The Dark Lord Shabranigdo who had been sealed within Shishio has been reborn! Immune to the strongest spell attacks, his power threatens to destroy the world! Do we have any chance against a Dark Lord this powerful? The time for the decisive battle with him has come!

Shabranigdo towered over them, a menacing, misshapen blot against the red-black clouds.

“So you’ve come!” Kaoru snapped.

“The Dark Lord…” Kenshin murmured.

“Shabranigdo…” growled Aoshi.

Shabranigdo took two steps toward them, his three-toed feet trampling a huge crater in the ground. “So at last you’ve decided to face me.” His voice echoed.

“That’s right,” Kaoru replied. “And you’re going to regret tangling with us!”

“How foolish can you humans be?” scoffed the mazoku. “By becoming my servants you would have guaranteed yourselves long lives. Embarking on a hopeless battle – that is the lowest depth of stupidity!”

“You should be quiet, that you should,” Kenshin said in a voice as soft as the sound of a blade sliding out of its scabbard. Pale light gleamed in his eyes.

“The mahoutsukai Hannya and the muscle-bound oaf who died with him were fools, but compared to them you are even greater fools!” the monster went on.

“How dare you,” Aoshi whispered, too angry to speak aloud. “Hannya… Shikijou…you call them fools? You shouldn’t soil their names with your filthy mouth!”

“Is that how you see human lives?” Kenshin demanded. The fires in his eyes took on a yellowish tinge.

“You’ll be sorry you ever said that to us!” Yahiko yelled.

“Then know the level of your folly by your deaths!” roared Shabranigdo.

Aoshi drew his kodachi. “We shall see who the fool is!” He blurred into motion, smooth as water, seeming to be in six places at once, with the lethal speed of Kaiten Kenbu.

Shabranigdo planted one splayed hand on the ground. Suddenly he was surrounded by an impenetrable wall of air and whirling dust. Kaoru, Yahiko and even Kenshin were forced backward by its might. Aoshi leaped out of the way of the blast and landed a safe distance away.

Kaoru drew her bokken. “Who cares if it doesn’t work?”

Amakusa Flare!

She brought the wooden sword down on the ground. A ball of violet energy blasted toward the mazoku lord. He caught it harmlessly in one hand.

“Why did I even try?” sighed Kaoru.

“Yours, I believe,” Shabranigdo chuckled and tossed the spell back to her. She ducked hastily. The blast was followed by another, and another. One of them narrowly missed Kenshin.

“Kaoru-dono, what were you trying to do?”

“Just seeing if it would work or not!” she retorted.

Aoshi likewise had to dodge Shabranigdo’s attack – but he was ready with his retaliation.

Infinite earth,
mother who nurtures all life,
let thy power gather in my hand!

A ball of spirit energy glowed in his hand. He smashed it on to the earth.

Vlave Howl!

A vast serpent of fiery, half-molten rock emerged from the ground next to Shabranigdo, and smashed down onto the monster with stunning force. Liquid rock flowed around the mazoku lord, covered him and hardened. Aoshi’s marble lips curved in a self-satisfied smirk.

Kaoru and Kenshin stared at the statue that had been Shabranigdo. “Did it work de gozaru ka?” Kenshin asked.

The stone shell split open. “No!” Kaoru squeaked.

First hot water, then steam, then fiery lava gushed out of the ground. Shabranigdo stood knee-deep in a lake of boiling lava, completely unharmed.

“No good…” Aoshi whispered.

“An amusing trick,” Shabranigdo purred. “But you should not use lava like this.” He gestured. The molten rock shaped itself into reptilian monsters. “Go!” he ordered, with another gesture.

The monsters attacked, soaring over the adventurers’ heads, dive-bombing them with flaming breath. Kenshin and Aoshi drew their blades. When the lava-monsters were cut, they solidified into inert rock once again. But the fight was sapping their energy and taking their time.

“This is taking too long,” Aoshi muttered. “I’ll settle it with one shot.”

Van Rail!

An enormous spiderweb of spirit power formed over their heads. The lava-dragons struck it, cracked and shattered.

“All right!” Yahiko cheered. “Way to go, Aoshi!” But his elation gave way to apprehension. Another dragon swooped down on the chimaera and enveloped him in fire. Aoshi collapsed face down on the ground, his trenchcoat ablaze.

“Heh heh heh heh heh,” Shabranigdo’s laughter echoed around them.

Kaoru glared. “Kenshin, let’s do it!” She raised her bokken.

FREEZE ARROW!

A lance of ice struck the lava dragon – though it didn’t do much except irritate the creature. But Kaoru wasn’t finished.

RAY WING!

She sprang into the air, and the dragon flew after her. Agile as a falcon, she flew toward Shabranigdo. At the last second she pulled up. The dragon didn’t, and Shabranigdo, by reflex, destroyed his creation.

“There’s more!” she shouted.

FIREBALL!

The flaming sphere impacted harmlessly on Shabranigdo’s chest. “Do you still refuse to see this is futile?” the monster demanded.

“Now!” Kaoru called. “Do it, Kenshin!”

From high above the monster’s head, Kenshin called “Hikari yo!” A blade of light appeared in his hands. “Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu – Ryuu Tsui Sen!” He dropped like a stone, like the dragon hammer his technique was named for, the invincible Sword of Light aimed straight at the monster’s skull…

He stopped! Shabranigdo held the Sword of Light in his monstrous hands! Kenshin’s amber eyes flamed with impotent fury…

“Oh no!” Kaoru gasped. “The Sword of Light doesn’t work?”

“The Sword of Light, which slew the demon Zanaffar,” Shabranigdo intoned… “will not slay ME!” He extended his hand and blasted Kenshin with a bolt of energy that sent him flying.

“Kenshin!” Kaoru screamed.

Kenshin picked himself up. “Don’t worry yet, Kaoru-dono. Sessha isn’t dead yet!” But his magenta kimono was torn and he was bleeding from numerous scrapes.

“I’m not dead either,” Aoshi added. His clothing was scorched, but his marble body appeared undamaged. “I’m still ready to fight!”

“You can still move?” Shabranigdo demanded. He blasted the two men where they stood. “Such lovely screams,” the mazoku purred. “I’ve longed to hear them…”

“What?” Yahiko demanded.

“The power of the mazoku flows from the negative energies in the human heart,” the monster explained. “Terror, anger, sorrow, despair… all these become my power.”

“No…” the boy protested. It seemed this creature was invincible… and now his own despair, his fear for his companions, was making it stronger.

“For thousands of years I have existed within the blood of men, being reborn again and again,” Shabranigdo went on. “At last I found this man, Shishio, whose spirit would allow me to possess him. Now I must accumulate power, as quickly as possible. And for that, the fear I find in your human souls is best.” He blasted Kenshin and Aoshi again. “Let me hear your screams! Let your agony become my power! And by that power I shall destroy this world and return it to the sea of chaos!”

So that’s what the Mazoku are after!” Kaoru breathed.

“I give you my gifts as well,” Shabranigdo went on. “Terror and pain!” Fiery needles stabbed at Kaoru. She fell, a deep wound in her leg, and cried out in agony. The monster towered over her.

“It is finished,” he said.

She held her bokken over the wound in her leg.

Healing power, flowing white...

“Casting a healing spell will not change the outcome,” Shabranigdo purred. His hand glowed, another bolt of energy forming.

“Kaoru-dono!” Kenshin shouted – and threw his sword to her.

Her hand closed around the saya. Even through its insulation, she could feel the weapon’s power. “The Sword of Light…” she whispered. “Kenshin…”

“Use it, Kaoru-dono!”

“Easy for you to say!” she retorted. The empty hilt sparked and sputtered as she tried to channel her power into the blade. It wasn’t quite the same as her bokken… then she got the hang of it and blue-white radiance sprang from her hands. She stood up, the sword held in a solid defensive stance.

“To the end, a futile struggle,” Shabranigdo laughed.

“We’ll see about that!” she retorted.

ELMEKIA LANCE!

The blade’s glow changed from actinic blue-white to the green of new leaves. It struck Shabranigdo full in the chest. He recoiled as if stung.

“That was the Elmekia Lance?” Aoshi gasped. “Such power!”

“Still you refuse to understand,” Shabranigdo repeated. “That level of power cannot work against me!”

“Is this the end?” Yahiko whispered.

A sphere of malevolent violet glowed in one of Shabranigdo’s taloned paws.

Kaoru stared at it, her mind going into panicked overdrive. What do I do? she wondered. What do I do? What do I do? She thought, harder than she had ever thought in her life. There was one bare chance, one last technique to try – but the cost…

“Don’t be afraid,” the monster cooed. “You won’t be the only ones to die. Soon will follow the death of all the world!”

“Stop it!” Aoshi shouted. “Do you really wanted to destroy the world you raved about ruling? Shishio!”

The monster’s laughter echoed from the clouds.

“Shishio!” Aoshi called again.

He’s stopped, Kaoru wondered. But why? What happened? It was almost as if she could still see Shishio’s bandage-wrapped form within the monster. Shishio’s soul… it hasn’t been completely destroyed! Then we still have a chance!

She took a step toward the monster. “Okay! If this doesn’t work, I’ll give up completely!”

“Kaoru-dono…” Kenshin breathed.

“Kaoru…” Yahiko whispered. It was almost a prayer.

“Even using a technique as powerful as the Dragon Slave, you cannot defeat the Dark Lord Shabranigdo!” the monster declared.

“No matter how strong you are,” Kaoru replied, “if I summon power from a stronger source, that power can destroy you!”

“What?” the startled mazoku demanded.

“I know of one stronger than you,” she almost sang. “The Lord of Nightmares!”

Stronger than Shabranigdo? Aoshi marveled. Can a human handle that kind of power? He doubted he could, even with his stone body and demonic soul.

Kenshin smiled. “Sessha… sessha will believe in Kaoru-dono!”

Kaoru gripped the hilt tightly. The Sword of Light which transforms its holder’s will into power. And the legendary Dark Lord’s technique… “Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu ougi – Giga Slave!”

“Feh,” Shabranigdo sneered.

She held the glowing blade across her body. Sword, give me your strength. She met Kenshin’s eyes, their violet warmth reassuring. Energies swirled around her, enveloped the blade, wrapped its light in blackness.

Darkness beyond blackest pitch,
deeper than the darkest night

The sword bucked and twisted in her hands. Black lightning struck all around her.

King of Darkness, who shines
like gold upon the Sea of Chaos

One slip here and it’ll consume me! She knew the technique in theory, but how many generations, how many centuries since it had actually been used? It was too dangerous to do for practice…

“Impudent insect!” Shabranigdo jeered.

I call upon thee!
Swear myself to thee!
Let the fools who stand
before me be destroyed
by the power
you and I possess!

She pointed the black-glowing blade at the mazoku lord.

Sword! Accept this darkness
and obey my command!

The menacing purple sphere in Shabranigdo’s claw pulsed ominously. Crimson energies surrounded the pair with a wall of fire.

“Shishio! Red priest!” she called to the presence she had sensed earlier. “Now you must choose! Will you let your soul become Shabranigdo’s food? Or will you take your vengeance on him?”

“You pathetic fool!” the monster snarled.

“We’re about to see who the fool is here!” she retorted.

GIGA SLAVE!

She snapped the Sword of Light down like a whip. Black energy, laced with lightning, rolled in a great wave toward Shabranigdo. The monster opened his gaping mouth wide and spat red fire at the advancing black wall.

Competing energies spiraled skyward. They tore a hole in the roof of dark red clouds, opening it to sunlight and clean blue sky. Kaoru screamed as the lightning ripped through her body, but she kept a tight grip on the Sword of Light.

Dark Lord… Shabranigdo never thought to hear that hated voice again. He could see Makoto Shishio’s face clearly, sharp-featured and smooth-skinned…

“Don’t interfere!” the monster shouted.

It seems you are not so strong after all…

“DON’T INTERFERE!” Shabranigdo roared again, louder.

The raging energy became a blinding white glow, a vast sphere of complete annihilation, engulfing Shabranigdo and Kaoru alike. Yahiko, Kenshin and Aoshi all covered their eyes as it exploded. For a moment they all seemed blind and deaf… or maybe it was the world that had vanished…

They looked up again. There was the monster, still standing. There was Kaoru, an empty hilt in her hands, her raven hair burned snow white. She stared in disbelief at Shabranigdo… then pitched forward on her face, unable to stand any longer.

Shabranigdo laughed. “A valiant effort. You, mere humans…”

Something was happening. Shabranigdo’s dark red flesh was paling, turning gray. Kaoru made a supreme effort and raised herself on her forearms to look.

“To have destroyed the Dark Lord Shabranigdo…”

Yahiko’s jaw dropped. The monstrous form was crumbling, falling to pieces like rotten stone.

“I grant you and Shishio the honor of having killed me. It was fun while it lasted…” The last of Shabranigdo’s body collapsed, raising a storm of gray dust.

“She… she did it?” Yahiko squeaked.

“Shabranigdo is no more,” Aoshi announced.

The last of the clouds vanished and a fresh breeze scattered the monster’s dust. Kaoru flopped onto her back. “We actually beat him…” she sighed.

Kenshin blinked. “Oro? Kaoru-dono, your hair…?”

She smiled wearily at him. “It’s okay. I just overdid it a little.”

It was a perfect day. The sun smiled down from a blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds. Birds sang in the trees. A little stream sparkled over bright stones. Farmers went about their work in peace. And four adventurers continued along their road.

“How did you manage to beat him?” Yahiko demanded.

“Oh… it was nothing,” she replied airily.

“Then you… you’re more powerful than him?” the boy persisted.

“No way!” she protested. “I couldn’t have won without the Sword of Light… and Shishio.”

“Shishio?”

“It was the last vestige of Shishio’s spirit that held Shabranigdo back. Somehow, he wasn’t willing to let himself be completely devoured.”

Everyone was silent. It was a chilling thought, that their survival had depended on a madman’s unshakable belief that strength, and only strength, determines right.

Kenshin was the first to shake it off. “Maa, maa, you did a good job anyway, Kaoru-dono.” He smiled.

Up the road, they could just make out the spires and walls of a large town. “Oi, ain’t that Atlas City?” Yahiko asked.

“Is that where you’re going?” Aoshi wondered.

“You said you’d only come with me this far, Kenshin…” Kaoru began.

“Oro?” He blinked.

“It looks as though we must part ways here,” Aoshi said. “My appearance tends to attract unwanted and dangerous attention in a large city, so I avoid them.”

“Sou de gozaru yo,” said Kenshin. “Well… good luck to you, then.”

They watched Aoshi walk away. The silence stretched between them, tense and uncomfortable.

“So… Kenshin… where were you planning to go next?”

“Sessha wa rurouni,” he smiled. “It doesn’t really matter where I wander. Wherever you’re going is fine, Kaoru-dono.”

“Oi!” Yahiko called. “You two coming? I’m hungry!”

“Well, Kenshin? What are you waiting for?” She grabbed him and started toward the city gates.

“Orororo… Kaoru-dono…”

Well, it looks like this journey I’m on with Kenshin is going to continue! I wonder what else is going to turn up for us!

NOTES, EXPLANATIONS ETC.

Whew, I finished the first arc! Three tapes done, thirteen more to go! (How did I end up biting off a huge project like this?)

Coming: Okina, Prince of Seyruun, and his overly-genki granddaughter Misao! Plus some of his oddball relatives…

O-tanoshimi ni!