To attract more and more visitors, each Evernaland Theme Park throughout the world took on various themes. And the main theme followed the locale’s history or legend. In this case, the theme park Main Street was the replica of Old Daitoshi City in Ancient Shima, at the time of the Shogunates.
As they walked through the park’s Old Daitoshi Main Street up to the Shogun Amigaharu Munetori monument in the center, it was eerily quiet. Unlike the pavilions where they had encountered monsters before, they saw no monsters or enemies here.
Something was not right, and Shiori could feel it.
Fuwa and Keiji were also on high alert, ready for any surprise attack. Suddenly, monsters appeared out of nowhere, attacking the group. It was an ambush, and there were too many of them at once. Nishi was struggling to keep up, exclaiming that it was impossible to defeat them all.
Just as things were looking dire, a shadowy figure appeared and slashed into the enemies at once.
Recognizing that figure, Shiori shouted, “Ninja Ryonoken!”
“Come, follow me!” Ryonoken said as he motioned for the group to follow him. He led them to a narrow path, and as they moved together, he instructed them to make use of the terrain to their advantage.
As expected, the assorted monsters charged blindly into the path, and they quickly became sitting ducks for the agents. Soon, the monsters were decimated and the rest scampered away.
Shiori couldn’t help but feel grateful for Ryonoken’s presence. She looked at Ryonoken in disbelief. He was known as a living legend, a ninja who moved like a juvenile and yet, was wise beyond his years. He had come to their rescue not only once, but twice, and Shiori couldn’t help but wonder how much more Ryonoken knew about her and her past.
She had so many questions about her past and her brother. She expressed them, but Ryonoken was not revealing much.
“Why do you watch over me?” Shiori asked.
“Let’s say I’m indebted to your foster father,” Ryonoken replied. “And I swore to protect him and his family from whoever inherits the evil Muramasa’s Katana. I failed to prevent Hannya from killing Miura, so I tried to protect you and Shingo to compensate for my life debt.”
Shiori was surprised to hear that Ryonoken knew that Shingo was alive. She had thought that her brother was dead all this time. But Ryonoken was hesitant to reveal Shingo’s whereabouts. He had made a promise to Hannya to conceal their locations from each other, and he had to keep that promise.
As they walked, Shiori couldn’t help but ask Ryonoken about Hannya. “Do you know anything about Hannya’s true intention?”
“I can only assume that Hannya is up to no good,” Ryonoken replied. “You better work on your powers, because sooner or later, you, no, we must confront him.”
Nishi was amazed by Ryonoken’s humility. “Aren’t you Hannya’s equal and rival?” she asked.
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“Before he got Muramasa, yes,” Ryonoken replied. “But after Muramasa, I’m not sure. Miura succumbed to him, and I lost to him in our last encounter. So, he’s stronger than each of us now.”
“Even you can’t match with Hannya,” Nishi said. “How can we fight him?”
Ryonoken was silent for a moment, and Shiori could tell that he was thinking. “We must be prepared,” he finally said. “Train hard and sharpen your skills. Only then will we stand a chance against him?”
“But, I wonder, do you have godly powers?” Keiji asked.
Ryonoken shook his head. “No. Speed and stealth are my powers, and I don’t consider them as ‘godly’.”
Finally, Fuwa spoke, “Such a humble statement from a warrior of your stature, Ryonoken. I’m Fuwa Mizutani, it’s an honor to finally meet you at last.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” the ninja bowed to the GI Director. “I’m so glad to see the living descendant a hero in the Shimanese Civil War, Mizutani Goemon living up to the name exalted by Shogun Munetori himself.”
Hearing this, Fuwa bowed real low towards Ryonoken as a sign of the highest possible respect.
“Would you mind joining us in this mission, Ninja Ryonoken?” asked Fuwa humbly. “Anyone who holds honor above anything else is worthy of trust and respect, GI agent or not. So, I’m sure you’ll be a great help to us from now on.”
“By all means, I’ll join and help you. Besides, I must assist Shiori more closely now, not just watch from afar,” said Ryo.
“Shin Kamui be praised! Thank you, Ryonoken.” Fuwa then urged the team to take action. “Well, our time is getting shorter and shorter. Let’s hurry before Todo and Mori’s meeting is over!”
Consulting the map again, Shiori couldn’t help thinking that she and her team were going in a zig-zag route. To get to the Kraal’thragon Citadel zone at the farthest end of the map from the entrance, they must cross the next zone, the rides in the Mallevarte Mountain magma caves.
Shiori’s team of GI agents and a ninja set foot on the replica of Mallevarte Mountain, feeling the chill run down her spine. The slopes were ominous and mysterious, an enigma of nature. The dark and foreboding landscape was enough to set anyone on edge.
Of course, all of those were not real, only special effects to make the thematic lava cave experience in this zone more realistic. The odd thing was, the effects, which required power were turned on despite the theme park being closed and all.
As Shiori walked, she felt a strange presence, a feeling of being watched, and a sense of danger lurking in the shadows.
Ryonoken suddenly shushed, breaking her from her thoughts. She glanced at him, his eyes wide with alertness, and she knew he had sensed something.
“What’s up?” she whispered, already on guard.
“Ssh! I sense a presence and a stealthy movement. Be on guard!” Ryonoken whispered back, and without another word, they formed a defensive stance.