Yori stood upon the black earth, his foot shifted slightly and the silt the ground was made of created a black cloud about his form. Within the black cloud, the Kuni began to smile, and as he did so the corner of his mouth started to crack and bleed. The blood ran down his chin and the drops began to fall from his torn and tattered skin. The drops of blood spilt upon a small package that was held under his arm. The package was wrapped in rotting rice paper a small bit of crimson could be seen through the rips in the paper. A low cackle emitted from the walking horror that once was a respected member of the crab clan.
The ground began to tremble as the blackened earth fissured, and white billowing smoke poured out into the air and began to swirl into the form of a vortex. The vortex spun and a low howl could be heard coming from it; within the white smoke black kanji that held the names of the elements swirled. The dark shugenja walked towards the vortex and stepped into it without hesitation. He was gone in a matter of seconds and he seem to cease to exist upon this plane.
From behind a twisted mockery of a tree the dark form of a cloaked figure quietly stepped. He eerily made no sound and his feet didn't even seem to touch the ground. From beneath the cloak a feint grinding of bone could be heard and the whispered words,"I have found you dark one.." , came. This figure stepped to the vortex also, he on the other hand hesitated. He looked at the vortex and knew from whence it came, but he stepped into it with determination and duty guiding his way.
A knock came from outside the door to the sanctum of the dark one. The body that once belonged to the Crab Champion, Hida Kisada, straightened itself upon a throne of human skulls. His jaw slurred for a moment as the puss from a swelling wound filled it, he spat it out, as the worlds came,"Enter, Yori. I have been expecting you."
The door opened slowly and the shugenja made his way into the room," Thank you for the audience my Lord. I come with the item which you sought. The egg is still unhatched and has not been broken in my travels."
"Good, I have a use for this rarity. I shall use it to create a new form for myself. One which is not decaying, one with which I can truly live and take my place upon the throne. I will soon end the pathetic lives of those who follow under me foolishly. Those pitiful peasants within the empire, trying to side with my legion. Trying to keep their farms from being ravaged or their crops from disease. I shall set them free from their gods for all eternity!" Fu Leng smashed his gauntleted hand down upon the arm of the throne and the skulls underneath smashed into a fine powder.
Yori blinked for a moment at the power of his lord, then smiled once more opening the wound upon his mouth that had just begun to cake over in blood. Yori's tongue seem to slither out and lick the dark black blood which flowed. "Mmmm, it shall be a delightful time when you are our Emperor , my Lord. I have reports that the clans have begun to seek the cursed Black Scrolls once more. They will try and use them to bind you , my Lord. How shall we stop them?"
The dark lord began to chuckle, and even this chuckle sent chills up the decaying Crab's spine. "Scrolls to bind me again? How foolish do they think me to be? They captured me once with them, never again. They shall fail and whomever they choose to be their little Thunders shall perish at my hands. I shall steal their essence from them and show them the true power of a child of Amaterasu and Onnatangu."
"Let me see the egg, Yori."
Outside of the chamber, behind the solid oak door, a cloaked figure stood. Emerald glinted from under the cloak as the pale light of the moon shone upon the armor underneath. The face of the figure remained emotionless, but the grinding of bones could be heard once more as it's fist clenched reflexively in anger, an emotion it had not felt in a long time. The fallen Akodo began to become even more enraged as he listened to the conversation within. His teeth began to chatter as his rage grew, his boney hand gripped the handle of the katana which he was given due to his station.
As Fu Leng and Yori talked about their plans for the egg, the door burst open with a sudden explosion. Wooden splinters flew through the air, ripping into Yori's rotting flesh as he moved instinctively in front of his lord to save him. Small clouds of dust filled the door way , in a faint screen of white. A dark shadow stepped over the threshold of the doorway into the room. It held within it's hand a katana that looked quite ornate for his station. He whispered in a low raspy breath, "Fu Leng, I have come for you. Prepare to pay for your crimes against the Empire."
A chuckle began to resound around the room, as the figure sitting on the throne of human skulls, found this moment to be something to laugh at. "Oh, the fallen Akodo has come to repent for his sins? He even comes bearing a champion's weapon. Well come and try to make me pay for my crimes, you pathetic worm."
The dark god stretched out his hand. His hand began to swell with a crackling energy that glowed with a green hue and was the color of purple lightning. The energy stretched from his hand and slammed into the fallen Akodo. The energy began to sear off every bit of the Akodo's cloak and even some of his clothing. It completely washed him in purple light. Then the light subsided and the Akodo still stood. Fu Leng gasped underneath his mempo in surprise, as he saw the Akodo in front of him. The fallen Akodo stood there completely covered in melting jade tokens. The Akodo whispered once more,"Now it is my turn."
The Champion lunged for the dark god, who wore the form of the Great Bear. Just as he breached the space between them, the room began to shake and the floor began to crack as if another fissure were going to appear. The fallen Akodo Champion leapt backwards from whence he came as the floor began to glow red as it cracked. The flooring burst into the air as all three in the room were showered in splinters and hit by flying pieces of wood. The Akodo looked up and saw the form of a recent enemy floating in the air. The lost Moto had gained a new arm since their last battle, an arm which was not his own.
"Once more we meet on the field of battle, Fallen One." the lost Moto spoke with a resentful tone. "This time we finish our battle without the interruptions of the mortal fools. This time I shall send you to the other side to stay."
The fallen Akodo moved into a low stance with his katana behind him ready to strike as the Moto took his stance with his katana in front of him pointed towards the Akodo. They both began to stare into each other's eye sockets. Both of the tainted souls showed no emotion upon their faces. They stood in complete silence as another swirling cloud of black kanji erupted behind the lost Moto, the dark lord and the tainted Kuni fled through the new portal. The portal remained after the two fled and the duel began.
Both champions sat in silence as each let his own essence spread out around him, to feel the void within the universe. They could each feel the world around them and then their focus became on one another. The chi of each champion began to become faintly visible as it crackled like electricity. Each looked deep into the other's sockets. The Fallen Akodo moved first. This movement was all it took. The Akodo brought forward his katana in a sweeping motion upwards. The katana bit into the Moto's left side and continued up. The blow sliced the Moto in two, black ichor spilt from the Moto's body as two pieces of him hit the floor. The Akodo grabbed two large tokens of jade from the tattered pouch he wore at his side. He threw them down onto the lost Moto, even as the jade burned his own hand. The pieces hit the Moto and began to burn it. The Moto howled in agony as it's spirit was forced from the shambling body it inhabited. Then all of a sudden it was quiet once more.
The fallen Akodo looked about the room. He no longer saw the portal the two had used to escape through. He scanned the room once more before leaving and noticed buried under some of the flooring, that had exploded, an ivory and crimson patterned egg lay hidden. The Akodo wrapped the egg in his tattered cloak, and exited the room. It would be a long journey back to Otosan Uchi, especially through the lands of the black earth.
