"Two Warriors are having a fight...who is going to win? This one? But why?... There's a lot of important factors affecting any fight... which warrior is stronger... faster...more durable...and of course smarter, but there's also some unusual factors affecting some unusual fights...the battleground...the emotional state...and the warrior's reason to fight... those few things can make unpredictable miracles…"
*At the Training Arena*
*Kenta's three students are arguing and screaming at each other*
Lisa:"We could have defeated him if we worked together!"
Yozuriha:"That was impossible! He defeated all of us without even trying!"
Lisa:"Yeah! Because you two weren't focused enough!"
Tenma:"The past is the past! Now stay quiet,we shouldn't be arguing about this in front of Master Kenta!"
Tenma (in his mind):"He told me to take care of him…"
*The students are still arguing,Kenta can hear them, but they are just background noise for him...all what he's really listening to is his loud inner thoughts*
*The Training Arena/Kakon-shi,at the same time*
Kenta (in his mind):"Shinitshi didn't look like he's brainwashed to me...he really cares about that girl from Aetheria…"
*Reika is switching her attacks quickly between Shinitshi and Diana, Shinitshi can't even think about attacking while he can barely survive*
Kenta (in his mind):"Shinitshi cared only about me and Master Takemaru... it's nice that he has someone else now... but if she didn't mess with his brain...if he's really doing the right thing...then why am I still here?! If something changed Shinitshi's loyalty then I shouldn't trust anything from now on! The whole system is broken!"
*Shinitshi is trying to use the buildings of the city to help him, but Rieka's Bo Staff just destroys anything on its way, Shinitshi can't block the attacks, can't focus on saving himself while he has to save Diana too,and he can't fight back against an opponent stronger than him... Reika...The strongest woman in Shoryu…*
Kenta (in his mind):"But Shinitshi isn't pure good...he killed Jin and his squad while they were just following orders! Was that really necessary?...was it avoidable?...he also killed a legendary guardian! But...I know Shinitshi...he knows the consequences...he would never do it if it wasn't for a good reason…he tried to tell me... but I didn't listen...in my current level...what can I do anyway?! I can't change the final result... maybe I should just watch…"
*Shinitshi and Diana are trying to reach each other...all what they need to change everything is just one touch... but Rieka is smart enough to understand that... with a ninja like her separating them... Shinitshi and Diana can't even get close to each other…*
*Kenta starts to listen to his students*
Lisa:"I wanted to kill that traitor by myself but Master Rieka is going to do it anyway,I heard that she went on a mission to bring him and the princess dead or alive!"
Yozuriha:"Master Rieka is much stronger than Master Hayato, but is she going to be ok with the magic technic Shinitshi is using?"
Tenma (in his mind):"I think that it would be better if she brought him alive...I want to know...I need to know why…"
Kenta (in his mind):"Master Rieka is fighting Shinitshi?! I am not very familiar with her fighting style, but Shinitshi himself said that he can't defeat her in a fair fight! He said... fair fight?...is it really fair if he used magic?..."
Shinitshi:"Diana! Forget about the Connection! Just try to stay away so I can focus on the fight!"
Diana:"No Way! You can't-"
*Reika goes for Diana again, Shinitshi changes the direction of the attack and saves her*
Rieka:"This must be so hard for you... poor child...I am not going to let any of you get away...and you have limits... you can't keep it like that forever…"
*Rieka tricks Shinitshi with a fake attack, when he tried to change the direction as always,she managed to make the attack land on his leg...it hurts, but he can take the pain...for now…*
Reika:"I am surprised that your leg isn't broken, you clearly saw it coming but it was too late for you…"
*Reika is attacking in high speed,it looks so random, but she actually counts every single move,if she landed another attack,the situation is going to be much worse fir Shinitshi*
Reika (in her mind):"I should have finished the fight from the beginning!...my mind isn't clear... it's the city...every part of it...it reminds me of…"
*The Great Master's room/Kakon-shi, at the same time*
The Great Master (talking quietly):"My beautiful Reika...this is your final test...this is where you should burn your past forever…"
*Rieka has the upper hand in the fight,she is keeping Shinitshi busy, while she's coming closer to finish Diana, but she doesn't feel good*
*Reika looks at a house,she remembers herself laughing with her parents*
*Reika is angry, unfocused, but she still dominates the fight*
The Great Master (talking quietly):"If you didn't win this...then you're still weak…and if you did... you will be mine forever...my student...my good girl Reika…"
*Reika's mind is drowning in memories, it's too much for her,she can't even get one full memory, just bloody flashes…*
Rieka:"That's wrong!"
Shinitshi:"What do you mean?!"
Rieka:"Shut up! You should be dead!"
*Suddenly... Reika's mind became quiet for a moment...she remembers a conversation between her and her parents…*
Rieka:"Dad! Why can't you play with me?!"
Reika's dad:"I am sorry Reika but I am very busy today, why don't you go and explore the city?"
Reika:"I already explored every part of the city, there's nothing special... but there's one more place left,I wanna go and explore the top of the volcano!"
Reika's mom:"No,I am sorry Rieka but it's too dangerous."
Reika's dad:"But I promise... we'll take you there someday!"
Reika:"Really?"
Reika's parents:"That's what the promise means…"
*Rieka can't remember what happened after that, but she has an idea…*
Rieka (in her mind):"I didn't see the top of the volcano before... those stopped flashes won't hold me back there! And...I wanna go...I…(Screaming in anger!)"
*Shinitshi can't understand Reika, but he hasn't time to try,The fight is becoming more intense*
*Rieka hits Shinitshi with her weapon again,this time it landed on his stomach, Shinitshi is breathing heavily in pain*
*Rieka is attacking Shinitshi in a way that makes him escape to the volcano*
*The Royal Palace of Aetheria/Kakon-shi at the same time*
*Three maids are talking together in the Queen's room while cleaning it using magic*
Maid 1:"I am really worried about Princess Diana, those monsters in Shoryu would eat her alive!"
Maid 2:"I know,me too, but The Queen said that she's still alive and she awakened her magic, she's from the Royal Family,she should be alright."
Maid 3:"But Diana was always kinda naive...she was always getting in trouble and we were always there to take care of her...we and Mr William of course…"
Maid 2:"I see what you are trying to say,this young boy William always seemed to love the princess."
Maid 1:"You can't call him "young boy"anymore! He's one of the three souls of the kingdom!"
Maid 3:"You are right...I heard that he wanted to go and save her by himself!"
Maid 2:"Seriously? That's so romantic!"
Maid 3:"Yeah, maybe we can ask him about that!"
Maid 2:"No way,we can't just go and ask him... maybe we can ask the other two souls?"
Maid 1:"We can't do that either! Ms Iris would eat us alive if we asked! And Mr Richard won't tell us anything,and maybe he is going to tell the queen!"
*The Queen walks in*
*It's taking Reika a long time to make Shinitshi and Diana go to the volcano, especially that Shinitshi noticed what she's trying to do,and Diana is too slow*
Shinitshi (in his mind):"I don't understand...does she want to throw us in the volcano? But she can already defeat us here and it would be easier and faster for her... anyway I won't let her do what she wants!"
*Reika goes to Diana again, but this time she isn't attacking, Shinitshi tries to protect Diana but Reika pushes him on his stomach at the same injured spot, Reika takes Diana and runs as fast as possible to the volcano*
Reika (in her mind):"I can kill her now, but I am not sure about what happens after he goes berserk against me...I should kill him first then she would be an easy kill...and...I am not feeling alright... It's like I don't want to fight or kill right now...I never felt like that before…"
The Queen:"In normal cases I would have killed the three of you... but I am in a good mood today,so I am going to tell you about Diana…"
*The three maids are terrified,they can't say a word*
The Queen:"Diana is now trying to survive against a strong enemy,and she can't use her true magic for some reason…"
Maid 3:"Your Majesty... maybe you should help her-"
*Maid 3 suddenly drops dead on the floor,the other two maids are screaming in fear*
The Queen (in a cold voice):"If Diana died there,then this is going to be what she's worth."
*Diana tries to attack Reika with her purple blast, but Reika notices the sound and breaks Diana's right hand*
*Shinitshi is chasing Rieka to the top of the volcano,he doesn't know what she plans for, but he doesn't have a choice*
*They reached the top of the volcano quickly because of their insane speed*
*Reika throws Diana away, but she's safe*
Reika (in her mind):"I can't understand! I still don't feel good...this isn't right…I wasn't here before,so...why am I... happy?"
*For the first time, Shinitshi is the one attacking,he attacks different spots at the same time with the four blades*
*Reika dodges the attacks and attacks back*
*Shinitshi isn't used to that pressure,one wrong move then everything is over…*
*Shinitshi throws one of the blades at Reika,she dodges but he throws another one,the second attack fails too, but it was a perfect distraction... Shinitshi manages to cut Reika twice at the same time, there's a big X on Reika's body made with blood*
Reika:"You sacrificed two of your blades just for that?..."
*Reika attacks Shinitshi, she's controlling her Staff perfectly... making it longer or shorter at the right time*
*Reika smashes Shinitshi's left hand... now he can only use one blade*
*Reika surprises Shinitshi with a very small blade coming out of the top of her staff,she stabs Shinitshi multiple times in different places*
*The Four Legendary Guardians Secret base/Kakon-shi at the same time*
Takemaru:"I am going out to get some food."
*Kaien blocks the door*
Takemaru:"What's it,Kaien?"
*Diana is sneaking slowly, trying to get to Shinitshi and make the connection before Rieka kills him*
*Takemaru goes left and right trying to get out, but Kaien isn't letting him*
*Kaien looks at Takemaru in sadness*
Takemaru (in a calm voice):"I know...I am worried about her too... but let's have some faith."
*Takemaru walks away*
*Kaien looks at Takemaru in a strange way... like he meant something else…*
*Reika raises her Staff to finish Shinitshi, Shinitshi tries to block it with his last blade, but he knows that it's going to be crushed to pieces against Reika's unbreakable weapon…*
*Diana jumps at Shinitshi to make the spiritual connection, but Reika notices her and she kicks her at the last moment…*
*Diana is falling into the volcano... Shinitshi distracts Reika by throwing the final blade at her face,and when Reika dodged it... Shinitshi jumps to Diana,he pushed himself with his legs to reach her faster…*
*Reika is watching them falling...her eyes reflect the lava... like they are burning…*
*Shinitshi and Diana are trying to reach each other...her left arm...his right arm...they are coming closer to their end... their fingers are about to touch... there's a purple sparkle…*
The End of Chapter 8:"The Battle of Kakon-shi"
Next Chapter:"Inner Peace"