The Price of Blood: Part Five

In the training area of the Black Diamond monastery, Hiroshima stands in a large white circle. The Elder stands next to him while a crowd of the rest of the warrior-monks stand around them. Hiroshima searches the crowd impassively until he sees Ishan Goldenfire, Muta, and Mis Shatis. He nods to each one in turn.

The Elder raises a hand, silencing the crowd. He motions with one hand to present Hiroshima and begins speaking loudly so that all can hear his voice.

“Our brother, Hiroshima, has traveled far afield to train his abilities and find new methods to increase his power. He has done so much improvement that he now feels that, next to Mentor, that he is the strongest in the monastery. So Hiroshima stands before you and challenges each of you t a test of strength in turn. If one of you is indeed fortunate to defeat him then he will perform a week of your daily labors for you.”

An excited murmur has been cycling around the crowd at the announcement of the test of strength, it double at the mention of the prize at stake. The Elder steps to the side and with a great smile, he makes one last announcement.

“Let it begin.”

Hiroshima picks up a six foot length of rope and one by one the warrior-monks come up and try to pull the giant out of the circle. The result is mostly the same. Hiroshima drags the smaller man into the circle like a rag doll. A few struggle with varying degrees of success, but none prove themselves stronger. On occasion, Hiroshima would look at Ishan, Shatis, or Muta and nod. The person notified would leave the room silently to search the indicated person's quarters. Each time they return without finding anything. Hiroshima sighs as the last man walks up shaking in fear. Hiroshima regards him with some amusement.

“What? Do you find me so fearful as to shake like a leaf? I will not inflict permanent harm. I promise.”

The man shakes his head and tur4ns to regard a woman and three children in the crowd. He watches them for a long time, seemingly to have forgotten the subject at hand. Hiroshima nudges him, handing him the end of the rope.

“Tu Fusha? Tu Fusha? Are you testing your strength against mine?”

Tu Fusha turns back to Hiroshima, tears running down his terrified face.

“Hiroshima.” He manages. “I am sorry...for everything.”

Hiroshima limply holds onto the rope while looking at Tu Fusha in confusion. “Fusha?”

Tu Fusha calmly produces a metal test tube from his robe. He pops it open with his teeth and swallows the contents in a single gulp. Everyone backs away with astonished gasps as green ooze comes out of Fusha's skin and he grows in size. The ooze transforms into scales and his fingernails grow into long talons. He grabs the rope and pulls hard to bring Hiroshima to him and slashes to gut him with his new claws. Hiroshima palm strikes the back of Fusha's hand to send the claws into his own belly. Fusha shrieks in pain as he rips the talons out of his own belly, spraying blood everywhere.

Hiroshima fends off a few more slashes, but Fusha grabs his arm and howls before sinking his teeth into Hiroshima;s left shoulder with fangs dangerously close to his heart. Hiroshima falls to the ground as he's released, blood pouring out of his wound. Tu Fusha lifts his taloned hand to finished his work when it comes off at the elbow. Fusha screams in agony and turns to the source of the attack. Ishan Goldenfire stands in front of him, bloodied sword in hand.

Tu Fusha backs away from Ishan, his eyes narrowing at the sudden threat. His gaze snaps back and forth from Ishan to the wounded Hiroshima. A sudden peace seems to come over Fusha as he stares at Ishan. His expression becomes more terrified man than monster.

“Please.” He begs. “Protect my family.”

The monster takes over again as he leaps to finish off Hiroshima. Ishan steps into the attack and with a clean swipe of his sword, beheads the monster that Tu Fusha had become. As the monster lays twitching, his wife and children rush over to lament over the body.

She cries out in anguish at the sight of her slain husband as he transforms back to human form in death.

“Why?” She shrieks. “Why did this happen?”

Muta rushes to Hiroshima's side and helps him to his feet and start walking towards the healer's room. They stop by Ishan.

“He knew.” Hiroshima manages. “Ishan. He knew that he was going to transform and he still drank the potion. That is no unpredictable side effect. He knew.”

Ishan's sword drops from numb fingers as Muta bears Hiroshima away. He knew? He knew that drinking the potion would change him and that he would be killed. The Elder walks over as warrior-monks help Fusha's family away so that the body can be tended to. He picks up the metal test tube and holds it so that Ishan can see it.

“I fear.” The Elder begins heavily. “That this places more into the unknown that it reveals. Fusha's quarters will be searched of course to see if there are any more bottles. There is much we need to learn about this potion to be able to track it to it's source. Is there anyone who knows more about this?”

Ishan starts searching the diminishing crowd for Mis Shatis. “Yes. There is.”

He frowns when he doesn't find her. “Except that she's gone?”

The Elder scans the crowd quickly and shakes his head sadly. “I will send people to search Fusha's quarters. You must find her and console her while discovering what you can. I fear these attacks are harder on her than we think.”

“Yes, Elder.” Ishan responds, already on his way out of the room. Shatis could only be in a couple of places. He goes through the list in his mind and picks one. He quickly makes his way through the hallways until he stands before Mentor's room. As he moves to knock, the door silently swings open. Mentor is exercising on the balcony, moving with a new strength that reveals that his wounds have already healed. Mis Shatis sits on the floor in the doorway to the balcony and sobs.

“Why?” She wails. “Why? Why do we bring such death and destruction here? The Order of the Black Diamond does not deserve this. Ishan does not deserve this. We could go somewhere else to spare them this awful fate!”

Mentor doesn't answer, but stops his exercises to look at Ishan, who has walked into the room.

“To invite this harm from the world's ancient foe to someone else at this point would be a great disservice to them.”

Mis Shatis spins around to face the source of the voice. He eyes go wide and she pales at the sight of Ishan. She sputters and falls backwards nearly at a panic. Mentor gently places a hand on her should and calms her.

“Do you not knock?” She scolds.

Ishan looks down ashamed at his trespass. He quickly recovers and looks to Mentor and Shatis with a grim expression. “Another potion related death. What can you tell me about this potion so that we know how to find it? The more we know about it and it's users, the better chance we have to locate the source and destroy it!”

Shatis slowly stands up and looks at Mentor, who nods to her. She looks back at Ishan and nods while clearing her throat. “He called the potion a mixture of power and roulette and named it Chaotic Perfection. Each time a person drinks this potion there is a chance that they may transform. Each potion builds on the first until there is only transformation. Once transformed...”

Mis Shatis sobs, bursting into tears again.

Ishan frowns. “Once transformed, there is no hope of returning back to humanity and there is only death. What about Fusha? He has a brief moment of control.”

This statement only seems to drive Shatis further into despair.

“Tu Fusha had willpower enough to want death.”

Mentor's voice was as if it had come from a long dead corpse. Dry and raspy as if the act of speaking pained him. He continues as Shatis cries into her hands.

“Fusha wanted perfection. He wanted to best Hiroshima. Obsession. Perfection. The goals of this place suit the source.”

Mentor leans on the door frame, breathing heavily as if speaking had taxed him more than the effort of his exercises.

“So then Tu Fusha wanted to best Hiroshima, but was afraid he may transform and lose control since he was already abusing this potion. Correct?” Ishan closes his eyes and sighs, already knowing the answer.

“Yes.” Mentor's answer is brief before he goes back to focusing and then restarting his exercises.

Ishan watches as Mentor's exercises pick up speed and strength until he is back to full strength again. Ishan looks from Mentor to Shatis and reaches out his hand to her cheek. “I know this pains you. It pains us all. We will stop Him. We will stop this potion. Everything is going to be alright.”

Mis Shatis nods, but then stares past Ishan to the doorway leading into the room. Ishan spins around as Muta enters the room with a grim expression.

“Two more deaths. The healers say it happened hours ago.”

Ishan grits his teeth. “No...we took every precaution.”

He doesn't look back at Mis Shatis before walking out of the room. He stops at the doorway and speaks.

“I'm needed.”

He follows Muta to the latest scene as Shatis sobs anew.

********************

Death lies all around him. Tsai Jingkai walks through the burned remains of what used to be the home of his youth. He's older now, having spent years training to master Wolf Fang Kung Fu and doing missions for the Warhammer Corporation as ca Security Specialist. He had come home because after years of using the name Kenta Goto, he wanted to see if there was some way to make amends with his father. Now as he walks through the ashes that used to be his home, he knows that this will never be.”

Jingkai kneels by a pile of corpses and frowns. Though discolored by time, he can make out the white carapace armor of the Warhammer Corporation's main security force, the Shocktroopers.

Jingkai spends the next few hours searching the ruins to decipher what had happened apparently years before. The place had been extensively bombarded before Shocktroopers came in to finish the population off. Through it all, there was no sign that his father was amongst the dead. Was he still alive? Jingkai's heart races Perhaps there is still hope!

As he finds his way to the center of the village, he sees that the tow hall had been relatively undamaged. He steps over the old corpses of attackers and defenders, glancing as he does so for recognition in any of the fallen forms. When he reaches the front steps, his heart plunges into despair when he sees his father laying on them. A yellowed note was pinned to his dried husk of a chest. Jingkai silently pulls the dagger pinning the note down and tosses it to the side while retrieving the note. All he can read of the aged note is his own name. The rest seems to be lost to time. He curses as he tears the note apart and throws it all around him.

“You've been a long time in coming home, wolf.”

Jingkai turns suddenly to face the source of the smooth-sounding voice. His eyes narrow at the sight of the tall Chinese man in a simple green robe with a serpent over his heart with bared fangs.

“Kwan Tusha.” Jingkai hissed. “The Serpent.”

Kwan Tusha smiles and holds both hands out, palm up. “Such venom, wolf. I am but a servant in this and I have waited for you to return for a long time.”

Despite Tusha's words, Jingkai slides into a fighting stance. Tusha's expression quickly sours.

“I am on a mission for my master, Sikarin Tsooth.” He warns. “You are to surrender the ring that your father gave to you before you left.”

“I'll die first.” Jingkai vows.

Kwan Tusha smiles, it's not a pleasant sight. “Good.”

He gets into a fighting stance, eying the simple golden ring on Jingkai's hand.

“I'll simply kill you and take the ring.”

Tsai Jingkai awakens to feel the cold stone floor of Sikarin Tsooth's inner sanctum. He has not died yet, but he still cannot move.

“You have awoken.”

Jingkai winces at the powerful chorus of voices through his mind. Despite the pain, he can detect a trace of disappointment. Realization comes quickly. They were searching his mind while he was unconscious.

“Yes.”

Jingkai lets anger flood his emotional state in order to strike back at those holding him down. How dare they violate his mind to read his past. To bring back painful memories.

“We are sorry, Tsai Jingkai. We must know of your background against Sikarin Tsooth. Of your opposition to our most vile master. We cannot help you if you may betray us or have not the stomach to fight him again. How did the confrontation with the serpent end?”

Tsai Jingkai closes his eyes and lets the memories come to mind. “I killed him. He countered my Wolf Fang Kung Fu and taunted me about my lack of skill at my father's weak method of fighting. I switched forms to Jade Hare Kung Fu and killed him. Still, he poisoned my chi. My friend, Ishan Goldenfire, saved me and took me to a man who could heal my chi. We were pursued by Sikarin and his servants the entire way.”

There was a long silence as Xichu Fa digested the information given to them. Eventually they respond, but in a much weaker tone as if they were collectively whispering.

“And who was this man who could cure the Serpent's venom and provide safe haven from he who enslaved our power?”

“A man named Mortamir Black.”

A thundering noise overwhelms Jingkai's mind as the chorus of voices that is Xichu Fa becomes an excited chatter of hundreds of different conversations at once in a mixture of fear and hope.

As Jingkai fights to stay conscious and make sense of anything that's being said, everything goes silent as if a switch had been thrown. His unasked question is quickly answered though.

“Silent! He comes!”

Jingkai quiets his mind as Sikarin Tsooth comes into view. Rage is plain on his face as he raises up his staff and shouts something in a guttural tongue. All of the enslaved forms glow so bright a red as to be nearly blinding. Power flows to Sikarin Tsooth in beams of bloody red light. Sikarin snarls out another word, pointing his staff to a point in mid-air. A red bolt of lightning strikes the air and the sound of breaking glass reverberates around the tower.

A series of glowing cracks appear in the air. They spread and widen until a jagged hole four feet in diameter opens to pitch darkness. A pair of glowing eyes open up, but that is all that can be seen of the creature.

“Why have you summoned me?”

The voice of the creature is a deep, bestial rumble as if from the throat of great size. Sikarin laughs harshly. “Do not think to intimidate me. You know very well who your master is! The House of the Jade Hare has the Disc of Awakening! You know as well as I that the Guardian is weakening and his bloodline is exhausted. We can defeat him and your master can return to the mortal world. I'm certain that you will be rewarded for your loyalty in this.”

There is a deep rumbling as if the creature were in thought. “It is so. What do you require of me?”

“Bring your servants to the House of the Jade Hare monastery and I will meet you there with my Tsanli. We will take the disc.”

The creature rumbles in expectation. “And the Jade Hare monks...”

Sikarin grins. “They are yours. I don't need survivors.”

There is a new rumble from the creature. One that brings a queasiness to Jingkai. Is it laughing? Jingkai mentally shudders.

“Good. My children have long been hungry.”

As Sikarin Tsooth walks out of sight, the wound in the air seals itself up with a bright red flash.

The presence of Xichu Fa is back upon him once Sikarin is gone. There is a desperateness to them now.

“There is no time. Your friends are in danger! The Spirit of the Wolf is still within you. He is sorry for having taken so much from one such as you. He will now make amends.”

Tsai Jingkai is about to ask when he feels the wolf spirit again. As it's energy fills him up, he knows for certain that this attack will be fatal. He is surprised when his pain fades away and his wounds heal. He stands up, his body being built up and sculpted by the wolf spirit for strength and speed beyond what it once was. The silver paw print of the wolf on his cheek burns as a howl drowns out all other sounds. Understanding fills Jingkai's spirit and he adds his voice to the spirits.

Once the howl of the wolf ebbs away, Jingkai looks around at the trapped forms that make up the gestalt sorcerer, Xichu Fa.

“Let me free you! All of you!” He yells to no direction in particular. “We can destroy Sikarin together!”

The response is a mixture of sadness and gratitude. “Sikarin must perish before we can be free. Thank you for your kind thoughts. We will open the way so you can be on your way to protect your father's legacy. Be safe.”

A gateway of light opens similar to the mirror that brought Jingkai here. He fills his thoughts with thanks and runs for the gate. On the other side, he fins himself on the river basin of the Yellow river.

Tsai Jingkai takes a deep breath, points himself in the direction of his former home, and begins running. The silver wolf symbol on his cheek begins to burn and he allows a howl of the hunting wolf escape his lips. Within seconds, a large wolf can be seen running across the landscape at a speed that no living wolf should be able to match.

The Price of Blood: Part Four

As Tsai Jingkai walks through the mirror, he becomes mentally assaulted by a wave of such misery and anguish that he nearly falls to the floor. All around him are still forms dressed in rags to barely cover essential body parts. It is a tower that extends hundreds of feet into the air with a near uncountable number of trapped figures. Jingkai catches sight of something moving in the corner of his eye and looks. When he sees a man huddled to the ground in a tattered Warhammer business suit, he knows that he was betrayed.

“Thomas Greystone.” He whispers, turning to stop his comrades. It is too late as he finds that they too are recovering from the psychic assault and that there is no mirror t return back. Jingkai turns back to find Sikarin Tsooth watching them with an amused expression. He waves a hand at Thomas Greystone and he vanishes from view.

Sikarin grins. Its an unsettling sight to see such evil delight. “I would imagine that Victor is watching even now to see if I had freed his grandson in exchange for you. If he had only called, he would have in fact discovered that I held only n illusion of his grandson.

Sikarin extends his free hand to Jingkai with the palm facing up. “is left hand where he has a simple Now to the reason that you are really here. Hand me the ring that your father had stolen from me. It is time that you gave it back.”

Tsai Jingkai raises his left hand where he has a simple golden band. He places two fingers on the ring as if to remove it and then shakes his head.

“We came to end your hold on the corporation forever, monster. For the deaths you have caused our Order, you pay with your life.”

Sikarin doesn't stop grinning, but makes a motion with his staff. A cone of blue energy envelops Zha Beng for a second. Only a charred skeleton scatters across the floor.

“I ask again, Jingkai. Give me the ring that's rightfully mine!”

Jingkai responds with a roundhouse kick that sends Sikarin's staff flying from his hand. Cui Zong and Liu Kuei leap at Sikarin with a flurry of strikes and kicks. Sikarin Tsooth backs up as he deflects the furious assault. The speed of his deflections only increase as Jingkai joins in the attack.

The tide suddenly turns as Sikarin's fingernails lengthen into talons and he rips Cui Zong's throat open with a flick of his wrist. Zong drops to the ground, trying to stem the flow of blood with his hands. Lin Kuei grabs Sikarin's wrist and strikes his elbow with a blow meant to break it. Instead, Kuei staggers backwards as the arm comes free at the elbow. Sikarin utters a single word and with a greasy pop, the arm transforms into a green mist that envelops Kuei. He screams as his flesh and bones dissolve instantly, leaving a pile of empty clothing. Sikarin turns his full attention to the last survivor and Jingkai finds himself on the defensive as Sikarin attacks with supernatural speed and ferocity.

Tsai Jingkai back flips out of reach, but once he hits the ground, he launches forward with a straight kick to Sikarin's chest. Sikarin's sternum sinks in as most of his ribs shatters with a sickening crunch. Sikarin falls backwards instantly and lands with a heap. Tsai Jingkai stands where he is, a grim expression on his face as he watches the infamous sorcerer bleed all over the stone floor.

“It is only fitting that you perish by the death blow perfected by my ancestors. The Jade Hammer of the Hare is your end.”

Jingkai's expression turns to astonishment mixed with fear as Sikarin Tsooth stands back up. His caved in chest fills out and new growth forms into a replacement arm. Sikarin laughs and holds out his right hand, palm up.

“Did you think to kill me?” Sikarin sneers, thrusting out his hand. “This is your last chance. I'll have that ring!”

Tsai Jingkai slides into a fighting stance, defiant. “I will not give up my father's inheritance!”

Sikarin laughs cruelly as a sphere of energy forms over his palm, hovering in mid-air. The sphere clears until the visage of a wolf can be seen. It's howl is faint, but can clearly be heard.

“You wound me. I have a gift for you. It has taken some time, but I have captured this wolf spirit. Here...catch.”

As Sikarin tosses the sphere, it becomes a cone of energy that envelops Tsai Jingkai and knocks him to the ground. Jingkai writhes in pain as the wolf's howl overwhelms his senses. He feels his spirit being torn to feed the wolf's ravenous hunger and knows pain as his body is torn to match the wounds in his soul. As the wolf's spirit leaves him, Jingkai feels a calmness come over him. He has lost so much of his spirit and flesh...death is only minutes away. Sikarin picks up his staff and walks over to roughly kick Jingkai in the ribs, breaking several.

“I will now take what has always been mine.”

He leans down and pulls the golden ring off of Jingkai's tattered hand before sliding it onto his own finger with a triumphant grin. Jingkai attempts to laugh, but only coughs up blood.

“You are too late...” Jingkai manages before closing his eyes to greet death in peace.

“What? How am I too late?” Sikarin snarls and kicks Jingkai again. “Answer me!”

Dimly, Jingkai hears Sikarin curse loudly and smiles inwardly. Death does not come as a new warmth courses through his veins, healing some of his most grievous wounds and holds him at death's door. Jingkai opens his eyes to see a blue beam of energy from the staff wash over him. A maddened Sikarin stares knives into him.

“Now tell me what madness you speak of.”

Jingkai manages a weak laugh. “I used your treasure to help rebuild the House of the Jade Hare. My father's honor has been restored. The damage that you inflicted long ago has been repaired using what you desired to use to your own ends.”

A blue fire seems to erupt from within Sikarin's pupils and take over the whites of his eyes so that all is blue fire. He tightens his grip on his staff as the blue stone glows bright blue and the skull within seems to be cursing.

“You did what?” Sikarin screams in fury, spittle flying from his mouth. “WHAT?!”

Energy begins flying from the prisoners on the walls in the form of red sparks to Sikarin's form where he absorbs him. His demeanor becomes even more frightening as his entire form begins to glow a blood red.

“You have no idea what you have done! What you may have cost me! You lie! No collector would willingly buy what I seek! The curse on the object forbids it! Where is it?”

Jingkai merely closes his eyes, feigning death. Sikarin snarls as he removes his spell. Jingkai feels the sudden return of the pain from his wounds and groans.

“I'll tear your soul from your body and then you'll tell me everything to become free to pass into death!”

A beam of red energy streams from Sikarin's free hand to strike Jingkai in the chest. With a silvery explosion of power, the howl of the wolf fills the room. Sikarin pulls his hand back as if bitten. A silver wolf paw, an inch wide, forms on Jingkai's left cheek.

“The wolf claims your soul for it's own. Very well. I will check my treasury and if I find it empty? I will destroy the House of the Jade Hare and pull what I seek from the remains. Know as you perish that your father's legacy is about to be destroyed forever!”

Tsai Jingkai attempts to lift his head, but finds that he cannot. As he hears Sikarin Tsooth leave the room, he resigns himself to his fate.

“No...father...I have failed you twice.”

********************

As Ishan Goldenfire walks out to the bridge, wonders about the potion that drives the members of the Order to kill. Did Xan Feng know about the potion and desire it's use? Did someone instead slip it to him and then reveal it's power? If he had done it as a short cut to Perfection...he is certain that Feng would have revealed his new strength as a public challenge.

Ishan growls to himself as he passes by the evening watch at the gate. He knows that he needs to know more about the potion itself so that he can protect his brothers and sisters in the Order from it's wretched power.

He is so self-absorbed in thought that he walks onto the bridge and right into Mis Shatis. He frowns, ready to snap, but bites his tongue when his sight focuses on her. She puts two fingers to his lips.

“Shh!” She whispers. “The Elder is doing something!”

The Elder of the Black Diamond sits cross-legged by the edge of the ruined bridge. A small fire is next to him with a kettle for boiling water. Four tea cups and a tea kettle sit on a platter near the fire. The Elder himself seems to be meditating. The sun is setting behind the mountains, making it seem as if the White Rose monastery were once again afire.

Mis Shatis motions with her chin. “What is he doing?”

Ishan examines whats going on, but his mind is still on the potion that has caused such carnage. “He's waiting on tea.” He answers dully.

“I can see that!” She retorts, still whispering though on the edge of speaking plainly. “Why is he making tea on the bridge?”

Realization hits like a stone as Ishan clears his mind to see what is going on around him. “The Elder shares tea with the spirits of the White Rose to try to make amends for what was done in the past. He does this every day on the anniversary of the battle that was our most grievous error. Though it is odd...that time has not yet come.”

Another voice makes Ishan and Shatis jump. It s the Elder.

“Come and sit with me, my children. It is rude to stand and stare at a ceremony as solemn as this.”

Ishan and Shatis look at each other, startled. They slowly walk over and sit by the Elder. Ishan to his left and Shatis to his right. No one speaks as the Elder pours hot water into the tea kettle. After a time, e pours four cups of tea and offers Ishan and Shatis each a cup before taking one for himself. He holds up a restraining hand, stopping Shatis as she was about to sip at the tea. He takes the fourth cup and holds it over the edge of the ruined bridge. He takes a deep breathe and begins to speak in a reverent tone.

“Brothers and sisters, though it is beyond or ability to fully atone for what we have done to you, I offer this tea to honor your passing.”

With that being said, the Elder slowly pours the tea into the mists below the bridge. He slowly sets the cup down and sips at his own tea with a small grin. He chuckles as Shatis and Ishan anxiously watch him.

“Drink my children. It does the spirits no good if we will not drink tea with them.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Ishan and Shatis sip at their tea. Ishan looks across the expanse to the ruins of the White Rose monastery. He does a double take as it seems that he can make out figures at the monastery. As he focuses on the sight, the figures seem to vanish. He just shakes his head, the spirits must have come to share the tea.

“So Shatis.” Ishan cautiously begins. “How is Mentor? His injures looked like they were serious.”

Shatis takes an extra long sip of tea, draining the cup before carefully sitting it down before answering.

“He is fine. The wounds will heal, but he is weak right now. He meditates to regain his strength.”

Ishan grins faintly. “That's good. It would be a great loss if he perished.”

“”Yes...” Shatis stares off into the distance as if distracted. Finally, she looks t the Elder. “Elder? Why do you do this ceremony now? Ishan said that the time is some ways away yet.”

The Elder glances at Ishan before slowly setting down his tea. “I fear that the mistakes committed by my great grandfather are in danger f being repeated. That Sikarin Tsooth is an enemy that the world at large would thank us for destroying is true, but I do not know that he is the one who is giving our brothers and sisters the potion that makes them kill. We have been exposed to much since allying our Order with the Warhammer Corporation. We do not know who means harm. I merely wish to appease the spirits of the White Rose so that their influence does not align the fates against us.”

Ishan frowns. How could they be wrong? Sikarin sought revenge for losing Mentor and Shatis. Right? He chooses his next words with care.

“So we should contact Tsai Jingkai and have him return home? I have not heard from him since he arrived at the Warhammer Corporate headquarters in Hong Kong.”

The Elder slowly shakes his head with a sad smile. “No. What's done is done. I only hope that this does not spell the end for us. We have gathered so much negative energy since our founding, I fear this fate is something that we have long asked for.”

The Elder slowly rises to his feet, groaning as he does so. “My children, I must retire. I fear my old bones are no longer very accepting of staying up beyond the setting sun. Do you mind taking the dishes to the kitchen? We must also attend to their well being in order to have good food prepared every day.”

Ishan bows in respect. “Of course, Elder.”

Once the Elder is gone, Ishan turns to Shatis with a faint smile and a raised eyebrow.

“We were set to resume our conversation?”

Shatis leans in with a sad smile and gives Ishan a darting kiss. “Goodnight, Ishan.” She gets up and is off of the bridge towards the monastery before Ishan can utter a single word.

Ishan places two fingers on his lips as he watches Shatis go. Conflicting emotions arise. He immediately feels shame as his interest in the girl leaving. His brothers are being killed and his best friend is across China fighting the world's most twisted sorcerer. Still, he cannot totally deny his affection for her. She needs comfort that Mentor does not seem to be able to provide. Ishan growls to himself and shakes his head to clear his thoughts. This is something to pursue once the Black Diamond is safe and sound. Silent in his thoughts, Ishan clears up the dishes left behind by the Elder and heads into the monastery.

********************

The House of the Jade Hare, though instead of the monastery-fortress that it is today, it appears to be a simple walled village. A teenage boy stands in the middle of the village, facing his father with a defiant stance and a pack slung over one shoulder.

“Jingkai.” The father begins slowly. “Everything you need s right here. Jade Hare Kung Fu is strong in it's own way and has escaped notice from the House of the Red Palm so we have escaped being bound to that wicked master.”

The young Tsai Jingkai shakes his head. “No father! Weak is still weak! There is strength in London, father. Wolf Fang Kung Fu and sponsorship by the Warhammer Corporation will make me strong! Then I can return and make the Jade Hare strong enough to never go unnoticed and never be under the Red Palm's heel.”

The father sighs sadly. “We are Jade Hare, son. Not wolf. We can never accept such from you or anyone else. It would taint everything we hold dear in our art.”

Jingkai sneers. “There is something to be proud of. Teaching others not only to be weak, but to be proud of that weakness! It's no kung fu that you teach, father. It s a method of being prey to others. Of being here to be defeated. I will not stand and be prey when I can be predator, father. If this is something that you cannot support me in, then I will call you Tsai Beilai for father to me you will no longer be!”

Tsai Beilai seems to deflate, becoming smaller next to his rebellious son. Tears build up in his eyes, but he blinks them away before speaking, his voice thick with emotion. “If this is what you want to do with your life, Jingkai. I will support you. You must know that a kung fu cannot e taught in such a place as London. Wolf Fang Kung Fu has no roots in China. It was built by half trained men who left to join Warhammer for the promise of fame as world traveling warriors. There is no honor in the path that you seek, only blood. I will not stop you, but I beg of you. Reconsider this path.”

Doubt seems to cross Jingkai's mind, but his expression goes cold. “I will not reconsider, Tsai Beilai. I will go and become strong. Honor will follow strength as it should. I must leave now because my ride will not wait much longer.”

Tsai Beilai stares at his son's face, searching for a way to change things and bring his son back around. To make his son see the truth and stay with him, but no answers come. He slips a plain golden ring off of his hand and gives it to Jingkai. Tears now roll down his cheeks unchallenged.

“If you must go. Take this with you. It is the only thing that I can offer you beyond the wish that the path you now walk will offer you the happiness that you did not find here. I love you, son. That much will never change despite our different dreams.”

Tsai Jingkai silently puts the ring on and turns his back on his father before walking away. He doesn't even turn back around for his final words to his father.

“Tsai Jingkai I am no longer. Call me Kenta Goto for I will become the Wolf.”

Jingkai stirs. He feels the cold stone floor of Sikarin Tsooth's inner sanctum. Was he just dreaming? He tries to move, but only his head responds. He feels that the floor is wet and that it is his own blood. He watches as tall ghost-white humanoids come into the room with only black loin-clothes for clothing on. They are so pale as to take on a slight blue tinge from the veins under the skin and no hair in sight on head or body. Four of them come in and start to work in clearing up the corpses.

When one of them picks up Cui Zong's fallen form, he opens his mouth to reveal rows of sharp, pointed teeth. “The master is most generous to leave meat on this one.”

Jingkai struggles mightily to get up and stop him, but he can only thrash his head as the humanoid rips a mouthful of flesh from his fallen friend and chews happily.

Another of the ale humanoids stops him from taking another bite. “We must finish cleaning before dining. The master will be back soon.”

The humanoid bearing Cui Zong's body grumbles, but goes back to work. Soon enough they are all gone, leaving him alone. The question remains. Why? Is he not dying? Does he not have meat on his bones? None of the humanoids even looked at him. Is he invisible?

“Yes.”

Like a hard kick to his head, the voice uttered seems to come from thousands of throats and from all directions. Jingkai gathers what remains of his energy to reply. “Who are you?”

“We are Xichu Fa. We can help you.”

The answer thunders through Jingkai's psyche, overwhelming his senses. He sees a flash of light and everything goes dark again.

******************

The Price of Blood: Part Three

Standing on a stone balcony, Tsai Jingkai sighs as he closes and pockets his cell phone. As the three warrior-monks remaining in his party edge closer to him with expectant expressions, he curses.

“Another murder. We do not know how he reaches the monastery, but we must enter that stronghold and stop him.”

Together they look out from the balcony across the vast expanse for they are at the headquarters of the Warhammer Corporation outside of Hong Kong, China. The ancient citadel is built on and into a vast cliff overlooking the South China Sea. Off in the horizon, sits another citadel. Midoral Ithiak. The Citadel of the Left Hand.

“I have stood on this balcony in years past,” Jingkai breathes. “And yet, I have never beheld such a sight. To think that it only shows itself now that we seek it...such magics...”

“Such magics have protected the most foul sorcerer the world has ever known from destruction for few have seen his citadel and left unbound or alive.”

Tsai Jingkai and his men wheel around to face the source of the new voice. Jingkai's eyes go wide in recognition of the older man. He has a blue business suit with a white shirt and a dark tie. His hair is black with gray at the temple.

Tsai Jingkai relaxes a bit. “Victor Greystone. Why would the Director of External Security be sight seeing? And...what do you mean? Who would destroy Sikarin?”

Victor chuckles as he walks past Jingkai to lean on the balcony railing. “From the tension in the air? You do. Long have many people desired to destroy him. Obviously, none have succeeded.”

“How is this so?” Jingkai demands. “If all you have to do to pierce the veil of illusion is to seek him, then he would have been found and destroyed long ago!”

Victor motions to the Citadel of the Left Hand. “Can you see the fortress that has haunted the dreams of untold thousands?”

Jingkai nods. “Yes. I seek it and so it appears.”

“Wrong.”

Jingkai frowns and points to the citadel. “But it is there! How does it appear f not because I seek it! Tsang Sha'lin has said so!”

Now Victor grins with sudden understanding. “He lied to you. You see Sikarin's home because he wishes to reveal himself to you. I would wager that you thought to approach him unawares, break in, and slay him before he can prepare himself.”

Victor is greeted by a sullen silence. He continues. “Every attack has always failed. However, they did not know of Sikarin's own method of traveling between here and there. That may allow you to ambush him for he will expect you to travel through normal means.”

Jingkai grins eagerly, but it is quickly replaced by suspicion.

“Sikarin Tsooth is part of the Warhammer Corporation and your command. Why help me destroy him?”

“Because Sikarin has harmed more Warhammer operations than any other one person or organization in the entire history of the corporation. If I could but fire him or even convince the Board to have him destroyed, I would. He has a contract built into the very foundation of the corporation.”

At this Jingkai raise an eyebrow. “At the foundation? Warhammer was founded hundreds of years ago! How?”

Victor shakes his head. “I can only assume that this Sikarin Tsooth bears the same name in direct lineage of the one at Warhammer's founding. To think otherwise...”

A silence falls as everyone contemplates and tries not to think about how powerful and inhuman one would have to be to be hundreds of years old.

As Victor clears his throat, such thoughts are scattered.

“Anyways. I will lead you to this place so that you might confront him. You must not let it be known that I have done this for he has many who follow him willingly and I cannot support a civil war within Warhammer on a grand scale. The lives of millions would be at stake.”

Tsai Jingkai nods and places his hand over his heart. “I will not reveal your part in this task that we undertake to cleanse the world of it's darkest cancer. Cui Zong? Zha Beng? Liu Kuei?”

The warrior-monks with Jingkai repeat oaths to not reveal Victor Greystone for his part in the battle to come. Victor grins, satisfied.

“Good! If you are prepared, I will lead you into the catacombs where Sikarin travels from.”

Tsai Jingkai and the warrior-monks follow Victor Greystone down through tunnels and stairs into the deep catacombs of the corporate headquarters. They go so far into the depths that technology no longer reigns, but torches light the corridors and bring flickering shadows to life.

They come to a small wooden door. Victor presses it and it swings inward to reveal a small room lit by a large mirror that's eight feet tall and five feet wide. Runic symbols decorate the framework of the mirror, glowing a dull silver.

Through the mirror, they see a man in long flowing sorcerer's robes with red trim. A long staff with a dragon claw holding a blue glowing stone that seems to hold a human skull. He is standing in front of a wall holding prisoners chained in the form of an “X”. At least a dozen can be seen on the wall. Victor motions them into the room, his voice a hushed whisper.

“Hurry for Sikarin Tsooth's attention is being lavished on his prisoners. Enter through the mirror and do what must be done.”

Jingkai pauses to clasp elbows with Victor. “Many thanks. Without your help, we may have been lost.”

Victor grins. “Without you, many of my security missions over the years would have been failures.”

As Victor leaves, Jingkai leads his party to the mirror and silently closes the door. He breathes in deep as he reaches the mirror and lets out a long sigh.

“Vengeance is ours...”

Without another word, Jingkai enters the mirror.

*****************

Outside of the Order of the Black Diamond monastery, Ishan Goldenfire walks along a road that leads to nowhere. He strides out onto a stone bridge that leads halfway out to the next mountain peak in the distance.

The bridge looks as if t had been broken many years ago and the winds of time had eroded it's edge. Ishan finds Mis Shatis seated near the edge of this bridge. Ishan kneels next to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Shatis sighs, her voice coming out thick with emotion. “You have found me. Have you come to question me about my wound?”

Ishan sits down next to her. “I came to see if you were well. If that is something that you wish to share? I will listen.”

Mis Shatis looks at Ishan for a long time as if to determine what his motives are. Finally, she speaks. “Mentor gave the bandage to me to help heal the wound in my heart. He saw the emotional damage that He inflicted on me in my years of servitude.”

Ishan looks at the ground in silence as he sits next to Shatis, guilt raging through his mind. He should have known. He should have suspected.

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have minded my business, but you said that you were wounded and when the doctors found no wound...I feared that you had covered for Mentor and that he was the killer for Sikarin. The strength of the killer must be great, and Mentor is as strong as the legends. It all fit.”

Mis Shatis winces as Ishan mentions the name of her former master out loud. Instead of responding to the apology, she points across the way from the bridge where mists have parted to reveal the ruins of another monastery.

“What was that place?” She inquires, her voice gaining strength. “Did this bridge once travel to there?” She gives him a reassuring smile.

Ishan returns the smile, glade for the unspoken forgiveness and the change of subject. “There once lived our brother order, the White Rose. Our main tenant for both orders was 'Perfection through Adversity'. They looked inward for adversity. We looked to others. We raided other monasteries in search of glorious battles that would bring us closer to perfection. The White Rose stood as our fiercest rivals. We were set to strike the House of the Red Palm and change the course of martial arts in China forever, but a battle with the White Rose became bloody. We lost six masters that day. In our anger, we went over and in the course of a month long battle, destroyed the White Rose.”

Ishan picks up a small stone and crushes it in one hand, his expression grim.

“We discovered too late that Red Palm assassins had killed our masters to set us upon the White Rose for then our strength was not enough to contend with them. We fled the White Rose monastery and destroyed the bridge behind us in our shame. We stopped raiding other places in search of battle and instead competed with ourselves or went out as individuals. Thus the Order of the Black Diamond faded from the history of China.”

Shatis peers across the distance as if trying to see into the depths of the past. “You keep saying as if you were there. How long ago was this?”

Ishan chuckles. “I speak this way for they are my brothers in this, but this happened over a century ago. So while I personally did not do this, I feel for my brothers' error.”

Mis Shatis leans on Ishan's shoulder and softly sighs. “I do not think you could do such a thing. To kill so many without knowing the truth. I feel safe with you at my side, Ishan.”

Ishan turns to face Shatis, and lifts her chin to look into her eyes. “I vow that no harm will come to you here. What Mentor does not provide for you. I will.”

Ishan leans dangerously close to Shatis, his lips nearly touching hers. His heart beats furiously in anticipation for the next step to be taken when a warrior-monk rushes onto the bridge, shouting for him.

“Ishan! Shatis! Mentor has found the killer and is engaged in battle with him!”

Shatis falls backwards as if struck, a strangled cry escaping her lips. “Mentor! No!”

Ishan leaps to his feet. “Lead us to him!”

Ishan bolts after the man, not looking back to see if Shatis were following him. Ishan follows the man into the depths of the monastery, leaping down sets of stairs in single bounds in their haste. They arrive in a wide corridor that has become a scene of carnage. Two men lie on the floor, torn open as if by beasts. Against one wall is Mentor with deep wounds in his chest, arms, and legs as if a bear had slashed him with claws.

On the other wall is a warrior-monk. He looks as if he's grown three feet with much hair across his body and face, and claws and fangs. Still, despite these changes, Ishan recognizes a comrade, “Xan Feng? Why?”

Xan Feng looks at Ishan with a snarl that changes to recognition with a note of panic? A bestial mask clouds his features again as he lunges for Ishan with claws splayed out, but Mentor catches him with an arm and slams him to the stone floor. A yelp of pain escapes his throat along with the air in his chest. Mentor raises one hand with an air of finality. Ishan leaps to reach him.

“Mentor no!!!”

Mentor palm strikes Xan Feng in the face. The floor shakes from the impact as gore splatters all around. A shard of skull lands on Ishan's cheek. He fights away revulsion, wiping it away. He numbly stares at the scene, barely reacting as Mis Shatis rushes past to help Mentor stand up.

Ishan regains his senses as Shatis attempts to help Mentor away.

“Stop!”

He rushes over to stand in their path, angry now that they did not listen right away.

“Mentor! If you had only subdued him, we could have discovered what had happened to him! Maybe even saved him!”

Mentor slowly shakes his head and points to a small metal vial on the floor that's missing a stopper. “Potion...” He wheezes. That small effort seemingly costing him more than the fighting had. Shatis goes pale at the sight.

“No...Mentor.”

After a brief silence, Shatis speaks. “It is a potion that Sik – that He created. To drink it brings power, speed, and vitality. It has a side effect that sometimes the imbiber transforms into a monstrous aspect and has an unquenchable thirst for blood. It starts with the occasional death, but it is like using drugs. More and more deaths are required until the imbiber dies in battle. Going without the potion brings only blood lust while weakening the imbiber. So after drinking one potion, there is no return. I'm sorry for your friends loss.”

Ishan's shoulders slump, defeated. As Shatis begins leading Mentor away, he raises his hand once again. “Does Mentor not need to see the healers? His wounds appear grievous...”

Shatis shakes her head with a sad smile. “No. I will attend to him myself. Meet me at the bridge once again at dusk so we can continue our conversation.”

Ishan watches Mis Shatis and Mentor leave, wondering who could ave given such a potion to Xan Feng and how long ago as he had not betrayed any additional prowess in recent days to be the killer. He turns his attention back to the three corpses, noticing another metal vial on the floor.

This one has a stopper in it. He picks it up and unstops it, intending to smell the fluid within. A fine black mist rises out of the vial, leaving nothing behind. Outside of an odd smell, Ishan feels nothing different. Shrugging to himself, Ishan pockets the vial with the other one and moves to allow people to deal with the bodies and the mess.

**************

Off of the main hallway, Ishan is met by two warrior-monks. A giant of a man and a man his polar opposite. Ishan greets them with warm smiles.

“Hiroshima. Muta. It's good to see the two of you returned. Did you training go well?”

The larger man shrugs. “As well as can be expected. Warhammer tailored our programs for advanced training in our specialties. I did strength training and focused on the high impact aspect of my martial art skills. Muta worked on his reflexes, agility, and quickness aspect of his martial arts skills.”

Muta grins. “In the progress of our training, we took out a wet work assignment for Victor Greystone in Columbia. Seems some local drug lord wanted a bigger piece of the pie than he really ought to have. How goes it here?”

Ishan looks at the ground, his expression grim. “Things are dire here. Sikarin Tsooth is attempting to destroy us for harboring Mis Shatis and a man named Mentor. He is using these potions to transform our own warrior-monks into killers. Tsai Jingkai is leading a team to finish the foul sorcerer. One infected monk has been destroyed. We must find these potions and destroy them so that no more of our brothers become infected for there is no known cure beyond a merciful death.”

Hiroshima and Muta examine the metal vials as Ishan shows them. Hiroshima curses, handing the vial back to Ishan.

“There will be no more blood spilled here. We will discover the source of these damned elixirs and destroy it. You have our word.”

Ishan nods. “Good. Be very careful and report back to me on what you find. Trust no one, for they may be enjoying the power this potion grants...at least before transforming into a mindless monster.”

“Oh we won't.” Muta grins. “That's why we're checking out your room first!”

Ishan only shrugs. “Do what you must. I only hope that Jingkai succeeds at his mission.”

   

The Price of Blood: Part Two

In a darkened cavern, lit only by sunlight streaming through a hole in the roof, a rope is dropped through the hole to the floor. Tsai Jingkai, otherwise known as “the Wolf”, lowers himself to the floor and looks up. He catches several unlit torches along with one that is lit. He is followed by several members from the Order of the Black Diamond. As each one comes down and lights a torch, Jingkai thinks back to just days before at the monastery.

An argument had begun over what to do about Sikarin Tsooth's latest trespass against the Black Diamond. While a few had been adamant about going through the system to enact a corporate punishment against him, many more favored a more direct approach. Tsai Jingkai had won a lotto and hand picked a team to go and find Sikarin Tsooth in order to deliver a final justice against him. To find his lair, they have come here to the home of one of his servants. Tsang Sha'lin the Lash. He will know where to look.

Tsai Jingkai and five warrior-monks are down on the ground with lit torches. They start down long, dark tunnels while seeking any sign of their quarry. They come to a quick stop as light reveals a great chamber. A lonely rope bridge crosses a chasm. The source of the light flickers across distant cavern walls as though the light were coming below the bridge. Tsai Jingkai takes a few halting steps onto the bridge and peers down. What he sees nearly sends him into the depths himself.

Spirits. Bodiless spirits. Heads flying around like comets, flying without direction or purpose. Jingkai's eyes go wide as he guesses the number of lost souls to be in the thousands if not more. Another warrior-monk joins Jingkai on the bridge. Jingkai speaks without looking, entranced in the swirl of light below.

“Gao Long?”

Gao Long looks down into the chasm, his face a mixture of fear and wonder. “What? What is this place?”

Tsai Jingkai shakes his head to break the spell the lost souls have upon him. “I do not know, and I feel as if we were to find out that it would bring us so much closer to madness. Let us t our target before we become a part of this site forever.”

Gao Long nods and motions for the others to follow as they slowly cross the rope bridge into the chamber beyond. It is a wide open chamber dimly lit by torches and the soft glow of the lost souls behind them. Chains are hanging everywhere from the darkness above. Each chain ends in a pair of barbed hooks. A low noise gently fills the room as the chains seem to slowly writhe with a life of their own.

When the last warrior-monk enters the forest of chains, four chains whip towards him and sink their hooks into his flesh, lifting him up into the darkness where all that can be heard is his painful screams. A shout goes out as the rest of the chains spring to life and attack, forcing the warrior-monks to deflect the deadly hooks as best as they are able.

In a short time, Tsai Jingkai is left alone as everyone is dragged upwards into the darkness where not even their screams are heard. A man steps out of the shadows, a coiled whip at his side comprised of the same chains as those hanging above. Tsang Sha'lin laughs harshly.

“To enter the domain of the4 Lash is to invite death itself. Why have you come here? I'd like to know the reason that you perish at my chains.”

Jingkai glances up into the darkness and gives Sha'lin a hard look. “We have come seeking the location of your master.”

Sha'lin laughs. “You seek my master? Have you come to serve? To sup at his wisdom?”

Sha'lin's expression darkens as he regards Jingkai. “No. Yo have death in your eyes.”

A green gemstone on a circlet on Sha'lin's forehead flickers and he grins. “Death is all you will find here.”

Sha'lin has his whip out and flicks the barbed hooks at Jingkai in a flash. Jingkai twists to the side to dodge the hooks and ducks as they rebound to be back by Sha'lin's side. Pain erupts in his back as two chains bury their hooks under his shoulder blades and two more in his thighs, ripping him off of the ground. Jingkai cries out in pain as he is pulled up so high that sight of the ground quickly vanishes. Everything is enshrouded in darkness until a large emerald stone casts a weak light over the area, revealing the roof of the cavern and silhouettes of his comrades. Details can't be seen on most, but Jingkai can see Bao Long a few feet up and n front of him. The two hooks in his neck and skull reveal that he didn't suffer for long.

From down below, the cruel laughter of Tsang Sha'lin carries, coming from below and the emerald stone.

“Relax! Relax and let your life blood quench the thirst of the porous stone far beneath your feet. Death comes. It won't be long now.”

Tsai Jingkai grits his teeth and grabs the chains that are hooked to his shoulders. He growls as he pulls himself upwards a hand space at a time. Once he gets above where Gao Long is, he looks to the emerald stone. Still out of reach.

Jingkai inhales sharply as he begins swinging back and forth, the barbed hooks digging deeper into his flesh. Still, he cannot reach the stone. From below and from the stone, Sha'lin's voice resounds.

“What are you doing?”

Tsai Jingkai sighs and utters a soft apology to the spirit of Bao Long and lets himself plummet down to him. He springboards off of Long's corpse and flips into the air to strike the emerald stone with a kick. When the stone shatters, the chains do as well. Tsai Jingkai scream as he aims both feet for Tsang Sha'lin.

“No!” Sha'lin attempts to his Jingkai with his whip, but the warrior-monk twists in mid-air to grab the hook. He drives his feet into both shoulders of Tsang Sha'lin, riding him down to the ground to absorb the impact. Sha'lin screams in pain as both his shoulders and his collar bone shatter. Jingkai twists and plunges the barbed hook into Sha'lin's belly, twisting it into his entrails.

“Now tell me...where is Sikarin Tsooth?”

Tsang Sha'lin's face is pale as he bleeds out through his belly, and yet he manages a cruel grin.

“You really don't know? Thousands of those employed by Warhammer know where to find Sikarin. You do not know? You must not have been special enough to be selected for his training. To be allowed into his influence. To gain the strength that he lends his students.”

Jingkai kneels by Sha'lin and wrenches the hook in his belly. “Your strength didn't save you. Tell me.”

Blood starts trickling from Sha'lin's mouth, but he nods as his strength is fading.

“He lives in Midoral Ithiak, the Citadel of the Left Hand. It is within sight of Warhammer's stronghold near Hong Kong.”

Jingkai frowns. “I have never seen such a place.”

Sha'lin coughs painfully, blood pouring from his belly. “Now that you seek it, you will. Once found, never again will you look upon us who serve the same.”

Tsang Sha'lin's head lolls to the side, dead. As the emerald stone on his forehead fades away, so do the chain links and hooks. Jingkai feels a relief of pressure as the hooks in his flesh vanish. He gets up and begins to look for survivors amongst his team.

“Now we know where to look,” he mutters. “This will soon be finished forever.”

**************

At the Black Diamond monastery, Ishan Goldenfire stands with Mis Shatis as Mentor stands next to a practice dummy of carven stone.

“What is he doing?” Ishan questions. “We use these to develop strikes to break armor.”

Mis Shatis only grins. “Mentor's strength exceeds all others, but there are times that he can exceed even this level of power.”

Mentor shouts something arcane and strikes the torso of the practice dummy with a closed fist. The torso explodes into dust, sending the climbs and head flying away in different directions. Ishan looks on in awe of the display.

“I've only been able to split the torso in half,” he breathes. His expression changes to mild confusion. “Was there a flash of red light on impact?”

Mentor stares at Ishan, but says nothing. Still looking for answers, he turns to Shatis.

“It has been said that Mentor's power is such that he can bring flame from rock without the need for wood. Next he will do a demonstration of strength that can even defeat opponents without striking them.”

Mentor nods and about two dozen warrior-monks surround him, ready to strike. Mentor gets into a fighting stance. He flexes his muscles and shouts something in an arcane tongue. Ishan nearly falls over as the ground shakes, throwing all of the warrior-monks to the ground.

Ishan watches the scene in open amazement. “Sorcery! How can strength alone bring about such a feat?”

Mis Shatis shakes her head. “No. There is no magic involved. Mentor has learned to use an arcane tongue to sound as if he were. It unlocks the depths of his strength.”

Ishan watches as the warrior-monks around Mentor are slow to get up and leave.

“Amazing. To be able to retain such strength.”

As they watch, Mentor clutches at his chest and drops to one knee. Shatis lays a restraining hand as Ishan move to help. Her expression is one of concern, despite her next words.

“While he has the strength of legends, it takes a toll on him to use it near it's full potential. A curse upon him by...Him...ensures that.”

Ishan spits on the ground, cursing. “Even now, Jingkai is on the hunt. Soon, he will never bother another soul again. The name Sikarin Tsooth will fade from memory.”

At the mention of the name, Mis Shatis begins to quake in fear. Tears begin rolling down her cheeks in earnest. Ishan looks at her, uncertain of what to say. He puts an arm around her to comfort her. Shatis turns and holds him tight, burying her face in his shoulder.

“He's powerful! I don't know if anyone can destroy him! He's been gathering his strength and influence for so long...”

Ishan pats her on the back, trying to comfort her. “I'll be alright, Shatis. Jingkai has won out against Sikarin before. He can do it again.”

“Please!” Shatis begs. “Stop saying his name!”

“Of course.” Ishan soothes. “Relax.”

Just then he notices that Mentor has gone. He frowns and motions to the empty space. “Where has-”

Mis Shatis puts a finger to his lips. “He has retreated to his room and meditate as to restore himself.”

Ishan nods in silence. A light rumbling noise breaks through his thoughts. He looks around to see that Shatis has stepped back, blushing with her hand on her belly.

“Sorry.” She grins bashfully. “I seem to have missed some meals.”

“Well!” Ishan laughs, motioning to the doorway. “That is something that we can fix now.”

****************

An hour later, Ishan Goldenfire and Mis Shatis are walking down a hallway to Mentor's room to check on him. Mis Shatis stops at a junction, trembling and looking down the cross-section. Ishan turns to look and gasps.

“How? We have guards at every entrance!”

A warrior-monk lays dead in the hallway, blood and gore are splattered everywhere. It looks as if his chest had been ripped open and his heart ripped out, with the attacker taking the organ with him. Shatis sobs and turns to Ishan for comfort, looking pale as a ghost.

“He is more than you realize. Far more. He has dark powers that I think only a few have ever witnesses and lived. I-aahh!”

Suddenly, Shatis slips from Ishan's side and falls onto the body. She seems to curl up after impacting. It takes some time for Ishan to calm her down enough to help her stand. When she rises, she is covered from head to toe in blood. Tears rinse streaks on her face. She holds up a bloody bandage that Ishan realizes belongs to Mentor.

Mis Shatis looks at the bandage in shame. “I...I...dropped this when I fell. Mentor had given me an extra bandage to cover a wound of mine. When...when I fell? It came off.”

Ishan frowns, not recalling a bandaged wound. As he opens his mouth to ask, he catches Mis Shatis as she collapses. He notices that she is pale white and cold as if she had lost a lot of blood herself. He lays her down gently and calls out an alarm. He slowly runs his fingers across her blood-covered body in search of wounds.

He traces all exposed areas of her flesh, finding no wounds. As he debates looking under her clothing, help arrives in the form of four warrior-monks. He gestures to Shatis.

“Get her to the infirmary. Have the doctor look for wounds as I fear she has lost a lot of blood.”

Two monks take Shatis away. Ishan points to the corpse. “See if there are any bandages on the body. I will see to our guest. I have questions that only he can answer.”

Ishan strides purposefully to Mentor's room and knocks on the door. When no one answers within seconds, he strikes the door and splits it in half. Pausing to marvel at his increased strength from training with Mentor, he walks in to question the man. He looks around, not finding him.

“Mentor!” Ishan shouts, striding through the room. He sees Mentor on the balcony. He is

doing a Pilang-ta kata. Ishan watches, impressed that Mentor seems even faster and stronger than his recent demonstration. He notes no blood on bandages that would take a long time to change. More than the freshness of the body would suggest anyways. As Ishan tiredly sighs, Mentor stops his kata and turns to face him.

“What is it?” Mentor asks. “Is something wrong?”

It amazes Ishan that as strong and healthy that Mentor seems, his voice is raspy and strained as if coming from a far older man on his death bed. Ishan sighs again. “There's been another murder. Mis Shatis has fallen ill over the incident and is with the medics.”

Mentor nods. “I must see to her then. You should contact your friends.”

Mentor brushes past Ishan without another word and is out of the room, leaving Ishan alone on the balcony. Ishan frowns, but gets out a cell phone and dials.

“Jingkai. There's been another murder. Yes, I'll go over the details...”

   

The Order of the Black Diamond: The Price of Blood Part One

Outside of a monastery in the cold, northern reaches of China, a giant f a man swathed in bandaged and a mask walks with a small girl up a rocky path. As they reach a wide open platform, an armored warrior steps out from behind an outcropping. He draws a sword and stares the two down.

“Halt!” He bellows. “State your name and business here!”

He looks at the pair again, appraising the potential for violence from the two. His gaze lingers on the large man before flitting over to look at the young woman. His eyes spark with recognition.

“Shatis? Mis Shatis? Why have you come to the Black Diamond?”

Mis Shatis stands in front of the bandaged giant as if guarding him. “Ishan. We are here to seek sanctuary from the machinations of Sikarin Tsooth. I was freed from his thumb years ago and I just stole this warrior from him. He is called Mentor and he is a Pilang-ta master. He can trade his knowledge in exchange for allowing us to stay.”

Ishan Goldenfire eyes the bandaged giant called Mentor again, this time with a look of disdain.

“I am a master of Pilang-ta.” He boasts. “Taught by Bloodbath, who invented the art. This man can teach me nothing.”

Mis Shatis doesn't look, but can feel Mentor stirring behind her. “Mentor doesn't speak often, but he can demonstrate his mastery if that's what you prefer.”

Ishan's face splits into a wide grin. “I prefer. Let the mummified one come face me.”

Ishan gets into a fighting stance as Mis Shatis steps out of the way, but is shocked as Mentor moves with a speed far beyond what a giant of a man would normally move. He strikes Ishan's sword with a punch, sending the flat of the blade into Ishan's face. He palm's Ishan's shoulder as he drops the blade, knees him in the gut, lifts him up, and tosses him nearly twenty feet much like a rag doll. Ishan is quickly to his feet, tearing away broken armor as he stands.

Mentor remains still, speaking with a voice that's ragged and weak as if he had spent time swallowing acid and razor blades. “More?”

Ishan grins, wiping blood from his face. “You surprised me. More.”

Mentor nods. “Good.”

Ishan Goldenfire launches an attack with several shots to Mentor's midsection before dropping down and bringing an elbow to the back of Mentor's left knee then slipping up behind him as he falls to catch him to drop him on the rocky ground with a back suplex. He's on the downed masked warrior in a flash with an elbow to the face that he grinds in to apply pressure to vital arteries.

“Give up,” Ishan growls. “Admit that you are inferior.”

A single palm placed on Ishan's chest reveals that there is still fight in his opponent. Mentor presses with his palm to toss Ishan five feet away. As Ishan jumps back to his feet, he is met by a roundhouse kick that sends him back to the ground with enough force that the ground beneath him cracks open. Mentor drives an elbow into Ishan's midsection, driving the air out of his chest.

“Done?”

Mentor speaks the one word as if it pained him more than any damage inflicted by Ishan.

Ishan lays on the ground, holding his chest and working to get his air back. Finally, he responds.

“Done.”

Ishan works to stand, accepting a helping hand from Mentor to get up. He frowns.

“Bloodbath invented Pilang-ta and only taught a few students. How is it that I have never heard of you?”

There is a moment of silence as Ishan awaits an answer from Mentor. Before this happens, Mis Shatis steps up to stand next to Mentor with a slight smile.

“Mentor was Bloodbath's greatest student. His first. He can show you arts thought to have died with Bloodbath, but it pains him to speak. He has taught me some of what he knows so that I can at least explain his words. I am his voice and he is power.”

Ishan nods slowly, still in pain. “This is fine. I will bring you both before the Elder. Only he can decide should you stay or leave. Come.”

Mentor and Mis Shatis slowly follow as Ishan Goldenfire leads them up the mountain path to the monastery.

****************

In the meditation chamber of the Elder, Ishan Goldenfire enters with bowed head as Mis Shatis and Mentor follow. They too keep their heads bowed in respect to the Elder of the Black Diamond. They wait in silence until the Elder raises his head, eyes still closed.

“What is it, Ishan? Do we have company?”

Ishan nods. “Yes, Elder. We have Mis Shatis, known as Wyld Storm of the Celestial Dragon, and Mentor. They seek sanctuary from the darkest soul of the Warhammer Corporation. Mentor represents a deeper source of Pilang-ta than even I can provide the Order.”

The Elder nods and looks at Shatis and Mentor for the first time. He motions to Mis Shatis with a kind grin. “Come forward, my dear. Sit.”

Mis Shatis glances at Mentor before sitting down before the Elder. He stares deep into her eyes, his expression impassive Shatis looks away after a few seconds, blushing furiously. The Elder looks concerned.

“You have seen much pain in your life, my dear. Trust me when I say that it will be better here. Sikarin Tsooth has no sway here.”

There is a brief flash of pain on Shatis' face as the name “Sikarin Tsooth” is mentioned. She stands up and turns away before the Elder can say more. He motions to Mentor.

“Come, my child. Sit.”Eventually, the Elder cracks a grin and laughs, ending the contest.

“By the ancestors...you are strong! You hide much, Mentor, but by knowing where you were saved from...I can only guess and shudder at the harm that must have been visited upon you.”

As Mentor stands up and joins Mis Shatis, the Elder looks to Ishan Goldenfire with a wide grin. “You have done well to bring these two to me! F only we could do more to grant aid to victims of...Warhammer's dark heart. I think the Eastern world would be a much different place.”

Ishan nods, his expression grim for he knows of many within Warhammer who have suffered at the dark attentions of Sikarin Tsooth. “We could end this forever with his death...”

The Elder shakes his head. “He has so many allies and servants that to fight him directly could bring about the end of our entire Order. I'm not even certain that if we struck the fatal blow that his body would even perish. His spirit is a demon that has haunted us since even I was young. I have never known why such a soul would be treasured for none who live do not know and fear his name.”

Ishan bows in respect to the Elder's thoughts, though it is clear that he was not satisfied by the answer.

The Elder smiles though. “Mis Shatis and Mentor here is a victory. As you are aware, any victory against him is to be counted as good. Take them to their rooms so they can cleanse themselves and rest before the evening meal. They must be tired for to journey to us is not easy.”

Ishan bows again. “Yes, Elder.”

As Ishan leads Shatis and Mentor down the hallway to where the rooms are, Shatis walks alongside him.

“So what is the Order of the Black Diamond's relationship with the Warhammer Corporation?” She asks.

Ishan gauges his response before answering. “While it is true that I am an employee of the Warhammer Corporation, the Order stands in an alliance only. Jingkai and I along with Hiroshima and Muta have joined to better ourselves. We serve Warhammer best by increasing our fighting capability.”

Mis Shatis shudders and hugs herself tight. “I hope that's something that saves s from His wrath. He was most angry with losing a valuable servant such as Mentor.”

Ishan grins as he puts his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “We will deal with him if it comes to that. Despite the spirit of dark power that surrounds him, he is only mortal. The Order of the Black Diamond would be his end.”

Shatis sighs in relief. “Good. Thank you. You don't know how much this means to us.”

Arriving at the rooms, Ishan opens a door and motions for Mentor to enter.

“Shatis, yours will be the next room. I'll get the door.”

Mis Shatis smiles, entering her room. “Thank you for everything, Ishan.”

Ishan nods. “It is my honor to be able to help.”

As Mis Shatis closes the door, Ishan walks down the hallway with a new fire in his eyes.

“Let Sikarin come...he will meet his death here.”

****************

Days later...Mentor s standing in the middle f a stone circle with Ishan Goldenfire in front of him. Both men are in fighting stances with a crowd of people around them. Ishan has a grin as he regards his opponent.

“You've been getting faster and stronger since being here, but I've got you figured out now.”

Mentor stands still while waiting for Ishan to strike. His glare is like a strike of its own.

“Never.”

As Ishan rushes in to strike Mentor in the knee, he is grabbed by the wrist and flung ten feet away. Ishan lands on his feet and crouches down. Before he can launch himself again, the voice of Mis Shatis can be heard echoing through the grounds in a long, piercing scream. Mentor and Ishan lead the charge to find her and when they do, Mis Shatis is standing next to the body of an Order member. The body looks to have been torn open with bloody splatter everywhere. Shatis is pale as she looks down at the body.

“Sikarin Tsooth...he's found us!”