Heir to the Ouroboros

 "You have summoned me, my dear friend?" A snake made of maggots slithered in front of Isrina.

Rotting human heads bulged from the snake's maggot body. The screaming heads erupted with veined tumors and angel wings, which wrapped around the snake tightly to mold it into a humanoid shape. It was the form of a familiar pentagram-eyed Vulpi with an ancient scorpion symbol on his forehead. Master Iagen sat beside Isrina.

"There, there, dear Isrina," Iagen held her shoulder with his skeletal fingers as Isrina cried into his chest. "This world treated you poorly. You deserve better. So does Shien."

"Please help me get my Little Chickadee back, Master," Isrina begged. "Everyone around me has failed to help."

"Yes, o friend of mine. I can teach you such powers to help you destroy Fanghui and retrieve all you've lost."

The Vulpi stood in front. "It will be my pleasure to help you reclaim what this world stole from you, but I must have your loyalty for my magic to flow through you. Are you willing to put your faith in me, my dear?"

Isrina knelt and bowed her head in tears. "I-I'll... do whatever you ask. Y-your wish is my command. I put my faith in you."

"Good. Good!" Iagen's porous mouth widened in a fanged grin. "Truly, I tell you, a powerful sorceress you shall become!"

"I just want Shien back in my arms."

"My dear, be not afraid. Your Little Chickadee will be back birdwatching with you before you know it."

The Vulpi snapped his finger, teleporting both into the cosmic music dimension.

"It's the Archkaos," Isrina remembered traveling with the SHRIKE to Choro Emplexion with Master Psyinen's portal ability.

"Ah, then I'm sure this place needs no introduction. Let's begin your training," Iagen walked with her across the prismatic floor. "I'm about to teach you a new martial art more powerful than the Avian Form, the Ouroboros Fang."

"The Vultau told me about many martial art styles, but I've never heard of that one," Isrina crossed her arms.

"It's an ancient art used by my ancestors for thousands of years. The Vultau frown on us because they believe it to be the Waltz of the Damned."

Iagen cracked his knuckles. "The Ouroboros Fang extends the limits of attack and defense angles in martial combat."

"What do you mean?"

The Vulpi massaged his wrist and held a fist. "Observe, my friend. When you punch, your elbow bends at a natural angle."

He punched the air with his elbow bent downward like any martial artist.

"What if I said there are many secret angles nobody ever told you?"

Iagen punched again, but Isrina could hear joints crackle as his elbow dislocated upward, extending the fist forward in a second hit. "The same applies to kicking, turning wrists and feet, and so on."

He kicked with his knee facing up like a regular kick but then demonstrated another kick where his knee dislocated downward, giving the foot an extra hit.

Isrina was stunned. "By bending your limbs like that, you're making attack and defense angles nobody can naturally do, but is that possible?"

"Yes. Just think how Avian Form techniques can do massive damage when you believe and focus your energy on the body."

"That's what the Vultau told me. Is it the same?"

"Similar, but not quite. There's a key difference. You're not just channeling your faith and energy, but your hatred."

"Hatred?"

"To power the unnatural moves of the Ouroboros Fang, you must channel your anger and sadness against the world that took everything away from you. Be dissatisfied with yourself to covet another's riches. That's the art of my ancestors."

"Now that you know the foundation by words," Iagen lifted a bony palm toward her. "It's time to apply your lesson. Come at me."

"Avian Form: Woodpecker Beak Strikes!" Isrina struck Iagen with palm strikes as the Vulpi chain punched back.

"Ouroboros Fang: Lunar Misfortune!" His arms dislocated up and down to block all angles and extend each fist with an extra punch.

"Avian Form: Heron's Talon!" Isrina kicked Iagen in the chin.

"Ouroboros Fang: Malefic Escuridao!" Iagen kicked her back with dislocated feet. "Stop using only moves you know. Manipulate your joints to attack me at unexpected angles!"

She tried imagining her elbow dislocating when she punched again but couldn't.

"I believed, but still nothing!" Isrina complained.

"You're too nice! Let your emotions explode! Hate and hurt! That's all you must think!"

"But Master Oreic told me-"

"I don't give a damn what Oreic said! He's too soft. All the Vultau are. That's why they'll always be weak!" Iagen kicked Isrina up with a dislocated leg. "Focus on your desires. Only you! Do you want Shien back? Do you want Fanghui dead? Do you want Jinhai back? This world denied you what you want? Then inflict pain to get what you want!"

Isrina huffed, punching against Iagen's Lunar Misfortune in vain.

"All those people who dare harm you and your family! Imagine them bleeding! Desire their bodies to burn in hell! Think nothing of your opponent except kill! Let your anger boil!"

Concentrating on her desired vengeance against Fanghui for taking everything she had, she roared with fury. Isrina lost her mind to pure emotion and felt her bones crackle. Her elbows bent in mixed opposite angles, pummeling Iagen with an unpredictable fury of chain punches. Isrina mimicked the Lunar Misfortune move as her pupils blinked pentagram patterns.

"Good. Good, o friend of mine! You're beginning to understand," Iagen backflipped away and gestured a palm forward. "Now again, dear Isrina. We shall hone your skills to perfection! To destroy all!"

***

"Did you say Azir Citadel?" Mivangeline walked with Dorian.

"According to the data from the crusader droid, that's where Shien is. It's in the middle of the Pacific," Dorian checked her laptop.

Mivangeline clenched her fist. "It's Joltiarre's fortress. One she uses for her cruel experiments on Vulpi."

"You know that place? Who's Joltiarre?"

"Sadly, yes. It was the last place I saw Joltiarre before my family escaped Japan. She and I had been friends and idol colleagues since high school. That was until she turned into a crazed jealous person. Joltiarre is now the Federation's High Visionary in charge of supernatural research."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Mivangeline."

"I'm just worried if she gets any weird ideas about Shien."

"Don't worry! I'm sure Shien will be fine. You know how our shortie is. He'll give her a hard time if she tries anything!"

Mivangeline smiled. "I hope so."

"Ey! Sup, gals?" Naivern waved, holding a box next to Ritom.

"Ritom, you're supposed to carry the box for the lady!" Dorian crossed her arms. "You're so not a gentleman compared to Shien and Enshiron."

"Chillax, girl. Naivern's got it. Mivangeline, I think you'll like our new toys!"

After Naivern placed the box down, Ritom picked up red headsets with microphones.

"Let's say we go on a dangerous mission to save Shien. We would need communication. Naivern helped me design these with her knowledge of DJ gear. They connect to a radio network similar to how the Red Strix helmets operate!"

"Like how we keep in contact in the Syanic Earth. Amazing, you two!" Mivangeline placed one around her head. "Fits comfortably."

"And we already tested them. They work like a charm!" Naivern grinned.

"Oh, and I made something to make myself useful in battle," Ritom took them to the training room.

Within the spacious room, he picked a fuel tank and flamethrower from a racket of rifles.

"No way," Mivangeline's jaw dropped.

"Oh, yes, way. After my hair and jacket caught fire for several days, I perfected it!" Ritom wrapped the fuel tank on his back and wore a gas mask. "Stand back, ladies!"

He faced the weapon away and pulled the trigger to blast plasma fire. "Feels like I got my Syanic Earth powers again!"

"That's cool, Ritom," Mivangeline fist-bumped him. "I never even asked you and Naivern to do all this."

"You didn't have to. That's what friends are for!"

After examining Ritom and Naivern's custom headsets, Mivangeline made a holographic map on a computerized desk based on Dorian's data. When she thought of a strategy, she asked Oreic for approval.

"I think you're doing well. I'm impressed how well you adapted to real-life commanding," The Vultau master commented. "I don't think there's an issue with your strategy, but there's one small thing I'm not certain of."

"Yes?"

"Not entirely your fault, but I'm considering the resources your party needs for this rescue mission. General Saitori and the UICA won't approve of risking their lives to save one person."

"I understand, but we won't need an entire army for the mission. Ritom and Naivern have made exceptional custom gears and weapons, and you helped my friends train for the battle. I trust that my party is enough for the job."

"What about transportation?"

"We can borrow one condor warship."

Oreic thought for a moment. "And that's all you need?"

She nodded.

"I don't think the UICA will have a problem with you using only one warship. Just as long as you're not extravagantly using everything they have. And I apologize for being this way. I'm only telling you because the UICA army took quite a beating after the battle with Maika."

"I know, Master Oreic. Thank you for your input. Don't you want to join us in this battle?"

Maybe helping Mivangeline is the best way to save Shien. Oreic nodded. "I did promise Isrina to look after her son, and I want to make sure all of you kids come home safely. So, I'll be happy to help."

"Thank you. I'm going to brief my friends about the mission soon."

"Alright, I'll see you there. Did you ask Isrina?"

"I tried to cheer her up, but she told me to leave."

"Poor Isrina. We'll check on her one last time after the briefing."

***

Master Oreic and the friends looked at the hologram map in the briefing room. The small Azir citadel sat on an island surrounded by a minefield and giant defense walls with watchtowers armed with surface-to-air missiles, SAMs. It looked like a purple castle jagged with swarms of tall crescent moon spires.

"It's not as big as I imagined, but it's armed to the teeth!" Calice gasped.

"We'll drop off by riding on owl drones and separate into two teams. They'll fly low right above the mined waters to avoid the SAM radar," Mivangeline pointed to a red bird hologram that flew towards the citadel, dropping off owl drones. "Enshiron will take Nashura and Calice to gain control of the defense walls and make a diversion. Master Oreic and I'll take Elysia and Ritom to infiltrate the citadel. Dorian and Naivern will commandeer the frigate for communication and mapping."

"Why do we need mapping?" Naivern blinked.

"Dorian," Mivangeline let her tap buttons into the map, revealing moving red clouds in the facility.

"According to the droid I hacked into, the hallways emit Thresher Clouds of lethal radiation. They move within the buildings and burn anything organic," Dorian tipped her glasses. "Naivern and I will watch the Thresher movements and keep the party in touch. The last thing we want is to be boxed in by them."

"I see, but why would the Federation use such a device that risks the lives of their human soldiers?" Nashura asked.

"Joltiarre's fortress is designed to operate with minimal human personnel. Expect to see mostly droid forces there."

"Do we have a map of the interior?"

"Not yet, but Ritom can crack a computer terminal and send me the data," Dorian pointed at Ritom.

"Sure. Also, can we use the condor's bombardment for support?" Ritom raised his hand.

Mivangeline nodded. "After Team Enshiron controls the wall defenses and destroys the SAMs, yes."

"If I may, Commander. What of the Vulpi prisoners?" Enshiron asked. "We can't just leave them. It's personal for us, Vulpi."

"They should be held in the same prison area where Shien is. My team will help them as well. After you take out the SAMs, the condor can land safely to pick everyone up."

"I'll help you with the prisoners, Commander," Oreic gave a thumbs up.

"Any other questions?"

"No, Commander. I'm just itching to give those Federation numskulls a butt-kicking!" Elysia stood on a chair with a fist up. "We'll make them sorry for taking Shien from us!"

"Yeah!" The group cheered with Elysia.

Mivangeline nodded. "Alright. Let's move!"