Crap, I Was Rifted

"You may not have heard since you have been traveling," Kuai Liang said calmly. "But Sareena has joined us. She just recently awakened Cryomancer abilities. She is turning into a very stalwart supporter."

"Thank you, Master." Sareena bowed politely. She stood behind him not saying anything else.

"Uh huh... that.. yeah. No good on yah." Azul said. He looked to Frost who looked just bored and uninterested. But her biotic strands were that of anger. She did not like the woman. "Sub-Zero I say this with the most respect..."

"Hmm, what is it?" Kuai Liang.

"Spend time with your apprentice a little more. Team building exercise before that one goes nuts." Azul pointed at Frost. "She is a ticking time bomb of teenage fury."

"I am an a.d.u.l.t outsider!" Frost said snapping.

"Thats fine and all. But your posture is super passive-aggressive." Azul said as he shrugged. "Anyway let me introduce you to Ruby here. She is a bit.. of.. well a hothead. Kinda like me. So yeah that won't bite me in the a.s.s eventually."

"P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you." Kuai Liang said with respect.

"Very formal. Hi guy." Ruby gave him a wave and a small smile. She turned and gaze Azul a poke in the side. "Glad I didnt go with them. I would not have done well in an environment like that."

"Hehe, we are changing. Especially as of late." Kuai Liang said.

"Crackle!" With a burst of lighting, Riku and Raiden came over. The fact they came togethor caused Azul to feel odd. A burst of light formed near him. "Bwoom," another person in robes came over behind them. He was dressed in robes and looked a lot older.

"We are here to see how we can help. Yet you are here messing around with your informal sect members. What am I to do with you? Hmm hmm, tell me." The old man said.

With a slight bow, Kuai Liang apologized. But it came out devoid of much emotion. "My apologies Luminous. I could not pass up a moment for discussion."

"See that you control yourself better in the future. Ah, Sub-zero there is still much to teach you. A shame you did not do the cyberization like the others." Turning back the old man and the others walked away. The other group was actually led by Sektor completely cyberized. All the individuals were as well.

"Stay away from them. That Sektor is trouble." Azul told Ruby as she looked at him. To the side Bi-Han was finishing up his talk with Tifa. Behind them a man in silver was coming over. Well, he was dressed like the Lin Kuei and the clothing was silver and black. It was the one known as Smoke. He travelled over with Jaina, Torbin, and Ashley. They looked a little scratched up but other than that were fine. They all came over next.

"Man I have not seen you in a half a year and the first thing that happens, you are getting in trouble with the Elder God Luminous. Why didn't you include me in the fun?" Smoke said joking. Everyone introduced themselves like old friends. Azul was just baffled about the experience.

Returning the handshake Bi-Han then turned to Azul. "I had to see how well my student would fare in a surprise attack."

"Oh, and how did she do?" AzuI couldn't help but ask.

"She did splendidly." Bi-Han turned towards her again. "You have definitely changed from the last time we spared but... You need to gain control now. Your power has gone up by leaps and bounds. Now you just need more control behind each attack." Seeing her stare at him intently, he continued. "You also need to stop brutalizing your body. I mean look at the wall over there." Pointing to the side everyone followed his fingers.

"Daa da da dom." A piece fell. Then several pieces of the wall fell before the rest of the building came down.

"Ah.. well.. you.. see.. I got nothing. Totally your fault. You could have given me a warning about the spar." Tifa said trying to defend herself.

"Hahaha." Azul laughed uncontrollably. Seeing there expressions he waved it away. "Nothing of importance. Another time."

"She could habe done with a warning brother." Kuai Liang said.

"That wouldn't be surprise training then. And yes, I remember how you hate surprises." Bi-Han said towards Azul. "But you approved of my training before I became this .. thing. So it should be fine."

"Then why do it then still?" AzuI asked already knowing the answer. Looking at Tifa, he realized her clothing had changed she was more armored up in a way. Less skin showing for one thing. A scythe medallion fixed on her hip. "Damn you look really nice this way."

"Because I know you hate surprises. The best way for you to learn." Bi-Han said in a teacher's voice.

"Yeah yeah, bet you say that to all the girls," Tifa said turning away. On the side, Azul could see her smiling a little. She started talking with Ruby about the fight excitedly.

"Bi-Han... what are you doing these days. Were you changed this way by.. by a sorcerer perhaps?" Azul asked.

"Yes." Bi-Han's eyes closed a little. As if remembering something he rather not. "That and my arrogance. I am having trouble dealing with having control again. But my little brother has not given up on me."

"You still remember I am your brother. That is a start." Kuai Liang said happily.

"Tch, I cant let this stay," Azul said as he gathered magic from the surroundings. "Do you wish to be half-human again?"

"What do you mean half?" Bi-Han asked. "I was fully human."

"Huh yeah no you are half. So is your brother. And well Frost as well. Have no idea about that one though could swear she was a demon." Azul looked puzzled at Sareena. "You are part Edinian. Well, a quarter maybe. I never checked that deeply into it myself. Your mom is an Earthrealm inhabitant purely human."

"We are Eidenian..." Kuai Liang said.

"So you can turn him back human!?" Frost asked. Her biotic strands were extremely emotional. She adorned the two but there was something else in there. Azul remembered she was arrogant that was about it. What would this do to her psyche he wondered. "Well can you?!"

"First of all.." Ruby released pressure onto her. Fire burning in her eyes instantly. "Try asking nicely."

"What do you care what he does?!" Frost yelled.

"I think you shouldn't help. Just to piss her off." Ruby turned to Azul. "They are not on our side either."

"If us joining you will get your help from my brother than so be it." Kuai Liang said. He turned to his brother stopping him from saying anything. "You can save any retort for later. Especially with this chance in front of us. He may be an outsider but he has supported the Lin Kuei in his own way."

"Thank you," Bi-Han said to his brother. "You are the leader of the Lin Kuei oh Grandmaster." His voice contained a bit of humor at the end.

"This will hurt young wraith. That much you need to know." Azul stepped forward left hand full of the mental cleasning spell cast at a higher tier. In his right hand was a low pull with a body design from his Nether World. "Bi-Han are you ready?" He received a nod and stabbed his hand into the man's core.

"Aaahhhhhhh!" A torrent of despair and fury rang out. Everyone beside the two were pushed far away. Raiden watched on in astonishment. He felt the power of Elder God's at work. Yet it was vastly different in a way. He turned to Riku for answers and saw even she was surprised. For the next three minutes, Bi-Han wailed.

Slowly his fleshed returned to him. The ink type substance he had turned into retreating inside it. With fresh limbs and a sparse hair growing he looked a little human. Azul reached into his inventory and applied another low pull. The excess energy sped up the process restoring Bi-Han completely. Fully formed he grabbed at himself.

"I.. am .. human again.." Kuai Liang ran over wanting to help his brother up. He was stopped by Jaina erecting a wall in front of him. She shook her head to tell him to wait. "Ughh, why did you make me experience my life again as well? I could have done without that."

"Price of humanity I am afraid," Azul said. "Couldnt let you just get your body scot-free. Also, you need to be humble just a bit." Azul pinched his fingers in front of him. "Just this much."

"Heh, fine." Bi-Han stood up and flexed his powers."I still have my Cryomancy as well as the control of the ink like power." He stared at Azul hard and bowed. "I am at your service, GrandMaster."

System: Bi-Han has accepted the terms. Granted Follower as well as Companion abilities.

"Thanks but for now you just need to help us win this tournament. Everything else can be decided later." Azul returned a salute and motioned for the man to talk with his kin. Ruby stood somewhat pouting. "I do not do that willy nilly. I actually like the guy. Plus making up for things." Moving up he grabbed her by the waist. "Come on lets at least keep them in eye range. I know you have been wanting to give me a piece of your mind already."

"You damn right I do." Ruby went into a discussion about his behavior for ten minutes before stopping. Mostly just concerns about his well being and the crew. Not Maldova's crew, but his crew. The people he had recruited and the ones who stood back in his Nether World. In the end, she yelled about the lack of s.e.x. "I really want to f.u.c.k. Or kill while I am here."

"I am down for fighting." Tiffany chimed in. "I really want to learn martial arts more. But I do not want to neglect my spear art."

Speaking of Nether Worlds. 'Galtea are you there?'

Galtea: Yes I am here. I was sleeping for a bit. What do you need?

'Nothing much. Just, this place is not connected to my Nether World by chance. Not Edenia specifically but the actual World.'

'Was not planning on it. If it is hidden from them let us keep it that way.' Looking back to Ruby, he noticed she had a more genuine smile on. "So are you feeling better now?"

"Loads better. Master." She said teasing a little. She hip-checked him to activate a mental link. 'I like our cover here. You, my Master who is to close to me. Despite what the others said, you kept me by your side training me anyway. Me and my sister trained with you by the Shin Ryuhai outpost.' Ruby stopped and looked at him. 'Even though we are trained assassins. I do not mind the Life of the Shin Ryu hai. Or that of the Lin Kuei. All the memories here have been nice. Some times lonely but nice. Thank you for that.'

'I agree with my sister.' Onyx added. She was so content in her state blanketed over Azul, he wondered if she would turn solid again. 'Yes, I will turn back normal soon. I just wanted to be close to you for now. However, I would like to do this a lot more.'

'No problem. Just do not forget to train and do something to make yourself happy.' Azul added. He looked at the others behind them. They all carried on talking as they moved out. "Hmm so many things to do."

'Yup and a full lifetime to do it!' Ruby said excitied. "I can defintely get used to this."

Ruby was not kidding. She felt actual gratitude. A perfect blend of the her that existed here. She had completely fused and enjoyed the lifestyle a lot better than he could hope. More than his original time here. When they arrived the memories were weak, to say the least at first. Mostly training that boosts his own understanding to a better level. With the added from the Shen Ryu Hai as well that caused a good bit of extra learning.

"You can stay if you want. The world here will eventually get dangerous. But you are defintely a survivor I would not take that from you. You have had enough of restrictions in our Home World. Even.."

"Smack," a resounding sound travelled throughout the forest.

AzuI didnt get the chance to continue as Ruby smacked the living hell out of him. "Don't you ever make that offer again. I am in it for the long haul. No matter what." Ruby then kissed him and wrapped her arm around his back. Breaking away she stared into his eyes, "besides us monsters have to stick togethor." She tried to pull away but he kept her close.

"When we are done here. When we get back. The plans to go a world where you should have some fun are next." Feeling her tremble a little, Azul tightens his grip. 'Galtea can you make Riku's place next after all of this? With all the added people that are going anyway, I assume it will be a little difficult.' A strange feeling came off from Ruby. Happiness but also a sense of dread. From the meld, she knew that place had a big impact on his psyche.

Galtea: Most certainly. You are in luck too. I have a way for all your people to go. So dont worry about anything and fight till your heart's content here.