Sea of Peril

Sea of Peril is the second book of the Legacy of Power Epic Series written by BZPower and C.I.R.C.L.E. member Koji.

Chapter 1: An Underwater Threat
“You have done so much for us in the past,” said Hoji, “But what are these things?”

He was of course referring to the new pieces of armor that each of the Toa Cyril wore on their left forearm. Each of these pieces of armor was different in design and style, but each of them was the same in a single regard. Each of them was inset with a crimson crystal, burning with power. They could all feel immeasurable strength and energy within, but weren’t sure of what to do with it, or what to make of it.

“Those are a rare find,” Gorma stated, “A very rare find.”

“Rare, we get it,” muttered Magis, “Just what do these things do, other than look good?”

“Of course you would say that, Magis,” Cesare said, looking at his crystal. As the newest member of the team, and a former enemy of the original five Toa Cyril, even after serving alongside the Toa for one month after the defeat of Bandiaca – the witch – he still didn’t feel like a true member of the team. He felt like only some of them wanted him to be there. He felt out of place with the already established bonds that these other Toa had with each other.

“I have a right to complain,” Magis told him.

“No one’s saying you don’t,” Eri pointed out.

“If you would be quiet, I would tell you what they do,” Gorma said.

“Finally!” Magis exclaimed.

Gorma shot him a look, so Magis didn’t say anything else.

“Those are called ‘'Nova Stones'’. They are a very rare find, as I already pointed out. It was only by pure luck that I happened upon them in the market. A sailor sold them, unsure of what they were. I of course paid him as well as I could, above his asking price. It was only fortunate that I purchased them for the right reasons before someone did for the wrong, if they knew what they were or not.”

“What do they do,” Rei questioned, “I think that’s what we all want to know.”

“They will bolster your power immeasurably,” stated Gorma with pride, “With them, you will never lose a fight. I can almost assure you of that.”

“Almost isn’t a certainty,” Agri said.

“It’s the best I can do for you,” said Gorma.

“Will these give us the power we need to crush Bandiaca for good?” Hoji asked.

“I fear that I cannot tell you that,” Gorma said.

“It is up to us, is it not?” asked Hoji, “Our own fates are those we craft for ourselves with our own hands, with our own powers. We cannot be told by another. Am I correct?”

“Very wise words, Hoji,” said Gorma.

“Bandiaca has been quiet as of late,” Agri pointed out, “I wonder what her plots are…” Quietly he wondered if her plots would involve Dai, his old instructor turned warrior for Bandiaca. He wanted to fight Dai again, and finally have a proper end to their duel. But he feared that a proper end could only mean that death awaited one or both of them. He didn’t want to kill Dai, but knew he may have to.

“With luck, she’s trying to raise a fighting force,” Eri put in, “Then we have time to crush her before she regains power.”

“But we’ve checked her base,” Hoji said, “No signs of her.”

“If she’s moved, then it’s not our problem,” Magis said without thinking.

“It’s a problem for others! That’s enough to make it our problem,” Agri said, “Because we will have failed in our duty to stop her here.”

“I get that, I do,” Magis said, putting his hands out, “But you can’t tell me that we stood too much of a chance of a quick win, can you? We didn’t. Maybe wherever she goes next, the next batch of warriors can end her life; can end her reign.”

“It should be us,” Agri said, “We stood against her; we should have ended it.”

“You like killing too much, it sounds like,” said Magis, shaking his head, “We may ignore the Toa Code…but you sound like you wanted to kill.”

“If it saves others from having to, then I have no problem with it,” Agri admitted.

“Guys, look,” Hoji put himself between them, “We have our own jobs to attend to. Let us worry about Bandiaca later and for now just get on with our lives and patrols.”

“What’s the point,” even Rei had to point out, “We patrolled before Bandiaca, yes, but there was never anything. Only during her attacks was there a true reason. I may be your second in command, but I don’t see the point, Hoji.”

“She will return,” Hoji said matter-of-factly, “That I’m sure of. We must be ready! We must face her if and when she returns!”

The Toa looked to each other and walked out, deciding that Hoji was indeed right in what he said. Patrols now would probably help them later on.

As the Toa headed out, Gorma left with them to attend to meetings with other Turaga. There was still no clear sign of who would take control of the Isle of Cyril Nui, but he was still hopeful, despite Fides still being ahead of everyone else through some great miracle.

But as everyone was departing, screams started to rise up from among the Matoran citizens. The Toa all looked to each other and nodded, running off, certain of Bandiaca’s return. As they arrived in the street where the screams originated from, they didn’t see the usual Anaroids or Batsuroids, but instead they saw a horde of beings in dark and light blue armor. Clawed feet with strong looking legs, with light blue above the knees and blades coming down. They had thickly armored shell-like torsos with some slime dripping down, dark blue armor and spikes covering parts of their arms, with their gauntlet armor being light blue. The right hands held triple bladed claw weapons. Their faces were fixed in a usual position of a screech, fangs bared.

“What are these things,” questioned Rei.

“Disgusting,” answered Magis bitterly, “I’m not looking forward to striking them.”

“They look…from the sea…” Eri trailed off.

“The sea,” questioned Hoji, “But what are they?”

“They are the Bashaa,” said a new voice.

The Toa looked around, searching for the source. The creatures known as Bashaa stayed in partial crouches, waiting to be ordered to strike. Soon the Toa could see a new figure approaching all of them, almost looking like one of these Bashaa creatures.

His leg armor was thinner, but he still had clawed feet and blades coming down, though the blades were different. He had the same shell-like torso as they did. His body was completely blue, with bits of other shades of blue and some other minor colors throughout. His right arm had the claw weapon like the Bashaa did, while his left had a gray, smaller claw weapon. He had blades running off of his shoulders, and had a thick head that looked shelled with two crimson red eyes staring out.

He didn’t look imposing, but carried himself highly. But of course, after all the fights the Toa had had with Bandiaca’s warriors, they knew that even if an enemy looked imposing, they didn’t always have to be. It could have just been an act they put on to make themselves feel better, or to intimidate the opponent.

In this case, the Toa were sure that they were just trying to be intimidated, or something like that. This guy didn’t seem like he would be very hard.

Hoji shook his head, “You don’t know who you’re dealing with, do you?”

“The Toa Cyril,” he pointed out, “My name is Raia. I am the second in command of my great masters!” He threw his right arm out to his side as if to try to prove a point or something, “None can defeat me! I am undefeated in all battles I have every fought! You haven’t any hopes to defeat me. Abandon any! You cannot win!”

“We’ve heard it all before,” Agri told him simply, “Save it for someone who cares.”

“Or someone it’s new to,” Eri put in.

“You doubt my powers,” Raia was actually shocked, then shook his head, “I will show you all, then!”

Hoji threw his right arm forward, snapping his fingers, “The burning heart of passion! Toa Hoji!”

Agri brought both arms up, bringing them together and passing both in front of his chest and face in almost a full circle, turning his closed fists up and his blades out to the sides. He brought them to rest by his hips, bending his elbows there, “The overpowering strength of the ground! Toa Agri!”

Eri held her right arm out, spinning her weapon around her hand. As she did this, she brought her other arm up, bending it underneath her outstretched right arm, bracing it as she lowered the weapon down, pointing the tip at the enemy forces, “The serene and soothing waves! Toa Eri!”

Magis span around, throwing his arms out to the side, using his powers to send some leaves at his feet around his body. He reached his right hand up as he lowered his left, brushing his fingers across the forehead of his Kanohi. He cast his arm sideways after that, “The magnificent gale! Toa Magis!”

Rei went next, sending both arms forward and making a circle with them in the air in front of her body, stopping when they reached each other again. A small spark danced between her hands, “The sizzling sensation of lightning! Toa Rei!”

Cesare took the hilt of his sword in both hands, swinging it out, looking over the angled blade at Raia, “The frozen justice! Toa Cesare!”

“Six Toa now one, determined to destroy the evils plaguing this island! We are the Toa Cyril!” Hoji shouted out, throwing his arm forward and moving it from right to left.

Raia shook his head, “Bashaa, do it,”

The Bashaa mobilized, all of them racing forward at the Toa Cyril. The Toa all took up arms; all of them using their personal Toa Tools, except for Hoji, who utilized his Blade Blaster in the sword mode.

They all ran forward in order to meet the attack head on. They began to cut down the ranks of the enemy Bashaa with swift efficient blows and with great ease. This was no contest; they were extremely weak.

Their shell-like bodies couldn’t prevent a single blow. The Toa cleaved straight through. Any claws or parries they attempted were stopped when the Toa sliced their weapons apart on contact. There was nothing that the Bashaa could do, nor could Raia do, if he was as weak as his minions were.

“You are good,” Raia muttered as he watched the Toa cleave through his soldiers.

Hoji slashed through another one, ending up outside of the Bashaa grunts. He glanced at the nearby Raia and lifted his sword.

“You’re mine,” said Hoji, “Come on; let’s do this.”

“How good are you,” Raia pondered, “I wonder if you have the skill to move this island.”

“What is that supposed to mean,” questioned Hoji, “Some sort of riddle? Joke?”

“It means what it sounds like,” Raia said, “I have the power, do you? Do you think you can possibly stand a chance against someone like me?”

“See the corpses of your warriors all around,” Hoji spread his left arm out, showing the corpses of the Bashaa off, “They stood no chance, so neither will you.”

“Cocky, eh,” Raia smiled grimly, “I like that.”

“I’m a professional,” Hoji told him.

“Is that supposed to frighten me,” He asked back.

“No. It’s supposed to show you why you got outclassed,” Hoji said, switching to blaster mode and lifting the weapon to his shoulder, tapping it against his armor three times, “My turn!”

He shot his arm out, opening fire, unleashing multiple shots into Raia before he had time to dodge. Each blow connected; sparks flew from the impacts. None of the wounds darkened Raia’s armor, however. Was his armor really this powerful? Was he this strong?

“I already told you, you cannot defeat me,” Raia said, walking towards Hoji. He lifted both arms, showing off his various claws. He ran forward, slashing rapidly, catching Hoji across the chest with each move. Sparks flew from contact every time, and soon, Hoji was overcome by his foe’s strength and was taken down.

“Hoji!” cried Agri, running over. He didn’t stop to check Hoji’s body, but instead ran at Raia. He threw a flurry of punches with his iron knuckle weapons, but none of them could even scratch the armor, let alone send many sparks flying.

“You’re weak,” Raia pointed out, slashing Agri twice in quick succession, causing sparks to fly both times. Agri stumbled back, and then fell to a knee. He threw his fist out, sending a fist of Earth shooting up, but Raia took the blow and didn’t complain.

Cesare cut down three more all around him and then ran out of the group of soldiers, facing Raia on his own now, since Agri’s attack had failed to do the necessary damage. He span his weapon around and hit the hole, opening the blade as he span it back around. He drew three cards and slashed them through the blade of his Rouze Blade.

“Lightning”

“Slash”

As he pulled his sword back, it was covered in Lightning. He ran forward, shouting, and slashed rapidly, but his elongated, overpowered slash was evaded each time as Raia continued to dodge back or block, somehow, with his hands.

“You are weak,” he told Cesare.

“What?” growled the Toa of Ice.

“But in a different weak than my Bashaa were,” He corrected, “They were intentionally weak; I intentionally chose a weak lot just for this mission. Now that I know your strengths from watching fights, I can get serious.”

“Does that include our fight right now?” hissed Cesare.

“Yes, certainly,” He replied, slamming his knee into Cesare’s head. Cesare stumbled back and looked up; taking two quick slashes, sending sparks flying from each one. His chest shield offered no protection; he felt the pain through the armor, due to the armor smashing into his normal armor.

Cesare fell back. Next, as the rest of the Bashaa fell, Magis, Eri and Rei emerged. Without speaking, they all rushed forward, with Eri and Magis combining their powers into a Storm, unleashing it on Raia, but with no effect, while Rei unleashed bolts of Lightning from her hands, to no effect either.

“I am too powerful, am I not?” He questioned as he approached them, his words hanging in the air around the six Toa.

“He’s too strong,” Magis muttered.

“What can we do other than hit him again and again,” Rei asked.

“We’ll find a way,” Hoji said, “We always do!”

He reached his arm up. Dragon Missile flew down, affixing itself to Hoji’s arm. He lowered the weapon and fired, unleashing the flaming destructive bolt of Fire powers. It smashed into Raia, but didn’t do much damage.

“Cyril Buster?” Agri questioned.

Hoji nodded, “Everyone! All together,” Hoji shouted. Everyone else moved into position, attaching their weapons to the cannon. The five original members lined up with Hoji at the helm, his arms out, powering the weapon as the other Toa’s powers also flew in from their positions. Cesare kneeled beside the Cyril Buster, throwing his arm out to his side, out to it.

“Fire!” The six screamed, unleashing their attack on Raia.

“We face an enemy unlike any other. Already we have failed to defeat Raia, who claims to be what Forte was to Bandiaca. How do we stop him? Next time: “Chapter 2: Break the Limit!” My turn!”

Chapter 2: Break the Limit!
The combination attack flew towards Raia, who stood, smiling. He didn’t fear the combined burst of pure Elemental Energy. Was he a fool who thought too much of himself? Or was he confident that he could survive, because he was that powerful? As the second in command of his group, as the bodyguard and top warrior of his masters, he knew he was powerful enough.

“I am Raia,” he screamed out, throwing his arms to the side, taking the full brunt of the strike to his chest, “I am the second in command of the Phantasmal Raiders! I am invincible in the eyes of you Toa!”

As the attack died down, the Toa were astonished by Raia’s survival. He hadn’t even seemed to have taken any damage. He walked towards them, a smug expression on his face for surviving such an attack without so much as a scratch.

“What do we do?” asked Eri.

“What can we do? This guy is too much,” muttered Magis.

“We pull out for now,” Hoji hated to admit.

“But he’ll be a threat,” Rei hissed, “How can we abandon the Matoran to this man? We can’t!”

“We must,” Cesare agreed with Hoji, “I could try to find a combination that could hold him off, but what good would it do? We can’t win this fight. We need to regroup and think about how to do this.”

“And leave the Matoran to his mercy?” questioned Agri with disgust, “How can we? We have to protect them!”

“We can’t as we are now,” said Hoji, “Let’s move!” He lifted the Cyril Buster to his shoulder and started to flee. The others slowly followed him. Their only surviving foe at this point was Raia; the drone species known as the Bashaa were finished.

Raia grinned as he watched them flee. He looked at his body, and then shook his head, “I’m drying up,” he muttered to himself, “Might as well report.”

Raia walked away, heading in the other direction, towards the sea. He was planning on rejuvenating himself in the Silver Sea and then reporting directly to his commanders in the Phantasmal Raiders. The three leaders would be most interested in the developments on the island that Raia had seen.

The Toa returned to the temple, finding Turaga Gorma waiting for them. Magis threw his Topgaler scythe to the side and stormed towards the Turaga of Air.

“What did you think you were doing?” shouted Magis, lifting his arm up, “These Crystals did nothing for us! You told us that they would give us power, but we got crushed by the enemy!”

“What was this enemy?” asked a curious Gorma, sitting down, ignoring Magis’s complaints.

“He said he was of a group known as the ‘'Phantasmal Raiders'’,” explained Eri, “Have you ever heard of them?”

“No,” said Gorma without any thought, “That name is completely new to me.”

“He used a squad of grunts, just like Bandiaca would use with her Anaroids,” Cesare explained, “However…these weren’t machines. They were living creatures; a swarm species, or something. Called the Bashaa. What of that name?”

“Never heard of it,” Gorma once more said.

“They were a sea-dwelling species,” Eri pointed out, “All of them, even Raia, the second in command of the group.”

“Sea-dwelling?” questioned Gorma, shaking his head, “I haven’t any ideas to give to you; I’m sorry.”

“Now can you tell us about these Crystals,” complained Magis. He still got no answer.

“How did you fight him,” asked Gorma.

“We tried a Cyril Buster attack,” Agri said, shaking his head, “It wasn’t enough to even scratch him!”

“His shell must have been too thick,” Rei put in.

“If he had a shell, I’d imagine that,” Gorma nodded.

“Can you answer my question, please,” shouted Magis in frustration.

“Right, sorry,” apologized Gorma, “The Nova Stones…they aren’t meant to give you overwhelming, raw power to defeat your enemy with. That wasn’t why I gave them to you all.”

“But they are powerful; you said as much earlier,” Hoji said, “Why give them to us if they wouldn’t make a difference in a battle like that?”

“Because they can make a difference, if you want them to,” Gorma said, “But only as a last resort, I fear.”

“A last resort?” questioned Cesare, “Is it that dangerous? Could it kill us?”

“It very well may,” Gorma leaned heavily on his Badge of Office as he rose to his feet. He looked up into the faces of all six members of the Toa Cyril, “I am sorry; I gave them to you in case you would ever need them, and so that you could use the minimal power boost they provided you. I hoped that the boost would be enough to meet any situation.

“I never wanted you to come into a situation where you were required to surpass your current limits. I never wanted you to think that you needed the overwhelming and raw powers of the Nova Stones to defeat an enemy. You have won so many times in the past, sometimes against superior enemies. You have always found a way. I hope you don’t think that the Stones are the way you must go.”

“We have always found a way to win,” Hoji agreed, nodding, looking into the Turaga’s eyes with a burning passion befitting his title, “But this time is different. We used all of our raw power against him. We used tactical attacks against him,” he was referring to Cesare’s Lightning Slash, “we did all we could, and nothing worked. Nothing even scratched him!

“As much as I am sure it pains you, we require a greater power to defeat Raia. He is the second in command, so I am sure that the enemy will fall easier after we defeat him. I am sure that the bulk of any forces that these Phantasmal Raiders have can fall to us with greater ease. But right now we need the power, or we are going to lose. For all we know, Raia is out in the streets at this very moment, killing innocent Matoran! And we’re wasting time here discussing this! Please, Turaga Gorma, give us something we can use! Tell us how to use the powers of the Nova Stones, whether we become lost to their power or not. Please, tell us!”

Gorma looked at the floor. The others could tell that he didn’t want to tell them, while knowing that he was going to. He was just drawing it out, fighting it out in his mind if he should or not, despite already knowing that he would tell them because they would need to know.

Finally, he looked up and looked them all in their eyes, judging each member of the Toa Cyril in turn. He finally nodded to the group as a whole.

“I will tell you how to use the great and unstable power that I have given to you all,” he said with apprehension, “But please…forgive me if it ends up killing you.”

Raia walked through the underwater caverns that sat undisturbed in the Dome of Cyril Nui. As he walked around, he noticed Bashaa all around him, going about their duties, whatever they may be, or simply training, or moving around in sheer boredom.

There were plenty; enough for a constant, stable supply of subordinates.

As Raia reached the end of a tunnel, he found what he was looking for. It was a large bubble-like structure. Air and dryness were inside, sealed against the wet and the cold of the ocean floor. The members of the Phantasmal Raiders could breathe either air or water; they were all amphibious. Most simply preferred air.

Raia walked inside, his body drying as he pushed through the bubble. He looked around the dark, dimly lit structure, with the overhanging stones adding an ambiance to the entire base of operations for the Phantasmal Raiders. It was an imposing sight overall as Raia walked through, noticing his three commanders standing and awaiting him up ahead.

He stopped and bowed before the three of them. They were all similar, all of the same species. They all wore dark blue, silver, and gray armor, but in different styles and patterns.

The first member was Uva, who had silver legs with some blue overlay and blue feet. He had blue armor above his knees, but had silver curved armor as well. He had a silver chest piece over his gray torso, and then had silvery arms down to his elbows, which then became blue. Like all of them, his hands were gray armored. He wore a sleek silver Kanohi mask, and wielded a sharp and somewhat long blade with a dagger hilt.

Next was Sagarc, who had silver clawed feet with two claws, and primarily silver legs which were thinner, but had thicker, spiked armor overlaying blue armor above his knees. He had a gray chest with blue overlay. His arms down to his elbows were blue, but had silver overlay. His arms were then thin silver with gray hands. He carried a hooked, heavy sword, and wore a sleek silver Kanohi mask.

Finally, there was Gamel. He was the shortest by the look of it. He had fully silver legs, except for the blue overlaying above his knees. He had a small blue piece overlaying his gray chest armor, and had silver down to his elbows. From there to his gray hands was blue armor. He wore a sleek silver Kanohi like the others, and wielded a double ended trident weapon.

“What have you to report?” questioned Uva.

“The weakness of the Toa of the island,” Raia stated, “Cyril Nui will fall to us with great ease, Masters. I give you my word as your most trusted warrior and second in command.”

Raia was once more on the surface of the island. He had been ordered to conquer the island this time; to see to it that Cyril Nui fell to his power. If the Toa couldn’t even scratch him, then how could they stop him from doing as he pleased? They couldn’t. He would win, and Cyril Nui would belong to the Phantasmal Raiders.

As he walked through the streets with his squad of Bashaa, no one stopped him. The Matoran fled any direction they could. The sight filled all with fear.

“Come out, Toa,” Raia shouted, “Emerge and make my job easier! When you die, you will be at peace! You won’t be as long as you hide from me!”

A wall of Fire burned up a handful of Bashaa. Raia glanced towards it, watching as Hoji led Magis, Eri, Rei and Agri towards him. Hoji lowered his hand, “Your end is the only one that will bring peace,” Hoji threatened, standing in line with the others down his sides.

“Where’s your sixth?” Raia questioned, “Afraid?”

“No,” stated Cesare as he walked out of a street at Raia’s side, “I’m just different; look at my armor. I stand alone against you at this moment.”

“What?” questioned Raia, “I don’t get it.”

“It’s time,” Hoji said, lifting his left arm. Everyone did the same, “It is time for us to break the limit!”

Everyone drew their right hands up to the Nova Stones on the silver pieces of armor. They all looked at Raia, and saying a silent prayer, shattered the Stones by snapping them.

Massive power erupted from the shattered Nova Stones, bathing the bodies of the Toa Cyril in their raw and destructive energies. Raia watched the five, and then glanced to watch Cesare, and then back and forth. He stood so he could watch both at once, each out of the corner of an eye.

And then, when the energy faded, they all lived. They all stood to oppose him; the destructive powers hadn’t claimed their lives.

“Let’s make this quick,” said Hoji, lifting up his new weapon; a curved sword that had appeared when his armor changed.

All of the Toa had had their armors changed and warped. They all stood more powerful than ever, each of them with their own changes and new weaponry; though all still wielded their Blade Blaster sidearms without change.

Agri was sleeker armored, wielding a small blaster with triple rotating barrel. Magis wore lime and dark green armor with claws along his legs on the fronts and back; with a claw grip weapon in his right hand, and a large blade in his left. Hoji wore dark and light red with orange armor, with new jets on his arms and sleek fins coming off of parts, along with a curved sword. Eri wore dark and light blue armor; more thickly armored than before, with a fin-blade attached to her left arm, trailing back, and a large blade in her right. Rei wore white, dark blue and yellow armor, with thicker armor, a Kanohi with a scanner left eye, and a new rod-like weapon instead of her six daggers. And finally Cesare still retained his shield in silver, but wore new silver claws on his legs, along with a pure white body, and a new Kanohi with a scope on the left eye, and an axe that replaced his Rouze Blade, but retained his Rouze Cards.

“Toa Cyril Nova,” Hoji shouted out, lifting his blade, “Let’s go!”

The Toa were swift in cutting down the Bashaa as Raia simply stood by and watched. They were quite adept at using their new weapons, and seemed used to their powers, using enhanced speed and strength with seemingly no strain on their bodies. It was as if they had already learned how to do everything.

As three or four minutes passed, the last of the Bashaa fell, leaving only Raia to oppose the Toa Cyril Nova. Hoji threw his arm up, snapping his fingers, calling forth his Dragon Missile, which flew to him as usual.

“This doesn’t look good,” muttered Raia. He had gotten a feel for their powers, and didn’t like it. He started to flee, to warn his Masters about the new strength of the Toa.

Magis attached part of his large blade to the back of the Missile, providing a back support, while Cesare put his axe in the bottom center, providing more support. Hoji and Eri’s swords acted as support for the two ‘'arms'’ that came off of the Missile, while Agri’s blaster was attached atop it, with Rei’s rod being placed in the top barrel.

Hoji lifted the massive weapon in both hands, holding it in the center of his chest. As Raia fled, his team stood at his sides as usual, while Cesare stood before it, and then ducked down, still providing his power.

All six screamed it at once, “Fire!”

The massive outburst of energy from the six Elemental Powers flew out from the main body of the Dragon Missile as well as from the blaster atop it. They intertwined, smashing into Raia from behind, cracking his impossibly hard shell.

“This isn’t possible,” screamed Raia as he stumbled away, still alive, still fleeing towards the sea so he could give his Masters a warning.

Cesare ran and leapt up. Small energy wings protruded from his chest shield, allowing him to flip over and land in front of Raia, axe in hand. He lifted the weapon, facing one of the two crescent blades in the face of his foe.

“Bad move, fleeing,” Cesare told him.

“You won’t kill me,” screamed Raia, rushing with his claws at the ready.

“Fire,” screamed Hoji. Even without the axe, he was still firing again.

Raia span around in shock. He turned back to flee, but Cesare had leapt back, using the energy wings to float up. He had swiped a card along one tip of his axe.

“Kick”

His foot glowed with energy. He shouted as he shot down, smashing his powered kick into Raia’s chest as the Cyril Nova Buster blew into him from behind.

Raia went down screaming as he died.

“Toa Cyril Nova…we are victorious!” Hoji shouted out to them all.

“We have used our new powers to slay Raia, the second in command of the Phantasmal Raiders. But this enemy is swift; they have replaced him with one even more powerful…and what? What is this? He claims to be…but…is he…? Next time: “Chapter 3: Forte’s Return!” Here I go.”

Chapter 3: Forte's Return!
Uva, Sagarc and Gamel walked around the battered and broken body of the mechanical warrior that had fallen into the ocean not too long ago. Based on what they knew, this was the second in command of the warrior who had attempted to conquer Cyril Nui before them; Bandiaca, the witch. This man was ‘'Forte'’, her greatest warrior and second in command.

Now he had been abandoned to the ocean. After being blasted by the Cyril Buster, he had been abandoned, so the Bashaa had taken him on behalf of Raia and the leaders of the Phantasmal Raiders, all of whom desired a strong fighting force to help them conquer the island. This man would be a powerful asset.

“What do we need him for? You have me,” a gruff voice barked out.

The three Phantasmal Raiders turned to watch the approach of a blue and gray armored individual. He had long arms that dragged out longer than his body was tall; even if it wasn’t hunched. He had an elongated, ribbed head with two crimson eyes keeping focused on his goal of the Phantasmal Raiders, rather than darting around, watching for Bashaa or warriors who would try to stop him for whatever reason.

He was the new second in command. He and Raia had been of equal position, but whenever possible, Raia had been used instead. They preferred Raia by far, due to the unstable nature of this man, the unstable aspects that he brought to battle. As a second in command, he didn’t do much; he was more concerned with fighting, with proving his skill. That was why his only weapons were small dagger-like blades.

“Jaki, what do you want?” questioned Uva.

“I want to know why you need this foolish little mechanical man,” he barked, “I am so much superior! Why not just use me in battle?”

“This warrior has fought the Toa before,” Gamel commented, “We can use him.”

Jaki scoffed at the idea, “Use a mechanical man, rather than a real, living warrior? Ha! What pathetic notion is that?”

“Raia is dead, if you’ve forgotten,” hissed Sagarc, “Evidently he wasn’t skilled enough to defeat the Toa.”

“He beat them once,” Uva picked up, “They came back with more determination. That has to have been it; how else did they get stronger? They knew what to expect and overcame him.”

“People do grow stronger,” Jaki hissed, “Hence my strength. But that they could get strong enough to shatter Raia’s shell? Something had to have happened there.”

“As we said, we believe it to have been the result of their growing urgency to eliminate him,” Uva said, “Determination.”

“Possibly,” shrugged Jaki, “I will find out as soon as you allow me to go and fight them.”

“We have this man,” Sagarc said, shaking his head, “You aren’t needed, Jaki.”

“Too bad,” Jaki turned around, spreading out the large fins on his back, “I’m going, and that’s all there is to it!”

“Jaki, doing this is a sign of treason,” warned Uva.

“It is no treason,” Jaki commented, “You have none who can even reprimand me! What a great idea it was for you three to pick someone stronger than you to be your second in command!” He laughed as he departed.

The three turned their attention to the broken and battered ‘'Forte'’. They stood around him, ignoring Jaki, and lifted their weapons up. They pressed the tips together over his battered body, allowing pure power from their bodies to flow down and bathe ‘'Forte'’ in the healing and watery light that they created.

“Ryuki, go on ahead,” Jaki barked.

The black, humanoid clam warrior nodded, opening the shell chest it had, revealing a single white eye. It ran off ahead with the Bashaa following it, causing damage as they went. Jaki believed he made the right choice in bringing Ryuki with him; Ryuki may have seemed weak, but he had great power when it came down to it.

A vehicle slammed into Ryuki, tossing him aside with ease. Jaki watched as a Toa of Fire dismounted, his orange and dark red armor standing out against the gray sky and buildings. His body was covered in extra layers of armor, but not enough to make him look bulky, and he wore a red and orange Kanohi mask. Jets were on his arms, and fins were on different parts of his body for the sake of aerodynamics, or something. Jaki didn’t care. As he lifted his curved sword, Jaki lifted his daggers, ready for a fight, then let them drop and drag behind him again; his arms too long to constantly support.

As Jaki was preparing for a duel, he saw others arriving. A gray and black armored Toa of Earth in fairly basic armor; light and made for swift combat, but durable. He wore an elongated black Kanohi mask and wielded a blaster weapon with three rotating barrels.

Then there was the blue, white and yellow Toa of Lightning, with basic, thick armor, and a Kanohi that had some sort of scanner eye that looked ridiculous. Her weapon was pathetic in his eyes; a small weapon that didn’t even deserve to be called a staff; more like a stick.

Then a Toa of Air in lime and dark green armor. He looked hideous with that color combination, and the Toa didn’t seem thrilled about it either. His armor was a bit bulky along the chest, and his sword in his left hand was pretty big; something that he didn’t look like he cared for carrying around. He carried a small claw weapon underhand in his right hand. It looked like he had claws on the backs of his legs, but they wouldn’t serve any purpose.

Then the Toa of Water in bulkier armor. She had basic light and dark blue armor on, but it was added on in a way that showed bulkiness, rather than sleekness, like the Toa of Fire’s. She carried a large blade in her right – smaller than the Toa of Air’s, however – and a fin weapon was rested on the underside of her left arm.

Finally, a Toa of Ice appeared, with a Kanohi with a left scope-eye. He wore a silver shield over his chest and arms, and carried a large axe. His armor was more like the Toa of Fire’s; thick, but not too thick to make him bulky.

“You’re the Toa,” hissed Jaki, “You’re not the ones we saw when we collected our information.”

“We changed,” the Toa of Fire commented, slashing a few Bashaa down with ease. He lifted his left arm, pointing to Jaki, “This is how we beat your second in command! With this raw power!”

Jaki smiled grimly, “Guess my rank,”

“What?” questioned the Toa of Fire.

“Guess my rank,” Jaki said once more.

“I don’t get it,” the Toa of Air commented, lifting his large blade up to his shoulder as he walked near the Toa of Fire.

“I’ll tell you,” Jaki said, “Raia was second in command. I am his equal; I am also second in command.” He shrugged, “They don’t like deploying me… I’m… I’m too wily, I guess you could say. Too…out of control for them to use. I am superior to Raia in every way!”

“I bet your defense is lacking.” The Toa of Ice said, striking the side of the head of his axe. It opened, revealing various cards. He grabbed one and slashed it across one of the two blades of the axe.

“Lightning”

He span the axe around, swinging his right arm behind his back, staying in a partial crouch. Lightning crackled around the end of the weapon. He shouted and ran forward, swinging it up and spinning it around overhead before swinging it down on Jaki.

Jaki parried with his dagger, but Lightning erupted through it, into his body. He didn’t falter, and followed up with a punch from his left hand, throwing the Toa of Ice back.

“Weak,” Jaki commented.

The six Toa regrouped as Ryuki stumbled towards Jaki. The remaining Bashaa also went to his sides, ready for an attack.

The Toa of Fire swung his sword out to his side, twisted his wrist so the blade was up, and then slashed it down at an angle across the front of his body; the sword covered in flames. He looked up above the flaming sword, “The exploding heated passion! Toa Hoji!”

The Toa of Earth stood with his feet together, his right side facing the group of enemies. He lowered his weapon, looking out over the top barrel. He span around, dropping to a knee, lifting the weapon and bracing his left arm against the guard of the blaster weapon, looking up at them, “The exploding strength! Toa Agri!”

The Toa of Air crossed his arms, sighting, showing no enthusiasm, yet he mustered up the strength in his voice as he brought his head up, “The exploding gale! Toa Magis!”

The Toa of Water lifted her left arm up and drew her sword across the fin weapon; running the flats together. As her blade went above the fin weapon, she drew her left arm down and slashed the blade down, looking over the edge and the tip, “The exploding waves! Toa Eri!”

The Toa of Lightning lifted her rod weapon, summoning a bolt of Lightning to come down and strike it. She drew it down and up across the bottom of her raised left arm; perpendicular with her body. She swung her left foot back, twisted her body, and lowered the rod weapon, “The exploding sensation! Toa Rei!”

The Toa of Ice swung his axe out to his side, his arm behind his body. His left hand came up, clenching into a fist in front of his face. He threw that arm out to the side, span around, and as he lifted his axe, slashed it down, looking up as he slashed down, “The exploding tundra! Toa Cesare!"

“Six Toa now one, determined to destroy the evils plaguing this island! We are the Toa Cyril Nova!”

Jaki muttered and then laughed, throwing his head back in uproarious laughter. He looked to Ryuki, “Do it!”

Ryuki ran forward, throwing his arms to his sides. His chest opened, revealing the eye. A void began to form on the inside of his shell, drawing the Toa closer. They fought for footing, but his powers were too great for them to stop, even by having Magis counter them, or digging their weapons into the ground.

As they got closer and closer, they still had no moves to try. Then Cesare and Hoji looked to each other and both nodded. Cesare let go, flying forward. Two small pieces on the back of his shield span; the openings now up. Energy wings spread out from them, throwing him forward with his momentum; not Ryuki’s. He slammed a series of kicks into the eye, avoiding the dangerous parts. Ryuki was thrown back, not opening the shell anymore after the wounds.

“You weak worthless little…,” Jaki didn’t finish. He span around, watching a figure approach; clad in blue and silver armor, looking very dangerous. Much like him, this being seemed to be one who craved only combat and danger.

He had blue feet with silver legs, with blue blades coming down. Blue armor was after that as Jaki looked up his body; overlaying silver. He had a blue torso with silver claws hooking around the front, partially obscuring his body.

His arms started with light blue, but were overlaid by silver blades. He had dark blue arms after that, each of them tipped with thrusters and silver armor on top of that. His gray hands each held a different weapon; the right a large shell-like shield, and the left a large blade with another claw – like on his legs – on the bottom.

His back had silver claw-like armor down the back, with two large silver fins emerging; one of them going straight up, one down. Jaki figured he must have been good at swimming if they didn’t serve any purpose to help him. Perhaps to propel him faster, along with the arm-jets? They weren’t helping with traditional swimming, that was certain, so he must have been good, being a sea-being.

His head was a large maw of razor teeth; silver to offset the blue of the rest of his head. He had a single crimson eye within, staring out through the maw.

“Who are you?” hissed Jaki, lifting his arms, “You dare to interrupt? I see the…”

He didn’t see anything. He assumed he would see malice, desire to fight, anything in the single eye of this strange warrior. But as this being walked towards him and the Toa, Jaki realized that he saw nothing, as if this eye was not a window into the man’s soul.

“Just what are you?” he hissed.

The being glanced to Jaki. The Toa were all ready for a fight; all of them expecting this warrior to be a hard opponent. But Ryuki was nearly dead, thanks to Cesare’s swift attack. They had killed Raia. They had the power of Nova on their side. They knew they could win.

Hoji lifted his sword, “Let’s make quick work of them. Cyril Nova Buster!"

The Dragon Missile flew down from the sky, hovering in front of Hoji. They were swift, adding their weapons to the Dragon Missile as Hoji gripped both ends, holding up the monstrous weapon. He aimed it at Jaki and the newcomer, firing, unleashing the combined Elemental Powers of all six Toa in one destructive burst.

The being pushed Jaki aside and walked into the blast, shaking his head as he approached, unfazed by the strike. The crimson eye set itself on Hoji, and the sword arm went up.

“What is this guy?” Hoji shouted, firing another round, but again, no effect.

“You are my worthy opponent,” the being hissed. He continued to walk forward. Why was his voice so familiar?

“Hoji! That’s…,” Cesare began.

“I know…,” Hoji answered, “That…that thing is ‘'Forte'’!”

“Are you sure?” questioned Rei.

“Can that really be ‘'Forte'’?” questioned Eri.

“But he doesn’t look like that,” Agri put in, “How did he change?”

“Looks like he’s like me,” muttered Magis, “A change for the worse…if that is him.”

“Stay on guard,” ordered Hoji, sending the weapons back to his teammates. He nodded to Cesare, who opened the side of his axe, taking some Rouze Cards.

Hoji held his hand out, taking four of them for the moment. He slashed them all through his sword and drew it back.

“Fire”

“Water”

“Ice”

“Slash”

As red, blue and white energy filled his sword, Hoji ran forward, shouting. He leapt up, coming down on ‘'Forte'’, expecting the sword to parry.

The shield did. It stopped the attack.

“What?” hissed Hoji, realizing something was wrong. He kicked off of the shield and slid away from his foe, “You’re not ‘'Forte'’! ‘'Forte'’ would never resort to a shield in a swordsman’s duel!”

“I will crush you,” said the new ‘'Forte'’, lifting the sword, walking forward with his monotone voice tearing through Hoji’s soul, for it had no soul. The voice of the once proud swordsman, the soul that had filled his words and actions, was gone. Replacing it was the monotone, emotionless shell of a voice that now suited the owner of the same values.

“If he’s not the true ‘'Forte'’ anymore, then you don’t have to fight him,” Cesare said, lifting his axe and taking his Blade Blaster in his left hand, keeping the blaster mode, “Allow me. You can focus on Jaki.”

Hoji nodded, “But if he reclaims who he once was…he’s mine,” Hoji looked at Cesare with dead seriousness in his eyes, “Got that?”

“Understood,” Cesare nodded.

“Who dares to strip away the honor of ‘'Forte'’? He may be an enemy, I realize, but he is also a man, and a warrior. A warrior shouldn’t have their rights stripped from them. I know he’s our foe! But he’s more than that to me… Next time: “Chapter 4: Raging Hoji” My turn!”

Chapter 4: Raging Hoji
A dank cave was the current setting for Bandiaca and her warriors. They had abandoned the spires that she had created in favor of another spire that had a cave facing away from the island, allowing them to remain hidden as she spread out the room itself under the sea for her warriors. Such minimal changes would go unnoticed by the island inhabitants.

“Any luck yet?” Bandiaca questioned M'hou.

“None, I am sorry…I’m a failure,” M’hou said, expecting to be struck or reprimanded for his inability to locate ‘'Forte'’, even this long after his disappearance.

“Mirai!” She barked.

The crimson and green armored swordsman approached the two of them, “What do you require?” he questioned, “A trip to the island?”

“The Toa have grown in power,” Bandiaca stated, “I’ve felt it. What I want you to do is go and engage them. Do what you can, and find ‘'Forte'’!”

“I shall do my best,” Mirai bowed, rising and walking away from her, towards the entrance.

Bandiaca waved her staff out. Energy enveloped Mirai as well as the standing troop of Anaroids that M’hou was tempted not to let go of. He was tempted to keep them around, since they had such a short supply. Without proper equipment or parts, what could he do? Nothing. No more Anaroids or Batsuroids, let alone his mechanical warriors that were currently being designed to fill Bandiaca’s ranks.

Her power overtook them and sent them along with Mirai towards the island.

Cesare swung his axe around with great speed and skill, but '‘Forte’' was faster at every move. He managed to continually parry with his shield and get a blow with his sword in, sending sparks to fly from Cesare’s armor on impact. He stumbled back and ducked, allowing Agri to jump over his back, opening fire with his new blaster weapon.

The three barrels span around, each of them firing on the single point of ‘'Forte'’. Rei leapt over his back in turn, unleashing a stunning bolt of Lightning from the end of her rod weapon, blasting him aside.

The three Toa were going to wait, but they didn’t have to for long. In moments ‘'Forte'’ was back on his feet, seemingly unfazed.

“Let’s try something,” Cesare said, crouching down, holding his axe out. Agri crouched behind it, resting the barrels atop the long shaft of the axe. Rei put her rod in the barrel that was currently lined up with the shaft.

The three of them focused their powers into the attack and had Agri pull the trigger. The rod, powered by all three of their powers, flew down the shaft like a projectile, slamming into ‘'Forte'’, but it only managed to puncture him slightly. He tore the weapon out and rushed them, lifting his weapon.

Meanwhile, Magis and Eri were cutting down Bashaa resistance. Eri was swift, using her fin weapon to parry blows while using her sword to cut them down. She would spin around, with her blade out and using her fin to cut down warriors that her blade missed.

Magis slashed a few times with his large blade, and then parried a close strike with his claw grip weapon. He pushed back, hesitated, and didn’t kick. He span around, slashing it with the sword instead, taking it down.

“A hideous body…,” he muttered, shaking his head in revulsion of both the Bashaa and his own, new form. “I have a hideous body just like them, and I still can’t strike them!” He shouted in disgust.

“You’ll be dead soon,” hissed Jaki, throwing Hoji’s battered body aside. He approached the two Toa, lifting his long arms up, getting his daggers ready. Magis and Eri drew up their weapons in preparation for this battle.

Hoji coughed and struggled up to his arms, holding his sword tightly in hand. He shouted and swung up, clipping Jaki in the side. The superior enemy glanced down at him, hardly feeling the wound. He lashed his long arm out, throwing him aside.

“Hoji!” Eri and Magis screamed out.

Hoji struggled up to his feet, shaking his head, “I won’t go down that easily!” He began to scream as his jets activated. Fire enveloped his entire body. He shot forward with greater speed than before, lifting his flaming sword out of the mass of Fire.

“Oh? Interesting,” Jaki grinned, throwing a fist forward to meet him.

The momentum of the punch tore through the fire, connecting with Hoji. Hoji cried out as he was thrown back, his flames gone. He rolled around on the ground, unable to get back up. He tried, but his body wouldn’t respond.

“Weak,” Jaki muttered.

Eri and Magis put the tips of their swords together. The power of a Storm began to form, lashing out as a concentrated burst from the tips at Jaki from behind.

Jaki span around, taking the full brunt of the attack to his chest. Even for his strength, he couldn’t stand such a direct blast of power, of Lightning, of the power of nature itself driving at him.

Hoji managed to rise and stumble over to Eri and Magis. Magis got in front of them, hooking his gripper weapon on his side and drawing his Blade Blaster as a sword in his right hand. He drew both blades up, “I’ll watch him,” he said.

Eri was on the ground where Hoji had sat down. She began to use her Water powers to heal him, running the healing waters over him.

“You’ll be fine soon,” she said.

“Faster,” he muttered, “Please.”

“I’ll try,” she murmured, “I’ve had problems speeding the process before.”

“We’re stronger now,” he said, “You should be able to do it.”

“Let’s hope,” she said.

As the power washed over Hoji, he could feel himself getting stronger again. He managed to stand along with her as she continued to heal him. Jaki had rushed towards Magis, swinging his daggers around, but Magis was throwing Air around as buffers, blocking his strikes for the most part.

“You can’t stop me forever!” Jaki screamed.

“I know that,” Magis commented, spinning around to avoid him. He flipped his Blade Blaster into firearm mode and opened fire on Jaki’s chest, peppering him with energy blasts. None of them seemed to do much damage.

Eri leapt up, coming down and slashing Jaki across his chest. As he stumbled back, she nodded back to Hoji, “You’re free to do what you want. You know what you want; do it.”

He nodded in understanding and ran, cutting down Bashaa as he passed them. He leapt up, coming down on ‘'Forte'’ from behind, slashing his mechanical rival down the back.

‘'Forte'’ span around after slashing Rei aside. He threw a punch with his shield, but Hoji blocked with his sword, feeling the true strength of his foe’s shield.

“You’re just as strong as ever,” muttered Hoji.

No answer. ‘'Forte'’ wasn’t speaking.

“You’re not like this,” hissed Hoji, “You’re a proud swordsman! Using a shield is against your beliefs, is it not?”

No answer once more.

“Answer me! ‘'Forte'’!”

Cesare, Agri and Rei ran around his side towards Hoji. Cesare spoke quickly, “You can have him; we’ll deal with Jaki.”

“Got it,” Hoji muttered, “Let me break ‘'Forte'’ free of this!”

He slashed hard, knocking ‘'Forte'’ a few steps back. He shouted and took three steps forward, following up with a slash up ‘'Forte'’’s body. ‘'Forte'’ stumbled back and followed up with a slash, but Hoji parried.

He took a shielded punch to the face, being thrown to the ground. He came to his knees, shaking his head, “You…fight like you used to! Don’t let yourself be controlled!”

‘'Forte'’ continued to approach him, lifting the sword in his left hand. The blade almost seemed thirsty to slay Hoji.

Hoji came to his feet, shaking his head. He drew his sword to his side, screaming. Fire erupted around the blade, but then was gone. The blade was now shimmering with intense heat. He ran forward, slashing once across ‘'Forte'’s chest before his foe could block.

The heated slash cut a deep wound into ‘'Forte'’. The mechanical warrior stood frozen for a few moments, and then stumbled away, dropping the shield and nearly the sword. He held tight after that. He threw his right hand to the wound and looked to Hoji with his single optical eye.

“You…my rival!”

“You’re back,” Hoji muttered with some relief. He hated to see a swordsman as great as ‘'Forte'’ be reduced to a mindless mechanical slave.

“What…what happened to me…,” muttered ‘'Forte'’, looking at his body, getting a feel for what he now was. He looked up to Hoji, “What happened to me?”

“We blasted you into the ocean when you and Bandiaca attacked,” Hoji said, lifting his sword, which was now normal again, “I guess the Phantasmal Raiders changed you.”

“Changed me?” screamed ‘'Forte'’ in questioned, shaking his head, “As long as I can fight with a sword, like a proud warrior…I don’t care!” He didn’t reclaim his shield. He switched his sword to his right hand as he approached Hoji.

“It looks like my rage at what you were brought you back,” Hoji commented. He had chosen his title in rollcall as ‘'heart of passion'’. There was a reason for it. He believed that he could change people, as he had in the past. His passion, his fiery, burning passion – and by extent, his lack of passion; hate – sometimes allowed him to achieve things he normally wouldn’t achieve.

He guessed changing ‘'Forte'’ back was one of those things.

“I don’t know what happened, but I will not stand for it,” ‘'Forte'’ hissed as he approached, ready for a duel.

“Let’s make this one to remember,” Hoji said, fully intent on defeating ‘'Forte'’ for good now that he was back to normal. If he survived and got away, the Raiders may change him again. Hoji hated to think of ‘'Forte'’’s strong will being stifled by their control. He wanted to help. Help would be killing him while he was still as he wanted to be; a warrior.

As the two ran to meet each other in combat, a blast of energy stopped them. They glanced to Hoji’s left and ‘'Forte'’’s right, watching as a squad of Anaroids led by Mirai approached. Mirai was shaking his head as they entered the scene, drawing his right hand to his left arm, gripping the hilt of the sword he kept sheathed on the shield he wore.

“Anaroids, attack,” he said, sending them in the direction of the remaining Bashaa and Ryuki, who was being handled by Agri. His absorption powers were being overcome by such rapid fire of both of Agri’s firearms.

The Anaroids rushed to do as ordered and deal with their counterparts. Mirai approached Hoji and ‘'Forte'’, “Who is this, now?”

“It’s ‘'Forte'’,” ‘'Forte'’ said, “I’ve been changed against my will.”

“Very well,” Mirai said, lowering his blade, “Then I should eliminate you, lest whoever changed you comes back for you.”

“They won’t come back,” ‘'Forte'’ hissed, “I will never rejoin them!”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you,” Mirai said, glancing between Hoji and ‘'Forte'’. He lifted his sword, “Now, let’s do this.”

“I’m not going to betray Bandiaca! I only fought for them because they changed my mind! It was only this Toa that could break my mind free!” ‘'Forte'’ shouted.

Hoji nodded, “You may both be my enemies, but ‘'Forte'’ is an honorable warrior and rival,” he told Mirai, “He may be my enemy, but he does deserve to be understood.”

Mirai didn’t listen. He lifted his sword and ran into battle, slashing at ‘'Forte'’, who lifted his blade to parry. They continued to meet their blades, parrying and slashing at each other. Hoji decided to jump in, rushing forward and slashing at Mirai’s side, but Mirai span around, managing to parry the blow and still move his blade fast enough to stop ‘'Forte'’’s strike without resorting to using his shield.

“Be pleased with this, ‘'Forte'’,” Mirai said, “I’ll only use my sword to defeat you. My shield will never touch your blade.”

“Mirai…I know you’re good. I know you’re probably Bandiaca’s best warrior, even when I was there, now that Geki is gone. I know you can probably defeat me. But I will not allow it!” ‘'Forte'’ leapt back and ran forward, gaining momentum. He slid forward, rolled despite his fins on his back, and went under Mirai’s slash. He came up behind and span around, sending a side slash out.

Hoji leapt in, shouting. He slashed down at Mirai’s right side, hoping to defeat this warrior and fast.

Hoji was angry. ‘'Forte'’, even as an enemy, deserved better. His rage, his passionate rage had broken ‘'Forte'’ free of the control of the Phantasmal Raiders, but now he deserved to be at least understood by his former comrade. He didn’t deserve a death like this.

Hoji was certain that Mirai could kill ‘'Forte'’.

Mirai was swift. He span around, parrying ‘'Forte'’’s sword and pushing his left arm behind his back to remove the temptation to use it. He span around, sidestepped to push ‘'Forte'’’s sword in front of himself, and then parried Hoji. He pushed Hoji’s sword back and span around, slashing both of them across the chest, causing sparks to fly out from both of them.

Both Hoji and ‘'Forte'’ slashed rapidly at Mirai’s chest, but Mirai was swift, making swift arm movements in order to parry both blades to the ground time and again. He span around, slashing them once, and then twisted his wrist and slashed the other way, taking them both down. He stood over them, ready to eliminate ‘'Forte'’; his sword to the mechanical warrior’s eye.

“For Mistress Bandiaca,” Mirai said.

Cesare shouted out, coming in with his energy wings spread out. He kicked Mirai in the side, tossing him aside. Cesare rolled and span around, lifting his Blade Blaster into hand and leveling the blade towards Mirai.

“I’ll pull out, if you’re going to protect him,” Mirai muttered, “I will be back.”

As ‘'Forte'’ rose to pursue, to go after and defeat Mirai, Hoji grabbed his arm. ‘'Forte'’ looked to him; he was shaking his head.

“No,” said Hoji, “Don’t, or you’re going to die.”

“You brought me back to myself,” ‘'Forte'’ said, spinning around and slashing Hoji three times across the chest rapidly, taking him down. Cesare ran forward, slashing, but ‘'Forte'’ parried easily and kicked Cesare aside. “The problem is that Bandiaca isn’t going to support me anymore. The only thing I can do is side with these people. You!”

Jaki walked away from the downed Toa, towards ‘'Forte'’. He grinned viciously, “What do you need?”

“I want to know who did this to me. Who you work for,” ‘'Forte'’ glanced to Ryuki, who was on the ground, dead from a Storm, no doubt, due to the burn wound.

“The Phantasmal Raiders will welcome you with open arms,” Jaki hissed, “You and I…we shall lead them to a new age of victory over this island!” Jaki laughed, walking away from the battle with ‘'Forte'’ in tow. No Bashaa or Anaroids remained.

Hoji crawled to his knees, watching ‘'Forte'’ depart, knowing he failed.

“An enemy who wants to repent? An enemy who has become ashamed of his faction? His story strikes close to home, and no matter what, I will do what I must in order to help him. No matter what the others say. Next time: “Chapter 5: Passionate Eri” The waves crash!”

Characters

 * Hoji
 * Rei
 * Agri
 * Eri
 * Magis
 * Cesare
 * Gorma
 * Raia
 * Bashaa
 * Bandiaca
 * Dai (Mentioned Only)
 * Fides (Mentioned Only)
 * Anaroids
 * Batsuroids (Mentioned Only)
 * Uva
 * Sagarc
 * Gamel
 * Jaki
 * Ryuki
 * Forte
 * Mirai
 * M'hou
 * Geki (Mentioned Only)
 * Hibiki

Trivia

 * The character names are taken from or adapted from various Kamen Rider seasons.