The Cave

"You say there's something valuable?" asked Zhōng, peering into the cave.

"Yes sir," said a person.

"Legends say it's a weapon," said another.

"A weapon, what kind of weapon?" asked Zhōng, looking up at them.

"We don't know, it never says, just a weapon that can bring this empire to its knees." said the second person.

"How come my father never searched for it while we had the chance?" thought Zhōng. It's been three months since the offer of the princess's life as Zhōng searched for small militias that disappeared and never were found. On his search, he overheard something valuable in a cave nearby and decided to investigate it. "More importantly, why didn't the empress try to search for it?" he continued to think.

"Looks like someone tried to go in there." said Zhōng, noticing the line of rope that ran deep into the cave.

"We have a buddy looking down there already but he hasn't come up yet." said the first.

"So not only do you want me to find this weapon but also your friend?" asked Zhōng.

"Is that too much trouble for you?" asked the first.

Zhōng pondered on what he was told before answering, "I'll see what I can do if I find the weapon first then I'm leaving him."

"Thank you, Dual Bladed Ninja." praised the second one. The first one handed Zhōng a line of rope as well and he went in.

The cave was dark and empty but a faint hiss could be heard if trained to hear it. Something was down there as Zhōng continued his way down following the line of rope. The only light from the cave was the mouth of it and Zhōng's torched as he went deeper until the end of the line ended. He bent down and analyzed it, seeing it was snapped due to the sharp edge of the rocks. "Either these crocks are smart or I'm just that gullible." Zhōng said to himself as he dropped his torch down and began to climb down deeper into the cave to search for the weapon.

Princess Zhen rode her horse proudly while it hurdled another boulder. She was having the time of her life as she and Lord Zào raced each other around the fields on the edge of his father's fiefdom. "You seem to really enjoy this, your majesty," he commented.

"It's about time I have some fun before I head back to school." giggled Princess Zhen. Her mother left her two months ago and told her to stay until school started again. She trained with Captain Howin in her sword art but much rather be fighting in her mech form. The past two days, however, the captain suggested that the two of them should camp out for a couple of nights and then return home just to give her fresh air and to have some peace.

"I'm sure you will have plenty of fun things to do for the school year." assured Lord Zào. Suddenly there was an ear-piercing horse cry coming over the ridge.

"Did you hear that?" asked Princess Zhen as another cry came soon after.

"Sounds like a damsel in distress." said Lord Zào, he drew his sword and begin to charge where the sound came from.

"Why do I get the feeling you have somewhat of a relationship with this one?" Princess Zhen thought. She rode after him, by the time she caught up he had one beat and the second one his heels. She drew her blade and while he was distracted with Lord Zào, she came behind him before jumping off her horse, somersaulting before planting her feet as she swung and the back of his legs. He went down with a cry of pain as two blades were pointing at his face.

Lord Zào tied the crocks hands and feet together as Princess Zhen hung onto the reins of both their horses. "Now that both of you are tied up, we are going to take that horse back and then we'll come back for you." said Lord Zào as he left them and walked over to the horse that cried for help. As he reached up to take the reins, the horse jerked away and neighed the same way he did before. "Can't you tell I'm trying to help you?"

The horse neighed, even more, jerking his head in a direction, however, Lord Zào was so busy trying to calm the horse down that he didn't notice the indication. Princess Zhen followed the horse's indication and saw a cave. The month was dark and gloomy and the aura hit her face, but what made her afraid the most was two lines of ropes tied to a rock nearby. "Lord Zào, look," she said, Lord Zào turned around and followed where the princess's eyes led him to see the cave as well.

"I take it, the owner of this horse is down in that cave." assumed Lord Zào.

"You'll never see him again." said the first thief.

"The cave has a steep cliff, at the bottom, there are monsters." said the second.

"I take it you pushed them in and told them to climb up only to cut their ropes." said Lord Zào, piecing why they would take the stubborn horse.

"You said we'll never see him again, who are you talking about?" asked Princess Zhen, the phrase stuck to her as she tried to figure out who this was.

The first thief laughed before the second said, "The legend himself, The Dual Bladed Ninja." He then joined his friend in laughing.

"Alright, time to silence you." said Lord Zào, returning to them and about to begin slitting their throats.

"Don't, we can't kill and leave them," said Princess Zhen as Lord Zào was about to do it.

"The crows will eat them and if anyone sees them, they will assume more bodies from the Eight-Year War," said Lord Zào.

"Not those two, their clothes don't look like soldiers." corrected Princess Zhen as Lord Zào paused what he was doing.

"You heard those two, a cliff with monsters at the bottom. Also, he's a legend now, I'm sure he's fine. Not to mention, he poisoned you the last time you saw him." reminded Lord Zào.

"He did what he had to." said Princess Zhen even though she was puzzled as to why. "I can't just leave him if he is in trouble." Lord Zào looked at his thieves then at his future wife. He wanted to get home, but knows he has to perform his duties even if it means going into a monster cave. "Also monsters are a myth, no one has ever seen monsters."

"I forgot about that." grumbled Lord Zào as he left the thieves alone and grabbed two lines of rope "If I come back and see you gone, I wouldn't mind the Dual Bladed Ninja taking care of you two." he said to them before they entered the cave.

The cave was dark and empty but a faint hiss could barely be heard as they went deeper. The only light was Lord Zào's torch as they continued deeper. They stopped near the edge of a cliff that led deeper down, on the ground nearby were two cut ropes. "Definitely sabotage," stated Lord Zào after analyzing.

"Then we need to go after them." said Princess Zhen as she began to climb down.

"Your majesty, with all due respect, is he seriously worth it? He is a criminal that breaks the law for money." asked Lord Zào.

Princess Zhen paused and pondered on what he asked her. Why was she going after a criminal she knows well? "I don't know why I am, but what I do know is they are taking too long. So whatever the reason why, we should investigate." she said before continuing her climb down.

"As you wish," acknowledged Lord Zào as he began climbing after her. Suddenly there was an audible crack, the two froze and looked at each other. "That can't be me," he defended himself. Then the rocks Princess Zhen cling onto fell loose and she began to fall. "Your majesty!"

Princess Zhen rolled down the cliff as Lord Zào climbs faster down after her. When they reached the bottom, Lord Zào lit another torch and ran to check on her. "Ow, ow, ow." whimpered Princess Zhen, grabbing her left leg.

"You alright?" asked Lord Zào, she shot him a look as if he wasn't looking. "Let me see your leg." he said, noticing the leg. With one touch Princess Zhen groaned in pain. "It's going to be alright, we'll climb back up." said Lord Zào before noticing his and her ropes were laying sloppy on the ground around them. "Maybe the cliff edge is sharp," he pondered.

"Well sitting here won't do us good." said Princess Zhen as tried to stand up. Her ankle spiked with pain and she fell back down after she couldn't take it. She needed it to be treated before they could move but Lord Zào was too scatter-brained to think of that. Suddenly there was a terrifying shrill. "Did you hear that?" asked Princess Zhen as they looked in the direction where it came from.

The shrill sounded again except in a different direction. "Might be a bat," said Lord Zào unsure. As it came again except above now, "Where is…" he began.

"GET DOWN!!!" said a person tackling Lord Zào and then using his cloak to put out the torch. A second jump on top of Princess Zhen before she could scream a hand was placed over her mouth. When the torch went out, a monster with a human skull and a turquoise glow appeared just inches away from Princess Zhen and the stranger. It shrilled some more and getting no response went back to the cave ceiling. The sight of the thing had their eyes widen watching it searching for a response.

"Get off of me," said Lord Zào as he pushed the stranger that tackled him off. "You can get off of her Dual Bladed Ninja, I'm sure she's okay now." he said as he walked over to them.

"Uh, I would've thought you'd be more observant, my lord." the stranger behind him said. Lord Zào turned around to see that the one that tackled him carried two blades. "And you owe me a new cloak." said Truman, picking up the cloak that he used to put out the torch and put it back on.

"Then if you tackled me, who tackled the princess?" asked Lord Zào as he turned around. He saw the princess look pale and her eyes were still big. Two dark blue eyes stare right back at her from under the cowl.

"Okay Zhōng, get off of her before her boyfriend slits your throat." ordered Truman. The stranger removed his hand on Princess Zhen's mouth and got off her. His obedience shocked both Lord Zào and Princess Zhen. "Now, if you want to get out of here, you might want to come with us. Otherwise, that thing that just attacked you might do it again."

"And why should we go with you?" asked Lord Zào as he snapped back into reality as Zhōng moved silently past him.

"Because staying with a pack or tribe will increase your chance of survival." said Zhōng as he stopped by Truman's side. His mouth moved and his eyes glowed, but other than the Ninja Sword on his left hip, there wasn't much else to describe him as the cloak wrapped around him.

"And I take it you know where one is." said Lord Zào, he didn't like the idea of staying someplace where the former prince stayed.

"I never expected him to grow up like this." said Zhōng, ensuring Lord Zào heard him.

"Trust me, even he wouldn't like staying with rock monsters but it's either them or staying out where that thing can pick you off." added Truman.

"Wait, you said rock monsters?" asked Lord Zào, he was scared of that thing but he also wasn't expecting any other kinds.

A couple of minutes later, they were back with a tribe of aqua blue rock monsters. Zhōng and Truman had a spot by the cave walls and were surrounded by them. "What time was it before you entered?" Truman asked Lord Zào as Zhōng took care of Princess Zhen's ankle. She stared coldly at him as he bandaged her without saying a word.

"About noon, do you want the date?" asked Lord Zào, keeping his eye on the former prince.

"So about four hours," said Truman to himself. "Time must have moved differently here."

"Really, does it feel like forever?" asked Lord Zào.

"Felt like a week since we've been stuck down here." commented Zhōng as he continued his work.

"Silence you, stay out of this talk and finish up." snapped Lord Zào.

"Like he said, it felt like weeks. The cave system is huge and winding, just when you think you're there, there are more ways to go." said Truman.

"And all are dead ends." noted Zhōng, Lord Zào turned his body around sharply and got into a ready-to-fight stance. "If you think you can beat me, then consider carrying lots of scars." he warned him.

"Oh, you know how to fight?" mocked Lord Zào. A quick snap of the head and two dark blues eyes stare deep into himself. They were cold and hot, demons began to crawl out of them. While he didn't look ready, he was stiff and ready to attack.

"Remember back when I said, he does it routinely? Well interrogating people with that stare and no wonder you wet your pants." said Truman amused by the exchange.

"I didn't wet my pants." stuttered Lord Zào as he tried to defend himself he was on the opposite side of the conversation than he wanted. He stood down and melted onto a rock nearby.

Zhōng's cloak moved as he shook his head underneath it. Princess Zhen still said nothing and continued to stare at him while having her sword close by. "Done, considering it's a sprain, once we're out, stay off of it, for now, get some rest." said Zhōng after he finished nursing her ankle. He got up and walked over to the other boys where they watched. "You should as well, my lord." he said to them.

"If you think I'm going to sleep while you stay up and do whatever, you're wrong. I won't shut my eyes until you are out." said Lord Zào. A couple of minutes later, he was out sound asleep snoring.

"I don't know who's louder, he or the rock monsters." joked Truman.

"We now need to get out of here." sighed Zhōng.

"You think it didn't matter before?" asked Truman.

"The more time we spend in here, the slower time moves outside. Also, how many of these rest stops will it take to fill a day?" said Zhōng. A rock monster walked right by their camp, it saw the lord and the princess sleeping while the two boys guarded and looked prepared to fight. After its scan, the monster stomped away and continued its patrol.

"And the longer we stay with them, the more we look suspicious and the bigger the risk gets." noted Truman.

"We know this was a trap, but we had to go through with it." said Zhōng.

"At least the treasure is priceless." said Truman as the monster who previously attacked them shrill. They looked up to see the spider-like body that glowed turquoise lit up the ceiling of the cave. It scanned the herd as if it was looking for something.

"It's not the rock monsters I'm worried about, it's that thing I'm concerned with." worried Zhōng as they watch it crawl. He turned around to see the two people that joined their party were sleeping still.

Princess Zhen heard their entire conversation, her back was facing towards them so they couldn't see her face. She couldn't sleep as she didn't trust Zhōng, her past experience with his family ruined their friendship. But what they said made her interested, "What's the treasure? Why are they concerned?" she thought.

After a couple of hours of rest, they moved on with the rock monsters down a trail. Every time a rock monster passed by, it looked at them interestingly as Lord Zào helped Princess Zhen to walk as Truman and Zhōng walked on each side of them. "Remind me, why am I the only one carrying her?" grumbled Lord Zào.

"One, in case we have to fight, we can draw our swords out to protect you faster than one of us carrying her." began Zhōng.

"Two, we're thieves, do you want us any closer than we are right now?" continued Truman.

"And three, I'm the last person you'd like to see carrying the princess." finished Zhōng. He can feel Princess Zhen's stare on him still, even walking the heat could be felt that it could challenge his own.

The tribe stopped for a break giving the group a chance to catch their breaths. Princess Zhen was barely breathing hard, but Lord Zào was and the two others were breathing normally. Another rock monster walked by as it took a closer look at both of the thieves. They were in sync, hands ready for the blade, eyes dancing for any surprising movements, and on their toes ready to jump back or charge. After he was satisfied with its look, the monster stomped away. "Where did those things come from?" asked Lord Zào when he caught his breath.

"You honestly forgot or seeing one for the first time you can't wrap your head around?" asked Zhōng in disbelief.

"That should be the kindergarten level of history for you lords." added Truman, shocked as well.

"Well considering I forgot, might as well tell me?" snapped Lord Zào.

Zhōng shook his head before answering, "These things used to roam on land, they were all over this empire before it was even founded. When our ancestors decided to settle deeper in the lands, they ran into them and both sides couldn't get along. Our ancestors fought them, losing many men before the First Wielder of the Ninja Sword defeated their leader. No one knows why they turned and hid within the caves, but with their leader defeated, it's possible they weren't organized for a counterattack."

"And it happens to be this cave that they are in here as well." concluded Princess Zhen keeping her heated stare on Zhōng. A shrill of the monster above sounded as it followed them but didn't attack because they were in a pack. Truman and Lord Zào looked up to see it but Princess Zhen and Zhōng continued to stare at each other. Her furious eyes met with his cold eyes showing no signs of backing down.

"Ok, what about that thing?" said Lord Zào as he watched it crawl on the ceiling.

"What do you mean?" asked Truman.

"Why is that thing following us as well? Is it looking for something?" asked Lord Zào. Truman looked at Zhōng who took a break to look at him. They knew of something but were cautious to tell.

"You know of something, what is it?" said Princess Zhen enunciating the last parts.

"We came for treasure and didn't find anything, now we are stuck with these things until we find another way out." said Zhōng showing no emotion, turning his back towards the group.

Truman looked at the other two who were expecting him to tell. "To put simply we're gullible." he said. He then looked at his friend worriedly, time was almost out and they had the artifact.

They continued walking a short time later, Princess Zhen's ankle was feeling a little better but still was painful. She was grateful but she looked at the boy who mend it with a confused and glared. "Why did he do it? Why did he decide to help me now?" thoughts jump into her head. Zhōng, feeling uncomfortable with the situation they were in, decided to walk in front while Truman was behind.

"Is it just me or are we walking in circles?" asked Lord Zào, feeling like he saw the same walls before.

"We are," confirmed Truman.

"And yet you're letting them lead us like this?" exploded Lord Zào as he turned around to face Truman.

"Once we know the cave system better, we will split from them. The problem we run into is that thing above us." explained Truman.

"Do you have any idea why?" asked Lord Zào as he theorized reasons.

"No," answered Truman as his eyes got cold with the same feeling as Zhōng's.

"You said you came down for treasure and never found any. But the fact is you did and tried to lie to us, perhaps because you stole it and they want it back." accused Lord Zào. The group suddenly stopped with the tribe as well to hear this out.

"My lord now won't be a great time to discuss this." warned Truman. Lord Zào heard a hiss from a blade behind him to see Zhōng unsheathe the Ninja Sword and held it firmly in one hand. But his eyes weren't on him, rather they were scanning for any signs of sudden movement.

"Oh really, I'm sorry we'll talk about this later then." said Lord Zào sarcastically. Suddenly he drew his Fafnir Sword and swung it at Truman. He jumped backwards to evade the blade, but as he did it, a blue orb out of his shirt bounced and then rolled to Princess Zhen's feet. She picked it up and saw herself in it, she looked beautiful and years older than she was.

"Uh, oh," realized Zhōng. He looked around to see the rock monsters that they walked with, eyes set hungrily at the blue orb. "Your majesty, my lord." he began addressing as the two snapped away from the ball and looked at him. "Hit the ground!" he screamed as he fell. They turned around to see Truman ready to fire, just as he did, they dropped to the ground as the beam blew past them, knocking out a dozen of rock monsters. Zhōng looked at his right hand and trembled, most of it was turning to ash.

"I'll take that back, princess." said Truman rushing past them, taking the orb and putting it back underneath his cloak before drawing his second sword. The rock monster roared like a battle cry as all of them began to march towards them.

"Okay, so what's the plan now?" asked Lord Zào as he trembled from the looks of things.

"This never would have happened if you let us have more time." said Zhōng as he got back up and drew the Ninja Sword.

"We now only have one option still." began Truman he widen deeper in his fighting stance with Zhōng.

"Run!" cried Zhōng as he and Truman grabbed Princess Zhen and Lord Zào and began sprinting down a part of the cave system with rock monsters on their trail.

The system tossed and turned every which way, when Lord Zào got up to the pace, Truman let go of him and turned around to fend off the monsters that could catch them. Zhōng helped Princess Zhen all the way through as she hobbled through it. "Zhōng, I think that's far enough." screamed Truman as he caught up with them.

"Keep going," ordered Zhōng as he handed Princess Zhen to Lord Zào. They continued to go a little further until they turned around to see Zhōng firing at the ceiling collapsing the cave.

When the dust settled, light poured into the cave as the rope they used to get down lay tangled within the rubble. "Don't you think that was a little too close?" asked Truman as he and Zhōng got back up. They had to dive to avoid being crushed by the ceiling.

"Well next time, you do it." replied Zhōng.

Princess Zhen and Lord Zào rejoined them as the light continued to pour into the cave. She looked at Zhōng who still had his cowl up but the light only hid even more of his features. "Was that seriously all we had to do to get out?" asked Lord Zào.

"Well, we just got lucky." said Truman as he led the way, they began to climb to the outside world. They were all relieved to see the light from their world just meters away until Zhōng stopped and the others did a little further. "What's wrong?" Truman asked.

"This seems too easy." said Zhōng as turn his head back a little.

"What do you mean?" asked Princess Zhen as she followed his look.

"We don't know if that tunnel has another way in," said Zhōng.

"Have you gotten paranoid over these years? We'll be long gone before those things can catch us." said Lord Zào as he continued his climb up.

Suddenly from the rocks underneath sprang arms and bodies of rock monsters. They climb faster as the monsters gather their forces before they charge. "We'll be gone before they catch us." mocked Truman as one tried to jump them only to get slashed by him.

A shrill sounded and they froze as they looked to find it. The monster could never be seen with enough light, however, its shadow made it exposed as it clung to one of the walls revealing certain details. "Oh yeah, yeah, certainly we'll be gone before that thing can chase us." agreed Zhōng as he slashed one as well.

The monster smashed some rock monsters as it charged towards Truman lunging with one of its claws. Truman saw it coming and somersaulted backwards before going on the offensive against that thing. "You two get out of here, we'll handle this." he said, struggling against the weight put on by the claws.

"You hear him, your majesty, let's go." said Lord Zào, picking Princess Zhen up and dashing towards the exit. She looked back to see two boys fending off the rock monsters and the thing.

Zhōng and Truman continued to fight, they've been fighting most of their lives. Every ounce of pain they suffered as one, they forced it back onto the rock monsters tenfold each. "You know it's funny how our personalities completely change since we touch that orb." struggle Zhōng taking on five rock monsters.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep both ours in check." said Truman as he evaded jabs from the thing as it shrilled again. He then turned his attention to ten rock monsters, he was able to take out four before the thing took out the rest. Looking back, he remembers entering the cave system and exploring before he came upon a chamber. And at its center, was the orb. He started to remember seeing the thing for the first time as it crawled everywhere before looking at him curiously. Feeling he was about to be under attack, he dashed at the orb and took it, and ran off as it chased him. That was when he accidentally discovered it can make clone versions of himself. They notice a tribe and head towards it before they notice that the thing was no longer chasing them and decided to investigate why.

"Well considering you kept me so serious, I think now is the time I break out one of our jokes." said Zhōng giving Truman a break as he fend off against the thing.

"Now I want to know how our sister handled us for so many years." said Truman fending off the rock monsters. Zhōng smirked but the thing slashed him and put him on his back. "Zhōng!" cried Truman as he side-cut at some more rock monsters.

The thing pounced on Zhōng, he blocked it with his sword as it shrilled violently. And took a stab at his leg, Zhōng cried in pain and Truman felt it as he tumbled down and then was tackled by rock monsters. He never felt something so painful in his life. Zhōng continued to fight when notice a spherical outer shape shell on the thing's belly and had an idea. "Truman, throw me the orb." he cried.

"Kind of busy right now." replied Truman trying to crawl his way out.

"I can't hold it anymore, I need it now," said Zhōng. When Truman got half his body free, he saw why he needed it. He reached into his cloak and tossed it at Zhōng. The instant the orb left Truman's hands, Zhōng started to deteriorate again. There was no time to lose, he let his left hand that supported the sword go to catch it. The claws slid and pinned his arm down but with a flick of his wrist, the orb found its spot. The monster shrieked as the power from the orb flowed through it. The rock monster had fear come over them and they retreated leaving Truman and almost gone Zhōng alone to be swallowed into a bright light.

"Wake up," a voice cried as Zhōng woke up and sat straight up as he assessed where he was at. It was a white void and nothing else, there was no cave or the evening sun only an endless plain of white.

"Who said that?" asked Zhōng cautiously.

"I did," the voice said again. Zhōng spun around standing up with his knife in his left hand. "It's alright, I won't hurt you." the voice said. A girl with long blond hair stood in front of him as her green eyes glistened as her hair swayed in a breezeless place.

"Alice?"

"No, I'm not her," she chuckled. "I simply used a face that you are friendly with." she said.

"So you are in my head." summarized Zhōng.

"Not necessarily yours but mine." she said.

"How?"

"You're the one who replenished my orb into me." she said. Zhōng then put the two things together as he understood he was in the head of the terrifying monster. "Perhaps my exoskeleton will be better to speak with." she suggested.

"No, this is fine." he finally said as put away his blade. "Who are you?"

"I am Eula, leader of the aqua rock monsters and protector of the power to duplicate. As you've seen first hand, Former Prince Zhōng." said Eula.

"I don't remember saying my name, did you take that as well?" asked Zhōng.

"You're an interesting boy, I like you better than your predecessor," commented Eula.

"What do you mean by that?"

"When your people first settled onto this land, they feared us and took everything we know. Your ancestor, the First Wielder of the Ninja Sword wanted to live in peace but did nothing to help that cause and turned a blind eye. I soon had enough and declared war, but I had too much pride. That sword you carried, I've never seen anything like it. Although I was winning, he took a surprise attack to put me down. That blade knocked my orb I was protecting out of my chest and he put it into this cave." said Eula as she recalled the events.

"Why didn't you take it when you found it?"

"He put a curse on it, only his family can retrieve it. And he didn't want that to happen." explained Eula. "He may have always wanted peace, but did nothing about it when war arrives at the door."

"So that's the reason why I could grab it, even your men couldn't?"

"They tried as they lusted for its power, with it they could destroy towns and cities that your civilization built. They turned against me and now I have my power back, they'll be sorry." said Eula. "But before I do anything to them, why did you throw orb back into me?"

Zhōng paused for a minute, even he was puzzled. "I don't know, maybe because I figure that's the only reason to live. I fight and I run, and I saw something that I had to let go while I ran." he finally said.

"Then perhaps as gratitude, if you need me, I'm at your service, former prince." said Eula as she bowed. Zhōng nodded and bowed as well as the world they were in began to crumble.

Lord Zào was finishing tying the bandits to their horses while taking care of his and the princess's. They were gone for five hours but it felt like five days. While he took care of things, Princess Zhen watched the mouth of the cave hoping to see them come out. They just made it out when they heard a shriek then silence. The longer she waited the more worried she became for Truman. Suddenly she heard a grunt of exhaustion, she stood up to see a figure in a cloak with two swords. He was exhausted and injured in a few places. "Truman!" she cried, alerting Lord Zào's attention to it.

"How did you get out of that?" asked Lord Zào as Princess Zhen limb towards him with joy.

"Are you alright?" asked Princess Zhen as she came closer. Suddenly without warning, Truman drew both of his blades with one pointing at the princess and the other behind him.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" asked Lord Zào as began rushing to the princess's aid.

"Stay back!" shouted Truman, though he wasn't talking to him. His eyes lit up like blue fire, his stare was cold and mysterious like a mist and his stance wasn't to attack but rather to defend. Princess Zhen couldn't see past him, but she knew who he was protecting.

"Okay, I won't," she said as she backed away. Lord Zào was caught in disbelief as the moment Princess Zhen stepped back, Truman lowered his weapons. "Considering he helped us, I won't tell and neither will Lord Zào." she said, saying the last part as a warning.

"As you wish, your majesty." quivered Lord Zào. He looked at Truman as he whistled his horse to come. "What about him? You're going to leave him out here?"

"He has one of seven most powerful swords in all the world. He should be fine, plus it would be rude for me not to escort you back." explained Truman as he got on his horse and trotted over to where the others were. "Also, I would like to have a long discussion with them before their execution." the two thieves quivered as he spoke to them.

They soon went on their way, but in the cave as the last light entered. A skull of the clone of Zhōng was the only thing remaining and when the light left it, the skull itself returned to ash. The clock has now begun to tick audibly for the end of the Dual Bladed Ninja.