The boys and Julia had driven back into the city. Ryo had to get White Blaze and everyone had individual preparations to make. They dropped Julia off at her

house and would be back to pick her up shortly. Julia could not leave Sly behind, and she needed to get her own equipment together.

Julia was in her room changing into her adventuring clothes, when Sly started to bark. Julia looked over at the dresser and saw her crystal ball glowing,

indicating a message. She walked over and picked it up. Beth was inside, and waiting.

"Julia! At last, where have you been? I have been trying to reach you all night! Those names you gave me, they are the names of the..."

"Ronin Warriors, yes I know. You won’t believe what has happened! Beth...I have a lot to tell you." Julia explained to her sister about Krogg and the coming

battle. She told her sister that she was going to the Netherworld to fight him, and about her decision to give Dais another chance. Beth frowned.

"Julia, I think you are making a big mistake." Beth sighed. "As far as Dais goes, I know how you feel about him, and I don’t think I can give you any real

advise, you know I think all those ‘ex-warlords’ are jerks... but it is your decision." Beth voice turned to a worried tone, "Julie, I really don’t want you to go.

Krogg is so very strong, and I fear all of you might be walking into a trap. I wish you would reconsider. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you! I can’t

believe that the imbalance we sensed was Krogg! You know he has sworn revenge against us."

"I know Beth, but I want to help. Don’t worry, I will be careful. We sent Krogg to the Netherworld, and now I intend to make sure he stays there! Would you

like to come with me? Two is better than one..."

"I’d really like to, but things are so crazy here, I don’t think I can get away. Yet, it sounds as if you guys are going to need all the help you can get… I will try

to send some along the way, okay? And if you should need me, I will come on a moment’s notice!"

"Thank you, dear sister. I love you, be well. Don’t worry, we can take Krogg! I’m taking the crystal with me, so we can stay in contact. I have to go now, the

guys will be here to pick me up any minute."

"Okay, take care! And good luck!" Beth disappeared from the crystal and Julia placed it into a magical belt pouch.

A chime rang through the house. Julia placed her belt pouch on her left side and raced down the stairs to answer the door. She swung the door open to find

Sage leaning against the doorframe. "Hi Sage, where are the others?" Julia smiled.

"Oh, they’ll be along any second. That is quite an outfit you got there." Sage smiled back as he passed through the door and entered the house.

"Thanks." Julia was dressed in a dark brown tunic, leather heeled boots, a large pouch was tied to her waist, and a golden locket hung about her neck. Her

hair was neatly pulled back and braided. She had a dagger sheathed at each wrist, and one in her right boot. The heels of her boots could slide off to reveal

metal spikes as well. Her belt pouch also contained a secret.

"What’s in the bag?" Sage pointed to her belt pouch.

"More than you think." she smiled. "It is a bag of holding: a mystical bag that shrinks its contents to allow more items to fit inside, and when you pull something

out, it regains its natural size." Julia explained.

"Really?" Sage moved closer, "Is there some hidden power in your locket too?" He smiled, and lifted the necklace with a finger. His face was very close to

Julia’s and Sage was more interested in that, than her locket. Suddenly very uncomfortable, Julia stepped back and said, "Uh… Maybe it does, and maybe it

doesn’t. I thought we cleared up the flirting thing, Sage?"

Sage tried to look innocent, but did not succeed. "I wasn’t flirting!"

"Yeah, right." Julia laughed and sat down. Sage sat down in a chair and looked at her thoughtfully. "What is it Sage?"

"I was just thinking, when you first got here, it was about the same time that the disturbances started in the Netherworld." Julia nodded in response. "So, the

only reason you came to Japan, was to monitor the events?"

"Yep, that’s it in a nutshell." She answered quickly.

"No offense, but I find that hard to believe. Do you have something personal at stake here? It just seems a bit odd that you would travel across the world to

‘monitor’ something that doesn’t concern you." Julia swallowed hard. "I beginning to think you are holding out on us, Julie." Julia sighed.

"You’re right, Sage. I do have something personal at stake. Krogg is an old foe of mine. He tried to gain control of the mortal world about 50 years ago, but

the few remaining sorcerers on Earth fought against him. It was all over in one bloody battle. My twin sister, Beth, and I were the only ones to survive it. We

banished Krogg to the Netherworld, and we cannot allow him to escape. If he gets free, then he will surely kill us and destroy the mortal world in his

vengeance." Julia rested her head in her hands. " It appears as if there are many Talpas in this universe."

"Julie, this is important! Why didn’t you mention this before?" Sage questioned.

"I didn’t think you could handle it, you were all so shocked by finding out what I really was." Julia replied. "But you’re right it is important. Don’t worry, I will

tell everyone before we leave. I promise."

"Okay... Julia, there is just one more thing that’s bothering me,"

"And what’s that?" Julia asked.

"Well, what you said before...about not wanting to get into a relationship while you’re here..." Julia looked down, "Was that because of Dais?"

"Yes."

"What happened there?" Embarrassed, he added, " I’m sorry. It’s none of my business."

"It’s alright, Sage." she looked up. "I met Dais when he was a dark warlord. We fell in love, or at least I thought. We tried to keep it a secret, but Talpa found

out, and was he furious! He split us apart and increased his control over Dais. He wanted to make sure I had no influence on him. So, he sent his minions to

kill me. That is how I came to fight the Dynasty. My love for Dais quickly turned to hate, and I was made to feel the pain of my foolishness. But soon I left the

area, and our battles ceased. The next thing I heard, was that he and the other warlords had turned good and helped to defeat Talpa...with you." Julia stared

off into space as she recounted her story.

"I’m sorry, Julia. I didn’t know. It must be terribly hard, for you, to see him again." Sage was very sympathetic.

"It’s alright. We had along talk about it last night. Everything happened so many years ago, and I know that he has changed. So, we decided to put the past

behind us and make a fresh start." She finished just as the doorbell rang again. "I guess that ends ‘story-time’ today."

"Perhaps a fresh start is best." Sage replied as they went to the door. Julia opened the door to find four guys leaning on each other’s shoulders with a great

white tiger behind them. At first glance, Julia and Sage thought they might be drunk. All of them smiled wide, silly grins. "Hi Juuulieeeee!" They chanted. Julia

immediately started laughing, and Sage was not long to follow.

"Come on in. That was great, guys! You are so crazy!" she laughed.

"You ready to go?" Cye asked still smiling uncontrollably.

"Yep, come on Sly!" Sly came scampering down the stairs and leaped up into Julia’s arms. She smiled and gave him a little kiss. "Let us be off!"

* * * * * * * * * * *

At Mia’s house Cale and Dais sat in the living room watching TV as they waited for the others to return. Mia was upstairs working on her computer trying to

find any information on Krogg, but to no avail. She could not find any files whatsoever on this new warlord. She was beginning to get a little frustrated.

Cale was rolling the remote control over and over in his hands, he wasn’t really watching the television, it was merely keeping him from going crazy as they

waited. Needless to say, patience was not in his nature. He looked over at Dais, who was lost in thought, and rolled his eyes. "I can’t believe she’s got you

hooked again."

Dais turned and glared at Cale, "What are you talking about?"

"You know, I am not stupid. I can tell when you are thinking about that girl."

"So, what do you care?"

"I care because we are about to go into combat. Not exactly a good time to be distracted by romance, my friend."

"You needn’t worry about my distractions, Cale. I assure you I will be very focused on the battlefield." Cale looked at Dais with uncertainty and finally

shrugged and went back to his fidgeting. Soon a car was heard pulling into the driveway. "At last!" Cale exclaimed. He was more than ready to return to the

Netherworld.

The Ronins entered the living room with White Blaze, Julia, and Sly just as Mia came downstairs. Cale and Dais rose as the room began to fill. "Jules, lookin’

sharp!" Dais smiled at her as she came into the room.

"Thanks" she smiled back.

"Spare Me!" Cale rolled his eyes.

Mia decided to quickly change the subject, "I have been search files all morning, guys, but I couldn’t find any information on this Krogg character. I’m sorry."

Mia said as she descended the base of the stairs.

"Don’t feel bad, Mia. All documents that Krogg ever existed in the mortal realm were destroyed decades ago." Julia said, very matter-of-factly, as she stepped

around the couch.

"How do you know that?!" Ryo asked.

"Well..." Julia proceeded to tell everyone about her previous encounters with the demon warlord. When she finished there were looks on everyone’s faces that

bordered between surprise and annoyance.

"Okay, that’s it! Before we go any farther, Julia. Is that the last bombshell you intend to drop? Or is there something else that you neglected to tell us?" Rowen

folded his arms as he spoke.

"Hmm, let me see... Did I mention that I have a twin sister?" Julia smiled.

"No, you didn’t, but of course Dais and I already knew that one." Cale smirked.

"A twin sister?" Kento cried out. "Is she single?" Julia rolled her eyes. Same old Kento.

"Is she a sorceress too?" Cye asked.

"Yes, however, she is quite busy and won’t be able to join us. But she did say that she would sent us some help along the way." she replied.

"That’s probably a good thing. I don’t know if we could handle two sorceresses! Eh, Kento?" Ryo laughed.

"Can we leave now? Who knows what has happened since we left!" Cale was beginning to let his anxiety show through. Within moments, all the men had

transformed into their subarmors, and Mia came out of the den holding the Jewel of Life. She held up the Jewel and it began to glow red, soon seven Samurai,

two young women, a white tiger and a fox were standing on the reddish black soil of the Netherworld.

Just ahead of them was a large pile of rubble. A young man was sitting on a fallen column. As they approached him, they soon recognized the figure of

Sekhmet. Cale was about to call out to him, when he spoke without even a glance behind. "You are too late. Krogg’s forces already destroyed our

stronghold. Lady Kayura has been captured, and the Armor of Cruelty has disappeared!"

On to Chapter Seven: The Battle Begins