CHAPTER 55; THE FINAL SAINT

With the Dragon Zone shattered, there was no way to reseal Tristran. Humans are humans…and gods are gods. Even when gods become demons, there is nothing a human can do to stand in the face of the gods but is that what humanity truly was. One human had defied all the odds, endured countless sufferings, and defied anything that stood against righteousness. No, even if humans cannot fight demons on equal footing…at least…they would not bow down to demons. They would not lose their goodness. Humans have many expressions. When one of them is heartless, he is questioned, 'have you lost your humanity?' Humanity is light. Evil is just one part of what a human is capable of. And now the time had come to prove it. To prove that even if it threatened their very existence…humanity would fight to defend their ideals of justice and righteousness and humanity isn't alone…as he is about to prove.

"All is lost" Crystal sighed in defeat.

"NO! NOT YET! I STILL HAVE SOME STRENGTH!" Ryu said as he shut his eyes. "Aurora Sabre! Sword of Love and Light, before dying, I pray thee to grant me this final wish. Use my soul…TO PROTECT THIS WORLD THAT I LOVE!!!" Ryu prayed.

Atlanta opened her eyes in shock.

The Aurora Sabre began to glow with the colours of all the elements it was made out of. It began to suck Ryu's pure soul within itself. Ryu gasped in pain and weakness. He could hardly breathe. He was suffering. His pain was immense and he felt cold…but he was not afraid, neither of Death, nor of Tristran. The Aurora Sabre suddenly exploded and transformed into a huge dome that surrounded the earth and protected it from Tristran's fires of indignation. In the other ryu, the war had ended when all the ninja realized that they had been saved. They united and began to celebrate!

Ryu slowly collapsed to the ground. He fell on his knees, and then on his face. The blood from the wound on his head covered his face. He could hardly see. The others ran to his side.

"N-Nemesis…Rokkan…team up and end this. Vanquish Tristran! You are the only ones that can do it" Ryu said weakly.

"No Ryu; that is your destiny. My part is to help you, as the hero who brings forth the final saint. At least, I can atone for my sins. Ryu…you guys…I'm really sorry for destroying your lives" Nemesis apologized and then, he began to channel his life force into Ryu.

"No Nemesis! Your life belongs only to you!" Ryu yelled with all his might despite the pain it caused to his head.

"Ryu, you promised to end my curse of immortality and I've decided that this is the way I want my life to end!" Nemesis declared as he channelled all his life force into Ryu.

A bright light engulfed them.

When the light disappeared, Nemesis lay dead on the ground and Ryu stood over him. All Ryu's wounds had been healed.

"Nemesis' your sacrifice will not be in vain" Ryu said in anguish.

Then he turned to face Atlanta and the others.

"Michael, there is something I've always wanted to tell you" Ryu said.

"What is it brother?" Michael asked.

"You know, when Mom died and I thought dad was mad at me…I was always hiding. But you always stood up for me. You even went to the extent of playing pranks to get me to do something. To me, you were always more than a brother, I always saw you as a second father" Ryu confessed.

"Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?" Michael asked.

"Nadia, Michael may look strong but he's actually very sensitive. He can easily be hurt and he sometimes overthinks things. Though you are strong, please let him feel that he can protect you" Ryu said.

Nadia wept.

"You're saying some awfully nice things to me all of a sudden but…I don't want that! I want the Ryu who is smart-mouthed, reckless and insensitive to the feelings of others!" Nadia cried.

"Rokkan, take care of Tanya and Atlanta. Ken, I'm sorry I have to break my promise to you but…I'll be watching you from a distance…from now on" Ryu said with a smile.

"Don't say that Ryu!" Ken yelled.

He couldn't keep his tears from flowing.

"Tanya, amongst us all…you are the one that has grown the most. From a shy, timid girl who couldn't express herself…to a fierce warrior whose music even tames the gods" Ryu said.

Finally Ryu turned to face Atlanta.

"Atlanta…I'm sorry, I couldn't keep any of my promises to you but…I'm thankful that you don't hate me. I'm thankful that your feelings for me have remained unchanged" Ryu said.

"What are you saying Ryu? You are not going to die so stop talking like that! Though it's nice to hear those words coming from you…it's like you're saying goodbye! I don't want that!" Atlanta cried.

Ryu smiled at her.

"Forgive me. I'll make one more promise though…I'm definitely going to defeat Tristran. I can finally hear it all. Their voices…praying for salvation. I've got a lot to tell him. He'll be so happy with humanity" Ryu said.

"Ryu, don't say such things! It's not funny!" Atlanta cried.

Ryu smiled and stretched his hand towards them. Then he slowly pushed them away from himself with his wind powers. Further and further away. He kept smiling at them but Atlanta could see the truth. His smile was wavering…trembling, and then she saw tears flow down his eyes.

"RYU! RYU! DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" Atlanta called desperately

"I see you have finally accepted your fate" Tristran sneered.

"I have and I definitely hope to Ryuujinn that you're ready to face yours as well 'cos now, I'm going to kick your derriere to the high heavens!" Ryu declared as he turned to face Tristran.

"Brave words for a human!" Tristran mocked Ryu. "None of your jutsu or magic can affect me. I'm not like I was when I fought the legendary ninja!" he declared.

"I know you're stronger than ever before…but not stronger than my next move" Ryu said as he closed his eyes.

He felt his soul leave his body and ascend higher and higher…till it stood at the centre of creation, where the mighty Rainbow Dragon lay within the Dragon Zone.

"Is it time Ryu…my Dragon Zone?" the Dragon asked him in a mighty, yet calm voice.

"It is Ryuujinn. I finally remembered everything, my mission. You sent me to observe humanity in your place but Ryuujinn, there is something I've always wanted to tell you" Ryu said.

"What is it, Ryu…my Dragon Zone?" Ryuujinn asked.

"When you created me to maintain balance among the Light and Dark Dragons, they all saw me as a mere object, a combination of elements, a sacred ground. You were the only one that saw me as a person. After Tristran caused you to forsake your godhood, I felt like I had failed you. I was all alone after you left. Seen again, only as a mere combination of elements, I hated myself. Perhaps that was why I allowed Tristran to run amok for so long. I didn't think I could stop him. Then you came back with Molten and told me that…you wanted me to be born as a human, to gain human experiences and to be…not just your eyes in the human world but, your vessel as well. I got to experience a bit of your suffering but Tristran's influence over humanity caused me to forget about you. Then the dragons told me about you. They felt so sad. They think you are lost forever. Now humanity is finally praying to you again. They are learning to depend on you once more Ryuujinn, I'm so glad" Ryu said tearfully.

"But I can tell that you are also very sad, my dear Dragon Zone. You have to leave all the people you've learnt to love don't you?" Ryuujinn asked.

Ryu nodded.

"What do you want to do now Ryu?" Ryuujinn asked him.

"What else?! I want to protect the world I've come to love so much! I will surrender my body and soul to you for eternity. Use me as your vessel to exact your judgement on Tristran!" Ryu said.

"Do you understand the gravity of your words Ryu? You are surrendering your human life as well as the one you've chosen to love, the one you've chosen to be your human bride. There is no turning back from this" Ryuujinn said calmly.

"I understand but…I am willing to give up my bride…so that you can have yours because to you, Ryuujinn, all of humanity is your bride. My love is nothing as compared to yours" Ryu said.

"Very well, if that is your wish, I will honour your request and remember your courage for all time Ryu. Now let us fight Tristran and save humanity…as one consciousness!" Ryuujinn declared.

On the outside, there was a tremendous release of power from Ryu's body. Memories of Ryu's human life flooded his mind. The moments he spent with Atlanta and his friends, the happy times, the sad times, times of anger, times of despair, the dreams they had shared together. All those became Ryu's power. Ryu screamed as the power engulfed his body. His scream turned into a mighty roar! Tristran drew back in fear.

"Everything looks gloomy but look Ryu, the White moon still shines and its light won't fade, not even for the moons of Tristran. In this intense darkness, you Ryu are the light" Michael recalled the words he had spoken to Ryu.

He stared at the manifestation of Ryu's power in awe and shock. Everyone had the same reaction.

"I know that roar! It can't be!" Tristran exclaimed in horror as a cocoon of elements shielded Ryu.

The mixed elements slowly solidified and turned into glass, then they shattered. As the light cleared, everyone could see a figure standing in the light…but it wasn't the figure of Ryu. As the light cleared, the figure of a Rainbow coloured dragon could be seen. The dragon landed on the ground but it seemed barely conscious. It was far larger and mightier looking than Tristran. As the other Dragon Saints and their human saints stared at this dragon, they could feel a tremendous difference in their power as compared to the power this dragon seemed to possess. Even Tristran could feel that gap. Then, the dragon slowly opened its eyes. Its eyes glowed with all the colours of the elements. When its eyes were completely open, Light filled the world and completely eclipsed the evil glow of the moons of Tristran.

"I am Ryuujinn! Dragon Saint Of All Creation…and…THE DRAGON ZONE!!!" the Dragon declared.

"IMPOSSIBLE! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!" Tristran exclaimed in shock and fear.