Kyushin Juku 11-30-05

Two figures blazed across the horizon. They flew about 20 feet above the ground, streaking along, kicking and punching at each other. Their ki auras were a mix of red and blue, as they equaled each other’s every move. They moved faster than the eye could see; a blur of thundering blows that shook Planet Zun to the core.

The blue colored warrior, disappeared, and streaked into the air, and came down on the red fighter. He dropped both feet into him, and knocked him straight down, towards the cold, hard, rocky terrain below.

The red fighter flared his aura, and stopped inches above the ground, and landed his feet down approximately two shoulder widths apart.

“You’ll have to do better than that, father. I am part Kai, remember?” The red warrior called out, his harsh voice cutting through the cold, gale force wind like the chill did his own flesh.

“Kurkar!” yelled the blue warrior, still floating in the air. “Stop this nonsense and listen to me. I am a Kai, and I know what is best for these people.” The blue figure took a deep breath. “I created them! Now let us stop this feud and we can teach them a better way of living!"

“You always were soft, father!” Kurkar flared his aura out once more. “But the people of this planet are nothing compared to us! Join me, father, and we can take the power of this planet, and then conquer all the others!”

“The people of this planet will live on, Kurkar.” The blue aura sparked to life as well. “I am Zun, and I will not allow my creation to be so recklessly destroyed. They have choice, free will, and the chance to love. And while I have breath in my body, I will not allow anyone, my son included, to take that chance from them.”

“Touching speech.” Kurkar focused his eyes on his father, and shot twin lasers up at him. Zun dodged them my millimeters, and sent a wave of ki force crashing down, digging Kurkar further into the rocks. But out from the rubble Kurkar exploded, and met his father in midair, trading kicks and punches.

Kurkar pulled back, all of a sudden, and collected his ki in a massive ball of energy. It crackled for a moment, and then he launched it towards his father. But Zun dodged it with ease, and drove his elbow down into Kurkar’s back, sending him spiraling to the earth, and digging a hole many feet across and deep.

“Kurkar!” Zun yelled down the hole. “I have had enough of this! Either you relinquish your rule of the Hor region, or I destroy you here and now!”

“You wouldn’t dare destroy your own son!” Kurkar bellowed, rage boiling inside him, at his own weakness. “Just try it, old man!”

Zun powered up a massive blue ball in his palm, and pointed it towards the sky. The once clear sky darkened, and the orb grew in size. Lightning crashed, and electricity crackled around the ball. Waves of ki spewed from it, sending debris in all directions, and then Zun swung his arm down, hurling the ball at his fallen son.

It ripped the rocks apart. It sent boulders flying into the sky as it dug deeper into the crust of the cold, dark planet. Kurkar screamed, and tried to hold back the massive orb, but it simply pressed him deeper into the rock.

“FATHER!” He screamed. “YOU’LL SUFFER FOR THIS!! I SWEAR TO YOU ON MY MOTHER’S LIFE, THAT I WILL MAKE YOUR PEOPLE SUFFER AND DIE FOR THIS DISGRACE!! DO YOU HEAR ME, FATHER!? DO YOU HEAR ME!?!?!!”

And then the ball detonated. It was not an explosion so much as a distortion of the very fabric of space and time. The area touched by the attack seemed to warp and twist and the very ki of the planet was twisted in this way. It was as if there was a black hole at the center of the attack, and it was centered on Kurkar himself. His scream twisted and echoed and almost seemed to add to the destruction wrought by the attack.

After the blast subsided, Zun was left hovering in the air. He gazed down at the immense destruction he had he created.

“A grand crater…” he murmured to himself. “A fitting end to a being that should never have come to this planet.” Then he coughed, and his blood spilt forward over his lips. He tried to wipe it from his face, but he kept coughing, and more blood came. He looked up, and tried to say some words, but his strength failed him, and he plummeted to the ground, at the edge of the Grand Crater.

Zun’s body hit the ground, and lay still. The dust settled around him, and then everything was still. Then the body faded, leaving this plain of existence, and it made its way to where all Kais go, good or bad, when they die.

At the base of The Grand Crater, there was only silence. Stillness. Nothing was moving, nothing was happening. Time at the center of the Grand Crater ground to a halt as the gravitational forces from Zun’s attack slowed time like a black hole. Nothing could escape the pull.

The applause thundered around the stadium, and the announcer stepped forward onto his small podium.

“Well how about that?” He yelled. “These two fighters have been going at it all afternoon, and still don’t look like quitting! Even after we cranked up the gravity to over twenty five times normal, they still refuse to quit!” His last words echoed around as the alien crowd cheered even harder.

Kyushin Juku, a human, born with three eyes, kneeled in the center of the large, open arena. He was down on his left knee, supporting himself with a hand on the cold, concrete tiles. He gazed across at his opponent, who looked far more fatigued than he was. The man was a native of this planet, and was the crowd favorite. But this being the Grand Final of the Zunian Fighting Championship, all the spectators just wanted a great fight. And so far, they had not been disappointed.

Kuan Kung, from the Zunian kingdom of Han, had a large head of long hair. It formed two large spikes at the front, and shot up in spikes at the back. He was dressed in formal Zunian fighting clothes, consisting of baggy pants tucked into his boots, and a long vest that was tied around his waist. He had bracers of a strange metal, and they seemed to glow each time he drew on his own power. He was fit and athletic, not overly muscular or overly skinny. He was well balanced, and apparently he was the previous champion of the tournament.

Kyu had not known much about Zunians before he arrived there, but when he had first met them, he had discovered a feature that was in common with a race he was familiar with, the Sayains. They had a very strong and powerful innate battle strength. Much like the Sayains, Zunians lived on a world that had gravity almost ten times as strong as Earth’s. Zun was also a very Spartan planet, with a heavy emphasis on personal strength and power. The environment of Zun was cold and harsh, and farming was not an option, so the people had been forced to find other ways to survive.

For almost three hours, these two fighters had been spinning, twirling, striking, kicking, shooting at and even biting each other, but they were still evenly poised after all their work. The extreme gravity had only fueled them on, especially Kyu, who could not have ever even imagined fighting in 250 times his usual Earth gravity.

“Zunians are tough, Earthling.” Kuan Kung called across to Kyu. “We don’t give up, and we don’t lose. You had better give up this pointless charade right now… You don’t want to be embarrassed in front of all these people.”

“You keep telling me…” Kyu muttered, as he stood up from his crouch. “That Zunians are tough, that Zunians are strong, that Zunians never give up.” Kyu looked up, and glared directly at Kuan Kung. “So let me tell you something. Earthlings are tough. Earthlings are strong. Earthlings never give up.” A shimmering aura appeared around Kyu’s arms and hands and he began to shout. “AND EARTHLINGS CAN FINISH A FIGHT!”

A wave of Ki exploded from his body, as Kyu pointed his arms forward and shot hundreds of small yellow balls at Kuan Kung. They coruscated towards him, then shot up, creating a cloud of energy around the entire stadium. The light being given off was blinding, and Kuan Kung shielded his eyes with his hand. He looked up, trying to understand what was going on, but he had never seen this kind of attack before. Then he realized and snapped his head back, looking at Kyu, just in time to watch him bring his hands down in front of him, which brought the cloud with it.

“Too fast!” Was all Kyu heard before the massive swarm of Ki blasts hit Kuan Kung. He disappeared under the shell of yellow, before a thunderous clap knocked everyone back into their seats. The cloud detonated, sending debris and smoke in all directions, knocking Kyu backward across the sleek concrete tiles, and creating a massive crater in the middle of the arena. Rocks fell to the ground as the dust began to clear.

“Wow!” Yelled the announcer. “What a fight, huh folks? These two fighters aren’t about to give in, and they aren’t holding back. Let’s hope Kuan Kung is ok under there, or else we may have just seen a victory for the Earthling.” The crowd was excited, but quiet. Tense, they held their breath, as the last few pebbles, and fragments of arena hit the ground, and the crater became visible through the smoke.

Kuan Kung was unsteady, but upright in the middle. His knees were together, he was barely able to support his own weight, but still he stood. He swayed, and took a sudden step to his right, before he steadied himself. He breathed heavily, having taken the full force of Kyu’s attack. He looked up and Kyu, who was getting up off his back, having surprised himself with the force of the explosion. Kuan Kung snarled, his eyes locked on Kyu, but the three-eyed boy disappeared, and reappeared right in front of him.

With an almighty roar, Kyu struck Kuan Kung in the head. With all the force he could muster, his right arm had cut across, smashing the side of Kung’s head. The Zunian flew through the air, and crashed into the dirt, before bouncing up and hitting the stadium wall, leaving a large crack in the hard concrete barrier.

“Well there you have it, folks!” The announcer yelled. “It looks like the winner of this fight, and of the Grand Final of the Zunian Fighting Championship is Kyushin Juku from Earth!” And the crowd cheered.

“And so, we present the winner of the Grand Final of the Zunian Fighting Championship!” The crowd bellowed its support. “Kyushin Juku!” And the crowd screamed again.

The presentation went on for a lot longer than the tournaments on Earth. Religious leaders were on hand to bless the runner up Kuan Kung, citing scripture like the Zunian Scrolls, speaking of loss providing clarity, and wining providing vision. The Zunian philosophy is to see the equal good and bad among the rigors of loss and victory. Loss gives a negative feeling, but promotes fortune in the near future. That is why at the start of the next tournament, in four years time, the too finalists are called upon to fight a rematch before the first round.

Kyushin was presented with a large cup, and one thousand coins of Zunian currency, which was the equivalent of almost three thousand Earth credits. He thanked the people of Zun for letting him compete and praised the valiant efforts of his opponent. The crowd, who had enjoyed the fight, and who were glad for a nice fighter to have won, cheered him for a long time after his speech, which filled the three-eyed boy with a strange feeling of pride. Kyu knew that he would never receive this kind of ovation from an Earth crowd.

Kyu surveyed the horizon. He wondered where to go next. He had competed in the tournament for the training and the experience, and he had won. Was he really that strong? Was he really the strongest fighter on the planet? That couldn’t be right, could it? He had, only a few months ago, been a very low-level fighter on Earth, which is not renowned throughout the universe for it’s inhabitants fighting skills. But now, had he reached a pinnacle? Had he truly become good enough?

“Kyushin!” Came a voice from behind. Kyu spun around and saw Kuan Kung, the fighter from the final, come running up to him. “I need to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to congratulate you again on winning. You are a terrific fighter.”

“Thank you, Kuan Kung. You put up a tremendous challenge. You should be proud of yourself.”

“Thank you.” Kuan Kung bowed his head. “I am honored. I was hoping that perhaps you would come and train with some friends of mine. We would greatly like to experience the wise words of the tournament champion.”

“Train with you?” Kyu was startled.

“I have two friends, also formidable warriors, who would most like to be trained by you.” Kuan Kung bowed again. “If you were willing to do so, of course.”

Kyu was stunned.

Kyu put his hand out, and another, which grabbed it and shook it hard, met it.

“Greetings.” Kyu stammered. “I’m Kyushin”

“Greetings Kyushin.” The owner of the hand said. “I’m Chang Fei, but mostly people call me Chang.

“It is good to meet you then, Chang.” Kyu said as he smiled. He released the iron grip and looked to the other, smaller man standing beside Chang. “It is nice to meet you too, um…”

“Liu Pei” said the smaller man, shaking Kyu’s hand. “I hear you defeated Kuan at the tournament.”

“Yeah, I did.” Kyu blushed. “He is a great fighter.”

“I know. He has been my brother for many years.” Liu Pei replied. “We have trained and fought together for many of those long years, as well.”

“You are brothers?” Kyu looked at Liu Pei, then at Kuan Kung. “I cannot see the resemblance.”  Chang, Kuan Kung and Liu Pei glanced at each other, and laughed out loud.

“I am sorry, Kyushin.” Liu Pei finally said. “We were not brothers when we were born, but that was a mistake. We are brothers in arms, and we have sworn allegiance to each other. For whom can you trust if you cannot trust your brothers?”

Kyu smiled as he realized what Liu Pei had meant. He looked around the small stone dwelling on the outskirts of the Han region of Zun. It was a humble home, but Kuan Kung had said that he and his brothers often went traveling, and so they did not need a big flashy home. They were fighters, and al they needed was a place to sleep and a place to train.

And that they had. Their small house looked out across the Targ’s Teeth, a field of jagged rocks that point to the sky. Each one looked like a tooth, and they were made of an odd metal ore that very few smiths had learnt to work, even in the thousand years that people had lived on Zun in great numbers.

Around the room hung many weapons, decorating the walls like pictures in a family home. There were swords and staves, odd wooden sticks joined by chains, throwing stars, shields knives and longbows.

Taking pride of place was a long sword that shone as though it was a mirror. It had a long handle, obviously meant for using two hands, but its blade was almost three times the length of a normal sword.

“So, Kyu.” Chang called out, suddenly, smiling broadly. “How about we get training?”

Kuan, Liu and Chang circled Kyu, steadily moving around, as he kept an eye on all three.

“I don’t know what you want me to teach you guys.” Kyu said, trying to keep his guard up. “I mean, I just did what I had to do to win, Kuan. Nothing more.”

“How about you we just see what you’re capable of, Kyu.” Kuan said through his smile. “And then we can decide on who is teaching who.”

The rocky surface of Zun was great for fighting on. It was open and sturdy, but there was some terrain to use, and it had some great landmarks. Out by the Targ’s Teeth was a great place to fight, since it was both scenic and practical. Then both Chang and Kuan gave a yell and charged forward, from opposite sides, at Kyu. He spun and surged towards Kuan, who was the faster of the two Zunians.

Kyu’s fist sailed through mid air, as Kuan dodged to one side, but that had been Kyu’s plan, as he then turned and fired a ball of energy into the still charging Chang. It exploded and sent him crashing away, and Kyu kept firing, tracking his aim up and away towards Kuan’s path, blocking his advance and hoping to wrong foot him.

As one large ball came flying towards him, Kuan held his palm up flat and a disc started to glow in it. He threw the yellow attack, and it cut directly through the middle of Kyu’s blast, and then kept going, heading straight for where Kyu stood. Kyu grinned and shimmered; leaving an image of himself standing there, which the disc passed harmlessly through. But it was only then, as Kyu saw it track upwards, and come straight towards him once more.

“Tsuibi Kienzan, hey?” Kyu said aloud, before blasting forward. He spun, and put his hands up, landing on each side of the disc, and pressing together. The momentum of the disc stopped, but it kept spinning, threatening to cut anything it touched. Kyu turned and looked down at Kuan, who was visibly impressed.

“Nice catch!” Kuan yelled. “But I think what you meant to say, was Renzokou Tsuibi Kienzan!” His hands pointed forward and a hail of cutting discs flew up and towards Kyu.

The three-eyed boy hurled the first disc down, and it cut into the front disc of the new cloud. They both cut, and then burst apart, but the rest of the new ones kept coming. So Kyu extended his arm out to his side and then brought it up, before sweeping it down in a line, cutting across the cloud of yellow discs.

“Daichiretsudan!” he said, as the invisible beam cut a swathe through the Kienzan. All but one being obliterated by the unstoppable force. As it rose, Kyu looked at it and shouted, sending a wave of ki at it, and scattering its energy apart.

“Impressive.” Liu Pei noted. He had let Chang and Kuan fight Kyu, but now he had seen how strong he was. He jumped, and flew towards Kyushin. “Let’s see what else you can do!” Liu Pei attacked viciously, striking and kicking at the three-eyed warrior. He was unrelenting, as Kyu could only block and slowly moved backwards. But Kyu could see more than Liu Pei thought, and out of no where Kyu struck forward. He had timed it just right to drive straight through Liu Pei’s defenses, and struck him straight to the face.

Kyu whirled around, and sent a powerful kick into Liu Pei’s midsection. The fighter was sent flying, but he recovered quicker than Kyu had guessed. So Kyu sent a wave of small ki attacks out, some of them flying past, but many striking Liu Pei. They didn’t do much damage, but they were a distraction, and Ku flew in after them and struck Liu Pei’s head once more. This hit was far more ferocious than the last one, as Kyu had time to target it right, and it sent Liu Pei falling to the ground.

Chang Fei bellowed as he stood watching the two fighters in the air. He placed his hands together and sent a huge blast straight towards Kyu. It was bigger than he was, and tore up the earth around where Chang stood.

Kyu felt it before he saw it, as he twirled around to see the oncoming blast. It was shimmering blue, and it almost filled his entire view. Kyu thrust out his hands and stopped the blast before it hit him directly. He grunted under the pressure and had to use a lot of energy to push back, but slowly he gained control of it and starting to push down. It sped up, and Kyu gave it one last heave, before watching it descend back to where Chang was standing, still looking up.

The explosion tore a crater in the earth and knocked Chang Fei to his back. He wasn’t particularly hurt, but he was stunned at the power Kyu was displaying.

“Only Liu Pei, or maybe Kuan Kung can generate that kind of power…” Chang gasped for air in the dust. He looked up again to see Kyu and Kuan Kung dueling, but beyond them he saw two streaks of light coming through the sky. “What the…?”

The two streaks shot straight overhead, blasting the four fighters with a sock wave as the came ever closer to the surface. The fighters could see they were two identical space ships. Pods. They pitched and bounced and rolled across the rocky terrain before crashing into the side of a hill. Debris filled the air as Kyu and Kuan Kung rushed across to the crash site.

Kyu got there first and ripped the door off of one of the small ships. He could see inside was a young boy, around 15 or 16, if he was a human. But, the brown tail sprouting from his back disproved that.

“A Sayain…” Kyu said quietly, before he snapped back to reality. He grabbed the boy and picked him up, pulling him from the small ship and taking him well away from the crash. He looked across and saw Kuan Kung rip the door from the other pod, and carry a larger male across, laying him down next to the younger one.

“They’re Sayains,” Kyu said aloud, as Liu Pei and Chang Fei arrived. “They’re kids, but they’re Sayains. Be careful of them.”

“What are Sayains?” Chang asked as Liu Pei and Kuan attended to the two boys.

“Sayains… I’ve met a few. Most of them have been all right. But they were all half-breeds. Half humans, you know? The only full Sayain I have met… He…” Kyu trailed off. He looked at Chang, who didn’t understand. “He tried to kill me, all my friends, and he succeeded in killing my sensei, who taught me a lot about what kind of a person I need to be.” Chang’s eyes widened, and he looked down at the two boys.

“Can you tell if these guys are…”

“No.” Kyu said, sternly. “But, since their wearing that strange armor, I’m pretty sure they’re not from Earth.” The bigger of the two boys, who looked about 18, in Earth scale, coughed and woke up. He pushed Kuan away as he tried to help him, and he stood up. He glanced around and saw the wrecked ships in the rubble.

“Who are you people?” He said, angrily. “Did you have anything to do with our ships breaking down?”

“No.” Kyu said, jumping to respond before the others did. “We just saw you crash and we pulled you out.”

“I suppose you want a thank you, then.” The boy snarled. “Was it you who ripped the doors off?

“Yeah.”

“Well, I hope you’re good at fixing space ships then.”

“We were making sure you two weren’t…” Chang chimed in, but the coughing of the younger brother cut him off.

This boy looked like he had grown up in a warzone. He had scars crisscrossing his face, some older than others. Both his eyes had scars crossing them, and it was a shock to Kyu when they opened and he could see there was no actual damage to the eyeballs. The boy shifted and stood up, with no obvious wounds, and he looked hard at Kyu’s face. The third eyes had caught his attention.

“You know, kid.” Kuan Kung said aloud, grabbing his attention. “It’s not polite to stare.”

‘Shut up, alien.” The older of the boys yelled. “Sorrel can look at whatever he wants to!” The elder brother was obviously protective of his sibling. He stood forward, glaring at Kuan Kung for his impertinence.

The four rescuers looked around, wondering why they had bothered to save this arrogant boy. The older brother turned to walk away and took a few steps, before he noticed that Sorrel was not following him.

“Come on Sorrel.” The boy called. “We need to go find a new space ship. Although, I doubt this worthless dust ball has even heard of space flight.” He grinned, but it faded, as Sorrel did not follow him.

“Caine, I…” Sorrel stammered. “I think we should at least thank these people for…”

“For what, Sorrel?” Caine glared at his younger brother. “For destroying our ships? For thinking they’re better than we are? For probably shooting us down in the first place? I don’t think so.” He turned and walked away. But Sorrel turned to the four fighters.

“Thank you.” He said politely. “I’m sure Caine is glad we’re both still alive, even if he won’t say it.”

“Anytime.” Kyu said with a smile, looking down at the small boy. But it was just then that Caine turned and saw Kyu pat Sorrel on the head. His Sayain anger kicked into full gear and he let loose a mighty roar.

“Don’t you dare touch my brother!” Caine’s aura exploded out from him, quite large for a Sayain. “We are not peasants like you! We are Sayains! And we do not need your sympathy or your concern!” Kyu turned to face Caine.

“I’ll do what I want Sayain.” He said calmly. “And you will live with that decision. Caine was angered even further, and he powered up a blast in front of him, sending it surging towards the group.

Kyu smiled, and brought his right arm across his body. As the attack reached him he gave a yell, and swiped the blast, bouncing it back and up, hurtling into the sky, before it detonated.

As the dust cleared, Kuan Kung pulled a long sword from the scabbard on his belt, and flew towards Caine. He blasted across the distance to him and swung hard. But as the blade came down, two hands grabbed the blade, snapping it off, and the sudden change of force sent Kuan Kung to the ground.

Sorrel stood in front of his brother, and he threw the large part of Kuan Kung’s blade to the ground.

“You will not hurt my brother.” Sorrel looked serious, as he straightened up, standing as tall as he could.

“You stupid kid. He attacked us!” Kuan Kung yelled, but as he did, Caine stepped around his brother and kicked Kuan Kung hard in the stomach. He was lifted off the ground, taking the full force of the hit, and he almost lost consciousness when he landed on the hard Zunian earth once again.

“Kuan!” Chang bellowed, and started to run at the two brothers with his fists clenched in anger. “You bastards!” He screamed but he was too slow, as Caine hit him with a solid blast of ki, which exploded, and sent Chang sliding across the rocky soil.

Liu Pei and Kyushin each took a stance, and prepared themselves. These two Sayain boys were not to be underestimated. As they did, Caine glanced up at them and smiled. He pushed his aura up to its maximum power level, and watched the response of the Zunian warrior and the three-eyed human. But neither of them flinched. They had both seen higher powers, mainly in each other. And they gave a yell, in unison, as their own power levels reached Caine’s, and then surpassed him.

Then Kyu blasted forward, leaving an image of himself where he had stood. He appeared in front of the two Sayain boys, and let loose a kick to Sorrel’s midsection, dropping him to the floor. He used his momentum to swing his elbow back around, and he slammed it into Caine’s stomach, knocking him backwards. He flew back, sliding and bouncing along the ground.

As he flew, Liu Pei appeared, flying above him, with both hands clasped together, before he brought them down in a devastating haymaker, smashing Caine into the ground.

Kyu watched on, with a smile on his face. But as he did, Sorrel opened his eyes, and glared up at Kyushin. Before he noticed what was happening he felt a power build up next to him, and as he turned he saw Sorrel unleash a massive blast.

It pushed Kyu back, and dug a deep channel in the ground, before Kyu could muster the strength to push it up and away. The attack sailed over the horizon, where it impacted and detonated, sending debris high into the air.

“What are you doing, Sorrel?” Kyu asked. “We mean you two no harm.”

“You openly attacked my brother when he was in the right. We are Sayains and we should not be mixing with you… plebeians.”

“Plebeians?” Kyu was astonished. He was used to being called a freak, but this was outrageous. “You do not know what you speak of, child.” Kyu tried to remain calm against this child. He hadn’t been taught any better than any other Sayain had. It was not his fault.

Sorrel ran across to his brother, who was surprisingly unhurt as he pulled himself up from the rubble.

“It looks like these peasants have some fight in them after all.” Caine was quite cheerful. “They might even have us outmatched.” Sorrel looked shocked as he turned to face his brother.

“But…” Caine continued. “We do have a trick up our sleeve, right Sorrel?”

Sorrel just nodded. Then they both disappeared, and re-emerged a good way away, on top of a flat rock plateau. They stood with their arms out, and they took some odd steps towards each other, and as they did they swung their arms. It was almost like they were… dancing.

As their fingertips touched, a blinding white light shone, and the two fighters seemed to slide together, into the one body. Slowly the glare subsided but all that was left at the end was one fighter, who had scars on his face like Sorrel and a steely gaze like Caine. He wore baggy white pants and a yellow and black vest, and when he spoke his voice was dual toned, with both Caine and Sorrel’s voices easily heard.

“Now let us see how tough you are.” The new warrior said. “I am… Sorraine. I am the result of Sorrel and Caine using the fusion dance, and I am about to make you pay for beating on them.”

“They’ve done this before.” Said Kyu. “They just wanted to see how strong we are, before they wiped us out, to sell this planet to the highest bidder.” Kyu remembered some of the stories he’d been told about how the Sayains did business. “If we don’t stop them… they’ll kill everyone on Planet Zun!”

“Everyone?” Liu Pei was revolted at the idea. He’d never heard of such a diabolical thing. “Well, Kyu. That doesn’t really give us much of a choice, now, does it.”

Kyu just smiled, and amped his power up to full, as Liu Pei did the same. Kyu was astounded at how powerful Liu Pei was. He wondered why he wasn’t in the tournament before, but then, that would have to wait.

Sorraine let out a loud roar as he powered his new aura. He shook the ground as he did it, and some of the more unstable Targ’s Teeth crumbled and fell to pieces. Electricity flowed around him, little static sparks arcing across his body, and he spread his feet apart.

“Which of you will feel my wrath first?” He chuckled.

“Watch him. He’s about twice as strong as either of them was before.” Kyu could feel a slight tremble in his voice, and he knew Sorraine had heard it too.

“You, three-eyes!” Screamed the fused Sayain, who blasted across the rocky surface of Zun straight at Kyushin. “Time to die!”

Kyu brought his hands together in front of his chest, and a yellow ball appeared between his palms. It grew, and started to bulge out of his fingers. This happened within a second, as Kyu screamed the words Piccolo had taught him while training at Kami’s Lookout.

“Chou Baku Retsu Ma HA!”

An energy dome coruscated up and around him just as Sorraine got within striking distance, and he yelled as it was a wall of both force and the burning pain that ki attacks carry with them. Kyu pushed that little bit harder, and sent Sorraine flying off, but he flipped and landed on his feet.

“Nice attack, three-eyes.” The massive warrior chuckled. “But how about this!” And he roared. As he did a glow came from his mouth and a massive wave of green energy came flowing forward, straight at Kyu, whose eyes widened, and he froze in place.

Liu Pei suddenly appeared in front of Kyu, and took a deep breath. Then, with all his might, he blew, and the powerful wave of ki came to a stop before returning back towards Sorraine. He could not believe it, and the explosion sent him flying backwards.

“How did you do that?” Kyu asked the breathless Liu Pei.

“A… little Zunian… technique… for you…” Liu Pei looked up at Kyu, who was obviously concerned for him. “Go. Fight him. I… I will be ok in just… a second.” Kyu nodded, and took off, heading straight for the fused Sayain, who he could sense was a little weaker, but was still amazingly strong.

Sorraine had flown a long way, more from the shock of having the little guy send his attack right back at him than the actual explosion. Or, at least, that was what Sorraine was telling himself.

He regained control and spun in the air, landing on his feet. He looked around and noticed that his flight had taken him clear out of the spiky, rocky area.  He could see a vast Sea off to his right, and a strange looking mountain range far behind him. He shuddered at how oddly similar to Old Vegeta this planet was.

Then Sorraine saw Kyu roaring across the landscape.

“Back for more, hey?”

Kyu landed on the solid, rocky ground. He wasn’t playing around this time.

“Time to leave Sorraine.”

“Leave?”

“I am going to give you this one chance, to leave this planet, and never return.”

“You must be joking.”

“I don’t wish to kill you, Sorraine. But I will, if it means saving the people of this planet.”

“You? Kill me? The mere THOUGHT of it! HA! I am a fused warrior, made up of two full-blooded Sayains. And what are you? A puny Zunian freak! You don’t stand a chance.”

“I’m no Zunian, Sorraine. I’m from Earth. I’m a human. And I have already killed a full-blooded Sayain. He wasn’t as strong as you are, for sure, but he was a lot scarier.”

“You lie! A mere Human couldn’t kill a Sayain.”

“Well, maybe you’ll die today, and join him in Hell. And then… you can ask him for yourself.”

Sorraine lowered his gaze, glaring straight at Kyu. His power pulsed with anger and with humiliation, as well as a burning desire for revenge for his unknown brother.

“I must say…” Kyu said, rather calmly. “For a dead race, there sure are a lot of Sayains floating around the universe. But then, I suppose lots of dregs wash up on shore when a boat sinks… And this is no different.”

“Damn you!” Sorraine had checked his senses at door now. “You’ll pay for your arrogance, fool! You’ll pay with your life, the lives of your friends, and the lives of everyone on this miserable waste of a planet!”

Sorraine lurched forward, loping across the field with long strides, bellowing with rage. He brought his massive fist up and swung wildly, missing Kyu by a long way, but continued on. Every strike was powerful enough to have sent Kyu flying, but Sorraine had no control of his power at this point, and Kyu merely dodged every attack that he made.

Finally Kyu dropped inside Sorraine’s reach and landed a strong hit to his stomach. Then he powered up a blast and shot it directly into him, talking him for a quick fly before the attack dropped itself to the ground, detonating.

Liu Pei stood up and ran to his friends, lying on the ground. He helped Kuan Kung to his feet, and then went to check on Chang Fei. They were both all right, and the three of them turned and saw the massive explosion in the distance.

“Shall we go give Kyu a hand?” Kuan Kung asked aloud.

“From what I’ve seen, I don’t think he needs it.” Liu Pei said.

“Maybe.” Chang Fei noted. “But we aren’t gonna let a human defend Zun, are we?” The three just looked at each other, and took off in the direction of the combat.

Kyu lifted his knee, hammering Sorraine in the stomach, then brought his elbow down into his back, knocking him to his hands and knees. Kyu used the force of the attack to lift him up, and as he rose into the air, he pointed his left arm straight down, and grabbed it about the elbow with his right hand.

“Bakuriki Demon Blast!” He yelled, a surge of blue energy shot from his flattened palm, with electricity surging around it, and the blast hammered home, causing a devastating explosion where Sorraine had been.

As Kyu hovered in the air he felt a strange sensation. There was a ki power off in the mountains, far in the distance, that seemed to fluctuate, and react to their power use. It was as if something was feeding off of their energy.

Suddenly a yell came from below, where the dust was settling, and a golden ring shot upwards, ensnaring Kyu and holding his arms tightly to his sides. Then they could hear Sorraine laughing beneath the cloud of dust, which was just starting to settle out.

Kyu looked at the ring and exerted some force on it, but it wouldn’t budge. He gave a yell and, when he raised the force, he was able to break the ring. He was surprised at the amount of force he needed to break it. As he looked down, another seven rings came flying up and capturing him, curling around him, and bringing him to the ground. From his feet to his mouth was now bound in glowing rings of energy. They were heavy, and they drug him to the ground, and he hit with a thud.

Liu Pei yelled as he, Kuan Kung and Chang Fei arrived on the scene. He flew at Sorraine, driving straight at him. He struck with a massive punch that turned the Sayain’s head, and knocked him off balance, before Liu Pei fired a ball of ki into his stomach, sending him away across the dusty earth.

As he flew Kuan Kung and Chang Fei pointed their hands, palms open, at the Sayain warrior. They both unleashed a massive blast that combined into one powerful attack, knock Sorraine away towards the mountains.

The three warriors glanced across at Kyu, who shook his head, refusing their help, trying to tell them to take care off Sorraine, he would be fine. Kuan Kung nodded, and the three fighters flew off, heading after the mighty Sayain warrior.

Sorraine landed on the side of the odd mountain range, and he stood up. But when he looked around, he could that it wasn’t all mountains, but that they were surrounding a vast and ancient crater. He looked down into the center and he could feel the pull of a might ki source.

“We might get something out of this planet after all.” Sorraine grinned. He turned, and saw three glowing auras flying across the expanse, heading straight for him. He chuckled and reached within himself, pulling all his power and channeling it into his body. His shoulders bulked out, then the rest of his muscles did. His body got large and muscular, and the pupils in his eyes faded, giving him the look of a berserker, and the power to match.

Kuan Kung was first to arrive and he attacked the mighty Sayain head on. His attack landed but seemed to do nothing, and Sorraine punched him hard to the side, knocking the wind from his body and crashing him into the rocks.

Liu Pei came to a stop and, with each arm bent like an “L” he pointed his palms to the sky. Ki shimmered, collecting around his hands and arms, and soon his whole body seemed to quake with energy.

“Speed isn’t your thing, is it?” Liu Pei said through gritted teeth.

Sorraine glared up at the small Zunian figure.

“Double Tsuihikidan!” Yelled Liu Pei, pointing both his hands forward and a massive double blast issued forward, like a neon sign saying ‘get out of the way’. The blast rolled, coming in a massive arc, aiming itself directly at Sorraine’s head, but all he could do was watch as it drove home, and exploded, tearing a massive hole in the side of the rocky outcrop. Even before the explosion had finished, Liu Pei held one hand out behind him, and he started to charge another attack. This one began as a golden ring, which slid up his arm, and then it became a glowing, spinning disk, hovering above his palm. He held it there and waited.

As the debris fell back tot he ground, Sorraine emerged basically unscathed. He looked up at Liu Pei through the light dust, and roared defiantly. He brought his hands behind him, then out to the front, slightly apart and with the palms facing their target.

“Gallic HO!” Sorraine yelled, sending a wave of purple energy flowing up at Liu Pei who waited till the attack was right upon him before he reacted.

Liu Pei brought the disk around in front of him, holding it like a shield, blocking the wave, and sending small shots of purple ki off in all directions. As the ki blast finished, Liu Pei swung his arm back again, and threw the disk directly at Sorraine.

The lumbering giant had little time to react, but he managed to get to his right and the disk sailed past. But he watched it, and it turned and came swinging back towards him. He launched himself away, and flew amid the rocky terrain, but the disk merely sliced through all the rocks that stood in its way.

Sorraine turned, and he yelled, crossing his arms in front of his body, and a purple aura shimmered around him. The Kienzan streaked in, but shattered as it came in contact with the barrier.

He chuckled and looked back Liu Pei who still hovered in the air.

Kyu struggled lying on the ground. He couldn’t break the rings. One had been hard to break, but the other rings stopped him from applying enough force to any one of them for him to escape. He yelled and surged his power, but nothing seemed to work.

He could feel power levels fighting in the distance, and he knew he should be there.

“Maybe I should have gotten their help after all.” Kyu thought to himself.

Chang Fei came directly at Sorraine and hit hard. His attacks pushing the Sayain back, up the slope of the rocky hill, and ever towards the edge of the mighty crater.

Kuan Kung came flying in and joined the barrage, letting his rage take over and throwing everything he had at the mighty Sayain.

Sorraine suddenly grabbed a hold of Kuan Kung by the neck, before hitting Chang with his massive fist, and flying into the air. He hovered high above the crater, still holding Kuan Kung. He then threw the warrior down into the center of the crater. The power signature that could be felt coming from the crater seemed to swell, and the gravity of the area seemed to fluctuate. So much so that when Kuan Kung hit the ground there was a horrible, thunderous crack, and Kuan Kung didn’t move.

Chang Fei looked down in horror, and Liu Pei floated down the ground, looking down into the crater. Sorraine pointed his hand to the sky and a power surge went through him. He pulsed and then a large ball of pink energy appeared above him.

“Chikyuu hou Kai No ichi Geki.” He said, straining to contain the energy with the massive gravity waves coming from the crater. “This blow will cause your planet to cave in! And there is nothing you can do to stop it now!”

“You’d destroy the planet?” Liu Pei yelled. “You’d kill yourself to destroy us?”

“You fools!” Sorraine laughed. “In my fused form I can teleport off of this wretched planet before it dies!"

Liu Pei couldn’t believe it. He was about to watch his planet be destroyed by a monster, and, with the sheer power of that attack, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Kyu could feel the enormous power building up off near the crater. He realized what was happening, and suddenly knew he had to be there. He pushed every ounce of his body to its limit. He felt the energy channeling through his body, and he concentrated it all to this arms, hoping to break these rings one by one.

He pushed and pushed, and he was almost ready to pass out, but then the first ring gave out, and his hands were free. He felt the drain on his body reduce slightly, and he began to break the other rings with less force, getting easier all the time.

Then he was free, and he reached up and broke the last ring, around his mouth. He turned, and he could see the massive pink ball, super charged, above the Grand Crater. He pumped his ki again; with everything he had left, and flew towards the fight.

He hoped he wasn’t too late.

Sorraine bellowed. He laughed. And then he brought his hand down, the ball descending with it, before surging towards the bottom of the crater, and the body of Kuan Kung.

Liu Pei looked on, aghast. Chang Fei shed tears as the body of his friend was obscured by the massive attack. The ball struck the surface of the planet and the whole place began to shake. It dug into the very rock and sent shock waves out into the surrounding mountains.

“Sorry I can’t stick around!” Sorraine laughed, and placed his index and middle fingers to his forehead. “But you know what they say. Places to go, people to see!” But as he hovered there, with his eyes closed and his to his head, his smile faded. He looked panic stricken, and his eyes shot open wide.

“I can’t… I can’t… The crater is blocking any other power signatures!” He screamed. “I can’t locate a power off of the planet to teleport to!”

It was the only thing Liu Pei could do to smile. He was glad that at least the monster wouldn’t survive.

Kyu streaked into the picture and grabbed Sorraine by the vest, shaking him.

“You idiot! How could you destroy a world! How could you?” He kept yelling and shaking the Sayain, but then they both felt it at the same time. Kyu let go of Sorraine, and they both looked at the massive pink ball.

It had sunk half into the ground, but then it had stopped. There was strange red lightning coming up from the base of the hole, and it surrounded the massive ball of energy. Then the ball began to rise. It came up, seeming to be out of control, but moving very slowly. Then it began to shrink, being crushed down by the force of the red lightning. Eventually it became so small that beneath it was revealed a man, standing, holding Kuan Kung’s body in one hand, and the energy attack in the other, held above his head.

The ball shrank and shrank, and eventually all the energy had been absorbed into the figure at the base of the crater. He crackled with energy, and his hair, a light blue mohawk, shimmered with an inner glow.

The figure’s skin was a pale blue-gray, and his eyes were like that of a fox. His ears went to points at the ends, and he was tall. A mighty warrior. He lowered his hand, and the electricity coiled up and around it. His eyes glanced up at Kyu and Sorraine, then across to Liu Pei and Chang Fei.

“Much has changed.” The being said. “Zun is populated with fighters, where once there were few.” He smiled. “My father would be proud.”

“No…” Said Liu Pei, suddenly aware of whom this man was. “You are dead. You cannot exist here… You cannot exist now… You…” But the man cut him off.

“I can, and do exist, Zunian.” He floated up into the air, coming level with Sorraine and Kyu. “Who was the being that freed me from my tomb?”

“Me.” Sorraine said, in his dual toned voice. “But I didn’t mean to.” The man smiled.

“Well, even in your error, I thank you.” The man pointed his finger at the Sayain and suddenly a single blast shot out, drilling through the Sayain Armor, and emerging from Sorraine’s back.

There was no yell, as Sorraine fell to the dirt. He didn’t have time, as he was dead before he hit the ground. His power drained from the wound, he defused and the two Sayain brothers lay in the soil, with identical wounds, and neither of them moving.

The man then glanced down at Liu Pei and Chang Fei, who stood motionless on the edge of the crater. His eyes narrowed and a massive explosion detonated underneath them, and they were sent crashing to the bottom of the hill, unconscious.

“No!” Kyu yelled, surging forward, fists raised, but his attacks were all blocked, just with the being’s free hand. Sensing an opening, the man jabbed Kyu in the stomach, bringing him to a stop, before he elbowed him in the side of the head, and grabbed him by the back of his vest.

“You are a most interesting specimen. You are certainly no Zunian. But what you are, I do not know.”

Kyu blacked out, with the vision of his friends lying motionless amid the rocks and debris etched in his mind.

Kyu woke up, and looked around. He was lying on a cold, hard floor in a small dank room. There was nothing else in the tiny cell, and as Kyu stood up he could hear footsteps echoing down a hallway, which must have been beyond the small door to his cell.

“You have finally awoken.” Came the voice of the man who had so easily killed Sorraine. “I was almost worried I had hit you too hard.”

“Who are you? What do you want from me?”

“My questions first, boy.” The voice was angry, and the door shook a little. Then it opened, and the man stepped through the opening. Kyu could see a fire in the sharp eyes of his jailer.

He raised his hand, and pointed it, with his fingers spread apart, directly at Kyu. Suddenly Kyu could sense tendrils of energy coming from the hand, coiling around him, and coming to rest on his head.

“You will tell me all your secrets.”

Kyu felt the cold fingers drive into his skull, and he let out a might scream, which echoed down the cold stone halls of the massive mountain complex.

Liu Pei awoke amid the debris, and he could hear a voice talking. He couldn’t understand it over the ringing in his ears but he knew someone was talking.

He looked up and saw a young boy leaning over Chang Fei, with an odd glow around him. The glow passed to Chang Fei, and soon he stood up, as did the young boy. Chang Fei thanked the boy, and turned to see Liu Pei struggling to stand. But as he went to help the boy walked across and repeated his glowing energy technique, and soon Liu Pei had recovered.

“Thank you, young man.” Liu Pei was surprised. He had heard of healers before, but he had never seen one in action before. “I thought I was done for.”

“Me too.” Said Chang Fei. “You really saved our butts.”

“I only did what I could, masters.” The boy replied, bowing to them. “My name is Chori, and I am a mere apprentice alchemist. Anything I can do to help you sirs, is my pleasure.”

Liu Pei and Chang Fei exchanged glances. They didn’t know why the boy was being servile to them.

“Forgive me. But are you two men not Liu Pei and Chang Fei? Two of the Great Triumvirate of Warriors of Zun?” The boy looked worried that maybe these were not the men he had thought.

“Great Triumvirate…?” Chang Fei exclaimed. “I’m Chang Fei, and he’s Liu Pei. But we’re hardly part of a Great Triumvirate.”

“I beg to differ, sirs.” Chori exclaimed. “You are known throughout the lands of Zun for your skills and prowess. You truly are warriors, nay, Heroes of Zun.”

“We can discuss this later, child.” Liu Pei interrupted. “But first we must find Kyu, and that guy who did this to us.”

“I can sense a large Ki power in the distance, far in the region of Hor.” Chori said. “Perhaps that is the being you seek?”

“Indeed.” Liu Pei agreed. “Is there any others lying around here?”

“No. Only the two dead warriors at the base of the crater.”

“Means that guy took Kyu, and Kuan Kung’s body.” Chang Fei said, angry.

“Would you like to accompany us to Hor, young man?” Liu Pei asked of Chori, whose eyes lit up at the idea.

“It would be my honor and my privilege, Lord Pei.” Chori said, bowing again.

“Good. Then come with us.” Liu Pei turned to fly, but stopped. “But on the way, you can learn to not call me Lord, and not to bow so much.”

Sunset approached, but Kyu could not see it. He could not see anything. The searing pain in his mind had not stopped all day, until the man had stopped probing his mind. Now Kyu lay motionless in the small dark room, unable to move, unable to feel and unable to even gather the smallest amount of energy.

But on the edge of his mind he could sense words, movement and visions. Like people talking a few rooms away, who you can barely hear, Kyu could feel there was someone else in the mountain, but more than that he could not tell. He longed for the light of day, and he fell into unconsciousness.

Kyu’s mind lit up once more, as his dream centered on all the things of his past. The people he knew, and the echoes of things happening in his life.

Hokusai and his brothers, Raide and Cumbre, his sensei Rhao, his own brother Daio, and of course Mago; the monster he had fought, and killed, all those months ago. He could feel their presence, much more than he could before. He felt as if he were looking down on them. He watched Hokusai, the great warrior on Earth, as he trained with his three brothers. Kyu could have sworn that, as he watched, Hokusai turned and looked straight at him.

Then light blinded him, and the man entering the room again shook him from his dream.

“Your friend, Kyu, was quite helpful. He has told me much about you.”

“Just get on with it, Kurkar.” Kyu was surprised. How did he know the man’s name?

“My psychic probes seem to have fed some information back to you.” Chuckled the man. “Or maybe you’re learning to use them yourself. Either way, it won’t do you any good. Once I have finished gleaning the information from your mind, I won’t need you any more.”

The tendrils came out once more, and touched the sides of Kyu’s head.

“Tell me more about this place you call… Kaioshin.”

Kyu’s screams could be heard across the plains, outside the mountain.

The massive peak of Tai Shan Mountain loomed over the horizon. Liu Pei, Chang Fei and Chori were deep in the dark desolate region of Hor on the eastern part of the planet Zun. Liu Pei shuddered, remembering the legends about this area of the planet, about why it was now uninhabited, and about the one man who had brought it about.

“The man who we fought; the man who took Kyu and Kuan Kung. His name is Kurkar. And he is no mere fighter.” Liu Pei said, in somber tone. “He is the first and only son of Zun, the one who helped remake this planet.”

Chang Fei looked at Liu Pei in disbelief, but he just nodded.

“He ruled over this section of the planet, but is mix of blood, part Kai, part Zunian, made him seek power, and he tormented his people, using them for his own selfish gain. Zun became enraged by this misuse of powers granted to the Kais, and he stopped him. He killed him in the center of the Grand Crater, creating it, but he too died from the battle.

“Now it looks like we have somehow seen him reborn. And I do not think he will have changed I any way that is good.” Liu Pei was solemn, and he cast his eyes down. Chang Fei stuttered. But Chori was silent, hanging back, letting the two warriors lead.

“If we cannot stop him…” Liu Pei continued. “Kurkar will take over this planet, and many others, and will become a threat to the whole galaxy. The whole universe.”

“Then we better stop him. Right?” Chang Fei said.

Liu Pei just smiled at him. And then turned, descending to the top of the massive dark peak.

The three of them landed, and looked around. There were the remains of a military facility; a medieval one, with walls and fortified positions for war, and a crumbling building with a staircase leading down inside the mountain.

Liu Pei strode towards the stairs. He wasn’t going to abandon Kyu.

Kurkar stood over Kyu, who was motionless on the floor.

“One more psychic attack should do it.” He murmured to himself. “One more, and his feeble mind will probably ooze out of his ears.” He took a deep breath and pushed his mind towards Kyu.

But as he did, Kyu turned his head, facing directly at Kurkar, and a psychic wall came into force around his body.

“Something you should know about humans.” Keeping his focus, Kyu stood up, staring directly at Kurkar, and maintaining his psychic defense. “We learn real quick.” And he yelled, hitting Kurkar with his own psychic blast.

The attack did almost nothing to Kurkar, but he was shocked to see Kyu use it so easily. It had only been two days, and yet this three-eyed fighter from earth had picked it up.

“Too bad, Kyushin of Earth.” Kurkar said, in a deep voice, rumbling the very stone walls. “You were almost starting to be fun.” And he thrust his arm forward, sending an invisible blast of ki, knocking Kyu backwards, and through the thick rock wall.

Liu Pei jogged down one of the many halls in the vast labyrinth. He could hear yells and blasts, but they echoed, and they could have been anywhere.

Suddenly Liu Pei could hear Kyu’s voice, talking to himself.

“…of the people…have died… I have to… because…”

Liu Pei shook his head, unable to understand what Kyu was saying. He concentrated.

“Raide, Hokusai, Daio… All of the people who have trusted me and believed me. I’m not going to fade away. I am not going to leave them not knowing if I have lived or if I have died. I will save them. I have to. I shall rise up and destroy this thing, and everything else in my way, because there are people who count on me, and there are people who need me. And I will not sacrifice them. I will not sacrifice my own humanity to survive a battle like this.”

Kyu was getting beaten around, smashed through walls and blasted with powerful ki attacks, but he was still concerned about the people around him.

Liu Pei turned, now able to focus on where Kyu was, and he blasted a hole in the wall. Chang Fei and Chori looked on; surprised to see Liu Pei do this out of no where. But when they followed him, he did it again, and through the new hole they could see Kyu and Kurkar fighting, with Kurkar doing a lot of damage to the three-eyed human warrior.

“How is it you still fight, boy?” Kurkar yelled at Kyu. “I have deprived you of food, and water, and the light of the sun for two days. I have drained you of all your energy, and more, and yet you still fight. How?”

“Because.” Kyu said, determined but weak. “I am human. And humans don’t give in.”

“Humans must die in great numbers, then.” Kurkar pointed his finger at Kyu’s face and a ball grew on the very tip. It shimmered with a red glow, and Kyu knew he was staring his death in the face.

Kyu’s mind wandered. He thought of fighting Hokusai, of training and talking with Raide, and her older brother Cumbre, and his own brother Daio, who he hadn’t seen in what felt like years. As he suddenly realized he would never see them again, he longed for them, and he reached his mind out, seeking them, wanting see them, hear them, hold them one last time…

“Hey, Kurkar!” Liu Pei yelled, bringing both combatants back to the real world. “The people of Zun owe you, for killing our beloved father!”

“He was my father, you fools, not yours.” Kurkar smiled. “But I will show you the same generosity I showed him.”

Liu Pei screamed, letting loose a ball of blue ki, which swept through the hall, and cannoned into Kurkar, throwing him away down the hall, and crashing him into a wall.

“Chang! Get Kyu.” Liu Pei glanced around and saw Chori was missing. “Where did the kid go?”

“I’m here.” Chori called, as he helped Kuan Kung walk into the room. “I could sense your friend. He was faint, but alive.”

“Kuan?” Chang called, seeing his buddy alive, when he had thought he was dead.

“Reunions later, let’s go.” Liu Pei said. “We can fight this guy another time.”

“Chori? Is that the name you are using now?” Called Kurkar from along the hall, as he stood up. “Father would be so disappointed.”

Chori glared down the room at the tall man, and it was only then that Liu Pei and Chang Fei noticed the striking resemblance the two had. They shared the same hair – blue mohawks, eyes – bright red and sharp, and even skin color – light blue-gray.

“What is this…?” Chang Fei asked.

“I haven’t been Gessar for a long time, Kurkar.” Chori said angrily.

“That is a shame. It is a much better name for the future King of Zun.” Kurkar smiled, knowing that Liu Pei and the others were hearing this for the first time.

Kurkar’s power began to rise, as he gathered it together. Liu Pei and Kyu could feel it, and Liu Pei grabbed Chori by the shoulder.

“We’ll discuss this later. Come on.”

As they turned to leave, Liu Pei turned back to face Kurkar. He put his hands to his face, and then pointed them towards the tall man.

An invisible blast of ki sent Kurkar back, and the roof of the hall collapsed in, burying him. Liu Pei turned and flew out of the area, as rock began to collapse from all sides.

The four warriors exited the mountain at the top, and they could feel it shake and quake, and they flew into the air. Then Liu Pei erupted out of the top, and the mountain visibly crumbled down, and collapsed by a few hundred feet. It remained a mountain, but it looked like almost all the interior structure had been wiped out.

The five fighters looked at each other, and took a deep breath.

“Let’s get out of here.” Kyu sighed, through gasps of air.

“I know where we can go.” Chori said.

Deep within the mountain was a pocket of air, and from beneath it came a rumbling, and an arm shot up from the debris. It planted itself on the ground and pushed, lifting up the body attached to the arm. Kurkar.

He stood up in the small opening, and he chuckled.

“So, Gessar is siding with Zunians and the human…. Well, we’ll see how he likes the surprises I’ve got in store for him. I’ve got some friends he might like to meet. I know they want to meet him.”

And he laughed a laugh that echoed across the plains of Zun.

The five warriors touched down in the town center. It was a small village; miles away from most of the inhabited regions of Zun, and the people looked at the fighters with some fear.

“I live just outside the town.” Chori said to the others, leading them towards a big building made from wood and stone. “But there is better medicine here.”

“Can’t you just do that healing trick again?” Chang Fei exclaimed.

“That isn’t actually healing.” Chori hung his head as he said it. “My power only fuels you for a limited time. It just accelerates your power to make your body think you have more than you do. Like a drug. And it drains my own power quite severely.”

“Then we thank you, none the less, for helping us, Chori.” Liu Pei said to the young boy, patting him on the shoulder. “It was courageous of you to come with us, especially with the… history, you and Kurkar have.” Liu Pei left his last comment hanging in the air.

“I suppose I should tell you about that.”

“Yes.” Liu Pei said quietly, with a smile. “But after we are recovered.”

Kyu sat up from the bed. He had awoken to the sound of people moving around and going about their business, which was not something he was accustomed to. He got out of bed, and walked out of the room, to find Kuan Kung, Chang Fei and Liu Pei eating breakfast in the main room.

“Good morning Kyushin.” Kuan Kung exclaimed. “How are you feeling?”

“I’d ask you the same question, Kuan Kung.” Kyu was confused about this. “I thought I saw you fall to your death.”

“Well, appearances can be deceiving, my friend.” Kuan Kung said aloud. “Come, eat, drink, tell us about what happened with Kurkar.”

Kyu told them about the two days of torture that Kurkar had put him through. He was surprised at just how easy it was for him to tell them. He had truly become friends with these three men, and he was glad that they felt the same way.

Chori returned to find the four men laughing and eating, and he was glad to see it. But, when he entered the room, Chang Fei quickly stood up and confronted him.

“Now, kid, you know I’m thankful for what you did out there, right?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Well, now, you have to repay our trust so far, and tell us about you and Kurkar.”

“I know.” Chori put his parcel down on the table and sat down. “I know I should have told you sooner, but…”

“Don’t worry about that.” Liu Pei said. “We just want to know all we can, Chori. This isn’t anything to do with you.”

Chori looked at him, and then hung his head.

“Kurkar…” He said, finally. “Is my brother.”

“What?” Kuan Kung exclaimed, as the others, sat silent. “Brother? But he’s been trapped in there for a thousand years? Does that make you…”

“No.” Chori said. “Not brothers like that. There is a prophecy that says a new son of Zun will be born and will rise to be king, but that he must defeat the one who Zun could not kill.”

“But he did kill him, didn’t he?”

“No.” Chori looked up. “The odd gravity well in place in the crater was Zun’s last attempt at holding Kurkar until a true warrior was strong enough to destroy him.”

“So you’re the Son of Zun?” Kyu asked. “The one to whom we should look to defeat Kurkar?”

“Apparently.” Chori said. “My name, according to the writings, is Gessar of Ling, which is the region I was born in, just over the Sea of Serenity. But my parents were killed, and the family that took me in moved over to this continent of Zun, Han. And so I have been here ever since. Ling is not very strong, but I have always felt closer to it than the people here.”

“You always have a special place for where you were born, believe me.” Kyu offered, putting his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Earth hasn’t been kind to me, but I still call it home.”

“Yeah.” Chang Fei agreed, as Liu Pei and Kuan Kung nodded. “I’m glad we got that sorted out.”

“You… you still trust me?” Chori was surprised. “You still want me around?”

“Of course.” Liu Pei smiled. “Nothing you’ve said or done has made you a bad person. It’s just good to know these things about your friends.”

Chori could only smile. But suddenly there was a scream, and a crash from outside. Timber smashing, and then more screams. People were running past the door, and there was panic outside the building.

The five friends stood up, and rushed to the door. And what they saw when they looked out was almost beyond their dreams.

Thirty strange figures had walked into the center of the small town. They were not men, nor beast, but a strange cross breed of the two, with the bodies of men, large and bulky, but with the legs of a dragon. Like the Centaurs of Earth legends, these were what Kyu could only describe as…

“Dragon-taurs?”

“No.” Said Chori. “Lung Kuei. Dragon spirits from deep in the mountains of Hor. They were believed to have been destroyed by Zun. Wiped out to make way for his people on this planet.”

“Looks like Zun did about as good a job with these guys as he did with Kurkar.” Chang Fei grunted. “What do you think they want?” But his question was answered even as he asked it.

“Gessar!” Bellowed the lead Lung Kuei. “Come out! Or we shall destroy this village of yours!” As he said it, one of his companions hurled a cart full of vegetables for sale into a building, smashing both into small pieces. “Gessar!”

“I have to go out there.” Chori said.

“Yes.” Kyu said, striding forward. “But so do we.”

The lead Lung Kuei turned and saw five figures walking towards him. He smiled.

“So. You have decided to show yourself.” He roared. “Are you trying to save the village… Or are you just tired of living?” He and his brethren laughed a harsh, draconic, rumbling laugh.

“Did Kurkar send you?” Chori called out.

“Kurkar freed us from our prison. And so to repay him, I, Raiko, have led my people to find you, and take you to him.”  The leader yelled. “Although what he could want with a strapling like yourself is beyond me… Make this easy on yourself, boy, and give up. You cannot hope to fight us. We are the Lung Kuei. Dragon Ogres in the old tongue. We are ancient creatures, born eons before your precious Zun even walked upright.”

Chori took a breath, but Kyu stepped forward, in front of the boy.

“Raiko.” He called out. “Your ancient people. Are you barbarians? Is the concept of honor alien too you?”

“Disrespectful maggot!” Raiko bellowed. “We are the Lung Kuei. Races like these Zunians learned about honor from us. How dare you question it!”

“Then I challenge you.” Kyu continued. “To a battle. The winner will receive this boy as their prize. While the loser takes his defeat with pride.”

“You?” Raiko scoffed. “You are challenging me? I am the greatest warrior of the Lung Kuei, and you, a mere Zunian are challenging me?”

“I am no Zunian, Raiko, as you should plainly see. I am a human, from far off in space, and I have bested warriors of this planet. Do you accept my challenge? Or do you dishonor yourself?”

“I’ll accept your challenge, human. But only to see a… human… in action.”

Raiko had almost no neck, with his shoulders connecting almost with his ears. His muscles were all massive, but they worked in unison, and their bulk caused no restriction of movement to the massive warrior. He stood over 8 feet tall, and his tail extended for almost 6 feet. His spine was lined with a row of dark green, inch-long spikes, which matched the darker scales, which covered the upper part of the green hide. His upper half had dark human skin, but he was more like an ogre than a human, with a broad nose, and sharp spiky teeth, elongated canines, heavyset forehead.

The village was cleared of people, they had seen to that themselves, and the town square was ringed by Dragon Ogres and Kyu’s four companions. Raiko stood in the middle of the arena, and Kyu stood facing him. Raiko brandished an axe, twirling it in his mighty hand. He was grinding his teeth together, and the noise echoed around the vast courtyard. Kyu stood motionless.

“You would use a weapon against an unarmed opponent?” Kyu smiled.

“Kurkar told us that you could fly, which is a technique long forgotten by the Lung Kuei. Are bodies are not designed for flight, and so I use this weapon, while you may fly.”

“I suppose that is only fair.” Kyu conceded. “What is so special about your axe?”

“The blade and handle are made from a rare metal, which can channel ki, and turn it into the forces of the elements.” Raiko brandished it in front of him. “Ice. Rock. Water. Lightning. As well as my favorite… Fire.”

“A most powerful weapon.” Kyu said. “But it will do you little good.”

“I look forward to proving you wrong, boy.”

The wind blew, and dust was kicked up between them. The arena was silent, bar the murmuring of a few spectators.

Then Kyu gave a yell, and he shot forward, across the space between them. As he did, Raiko flicked his axe in his hand, and it changed to stone. As Kyu approached, Raiko brought it up, and slammed the flat of the blade into the three-eyed warrior’s side, sending him away, and almost into the onlooking Lung Kuei.

Kyu flipped, and slowed himself, dragging his feet on the slick cobblestone surface. He had underestimated Raiko, who was capable of hiding his ki signature as well as any human fighter. When he had stopped, he pushed forward once more, driving straight at the Dragon fighter, but as he came closer he shot up into the air.

Raiko watched the boy ascend. He twirled his axe in his hand, awaiting the boy’s next move. The problem with not being able to fly was that Kyu could always set the pace of the fight, rather than the other way around.

Kyu stopped, and pointed his hands down, sending a volley of small ki blasts straight down, on top of the green dragon ogre. The barrage of blue ki blasts was very compact, and packed quite a punch, and Kyu was hoping to see how well Raiko could handle them.

Raiko raised his axe, and pointed it towards the ki missiles, and as each one hit the axe absorbed them, radiating fire and lightning from it. After the last of the blasts had hit, Raiko swung in an arc, and pointed the blade of the axe straight up at the still hovering Kyu, and a bolt of lightning arced up and struck Kyu hard, to fast to block.

Kyu almost lost consciousness, and dropped a few dozen feet before he regained control. The axe could redirect ki all right. Kyu had, for some reason expected it to only work on Raiko’s, but now he would have to rethink his strategy.

“Surprised?” Raiko laughed.

“Every day.” Kyu said back, with a smile. He shimmered, and he left a static image of himself floating in the air. Raiko looked at it, and was shocked as Kyu reappeared in front of him, too close to hit.

“Are you?” Kyu yelled, pointing his left arm at the dragon’s chest, gripping it with his right hand, unleashing a devastating blast, carving a massive chunk out of the courtyard, and pushing Raiko backwards, his four clawed feet digging up even more of the paved area.

Kyu didn’t stop, and he shot forward through the dust, launching himself at the stunned Raiko. He surged towards him, but at the last minute saw Raiko snap back, and swing his axe up. Another static image. This one passed through Raiko, and his swing carved through it. Kyu reappeared directly behind him, but hadn’t reckoned on something, and Raiko’s tail arced up, driving the dark green spikes on it deep into Kyu’s side, and the sound of cracking bones could be heard by everyone in the area.

The force of the attack drove Kyu to the ground, and Raiko turned, keeping his back to the downed human. As Kyu tried to stand Raiko reared up on his front legs, and kicked with his powerful hind legs, digging his claws into Kyu’s chest, and knocking him far across the courtyard.

Raiko turned again, now facing his distant opponent. He grinned and started to walk across to where Kyu lay. Struggling for breath, Kyu tried to stand up, but as he got to his hands and knees, he coughed up blood, and fell back to the ground.

Raiko stood over his fallen opponent, and pushed him with the end of his axe, rolling Kyu onto his back.

“Feeling cocky now, human?”

“Cocky? Never. Confident?” Kyu smiled. “Yes.” And he brought his hands to his face; fingers spread like a star.

“Tai You Ken!”

The assembled audience watched as the sun’s rays, beaming down, seemed to curve around, collecting on the fallen warrior, then exploded upwards, directly into the face of the Dragon Ogre, who bellowed with rage and pain.

Raiko swung his axe blindly, trying to hit the fallen boy, but as he swung and raged, Kyu had escaped from the ground and flown high into the air. He placed his hands on his wounds, feeling the blood run down his side, and across his fingers, red staining his green wristbands, and his pants. He shook his head, clearing the pain, and watched as Raiko slowly recovered from the blinding.

“That attack is called the Fist of the Sun.” Kyu called out. “I don’t often use it, but when I have nothing else, it sure comes in handy.”

“It is a pitiful attack!” Bellowed Raiko. “How dare you call yourself a fighter using attacks like that.”

“I use what is necessary to win, Raiko. Much like you. Many humans would consider your tail to be a cheap weapon, much like the use of your axe.” Kyu descended to the stone floor.

“I will make you suffer for that attack, boy.”

“And I will not let you take Chori back to Kurkar. It seems we are at an impasse.”

“Call it what you will, earthling. It will become your funeral.” Raiko roared once more, and charged across the arena at Kyu. He swung his axe back, and charged it with energy, fire bursting from the very blade. Kyu dodged the first swing, and the second, getting inside the massive warrior’s reach. He pummeled the beast’s chest, but his blows seemed to do nothing, and before he could do more Raiko punched him in the head, launching him away, before charging again.

Kyu launched forward, and he shimmered, streaking off. Raiko could still see Kyu coming, but he was growing wise to this trick. He turned to see Kyu flying sideways across the other side of the arena, and he smiled. But then he felt the attack.

Kyu kicked Raiko in the back of his turned head, putting every bit of his speed and power into the attack. Raiko fell to one side, but stayed upright, turning back. Kyu flipped backwards, escaping the dragon’s reach, and used the move to kick Raiko in the head once more.

Raiko was staggered, and he watched what he thought was a static image flip away, after kicking him twice. How could he… Raiko didn’t have time to finish.

A massive ball of energy struck Raiko in the back, and detonated, the sound echoing around the village, and drowning the roar of pain Raiko had let out. The dragon turned and saw the other Kyu he had seen with his right hand, palm flat, pointed directly at him.

“How are you so fast?” He yelled. “It is like you are in two places at once.”

One Kyu shrugged, but the other landed in front of him and let out a yell, blasting Raiko with a wall of invisible ki, sending Raiko sliding backwards once more, digging up four great channels where his claws dug into the cobbles.

Raiko looked up to see the two Kyu’s merge back together, before the now original Kyu shot forward, ready to attack. Raiko swung up with his axe, but he had lost a lot of speed from Kyu’s attacks, and Kyu streaked below the swing, and struck Raiko hard to the face.

The shock wave from the hit picked up debris from around them and flung it into the air. The two combatant hung there for a brief moment, before Kyu pulled down, and then unleashed another devastating punch, this time with his left, again striking Raiko’s face on the up.

Red blood dripped from Raiko’s broken nose, and Kyu looked at it dripping on the stone floor. He realized how similar he and Raiko were, fighters, representing their race, both not giving in, and both with bright red blood pumping through their veins. What was it that made them different? Why did they have to fight? Why couldn’t people see that they were the same, deep down, as everyone else?

Kyu heard Raiko start to rumble inside, and brought his hands together in front of him, cupping them as a ball of energy appeared between them.

“Chou Baku Retsu Ma HA!” The dome engulfed Raiko, and the burning force caused him to let out a bellow that could be heard for miles. Kyu shot away, and landed several feet away from Raiko, and waited to see what was happening.

Raiko appeared amid the dust, and he looked up at Kyu, standing defiant. He breathed out, and the axe slipped from his hands, hitting the ground with a clang. Raiko slumped down to his haunches, and he let out a long breath. His mouth was full of blood, and it splattered as he breathed.

“You win, human.” Raiko admitted. “Keep the boy. But we will be back.”

“And I will stop you again, Raiko.” Kyu said, relaxing slightly, his shoulders sagging.

“Who are you, that has beaten me, human?”

“I am Kyushin Juku. Kyu for short.”

“You fought well Kyu of Earth.”

“As did you, Raiko, Champion of the Lung Kuei.”

“I will see you again.” Raiko stood up, unsteady, and then picked up his axe. He turned and walked away, and the Lung Kuei followed him, somberly.

Kyu watched them till they had left the village, then he let the pain in, and he fell to his knees. He grabbed the wounds on his side, and looked at the fresh blood. He passed out, hitting the stone floor with a thud.

Kyu could see her, flying through the air. Raide’s hair blew in the wind, and she smiled. He could almost reach out and touch her he was so close. He could see his hand reach out, but it passed through her, and she stopped, scared. She looked around, and then looked right at him.

“Kyu?” She said, before the vision faded and Kyu awoke, back on Zun, with the pain in his side. He put his hand to his broken ribs, and he could feel the bandages holding them tight. He tried to sit up, but his body knew better, and wouldn’t let him.

Chori came in, holding a basin and a cloth.

“Kyu. You’re awake.”

Kyu just smiled.

“That’s ok.” Chori smiled. “You sure had us worried. You were so fast, and strong during that fight, but after being unconscious for 3 days, we thought we might have lost you.” Chori sat beside Kyu, and placed the basin in the floor. He started to untie the bandages. Every little movement sent short sharp pains through Kyu’s chest, even with Chori being very careful. Kyu winced, and Chori got the last of the bandages off.

“It looks nasty, but you’re healing up nicely. The spikes must have missed your lung, which is lucky.” Chori stopped, and then looked at Kyu. “That is, if you humans have your lungs in the same place as we do.” They both smiled.

“The wound has mostly closed over, so as long as you stay in bed, I’ll leave the bandages off.” Chori cleaned around the wound, making sure there was no signs of infection. “You humans must heal real fast.”

“You’d be surprised what anyone can do, if they put their mind to it.” Kyu said softly. “When you have a purpose, you can do anything.”

Chori smiled, and stood up.

“Get some rest, Kyu.”

Daio, a boy about 2 years younger than Kyu, sat on a train, listening to music. He was thinking about his brother, the three-eyed human warrior, and where he could be. He hadn’t seen him in many months, and he hoped he was ok.

Daio wore jeans and a long sleeve shirt; his hair was thick and dark, pointing up to the sky, with only a small spike pointing down, over his forehead. He was thin and wiry, but fit, with big eyes, and a small mouth.

Suddenly, Daio could hear his name being called, as it was interfering with the headphones he had on. Removing them, he could still hear the strangely familiar voice, and all other noise started to fade out.

“Kyu?” Daio said, he hoped not aloud.

The voice faded in and out, calling his name, sounding like it was in trouble. Then there was a flash, a vision. A cold dark planet. A boy with blue skin, and a mohawk to match. Dragons, and a mountain of fire and lava. Then a yell of pain, and anger, and then it was gone.

He couldn’t understand what was going on, but he knew a person who might.

The visions kept coming back. No matter how he tried, Kyu could see and hear his friends, and they could almost see or hear him, but as soon as they could, he woke up, and he lost the link to them… If it was a link at all and not some bad dream.

Hokusai, Daio, Raide and Cumbre. They all drifted in and out of his mind, as if his brain was reaching out to them, as if he needed them. Kyu couldn’t understand why he suddenly had this power to reach out, or why his brain wanted too, but he knew that he needed to find a way to channel it better. To use it for a purpose, other than disturbing his sleep. He made up his mind, then the pain hit him again, and he went back to sleep.

A day had passed since he had fought Raiko, and Kyu stepped out of the small room, into the living area of the house. There was no one there, and Kyu looked outside, hearing much noise coming from the large stone courtyard.

As he poked his head out, some people saw him, and cheered. They recognized Kyu, and were thanking him for saving their town, even if he had caused a bit of a mess. Kyu smiled back, weakly, and Liu Pei headed over to him to see how he was.

“I’m fine, for the moment, but I think I might need some help.” Kyu said, weakly. “Ever since Kurkar used his psychic attack on me I’ve been having visions. Seeing and hearing my friends on Earth, and I think that they’ve been able to hear me too.”

“Then it is true.” Liu Pei smiled. “Humans certainly learn techniques quicker than almost any other race.” Liu Pei sat down across from Kyushin. “What Kurkar used was a technique known here on Zun as ‘Kokoro o Yomu’. He would have used it to learn about your past, where you come from, what you have and can do and much more. It seems that, while he used it on you, your body learnt how to do it. But, you have no control over it.” Kyu looked at the floor and then back up at Liu Pei.

“So, am I seeing the past? Or am I actually contacting my friends?”

“Hard to say. It is a strange technique, and it can take many forms. Often it is just memories, but if the power goes deep enough into your mind, then perhaps you are contacting them.”

“I’m not seeing things that happened, but I find it hard to believe that my mind can send and receive signals millions of miles across the galaxy.”

“The hearts and minds of the people we love are never far from us.” Liu Pei patted Kyu on the shoulder and stood up. “I think this is something you’re going to have to answer for yourself.”

Liu Pei, Kuan Kung and Chang Fei stood high atop the rocky hill. They all faced Kyushin, who took up his fighting stance. The wind blew across the area and the four friends stood totally still, hearing the howling of the wind rush past.

“Are you ready, Kyu?” Liu Pei called out. “You want to learn this move?”

“I’m ready.” Kyu smiled.

“I hope you are, because the Kienzan is a difficult technique to master, and controlling multiple homing energy disks can put a serious strain on your body.”

“I think I’ll be fine.”

“Good.” Kuan Kung said, leaping into the air. “First you have to get one at a time going.” And he fired a massive blast straight down at Kyu, who was surprised at the sudden attack. Kyu remembered watching Kuan Kung use the energy disk attack from when they were training, and he concentrated his energy into his hand. The image of the disk came into his mind, and the disk flared in his hand. He hurled it up and towards the oncoming blast, and the disk sliced straight through it, and dissipated on the other side.

“Well done.” Liu Pei said. “But the real test is learning to make many, and then control them all.”

“Well then.” Kyu smiled. “Bring it on.”

Daio arrived at the place he was looking for. It was the return address to the letter he had received weeks ago, from a girl called Raide, who seemed to know Kyu. He walked up the driveway, with Vana following him.

“Are you sure this is the place?” Vana asked. “I’d hate to bother someone who doesn’t know him.”

“Well, this is the address on the letter.” Daio said, turning to face her. “And this is the only lead we have.”

“I know, Daio.” Vana hugged him. “I want to find him too. But asking about a guy with three eyes… Might be a bit weird if we ask the wrong people, right?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Daio looked up at the house. It was huge, and Daio started to have second thoughts. “Maybe I’m just going crazy. Maybe the dreams are just that, dreams.”

Suddenly the door opened and a young girl stood at the door.

“May I help you?” She said, her big, spiky hair blowing in the wind.

“Uh, maybe. I don’t know.” Daio stuttered. He didn’t really know what to say. He looked up at the girl, and he saw her expression change. She looked frightened and happy all at once.

“Kyu?” She said.

“What?” Daio was surprised to hear the girl say his brother’s name.

“You look like… A guy I knew… Kyushin.” The girl shook her head. “Sorry, it’s just that I haven’t seen him in…”

“You sent me this?” Daio held up the letter.

The girl could only nod.

“I’m his brother.” Daio said.

The young girl let out a scream of delight, and flew out to grab him. She hugged him and spun around.

“Oh my god! I thought you must not have gotten the letter!” She screamed again.

“I just didn’t know what to do. I mean…” Daio stammered.

“No, no. That’s ok.” She stood back and looked hard at Daio. “You look SO much like him. Well, except for…” She trailed off.

“Yeah.” Daio smiled. “Except for that.” They both laughed, lightly, under their breath. Then Daio remembered, and turned around.

“This is Vana.” He pointed towards her, and she walked up to where Raide stood. Vana was tall, and her long red hair blew in the wind. She looked down at the shorter girl who smiled, beaming up at her.

“Hi Vana, I’m Raide. Nice to meet you.”

“Hi.” Was all Vana could say.

“So, why now?” Raide asked, looking back to Daio. “What made you wait till now?”

Daio looked at Vana, and she nodded.

“How about I tell you inside.”

Kyu fell to his knees, then slumped back, sitting in the dirt. He was exhausted, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Liu Pei landed a short distance from him.

“Good work, Kyu. You’re getting better at it.”

“I…” Kyu gasped for air. “I already have a technique where I have to control a whole bunch of ki attacks, so I didn’t think that would be a problem.”

“Yeah, I noticed.” Liu Pei looked off over the horizon, the cool evening wind sweeping across the barren rocky land. “But the Kienzan is a very powerful attack, you have to remember to keep perfect control of it. It isn’t just random like your scattershot technique.”

“I know.” Kyu slumped. “But it’s a start.”

“It is. You’re doing well Kyu. It took me many weeks to get to this point.” Liu Pei looked down at Kyu. “You’re a natural.”

“Shall we go another round?” Kyu asked, glancing up.

“Only if you can handle it.” Liu Pei said.

“Would Kurkar, or Raiko be able to handle it?” Kyu said, through gritted teeth.

“Let’s get to it then.” Liu Pei smiled, and took off, with Kyu close behind.

Hokusai turned to his three brothers. They were training, like always, and he watched them for a moment. Hiroshige, the youngest of the four of them, was a weapon specialist. He used two long katana, and he wielded them better than anyone Hokusai had ever met. Utamaro was the next oldest, physically the biggest of the brothers. He stood at almost seven feet tall, and yet was capable of fine painting, and sculpture. His specialty was ki energy, and he could wield it, and manipulate it in many different forms, far surpassing fighters around the galaxy.

Sharaku was the second oldest, more sleight of build than the others, but taller than Hiroshige. His black hair pointed up from his head, and he had a few scars on his face. His specialty was speed, which he used to devastating effect in fights. He could easily outpace any and every fighter he had ever met, although Kyu had defeated him when they had fought. Sharaku harbored some resentment because of that defeat, but he was also in awe of the boy’s fighting skills.

Hokusai stood up, the eldest of the four brothers, well over six feet tall, and built strong. He unfurled his brown tail, and it whipped in the wind. Hokusai could feel his Sayain blood aching for a real fight, like he had had with Kyu all those weeks ago.

“Brothers.” He called to his three siblings. They were humans with whom he shared a mother, but not a father. Hokusai’s father, a full-blooded Sayain, had come to earth many years ago, but had left before Hokusai had turned four. “I have been having visions of our friend, Kyushin. And I believe they mean something more than I can determine.”

“What do you mean, brother?” Sharaku called out. “Kyushin can handle himself, can he not? Do you think he needs our help?”

“Perhaps…” Hokusai trailed off slightly. “All I can tell is that he is on Planet Zun, and that something is causing him great pain, and stress.”

“Kyu beat us.” Utamaro said, calmly. “Surely, if he cannot handle a warrior, then we can’t help.”

“You forget, Utamaro, we have something he doesn’t have.” Hokusai smiled, and Utamaro knew what he was talking about.

“We will leave first thing in the morning,” Hokusai said, finally. “Get some rest, you’ll probably need it once we get there.”

Kyu flew through the air, fast, chased by a glowing yellow disk of pure ki energy. He dodged side to side, but it followed his every move, and he turned to catch it. He hand clasping down on the flat top and bottom of the disk, and he held it mere inches from his face, as the energy continued to coruscate, threatening to cut his head in two.

Then he felt them, two more coming from either side of him. He managed to twist to his left enough to throw the disk he held, crashing it into one of the new disks, destroying them both, but the one from his right swept past him, burning a path across his shoulder, and down his outstretched arm. He cried out, and fell to the ground, and watched the disk turn, to make another pass.

Suddenly Liu Pei dropped in between Kyu and the disk, and he caught it, breaking it in two, before glaring back up at the one who had fired it.

“Kuan Kung!” he yelled. “What do you think you’re doing? You can control them, why did you burn Kyu’s arm? You could have killed him! You want that?”

“He should have dodged it quicker.” Kuan Kung yelled back, floating in the air. He wants to learn, he should learn faster.”

“I remember it took twice this long to teach you how to make a basic Kienzan!” Liu Pei was angry with his friend. “Give him the chance I gave you!”

“If he wants to be the hero, he should learn quicker.” Kuan Kung yelled back, before he flew off, back to the village.

Liu Pei turned and walked back to Kyu.

“I’m sorry about him. He hasn’t been the himself lately.” Liu Pei ripped a long strip of fabric from his shirt, and wrapped it tightly around Kyu’s arm. “Getting beaten by Kurkar must have really got to him.”

“The fact that he never fought Kurkar bothers me.” Kyu said, looking at Liu Pei.

“What?”

“If you remember, it was Sorraine, the fused Sayain who we thought killed Kuan Kung. He was already at the bottom of the crater when I got there. Kurkar never faced him, and now he goes on about how powerful Kurkar is. It doesn’t add up.”

“Maybe he can just tell from us.”

“Maybe… But even so, how did he survive the fight? How was Kuan Kung ok after we all saw he was dead? He was at the bottom of the crater, and yet Kurkar took his body with him. He grabbed it from the start. I don’t like it.”

“You mean, you think Kuan Kung might be…”

“I don’t know, Liu Pei. All I know is that Kurkar knew a lot about me before he probed my head.”

Liu Pei looked at the ground.

“We can worry about it later.” Kyu said, standing up. “For the moment, he isn’t really a problem. And who knows, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Kuan Kung was just unconscious.”

Liu Pei looked up at Kyu, but he couldn’t smile, and he couldn’t get the idea out of his head.

“You’ve been having the dreams too?” Raide was stunned.

“Yeah, have you?” Daio asked.

“I keep thinking I can hear him, or see him. Like, when it’s quiet, or I’m alone, I can feel him there.” She smiled at Daio. “I thought I just missed him.”

“I think he’s in trouble.” Daio said, sternly. “All the dreams, all the visions, there’s a sense of dread, of danger, of pain, and I really think he might need help.”

“Help? But how could we be of any help at all? I mean, you aren’t a fighter, and he’d already surpassed me by a long way before he left.” Raide hated to say it, but even her Sayain blood couldn’t keep up with Kyu’s relentless power level.

“I think that, maybe, it isn’t fighting help he’s going to need. Maybe he just needs some people who know him, who need him.” Daio said.

“Who love him.” Vana added. And the others agreed.

“Ok then.” Raide said, seeming to make up her mind. “But… We don’t know where he is.”

“I always hear the word Zun whispered during the dreams. It comes and goes, but it’s always there. Maybe that has something to do with it.” Daio was sure it did.

“There is a planet, out in space, called Zun.” Raide said. “My father told me about it. He said it’s a long way away, but the people are friendly enough.”

“But, how can we travel through space?” Vana asked, unsure if this was getting them anywhere.

“Oh don’t worry. I know a guy whose family makes all sorts of space ships, and he gave me one for my birthday.”

“He gave you a whole space ship?” Daio couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah.” Raide exclaimed, producing a white box with two large ‘Cs’ engraved on it. “And it fits in this little box.”

Chori opened the door, and Kyu almost fell through. He looked exhausted after a solid week of training with Liu Pei on the rocky plains of Zun. Their training had taken both of them past what they had been capable of, and yet both of them felt like they needed something more before they could fight Kurkar once more.

“Perhaps…” Chori suggested during their evening meal. “Perhaps we could seek out the ancient Sky Ring, the true symbol of kingship of Zun. It is rumored to give the wearer vast powers, beyond the scope of mortality.”

“The… Sky Ring?” Kyu asked.

“It is a ring, made of blue jade, the rarest of Jades, which Zun blessed with his own hand, so that, when worn by a being capable of ruling the people of Zun, it grants them vast power.” Chori said.

“Could Kurkar wear this ring?”

“More than likely.”

“Do you think he knows about it?”

“I believe he helped Zun forge it, a thousand years ago.”

Kyu stood up all of a sudden, pushing his chair back with a screech.

“Then we must find it now, before he can get his hands on it.” Kyu turned to go, and then turned back to the others. “That’s probably what he has been searching for these past days.”

“I doubt it.” Chori said, sullenly. “He knows where it is… he knows exactly.”

“What?” Kyu couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“It is located in the depths of Hor, in a Ring of Fire, through which only a hero, a true king, may cross.” Chori couldn’t hide his pain at this. “He will know where it is, but he will wait until we get it.”

“Then surely we should leave it where it is?” Chang Fei suggested.

“It is he only way we can defeat Kurkar.” Chori said, glumly. “Or at least, the only way to defeat Kurkar right now.”

“Chori… Gessar… If you wear this ring, will you attain the powers of the ring?” Kyu looked straight into his eyes.

“I believe so…”

“Then let’s go.” Kyu smiled, and turned to go. “What are we waiting for?”

The five of them left the house, and flew off into the sky. The turned in the air, and they could see the red glow coming from the eastern horizon.

“Into the Dragon’s Den…” Kyu said, under his breath. “You just got to love it.”

They flew low, amongst the rocky, mountainous terrain of the Hor region. The fiery glow came from beneath the rocks, from beneath the crust, due to the volcanic rivers than ran below. They could see the massive spire of Tai Shan mountain in the distance, surrounded by a glow unlike when they were last here.

“Looks like Kurkar’s been rebuilding.” Kuan Kung said.

“This place was scary during the day.” Chang Fei said, looking around. “During the night… It’s terrifying.”

“Perfect place for a monster to live, really.” Liu Pei whispered.

“Lots of people on earth think I’m a monster…” Kyu said, quietly. “They really should see this guy.”

“There it is.” Chori called out, pointing to a cave. “That’s the entrance to it.”

“Why did Zun create a ring, then hide it all the way out here, in a virtual hell on Earth…” Kyu corrected himself. “Or Zun, as it were.”

“This is the only part of the Planet that has the raw primal energy required to create such a cave.” Chori said. “The only place it could be kept safe… The Dragon’s Den, as you said.” He hung his head, looking down. “Besides… I think he always meant to come back for it himself.”

“Well…” Kyu put his hand on his shoulder. “Let’s save him the trouble.” And Chori smiled, as they descended to the cave below.

As they walked down the path, at the entrance to the cave, they could feel the heat roaring up out from the depths. A dry heat, devoid of moisture. It was as if hell itself were down inside the cave, and they were walking towards it.

“This is the ‘Underdark’. It is the ancient home of the Lung Kuei, who lived down here for the warmth.” Liu Pei said as they reached the entrance. “I know it isn’t very dark…” He said, as Kyu opened his mouth to say just that. “But that is just what it got called.”

Kyu closed his mouth, and went first, and as he got to the bottom of the cave, he found himself gazing across a vast cavern, a perfectly flat expanse, about 10 feet high, and extending for hundreds of yards in every direction. The light ran out before Kyu could see the end of the massive cavern.

In the center, Kyu could see a Ring of Fire, burning steadily, surrounding a pedestal. He walked closer to it, but the heat was so intense he could get no closer than a few feet. Chori, however, walked towards it like he was hypnotized. As he reached the wall of fire, it seemed to part, and he kept walking, into the center of the ring, and the fire closed around him.

He was obscured from view for a few moments, then suddenly the fire went out, and the four friends could see Chori standing next to the pedestal holding a shining blue ring.

“Well that was easy.” Kyu said aloud. The he heard the deep voice rumble from all around him.

“Yes, it was, wasn’t it.”

He knew that voice. He had heard it before.

“Raiko.”

“We knew you’d come get it sooner or later, and now we’re here to take it from you. Lord Kurkar will be pleased when I present him with his trophy, and he will free the rest of my people. Then the Lung Kuei will ride out and take their place on this planet once more, and there is nothing you can do about it now, boy.” Raiko stepped out of the shadows, and blocked the entrance. His axe was in his hand, and he grinned at Kyu and his friends as 20 Lung Kuei emerged from the shadows around the room, surrounding them.

“Do you really believe that, Raiko?” Chori yelled to the half man, half dragon. “Do you think Kurkar will keep his word? Do you think he’ll share this planet with you?”

“He will, for if he does not, then he will not get the ring, and he will never be king of this world.” Raiko had an evil grin across his face. “Perhaps this world will have a Lung Kuei as its king.”

“You couldn’t beat me, Raiko. What makes you think you can beat Kurkar?” Kyu yelled, moving in front of his friends.

“You have no idea what that ring does, do you?” Raiko smiled even wider. He suddenly moved his axe, and it glinted, and the Lung Kuei converged on Chori.

“NO!” Yelled Kyu, turning, but it was too late. One dragon grabbed him, while another punched him hard, and he fell unconscious to the ground. Kyu turned back to Raiko, only to see him charging towards him.

The flat of the blade hit Kyu in the head, and he flew across the room, skidding on the shiny rock surface. Even as he stood up, Raiko bore down on him once more. Kyu managed to dodge the next attack, but Raiko’s tail caught him, sending him flying, and skidding once again.

Liu Pei and Chang Fei charged at the mass of Lung Kuei. They knew that their only chance was to get Chori free, and then help Kyu. Without Chori it meant nothing. But as they came to the Lung Kuei, they swung, and punched, and kicked, but they were soon surrounded, and they became pinned, unable to fight such overwhelming numbers.

Kyu swung, and punch Raiko hard to the face, staggering him, but then Kyu tried to fly up, and found himself at the ceiling of the cave. His loss of concentration cost him, and Raiko punched hard into his stomach, then leapt after him. Kyu rolled, and blocked, but he found himself pushed backwards, and he didn’t know how he could beat Raiko in the confined space.

“This is why the Lung Kuei do not fly, Kyushin.” Punching him hard in the face. “This is place for strength, not agility.” Another flurry of punches brought Kyu to his knees, only to feel Raiko’s knee come up and hit him in the jaw, lifting him into the air, to face another round of his devastating punches.

Kyu could see his friends getting beaten, and he could feel his blood running down his face, and his neck, and his chest, but he couldn’t do anything about it. Everything he knew needed more room to work, but Raiko had him pinned, and he couldn’t break free. Once more his thought turned to Hokusai, Raide and Daio, and he hoped that they would forgive him for dying here, away from them all, on a backwater planet, in the dark…

A bright light suddenly appeared in Kyu’s vision, and he swore he could hear a voice. The light seemed to move, and it crossed the floor, driving itself into the mass of Lung Kuei, and detonating. Then another light came straight at him, but it struck Raiko, and threw him to one side, giving Kyu a moment of respite, and he fell to his knees, bloody and exhausted.

Looking up, Kyu wiped the blood from his face, and he suddenly saw a face that seemed to loom from the darkness, but was surrounded by light.

“Hey there, kid. Good to see you’re ok.”

“Hokusai?”

“The one and only.” Hokusai replied, smiling, lifting Kyu up by his arm. I think we got here just in time.”

Kyu turned his head, and he saw a young boy with two swords fighting a horde of Lung Kuei, keeping them pinned and away from Liu Pei and Chang Fei. He saw a huge man standing by his two friends, with a blue, shimmering glow around him, and a large dome of light surrounding all three of them. He could see, at times, a blur, that he knew was the other brother, fighting another group of Lung Kuei, who couldn’t keep up with his pace, and who were pinned by his onslaught. The Kyu looked back at Hokusai.

“Hiro… Utamaro… Sharaku…” He smiled. “Just in time is right.” Then he heard the bellowing from his right.

“KYU!” Raiko stood, holding his axe, which glowed with the fires of hell. He swept it through the air, and a wave of invisible ki washed over everyone in the room, knocking them to the ground.

“Another time!” He yelled, as he leapt across the room, towards the entrance. It was only once his back was turned that Kyu saw Chori’s limp body hung across his back like a saddle.

“Chori!” Kyu yelled, then doubled over, clutching his side. The fight had reopened the wound, and he knew he couldn’t follow. He looked up at Hokusai, then he blacked out.

Kyu woke up, and looked around. It was day, but he was still amidst the mountains of Hor, and he could feel the heat coming up from the ground. He could see Hokusai and Liu Pei talking, and Chang Fei having his bandages changed by Utamaro. Hiroshige sat beside Kyu, and he smiled.

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah, thanks Hiro.”

“Don’t mention it.” Hiroshige helped his friend up. “I’m just glad we got here in time. A few minutes later, and you guys might have been toast.”

“Yeah.” Kyu looked at the boy, and smiled. “It’s good to see you again, kid. I missed you.”

“Heck.” Hiro laughed. “We missed you too, man.”

Kyu walked across to Hokusai and the others, and they filled him in on Hokusai having the visions of Kyu in trouble. It all led to the conclusion that Kyu’s psychic powers were real, and broadcasting across the galaxy. The Liu Pei and Kyu filled Hokusai and his brothers in on Kurkar, and Chori, and Raiko, and what they would have to do. Hokusai now knew that the situation was bigger than anything he could have realized.

Sharaku stood atop a large rocky outcrop, watching the young man in the distance. The young man walked, then turned, then turned away again, and started walking. He seemed to be trying to decide something, but was hesitating.

Hokusai came up behind his younger brother, and stood next to him.

“What’s happening?”

“Not much. He just seems to be walking back and forth. Either he’s got some kind of illness, or he’s got a secret. And I’m guessing he’s not sick.”

“Ok. Good work. I’ll go tell Kyu. Kuan Kung is hiding something, and I doubt it’s good.” Hokusai turned and walked back to the others, while Sharaku continued to watch Kuan Kung. He suddenly felt something, a ki signature, and he looked up. He was just in time to see a shadow pass across him, and he fell unconscious to the ground.

Kuan Kung heard a swoosh and a thud, and he turned around, looking up at where Sharaku had been standing. He couldn’t see anything, and turned around once more. Then a shadow passed across him, and he hit the ground as well.

Hokusai walked back to the group and he told both Kyu and Liu Pei about what Sharaku had seen.

“I hate to say it, but I think you might have a mole on your hands.” Hokusai said, sadly. But even before he had finished his sentence he could feel some ki signatures around the camp.

“Do you feel that, Kyu?” Hokusai said, quietly.

“Yeah, I was hoping you did too.” Kyu said with a smile.

Suddenly a shiny metal dagger, just an inch long, hit Utamaro in the back of the neck. It went so quickly, that only the glinting of the metal in the sun made the group see it. Utamaro almost got his hand to it, before he collapsed.

“Poison daggers!” Liu Pei yelled, but then a glinting metal blade silenced him as it hit him in the back, and he too was unconscious. Now only four members of the group were standing, and they looked at each other, silent, afraid to move. Hokusai twisted all of a sudden, blocking a dagger before it hit Kyu, but it had stuck him in his hand, and he too fell to the ground.

“Hokusai!” Yelled Hiroshige, before he was silenced, in the same moment as Chang Fei too hit the dirt. Kyu now stood alone, amidst the unconscious bodies of five of his friends.

He breathed in slowly, and he closed his eyes. He thought of the tendrils Kurkar had used on him, and his how his mind had been expanding, and suddenly he could feel eight minds hiding amidst the rocks. He could sense their exact positions, and he smiled.

“Time to prove all that training paid off.” Kyu thought to himself, collecting energy in his arms. He held his hand open, away from his body, and two yellow disks appeared, spinning and coruscating, and he spun, launching them off in opposite directions.

The disks came in a circle, slicing through rock. Kyu launched six more, and eight disks rocketed off in different directions. And as they did, eight men, clad in beautiful robes, white with red sigils, leapt from hiding places amidst the rocks, and dodged the energy disks.

Kyu kept his mind open, and he controlled the disks, each one following its target. The eight men proved hard to follow, and eventually one turned and cut the disk in two with a long energy blade, and soon the others did too. But when they all landed, they did not attack Kyu, but merely surrounded him.

“Where did you learn that technique, outsider?”

“Liu Pei, hero of the Zunian people, taught me, in order to help him rid the planet of a great evil, Kurkar, the King of Hor.”

“You are dedicated to that cause?”

“I am. Who are you eight to stop me?”

“We, young man, are the Pa Hsien, The Eight Immortals, the guardians of this planet in the name of Queen Hsi. We are her servants, and we rid this planet of unruly interlopers.” The leader of the eight stood up, and walked into the open area of the camp. “I am Ts’ao Kuo-chiu, and I am to escort you to the court of Queen Hsi, upon Kun L’un Mountain.”

“Why knock out all my friends?” Kyu asked, still angry.

“We meant no harm, or disrespect.” Ts’ao bowed his head. “But our orders were to bring you, not to invite you to attend.

Kyu glared at him, trying to decide if he was trustworthy.

Nine figures flew through the air, with Kyu and Ts’ao Kuo-chiu at the lead. The other seven each carried one of Kyu’s friends, including Sharaku and Kuan Kung. Kyu watched as a great mountain loomed over the horizon, but he was surprised that this one did not fill him with the sense of dread that Kurkar’s mountain had given him.

“We will land at the top of the mountain, and we will provide your friends with healing medicines.” Ts’ao said. “While they recover, you will meet our Queen.”

“Why me?” Kyu asked. “Why not Liu Pei? He is the hero of the group, after all.”

“You were the only one capable of locating us through solid rock.” Ts’ao bowed his head to Kyu. “You have proven yourself an adversary, and have earned the Queen’s audience.”

Kyu looked at him, but didn’t say anything, and they descended to the large palace atop the mountain.

Kyu stepped into the vast chamber, being waved through by numerous courtiers and servants. He could see only a vast hallway, lined with gold on the walls, and red carpets on the floors. Mighty chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and filled the palace with a beautiful glow.

He walked at a steady pace up the hallway, undaunted by the grandeur. He walked calmly up to the end of the long carpet runner, and looked up. There atop a vast staircase was a mighty throne. It was beyond what Kyu had imagined for a Queen. Amongst the throne sat an old lady. She looked down at Kyu through looking glasses, and smiled. He face lit up with a childish glee as she looked at him, and Kyu could see this woman as an enigmatic Queen.

“Why do you stand before us, three-eyed boy?” The Queen called down.

“I stand before you because you invited me, your highness.” Kyu didn’t know how to address her, and so he called upon everything he knew of Earth royalty, and hoped it would suffice. “I seek no reward, no blessings. I merely seek to right a wrong, and retrieve a friend of mine from a great evil in the east.”

“We have been watching the growing evil, deep in the kingdom of Hor.” The Queen said. “But, is it not true that you were present at the birth of this evil? How can we believe that you do not seek it for your own purposes?” She placed her hand on a small dish beside her, which held a tiny, gnarled tree, which was totally bare of leaves or signs of life. The dish, its pot, was probably the most beautiful object in the room. Or at least it was to Kyu’s eyes.

“I was there, it is true.” Kyu bowed. “But I assure you that I seek it only for the good of the planet, and I believe that you can see that, or you would not have invited me here.”

“You see much, young man.” She stroked the pot. “But I see more. You are right. I know your motivation. And I know that you seek the boy who would be king in place of Zun himself. Is this not true?”

“It is true.”

“Is it also true that you discovered the Sky Ring which determines the true ruler of Zun? And gives it’s wearer vast powers?”

“Yes.”

“Then, pray tell, why are you worried about the boy? He wears the ring and he is destined to wear it. Surely destiny is coming true.”

“I do not believe he has the strength to overcome Kurkar. I do not believe he will be able to wield the ring, as he does not believe in himself enough for it take effect. And I believe that Kurkar, should he get hold of the ring, will lay waste to this planet using its power. I seek to stop that from becoming reality, and I pledge my life to it, knowing that should I fail, not only will I die, but so will most of the people on the planet.”

There was a surge of energy, and the small pot began to glow, and leaves unfurled from the small branches. They shivered, and a flower bloomed, all in the space of a few seconds. Then the flower grew, and turned into a fruit, which then hung from the tree, glowing slightly.

“The prophecy…” The Queen whispered. She looked down at Kyu, who was shocked. “There is a prophecy that says when the one who speaks truth, the one who has honor, and the one who sees speak in harmony, that the Tree of Might will bloom, and produce fruit. This pot was blessed by Zun himself, to light the way in the darkest hour of the Zunian people. It has almost reached the end of its life, but now it blooms, and produces fruit, at your words. I had long thought that Liu Pei and his friends were the three, but you have spoken, and so has Zun.”

“Do not Trees of Might require entire planets to fuel them? How can one be kept in a pot?” Kyu asked, thinking about some of the things he had seen on his travels.

“Zun himself filled the very clay of this pot with his own energy, enough for many years of growth of the Tree. Perhaps if it had produced fruit before, than it would not have lived for a thousand years.” The Queen motioned for an attendant, who walked carefully to the Tree, and picked the fruit. But even as he did the tree shuddered, and turned to ash, disintegrating in front of their eyes, as the glow from the pot faded into a memory.

“The fruit is yours, Kyushin.” The Queen said, gesturing for the attendant to take it to him. Kyu took the fruit from the outstretched hands of the attendant, who then scurried off back to his post. “Do with it as you will. You may eat it, to gain its power, or you may give it to another. But do not waste it, for that would waste the efforts of countless generations of Zunians who have lived on this planet for these dark days to come.”

Kyu walked out of the hallway, and went towards the housing part of the palace. He walked slowly, looking down at the fruit of might in his hands. He stopped before he got to the door, and looked out across the vast horizon. He thought about Chori, and the others, and what he might need to do to help him. Chori was the true King of Zun, but there was something fundamental that he lacked to be a warrior. The gulf between Chori and Kurkar was evident, and nothing, Kyu believed, could ever bridge it.

Once more he looked down at the fruit, then he took a bite of it, chewed it, and swallowed it. He felt the surge of power move over him, and he knew had made the right choice. He finished the fruit, every last bit of it, and wiped a tear from his eyes.

“I’m sorry I cannot tell you about it, Liu Pei, Hokusai.” He thought to himself. “But I must this a secret. I cannot let them know that the prophecy came true for me. I must not let Kurkar know. It is our only advantage at this point, and as the Queen said… I cannot waste it.”

He pushed open the door, and went to make sure the others were ok.

Raide had made everything ready, and she pressed the button on top of the small capsule, and threw it out onto her yard. With a loud pop the capsule turned into a large spaceship, easily able to hold ten or even fifteen people. She watched as the boarding ramp came down, and the door opened.

“Well, here we go.” She turned to Daio, Vana and her brother Cumbre. “All aboard for Planet Zun. Strong gravity, rocky terrain, and Kyushin Juku.”

The four of them smiled, and got aboard the ship.

Kyu, Hokusai, Liu Pei, Chang Fei, Kuan Kung, Hiroshige, Utamaro and Sharaku all stood outside the palace. They could see the massive pinnacle of Tai Shen Mountain in the distance. And as a group they all felt the waves of evil coming from it.

“I suppose today is the day, right?” Chang Fei said. “We really should go and get Chori back.”

“Agreed.” Liu Pei said. “We have to assume that Kurkar has the ring by now, so it is really now or never.”

“Can we fight him if he has the ring?” Hokusai asked, unsure if even wanted a response.

“We can try.” Kyu said calmly. “And we have to try. For Chori, for Zun, and all the people who live here, or who have lived here, or will live here in the future.” He turned to face his friends. “This isn’t about us anymore. It isn’t even about Chori. It’s about doing what is right, for your brothers. Either by blood, by oath, or by inhabitation of the galaxy. I would gladly call all of you my brother, and I cannot stand to see any more people suffer at the hands of this monster. We must stop him, even if it costs us our lives to do so.”

There was silence as they each took in the severity of the situation. Not even Sharaku questioned it. And so it was decided.

“Let’s go.” Kyu said, turning to fly.

“Wait.” Came a voice. It was Ts’ao Kuo-chiu. “I offer the assistance of the Eight Immortals. We too inhabit and serve this planet, this galaxy, and we wish to help.”

“Sixteen fighters.” Kyu smiled. “Against an evil king and his army of Dragons.” Kyu looked around at his friends, and the eight new arrivals. “I like the sound of that.” Then Kyu lit his aura, and he flew slowly into the air, where the group assembled. And with a nod of his head, they took off, heading straight for the mountain. No subtlety, no tactics, no plan. The group knew what was expected of them, and they knew they would either do it, then return triumphant, or never return at all.

The wind whipped at their clothes, their hair, and their eyes. The sixteen warriors hovered high above the peak of the mountain. Kyu briefly considered merely flattening the mountain, wiping it clean off the face of the planet, but he knew that it would do them no good, as Kurkar would survive, and any element of surprise they had would be lost.

“Let’s go.” He said, calmly, and descended to the very peak, finding the entrance rebuilt, this time stronger and carved out of the very stone. With barely a pause, to wait for the others, he walked into the hallway, descending down the stairs into the inky blackness, which was punctuated by the occasional torch on the wall.

Eventually they came out into a vast hall. It was the entire inside of the mountain, and at the far end was a mighty throne with a massive iron ring above it. In the throne sat Kurkar, glaring at them. At his feet were two bloodied and beaten bodies – one, a large Dragon, the other, a small blue-gray boy.

“CHORI!” Chang Fei yelled. But Kyu stopped him before he ran across the hall. He noticed that the boy moved slightly when he heard his name, which was a good sign.

“Kurkar.” Kyu called out, calmly.

“I expect you are looking for this.” Kurkar said, holding up his right hand, which had a small ring of blue jade around the middle finger. “The Sky Ring. Blessed by Zun, giving the wearer vast powers.” Kurkar stepped forward, between the two unconscious bodies, and towards the group of sixteen.

Kyu just sneered a little. But then he turned as he heard the Eight Immortals leap forward, and into the air.

“Now!” Ts’ao Kuo-chiu yelled, and a hail of poison daggers rained down upon Kurkar.

“NO!” Yelled Kyu but it was too late, they loosed them, and the barrage headed straight for their target.

Kurkar held his hands in a cross in front of his chest, and the darts slowed down, and stopped. Then he thrust his hands forward and the dart turned around, flying directly at Kyu and his friends.

Utamaro stepped forward put his hands up, generating a shield, which covered the entire group all at once, and the darts pinged off, some disintegrating, others falling to the ground. All but one, however, which penetrated the shield, and drove itself into Utamaro’s neck.

“Impressive.” Kurkar said, putting his hands down, and smiling. Utamaro breathed out, and fell to his knees.

Hokusai and Hiroshige moved forward, kneeling beside their brother. Hokusai looked up, glaring at the Eight Immortals, then back at Kurkar.

“Give us the ring, Kurkar.” Liu Pei yelled. “We have the numbers, we can beat you.”

“You think that sheer weight of numbers can defeat me?” Kurkar laughed. “I am a Kai you fools. How can mere mortal warriors beat me? How can you? No matter the number, I will destroy you all.” He grinned and lowered his head, his eyes looking up and directly at the Eight Immortals. “You first, I think.” And he shot into the air, attacking them head on.

“Now!” Kyu said, racing across to Chori, and to the Dragon. When Kyu got there he realized it was Raiko.

“Raiko? Raiko, are you ok?” Kyu asked.

“He… betrayed…” Raiko struggled to talk. Chang Fei and Utamaro helped him to his feet. As he stood there, he pointed towards the throne. “His power… it is tied to that. He cannot go far from it, and if it is destroyed, he will become a lot weaker.”

“What do we need to do to destroy it?” Kyu asked.

“Fire.” Raiko breathed out, barely able to stay conscious.

“Get him out of here.” Kyu told Chang Fei. “Stay with him, or come back. I don’t mind. But just get him out of here.” He nodded, and started to lead him out, and Kyu turned to Liu Pei and Hokusai who were tending to Chori. “How is he?”

“He’ll be ok.” Liu Pei said. “But not anytime soon.”

“That’s ok, I don’t think we need him for this.” Kyu turned to Sharaku. “Get him out of here, fast. Where did you take Utamaro?”

“I put him outside, safe, away from harm.” Sharaku said.

“Good.” Kyu said. “Take Chori there too, and get Chang Fei to take Raiko there as well. Then get back here, fast.”

“I do everything fast.” Sharaku said, grabbing Chori and putting him over his shoulder. He streaked out of the room. Kyu looked up to see Kurkar throw the last of the Eight to the ground, and then turn to the five remaining fighters looking up at him.

“Your ‘superior numbers’ are dwindling already.” Kurkar grinned. “I hope the rest of your new friends are more fun to play with.” He stared at Hokusai and Hiroshige. “Or maybe you four have gotten better since we last met…” He moved his gaze to Liu Pei and Chang Fei. “Or maybe not.”

Kyu yelled, flaring his aura, powering up. Then he shot into the air, directly at Kurkar, landing a devastating hit to his face. He followed it up with a flurry of blows that kept pushing Kurkar back, before bringing a double fisted smash down into his back, sending him to the ground. He breathed hard, but Kyu kept his eyes focused on Kurkar.

Sharaku laid Chori down next to Utamaro, and then sped off, back to the fight. Chang Fei led Raiko to the same spot, and told him to lie down, then he left and returned to the battle. As he sat there, Raiko watched Chori stir, then begin to get up.

“You ok, kid?” Asked the Dragon of the young boy. He didn’t reply, but instead placed his hands on his chest and started to glow. He opened his eyes, and stood up straight. Then he shook his head. His wounds had not healed, but he felt stronger, and he got ready to go back to the fight.

“Hey, kid.” Raiko called out. “What did you just do?”

“I can… temporarily… heighten a person’s power to make them feel stronger, and healed, even if they aren’t really fixed up.” Chori looked at the beaten Lung Kuei. “You want me to do it to you?”

“Will I be able to help?”

“I don’t know…”

“Then what the hell. Go for it, kid. Give me everything you got.”

Kurkar roared, and blew himself out of the small crater he had created when he landed. He looked up at Kyu, but felt a surge of energy. He looked down again just in time to see Sharaku blast across the hall and start laying into him. The surprise of the attack was the only real damage, but Kurkar found it hard to hit the super fast boy.

Chang Fei arrived next, and flew across the hall. He gritted his teeth and charged to wards Kurkar, power pumped to full, and his voice bellowing with rage.

Kurkar swung, and finally connected with Sharaku, knocking him across the room, and crashing into the wall, only to find himself hammered by Chang Fei who was surprisingly powerful. His rage had fueled him on, and he pummeled away at the mighty sorcerer.

Liu Pei joined in, watching Chang Fei start to get the upper hand. He descended into the fray and came at the other side of the massive Kurkar, who he hit with a few attacks, stumbling him, and giving them a real chance.

Kuan Kung saw the chance and raged, shooting into the battle, completing the three-fold battle, punching and kicking at Kurkar repeatedly, making it look like they had a good chance.

Chang Fei and Liu Pei appeared in front of Kurkar, and they both attacked with a mighty, devastating attack, just as Kuan Kung blocked Kurkar’s punch, grabbing his right hand, and twisting it, brining Kurkar to his back. Kuan Kung, thinking quickly, twisted till Kurkar’s hand opened, and he ripped the Sky Ring from his finger. Kuan Kung was left holding the ring, standing over a prone Kurkar. He looked down and saw the stunned king looking up at him.

“Do it!” Kyu yelled. “Finish him Kuan Kung!” But Kuan Kung stood there, trembling.

“I cannot.” Kuan Kung said, shaking.

Everyone couldn’t believe what they’d heard. Kurkar started to stand up, and he looked at Kuan Kung.

“Kurkar saved my life, and I owe him the same debt. I cannot ignore such a debt.”

Kurkar burst into laughter.

“How touching, Kuan Kung.” Kuan looked up at him. “It is a pity I don’t have the same feelings.” And with that Kurkar put his hand up, palm open, and blasted Kuan Kung with a devastating ki wave. Fiery and red, it washed over him, and his body disintegrated to nothing.

“NO!!!” Chang Fei screamed, his hand out, reaching for his friend, whom he had trusted till the end. Tears welled in his eyes, and rage welled in his heart.

Liu Pei looked down. Kuan Kung had not been a spy, or a mole, he was merely paying a debt, much like the one he had sworn to Chang Fei and himself all those many years ago.

There was silence in the room, only broken by the harsh breathing of Chang Fei, unable to comprehend his friend’s decision and his death. But then the sound of footsteps echoed around the hall, and Kurkar turned to see Chori running, brandishing his long sword, directly at Kurkar.

“You have caused too much pain this day, monster.” Chori leapt into the air, rising high above Kurkar’s head. “Now your time ends!” And he swung.

Kurkar’s hand blurred, sweeping up, catching the blade itself, in mid air, then his fist rushed through and punched Chori in the stomach, knocking him far across the room, leaving the blade in Kurkar’s hand, who then threw it across the room, and it stuck in the wall.

“He is too strong, even without the ring…” Kyu sighed.

Chori skidded across the floor coming to rest at the clawed, scaly green feet of Raiko, who was standing at the doorway. Kurkar looked at him, and the first sign of rage cut across his face.

“I told you, lizard. I will not free your pathetic people from their imprisonment.” He started to yell. “They had their chance to run the planet, and they blew it. They will not get another!” And then he flew at Raiko, enraged, ready to kill again. But Raiko stood firm.

“So be it, Kurkar.” Raiko drew his axe, and spun it in his hand. “The Lung Kuei will pass into history once more… But so will you.” And he threw the axe. It spun, directly at Kurkar, who dodged it deftly. And Raiko smiled. Kyu stood beside the throne of Kurkar, and he caught the axe as it sailed through the air. He then turned and held the axe high above his head.

“This axe can replicate any element of nature, Kurkar.” He called out. “Lightning, wind or earth. But… Most importantly…” He pumped his Ki into the axe and it started to glow. “FIRE!”

The axe was glowing like a sun, and Kyu smashed it into the giant stone ring that made up the top half of the throne, destroying it in one blow. The floor beneath it crumbled, and sank, and the whole torn, twisted mess erupted in flames.

“NO!!!” Screamed Kurkar, who fell to his knees. But it was too late, he could feel his power drain, and fall back to the level of a normal warrior. He was now, at best, equal to these fighters. Except for one thing…

“How does it feel to be normal, Kurkar?” Chang Fei yelled at him.

Kurkar looked around the room. He had eight warriors against him. He could feel the fear building, the rage starting to crack through, and he knew he had to do something.

He let out a yell, and a massive dome of energy erupted from him, pushing everything back. It dug up the earth, clearing the room. He now stood in the center, and looked around, surveying his enemies. And then he saw him. Kyu, standing near the burning rubble that was his throne…

Kurkar screamed with rage, with pain and with anger, launching himself at the exhausted Kyu, who had pumped almost everything he had into destroying the iron ring. He looked up just in time to see the massive Kurkar roaring across the room. He dropped the axe and started to fight him, blocking most of his attacks, before he missed one, and started getting smashed around the room.

Kurkar couldn’t believe it. If he could finish Kyu, most of his worries would be over. This single boy seemed able to make the others stronger, seemed to organize them, and seemed to be the only thing that actually stood between him and victory…

Kyu fell to the ground. Kurkar landed and stood over him, lifting his hand into the air as purple electricity coruscated around it.

“This is it Kyushin. This is the last time you will be in my way.” Kurkar smiled, and the electricity started to crackle quicker. He let out a roar and brought his hand down, almost striking Kyu.

A bolt of blue electricity hit Kurkar in the back, breaking his concentration, ruining his own attack, and picking him up off the ground. It held him in the air, then threw him across the room, straight into the wall, where he feel to the ground. Kyu looked up, trying to see who had hit Kurkar so hard, when familiar face appeared in front of him.

“Raide?”

“Hey Kyu. How’re you doin’?”

Kyu grabbed her, holding her close to him, hugging her as tightly as he could. He knew he had missed her, but he didn’t realize how much until now. She hugged him back, not making him stop, hugging him back almost as tightly. Then Kyu realized, looking back towards Kurkar, only to see Cumbre, Raide’s brother, beating on him.

“You brought Cumbre too?” Kyu said with a smile, and some tears in his eyes.

“And he’s not all.” Raide said with a giggle. She pointed across the room to two figures helping Liu Pei, Hokusai and the others to their feet as best they could.

“Daio? Vana?” Kyu couldn’t believe it. He could see them, but he honestly could not understand or even comprehend how they got there. Raide could obviously see he was confused.

“We both got visions, and dreams, telling us about this place.” Raide said with a smile, as Kyu looked down at her. “Seems they were spot on.”

It was just then that Daio turned, and caught sight of his brother staring across the room at him. He smiled, but got back to his job, of helping the others. Kyu looked back at Raide, who handed him a single Senzu bean.

“But how did you find me?”

“Remember Caps, my friend related to the Capsule Corp people?” Kyu nodded. “Well, he gave me a whole set of capsules for my birthday. One of them is a space ship, and one of them is a Scouter. But… I didn’t need the Scouter to find you once we got here.” She smiled, and blushed a little, but she was just happy to see Kyu again. Then there was a yell, and Cumbre crashed across the room, skidding to a stop.

“No!” Shouted Kyu, but Kurkar wouldn’t have any of it. He stood up, and pointed his finger at the small boy and sent a single beam of energy cutting through his body, and digging into the ground. Cumbre yelled, but he was cut short as he life ended.

Kyu stared at the boy’s body. He couldn’t believe it. His rage started to build, and tears welled in his eyes. But then he heard the scream come from the girl standing beside him. Cumbre’s sister.

“MONSTER!!!” She screamed, and flew head on at Kurkar. He smiled and turned to block, but then the true scope of her power hit him, and his eyes widened in fear, before she hit him with a devastating punch to the face. He twisted and was sent rocketing across the room. Raide screamed, her power escalating even more, and she sent a barrage of ki attacks at him. Her rage fueled her on, as she kept firing, and firing, and firing. The attacks exploded on impact, and the whole cavern began to shake. As Raide screamed, and her power washed out across the room, the walls shook, and dust fell from the ceiling.

Kyu looked at the girl and he could see how hurt she was, her pain was obvious. His own rage at Kurkar’s act came from how much it had hurt Raide when he had done it. He felt a little guilty that he wasn’t as angry about it as Raide was, but it was her brother. If it had been Daio…

Raide’s power surge dropped, and she slumped to the ground, breathing hard. The dust began to settle, and the quaking of the whole area stopped. She was far more powerful than wen Kyu had last seen her. He was impressed. Both Raide and Kyu looked at the crater she had made, and their eyes widened in horror as a mohawked head appeared from the dust and Kurkar started to walk across to her. He stood over her.

“Let’s make sure you never try that again.” Kurkar raised his hand in the air, but he stopped when he heard a crack, and a crunch come from his right.

Kyu swallowed what was left of the Senzu bean, and let his aura out. It sparked, and popped, and strong enough to start pressing Kurkar back, even from twenty feet away. Kyu stood up, and breathed hard, through gritted teeth.

“No Kurkar.” Kyu said aloud, defiantly, and with ultimate authority. “No more innocent blood will be shed today.” Kyu moved forward, and the shock pushed Kurkar back even further. But even as Kurkar tried to compensate Kyu blasted forward, appearing in front of him, and he cannoned a massive punch into his head, knocking him up and straight through the top of the mountain.

“Guys, get out of here now. I don’t know how long I can give you, but I’m gonna bring him back to the mountain to finish him off, so you better get out right now.”

“But Kyu…” Raide began, but Kyu cut her off.

“But nothing. Go. NOW!” And then he took off, up and trough the hole Kurkar left when he went, only as Kyu pushed through he broke it wider, his aura destroying a large chunk of it.

Kyu hoped they did what he said, but he couldn’t think about that now. He had to focus on keeping Kurkar off balance and in pain. He shot up, streaking through the sky. He passed Kurkar, who was still unable to stop his progress, and he stopped, bringing both hands together. He brought them around behind him, like he was playing the game he had liked in high school, baseball. He imagined forming his ki into a bat, and as Kurkar appeared, coming to a stop at the apex of his trajectory, he swung, hitting him as hard as he could, sending him arcing off across the planet’s surface.

He watched Kurkar sail away, and turned, then flew the exact opposite direction. He streaked across the ocean and the large flat plains of Zun, picking up speed and momentum as he went. His aura fully charged he blasted even faster, faster than he had ever thought was possible for him, although Sharaku could probably go this fast in his sleep.

Through the part of the planet that was in night, and then back out into the day side, he met Kurkar coming head on, he charged his energy into his fist, and it sparked with electricity. With a yell, he hammered it into Kurkar’s face, knocking him back to where he had come from, sending a spray of blood everywhere.

Must have broken his nose.

Kyu took off again, flying straight past Kurkar and arriving above the mountain moments before Kurkar did. He looked down, and he could see his friends outside, his eyes darted back and forth, making a count, and he was pretty sure they were all there. So as Kurkar sailed into view, he once more charged his fist, and hammered it into him, but this time striking down, sending Kurkar back into his mountain.

Kurkar hit the ground, creating a huge crater, digging down into it, and then there was just silence, and stillness. He gazed up at the sky, and he felt the blood on his face start to well in his eyes, and he wiped them clean, but it didn’t stop, and Kurkar knew he was doomed. Kyu descended through the hole, and stood on the edge of the crater.

“I know you’re still alive in there.” Kyu called out. “Get up, Kurkar.”

He did as he was told, and stood up. He looked across at Kyushin, standing before him, and suddenly it clicked. He knew what was different about Kyu than all the others. He knew what it was that made him so powerful.

“You aren’t scared of me, are you?” Kurkar asked him.

“What?”

“You. You aren’t scared of me. I don’t know why, but you just… aren’t.”

“I have seen things more evil than you, Kurkar. Things that, compared to you, make you look like a school bully.”

“A what?”

“It doesn’t matter. The fact is, that I have fought, and defeated, someone more fearsome, more loathsome, more… Evil, than you.”

“Really…” Kurkar thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. “Well let’s learn all about it, shall we?”

“What?” Kyu took a step back, and that was all the time Kurkar needed, as his tendrils shot out, and wrapped around Kyu’s body.

“No!” Kyu gritted his teeth, and pushed his mind to try to shield itself against this onslaught.

“What is it you are so afraid of?”

Kyu yelled, trying not to think about it.

“What is it?”

Kyu gritted his teeth.

“There.”

Kyu had thought about it. And now Kurkar lifted his hand and made a sweeping gesture, which seemed to rip a whole in the very light, the very fabric of space.

“Come out, most vile of vile. Most evil of evil. That which scares Kyu, the unscareable.”

“NO!!!!!!!” Kyu screamed. “Don’t do it Kurkar, I beg of you! You can kill me! You can have this planet! Just DON’T SET HIM FREE!!!!”

A foot stepped out of the tear, and a head with dark hair soon followed. The young man that got out of the hole was a lot shorter than Kyu, and was broader across the shoulders. His hair was cropped off, and didn’t move as he did, but seemed almost solid. He wore a black flight suit, thick leather that was tight around him, except for the collar sticking up behind his head. His boots were hard, and they made an odd noise that echoed around the whole hall. One remarkable thing about him was the golden halo above his head.

The boy looked around, then his gaze settled on Kyu. He smiled an awful smile, bearing his teeth, and he whipped his tail with delight. It was brown, and short like a monkey’s, and he wrapped it back around his waist like a belt.

“No…” Kyu said, almost silently. “Nonononononono…”

“Long time, Kyu.” The boy said, in his horrible grating voice. “Long time no see. Did you miss me?”

Kyu’s mouth opened in closed in silence. He couldn’t move. He was weakened across his body. And he knew that this was the end of everything he had tried to do.

“Mago…” he said, finally.

Raide sat on the ground, and hugged her knees to her body. Vana sat down next to her and put her arm around her, trying to calm her down.

“Shouldn’t that be it?” Chang Fei asked. “Shouldn’t he come out now? I mean, it’s so quiet in there… Is he done?”

“I don’t think so…” Hokusai said, rubbing his head. “That scream… The yelling… I think something might have changed in the plan.”

“Well, shouldn’t we go in there and see what’s going on?” Chori was eager to help, but he knew it probably wasn’t his place. “I mean, maybe one of you fighters should…”

“You’re right, Chori.” Liu Pei said. “But who of us is in good enough condition to go back in there?”

“Chori, you’re ok, right?” Raiko said, taking charge. “Chang Fei, Liu Pei, the four of us will go, and if we need your help, we’ll send someone out.”

“Ok.” Liu Pei agreed, he was holding his ribs already, but he wanted to help.

“Wait.” Come a small voice, as Raide got to her feet. “I’m coming too.”

“What?” Exclaimed Hiroshige. “You can’t…”

“I’m going.” She said with a glare, and the others didn’t argue with her. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and strode forward, leading the small group back into the mountain.

“What are we supposed to do?” Sharaku asked after the others had left. Hiroshige and Hokusai just looked at him.

“This is the kind of place I’d like!” Mago said, looking around. His eyes darted to the burning rubble of Kurkar’s throne. “Have to get rid of that, though.”

“Mago, please…” Kyu said aloud. “Leave, please. There is nothing for you here. I don’t want to fight you, I never did. I’m sorry I killed you, but you’re free now, and directly because of my memories of you, and my fear. Shouldn’t that be enough? Isn’t it enough?”

Mago turned around with a smile on his face.

“It will never be enough, Kyu. Not till I have my life, and my lost years back.”

“But you’ve become so strong in the next dimension.”

“I don’t care, freak.” Mago started walking towards Kyu, whose eyes opened, wide. “Maybe I should SHOW you how powerful I have become… Thanks to you…”

Mago ripped open his shirt, and revealed a pulsing star burned onto his chest. It was a deep crimson red, and it pulsed slower than a heart beats.

“I believe you have seen this before.” Mago smiled. “The Shou Lao. The Star of Long Life. I got this from a being who claimed you’d sent him too hell. I took his debt upon me, and I took this too. But, without any life left to fuel it… It was useless.”

Kyu stared wide-eyed. Every little thing he had done was coming back to haunt him.

“Of course…” Mago continued. “That was only the case till I met your other friend… Who had with him this little ring.” Mago held up the Sky Ring, which Kuan Kung had carried to the next dimension.

“MAGO!” Came a sudden scream from the doorway, and the three fighters looked towards it, to see Raide standing there, scared, with the others behind her. “Kyu?”

“Awww…” Mago said, darkly. “You brought your little girlfriend.” And he pointed his hand at her, sending a torrent of red ki straight towards her. She screamed, and a shield appeared, blocking the blast, but it exploded, knocking the group to the ground.

“NO!” Yelled Kyu, leaping forward, striking Mago hard in the head, knocking him down. He turned to make sure Raide and the others were ok, but his hesitation cost him dearly, as Mago hit him square with an enormous blast, sending him into the air, and he crashed back down to the ground.

As he stood up he saw Chori run across the hall and grab his blade, which was still lodged in the wall. With one pull it was free, and he ran again, but not at Mago. He watched the boy run, looking similar to the Kais of the next dimension, and he was almost hypnotized.

He watched as Chori leapt into the air, and decapitated Kurkar in one swing.

“Survive that one, brother.” Chori spat as he said it. Kurkar coughed, then fell to ground, his head falling a few feet away from him, and his blood spilt across the ground.

“You’re one bloodthirsty little boy.” Mago said to him. “Perhaps I should train you as my student. You could learn a lot.”

Chori glared up at him, after seeing what he had done to Kyu, and he said nothing, but raised his sword. He took one step towards the short Sayain, but Mago was too quick for him. He caught Chori’s hands as they swung the sword. Chori screamed at the pain as he felt his wrists snap and dislocate. Mago then lifted the boy up, off the ground, and looked up at him.

Mago’s eyes gleamed, and two parallel beams of energy shot from them, burning through Chori’s chest, silencing him, and Mago threw the corpse to the ground.

“MAGO!” Came the yell, and he turned, just in time to watch a large ball impact on his chest. It tore at his flesh, but the star could still be seen pulsing steadily. Kyu had rushed the attack in his rage.

Mago almost laughed hysterically. And he pushed the ring onto his finger. Suddenly his aura ignited, and glared almost too bright to look at. And as it did, the golden Halo above his head disappeared, signifying his return to life. The power of the ring and the amulet started to blend together, forming a dark purple aura, and it lifted him off the ground.

Mago looked down at the fighters standing around Raide. Raiko, Liu Pei and Chang Fei all sank back, but they were too late, as twin beams rained down, searing through Chang Fei, and even Raiko’s hard, scaly hide. The two of them fell to the ground, but no blood flowed from the wounds, seared shut from the heat.

“NO!” Kyu screamed. “MAGO! STOP THIS NOW!”

“You started it, Kyu.” Mago said, turning back to his old foe. “You killed me. You killed the priest. You even admit that it was your own fear that brought me here. Now you blame me? I am only doing what is expected of me. Maybe if you did the same, freak, you wouldn’t be so… pathetic.”

Raide chose this moment to launch her attack. She had fought Mago before, and she felt at least a little confidant. Raide surged in, yelling, and firing hundreds of small energy attacks. Some hit Mago, but many missed, and he stood unfazed. He swung out and struck her in the face as she drew nearer and she fell unconscious, against the wall thirty feet away. Liu Pei knelt next to her, making sure she was ok.

Mago descended to the floor once more, and started to walk slowly across towards Kyu. He glared down at him, and Kyu couldn’t hold back his rage any longer.

“MAGO!” He screamed, and blasted off a volley of small ki shots. They streaked towards him, but his aim was off, and many streaked past. Kyu looked like he was losing control, and many of the attacks streaked up and out the hole in the ceiling. He didn’t stop though, and his open, flattened palms sent hundreds of tiny balls towards their Sayain target, even if almost all of them missed.

Mago grew tired of Kyu’s bad aim and streaked forward, upper cutting him to the chin and knocking Kyu into the air. He went up, but recovered, and dodged Mago’s follow up attack, which left Mago streaking up into the sky. Kyu rolled, and once again started to fire hundreds of small ki attacks, still missing with almost every one. Mago chuckled and powered up a massive charge of ki in his fingertips, which he placed against his forehead, before letting loose with a powerful ki blast.

“Makkankosappo!” Mago yelled, and the twisting turning beam shot straight at Kyu, but passed harmlessly through the image he had left there. Mago looked around, and saw Kyu reappear, and start to fire again. Mago couldn’t understand what Kyu was doing, but it was starting to make him angry. He streaked forward, determined to stop this nonsense.

His punches came thick and fast, but Kyu shot backwards, always keeping just out of reach of his opponent. He flew backwards, firing all the time, still missing with most of his attacks. Mago bellowed, and stopped. He breathed hard as more ki attacks shot past him, and he got to his limit.

“Fight me Kyushin!” Mago yelled. And Kyu stopped. He thrust his right hand forward, and everything seemed to go quiet for a moment, before a small ball of energy streaked out of his open palm and detonated against Mago’s chest, sending him spiraling to the ground. Kyu disappeared with a flash, and got beneath Mago, firing a wave of ki upwards, halting his descent, and as he hung in the air Kyu started to fire once more, thousands of small energy attacks flying past him and off into the sky.

Outside, the group watched the fight, the thousands of attacks streaking into the sky, and the two fighters criss-crossing the sky.

Vana looked around, an ordinary girl surrounded by fighters. She needed someone, someone normal. She looked and looked but she couldn’t find who she was looking for. She decided to ask.

“Has anyone seen Daio?”

Kyu kept firing, but Mago suddenly shot forward, and hammered him with both his fists, sending him back inside the mountain, crashing through the wall, and Mago followed him.

Kyu stood up, leaning against the wall, but as he looked up Mago grabbed him by the neck with his left hand, pinning him to the wall. Kyu gasped for air, but Mago’s strength began to crush the life from him.

As he pumped his power level, the ring started to glow, and put more power through him.

“I’m alive.” He smiled, grinned, and looked at Kyu. “I’m ALIVE!” His yell echoed around the whole great hall, and some more of the roof fell into the main area. “You tried to kill me, and then you did! But all your efforts have done is make me virtually immortal… and more alive than EVER! Thank you Kyu!”

Mago swung his hand back in a fist, and it started to glow with purple fire. It then condensed it, and the glow became brighter and brighter.

“Now is the time for us to trade places, freak.” Mago grinned. “I am alive, and it is here that you will die.” Tears appeared in Kyu’s eyes, which were bloodshot, all the blood being trapped in his head from Mago’s iron grip. He gasped, and choked, and coughed. Then his eyes widened as looked behind Mago.

There was a loud sharp noise, like a blade cutting through air, and then like a blade cutting through flesh. Mago felt a sharp bite on his wrist behind him, and he turned to look at it. He saw Daio, Kyu’s brother, holding Chori’s blade of meteoric iron, the blade that would cut through anything. Then Mago’s eyes fell to his wrist, which spurted blood, now that his hand had been severed, and it lay twitching on the ground.

Mago’s eyes widened, and his pupils got small and he let out a scream of pain as he clutched at his severed limb. He held it close to his body, the blood dripping across his leather pants, and pooling on the floor, next to the hand.

“Now Kyu!” Daio yelled. “The he doesn’t have the ring any more. Do it now!” Kyu heard his brother, but there was no comprehension. His eyes glazed over, the pupils fading to white, with his iris’ and a wave of rage and power erupted from within him.

He brought both his hands together in front of him, and there was a moment of silence, then the ki attacks came back. They had been hovering in the sky totally under Kyu’s control, feeding off of his energy, slowly getting more powerful with each passing moment, and now they rained down onto the wounded Sayain warrior. They didn’t explode, merely sticking to him, pressing down, trapping him in his place, crouched on the floor.

More and more rained down. Hundreds. Thousands. They pressed down on Mago in the space of only a few seconds, and Kyu stood, teeth gritted, eyes wide, and focused only on Mago. He didn’t say a thing as the blasts rained down creating a massive dome of ki energy on top of Mago’s hunched form. Then he realized, and looked up, and he saw something he had forgotten about.

Kyu didn’t have time to move, as his anger and rage turned to despair. The last blast hit, and the glow shimmered and changed, before the entire load of ki attacks detonated, destroying the main hall as well as the mountain itself. The shock wave knocked down the group outside, and sent them flying to the winds like rag dolls. Kyu could feel the explosion tearing at his body, and he put his hands up to shield himself, but the only thing running through his mind was the last thing he had seen… Daio, his brother, standing, watching, holding the sword, as the ki attacks had detonated.

Then everything went black.

Kyu woke up, unable to move. The light from above him glared down, and he couldn’t see. The room he was in smelt clean, antiseptic. He shifted, but he found the reason he couldn’t move was because he had no energy, not because of the loose sheets and blanket on top of him.

His head turned to his side, and he saw Hiroshige sitting in a chair, asleep. Suddenly the boy must have felt something, as he opened his eyes and saw Kyu was awake.

“Kyu.” Hiroshige smiled. “You had us worried.”

“Where?”

“You’re in the hospital in Steel City. Apparently we got you here just in time.”

“Mago…” Kyu whispered.

“Hey, hey. It’s ok Kyu. He’s gone. You stopped him.” Hiroshige breathed out. “You must have really pumped some energy into that attack, it was stronger than anything I have ever seen.”

“Are the others…”

“Uh…” Hiroshige hesitated. “Don’t… Don’t worry about that for the moment. You need to get…” But Kyu’s weak, hoarse voice cut him off.

“Tell me.”

Hiro sagged in the chair, and he looked around. He took a deep breath and started to tell Kyu about all the people who were hurt, or dead. Hokusai, Sharaku, Utamaro had all been relatively all right. Liu Pei and Raide got hit pretty hard with the explosion. Cumbre, Chori, Kuan Kung, Chang Fei and Raiko hadn’t been so lucky.

“What about Daio?”

“He’s alive, man. But...” Hiroshige looked down, away from Kyu’s face. Kyu’s eyes filled with tears.

“Show me.”

Hiro held Kyu up as he took slow steps down the hallway. A nurse tried to stop them, but Hiroshige persuaded he to let them be, and eventually Hiro got Kyu to the door of the intensive care area of the hospital. Kyu looked in the window and he could see his brother, hooked up to a massive machine, covering his torso, with tubes and pumps and small generators everywhere.

“They say that, without that machine, his body would shut down.” Hiro said, not hiding the truth from his friend.

Kyu put his hand on the glass and looked at Daio’s body. Then he realized what looked the most out of place.

“His… legs…” Kyu gasped, hardly able to breathe.

“They had to amputate them.” Hiro felt tears welling in his own eyes. “And his right arm. They where too damaged, not even the best healers or a Senzu bean could repair him. He just…”

Kyu’s hand became a fist, and he hit it against the glass.

“It was my fault…” he said at last. “I did this to my own brother.”

“No, Kyu.” Hiro tried to say. “It was Ma…”

“NO!” Kyu snapped. “It was me… I did this to him. Everyone died because of me.” His eyes fell upon his brother once again. “How long?”

“The…” Hiro hesitated.

“How long?” Kyu asked again.

“The doctors said that, if there is no improvement in the next month, then he’s not going to get any better.” Hiro said, finally. He looked at Kyu’s face as it twisted and he cried some more.

“And there’s no way of helping him?”

“Uh…” Hiro paused. “Well, actually, there might be.”

Kyu looked up at him.

“There are stories that, deep in the mountains to the south on Earth, there is a hidden lab that was used by Dr Gero; the guy responsible for creating the Cell monster from a few years ago.” Hiro looked at Kyu. “According to the stories, he was able to turn living humans into cyborgs… androids. And there is rumored to still be some equipment running. Maybe there is something there that could help him.”

Kyu looked at the floor, then looked up at his brother lying motionless on the table. And he made up his mind.

Liu Pei came into Kyu’s room. He sat down on his bed, and patted him on the legs. Kyu had his back to the door, and to Liu Pei.

“How are you feeling?” Liu Pei asked.

Kyu did not respond.

“Look, Kyu.” He took a deep breath. “There is some stuff we need to talk about, what with Chori gone and everything.”

Still Kyu did not respond.

“They want to make you king.”

“What?” Kyu turned to look at his friend. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” Liu Pei smiled. “You DID just save this planet from utter destruction. You oversaw the arrival of their greatest fear, Kurkar. An evil prophesied for a thousand years. And you helped in his destruction. You found the greatest Zunian treasure, the Sky Ring, and brought it back to its people. You even defeated a far greater villain who came along, and destroyed Tai Shen Mountain, which was a symbol of darkness and dread to everyone on the planet.”

“Chori…” Kyu said, glumly. “Gessar, their prophesied king was killed on my watch. I was there to fuel the unleashing of their great enemy. And I killed a large group of my friends while bringing a terror, an evil far worse than any other to their planet. I fail to see that as being king worthy material.”

“Everything worked out, because of you.”

“No. It didn’t.” Kyu sulked. “People got killed, Liu Pei. Your brothers got killed. Raide’s brother. Mine is hanging onto life by a thread. And Raiko, who just wanted freedom for his people, is dead too.”

“Well, the Queen gave me this to give to you.” Liu Pei said, and placed the Sky Ring on the side table next to the bed. “It is the sign of the true King of Zun, but, if do not accept the title, then she feels it is unsafe here on Zun. So, either way, she wants you to have it.”

Kyu gazed at it, sitting on the table, innocent and seemingly harmless.

“Plus, we found Chori’s sword.” Liu Pei said. “And it is fine. Meteoric iron is tough stuff. The Queen decreed that it should be passed onto the new King, in honor of the poor kid.”

“What about the Shou Lao?” Kyu asked.

“We…” Liu Pei hesitated. “We couldn’t find it. It must still be with Mago, but in the next dimension.”

“And Raiko’s axe?”

“I have it here.” Liu Pei pointed to it, leaning against the wall. “I’d say he’d want you to have it.” Kyu nodded.

Liu Pei and Kyu shared a glance, and then Kyu reached out, and took the blue ring.

“If I do not take the title…” Kyu said. “Who will?”

“The Queen didn’t say.”

“Then, I’ll take it.”

“Really?” Liu Pei looked happy.

“Yes.” Kyu sat up, and looked Liu Pei. He took Liu Pei’s hands and held them, then placed the ring in them, and closed them. “And my first item of business is to pass the title on to you.”

The next day Kyu walked into a hospital room, and he sat down on the bed. Raide looked up at him, and smiled.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Not good.”

Kyu tried to smile at her, but he could see the sadness in her eyes. He could tell what she was thinking about.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know. So am I.”

“These people will treat you well.”

“You’re not staying?” Kyu shook his head.

“I have some thing I need to do.” Raide looked even sadder. Kyu hugged her, and kissed her forehead. And he stood up to go. “Get well soon… I’ll be back.”

And with that he walked out of the room.

“I might not be here when you get back.” Raide said, quietly. Then rolled over, and tried to get back to sleep.

Kyu walked out of the room and picked up the massive axe he had leant against the wall, by the door. He took a few steps down the hallway and looked around the small waiting room, and then she caught his eye.

“Vana?”

“Kyu.” She stood up, ran across to him, and wrapped her arms around him.

“Where have you been?” Kyu asked.

“I only just got out of the hospital across the city.” She looked up at him. “I didn’t know what was going on.”

“I only just got released myself.” Kyu said to her. “Have you seen…” He trailed off as he saw the pain in her eyes, and felt her grip of him tighten. “I can help him, Vana.” She pushed him back.

“What?”

“I know it was my fault, so I’m going to fix it.” Kyu said, looking into the eyes of the girl he had loved for as long as could remember. “I found a way to help him, and I need a little bit of time, but I can do it.”

“Can I come with you?”

“No.” He said sternly. “I need you to do me a big favor.”

She looked at him without saying a word.

“Stay with him.” Kyu said. “Try to reach him. I know that if anyone is going to do it, you can.”

She looked up at him.

“No.” She said sternly. “I can’t wait here… I can’t see him like that… Not without you here. You have to take me with you. Please?”

Kyu could she was in pain. Tears welled in her eyes, and looked like she was going to die from the pain she felt about Daio.

“Fine.” Kyu said to her. “You can come.” She smiled up at him.

“Thank you.” She said quietly, hugging him. He put his arms around her.

“It will be good to have someone to talk to.”

29,602 words.

Axe of The Lung Kue-Can add energy of any element (fire, lightning, ice, earth) to a melee attack. (Replaces Physical Melee Techniques)

KPC-1 to Max KP available.

HPD-15% KPU

SC-3

S-0

Int-15

BL-2

Makes standard melee attacks have 2x Stamina damage. Also, while wielding the Axe, Players get a 10% PL increase. Choice of element-

Fire-HPD becomes 20%

Lightning-Adds 20% to KPU

Earth-Stamina Damage becomes (Amount under negotiation)

Ice-Cost of block is increased (Amount under negotiation)

Sky Ring

Gives wearer (their alignment times 4)% PL increase

Therefore alignment 3 gets +12% PL. Alignment 5 gets +20%.

Negative alignments are worked out as if they were positive for the purposes of calculations.

Chaotic Alignments gain no advantage from this item.

(Liu Pei retains this artifact at the end of the story)

This Quest is so long it requires (And fills up!) it's own page!