Ten Sekai Sentou Kyousou (Part 1) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Water Gardens of Yagul, Island of Creation Aarin swept the free dangling blonde bangs from his face. It was early morning. He needed to keep his sights on the fight. Since it would be taking place here, in the so called Water Gardens of Yagul. The Englishman stepped forwards and looked around the place. It was actually quite beautiful. A huge garden built into the very back of Neuschwanstein Castle, full of lush greenery and marble statues. But most important of all; it was filled with many artificial water fountains, sprinkling the maze-like pathways with gentle drops of water. The water itself was diverted from a lake on the other side of the Island called Poseidon's Tear. It was a calming place to be. And especially with that bright sun up in the sky, giving a heat that made ready for battle all those about to participate in the tournament. Fighters were stationed at separate arenas dotted along this island. The Water Gardens of Yagul was one of them. Just as Poseidon's Tear was. All Aarin really needed to do was wait for his opponent to arrive. But who would it be? Aarin had to admit that was hoping for a fight with Setsuya. This might not have been the best place but that was the main reason that Aarin had come here. To Ten Sekai Sentou Kyousou. After leaving the funeral of their late master; it was decided that the next time they met they would be ready for a new fight. One that would settle their old scores once and for all. And although Setsuya seemed a little distracted right now, Aarin was sure that Setsuya would want the same thing. Well, whoever came, Aarin felt more than ready. The young man looked to his left at a large statue of a goddess. It had a trail of water gently sprinkling from its mouth. While he paid attention to that; someone paid attention to him. "...Fighter confirmed as tournament Entry No. 4... Aarin Highland... wielder of the Wind Soul Sacred Sword... student of the Yuuga School of Japanese swordplay..." Aarin looked back over his shoulder as something called out his vital statistics. "Who on earth would know all that about me...?" A figure stood behind Aarin. On the other side of the Water Gardens. He was tall, and clearly male. Looking to be about twenty-something years of age. Dressed in nothing but a pair of baggy white slacks, open white shirt and a long link of golden chains secured around his neck and under his arm. His hair was swept back, the colour of jet black, while his bangs hid from view his eyes. Aarin took note of the fact that this man was unarmed. That was a little odd. This was a weapon's tournament after all. "Well, nevertheless," Aarin pointed Wind Soul at the man, "Are you my first challenger?" The unknown Fighter looked up from the slouched position his head had lulled into. He looked over at Aarin with a rather vacant gaze and then parted his lips slowly and calmly, speaking at rather... mechanically. "...I am your opponent for your first match. I am Zero-Two. Second of the Zero Series. The Reliability Test of the Second Model will begin now." Aarin blinked. "...What on Earth are you talking about...?" The one called 'Zero-Two' didn't seem to register that last question of Aarin's at all. Zero-Two held out his hand and stood still for a moment; giving his soulless eyes fully to the Englishman he was chosen to fight. Nothing happened for the first few seconds. And then streaks began to appear at Zero-Two's hand. Aarin became alert; taking note of his passive mannerisms and the pink streaks of energy at his arm. Was he a Magic User? Aarin had anticipated at the beginning that a magic user would get involved in the tournament. After all, they were the ones who had helped to build the Safe Zones, even if people shunned them. What kind of magic had Zero-Two mastered, if this was in fact, magic? The strange character's arm still glowed with the brightness of the pinkish energies around it. Then that energy took on a physical form. It shot along in length from Zero-Two's hand into the shape of a sword. It was a long sword-shaped acumination of energy; flashing its pink light over Zero-Two's body. He spoke again, in that lifeless manner of his. "Moldova Sword... activated. Now preparing Attack Pattern Alpha-Omega to defeat the target." In that second, Zero-Two rushed from his still position to attack Aarin across the Water Gardens. He zoomed ahead with great speed and yet his face remained as calm and as tranquil as ever. Aarin's eyes widened as Zero-Two neared him. Something was not right about this guy. There had to be something wrong with him. But this was absolutely no time to think about it. Aarin had to fight and proceed to the next round in the eager hopes of challenging Setsuya. The English swordfighter drew Wind Soul into a guarding position and spread his feet apart for the collision. There was a loud clashing sound, followed by the friction of pure energy against raw steel. Aarin's right foot shifted back to brace himself against the struggle. This guy was actually pretty strong. Stronger than he looked in those shallow eyes of his. Sparks of electricity flew away from the point of contact as the Wind Soul stood off against Zero-Two's Moldova sword. While they held each other to a standstill, Aarin searched this man's eyes again. Still, he looked so cold and vacant. Even though he was trying to win the standoff; Zero-Two's heart did not seem to be in this. And yet his strength was quite commendable. Well whatever the circumstances, Aarin had to proceed to the next round. Maybe the best thing to do was to just put this guy out of commission right now. Aarin grit his teeth and shoved from the joints of his arms. The force pushed back Zero-Two and the Moldova. Then Aarin used that shift in position to his advantage. The youthful Englishman rotated his sword and swept it around his body, in a horizontal motion. The blade of the Wind Soul slashed right through its chosen path; in which was the Moldova. Wind Soul cut straight through it. The energy sabre was sliced into two halves of power, the severed half fading away after losing contact with the bulk. Aarin leapt back from the point of contact. As did Zero-Two. The man devoid of sentiment jumped backwards from the other fighter and landed just in front of one of those circular marble podiums. Aarin landed in a similar position. He rose up from his crouched landing stance and stood straight up. Now that the Moldova was broken there was nothing left to worry about. Aarin kept Wind Soul on guard but relaxed himself. "...Looks like this fight is.... Huh...?" Aarin then looked at something odd. There was a slash mark at Zero-Two's upper arm. He hadn't noticed it before during the actual attack but his sword had slashed at the arm of the other man. And yet he didn't look the least bit fazed by it. Even more curious, was the fact that no blood leaked from the gash. And yet it looked rather deep. At that point in time, a streak of electricity passed along the slash mark. Aarin's eyes widened with understanding at the situation. Now it all made sense. This guy wasn't even human. He was an android. That had to be it. "A machine...?" Aarin debated the idea in word, "But I thought that such machinery was rendered useless by the electromagnet waves of the Genesis Comet. This thing must be a product of the Shougatsu Financial Group. But I had no idea that they were in possession of technology this advanced..." Zero-Two spoke more of its soulless data-babble. "Moldova damage at 78.5%. Rerouting energy from main processor to Plasma Generator." Aarin's eyes then turned to the half-slashed Moldova sword at Zero-Two's hand. It faded into nothingness; just as it had been created. Then seconds later, a new one popped up, just as healthy and full of vitality as the first one was earlier. Now Aarin knew that this was not magic at all. But energy generated from inside the Zero-Two android. He definitely had to be more careful around this thing now. Who knew what kind of powers it had. "Moldova at full power," Zero-Two swung Moldova behind him and got into a fighting stance, shifting his feet apart and turning its shoulder to face Aarin, "Now beginning process of Special Technique no. 1, Vanish Water." The Zero-Two android flicked its 'hair' back over its shoulder to rest, and then looked ahead at Aarin. But all the mechanisms, gears and computer chips active in its body were concentrating on their own issues. All of his computer parts began working in sync for the special technique that Zero-Two hoped to use on Aarin. And it worked. There was a flash of a glow in its 'eyes' as it stood there before the disbelieving Aarin. A sparkle appeared at the head of the robot. This sparkled passed over its body and kept going downwards until it reached his feet and the Moldova. But Aarin gasped as he saw what the results were. As soon as the sparkle passed over a body part, that body part vanished from view. It was completely impossible to see anything of him when the sparkle dissipated. Though Aarin had no idea how it happened, Zero-Two completely vanished from view! He could see hide nor hair of it. Not even the bright pink glow of the Moldova could be seen. Aarin blinked. "Teleportation? There is no way!" It left Aarin vulnerable. He unknowingly let his guard down. He lowered the Wind Soul out of disbelief. But the moment he did this; a sharp trail of pinkish energy slashed through the air and went on the attack. Aarin noticed it from the corner of his eye but was too late to block or counter it. He grunted and winced in pain as the beam trail sliced across his abdomen, drawing blood. It cut right through the loose shirt that Aarin had been wearing. He wouldn't have expected that someone could have landed a blow during the first round and so he had not opted to wear any armour of any kind. The Englishman gripped his wounded abs and circled away from whatever had attacked him. He stumbled backwards from that point, and kept Wind Soul at the ready. But he still couldn't see anything. As far as Aarin knew; he was alone in the Water Gardens of Yagul. Then it dawned on him. "...That technique that the android mentioned. It was not teleportation. That machine can cloak itself from human sight-" A second streak appeared in the air as Aarin said that. But this time he was ready for it and aware. He slashed back, blocking the attack which by now, Aarin knew to be Zero-Two slashing at him with the Moldova. Once the attack was blocked; Zero-Two was completely hidden from sight again. And Aarin could not afford this disadvantage. But it occurred to him that Zero-Two's invisibility technique was not invincible. There was still one weakness it had that allowed Vanish Water to be countered. The young man smiled. "...Just might work." Aarin heard the shuffle of footsteps. That was the signal. The English swordsman crouched to the ground and bolted off it. He leapt upwards and reached a peak in his jump seconds later. Once this was achieved, Aarin backflipped midair and rotated so that he landed foot first into a certain thing. One of the circular water fountains that had been lined across the labyrinthine cobblestone paths of the Water Gardens. Aarin was drenched with the upward flow of the water but did nothing to complain. The water was his key to winning. And just as Aarin had predicted, the invisible Zero-Two went on the attack. But this time it had fooled itself into a trap. The moment it attempted to lunge at Aarin through the up-falling spring of water, the drops bounced off and on its body. The collision of the android through the water gave way to a makeshift image of it stalking through the fountain. And because of this Aarin knew exactly where it was. The Englishman grit his teeth and reacted, twisting Wind Soul around so that it was aimed straight at the attacking image of Zero-Two. The blade shot forwards as swiftly as the wind and struck the robot. Aarin could tell by the sound of sliced metal. Zero-Two seemed to freeze on the instant that it was hit. And then the cloaking powers it had were negated. The Zero-Two model Android returned to its former visibility inch by inch, revealing the machine in its entirety. Not to mention the image of its chest being skewered by the Wind Soul Sacred Sword. Aarin roughly withdrew his weapon from the metallic carcass of Zero-Two and watched it fall off the water fountain onto the ground. Dead. Or at least unable to function. Aarin hopped out of the fountain himself, stepping onto the stone grounds of the Garden. He was soaked. But at least he had won his match. "...Hmm," By nothing more than his questioning instinct, Aarin looked back at the broken Zero-Two model, "I am forced to wonder. Just what are the Shougatsu Financial Group up to? I can feel that there is more to Ten Sekai Sentou Kyousou than meets the eye." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Forest of Forgotten Prince (West Side), Island of Creation Step, step, step. Step went the pitter-patter of Ingrid's sandaled feet as she walked across the uneven grass of the Forest of the Forgotten Prince. She was dressed up fully for this tournament, unlike her brother. The girl had hitched together both the feminine plate of armour around her upper torso (called the Andromeda plate, which had been carved with the symbol of the wealthy Highland family, the White Raven) and the plaid white and blue short shirt around the lower half of her beautiful body. Aside from that she was wearing her russet-tone wrist gauntlets. That was the dress code she had taken for today. Decked out for pure battle. And she had every intention to win this whole thing. With the Lightning Tooth sword at her side as well as the Oradea Shield, Ingrid never felt more ready. The girl continued to step through this Forest. She had been told a little bit about it before the tournament advisors helped her get here. Apparently one of the Princes of Spain once vanished in this forest. When it had been part of the Spanish Mainland. There was some confusion on just what happened to that Prince after he got lost in this forest, but his memory was wiped clear from the slate of Spanish History. Hence the name 'Forest of the Forgotten Prince'. An old story but it was one of the novelties that made the Island of Creation so appealing to others. Probably one of the reasons why the Shougatsu Financial Group had gone out of their way to own it. Ingrid tried to block those thoughts out of her head though. She had to concentrate on the upcoming fight. The girl looked from one side to the other, soaking up the climate of the forest. "So this is the Forest of the Forgotten Prince? It's going to be more than tough fighting in a place like this. The thick trees are so tightly spaced together that it make it hard to run around. I hope that Aarin isn't the one I have to fight in this round. I need all the motility I can muster if I want to defeat him." A twig snapped ahead of Ingrid. The girl looked forwards into the parting gaps between the trees ahead of her. Was her opponent here already? But she couldn't see anything. There was nothing ahead of her except grass, trees and rock. Then Ingrid's ears became alert to another sound. The sound of something revolving from behind her. The girl was being attacked. She pressed her heels as deep into the ground as they would go; then looked upwards. With all her feminine strength she jumped straight upwards. Ingrid leapt right off the grassy tracks of the forest and into the air, parallel with the branches and foliage that hung over the scene. While she was midair Ingrid looked down at the ground. Now she could see what she had been attacked with. There was a large polearm lodged into the dry soil of the forest. An axe. With a curved edge mounted on one side of the pole. Along the pole was the engraved name, Blaj Ineu. Ingrid scowled at it and then flipped forwards to the ground. About ten paces ahead of the axe, Blaj Ineu. When she landed she looked over her shoulder to see who it was who had thrown that axe at her. It was a man. A rather large man at about eight feet in height, wearing large brown slacks, thick black boots and nothing else. His broad muscles gleamed in the morning sun and he swept a meaty hand over his firm military cut till it hung loosely at his side. This was the guy that Ingrid was supposed to fight in the first round. Ingrid turned around fully to face him, grinning cockily. "You must be my first victim. Well don't worry too much about it. It was just bad luck that put you up against Ingrid Branwen of the Highland Family. Try not to resent me for your upcoming defeat." The hulk of a man walked forwards, and gripped Blaj Ineu again. "Well you are... very... what is word? Candid? I think that is word." "So..." Ingrid smiled at him again, "I can tell from that broken English of yours that you are not very worldly. So tell me. Just what is your name and what is it that brings you to Ten Sekai Sentou Kyousou?" "I called Serge," He pulled the axe out of the ground, "I work as member of Guardian Line. Group hired to take care of job. I come to take Four Special Sword for client. Pass sword or I crush you." Ingrid's sword arm lulled at her side while her shield arm was poised at her thin and nimble waist. "Ugh. You are definitely not my type. Muscleheads and Demi-goddesses do not mesh well. Especially if you think all that muscle will help you win a fight against a member of the Highland Family." Serge swung that heavy axe into an attacking pose. "If not you pass sword, then I take sword from little girl. I must complete mission." Ingrid sighed. This meathead really was working for the Guardian Line. Those bastards never ceased to amaze her. The Guardian Line itself was an organization of its own that had existed for over two thousand years. They were like a group of rather selective people who specialized in all sorts of jobs. These jobs could be like building roads and houses, marketing, goods retrieval & delivery, combat training, leadership training, bodyguarding, and weapons development etc. But they had more sinister roles than that. The Guardian Line also took part in warfare and assassination. They were (in overall nature) politically neutral, so they would side with any faction or political leader, regardless of their aims, as long as the one hiring them paid enough. That made them lower than scum in Ingrid's opinion. To cast aside your own beliefs for financial gain. The young woman spread her legs, drew up the Oradea Shield and Lightning Tooth, facing off with the hulking titan of muscle and flesh, Serge. She had to fight him anyway. Unless she did she would not be able to fight Aarin. Serge grinned at Ingrid's action and went on the assault. He would be wasting no time at all. Ingrid watched as Serge charged her from his position. He was stronger than her. There was no way she could block any of his attacks with the Oradea Shield. In that way she would have to use her speed to her advantage. "Ghraaat!" Serge let out some sort of battle cry in his native tongue and slashed at Ingrid with Blaj Ineu. The might polearm swept around in a half circle motion towards the girl. She was quick on her feet and she ducked under the massive swing. Her whole body crouched downwards and shot back to avoid the attack. Serge drew back Blaj Ineu and pulled it up to above his head, poised to strike a vertical attack. The steel edge of the axe came down swiftly. Ingrid saw it coming and darted to one side of the strike, as the blade struck the dried up soil beneath them. Ingrid rolled forwards and rotated into a crouched position. Ingrid grinned at the member of the Guardian Line. "I'm faster than you it seems. I told you that muscle would not be enough to defeat a member of the Highland Family. You should listen to what I have to say, my oversized friend." Serge swung his axe behind him. "...Girl talks too much. Girl will learn lesson." The mammoth sized man dragged Blaj Ineu around him and then back to rest behind his body in a rather intimidating manner. His face hardened and his veins throbbed. He stamped his boots into the grass-covered ground of the forest and gripped the shaft of the axe with great new strength. Ingrid watched this man as he prepared himself for something. Apparently he wanted to end this fight quickly. The girl stood up straight and waited for the upcoming attack. She felt she had nothing to fear. After all, she was moving at twice Serge's speed. The older man gripped the pole of Blaj Ineu with both hands again and then swung it over his head. He soon jumped upwards with the axe behind his back, into the morning sky. Ingrid looked up. She would have never guessed that someone so big could jump so high. Once Serge got high enough, he began to descend towards Ingrid and her defences. The young woman watched as Serge fell towards her, screaming, "Smash Crusher!" A special attack. Ingrid got her skates on and dashed away from that spot. Serge and his mighty axe came down on the ground with an echoing crush that forced the nearby birds to flee the forest trees from the noise. The axe rocked the ground so hard that Ingrid's own balance was threatened. She tripped up from the slight shake of the earth beneath her. Ingrid landed on an upraised mound of soil, dirtying her armour and shield arm. "Oof!" The blonde jerked her bangs out of her eyes, "I'll make you pay for that!" And she would make no bones about it. The young woman rolled onto her back. Then curled her knees into herself and vaulted up into a standing position with the flip of her legs. Her sandals touched the soil evenly again. Serge stood across from her by about thirty feet. There was a bright smile on his visage. It seemed that he believed that the Smash Crusher had shaken up Ingrid more than she was willing to admit. He was mistaken in that belief. The Highland Girl sneered at him in anger. She had not intended to use any of the Special Techniques she had learned thus far on someone on the first round. But something about that boorish Serge was royally pissing her off. Ingrid pulled Lightning Tooth into the air and kept her sky blue eyes firmly on the Guardian Line member. She stood like that for a brief few moments then reacted. The gleam of the sword grew brighter above her. A full rush of adrenalin surged through her like the stream of a river. Serge took a deeper look at his opponent. She seemed more tense now. What on earth could that mean? Ingrid spoke to him with her sword poised and now glowing. "You made one big mistake, peasant! Never make a Highland-Borne woman angry! Now I'll make you regret the day you ever came within miles of my presence!" Ingrid called the attack as she swung her swung from above to around, "Brave Sabre!" As the blonde girl violently slashed through the air with the Lightning Tooth, the force of the swipe ruptured the air. A vibration of power shot through the atmosphere and headed for Serge. Invisible to the eye. There was no clear defence against an attack you could not see. The gruff older winced in pain as he felt the force of the Brave Sabre smash his lower stomach. His eyes bugged out and his hands jerked, dropping Blaj Ineu. He fell to his knees in that second. And his thick lips parted as he vomited a vat of blood to the grass of the forest. A few seconds later he collapsed, fainting from both the pain and the shocking suddenness of the Brave Sabre. Ingrid scowled at the fainted Serge. She might have overdone it a little bit but that guy needed to be put in his place. She sheathed Lightning Tooth in the brown leather scabbard at her waist, then fixed the Oradea Shield onto her back. She cast another look at Serge. "That was the Brave Sabre," She said sternly, "The primary technique of the Roundsman style. You are in no way worthy of such a move. But no one insults a Highland and gets away with it. In particular a member of the Guardian Line." It looked like both of the Highland siblings were through to the next round. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kuji Bay (Eastside), Kuji, Neo-Japan And so came that time again. The time to say... goodbye. This day had rolled around quickly. Both Julia and Simon were packed before morning, and they had both sent in letters of resignation to their employers. Now morning was upon them and it was time to leave. After all the Scottish duo had been through, they were finally going home. Ayame joined the two of them as they came to Kuji Bay. The three of them stood on the crowed peer of it, the ship they were taking already docked. It would be departing in about an hour. But the passengers would be getting on any time now. Ayame stood astride Julia and Simon as they took in the sights and smells of this bay. It would be the last they saw of Neo-Japan, maybe forever. Perhaps that was the reason they wanted to get a final glimpse at this country. Though Ayame couldn't really relate to the sentiment. After all those two had been through to get this far, she would have thought that Julia and Simon would be glad to see the back of this country. Julia held her suitcase before her with both hands and turned a little, to Ayame, who stood next to her at the front of the dotted crowds. "I can't believe that after all this time it's finally over. I'm finally going home. To see my Grandpa. To see all my friends and smell that fresh Scottish air." Simon nodded his agreement. "Yes. It is hard to believe. I didn't think I'd even see you again, young one. Now we're actually leaving Neo-Japan together. Everyone will be so pleased to see you when we arrive. Maybe we should get moving from now." Ayame, with both arms crossed together, followed in speech. "...Don't let me keep you. The two of you should enjoy this and go. I think the pair of you have had enough of my world for a lifetime." "Yes," Simon nodded to her, then reached into his pocket with his free hand (the other one holding his suitcase). He pulled out a wallet. A rather weighty one. Which he presented to the Dark Katana with thankful glee. "What's this?" Ayame asked, taking the wallet into her hands. "Another 5,300 credits," The elder McAmish replied, "I know it's not much considering what you've done for Julia and I for the past three months or so... but I hope that it shows you how indebted we feel we are to you. Thank you, Ayame." The Neo-Japanese swordfighter nodded, smiling. "You're welcome, sir." It was at this time that Julia realized she was meant to be saying her goodbyes. While Ayame stuffed the wallet of cash into one of her own pockets, the Scottish girl squirmed a little. Part of her didn't know what to say. After all, how can you put into words what you feel for the person who rescues you from nearly a year's worth of captivity? Of all the people that Julia had met in Neo-Japan, Ayame was the one true person that Julia could call a friend. Maybe even more so than she would have thought possible. The two young women locked eyes with each other and stared. Julia had no words. And no smile either. If there was any reason to stay in this country, it would have been Ayame. And Ayame herself couldn't believe she was saying goodbye to such an unbelievable woman. When she thought about the end of this mission... did she ever really picture it like this? When the silence between them started to grow in length, the Dark Katana rested her gloved hand upon Julia's shoulder, pulling a weak but disturbingly emotional smile. "You take care of yourself," She put forth, "I wouldn't like to think that I've been protecting you for so long that you throw in the towel the second you leave my sight." Little tears began to well up in Julia's eyes. Despite the fact that she was a year older than Ayame, the brown-haired girl certainly didn't seem to be so, emotionally. "I going to write to your apartment in Nagoya... I hope that you'll... keep in contact with me..." Ayame bobbed her head to that. There was no way that she'd lose touch with Julia that easily. Though Ayame had told herself a million times not to get emotionally involved with clients that she was working with, or for, it couldn't be helped with someone like Julia. To know her would be to understand the reasons why. But the second that Ayame parted her pinkish lips to reply to that, something felt... off. It was like her senses were warning her of something. She took an urgent look to the face and turned around, looking into the crowds for the cause behind this. Both Julia and Simon noted the change in Ayame's expression. And Simon spoke upon it. "What's the matter?" "Something feels off," Ayame said, eyes stalking from one side to the other, "I can't explain it at all, but... I think you two should hurry up and get on the ship now. Quick." Simon and Julia exchanged confused glances, while Ayame continued to feel out the cause of the disquiet in her heart. There had to be more to this than just a feeling. There had to be some form of danger around. The black-haired woman kept up the search until she took note of one odd looking character about ten metres back behind her. His body was enswathed with a huge brown cloak It kept his face concealed in darkness despite the brightness of the sun above them. And then Ayame looked downwards at the slight gap of fabric in front of that stranger. There was a bright green glow there. Ayame's silvery eyes widened with surprise and anger. She knew exactly who this was. Ayame quickly looked back at Julia and Simon. "Get on the damn boat now!" The very second she said that she charged across the port, darting between the people in the crowds with pinpoint speed, towards the cloaked fiend whom Ayame had picked out from the crowds. Ayame came face-to-face with the mystery man, who whipped off the cloak to meet with the attack. There was a Plasma Naginata in his hands. The two warriors leapt into each other and clashed weapons, Nobunaga bouncing of the shaft of the opposing man's pole-arm. The two were forced apart from each other by the strength of the clash, and both fighters landed with eyes on each other. But now the crowds were free to see the hideous creature that was under that cloak. It was the bio-metallic form of Ras es-Shamrah. Ayame's eyes narrowed at the beast, while holding a firm lock on him. It had been three whole months since their last encounter but she had not forgotten this guy. Not at all. The people around all gasped and began backing away as they looked at the vile creature, exchanging whispers and frightened glances. Simon himself was stunned to see Ras. "...What in God's name is that...?" "The creature that attempted to kidnap me in Nagoya," Julia answered, terrified, "Not even Ayame can stand up to it. We only got away from it by chance last time..." It seemed that as more time passed, Ras discovered more of his deep hidden powers. The creature's voice had become far more solid and far less broken, which caused him to bellow a powerful scream around the bay. People as far as two hundred metres away could here the loudness of it. Julia and Simon, as well as all others around, covered their ears to keep from being deafened by that sound. And by the time his scream had ended, Ras es-Shamrah had pulled up his Naginata and was pointing it at Ayame. The dense energy that made up the blade was now fluctuating, flickering and taking on an even deeper glow. Then a burst of ring shaped power was thrown from the blade outwardly, the impact result of the energy blade itself being shot in Ayame's direction. The Plasma Bullet. Ayame's eyes widened. That blast looked powerful enough to finish her off there and then. The Dark Katana rolled to one side and it went straight past her, but this also put it on course for Julia and Simon. The older of the two grabbed his daughter in a tight hold and they threw themselves out of the way of the Plasma Bullet. The emerald power shot the collided with the steel/wooded side of the ship that they intended on taking home, The Omi-Aorta. There was a compact but fierce explosion from the blast point, one that lit up the scene with fire and ash. The people who chose to stand back and watch this were now running for their lives. Men, women and children began to flee at the prospect of a fierce battle ahead. But Ayame wanted to avoid a fight at any cost. Her mission was not over until Julia and Simon were on that ship. Until then she had to play it for nothing more than Julia's safety. Ayame brought up Nobunaga and focused her energy. She had to fight Ras in such a way that she lead him away from Julia's path. It would be the best way to keep her safe from harm. So she made her move. The black-haired woman charged straight at the bio-tech creature, sword held before her. Ras es-Shamrah brought up Baga'enka in the same way. But made an action with it this time around. He slashed downwards in a diagonal motion from the left. Then again from the right. Which created a huge X-shaped trail of plasma. It shined once, then beamed a thin, invisible shield of power to protect the one whom had cast it. Ayame couldn't have seen it. She slashed down at the image of Ras but was bounced back violently in the second that Nobunaga made contact with the unseen shield. Julia gasped as Neo-Japanese woman was thrown backwards across the ground. Her head slammed into a wooden crate that had been left in that particular place. Ras jetted over to Ayame in pursuit and loomed over the downed swordswoman with Baga'enka above him, ready to strike. Ayame's silvery eyes caught on to this none to soon, and rolled straight to the side out of the way. The plasmatic blade of Baga'enka came down a second later, slicing through the crate, which soon exploded from the contact. The boom shocked the few people who were still lingering, as embers began flying everywhere. A fire reared up. One that joined the fire on the Omi-Aorta's hull in its bright orange glow. Ayame squinted at this. Ras es-Shamrah was stronger than before. It was clearly learning more of its powers, too. She hopped back up onto her feet and gripped Nobunaga with both hands. She had to come up with a strategy to stop Ras before it got its hands on Julia. But Ras did not give her the time. He hauled off and made the first move. Ayame stayed alert as the monster came at her with a downwards swipe with Baga'enka. The Dark Katana dodged the strike, rushing to one side with a flick of the ankles. Ras grunted from behind that metallic mask, and then did the same thing. Ayame dodged again in the opposite direction of before, which presented an opening to Ras' ribcage. The fierce Neo-Japanese slashed straight at that point with the very tip of her blade. Nobunaga simply sparked a trail of friction as the sword skidded off the polished armour of the bio-mechanical organism. Ayame stepped back, dumbfounded. And that was opening that Ras was looking for. The bio-beast swung the butt of Baga'enka around him. It smacked into Ayame's face with a sickening thud, blood kicked straight from her lips. The young woman staggered back from the shock of the strike and fell, dazed. Julia's heart raced. "Ayame!" But Simon's concerns were far more troubled. Ayame was down. Which meant the last defence of Julia was himself. And though it frightened him to the core... he had to protect his innocent little girl from that toxic animal. Simon huddled Julia behind him and stood before her, protectively. "Stay behind me, Julia!" The older McAmish ordered. "D-Daddy?" Julia's voice was beginning to break into sobs, "W-What are you doing...?" There was a thin pipe on the ground next to Simon's feet. It had rolled there from the crate that Ras had destroyed in attempting to hit Ayame. Simon kept his eyes on the beast, but lowered downwards and gripped the pipe, taking it with him. He had to protect his little girl. Seconds later he was charging straight at Ras, bellowing with all the zeal you'd expect from a proud Scotsman. Ras watched as Simon came for him with the pipe. Not showing a shred of fear or humanity. Simon reared up and swung the metal pipe straight at the bio-tech monster. Ras' form was large but not sluggish. He stepped straight around that strike without any effort whatsoever. Then time slowed down as it drew back Baga'enka, the glow of the blade increasing. Julia watched with utter horror and sorrow as Ras es-Shamrah thrust Baga'enka straight through Simon's back, slicing through the spine, guts and ribcage, reappearing in the chest with geyser of blood. Simon released a dying breath, tarnished with choked up blood, while the beaming plasma edge of Baga'enka stuck out of his chest at an awkward angle. Julia's bright emerald eyes were wide with terror. "Daddy!" But he was already dead. Ras es-Shamrah remorselessly ripped Baga'enka out of the corpse of Simon McAmish, the blood evaporating from the heat of the plasma blade. The body dropped to the floor lifelessly. Leaving Julia completely undefended. Or so Ras assumed. "You bastard!" Ras looked upwards into the sky from hearing a female voice yell that out. A second later, Ayame's sandaled foot rammed straight into the face of the monster. It stumbled back from both the force of the flying kick and the suddenness of it, until it fell off the edge of the peer that it was close to. Ras es-Shamrah plummeted into the cold waters of bay, his weight sinking him down deep into the chilled sea. Ayame landed in that moment with Nobunaga sheathed. But her concern switched from Ras to Simon and Julia. The youth ran over to the body of Simon, which was now being held by Julia as blood began to leak from the wound in puddles. Julia held her father silently, tears staining her face, completely in shock from that which had taken place. Ayame kneeled down with disheartened eyes at the sight. "...Daddy..." The deep silence was short-lived. Julia's emotions poured forth with all their worth. "Daddy!" Ayame shut her eyes with the loss, hearing all of Julia's sadness. Simon McAmish... was dead.
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