Forum Thread

"Cale, have you seen Dais anywhere?" Sekhmet asked, eyes down as he walked into the room. When the Warlord of Corruption failed to answer, the bulky man lifted his head, suddenly on alert. Even the atmosphere of the Castle seemed to shift, turning more sinister. "Lady Kayura, are you in here? This isn't funny, you three!" Silence was Sekhmet's only answer--until a muffled thud reached his ears. Immediately summoning his armor, he crept to the chamber's other side, keeping his gaze on the door opposite him.

"S-Sekhmet, help me....No, get away--!"

Kayura's cries abruptly ended, leaving an ominous silence that hung thick in the air. Gripping his sword tightly, Sekhmet grasped the door's handle and wrenched it open, unconsciously dropping the weapon at what he saw. Kneeling next to Kayura's still body, he gently cradled her torso, massively relieved when her eyes fluttered. "My Lady, what happened to you? Where are the others?"

Coughing, blood running down her chin, the woman struggled to speak. "I tr-tried to stop them from opening the crypt. But the evil they u-unleashed was to great for even my power." Her frame stiffening as a wave of pain washed through her, Kayura continued. "Sekhmet, be careful, the other Warlords have been corrupted by--" Words dissolving into a scream, she looked shakily at the blade that had sprouted form her chest, raising her eyes to meet Cale's ruthless black gaze.

Trembling with rage and fear, Sekhmet lowered Kayura to the floor, straightening slowly, armed with a pair of swords. "You killed her. And for what? Talpa is gone, as is the evil that was in this Castle!" Lunging toward the Warlord of Corruption, he failed to see Dais hanging above him. Just as Sekhmet swung at Cale, the other man dropped in front of him, deflecting the attack. Seeing both their eyes glow with unholy light, the Venom Warlord knew they had been possessed by a force more deadly than Nether spirits. "What has happened to you?"

"It is time for the Warlords to reunite, Sekhmet," Dais drawled, he and Cale backing him into a wall, weapons poised to strike. "There is no escape." As one, the men thrust their blades forward, the steel piercing Sekhmet's armor easily.

Down in the courtyard, the Warlord of Venom's bellows could be heard. Patrolling Nether soldiers froze, heads turning to look up at the looming Castle. Overhead, a gray cloud formed, releasing a strange mist that engulfed them all. When it faded, their eyes shone crimson. From a nearby balcony emerged the three Warlords, laughing cruelly.

Yuli slowly swung his legs as he watched the other kids leave with their parents, voices echoing across the rapidly emptying schoolyard. He heard familiar laughter and looked around to find three bullies approaching purposefully. Why does it always have to be me? Sighing internally, the boy slowly stood to face the inevitable.

"Hey, Yamano, you get around to doing our homework yet?" the tallest teen demanded, coming to a halt in front of the smaller kid. When Yuli failed to respond, he signaled to his friends who eagerly grabbed one of his arms. "Did you hear what I said, runt?" Bringing his arm back to strike the boy, he yelped as a large hand wrapped around his wrist. "Oi, what's the big idea? Let me go!"

"It's not nice to hit people. How would you like it if someone attacked you?"

"None of your business!" the captured teen roared, yanking his arm free and whirling to face his aggressors--and froze. Standing before the four kids were three armored men, all wearing a sinister grin. "Who are you?"

"That is not your concern, child," the white-haired man said chillingly, one good eye narrowed in a glare. "Just know that if you do not hand over Yuli, we will kill you."

---

Realizing that his arms were free, Yuli bolted, mind racing with the fact that the Dark Warlords had returned. Before he had gone even one hundred yards, something heavy sent him sprawling to the ground. An armor-clad knee pressed into his back, making breathing difficult. Metal flashed next to him as a sword was placed under his neck, the green encased arm identifying his assailant as Sekhmet. Vision clouding from the lack of oxygen, Yuli prayed for any sort of rescue.

"Get off of him, you ugly snake!"

Eyes snapping open in astonishment, the boy felt air rush back into his lungs as Sekhmet was hurled from his back. Looming over him, scythe clenched tightly in one gauntlet, was Anubis. Behind the former Warlord of Cruelty were the three other teens. Scrambling to his feet, Yuli evaded Cale's furious swipe and latched onto the red-haired man. "D-don't let them take me to the D-Dynasty." Anubis opened his mouth to reply, but what happened next was too sudden for even him to predict.

---

"Black Lightning Slash!"

"Web of Deception!"

"Snake Fang Strike!"

Quickly shoving Yuli towards the others, Anubis raised his weapon to defend against the combined attacks of the Dark Warlords. Crackling energy engulfed him, constricting his armor painfully. Yelling in extreme agony, he saw Cale lunge at him with his clawed hand extended. The unbreakable metal talons tore through the Cruelty Warlord's chest plate and into his flesh, a surge of dark power sending him crashing backwards. Dimly aware of his surroundings, Anubis heard Yuli scream before an eerie silence fell. Forcing himself onto his elbows, he saw that he was only wearing his subarmor, blood pooling on the grass beneath him. Meeting the gazes of the three terrified teens, he struggled to his feet, swaying dangerously. "T-take me to Yuli's house. I must warn the Ronin W-Warriors."