Mesu continued to stare at the boy, his eyes narrowed as he studied him. The boy had an awfully powerful aura around him. He noticed something was a bit off though. Then he suddenly realized it. All the slain girls were now suddenly alive again and following after the blood teen like crazed adoring fans. That didn’t shock him though, what shocked him was the fact they were alive again. But how? he wondered. Then he looked at the boy more closely. That boy, he must have brought them back. Well he would pay for that! Mesu started to glow pure black energy as he raised his palm upward. Suddenly a pulsating black ball appeared out of his hand and flew toward Thunder suddenly, slamming into his chest and going right through him. The boy screamed in terrible agony as he was thrown several feet back before he hit a building hard, then collapsed over.

The five Ronins and the five Guardians stood there, all shocked and now suddenly angry as they all glared at Mesu.

“You sonofabitch!” Rekino roared. “You’ll pay!”

Mesu only laughed mockingly as the group surrounded him, ready to take him on. But then suddenly they noticed the temperature was rising steadily.

“Um, Rekino, Ryo.. I know you’re both pist about this,” Hana began, “but really.. Don’t you think you’re heating things up a bit too far?”

“It’s not us!” Ryo exclaimed.

“Huh?” Kento’s face took on a blank look as sweat poured down his face. Ryo and Rekino’s armors were both glowing now and their kanjis flashing brightly. They felt empowered suddenly, how they didn’t know. Cye and Amaya felt the opposite though and could only pray the heat would vanish soon.

“What is going on here?!” Mia cried.

“I don’t know,” Rowen said with a frown. He didn’t like not knowing what was happening. Then suddenly they all heard an enraged shout.

“THUNDER!!!!!”

All of them, including Mesu turned to look at the new girl. And their mouths dropped. She was glowing bright blue, a flame flashing brightly in her forehead, her fists were clenched at her sides, she was shaking with anger.

Sage frowned, feeling the incredible power from this girl. What exactly was going on here? he wondered.

Mesu rolled his eyes. “Guess, I’ll have to take you out as well,” he muttered. He created another pulsating black ball and sent it flying at her with incredible force.

Suddenly the girl’s hair begin to fly wildly behind her, the temperature increased even more greatly as the ball flew toward her. But then it suddenly stopped in mid-air right before her face and started to glow red-hot instead. Then it exploded, becoming nothing at all. The girl glared toward Mesu, anger flashing through her eyes.

And everyone’s mouths dropped open at what they had seen the girl do. She had just exploded a HUGE energy ball that was headed right for her. The odd thing was that she destroyed it with fire! The others didn't know what to make of it. Mesu was just plain out stunned. How in the world did that happen?

"So, the little girl has some powers," Mesu said, disgusted, "No matter, I can just absorb your powers when I kill you!"

"No you won't!" Rekino shouted. She looked at her Guardians, and they all nodded, "Lady Ronin Guardians ...TO ARMS!"

"Symbol of Virtue, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Wildfire, JIN!"

"Symbol of Wisdom, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Halo, CHI!"

"Symbol of Justice, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Hardrock, GI"

"Symbol of Trust, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Torrent, SHIN!"

"Symbol of Life, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Strata, INOCHI!"

Seconds later, all five Lady Ronin Guardians stood in full battle armor. Their silk caps flowing with the wind, and the armor base clinging tightly to their bodies like a second skin. In perfect timing, Rekino drew out her swords, Hana grabbed her no datchi and swung it gracefully, Mia loaded her bow with an arrow, Josephine broke up her naginata, and Amaya readied herself with her yari.

Ryo broke into a smile, his sister was a true leader. None the less, he had a job to do, but before he could summon the guys armors, Mesu ruined his plans.

Without warning, Mesu shot out several energy blasts, that hit the Lady Guardians head on. One hit Rekino in the head and stomach, Mia was hit in the face, Hana was hit in the stomach, and so was Amaya. Josephine got the worst of luck, and was hit in the chest. All of the guardians grumbled in pain. They fell to the ground. Mesu jumped in the air, and drew out his sword.

"Watch out!" Flash screamed. With her agility, she ran and kicked Mesu before he jumped down, and sliced Rekino in half. She ran over to the group of girls, "You okay?" She asked Rekino.

The Lady of Wildfire only shook her head a bit. The pain was too much. Her body hurt everywhere. That attack Mesu seemed to produce lowered her armor defense and her ability to move. She looked over at her other friends, they were in the same situation. Only they weren't conscious. Rekino felt tired all of the sudden, and closed her eyes. She needed rest.

"No! Don't close your eyes!" Flash yelled.

Meanwhile, the Ronins had gotten into a fierce battle with Mesu. Each not being able to summon their armor was the problem. They were at a huge disadvantage. Rowen's head snapped away from the battle when he heard Flash scream. He looked over and saw that she was trying to keep Rekino awake.

"Rekino!" Rowen yelled, and started to run for his girlfriend. Mesu saw him distracted, and sent a wave towards Rowen. The Strata Warrior fell to the ground in pain. It hurt.

"Rowen!" Ryo screamed. Ryo ran over to his friend, and helped him up, "Are you okay, buddy?"

Rowen nodded his head, "Yeah, it hurts, but I'll survive."

Ryo was on his last string. He took a few steps away from Rowen, and glared hard at Mesu, "You're going to pay for this, you bastard!" Ryo yelled. Seeing his opportunity, he jumped into action, "Ronin Warriors ...TO ARMS!"

"Armor of Wildfire, Tao Jin!"

"Armor of Halo, Tao Chi!"

"Armor of Strata, Tao Inochi!"

"Armor of Torrent, Tao Shin!"

"Armor of Hardrock, Tao Gi!"

"Pitiful," Mesu spat, "Do you think that your little armors can scare me?" Mesu felt the wind change, and turned to the right just in time to see a foot flying for his face.

"No," Flash said, "but my powers can! Their armors should scare you!"

Mesu laughed, "You whore. You'll regret picking a fight with me."

Flash shot him a glare, "Hey, you're the one who started to fight."

About that time, an enraged voice was heard. It gave a stern battle cry, and howled out some words. It sounded like Mia. She jumped over the standing Ronins, and loaded her bow, "Angel's Heavenly Cry!" The whole crowd was surrounded by shooting stars.

Soon, the remaining Guardians joined the Ronins and Flash's side. Each looked very ticked off. Rekino was the first to speak, "Okay you jackass, first, you come to my hometown, and start killing innocent people. Second, you killed that Thunder kid. Third, you almost killed me!" Rekino yelled. She was getting angry, and her powers fueled up, "You know, it makes me VERY angry when someone almost kills me!"

Mesu smirked at the Lady Guardian, "Well then, come and get me."

“With pleasure!” Rekino yelled. She charged at Mesu and soon the two locked in combat. The Lady Ronin Guardian of Wildfire was so angry at all what was happening. This Mesu would pay and would pay dearly. She swung her swords expertly at Mesu who now had his own weapon and was attacking back. The weapons clashed together with power, creating fiery sparks and metallic ringing through out the street. At the same time Mesu summoned even more soldiers to take care of the remaining warriors.

“Alright!” Kento exclaimed. He suddenly charged at three of them, swinging his nanjinta. He caught one and swung it into another, then punched another in the face, sending it crashing into a building.

Rowen shot off his arrows hitting several soldiers, causing them to collapse. He then leapt into the air and did his famous flying kick against another one.

Ryo weaved his katana blades through several soldiers, taking them down as fast as he could. He gutted one, flipped another, dodged a blow, then kicked one more into a building.

Cye kicked a soldier into another, stabbed one through its chest with his yari, knocked another one into a building, then dodged two attacks at the same time.

Sage was swinging his no datchi left, right, forward and backward, destroying soldiers all around him. They didn’t get a chance to touch the blond haired Ronin, because as soon as they got within an inch of him, he would suddenly strike out at them. Then several soldiers advanced on him at the same time, charging angrily, weapons pointed to him. Sage watched calmly, his eyes narrowed, waiting for the right moment. When the moment came, Sage leapt high into the air and somersaulted over them as they ended up hitting one another instead of their original target.

Flash was battling some distance away, taking on three soldiers at the same time. She banged two’s heads together, then flipped the last one over her shoulder. She felt a blow to her side and responded with a blow of her own against the new attacker. The soldier suddenly went flying several feet back and crashed into another soldier, both collapsing to the ground.

Mia was fighting not far away, shooting off arrows and punching and kicking at the same time. This Mesu and these soldiers would pay for coming here. She dodged an attack, but felt a blow in the face from another one. She repaid back by knocking the soldier off its feet with her bow, then kicked it across the street where it hit a telephone pole.

Josephine was battling near Cye, and she had two soldiers entangled within her nanjinta. She started to swing them around, spinning them around her head when she suddenly released them, and sent them hurtling through the air where they landed in a garbage dumpster. “Yeah!” she exclaimed. “Right where the trash belongs!”

“I don’t know who’s worse,” Hana said as she blocked a thrust of a spear with her nodatchi, then punched the soldier in the face, knocking it down. “You, or Kento.”

“Hey!” both Kento and Josephine exclaimed at the same time.

“You guys!” Amaya exclaimed. “Let’s worry about this battle!” She swung her yari around and around, knocking soldiers down, then ducked when one tried to attack her from behind. It fell over her, and she knocked it into a building.

At the same time while everyone was fighting, Thunder’s body began to glow red again. The symbol on his forehead once again appeared, shining brilliantly. And his wounds rapidly began to heal.

Everyone stopped and looked towards Thunder's body. All fighting stopped to see the once dead warrior open his eyes, and watched his body heal. Rekino's eyes widened, and she almost dropped her swords.

"Oh ...my ...God," Rekino stuttered her words, "Is he ...but I thought he ...what the hell?"

Flash took this time to explain something to Rekino. She leaned in to where no one else could hear her, "Thunder can't die by violence. Just so you know," She ran off, leaving Rekino there stunned.

Thunder opened his eyes, and adjusted them to his advantage. He squinted from the light the poles were creating, "Oh man," he groaned. Feeling that his body was completely healed, he stood up, and brushed himself off.

"Thunder!" Flash yelled. She ran over to her friend, and hugged him lightly, "You ready to get this bastard?"

"Been ready too," Thunder said. He glared at the man known as Mesu. Suddenly, he was reminded of the time he spent in the Tophet realm with Tutock. Those memories haunted his mind for months after the battle. He couldn't sleep and he couldn't eat. Those damned memories had plagued him, and he wanted them to end. No more suffering. For him, or for those ten teenagers.

Josephine looked on in amazement, "Holy Shit!" She screamed, and pointed at Thunder, "It's night of the living dead!"

All others were distracted by the now revived Thunder to noticed Mesu. He was creating an energy ball that would be strong enough to kill anyone. If he could only get rid of those damned Guardians, then the Ronin Warriors wouldn't be a problem. Then, he would handle Flash and Thunder. He smirked, he would love to kill Flash, and rape her dead corpse. He would just make Thunder his prisoner. His powers would be great on the Dynasty's side.

Mesu smirked, his aim was never wrong. It was pointed right at those Ronin Warriors. He knew that the Guardians would protect them, "Now ...take THIS!"

Time seemed to move in slow motion. All eyes turned towards Mesu when he released the ball towards the Ronins. Rekino screamed, and her feet moved slowly. The other Guardians followed her example, and took off after her. Flash and Thunder turned around, and saw what the others did. They took off as well. The Ronins just stood there, stunned. Not able to move.

"NO!" Rekino screamed. She ran, and got in front of Ryo. Mia got in front of Rowen, Hana got in front of Sage, Amaya got in front of Cye, and Josephine got in front of Kento. When the blast hit, all was silent. Flash and Thunder stopped in their tracks, and hit the floor. The Ronins stood where they were. When the blast was over, the site was horrible.

No longer did the Guardians have an armor, so to speak. The Lady Guardians armors were completely demolished. Strings of red, orange, dark blue, light blue, and green clung to the girls bodies. Those weren't in the best physical condition either. It seemed like Rekino had a broken arm, and was bleeding from every spot on her body. The others looked very similar. Slowly, they were breathing.

Mesu smirked, "Sayonara, Lady Guardians," He snapped his fingers, and his power pulsed through the girls veins.

"AAH!", "Oh shit!", "Jeebus Lord!", "Son of a bitch!", "Mother of Pearl!" Was what the others heard of the Lady Guardians. Without warning, they lost control of their bodies, and fell towards the ground.

"Sis!" Ryo yelled, and held Rekino in his arms. Her eyes weren't open, and she was barely breathing. He smiled softly at his sister, and placed a gentle kiss on her non armored forehead, "Don't worry, Rekka. We'll get him," he said softly, and placed her on the ground. He looked over at his companions. Before he could say a word, he looked over at Flash and Thunder. What were they doing? -Do they have an armor too?- Ryo asked himself.

Slowly he stood up, his eyes flashing angrily as his kanji of Virtue flashed brightly on his forehead. “MESU!!” he yelled angrily. “YOU’RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!!!”

Mesu smirked. “Oh really, Wildfire. You saw what I did to the Lady Guardians, and you Ronins and that pesky girl will be next!”

“You can’t expect to beat all of us!” Sage yelled, twirling his nodatchi around as his eyes flashed.

“I can and I will,” Mesu said, laughing evilly.

“Guys, the Inferno armor!” Rowen suggested as he glared at Mesu. This bastard would pay for this!

“Right!” Cye cried.

Ryo nodded in agreement, though he was a bit worried about using it. It seemed they had no choice right now. The four Ronins powered up and sent their powers to Ryo. His Wildfire armor shed, and the powers of his fellow Ronins combined with his, forming the Inferno armor around him. White Blaze changed to Black Blaze and leapt over Ryo and gave a mighty roar as Ryo took the Soul Swords of Fervor from him. And the Ronin leader stood there, ready to battle now.

Flash and Thunder were shocked at what they were seeing, but they remained calm nonetheless.

Mesu was laughing mockingly though. “So this is the famous Inferno armor of Wildfire, hmm? Well, it won’t save you, boy!”

Ryo’s eyes flashed angrily. Without a word he leapt high into the air, ready to do his surekill.

Meanwhile, Thunder was busy healing all the Lady Guardians, giving them energy and restoring them to full health again. Rekino groaned and opened her eyes, a bit dazed. “What the hell happened?” she muttered, then she suddenly sat up. “Ryo! Rowen!” she cried.

One by one the others awoke, feeling themselves healed and fully restored. They were all in surprise, but they would have to ask questions later. Each of them jumped to their feet and watched as Ryo summoned his surekill.

“RAGE OF INFERNO!!!”

The attack went out and headed right for Mesu. Mesu only smirked, watching the attack come toward him. Then suddenly he raised his arms and reverted the surekill, causing it to head toward the other Ronins and four of the Lady Guardians, and Flash and Thunder. Eyes widened with fear, and no one could really move. Then suddenly Flash’s powers went into activation. The surekill suddenly stopped in mid-turn. Everyone’s mouths dropped open and their eyes widen with shock. Even Mesu was surprised. Both Ryo and Rekino could feel themselves getting more powerful as Flash caused the heat to increase. She added more power to Ryo’s attack and sent it hurtling back toward Mesu. Mesu tried to stop it with his own power, but a silent command from Flash caused Ryo’s increased surekill to strike him dead on. Mesu screamed in pain and promised revenge as he was thrown miles away. Then he was gone.

Ryo’s, Rowen’s, Sage’s, Cye’s, Kento’s, Rekino’s, Amaya’s, Mia’s, Hana’s, and Josephine’s mouths were all hanging open wide with shock at what they had just witnessed. Flash’s powers went down and she returned to normal again. Thunder came to stand by her right side and Blaze her left side. All three turned to see the other group of people all staring at them.

“I think,” Flash spoke slowly, “that we have some explaining to do.”