The Rune Waters

                                                            By Mardrena

 

     “Feeling better?” Ryo asked as Kento walked out from the cable shaft.

     “Yep, just a bit tired from yesterday,” Kento answered.

     “Ryo,” Tar and Bak stood beside the Comm Room entrance. “Come here please.” Ryo frowned with worry but followed. Bak pointed to the screen at a layout of the surrounding area. “Satellite picked up unusual activity in the region, merely a few miles from here.” Bak pointed to a spot on the map.

     “Radar imaging showed a fairly large cavern complex. Whoever it was did something then left abruptly,” Tar said.

     “Why should we be worried?” Ryo asked.

     “A large ship was detected. It bore the signature of a transport ship. The Thunthen might’ve stored something there.”

     “Why don’t you send the little guy to check it out?” Kento asked.

     “Call me selfish, but I wouldn’t want to risk any of my men. Plus it would make better sense to send someone better equipped for such an expedition,” Bak said.

     “You don’t have weapons?” Ryo asked. The two Nobles shook their heads. “We can go. If anything happens we can use our armors. Hey Kento, you with me?”

     “Sure. I feel like a little cave dunking.”

     “Uh, it’s spelunking,” Ryo corrected.

     “Oh.”

     “We can use the gear we used in Iceland. Just show us the way.”

                                                                 *****

     “So,” The two stopped infront of a wide cave opening. “This it?” Kento asked.

     “That’s what Bak said. You wanna go in first?”

     “No way, leader goes first,” Kento gestured. Ryo threw him a ‘get real’ look and continued walking. They lit glo-sticks and stepped carefully over the uneven surface. Ryo walked ahead but Kento hung back and walked slowly. He glanced to the side then at Ryo. “Uh...Ryo...can I ask you something?”

     “Sure, what is it?”

     “Ryo...what happened to me when I transformed?” Ryo didn’t answer. “Ryo?”

     “I don’t want to talk about it,” Ryo answered stiffly.

     “Ryo, please.” Ryo didn’t speak and continued walking. “Ryo...”

     “Just drop it okay. You’re cured. Tar says there’s nothing else wrong.”

     “But Ryo, I...” Kento stopped and closed his eyes. He sighed before speaking. “Ryo, you don’t know what it’s like being totally aware of what you’re doing and not being able to control yourself.” Ryo stopped and turned around.

     “What did you say?” A chill went up his spine. Kento’s words sounded remarkably similar to what he said in his dream.

     “I...I’m starting to remember what I did to you.”

     “But, you said you couldn’t remember anything.”

     “I didn’t...at first, then I started getting flashbacks. I remembered how I felt when I transformed. I felt so confused, but I also felt so angry, like...like I was drowning in my own rage. I was so pissed off, I could barely think.”

     “But, you saved me from falling.”

     “I sort of recognized you. Then I got angry again when you tried to shoot me. When I almost hit you, I couldn’t think clearly. I only thought of killing you. Then I saw my armor orb. I guess seeing it broke some sort of barrier, cuz I remembered all of a sudden.”

     “Then I shot you again,” Ryo finished.

     “Yeah. I...I’m kind of embarrassed to say this...but, back then I wanted to rip your head off. I was just so mad! I’m sorry I did that Ryo.”

     “Hey, forget it okay, that’s behind us now,” Ryo assured. Kento smiled and they continued walking inside the cave. “Hold up. Look at that.” Ryo stopped and pointed to three sets of tracks in the soft floor of the cave. He knelt down and traced the outline of one with his finger. “Two Nobles, three Commons. Bak was right.”

     “Hey Ryo, check this out.” Kento pointed to a long track, a rounded one. “Nobles don’t drag their tails, do they?”

     “No, they hold ‘em coiled around their legs. I think they dragged a pipeline or tube in here,” Ryo said and looked at the tracks.

     “For what?” Kento asked.

     “I’m not sure. Come on, maybe we’ll find something up ahead. Keep your eyes peeled in case we have to arm up,” Ryo said. They went deeper into the cave. Ryo didn’t notice his leg pass through a faint red beam a few inches off the ground.

     Kento stopped. “Hey, d’you hear that?” Ryo tuned his ears when he heard a faint crunching noise. The two looked up when tiny pebbles rained down from the ceiling. Suddenly huge chunks of rock fell from the roof.

     “Cave in! Get back!” Ryo cried and stumbled backwards. Boulder after boulder tumbled down. When the dust cleared, a wall of rock blocked the way out. Kento helped Ryo to stand and stared wide-eyed at the wall.

     “Oh man, we’re trapped in! But...we can use our armors, right?”

     “No...I don’t want to risk it. If this cave is unstable we could bring the whole place down on us. I wonder what caused it...huh?” Ryo noticed a shining metal tube poking out of the rock. He walked over and knelt down infront of it. A tiny red light glowed from the tip. Ryo sighed in frustration and hung his head. “F***, I think I triggered a tripwire. The whole thing was a booby trap set up by those creeps. Shit!”

     “Well, there might be another way out. I mean, if this is a water formed cave there’s gotta be an exit,” Kento reasoned.

     “Yeah. Either that or another opening,” Ryo answered and stood up.

     “Hey! Why don’t we just teleport out?” Ryo rolled his eyes and slapped his forehead. *duh!* He raised his arms.

     “Huh? Hey, what gives?” Something was wrong.

     “What the-! Why can’t we teleport!” Kento demanded.

     “I don’t know.” Ryo walked over to the wall and placed a hand on it. “Something in the rock must be interfering. Crap.” Ryo stepped away and walked down the passage. “Hmm, guess the only way is forward.” Kento shrugged and followed him. Glosticks lit the way as they walked for what seemed like hours. Then they noticed a strange red glow ahead. When they rounded the corner they came upon the shore of a lake of red liquid.

     “What is this stuff?” Kento commented. A reddish glow lit the cavern. “Hey, how can we see in here, there’s no sunlight.”

     “Ugh, this stuff’s glowing on its own,” Ryo muttered. He stepped towards the lake’s edge. Kento was about to follow, but stopped when a sudden wave of fear seized him. He stepped back and frowned with worry.

     “Ryo, I don’t think we should go inside.”

     “Huh? Why, what’s wrong?”

     “I-I’m serious Ryo! We can’t touch that stuff!” His terrified expression surprised Ryo.

     “Kento, what are you so afraid of?”

     “Ryo, that’s the same stuff that changed me into that...that monster!” Kento remembered: the red liquid that splashed on him in the city. Ryo knew how scared Kento was, but he also knew there wasn’t any other way across.

     “Kento, Tar said the growth drug goes stale. If this stuff’s been sitting here for so long I don’t think it would have any effect. Besides, we can wear our sub-armors and wade across. It won’t pass through metal,” Ryo assured. Kento remained silent but nodded.

     “Yeah...you’re right. We can use our armors.” Kento stepped forward, feeling a bit bolder. The two changed into sub-armor mode and stepped into the lake. Waves rolled out to the side as they walked on. The lake seemed to get deeper as they progressed. Now it reached above their knees. “Man, I hope we don’t end up having to swim.”

     “Nah, cave lakes aren’t that deep,” Ryo assured. The cavern seemed to go on and on.  

     Then Kento stopped. “Shh! Did you hear that?”

     “Hear what?” Ryo stopped too when he heard a faint ripple in the liquid. His eyes widened when he saw a large snaky shadow slither out beneath the lake surface. The shadow circled them and swam away but came back and circled once more.

     “Oh man, what the hell is that thing!?” Kento whimpered.

     “Stand still, it won’t attack if we don’t move.”

     “Dude, if we don’t move that thing’ll eat us!”

     “Just...stand...stillll....” Suddenly a large snake-like form burst out of the lake and reared back. It was a gigantic cave worm, mutated by exposure to the red liquid. It roared and opened its three-sided mouth. It glowered down at them with minuscule red eyes and bared rows upon rows of teeth. “Hoooollyyy sheeeeiiit!” The worm dove between the two and into the lake. It came back up and lashed out with its tail. Kento cried out when the worm swatted him into the liquid. The worm vanished beneath the surface and swam off. Ryo hurried to Kento’s side and helped him to sit up in the shallows. “Kento! Did it hurt you?” Ryo searched for any cuts on his head. Kento choked and spit.

     “RYO! *ack* Ryo, I think I swallowed some of that stuff!” Kento gagged.

     “Don’t worry, it won’t take affect until after twenty four hours. We can get out of here in time to take you to the Roost.”

     “No Ryo....*cough* I can feel it! It’s gonna happen man. AAHH!” Kento felt a sharp pain in his gut. “Ryo....I....I want you to promise me something.”

     “What? What is it Kento?”

     “Promise me....that if I change into that monster...you’ll kill me.”

     “What?! I’m not gonna do that!”

     “Please Ryo! I don’t know what’ll happen to me! I might hurt you!”

     “You won’t hurt me Kento, I trust you’ll remember,” Ryo said. Kento frowned but nodded understandingly. Then he looked up. His eyes widened in horror.

     “Ryo! Behind you!” Kento cried. Ryo whirled around and gasped when he saw the worm looming over them. Kento shoved Ryo away just as the worm lunged. Ryo stumbled back but the worm knocked Kento back into the liquid.

     “Kento! NO! Why you...” Ryo snarled at the worm. The creature turned to face him and screamed. Ryo held up his arms and threw them into the side. His body flashed as he changed into Lion sub-armor. Ryo jumped away and clung to the wall. The worm reared up and spotted him. Ryo shot off two darts but they bounced off harmlessly from the thick hide. Ryo summoned his Lion shield and held it ready. Suddenly a loud sound caught both their attentions. The worm looked back and stared at the surface. Ryo’s eyes widened when Kento stood up out of the liquid. He glared up at the worm but his eyes looked different. Kento grimaced and his body shuddered from a hidden pain. He was changing already. Then Ryo heard a metallic creaking sound. He gasped when he realized what was happening. “Kento! Kento, listen to me. You have to take off your armor! It’s not used to it, you have to change back before your armor breaks!” Kento winced from another twinge of pain and stared at Ryo with mournful eyes. “Please Kento, if there’s any part of your memory still there, do what I say! You have to change back to your clothes!”

     Kento stared at him and continued to twitch. Then he slowly, but shakily held a hand up to his chest. His body flashed as he powered down. Ryo could see his pain. Kento’s nails steadily lengthened. His skin became paler and his body was growing.

     Then the worm screamed again and lashed its tail. “Kento! Look out!” Too late. The worm slammed Kento back under the surface. It pulled its tail back and slammed again, shoving Kento into the bottom of the lake. “KENTO!! NO!” No sign of life came to the surface, not even a bubble. Ryo growled. “You bastard! You killed him! Arrrgh!” He pounced and fired his Lion shield. The blasts of fire had no effect other than regaining the worm’s attention. The worm whirled around and lashed out. Ryo gasped when the tip of its tail wrapped around his waist. The worm tightened its grip and slammed Ryo against the wall. Ryo struggled and shot more fire blasts but the worm moved closer. Ryo began to black out from lack of oxygen and his sight began to fade.

     All of a sudden it stopped. The worm turned around and looked down at a series of bubbles. Beneath the surface a large figure writhed and struggled. It threw back its head and cried out. Its silent scream came to the surface in the form of violent, frothing bubbles. The turmoil increased. Ryo, half faint and dizzy, gazed at the bubbles. *No....no....* A loud splash erupted as a new form emerged from the liquid. “KENTO!!!”

     “AAAAHHAANNNN!!!” The transformation was complete. Kento stood nearly eight feet tall. His skin was a light gray lavender and his hair was bone white. He splayed inch-long ivory claws and glared at the worm with eyes that glowed white-hot with rage. A low growl escaped his throat. The worm groaned in confusion at the sight of the new creature. It screamed and released Ryo. Ryo clung to the wall to keep from falling into the liquid. He watched them with a blurry gaze and panted to catch his breath. The worm reared back and roared. Kento roared back and held up his fists in challenge. The worm lunged but Kento dodged to the side. He pulled his arm back and socked the worm in the eye. The worm shrieked and thrashed about. It reared back and lunged once more but Kento punched it right in its snout. Then he clasped his hands together and pounded the worm at the base of its skull. The worm cried out in pain and sank into the liquid.

     Ryo carefully climbed down the wall. Behind him a vicious shadow play continued on the rock surface. The smaller shadow wrapped its arms around the long, snaky shape. The two struggled. *CRRICKK!!!* Ryo turned away from the gruesome sight as the smaller shape snapped the larger one in two.

     The two lifeless halves of the giant worm sank into the liquid. Kento stood there staring at it for a while. Ryo carefully slipped into the lake and stood up. Kento looked up at Ryo. The glow in his eyes dimmed. The two stood there staring at each other. Then Kento took a step forward. He began walking towards Ryo very slowly. Ryo held up his lion shield. “S-S-Stay away from me. Don’t come any closer!” Kento stopped and cocked his head to the side in confusion. “I mean it, stay away or I’ll shoot you.”

     Kento blinked and frowned. “W-Wh-y?”

     “Huh?” Ryo raised an eyebrow. “Because last time this happened to you, you nearly killed me.” Ryo lowered his shield and scowled skeptically. “And how can you talk now? You never did it before,” he demanded. Kento shrugged his broad shoulders.

     “Don’t know, just can,” he answered in a deep, groaning voice. Ryo lowered his arm and clipped his shield to his back.

     “Kento, do you recognize me?” Ryo asked gently.

     “Sh-uure. You’re Rry-o,” Kento answered. He remembered that much. Ryo took a deep breath and began walking towards him. Kento stood still and stared at Ryo as he approached. Ryo stopped a couple of feet away and stared up at Kento. Kento moaned and averted his gaze. Ryo closed his eyes and shook his head.

     “Kento, I’m sorry I let this happen. You were right, we should’ve tried using our armors to get out in the first place.”

     “It’s o-kay Rry-o. Not your f-fault. Might help...like this,” Kento said. That only made Ryo feel more guilty. He shook his head.

     “F*** the mission, I’ve got to get you out of here. If we don’t find a way out quick we could be stuck down here for days!” Ryo looked to the side where the lake disappeared behind a bend. “Maybe there’s an opening at he end of this thing,” he muttered and began walking towards it. Kento walked past Ryo and looked over his shoulder.

     “I walk ahead,” he said and went on in front. Ryo raised an eyebrow but continued walking. As they walked away one of the halves of the severed worm twitched slightly...

     *Shit, if I don’t get him out of here soon he’ll be stuck like that. We could use our armors, but what if the whole place comes down and buries us? I shouldn’t have brought him here in the first place!* Ryo paused in his guilt trip when he heard a sound. “Kento? Did you say something?” Kento didn’t answer. He swept his gaze from side to side and growled under his breath. Ryo frowned. Did he sense danger? Was there something wrong? Ryo looked down at the lake when he noticed it becoming shallower. “Hey Kento, I think we’re almost at the end of this.” Kento continued to growl. Then Ryo saw it. Several feet away lay the promising shore at the end of the dreaded lake. “Hey! We made it!” Ryo ran onto the shore and fell to his knees. “Oh man! Whoo! What a relief!” Kento stepped onto the shore beside him but remained silent. Ryo let out a heavy sigh and looked up. His shoulder’s slumped when he saw an imposing wall several feet ahead.

     “Dead end,” Kento muttered. Ryo’s heart sank.

     *Dead end? Now what?* He stood up and took a step forward. “No, there has to be some way out, some other passage. This can’t be it!” Kento looked away and moaned softly. Then he heard a sound. He grunted and looked down at the floor. Ryo looked down too as the floor split ever so slightly. Cracks spread out under their feet. Chunks of rock sank into unknown depths. “Sink hole! It’s a sink hole! Kento, get off!” Ryo shouted. The floor collapsed below them before either could move and they fell into the newly opened pit. A loud splash announced their arrival in another lake. “Pthoo! Blech! Ah, what the-” Ryo spat out water and shook his head. Water? He and Kento sat in little more than two feet of water. A gentle bright blue glow illuminated the cavern, seeming to come from the water itself. Kento shook his head and stood up.

     “Mnnn....wet...” he grumbled. Ryo stood up and looked around. The new cavern housed a massive lake of the clear, inviting water.

     “Wow, who built those?” he commented upon seeing two chambers carved into the wall standing side by side. Ryo walked towards the chambers and looked up. Kento reluctantly followed. Ryo placed a hand on the wall and stepped into one of the chambers. Kento stood in the opening as Ryo searched about. “I wonder what these are for,” Ryo muttered to himself. Then he felt his foot bump against something. He tapped at the object. Then he knelt down and felt around under water. His hands touched a raised plate. Ryo accidentally pressed it. Kento coughed in surprise and sputtered angrily as a curtain of water dropped down from a hidden slot in the roof of the opening. Ryo took his hands off the plate. “Whoops, sorry,” he apologized. Kento growled and narrowed his eyes. Ryo stood up and tapped the plate again. “It’s some sort of mechanism built into the wall. There must be another reservoir back in these walls,” Ryo commented to himself. He turned around when he heard Kento’s growling increase in volume. “Kento? What’s wrong?” Kento glared at him angrily. The glow in his eyes intensified.

     “Your....fault..”

     “Huh? Kento, what are you talking about?” Ryo took a step back.

     “Your fault....like this...”

     “Kento, I don’t understand! What are you trying to tell me?” Ryo started to get worried when Kento clenched his fists. Suddenly he threw back his head and roared.

     “ALL YOUR FAULT!!!”
     “Kento!!?” Ryo stepped back to avoid an angry swipe. He drew out his shield and raised it. Kento punched Ryo’s shield so hard it shattered upon impact. Ryo stumbled back and fell against the wall of the chamber. He stared wide-eyed in horror as Kento splayed his claws. Suddenly he stopped and looked over his shoulder when he heard a roaring scream. Ryo spotted another giant worm slithering through the hole in the ceiling. Kento growled and turned to face it. “Rrrr....hate...worms. Getting t-tired of worms!” he roared and trudged off to battle the worm. Ryo stood up shakily and clung onto the wall.

     *What happened? Did getting him wet piss him off that much? Why’d he get so angry all of a sudden? He was just fine before.* Then Ryo gasped in realization. *That stuff must’ve affected him even after he transformed. It messed with his mind until he couldn’t control himself! That explains the worms! Oh man, I’d hate to thing what might’ve happened if he stayed there too long,* Ryo squeezed his eyes shut at the thought. Then he looked up when he heard a scream.

     While Kento battled the first worm, a second worm dropped into the cistern. “What!? Another one?” Then Ryo saw a scar around the worm’s neck. “Eww gross! It grew another head!” The worm glanced at its partner and at Kento. It roared and began to slither towards them. “Hey! Ugly, over here!” Ryo yelled and waved his arms to catch the worm’s attention. The worm looked at him and opened its mouth wide. Ryo glanced up at the roof of the chamber then remembered the pressure plate. “Yeah, that’s it, come and get me! Come on, grade A, right here!” Ryo taunted. The worm slithered towards him.    

     Kento roared in rage and swiped at the worm. He moved to the side to avoid a lunge and pulled his fist back. The worm screamed in pain when Kento socked it in the jaw. The blow shattered one of the three sides of its mouth. It shrieked in pain and thrashed about. Kento splayed his claws and slashed the thick hide. Four deep cuts opened up in the worm’s leathery skin. It screamed again and heaved its body to the side. It slammed into Kento and sent him sprawling back into the water. The worm whirled around and lunged with jaws wide open. Kento howled in agony as the worm locked its jaws around his shoulders. The worm bit down and sunk its teeth into his flesh. Kento struggled and cried out. Then he narrowed his eyes and snarled. The worm felt its teeth pushed out of his skin! Kento managed to reach up and grab both sides of the worm’s mouth. He pushed its jaws open then shoved it away. The worm tried to bite again but Kento stepped out of the way and brought both fists onto the top of its skull.

     The second worm dove towards Ryo just as he pressed both hands against the walls of the chamber and swung his legs up. He imagined how Tanya did it and kicked forward with both feet. The kick pushed the worm’s head up and back. Ryo jumped down and wrapped his arms around it’s neck. The worm struggled violently but Ryo managed to keep it inside the chamber. He felt around with his foot and pressed the pressure plate with his toe. The curtain of water gushed out from the ceiling and into the worm’s gaping mouth. “Yeah, you like that huh? C’mon, drink up!” The worm struggled and choked but Ryo held it steady. Then it gradually fell limp. Ryo stepped to the side and let the worm slump into the water. He looked over his shoulder at the fierce battle still continuing.

     The worm whipped its tail around and slammed Kento upside the head. Kento cried out and staggered back. He put a hand to his head and blinked to regain focus but his vision blurred. Then jumped to the side as the worm darted past. He grabbed the worm’s neck by latching on with his claws and wrapped his arms around it’s throat. The worm thrashed to the side but Kento tightened his grip. Ryo watched wide-eyed as the worm ceased struggling. It twitched a few times but finally fell limp as Kento suffocated it. Kento released it and let its lifeless body sink into the water.

     Kento let out a heavy sigh and collapsed into the water. He bled from several cuts and his head ached. He groaned from exhaustion and squeezed his eyes shut. He opened them when he felt something. Ryo slipped his arm around Kento’s wide shoulder and helped him to stand. Kento raised an eyebrow and let out a puzzled groan. Ryo helped him despite the fact that he tried to kill him earlier. Ryo grunted as he tried to stand up. “Jeez Kento, how much you weigh like that?” he commented. Kento laughed weakly but winced from a throbbing pain in his wounds. Ryo helped him walk towards an underwater boulder a few feet away. Kento sat down and leaned over. “You allright?” Ryo asked.

     “Yeah...uhh....” Kento winced again. “Rry-o?”

     “Hmm?”

     “S-S-Sorry I hurt you.”

     “It’s not your fault. That stuff was messing with your mind the whole time. I understand why you got mad like that,” Ryo said. Kento nodded and closed his eyes. Ryo looked down at the water and noticed something. A tiny snake-like form floated on the water. Ryo reached down and picked it up. It was a tiny worm. He raised an eyebrow. Then he looked up. The worm he fought in the chamber was gone. Ryo looked at the worm and noticed a tiny mark around it’s neck. “Hey Kento, look at this.” Ryo held the worm in his palm for him to see. “It’s the same worm I fought back there.”

     “Small again,” Kento remarked.

     “I wonder what happened to it though.” Ryo scratched his head.

     “Think the water did something?” Kento asked. Ryo frowned. Kento’s speaking capability had improved somewhat. He glanced at the water then back at Kento.

     “Uh...Kento, you feeling okay?”

     “Hurts some,” Kento muttered in reply.

     “Just hold on, I’ll get you out of here and you’ll be allright.”

     “Nah....it’s okay. Nice hurt,” Kento whispered.

     “Huh?” Ryo reached out to him but pulled his hand back in surprise when Kento began to change back. His expression relaxed as his body shrank slowly. His claws receded into his fingertips and his hair darkened. His skin color returned to its normal tone. Kento gazed up at Ryo with perfectly normal eyes. “K-Kento! You...you changed back!”

     Kento looked down at himself. “Hey, guess I have,” he laughed.

     “But...how?” Ryo paused and glanced down at the worm in his palm. Then he looked at the two chambers and the mysterious writing above them. “Kento, I think you’re right. There’s something about the water that cured you.” Ryo watched as the worm began to twitch. Then it began crawling around on his palm. Ryo knelt down and dipped his hand into the water. He cupped some in his hand and drank. The water was surprisingly cool to the taste, almost like mountain spring water, but also with a peculiar flavor to it. “It’s some sort of healing cistern. I wonder if the Ancients built those chambers.” Kento cupped his hands together and drank some of the water himself. Ryo looked back at him and noticed the bite marks on Kento’s arms were gone. “Hey, your cuts are gone!”

     “Yeah, so’s my headache.”

     “Well, what do you know. Hold up, we still have to find away out of here.” Ryo searched around the walls. Kento felt a soft current. He dipped his hand into the water to feel which direction it flowed in. Then he looked up.

     “Ryo, over there.” Kento pointed to a faint glimmer of sunlight.

     “Allright! That’s our way out! Hey, I’ll race ya!” Ryo challenged and took off running.

     “Ryo! No fair! I can’t run in deep water!”

     “Quit being such a wuss. It’s not that deep,” Ryo hollered. Kento took off after him and caught up to Ryo just as they reached the hole, or under-water tunnel. Ryo bent down to look at it. “It’s not too long. We can swim through. You wanna go first?”

    “Huh? Of course not, after you,” Kento said. Ryo snickered and knelt down.

    “Wait a sec. Here you go little guy.” Ryo held out his hand to the wall. The worm crawled onto the rock and inched away. Ryo took a deep breath and dove underwater. He darted into the opening and pulled himself forward. The light at the end of the tunnel grew brighter. Finally Ryo burst out on the surface inside a small pond. He pulled himself out of the hole and sat back in the shallow water. “Kento? Kento, you there?” Ryo became worried when Kento didn’t come. Suddenly Kento arrived at the surface and shook water from his hair. “Hey, I was wondering when you’d show up,” Ryo laughed.

     “Just taking my time,” Kento replied.

     “Hey, check that out,” Ryo pointed to the welcoming sunset. “Isn’t that a sight for sore eyes,” he commented. The two sat in the shallows and watched, both relieved to have escaped the caverns. The nightmare had ended...for now...

                                                                 *****

     Mal Daggur raised an eyebrow when he saw Professor Cochran in the lab aboard the Nsenagvvik. “Still here? I thought you had left already.”

     “I almost did. Then I learned about this.” Mal Daggur walked over to the table and looked down at a caterpillar in a glass pan. “I performed one last experiment with multiple exposure. Watch.” Professor Cochran poked the worm with a metal rod. Mal Daggur watched with amazement as the worm grew and changed suddenly. It leaned up and searched about for the attacker. Professor Cochran waited a few minutes as the worm moved about. Then it changed back to its normal size and color.

     “How did it do this?”

     “I’m not quite sure. I used the antigen to cure it completely, but apparently the worm’s body has retained some aspects of the mutagen and adapted them for defensive purposes. If your plan with the cavern worked, the same might happen to the Ronin Warrior.”

     “Hmm...is that so? Well then, I suppose we should keep an eye on our little human guinea pig.” Mal Daggur looked down at him. “Have you ever had a guinea pig?”

     “Yes, once when I was twelve,” Professor Cochran replied and studied the worm.

     “So have I.” Mal Daggur grinned. “They are quite delicious,” he chuckled. Professor Cochran looked up at him with worry at first but then smiled in reply to the joke. Then he looked back down at the worm and marveled in thought of his creation....

 

-------------------------------------------------

Whenever your friend says something’s wrong....

“I...I feel w-weird Cye,” Kento stuttered.

“Ah it’s just that stun weapon. Come on, it can’t last that long....”

“Cye....” His eyes widened in terror....the pain was all too real...

“What is it! Will you stop messin around and get up.”

“CYYEEE!!!”....

Cye stepped away and watched in horror. “Oh man....”

“Cye? Cye, what’s going on over there? Cye, can you hear me?” Ryo shouted frantically.

<“...Oh shit....OH SHIT!!!”>

You’d better listen to what he says...

“AAAHHAHHUNNN!!!”.....

 

**************************************************************************

 

                                                          Dark Guardian

                                                            By Mardrena

 

     “What is the definition of a monster...A creature who looks different? A beast without a human heart or compassion? An inhuman being?...Guardian Monster Forms are nothing but alternate forms they can change into to become stronger. By all means they are human, I assure you...”

 

Pharaohn, Aftermath 12

                                                                 *****

     “ARROW SHOCK WAVE!!!” The supreme Strata power plowed through the ranks of the Dynasty army. Rowen hovered in the air and searched about for any more. “Hey Sage, Ryo and I are all clear over here, how’s your side?”

     <“There’s still a few, but WildCAT’s mopping’ up. She’s adjusted to her new body pretty well.”> Sage replied.

     WildCAT jumped, curled up, and rolled in midair. She landed behind the Dynasty Droids and opened fire with her shoulder guns. She moved with an indomitable grace through the enemy ranks. A soldier didn’t have time to react as WildCAT swatted it in the front. Her dererium claws tore off the soldier’s face and nearly all of its chest.

     Cye fended off blows with his trident. He grit his teeth and braced his feet against the pavement. A few feet away Kento fought against a Dynasty Droid with green armor plates on its shoulders and chest. He shoved the droid away and stepped back. Suddenly the soldier held its palm out at Kento. A bright green pulse of light shot out from a hole in its palm and struck Kento in the chest. “AAAHH” The blow sent him sprawling back. The soldier prepared to thrust its spear but Cye stabbed it in the neck.

     “Hey, you okay buddy?” he asked.

     “Yeah...oh man...what was that?” Kento tried to sit up. “Hey! I...I can’t move!”

     “What?”

     “Seriously! It’s like my legs won’t work! Whoa Cye! Behind you!” Cye whirled around and shot a high pressure water blast through the core processor of a second green armored droid. Cye looked back at Kento.

     “Does it feel like you’re paralyzed or just stunned?”

     “Uh...stunned I guess. It feels weird, but I can move now.”

     “Can you stand up?”

     Kento grunted and struggled to push himself up. “No...it won’t work. I think there’s something about those new droids. I’ve never seen ‘em before.”

     “Hmm...methinks Talpa hath a new toy. Rowen, this is Cye. Tell Ryo and Sage to look out for Dynasty Droids with green armor plates on their shoulders and chest. I think they have a stun weapon. One shot Kento and he’s havin’ trouble standin’ up.”

     <“Great. As if we didn’t have enough problems. Thanks Cye, I’ll tell the others”>

     “Ok Ro. You still can’t stand?” Cye asked Kento.

     “No. It’s like...ummph...ever have your butt fall asleep on you if you’ve been sittin’ down too long?” Cye snorted and rolled his eyes. Then he noticed more Dynasty Droids.

     “Whoop, catch ya later on that. I’ve got a few loose ends here.” Cye ran off and attacked the newcomers. Kento struggled to pull himself up without much progress. He paused and panted to catch his breath. Cye faltered briefly when a droid jabbed him in the back with his spear but he whipped around and smacked it across the face. More closed in around him. Kento watched helplessly as Cye struggled to defend himself.

     *Oh man...I’ve gotta do something! Cye can’t fight all by himself!* Kento closed his eyes and tried to command the lower half of his body. He struggled but stopped when he felt an odd prickling in his gut. “Huh?” The feeling grew in intensity, like a tingling inside his intestines. Kento frowned with worry when it seemed to spread out, down his legs and up his chest. “W-what?” he stammered. Cye continued to fight while Kento remained on the ground. The feeling spread up to his shoulders then down his arms. It intensified in his stomach so much he began to whimper.

     Cye killed the last droid and threw its body to the ground. “Whoo! That’s the last of ‘em. Hey Kento, what are you doin’ still on the ground?”

     “I...I f-feel w-weird Cye,” Kento stuttered.

     “Ah it’s just that stun weapon. Come on, it can’t last that long.” Cye turned around and searched the alleys and streets for more droids. Kento winced when the tingling became a sharp tugging pain. Then his armor vanished. He powered down all the way into street clothes. Cye turned around and gasped. “What the hell do you think you’re doin’!” Get back into armor, Kento! Are you insane!”

     “I-I’m serious Cye. S-Something’s wrong with me,” Kento whimpered and  placed a hand on his stomach.

     “Probably something that didn’t agree with you. Improved cooking my ass. That’s the last time Rowen cooks breakfast. Well! What are you waitin’ for! Get up before those droids come back.” Cye held his trident ready just in case. Kento winced again and held up his hand when the pain increased. It felt like something was squeezing his wrist, yet trying to burst out at the same time. The pain became so great he gripped his wrist with his other hand to hold his arm steady when it began to shake. Then his fingers began to twitch. Kento stared with a worried expression as the feeling spread all the way to his fingertips. It felt as if the bones at his fingertips were trying to break out of his skin. “Cye....” Kento whimpered softly. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes. “C-C-Cye..?”

     “Look, will ya quit foolin’ around and get up!” Cye snapped and continued his watch. Kento’s fingers quivered for a few moments.

     His eyes widened in terror as his fingers seemed to grow longer. The pain was all too real. He moaned softly in fright when his nails lengthened. “C-Cye?” Now his hand ached and began to grow. His fingers twitched as they continued growing. “Cye...”

     “Stop messin’ around and get up.”

     “CYYEEE!!!”

     “What! What is it?” Cye ran over to Kento and knelt down infront of him. He gasped when he saw Kento’s hand. “Gaaah! What’s wrong with your hand!?”

     “I-I don’t know Cye! Aaaah!” Kento cried out when the pain in his arm grew stronger. His arm felt as if something was pulling at it. Cye’s eyes widened as he watched Kento’s arm grow longer. “Cye! What’s happening to me!” Cye’s lips moved as he tried to speak but fright sealed his throat. He stood up and backed away from Kento. Kento cried out again and placed a hand on his shoulder. He growled from the pain as his shoulders sank and moved out to the side. His ribs ached. It felt like his entire ribcage was expanding! He clutched his stomach and whimpered, wishing the pain would stop. “Uhhh...nmm....ahhh! Cye! What’s wrong with me! AAAHH!” Kento slowly staggered to his feet but fell to his knees. His hands slapped against the pavement. All over his body was growing! He winced and shut his eyes as he felt his spine ache. He arched his back as his spinal column grew. “W-What is this? What’s happening to me!”

     Cye stepped away and watched in horror. “Oh man...”
                                                                 *****

     Ryo sliced a droid in half then jumped back. “Hey, I haven’t heard anything from Kento and Cye. Cye, you okay over there?”

     <“.....oh shit....OH SHIT!!!”>

     “Cye? Cye, what’s going on over there? Cye, can you hear me?” Ryo shouted frantically. “Rowen, something’s wrong. Can you tell me where Cye is?”

     “Ryo, concentration isn’t exactly something I can spare right now,” Rowen said as he rapidly fired arrows at attacking soldiers.

     “Damn! Don’t worry Cye, I’m coming!” Ryo hollered before jumping away.

                                                                 *****

     Kento pitched forward and fell onto the ground when the pain spread to his hips and down his legs. Now it felt as if something was tugging at his leg, so hard it began to stretch. “M-My legs...they’re growing! What’s going on!” Kento howled. He tried to stand up again but did so shakily. All over his body ached. Then he became aware of a prickling at his joints. He looked down at his arm and watched as long shapes, like cords or rope, shot out from his elbow to his wrist underneath his skin. More of the cords grew and lashed onto his joints, on his shoulders, arms, all along his back and chest. It felt like something was pinching his gut from inside and pulling the skin taut.

     Kento held a hand to his chest when he felt his insides growing. He grunted softly. He could feel his organs changing. “Cye! CCCYYYEEE!!!” His voice sounded different, with a low echo. Cye stared wide-eyed in horror as the terrifying transformation continued. Kento screamed when his spine cracked suddenly, like someone punched him in the back real hard. He felt his spine reshaping itself into a new curved form.

     Kento looked down at his body. The thick cords of flesh continued to form beneath his skin on his arms, legs, and chest. His nails grew longer bit by bit. Now the pain coursed up his neck He placed a hand on the back of his neck and felt the thin strings of flesh shoot up under his skin to the base of his skull. He clutched the back of his head with both hands. The pain changed into a powerful stabbing ache.

     Cye’s eyes widened to their limit as Kento’s hair grew slightly longer. It brightened from blue-black to gray then became almost pure white. “Ahhh....uhhh....rrrghaaaaaahhh! Rrrrr....my head.... It feels like.....like something’s tearing it APAAART!!!” Kento threw back his head and roared. His face ached as it changed and grew out slightly. Tears of pain streamed from his eyes. He clutched his throat. Now his voice deepened into a low howl. “CYYEEE!!! AAAHHAHHUNNN!!!” Kento opened his eyes and glanced at his hand. his eyes widened in horror as his skin began to change color to a light gray lavender. The change spread from his fingertips up his arm and all over his body. The wave of tint swept up his neck and onto his face. Kento howled again. His voice echoed through the block.

     His bones locked into place with violent jerks. His spine snapped into position and his legs straightened. He cried out one last time before collapsing onto hands and knees. The pain ended. He remained there on the ground panting heavily. Cye stared at the new form kneeling on the pavement. Kento paused then slowly looked up at Cye. Solid white eyes with glowing slit-shaped pupils stared at him. Kento lifted up one leg and set it on the ground. He slowly pushed himself up and stood to his full height.

     Now he stood nearly eight feet tall. He had shaggy white hair and his skin was a light gray lavender. Long, sharp ivory-white claws tipped his fingers. As far as facial features, he looked pretty much the same, but his body had a build that could make a pro wrestler look like a sissy. Kento held up his hand. He looked at it then reached up to feel his chest. He moved his hand onto his shoulder then touched his face. He pulled his hand away and once more stared at the long white claws. Then he settled his gaze on Cye. Cye gulped and shivered nervously. Kento closed, then opened his eyes. “CCYYE!!”

     Cye stepped back and held up his trident. “S-Stay away from me. Stay back you!”

     “CCYYYEEE!!!” Kento cried in a mournful roar. “Cye, help me please!” Cye’s expression softened when he heard the pain in his friend’s voice. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m scared. Help me Cye! You’re my fr-riend,” Kento begged in a deep groaning voice. Cye lowered his trident and stared at him. Kento stared back with mournful, confused eyes. Cye swallowed then nodded.

     “Allright Kento. I-I’ll help you,” Cye raised his trident and took aim. Kento grunted in surprise and stepped back. “The only way I know how.” Cye closed his eyes...

     “CYE!” Cye looked up and saw Ryo land on the ground. “Cye, what-” Ryo gasped when he saw the newly transformed Kento. His eyes widened in shock. “W-Wh- How did this happen!”
     “I don’t know Ryo! We were fighting and all of a sudden Kento started complaining that he felt weird and....and then he turned into that.” Cye answered and pointed to Kento. Kento looked away and moaned softly. Ryo stared at him then took a deep breath.

     “We have to get him back to the Roost. Hey Kento! Kento, can you hear me? Listen to me, do you remember who I am?”

     “Ryo, he howled my name like fifteen times. He knows who we are,” Cye grumbled.

     “Kento, can you come with us to the Roost?” Ryo asked.

     “Huh? Y-Yeah.”

     “Come over here then so we can teleport.” Kento looked down then took a step forward. He faltered slightly when he tried to take the second step. It felt different when he tried to walk. The size of his legs made walking seem strange. Kento took another step forward. “Come on Kento, what’s the hold up! You’ve walked like that before!” Ryo hollered. Kento growled and glared at him.

     “Well maybe this is the first time I’m actually aware of what I’m doing, Ryo!” he snapped. He winced when he realized how harsh his voice sounded. He held a hand up to his throat and frowned. He felt ashamed and looked down again. Then he sighed and began walking towards the two with a slow, lumbering gait.

     “Professor Duncan knows how to help him, but we have to do it quick before anything else happens. If we don’t change him back within three days, he’ll be stuck like that for good.” Then Ryo realized something and looked at Cye. “Dude, you weren’t gonna shoot him to put him out of his misery, were you?”

     “Well sheesh Ryo, what else do you expect me to do when I see him turn into...that!” Cye held a hand out to Kento.

     *Man...this is going to take some gettin’ used to. No, I’m not supposed to get used to it. All I have to do is go home and I’ll be allright. I’ll be myself again. Yeah, that’s right. Everything’ll be allright,* Kento assured himself.

     They looked up when two green armored Dynasty Droids leapt out from the rooftops. They opened fire and shot Cye and Ryo with their stun weapons. More of the gatling armed droids arrived. They stared at Kento with surprise. “What the hell is that?”

     “Who cares, shoot it anyway.”

     Kento gasped when he saw his friends fall. “Ryo! Cye!” he looked up at the droid soldiers and narrowed his eyes. “Rrrgh. You hurt my friends! Now I’m gonna hurt you!” he growled and charged. Some of the droids raised their arms and aimed their gatlings. Kento stopped and stepped back. His eyes widened when the droids opened fire. He cried out and held his arms crossed infront of his face. The hail of bullets pelted his body. The droids stopped shooting and stared at him in awe. Kento opened his eyes and looked down. Hundreds of little bullets littered the ground around his feet. “Huh?” He lowered his arms and looked at them. When he spread his fingers the muscle relaxed, but when he clenched his fist the skin drew taut and stiff. He looked at the droids and grinned when he discovered his new ability. “Heh, at least they can’t shoot me.”

     “Rrrrgh! Get him!” The droids brandished their weapons.

     “Bring it on!” Kento roared. One droid leapt up and thrust with its spear but Kento grabbed it and snapped it in two. Another droid stabbed him in the back but the shaft broke. Kento whirled around and punched it in the face. The face plate crumpled under the blow but the shock also split the droid’s neck open.

     “Leave this to us!” The two stun droids held up their palms.

     “Uh oh!” Kento knew the stun pulses could pass through armor. His skin hardening trick wouldn’t help him. They opened fire but Kento managed jump back and dive behind a parked car when the fire intensified. *Shit! Now what do I do!*

     “Keep firing! He can’t hide forever!” Bullets peppered the car. Kento flinched when the windows shattered. Some of the bullets passed through the hood and struck a lamp post beside it. Several feet away from the droids, Ryo and Cye slowly came to. Ryo tried to push himself up but fell onto his side. Cye glanced over his shoulder and saw the droids pouring heavy fire onto the car.

     Kento kept low to the sidewalk and waited for the droids to stop, but they didn’t. *Man! They won’t stop until they tear this thing apart!* The more they fired the angrier Kento became. He narrowed his eyes and growled. He flexed his fingers and splayed his claws. He grabbed the edge of the car and pushed up. He managed to tip it over to block some of the bullets. Then he felt an unusual urge to fight back. His anger grew and the glow in his eyes brightened. Kento let out a low groaning roar and sunk his claws into the undercarriage of the car. The droids stopped shooting and watched awestruck Kento stood up and lifted the car over his head. Kento was surprised himself. *Whoa! I can’t believe how strong I am! It barely feels like I’m holding up anything!*

     The droids stepped back, worried and afraid. Kento growled again and hurled the entire car forward. It slammed into the soldiers and crushed one of the stun droids and several gatling droids. Kento stood there awhile and held up his arms. He clenched his fist and flexed his arm. He could feel the raw power inside his limbs. *Hey, I kinda like this.* Kento grinned and glanced back at the droids. They raised their arms to fire but Kento thrust his fist into the ground. A surge of dirt and asphalt flew up and divided the Dynasty ranks. The other stun droid turned to face Kento but found the Ronin’s fist through its chest. Kento threw the crumpled body away and backslapped a second droid.

     All the while Ryo and Cye watched wide-eyed, partly awed and partly appalled at the way Kento fought. He slashed a droid’s chest open with his claws and plunged his fist through the gut of another. Suddenly the remaining droids leaped back and positioned themselves in a circle around Kento. They aimed their arm gatlings and prepared to fire. Kento glanced about and growled deep in his throat. Now he was getting pissed! His growling increased in volume. Then he felt a curious tickling in his lungs. The tickling grew and his growling gained a shuddering echo.

     Kento threw his head back and let out a loud echoing roar. The droids staggered back and clutched the sides of their heads. Ryo and Cye collapsed to their knees and tried to cover their ears. Windows and glass surfaces of all kinds vibrated and loose objects skittered from the sound. “AAAHHAAAHHANNUUUUUNNNNN!!!”

     “Argh! That sound! What is it!” A droid lowered its arms and looked up. Its eyes widened when it saw Kento pull his fist back. A powerful blow sent the droid flying back. It smacked back first into a lamp post, so hard it’s arms and legs tore off. “Retreat! Retreat now!” The remaining few droids leapt away and fled, leaving the three Ronin and the smoking remains of the defeated soldiers.

     Kento grinned and snickered in satisfaction. “Hah, we sure showed them. Right guys?” He turned and looked at Ryo and Cye. The two Ronin stood up slowly and stared at him. Neither one said anything. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Kento frowned. They looked at him as if he were from another planet. “Why are you looking at me so....funny....” Kento trailed off and looked down at himself. He held up his hands and spread his fingers. He stared at the long, white claws and the color of his skin. His breathing came in short, rapid gasps and he began to whimper when he realized what he’d become. “No.....no...” he whispered and shook his head. Ryo and Cye carefully moved closer. “No....NNNOOOAAHHHRRGH!!” Ryo and Cye winced and covered their ears from the echoing cry. Kento collapsed to his knees and knelt on the ground. “NO! I don’t want to be like this! I want to be normal! I want to be human!” He pounded his fist against the ground. He sniffed and wiped tears from the corner of his eye with the back of his hand. “Please...I just want to be human...” he whimpered and closed his eyes. Ryo and Cye were surprised when Kento began to change back. The white claws receded into his fingertips. His body shrank slowly and his hair darkened. His skin slowly returned to its normal color.

     “R-R-Ryo?” Kento asked in a querulous voice and looked up. His pupils dilated as his eyes returned to normal. “What the f*** is wrong with me?”

                                                                 *****

     “What do you mean he wasn’t affected a third time!” Ryo argued. “He transformed right in the battle!” Cye leaned against the wall of the Infirmary and listened patiently. Tar stood beside Professor Duncan while Kayura stood by the doorway to make sure no one entered. Kento himself sat on a large boulder with his gaze at the floor.

     “The mutagen isn’t in his system...”

     “Then where is it!”

     “Look, just hear me out. It’s not in his system, however, Tar found traces of it in his DNA,” Professor Duncan said.

     “What is it you are saying?” Kayura asked.

     “I think what happened is that being exposed to the mutagen multiple times caused Kento’s body to retain some of it. The human body has a tendency to adapt or develop immunities to foreign substances. For some reason his body decided, ‘hey, this might come in handy’, so it kept some and modified it.”

     “Hold up, that stuff only affected him twice-” Professor Duncan held up a finger to silence Ryo.

     “The first time the mutagen was blended with the growth drug. It was weakened when you restored him, but it reactivated and he transformed the second time...”

     “The third time being in the caverns,” Ryo finished. Professor Duncan nodded. Ryo squeezed his eyes shut and swore.

     “What am I?”

     “Huh?” Everyone looked up when they heard the voice. Kento looked up at them with frightened eyes.

     “What am I? Am...am I some sort of mutant freak now, or what!”

     “It’s not like that Kento. As far as tests show you’re still human.”

     “You call that thing I turned into human?!”

     “It’s not as bad as you think Kento. We can find a way to help you, but testing might take awhile.” Kayura tapped the Staff with her finger and bit her lip.

     “Maybe I can speed it up. I can perform a spiritual analysis and save us the time. Kento, please stand up.” Kento reluctantly obeyed. Kayura walked up to him. Now, I’ll need you to relax. Stay calm and let me enter your mind.” Kayura reached up and placed her palm against his forehead. She closed her eyes and concentrated.

     *When she opened her eyes she found herself in a realm of purple-black mist, like an entire room made of the stuff. She looked up and gasped in shock at what she saw. Her hand rest against the head of Kento’s other form. He looked down at her with a confused gaze. “It’s allright, I’m a friend,” Kayura assured. The creature let out a low moan. it was afraid. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here to help you. Just relax and let me see...” Kayura concentrated and probed its mind. The creature grunted but remained still.*

     In the Infirmary the others heard Kayura speaking. “It’s power....it’s indescribable! It comes when it’s needed...but...he can control it.”

     *Kayura pushed deeper. The creature whimpered and held up its hands. She sensed only a fraction of its power. Then...a second power...not the creature’s strength.... something else...an untamed power. She probed further. All of a sudden it growled. Kayura gasped and looked up. The creature bared its teeth and glared at her. It splayed its claws and raised its arms.* Kayura stepped back and stared up at the wall. Then she shook her head and snapped out of her trance. “Well?” Ryo asked.

     “The transformation is triggered whenever he is threatened, but, he can suppress it if he chooses not to change.”

     “I don’t want to suppress it Kayura, I want it gone! Isn’t there some way to get rid of this thing?” Kento demanded. Kayura shook her head.

     “I’m sorry Kento, but it has fused with your being. It has become a part of you.” Kento shook his head in disbelief.

     “No....no, there...there has to be a way. Isn’t there some way to get this outta me!”

     “There isn’t. I can’t separate it from you. A...a more euphemistic term to refer it to would be a Guardian Monster Form.” Kento’s shoulders drooped.

     “There is one way.” Kento looked up at Tar. “But it is purely theoretical. It would mean taking apart your DNA at the very smallest level and supplanting the faulty components. No such procedure has ever been performed, much less attempted.” Kento closed his eyes and hung his head.

     “If you choose not to change, you can block it and it will subside, but once you’re halfway through you can’t just change your mind.”

     *So that’s what that funny feeling in my gut was,* Kento thought.

     “You have the potential to develop new powers, but you’ll have to master controlling yourself in that form. There’s a risk that you’ll lose control...”

     “I won’t use it.”

     “Huh?” Kayura looked up along with everyone else.

     “I’m not gonna use it,” Kento said and turned around.

     “What?” Kayura gasped. She ran infront of him and blocked his path. “Kento, you cannot do that! If you don’t learn how to use your power you’ll regress.”

     “Huh?”

     “You’ll lose whatever memory you have gained in that state. You’ll revert to the way you behaved before Ryo restored your memory. You run the risk of hurting the others.”

     “Look, I don’t want to turn into a monster every time I fight!”

     “Kento, a Guardian Monster Form doesn’t necessarily make you that. It’s just an alternate form.” Kayura argued.

     “It won’t matter because I won’t use it.” Kento walked past her and towards the door.

     “Kento! The longer you ignore it the more savage it will become!”

     “Then I won’t use it!” Kento shouted and stormed out the door. Cye stood up.

     “I’d better go talk to him,” he said and followed. Kayura sighed and shook her head.

     “He doesn’t fully comprehend the power he wields. Not only does it make him stronger, it makes him more aggressive.”

     “Plus he’s got a roar like a 30-inch woofer right next to your ear,” Ryo commented.

     “He has the ability to become stronger. The more he fights the more talents he’ll learn, but if he refuses to acknowledge it, his own rage will drive him insane. Ryo, please, you have to talk to him, make him understand!” Kayura begged. Ryo looked at her.

     “He’s only afraid Kayura,” he answered calmly.

     “I know that Ryo, but what will happen if he does transform in the heat of battle, and he can’t distinguish between friend or foe.”

     Tar looked at Professor Duncan. “What’s a woofer?”

     “Huh? Oh, it’s just some gadget kids use to make the music louder.”

                                                                 *****

     Outside, Kento sat on another rock and looked at the floor. “Cheer up mate, I’m sure it’ll go away. Maybe if you ignore it long enough it’ll decay on it’s own.” Kento didn’t say anything. Cye bit his lip. He knew it wasn’t true. Kento was stuck with it, forever. “Hey, it’s your choice Kento. You can ignore it and never use it.”

     “Or you can learn how to control it. Use it to your advantage,” Ryo said as he walked up to them. Kento snorted angrily.

     “Get lost Ryo, no one asked you,” he grumbled.

     “Kayura has a point. You’re risking the lives of us all just because you’re scared.”

     “Lemme alone Ryo!” Kento growled and stood up.

     “Do you want the same thing that happened in the forest to happen during battle? You almost choked me to death. What if you do the same to Cye, or someone else?”

     “Just stop Ryo! I don’t have to listen to you!” Kento shouted and stormed off.

     “Jeez Ryo, why’d you have to go piss him off like that? He’s scared enough as it is without you rackin’ on him,” Cye protested. Ryo remained silent for a few seconds then looked at him.

     “Talpa’s manipulated him before. What makes you think Mal Daggur won’t try the same thing.” Cye shook his head and sighed.

     “Ohh...you’re right Ryo. Man, I miss the old days. Back then we knew what we were up against. Now everything’s different. Poor Kento.”

     “Kayura was right all along.” Cye looked up. “This is what the Ancient warned us about: Your dream, Cye.”

                                                                 *****

     Kento stood on the balcony and looked up at the stars. “Well you don’t look so good.” He looked over his shoulder and saw Tanya leaning against the doorway.

     “I just want to be alone, okay.”

     “If something’s bothering you, shutting yourself off from the other guys won’t help. You got a problem you’re dealing with?” Tanya asked.

     “Buzz off! I didn’t ask you to be my shrink!” Kento snapped. Tanya snorted in disgust.

     “Fine then. Not my fault you’ve got something stuck up your ass,” she grumbled and walked away. Kento frowned. Now he regretted saying that.

     *Oh great, just when she actually wants to talk to me I go and bite her head off like that. It’s probably this thing inside of me that’s making me act like this. Well, I won’t ever have to worry about using it. It is not a part of me. I won’t accept it. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t even exist,* Kento vowed silently.

     “Guys! Dinner!” Mia hollered. While they ate, Cye, Ryo, and Kayura did their best not to betray any emotion. Kento looked depressed already. He didn’t eat at his normal pace.

     “Lose your appetite Oh Insatiable One?” Dais joked. Kento abruptly stood up and pulled his fist back.

     “Whoa! Easy Kento, he’s just mouthin’ off,” Rowen said. Kento realized what he was doing and sat back down.

     Dais grumbled something under his breath but Kayura shooshed him. “But-” Kayura made a cut-off motion and hissed. “But-” She hissed again and drew her fingers across her lips. Kento eventually finished his dinner. No sooner did he take the last bite, a warning alarm went off on Ryo’s wrist-com.

     “Bak, what is it?”

     <“Looks like the full scale assault Mal Daggur promised. Twenty flier troopships. You might want to summon that dragon friend of yours!”>

     “It’s the big one.” Ryo stood up and pushed his chair back. The others did the same.

     “At least we won’t fight on an empty stomach,” Cye muttered as they armored up.

                                                                 *****

     The ten of them ran down the street towards the inner city. “You four go on ahead. Take on any fliers,” Ryo told the warlords.

     “What about you?” Anubis asked.

     “We’ll take on any Nobles. Raurgoth’s going after the troopships, but Danae and the Thangien Ranks should be here soon.” A massive white form swept over the city. Fliers buzzed about angrily like bees as the dragon rose into the air to confront the invaders. The Warlords took to the roofs and ran off. Before the boys could follow a voice spoke....

     “Hello there. Didn’t expect to see you.” They stopped and looked towards an open area beside an office parking garage. His long tail swept behind him and he stood with his arms folded over his chest arrogantly. His lips peeled back and exposed his vicious crocodile smile. He chuckled deep in his throat.

     “Mal Daggur! What the hell are you doing here!” Ryo demanded.

     “Bearing witness to my victory.”

     “Snowball’s chance in hell! You’re not getting our planet!” Rowen declared.

     “I’m not. That’s what my fleet is for. Your warlord friends and that dracid are taking care of that. I’m just here....alone...unguarded....without a weapon...” Mal Daggur taunted. Ryo tightened his grip on his swords. “Hah hah hah, what’s wrong RyoTakin? Too much of a llerilivak?” His tail swept back and forth, like a cat daring to be attacked. Ryo bared his teeth in a snarl then pointed a sword at him.

     “YOUR ASS IS MINE!!” The six Ronin charged. “Attack at once! Don’t give him a chance!” Mal Daggur held out his arms and invited the assault. Sage slashed, Cye, Ryo, and Tanya thrust, Kento swung down with his bo, and Rowen fired an arrow.

     Mal Daggur’s tail tip smacked Sage away. He blocked the arrow and Kento’s blow with his shell and backhanded Cye. He punched Ryo then craned his head back. As Tanya passed overhead his jaws opened wide. A small burst of flame erupted and caught her in the belly. All six Ronin fell to the ground. “What, is that all you have to offer? A Peasant could give me a better challenge!” Ryo pushed himself up and attacked again. Sage grabbed onto Mal Daggur’s arm while Cye clutched the other. Rowen shot and Tanya slashed. Kento charged in from the front. Mal Daggur narrowed his eyes. He ducked and avoided Rowen’s shot. Tanya’s swords scored shallow cuts in the shoulder armor. Mal Daggur jerked Cye off the ground and whirled around.

     It was like slow motion. Cye cried out as he slammed against Sage. Mal Daggur turned around. Kento approached rapidly. The tail whipped around at an unbelievable speed. Then the spiked ball struck Kento in the chest. His eyes widened and he cried out softly. The impact sent him flying back, so far he vanished into the shadows of the parking garage’s ground level. “Kento!” Ryo turned to face Mal Daggur. “You’ll pay for that!” Instead of thrusting, he began a series of slashes and parries. Mal Daggur seemed startled at first and used his claws to deflect. Then he grabbed Ryo’s swords by sandwiching each blade between two claws. He held the swords steady and stared at Ryo.

     “You fight like a Thangien....I too know the ways of Rait’chian!” he roared and kicked him away. The remaining five continued to battle the Noble.

     An armored figure leaned against the wall deep inside the parking garage floor. A spider web of cracks marred the concrete as a result of the impact. His eyes opened slowly then closed as he winced from a pain in his stomach. “Oh man...ow...damn, that’s some smack!” he commented and pushed himself up. When he stood, shards of metal clattered to the floor. “Huh?” Kento looked down at his chest. Mal Daggur struck him so hard, both Battle and sub-armor cracked. Now he had a hole several inches across on his chest, exposing the metal mesh primary layer. “Whoa! That’s not good!” He powered down to street clothes. He faltered when he felt another stab of pain. He felt around on his chest and pressed. The pain centered just below the breastbone. “Ahh! Of f***! Jeez! Now what am I supposed to do?” He leaned against the wall and slid down slightly. His armor was damaged and he was injured badly. Even in Ram armor he wouldn’t have much luck. Mal Daggur had deftly avoided Sehkmet’s acid bolts, Tanya’s Swirlwind Swords, and Rowen’s deadly accuracy. His clawnchers wouldn’t fare any better.

     His eyes widened when he felt it. “What?!” He felt the prickling inside his gut. “No....no! I can’t! NO!” Then Kento began to doubt himself. The feeling neither increased or decreased. It waited patiently for his choice. Kento frowned and looked up. He could hear the sounds of battle as his friends fought the Thunthen commander. *Oh man! Hmm...I know I promised myself I wouldn’t use it....but my friends are being murdered back there! I have to do something!* Kento hesitated. Then he relaxed.

     Like fire, the sensation flooded through his body. He squeezed his eyes shut when he felt the tearing pain inside his wrist then looked at his hand just as the bones in his fingers grew longer. He turned away when his nails began growing, but looked back and watched as they lengthened into sharp white claws. He winced and swallowed when his arm bones lengthened. Then he grimaced and held a hand to his chest as his ribcage expanded. His shoulder blades throbbed with intense pain as his shoulders lowered and moved out to the side. He grunted softly as each of his vertebrae grew larger, forcing his back to arch forward. *Ah jeez, I wish it weren’t so painful!* The sharp, shooting pain coursed down his legs. He stooped forward slightly as his legs lengthened.

     He remembered growing up. Once, he complained to his mother of a sharp tugging pain in his legs. She told him it was his bones growing and becoming stronger. He felt the prickling near his joints again. He looked down at his arm and watched as the thin ropes of flesh shot out from one end of his arm and anchored to the other. They were new muscle fibers. He grimaced periodically from the pain but waited patiently nonetheless.

     *Yeah, that’s it. I’m just becoming stronger. Strong enough to beat that asshole, Mal Daggur. I’ll show him a thing or two about pickin’ on my friends.* He winced when his spine began locking into position. Suddenly his eyes snapped open. “What!” When he tried to think of his friends only faint images appeared. “No! NO! Ryo! Rowen, Sage, CYE! Tanya! They’re my friends!” Still no clear memory. His eyes widened in horror. “Oh no! I don’t believe it! I-I’m losing my mind! NO! Stop! Please, no!” he tensed all over, trying to halt the metamorphosis. “Please! Stop! Arrrgh, I said stop!”

     *Once you’re halfway through you can’t just change your mind*

     “Oooh! Man, give me a break Kayura! Ahhh!” He leaned back abruptly as his vertebrae snapped into place. “Come on, stop it now! Arrgh! You’re my body, you’re supposed to listen to me!” He stiffened all over and concentrated on stopping it. He cried out when his spine jerked again. “Aaahh!” The new muscle growth spread up his neck. He felt his scalp began to prickle as his hair lengthened slightly. He clutched the sides of his head and squeezed his eyes shut. “Please....stop....” as he begged his voice deepened. “I d-don’t want to hurt my f-fr-riends! Arrgh...hnnn...uhhm!” He threw his head back and shouted. “RYO! RYOOO! RYO! Help me please! Rrrghnn! This isn’t right! This is all wrong! RYO! R.....Rrry-yo”! His voice became deeper. He struggled to speak but it felt as if something squeezed his throat shut. “Ry...Ry...rrrrrr...AAAHHHAHHUNNN!!!” His voice changed to a low groaning roar.

     All over his bones locked into position and his legs straightened. His hair brightened into white and his skin changed color. He fell back against the wall. His body jerked as the transformation continued. He tried to speak, to call the names of his friends, but the change in his body robbed him of speech. The most he could utter was a low moan. Suddenly his eyes widened. He felt consumed by an anger unlike anything he ever felt before. He narrowed his eyes and scowled. His claws finished growing. He spread his fingers before closing them tight. A low guttural growl escaped his clenched teeth. The irises of his eyes seemed to vibrate ever so slightly. Then they contracted and lengthened vertically, becoming glowing white slit-shaped pupils.

     Kento threw back his head and roared. He cried out from the pain of his own rage and sadness. Then he pounded his fist against the wall. He turned around and began striking the concrete, venting his fury on the gray surface. He growled and whined like an angry child. Then he stopped and rest his forehead against the wall. He sighed and moaned softly, feeling tired and sad. “Hnnm?” He looked up when he heard sounds. He frowned and turned around. The sounds came with such violence and furor. He cocked his head to one side and took a step forward. He grunted in surprise when he faltered slightly. Something about his hips made walking seem unusual. He growled in determination and moved his other leg forward. With effort he settled into a steady lumbering gait and walked towards a column. He leaned against it and peered out into the open street.

     Five armored figures fought furiously against a large creature that towered over them. The lizard creature mocked the five as they struggled to defeat him. Kento frowned in sympathy for the five. Then a pink armored warrior tried using a thin golden cord to trip the lizard but he smacked her away with his tail. Kento scowled as the lizard taunted them. He clenched his fist and growled in anger.

     A few swift whips of Mal Daggur’s tail sent the Ronin crashing backwards into a brick wall. One by one they struck the wall and slumped to the ground. They looked like exhausted teammates leaning against the wall. “Is this all the amusement I can glean from you weaklings? Bwa ha hah haaaaa.....hmmm. Now....let’s see.” Mal Daggur walked towards them slowly. “Five little Ronins sitting in a row, which of the five is the first to go!” He prepared to strike with his tail.

     “AAAAHHAUNNNN!!!”

     “What?” Mal Daggur stopped and turned around. He glanced from side to side. “Who’s there? Who dares roar at me?” He walked away from the Ronin a few feet then stopped. His gaze centered on the shadows of the parking garage. A curious groaning sound emitted from a shadowy figure standing beside a column. “You there, who are you?” Mal Daggur demanded. The mysterious shape glared at him with glowing white eyes. Then it slowly stepped forward. The light outside fell upon its legs and moved up as the figure emerged. Mal Daggur leaned his head back in a confused expression.

     Rowen groaned and shook his head. He rubbed the back of his neck and blinked to regain focus. Then he looked up. One by one the other Ronin revived. Tanya slurred off a few words groggily and Sage winced when he sat up. Rowen gasped. “WHOA! Holy shit! Look at that!” Sage saw it too.

     “Augh! What is that thing?”

     “Gaack! Whatever it is I sure hope it’s not on Mal Daggur’s side!” Tanya squeaked when she saw the form walking towards Mal Daggur.

     “Oh no. Ryo, he changed again.”

     “Hey, what are you talking about?” Tanya asked. Sage squinted at the figure.

     “Wait a sec...that thing sorta looks familiar....”

     Rowen stared at it. Then his eyes widened in realization. “No....no....s-say it ain’t so! You mean....that thing.....is Kento?!” he exclaimed.

     “Yes,” Ryo muttered ashamedly. The other three gasped in shock.

     “He’s not a ‘thing’, Rowen, he’s still human you know,” Cye grumbled.

     “Whoa! What happened to him!” Sage remarked.

     “It’s a long story. It started last week when....” as Ryo explained Mal Daggur watched the creature walk closer. Then it stopped about twenty feet away. It glared at him and held its arms at its sides. Mal Daggur raised an eyebrow. Then his sensitive ears caught bits of Ryo’s explanation. He looked back at the creature and squinted at it.

     “Hah hah, so, this is the creature born of my machination,” he said aloud purposely.

     “Huh? What are you talking about?” Ryo demanded. Mal Daggur chuckled again and held out a hand to Kento. “I am simply commenting on the product of my design.” He turned around and grinned at them with a malicious leer. “You see, I orchestrated the events which led to the creation of your friend as you see him now!”

     “WHAT!?” You...you mean, you did this to him?!”

     “Yes! I commissioned the human scientist who manufactured the mutagen, I created the lake in the cavern, I sent my soldiers to attack him! What’s wrong Ronin Leader? Didn’t Bak Thraplek figure it out for you? I know of that traitor and his crew, trust me, they shall receive their ‘just desserts’!” Mal Daggur sneered.

     “Why....why did you pick on him?” Sage demanded.

     “Because what he lacks in cerebral density he makes up for down here,” Mal Daggur replied and tapped the side of his head then his shoulder.

     “But what did you hope to gain? What was your purpose doing this to him. Did you want to use him in your own sick designs?” Rowen accused. Mal Daggur raised an eyebrow then reached up and scratched his beard thoughtfully.

     “Ahhh...I understand now. Hah! I’ve seen your concepts. Hah hah! You probably think I meant to use him as a prototype!” he shook his head. “What do I need with a human army when I have my fleet. Nay, heh heh heh...he....was just a diversion!”

     “What!?!” Ryo gasped and his eyes widened.

     “That’s right, a diversion. I’ve seen how you act, and I know how you think.” Mal Daggur held out a hand to him. “You would do anything to save your friends. Even to the point of blocking all around you simply to focus on that one problem.” Mal Daggur swept his claws infront of his face then held them up straight. “While you were so intent on ‘saving your friend’s soul’, I was able to mobilize my fleet. Your friends fight bravely, but in futility! In fact, if you look up right now, you can see the Vyerrdeklagn.” Mal Daggur pointed to the sky.

     “Oh God! Ryo, I-I can see it!” Rowen cried. Maw of Flame hovered just above the atmosphere with its jaws wide open, poised to spew death upon the earth.

     “The Guardians of Earth, Protectors of Thanged. Can you stop the Vyerrdeklagn now after all you have been through?” Ryo growled, realizing Mal Daggur’s true motive. In his injured state he couldn’t summon Inferno! As Mal Daggur spoke Ryo’s anger grew. Mal Daggur pointed at him. “YOU, of all humans, seem to be the most foolish one of all!” he howled. “I can play you like a fiddle!! Bwa hah hah haaa! Ah hah ha!” Mal Daggur guffawed aloud and slapped his knees. He doubled over and his body shook with laughter, laughter so hard like he had just heard an extremely hilarious joke.

     “Youuuuuu SCALY SONOFABITCH!!!” Ryo howled.

     “Oh spare me the futile vehemence of your verbal abuse. Accept your defeat human! You’ve lost! Ah hah hah haa!”

     “AARRRHHAANNN!!”

     Mal Daggur turned around. “Well, what do you want?” he sneered. Kento held up his hand and motioned to him. He uttered a series of low growls and moans, as if trying to speak. Mal Daggur scowled and eyed him warily. Kento walked off to one side, all the while keeping his eyes on the Thunthen. Then he crouched and thrust his fist into the ground. Mal Daggur didn’t flinch a single bit as a surge tore a shallow trench into the pavement several feet to the side. “You missed,” Mal Daggur said. Kento stood up and turned to the side, still keeping his eyes on him. He thrust again into the ground. This time the surge carved a groove at a crude right angle to the first. Kento stood back up and slowly walked towards the end of the second trench. Again he plunged his fist into the pavement, sending a third surge, then walked towards the end of the new trench. Now the series of trenches formed an angular horseshoe pattern with three straight sides. Mal Daggur’s first thought was that it was a trap. He crouched and leapt back just as Kento tore up another trench. The fourth and final one completed a crude square shape, roughly fifteen or so feet across. Mal Daggur looked at the area then back at Kento. Kento stood on the other side of the square and stared at him, as if expecting something. *This foolish human wishes to challenge me!*

     <“My lord, we await your word to attack!”> a voice said from the communicator in Mal Daggur’s blue gauntlet. Mal Daggur looked at Kento then raised his arm.

     “Stand by.”

     <“What about the Ronin and the dracid?”>

     “Continue fighting, but do not fire the Vyerrdeklagn!”

     <“But-”>

     “Look, do I have to rip your tail off? That’s an order!” Mal Daggur snapped then closed the connection. He narrowed his eyes and growled. “Very well then, if it’s a fight you want, then it is a fight you shall have!” He crouched and jumped over the trench and inside the square. Kento leapt onto it and faced the Noble. Mal Daggur folded his arms over his chest and began to chuckle. “Though you have augmented your size and strength somewhat, what makes you think you can defeat, a fully grown Thunthen Noble?” Kento didn’t answer. He held up his hands and splayed his claws. “Hah! Those little kittens claws are no match for these!” Mal Daggur splayed his own six-inch long ivory claws and grinned maliciously. “Noble creature though you may be, I will have the utmost pleasure in killing you.” Kento still glared and growled. Mal Daggur laughed again and crouched slightly. Suddenly he whirled around.

     The Ronin gasped in horror as Mal Daggur whipped his tail around and whacked Kento in the side of his head with the spiked ball. Kento reeled from the blow. Mal Daggur stepped back but was surprised when Kento remained standing. He held a hand to his head then slowly opened his eyes. He lowered his arm and glared at Mal Daggur. Such a blow would’ve town the head off even the strongest of Thangien warriors. Not so much as a scratch marred his skin. “Your friend has a hard head, I’ll give him that,” Mal Daggur said to the other Ronin. Kento growled and held up his arm to shield himself. Mal Daggur laughed again. “You are asking for punishment.”

     With blinding speed, he lunged forward and locked his jaws around Kento’s arm. The Ronin watched wide-eyed as the Thunthen jerked his head from side to side. He tugged like an angry dog and tried to rip the arm off. Kento struggled to keep his ground. Then he yanked his arm from between Mal Daggur’s teeth. Mal Daggur prepared to attack, but Kento socked him in the side of the jaw. Mal Daggur reeled from the blow then caught himself. He held a hand to his jaw and looked back. Kento stood there with his fists clenched at his sides, glaring at him with those white eyes.

     “Do you think he’ll win?” Cye asked.

     “I don’t think he can beat him,” Sage commented.

     “What makes you say that?” Tanya demanded.

     “Mal Daggur’s bigger, plus he’s more naturally equipped and a skilled fighter. The best Kento can do is hold him off until the Thangiens arrive, but the odds of him beating Mal Daggur are-”

     “Will you just knock it off Sage!” Ryo snapped. The other Ronin looked at him with surprised expressions. “Kento is doing this because he wants to protect us. We should be supporting him, not betting against him!”

     “Ryo’s right. Go get ‘em mate! You can do it!” Cye cheered.

     “Sock it to him!” Tanya chimed in.

     “You show that saurian sonofabitch who’s boss!” Rowen hollered.

     “Hnnn?” Kento let out a puzzled groan and glanced out the corner of his eye. The loud cries behind him confused him. Then he snarled. The jeering and wild yelling angered him. The Ronin stopped when Kento roared. “AAARRRRANHHH!!!” He turned around and shouted off a series of moans and growls and swiped in their direction. He clenched his fists and let out a low groaning roar. He glared at them with white hot eyes before turning back around. The Ronin stared wide-eyed in shock.

     “Uh....I think he just told us to shut up,” Cye commented. Mal Daggur stared at Kento impassively then held his hand out to the side.

     “Your friends....are trying....to support you.” Kento responded with steady growling. *Ah, just as I suspected. He has no recollection of who his friends are.*

     “Ryo!” Ryo looked to the side and gasped when he saw Mia running towards him.

     “Mia! What the hell are you doing here!!” he demanded and stood up.

     “Ryo, if the planet’s going up in flames I want to be with you.”

     “Awww.” Tanya cooed sarcastically.

     “Well, good news is that Mal Daggur postponed the attack in lieu of more pressing matters,” Rowen said.

     “Huh? What are you talking about?” Mia looked up and gasped in shock at the sight of Mal Daggur in person along with another creature. She was watching Godzilla versus King Kong! “Augh! W-who is that?” Then she recognized the clothes, the hair and the orange band. She could see his face. “Ryo! I-Is that Kento!?”

     “Yes.” Ryo explained again as the two dueling warriors stared at each other. Mal Daggur folded his arms over his chest and began lashing his tail. He tapped the spiked ball against the pavement and observed how Kento’s gaze followed the motions. Mal Daggur held up his arms and splayed his claws. He leaned his head forward and moved it to one side. He began swaying his head back and forth and bobbed it up and down. As he did this he swiped his claws infront of his face slowly. He began swinging his upper body to and fro and lashed his tail back and forth.

     “What’s he doing? Dancing?” Tanya commented.

     “No....” The Ronin looked at Rowen. “No, I’ve seen lizards do this before! Kento! Kento, look away! Don’t pay any attention to him, he’s just trying to distract you! Kento! Why won’t he listen to me?” Rowen wondered aloud as Kento ignored his cries. Kento frowned and glanced back and forth in attempt to follow each of the confusing motions. He moaned in a worried tone.

     Mal Daggur crouched and jumped up. He curled into a ball and tumbled in midair. As he turned over, his tail whipped up and over to the ground. The others gasped in horror as the spiked ball smacked Kento on top of his head. Kento cried out and dropped to the ground on his knees as Mal Daggur landed in the same spot he stood before. He crouched slightly then stood back up. He straightened his tail then coiled it around his leg. Kento knelt on the ground and whimpered from the agonizing pain. He held a hand clamped on top of his head. Then he slowly stood up. He blinked and opened his eyes. Then he removed his hand and looked at it. Patches of blood covered his fingers. A large spot of red stained his bone-white hair. He stared at the blood on his hand then scowled.

     “Allright, I’ve heard of hard-headed people before, but this is outright ridiculous!” Such a blow should’ve split his skull open, but it only fueled Kento’s anger. Mal Daggur narrowed his eyes and reared back until he stood at full height. He glowered down at Kento and curled his lips over his teeth. His tail lashed behind him and he flexed his fingers. Then he crouched and opened his jaws wide. A loud hiss emitted from the very back of his throat. He hunched his back and displayed his shell spikes and claws in the tradition of a male Noble in dueling season. His tail whipped back and forth rapidly and his tongue vibrated as he hissed. He stopped and raised an eyebrow when a loud, steady growling outmatched his hissing. Kento bared his teeth and growled deep in his throat. This surprised Mal Daggur. Normally a lesser being would stand down.

     “Uh, Ryo, I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but....Kento’s...not acting like himself,” Cye said.

     “Huh?”

     “Well, whenever he fights he always says something smart, but, he hasn’t said anything. He just keeps growling.” Ryo scowled worriedly and looked back at the two.

     “What’s wrong human? Feinloran got your tongue? Come on, you nehaghc!” Mal Daggur taunted as the two circled each other.

     “No...there’s no way it could’ve happened that fast...could it?”

     Mal Daggur backed up until he achieved sufficient distance between himself and Kento. Kento held his arms raised in a defensive position. Mal Daggur charged. His feet thumped against the pavement as he approached. He loomed up infront of Kento and pulled his right arm back. He put his fingers together so that the claws formed a spade shape and thrust. Kento neither dodged nor struck back. Instead he crouched and leaned to the side. The claws struck where his neck and shoulder met.

     The two stood still like finely sculpted statues. Mal Daggur held his tail coiled behind him and held his left leg in the air because he needed the additional balance. Kento remained crouched close to the ground. The tips of the Noble’s claws rest against the skin, touching it, but not breaking the flesh. Mal Daggur’s eyes widened in shock. Kento blinked in confusion then growled and looked up at Mal Daggur. His right hand curled into a fist. Then he laid a powerful uppercut right in Mal Daggur’s chin and sent the Noble tumbling backwards onto his shell. Mal Daggur rolled onto his side and stood up shakily. He held a hand to his mouth and glanced at Kento.

     “What do you think now, Sage? Think Kento can kick his ass?” Cye queried.

     “He will win,” Mia stated. “Kento loves to fight. He’ll find a way to win, believe me.”

     Mal Daggur snarled in rage. He whirled around and whipped his tail. The tail didn’t hit its mark. Instead, Kento grabbed it at the base of the spiked ball and tugged. Mal Daggur grunted in surprise and braced his feet against the ground. He tried to pull forward but Kento held him ready. Mal Daggur looked over his shoulder and snarled when he saw Kento holding his tail. “Filthy sapien! How dare you!”

     “Yee hah! Take ‘im by the tail!” Rowen cheered. Kento gripped the tail with both hands. Then he began to twist to the side where he held it near the base of the spiked ball. Mal Daggur winced when he felt the first pinch. He roared when the tail bone began to twist out of socket. He didn’t like this one bit. Then he crouched, jumped into the air, and threw himself backwards. Kento’s eyes widened as the spiked shell descended upon him. Then he scowled in determination. He released the tail and reached up.

     Kento grabbed two of the shell spikes and held Mal Daggur over his head. The Thunthen cried out in shock and tried to look over his shoulder. Kento roared in defiance and lifted the Noble higher. Mal Daggur writhed and thrashed his tail around furiously like an upended turtle. Kento growled then slammed the Noble onto his stomach on the pavement. The blow to his chin stunned him. Kento stooped over and grabbed two of the spikes. His grip tightened as he squeezed. His growling grew louder and his veins bulged out on his arms like long strands of rope under his skin. Mal Daggur lay there unconscious. The two spikes shattered from the intense pressure, leaving only two broken stumps. Mal Daggur twitched an eyebrow. Then Kento pulled back his fist and smashed a hole through the green colored shell. Mal Daggur howled in pain. His tail thrashed from side to side then whipped around and smacked Kento away. He pushed himself up to one knee then stood up shakily. He looked over his shoulder and glanced down his back. His eyes settled on the two broken spikes and a six-inch hole in his shell. “Arrgh! You’ll pay for that!” Kento held his hands up in a defensive position. Then he reached out and beckoned with one claw. Mal Daggur growled in rage and furrowed his brow.

     He bared his teeth and swung his head forward. A piercing scream erupted from the back of his throat. “AARHHAAHHUNN!!” Kento roared in retaliation. Mal Daggur screamed again like an enraged T-rex. Kento roared back and thumped his fists against his chest, daring the Noble to attack. The others watched appalled as the duel degraded into a roaring contest. Every time Mal Daggur belted out an ear-splitting howl, Kento retaliated by roaring like an angry grizzly bear.

     “Ohhhkayyy. I can see the testosterone flowing,” Tanya remarked.

     “Oh man, he is definitely not acting like himself!” Cye commented in a fearful tone.

     “NO....no...it’s impossible. There’s no way it could’ve happened that fast!” Ryo muttered under his breath and shook his head in disbelief.

     “What are you talking about Ryo?” Sage asked.

     “It can’t have happened already!”

     “What Ryo! What couldn’t have happened?” Sage demanded. His attention turned back to the fight when Mal Daggur charged. Kento reached out to grab him but the Noble thrust his arms between Kento’s arms and shoved them to the side. Then he locked both hands around Kento’s neck. The thick claws lay against the skin like a collar. He squeezed tight and Kento faltered slightly. Then Kento reached up and grabbed Mal Daggur’s wrists. He grit his teeth in determination and tugged. Mal Daggur’s eyes widened when Kento began to pull his arms to the side. He tried to stab his claws into Kento’s throat but the tips tapped against the skin like a stick on stone. Kento growled and pulled again. Mal Daggur’s choke hold began to loosen. He snarled and held his nose close to Kento’s face. He snorted hot air and bared his teeth. Kento grimaced and turned away but continued to pull. Then Mal Daggur narrowed his eyes and grinned. He reared back, swung his head to the side and back, then opened his jaws wide.

     Mia cried out in horror as the Noble clamped his teeth onto Kento’s head. He bit down hard and jerked in attempt to tear Kento’s head off. Then he pulled back and lunged again. His jaws locked on tighter and his teeth ground against the skin. Mal Daggur tugged hard but Kento didn’t budge. Then he pulled back and began to bite repeatedly at different angles. The Ronin watched terrified as Mal Daggur bit again and again. Kento grimaced from the intense pressure of the Noble’s grip. Mal Daggur pulled back and raised an eyebrow when he heard a low growl. The growling increased into a shuddering echo. Kento shoved Mal Daggur away. Ryo’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh no! Cover your ears!” he ordered just as Kento let out a loud echoing roar.

     “AAHHAAHAAHHHHUUUUUNNNNN!!”

     “Gyaah! What’s that sound?” Mia shouted.

     “I don’t know! He’s making it!” Ryo hollered back. Mal Daggur staggered back and clamped his hands over his ear holes. The powerful sonic roar hit his eardrums like someone stuck a bell over his head and banged it hard.

     “Rrrrraahhhgh!” Mal Daggur lunged and whipped his tail. The tail wrapped around Kento’s neck and tightened. Kento struggled and grabbed the tail. Mal Daggur snarled in anger. He had squeezed the heads off countless Thangien warriors with such a move, yet Kento held his ground. Mal Daggur cried out when Kento pulled the tail off from around his neck and yanked to the side and threw him onto the ground. The Noble rolled to a stop on his side and stood back up. “Ah hah! I’ll have to admit, you are a worthy opponent! I haven’t had such fun since I slew Chi Chi Lina, Ander!”

     *Chi Chi Lina, Ander? Wait, that means...* A vision entered Ryo’s mind, of a blond-haired warrior entering a chamber. Light from the hallway filled the room. ‘Show yourself!’ The warrior demanded. Then he heard a chuckle from behind. Light danced around a shadow as it approached. Thup....thup...thup...thup... The creature laughed as it approached. Lips spread in a grin and displayed gleaming white crocodile teeth. The warrior slashed with amazing skill, but the creature blocked and parried with its claws. The light of the hallway fell upon its orange beard and eyebrows. Then it pulled one arm back and placed two fingers together so the claws formed a vicious sickle. It slashed upwards at an angle. The warrior shrieked in agony as the claws slashed his chest open. ‘Danaetanera!’ he howled with his dying breath. The creature slashed again and stabbed the warrior’s flesh. Blood spurted out from all sides as he mutilated the body. *Mal Daggur killed Danae’s father!* Kento! Kento, listen to me!” Ryo cried. “You have to win! If you don’t beat him he’ll tear you apart!”

     “Rrrr...” Kento turned around and growled at him. “Arrrahh! Uhhhhann!”

     “Oh boy, he’s really pissed off now!” Cye exclaimed.

     “Kento! Behind you!” Rowen shouted and pointed at him.

     “Hnnn?” Kento turned around and gasped when he saw Mal Daggur charging towards him. The Noble vaulted himself into the air and swung one leg forward. He laid his foot against Kento’s chest. Then he swung his other leg up and kicked like a raptor. The thick talons raked against Kento’s skin and ripped his shirt open. Then he jumped back and kicked again. He somersaulted backwards and landed on his feet just as Kento dropped to the ground. He pulled himself up in a sitting position then stood up. Mal Daggur’s eyes widened. *Impossible! That move should have disemboweled him!*

     Kento looked at his shirt with a surprised expression. Tatters of cloth dangled from the edges of a huge hole in the front. He glared at Mal Daggur and growled angrily. *How can he be doing this!!* Mal Daggur attacked and began slashing and thrusting with his claws. Kento fought back with his own claws, small though they were in comparison to Mal Daggur’s. Mal Daggur was highly skilled in the art of Dau’che’taun: Noble Claw Fighting. He hacked and slashed and stabbed furiously. The two fought their war of thunder and rage. The Ronin watched in awe as the battle escalated to ferocious speeds. The Noble stepped back and jumped. His tail shot out but Kento managed to avoid it as the spiked ball plunged into the pavement. The Thunthen snapped repeatedly, trying to bite Kento and catch him off guard. Each time Mal Daggur missed he paid the price of having Kento punch him in the side of his jaw.

     Now the two locked hands. Mal Daggur tried to crush Kento’s hands in his grip and stabbed at his wrist with his claws. Again, the claws tapped against a hard surface. Then he glanced down. His eyes widened when he saw the hole in Kento’s shirt. At the microscopic level the individual fibers were weaving back together. The shirt was mending itself! *The organic material, it must have been affected!* Mal Daggur scowled and pushed. His talons scrabbled against the pavement as Kento shoved back. He shoved Kento away and slashed. Kento dodged and socked Mal Daggur in the stomach.

     The Noble gasped for loss of breath. Then Kento delivered another powerful uppercut. All through the fight he found the large rectangular muzzle an irresistible target. Mal Daggur fell onto his back, dazed at first. He managed to roll away seconds before Kento plunged his fist into his former position. Mal Daggur whirled around and shoved Kento with his head and shoulder. Kento pushed the Noble away with sheer brute strength. Then he clasped his hands together and tried to pound him in the head. The Thunthen leaned back to avoid the blow. Then his tail coiled around Kento’s wrists. Mal Daggur yanked down, jumped up, and kneed Kento in the chin. Kento fell to the ground on his back and rolled onto his side. The others winced sympathetically.

     “Hey! Look at Mal Daggur!” Rowen pointed to the Noble. Mal Daggur bent over and held one hand on his knee. Tears squeezed out the corners of his eyes as he grimaced in pain. His kneecap felt like something hit it with a sledgehammer.

     *Rrrgh! What is this beast’s bone structure made of? Dererium? My claws can cut through dererium!!* He looked up and saw Kento prop himself on one elbow. He rubbed his chin and glared at him. Then he stood up and prepared to defend himself. Mal Daggur stood up to his full height. No one noticed him lean to one side and place the rest of his weight on his other leg. *Why do I continue here? I can simply flame this whole damn planet! No...I am Mal Daggur! I will not be defeated by a human! Still...why can’t I defeat him? So far all his moves have been purely defensive. Not once in this entire fight have I struck a mortal blow. I can’t even see any marks where I bit him! Unless...*

     Mal Daggur held up his claws and thrust again and again, but each time Kento blocked. Mal Daggur watched carefully as Kento’s skin tightened then relaxed. *Ahh...I see now. The change in his skin’s cell structure...with the proper muscle control...yes...* Mal Daggur began to laugh. “I see you have learned how to use some of your new talents. Let’s see how you do against....this!” Mal Daggur swung his head forward and opened his jaws wide. A large blast of fire erupted from his maw. The fire scorched Kento’s right arm and he jerked it away reflexively. Mal Daggur charged out of the fire cloud and pulled his arm back. Kento raised his left arm but it was too late. Mal Daggur placed two fingers together, forming the dreadful sickle that once slew Chi Chi Lina, Ander.

     A large red splash erupted and splattered to the ground. Mia and the Ronin cried out in horror. Small droplets of blood seemed to hover in the air as Mal Daggur passed to the side. “NNNYYAAAUUNNNN!!!” Kento howled in agony and cradled his arm. Mal Daggur stepped back. He lifted his hand up to his mouth and reached out with his tongue. The fleshy ribbon wiped blood off each claw. Blood dripped steadily from Kento’s arm. The blow flayed off nearly a third of the flesh between his wrist and elbow.

     Mal Daggur watched amused as Kento whined over his injured arm. The other Ronin tried to stand to avenge their friend but their injuries from the previous battle prevented such action. “Though I appreciate the sport,” Mal Daggur began as he stepped back. “I must end this.” He reached the edge of the square and scraped his talons against the pavement. He charged forward and opened his jaws wide. Kento gazed up slightly with each footfall and beheld the Thunthen as he approached. Then he narrowed his eyes. His pupils glowed brightly and a low growl escaped his clenched teeth. Mal Daggur turned his head to the side and lunged. His jaws clamped shut.....on thin air...

     Kento moved back just as Mal Daggur’s jaws clamped around where his throat had been before. Mal Daggur opened his eyes and tilted his head back to the side.

     The front of his muzzle exploded in a spray of blood and enamel as Kento punched him right in the snout with his left arm.....the arm that was wounded. The Noble fell backwards like a felled tree and landed on his back. The spikes dug into the pavement and held him up but his arms and legs lay sprawled on the ground. He let out a shuddering sigh. Then, a powerful yank on his tail awakened him. He cried out in surprise when he felt himself pulled off the ground and into the air. Kento gripped his tail and pivoted on his heels.

     The Ronin watched wide-eyed as Kento swung the Noble around and around. Mal Daggur howled in protest as Kento swung faster and faster. Then he released him, sending Mal Daggur hurtling up in an arc towards an alley. He flailed his limbs about and wailed as he fell to the ground. He landed hard on his belly and skidded forward a few feet.

     The Thunthen commander lay on his stomach with his limbs sprawled out to the sides. His chin lay flat against the pavement. Then his eyes fluttered open. He groaned and slowly moved his arms up. He carefully pushed himself to his knees than stood. He tottered from side to side and swayed forward slightly. Suddenly his gag reflex triggered and he vomited. He clamped his hands over his mouth to dam the mixture of blood and bile pouring on the ground. Then he felt something. He pulled his hands away and looked at them. In his palms lay several sharp, bloodied cones. His teeth......Those were his teeth!! He retched again and doubled over. He looked over his shoulder when he heard a low growl and saw the highlighted form of Kento walking towards him. His eyes glowed with a chilling feral light. For the first time in his life, Mal Daggur felt afraid. He backed away from Kento. The moonlight at his back gave him a frightening appearance.

     Kento let out a puzzled groan and looked up when he heard a loud roaring whine. Mal Daggur turned around and shielded himself from the blasts of air created by the thrusters of a troopship. The four heavy landing legs lowered and settled on the ground. The doors slid open and a metal ramp extended to the pavement. He ran onto the ramp and two Commons attended him. “My lord! What has happened?” Mal Daggur didn’t answer.

     “Mal Daggur, we must call off the assault! We’ve confirmed three Thangien Ranks!” Mal Daggur’s eyes widened at the report.

     A barrage of laser blasts to Raurgoth’s wings sent him plunging into the bay. As the fliers closed in for the kill the dragon rose up and snatched a flier from the air in his jaws. He belched out a wave of fire to destroy the rest and used his silver-plated stomach to protect himself. The warlords used all their power to pluck fliers from the sky. Atop a support tower, WildCAT stood like a single bastion of defense and loosed all her arsenal. Then, from the sky, came a hail of missiles and lasers. Enemy ships buckled beneath the might of two trie dassants. Anubis looked up at the sight of a sky full of Pegasi riders. “Three Thangien Ranks? Wow, we’re special!” he remarked. Leading the charge came Danaetanera herself. Pegasus’ horn cannon shot its deadly golden beam.

     Mal Daggur growled but coughed from blood in his nose. He glared at Kento. “This isn’t over yet human!” he declared as the doors slid shut. Commons hastily tended to Mal Daggur’s shattered snoot and wiped blood off with cloths. Kento raised his arm to block the dust storm as the troopship fired its boosters and lifted into the air. The landing legs moved into their holding slots. Finally it disappeared from view and moved out of hearing range. Kento let out a heavy sigh. His shoulders drooped from exhaustion.

     “Hey Kento! Way to go! Hah hah, I knew you could to it ol’ buddy!” Kento grunted in confusion and turned around. Cye ran towards him with a big smile on his face. “Wow, I didn’t know you had it in you. You sure showed him!” Kento frowned when Cye ran up to him and stepped back. Cye stopped and raised an eyebrow. He took a step closer but Kento backed away and held up his arms. “Come on Kento, it’s me, Cye, your best bud. I won’t hurt you.” The others arrived and watched with surprise as Kento continued to back away. “You don’t have to be afraid of me Kento, everything’s allright.”

     Suddenly Kento growled and narrowed his eyes. They flickered with a white light. Cye yelped and barely managed to avoid Kento as he slashed at him with his claws. Cye took out his trident and held it ready. “Cye! Get away from him you idiot!”

     “Huh?” Cye looked over his shoulder at Mia.

     “An animal when cornered is the most dangerous one of all!”

     “But, Kento’s not an animal!” Cye protested.

     “Yes, but you’re threatening him,” Mia pointed out. Cye looked back at Kento, who growled and held his claws ready.

     “Whoops! Heh heh, sorry, my fault. See, I’m backing away,” Cye promised as he stepped back. Kento’s expression relaxed and he lowered his arms. The Ronin stood merely a few feet away. Kento blinked and regarded each of them confusedly.

     “Whoa, if I thought Kento was big before, he’s huge now!” Sage remarked.

     “Yeah, I’m surprised his clothes still fit,” Rowen commented.

     “Why’s he afraid of us?” Tanya asked.

     “I don’t think he recognizes us,” Mia said.

     “It’s because he regressed.” They looked at Ryo. “Kayura warned him that if he didn’t acknowledge his power he would lose whatever memory he’d gained, but he was afraid. He didn’t want to use it because he was scared of what would happen to him.”

     Mia looked back at Kento but gasped when she saw his arms dripping. “Oh Ryo! He’s bleeding! We have to do something!”

     “He won’t let any of us get near him.”

     “Well, maybe it’s your armors that are scaring him. Let me try to talk to him.” Ryo opened his mouth to protest but Mia stepped forward. “Easy, easy now. Don’t be afraid,” Mia coaxed and held out a hand. She stepped closer cautiously. Kento regarded her with a confused expression but made no move to attack. “It’s allright, I won’t hurt you.” Now Mia stood about a foot away and stared up at him. He stared back. His eyes glowed with a dull light. “Let me take a look at that.” Mia held out her hand. Kento frowned in confusion. “Your arm, let me see your arm.” Kento looked down at his left arm then moved it forward. Mia gently grabbed his wrist and held his arm level. “Oooh! Oh gods, tore it to the bone!” She grimaced when she saw a bloodied pale surface. She swallowed to keep her composure and ran her fingers over the wound gingerly. Kento winced slightly but remained still. “Hmm...Hey Tanya, I need a leaf here, do you have one?”

     “I’m not going over there!”

     “Just throw it to me then!” Tanya took out a rolled Richtho leaf from her belt and tossed it to Mia. Mia caught it and shook it open. “Now...just...hold...still...” She pulled the leaf taut over the wound. Kento cried out from the pain as she tried to wrap the leaf around his arm and shoved her away.

     “Hey!” Ryo caught her and drew out a sword, ready to defend Mia.

     “It’s okay Ryo, it just hurt him some.” Kento cradled his arm and held a hand over the leaf. Tears rolled out from the corners of his eyes. “Really, he is quite gentle as long as he stays calm, but someone has to tie that leaf down. He won’t let me do it.”

     “Hey Tanya, why don’t you try?” Cye suggested.

     “Huh? Why me?”

     “Well, he’s lookin’ at you all funny.” Tanya abruptly grabbed him by his collar and pulled her fist back.

     “Why you little sh-”

     “Well he is!” Cye defended. Tanya frowned and looked at Kento. He stared at her, not the other Ronin, but her.

     “Give it a shot sis. See if he trusts you,” Ryo said.

     “Hmm...oh allright,” Tanya agreed reluctantly and walked forward. She took each step with caution. Kento stood still and watched her. She stopped about two feet away. Then he leaned close to her. Tanya leaned back. “Uh....ahem....pardon me, but...y-you’re kind of...intruding on my personal space,” she laughed weakly. Kento hummed and leaned back. The way he stared at her with those white eyes made her feel nervous.

     “Well?” Ryo hinted.

     “It’s like talking to a big dumb dinosaur,” Tanya said. Kento blinked and continued to stare. “Literally,” Tanya added out the corner of her mouth.

     “Why’s he so partial to Tanya?” Sage asked.

     “Maybe he recognizes her,” Ryo said.

     “Hold up,” Tanya turned around. “That would contradict the whole theory of him not recognizing us and his being afraid of us because of our armors. I mean, I’m wearing my armor, and he’s looking at me all gooshy.” Cye scratched the back of his head.

     “Maybe it’s because you’re a girl.” Tanya leveled her gaze at them.

     “That’s it! I’ve had it with the crap about the boob plate!” She swept her arms to the side. “I am well aware of the anatomical feature which separates me from you dicks. Do I look like I have to be reminded of my gender!?” She motioned to herself. “I’m a girl okay! I know that, you don’t have to spell it out in bold print!” All the while Kento stood behind her and stared at her in confusion. The boys stared in shock as Tanya continued ranting, apparently oblivious to Kento’s presence.

     “Ahhhhaahuuunnn!”

     “Gyaah!” Tanya whirled back around.

     “Huuhhhaaahh! Rraaaahhunnn,” Kento moaned softly.

     “Just see if you can talk to him,” Ryo encouraged. Tanya eyed Kento warily then reached out to grab his wrist. She glanced up then looked back at the leaf.

     “Okay....lemme just...” She grabbed the ends of the leaf and pulled it taut. Kento whimpered and tried to pull his arm back. “Ah kwitcherbitchin,” Tanya muttered. Kento kept squirming and tried to pull his arm away. Tanya grabbed him by his wrist. “HOLD YOUR ARM STILL DAMMIT!!!” she screamed. The others eyes widened in shock. Kento looked a bit surprised himself. Tanya began tying the ends of the leaf into a knot. “Mmmhmm...almost got it...there. Should hold for awhile but I’ll have to replace it later.” She didn’t notice Kento reach forward and touch her shoulder plate with his claws. Tanya paused and glanced up at him. He frowned and pulled his arm back. He averted his gaze and hummed, as if aware that he had offended her.

     “Tanya, didn’t he get hurt on the head? See if he’ll let you check it out.” Mia reminded. Tanya rolled her eyes and gestured to Kento.

     “Hey you, come over here.” He leaned down. “Okay, that’s close enough.” Tanya hummed in concentration then carefully reached up. Kento glanced at her as she reached toward the back of his head. Then he jerked away suddenly. Tanya placed a hand on her daggers. Kento held up his arms and growled softly. “He won’t let me, he doesn’t trust me that much.” Tanya stepped back slowly.

     “So what do we do now?” Sage asked.

     “Hmm...looks like he’s stuck like that,” Rowen commented.

     “No, he can change back. He just doesn’t remember how.” Ryo stepped forward and up a hand in gesture of non-hostility. Kento grunted and backed away. “We have to find a way to restore his human memory.”

     “Human memory?”

     “When I found him in the forest he didn’t recognize me. Seeing his armor orb broke the memory barrier.” Ryo looked back at Kento. “Kento, listen to me. You have to try to remember. Fight the block in your mind.” Ryo closed his eyes. *virtue* His Kanji glowed on his forehead. “Help him out guys. Just because he looks different doesn’t mean he’s not one of us.” The other boys nodded.

     *Life.*

     *Wisdom.*

     *Trust.*

     Kento flinched and held up his arms to shield himself from some unseen force. “There’s a curtain blocking your memory Kento. Find it and lift it up, you can do it!” Ryo encouraged. Kento whimpered and shook his head. He moaned softly and blinked. “Come on Kento. Try, just try. I believe in you.” Kento stepped back and squeezed his eyes shut. His Kanji flickered on his forehead.

     “Hnnn...mmm...J-Jus-tice...” Then he saw them, images in his mind. He heard voices laughing and calling his name in a friendly manner. *Come on ol’ buddy, we’ll miss the show!* He saw a brown haired boy waving to him and urging him to follow. *Hah hah, you belong in the jungle Kento!* He saw a young man with bushy golden blonde hair calling his name. He saw a wily blue haired man joking with him. *I could hear your stomach growlin’ a mile away. Maybe it’ll lead us to the nearest deli.* He saw a man with glittering blue eyes and a woman with soft auburn hair and soothing green eyes. Then he saw her....hair bound into two jet black whips and eyes that glittered like purest bronze.... “Nmmm....hnnn...rrrnn!” Kento grunted in an effort to speak. “rrr....Rrrrrnnn....Rrrryy-yo? Rrro-wen. S-Sage, Cye!” He looked at each of them. “M-Mia?” His eyes settled on the Lady Ronin. “Tan-ya....”

     “Hey! He remembers! Way to go Kento!” Cye cheered. Kento smiled and nodded.

     “Hey Kento, think you can change back now?” Ryo asked.

     “Uh huh,” Kento answered. He closed his eyes and growled in concentration. Rowen, Sage, Mia, and Tanya watched amazed as he slowly changed back to his normal form. Kento opened his eyes but tottered to the side. The others ran to his side and gathered around him. “Owch! Oh man, what happened?” he asked in his normal voice. “Hey,” he looked down and saw the burn mark on his right and his bandaged left arm. “Whoa, where’d those come from?”

     “You fought Mal Daggur and beat him,” Rowen said.

     “I did? But....why can’t I remember what happened?”

     “You regressed,” Ryo said and stepped forward. “You didn’t recognize us when we called your name.”

     “Yeah. We were rootin’ for you and you growled at us. Plus you took a swipe at my fragile person,” Cye testified. Kento frowned and looked at his wounds again. Then he let out a heavy, regretful sigh.

     “So Kayura was right. Then I have to control it, or I’d risk hurting my friends.” The others looked down at the ground, feeling a little guilty.

     “Hey, we’ll help you cope. That’s what friends are for,” Cye said cheerfully.

     “Besides, thanks to you Mal Daggur called off the entire attack,” Rowen said. Kento smiled but winced from pains in both arms.

     “We need to get you back home. That leaf’s already soaked,” Mia said.

     “Yeah...Hey Mia, do you think you can fix me something to eat when we get home?”

     “Again!? Dinner wasn’t no more than an hour ago!”

     “Yeah, but hey, I’ve got one monster appetite,” he joked. The others groaned in protest and shook their heads. Ryo laughed softly but returned to pondering Mal Daggur’s confession. *He said he asked a human scientist to do this. We’ll eventually have to get rid of Mal Daggur, but if I ever find the guy that did this to Kento, I’ll make him pay.* Ryo silently vowed as they teleported home...

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Series Information: Kento’s new power

What’s worse, a real double-edged sword, or the proverbial kind with a new, power that’s hell to control. That’s the kind of problem Kento faces thanks to Mal Daggur’s evil plot. All through Age of Defiance he struggles with controlling his alternate form. Several times he becomes a target of the Dynasty and other enemies because of this. In his transformed state he becomes more aggressive, thus making him more susceptible to manipulation, as seen in Fight Alone, the Cataclysm Wars, and Ronin Warrior Spectra. Despite all his troubles, his personal quest to tame his power helps him understand himself and his growing feelings for a certain Ronin Warrior. As he fights he gains new abilities. Some of the first include the ability to harden his skin, his sonic roar, sharpened sight, and a heightened sense of smell. Later on he evolves to such levels as telekinesis, as seen when he creates a 60,000 ft deep hole with the force of his unleashed mental anguish.