Unity Database V3

The first in the storyline centers around young Raphael Burstix, son of Resistance leader Lance Burstix, known to most as Jetter. After the last battle against an opposing force, another member, Mist, turns on them and executes Jetter. Almost 3 years have passed and Raphael is found without any remaining family. He now walks the path of vengeance, with only a scar as his sign.

[In response to a corrupted file, Legacy turned into a narration story, much like Conflicting Roses. I'll try to retain to the original as much as I can. *RE3]

       My name is Raphael Burstix. Twenty years ago, my father, the infamous Lance "Jetter" Burstix, led an organization called The Resistance. The Resistance were like freedom fighters, attacking opposing forces to protect our wasteland home. Alongside my dad were other known fighters: Dusk Nightblaze, Sai Rinsatsu, Mist Sparett, Scion McLeare, and a mongoose named Xavier. Those 6 fighters alone were a force to be feared. There wasn't a single soul alive that knew their names. All would eventually come to a close, as The Resistance discontinued their work. "We need to get back into it. We must obliterate crime at any cost!" Those were the words of Scion McLeare, one of the first to leave.

        "I'm afraid that we can't keep doing this. We've achieved our goal already. What sense is it to keep this little group going?" Jetter was nothing short of a pacifist. He only fought when it had to be done. Unfortunately, Scion had other intentions. A vigilante force, an idea orchestrated as a last resort by father, was his intention. With Jetter's answer, Scion disbanded from the group. With the lack of opposition, the Resistance soon disbanded entirely, leaving Jetter to return home. However, he didn't stay with the family for very long. Three months later, I saw him leave to take care of the newly appointed emperor, Mist. From what he said, Mist suddenly appointed himself as the ruler, taking Dusk alongside him. But Mist eventually had a corrupted heart, and went power hungry. Dusk tried his best to settle him, but in the end he lost his life.

       Now I understood what father meant by 'taking care' of Mist. However his failure led to his capture... as well as his execution. After 3 whole months, a public announcement came on, featuring father tied to some sort of slab. After the long speech, my family and I watched in utter horror, as Mist mercilessly beheaded father. And it that wasn't enough trouble, he ordered an assault on us as well. After a dusting of destruction and death, only one survived through the whole catastrophe: me. Now I was alone: no family, no friends, and no home. After burying what was left of my family, I swore an oath to get revenge on him. He took everything away from me. For the first time in my life, I felt my own heart turn dark. I planned to return to him tenfold the suffering I was burdened with.

       I am Raphael Xavier Burstix. The tale of revenge, and the beginning of the hero known today as Strider, begins with me!

       A month after burying the friends and family I lost, I started looking through the rubble for things I might need for my journey. Along the way, I saw a crimson case. In it was my birthday present. I should have mentioned this before, but at the time, it was two days before my eleventh birthday. Anyway, in there was a pair of gloves, the same as father's. By grabbing an old blanket, I bundled my supplies, tossed on a cloak, and departed. Little did I know, Mist knew of my survival.

       "I know for a fact that kid isn't dead yet. His father, the infamous Jetter, has a strong child," declared Mist. "I want you to patrol these sectors. If you manage to find that kid Raphael, kill him on the spot. Eliminate all who interfere. I want no signs of opposition alive!" He sent a battalion of mercenary robots, going by the name of EDEN Mechs, or E-Mechs for short. His force even went by the name of the Eden Empire. His empire, just about as corrupt as himself, already made a name for themselves, pillaging various sectors just to terminate anyone who opposes to his ruling. I must say, they had quite the arsenal, so at the time, I wouldn't stand much of a chance. Of course, I was oblivious about what Mist was trying to do to me. Now, I was worried what would happen to me.

       The next day, I found myself in the farthest distance from the wastelands. Completely oblivious to what might come to attack me. I was sure as hell tired after making that long a walk. Unfortunately, that's exactly what they wanted to happen. That night, I was ambushed. Mechs everywhere surrounded me, prepared to attack. To make matters worse, I still haven't perfected the Chaos Fang, my dad's trademark move. I did my best in evading their attacks, despite my fatigued state. It wasn't enough, as one of them inflicted damage on my left eyelid. I stood there, holding my eye to stop the blood flow. "Is that any way to treat a little kid? How dishonorable!" I saw a reddish-violet echidna make such short work of the E-Mechs. The whole field was flooded with torn metal and static. "Relax. I'll take you to my home." Just who was this guy? And why does he seem so familiar?

       Just when I thought my life was gonna end, some combat-ready echidna steps in, saves my life, and takes me to his house. He then treated the wound inflicted on the lid of my left eye, just before covering it with an eye patch. "Now then, who are y-- oh my! You've grown so fast, little warrior," he spoke. "I appreciate the flattery," I said to him, "but I'm afraid I don't know who you are." "Not surprised. You don't know me, but I know you all to well, almost as if I was Jetter's brother." I briefly let loose a few tears from that remark alone. His name was all it took to make me recall that grizzly murder that was televised. I could not forgive him for taking father, more or less the entire village, away from me. "I'm sorry bud. Did I say something awful about him?" "No," I replied, "it's not what you said, but he is now... gone." His eyes lit when I told him. "GONE!? No... He was the symbol to the peace we had up until now. I...I can't believe this..." It looked like he was actually about to break down from the news. "'I'll see to it that he's avenged. You need to be back home." I was riled up because of all that I lost.

       Suddenly, I felt what seemed to be my own aura. My tears and despair became power. To this guy, it was unusual for someone like me to have as much power as I did. "Your energy... I haven't seen so much in a kid. I'm surprised, but you still have a good ways to go before you can manifest it." The aura soon formed a wave of power in my hand. I felt its cry in my palm. But, I began to lose control of it. I had no choice to launch it. I yelled, "Chaos Fang!!" The blast flew at a great velocity, just before creating a wide explosion just 10 feet of the stranger's house."Amazing!" was the only thing he said directly afterwards.

       "This is the strength of my suffering," I began, "Power or not, I WILL find Mist, take out his cronies, and make him PERISH!" He just stared. "That determined, eh? You'll need some training. It's long, but I'll give you six years of perfection. When I'm done, you'll be as powerful, if not better, than Jetter himself." "Thank you sempai," I answered, "but who exactly are you!?" "Sai," he finally answered, "The name is Sai Rinsatsu."

My training has begun.

       In the first year of training, Sai put me to what a normal rookie would call Hell. But being rescued from that attack from EDEN, I felt as if I''ve been there and back already. Overtime, I adjusted to the Chaos Fang, I even controlled it to the point to fire multiple shots, or even use a single hand. Of course, amidst all this, Sensei was troubled. His worried glare clearly resembled that of my late father. I had to ask. "Sensei? Is something bothering you?" Sai replied after a few seconds, "Ah. It shows that much? I'll be honest and say that it's my son that has me troubled. But mostly, Mist!" I wasn't ready to know about Mist entirely, as much as I despised him, but  there was no ignoring my curiosity. "Care to tell me about it?" He sighed, then replied, "Your father, Jetter, can explain this much better than I can. But I'll try in his absence."

       He began, "Mist Sparett. Whenever that name pops up, I remember all the grim things he did before and after his Resistance days. He had a rich family, a foreigner of sorts. The Sparetts were a classy family, who owned factories in their distant land. Of course, Mist was a young entrepreneur on his way to inheriting the family business. However, like a raven, there were times where he became greedy. While under a debt, the Sparetts had little to spend, whereas Mist needed much more. Their refusal pushed him to the edge, and Mist killed his father mercilessly. His mother also succumbed to death by him, because greed could not cure her health. So lonely, he turned the business to chaos. In the end, he was chased out as a fugitive. Exhiled, Mist met us, and eventually became the Resistance everyone grew familiar with. It wasn't until his departure that I learned of his terrible past. Eventually, he would run across the power of the Dark Stone, a fabled legend of power, and be consumed by it. The end result is the Mist we know of now: a rapist, power mogul, and a corrupted emperor hellbent on controlling everything."

       "That would explain my father's glare before he was killed." I felt my blood stir with fire. "I WON'T FORGIVE HIM!!!" When Sai took notice, he stared in amazement. "You might be able to stop him. No, I know it!" he said. "But, you need to train severely to keep up with the power he posesses. You might need to transform." "I know. Right now, I can feel his evil intent." Sai looked at me strongly. "Very well, let's continue." "Yes, sensei!" Five years left. I will avenge father, and eliminate the evil Mist has done.

       Five years have passed, and I became a mature, combat-ready 17-year old. The scar became a pink, permanent mark on my eyelid. I endured so much over the years that I felt as if I could handle anything. Sai couldn't help but be proud of me, as his teachings flourished my abilities. However, I felt as if the ultimate test wasn't too far off. As much as I hate it, my suspicions, like now, were dead on. Mist was getting impatient with the fact I survived, doing nothing in the process. He ordered three assassins after my hide. "Ah, so you arrived. Three of the best assassins alive: Storm, the goliath of destruction; Ace, with the fatal deck of cards in his sleeves; and the busty feminine killer, Dawn. I'm pleased you can make it here. It's very rare I call on others for my personal matters," said Mist. "Nonsense, sir. We honestly don't mind the work," spoke the leader, Dawn. "Ace, I understand that despite your status, you're a prodigy in the art of asassination. Don't worry, you'll get a bigger status after this misson," said Mist, mischiveously. "Now then, your target." On his screen, he posted a picture of myself, perhaps taken during the assassination attempt by his mechs. "Your orders are to hunt this young hedgehog down. Not that this pic is six years old. He has obviously matured much since then. Kill him and you'll be rewarded handsomely." "Yes, sir!!", all three said in unison. Dispatched, they soon found Sai's place.

       "Mist... someday, you're next!", she muttered. "Dawn! Arriving at the designated area of the target!", shouted Storm. "I see. It's showtime fellas." "What the... forces are approacing. Raphael, hide and leave these commoners to me!", warned my master. I hesitantly replied, "O-okay, sensei." I hid as he instructed, but watched from a crease in the house. I saw the three assassins come close. "Ugh, who are you, old man?" asked Dawn. "I am Sai, former Resistance member. What business do you have here?" "Not much," she replied, "We're looking for a gray hedgehog by the name of Raphael Burstix." Both Sai ans I looked astonished. "He.. he KNOWS!?" "Yes, and we're here to make sure he's rid of him. "So,' he said in a serious tone,"you do work for Mist. Well, you'll have to kill me first!"She paused, and then she responded, "So be it. Ace, he's all yours." The green hedgehog stepped up to fight him. "Nothing personal," said Ace, "But prepare to meet death!!"

       For a whole hour, I nearly cried as Sai was being pummeled trying to protect me. He could baely hold on, and at the same time, I felt the subdued rage rising once more. "Let's end this little fight, Sai." Sai was barely holding on. Soon he was ready to lose his life to those assassins. Amazingly, he held two power orbs in his hands, and merged them together. "I'm not finished yet! CRIMSON FLARE!!!"  He almost hit them, but Storm took the hit, which to him, felt like nothing. Ace came from behind to kill Sai. "Adieu, Sai Rinsatsu. DEATH DRAW!!"  "SAAAAIIIII!!!" That was the last thing I said before all five cards hit their mark. I felt blank. The remainign peron  befriended, Sai Rinsatsu, was murdered in fromt of my own eyes, all because Mist wanted me dead. My rage took over. It was all pitch black until light came from within me. My power bursted to immeasurable lengths. It soon exploded, and what remained of that shed was a floating hedgehog flowing with energy. I felt resurrected. "I got him!," said Ace, "DEATH DRAW!!" "PHANTOM WALL!!" This wall of energy I emitted deflected the Death Draw effortlessly.

       "Raphael..." I rushed to Sai's side. "You've... done well. I'm sorry I can't fight alongside you... [cough]" "Don't say that. You can make it, I know you can." Sai stared with tears in his eyes. "It's nice. You have the look of my son, Ikkaku. If only the two of you met. [cough] Time's... up. Avenge us, Raphael... It's all up... to you...." Sai felt cold. He spoke his final words. "Well, well, well. Looks like Raphael finally cooperates," spoke Storm. Infuriated, I took one hand and made a shockwave, striking Storm. "My name's not Raphael anymore. You work for such a cretin that murdered my father, for what!?  Thanks to that, nobody will leave here alive now!" From a distance, I saw the leader blushing while staring at the new me.

"From this day onward, all who stands for evil will feel the wrath of Strider!!!"

       Standing there, Dawn stood amazed at my stance, while Storm and Ace grew agitated and impatient. "Strider, huh? Lemme guess, you're gonna say you'll kill us all for killing Sai, right?", sneered Ace. "Hmm.... now that you understand that, prepare to be assimilated!" All I had in my mind was Sai's dying expression as he laid there near the remains of his house, which my power leveled. "Shut up! Watch your words or you'll end the same way your late sensei did!" I grew angry at that comment. "You... you'll die first!", I said, just before Ace charged for me. I backhanded him, which left an 'unusual' force behind it. The impact swollen he right side of Ace's face, his mouth bleeding as well. "Ugh, son of a bitch!!" Ace was pissed. But the big one stepped in for him. He said, "Stand down, partner. I'll straighten him out." "You... straighten me out? Okay then, If you can, you can torture me however you wish. If you fail, you simply die. Is that fair with you?" "You ass, I'll kill you!!!"

       He looked strong, but he lacked speed, patience, and endurance. I decided that was the best chance to give my perfected Chaos Fang a whirl. I held my hand out and felt energy pulsating. Storm lunged at me, a mistake that cost him his life. He did manage to reach me, but I wounded his stomach with the same hand I was charging up with. Finally, that energy was released into an arrow of light which pierced through his body. As the goliath collapsed, I saw the hole left after releasing the Chaos Fang from such a short range. At the same time, Dawn just stood there in a daze, while Ace vanished. Altogether, I felt a presence in the rear. Just then, Ace launched his Death Draw move on me, hoping that would silence me. I guess my ears had heightened hearing, because I simply destroyed the attack wth my own. Of course, while that was coming from the air, Ace was below me. A simple kick, and I fished him out from hiding. "Too bad." While he was airborne, I pounded the ground with a wave that just managed to reach where Ace was falling. "TEMPEST CRASH!!" The wave obliterated what remained of Ace before he hit land.

       While I was impressed with my own abilities, I had one more obstacle to be rid of. It wasn't in my nature, but I grabbed Dawn's neck out of frustration. "I guess... [starting to cry] I guess this is it for me... Sorry, Dusk..." Dusk? "How do you know who Dusk is?", I asked her. "He is my brother. He was forced to work for Mist, and left my family behind. How do you know him?" "He is... or was a former ally of my dad's." Dawn's eyes lit up when she heard. "So you are his son. I'm sorry about your dad, Strider." "Don't worry, I'll see to it that Mist pays for this, and any other sins he made." "But what do you mean by 'was'?", she asked. I couldn't bare to tell her, but I had little choice. I gently released her and summoned up the courage to break the news to her. "He... he was serving Mist, as you claim. But, he was killed a few years ago..." "WHO!?", she grabbed my arms together, gripping harshly. "WHO DID THIS TO HIM!?" I clenched my fist in anger. Her reaction would be the same as mine, if not more sad. "It was... Mist." The next instant I knew, she was breaking down. I saw a screen flicker from some odd band on her wrist. It was him. "Mist." "How, how are you still alive!?", he asked in confusion. "It was Sai wasn't it?" I broke his hopes up. "No. Sai is dead. The one who beaten, no... KILLED your assassins, was me! And guess what, you're next!" With that, I crushed the transmitter with my hand. "You're free to go, Dawn. Just don't interfere with my revenge ever again." She stood with a vengeful look in her eyes. "I'm coming too." Did she just say she was tagging along? "I want him to pay for my brother. And yet, I also... want to be with you." I blushed, but tried to shake it off. "Ugh... do as you wish."

       Like it or not, Dawn now joined me on my quest. Though I couldn't help but feel some sense of belonging with her. Do I like her?

To Be Continued

       For a few days, my mind was phasing out on me. In my mind, I kept thinking I saw something resembling me, except this 'thing' was more violent, malicious, and bloodthirsty. I collapsed a few times having that beast in my mind. I even felt like vomitting at times. I tried to surpress these thoughts, which was mysteriously easy whenever Dawn appeared. Just looking at her made me forget about it, evenn though this was constantly temporary. What ever this meant, I figure that whateer that form was will get her involved. I careless for her, but I want to solve my own battles, so I don't want her stepping in for any reason. "Strider? What's wrong?" I tried to keep it together. The less she knew, the less worry she'll have for me. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing." I refuse to get her involved. She has her own battle to think about, after all.

       After some time walking, I felt my body shiver. My legs fell numb and my mind was throbbing in pain. I felt the lust of destruction. It was trying to consume me. I didn't realize I stepped on a mine until Dawn shoued at me. When I came back to reality, I quickly deployed a barrier to avoid the damage caused by the explosion. "Whew, that was TOO close!!", I breathed in a sigh of relief. However, it was short-lived, as that explosion was more or less a signal for a group, perhaps vigilantes. About a hundred of these wierd beasts appeared before us. They bore a beige color. Looked like a cross of a raptor and a bat. To add to it, they had curved metal blades as part of their right arms. I felt a urge as the conciousness inside grew hungry for blood. But when I saw the leader of the opposition, I knew I might have some trouble on my hands.

       "Well, Strider, we meet at last." The leader showed up as a thick monstrosity with spikes down his arm. To add, he had claws on his hands and feet, covered up my just a lone loincloth, unlike his beasts. "And look who Joins us: the traitor, Dawn. You thought breaking that device around your wrist kept us from keeping an eye on you." That explains it. "So, what is it that you want from us?", I asked him. "I'll fufill Mist's wishes and be rid of you. As fro you, traitor, I have something special for you [chuckles]." "I won't allow you to do that. Because I... because... I CARE FOR HER!!" Did I really just say that out loud? Dawn was blushing from a distance, perhaps stunned in belief from what I just said. "How cute, but I had enough of this! Attack!!" The beasts came, but while I was on guard, someone was killing them from behind me. "I won't allow you to harm my Strider. He belongs to me alone!!" Of course, the unexpected assault didn't stop the leader of them, whom I found out to be later as The Beast King, Macer. He was tough. Inspite of the difference in size and speed, he was attacking me from all sides. I was getting very close to my limit. "Ha, you'll be losing your beloved one I'm through with you!" I got offended. It was then and there I stopped lying to myself and admitted the fact I liked her, no, more like loved her. "Go to HELL!!!" When I missed him, it was all over. He took the giant mace behind him and knocked me unconcious. The force blew me a good distance from her. I lost.

       I felt her crying out to me. They started to fondle her, while Macer was ready to have his way with her. Stripped naked, she was trying to fight them off. She was eventually caught and forced into place. "You're a virgin, aren't you? I'll ask just once: Do you love that loser?" "I... I do." I was stunned beyond belief. "I love him a lot more than anything!" Macer hysterically laughed, and I was in no position to move. "Too bad. Prepare to be mine girl!!" After being spit on by her, he took of his lioncloth, just to reveal his personals. A rather grotesque looking one too, as it had spikes around that. He'd kill her with that. "Fine then, so much for being gentle. I guess your first will be your last, too!" The next thing I heard was her screaming. I felt rage building up. "Thank goodness we made it hefore anything happened. You're not hurt in any way are you?" Two foxes rescued her as my eyes started to close. "No, I'm fine, thanks." Soon one of them looked towards me. "Leader, there's one over there, too." I fainted. But when I woke back up, I saw Macer in front of me, and blood on Dawn's innocent body. I felt it consume me. While Macer was about to kill me, the hawk barely put up a defense against it, trying to save me. I was changing, to something malicious. "TYANNA!" One of them called out to her. Now I lost any conciousness of my own. I felt the evil power with in me. "No, it's the form of destruction. The Mute form!" My body let out a loud howl as it turned white with yellow streaks. My pupils sharpened as the eye around it turned red. Destruction was about to ensue, and my very life itself was now at a risk...

       I couldn't control my own body anymore. I was unaware that Macer didn't have his way with Dawn. Tyanna laid beside me in horror. When I saw that monstrosity I had become, I howled in extreme bloodlust. While I couldn't actually do anything, I had retained a bit of my sanity. "Leave this place. And take Dawn with you. Please." "Alright." Macer saw Tyanna making a run for it, as I instructed, but before he managed to stop her, "I" interfered. "No. I'LL be the one to kill you!!" Macer's destruction was the only thing I had left in my mind. Tyanna and her crew escaped sucessfully with Dawn. Now, I could allow my maliciousness to take full control of my body. My claws were ready to create a bloodbath.

       While Tyanna's crew was elsewhere, Dawn was given treatment and a set of new clothes to wear. "Well, now that I'm healed, we can resume our quest to take down Mist." "Ah, you plan to overthrow him as well. My forces have tried for a while, but aside from the power he posesses, the protection is too powerful to take down alone." "I'm sure Strider will assists us if we work together!", she said happily. "True, but not with how he is now..." Dawn's happy expression soon turned sad. "Tyanna, what has happened to Strider's nature?" Tyanna had a tough time trying to tell her the ill truth about my transformation. "It's too late. Strider's nature as turned malicious beyond reasoning." What do you mean!?" Tyanna sighed and ended up sitting one-on-one with Dawn. "I should explain better. Strider's in this stage called the Mute Transformation. It gives the user incredible senses and strength. However, there are two risks involved. The first makes the user lose pretty much all of his reason." "And what's the other? "Death!" Unannounced, one of the foxes, Calico, told her the other risk straight forward, without remorse. "Calico! Please..." "No, leader. She has a right to know." Meanwhile, that risk was on  his way to setting in.. I felt my life draining as I got stronger and more violent. Every surprise attack atemted by those bladed maggots, I used Evil Distortion to rid myself from them.

       Dawn was crying her heart out while Tyanna and Calico bickered about his outburst. "Don't you get it, leader? You said so yourself. Of those who have engaged this form, survival rate was a mere 5%. He's done for!" A sharp slap came across his face. Dawn's face grew serious. "And you're just gonna let him die!? I can't believe you!" She soon went to her repaired bike, with Tyanna trying to hold her back. "Stop, Dawn. What do you plan to do?" "I plan to save him. I need him, more than just an ally. I love him, and I alone can cure his void of rage." Dawn..." Tyanna no longer felt any need to stop her. "Go to him. I believe you can stop his self-destruction." With Dawn speeding off, my body was weakened from the transformation. Even if she does make it, how will I be set free from the Mute form without my life being taken away?

       My body couldn't take anymore. I was violent beyond my breaking point. I soon found what was left of "myself" murdering Macer. Even to the point where I was hitting Macer, already down for the count. It was getting harder for me to regain control of my body. To lose complete control only menat that my death was assured. Dawn reached me which led to inner conflict. Outside, she could see that I was struggling to regain my sanity. As much times she was pushed back, part of which was to avoid her from harm, she persistently tried to aproach me. While my claws clutched her arms, I felt her lips kissing mine. Inside, that made a light emerge, where my conciousless laid. As soon as I approached that light, I repossessed my body. My body returned to it's original, gray appearance. I thought I saw heaven, but in reality, heaven disguised itself as Dawn, and saved me from my own demise.

       I felt her crying on my shoulders in relief as she held me tightly, not planning to let go. "Dawn... I... can't... breathe..." Dawn was astonished to hear my real voice once again. I couldn't blame her. However, neither could Macer, who I though was killed by my Mute form. "Strider.... DIE!!!" He swung his giant mace at us. It would have been curtains for us both. However, my body, on it's own accord, turned into that same golden light I saw. My spines raised as power swelled up within me. My pupils soon turned red. With a single hand, I held up the attack as I opened my eyes and merely glared at Macer, stunned in disbelief. I soon flung it back at him, taking Macer down as well.  I could hardly believe the strength I harnessed in this form. Tyanna qiuickly approached us, just for her to say, "Super. He's achieved Super form!!" My energy was growing steadily. I recognized my abilities, as it was a threshold of my standard powers.

       "You, why you...!" I felt him quickly approaching. With sudden impulse, I summoned power to my right hand as he was charging at me with deadly force. I punched through him with that same hand, releasing it's harnessed power to finish him off. "Farewell! Super Chaos Fang!!" The blast went through his body. I no longer felt his presence. At the same time, my own power was returning back to my original level. I fainted due to the fatigue I suffered after transforming twice. Dawn held my head to her chest, crying in a satisfied expression. At that moment, I found a good reason to stay alive: I had someone who loved me as a soulmate.

       I woke up a week later. I was in a coma from my fatigue, thanks to the fact that I transformed into not only the Mute Form, but also Super Form almost immediately afterwards. My body was weak, so I was ordered to rest. In my mind I was wondering about that golden light, which was akin to my Super stage. Aside from that, I was wondering why Dawn risked her own life just to bring me back. Unintentionaly, I overheard her talking with Tyanna at the very moment.

       "Tyanna, thank you. Your treatments for Strider are more than I can wish for." Tyanna became rather modest. "Nonsense. We just do whatever we can. However, I am puzzled. You put yourself in harms way, just to rid Strider from his curse. I doubt even he understands why." I couldn't avoid admitting that she was right. That I NEVER understood. "Don't worry. I just do whatever's necessary to keep him with me. I'll be sleeping with Strider tonight, so go ahead and rest. Leave him to me." "Very well. I can see you love him very much." That night, Dawn accompanied me as I laid in bed. "Strider? You awake?" I turned  my head to her. "Why? Why did you risk your life for me? You could have been killed!" "I know. If you were to die, I would die alongside you. I realized that I loved you, despite your hostility when we first met. But I understand. You lost your family, your sensei, and those precious to you, all because of a vile man I worked for. It's not much, but I hope to fill that void in your heart. Because being with you filled the void in mine." "Dawn..." I grew a bit emotional to her speech. "From this day forward, I'll protect you, forever and always. No other woman matters to me aside from you." Dawn kissed me no sooner than I finished. "Take me, Strider. I am forever yours."

       That night, we slept like lovers. I realized that my fate was to be with her. No, it was my destiny. I will forever be with her, for she means everything to me now. The next morning, Tyanna was plotting a way to attack the homefront of Mist's battalion. By that time, I was fully healed, learning some new techniques on the side. Mist, too was getting ready. "Strider... Something says I will enjoy our battle!" I look at the sky at the same time. "Just you wait, Mist! I will soon end everything. My revenge, no, OUR revenge will be absolute!!"

       Dawn of the next day arrived. I was fully healed and harmonized with my overflowing energy. Training with Calico and Lysten served well in furthering my growth. At the same time, Mist was taking measures to match my level. "At ths level, I'll surely die before this batlle begins to be exciting for both of us. I might have to borrow some energy from that stone while he toys around with my robotic copy." While he was engaged in doing so, I, along with Dawn and the rest, were already en route to his hideout. Of course, he did have a rowdy welcome commitee, so we had to get past them before we even caught up to Mist himself. As Dawn did her best to hack into his security, I handled the assault from in front of us.

        After a good while, we finally arrived at his lair: our fated battlefield, Ragnarok. "MIST SPARETT!!!", I shouted. But what came out of his throne chair wasn't him. It was a metallic replica of Mist. But before I was to engage with it, an old acquaintance interfered. "Die, Strider!!" "Is that...?" I stood there without any expression. I know who it was. "Figures you would still be living... ACE!" "PERISH! DEATH DRAW!" The poor fool didn't know I expected that. "Evil... Distortion!" Like I did with those maggots Macer was around, I scorched what was left of Ace. Soon the metallic copy of my target stepped forward. "Commence battle." It wasn't Mist, but I couldn't resist. "Sure. You strike first." As much swings and strikes he delivered, I evaded every last one. I grew bored with it. "Okay, then. My turn now. Strider Burst!" In a frenzy of dashing color and speed, I aimed for my foe with precise aim. Suddenly, the robot ceased to function, although I didn't dismantle it... yet.

       "Bravo, Strider. Truly magnificent for the son of my former captain." It was him. Mist Sparett finally shows himself. "So, Mist, did you enjoy killing my family and friends!? And what about Dusk!?" "Oh, please, surely you don't assume I did all this for nothing, did you not?" I felt my nerves tighten. "You bastard. I'll KILL YOU!!" In a violent burst, my power once again surfaced into my super stage. "Very well. I see that this is how far you wish to take this fight. So be it!" Soon, Mist was glowing in various colors, but his power level matched mine exactly! Both of us had one thing in mind: the death of our opposition. "LET'S FIGHT!!"

       "I see you have achieved your super form. Good, then that means you broke the curse of the Mute stage," said a cocky Mist, also transormed. "You have done what was deemed impossible." "You... you cheated it." I took a good look at Mist. I suspected right. What I had to fight for to retain my reason and achieve super form, he did just the opposite. "You used the Forbidden Dark Stone, didn't you? That's the only logical reason you turned into this. Not only that, I bet you were just like me. You killed Dusk... in your Mute stage." Mist merely clapped. "Outstanding. We didn't even start, and you have already figured me out." Soon, Dawn, out of frustration, called out to him. "You monster, I'll get you for what you did to my brother!!!" "Oh, really?" A force field soon deployed behind me, rendering Dawn and the others trapped. "Damn it. Strider, be careful." "I know." In her thoughts, she couldn't bear seeing my death at the hands of this man. "Now then, let's begin!!" "No." My power increased twice as much this time. "It started when you murdered my family! Today, this battle ENDS!!"

       Now, the fated waltz of destruction began with Mist and myself fighting one another. We were both evenly matched, in spite of how far we pushed ourselves. Each crushing blow kept us going. At the same time, the Dark Stone fed off constant energy we used. It wouldn't be until our 'finale' that the stone would eventually have enough power to rip this planet apart. "It's over now!" We both harnessed our bodies into arrows of power, hoping this collision would do either of us in. "Now! Elemental Burst!!" He powered up to his max potential. Not that I wasn't ready to do the same. "Golden Drive!!" We collided with one another. However, the stone also absorbed this burst of energy, only for it to shatter, and the dangers from it unleashed.

       "What? This can't be!!" Mist was surprised to see a behemoth of fierce mass rise from the stone. Oddly, I felt it call out to me. "Armagedon. You're Armageddon, the lurking malevolence of the Dark Stone." This being meant business. He was destroying everything. Mist released the field imprisoning the others. "Dawn, get going!!" "But..." "There's no time. Go. Live for you and our child." With tears in her eyes, she left with the rest. "Tyanna. In case I don't make it, watch over Dawn. Please." "Okay, but try to stay alive for her. Okay?" With a glaring expression, I suspected that survival wasn't likely, but I wasn't ready to rollover and die yet. "Right." They took a space pod Mist kept preserved in what was left of Ragnarok. "If we had the power of light, we could hold up a fight against him," said Mist. I simply replied, "Seeing as how we don't we just have to use what we know." We tried each blow, and Armageddon merely slowed down little by little. It was clear this battle was taking it's toll.

       It was about to be the end to everything. Elemental Mist and I were barely holding on against Armageddon, whose power was gradually diminishing with each attack. "Damn," I started to speak, "Nothing's working against it!!" "I hate to say so, but you are right. We're not doing enough damage to it." It was then I though about what we did to him. We did do something decent using our rush attacks. Risky, but I had a great idea. "Mist. Our rush attacks have some effect on him. If we use those, then he'll eventually be defeated." "I see what you mean," he replied, but the rush attacks are taxing on our bodies. I'm not sure how it'll affect us in our Super Stages." "Perhaps, but unless you have better ideas..." Armageddon was still causing havoc. "No choice," he finally agreed, "Let's do it!"

       We summoned all the power we had and prepared to strike. "Golden Drive!!" "Elemental Burst!!" In a frenzy, we attacked Mist left and right, front and back. The damage looked devistating, but we weren't done just yet. Meanwhile, Dawn was panicing for my life. She thought about me possibly dying. "I can't help but feel that Strider will, that he'll die and leave me and our child alone." Calicio's ears perked. "You're pregnant!? When did this happen?" "CALICIO!!" Tyanna gave him a swift strike on his forehead with her hand alone. "That's not something you're supposed to know!!" Dawn continued to stare from a distance in the escape pod. At the same moment, we finished our assault waiting for the outcome.

       To our dismay, he was still alive, although weak. However, we were in the worst outcome. Our bodies were drained to the point we could no longer sustain our super stages anymore. "I guess this is it. The only option we have left: a kamikaze sacrifice." Are you sure, Strider? You do have a new family to leave behind if you do this." I understood what he meant entirely. I had little to gain, and a lot to lose by killing myself. But, this was for humanity's sake. I wanted to make sure Armageddon was finished, even at the cost of my own life. "I know. I only regret that I didn't see my little girl." I had an aura of destructive energy rising from my body. "Sorry Dawn. I guess this is... kuh!!!" The next thing I knew, I was on the ground. "Armageddon was my doing." "M-Mist..." "If anyone deserves to die with this beast, it's me. You've got a lot to live for. Guess it's time to repent. Adios, Strider Burstix..." All became black. I succumbed to the hit and passed out...

       Deep in space, Dawn cries out for me as she sees an explosion on the Earth's surface, where Ragnarok had its clamatic struggle.

       Years have passed, and the Earth was steadily being rebuilt. Civilians were busy rebuilding all that was destroyed, creating new families, and constructing new towns. Ragnarok was used to help revitalization of communities. The building itself was soon a theatre to host plays, one of which reminiscent to the climatic struggle. Armageddon itself was no longer visible. Neither was Mist, who was assumed dead after apparently exploding with it, something he stopped me from doing. It was history at it's finest indeed.

       An organization was formed around the same time. Our girl was born around then as well. The founder was Dawn, who was so grieved about the idea of losing me. Her sadness became her courage to fight further battles in my absence. A branch of the military, it was stationed in a ship in space, where it took surveilence across the globe for any unusual activity. Whereabouts were unknown for Tyanna and the two fox twins, who also left Earth behind them. During a recovery operation, Dawn wondered about my own whereabouts. She just couldn't see me dying that easily. In fact, she looked in the sky praying to the heavens that I lived on.

       Her wish, needless to say, didn't need any granting. After sleeping for a long time, my hair felt a draft. "Air. I'm not dead." I woke up and moved my overgrown hair around, just fo find myself in what looked like a ship. I looked out the window next. "Space?" As I looked at the Earth's surface, the only question in mind was asking where the hell I was. I feel that the answer will reveal itself soon, along with my new adventure...

The End

We find Raphael Burstix training with Sai Rinsatsu in the ministory bridged from Strider's Legacy. this 4-part miniseries tells the comical 6 years of training he had to endure, just befor he became the hero known today.

To Be Announced

To Be Announced

To Be Announced

To Be Announced