by Ino Lee
The demon gripped his staff to prevent it from being swung and stiffened three fingers as if to form a living knife, poised to drive it into the monk’s skull. Jaguan looked up and calmly pulsed his weapon, creating a shock wave of energy that launched the kaigun-shur high and away.
Jaguan rose, irked that he had to disperse the Infinity energy in such an inefficient form. The demon splashed down and shook off the hit, not waiting long before returning to its feet and charging. Once again, Jaguan braced for attack. He would not let the demon get close this time. When the demon closed the distance halfway, it started somersaulting, hand over foot. Jaguan wound the Phoenix Staff and waited, hesitating for a second before charging. The demon came close then flipped high overhead, beyond the reach of his staff.
It landed on the other side of him and kept on, stopping near the dead zhuk’s corpse that had been speared through the head by Renshu. Reaching down, it lifted the beast’s large metal swordaxe and smacked it against the ground, testing the weight. It gave Jaguan a smug and satisfied look.
Jaguan took off in the opposite direction, not because he was afraid of the demon, but because the path to the pool was left open.
Renshu streaked across the grounds toward the radiance pool carriage. The zhuk he had attacked earlier stood in the way, a step slow since being hobbled by strikes from the Dragon Arm, allowing him to skirt its attack with relative ease. He stepped on its thigh and scurried up its back, using the pointed end of the staff for a finishing blow to the back of the head. The beast fell dead and brought Renshu back to the ground.
The first obstacle was easy. What would be more difficult was getting by the kaigun-shur guarding the carriage, now moving to intercept.
The dark form came at him with a sword taken from the carriage, viciously overwhelming him with a barrage of strikes. He rocked both ends of the Dragon Arm constantly, blocking and keeping the demon in check, doing everything possible to keep from being sliced open. He lost ground and tried to circle it, but the kaigun-shur stuck to him like a razor hound chasing a wounded rabbit.
It attacked and he propelled himself upward to escape, gaining extra height by lengthening the mystical staff. His connection with the weapon was becoming more natural and allowed him to change its shape at will. Once past the demon, he moved onto the second line of zhuks, but was turned away by wide swipes of swordaxes. The kaigun-shur caught up in an instant. He would not be able to get to the pool without help.
Jaguan came storming in, chased by his own kaigun-shur. He made a direct line for the carriage, causing Renshu’s demon to redirect and converge before he could get there. Jaguan assessed the situation and retrieved another vial of Infinity water—he was going through his supply much too quickly but two converging kaigun-shur were too much to handle and there were still two remaining zhuks.
He took a sip and slammed the vial on his staff, causing the gemstone to shine with a blinding light. The foremost kaigun-shur realized what was coming next.
“Chi pulse,” it stammered.
The demon quickly reversed directions and jumped into a zhuk, exploding first into spirit form.
The burst of chi energy from the Phoenix Staff came in a circular wave extending from Jaguan, knocking the exposed kaigun-shur behind him off its feet while the possessed zhuk braced and managed to hold its ground, its beastly form more resilient to ying chi than a pure demon. Renshu also fell when hit by the pulse wave, being a creature of dark chi.
Jaguan realized his error and shook his head, again relenting his waste of Infinity water as Renshu lay on the ground and the path to the carriage remained blocked by the possessed zhuk with its swordaxe. He had hoped the expenditure of energy would have at least cleared a path. He clutched his chain—one meager vial left.
Renshu opened his eyes and heard ringing. The chi burst made him feel temporarily dizzy, like he did on occasion when he had consumed too much fermented nectar with Shiki. He slowly blinked at the sky, wondering if the giant flying bird was a figment of his imagination.
Kasumi descended from the heavens, unloading her payload of Shaolin warriors and samurai. Tengfei dismounted and took stock of the combatants.
“It seems we have stumbled into the lion’s den.”
“We have numbers,” Youta said. “You and I can take the lo-shur zhuk, just as we did before. I am eager for a new round.”
Tengfei nodded. “Shian, backup Jaguan. Tae, the other zhuk.”
“What about that?” Tae said, pointing.
Renshu rose from the ground and looked both ways, until realizing the strange-looking ninja was referring to him.
“Strange ninja, I am Renshu, ally of Jaguan.”
She noticed the Dragon Arm. An interesting story was yet to be told.
“The zhuk is mine,” he blurted, then ran off after it.
“I suppose it is,” Tae said. “I’m on the lo-shur zhuk then.”
They gave each other a knowing glance before entering the fray.
Jaguan was glad for their company, delighted at the sudden turn of events. Tengfei and Tae’s mission to Yomai could not have turned out better, he thought. He saw the Staff of Shaolin and his spirits rose further, then saw the Shogun and noticed the change in Shin’ichi. The demons were in serious trouble. He examined the closest kaigun-shur as it recovered from his chi blast and shuffled a swordaxe, wondering if he should dispatch it quickly with his remaining vial and take no chances. Shian rushed his way and he decided to save it—the odds were stacked in their favor. Renshu should be able to take down his zhuk without any problems and join the battle against the lo-shur zhuk, which was already outnumbered and would have trouble against two mystic weapons. He and Shian should be able to take on his kaigun-shur since it was already weakened, and if they weren’t able to destroy it quickly, all they had to do was hold out long enough for the rest to come over.
“Shoukoo, I am here,” Shian said when she arrived.
He smiled and nodded to her. “Together then.”
The battle that followed was vicious, but brief, the kaigun-shur and zhuks unable to match the addition of four new warriors and two mystic weapons, just as Jaguan had surmised. The remaining warriors regrouped—battered, beaten, and bloodied, but victorious.
Jaguan breathed heavily and hunched over, his hands on his knees. He meant to say something to convey his utter shock and happiness at their arrival, but his mind turned to more pressing matters.
“We must find Kai. He is in the Koon Kagi.”
“We have him,” Tengfei said. “He is safe now.”
“Safe? How?”
“We found him. He is being flown to the Great Wall as we speak.”
Jaguan was about to sigh in relief until Tengfei asked: “Where is Li?”
42
SHENREN STUMBLED THROUGH the rocky terrain in a frenzied haze, the thrill of destroying Lau Gong like a psychotic stimulant. He wanted more. Somewhere he remembered his friends being stalked—the perfect opportunity to find more Koon Gee. Hunt the hunters. Kill them all.
The landscape opened, a dreary, wet existence that seemed to exist in tones of black and white. Two silhouettes stood over the next embankment, figures locked in mortal combat—one falling. Lightning streaked across the sky and solidified their forms in a flash of light, etching the image forever in his mind.
What was it about them? Something familiar.
He rushed to find out, growing more impatient the closer he got. The chi energy of the radiance pool was palpable, an unyielding noise that was both painful and soothing, feeding his unstable demon state. He struggled to resist the power, but the mask of the fire god funneled the energy straight to his soul.
The kaigun-shur saw him and almost seemed as if it knew him—a solidified lo-shur spirit, dark as night, smooth flawless skin and rubies for eyes, staring at him, knowing his thoughts and connecting with his mind.
/> “Are you demon?”
There was no sound, only a voice inside his head.
“I am . . .”
He thought to say more but stopped. At its feet lay the body of a Shaolin warrior, the kaigun-shur’s bloodstained sword telling their story.
Recognition then anguish.
He ran to the body with a vicious howl—Shenren unleashed—which backed the demon away uncertainly. Dropping to his knees, he ripped off the mask and gazed into Li’s tired eyes.
The fallen Shoukui looked long at his brother, surprised, but glad to have his company in his final moments, saddened that he would not be there to see him through his turmoil. He managed to whisper a few meaningful words.
“Remember who you are.”
He was gone.
His last link to the mortal world.
43
THE SOUND FROZE them in their tracks—a gut-wrenching, bloodcurdling howl. Tae immediately recognized the voice and knew something had gone terribly wrong, something that would leave him broken forever.
“Wong,” she whispered.
They took off in his direction. A terrible fear gripped them. They heard the tortured cry turn to madness, an outburst of pure rage beyond the reach of humans.
Jaguan felt an oppressive force like that of the radiance pool. They saw the creature stooped by Li, bathed in a dark aura of chi that appeared as flames that reached the sky. The demon looked at them with pitch black eyes.
“Wong!” Jaguan said.
It screamed again and shook the earth, its unquenchable flames reaching higher and spreading across the floor.
“Wong!” Jaguan shouted again.
He flared the Staff of Shaolin and cut through the chi flames, making a direct path to the center of the disturbance where his view was clear. Wong looked truly demonic, lost in madness, as if he were possessed by a lo-shur, and Li was surely gone. His heart sank. Had Wong done it? He remembered what Wong had said to him the previous night. Would he have to die by his hand? He lifted the staff and summoned power, a bright white light.
No. He lowered his staff and touched Li’s head, reading his final thoughts and then began to understand.
“Wong. He was like a brother to me too.”
Wong did not budge. Jaguan could not tell if he could even be heard.
“I have lost a brother this day. Listen to me.”
Still nothing.
“Remember who you are.”
Wong’s eyes closed, a tear rolling down his cheek as the flames began to retreat. When he opened them again, they remained a demonic black.
Jaguan thought to say something more but Wong’s attention shifted to the kaigun-shur that had gone unnoticed—the one responsible for Li.
The demon flinched and Wong was up again, moving across the earth as a force of nature, the added chi energy of a lo-shur coursing through his veins. The kaigun-shur barely lifted its sword to defend when Wong’s blade passed straight through its chest.
He stared down the demon as it began to break apart.
“I am Wong.”
44
THE CARRIAGE REMAINED undisturbed, seemingly innocent and unassuming despite its deadly contents, the weathered wooden frame laden with water from the endless drizzle. Wong wondered how heavy it would be to move. He walked apart from the others in silence, averting their looks even though his eyes had returned to normal, ashamed for what he had become.
“I’m surprised there’s no Koon Gee,” Tengfei said.
Wong wondered if he counted as one. He looked toward the Great Wall.
“They follow the mark.”
He then turned the opposite direction with an odd look.
Youta and Jaguan prepared Ryuu for takeoff, loading Li’s body so it could be taken out of the Koon Kagi for Shaolin to pay its respects.
“We’re ready,” Youta said.
“Can Ryuu carry more to the Wall?” Tae said.
“Yes—will you ride with me?”
“Yes, though . . . I am strong. I just arrived. Others have been here much longer. Shian? Jaguan?”
“Takeo will return for us,” Shian said. “I wish to stay longer. Xiong and the others may yet turn up.”
“You may go, Tae,” Jaguan said. “We will disable the radiance pool and the lo-shur threat will be over. We will be safe enough.”
Tae noted Wong’s pensive state, fixated on something in the distance.
“Wong, how about you? You should leave this place.”
He didn’t answer.
“Time to go home,” she said.
“I am home.”
“You have been here too long,” Jaguan added.
Wong’s attention focused back on them. A curious look made them hesitant of what he would say next.
“There’s been a development. The lo-shur that bears Kai’s mark is on the move.”
Jaguan was unsure of the implications. “Where?”
“This way. Probably to strengthen its mark on Kai. It feels him pulling away and pursues. It does not know yet he is camped on the Great Wall.”
“You think we should hunt it?” Tengfei said.
“No, I think I should hunt it. Get to the Wall and keep Kai there. Don’t let him move. The lo-shur will pass this way and solidify when it nears the carriage. I will kill it then.”
“We will come,” Jaguan said. “You will need monks if it turns to spirit.”
“No, this one is for me. We have lost so much. Warriors at the temple, Tienkow, Li, countless others fighting at the Wall. No more. The demon will pass this way and I will kill it. If it detects you, it will return to the Temple of Masks. It’s time to let me finish this mission and have one small victory.”
“Then will you come home?” Tae said.
She could already tell the answer by the look in his eyes. She put a hand thoughtfully on a cutting disc.
“I noticed you wore that,” Wong said. “Thief.”
“Your door was open.”
“I left it for Kai, but keep it and tell him I’ll make it up to him. I gave away your sword after all.”
Tae glanced at Youta.
“I know why you did it—give away your sword. You were severing your connection with your past, so you could become exactly what you are now.”
“How’s that?”
“By sending away Shin’ichi and your connection to your old master.”
Wong looked at Tae, then over at Youta.
“Yes. You are right. The sword.”
“And now the cutting cable. And even the Dragon Arm. Don’t forget who you are. You are not this demon.”
Wong looked resolute. “I am.”
Tae shivered, the image of him transformed to a demon etched in her memory.
“Where will you go?”
He nodded toward Renshu. “Made some monkey friends. I have some things to finish anyway.”
“No one said you could stay with us,” Renshu said.
Wong ignored him. “Time to go. Say hi to Kai for me. Tell him he’ll be free.”
Tae nodded solemnly, knowing she would not be able to change his mind.
“I’ll give him the discs. He should have something from you.”
She boarded the toren and promptly took off with an unsettled feeling. At least they had rescued Kai.
“Good bye,” she mouthed.
Wong watched them fly away.
Jaguan interrupted. “How far off is the lo-shur?”
“It’s almost here, flying across the swamp in spirit form. I’ll move out to ambush it.”
“Takeo can’t be far off either,” Shian said. “We should watch the skies.”
Wong nodded. “Take cover and watch for him then. No need to attract attention.”
“What do we do with that once the k
aigun-shur is dead?” Renshu said, gesturing toward the carriage.
“We’ll disable the mark that radiates its energy.”
He wondered how that would affect him.
“A glowing claw?” Renshu said.
“Yes. You said Toutoumo went to rally the magaus?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think Domu and his gorilla-men can move it?”
“Looks heavy.”
“How about if they drink first for energy?”
Renshu’s face lit. “I will go find them.”
“Good. I’m off to kill the kaigun-shur then.”
He nodded to everyone and started trotting off.
“Wong,” Jaguan called out. “Are you sure this is the right play?”
Wong shrugged. “Who knows anymore? Thanks for not killing me.”
45
THE LO-SHUR FLOATED across the earth in perfect silence, their near invisibility in the darkened skies giving them an aura of invincibility. The mark, once headed deeper into the Koon Kagi, now turned away. What happened? What caused the boy to enter their land and turn back? Losing him was not an option, not when they were so close and risked so much—a chi shard and one hundred unan.
One of the apparitions was the bearer of Kai’s mark. It struggled to keep the mark strong so that the Koon Gee could hunt him; though gaining proximity to Kai strengthened its bond, distancing itself from the temple’s radiance pool weakened it disproportionately. Fortunately, a new source of chi water was almost within reach and would restore its vitality, ultimately making the mark stronger than if it had stayed at the temple.
The energy of the new radiance pool soon became discernible, feeding its spirit so that it gained form. A foot materialized out of thin air and stepped onto wet rock, the mark bearer fully manifesting as a solid being, flanked by two others.
