Dragon Flames

Chapter 6

By: Malaca

The stalemated powers screeched unbearably. Ryo saw this and looked over at his friends. He motioned them to armor up while the enemy was distracted. His friends catching Ryo's glance, nodded in understanding. They called their sub armor in preparation. Mia appeared from the house and watched the battle with her hand placed over her heart in surprise.

"All right guys, time to get armed, RONIN WARRIORS, TO ARMS!"

"ARMOR OF STRATA!"

"ARMOR OF HALO!"

"ARMOR OF HARDROCK!"

"ARMOR OF TORRENT!"

"ARMOR OF WILDFIRE!"

"DOW CHI!"

Lightning played on their fists as they went through their individual calling of their armor. Throwing their balled fists in front of them, they watched as the wallpaper flew up, surrounding them. The wallpaper flew up to the sky before changing into snow flurries. The snow flurries collected on their sub armor, forming their armor and helmets.

Malaca and Yara, meanwhile were intent on their battle of the strongest. Malaca felt her attack being pushed back. She frowned and called on her inner strength. When that didn't work for very long, Malaca asked for help from the Dragon. The Dragon, luckily was listening and gave her the extra strength she need to hold on. Yara yelled as she felt her opponents power strengthen.

'What's going on here? She was never this powerful before!' Yara thought in desperation.

Yara smiled as a random thought crossed her mind. She broke off the power and lunged around Malaca's. She came full speed into Malaca's side. She smiled in anticipation as she heard another crack of her opponents ribs. Malaca bit down a scream in pain. Yara was still standing there smiling wickedly. Malaca turned around sharply and slammed her foot swiftly into Yara's knee. Yara screamed as the force of Malaca's kick shattered her kneecap. The two fighters darted away from each other. Malaca landed lightly on her feet, holding her ribs only a few yards from Yara. Yara landed on the ground on her right leg, favoring the broken leg. Malaca looked content with herself. She looked over to see how the Ronins were faring. She noted that they were armored up and waiting for the signal to help. Malaca couldn't help but grin in their direction.

Rowen grimaced as he recognized Malaca's grin. It meant no mercy for her enemy, and for a brief second, he felt sorry for Yara. That feeling was swiftly swept away as he heard a loud chuckling. He looked over at Yara who was looking down at the ground. Malaca's eyes narrowed. Yara looked up fiendishly, her silver and black hair plastered in her face. Eyes sparkling, she continued to laugh at Malaca.

"Honestly, Eclipse, do you really think that I'm done with you? Ha, you know I have one more stage to go, I still have my true form!"

Malaca stepped back in denial, "No."

Yara smiled and stepped backwards, ignoring her broken knee. Her skin began to glow a blood red. Black, bat-like wings emerged from her back. Her face contorted, and her hair changed to a silvery color. Her skin became a sickly green color. Yara grinned evilly in Malaca's direction. Malaca was taken back, for she had never seen Yara's complete true form. Yara launched immediately at her with a glowing yellow energy ball. Malaca dodged, sharply, managing to stay on her feet.

"Damn!" she cursed when she felt her ribs shift into her lung.

She grunted, before turning and connecting with Yara's chin with a spin kick. Yara darted back on her black wings. Malaca heaved after her. Grabbing Yara's body, she held on tightly.

"You will die for your wrong doings, demon. Even if I have to die to kill you!" Malaca held on tightly to Yara as Yara shot into the sky.

Malaca felt her calling, but ignored it. She used her strength to hold on to Yara's snarling form. Yara changed directions, plummeting towards the ground in an attempt to crush Malaca on the rocky ground. Malaca smiled into Yara's face as she collected her energy.

"Time to die Yara, ECLIPTIC RAGE!"

Malaca lit up with a startling white glow. Yara screamed as the energy slammed into her body. Yara pulled back from Malaca, but Malaca wouldn't let her. They continued to plummet from the sky. At the last second, Malaca let go and darted away from Yara. She landed roughly on the ground. Gritting her teeth in pain Malaca sat up to see what had become of Yara. A smoldering hollow in the ground. Malaca allowed herself to grin in triumph. A blurred figure shot out of the ground and into Malaca. The figure slammed her into a tree. Malaca moaned and turned over only to see a mocking Yara standing over her.

Malaca spat on the ground and glared at the gloating figure. Yara laughed and pulled back her foot. She slammed her foot hard into Malaca's broken side. Malaca grunted as she flew through the air from the force of her kick. Yara laughed and darted after her. Malaca intercepted another kick, and then gave her one of her own. They darted away from each other in mid air. Malaca prepared to do another attack, but didn't when she heard a strange voice interrupt her.

"WEB OF DECEPTION!" it screamed out.

Malaca felt herself being grabbed by fine white strings. It hurt where it latched itself on to her form. Malaca turned slightly to see Yara entrapped in its grip as well. Malaca held back a smile. At least Yara hadn't escaped the force.

"Ha, we got you this time demon, but who is your friend? Oh well, you both can die," the voice chuckled.

Malaca looked around widely only to see four more armors standing not to far away, and these she could only assume were some of Talpa's goons.

"Tell Talpa I said go to hell!" Malaca screamed in fury.

"Dais, Sekhmet, Kayura, Kale, she's not your enemy!" Ryo yelled out running with the Ronins to where they were.

Malaca looked at the figures who now seemed slightly confused.

"Yara's not our enemy? Surely Ronins you jest!" the one in the capped armor laughed.

"Ryo's right, Kale, Malaca's not your enemy. Only the one called Yara is!" Sage shouted at the warlord of darkness.

Yara chuckled deep in her throat. Malaca was confused.

'Why was Yara still so confident?'

Malaca's question was answered as she felt a power overcome her, an illusion power. Malaca tried to voice her protest, only to discover that she couldn't speak in her voice. Yara laughed at Malaca, knowing she was the only one who could see through the illusion. Malaca pulled at the straints, trying to free herself before being forced to fight her friends. She felt the web loosen its grip. Malaca shredded the remainder of the web and darted away from the Ronins. She felt a presence move up on her. Malaca tried to dodge out of the way, only to find that their was another waiting for her to dodge. Malaca screamed out as she felt a white flash of pain stretch into her side. Malaca turned with rage in her heart to face one of the new armors. This one wore green and red armor, the spikes on it's shoulder blade gleaming dangerously. The bearer of the armor smirked at her as he held one of his six katanas unsheathed at his side.

Grimacing in pain, Malaca looked down at her left side. The cut was deep, but her healing would soon kick in, sealing the wound from infection. Malaca smirked into his face and lunged forward. She was knocked down again, this time by the elbow of the one in the capped armor. The capped armor immediately followed up with another attack.

"BLACK LIGHTNING SLASH!" he called.

Malaca didn't have time to dodge the blast. Screaming out at the pain the attack caused her, Malaca fell to the ground in pain. She rolled out of the way as another armor called out his attack.

"IRON ROCK CRUSHER!"

Malaca was aghast that even Kento would attack her, but she reasoned that he couldn't see who it really was. After that, it was an all out brawl. Attack after attack, was followed.

"SUPER WAVE SMASHER!"

"SNAKE FANG STRIKE!"

The combined power of attacks knocked her senseless. Malaca struggled to keep some kind of barrier up, but her strength was quickly failing. If she didn't watch out, she would soon find herself being killed by her friends. Malaca had enough time to notice that one of the new armors was not attacking her. Instead of carrying a weapon of some sort, she carried a staff with golden rings upon it. Malaca frowned to herself, wondering why the staff looked so familiar. Her thought was interrupted by another element attack.

"THUNDER BOLT CUT!"

"ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"

Malaca collapsed on the ground from the pain. She looked up to see Ryo standing grimly over. She shut her eyes, unwilling to see him attack her.

"FLARE UP NOW!" Ryo called in attempt to destroy Yara.

Malaca was engulfed in flames. Ryo smiled shortly at the wildfire that flamed where Malaca once stood. He turned around not facing the desolation that was sure to be there. Mia stood in the doorway amazed by the force of Ryo's attack. She was the first to notice the flames were not acting normal. Flaming upwards and out, they revealed a figure standing in the shadows. Malaca concentrated all of her power in an attempt to destroy Yara before her friends attacked her. Ryo turned around, and Kento cursed.

"What the fuck? What does it take to destroy her?" Kento yelled.

Malaca closed her eyes and jumped into the air, allowing the force of her rage to push her upwards. Pulling her hands in front of her Malaca focused as much of her life-force as she could to destroy Yara and her illusion.

"FIRE DEMON SCREAM!" Malaca yelled focusing her remaining energy into the attack.

Sai blinked, he could have sworn her heard Malaca's voice. Yara was engulfed in the cyclone of fire and fury. Malaca could feel the illusion drop. She sighed in relief as she landed on the ground. Her feet collapsed beneath her, and she cradled a pained wrist. Ryo widened his eyes when he realized who they had been attack all this time.

"No!" he whispered in denial as he saw his friend collapse.

A chuckling voice startled all who was there. Dust from Malaca's attack drifted away to reveal Yara standing in the mist of it with her demon arms crossed, and her wings folded down like a cape. She chuckled again, looking at her opponents.

"Eclipse, you always were a sly one. I suppose you knew that your attack would cancel out my illusion. A pity, it was a marvelous illusion at that!"

Malaca looked up and wheezed, "Damn you Yara, I will get even with you!"

Yara cocked her head, "Not likely, your going to die today."

Yara looked around at the Ronins, "I fact, you all are going to die today, starting with you!"

Yara pointed a finger Mia, sending a fireball in her direction. Mia screamed as it raced towards her. She closed her eyes, but felt no impact. She looked up to Sage standing over her. He had taken the blow for her. Sage fell limply to the ground, and Mia, awestruck and very upset, placed his head in her lap. Sage's brow was wrinkled in pain. Yara chuckled again.

"Wow, didn't expect that."

Yara's eyes narrowed as she charged the fallen Ronin. Ryo and Sai stepped in the way. Yara hit them both down.

"IRON ROCK CRUSHER!" Kento yelled pushing Yara away from Sage and Mia.

"Nice try!" Yara laughed.

She threw lightning bolts at the Ronins causing them to fall in pain.

Malaca kneeled to the ground. She was worried and upset. Her friends were fighting a demon that even she couldn't defeat. Malaca felt the pain of her injuries well up, but she ignored them, trying to find the strength to get up and fight. There was none. Malaca screamed in frustration, and then in sorrow and guilt as she felt Sage fall in pain. She felt all of the Ronins fall, even the ones that she assumed were Talpa's men. Malaca screamed out again as she felt Ryo's pain.

Yara went to the one in the red armor, knowing somehow that he was the leader of the others. She smiled cruelly as she raised her demonic hands over him to bring a painful death.

Malaca screamed as pain racked her body as she stood up. Her wrist throbbed in pain, and her battered body demanded that she rest. Malaca pushed it away.

'I've never let my body tell me what to do, now is not the time to do so.'

With the rest of the Ronins on the ground helpless to help Ryo, Malaca knew she was their only hope. She summoned her inner strength and propelled herself forward, her image blurring from the speed.

Ryo looked up at the demon, unwilling to face death, but knowing that he would. He would die like a warrior not like a coward. Yara yelled in triumph as she let the energy well up in her hands. Ryo looked stunned as she was swept away by some force. He heard Yara land several feet away, and he struggled to sit up to see what was happening. Ryo saw Malaca standing not to far away. She crouched down low in a fighting stance.

"Yara, dearest, I'm baackkkk!" Malaca declared sweetly.

Yara snarled, "Do you really think that one of the Hunt is good enough to defeat me? Ha, don't make me laugh!"

Malaca narrowed her eyes.

"You don't even have enough power to light a candle, neither the less defeat me! Your injuries are bad; you are weak. Why don't you just give up, Eclipse?"

Malaca looked at her with malice in her eyes, "My name is Malaca."

"What did you say, I can't hear you!" Yara laughed.

"My name is Malaca of the Dragon, and you half-breed have not yet seen true power!"

The wind picked up, whipping Malaca's hair around wildly. Her eyes flashed green for a brief moment.

Yara snarled again, "Malaca is it? I think I like Eclipse better. Where did you get such a stupid name?"

"The Dragon gave it to me, along with this!"

Malaca screamed as her body was ignited in blue flames. Her sub armor came quickly. Yara stepped back in surprise.

"NOW, YARA, YOU WILL SEE TRUE POWER!" Malaca yelled out, barely able to control the rage of her power.

"ARMOR OF THE DRAGON, TAO KON!" Malaca called.

Lightning played at Malaca's fist as she summoned her armor. Rolls of curtains sprung up covering her in their magnificence. Streaming upwards they collapsed upon themselves forming snow flurries. The snow flurries attached themselves to Malaca's sub armor forming the Dragon armor.

The warlords were stunned. The armor looked like the armor of Cruelty in many ways. The body part that is. The only difference was that the cloth hanging over the armor was slightly longer and was three different colors. Blue, green, and a little bit of red. The helmet was blue and resembled Ryo's helmet of the Wildfire. Two katanas were over each shoulder. Malaca drew them now, and held them in front of her in a crossed position.

Yara snarled, she hadn't expected that at all. She charged forward with an energy sword intent on impaling Malaca upon it. Malaca dodged to the left, and then flipped her right katana into Yara's blood red energy sword. Power rolled through Malaca's body, screaming at her to give in. Malaca ignored it without a second thought. She would win this fight! Yara screamed as her sword was knocked out of her hand. Malaca then neatly threw Yara over her shoulder. Yara landed roughly on the ground. Malaca grimaced as she felt her bodies pain taking over her will. She gritted her teeth, intent on doing a final attack to destroy her once and for all. Malaca called on the power of her armor, her fury igniting a new power sure-kill. Malaca smiled roughly, her face mask barely concealing it; the guys would be surprised by this attack.

"RAGE OF THE DRAGON!" she screamed out, her swords power flaming forward in blue fire energy in the shape of a roaring dragon.

Yara stumbled to her feet only to be caught head on by Malaca's fury. She was incinerated in a second. Malaca fell wearily to her knees. She felt her armor disappear from around her leaving her in her sub armor. Malaca didn't make a move to entrap it. She fell forward again, this time on her hands and knees. Her wrist throbbed as she held it against her wounded left side. Her stomach rebelled against the pain, and she heaved. Malaca heaved, and heaved. She couldn't stop, and yet it hurt so much Malaca could barely stand it. Her sides quaked in pain. Malaca's muscles were growing limp, her vision became blurry. Malaca felt armor covered hands hold her heaving body. Malaca shivered at the touch of the cold metal. She tried to pull away from the cold, but was to weak to do so. She felt the cold retreat for a brief second to be replaced with warm calloused ones. The hands pulled her into their owners lap. Malaca struggled to focus on the figure, but could not do so. The figure held her tightly, warming her shaking body against its warm one. Malaca struggled to focus on who was holding her. She saw only blurred images. A voice startled her.

"Relax Malaca, your safe now," Ryo said softly.

Malaca did relax, but kept her useless eyes open. She swore mentally as she realized the reason she couldn't see very well. Poison, the one thing that her self healing could not heal. Her body could barely deal with broken bones, but poison was out of the question.

Ryo grimaced as he felt her stiffen again. She was in so much pain, and there was nothing her could do. Sage was out, and Kayura and Mia were over there helping him. He looked up to see Sekhmet standing guiltily a few feet away. Ryo nodded in his direction knowing how bad they all felt for attacking one of their own. Ryo frowned at Malaca as she tried to speak.

"Ry-oo?" she asked weakly.

"Malaca, don't speak save your energy," he answered brushing her sweat soaked bangs away from her face.

Malaca shook her head, "Poison, I-I, cann't heaall poisioonn."

She fell back into Ryo's arm. He pulled her body further up so that her head rested between his elbow and body. Her back now was on his kneeling legs. He looked down and noticed a bloody area on her left side of her sub armor. Ryo looked up at Sekhmet, pleading him. Sekhmet nodded and moved over to her side.

Malaca frowned as she recognized the armor colors. She tried to pull away from him. Ryo held her firmly.

Sekhmet took off his helmet and looked at her pain filled eyes. He noted that they were glazed over. Sekhmet winced knowing that the poison was already firmly locked in her system. He touched her side wound carefully. Malaca pulled back from the pain, pushing herself into Ryo's body. Ryo looked up at Sekhmet. Sekhmet motioned to her sub armor. Ryo nodded in understanding.

"Malaca?" Ryo called.

No answer. Malaca struggled to understand what was going on around her. She was in a lot of pain. Ryo sighed.

~Malaca?~ Ryo called in mental speech.

Malaca pushed herself forward to look at Ryo, or what she could see of Ryo. He pushed her bangs out of her eyes again.

~Can you take your sub armor off? Sekhmet here wants to help you with the poison, but you've got to take it off for him to do so. Don't worry, I'll protect you.~

Malaca struggled to understand, but when she did, she nodded briefly. She called her sub armor off. The sub armor formed into its golden ball, the virtue Friendship shinning brightly in its surface. Malaca collapsed against Ryo again at the removal of her sub armor and the extra energy it gave her. Ryo looked down at her in concern. Sekhmet noted the glance he gave her and noted it for later. He placed both armored hands against the flesh wound and began to glow a bright green. He drew out the poison slowly. Malaca withered beneath his touch, not able to withstand any more pain.

Sekhmet drew away and sighed. He pushed some of his sweaty green hair further from his face and looked at Ryo grimily.

"I got as much poison as I could get out for now. I'll have to do this several more times before its completely out."

Ryo nodded.

Malaca squinted, unable determine what was happening around her. She sighed and pulled down the remainder of her mental barrier to glimpse at what was going on that she couldn't see. She gasped at the brightness. Malaca had never put her barriers down when the Ronins were in full armors. She discovered networks of fine colorful threads leading to each Ronin, connecting them to each other. The Ronins were lit up with light signifying their individual armors. Some had pearly glows over their power colors their armors displayed, showing that some had power not relating to their armors. Malaca was blinded by this, and tried to pull back from the brightness. Instinet clanging of metal on metal disturbed her even more, throwing her mind into complete chaos. Malaca opened her eyes wider as she saw a beautiful women walking towards her carrying a staff that was vaguely familiar. Malaca pulled back farther as the ringing increased. Screaming out she used her last remaining energy to command the ringing to stop, and it did. She sighed in relief, partially that the ringing was gone, but was aghast that she used her last remaining bit of energy she needed to keep the light of others auras out on the command. She would become blind, and even crazy if she couldn't pick up and assemble some kind of barrier between her mind and the physic plane.

Hey-

Malaca here. Leaving this chapter right here, because it was getting a little too long for my liking. Next chapter will explain the rest of what I left off here, sorry for the inconvenience (Man, that was a big word)

Note: No I'm not hyper, HAPPY?