FLASHBACK:

Within the Mahogany Woods is a young eight year old Kenjiro standing under Ruuk’s Falls, a large waterfall that leads into the long Ruuk’s River. His eyes are closed, his hands are clasped together, and he’s struggling to concentrate. Standing stoically before him is a twenty-seven year old Ito, Kenjiro’s austere father.

Ito: You’re loosing focus son.

Kenjiro: I’m-I’m trying.

Ito: Take a deep breath and let your vyrkra flow through you.

Kenjiro hunches over from the waterfall’s great pressure.

Kenjiro: It’s too much! I don’t have the kind of vyrkra you do Father.

Ito smiles and squats down to Kenjiro. Kenjiro notices and the water’s pressure suddenly lets up.

Ito: Sometimes your strength alone will not be enough to carry you through tough bouts. In these moments it’s okay to borrow the power of others.

Kenjiro: Borrow power?

Ito’s eyes glow and the waterfall begins to fall upward and over them, as if gravity were reversed. Kenjiro looks up in complete awe of his father’s feat.

Ito: We Dyrkcens may be the fewest in number of the humans, but we possess the most powerful element in creation; gravity. We’re not limited to our environment like the other races. Gravity is everywhere, and with proper mastery the sky is the limit in terms of what we can accomplish with it.

Kenjiro: How are you doing this father?

Ito: Through the planet’s vyrkra son. If you listen closely you can hear the spirit of the planet. As a Zoh-Gyn your sword may not always be enough to fell the enemy, in these situations we must call upon the planet or others for aid. Never forget that this weapon is far more powerful than any blade can be.

Ito’s eyes stop glowing and the force holding up the waterfall ceases, dropping the water on them. Kenjiro screams and closes his eyes as the water rushes down the river.

When he opens his eyes he finds himself on top of his father's shoulders and giggles. The two share a joyous laugh together.

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The blinding light from Monsoon’s attack recedes, revealing the entire warehouse to be completely destroyed. The ceiling has been caved in, exposing the night sky and body parts are littered about.

Chelsea, who is unharmed and clutching a terrified Yanni, opens her eyes and looks up to see Kenjiro standing before them. He’s panting heavily with his sword lodged into the ground before them. Kenjiro has his arms extended before him erecting a gravity barrier. Tina, Araceli, and Evona are also unharmed due to the barrier. Chelsea and the others look puzzled as they observe their surroundings.

Chelsea: (How could this happen? Did he really kill everyone else with that attack?)

Chelsea and the others watch Kenjiro pick up his sword and let out a deep breath. He looks back at them, as if silently confirming if they’re all okay. Chelsea notices the subtle look of relief in his eyes.

Chelsea: (Did this human really mean to protect us?)

Her head turns to a speechless Tina.

Chelsea: (Or just his own kind…)

Monsoon erupts from the rubble with a thunderous roar and immediately flies at Kenjiro, tackling him into the edge of the caved in area. Onlookers from the town scream in an attempt to jump out the way.

Kenjiro is lodged into the ground and Monsoon raises his arms above him with a ferocious shout to pound his opponent’s skull in. Kenjiro’s eye flash and Monsoon is propelled off of Kenjiro into the air.

Monsoon grunts and dives into the ground at Kenjiro. Kenjiro’s eye flashes and the gravity warps around him for a split second, allow him to leap at an extreme speed away from Monsoon’s attack. Kenjiro lets out a loud whistle. Ki-Ki’s howl can be heard in the distance. Kenjiro swings out a wave of vyrkra from his steam spewing Torqued Katana--

Kenjiro: Zynkata!

This particular Zynkata is different from the others, it has it’s own gravity and sucks in all rubble and obstacles along its path. Monsoon attempts to fly away but the intense attack pulls him in and slices him, leaving a nasty gash across his chest and knocking the wind out of him.

An Old Veguhl henchman rises from the rubble, using his wings as a shield. Behind him is Dean, who he was unwittingly protecting. Dean slowly staggers to his feet, clutching his broken arm.

Ki-Ki touches down from the sky and lands next to Kenjiro. He mounts her and rides to Tina. He grabs her and pulls her on. Kenjiro shouts to Chelsea and the girls.

Kenjiro: Now’s your chance to escape!

Chelsea and the girls appear to be stunned by his words.

Evona: Escape? Does he really mean it?

After a split second of hesitation Chelsea flaps her wings and carries Yanni into the sky.

Araceli: Wait, Chelsea!

The girls follow her.

Ki-Ki ascends into the air.

Tina: Thank you.

Kenjiro: Don’t mention, sweetheart.

Tina looks down at the ruined warehouse and inn. She spots Dean stumbling along.

Tina: Wait, wait! That’s my partner Dean! He’s still down there!

Kenjiro: What?

Tina: My partner is still down there! The Avalian man!

Kenjiro grunts and kicks Ki-Ki to descend.

Dean appears to be in a lot of pain. Ki-Ki lands and Kenjiro dismounts her.

Dean: Tina! Thank Haven you’re alright!

Kenjiro: Get on!

Dean: Huh?

Tina: Just get on Dean, hurry!

The old Veguhl Henchman approaches them holding a sword.

Old Veguhl Henchman: Where do you think you humans are going? It’s your fault this has all happened!

Kenjiro cuts him down with ease as Dean is slowly helped onto Ki-Ki. He hollers in pain.

Tina: Are you okay, Dean?!

Dean: I think it’s broken.

Kenjiro: Take them someplace safe Ki-Ki!

Ki-Ki barks in response.

Tina: Hold on, what about you?!

Kenjiro: I’ll catch up once I’m done frying this bird.

Tina: But--

Kenjiro pats Ki-Ki and she quickly takes into the sky and out of sight.From on top of a nearby building, Chelsea and the girls watch Monsoon slowly get on his feet from Kenjiro’s attack.

Monsoon: You impress me human. I was certain that last attack would be the end of you.

Kenjiro: You’ll find that I’m full of surprises you feathered monster.

Monsoon gets into a wide stance as blood oozes through his wicked smile.

Monsoon: You had the advantage before human, but now that we’re surrounded by the open air you have no chance of living through this bout.

Kenjiro: You may be able to control the winds but I command a force far greater!

Kenjiro’s eyes flash and gravity warps at his position, allowing him to dash at Monsoon at blinding speeds. Monsoon barely blocks a sword lunge. Before he can hit Kenjiro with a counter punch Kenjiro leaps into the air and repeatedly warps gravity to make several leaps in midair to the outskirts of the city. Frustrated Monsoon rockets after him.

Monsoon: Come back here you cowardly human! Try to delay it all you want but you will perish by my hand!

Chelsea: He’s luring him away from town.

Evona: You don’t think he’s really gonna do it, do you Chelsea?

Chelsea: If the rumors are to be believed, then I think he just might escape with his life.

Yanni cheers for Kenjiro

Yanni: Get him Zoh-Gyn!

Monsoon is steadily giving chance to Kenjiro. Kenjiro appears to be at his limit and is clutching a wound on his abdomen. They’re just beyond the outskirts of Tep-Tep City.

Kenjiro: (I’m still not adept at using the Oizarga Step. I have to end this now before I loose consciousness…)

Monsoon speeds up with a clenched fist. Kenjiro attempts to block the incoming attack with his Torqued Katana, but it’s shattered as Monsoon backhands through it. Kenjiro is launched downwards and crashes through a floating island. Steam spews from Monsoon’s Shock Bracers and his whole body is covered in electricity as he laughs manically. He dives after Kenjiro who is still descending.

Monsoon: Say goodbye to your pathetic life human--

Monsoon halts from a sudden and brief warp in spacetime. He has a look of disbelief. Kenjiro is above and behind him with the Ogre Blade drawn.

Kenjiro: Say goodbye to your wings, you pathetic Veguhl…

Monsoon’s wings are clipped and the wingless monster falls into the sky below. Kenjiro descends and his arms turn black and stiff as stone. As he falls through the air, he falls unconscious.

Chapter End