The boat came to shore and the teenagers stepped off. The wind blew softly, but each of them could feel the overwhelming presence of evil. Flash scowled angrily as she started walking eastward. The Ronins followed her. Ryo glanced at the sky with a frown. Flash noticed it.

"The sky always turns red when he comes," she said angrily. "It’s like his signature."

"Sounds like Talpa in a way," Ryo replied. "Except when he comes the sky turns black."

Flash nodded, but kept on walking. She wanted to get to Chinook as soon as possible. She had a feeling that something dreadful was going to happen if she didn’t get there in time, and it was all she could do to keep herself from running.

Cye sensed her feelings. "Something’s wrong isn’t it?" he asked worriedly.

Flash was silent, the feeling inside was growing stronger. And then suddenly her forehead started glowing. A flame appeared in her forehead, flaring brightly. Faith. The Ronins stared in shock, and Cye backed away, fearing she was going to cause a fire. Her eyes narrowed. "Come on!!" she said, and raced off, with Blaze at her side. The Ronins and their tiger followed as quickly as they could.

Chinook grimaced as he slammed his blooming staff against another soldierknight. One down. There was so many of them. He sensed a fist heading for his midsection and blocked it. One quick movement, and the soldierknight was gone. How long could he keep this up? he wondered. He suddenly ducked from a flying ninja star, and avoided a strike. His staff flew outward, catching the soldierknight right in the forehead. It fell to the ground, completely destroyed.

But more soldiers came at him. He knew he could not keep up for much longer. And then suddenly a bunch of arrows shot around him, catching the soldierknights off guard. They fell to the ground lifeless. Chinook looked in relief. "Ah, T-boz. Ice!"

"Time to go down, ya uglies!!" Ice cried. He grabbed a soldier and twirled it around his head, then threw it at several more soldierknights. He leapt high into the air, and finished them off with spearsword.

T-boz stayed near Chinook, protecting him. When a soldierknight got too close, she shot an arrow, and it went down, eliminated. The battle went on, as more soldierknights appeared. Chinook was worried. How long would his students be able to hold up. Sure, he had taught them endurance, but even endurance can give out after awhile. And because they were inside the mansion, they couldn’t call their surekills, otherwise, the whole place would crash down on them.

Ice punched another soldier out, and T-boz kicked one into the wall. The battle continued with no sign of relenting. And then finally, it was over. All the soldiers were gone.

The two Warriors disarmored.

"That was fun," Ice said as he flexed a muscle.

T-boz looked toward Chinook. "Are you alright, Master Chinook?"

Chinook smiled. "I am fine. I am just glad you two are all right."

"We came back because the others didn’t meet us at our meeting place," T-boz explained. Her voice softened. "We didn’t find Thunder."

Chinook frowned. "And if the others didn’t meet you, then I fear the same thing has happened to them."

"You’re right, old man!" came a mocking voice.

"Karma!"

More evil laughter.

Ice glared in every direction. "Hey, come on out, you snake! We know you’re here somewhere!"

The lights suddenly went out, and the three of them huddled together, facing outward. Where was he? It was so dark and quiet. And then suddenly they heard a hissing sound. Each of them leapt away from the hissing sound, avoiding it.

There was a loud bang, and then laughter. Chinook flew back, slamming his back against the metal plate of the fireplace. He grimaced with pain, and struggled to get up. The lights came back on, but Ice and T-boz were nowhere to be seen.

He slammed his fist against the floor. "No!! How could I? I failed to save them!" Tears blurred his vision, but he quickly wiped them away. He heard the front door open, but he didn’t look up.

"Master Chinook?"

He looked up, and his eyes brightened. "Flash!"

She smiled and helped him to his feet. They hugged, and she stepped back. "I felt it in Japan. "Where are the others?"

He looked down, ashamed. "I am afraid Tutock has them all."

Flash’s eyes flashed angrily, but she remained calm. She gestured toward the Ronins. "Master Chinook, these are my friends from Japan, the ones I was staying with. That’s Ryo, Rowen, Sage, Cye, and Kento, and White Blaze."

Chinook bowed in respect to them, and they returned it. Chinook gazed at Sage for the longest time. Sage stared back, almost wondering why he was being looked at like that.

Chinook sighed. "Ah, forgive me. You resemble my student, Thunder."

Sage blinked, and Flash explained. "You look like Thunder." She pointed to a picture of Thunder dressed in Kendo gear, sitting on the mantle.

Sage peered at the photograph, with a surprised look on his face. The boy had blond hair, his eyes light blue, and his left eye was covered. They did look similar, but Sage could tell the boy’s hair was slightly longer and differently styled from his.

Flash turned to Chinook. "Master Chinook, I am going after my friends. These five here, joined, because they bear mystical armor as well. They wanted to help."

Chinook nodded. "Yes, I sensed that about them. But you must all be careful. Tutock will try anything he can to gain a victory."

"We’ve handled difficult odds before, Master Chinook," Ryo said. White Blaze rumbled in agreement.

"I just got one question," Kento asked. "If this Tutock lives in a netherworld, how are we going to get there?"

Flash smiled as she felt around Blaze’s neck, reaching deep into his fur. She found what she was looking for and brought it out. "With this."

The five of them stared in surprise. It was a large pure white crystal that hung on a pure white golden chain. It sparkled with a thousand colors.

"What’s that?" Ryo wanted to know.

"This," Flash explained, "will help us to get into Tophet. Once Blaze uses it, we’re in."

"Wait a minute," Rowen said, "Blaze has to do it? Why can’t anyone else?"

"Because, Blaze is the only able to wield the crystal," Chinook said. "It was given to him when the Warriors were first coming together. Only he can control it."

Rowen nodded in understanding.

"It reminds me of the Jewel of Life," Cye said softly.

"Jewel of Life?"

Ryo pulled it out, and Flash and Chinook gazed at it. It was seashell shaped and sparkled with a might of its own.

"I sense power from this jewel," Chinook said. He looked at his student. "Flash, the others don’t have much time left. Thunder will not die, but the others I am afraid for."

Flash nodded seriously. "We’re going now, Master Chinook. Blaze!"

The wolf stepped forward and closed his eyes. The crystal around his neck flared to life, glowing a sky blue color. Another crystal, smaller, appeared around Chinook’s neck.

The Ronins’ mouths all dropped open, as Chinook inspected the crystal.

"Thank you, Blaze." He pat the large wolf on the head, and the wolf bowed. He stepped back and turned away from the group. His eyes closed again, and once more the crystal flared to life. A light appeared in the room, and covered the six teenagers, the tiger, and himself. In a blink of an eye, they were gone.

Chinook polished the crystal, and it sparkled. He gazed at the empty spot where they had just stood only seconds ago.

"Take care my student, and her new friends. Take care."

Ryo glanced around and immediately plugged his nose. The stench of this place was awful! It was as if he was standing in a cemetery with hundreds of dead bodies laid out before him. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe, and for one second he was sure he was going to faint. He felt strange too, extremely sad in fact, and he felt lost and hopeless. What was this! He couldn’t move! What was happening? Where were Sage, Cye, Kento, Rowen, Flash?! White Blaze and Blaze? Where are they all? He struggled against some unknown force and he felt his life sucking out of him.

SMACK!!!

Ryo’s head snapped back as pain registered on his mind. Flash stared sadly back at him, and he regained his composure. He looked around seeing the other Ronins rubbing their faces. Apparently they had felt the same thing he felt, and even White Blaze was rubbing his face with his paw.

"Are you guys okay?" Flash asked in concerned.

"Ever than a burning cheek, I’d say we’re all fine," Rowen replied.

"Sorry about that."

"What was that?" Ryo asked. "I have never felt anything like that in all my life. I thought I was dying."

Flash looked down. "In a way you were. If you let the misery get to you here, it’ll suck your spirit right out of you, and your body will become a mindless corpse."

"You mean like a zombie?" Kento asked.

"No," Flash exclaimed patiently. "A zombie is a person that’s died and their bodies raise up out of the ground to feed off living humans. These ones are different. They don’t feed off living humans. They drain their energy and try to steal their souls so they can live again."

"So what are they called?" Rowen asked.

"Once a person has lost their spirit here due to the misery they are known as Soul Snatchers, or Soliothifs."

Cye paled and Flash looked at him and the rest of the sternly. "Whatever you do don’t let the misery overwhelm you. It’s a very bad thing. Know there are Tophetian Spirits here, and be careful they do not possess you."

"What would happen if they do?" Sage asked.

"You’d do whatever they want."

"Just great," Kento muttered.

"Is there a way to keep from being possessed?"

"Actually, no," Flash said. "But don’t worry. "I’m a demonspirit slayer. I can get into your possessed body and kill the spirit that’s possessing you, thus freeing you."

"So that’s what happened when those Netherspirits tried to possess you that one time," Ryo said.

Flash nodded and started walking. The Ronins followed her, and realized she was following Blaze.

"I prefer we talk and walk at the same time," Flash exclaimed. "I can explain everything as we do."

The Ronins nodded, and she began to explain. "As you know I already said Tutock is equal to ten Talpas. Truth be told, if one of you had magical or sorcerer powers, he would be able to turn them against you. And if he wanted to, if you didn’t have the spirit of the armor protecting you, he could just point at you and you would be dead less than a microsecond."

The Ronins gulped, and she continued on. "He has a hidden video camera in the center of this realm that records everything happening. In order to destroy it, an arrow must be used."

Everyone glanced at Rowen who nodded his head thoughtfully. "Just where would it be?" he asked.

"It’s on a water fountain that we’ll be coming to soon. Aim at the jewel on the front of it, striking it straight in the center. That’ll destroy all the cameras hidden in this place."

"You don’t think he’s watching us right now, do you?" Cye asked worriedly.

"Most likely he is, which is why I want all of us to be on our guard."

And they were. They continued walking over a long dusty hill, trying their best not to let the misery get to them. It wasn’t easy, but then they remembered their promise to Flash, and were determined to help save her friends.

Thunder was resting against his chains with his eyes closed. His body was still wracking with pain and he sensed the other Warriors were in the same condition. Each of them were trying to be strong, but it was not easy. Still they refused to give up hope.

He licked his dried parched lips and wished in vain for some water. He was so thirsty. He could probably drink a whole lake by himself. He worried about Scorpio. The Current Bearer needed water more than he did as he was linked to the water by his armor. If he was dehydrated he wouldn’t be able to call on his armor, and that worried him greatly.

He opened his eyes and stared down, and saw a jug of cold water down below him. Thunder frowned. It figured that only Tutock would do something as cruel as that. He closed his eyes and ignored it. And then his symbol flared to life on his head. Knowledge His eyes snapped open and he let out a shout for joy. Flash was here!

T-boz heard Thunder’s cry for joy, as her own symbol flared to life on her forehead. Hope. And she smiled even though she in pain. She knew Flash would come. She always knew. And once again it would be time to kick Tutock butt.

Ice grinned happily as his symbol appeared on his forehead. Equity. "Whoohoo!!" he cried as he sensed Flash getting closer.

Chilie’s symbol appeared on her forehead. Love. She smiled happily and began praising God. Flash was here! Flash was here!

Scorpio’s eyes opened weakly as he felt his symbol flaring to life on his forehead. Forgiveness. Hurry Flash. He closed his eyes again, feeling incredibly weak.

Shades’ symbol glowed brightly on her forehead and she let out a grin. Mercy. It was about time she got here. Now it was time to kick some Tutock butt!

Snow’s symbol glowed brightly on his forehead. Allegiance. He grinned. Tutock was going down!

Blaze stopped just over the hill and stared down toward a beautiful white water fountain. The Ronins stared at it, mesmerized by it. It was as if it was made of the finest porcelain all handcrafted by hand.

Cye stared as the water, the purest blue water he had ever seen pour out of it. His eyes widened.

Flash saw him looking and he knew what he was thinking. "Cye, don’t get near the fountain, period. It has a deadly poison that could kill you quickly."

Cye gulped and nodded. Flash looked at Rowen. "Now, Rowen."

Rowen drew an arrow and cocked it on his bow. He pulled the string back and aimed for that jewel. He released the arrow and watched as it traveled in a straight line. It struck the center of the jewel, shattering it. All of them covered their ears as a strange shattering noise filled the area.

When it was over, they uncovered their ears.

"Is that it?" Ryo asked.

Flash turned to look at him and shake her head. "No, Ryo. This is only the beginning."

The small army gradually moved forward as Blaze led them onward toward Tutock’s castle. There was a stickiness in the air, that none of them liked, but each one refused to give into the power of this place.

Flash was moving quickly, stealthy like a tiger stalking its prey in the night. Not one sound came from her. Ryo watched her from the corner of his eyes, impressed. He was moving just as silently as she was.

Suddenly she stopped and held still.

"Why’d ya stop?" Kento wanted to know. He looked around and saw nothing. Sage couldn’t see anything, but he could sense it. "On your guard, guys," he said quietly.

Flash was glaring around her, turning so fast she looked like a blur of blended colors. "COME OUT, GUARDIAN!! I KNOW YOU’RE THERE!!!"

Her voice echoed throughout Tophet, and then suddenly a Guardian appear. His blue and yellow striped armor clearly recognizable. He smirked at her. "Firestarter, how could have to come!! And I see you’ve brought company! Five males! Haha! Have you been sleeping with them?"

Flash glared at him angrily, ready to toast him for that remark. Sage’s mouth dropped, Cye gasped, Kento crossed his arms with a ‘harumph!’, Rowen just stared in shock, and Ryo glared angrily at the Guardian.

"No, I’m not sleeping with them, if it’s any of your business, which it’s not!" Flash took a menacing step toward Cain. "Now, let my friends go right now!"

Cain smiled wickedly. "And why would Master Tutock do that? If you want them so bad, go and get them. They’re waiting for you…..," he paused for dramatic effort. "To join them! And your boyfriends over there can join you as well." He laughed.

Ryo glared and went to go after him. "LET ME AT HIM!! I’ll kill him for that remark!!

"Ryo, cool it!" Rowen pleaded as he and Kento tried holding the fiery leader back. White Blaze pressed against Ryo’s waist, trying to help keep him back.

Cain only laughed louder. "Such a temper!! Did your mommy raise you like that?" he sneered again, only increasing Ryo’s anger.

Cye was worried, and he kept glancing back and forth, wonder what to do, what to say. They didn’t know this enemy, and Ryo was letting his anger get to him. What was Flash doing? Was she just going to stand there all day and do absolutely nothing?

Flash held up a hand. "Hold up, Ryo. I got this," she said with a smirk. Ryo calmed down which relieved Kento, Rowen, and White Blaze. All of them watched her, wondering what she was about to do.

"So, Cain, you done insulting me and my friends?"

Cain smirked and laughed. "Not quite, Firestarter! You know something, you look like your mother. Completely hideous!!"

"Yeah?" Flash retorted. "Well, your mother is so stupid it takes her an hour to cook Minute Rice!"

Cain glared. "Your mother was so fat when the mortals drive around her they found themselves in the next city!"

Flash was undaunted. "Your mother’s so fat she fell and got stuck in the Grand Canyon."

The Ronins mouths dropped open with surprise. Was this Flash doing this? Kento felt a little offended because he was overweight, but he waited to see what Flash was up to. (A.N: I am not against overweight people. My best friend is overweight. Just wanted to clear that up. Also Flash is doing this on purpose. You’ll see why.)

White Blaze watched the two back and forth. He looked at Blaze. What is she doing? he asked.

White Blaze turned back to the insulting warriors, wondering how.

"Man, this is intense," Kento said quietly.

"I never knew Flash could have such a vicious voice on her. I mean is it really necessary to assault a mother?" Cye asked.

"Hey, he insulted her mother first, Cye, and her mother was killed," Ryo reminded him.

"Yeah, I guess you’re right." Cye turned to Flash and Cain as it got more intense with each insult. Finally she delivered a powerful one.

"You know what, Cain, when your mother was born, the doctors took one look and RAN!!"

Cain glared at her. He screamed in rage and charged at her, his numchucks flying in the air. Flash took one step back, then brought her right leg up high into the air, catching him under his chin and sending him backward.

He rolled twice on the ground and attacked blindly. Flash kept dodging, jabbing, punching, hitting, and kicking. She called to the others. "Follow Blaze and he’ll lead you to my friends!"

"Will you be okay?" Ryo asked.

"Yep!" Flash replied as she flipped Cain over her shoulder again.

Ryo nodded, then turned as Blaze suddenly went off again. He followed the large overgrown wolf with White Blaze at his right side, Rowen on his left, and Cye and Kento and Sage behind them.

Blaze led them through what appeared as a desert, and they quickly followed his steps, seeing how he jumped from here to there. Not sure why he was doing that, there was no way they were going to take any chances.

Ryo was worried though. He was so absorbed into his thoughts, he didn’t watch where he was going. He stepped on some loose sand, which quickly began to sink beneath him. A pale greyish hand suddenly shot out and grabbed his ankle, squeezing it like a vise grip.

"Augh!" Ryo yelled, trying to kick it away.

Rowen turned his head and gasped as he ran over. "Ryo! Hang on, buddy!" He wrapped his arms around Ryo and tried to pull, while Kento tried to kick the hand away. The hand stayed there, constantly having a tug of war with Rowen. Sage and Cye came and tried to help pull Ryo free.

But the hand stayed attached to Ryo’s ankle and was steadily drawing him closer. Ryo struggled and kicked with all his might, but the hand was too strong.

White Blaze swiped at the hand with his claws, but it was as if the hand never felt it. By now Ryo’s ankle was swollen and bruised, and was slowly beginning to bleed.

"Let him go!!" Rowen cried as he tugged Ryo with Sage’s and Cye’s help.

"Now!" Kento hollered as he continued kicking the hand.

Blaze suddenly came back and touched the hand with the glowing crystal around his neck. There was a sound that resembled a horrifying screeching as the hand suddenly let go and slithered away back under ground.

Ryo let out a huge sigh of relief, then felt an incredible warmness in his ankle. At first he thought it was bleeding badly, until he looked down.

Blaze held the crystal against his ankle, and it was completely healed, as if the incident had never occurred to begin with. Ryo was astounded. He stood up. "Thanks, Blaze," he said.

Blaze nodded his head, then turned and headed off.

"That there is one smart wolf," Rowen said as they followed him.

"Yeah, I know," Ryo replied. "Like White Blaze."

They continued on, occasionally running into danger here and there. They were attacked by soldierknights. And this time there were more then there had been on the plane.

"Great," Rowen said, as he found their number.

"How many?" Ryo asked.

"Two hundred million."

Sage’s, Kento’s, and Cye’s mouths all dropped open. "Can we handle that many at once?" Cye worried.

"Relax, Cye!" Kento said brightly. "We can take these iron heads, no problem!"

"Just stay focused you guys, and keep together," Sage advised.

"Ronin Warriors to arms! Armor of Wildfire! Dao Jin!"

"Armor of Strata! Dao Inochi!"

"Armor of Halo! Dao Chi!"

"Armor of Hardrock! Dao Gi!"

"Armor of Torrent! Dao Shin!"

The flowered wallpaper and the cherryblossoms surrounded them in spectral of light and power. The armors formed over their subarmors, and their helmets appeared, and were put over their heads, then came their weapons. The five stood there in full armor, waiting. The battle had just began.

Several soldiers attacked. Ryo weaved through them like a buzzsaw, cutting them down with his swords. One soldier attacked him from behind, but he dodged, and made a quick sweep of his sword sideways and behind him, and right through the soldierknight’s head.

Cye knocked at least three soldierknights away, then kicked one into another’s spear. He suddenly stole another soldierknight’s weapon, and used it against them.

Rowen was firing several arrows at a time. More like three hundred and fifty at the same time. He was careful not to hurt his friends, striking at only the soldierknights, watching them crumple down to practically nothing.

Sage swung his sword left and right as he moved gracefully through the attacking soldiers. A blow suddenly caused him to land on his back, but his sword quickly deflected a death blow that had been aimed for him. He made good use of his foot, and sent the soldierknight flying backward, right into Ryo’s blades. Sage leapt to his feet and attacked another soldierknight, taking off its head with one single swipe.

Kento was having a blast and laughing through the whole battle. He was using his weapon like a regular baseball bat, sending the soldierknights flying several miles into the air, then he’d watch as they drop back down to the ground and quickly take them out.

"These guys don’t seem so tough to me!" he said as he dodged a strike, and took off the arm of another.

"You’re right, they don’t," Ryo said.

"Cool it, Ryo," Rowen warned. "This might just be the tip of the iceberg. This Tutock might have soldiers more powerful than these ones!"

Cye kicked a soldierknight several feet back, then smashed the face of another one in. "Do you think they’re just trying to tire us out?" he asked.

"That’s possible," Sage relied as he struck two soldierknights down at the same time. "But we have to stay awake and alert!"

Ryo sent four more soldierknights crumbling. More attacked. "Man, this doesn’t end! That’s it!" He brought his swords together and twirled them around as he suddenly leapt high into the air. "FLARE UP NOW!!!!!!!"

The power of the surekill suddenly went out, and at least four hundred soldierknights were destroyed.

"Alright, now you’re talking, my man!" Kento began to twirl his weapon around steadily and quickly. "IRON ROCK CRUSHER!!"

The ground shook violently as it came apart. Pieces of large debris flew at the soldierknights, destroying them as they went right through.

Sage held his sword high above his head. "THUNDER BOLT CUT!!!" He suddenly brought his sword down and out before him as he quickly leaped into the air. The surekill went out in a dazzling scene of light, and more soldierknights were suddenly vanquished.

Rowen held a single arrow back on the nock of his bow, letting the energy build until he felt it was powerful enough to release. "ARROW SHOCK WAVE!!" He let the arrow go, and it traveled as the power and light build increasingly. More than 300 hundred soldiers were destroyed on impact.

Cye held his Yari out in front of him, letting the energy flow. "SUPER WAVE SMASHER!!!" A huge blast of water suddenly forced its way out and impaled at least 200 soldiers, rusting them and causing them to become completely eliminated.

White Blaze attacked viciously himself, taking down at least five soldierknights at a time. Blaze attacked several more, causing them to be nothing more than recycled tin cans.

The battle continued on as they fought for their lives. One question plagued Ryo’s mind though. Was Flash all right?