Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Ronin Warriors: Illusionary War ❯ The Seven-Way Slayer Strikes Again ( Chapter 11 )

Kiwham returned to the Miraju camp, where all assembled were eager to learn of his success.

"They're not destroyed?"  Ramito gasped when Kiwham told him the bad news. "The emperor is not going to like this."
"Only one of them was even there.  It'll take more time to take down all of them.  That and I know little about the other three."  Kiwham explained.
"We believe the one with the twin cannons is a leader of sorts, but the good news is the female has no powers whatsoever, but she does pilot mobile armors."  Ramito informed him.
"What about the final target?"  Kiwham asked.
"We think he has fire powers of some sort."  Ramito explained.
"I can defeat them, I'll just need to study them a bit more."  Kiwham explained.
"You'd better do it soon.  Asterra has plenty of other Royal Guard to handle the situation.  That, and it won't be long before the Dark Rounin decide to butt in."
"I'm confident it can be done before others come to do it for me."  Kiwham answered.

Kiwham returned to his ship, and had his ship access any and all data it could on Ryo, Rowen, and Lt. Enzeru.  If there was an easy way to stop them, he had to find it fast, otherwise, as Ramito had warned, other Royal Guards would come to do the job themselves, or far worse, the Dark Rounin would come and butt in.  The last thing he needed was their interference.  He'd have to work fast.

His ship's computer finished its request and somehow it had managed to gather information on the other three.  As Ramito had said, one of them had fire powers.  Kiwham, without any fire techniques or weapons, would be at a disadvantage, however, he could always try to blow out the flames with his katana.   He could also hope that his barrier stood up to the flames.  His only other option was his rapier, but that was a last resort if the other weapons could not stop his target.

Meanwhile, back at the palace, Navcase had returned after his unsuccessful confrontation with Kiwham.  These stronger Miraju were going to be a problem, and hopefully Amasterasu would have a solution.  Checking her usual chambers, the Sun Goddess was nowhere to be found.  As he continued to search, he spied Ran and Yuri out by the pool.

"Have either of you seen your mother?"  Navcase asked.
"Nope."  Ran reported.
"That's odd for her Eminence to not be around with all that's going on.  Are you sure?"  Navcase asked again.
"Positive.  Either that or she's in her meditation room; she won't even let us in there usually."
"I see.  If you should run into your mother before I do, would you tell her I am looking for her?"
"No problem Navcase."  Ran replied.

Planet Earth:  Palace of the Heavens

Navcase continued checking through the palace for anyone else of importance that he could speak with.  The Sword of Heaven was sure that Yuri and Ran would pass the message on to Amaterasu when they saw her next, but with a multi-bladed threat like Kiwham on the loose, someone important would have to be told soon.  He soon located Rajei, Primus, and Garthis, who were also confused by Amaterasu's abrupt disappearance.

"Navcase, do you know anything about where Amaterasu is at the moment?"  Rajei asked.
"No, I'm in the same boat as you three are.  But as long as I have your attention, have you heard of a Miraju named Kiwham?"

The three gasped in shock at the name.  Apparently they had, and Navcase, after facing the guy, had some idea of his reputation.

"You faced the Seven-Way Slayer and survived to tell about it?"  Garthis exclaimed in disbelief.
"No, he only tried to slay me six ways."  Navcase replied, attempting to joke about the situation.  The other three were not amused.
"Kiwham is one of Asterra's most prestigious Royal Guards.  It's a wonder he hasn't sent him to deal with me."  Rajei explained.

"He said he hoped that the others would be more of a challenge.  And what is so special about his rapier?"  Navcase asked.
"Our understanding of Kiwham is that he is apprenticed to the Miraju High Lord in charge of creating their rune weapons.  The danger he poses is that he seems to know something about them that other Miraju don't."
"When I fought him, he called his weapons by name, and they unleashed special powers like my own sword."  Navcase explained.
"That confirms what we've heard about him."  Garthis replied.  "Naming his weapons must grant them some kind of powers."
"Unless the powers are there to begin with and calling out a name for the weapon activates them."  Primus interjected.
"But that still doesn't tell me what's so special about his rapier."  Navcase asked.
"Well, we know it's his most powerful weapon, but as for what's so special about it, there's no one who could tell you;  everyone who's had the privilege to get him to draw his rapier has perished."  Primus explained.
"Then I should consider myself lucky that he didn't think me worthy of it."  Navcase replied.
"You said that he mentioned 'others'?"  Garthis asked.
"Yes, yes he did.  He said that he hoped the others would be more worthy opponents than I was."  Navcase replied.
"Did he happen to say how many others he was going to be fighting?"  Garthis asked.
"No, unfortunately.  He didn't make many telepathic transmissions."  Navcase answered.
"Well, we know he's going to be here for a little while longer, so the most we can do unfortunately, is wait for him to attack again.  We might be able to find a pattern or something if he does."  Primus answered.

Back at the mansion, Ryo was being called out by a voice in his head.

"Fight me.  Come here and fight me."

Ryo saw a glimpse of a clearing in his head, and guessed that was where whomever the voice belonged to wanted to fight him.  The samurai headed for the door, only to be stopped by Rowen.
"Where you going man?"  Rowen asked.
"Voice in my head.  Someone wants to fight me."  Ryo replied.

"Oh."  Was Rowen's reply.  Something wasn't right here, he could tell.  But Ryo had his duty as Seishi, not answering the challenge would brand him a coward in whomever's eyes it was that called him out.  "Need some backup?"

Ryo wished he could say yes, but he figured his challenger wanted him to come alone.

"I think this guy might want me to come alone.  But if I'm not back in an hour, track me down with the transponder on the armor and bail me out."

"Will do.  Good luck."  Rowen replied.
"Yeah, I'm going to need it."

With that, Ryo armored up and flew to the desired location, contemplating what was going on here.  Who was calling him out in the first place?  Right now, the Miraju were pretty ticked at them for rescuing not only Asterra's future, but also his bargaining chip over the Hoen, as well as individuals who would be able to do whatever it was that would grant him Rajei's powers.  But Ryo was somewhat prepared.  He had his Seishi powers, and his Armor of White Reflection if things really got dicey.

Looking below, Ryo spotted the battle site.  A preliminary scan showed not one, but seven life signs.  Seven?  That was strange.  Did he really have to fight off seven warriors?  If that was the case, only one of them, probably their commander, had made the challenge.  He debated leaving his armor on, if this was really the case.  But he was a Seishi, powerful as a regular Ronin in armor.  He could do this.  Besides, he had an hour before Rowen would guess things had gone south and call in the armored calvary.  He set down and doffed his armor, leaving only his Seishi clothes.  His opponent or opponents must have been watching him.

"Hello?  I'm here, just like you asked.  What do you want with us?"

A voice entered Ryo's head.

"I want to destroy you for ruining my master's plans.  You and the other two.  I sincerely hope you're more of a challenge than the last one." Kiwham replied.

"I'll see what I can do."  Ryo replied, hoping that he could.

Kiwham emerged from behind a tree, armed to the teeth and definitely ready to do battle.

"Oh, so there's only one of you.  I scanned seven, so the others are around here somewhere."  Ryo thought.

"No, there is only me.  But unlike other Miraju, I have awakened the spirits within my swords, so they fight by my side.  Allow me to demonstrate."  Kiwham replied, drawing his twin katana.  Ryo had no clue what Kiwham was up to, at least until he crossed the two blades in front of him and shouted something in Miraju.

"Blow him away, Maghtroth!"  Kiham shouted, swinging his swords, which sent out a powerful gust of wind out that knocked Ryo away.  He suddenly closed the distance in no time flat and swung twice at Ryo, who barely dodged the twin swings, before jumping back.

"Tsubasa no Hi, Hi Jin!"  Ryo shouted, as his flame wings appeared and Ryo reached back for them, as they turned into blades of solid flame.

"Let's see how you like these puppies!  Ryo shouted, swinging at Kiwham, who blocked both swings, and shouted again in Miraju, as Ryo again went flying back with a single swing of his blades.
"That all you got pal?  Tsubasa no Hi!  Testumaki En!"  Ryo shouted, as his wings swung in front of him, turning into a tornado of flame that went barreling towards Kiwham.  The Miraju sidestepped in a blur, evading the flame tornado easily.  He sheathed the swords and drew the claymore on his back, once again closing the distance between he and Ryo in a matter of seconds, swinging the sword in a sideways swipe, which Ryo blocked with his flame swords, but still pushing him backwards.  Ryo leapt into the air, his wings stretching out much larger than he was.

"Tsubasa no Hi, Renzoku Dan En!" Ryo shouted as his hands glowed and he began raining fireballs down on Kiwham, his outstretched wings slowly but surely returning to a more normal size.

"Shield me, Stelryn!"  Kiwham shouted, driving the tip of the claymore  into the ground as a barrier went up around him, protecting him from most of the raining fireballs.

"Damn, does this guy have a sword for every occasion?"  Ryo thought as Kiwham put away the claymore and reached for his battle axe.

"Yes, actually."  Kiwham replied mentally as he hurled the axe skyward at Ryo, who barely dodged out of the way.

"Ha!  Missed me."  Ryo replied out loud.

"Kiwham probably understood the taunt from the intonation of Ryo's voice, as he shouted in Miraju, "Return, [name]!, as the battleaxe made its way back towards his outstretched hand, as Ryo again barely missed being sliced in half.

"Let's see you try and get through this!  Tsubasa no Hi, Kekkai En!"  Ryo exclaimed, as his wings surrounded him, forming a shield.

"Shields are no match for my dagger.  Break through, Samia!"  Kiwham shouted, sending the dagger flying at Ryo, which popped his flame barrier as if it was a bubble.

Up in the air, Ryo was trying to contemplate his options.  If he tried projectiles again, Kiwham would break out his claymore and shield himself.  He could always go back to his katana and try to blow him away, but Ryo could always try and dodge.  He could throw his axe all day and never actually hit Ryo, but there was the potential for it.  The long story short was his fire attacks weren't working.  Now seemed like a good time to break out the armor.

"ARMOR OF WHITE REFLECTION!"  Ryo shouted, as a ring appeared above his head, then traveled down his body to his legs, putting on his subarmor suit, then the various pieces of his armor flew in and attached themselves.

"Time for round two buddy!"  Ryo replied as he reached under his shoulder armor and drew his beam sabers, then rocketed toward his opponent.

Back at Mia's...

"What is it, Anubis?"  Rowen asked.
"Ryo has activated White Reflection.  I can sense it."
"Time to go get him?" Rowen asked.

Anubis, having lived for a few centuries, understood the ramifications of interfering in a fight.  But if Ryo had gotten himself into a situation he wouldn't come up on top from, it was probably wise to go rescue him.

Just then, the bathroom mirror began to ring.  The two rushed into the nearest one to them and found Navcase, Primus, and Garthis peering out at them.  Ran just happened to be there, presumably making the connection.

"Where is Ryo?"  Navcase asked.
"He went out to fight someone, can we take a message?"  Rowen asked.
"This is serious.  We just figured out what Kiwham's up to.  He's from the Royal Guard, meaning he's under Asterra's direct control, unlike the Dark Rounin who serve the Supreme Mage Lord."
"Meaning?"  Anubis asked.
"Meaning, Asterra as I can easily guess, is not too happy about what our combined forces did recently." Garthis explained.
"Kiwham's after the four of us!  Navcase, Ryo, Lt. Enzeru and myself!"  Rowen concluded.
"Garthis is going with some of our remaining soldiers to help reinforce the Lieutenant's location.  In the meantime, go get Ryo, now!"  Primus ordered.

Anubis and Rowen nodded to each other, and proceeded to scour the house in search of the others.

Meanwhile, Ryo's attempts to hold back Kiwham with his vulcans and autocannons was only being dodged or shielded against.  There was not much he could do, since he needed Saber Strike to bring him the Swords of Light, so his only real option was to use the twin buster rifles.  The weapon appeared in front of him, as he grabbed onto the grips and pointed it downward at Kiwham.

"Try these on for size!"  Ryo shouted, aiming his superweapon towards the target and firing away.  Kiwham wasted no time going for the claymore.

"Shield me, Stelryn!"  Kiwham shouted as the white hot beam of utter destruction slammed into his shield, causing it to start to crack, before the shield actually broke, presumably exposing Kiwham to the full force of the blast.

"Did I get him?"  Ryo thought to himself.

The only problem with thinking out loud was that Miraju could listen in.

"No, you didn't.  Unlike other Miraju, I can divert my inner strength, what you call Chi, to my body as well as my mind.  So I dodged after my shield broke.  Perhaps you're going to force me to use this after all...Kiwham said telepathically as he reached for his rapier, only to be blasted out of nowhere by incoming fire!

"Rowen!  You got here just in time!"
"Told ya I'd come bail you out!  We'll keep him pinned down while you take off!"

Rowen and the others opened fire with everything they had, as some minor help arrived from Rangu flying the Phantom Express and several Hoen troops with their blaster rifles trained on Kiwham, firing almost non-stop as Ryo flew up and got on board, as Rangu swung the ship around and headed back to the house as the other Ronin worked their way into the cargo bay.

"Thanks for the lift Rangu!"  Rowen asked.
"No problem sweetie!  All right everyone, back to the house!"

The group gathered in the living room to discuss the latest situation.

"Well, we definitely know we're going to be in trouble if Kiwham keeps coming after us like this."  Ryo said.
"Yeah, so maybe we have to take the fight to him.  He wants you, me, Navcase, and Lt. Enzeru, so all we need to do is lure him out so we can take him out right then and there."  Rowen suggested.
"That sounds like a plan, although I don't think Asterra's going to leave until he has Rajei, and he'll keep sending down his best guys until he does."  Ryo said.
"How is the progress on the hyperdrive coming?"  Anubis asked.
"Ms. Jishou thinks it'll still be quite a few days.  We're not as advanced as Sunapolla, so they're doing the best they can with what they have."  Rowen replied.
"Perhaps Houji would have the parts we need?"  Anubis suggested.
"Maybe, Drakka only knows what he was working on in secret during the fight with Drakka."  Rowen replied.
"The last time we broke in there, we had to leave most of Lt. Enzeru's mecha behind, they were too big to fit in there."
"Well now we have Primus and Garthis, they'd be able to sneak in there with no problems at all in their matte black body armor."  Ryo suggested.
"Perfect!  We'll let them borrow the Phantom Express, Rangu figured out how to pilot it.  Now all we need to do is contact Primus and Garthis and have them get their team together for the second break-in."  Rowen said.

While Amaterasu was still MIA,  Primus was conferring with Ryo on the attack plan over the phone.

"So infiltration, huh?  Yeah, we can do that.  What exactly are we looking for?"  Primus asked.
"Parts for a hyperdrive Otoantou might have been working on under our noses.  Ms. Jishou's team along with the Hoen scientists you rescued will probably have an easier time if we find them, although I don't doubt they can succeed if we give them enough time."  Rowen explained.
"Understood.  We'll get things set on our end, and rendezvous with Rangu at Osaki, and from there proceed to Otoantou.  We only have a few hours before nightfall.  You mentioned that last time you were there his machines attacked you when they were supposed to be off?"  Primus asked.
"Yeah.  You guys equipped for them?" Rowen asked.
"We have a rocket launcher left over, and anti-armor charges for our tri-rifles, but we may have to overstock those for this situation.  Sensharan are very good at carrying lots of gear, but the two of us have our rocket launchers, plus our blasters are pretty versatile, should put a dent in those machines if we need them to.  All right, we need to get ready to go, we'll keep in contact throughout."

As Primus went off to find the rest of his team and brief them on the mission at hand, Amaterasu finally emerged from her meditation room.

"Oh, there you are.  Navcase and pretty much everyone else here has been looking all over for you.  What was so important that you had to confine yourself in there so long?"  he asked.

Amaterasu was somewhat out of it, having completed an astral projection in an attempt to locate her twin daughters and the others accompaning them, but was unsuccessful.

"I was trying to locate Sakura, Ayame and the others, but was unsuccessful at it.  I'm sure they are fine, wherever or whenever they may be, but I am still worried about them.  Aside from the loss of Ayame and Sakura, along with Naru and Ayako, who were simply along for the ride, we are also without Kinjiro's expertise and technological prowess.  He has left us in very capable hands with Ms. Jishou, but she can only do so much.  Perhaps if he was here with Ayame, we would have defeated Asterra by now."
"Lady Amaterasu, it's not wise to concern yourself with matters beyond your control.  My team and I are headed for Otoantou shortly to see if we can find any parts Houji might have left behind to put together a FTL system for the Kusanagi.  I can't worry myself with what the lab might throw at us or if the parts are there at all.  All I can do is my mission, and on a mission, my number one priority is to get everyone back alive.  There will be other missions, but Hoen SpecOps are harder to replace than regular troops, so it is vital that we all get back in one piece.  Fortunately, the race that I have chosen to protect are very resilient, even without their technology.  So, rather than consuming yourself with when or if the others return home, concern yourself with making sure they have a home to return to.  I hope that eases your mind, but I unfortunately must be going now."

Primus saluted, and the Sun Goddess returned his gesture as he headed off to brief his soldiers on the mission at hand.

"Sakura, Ayame...all of you, stay safe, wherever you are.  I will do whatever it takes to ensure that you have a world to come home to."  Amaterasu vowed to herself.
 

NEXT EPISODE:

PRIMUS:  Allow me to brief you on our next episode.  As you know, my team is setting out to ascertain the existence of any miscellaneous parts that Houji Otoantou may have left behind at his previous location.
RANGU:  But will they find anything?
PRIMUS:  Warrant Officer Rangu, I was simply outlining the mission objectives.
LT. ENZERU:  With all due respect sir, I don't think they covered chapter previews in your officer training.  Permission to take it from here?
PRIMUS:  Permission granted, Proceed.
LT. ENZERU:  In the next chapter, the Hoen SpecOps go to look for parts for a FTL drive at Otoantou Industries.  With their more advanced technology, can they succeed where my team failed?
SGM. OKITA:  Respectfully ma'am, most of our lack of success on that mission was because our machines were too large to fit through the front door.
LT.  ENZERU:  Thank you, Sergeant Major.  What's this, the Dark Rou...
THE DARK ROUNIN:  Next time on Ronin Warriors:  Illusionary War; Return of the Dark Rounin.  Don't miss it, or it won't be pretty.
AMAYA:  About as pretty as referring to Illy by her nickname alone...
ILLANDERE:  I TOLD YOU, DON'T CALL ME "ILLY!"  *curses in Miraju and orders the preview to end*