Stage 4: King of the Mountain Shrine; A New Warrior Awakens

"Aquamarine." said Thanatos, "Was I not clear on my instructions to destroy Crusader Scorpio?"

"Forgive me, my lord," pleaded Aquamarine, "I have sent another Dark Spell to gather victims. This time, I will use the victims to locate the Key."

"I grow tired of your failures, Aquamarine." Thanatos said, "I will not tolerate any more failures."

"Damn you, Crusader Scorpio," mumbled Aquamarine, "This time, I'm ready for you."

************

"Hello, Mom," said Tatsuo as he was walking home from cram school, "I'm on my way home. I'm just passing the Tamoya Shrine."

"Be careful," said Tatsuo's mother, "There have been a lot of bad things happening in that area."

"I will, mom. See you at home." Tatsuo said as he hung up his phone. He walks past the Tamoya Shrine and sees a young man about his age playing with a basketball. They make eye contact, but Tatsuo feels the boy's gaze is looking into his soul and it sends a chill down his spine. "Creepy guy." he said to himself.

He passes the Shrine and turns the corner until he hears the sound of wings flapping and something scratching. Tatsuo looks around and sees nothing. Just then, the sounds get closer, and something begins to come into view. The only things that Tatsuo saw were glowing blood red eyes and a bright flash. Tatsuo screamed as the flash engulfed him.

The young man at the Shrine heard the scream and ran to where Tatsuo was. The only thing that was left was Tatsuo's phone and bag. Tatsuo was nowhere to be found.

"Another one taken," said the young man.

************

On the way to school, Daiki was remembering his conversation with Cosmo the night before.

"So," Cosmo asked, "You believe Toma or Daisuke could be the Star Ninja?"

Daiki had informed Cosmo of both their injuries which were similar to the Star Ninja when he punched the wall behind Daiki when he was Crusader Scorpio. Along with the fact that both of them are never around when the Ninja is made them likely suspects. 

His train of thought was interrupted when he encountered an angry mob of people harassing a young man.

"Where is my son, you demon?!" shouted an angry woman.

"What did you do with my roommate?" shouted a man who looked like a college student.

"I had nothing to do with the disappearances," said the young man, "I am trying to find the monster responsible."

"You are the monster!" shouted one of the mob women.

One of the mob people picks up a rock to throw at the young man, when Daiki rushes in front of the mob to protect the young man. The young man looks at Daiki with a surprised look on his face.

"Leave him alone!" shouted Daiki, "He just said he had nothing to do with your relatives disappearing."

"And how do you know?!" asked the angry woman.

The college student was about to punch Daiki, but the young man caught the college student's fist. "It's one thing to attack me," said the young man, "But it's unforgivable to attack someone who's only trying to help."

The young man grabbed the college student's arm and flipped him over, causing the student to land on his back. That alone made the mob runaway in fear of the young man.

Daiki was impressed with the young man's strength and commented, "Wow, that was amazing."

"Uhh," the young man said, "Thank you for standing up for me. You really didn't need to do that."

Daiki extended his hand to the young man and introduced himself. "My name is Daiki Nishikawa, and you?"

"I'm Joichiro Hōseki." said the young man.

"Do you live here at the shrine?" asked Daiki, "Are you a Geki?"

"You're not afraid of me?" asked Joichiro.

Daiki was taken aback by the question, "Why would I be afraid of you?"

Joichiro sighed and replied, "Ever since I was a boy, I was able to sense certain things and see visions. Most people were afraid that I was able to predict bad things happening, they thought I had caused them. My mother and I would travel from town to town in order to start a new life. But evil always tends to follow us and we get blamed for any misfortune that happens. Like the disappearances lately."

"Disappearances?" Daiki asked.

"So far, eleven people have gone missing close to the shrine here," Joichiro said, "They occur at random times, and the people taken are just random passersbys. But one thing for sure, whatever this creature is, it wants something here in the shrine. Mother placed protection wards and talismans to keep the creature out."

"A creature?" Daiki asked, immediately suspecting Aquamarine's handiwork. "Oh my god, I'm going to be late!" he shouted as he noticed the time. He ran back out to the gates before turning back to Joichiro. "It was nice meeting you, Joichiro."

"And you too, Mr Nishikawa." Joichiro said politely.

"You may call me Daiki, no need to be so formal. By the way, is it ok for me to come and visit you after school?"

Joichiro was surprised by Daiki's request. He had never had anyone take an interest in him, let alone treat him with unconditional kindness. Joichiro was at a loss for words, he simply nodded his head to let Daiki know he could come back.

"Great," Daiki said as he was heading out, "I'll see you after school."

"Wait," Joichiro called out, "Take this talisman of protection with you." Joichiro handed a colorful tag with writing on it to Daiki.

"Thanks," Daiki said, "See you later, Joichiro." Daiki left the shrine and unbeknownst to him, Aquamarine was across the street watching the shrine.

"The key must be there in that temple." she said, "Cockatrice, keep gathering victims and make that boy a priority. He may be the key to free Lord Thanatos with that mysterious power that is inside him."

From the shadows a serpent-like creature with a rooster's head and wings for arms, and glowing blood red eyes emerged. 

************

The school day seemed to drag on longer than usual. The fact that Daiki had three tests today may have had something to do with that. 

Daiki was mainly thinking of Joichiro and how he has never had a stable place to call home. It was sad to think that he could never make any friends or even memories to share with others. 

Daiki's train of thought was interrupted by Toma. "So what is on your mind?"

"Oh," Daiki answered, "I was thinking about this guy I met on my way to school."

Toma gave Daiki a confused look with a hint of jealousy. Daiki proceeded to tell Toma about Joichiro and how he has been moving around often.

"So you met this guy at Tamoya Shrine?" asked Toma.

"Yeah, why?"

Toma went through his phone and found a forum. On it were pages of comments directed towards Joichiro and his mother. There were also comments about the disappearances the mob mentioned. "They all blame him for the disappearances that have been happening in that area."

"Who would be stupid enough to believe that?" Daiki asked.

"Well the disappearances started recently," said Toma, "And Tamoya Shrine had been abandoned for years. Many people believe the place to be cursed."

"That's ridiculous," Daiki stated, "Joichiro doesn't seem like a bad guy. And besides, he's a Geki, Gekis can't be bad. Right?"

"Wait," Toma said, "He's a Shrine boy?"

Daiki nodded, which made Toma very excited.

"This is great," he said, "He can make us charms, so we can have romantic luck and have girlfriends before the new year."

"Ugh, don't remind me." said Daiki. He lost any interest in getting a girlfriend since he discovered Ayumi already has a boyfriend in another school. After the fight with Worm, Daiki approached Ayumi the next day, and before he could ask her out on a date she got a call from her boyfriend which left Daiki in an awkward situation. "But yeah, let's go after school and prove to these jerks that Joichiro isn't a bad guy." 

************

Cosmo had heard about the recent disappearances and decided to check out Tamoya Shrine. Once there, he sensed a very powerful magic surrounding the entire shrine. But that wasn't all, he sensed an evil presence close by. But with all the magical energy floating around, Cosmo couldn't tell if the presence was inside or outside the Shrine's wards.

"There's definitely something going on here." He notices the wards surrounding the Shrine. "I wonder if the caster of these wards are trying to keep something out, or in."

After circling the perimeter, Cosmo found a ghastly sight. There were eleven stone statues, all with scared or pained expressions. "These are the people who disappeared."

Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping filled the deadly silence. Cosmo knew the creature who did this was near and began to flee. The sound of the wings got closer, the flapping became faster. Cosmo could feel the creature's breath on the back of his neck. He hurried over to the Shrine's entrance.

************

Daiki and Toma had made their way to Tamoya Shrine when they heard a cry for help.

"Help me!" shouted Cosmo.

Before anyone could respond, a monster landed in front of Cosmo and flashed its eyes on him. The beam hit Cosmo and he began turning to stone.

"What is that thing?" asked Toma.

"It's a manifestation of a Dark Spell," said a woman who emerged from one of the buildings, "Don't look at its eyes."

"Begone evil spirit!" commanded Joichiro as he threw a Talisman towards the creature. Unfortunately the Talisman burned to ashes once it made contact with the creature. "But, how?"

"Joichiro," said the woman, "Get away from here, this Spell is too powerful for you. Take them to safety."

"But mother…" Joichiro called.

"DO AS I SAY!" shouted his mother.

Joichiro ran to Daiki and Toma who were standing by the entrance. Cockatrice focused its gaze on Joichiro and readied its eyes. Joichiro's mother saw this and instinctively rushed to intercept its gaze.

The next thing Joichiro saw was a flash of red light and a terrible sense of dread that made him stop. He saw two horrible sights. One was Toma who had been turned to stone protecting Daiki, and the second was worse. Joichiro turned to see his mother had also turned to stone, shielding her son from the monster's terrible gaze.

"Toma!" shouted Daiki, "That's it! Scorpio Constellation Power, Armor On!"

Daiki transformed into Crusader Scorpio. "How dare you turn our loved ones into stone, this sin will not go unpunished. I'm the eighth warrior of the Zodiac, ruled by the Planetary Guardian Pluto, I'm the passionate boy, clad in Heavenly Light, Crusader Scorpio. On behalf of the stars; your fate is sealed."

"You. Transformed?" asked Joichiro in shock.

"Stay back Joichiro," said Scorpio, "I'll protect you and save everyone this creature took." Scorpio called for his weapon and charged it with energy. "Scorpio Harpoon Stinger!" Scorpio threw the Harpoon bolt towards Cockatrice, but the bolt bounced off Cockatrice as if it was made of a hard stone. "What the?" he said in shock. Cockatrice then rushed to tackle Scorpio and began to beat him mercilessly.

Joichiro fell into deep despair and pressed his forehead onto the statue of his mother. Just then he heard his mother's voice, "Awaken your power, my son." He also noticed she was holding a mirror in his vision of her as if she were flesh and blood again. "Use this to defeat the Spell."

He snapped back to reality and saw that in her hand was a small mirror. He took it from her hand and approached Cockatrice. "Hey you ugly excuse for a chicken!" he shouted, getting Cockatrice's attention.

"Joichiro," Scorpio called out to him, "Don't." Cockatrice kicked Scorpio and sent him flying towards the courtyard wall. 

Cockatrice readied its gaze while Joichiro waited for a chance to strike. The monster flashed its eyes at the exact same moment Joichiro used the mirror to reflect the creature's gaze back to itself. Cockatrice turned to stone, getting a taste of its own medicine. Joichiro picked up his basketball and threw it full-force at Cockatrice, shattering the statue of the fearsome beast. As it lay in pieces, waves of energy began to escape and the statues all returned to flesh and blood. Joichiro's right wrist began to glow green and a symbol appeared on it.

"Joichiro's one of us." said Scorpio. "Cosmo."

Cosmo saw what Scorpio was pointing out and pulled out another Constellation Amulet.

Scorpio took it and told Cosmo, "Get Toma and Joichiro's mother out of here. We'll handle it from here." Scorpio noticed that the shattered pieces of Cockatrice were beginning to reform. As Cosmo took the pair to safety, Scorpio approached Joichiro and gave him the Constellation Amulet. "Put it on and transform."

Joichiro put it on and remembered his mother's words in his vision. "Awaken my power." Joichiro faces the Cockatrice as it's reforming. "Taurus Constellation Power, Armor On!" Joichiro's Amulet began to shine and shimmering energy began to spread all over Joichiro's body until he was transformed into a knight similar to Scorpio, except his designs were that of a bull and his helmet had two bull's horns, and his under armor was green instead of blue.

"I'm the second warrior of the Zodiac, ruled by the Planetary Guardian Deity, Venus, I'm the Loyal boy clad in Heavenly Light, Crusader Taurus. Mess with me and you get the horns."

Cockatrice had reformed and was about to attack, using its gaze. "That trick won't work on me." said Taurus. He summoned his weapon which was a diamond buckler shield and a crystal scimitar. Armed with his new weapon, Taurus took a defensive stance with his shield facing the beast. Light began gathering into the shield, causing it to shine like the sun. Cockatrice launched its gaze attack the same time, Taurus launched his, "Taurus Glimmering Shield, Shine!" A concentrated beam of intense light shot out from the shield, overpowering Cockatrice's gaze and hitting the monster straight into its eyes, permanently blinding it. "Scorpio, he's all yours."

"Right," said Scorpio, "Scorpio Harpoon Stinger" Scorpio launched his harpoon bolt again, only this time, the bolt skewered through Cockatrice. Scorpio pulled the bolt back and Cockatrice melted into black goo then completely vanished.

"Crusader Taurus," said Cosmo, "You did well, Welcome to the Zodiac Crusaders."

"I'm a Zodiac Crusader?" asked Taurus. "So this is why I was given these abilities. I'm supposed to protect others."

"Yes," said Scorpio. "And now we can fight together."

"I'm sorry," said Taurus. "I will help you fight these Dark Spells, but that is it. I'm better off on my own."

Scorpio was left in awe at Taurus's coldness. Cosmo on the other hand began berating him.

"Listen here, you. You have a responsibility as a Zodiac Crusader, you can't do as you please."

Scorpio raised his hand to stop Cosmo's banter. The first Zodiac Crusader they have discovered and he doesn't wish to be part of a team. Scorpio knew the reason, and he hopes that one day, Taurus can see him as his friend.