Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.

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AN: I somehow have the feeling that I am going to be mauled by my reviewers and readers by the end of this chapter. ~looks scared~ Please don't kill me!!! Here’s the second part of the storming of Dragnier. This chapter is pretty damn graphic, FYI. Lots of blood and violence. You have been warned.

Here's the chapter! Enjoy!

The Professor glanced up from his workstation and looked out the window. The wind seemed rather chaotic today. He muttered something to himself and tried to get back to work. The wind slammed against the glass, distracting him once more. Finally, he just gave up and put the machinery he had been working on down.

There was a small beep from the table that caught his attention. He glanced back down and looked at the small, honey-colored robot that stood only a foot tall that was sitting on his desk. The old man frowned slightly and shook his head.

He placed his hands behind his back and paced the room for a moment. He finally stopped and shook his head.

“I don’t know what it is about today, but I have the strangest feeling that something bad has happened,” the Professor muttered. “What do you think Honey?”

The small robot beeped in response.

“I still have no idea what you are saying…” the Professor muttered. He was about to say something else, but he was interrupted by Momo’s small form running into the lab in a panic. She looked up at the Professor and quickly shook her head.

“We… we have to go to Dragnier now!” Momo said in one breath. The Professor was about to say something, but was interrupted by Momo once more. “My dad… he’s in trouble. Ryu and his friends are in trouble! We have to help them!”

The Professor glanced back outside the window. “So, it’s finally come to this.”

The Professor placed his hands behind his back. Momo looked up at him with an irate look on her face. The Professor held up his hand and gave Momo a gentle smile. “No, do not worry. We will go now. Can you find the way, Momo?”

Momo gave the Professor a strange look. She shrugged and closed her eyes and almost yelled out in pain. “I… can… they’re in trouble. Mom’s trying to hurt Dad and Ryu is…” Momo’s eyes widened in fear. “Something happened to Wyatt! He, he’s…” Tears began to well up in Momo’s eyes. “Wyatt’s dead…”

The Professor grinned. He looked over at Honey. “Worry not, Assistant #2! What is broken, can be fixed once again. Well, as long as you know what you are doing. And I know what I am doing! We can fix young Wyatt… if they are able to get that part…”

Momo looked confused. “What…?” She asked in confusion.

The Professor grabbed Momo’s hand. “Bring them here!” The Professor said. “Bring them to Angel Tower! I don’t care where you bring them, just bring them!”

Momo looked up at the Professor. She knew what he was talking about. She closed her eyes and concentrated. A white and blue light enveloped Momo and she vanished. The Professor sighed and looked back out the window.

“I only hope she can help,” The Professor said. “She’s so young. She should not have to be thrown into this at such a young age… But, she is Destined after all.”

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Transell yelled as he jumped back. Manna spun around and slammed her staff against the floor. She quickly regained her footing and prepared to strike at Transell again. Transell readied his sword and lunged at Manna again. Manna was proving to be quite the annoying obstacle in his path.

Manna grunted as she dodged another one of Transell’s blows. She took a precious second to glance over at Jin and Troy. Jin was staggering around wildly, unable to keep his balance as Troy kept jumping in front of Jin and defending him from Yui’s deadly blows. Manna never realized that Yui was so strong.

She wondered if they had augmented Yui’s powers or something. Manna shook her head. She quickly turned her attention back over to Transell, who was getting ready to thrust his sword into Manna once more. Manna was beginning to grow weary of this game of tag, but if she turned her attention from Transell to help Jin and Troy, Transell might use that chance to counter-strike.

Manna was powerful, but she wasn’t strong enough to heal the dead.

Troy pushed Jin out of the way of another attack. Jin yelled in annoyance and pain as he fell back against the bed that a bewildered Nina was currently sitting on. Jin glanced over at Nina and grinned slightly.

“Sorry,” Jin said.

“For what?” Nina asked in confusion.

“That Ryu’s not here to save you,” Jin said. He gave Nina a grin and struggled to stand back up. Nina made a movement to help Jin, but Jin merely waved her off and shrugged. “No, I’m fine,” Jin said.

Troy parried another blow with Yui’s sword as Jin rejoined him in the fight. Jin twirled his katana and slammed the flat of the blade against Yui’s head. Yui growled and swung her sword once more. Jin and Troy both parried the blow.

“Yui!” Jin snapped. “Fight it! You don’t want to attack us!”

Yui said nothing. She made a movement to strike, but was caught off guard when a white and blue light flashed and appeared between Yui and Jin. Standing before Yui was Momo. The little girl held her hands up and motioned for Yui to stop.

“Stop fighting!” Momo’s high-pitched voice sounded. “Mommy! You don’t want to do this!”

Jin’s eyes widened in fear. “Momo…!” Jin yelled as Yui slowly approached Momo. Jin threw his arm back. “Get out of the way!”

Yui raised her sword in preparation to strike at Momo. Momo merely stared up at Yui with a look of determination on her small face. Something flashed in Yui’s eyes and her sword hovered in the air right above Momo’s head. Life returned to Yui’s eyes for a few precious seconds.

“M-momo…?” Yui stuttered. She looked over and saw Jin, blood seeping through his green robe. “Jin? What…?”

Transell jerked his head around. “NO!” He snapped his fingers and Yui’s body convulsed. She screamed as she grabbed her head with her free hand. A second later her eyes went dead again and she raised her sword once again to strike.

Jin growled in anger and in one quick motion covered Momo with his body. Momo screamed. Yui’s sword went right through Jin’s back and out through his stomach. Jin shuddered and spat blood. He looked up at Troy and pushed Momo to the side. Troy quickly ran over and grabbed Momo and picked her up and moved out of the way.

Jin growled and staggered to his feet. His vision swam as he tried to focus on Yui. He raised his sword once more in a defensive motion. Yui merely stared at Jin in shock. Her eyes widened as she started shaking. She dropped her sword and looked at Jin.

Transell growled. “Not again!” he made a movement towards Jin and Yui, but Manna barred his path. She held out her staff once more.

“Are you forgetting something?” Manna asked.

Transell growled and lunged at Manna again. Manna sighed and slammed her staff into Transell’s back as her foot made contact with his gut. Manna jumped back and readied her staff once again.

Yui’s hand reached out towards Jin. Jin was finding it really difficult to focus. He closed his eyes and drew in a ragged breath. Jin groaned in pain and dropped his sword. He collapsed to his hand and knees and kept drawing in ragged breaths.

Jin realized that Yui’s sword must have punctured something. He was in so much pain; he was unable to figure out what she had done. Yui finally snapped and screamed. She ran over to Jin just as the last of Jin’s strength failed him and caught him. She wrapped her arms around his head as she gently shook him.

“Jin?!” Yui screamed. “Wake up! Please!” She noticed his breathing was dangerously shallow. “Come on!” Yui whispered. “Please!”

Manna jerked around and spotted Jin unconscious. She also noticed that Yui was out of the spell’s control. At least for the moment. Transell took that opportunity to attack Manna from behind.

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Ryu screamed as he bum-rushed Legence. The other merely grinned slightly as he vanished just as Ryu’s sword would have made contact. As it stood, Ryu only swiped air. Ryu yelled again and jerked around, looking for Legence.

“ARMOR OF LIGHT! HOLD PHYSICAL MIGHT!” Yuki screamed as Legence appeared and tried to strike at Yuki and Sari. He was able to break the shield and was about hit Sari when Ryu ran over and parried the blow with his sword.

Ryu glared at Legence. Legence merely smiled and shook his head. “Avatar of the Dragon God, do you really wish to fight me? Do you want to die so easily?”

Ryu growled. “You fucking bastard! What do you think that you are doing?!” Ryu jerked his head around. “GIDEON!” Ryu shouted as he pointed his sword at Gideon. “What have you done!?”

Gideon merely stared at Ryu. “What little you know boy,” Gideon said in a harsh voice. “You are foolish to stand against me. Legence, finish him off.”

Legence grinned evilly and charged a sphere of dark fire in his outstretched hand. Ryu tensed and prepared to counter when there was a sudden blur. Ryu was knocked off to the side as Rekks came into view. Ryu could only stare wide-eyed at the Shell Clanner stood between him and Legence’s deadly attack.

“REKKS!” Ryu shouted.

The Shell Clanner didn’t even turn around. “Ryu, I have committed an act of betrayal to not only you, but to Harmony as well. Please, if you get the chance to see her again… tell her that I am sorry… and that I love her.”

Rekks held out his arms as Legence let loose the fire. The fire engulfed the Shell Clanner and started to consume him.

“Ryu… I am sorry to you as well…” Rekks gasped through the pain. “I know… that you can never forgive me… but please… protect this world…”

Rekks screamed once last time as he was completely consumed by the fire. Ryu’s eyes widened in anger as he glared at Legence. Another one lost to that psycho. Ryu growled in hatred and started to rush forward once again.

Legence vanished as Gideon stepped forward. Legence appeared right behind Gideon. Ryu raised his sword to strike at Gideon, but the older man raised his arm in the air and caused Ryu to halt in mid strike. Ryu’s body convulsed as he screamed in rage.

Gideon walked right over to Ryu and placed his hand on Ryu’s chest, right over his heart. Yuki and Sari made a move to counter, but Legence raised his arm and charged another dark fireball. Yuki and Sari stopped right in their tracks.

Gideon only smiled as he felt Ryu’s heart racing in his chest. “Such power you wield, Destined Child,” Gideon said.

Ryu’s face contorted in anger. “What the hell are you doing?!” Ryu growled. His eyes flashed red as his body started to uncontrollably shake. “NO! Not now!”

“Are you trying to ascend Destined Child?” Gideon asked. He pressed the palm of his hand deeper into Ryu’s chest, causing the young dragon to howl in pain. “I find it almost amusing that you would try and stand against your own father.”

“You… are… NOT… MY… FATHER!!!” Ryu growled. “He would never order the deaths of innocents! He would never attack another country just to get a Goddess Key! I do not know what monster you are… but you are not my father!”

Gideon’s smile faded. “You border on angering me, child.”

Ryu’s body convulsed again. “Shit! Not now!” Ryu yelled. He fought to control the urge to transform into his dragon form. Ryu screamed in pain when he realized that he wasn’t transforming, he was starting to crystallize.

Gideon watched Ryu with fascination. “You are indeed very strong willed. But, nonetheless, you have something that I need to activate the Gate. You’re body is of no use to me, only your powers. We have one component already from Fate. Now, all we need is the power that is sleeping within you.”

And with that, Gideon’s hand glowed as he fazed his hand through Ryu’s chest. Ryu choked and screamed as he felt Gideon wrap his fingers around his heart. Gideon sent a charge through Ryu, causing the young dragon to scream in agony. Then, slowly, Ryu felt every bit of power gathering into the area where Gideon’s hand was.

Yuki closed her eyes. She turned her attention to Sari and opened her eyes once more. “It’s time,” Yuki said sadly.

Sari frowned. “I know…”

Yuki nodded. She walked over to Sari and placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders. Yuki muttered something as a white and blue light raced from Yuki’s hands and into Sari. Sari flashed once and Yuki released Sari.

“That is the true power of the Soul Embrace…” Yuki said.

Yuki left Sari standing where she was and walked over to where Gideon was holding Ryu. Yuki’s eyes narrowed as Legence moved to intercept her. Yuki’s eyes flashed gold as she made a gesture with her hand and sent Legence flying. Yuki knew that the spell would only last a short while and she needed to hurry or she would lose Ryu too.

Gideon finished draining the last of Ryu’s powers and withdrew his hand from Ryu’s chest. In Gideon’s hand was a bright glowing golden orb. Ryu choked as the spell released him. Ryu dropped his sword and staggered forward. Ryu screamed in pain when his body started to rapidly crystallizing.

Yuki frowned. “SARI! NOW!”

Sari nodded. She pointed with her hand. “OBJECTION!”

Ryu staggered and his body returned to normal. As long as Sari held her spell, Ryu would be find, but both women knew that she couldn’t keep it up forever. The power that Yuki gave Sari amplified her powers, but she could not reject the Cysmosion, at least not for long.

It was Yuki’s turn to act. She realized too late that the power drain for the Kaiser gene also took Jin’s power of healing that he placed on Ryu all those years ago. Yuki was only at half power now and knew that her healing powers were nothing like her brother’s. But… if it was only for the moment, then she might be able to hold it back until they were able to get Ryu some help.

Yuki rushed forward and withdrew her short swords. She lunged at Gideon and made contact with Gideon’s arm. Gideon howled and jumped back. Yuki grinned slightly and then rushed over to the fallen Ryu. She gathered him into her lap and placed her hands over his heart.

She quickly chanted something and Ryu started to glow white and blue. His chest arched as Yuki drained the last bit of her powers into the dying dragon. Yuki closed her eyes and took a deep breath as Sari came running over to Ryu and Yuki. Yuki looked up at Sari.

“Goodbye,” was all Yuki said as Sari knelt down and gathered Ryu into her arms.

“Goodbye… for now,” Sari said as she and Ryu teleported out of the throne room.

Legence growled and lunged at Yuki. Yuki glared up and smiled. She held her arms out as Legence released a dark fireball right at Yuki. Yuki screamed as the fire began to engulf her. The last thing she saw was what she thought was Deis extending her hand out to the dying woman.

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Manna’s head snapped up. Her eyes widened as she felt the drain of Yuki’s lifeforce. It sparked once, then vanished. Manna growled and swung her staff right at Transell and hit him in the back. The man howled in pain as he was sent flying to the ground.

The palace started shaking. Transell staggered to his feet and frowned. Something must have happened. He turned his attention to the room’s occupants and gave them a mock salute. And with that, he vanished.

Manna jerked her attention over to Jin and Yui. Yui glanced up and looked at Manna with tears in her eyes.

“He’s… I… oh Namanda…. What did I do?!” Yui wailed.

Manna knelt down and grabbed Jin’s wrist. She checked for a pulse and found a weak, but strong one. Jin choked and opened his eyes. The look said everything. Some of their people were dead.

Manna turned her attention over to Nina and Nunnally. Nina stood up and frowned. She didn’t like that look in Manna’s eyes. Manna paced the room and looked at every single person in the room.

“We have to get out of here… NOW!” Manna said.

Nina glanced over at Nunnally. “What about her?” Nina asked. Nunnally stared up at Nina, then back over to Manna.

Troy nodded. “We take her with us,” Troy said.

There was a sudden flash of blue and white light and Sari appeared before everyone. She walked over to Nunnally and grabbed her wrist. She placed her other hand on Nina’s shoulder and nodded.

“Meet me back in Shevat,” Sari said. And with that, she vanished with Nunnally and Nina in tow.

Manna frowned. She walked over to Jin and Yui and placed her hands on their shoulders. She glanced up at Troy, who was still holding Momo, and nodded. Momo teleported herself and Troy to Shevat.

Jin glanced up at Manna. “Yuki…” Jin drew in a ragged breath. “She’s dead…” Jin said in a hollow voice.

Yui’s eyes widened in terror as she stared blankly at Jin and Manna. Manna frowned again and nodded sadly. “This isn’t over yet,” Manna said.

And with that, Manna vanished in a plume of purple light, Jin and Yui in tow.

 

To be continued…