Chapter10: Bonds

Just after the events which took place on the planet kirnon Shirogane and Aro have almost caught up with Maro.

With the objective of trying to persuade Maro to re-join the musenshi in mind the two warriors keep their hostility away from the surface.

The two warriors now near to Maro's location but now the completion of their goal seems to be almost impossible as they have already reached system seventeen.

Meanwhile Aro's brother Maro has been put to a halt by the sudden appearance of two members of the red empire.

Among the members is Wynut but another powerful member among them is named Naga, her height five foot four and her age thirty one.

Holding no weapons one can only wonder what her speciality is, as her lack of muscular size seems to make physical combat impossible so that only leaves the release and infusion of energy.

While keeping a distance of a twenty miles Naga releases a stream of divine energy.

Now usually this type of release would need to be at a medium or close range to use, so this caused Maro to think very little of Naga and focused all of his attention on Wynut.

But he thought too little of zeons...

As the divine stream collided with his body with the impact sending him straight into Wynut's path.

Naga was born with a rare specialisation almost unseen by all, this specialisation allows her to double the length and distance in which a release travels.

Thanks to the unexpected distance of Naga's release Maro was impaled by the claws held by Wynut, made of meteorite they easily penetrated Maro's body.

Following this Wynut ripped her golden bronze claws out of Maro's body causing internal damage and her claws to be drenched in Maro's crimson blood.

This forced Maro to devote some of his life energy into healing his wounds.

But even outnumbered by the zeons Maro was still of higher power and ability so he thought he needed not to worry but once again he was wrong...

As Naga releases a major release, creating ten dominant blue whips out of her back, appearing almost tentacle like.

Moments before Maro saw Naga he was battered relentlessly by the titanic sized whips until he was bruised and crippled.

To stop his soon approaching death Maro activated his technique limb amplification, using this he dodged the next incoming whip.

Using it as a ledge to jump from Maro immediately broke down the distance between him and Naga.

Once again Maro's tunnel vision kicks in and he is only able to focus on the target in front of him, this caused him to completely forget about Wynut.

Forgetting Wynut lead to Maro entering a one on one with Naga.

Naga now vulnerable is battered with a flurry of hits each one carrying Maro's intent to kill.

Now beaten Naga stands still on the verge of becoming unconscious.

Maro taking full advantage of this, takes hold of her tiny shoulders and begins to boil them down to the deepest parts of flesh contained underneath her skin.

But...

Victory was not in sight just yet.

Wynut forgotten by Maro was able to sneak in close, slicing the skin off his back.

There's still a chance for Maro to claim victory.

This chance was given by his twin brother Aro.

Since the skin on Maro's back was the same as on his fingertips and thighs, it's boiled.

So as Wynut cut down his back she popped every single bubble of boiling steam.

Now this would usually only create a small amount but since so many were popped at the same time a gigantic wave of boiling steam devoured Wynut's miniature body.

Maro was just as shocked as his opponents but he was quick to take full advantage of this opportunity.

He soon developed a technique to create this effect by himself, this technique is called rising temperature.

Its effect is quite weak but perfect for Maro's situation, as it increases the user's body temperature every second until it reaches two hundred degrees Celsius.

If this works as it should do the bubbles on Maro's body will begin to pop instantly.

Thankfully they do though its not perfect it works for now.

As the bubbles on Maro's fingertips begin to pop releasing the boiling steam trapped inside directly onto the skin of Naga.

Maro cancels his technique.

He then raises his leg and swings it directly into Naga's ribs breaking them all which are on the right side.

Following this Maro takes a tight hold of Naga's beaten body and tosses her into the far distance only for her to be caught by another zeon.

As this gives Naga her advantage back one would think it was a mistake made by Maro.

But Maro had sensed the arrival of this zeon recognising her as much stronger then the other two he decided he must divert all his attention to her.

She too had recognised Maro's strength and with that she had already rapidly infused her energy throughout the curse mark contained on her left bicep, allowing her to enter the form known as full control.

This zeon is named Koana and she serves as one the red empire's generals among the likes of Daku and Mirai.

Similar to Daku and Mirai Koana also comes from the royal family of kronen their family name is kurai.

But she is not apart of the main branch and as she falls into the lower five, specifically she is apart of branch three.

Holding a blade made of the material known as blackite the zeon swiftly takes her first strike against Maro.

Slashing into Maro's chest she places her foot onto his stomach and says "just who are you kiren?".

Kicking him into a descent Koana hears a response "my name is Maro and I am of the family line mugen".

Koana speaks calmly without making another move "well that explains it".

Koana pauses for a few seconds until she speaks once more "so... what's your reason for coming so close to the red empire's current base location?".

Maro surprised puts a halt to his assault and answers "I have came here to become a member of the red empire".

Chapter10.1: A broken bond

Shirogane and Aro both see a huge wave of boiling steam explode into the vastness of space.

This had caused them to know that times almost up, they have almost failed.

As they arrived to the scene they heard Maro's voice carry the words "I have came here to become a member of the red empire".

Now they know they are too late...

Koana looks upon the newly arrived warriors.

Giving all her attention to Shirogane she says with a tone of disappointment "so you're Shirogane I guess you have betrayed the empire then".

But now looking towards the other warrior Koana asks "and you are?".

But Maro answers before his brother has the chance "he... is my twin brother".

Koana shouts with a demanding tone "as one the generals I command you two to come here at once Naga, Wynut!".

With that the zeons whose names were just called out arrived at either side of Koana.

Koana speaks once again saying "as one of the red empire's generals I will allow you to join, but not just as a member I will make you a general Maro".

Maro shouts "what do you want in return?".

Koana gives a slight smirk as she speaks her next words "you must fight against your brother right here and now, and once you've beaten him we will drag him before the emperor who will decide what to do with him".

Without a word spoken from either Aro or Maro they already knew what decision was just made. 

And with that came the activation of the technique limb amplification. 

The two brothers clashed together both of them throwing attack after attack, relentlessly chipping away at each others bodies. 

But this isn't just a battle of two warriors, it is a battle which will result in the broken bond between two brothers. 

Meanwhile Shirogane is left to deal with the members of the empire but it is clear that he is at a disadvantage and outnumbered. 

So he decides that the greatest chance he has is just to stall them. 

Naga made the first attack recreating the major release titan zeon whips and striking Shirogane and toying with him as he struggles to dodge each one. 

But no one can dodge forever especially when it is only luck that allows them to do so. 

Shirogane was unable to dodge the swift strike made by Naga which resulted in him being caught in constant motion flying between each tentacle. 

Without a sign of any stop to this torture.

Shirogane struggles to change his fate but he finds a way. 

As he grips onto the passing tentacle digging his fingers into the unstable energy, he stops his motion. 

But this fight is not a one on one, no its a one on three. 

So in between the chaos Wynut had hid herself behind Naga's relentless strikes, with her movements covered by the dominant blue energy that trails behind each strike. 

 Unseen by all Wynut delivers a fatal strike to the young zeon. 

Wynut had cut deep into Shirogane's back causing a shock of sudden pain, this took the seemingly unbreakable grip Shirogane had and broke it. 

But suddenly the titanic sized whips disappeared but that is not all Wynut had also vanished. 

Was this a chance for Shirogane to catch his breath?

No!

Koana begins her assault she speaks her voice gentle "I hold no grudge against you Shirogane to be honest I feel sorry for you, because of our planets destruction you have failed to grasp the immense power you possess". 

Koana struck Shirogane, her blade piercing straight through his stomach causing another fatal injury. 

But Koana doesn't bother to rip the blade out leaving her sword behind as she re-joins Naga and Wynut. 

Shirogane unknown to what he has stuck inside his stomach begins to try and heal his wound as he pulls the blade out but this caused the blackite to explode! 

Was this it is Shirogane dead or did he somehow survive? 

Aro throws his arm back and slingshots it straight into Maro's gut.

He then shouted in rage "you really think you can beat me? I suffered on earth yes but thanks to that I have the highest potential of all the musenshi". 

Maro shouts back "yeah you don't have to remind me after all that's all you can talk about brother... what does it matter anyway?". 

Maro follows up by launching his knee into Aro's stomach while also waving his hand past Aro's back. 

As Maro waved his hand past his brother's back he had also activated his newest technique causing a small stream of boiling stream to slam into Aro's back. 

Aro shouted "what do you mean by that brother?" as he threw his elbow into Maro's jaw. 

Maro catching his breath eventually answered "you're just a science experiment brother you never worked for any of that power you were just given it, so how can you say you are better then all of the musenshi when your not even using your own power?".  

This sentence was enough to break both of the brother's focus as they gave in to their emotions this became a fight of beasts. 

Aro activated his energy mark pouring his stamina into it until the activation of his physical monster state came. 

With it all his muscles were destroyed and recreated with the double the size and power, steam rising from his body filled the area around him. 

But this time Aro isn't the only one with a trump card. 

Maro said with arrogance "hey brother that form you just took inspired my own after all you gave me my enhancements, time to show you that I hold the most potential". 

Maro activated two techniques at the exact same time creating an intended effect. 

The two techniques activated are rising temperature and energy overlay, energy overlay creates a thin layer of energy just a few centimetres above the users skin. 

This thin layer trapped all of the boiling steam which was just exploded which meant Maro was boiling himself alive but this was all on purpose. 

As this is his new form which is called boiling monster state. 

Aro thinking very little of his twin brother flung himself into close quarters combat and began to attack his brother relentlessly but the boiling steam released by Aro's movements only hit the energy overlay. 

Maro's face was slightly revealed as he spoke a few words "now it is my turn". 

The overlay disappeared for only a second releasing tons of steam directly onto Aro. 

Maro vanished during this only to appear behind Aro, his overlay vanished once again but this time only his fists were uncovered as the steam poured out with each strike made against Aro. 

Aro screamed in agony while he spoke a few words after "so you think you can match me?", he swiftly carried his body to face his twin as he spoke once more "brother I'll admit you can claim victory but that is only the case if I stayed the same as I am now". 

Pausing for just a few moments Aro carried on "I have never truly shown any of the musenshi my true ultimate move...". 

Maro laughed and continued to attack but this time Aro made no effort to stop him. 

Now Aro's body starts to release small amounts of steam but with zero movement made my him Maro thought nothing of it until...

Aro started to breath boiling steam, Aro then stated "this is it brother my true ultimate move boiling coffin". 

Just as Aro spoke his final word the explosion from Koana's blade triggered catching Aro in the blast but only in the thin ends of it. 

With no sign of Shirogane Aro tried to continue the use of boiling coffin but it failed due to Aro's struggle to put aside the distraction in which Shirogane has caused. 

With this Maro took the advantage and began to pummel Aro each strike becoming more effective, releasing more and more steam until there was no more which left Aro boiled alive.

Then once his brother ended his assault Aro gave in and let himself speak freely as he shouted full of emotion "Shirogane is that all you have?, is that all the warriors of earth have to offer?, more importantly is that all in which you have to offer your family?, I thought you were gonna defend them, I thought you were gonna kill Uzunami...". 

But after all this there was no sign and Maro looked down upon his beaten and bloody brother and said mercilessly "are you finished?". 

But as Maro said those words a curse appeared once again to change the world around it!

This curse is known by few but the ancient races fear it's power only a few have ever possessed it but those few are always descendants of the first zeons. 

The first zeons also wielded this curse and they managed to shake not just their own realm but many more. 

This curse is known as fragmented power but it also is more commonly known by the ancients as the bringer of universal disaster. 

The first zeons gave birth to many descendant families and one of those families is named sasine. 

This means Shirogane sasine has that curse and it just awakened... 

His power was just doubled as he involuntarily entered the form known as amplified state: fragmented, refining his whole body, redesigning it, perfecting it. 

And now... disaster has reawakened.

Shirogane appeared out of the smoke which was a mixture of boiling steam and energy.

But left completely unharmed every wound previously made on his body was healed, so with this perfect power Shirogane glared directly towards Maro in who he made his descent towards. 

Maro stood strong as he prepared himself for his next opponent but he was immediately overwhelmed as he realised Shirogane outmatched him by years of training in just a instant Shirogane had outmatched everyone's power added together!

Shirogane put a halt to his assault leaving Maro just a few meters ahead of him. 

He then spoke with a new found confidence "Maro I won't kill you if you re-join the musenshi on kirnon but if you refuse then you shall be the the first to feel all of my new found strength". 

Maro without looking at Shirogane says "you were so much better when you were weak". 

Shirogane charges a move without a response to Maro's final words.

The move he is charging is his signature move known as defence breaker fist. 

First Shirogane throws his right arm forwards, it glowing with both fusion and raw zeon energy and with the opening of his palm the first step is complete, a condensed laser is shot out travelling at rapid speed. 

But step two had already began Shirogane was travelling beside the laser while pulling his left arm back while tensing his muscle he charges the second part of this release just before collision is made. 

The laser now makes contact with Maro who deflects it to the right just short of Aro, but the laser is only made to distract the true power is currently in Shirogane's fist. 

Now just short of Maro Shirogane throws his fist but makes contact with Koana who had strafed in between them both taking the hit herself, her resistance nullified down to zero meant that she took the full force of Shirogane's attack which resulted in her right arm being torn off and also leaving her unconscious. 

Pushing Koana's body to the side Shirogane continues his approach towards Maro but with victory almost certain Shirogane passes out and with that the certainty is removed.

Chapter10.2: A new bond

A few hours later...

Shirogane awakens next to Aro who is already awake.

Still feeling uneasy Shirogane struggles to make out his surroundings but manages to hear a voice say "my name is Maro and I have came here to join the empire". 

Uzunami speaks his voice chilling to all that hear it "so you're a kiren are you not, usually your race a weak but one family surpasses even my race the mugen family line, so I ask again what is your name?". 

Maro did not wait to give his answer as he said "my name is Maro mugen". 

After hearing Uzunami speak Shirogane became fully aware of where he is. 

He is currently inside the throne room of red empire's main fleet, more specifically he is in the presence of Uzunami once again. 

After Maro gave his final answer Uzunami took to his feet and pointed his pale slender finger directly at Maro while also saying "you would be useful in not only strengthening the empire but also in enslaving your race, so I'll allow you to become one of my generals".

Uzunami muttered to himself "but to enslave the kiren race ill have to wait for the return of Daku and Mirai who are scattered across system seventeen".  

After a long pause the red emperor spoke again "now with that over with... what should I do with you Shirogane?". 

Now both Shirogane and Uzunami glare at each other.

Until the red emperor speaks once again "you know you remind me of those warrior twins and one other...". 

Uzunami becomes silent for some time while he thinks of who this person is.

He breaks the silence as he talks once more "ah that is who you remind me of, she was weak just like you with those flimsy muscles of yours it's no wonder you're her son". 

Shirogane becomes colder and colder as it daunts over him that the more time he spends away from earth the more he learns about who he truly is. 

Aro soon realises where this is going once his brother stands proudly beside Uzunami.

Who had began to laugh callously "the only reason I took Kibar with me was because he possessed the rare ability of being a overload zeon, so with you being from the family sasine and also a useless traitor I shall show you no kindness when I order you and your friend to be tortured and used for spare parts". 

With the order given the two prisoners were dragged away deep into the chambers of the emperor's ship.

Thrown into the pits of the hellish dark Shirogane and Aro were left blind and unaware to what surrounds them... 

But the confusion soon turned into constant fear as the screeching of blades filled the ears of the two warriors. 

If only Shirogane could see he would see that only he was still conscious... 

Aro had already suffered a silent blow to his back, the blood gushing all over Shirogane. 

A sentence filled the drowning silence "so you're of the mugen family?, so famous yet so disappointing, yet... your body could still prove useful to Uzunami". 

Following these words was the noise of slicing through flesh, dripping blood and cutting through bone but no other noise was made not even a single whisper...

Soon something was dropped on top of Shirogane's feet but whatever it was it was quickly removed by the man who had the title of the butcher. 

Who said a few more words "yes this arm will do nicely at least for someone stronger". 

The butcher scraped his meteorite made blade across the rusted metal wall, while the torn arm dangled in his other hand hitting against the door way as he left. 

During the next few hours that passed Aro lied still and unconscious but Shirogane was wide awake awaiting the return of their torturer. 

A horrific scream filled the soundless room.

As Aro had awoken in horror of his missing limb.

Shirogane speaks his voice shattered as the exhaustion becomes more apparent with each word spoken "so your up?, someone came in here and took what I'm guessing is your arm and then left, I think it was a few hours ago but I can't be sure". 

A few heavy sighs came from both of the injured warriors until Aro responded, his voice carrying across his agony "my arm doesn't matter I must kill Maro before he tarnishes my family name and more importantly enslaves my people". 

Aro continued to say "you're powerful Shirogane I know you are I saw what you did earlier, so do you think you can get us out of this disaster?". 

Shirogane gave a deep sigh and struggled to say as a chain began to strangle him "I think...". 

The butcher had returned his footsteps silent, the only noise was the breaking of Shirogane's neck against the meteorite chain. 

Aro unable to see shouted with concern "what's happening?, who is there?". 

The butcher speaks his voice merciless "I'm on Uzunami's orders to dispose of you two, after all what use can you really be to us now?".