Return of Rowen: Chapter 5 Part 2

Sekhmet stood in the doorway of a deserted temple, anxiously awaiting the
next Dynasty assault.  He sighed and shook his head sadly as he rested his
hand against the frame of the door, taking in the structure's dilapidated
appearance.  Red paint peeled from the rafters, revealing the tired wooden
beams that supported the roof.  The walls let out a series of moans as a
wind began to blow, and the Warlord of Venom warily turned around, looking
for any foes.  Instead, his green eyes found the terrain of the Nether
World.  The plain stretched for miles turning from barren earth to a lush
meadow blanketed with flowers.  A river winded across the field, toward a
range of mountains, finally disappearing against the horizon.  As Sekhmet's
gaze rose to the soft yellow sky, he saw that it harbored great beauty as
well.  Stars shimmered like diamonds and cast their light through the few
clouds.  "Such beauty in this place, yet so much
of it has been destroyed through the evil of the Dynasty.  We must stop
them from causing any more destruction, but is this the best way?  Was it
wise for us to return to the Nether World?  I know we have to prevent
Cyboth from attacking the Mortal World, but there has only been one attack,
and that was directed toward us.  Perhaps we should join the Ronin
Warriors," he pondered.  Sekhmet turned to the center of the temple where
the last member of the Ancient's clan sat.  Her head was slightly bowed,
her dark blue hair flowing down her back.  She was deep in thought, her
eyes closed.  "It has been several days since we have had contact with
them.  What has Kayura learned about their situation?"

As if reading his thoughts, Lady Kayura said, "Sekhmet, the Ronin Warriors
need your help."

"What has happened to them, Kayura?" he asked.  She rose from the floor and
walked to him, but didn't respond.  "What could it be?" he wondered,
noticing the tears forming in her eyes.

"It's Ro...Rowen," she began struggling to control her voice.  "Cyboth has
taken control of him again."

"What must I do?" he inquired, uncertain if there was any way he could aid
the Ronin Wariors.  He had seen Rowen's new power.

"Form the Armor of Inferno with Wildfire, Torrent, Hardrock, and Halo.  Its
power should allow you to break Cyboth's spell.  Step into the light of the
Ancient's staff and I will send you to them," answered Kayura.

"Aren't you coming with me?" he asked.

"No.  I must stay and prevent the Dynasty from invading the Mortal World,"
she replied, as the rings on the staff began to shake.  A moment later,
Sekhmet found himself on earth.  He could hear sounds of a battle nearby
and he ran toward them, staying close to a thicket of trees in order to
avoid detection.  As the woods thinned, he slowed and took a few moments to
determine his next move.  "I trust Kayura's judgment in using the Armor of
Inferno to free Strata, but will we get the chance?  What I have seen of
his power is absolutely phenomenal and I know he has yet to reveal the full
extent of it.  Rowen may destroy us before we can act."  He pushed aside
the branches that still blocked his path in order to get a better view of
the battle field.  Despite the fact that Kayura had told him about Rowen, a
look of disbelief crossed his face as he watched the Warrior of Strata
mercilessly attack his friends.  Ryo and Cye were lying on the ground,
struggling to stand, but Rowen's powerful kicks continued to menace their
aching bodies.  In front of them stood Sage and Kento, trying in vain to
block his blows, and a s a result were taking the brunt of the attack.

"You should be more worried about saving yourselves," said Rowen.
Kento nearly spat back a harsh retort, but controlled his anger as he
remembered his true opponenet.  "I know you're trying to fight Cyboth's
power, Rowen.  Don't give up!  We'll find a way to free you!" he thought as
he doged Rowen's fist.  Out of the corner of his eye, Kento saw the
sky-blue of Cye's Armor of Torrent, reaching toward him.  "Cye!" he thought
quickly glancing at his friend.

Their eyes met for only an instant, but Kento could see the desperate look
in his face, pleading, "Try not to hurt Rowen!"

"I'm trying Cye.  I really... uh!" his voice rose from a whisper to a loud
moan.

"Kento!" he could barely hear Cye and Ryo shout.  The pain in his body was
so intense that it deadened his other senses.  He felt his legs crumbling
and threw out a hand to stabilize himself, but it wasn't enough.  Kento
looked up to see Rowen, looming over him.

"I told you to protect yourself, but you didn't listen.  Now you'll have to
pay the price," said Rowen, drilling another kick into Kento.  He turned
away from the fallen warrior and faced Sage.  "Now it's just you and me."

"Oh god! No!" thought Sage as Rowen moved in on him.  The moment he had
been dreading during the entire battle had arrived.  "I can't do this.
Rowen, if I hurt you, I'm sorry."  The Warrior of Halo raised his
no-datchi, but more in defense than to attack.  His sword felt unusually
heavy, and he could feel it wavering slightly in his grip.

"You're afraid of me," said Rowen, a wicked grin spreading across his face,
as he noticed Sage's agitated nature.

"No!  I'm not scared!" lied Sage, but his retort was only half-hearted.

"Then fight me!  Go ahead, try a Thunderbolt Cut!" taunted Rowen.  Sage
said nothing, but avoided his eyes.  "If you're just going to sit there,
then allow me."  Rowen as he lept into the air, pulling his arm back to
strike.  Sage hesitatantly thrust his blade forward to meet the attack, but
Rowen easily knocked it out of his hands.

Sage gasped as he watched his sword fall to the ground.

"You are so pathetic!" said Rowen coldly.  Sage blinked, and looked up.
Although Rowen's fist was only a few inches from his face, it hadn't made
contact.

"He didn't hit me, even though he had the chance.  Could it be?  Is Rowen
still with us?" wondered Sage, searching Rowen's deep blue eyes for an
answer.  He tried to picture the horrific battle in his mind, trying to
find some clue.  Sage could see the beginning when Rowen had been on their
side.  The Ronin of Air had skillfully attacked countless Dynasty soldiers,
landing every punch and kick.  With each attack, a flash of energy burst
from his body, destroying the warriors with startling efficiency.  Then, it
had happened, Rowen turned on his friends.  But Sage had felt something
different, something he hadn't felt the first time Cyboth took control of
Rowen.  "I can feel Rowen trying... trying to resist, but he can't.  He's
been able to keep Cyboth from using his full power against us, but can't
break free."

"Are you just going to stand there all day?" asked Rowen.

Sage ignored him and said,"Rowen, listen to me!  I don't want to hurt you.
Let me help you.  Cyboth is using you.  He only wants the power of your
armor!"

"Lies!" shouted Rowen.

"Rowen!  Listen to Sage!" implored Ryo as he slowly rose to his feet.

"Rowen, I only want to help.  Aaahhh!" moaned Sage as Rowen pounded his
fist into Sage's armor.  Rowen watched for a moment as Sage bent over,
clutching his chest, in agony.  Despite the pain, he managed to remain
standing, and looked at Rowen.  For a second, Sage could have sworn that he
saw a look of sorrow in Rowen's eyes, but his best friend suddenly returned
to his lethal self.

"I don't need your help!" scoffed Rowen.  "It's time for me to kill you
all.  Armor of Strata!  Dao Inochi!"

"It's now or never," thought Sekhmet, as he rushed to Ryo, Kento, Cye, and
Sage.  "Listen to me, Ronin Warriors!" he shouted.

Mia turned to see the Warlord of Venom, already in his green and red armor
and exclaimed, "Sekhmet!"

Ryo winced in pain as he turned around, but managed to ask, "What brings
you here?"

"Never mind that!  We must act quickly.  Ryo, form the Inferno!" he yelled.


"Why?  We can't use it to hurt Rowen!" protested Ryo.

"Not to attack Rowen, but free him!  We can use the White Armor of Inferno
to break Cyboth's control," explained Sekhmet.

"I'm not so sure about this," said Ryo doubtfully.

"It might work, Ryo!  Even Talpa couldn't corrupt the Armor of Inferno!"
called Mia.

"Besides, what do we have to lose?" argued Cye.

"We're running out of time, Wildfire!" urged Sekhmet, nervously eyeing the
golden arrow Rowen was drawing from his quiver.

"I just don't know what to do!  I can't hurt Rowen, but I'm doing him no
good by just sitting here.  If we don't do something, we might get killed
before we can stop the Dynasty.  We have no choice.  We've got to form the
Inferon.  Rowen, I'm sorry if you get hurt by this, but I don't know how
else to save you." thought Ryo.  "All right guys.  Let's do it!" he
relented.  The armors of Cye, Kento, Sage, and Sekhmet began to grow
brightly as Ryo prepared to take their powers.

"Trust!"

"Justice!"

"Wisdom!"

"Piety!" he could hear his friends call as their energies approached.  Mia
and Yuli watched uneasily as a ball of blue light, then an orange one,
followed by a green sphere, and finally Sekhmet's power surrounded the
Ronin of Wildfire's body.  He winced in pain as their energies fused into
his body.  A blinding flash of white light filled the air and when it
cleared, there stood Ryo in the Armor of Inferno.  "Rowen, come back to us,
please," he said to himself as he sent the power of the white armor to
Rowen.

"That trick won't work on me," said Rowen as he fired an arrow.  Ryo saw it
approaching but ignored it, focusing his thoughts on guiding the Armor of
Inferno to his friend.

"Ah!  What is that?" cried Ryo as he felt something slicing into his
armor.  Suddenly he felt the energies of the other Ronin Warriors leaving
his own, and he realized that they had failed.  "No!" he screamed,
realizing that they had failed.

Cyboth reappeared by Rowen's side, laughing triumphantly.  "Very good,
Prince Rowen.  Now eliminate them, but before you do, show them your true
power," he said.

"Yes, my lord.  Armor of the Heavens!" he called.  A brilliant flash of
blue light burst from Rowen's body.  Bolts of blue lightning streaked from
the clouds and crackled loudly as it flowed across the Warrior of Strata.
Once it had enveloped his armor, its form seemed to melt into a slightly
different one.  The bulky pieces of metal on his shoulders, had become more
sleek, fitting his form, and extended slightly off his body.  The
chestplate had changed in appearance as well.  It was larger, and both blue
and white.  The light blue edges had turned white.  The helmet had retained
its shape, but the horns were silver.  Rowen's was still armed with a bow
and arrow, but these too were silver.  Rowen slowly opened his eyes, raised
his bow, and aimed an arrow at Ryo, Cye, Kento, Sage, Mia, Yuli, and
Sekhmet.

"Rowen!" cried Cye.

"Stop Rowen!  Why won't he listen, Mia?" protested Yuli, burying his face
in her blue skirt.  She didn't answer, but drew him closer.

"I can't believe it's over," whispered Ryo.

"Finish them!" ordered Cyboth.

"Never!" retorted Rowen, suddenly turning on the Emperor of the Dynasty.

"What is this?" shouted Cyboth.

Rowen answered with a shot from his bow.

"No!" yelled Cyboth as the silver arrow cut into his black form, leaving a
streak of white light in its path.  A large explosion rang out and beams of
white light emanated from the dark fog.  Cyboth groaned as the energy began
attacking him.  Finally, Rowen's power overcame Cyboth's and the evil lord
of the Nether World vanished for now.  Rowen turned around and gently
floated down to his friends.

"Rowen, you're free.  You're finally free," smiled Ryo, but Rowen shook his
head sadly.

"What's wrong, Rowen?" asked Cye.

"He'll be back for me," replied Rowen.

More to Come Soon from Rowen
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