Few hours later…

Ken was having dinner with his friends and the monks when suddenly his mobile phone rang. He took it out his pocket, checked the caller, and excused himself. He got out of the dining hall. “Hello, Lara ?”

“Ken ?”

“Yeah, what’s up ?”

“I’ve got some information about the Soul Edge. Phew, believe me when I said it’s really hard to separate the truth and the hoax.” Said Lara.

“Meaning, got too many information ?” asked Ken.

“Yep. But we’ve managed to pretty much separate the real stuff. Okay, listen to this. Soul Edge, the demonic blades were originally owned by a captain of pirates called Cervantes.” Explained Lara.

“Wait a minute, blades ?” asked Ken.

“Yes. There was a pair of them. Later on, a lot of fighters came to Spain to find the Soul Edge with different motives, some wanted glory, some wanted to prove him/herself, and some wanted to get the demonic blades for their own use.” Said Lara.

“Mhmm…”

“During a fight with two fighters, Cervantes was defeated, no detail on how he was defeated nor who had defeated him, though. Anyway, one of the demonic blades was destroyed during the fight, and the other one was missing and never be found again.”

“So, the other is lost forever ?”

“Hold your horses, Ken. The other blade was never be found again until about two years later when again, in Spain there was a rumor about people being possessed by evil spirits.”

“So, what’s this got to do with the Soul Edge ?” asked Ken, confused.

“Well, apparently, after the blade was destroyed – the one destroyed during the fight – it released evil energy that scattered around the world, but obviously, Spain, being the homeplace of the blade, got affected the most by this evil energy.” Explained Lara.

“Mhmm…”

“Okay, then a short time later, around Europe, not sure where, there was this fighter who reputedly had the other blade that was thought gone.”

“This fighter showed up pretty much around the same time of the possession ?” asked Ken.

“Gotcha’ mate.” Said Lara.

“I see…” said Ken contemplating. “So what’s the year of those events ?” asked Ken.

“The tournament was in 1507, and the mass possession was in 1509.” Answered Lara.

“Hmmm…”

“Ken, what is it ? Are you after this blades ?” asked Lara.

“Yes, Lara, but why, I will tell you sometime, thanks for your help, it’s really helpful.” Said Ken.

“Ken, I must warn you, some things are not meant to be discovered or seek because it’s very dangerous.” Warned Lara.

“I understand Lara, but this is a matter of urgency.” Said Ken.

“Apocalypse stuff, huh ?” asked Lara. “Do you need my help ?”

Now Ken was confused, how was he going to reject Lara’s offer without offending her. After all, Lara Croft was among the best adventurers around the world, but he knew, should Lara came along, there would be a big chance that she’d get killed, after all, she’s not as adept of a fighter like them. “Lara…”

“Hold on, Ken, there’s someone calling.” Said Lara cutting in. Then, after a while. “Ken, I’m really sorry, but I’ve really got to go, we’ll talk later, okay ?”

Feeling relief, Ken replied. “Yeah, sure, don’t worry. We’ll talk later, bye.”

“Bye. “ Lara hung up.

After talking to Lara, Ken returned to the dining room and asked his friends and the abbot to discuss the information that he just got from the famous tomb raider. He explained the information to the group and the abbot and Shiro. “So, that’s what Lara told me.”

“Okay, that’s great, Ken. Now we’ve got the information that we need, but there is a problem on tracking which era those two demons will go to.” Said Chun Li.

Ken nodded. “Yes, there are two possible years where they can go to, either 1507 or 1509, and we don’t have much time to find which one is the correct one.”

“And we can’t afford to divide our power to each time. We could cover a lot more ground if we come altogether.” Said Natalie.

“So which one we’ll go to if we don’t know which one they go to ?” asked Dan.

“I think they’ll go to the earlier year. There were two blades, one for each. It’s logical.” Said Shiro.

“It’s logical if they can maintain their power level.” Said Brother Miki who suddenly entered the room.

“What do you mean, Brother Miki ?” asked the abbot.

The librarian put the scroll that he brought with him on the table. He untied the scroll and rolled it open. The scroll was made of old wood and it looked like it would broke if someone pressed it even lightly. The writing on the scroll however was still as clear as if it was just written a few minutes back. “This, ladies and gentlemen, is the true sacred scroll of time travelling spell. The one that was stolen is the copy of it.”

They all looked at the writing on it. It was written in a very old Japanese language. “So what does it says ?” asked Ryu.

Miki pointed on the first three lines. “These are a bit of explanation of the spell, which we can safely skipped.” Then he pointed on the next ten lines. “These parts are the spell, which I won’t read aloud, because it’ll straightly open the time portal in here, and I’m sure we’re not ready yet.” He took a long breath before continued. “The last part was the warning for anyone who’s going to use the spell. It says that should someone intended to use the spell and pass the time portal, there’ll be a seal that’ll automatically applied to the person. This seal would cut down the power of the person, should the spell finds it necessary to do so to protect the timeline from changing.”

“What do you mean by ‘should the spell finds it necessary’ ?” asked Ryu Dragon.

“It is really complicated to explain, Dragon-san. But trust me when I say that should you all decide to use the spell, you all better bring a weapon with you to help protecting yourself as your power level will go down drastically.” Said Miki.

“It figures.” Said Dan suddenly.

“What ?” asked Ken.

“Remember last night when we saw those two demons ? They’ve got a sword with each of them.” Said Dan.

Ryu nodded. “Now that make sense. I was curious as well seeing Akuma carrying a sword.” “So what’s your suggestion, Miki-san ?”

“I’m not sure myself. On one hand, it is possible what Shiro said that they would go to earlier time, grab both blades and divide one each. But on the other hand, it is also possible for them to go to the later time as the fighter only have one blade, it’d be easier for them to defeat the fighter and grab the blade, then divide the power to themselves.” Said Miki.

“Okay, so we’ve got two options. Why don’t we take a vote to decide ?” suggested Natalie.

Chun Li nodded. “Fine, there are…” She quickly counted how many people were in the discussion. “Thirteen of us. So, those who vote for 1507 ?” There were eight hands raised including herself. “I guess, that’s it then. 1507.”

“We’ll need equipment, supplies, money, and clothes suited for that era as well.” Said Nathen.

“I’ll take care of that.” Said Ken. “I’ll have supplies for three days, camping equipment, some money, and hmmm… five to six pieces of 16th century’s clothes ?”

“You don’t have to worry about the equipment, supplies, and weapons, Ken-san. The Order will provide them for you all. You’d need to provide the money and clothes, though.” Said Yokai.

“Err… Ken, I don’t think you’ll have problems with clothes, but with money ?” asked Chun Li.

“Well, as long as everyone can control their spending, I can provide each of us – those who’ll go - a bag of gold .” said Ken. At that, everyone’s jaw dropped. Okay, maybe mixed with silver and cooper as well.” Said Ken, grinning.

“Well, I guess now that we’ve planned for what we need. What’ll we do once we get there and who’ll go ?” asked Claude.

Everyone looked around and at each other. Then…

“I’ll go.” Said Ryu Dragon. Then he amended. “Correction, I have to go.”

“I’ll go as well.” Said Ryu.

“I’ll go too.” Said Ken.

“Then I’ll go as well.” Said Dan.

“I’ll go with you, Ryu.” Said Chun Li, smiling. And Ryu blushed furiously as the others grinned.

“I’ll go with you, sensei.” Said Claude.

Natalie and Nathen looked at each other, then smiled. “We’ll go too.”

“I want to go too.” Said Shiro.

“Umm… I don’t think so, Shiro.” Said Miki. “We’ve got eight already, and I don’t think sending too many would be a good idea.”

“We need you in here, Shiro-san. At the moment, the Order is in very fragile state. We need as much power as we can get to protect the temple.” Said Yokai.

Shiro thought about to protest, but he thought better of it and agreed with Yokai.

“Alright, so eight of us.” Said Chun Li. “It’ll be two groups of four then, agreed ?”

The other seven fighters nodded in unison.

From there, the discussion turner into more casual conversation. A while later then they turn in for the night. The four women – Chun Li, Eliza, Yuki and Natalie – slept in a big room, while the six guys were separated into two smaller rooms.

Midnight…

A man walked slowly on the ‘S’ shaped bridge in the Yin/Yang garden. He stopped in the middle of the bridge and leaned on the handrail on the Yin side. He looked up at the full moon shining brightly on the sky full of stars.

“Can’t sleep, my friend ?”

The man, Ryu Dragon, smiled. “Full moon. It looks so beautiful. Yet, the moon itself is as the opposite of the beauty.”

“Beautiful and ugly. Yin and Yang, two opposite sides. Like anything in this world. Not excluding human.” Said Yokai.

His friend didn’t say a word.

“You know you can’t kill Dark Warrior, don’t you ?” asked Yokai.

“Why not ?” asked Dragon defiantly. “He killed my teammates.”

“He didn’t.” said Yokai. “Or at least half of him didn’t.”

Dragon looked puzzled at Yokai’s answer. “I don’t understand.”

“When Daimajin sent a part of him into your body, it didn’t only steal power from you. But stole a part of you as well, a part of what make you, you.” He smiled at his friend’s confused look. “It’s really a hard concept to grasp, Ryu-san. But let me tell you this. If you kill Dark Warrior, you’ll kill yourself.”

Dragon blinked. “Alright, I’m lost, and you’ve got the map. So explain.”

Yokai chuckled. “When Daimajin pulled back his… ‘investment’ from you, he pulled not only power, but also a part of you as that make you fully human. Think of Yin-Yang, and Daimajin robbed a part of you, possibly within a portion from your Yin, and a portion from your Yang, considering that you still alive.”

“Thank God for that.” Said Ryu Dragon dryly.

“True. You are very lucky, Ryu-san. Should Daimajin completely rob either your Yin or Yang part, you would have died instantly for nothing in this universe can exist without either part.” Explained Yokai in deadly serious tone.

“But didn’t you just say that he only stole a portion of each part ?” asked Dragon.

Yokai nodded. “Yes. But at the moment, you’re in unbalance state, Ryu-san. I’m not sure which part of you is bigger, your Yin or your Yang. But either way, you don’t have much time. Eventually, the bigger part of you will dominate and destroy the other. When that happen…” Yokai trailed off. He didn’t have to tell Dragon what would happen.

Ryu Dragon silent. A moment passed then he asked. “So how can I get my stolen part back ? And how much time do I have ?”

Yokai sighed heavily. “I don’t know, my friend. I don’t know. I think what you have to do now is to keep Dark Warrior and yourself alive for the moment until… Maybe we can dig up some spell to get your stolen part back. And about how much time you still have ? I don’t know the answer either.”

Dragon turned to look at Yokai. “Life sure has weird sense of humor doesn’t it ?”

Yokai only nodded.

The next day in the evening…

Eight sets of 16th century style camping equipment, food supplies for three days, a bag of money, and five sets of 16th century style of traveling clothes – all was suited accordingly to the wearer cultural background – were set on the floor of the temple’s praying hall. Among the eight fighters that would go back in time, four were standing and waiting for the other four.

“Where are they ? We don’t have much time.” Said Nathen.

Natalie elbowed him on the ribs and whispered. “Don’t be so insensitive, Ken is saying goodbye to Eliza and Ryu Dragon ditto to Yuki.”

“What about Dan and Claude ?” whispered Nathen.

“They said that they’re going to get their weapons. Although I don’t see why they can’t use the weapons offered by the Order.” Replied Natalie.

At that moment, Dan and Claude came in. Dan brought a medium size long metallic mallet and Claude brought a pair of sais. “Hey, we’re back !”

“About time.” Said Nathen. “Now where’re those two ?”

“Well, Eliza, I’ll be off for a while.” Said Ken. He and Eliza were walking in the Yin/Yang garden. He held her hands tight as if not wanting to let go.

“How long will you go ?” asked Eliza, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to answer, but asked anyway.

He lowered his head. “I don’t know. But… I’ll be back to you.”

“Promise ?” asked Eliza. She was trembling from trying so hard to hold her tears.

“I promise.” Said Ken.

And tears flowed from her beautiful eyes. “Dammit Ken…” She sobbed and leaned on his broad chest. “You don’t have to go…”

Ken tried hardly to hold his tears back as well. Then, he hugged her softly and she felt safe. “I have to… You know that.”

“No ! I don’t want to know !” she shouted. “Ken, please, don’t leave me…” Her sobbing became harder and harder. “Ken, I’m afraid… I’m afraid.”

He kissed her forehead, then her tears, and finally her lips. “Eliza… I will come back, I promise you.”

“Liar.” She said, turning her head away.

Then, he touched her chin and softly turned her head to face him. Then, he firmly said “I promise.”

They sat on the roof of the temple watching sun set on the west. They’ve sat for half an hour without saying a word, just enjoying the view and the fresh air, although not as much as enjoying each other company.

The woman leaned no her companion’s shoulder. Then she asked. “Beautiful, isn’t it ?” A moment of silent passed. “Do you think we can enjoy the view again ?”

“When I come back. Certainly.” Said Dragon.

“I noticed you didn’t say ‘if’.” Said Yuki.

“I will come back.” He said confidently. Then he turned to her. “Then we’ll have a little picnic up here while watching the sunset.”

Yuki chuckled, then she looked up at him. “I just want you to come back to me first, alive and in one piece.” She leaned on his shoulder again. “Then we’ll talk about us.”

Dragon nodded. “We’ll talk about us.” He brushed he hair softly and lovingly.

She looked up at him, and their eyes met.

They kissed.

Around eight at night…

Under the clear sky full of stars and full moonlight, the eight fighters, two women, the abbot, Shiro, Miki and several monks stood on the temple’s ground in front of the praying hall. Each fighter – dressed in 16th century style clothes – carried his/her own portion of equipment, supplies, money, and weapon.

Ryu Dragon carried the Sakura katana, the weapon loaned by Yuki’s grandfather. Ryu carried a samurai blade, loaned by the Order. Chun Li had a Chinese long sword hung on her belt. Ken had an ancient long sword, belonged to his family, on his left hip, and a short sword on his right. Nathen had his trusty sword on his back. Natalie choose a wooden staff because she didn’t like sharp weapons. Dan carried his metallic mallet on his right hand, and Claude had his pair of sais strapped to his thighs.

The abbot stepped up to the group. “You all ready ?”

The eight fighters nodded in unison.

“Then we shall begin.” Said Yokai. He asked for the scroll of spell from Miki. He took the scroll, rolled it open then began to chant.

“Keeper of the gate of time, hear my plea.
Open the gate lead to the passage of past, present, and future.
Keeper of the gate of time, hear my plea.
Open the gate of time and let me through !!!”

As the last word was spoken, in front of him, a rainbow colored circle, wide enough for a person to go through appeared. The colors moved like sea waves inside the circle, creating a sense of peace and anxiety at the same time. The abbot then talked to the group. “The gate has been opened. Now you must hurry to pass trough, for the gate won’t open for long. You all have a copy of the spell, right ?”

They all nodded. Then, they moved toward the portal. First to get in was Ryu, then followed by Chun Li, Ken, Dan, Claude, Nathen, and Natalie. Ryu Dragon stood a moment and regarded the abbot as Natalie passed through. Then, he looked at Yuki’s eyes and stepped into the portal. The moment he entered, the portal closed, leaving the two women and the monks standing on the temple’s ground.

As they speeding through the timeline - holding hands so they would arrive at the same time and place - they were amazed by the colors and events that flashing by along the timeline. A moment passed, then suddenly Ryu shouted. “We’re almost there ! I can see the exit !”

Just as they were about to reach the exit, suddenly, there was a big explosion that scattered them away to all directions. As they about to reached the exit, Ken shouted “Remember ! Get to Spain !”