko was right. For years, he could never forgive himself for what he did to Kotone, and her death drove him to try and use his shadow-wield power for good. But recently, he used his magic to suppress the White Snake's power and he tried to kill Byakko when his anger got the better of him. A true monk never resorts to relying on such a dark method and letting anger overwhelm his judgment.
Byakko's golden mirror may not be the legendary mirror called Moonlight Justice, but it was doing a good job of showing Kaishin who he really is all along: Kohaku Watsuki the shadow-wielder.
"Help me take over this kingdom, Kohaku," Byakko offered. "I promise you that we'll spare your daughter's life in the upcoming battle. Join us Celestial Warriors and we could usurp Kandrakar and take its place in the center of the universe! We will have powers beyond your wildest imagination and even bring the dead back to life. You could even see your wife again and she won't be an empty shell. You could finally give your children back their mother and once your daughter realizes this, she'll have no choice but to accept you…the real you."
The mirror suddenly shows Kohaku an image of him with his wife and their two grown children and they were happy. It was what he had wanted ever since that first night he spent in the Siulahm Temples. If he hadn't kill Kotone, perhaps the four of them would be together like this.
"It's an impossible dream," Kohaku whispered.
"Nothing is impossible," Byakko assured him. "My dream is to conquer the Kingdom of Zhong-guo and rule Lusteria together with my siblings. If you help me achieve my dream, I will ensure that yours will come to fruition. Now what is your answer?"
Kohaku was silent for a moment but then he took one last good look in the golden mirror and down at himself. He didn't revert back to his monk appearance. He sighed in defeat because he knew that he'll have to use his special dark power again and this time someone will die.
"You are correct, Byakko, for there will always be darkness inside my heart. Therefore, I will stand before you and do what is right."
Byakko smiled wickedly. "A wise choice, Kohaku."
Sheng-tsu, the Emperor of Zhong-guo stood on the balcony of his palace, looking down at the terrible scene before him. The Imperial City and the surrounding buildings were on fire as corrupted soldiers and dark spirits lay siege to his capital. After half of his palace was destroyed, the Emperor sought refuge in the other half which lay intact, knowing full well that Byakko won't destroy it or risk killing him before the end of the ultimatum. The Emperor sighed heavily as he looked on. Suddenly, something changed in the atmosphere behind him. Sheng-tsu may not be an elemental wielder or have magical powers, but he can sense a new presence behind him.
"Magnificent sight isn't it, Your Majesty?" Byakko said, stepping out of the shadow. "In less than an hour, the entire capital will fall and soon the rest of Zhong-guo. Time is up, Sheng-tsu. What is your answer?"
"I hold greatly on what is just. Therefore, I've decided to turn down your offer," said Sheng-tsu icily. "You'll never take my place as ruler."
"Wrong answer!" Byakko roared.
He manifested his guan dao and slammed it into the ground. Suddenly, vines sprouted like weeds and wrapped themselves around the Emperor, intent on squeezing the life out of him.
"You're a fool, old man!" Byakko laughed maniacally. "You should have agreed to my terms. Perhaps then you would have survived. Have no fear, for I have other ways of seizing the throne legally," Byakko smirked, tightening the vine's grip on the emperor as if it was a giant boa constrictor.
Sheng-tsu winced in pain as the vines tightened around him. "If you're thinking of forcing my people to declare you ruler, that won't work! The binding magic of the throne will not accept you."
Byakko scoffed and nodded behind him and a shadow stepped out of the darkness. Sheng-tsu looked up and gasped in surprise at the newcomer.
"This is Kohaku Watsuki," Byakko smiled deviously. "A man whose dark powers were so great that even the previous Twin Guardians feared him. For the past sixteen years, he has been living in the Siulahm Temples as a repented monk."
The vines loosen their grip, allowing Sheng-tsu to breath. "No, that's not possible!"
"Oh, I'm afraid it is, Your Majesty," Byakko laughed. "If I can convince a monk to return to the dark side, think what I can do with you with a little…incentive."
Kohaku walked up to Sheng-tsu and looked at him sadly before reaching for his face with his bare hand.
"How could you?" the Emperor glared.
"Forgive me," Kohaku whispered as his hand touched the emperor's forehead. Dark aura emitted from his hand as Kohaku induced his dark magic into the man before him. Suddenly, a spark of light snapped back, forcing the shadow-wielder to recoil from the shock.
"What's going on?" Byakko demanded. Looking up, an aura of light surrounded the Emperor, causing the vines to recoil from its blinding power. "That's not possible! The Emperor doesn't have any magic!"
Kohaku gasped and realized what's going on. He quickly rushed over to the fallen Emperor's side trying to hold him up.
"Who are you?!" Byakko demanded furiously. "Identify yourself, imposter!"
"Someone you know very well," Kohaku replied sadly.
Tiny light shimmered around the fake-Emperor like sparkling diamonds and the next thing they knew, the glamour spell disappeared, revealing a weakened girl.
"Daughter," Kohaku gasped, cradling his child closer. She stirred and tried to sit up. "Kimi-chan, please forgive me."
"Father," Kimi replied. She tried to stand but fell to her knee. It seemed Kohaku had temporarily suppressed some parts of her magic and strength, leaving her to feel weak and disoriented. "I didn't think that I would see you like this again. How could you have given in to the Darkness so easily? Was everything you said to me before a lie?"
"No, it's complicated," Kohaku replied, shaking his head. "What I said to you in the cave was all true."
Kimi sighed in disappointment, not believing him. "And to think I came all this way to save you from Byakko as you did for me. How can I trust you again now that you have reverted to your old self?"
"ENOUGH!" Byakko pointed the end of his weapon at Kimi. "I'm not going to ask you again, little girl. Where is the emperor?"
Kimi coughed. "Somewhere you'll never be able to reach him: under the protection of the Oracle and the Gemini Council in Kandrakar."
Byakko gaped in surprised. No! With Emperor Sheng-tsu in Kandrakar, Byakko will never be able to seize complete control of the throne and the entire kingdom! And with the Veil raised, he can't invade Kandrakar himself to blackmail Sheng-tsu.
Just when things couldn't get much worse for him, loud cannons fired in the distance followed by roars and cheers. Byakko ran out into the balcony and saw to his horror, an army of resistance arriving over the hills lead by General Zhang Yide and his two brothers, Ryuu Bi and Kuan Yu. The three brothers rode magnificently on their stallions, their armors glistening in the light of the flames of the burning city. Kuan Yu stroke his magnificent beard calmly while Zhang Yide smirked savagely as if he couldn't wait to separate Byakko's head from his body. Only Ryuu Bi looked on, his stature gives the feeling of humbleness but full of wisdom and respect like the previous Oracle Himerish.
"Today is the day we take back our kingdom," said Ryuu Bi. "Let Lord Byakko remember that whenever there is tyranny and oppression, there will always be those willing to rebel for their freedom."
"We three have sworn an oath under the sacred cherry blossom trees that we'll fight together side by side no matter what," Kuan Yu nodded as he continued to stroke his beard calmly with one hand while holding his own guan dao. It wasn't as intricate as Byakko's or as strong, but it would be enough to take on the Celestial Warrior's army. "It would be an honor to fight for peace again with you."
"Byakko better watch himself!" Zhange Yide grunted. "If he touches a single hair on our nephew and niece, I am going to personally eviscerate him! Then I'll castrate him before pulling his head off. I'll probably mount it on my spear as a trophy!"
Motivated, the three brothers' army cheered with excitement as they beat their weapons against their shields in unison. At their general's signal, the army ran forth and clashed with the dark spirits and corrupted soldiers. Somehow, Zhang Yide and his two brothers have managed to rally together enough soldiers and warriors to face Byakko's opposing force. But the most surprising sight was seeing hundreds of monks from the Siulahm Temples aiding them; not to fight but to chant their Buddhist sutras in order to purify any dark spirits Byakko has enthralled. They were led by none other than Abbot Himerish, the former Oracle himself.
"This cannot be!" Byakko shook his head in disbelief. "It's not possible!"
"Oh, but it is possible," said a familiar voice. Byakko turned around to see the rest of the Guardians behind him. Will shook her head, as if chastising Byakko for thinking poorly. "While you were busy trying to coerce our monk friend, we used the Heart of Kandrakar and the Jewel of Life to call in for reinforcement."
"Luckily, we know a few friends around these parts and they were all too happy to help us stand up to you," Taranee said, aiming a fiery fist at him, readied herself should he attack.
"You've underestimated your opponents, Byakko," Hay Lin noted. "You may be right about the monks being pacifists, but that doesn't mean that they can't help us by performing exorcisms on the dark spirits you've corrupt!"
"And with your army of dark spirits dwindling in numbers, it will make things a lot easier for General Zhang Yide and his brothers to challenge you."
Orube arrived and quickly went over to help Kimi. The warrior of Basilíade frowned upon seeing how weak Kimi is. It was Orube's fault. She was the one who told Kimi to glamour herself as the emperor while she and the others took the real Sheng-tsu to Kandrakar. Orube didn't realize that Byakko was going to turn Kaishin back into Kohaku and get him to use his dark powers to induce the emperor. Orube didn't want to think what could have happen had Kohaku used his magic to his full extent. The thought of Kohaku killing his daughter the same way he did to his wife gave Orube the chills.
"Kimi, I'm so sorry, this is my fault," Orube whispered, rattling with guilt. "I should have taken your place instead!"
"You're acting as though I'm dying," Kimi scoffed.
Cornelia and Irma turned their heads to look at Kimi. The Guardian of Light didn't look too good but since she didn't fell to her knees again, they assumed that she was slowly getting her powers back. Suddenly, they glanced at the man next to Orube and blinked.
"Wait…who's this guy again?" Irma asked, not recognizing Kohaku without his bald head. "He looks familiar…"
"That's Kimi's dad, Irma!" Cornelia pointed out. "Or at least what he used to look like before he repented."
Irma opened their mouths in surprise.
"Wait, that's what Kaishin looked like before he shaved his head? No kidding!" Irma blurted. "I thought he was cute before, but damn! Kimi's dad is drop dead gorgeous!"
Cornelia was about to agree but when Kimi glared at them with her piercing blue eyes and they decided to drop the subject. Besides, this is hardly the time.
"It's over, Byakko!" Orube interrupted as she drew out her sword and pointed it him. "Your army is losing and Emperor Sheng-tsu is out of your reach. You cannot win!"
Byakko growled menacingly. "You think this is over?! It's never over!"
Byakko conjured up a forest of hungry looking plants out of the ground. Before the girls could even cry for help, the vines caught them by their feet and started to drag them towards him. Orube managed to escape and used her sword to slice through the hungry vegetation. Kohaku freed his daughter and dragged her out of harm's way. Kimi looked up at him in surprise. She thought for sure that her father had chosen to bring back his dark self. But she wasn't the only one who's surprised as Byakko was infuriated.
"You dare betray me?!"
Kohaku shook his head sadly. "No, you've mistaken for I never joined you in the first place."
"What?!"
"You were right in that Darkness will always be in my heart as well as a part of who I am no matter how much I try to repent. But I will never betray my daughter for your sake."
"You're a fool, Kohaku! You could have had everything!" Byakko spat. "I could have helped you bring your precious Kotone back from the dead and let you see your son again! I gave you back your true self and this is how you thank me?!"
Kimi gasped and looked at her father in astonishment. He was willing to throw away all that Byakko had offered to stand by her side? And to think that she didn't want to forgive him before back in the cave…but now…
"No, the dead should stay dead," Kohaku replied. "The price is too high and my wife would not have wanted that. You cannot tempt me anymore." Kohaku's fists burst into blackish-flaming auras as he readied himself. "I will do what is right and that is to stop you and find my son!"
Kohaku charged at Byakko but the latter blocked him with his guan dao and forced him back.
"I shall make sure that you beg for death before the end!" Byakko said his weapon glowed green. Suddenly, a large amount of green mist emitted from his body and when he brought down his weapon into the ground, they all knew they were in trouble.
The foundation of the palace shook violently as if there was a giant earthquake. The walls began to crack the ceiling was starting to cave in. The entire palace was coming down and if they don't get out soon, Byakko was going to bury them alive.
"Fly out now!" Orube ordered.
The other Guardians nodded and jumped to the sky. Kohaku covered himself, Orube, and Kimi in his dark aura and suspended them out of the building. From the sky looking below, they witnessed the sheer might of the Celestial Warrior of Earth as he reduced the rest of the Imperial Palace (and the surrounding walls and buildings) to rubble.
"Wow, this is just like that time when we first ran into the Celestial Warriors," Irma commented. "Except we're not trap in an earthen cage."
Irma should have kept quiet because as soon as she finished that sentence, there was a loud BOOM! They were blown back and so were the armies fighting each other down below. Below them where the palace was, a giant mushroom cloud of dust formed, covering them all and hampering their vision.
"What's going on?" Taranee cried, trying to brush the dust out of her eyes.
It was difficult hearing her with all loud rumbling noises. It sounded like rocks scratching against each other during a landslide. As the cloud of dust cleared, they saw to their horror the earth moving. Floating in front of them was Byakko. In empathy with his rage, giant chunks of earth and rubble rose from the ground.
"DO YOU WRETCHES HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH?! I CAN COMMAND THE VERY GROUND AND THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH YOU RELY UPON TO SURVIVE!"
Byako emitted a green aura from his hand, and with both powers of his Deadly Sin and his element, he created a core that magnetized the floating stones, earth, and rubble in order to create a giant satellite. It continued to grow and grow and the army below could do nothing but stop fighting one another and watched in awe and in fear. It was larger than the floating mountains of Lusteria…in essence, Byakko WAS creating one.
"Is that…? By the gods!" Zhang Yide said as he and his brother and everyone around them looked up at the floating satellite.
"I'm afraid so, my Lords," Himerish nodded solemnly. "We are now facing our doom."
"May the Heaven have mercy on us," Kuan Yu said. "For it would seem that Byakko plans to crush us all beneath his mountain."
"We must try and evacuate!" Ryuu Bi ordered, taking the reign as leader. "Abbot Himerish, please assist my men to carry the injured out."
Himerish nodded before quickly sending Taranee his message telepathically.
From the top of the floating mountain, Taranee gasped in shock. Turning to Orube, she said, "Byakko created a giant floating mountain and plans to crush and kill everyone in the Imperial City below!"
"No! Our friends are still down there!" Hay Lin cried. "Himerish…Zhang Yide…We have to save them!"
"There's no time for that!" Orube ordered. "Our friends can take care of themselves. The important thing for us right now is to stop Byakko right here and now before he drops the mountain on them all." Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. Turning to Cornelia, she asked, "Cornelia, can you use your magic to move Byakko's mountain out of the Imperial City?"
"It's too big! I've never tried moving an entire mountain before!" Cornelia shook her head frantically.
"Not alone you can't," Kohaku said. "But I can help."
Cornelia glanced over at Kimi whose state is reminding her of what her father could do in contact with other people. The thought of losing her power and strength scares her, making the blonde girl hesitant.
Kohaku shook his head as if he's reading her thoughts. "No, I won't be suppressing your powers. I can lend you my strength by inducing you with my chi. It should give you enough energy to move this satellite far from the Imperial City."
There was no time for debate as Orube nodded in agreement. "Do it. Meanwhile, we'll keep Byakko busy! And Kimi—"
"Don't even think about leaving me out of this fight!" Kimi said.
"NOW LET THE WORLD TREMBLE BEFORE MY MIGHT!" Byakko declared.
"In your dreams!" Will declared, flying towards him and shot a lightning bolt for his head.
Byakko quickly blocked it with his weapon before swinging it at her, causing the Keeper to jump back in defense. But after crossing element against him, Will felt something off about Byakko. Will didn't need to have aura sensing power like Kimi to tell that Byakko was becoming more delusional. The sickening expression on his mouth was clear enough. Apparently, foiling his plan is driving him to madness.
"So, you want to stop me, don't you?" Byakko laughed hysterically before gesturing them to come closer. "Come and fight me if you can."
"With pleasure!" Irma said, giving Taranee a nod, mentally telling her to make the first move.
They decided to try the move that they've been practicing lately with the Jade Dragon. The plane was that Taranee was going to fly in and fire a flurry of fire attacks at Byakko's feet, blinding him. Then Irma would combine it with a water column, causing a smokescreen to impair his sight even further. Then in the cover of the steam, Irma would fire ice shards at him before letting her friends add in their attacks into the mix.
Seemed simple enough but when Taranee fired her flurry of fireballs, Byakko smirked and the next thing they knew, he created a barrier of crystal around him. The fire were instantly put out. Taranee blinked in surprised. Before she or the others could ask any more questions, Irma decided to dive in and use a different move by breaking through the crystal shield with a water drill. Then, the most mind-blowing thing happened: the earth beneath Byakko and his crystal cage began to turn red hot and the next thing they knew, it melted parts of the crystal barrier and turned Irma's water drill into nothing but steam and earth.
"Is that molten lava?" Hay Lin asked in surprised.
"No one told me that earth-wielders can do lava!" Irma screamed as she tries to avoid the streams of lava Byakko is throwing at her. It was like trying to avoid a giant snake coiling at you in mid-air.
"Did you forget that the power of earth reaches beyond that of dirt, stone, and plants?! I AM BYAKKO, THE CELESTIAL WARRIOR OF EARTH AND THE SON OF THE WHITE TIGER!" Byakko laughed maniacally. "People like you often underestimated my might because you think I'm the weakest of the Celestial Warriors, but my powers are as vast as the planet itself! There isn't anything beyond my control!"
"Except your sanity!" Orube cried, jumping in from behind and bringing her sword down. It made contact, but to her surprised, Byakko's hide was as thick as metal. The steel coat he created from the small particles of earth on his skin was strong enough to shatter Orube's blade. Orube jumped back and resorted to using her purple chi blasts and her martial art.
Over the next half hour, each Guardian tried several different ways to get at Byakko, whether it was going in alone or combining their elements and techniques. Following Orube's order, the Guardians would switch from one battle tactics to the next whenever they failed to knock Byakko off. Hay Lin teamed up with Kimi before switching over to Taranee. Then Kimi went in alone before switching to attacking him in unison with Orube. Will and Irma tried to use their elements together to electrocute him, but he simply countered it with non-conductive wood. Just when they thought they had the upper hand, Byakko surprised them with sand, metal, crystal, wood, plants, earth, stone, dust, or molten lava.
As the battle continued, Byakko created a small lake of lava pool on top of the floating mountain with him standing on an island. Orube ordered them to take flight. To keep Orube from falling into the sea of lava, Kimi created several transparent platforms as a bridge to get her closer to Byakko. But every time Orube or anyone of them tried, he created a wall of lava around himself. Once they cooled down, Byakko broke them into pieces and are launched at them like missiles. It was virtually impossible to get close enough to land a single blow on him.
As they continued fighting with the Celestial Warrior, Cornelia felt overwhelmed with so much energy borrowed from Kohaku that she felt like exploding.
"How do you Lusterians get used to living with so much energy?" Cornelia cried, wanting to vomit as dizziness came.
"Focus and use your power and the chi that I lent you to move this mountain out of harm's way quickly," Kohaku instructed.
Cornelia nodded and tapped into the root of her power. It was just like that time when she and her friends got their new transformation and new power. Matt taught her how to find the root of her element in order to control it. This time, it was no different, but it was more difficult to do than ever before. Cornelia could feel everything in Byakko's floating make-shift mountain…all the earth and iron…the cobblestones…the sand…particles of crystals…and even…lava? Cornelia gasped, surprised at how versatile Byakko was with the power of earth. Why can't Cornelia do the same thing? No, she can't break her concentration now. She has to move the mountain while Byakko is distracted…and move it did!
The mountain moved, floating away from the Imperial City. As its massive shadow no longer darkens their view, everyone rejoiced in the fact that they've been spared. Their cheers were short lived as they watched it crashed into the base of three mountains in the distance. It seemed that Cornelia could only move it a mile away, but it was enough to save them all.
The floating rock crashed hard into the base of the mountains, causing everyone who's not flying to stumble and fall. Their sights were impaired once again as the impact causes a cloud of dust and smoke. Kohaku helped Cornelia up to her feet before rejoining his daughter's side. He came to her just in time as a bolder flew for her. He quickly shielded her with a wall of darkness before vines shot out of the ground and ensnares Hay Lin's legs above them. Taranee cut her loose before a stream of lava shot for her. She quickly tried to absorb its heat but more lava streams shot for her friends out of nowhere.
"You think moving this mountain could stop me, little girls?" Byakko snapped. "I still have the advantage of the landscape and I don't need to see you to know where you are!"
Another wall of earth risen before them and through the dust clouds, they could make out a shadowy figure standing on top and looking down at them with a mocking expression before disappearing from view.
"You on the other hand can't fight what you can't see!" Byakko said before firing simultaneous forms of earth magic at them.
When a volley of lava spheres descended upon them, Hay Lin and Irma tried to cool them with air and water. Taranee tried to absorb their heat, but doesn't want to risk absorbing Byakko's Deadly Sin into herself. The last thing she wanted was to suddenly become overwhelmed by his power of Gluttony. Kimi tried to shield them all in a dome of light, the same dome that trapped them all the first time they met. The lava flowed around the base of the dome, but couldn't penetrate. Instead, Byakko decided to fire a volley of earth bullets from the top while throwing in some explosive minerals from fireworks for good measure.
The pressure on the Byakko's attacks was intense, and still not recovering her full strength, Kimi's shield started to crack and weakened like its master.
Will had to do something or else she and her friends aren't going to last long. If only they could strike at the source and then…Suddenly, Will got an idea and used mental contact to rely it to Orube.
"I'm not sure about this, Will," Orube said. "It didn't work last time."
"We have to try," Will insisted. "Rather than a convergence attack, do what Kohaku just did to Cornelia and lend me some of your chi."
"That much energy in one body, especially an Earthling body could drain you quickly once you've siphoned it," Kohaku warned.
"He's right, Will," Cornelia said. "I'm still feeling weak after moving that mountain."
"Hey, Will's not only the Keeper of the Heart but she's also the Guardian of Energy, guys," Hay Lin reminded them sternly. "We just have to have confidence in Will."
"I don't like this, but alright," Orube said. "Kimi will have to try and hold out a few more seconds. Once Will has some of our chi, Kimi will open up a hole from the top of the shield, allowing Will to fly up and strike Byakko's heart."
Using his powers, Kohaku quickly absorbed a small portion of some of the others' chi and induced them, along with his, into Will. Will wanted to scream because the sudden rush of energy was burning throughout her body. It felt as if the energy was attacking every nerve cells in her system like a venom. Will wanted to explode, but tried to contain it with her own willpower. Using what Lady Ngọc Long taught them, Will focused all of the chi into her hand and combining it with her magic, a lightning bolt manifested in her palm and she held it like a spear.
"Now!" Orube ordered, giving Kimi the signal.
Once Kimi opened up the hatch above the dome, Will quickly flew out and rush towards Byakko as fast as she could, all the while dodging the flying rock bullets and lava streams along the way. Once she was about two meters from Byakko, she threw the lightning spear, aiming it at Byakko's heart before he could say anything.
The lightning came so fast that Byakko didn't have time to block it. It embedded itself into his heart, causing him to gasp. The crackling of the lightning spear, filled with so much chi, was creeping its way into Byakko's system, causing his body to crack as if he was a living stone. The cracks on his body shone brightly and Will braced herself for the explosion.
Sure enough, a blinding light emitted from the stricken Celestial Warrior and then came the explosion. Standing near one isn't very clever as the shockwave from the detonation blasted Will back within a radius of twelve meters. Kimi quickly closed her shield to protect everyone inside but could do nothing to help Will as the latter was out of reach. Will was knocked back against a boulder by the powerful shock wave and lost consciousness for a few seconds. When she finally came to, the battlefield was quiet and there was nothing left save for the falling rubble from the blast.
Kimi collapsed and her dome shield quickly disappeared. The others rushed over to Will to help her.
"Will! Are you alright?" Hay Lin cried.
Will rubbed the back of her head and winced. There was a little bit of blood and Will realized it must have been when she hit her head.
"Ow! Yeah, I think I'm fine…" Will said, gasping for breath.
She tried to get up and the others backed away a little bit to give her some room. Will looked behind her but there was nothing but a cloud of dust and ash from the explosion. "Is…is he gone?"
Orube sent out her acute scenes but found nothing. "I…can't sense anything. Saved for the cloud of dust, it seemed as if Byakko is gone!"
"Will! You did it!" Irma cried, hugging Will. Then remembering that her friend just had an overwhelming experience, let's go immediately. "I don't know what you did to him exactly, but it seemed to work!"
"I…only tried to…stab him…through the heart…the core of his power," Will said. "How's…How's Kimi, by the way?"
"Still exhausted after what her dad did to her, but she'll be fine," Taranee replied.
Will was exhausted, too, and wanted to collapse into her bed and sleep for several days. But at that very moment, Kimi opened her eyes and suddenly her aura-sensing power kicked in involuntarily. She gasped as she sat up, and glanced over at Will's shoulder.
Will was about to ask her what was the matter, but a familiar voice from behind whispered into her ear.
"Thought I was dead, huh, little girl?" said Byakko with the most sickening smile on his face.
Will gasped and turned around to see the head of Byakko...without his blindfolds on. At that moment, Lady Ngọc Long's warning ringed through her head:
"Although he is blindfolded, it does not mean that he is blind…"
The dust particles that were still floating in the air came together to form the rest of his body, but it was Byakko's eyes that were terrifying to look at. The sclera wasn't white like the rest of theirs but black and the irises were red like blood. It was simply demonic and pure evil.
Before Will and the others could respond, Byakko's eyes glowed red and deadly, crimson beams emits from them. Will tried to get out of the way but was hit in the wings and instantly felt a searing, burning pain. For a second, Will thought it was heat vision like the ones in the superhero comic books, but turning around, she saw to her horror that her wings weren't burnt…they were petrified into stone!
"Beware the petrifying gazes of his eyes should you face him up close," said Ngọc Long's voice in their mind.
"Will!" screamed the other Guardians. "Get out of there!"
Will tried but she couldn't fly, not with her stoned-wings. So she attempted to run but Byakko is right behind her with his deadly weapon in hand.
"There is no escape for you!" Byakko cried, bringing down his blade and striking the ground. It created a large crevasse and with both exhaustion and petrified wings, Will fell between the cracks of the earth. "This is the end for you!"
"Over our dead bodies!" Irma cried, shooting ice barrage at him in a desperate attempt to keep him distracted from Will. But Byakko didn't flinch as his body turns into solid gold, causing the ice to shatter against his tough hide. Byakko looked up at her and smiled sickeningly. I don't like that look, Irma thought.
Byakko let out a large bellow and suddenly, his entire body emits green mist. The Deadly Sin of Gluttony was everywhere and it's blocking their visual of him. Without further warning, more red beams shot towards them, hitting Hay Lin in the left leg and Cornelia in the arm. To their horror, parts of their limbs were turning into stone as well. Byakko reappeared from the mist and attempted to finish the job, but he was stopped by Orube, Kimi, and Kohaku and the four of them dove into a hand-to-hand combat with three against one. Irma and Taranee rushed over to their friends' sides but could do nothing to stop the spreading of the stone.
The fight between Byakko and his opponents was impressive to watch, especially when light, darkness, and earth are being integrated in their wielders' martial arts movements. All the while, Byakko's three opponents are doing their best to avoid his deadly gaze. They seemed to be winning but when Kimi fell from exhaustion again, Byakko took his chance and hit her squarely in the chest with his petrifying eyes.
"Kimi-chan!" Kohaku cried. Making the mistake of turning his attention to his daughter, Byakko stomped his foot and caused the earth beneath Kohaku to projected him a great distance away.
"Father!" Kimi cried painfully as she watched her father disappear into the mountain cliff. She winced in pain again and realized that she can't move. The blast from Byakko's eyes pushed her back against the other Guardians and they watched in horror as her body slowly turns into stone. Orube tried to stand her ground but she, too, was quickly taken out by Byakko. None of them were a match for his petrifying eyes.
"Soon, the magic will spread throughout your entire body and you'll be nothing but a set of breakable statues," Byakko laughed maniacally. "A magnificent way to die, isn't it?"
He walked closer, intending to finish them but he suddenly heard a sound. Looking over the crevasse, he saw Will attempting to drag herself out, despite parts of her torso already turning into marble. Byakko smirked and kicked her hard in the face, forcing her to fall deeper into the crevasse. Wedged between the earthen walls, Will could do nothing but watch as Byakko gloated sadistically over her eventual demise.
"You Guardians have been nothing more than a thorn in my side!" Byakko said. "Now it's time for you to die! You, oh dear Keeper of the Heart, will have the honor of expiring first!" Moving his hands, the walls were crushing her on both sides. Worse, the dirt and rocks from above were falling in and Will realized that Byakko was going to bury her alive after crushing her fragile Earthling body.
"May the Darkness welcomes you in death, Guardian, and let your Heart be mine for the taking!" Byakko grinned.
The sound of her friends crying out Will's name in despair was fading and the only thing she could hear were the rocks coming down on her. It was getting harder to breath and harder to think. Will realized that this was the end and that she was going to die today.
Darkness was closing in as Will's mind slips away. Too weak to fight it, she finally gives in and then there was nothing…
…Nothing…Darkness…
It was time for Will to give in…surrender to the Darkness…to Byakko's Deadly Sin of Gluttony…after all, she has failed…
"You have not failed, young Guardian," said a new voice. "Your time is not yet done, so do not abandon hope for the Darkness."
Will opened her eyes and she could see a very soft, light in the distance. Curiously, Will went over to it.
"Who's there?" Will asked.
"I am what I am when you search deep within your Heart," replied the voice. It was a soft and gentle voice and oddly enough, it felt familiar even though Will was quite certain she has never heard it before. As Will got closer to the soft, comforting light, she saw it was a Chinese lantern being held by a woman. Upon closer inspection, Will is amazed at how beautiful she is. The woman greeted her with a smile and a small bow.
"Who are you?" Will asked in awe. She noticed that the woman didn't really look completely human. There's something very ethereal about her. Was she a spirit? "What are you?"
"Human, I am not," the woman replied, "For never had I ever been. I came from a land of dragons and gods. A time and place much like this world thy feet stand on. I bless those who stood up against tyranny with virtues in their hearts and set their essences free from mountains that imprisoned their bodies like the earth that has now imprisoned thee…"
Will gasped, suddenly remember Hay Lin's story. "You're…you're the Nymph of the Elements…Xin Jing, aren't you?"
Xin Jing smiled, confirming Will's suspicion. "And thou must be the current Guardian of Energy as well as Keeper of my Heart."
"Why are you here?" Will asked.
"A part of me still lives inside of the Heart of Kandrakar and thus, I live within every Keeper since the beginning," Xin Jing answered "For years, I have witnessed thy struggle since thou has taken the mantle of Guardianship. I can feel thy passion, love, and joy…as, too, with pain and misery…"
"You can see what I am feeling?"Will seems surprised.
"Aye," Xin Jing nodded. "But tell me, young Guardian…art thou willing to give into Byakko's Sin so soon?"
"It's not like I have a choice," Will insisted. "What else is there for me to do? I mean, he's so powerful and so are his earth-wielding magic, his Deadly Sin of Gluttony, and his petrifying gaze."
"Aye, thy enemy is powerful, but so are you," Xin Jing said. "Tell me which is stronger: energy or earth?"
Will blinked…unsure of where this was going. "Um…energy?" she guessed.
"Why?" Xin Jing asked.
"I'm not sure," Will said, feeling a bit embarrassed because this was supposed to be her element.
Xin Jing merely smiled gently and held up her lantern as lightning sparked from it, creating streams of energy everywhere. "Energy is the most powerful element there is…without energy, life cannot exist. It exist in the heavens as lightning, it lives in the sea that gives it waves, in the fire that gives it heat, in the earth that gives it life, and in the air that gives it wings. It exists in light and in darkness…it can pass through the earth and channel its power from one place to the next. It is the source of all life and cannot be stopped by mere minerals in the ground."
Will nodded in understanding as she watched the display of lightning and energy above them lit the darkness. After watching and listening to Xin Jing's words of wisdom, Will felt connected to her element, herself, and her friends. "It's what gives us strength…"
The nymph nodded. "Sin doesn't exist only in mortals, young Guardian, for even the highest immortals in the Heaven have sinned."
"Are you referring to the Jade Emperor that locked away the Four Dragons?"
"Aye, although he's not evil himself, I had to face his sins of arrogance and anger with my Heart."
"You're making it sound so easy," Will pointed out. "How did you face the Jade Emperor's might with just your energy?"
"I didn't," Xin Jing answered simply, surprising Will. "I looked for the bravery, determination, love, and justice that existed within each of the Four Dragons. With their merits, I was able to set their essences free."
Will's eyes opened wide. She realized what she has been missing all along. "It's not just elemental power, isn't it?" Will asked, slowly placing a hand over her heart. "To defeat a sin, we have to find a good trait to counter it…a virtue!"
Xin Jing nodded. "Look for the Virtue inside you, Guardian," she advised. "Look for the good and love that can be born inside each person."
Will closed her eyes and began to feel it…she has found the strength of her element, now she'll have to find the right virtue to counter Byakko's Deadly Sin. Holding out her hands, the Heart of Kandrakar manifested itself, filling the darkness around them with light and energy.
Xin Jing smiled and placed a finger on its smooth surface as if she was touching Will's own heart. Will let out a sigh of content as some of her memories washed over her…Will remembered back when she fought Nerissa, the previous Keeper of the Heart…Will wanted to hate her but a part of her knew that it was best to pity Nerissa, for she was a victim of power…she was gluttonous for it the point of betraying and killing Cassidy!
Will understood why the Heart's power was so alluring to Nerissa and why it corrupted her…Will thought it was a curse, but Kadma told her it was a great privilege. To have it in your hand and within your heart is a great honor, despite the heavy burden. Will realized that as the Keeper of the Heart, she should have nothing to fear so long as she display some restraint. A Keeper must be constantly mindful of others and their own surrounds and practice self-control.
Gluttony is a sin that doesn't involve the over-consumption of food and wealth like Miranda was doing to Elyon. It involves the over-indulgence of power, desire, and even violence. People like Nerissa and Phobos were like Byakko because they were gluttonous for all the powers of the Heart and of Kandrakar. But Will was not like that. She has demonstrated restraint and control all these years, despite the temptation and the burden of it and its responsibilities. Will realized that that was a virtue and only it can stand up to Byakko's Deadly Sin.
Looking up at Xin Jing with great determination and courage on her face, Will held up the Heart and declared her creed proudly before her:
"With the Heart of Kandrakar and the Virtue of Temperance, I, Will Vandom, Keeper of the Heart and the Guardian of Energy, will put an end to Byakko's Gluttony and his attempt to take over the Western Earth Kingdom of Zhong-guo. That is my dream for Lusteria!"
And with that, a brilliant beam of light brighter than anything before came out of nowhere and struck the Heart of Kandrakar. It didn't felt threatening but very comforting and Will immediately knew where it came from…Kimi's Jewel of Life. Its Light has found Will in the Darkness and is helping her to realize her new power. As the Light from the Jewel washes over Will, the Heart shines brighter than ever before. But the Light was also here to deliver a message: Her friends were in trouble.
"I have to go," Will declared. "My friends need me."
Xin Jing nodded and Will realized that the nymph was fading away. Xin Jing came closer and gently placed a hand over Will's heart.
"Let me plant a seed of good will in thy heart and continue to walk down this road of life together with you."
Will felt happy for she knew that Xin Jing will always be in her heart and the Heart of Kandrakar now and forever. "Thank you so much for your help, Xin Jing."
Xin Jing nodded and closed her eyes before her ethereal form disappeared. Will looked on and knew that it was time for her to wake up from this dream.
Byakko watched as Will is buried under rocks and dirt in his crevasse. He was expecting the Heart of Kandrakar to emerge once its owner breathes her last breath. But nothing happened yet. He was about to wield the earth and make it crush her further for good measure when he suddenly felt a stinging shock from behind him. Kimi had blasted him from behind, hoping to divert his attention away from Will. Sure enough, it worked.
"Well…aren't you a glutton for punishment, little girl?" Byakko grinned in a amusement. He was amazed that she was able to move her free arm to attack him, but he doubt that she'll be able to do it again. His eyes glowed red again. The others attempted to move in, but with their limbs frozen solid as stone, they could do nothing but watch. "If you wanted me to turn you into stone faster, you should have said so. I would be happy to oblige your wish. But don't worry about your brother, because I'll leave him your stone-head as a memento."
Kimi glared at him defiantly before closing her eyes to accept her fate. She expected to be dead right then and there, but instead she felt a warm beat inside her chest. It was light and warm and it was glowing…the Jewel of Life! Its Light was breaking away the creeping stone, restoring Kimi and the others to feel their flesh.
"What is this?" Byakko gapped in surprise. "What is this horrible source of light?"
It was resonating with something and Kimi was quite certain that she didn't activate it. It's logical to think that in their most vulnerable time, the Jewel of Life kicked in to save their necks…but Kimi felt something strange coming from it as it spontaneously shot out a brilliant beam of light, pass Byakko and into the crevasse where Will was. At that moment, Kimi knew that the Jewel was trying to bring the Light to someone and help them realize the strength of their element.
"I don't know what sort of sorcery you just pulled, but it's not going to save you, Guardians!" Byakko said as he readied himself to petrify them again.
Orube quickly got between him and the others to protect them while Hay Lin and Taranee tried to pull the others away from the angry Celestial Warrior as far away as possible. Byakko scoffed at their pathetic effort to protect each other but just when he was about to aim his eyes on Kimi, someone grabbed him by the shoulder and locked his head in a grip.
"Don't you dare touch my daughter!" said a familiar voice.
Kimi opened her eyes in shock, surprised to see her father again. After all of her doubts, he really has come back for her. "Father?"
"YOU!" Byakko growled, struggling to break from Kohaku's hold. "I knew I shouldn't have listened to Hwang-Ryong and kill you earlier when I had the chance!"
"I may not be able to stop you from kidnapping my son," Kohaku declared, "but I will not let you harm my daughter or any of her friends ever again."
Byakko nearly broke out laughing maniacally, "You cannot stop me! You can't even kill me!"
"No, but there is one thing I can do," Kohaku said.
Before Byakko realized it, Kohaku released him and placed a palm on his forehead. Byakko gasped, realizing what Kohaku was going to do, but it was too late for him as the shadow-wielder's eyes glowed red as black aura enveloped his body before spreading into Byakko.
Kohaku Watsuki haven't performed this technique in years. Rather than suppressing Byakko's magic, he's going to take it away forever. His power reached deep within Byakko's core and attempted to grab and pull it out…but just when Kohaku was about to, he felt something wrong. Performing this technique would kill his victim, especially if they were mortal like his wife, Kotone. But Byakko isn't a mortal being. He's a demi-god. His powers were too immense for Kohaku to try and take hold. But nevertheless, he pushed forward with all his might and managed to grab onto a part of Byakko's magic: his ability to petrify his victims into stone with his deadly gaze.
"W-what are you doing?!" Byakko demanded.
"I'm taking away your deadly gaze!" Kohaku replied. The process of ripping out Byakko's magic was intense, leaving both men straining with effort to resist being ripped apart by the magic themselves as the ground cracked beneath them.
"Father, no!" Kimi cried. She tried to get up and ran over to him but Orube and Taranee grabbed her before she could get caught in the crossfire.
"Kimi, don't! You'll die if you jump in!" Taranee pleaded.
"Cease this at once, you fool!" Byakko cried. "At this rate, you'll destroy us both!"
But Kohaku didn't cease as he continued to pull even harder. He was determined to not let Byakko win. "I do not care for myself. If doing this means certain death for me, then I will gladly take you with me if I can!"
With one last pull, Kohaku's dark power ripped Byakko's magic right out of him. There was a suddenly shockwave and it knocked both men back several meters. The experienced of having a portion of his power ripped out of him left Byakko unconscious, but the effect was even more severe on Kohaku.
Kimi gasped and broke free from her friends to run to her father's side. She pray that he wasn't dead. "Dad!"
Upon hearing her voice, Kohaku struggled to get up to his feet, but once standing he looked down and knew that the damage has been done: his limbs were slowing turning into stone due to the side effect of ripping out Byakko's magic and absorbing it into his body.
"Kimi, no! Stay back!" Kohaku warned. "I fear that it will affect you, too."
"Kohaku, what have you done to yourself?" Orube cried as she and the others helplessly watched the man turning into stone.
"I had to do it," Kohaku replied as the spell reached his knee levels. "I couldn't let Byakko kill any of you."
"But you're dying!" Kimi cried and her father smiled sadly.
"A price I'm willing to pay, Kimi-chan. I'm…I'm so sorry…I had hoped to continue this journey with you and your friends to the very end…but I have failed you again."
Kimi shook her head in disbelief, refusing to accept it. She didn't care that her emotion was getting the better of her for the others to see. She ran towards her father and embraced him, despite the risk of turning into stone again herself. Kohaku didn't pushed her away but returned the gesture, wanting to hold her close one last time.
"I'm sorry, but my time is nearly done. At least this way, I can finally regain my honor and be with your mother," he whispered. The spell has already turned half of his lower body into stone, but it left Kimi unharmed.
"No! You can't leave me," Kimi cried, burying her face in his clothes. "I just started to forgive you after all these years. I want you back in my life! I want you to come to Heatherfield with me! Dad…I…I need you!"
The spell was already reaching his chest. Before it could paralyze his arms, Kohaku gave his daughter one last hug before pushing her away so that she doesn't get caught in his frozen embrace.
"I'm sorry, Kimi-chan, but you'll have to find your brother without my help," Kohaku said. He clasped his hands together like a monk before they turned into stone. "My only regret now is that I couldn't see Kyochi in person one last time…so please, when you find him, tell him that I'm very proud of you both."
"Daddy?" Kimi held her breath.
Kohaku chuckled because Kimi hadn't called him "daddy" in sixteen years. At least his last memories of her would be something to cherish in death.
He lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes, ready to embrace death. "I love you, Kimi. I love you and your brother both."
And with that, Kohaku breathed his last breath as the spell completely turned his entire being into nothing but stone. Kimi stepped closer and wordlessly caress his face. As if still alive, the statue of Kohaku shed a tear.
"Father…" Kimi whispered sadly.
Behind her, Irma was the one who spoke first, but this time, it wasn't a snarky comment.
"That…was pretty intense. I didn't know he had it in him to do it…"
Kimi didn't answer her nor did she acknowledge any one of them. She was still transfixed on her father's statue.
"He tried to save our lives by sacrificing his own," Taranee added. "Your dad really is something special, Kimi."
"A very honorable man," Orube nodded. "How could we ever repay him for all his efforts?"
The answer to that question didn't come from Kimi, but from a voice they didn't expect to hear so soon.
"You can all honor his death by dying!" Byakko shouted as he slammed his fist into the ground, causing an earthen shockwave that knocked the Guardians off their feet. He has regained consciousness while their attentions were diverted. Byakko's eyes were still black and red as usual, but no matter how hard he tried, he could no longer emit his deadly gaze to turn them all back into stone. He tried summoning his special weapon, but the guan dao did not manifest in his hand! No! Kohaku has managed to take more than his deadly gaze away. Blasted him! No matter…he still has his basic earth-wielding magic. It would be enough to destroy Kohaku's stone body and the lot of them.
Kimi grabbed onto her father's statue desperately as Byakko came closer. "Out of my way, little girl! I have some unfinished business with this bastard!"
Orube and the others quickly joined Kimi and together they created a shield swirling with the colors of their elements to block his attack. Undaunted by their efforts, Byakko jumped in and savagely pounded their shield with his superhuman might before opting to throwing giant boulders at them.
"Not sure how long we can keep this up!" Cornelia cried as she strained herself to help keep the shield up.
"I know! We've been fighting for hours and it feels like our energy is nearly depleted," said Taranee.
"Oh, I wished Will was here with us!" Hay Lin cried, struggling with her side of the shield. "If only Byakko hadn't…"
"Don't talk like that, Hay Lin!" Orube ordered, taking on her stern role as leader. "If there's anything I've learned from you before, it's that Will can't be taken down that easily!"
Byakko laughed at their effort to hang on to the hope that the Keeper is still alive. Let's see how hopeful they are when he decided to turn the earth around their shield into molten magma! Just when Byakko was about to heat up the earth, a beam of light shot out from behind him and straight up into the heaven. The intensity of the pillar of light blasted him back. Being the Guardians of Fire and Light, Taranee and Kimi were the only ones who could look directly at the pillar of light without shielding their eyes. There was a silhouette of a person coming from it. Taranee looked closer and realized that it was Will.
"Girls, I think it's Will! She's alive!" Taranee cried. Hearing this, the other three Guardians cheered as they cried with joy.
"That's my girl!"
"I knew she would come out of it okay!"
Will smiled as she took in all the light into herself. With the Heart of Kandrakar and the Jewel of Life, Will has come to realize the strength of her element and her virtue: Temperance. All of these powers combined within her, washing over her entire being with warm light, giving birth to something new.
Her friends watched in absolute awe as Will's old transformation dissolved to make way for a new one. Once her old wings were gone, a new pair sprouted from her back. They were bigger, ethereal, and were brand new like the rest of her outfit.
"By the fires of Basilíade!" Orube cried as she and the others marveled at Will's new form. "We are witnessing the birth of a new transformation."
Byakko shook his head as he got up. Seeing Will standing before him with her new transformation didn't seemed to deter him one bit as he growled savagely at her.
"So you're still alive after all," he noted.
Will didn't answer him as she took in the sight before her and didn't like what she saw: her friends have been pushed to their limits and it was only a matter of time until they revert back to their human forms. Kimi was standing next to a stone statue. A second look made Will realized that it was their friend, Kohaku! She glared back at Byakko and readied herself.
"You don't scare me, little girl!" Byakko barked as he wielded the earth against her. "It'll take more than some new transformation to defeat me!"
With her new wings, Will took flight and found out that she can go faster, enabling her to dodge all of his earthen missiles and streams of lava. Using her new power, she easily blasted many stones, metal, and boulders aside.
Byakko's eyes widen in surprise as he could feel Will's new energy passing through the minute minerals of his earth attacks easily. He tried sending volleys of iron bullets at her, but Will's lightning attack practically vaporized them into dust. Before he could attack her again, Will sent a blast of pink energy and the collision it had on him was fierce.
"GO, WILL!" Irma cheered. "SHOW THAT CREEP WHO'S BOSS!"
The smoke cleared, and Will saw that Byakko has converted his skin into pure gold in order to protect himself from the blast. Despite the shielding, Will's new energy blast was powerful enough to force Byakko to his feet. He was definitely breathing harder and without his special deadly gaze or his guan dao, this battle was not going his way. But he refused to give up. Byakko threw everything he could at her: streams of lava, boulders, sand, iron ores, and crystals shards. But Will was too fast. She easily dodged through them and those that she could not, she vaporized them with her new energy.
Desperate, Byakko released a plume of green mist at her, hoping to overwhelm Will with his Deadly Sin.
"It's over for you, Byakko!" Will declared. Holding out her hand, Will created a make-shift claymore, its blade sizzling and crackling with energy and electrical pulses. She slashed through the mist like a knife on butter and the physical form of Gluttony dissolved. "Your Deadly Sin is no match for my Virtue of Temperance!"
Byakko gawked in horror…no one...absolutely no one could have withstood against that much Gluttony! He was Byakko, the Celestial Warrior of Earth! The son of the White Tiger of the West! The Lord of Gluttony! How can he be weaker than a mere little girl with red hair?!
"NO! I AM STILL MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU!" Byakko cried desperately. Talk about being in denial! Raising up his hands, he tapped into the floating mountain that Cornelia had crashed earlier and aimed it for Will. "YOU ARE JUST A LITTLE INSECT! I WILL CRUSH YOU!"
He threw it and the others cried for Will to move out of the way. She didn't. Will merely looked up at the falling mountain that was coming towards her. It wasn't as big as before, but its size could still crush her. Without a second thought, Will flew upward, held out her make-shift elemental claymore and cleaved the miniature mountain into halves!
Everyone was in awestruck at the sheer sight, including the Celestial Warrior. Before Byakko could escape, Will's speed allowed her to suddenly appear right in front of him with a determined, serious look on her face. Without hesitation, she infused her claymore with all of her electrical energy and her Virtue of Temperance and embedded it deep into his heart. Because gold is a good conductor of electricity, all the electrical energy that has been fused with the Virtue of Temperance was spreading from his impaled heart throughout all his body. Byakko gasped in surprise. He tried to rematerialize but couldn't! Will's energy and her Virtue had countered all of his earth-wielding magic and his Deadly Sin.
"Byakko," Will said, still holding onto the hilt of her elemental claymore in place, "You've taken Kohaku away from us and have devastated this entire kingdom. I will not let you terrorize anyone ever again!"
Byakko looked down at himself and realized that, despite coating himself in gold, his body was rusting away into dust. The White Tiger god had sculpted him from the earth itself, and now he was returning to his original state. The little brat has managed to find a way to kill a demi-god! He was really dying! Byakko realized that this was his darkest hour…he has lost. All of the Darkness and the Deadly Sin of Gluttony that had corrupted his entire being was fading away…leaving him to feel…at peace. In that moment, Will saw something she didn't expect to see on Byakko's twisted face…a serene smile. Will suddenly remember what Lady Ngọc Long had told them about these Celestial Warriors: they were originally created for good and were not always this evil. By expelling all the Darkness and the Deadly Sin within him, Byakko is reverting back to his true nature…but the price for his freedom also meant his death.
Sadly, Will took her claymore out of him and he gasped for breath one last time before his body crumbled away to dust. The sword in her hand dissolved and Will bowed to him in respect and said, "Go in peace."
Byakko nodded as the last dust and crystallized sand of his body scattered in the wind.
It was truly over.
Epilogue
"Will! You did it!" Her friends cried. "You were amazing!"
"And you're looking very stylish!" said Cornelia, admiring Will's new Guardian form. "Will, your new wings are gorgeous! How did you ever achieve it?"
"It's a long story," Will said. "I'll tell you all about it when we get back home."
Unable to contain herself, Irma started to dramatize Will's battle. "That was some power, girl! Did you guys see the way she sliced that mountain into two?! That was so awesome! And I'm loving your new power, girl! I can't wait to get mine!"
"Hmm…power…girl…That's it! We can call it Power Girl!" Hay Lin chirped, writing the name down in her hand. Where she got the pen from, Will had no idea.
The others gave Hay Lin a look of disbelief.
"Hay Lin…please," Taranee begged. "Not another name."
"Really, Hay-Hey?" Irma scoffed. "Power Girl? That has got to be one of the lamest transformation names ever! Couldn't you think up of something cooler?"
"But it makes us sound like a group of superheroes!" Hay Lin pointed out.
Will laughed a little and shook her head in amusement. "Hey, where are Orube and Kimi?"
The others suddenly turned towards Kimi and her stoned-father and were immediate plagued by guilt and pity. Taranee quickly told Will the details on what really happened to Kohaku and Will nodded sadly.
"Maybe you should say something to her," Hay Lin suggested.
Will agreed and walked up to Kimi. Orube saw her coming and nodded, encouraging the Keeper to say something to the Guardian of Light. Kimi didn't pay her any attention as both girls gazed at the statue in front of them. Will wanted to say something, but her mouth came out dry. She finally decided to say the most natural question anyone would asked.
"Hey…are you okay?"
Kimi did not shake her head or nod in response, so Will took it as a no. She decided to press forward the one-sided conversation.
"Kimi…I'm sorry about your father…I know we didn't get to know him that long, but to see him turning into stone must be—"
"I've read my father's aura again," Kimi interrupted stoically, not taking her eyes off of her father. "The moment before Byakko's magic completely took hold of him, I embraced my father and I read his aura…"
Will nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"He wanted to come home with me, Vandom. He was going to retire from his life as a monk and come to Heatherfield with us…he was going to stay and help us find Kyochi. After all these years, I was going to have a father in my life again…but…"
Will didn't know what to say. She really wished that her new power could help Kimi bring her father back…wait. Suddenly, Will remembered what the nymph Xin Jing told her and placed a hand on Kohaku's statue.
Taken aback by what appeared to be a disrespectful approach to her father's legacy, Kimi glared at Will and pulled her back.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"He's still alive, Kimi," Will answered quickly, catching Kimi by surprised. "Your dad's still alive in there."
"How can you be so certain? My father is now merely bones and stone."
"Because energy is life and it can still exist in the earth," Will insisted. Without asking permission, Will grabbed Kimi's hand and placed it on her father's arm. "Use your power…can't you sense his aura? Forget the stone surface! Use your Jewel of Life!"
Kimi closed her eyes and concentrate…she could feel the stone and pushed her light deeper into its core…suddenly, the Jewel of Life within her allowed her to feel something…a pulse…a pulse of life…an aura! Her father's still alive!
"Daddy?" Kimi whispered, looking up at her father's stoned expression. Can he still hear her?
"See? He's still in there!" Will insisted. "We can use your Jewel of Life and my Heart of Kandrakar to bring him back! Your dad can finally come home with you to Heatherfield!"
It would make sense! If her father was still alive somewhere in there, then using both magical pendants and their powers should reverse the curse! When life, energy, and light are combined as one, there is hope.
In unison, both Kimi and Will manifested their mystical crystals and began to focus. They tapped into their elements (Will also tapped into her Virtue of Temperance for good measure since the curse Kohaku absorbed within himself came from Byakko, the Lord of Gluttony) and the magic of their crystals began to induce it into Kohaku's statue. The pulse was getting stronger and warmer! Both girls couldn't believe it! It seemed that they were getting more luck on their side. Will and Kimi exchanged quick smiles, confident that they would succeed. But that was when things went terribly wrong.
Out of nowhere, fire rained down on them, pushing all six girls back. Will quickly grabbed Kimi and used her new wings to fly them both out of range.
"What the heck was that?!" Cornelia cried as she and the others coughed.
Before anyone one of them could answer, a giant water drill sprouted out of the ground like a snake and attempted to maul them. It didn't help when it's being combined with a fiery tornado. Like before, the girls combined their powers to create a swirling dome-shield. Once the attack and the steam subsided, they could hear a woman's shrill laughter.
"It's Zhu Que and Xuan Wu!" Orube glared at the Celestial Warriors of Fire and Water in front of them.
Zhu Que landed in front of them and looked disappointed once he took in the scene before him.
"Pathetic that Byakko was, forth which he cannot succeed in conquering this Kingdom of Earth," Zhu Que noted, glaring at the Guardians condescendingly. "To be destroyed by a mere child is unbecoming, no matter what form she may take. To call himselfth a Celestial Warrior is now nothing more than a heresy!"
"Indeed, Zhu Que," Zuan Wu mused lazily. "But look here! Byakko's death was certainly not a lose!"
Kimi gasped as she realized that Xuan Wu was standing next to her father's statue. The cold-hearted Lady of Sloth tittered, no doubt very pleased with the result. "Here the once and might Kohaku Watsuki stands, not of flesh but of stone!"
"What a fool he is to think he can suppress a demi-god's power!" Zhu Que growled.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Kimi warned, glaring daggers at the demi-goddess.
Xuan Wu faked a hurt expression. "Awe, what's the matter? Afraid that I'll do something nasty to him?" As if to mock her, Xuan Wu stroke Kohaku's stoned face lovingly, but the twisted look on her face said otherwise. "What more can I do with him now that he's all solid stone? Serves him right for trying to suppress a Celestial Warrior's power."
"DON'T YOU DARE, XUAN WU!" Kimi cried.
"It's not like I can freeze him or anything, since he's been petrified…oh, I know!" Xuan Wu gasped and then gave them all a wicked look that sent chills down their spines. Frantically, Kimi broke through the shield and ran towards her father in a desperate attempt to save him. Zhu Que could have stopped her, but knowing how fruitless the situation for the girl is, he simply vanished in a burst of flames, leaving Xuan Wu alone to play with her victim.
"That's right, little girl! Run and cry to your daddy!" Xuan Wu sneered.
Kimi was just a few feet away. She was almost there but Xuan Wu merely laughed and blasted her back with ice shards. Without a second thought, Xuan Wu manifested her talismans, a silver spear and a shield, and with them she impaled Kohaku's statue through the heart and threw the rest of his body over a cliff and into a crevasse.
"FATHER!" Kimi cried as she and her friends watched in horror as the stone statue of Kohaku's living body broke into pieces.
Xuan Wu laughed maniacally as she began to disappeared, knowing that her work is done. As soon as she was gone, it began to rain on them. The heaven cried and mourned with Kimi for the permanent lost of her father. The rain was both a blessing and a curse…while it was putting out the fire of the burning city, it was also a reflection of despair.
Kimi stared in disbelief…the shock of seeing Xuan Wu murdering her father was too much. For years, a wall of earth and iron had been built around her heart, forcing Kimi to become distant from everyone. The sight of her father shattering into pieces left her to feel numb and absolutely nothing.
"Kimi? Are you alright?" someone from behind her asked. She couldn't remember who nor did she care.
Kimi turned around, and the others realized how frightening she looked. Xuan Wu may have taken down the last bit of the wall of earth and iron around Kimi's emotions, but once it's gone, they saw something more frightening…it was a vengeful heart…a black heart: it was Kimi's heart of ice.
To be continued…
Apologies about this chapter because I didn't want to cut anything important out, so it came out about ten pages longer than expected.
Remember, every Celestial Warriors has their own unique powers. For Byakko, it's his deadly gaze that can turn you into stone. Hence, the real reason why he's wearing the blindfold.
At last, Will meets Xin Jing, the Nymph of the Elements and a very significant minor character in the comic series. Thanks to Xin Jing, Will was able to realize that the true power of Energy and the Virtue of Temperance within the Heart of Kandrakar is what will awaken her new transformation and defeat Byakko.
Sorry, Kohaku really is dead. You really thought it was going to be a happy ending?
This whole story arc of the Guardians meeting Kohaku, fighting Byakko, and Kimi learning to forgive her father was inspired by the song "Wu" sung by actor Andy Lau for the film "Shaolin". Look up this song on Youtube because the lyrics are beautiful.
Story Trivia: Did you know that originally, I didn't plan on Will getting her Power Girl transformation after meeting Xin Jing? That was decided by people voting in a poll. Yes, the Power Girl transformation is a real W.I.T.C.H. transformation. It doesn't appear in the comics or the animated series, rather it was created for the European W.I.T.C.H. doll lines. Whether or not Will was going to get her new transformation in this chapter, the end result would still be be same.