Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ The Enemy Revealed ❯ Duel! Syaoran vs. Kaizer Cyberon ( Chapter 17 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Enemy Revealed
Chapter 17: Duel! Syaoran vs. Kaizer Cyberon

For a while, Syaoran and Kaizer Cyberon confined themselves to staring at each other silently. To the others, the Chinese magician and the Emperor of the Cyber World seemed to be waiting for someone to start. As for the magicians themselves, Syaoran kept his sword out and was ready for anything. Kaizer Cyberon watched him with no weapon in his hand.

"What are they waiting for?" Tomoyo asked curiously to no one in particular as she captured the staredown on tape. With Ready, Maya and Yue watching over her, Sakura continued to lie unconscious on the ground. Kerberos placed the Star Wand next to her hand and joined the vigil while viewing the two boy magicians.

Near Algol, Brandon and the others continued the fight against Cyberus. "I hope Sakura's okay," the Shadowwalker said as he and O.G. avoided a Thunder of Doom attack. "Greenbean's gotta be peeved."

"I'm sure of it," Ruby Moon said as she blasted the three-headed dragon with crystals. "Why can't you just stay down?" she yelled in frustration.

"Yeah! Listen to the lady!" O.G. shouted as he unloaded missile after missile on the monstrous Cyber, sending him closer to Algol. "Just die already!"

"Data Smash!"

O.G. and Ruby Moon barely avoided a fist composed of energy flying in from behind. "Hey, where'd that come from?" Brandon wondered. "Forget I asked," he said when he saw Database floating behind them.

Cyberus spotted his fellow Cyber. "Why are you here? I was handling these germs by myself."

Database vanished and reappeared next to the three-headed dragon. "His Majesty's orders," he stated. "Besides, two Megas are better than one."

Cyberus chuckled as he looked at his prey. "How true."

"Uh oh," Brandon said.

"Let's prove you two wrong!" O.G. roared, aiming his cannons at the two Cybers.

"O.G., wait!" Brandon yelled.

O.G. failed to heed his master and fired two missiles at Database and Cyberus. Both Cybers ascended, and the projectiles exploded on the barrier. Inside Algol, Eriol awoke briefly and screamed.

"Well, we seem to have an excellent attack position," Database remarked as he and Cyberus lowered themselves to their original place.

Brandon grimaced at his Guardian. "Ooops," the large bear said.

"Looks like we've got a problem," Ruby Moon commented as she glared at the two Cybers.

"How right you are." Database opened his robe to revealed a deep void. "Data Download!"

Swarms of Bits, Bytes, and Cardians flew out to attack the Cybers' enemies. "Oh, great," Brandon muttered just before he swung his weapon at a Byte.

Below, Kaizer Cyberon broke the silence. "Well, make your move, Mr. Li."

Without a second thought, Syaoran charged the Kaizer with his sword pointed forward. The Cyber leader watched this with an amused smile on his face.

"Is he insane?" Kerberos said. "The gaki will run him through."

Spinel Sun watched everything silently. Umbriel exchanged a look with the dark Sun Guardian, who responded by shaking his head solemnly.

Now close to his target, Syaoran thrust his blade at him. Still smiling, Kaizer Cyberon vanished, and the Chinese magician's sword thrust through empty air. "Nani?" Syaoran exclaimed.

"Just like before," Spinel Sun said under his breath.

Kerberos turned to his fellow Sun Guardian. "Just like before? What are you talking about?"

Lupe stood next to Kerberos. "Yeah, Suppi. What's Syaoran up against?"

"It doesn't matter what Syaoran's up against," Meiling said boldly. "Ganbatte, Syaoran!" she shouted to her cousin.

Keeping his sword in front of him, Syaoran scanned the area for his opponent. "Where are you?" he demanded angrily, clenching his fist in front of him. "Show yourself!"

Tomoyo gasped. "Li-kun, behind you!"

Syaoran spun around quickly in time to receive a Dark Lightning blast to his chest. The attack knocked him back about a meter, and he stumbled to the ground. Sitting upright, he saw Kaizer Cyberon standing before him.

"Request granted, Mr. Li." Kaizer Cyberon held out his hands. "Here I am."

Syaoran sprung to his feet and pulled out an ofuda. "Raitei shourai!" he shouted, striking the magical piece of paper. A thunderbolt sped out towards the Kaizer and exploded upon making contact. The smoke cleared, and the Kaizer was gone.

"Got him!" Meiling said, holding her fist out.

"Do not be too sure," Umbriel said.

Not willing to trust Meiling's assumption, Syaoran pulled out another ofuda and looked for the Kaizer. His eyes darted from left to right as he searched for his foe.

"You're not looking in the right places, Mr. Li."

Syaoran's eyes darted upward and found Kaizer Cyberon hovering above him. His arms folded over his chest, the Kaizer looked down at his opponent with disdain.

"Come down here and face me!" Syaoran yelled, shaking his fist at the Cyber leader.

Kaizer Cyberon chuckled evilly as he held out his open palm. "Null Bomb," he said, a small ball of dark energy forming in his hand.

Syaoran readied several ofuda as the ball grew larger. Once the orb was the size of a beach ball, the Kaizer flung it at the Chinese magician.

"Syaoran!" Meiling cried as the Null Bomb approached its target.

"Li-kun!" Tomoyo cried, still recording.

Syaoran closed his eyes and concentrated. Tomoyo and the others watched as the Null Bomb impacted with the ground and exploded, engulfing the area in a widening dome of darkness. As the dome faded, the Kaizer smiled at the result, a deep hole with a wide diameter which replaced most of the section it inhabited.

"Whoa!" Lupe exclaimed.

"Syaoran!" Meiling screamed.

Kaizer Cyberon lowered himself into the pit. Smirking, he saw no sign of the Chinese magician as he scanned the area. "Oh dear, I believe I've nullified him."

Behind the Cyber emperor, a mass of ofuda resembling a cocoon materialized. Seeing his enemy distracted, the cocoon's inhabitant burst out with his sword raised and leapt toward the Kaizer. The blade got closer to the Kaizer's helmet.

"Legerdemain," Kaizer Cyberon said softly. The blade failed to hit its target because it froze along with its wielder. The Kaizer turned around to face an immobile Syaoran in mid-air struggling to regain movement.

"Eennggghhh..." Syaoran grunted as he struggled with the Kaizer's magic, but his limbs failed to cooperate.

"An amusing parlor trick, Mr. Li," Kaizer Cyberon said, waving his hand. Syaoran found himself being flung into the wall behind him. He was rammed into the dirt and concrete hard and became embedded in the spot. The Kaizer waved his hand again, and an invisible fist struck Syaoran on his left cheek, forcing his head to face that direction. Another wave resulted in a punch to the right, and the Kaizer alternated the attacks.

Tomoyo-tachi stayed where they were, which proved to be difficult with Meiling shouting for a charge into the pit. She found a willing accomplice in Lupe, and Kerberos was showing an interest.

"I thought you didn't like him," Ready said to the Sun Guardian, recalling what Eriol told her about Sakura and her friends.

Kerberos let out a "hmph." "I'm doing it for her," he said, looking at his fallen mistress.

"Then you'd be committing suicide," Spinel Sun said solemnly. "He's too powerful."

"We can't just leave him down there!" Meiling yelled.

"I agree!" Lupe said. "Kerberos, let's go down there and..."

An unpleasant sight canceled all plans for the heroic charge. Something flew out of the deep pit and quickly crashed at its edge. Tomoyo pointed her camcorder at the spot and gasped upon recognizing the person. "Li-kun!"

His clothes torn and dirty and his face badly bruised, Syaoran willed his arms to pick him up. As he ignored the pain in his body and freed himself from the ground, he watched as Kaizer Cyberon appeared before him. He pulled out an ofuda and struck it. "Ka shin!" he yelled, hurling a stream of fire at the Emperor of the Cyber World.

The Kaizer held out his hand, and the fire struck an invisible barrier. The fire changed in color from yellow and orange to a dark blue, and with a wave of the Kaizer's hand, it flew at its original wielder. Syaoran jumped out of the way to avoid getting a hotfoot and worse. Glaring at the Kaizer through the flames, Syaoran ran through with them with a yell and his sword aimed for his enemy's head.

Seeing the Chinese magician charging at him, Kaizer Cyberon decided to give him what he considered a break. A large ring appeared in his gloved hand, and a sharp blade shot out of it. He swung his new weapon in time to block the attack aimed for his head.

Tomoyo-tachi watched as the two combatants broke off and lunged at each other with their swords. Their blades clanged as they sought to inflict damage onto the other's owner.

"Go get him, Syaoran!" Meiling shouted encouragingly, waving her fist in the air.

Watching the two magicians swing, block, and swing again, Ready and Maya heard a low groan from Sakura. The Starlighter and Ecomancer turned in time to see Sakura's eyes blink and open.

"Mmmmmm..." Sakura managed to say, her eyes half-open. She started to rise from the ground.

Kerberos shifted his focus from the fight to his mistress. "Sakura."

"Mistress," Yue said softly.

"Try not to strain yourself," Ready said gently, holding Sakura up. "Do you want me to...?"

"No. I'll be fine," Sakura reassured her. She found the Star Wand and held it tightly.

Tomoyo heard her best friend and bent down next to her. "Sakura-chan, you should rest," she said softly.

"I can't," Sakura said. "Not with Eriol-kun still trapped in Algol." Her eyes looked upward at the massive Cyber, and she could make out flashes of light. "What's going on?"

"Syaoran, look out!" Meiling yelled.

Sakura almost sprang up. "Syaoran-kun?"

As Ready and Maya helped Sakura to her feet, Syaoran barely dodged a swing to the head from the Kaizer. Recovering, he aimed for the Kaizer's head, and his sword met his with a clang. Syaoran began to push into his sword, and the Kaizer responded with the same amount of force. Both clenched their teeth as they strained to overcome the other.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura cried out.

Syaoran heard his beloved's voice, and he became relieved she was conscious. He turned to see her standing with the help of Ready, Maya, and Tomoyo. "Sakura..." he whispered.

"Dark Lightning!" With his free hand, Kaizer Cyberon blasted Syaoran to the ground. Just as the Chinese magician hit the ground, the Kaizer's sword glowed. "Cyber Cutter!" he yelled, swinging his weapon and sending a thin wave of energy at his opponent.

Syaoran moved out of the way in time, and the Cyber Cutter left a deep cut in the ground. He yanked out an ofuda and struck it. "Raitei shourai!" he yelled, sending a lightning bolt at the Kaizer.

"Dark Lightning!" Kaizer Cyberon counterattacked, and the spectators were treated to two lightning attacks, one yellow and the other dark, pushing against each other and dependent on the strength of their users.

Both magicians clenched their teeth and focused on willing their attack to overcome the other. Lightning and Dark Lightning crackled together. Domination was fleeting; one moment Syaoran's lightning inched forward, and later the Dark Lightning shoved its way forward.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura yelled.

With beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Syaoran kept his gaze forward. "Sakura, go save Hiiragizawa!" he yelled, a part of him a little shocked at what he said.

"But, Syaoran-kun..."

"Do it!" Syaoran yelled, starting to feel weaker. "I'll be fine! Just save him!"

Sakura looked at Syaoran, then at Algol. With determination on her face, Sakura reached for the Fly Card. "Fl...!"

"Wait!" Kerberos walked up to Sakura. "I'll take you up there," he said kindly, presenting his back to her.

"Arigato, Kerberos-san." Sakura climbed onto the golden lion. "Let's..."

"Wait a sec!" Ready ran up to Sakura and Kerberos. "You might need this," she said, handing her the Through Card.

Sakura nodded and took the Card. "Arigato, Brighton-san."

"Uni!" Ready called for her Guardian, who galloped to her side. "We're coming with you, Sakura," she declared as she leapt onto Pegasus Uni's back.

"As am I." Umbriel leapt onto Pegasus Uni and landed behind his mistress. "I recommend haste," he said, observing the battle near Algol.

Kerberos, Pegasus Uni, and their passengers flew upward towards Algol. Syaoran spotted them, and Kaizer Cyberon took advantage and increased his attack. Dark Lightning overwhelmed Syaoran's lightning, and only a forward leap into the air saved Syaoran from sharing the fate of the exploding ground below. He let gravity take him towards the Kaizer, and only a quick sword block on his part saved him from Syaoran's blade. Landing, Syaoran swung at the Kaizer's head. The Kaizer stepped back and made a thrust for Syaoran's heart. The Chinese magician sidestepped the attack and made another attempt at his opponent's head. Again, another sword block saved the Kaizer.

"Hmph. Looks like Miss Kinomoto is off to save the old man," the Emperor of the Cyber World remarked as he pushed onto Syaoran's blade. "Shouldn't you be at her side so you two can die together?"

Syaoran snarled and pushed harder. "I won't let you hurt her again," he told his enemy through clenched teeth.

Kaizer Cyberon broke the contact with a swing, and Syaoran leapt back to avoid the incoming blade. "Tell me, Mr. Li. Why do you fight for her? Why do you risk your life for a measly deck of magical cards and a little key?" the Kaizer asked, placing his free hand on his side and lowering his sword as he looked at his opponent.

"Because I love her!" Syaoran yelled, gripping his sword and pointing it at the Kaizer. "She's the one person I care more about than me! I will do anything to protect her!"

The Kaizer smirked. "Then you're fighting for a false cause," he told Syaoran coldly, his red eye glowing.

"What?" Syaoran stared at the Kaizer incredulously.

"Legerdemain!" the Kaizer shouted as he waved his free hand.

Explosions rocked the ground surrounding Syaoran, sending pieces of earth and concrete skyward. "Aaaaaaaaaa!" he shouted, shielding his face from the flying debris as he stood firm.

On their mounts, Sakura, Ready, and Umbriel hurried to Algol. Their timing was perfect. Database had Ruby Moon, Brandon, and O.G. trapped in an energy bubble being projected from his arm, and Cyberus was ready to blast them. Fortunately, the three-headed dragon was arguing among himself over which head would have the honor of finishing them off.

"I should finish them off with River of Sorrow!" the reptilian head argued.

"No! Fire of Rage!" the dog head argued back.

"Blizzard of Blight will do the trick!" the bird head shouted.

"River of Sorrow!" the reptilian head shouted at the dog head.

"Fire of Rage!" the dog head shouted, turning to face the reptilian head.

"Blizzard of Blight!" the bird head yelled at them both.

"Hey, I have two attacks!" the reptilian head reminded the others. "River of Sorrow and Thunder of Doom!"

As the three heads continued their noisy debate, they began snapping at each other. The reptilian head and dog head tried to catch each other with their deadly jaws, and the bird head did its best to peck both of them.

"No wonder three's a crowd," Brandon remarked as Cyberus hovered left to right thanks to his feuding heads.

"I bet they share the same tiny brain," O.G. remarked.

"If he has a brain," Ruby Moon quipped, looking for a way to break out of their dilemma. Her attempts to break out with her crystal attack proved futile.

"Will you just kill them?" Database yelled, shaking his free arm in frustration at the dragon Cyber. "Use all your attacks at the same time!"

The three heads froze in mid-bite of each other. "Oh yeah!" they said at the same time. They all aimed at their captives and prepared to fire.

Umbriel spotted the trapped Shadowwalker and the two Guardians from afar. "Mistress, hang on tightly to Pegasus Uni."

Ready turned to her Darkling Guardian as she did as she was told. "Umbriel, what...?"

Without a word, Umbriel leapt off Pegasus Uni. The winged unicorn shook briefly, and Ready held on, determined not to end up as street pizza on the ground below. The Darkling headed for Kerberos. "Cardmistress, hang on! Kerberos, forgive me!"

"Hoe?" Sakura said.

"What is he talking...?" Kerberos wondered out loud.

Umbriel landed briefly on Kerberos' rear and sprung off. Sakura leaned into Kerberos, who managed to maintain his balance after being used as a springboard. The Cardmistress watched as the Darkling headed towards the site of battle. Narrowing his eyes at his first target, Umbriel reached for his sword.

Below, Kaizer Cyberon charged Syaoran as the Chinese magician recovered from the previous Legerdemain attack. Syaoran blocked a sword swing and pushed the Kaizer away with his own blade. He brought it down towards Kaizer Cyberon's head, but it clanged as it met his upraised sword. Syaoran leapt back to avoid an energy blast and landed a good distance from his enemy.

"Dark Lightning!" Kaizer Cyberon yelled, firing at the Chinese magician.

Syaoran jumped over the electric blast and landed to the Kaizer's right. Kaizer Cyberon fired again, and Syaoran leapt away. Tomoyo-tachi watched as Syaoran leapt over Dark Lightning blasts.

"He's just jumping around him!" Lupe noticed. "What is he doing?"

Meiling watched her cousin closely. "I have a good idea," she said, grinning.

"As do I," Yue said, having watched the battle closely.

After leaping in a complete circle around Kaizer Cyberon, Syaoran landed before the self-proclaimed emperor. The Chinese magician gasped for air and fought the urge to wipe the sweat trickling on his brow.

"Thank you for stopping your little acrobatics exhibition." Kaizer Cyberon pointed two fingers crackling with Dark Lightning. "Non-mobile targets are easier to hit."

Syaoran's eyes glared at the Kaizer, and his mouth curled into a grin. Raising his sword, he cried out, "Raitei shourai!"

The ofuda Syaoran dropped while he jumped over the Dark Lightning attacks glowed brightly and began connecting each other with bolts of yellow electricity. A second later, tendrils of lightning shot out and struck the Kaizer. Clenching his teeth, the Cyber leader found himself immobilized by the surprise attack.

Near Algol, Cyberus opened all his mouths and charged up for attack. Balls of energy formed, and the dragon Cyber prepared to unleash three destructive attacks. "Say your prayers, organics!"

"I think not!"

Umbriel shot out from below and slashed the robot dragon in the chest. Roaring loudly, Cyberus staggered back. The Darkling landed on the dragon's back, and the bird head shot out to attack him. Umbriel sidestepped it and grabbed it by the neck as he leapt away from the dog head and the reptilian head. He ran across Cyberus and threw the bird head around the dog head. The reptilian head lunged at him, and Umbriel grabbed its throat. He looped the head around its fellows with one hand and tightened the knot.

"That will keep you out of trouble," the Darkling told the three heads as they struggled to break free of their predicament.

Database aimed his free arm at Umbriel. "Data Strike!" he yelled, firing an energy fist at the Darkling.

Umbriel sprung off Cyberus and soared over the attack. Touching briefly the energy beam the fist was connected it, the Darkling leapt towards the Kaizer's vizier. Before he could fire again, Database found both of Umbriel's feet in his face. Umbriel leapt off Database, kicking the vizier of the Cyber World back. His timing was excellent; with Database's concentration gone, the bubble surrounding Brandon and the others vanished, and Umbriel landed on O.G. next to the young Shadowwalker.

"Hey," Brandon greeted the Darkling.

"What took ya?" O.G. asked.

"Finally," Ruby Moon remarked, eyeing Database as he started to stabilize himself. Flying at the vizier, she rammed into him and pounded relentlessly on his body. The Moon Guardian wrapped her arms around the Master Cyber and flew towards the still-tangled Cyberus. Both Cybers made a loud noise as Ruby Moon crashed Database into the dragon, effectively embedding the vizier into him. "Something to remember me by," she said after punching all three heads. She flew off before the Cybers could retaliate and hit them with a crystal blast.

Sakura and Ready arrived on the scene with Kerberos and Pegasus Uni. "Hey, Ruby! Move those bozos away from the barrier!" Ready shouted.

"With pleasure." Ruby Moon grabbed the two Cybers and threw them away from Algol.

"My turn!" O.G. launched two rockets at Database and Cyberus. The projectiles dove and struck them from below. Instead of exploding, they embedded themselves and lifted the two skyward. Once they were located above Algol's head, Pegasus Uni took aim and fired an energy beam. It hit its targets and sent them flying off away from Algol.

"Buh-bye!" Brandon yelled after the two Cybers as they disappeared into the distance.

Seeing his enemy trapped, Syaoran readied himself to end the fight. Deactivating his ofuda, he watched the Kaizer slump to the ground. With a yell, he charged towards his fallen foe. Once he was close enough, Syaoran swung his blade at the Kaizer's bowed head, hoping this time his blow would connect. It did, but the result was unexpected. The Chinese magician watched as his sword not only shattered the Kaizer's helmet, but his entire head. The rest of him followed, and Syaoran witnessed pieces of Kaizer Cyberon fall to the ground like glass from a broken window after a ball punched through it.

"All right, Syaoran!" Meiling yelled.

Spinel Sun blinked, then shook his head solemnly. "I fear it isn't over."

Meiling placed her hands on her hips and stared down at Eriol's Moon Guardian. "What are you talking about? Syaoran won! He did it!"

Syaoran watched as the shards vanished. He walked in to get a better look. His brain was divided between believing the Kaizer was dead and believing he was still alive. The latter feeling was weaker, but it nagged the Chinese magician. He had only wanted to destroy the Kaizer's power source, not kill him. His common sense also bothered him. "That was too easy," he muttered.

With Database and Cyberus gone, Sakura and the others flew towards the barrier. With Kerberos hovering before Eriol, Sakura took out the Through Card. "Help me enter and save Eriol-kun! Through!" she cried out as she struck the Card with her Wand.

Everyone watched as Through created a hole in Algol's barrier. "Yes!" Ready exclaimed.

"Yatta!" Sakura said, watching as the hole grew large enough for someone to fly through. "Kerberos-san, let's..."

Pegasus Uni was about to follow Kerberos in when she saw him stop. "Uni, why did you...?" Ready began, but her ears picked up a faint noise. "Hey, do you guys hear...?"

"Un," Sakura said with a nod. "It sounds like..."

"Buzzing," Ruby Moon said.

"Bees," Brandon specified. He listened closely. "Very big bees."

Ruby Moon and Umbriel nodded to each other silently and faced the breach in the barrier. Kerberos, Pegasus Uni, and O.G. prepared to protect their charges.

Hatches appeared around Eriol and opened, releasing hordes of large robot bees. Some surrounded the tube containing him while others started to head towards the magicians and Guardians.

"Hoeee!" Sakura yelled as a few bees headed her way.

With a roar, Kerberos toasted them with a well-placed fireball. As they vanished, more took their place. The robot insects took aim with their stingers and fired laser beams at the intruders. The Sun Guardian moved out of the way, but more lasers zipped at him. "Hang on, Sakura!" he shouted as he alternated between dodging and firing.

Sakura leaned forward and clung tightly to Kerberos' back. As she did, lasers passed her. Some of them managed to lightly hit her as they passed. Nearby, Pegasus Uni danced around the shots and retaliated with energy blasts from her horn. Ready joined in with her own attacks, and Ruby Moon contributed to the bee shoot with crystal blasts. Standing on O.G., Umbriel protected himself with his cape and sliced any bee that came near him. Brandon alternated between energy blasts and slashes from his Rod blade.

"O.G., pest control!" Brandon yelled as he took out a bee that dared to venture too close.

"Right, boss!" O.G. fired both his cannons and took out the remaining bees.

"All right, let's save Eriol!" Ruby Moon shouted, leading the way towards the hole in the barrier.

"Ruby Moon, watch out!" Pegasus Uni yelled.

More bees streamed out of the hatches and through the hole. The young magicians and Guardians found themselves dodging, blasting, and slicing to stay alive. Kerberos winced as two lasers struck his sides. Pegasus Uni ignored the slight pain in her wing caused by lasers she failed to completely dodge.

"Th-they're not stopping!" Sakura yelled, pointing to the hole as more bees swarmed out to greet the would-be rescuers.

Ready raised her Staff. "Illumination!" she cried, creating a light bubble around her and the others. The bees' lasers pinged against the effective protection. "That'll hold 'em off."

"Oh no!" Sakura pointed to the hole in Algol's barrier. All eyes were on it and immediately widened in surprise as they perceived the slowly shrinking breach.

"Through's magic is fading," Ruby Moon said. "Blasted robot must be countering it."

"We've got to go out there and save Eriol!" Ready said.

"Kinda hard with the Bee Brigade out there," Brandon said, pointing out the swarm of robot insects waiting for their prey to come out.

"It's gonna get worse, boss," O.G. said.

Brandon looked into the face of his Guardian. "O.G., we're trapped by killer bees armed with laser stingers, and the Big Statue of Destruction is closing off our only chance of rescuing our mentor. What could be worse?"

"Uh, Ready's barrier's cracking," O.G. replied.

"He's right!" Sakura exclaimed, seeing the cracks forming on the light shield thanks to the pricking of constant laser rain from the bees.

"We need to do something!" Ruby Moon told the others. "The hole's getting smaller!"

Behind the hostile swarm, the hole continued to seal itself. Still unconscious, Eriol was oblivious to the fight outside to rescue him from Algol's clutches.

Back on the ground, Tomoyo-tachi wondered what the faint flashes of light were in the sky. "They've run into trouble, it seems," Maya said knowingly.

Tomoyo tried to focus her camcorder on the area near Algol. "Ganbatte, Sakura-chan!" she yelled encouragingly.

Syaoran turned from where the Kaizer once was and looked skyward at Algol. Sensing something was wrong, he started to run towards the others, hoping Yue, the only flight-capable Guardian left, could bring him to Sakura. *I'm coming!* he thought urgently as images of Sakura in danger flashed through his head.

"Syaoran, look out!" Meiling yelled.

Her warning came too late. The strongest of the Li Clan's magicians felt someone seize his neck from behind. Struggling to outrun his captor, Syaoran felt himself being lifted off the ground. The pressure surrounding his neck increased, and he gasped for air.

"Come now, Mr. Li. You can't leave yet," the cold voice of Kaizer Cyberon addressed him. "We're not done."

Sakura watched as the cracks on Ready's light bubble got bigger. "Brighton-san, the barrier...!"

Ready strained to keep the barrier up, but the strain on her was evident. Sweat dropped from her forehead, and her teeth clenched together. For a while, she had been able to repair some of the cracks, but the constant laser bombardment created more damage she could not fix easily. She felt like collapsing; the fact she was high above the ground did not register in her exhausted mind. O.G. hovered next to Pegasus Uni, and Brandon held Ready up.

"Th-th-thanks," Ready said, smiling at the Shadowwalker. Brandon bowed his head to hide the beet red blush heating his cheeks.

"Everyone get ready to fight!" Kerberos yelled as the cracks started to ripple and meet. "All Guardians protect the kids!"

Umbriel assessed the situation, then faced Ready. "Mistress, lower the shield."

"Hoe?" Sakura exclaimed.

"Trust me," the Darkling said calmly. "Mistress..."

Ready waved her hand, and the light barrier started to fade away. Seeing their enemies' only protection begging to vanish, the bees started to edge towards them with their stingers fixed at them. Their buzzing seemed to express their joy if they could feel it.

Focusing, Umbriel jumped off O.G. and toward the robot swarm. Perceiving an easy target, the bees fired. The Darkling's jump was so high and far that he cleared most of the swarm. The others watched as he landed on a bee and leapt off in time to avoid a laser. The flying stepping stone was less fortunate.

"Sugoi!" Sakura said as Umbriel continued to leap from bee to bee. Whenever a bee got in his way, he slashed at it with his sword.

"While they're distracted!" Kerberos said, launching a fireball which toasted two bees from behind. "Hold on, Sakura!" he said as he dashed off towards Algol.

"Save some for me, Kerberos!" O.G. yelled as he flew after him with cannons blazing. Ruby Moon and Pegasus Uni joined in with crystal and energy blasts.

Led by the Guardian Beast of the Seal, Sakura's small group plowed through the swarm and destroyed any bee in their path. While the enemy submitted to oblivion behind him, Umbriel arrived at the breach, which was still shrinking. Before the bees could act, the Darkling leapt through the hole. The bees inside the barrier fired, but Umbriel destroyed some of them with an energy wave. Landing on a bee, he quickly leapt off and used the remaining bees as platforms to get closer to the tube containing his objective.

Kerberos and O.G. arrived first at the barrier with Pegasus Uni and Ruby Moon not far behind. "Umbriel!" Ready yelled.

Leaping off the final bee, Umbriel flew towards the tube. At the height of his jump, he raised his sword, and with a yell, he brought it down on the tube. He quickly made a few more slashes, and the tube fell apart into pieces which faded away. Without anything holding him up, Eriol began to fall.

"Eriol-kun!" Sakura shouted.

"Eriol!" Ready and Ruby Moon shouted.

Falling forward, Umbriel grabbed the experienced magician's hand and stabbed into Algol with his sword. The blade dug into the Cyber's surface, and Umbriel hung on tightly to his weapon with Eriol dangling from his hand. The bees found their target helpless and flew in for the kill.

"No ya don't!" Kerberos yelled. He unleashed a fire blast through the hole and vaporized the insects.

Umbriel nodded to the Sun Guardian, but his eyes fixed onto the hole. Its size would soon be too small for him and Eriol to escape through. Apparently Algol sensed its prisoner had been freed, for the shrinking increased.

"Eriol-kun! Umbriel-san!" Sakura said.

"Stand back!" O.G. got closer to the hole.

"Are you crazy?" Ruby Moon shouted angrily. "You'll blow them both to...!"

O.G. fired a cannon, but instead of a missile, a rope with a harpoon attached flew out. It zipped past the hole and headed towards the Darkling and his living cargo. The harpoon embedded itself next to Umbriel. Grabbing the metal spike, Umbriel flung Eriol upward and grabbed his sword handle. As Eriol got as high as he could, the Darkling struggled to yank his sword out of Algol. Just as Eriol descended towards him, he successfully removed his weapon from the Cyber and timed his thrust so that his blade went through Eriol's collar, fixing him to the spot. Holding on to his sword, the Darkling yanked the harpoon out and wrapped the rope around Eriol's waist carefully.

"What is he doing to Eriol-kun?" Sakura asked.

"Hurry!" Ruby Moon shouted urgently. The hole was shrinking towards a size impossible to get through.

Umbriel wrapped his free arm around Eriol. Bracing himself, he pulled his sword out, and the two were subject to gravity.

"Now!" Brandon yelled.

O.G. stretched both arms out of his shell and grabbed the rope. With a grunt, he pulled as hard as he could. Instead of falling to their doom, Umbriel and Eriol were yanked towards the hole, which was nearing its dangerously small size. The force of the pull was so great the rescuer and his charge flew through the hole before it closed on them. In fact, the energy nicked Umbriel's boot. The two flew over O.G. and descended to the ground. Only Umbriel's strong grip on Eriol and the rope stopped them from being street pizza, and O.G.'s grip on the rope made sure they stayed there.

"Yatta!" Sakura cried. "Eriol-kun's okay!"

O.G. grunted. "Er, can someone help me out here?"

Ruby Moon and Pegasus Uni flew towards the two. Umbriel nodded to her and leapt off towards Ready, and the Moon Guardian took Eriol into her arms and unwrapped the rope. O.G. let go and lowered himself so he and Brandon could get a better look at Eriol.

Sakura and Kerberos flew towards them. "Eriol-kun!" the Cardmistress said excitedly.

The magician's mouth let out a small moan. His eyes opened, and he beheld Sakura, his past life's Sun Guardian, his Moon Guardian, and two of his students riding their Guardians. Blinking, he found they were still there. "Sakura...san?"

"Hai!" Sakura replied.

Ruby Moon flew Eriol to O.G. and held him up, and Brandon found himself face-to-face with the young man who until recently had assumed the duty of teaching him, Ready, and Maya advanced magic as a gesture of peace between former enemy magician orders. He recalled how impressive Hiiragizawa Eriol looked in his dark robes and hat with his golden Sun Staff when they first met. The capsule that held the powerful magician obscured any detail. Now Brandon and the others noticed that Eriol's clothes were ripped and burnt at several places. Eriol himself was paler and skinnier than usual, and his face was marked with a few bruises.

Eriol focused his eyes until he could recognize his student. "Brandon-san, shouldn't you and Ready-san be doing your studies?" he asked.

All Brandon could say was "Heh heh." Nearby on Pegasus Uni, Ready laughed nervously.

Eriol smiled. "Ah well. You two and Maya-san can make it up after we return home," he told his disobedient pupils. "Somehow, I doubt you two would be here by yourselves. Maya-san is always with you."

"She's on the ground," Ruby Moon informed her master.

Eriol faced his rescuer. "Thank you for your help, Umbriel."

Without saying a word, the Darkling bowed solemnly.

"Eriol-kun..." Sakura began to ask.

"I'm fine, Sakura-san," Eriol reassured his friend. "The pain I felt a while ago is gone."

"I'm glad you're all right, Eriol," Ready said. "So will Ms. Mizuki."

Eriol blushed and lowered his head. "Ah, yes," he said. "We'd better hurry."

"Yeah. The kid's fighting Kaizer Cyberon down below," Kerberos reminded everyone.

Sakura gasped. "Syaoran-kun!"

"We need to get down there at once!" Eriol said anxiously.

"Kerberos-san, we need to hurry!" Sakura urged her Sun Guardian.

"Let's go!" Kerberos said as he started flying downward. The others followed him, hoping they were not too late.

Syaoran continued to struggle in the Kaizer's strong grip. "Come now, Mr. Li, it must be hard for you to breathe through that shrinking throat of yours," the Kaizer told him, increasing his grip.

"Hang in there, Syaoran!" Meiling shouted from afar.

All Syaoran could do was let out a "Gggrkk!" *I won't give up!* he thought desperately. *I won't let Sakura down!*

"No final words, Mr. Li?" Kaizer Cyberon asked, getting no response from Syaoran. "A shame, really. The strongest of the Li clan's magic users, and you were no match for me." He heard Syaoran make some noises. "What was that, Mr. Li? Oh well, I'll be this generous just this once," he remarked as he loosened his hold on the Chinese magician's neck.

Syaoran took a chance. He closed his eyes and concentrated. "Ka...shin..." he managed to chant.

He felt the heat on his neck, and he felt Kaizer Cyberon releasing him. Landing on his knees and gasping for air, Syaoran turned around and saw the Kaizer staring at his hand, now engulfed in flames.

"You've got him now, Syaoran!" Meiling cheered, raising her fist and waving it around.

Kaizer Cyberon stared at his flaming appendage, then smiled coldly. Syaoran watched as the fire faded away. Continuing to smile, the Kaizer flexed his hand. Struggling to stay up, Syaoran stared at the Emperor of the Cyber World, amazed at him unharmed by the fire.

"Oh my," Tomoyo said.

Spinel Sun could not take it anymore. "Syaoran, get out of there! Get away from him!"

Syaoran started to rise, but his friends saw he was too weak to fight back. "Come on!" Meiling yelled, dashing forward to aid her cousin. Lupe followed before Maya could stop her, Yue took to the air, and after some hesitation, Spinel Sun flew after him.

Kaizer Cyberon spotted the rescue party heading his way. "I don't think so." Taking his eyes off Syaoran for a moment, he raised his hand. A powerful wind blew towards Meiling and the others. The airborne Guardians were pushed back to Tomoyo and Maya. Lupe ground her paws in, but the wind disposed of her as well. Poor Meiling made a good effort to stay in her place, but was overcome and flew back towards the others. Fortunately for her, Yue managed to land on his two feet, and the Moon Guardian caught her in his arms.

Kaizer Cyberon waved his hand again, and a dome of black energy engulfed Tomoyo-tachi. "Hey, I can't see!" Lupe yelled.

"Oh, I can't record what's happening out there!" Tomoyo lamented.

In the sky, Sakura-tachi spotted the black dome. "What the heck is that?" O.G. asked.

"Kerberos-san, hurry!" Sakura yelled.

Now on her feet, Meiling attacked the dome with her fists. "Syaoran!"

The Guardians tried their attacks, but the dome remained intact. "Nuts, it isn't working!" Lupe shouted in frustration.

Syaoran looked at the dome, then back at his enemy. "What have you done to them?" he demanded.

With a laugh, Kaizer Cyberon waved his hand again, and Syaoran found himself being pushed back against the ground. "Worry about yourself, Mr. Li!" he said evilly as Syaoran came to a complete stop.

Wincing, Syaoran rose to his feet. Dark energy began to emerge from the Kaizer's closed fist, and his red eye shone brightly.

Sakura-tachi were now low enough to see what was going on below. Sakura saw the dome clearly, then her attention switched to a young boy dressed in ripped green and white traditional Chinese garments struggling to stay up.

"Syaoran-kun!" she yelled.

Syaoran heard someone call his name from the air, and looking upward, he spotted Sakura on Kerberos followed by Ready and Umbriel on Pegasus Uni, Ruby Moon, and that assassin on his overgrown bear monster with...Syaoran had to blink before he recognized Eriol. *You did it, Sakura. Thank goodness you're all right.* he thought, relieved. Unfortunately, that moment of happiness distracted him.

"Farewell, Mr. Li!" Kaizer Cyberon stretched out his hand. "Shadow Dragon!"

An energy beam in the form of an evil-looking Chinese dragon shot out towards Syaoran, who searched for any ofuda to use. Just as the Shadow Dragon reached him, he found one and held it out in front of him.

"Is Greenbean nuts?" Brandon said.

Sakura found the right Card and activated its power. "Protect the one I love! Shield!"

Shield hurried to the ground and surrounded Syaoran with its protective energy. The Shadow Dragon collided with the magical barrier, but it kept going. The dark energy beam's power was too much for Shield, and cracks began to form quickly on it. Everyone could only watch helplessly as Shield shattered and the Shadow Dragon exploded on its target.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura screamed.