Dragon Storm: Chapter 43: Dragon Talon Island Chapter, Restart!

Story by DS-Rio on SoFurry

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#43 of Dragon Storm


Author's Note:

Hey there, Fur balls! For those of you keeping up with the very SLOW series work I am doing, then this chapter will most likely bore you to death EXCEPT the ending. This chapter is for those who forgotten some key points in the storyline due to my taking so long to release the chapters. I know I have failed you all in time, but I have made up for that slack in each chapter's quality. Interesting plot twists and what not, but now... we have come back from the side Arc; Fur Dreams City. Back to Dragon Talon Island again!! ^.=.^

SoFurry Cast

DS-Rio: http://ds-rio.sofurry.com/

A Soviet Dragon: http://a-soviet-dragon.sofurry.com/

Yun95: http://yun95.sofurry.com/

Eveser: http://eveser.sofurry.com/

Naraku: http://naraku.sofurry.com/

Aresues: http://aresues.sofurry.com/

J_ocelot: [http://j\_ocelot.sofurry.com/](/)

ASCII Artwork:

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'-._\ | (___ %)%%(%%(%%% `\|{/ ^ _)-%(%%%%)%%;%%%

.'^^^^^^^ /` %%)%%%%)%%%' jgs //\ ) , / '%%%%(%%'

, _.'/ \\<-- \\<^^^` ^^ ^^

I do not take credit for this artwork.

-PREVIOUSLY ON DRAGON STORM-Rio and his group sat inside of a large room and looked at one another. They had come this far and lost allot, but it was finally time to confront Rock Lizard. If they walked outside the large doors in front of them the path would take them right to him. They gathered what peace they could before the final storm rose. Rio closed his eyes.

"Rio..." Lazz said weakly.

"He is tired of it all, Lazz." Necro said, wounded badly from, their last battle.

"Just remember the gloves that he gave you... they are Rock Lizards weakness, Rio." Shayde said encouragingly.

"May, Carl Kurotsuchi, Amy, Kilala, Tiger Wanghu... I am so sorry..." Rio whispered as he stared at his gloves and produced lightning from them and then stood up and grabbed his gun blade, watching as it unfolded into a sharp black blade and stood in front of the large door.

"It's time... we only have two hours left before you know what happens..." Lazz said and stood up in pain. Even though his arm and tail had been cut off he was willing to end this.

"Just remember everything we've had to endure, if we work together... there's nothing we can't do!" Shayde said.

"We know Rock Lizards weakness, but we do not know his powers all to well, let's be careful." Necro said as they all walked through the large door.

I have added an Opening scene to go with the song for this section of the story. Enjoy! ^^

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL2SLoZvSEw&feature=related

OPENING Scene:

Suddenly, even thought Rio was caught off guard by Ori's attack, he was still able to dodge it with barely coming in contact with the black flames. Rio wasn't all too sure about all of Ori's powers, but one thing was for sure, he couldn't allow himself to be hit by any of Ori's attacks. As Rio dodged gracefully and did a flip into the air, upon landing he noticed that Ori was already somehow where he had dodged. Ori used his speed and brute force to knee Rio in the stomach and knock the wind out of him; causing Rio to get sent skidding half way across the abyss-like place they found themselves in. Rio grunted in pain as he slowly staggered back up and groaned upon doing so, but before Rio could react, Ori was screaming at the top of his lungs, blood was spraying everywhere, Rio was confused, but stayed alert, ready for anything. Ori proceeded to stab himself in the chest and dig in his body, until he slowly pulled what seemed like the handle to some blade he had never seen before, upon pulling the blade out, Ori spoke. 'I don't like having to do this, but it will be much faster this way, Rio...'

== == ==

Just as the bullets from the rail-gun could reach him, Aisu had his white knight dragon made entirely out of ice scoop him into the air. While atop his ice dragon, Aisu noticed from this height that he was near the ocean, they were fighting near the edge of the whole island, he figured he could use this to his advantage, after all, he was facing the infamous Pseudo-chimera Adult. He quickly used his wind G.O.N. to create a tornado over the water and create a massive cyclone imbued with a glowing neon light-blue swirl of icy snowflakes. 'I only have one shot, so I had better make it count.' He said to himself while waiting for the right moment to unleash his attack as the chimera let out another spine-chilling roar and aimed it's Vulcan cannon at Aisu.

== == ==

'Please forgive me!' Tiger wanghu cried out loud as he ran toward Shayde and Necro with his great axe. Shayde being the master bounty hunter he was known to be, had simply blocked the attack, but upon doing so realized the strength of Tiger Wanghu's sheer might. He was strong and he was fast and it didn't help that he was quick on his feet when it came to thinking. He stayed calm and pushed against Shayde, trying to win their little struggle, but a surprise to them both reveals that Necro was now at Tiger Wanghu's six and simply reached a arm out and used his gravity G.O.N. to make Tiger Wanghu drop to the floor like a pancake, however, this Tiger wasn't going to go down that easily. Tiger wanghu quickly threw his hand axe at Necro, knowing he's take the time to deal with that distraction, and allowing him to punch Shayde in the face, sending him skidding across the battle arena where they fought. 'So you play dirty too, huh?' Shayde asked, disgusted at his cheap hit. 'It's two on one, who's playing fair here?' Tiger Wanghu snapped back.

== == ==

'Grab my hand!' Tia shouted as loud as her lungs would allow her upon reaching out of the opened hatch to the massive airship, which was now taking flight and leaving the island. The speed of the airship was picking up now as the added wind only helped to prove that fact. 'Got it!' Lazz called out and was helped onboard with everyone else, except one other. The increasingly powerful mushroom explosions proceeded over and over as the island was almost now in embers and ruins. Everyone dashed to the outside deck of the airship to view the island's final moments and busted into tears as they lost a few of their friends, forever. 'NOOOOO!!!' some of them screamed, the voices echoing into the distance of what used to be, Dragon Talon Island.

OPENING#4: Closer!

"The things closest to you,You need to always pay the most attention to,

If you get too close to something,You'll lose sight of it"

" What in the world is the happiness?That you gained from your newest experience?

Maybe you're just too blessed, to remember!That you're here, that you're breathing,

Realize that it is, just a miracle in itself"

"The things closest to you,You need to always pay the most attention to,

If you get too close to something,You'll lose sight of it"

"You know the closer you get to something,The tougher it is to see it,

And I'll never take it for granted,

Let's go!"

"Though there are people that say,

Helping someone is hypocritical,

Each person,

Can be trusted or can be doubted, so...

Let's say that,

Even if you are hypocritical,

If you saved someone because of it,

That would be real more than anything."

"Continue chasing after your dreams"

And...

"Go on without giving up"

"The more you say pretty things like that,

The less that actually gets done,

I'll keep a handful of courage in my heart,

To use to live through tomorrow,

And I'll never take it for granted,

Let's go!"

"The things closest to you,

You need to always pay the most attention to,

If you get too close to something,

You'll lose sight of it"

"You know the closer you get to something,

The tougher it is to see it,

And I'll never take it for granted"

"Continue chasing after your dreams"

And...

"Go on without giving up"

"The more you say pretty things like that,

The less that actually gets done,

I'll keep a handful of courage in my heart,

To use to live through tomorrow,

And I'll never take it for granted,

Let's go!!"

I do not own Closer.

DRAGON STORM

CHAPTER 43: Dragon Talon Island Chapter, Restart!

Rock Lizard rebelled against the Griffin army and the D.E.O. and became the ruler of Dragon Talon Island. He is trying to finish preparations on their black project, the Pseudo-Chimera Adult; which will grant him entry into the D.E.O.H.Q. so that he can obtain the remains of the dragon god Nuker and obtain ultimate power for world conquest. Rock Lizard intends to use whatever means necessary to achieve his goals.

General Andal was now running down the long hallway along side his daughter, May. Being in full control of the griffin army gave them little to fear. Then it happened, their island was being attacked by a group of terrorists that called themselves BLACKFANG. Upon reaching the room where they heard the explosion go off, General Andal widen his eyes in shock as May did in fear, seeing the destruction their group had dealt to the island and their griffins.

"What do you want!?" General Andal shouted as he took a step forward in disgust at the sight of the whole BLACKFANG team.

"If you do not meet our demands... I'll blow this place to hell!" Rock Lizard said as he snapped his fingers and caused an explosion right at a random griffin soldiers location in the room, then he gestured his hand over to a pile of nuclear explosives and placed his fingers together to threaten them.

"Dad..." May said in fear as she looked to him, not knowing what to do seeing as how she was still new to this job with her father.

"You must be extremely certain that your abilities will let you walk away from a nuclear explosion like that." General Andal muttered to them as he took a step in front of May to protect her.

"Are you stupid?" Cross Wing shouted, taking a step forward in rage.

"Cross Wing, Don't." Thunder Pegasus shouted and shook his head.

"Do not underestimate us and our combined powers... we have worked along side the best and we know what we are doing. We are all the best of the best weapons handlers around, all on one team for our own reasons. This explosion will do more damage to you and your keepsakes, that much is certain, but if you join my rebellion I will release you in due time, all I ask is that you obey me for the next 24 hours. That is all." Rock Lizard explained and then smirked.

"Do we even have a choice? Just look at the damage you did to my innocent griffin soldiers!" May shouted and began to cry.

"We will obey, but only for 24 hours... are we clear?" General Andal said firmly and held May close to him.

"Deal. With that out of the way, I need you to show me around the island." Rock Lizard said and walked closer to him.

"Follow us... we shall show you everything..." General Andal said and led them around the island.

When the D.E.O. found out about this they began to panic, as there was nothing they could do without causing quite a stir to the terrorists on Dragon Talon Island. One wrong move and it would be all over for those on the island. However, a former member of the D.E.O. called up the General commander of the D.E.O. himself. It was Quicksilver asking if he could provide his assistance in order to deal with his old friend Rock Lizard. All he would need to ensure his grand master plan slowly come into motion, was to borrow Lazz from the 13 protection squads and use him to infiltrate the island with someone else that Quicksilver had in mind. The General commander of the D.E.O. was not too happy putting his faith in an old member of the D.E.O. but it was this or nothing. They needed a way smaller PMC, but one that knew what they were doing and since Quicksilver used to also be a member of BLACKFANG some time ago, it was perfect. No one else would know the terrorists better then him.

"Man, there is just too much work..." Lazz said as he sat against a tree within the D.E.O. he was going through his mail when he discovered a letter from Quicksilver. " An invitation? I already have enough work as it is...gah!" Lazz said in annoyance.

"Alright! Before I go to work today, I think I will go play video games with Tia! I will kick your butt this time, mwhahaha!" Rio laughed as he ran down the blocks of Fur Dreams city and rushed by all the other furs with impressive speeds before turning an ally way to find a group of dragons blocking his path and then jumping him, knocking him out for awhile.

As Rio awoke in an underwater submarine, he saw his father for the first time in years after having joined the military. He then saw Lazz and Kilala and asked why he had been brought there over any other possible solider that might have been able to do the job better. However, Rio's question was never answered and he just listened to his father give him his first mission.

" The nuclear weapons disposal facility on Dragon Talon Island in Arcadia's Dragon Archipelago was attacked and captured by Next-Generation Special Forces, being led by members of BLACK FANG. They are demanding that the government turn over the remains of Nuker. And they say that if their demands are not met within 24 hours, they'll launch a nuclear weapon. You'll have two mission objectives. First, you're to rescue DARPA Chief Kazuki Takahashi and the president of Dragon tech, Takeshi Obata. Both are being held as hostages. Secondly, you're to investigate whether or not the terrorists have the ability to make a nuclear strike and stop them if they do." Quicksilver stated.

But Rock Lizard was realized Rio and Lazz's abilities were capable of violating the bounds of mortal power and ordered Wild Horn to devise a plan in which would lead to Rio's death before he could grow in his powers. Splitting them up was only the first step of many yet to come. Meanwhile, Rio and Lazz got up to the docks and checked their gear. Rio saw Lazz light a cigarette and quickly smacked it out of his mouth for reasons unknown to Lazz yet, but soon it would be revealed that Rio's dream was bigger then he could have ever imagined. Rio and Lazz had arrived to Dragon Talon Island and with 18 hours to spare before Rock Lizards deadline. After had only going through one mid-sized room where they had their very first firefight, they found themselves in a storage room where they checked their gear again and let their journey finally begin.

Meanwhile Wild Horn stopped skidding by using his hands to halt himself. He then fired four shots at Rio. Rio quickly jumped up over the bullets and was heading right toward Wild Horn from above, when all of all sudden Wild Horn revealed a second automatic revolver and took aim and fired it twice. At such a close range Rio could do nothing but watch as the bullets sped right at him. Rio reached behind him and grabbed his backpack and used it as a shield to protect him from the bullets and landed on top of Wild Horn. His gun was sent sliding across the floor then came to a stop.

"You said no weapons!" Rio yelled.

" I lied can't you tell!" Wild Horn yelled back. Then kicked Rio off of him.

Wild Horn got up and walked to where his revolver was and picked it up and pointed it at Rio.

"Your pretty good. However your luck just ran out I'm afraid." Wild Horn said.

"What makes you say that?" Rio questioned.

"Because from this range there is nothing you can do. I will hit you the next time I fire this gun. Before I shoot you though........ Do you think you can tell me why you are killing our soldiers like there lives are not important." Wild Horn asked.

"Because you're the bad guys duh!" Rio said sarcastically.

" Why so many though? What do you have to gain by taking so many lives?" Wild Horn asked.

"What are you talking about? I only killed one griffin!" Rio exclaimed.

Wild Horn thought to himself before speaking again. Was Rio just bluffing in order to fool him into letting him go, or was he telling him the truth. Wild Horn was confused because he had heard reports from his griffin soldiers that over one hundred griffin soldiers had been killed already, yet Rio claims he had only killed one. Wild Horn tired to figure out where the other ninety-nine deaths could have come from. He thought Lazz might have done it, but the area they were in had less then forty-griffin soldiers on patrol. Wild Horn finally decided to ask Rio something.

"Only one?" Wild Horn asked.

"Yes. When did these killings start might I ask." Rio asked.

"About three hours ago." Wild Horn said.

Rio laughed because suddenly it all made sense to him now. Wild Horn tightened his grip on his revolver and growled at Rio while having a puzzled look on his face. Rio stopped laughing and pointed his handgun at Wild Horn and started to explain.

"That's impossible. I only got here about an hour ago. Which means it couldn't have been Lazz or myself. As for who it is.... Well, if you ask me I say there is another intruder besides me and Lazz." Rio said.

"Looks like I will be taking care of him soon enough." Wild Horn said.

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'I feel confident that this should work. If what I have seen so far is correct then he can only emit lightning from his hands. If I take his hands out of the picture he should be defenseless.' Lazz thought.

Lazz quickly shot another R.P.G. warhead at Takeshi Obata. Takeshi Obata's widen and then he reacted by holding his hand out and forming a little wall of lightning to block the explosive warhead. Just then he had noticed Lazz moved from his spot again. Takeshi Obata quickly looked up to find another falling stalactite heading right toward for him. He quickly and effortlessly jumped back to avoid it and as he landed on the ground he skidded a little. Then he noticed a noise that sounded like hissing. Something was coming, but from where. Takeshi Obata looked around and caught a grenade headed right toward him and closing in. He quickly used both his hands to block it with a larger wall of lightning. As he was doing so he heard another shot from behind him. Takeshi Obata quickly crossed his arms and pointed both hands at each side of him and blocked both explosives at the same time. He then saw where Lazz was standing. It was a shadowy figure of him because of all the smoke. He quickly blasted that spot with 12,000 volts of electricity and watched the massive explosion and sparks fly everywhere. More smoke filled the room.

"Agrgrgrhhh!!!!" Lazz screamed at the top of his lungs.

Takeshi Obata laughed evilly as he knew that screamed was proof he had hit his target. Just then in the midst of his evil laughing Lazz snuck up behind Takeshi Obata and restrained him then put his KM2000 combat knife against his neck.

"Don't move!" Lazz shouted.

"What the.....but when?" Takeshi Obata asked.

"I screamed just now to lower your sense of security. I led you to believe you had hit me with a lightning bolt. When really you did not I expected you to hurl one my way and effortlessly evaded it." Lazz said calmly.

"Not bad.....however...." Takeshi Obata said.

Suddenly Takeshi Obata lit his whole body in an electrical current. This action shocked Lazz with more then 15,000 volt of electricity and sent him flying into the air. Takeshi Obata quickly shot a long stream of lightning at Lazz while airborne and shocked him. Lazz quickly saw the attack coming and crossed his arms over his face to protect himself. Then as he landed he started to skid. He used his knife to reduce the skidding by stabbing the ground and applying pressure. He finally came to a halt and looked up to see Takeshi Obata's scales a different color again. Just then Takeshi Obata shot more lightning bolts at Lazz. Lazz began to dodge each one and tried to come up with a new plan. However one of the lightning bolts hit the wall behind Lazz and caused the wall to begin leaking with water. It was a tiny amount of water, but it still flowed endlessly from the wall. Lazz turned to look at this.

"Interesting. I see." Lazz said.

"You shouldn't have turned your back on me." Takeshi Obata yelled.

Takeshi Obata ran at Lazz as fast as his legs could carry him. He started to charge up all his electricity in his body and lit up the whole cavern. Lazz smiled and shook his head. Then he pulled out a detonator and pressed the only button on it and suddenly the whole area Takeshi Obata was running toward exploded. One giant explosion after another occurred in a chain reaction. The strong gusts of wind rushed past Lazz and sent the smoke everywhere. The whole cavern was now one big smoke screen. There was zero visibility. Lazz looked at himself and noticed more first-degree burns on his body from Takeshi Obata's last attack.

"What the heck was that just now?!" Takeshi Obata said.

A strong gust of wind blew from him as his whole body once again lit up with lightning. Lazz walked closer to Takeshi Obata and looked at him. He saw that his scales had returned to normal yet again. Lazz decided to cut himself with his knife very carefully and non fatal to anything. He began to bleed a dark crimson red on his left arm. He then looked at Takeshi Obata again. He saw his scales turn a different color once again. Lazz finally figured it all out and smiled.

"I have finally figured you out Takeshi Obata.......or should I say Thunder Pegasus!" Lazz yelled.

"Ohh....when did you figure out it was me?" Thunder Pegasus said.

"Well, first you use lightning based attacks, that was a dead give away. However there is more to it then just that. Next I noticed your power other then lightning.....illusions. You can cast an illusion anytime you want. Hence why my commanding officer Quicksilver named you "Thunder Pegasus, master of disguise" in his report. Master of disguise huh? Of coarse.... Because you can cast any illusion to disguise yourself." Lazz said.

"Not...bad....you...worm." Thunder Pegasus said.

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Just then War Wolf flew right at Lazz and reached for his black sword and attempted to cut Lazz. However Lazz ducked and as War Wolf passed right by him Lazz shot at War Wolf with Rio's handgun, but it was no use. War Wolf blocked it with his arm gauntlets. Just then Lazz was tackled by Rio and fell to the ground. Rio began to slice Lazz repeatedly tearing through his bulletproof vest. Lazz quickly kicked Rio off of him and exhaled a mint-green fireball. As Rio was airborne the fireball hit Rio and he was sent crashing into a wall. Suddenly, War Wolf was behind Lazz and sliced him on his back. Lazz screamed in pain and began to bleed heavily. War Wolf then pushed Lazz away using his G.O.N. Lazz then used his KM 2000 combat knife and stabbed the ground thus stopping himself. When Lazz looked up it was too late, a giant bookshelf was sent his way and he had no time to dodge it. Lazz quickly blasted a big mint-green fireball and it burned to ash. Just then War Wolf began to pick up multiple objects in the room and hurled them at Lazz. Lazz jumped and ducked and dived when he needed to avoid all the objects.

"War Wolf!!" Lazz yelled.

Lazz jumped up and took out his RPG-7 and took aim and then fired it. War Wolf read Lazz's mind prior to his actions and pulled a marble slab from the floor and intercepted the warhead causing a giant explosion. This explosion sent both War Wolf and Lazz flying in different directions. The RPG-7 landed on the ground next to Lazz. War Wolf reached his hand out as he struggled to get up and suddenly Rio emerged from the destroyed wall on all fours and dashed right for Lazz. Lazz saw how fast Rio was moving and defended himself the best he could before getting tackled by Rio again. This time Rio inhaled a breath of air and embers descended from his mouth. Lazz quickly forced Rio off of him, which caused Rio to turn his head toward the RPG-7 and fire at it. There was still another warhead inside it. When the fireball hit it exploded, causing another giant explosion and sending them both into different walls.

"Give up Lazz!" War Wolf said.

Rio and Lazz emerged from their respected walls at the same time and fell to the floor in pain. Lazz stood up first and faced War Wolf. War Wolf saw this and instantly tossed more objects his way. It varied from heavy books, to statues, to marble slabs, to bookshelf's, to random debris, to shards of glass, to wall paintings. Lazz ran away from War Wolf and tried to avoid everything, but it was useless. Lazz got hit by a statue and crashed into the wall once more. Lazz struggled to get up again and looked up only to find himself impaled with thousands of shards of glass. Lazz covered his face the best he could and began to bleed everywhere. Crimson red blood ran down his cloths and scales at a fast rate. Lazz's vision was fuzzy, but he could still make everything out. Lazz's cloths were worn and torn in some places and there was even a rip on his back where War Wolf sliced him. His scales could be seen through it.

" Damn it! At this rate I am sure to die. I have to think of someth- No wait! War Wolf is... Damn you get out of my head!!" Lazz thought.

"Never!" War Wolf yelled.

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"YOU"LL PAY WITH YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!" Rio screamed.

"RIO NO! I'm not done healing you yet! YOU"LL NEVER LAST!!!!!" May yelled.

Cross Wing laughed and the Pseudo chimera took a step back and raised it's brow then growled. Cross Wing began to snipe at Rio, but Rio was to fast. The chimera tried to kick Rio, but Rio jumped up.

"You can't dodge in the air Rio! Goodnight!" Cross Wing yelled while taking aim from atop of the chimera's shoulder.

Cross Wing fired the sniper rifle and suddenly, Rio pulled out his S&W 9MM semiautomatic handgun and shot the incoming bullet. The two bullets canceled each other out and sparks could be seen when they clashed. Rio reached the chimera's face and tried to scratch it, however unlike before the chimera blocked the attack. As Rio fell he saw the chimera try to punch again with that deadly attack just like before. Just before the chimera made contact with Rio, Rio used his long red tail and swung off of the giant fist, thus avoiding the attack. Suddenly, the chimera used its long scorpion tail to try and sting Rio, however Rio blasted it with a massive fireball and stopped it. The chimera then tried to kick Rio, but Rio jumped back up again. This time the chimera took flight and hurled needles from it's mouth. Rio inhaled and then quickly exhaled a small black flame that not only melted the needles, but also hit the right wing on the chimera and burned it off instantly. The giant chimera was sent hurling down to the ground and landed somewhere toward the bottom of the tower. Rio landed and jumped down the side of the tower. Rio dived head first to pick up speed. Then he used his feet to run along the side of the tower downward. Rio's speed proceeded to pick up and as he ran faster and faster. Just then Rio noticed more flying creatures that were newly summoned by Cross Wing. Rio began to fire his handgun at them one by one they got shot in the head and fell to their doom.

"It's time to put all this experience to good use!" Rio shouted.

As he continued to run down the side of the tower he pulled out his black and red sword and cut some of the creatures in half. Rio proceeded to do this for what seemed like the next three minutes and finally became engulfed by a large swarm of flying creatures. Suddenly, Rio busted out of the engulfment of mass and various slice arches and gunshots could be seen. Rio then picked his feet up and dived even faster. Rio began to spin around very quickly and fired off a whole magazine in his handgun. Rio reloaded his handgun and placed his feet back on the tower's side to run along it again, only this time, he threw his black and red sword down in front of him skewering two flying creatures and then melting them to nothing, as Rio shot a bullet at the handle of the sword and forced it's decent even faster, the sword was burning because of how fast it was moving through the air. Rio ran as fast as his legs would allow him and reached out for his sword to grab it. His hand then began to burn as well and when he finally grabbed it, his whole arm caught on fire. Rio then let go of the sword and dashed into the ground and dashed right for where the chimera had landed.

"YOU'RE MINE! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rio screamed.

The chimera was just now getting up from crashing and didn't have anytime to react to Rio's next attack. Rio effortlessly performed an upper cut with his arm that was still on fire and sent the chimera into the air. Cross Wing flew off and tried to snipe, but turned and saw May taking aim at her so shot at her instead. May was shot in the arm and fell from three stories up into the snowy ground. Meanwhile Rio twisted his lower body and unwound himself to unleash a devastating soccer kick in the chimera's face.

"RIO'S CRIMSON SKY!!" Rio yelled.

But battles more fierce then they could have ever imagined were in store for them. Rio was battered and Lazz was cut up. May endure pains while Shayde was roughened up. They all fought with everything they had and then some. They were going to see this mission through until the end no matter what it took. However, at each unexpected turn they faced an even greater challenge then before.

" That's right... you can implant your evil thoughts into your underlings with your power and authority, but Andal and May will never give in to you! Andal and May aren't apart of BLACKFANG in any way! You are just forcing them to work for you because if they don't you'll kill them!" Rio explained and noticed that there was only one minute left.

".........Rio..." May whispered while beginning to cry.

"Rio... even though you are about to die... you still have a good spirit about you. You still want to make friends and be happy... I envy you..." Ben said and exited the crane machine.

"..........................." Andal remained silent.

" There's only a minute left in this death match! And in that time, I will make you all my new best friends! I WILL!! And when I do, even if the both of us are dragged into the ocean and lose our lives, the fact that YOU lost will be branded into your memories forever, Rock Lizard!!" Rio said firmly.

"Rio... I..." Andal said.

" Andal... I'm not so sure what you were fighting for in this death match, but I was fighting to ensure our friendship stayed in tact!" Rio said while crying.

"Rio!" Andal said.

" The only reason why I used my Storm Waltz attack, was to buy me some time, so I could say everything I wanted to say at the end..." Rio said while still crying.

"The end"?" May asked while crying.

"Yes. May, you taught me that I wasn't alone... and now you're my best friend! I believe Andal is the same way!" Rio said while crying his heart out.

"................" Andal remained silent.

"I love you guys..." Rio said while crying and then he knelt down and punched his last button. Rio's box counter now read zero and the timer reached zero seconds, then suddenly restarted back at just thirty seconds.

"RIO!!" May yelled while Andal's box opened up, revealing his key to his shackle.

"So in the end you could not save both Andal and yourself, huh Rio?" Ben asked.

"Your wrong. In order to have save both of us, we would have needed to get a draw by having our box counters reach zero at the same time! That way, it would have opened both of our boxes, we would have each had thirty seconds to free ourselves." Rio explained.

"But... why didn't you..." May asked while crying.

"The bomb has been activated now... there is only thirty seconds left Andal... in that time... use your key... and escape..." Rio said and looked away.

" Rio... I'm so sorry..." Andale said and stepped on his last button to reduce his box counter to zero and open Rio's box.

"Huh? You... would... do... that... for me...." Rio asked and then passes out due to the blood loss.

" RIO!!!!" May yelled, tears in her eyes.

" SHIT! THERE'S NO TIME TO GRAB MY OWN KEY!!!" Andal yelled and used his chain to swing across the square opening of water and land by Rio, grab his key and attempt to unshackle him.

However, before Andal could do so, the timer reached zero for the giant anchor and dropped down with a massive velocity. The giant anchor pulled on the chains that shackled Andal and Rio and pulled them both under the deep blue sea. As the giant anchor sunk deeper and deeper and deeper into the ocean, Andale undid Rio's shackle and set him free. Andal slowly sank to the bottom of the ocean while watching Rio float back up to the surface. There was nothing Andal could do; he was in so much pain now due to the salt water on all his wounds, that he could hardly move. Andal passed out with a smile on his face knowing that May would get to live on.

Ben had placed the crate that May was tied to back on the dock and quickly untied her while explaining to her that he could not swim. Just as May was free she dashed over to the square opening and watched Rio surface. She pulled him out and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"RIO, RIO WAKE UP!!! YOU'RE ALL I HAVE LEFT!!!!!" May yelled while crying her heart out.

Now let's take a look to where Rio did go. Where has our hero gone where no one else could go? While May and Ben saved Rio and escorted him to Lazz, Rio was knocked out and dieing slowly. He was beginning to enter the place they called hell. The more time that passed by the deeper in hell Rio went.

"Ughh.. arg... where am I?" Rio asked as he got up.

Rio had awakened in the weirdest place ever imaginable. He was not wounded anymore from his earlier battle with General Andal. Rio found himself waking up in a dark place. It gave off a creepy feeling and yet one that felt as though he had been there before. Rio looked around as he slowly got up from being passed out and patted himself off. He saw an endlessly ocean before him that had a few waves hurling toward the shore's soft black sands. The water would glow because of the silver moons moonlight that brightened up the dark gray sky above him. There were leafless trees that looked wicked with the branches going off in odd angles. Was this hell? Had Rio really died? There was no sign of live other then himself and there was no sounds being made save for the waves that splashed the shore gently. The light gust of wind felt nice to Rio, he figured if this place was going to be his hell, it would be a peaceful one that he would come to enjoy.

"So... this is how my story ends, huh?" Rio said, as he remained motionless for a few seconds before twitching his ears at a sound.

"Man, he could lighten up, geez. I only want to get stronger to protect the damn team anyway! Master... sometimes you- hm?"

Rio turned around slowly and his eyes widened in shock. He wasn't alone after all. There was someone else here in this newfound hell with him. A human with shaggy black hair and a dark tan skin color, he was holding a blade that emitted some kind of blue-ish energy, which only reflected from his glasses. His baggy clothes were of Rio's liking, black pants and a red baggy shirt, a pair of black gloves and a pair of black socks and new balanced shoes.

"Oh great... another one of William's henchmen I take it? No, you are different... wait. What are you? Can it be? A dragon? Here? Man, this is freakier then that crunch bar dream I had. By the way... who are you?" The human said in a firm tone while pushing his glasses up with his right index finger.

"What is going on here...?" Rio asked himself as he watched the human point his energy sword at him in a threatening manner.

To be continued............

Author's suspenseful questions:

A human!?

Where exactly did Rio go!?

TUNE IN NEXT TIME!!

THANKS FOR READING!!! XD