A bewildered hush blanketed the ravaged mountain as dust settled from the chaotic clash. Warden Poahf, Kahless, and the scattered soldiers gaped at the spectacle before them. Three magnificent Baboon Dragons, each sculpted from sparkling gold, towered over the remnants of the Rendil Temple and was radiating an aura of ancient power.
"W-what in the realms..." a soldier stammered out.
"Are those... the old man's Titan Avatars?" another questioned while staring in disbelief.
"But... how could he have three?" a third soldier interjected, scratching his head in confusion. "And... they don't look like any air affinity Titans I've ever seen."
Their confused mutterings echoed through the ranks as each soldier tried to make sense of the confusing scene in front of them. They had witnessed the old man's prowess, his mastery of martial arts and elemental manipulation, but this... this defied all logic and understanding.
Warden Poahf, still recovering from the shock of having been ripped from her Cerberus Titan form, stared at the Baboon Dragons in both fear and fascination. She had never encountered such creatures before, such a blatant display of power and majesty.
"They’re not Titan Avatars, are they?" she mumbled, more to herself than anyone else. "They don't radiate the usual Aether Steam signature... and their forms... they're too... unique."
She glanced at the Eden Ryuu Titan Avatar. She had always considered the Vice-Marshal Commander to be a man of unwavering confidence, a warrior who feared nothing and no one. But now, she sensed a flicker of uncertainty from his draconic visage - a hint of apprehension that he couldn't quite conceal.
'Could it be...?' a thought crept into her mind that she feared to imagined. 'Could he be... afraid?'
Kahless’s mind, indeed, was swirling with a maelstrom of emotions - shock, disbelief, and a sliver of fear that gnawed at the edges of his usual bravado. He had faced countless opponents in his career as a soldier, from lowly bandits to seasoned Elemental Masters, but he had never encountered anything like this.
These Baboon Dragons… they were unlike any creatures he had ever seen before. Their golden forms, their aura of ancient power, and the strange, almost playful expressions on their faces... they were both mesmerizing and terrifying.
He glanced at the old man who stood at the base of the central Baboon Dragon. Kahless had witnessed Soru Gurahs’s power firsthand, his martial arts prowess and his ability to manipulate the wind element, but this... this was beyond anything he could have imagined.
'What has he become?' Kahless wondered as he assessed the situation. He had to find a way to defeat Soru Gurahs, to claim his head and present it to the Dune Directorate as proof of his loyalty and competence. But how?
He had unleashed one of his most powerful Titan Jutsu, the Ironwood Brambles, and it had been effortlessly countered by the old man's staff or rather his golden nunchaku. And now, these Baboon Dragons… they exuded an aura of power that even his own Titan Avatar couldn't match.
'I have to think clearly,' Kahless thought, forcing down the fear that threatened to consume him. 'I have to find a way to exploit his weaknesses, to turn the tide of this battle in my favour. Every time I think I’ve cornered this old man, he keeps on pulling new tricks and techniques out his ass.'
…
High above, amidst the swirling clouds, Daichi clung tightly to Breeze Plume's back as they soared away from the Rendil Temple. He glanced back at the colossal figures that clashed below.
"Master Sorah... Rice Guru... Please... be careful."
“Kyuuu!” Breeze Plume chirped as if in agreement.
Within the depths of Sorah's consciousness, a silent conversation unfolded between the aged martial artist and the wizened Rice Guru. They were now one, their souls intertwined through the mystical fusion that had given birth to Avatar Soru Gurahs, yet their individual thoughts and emotions still flickered like embers in a dying fire.
"Rice Guru... what... what is this?" Sorah's tone was weak. His spirit was still reeling from the exhaustion and the Sage Curse's corrosive influence. "This... this is beyond anything I could have imagined."
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The Rice Guru responded with a calm reassurance. "Do not fear, Master Sorah. This is the true power of your father's legacy. This is the Dawn Sky Crusher's awakened form - Saru-Ryu Kin'kĹŤ Nunchaku."
"But... how? How did you know?" Sorah was perplexed. His father, Aoi, had never spoken of such a transformation, such a manifestation of power.
"Your father… Master Aoi was a man of many secrets," the Rice Guru replied vaguely. "He entrusted me with the knowledge of the Dawn Sky Crusher's true potential, knowing that one day, it might be needed to protect our people."
"But... why didn't he tell me?" asked Sorah, feeling a hint of hurt and betrayal.
"He feared the burden it would place upon you," the Rice Guru explained. "He knew the dangers of the Sage Curse, the darkness that lurked within its power. He wanted to protect you from that darkness."
Sorah sighed. He understood his father's intentions, his desire to shield him from the curse's corrupting influence. But he also couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, a longing for the knowledge and power that had been kept from him.
The Rice Guru urged, "We must focus on the present, Master Sorah. We have a battle to win, and time is of the essence."
"But how? Kahless's Titan Avatar... it's a monster. And Poahf... well, for now she is no concern, but she is rather shifty."
The Rice Guru responded, "Do not underestimate the power of the Baboon Dragon Trinity, Master Sorah. They are formidable allies, each possessing unique abilities that will aid us in this fight."
"But... how do I control them? How do I... communicate with them?"
"You already are," the Rice Guru replied. "They are an extension of your will, your spirit. They will respond to your thoughts, your emotions."
"But..."
"No more questions, Master Sorah. It is time to act."
Soru Gurahs's eyes snapped open, and he raised his staff, the ethereal chains tethering the Baboon Dragons gained a newfound lustre.
"Let the dance begin," he whispered.
…
Kahless stared at the three Baboon Dragons. Compared to his Eden Ryuu they were still not quite on par with his majestic height, so this gave him some boost of courage.
“Hmm.”
He zoomed in on the central Baboon Dragon, the feminine one, its eyes were narrowed to a slit and its expression was serene as it held a mysterious flask in its hand. He could sense an immense power emanating from the flask, a power that rivalled even his own TerraFlow Kana.
'What is that thing?' he wondered.
Before Kahless could ponder further, the Baboon Dragon on the left, the one with the massive hammer, spoke with a brash, boisterous voice that echoed across the mountain.
"Ah! It's been a long time since we've tasted fresh air. Hasn't it, Bro and Big Sis?" Saruto flexed its muscular arms and brandished its hammer with a playfulness in its eyes. It then turned its gaze upwards, locking its eyes onto the Eden Ryuu Titan Avatar.
"Is that swimming worm in the air our target?" Saruto inquired with a hint of disdain.
Soru Gurahs nodded. "Yes, Saruto. That is the enemy. Defeat it."
“Yushaaaa!”
With a thunderous shout, Saruto dashed forward as it propelled itself upwards towards the dragon. The chain that connected it to the other Baboon Dragons extended, allowing it to move freely through the air.
"Prepare to face the wrath of the Baboon Dragon Trinity!"
Saruto's abrupt aggression shocked Kahless for a minute, but he immediately regained his composure. He lifted all ten of his arms, clenching them into fists, ready to block the onslaught.
"You're just a damn monkey! I'll crush you like a bug!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The dragon's fists rained down upon Saruto, striking with the force of a meteor shower. But Saruto was too quick. It weaved and dodged through the blows adroitly.
Swish!
With a swift swing of its hammer, Saruto struck one of the dragon's fists, and yelled, "Avoirdupois!" activating its unique ability.
Black rings of energy erupted from the head of the hammer, and the dragon's fist suddenly felt heavier, as if it were made of lead.
"What the...?" Kahless gasped in surprise as he felt his arm grow sluggish and unresponsive. The weight of the hammer was pulling his ginormous dragon form downwards, forcing him to exert more energy to stay aloft.
"Hah! Feeling a bit heavy, are we?" Saruto taunted with a bit of playful malice.
Struggling to maintain his balance, Kahless frustratingly hollered, "Damn you, you overgrown ape!"
He commanded his other arms to attack, but Saruto was too quick. It leaped and bounded through the air, weaving between the blows as its hammer struck with incredible speed and precision.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The dragon's body was bombarded by a series of blows that shattered its wooden arms and sent tremors through its massive frame.
Kahless, now struggling to stay airborne, cursed under his breath. "This... this is impossible! How can a mere monkey be so strong?"
He had never encountered an opponent like Saruto before, a creature that boggled the layman’s mind and wielded a hammer that seemed to defy gravity.
'I have to find a way to defeat it,' Kahless thought desperately.
He glanced at the other two Baboon Dragons, who were watching the battle calmly. The central one, the feminine one, still had its eyes closed, and its expression remained serene.
He could sense an immense power emanating from it, a power that he couldn't quite comprehend.
'What are those creatures really? And what is their connection to the old man?'
Just then, Saruto capitalized on Kahless's distraction and seized the opportunity and delivered a devastating blow. It swung its hammer with all its might, striking the dragon's head with a force that sent many black rings rippling through the air.
Boom!
"GRAAAAH!" Kahless roared in pain as he felt his vision blur and his head spin. He whipped backwards in the air and was plummeting towards the ground.
"I've got you now, worm!" Saruto exclaimed triumphantly.