Ryu and Rokkan regained consciousness. They hadn't seen each other for the whole period they were training. Ryu's hair had grown much longer and Rokkan's had too. Now almost all of Rokkan's hair had turned silver except for the crown of his head which remained brown and the purple of the edges had expanded inwards. Ryu noticed that Rokkan now bore a very striking resemblance to Gaiden. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"Rokkan?! Is that really you? Oh what am I saying, you still have that bored look in your eyes. No one could possibly be as boring as you" Ryu joked.
"TCH! You're still as annoying as always" Rokkan said.
Ryu laughed.
"And you still talk in that same annoying way" he said.
"So what have you learnt?" Rokkan asked.
"It's a secret. What about you?" Ryu asked.
"I'm not going to tell you" Rokkan said with a smirk.
"It's great that we can finally breathe some fresh air" Ryu said.
"Yeah, being underground for so long almost made me lose my cool" Rokkan said.
"You never had a cool to begin with" Ryu said in a mocking tone.
"I see your tongue is still as sharp as always" Rokkan said.
"Rokkan, your training hasn't ended yet. We still have to build your speed, reflexes and stamina" Master Hiroshi said.
"Same as you Ryu, we must quickly begin the final phase of your training" Master Hiruko said.
"WHAT?! YOU GUYS WERE HERE ALL ALONG?!" Ryu exclaimed in shock.
"Heh! Young ones will always be young. After all your training, you couldn't even sense my presence" Master Hiruko said with a laugh.
Ryu was boiling in rage.
"YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO EAVESDROP ON OTHER PEOPLE'S CONVERSATIONS OLD MAN!" Ryu roared.
"You should learn to detect people eavesdropping on your conversation…if you are a ninja" Master Hiruko said with a sinister sparkle in his eyes.
"Oh crap! He just said the taboo!" Rokkan exclaimed and ducked behind a dragon statue.
In less than a second, Ryu and Master Hiruko were locked in fierce combat. Master Hiroshi and Rokkan stared at the battle in awe. Ryu was keeping up with Master Hiruko and unlike in his previous battles, there were no wasted movements in his attacks. He had learned to use his surroundings to his advantage as well. It was just a battle of fists, no elements but it was equally as dangerous as the battle between Ryukan and Rokkaden.
"Well done Ryu, I see you have learnt a lot in these past eight months. Your taijutsu skills are superb thanks to your powers of intuition and perception however…" Master Hiruko said as he took in a deep breath and stomped the ground.
Ryu felt an enormous pressure around the Temple. In a flash, Master Hiruko stood before him and gave him a combo attack with the fist of his left hand and the elbow of his right hand. "DRAGON CRUSHING DUAL STRIKE!" he roared.
The impact sent Ryu flying till he crashed into the wall of the Temple.
"Ryu you idiot. What were you thinking, challenging a Master?" Rokkan sighed.
Ryu stood up and cracked his neck and shoulders.
"Wow, that was some attack" he said as though that was nothing.
"Eight months ago, that attack would have killed you. At least you have enough fortitude to resist my foolish student, Shekan's attacks" Master Hiruko said.
"WH-WHAT?! SHEKAN WAS YOUR STUDENT?!" Ryu exclaimed in shock.
"I thought I told you before" Master Hiroku said.
"You conveniently skipped that part" Ryu said as he gave Master Hiruko a suspicious glare.
"Ho ho ho ho! Sorry, sorry. I thought I told you" Master Hiruko laughed.
"What's with that creepy laughter?" Ryu asked.
"It took Shekan two months to surpass me. Do you think you can beat that?" Master Hiruko said with a sly grin.
"I'm definitely going to beat him for sure!" Ryu declared.
"Before you think of defeating him, you must eat a delicacy we've been preparing for you" Master Hiroshi said as he led them to the Dining Hall and clapped his hands twice.
The Light ninja came in carrying different varieties of food.
"Wow! I'm so hungry I could eat it all!" Ryu exclaimed joyfully.
"Well dig in" Master Hiruko offered.
Ryu and Rokkan stared at the Light Ninja and sat up straight.
"We won't touch a morsel of this food unless the Light ninja eat with us" Ryu said.
Rokkan nodded. The Light ninja were surprised.
"Well what do you say?" Rokkan asked them.
"W-We'd be honoured to dine with you" the leader of the Light ninja bowed respectfully.
So the Light ninja sat down to eat with Ryu and Rokkan. Ryu took a large chunk of meat and gobbled it up quickly. The Light ninja joined in eating and Rokkan wasted no time in satiating his appetite.
"Mmm, this is delicious. What meat is this?" Ryu asked.
"Heart of Raisol" Master Hiruko said as he made a scary face.
Everyone who had eaten the meat began to spit it out. Others went to the extent of vomiting and a few tried to choke themselves.
"Just kidding! It's pork!" Master Hiruko said with a laugh.
"THAT'S NOT FUNNY! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE!" Ryu yelled angrily.
Rokkan elbowed Ryu.
"Ryu, your master has definitely got some screws loose, just like you" Rokkan said.
"What did you just say?" Master Hiruko said as he showed off his fighting spirit.
Rokkan was immediately intimidated.
"N-Nothing" he cowered.
After their meal, Ryu and Rokkan were taken back to their training grounds underground. They were given a day of rest. The next day, they resumed their training.
Master Hiruko approached Ryu.
"Ryu, now it's time for you to master the final phase of your training. You have successfully mastered the Flame jutsu, ninjutsu, magic and you have absorbed the experience of Rokkan's swordsmanship. Now you will master the ultimate Dragon Art, the Power Of The True Soul" Master Hiruko said.
"The Power Of The True Soul? There is such a thing as that?" Ryu asked in surprise.
"Yes, and I'll tell you this beforehand. Neither Gaiden, nor Shekan were able to master it" Master Hiruko said seriously.
"None of them?!" Ryu exclaimed in shock.
"None" Master Hiruko repeated.
"And you think I can?" Ryu asked.
"Yes, I believe so" Master Hiruko said.
"How do I use this power?" Ryu asked.
Master Hiruko frowned.
"Ryu, I can only teach you how to find that power but you alone can decide how and when to use it" Master Hiruko said as he narrowed his eyes into an unusually serious gaze.
Ryu noticed this.
"Master, is there something bothering you?" Ryu asked.
"Ryu, you can only use this power once but be forewarned, to use that technique means to prepare oneself to pay the ultimate price. Even though you know this, do you still want to learn that technique?" Master Hiruko asked.
"By ultimate price, do you mean death?" Ryu asked worriedly.
"In a way, yes. To master the technique, you must forsake everything you hold dear and after using it, you will suffer for eternity, a pain unlike the fate of anything else in existence" Master Hiruko said grimly.
"Forsake everything…I hold dear? Why is that necessary in learning this jutsu?" Ryu asked.
"Like I said, you must prepare yourself to pay the ultimate price" Master Hiruko said.
Ryu placed his hand on his heart and thought of Atlanta. He was trembling all over. Just the thought of letting her go, frightened him.
"Gaiden defeated Shekan without this technique. Can't I just do the same?" Ryu asked.
"You are scared Ryu, but not of death. What is holding you back?" Master Hiruko asked.
"Letting go of everything…and everyone…even Atlanta, it seems to me like the ones being sacrificed is them! IS THAT REALLY A TECHNIQUE WORTH MASTERING?!" Ryu roared in anger.
"You are not just fighting Shekan! What would happen if the six moons of Tristran align and Tristran is fully revived?! Are you telling me that your personal feelings are more important than the fate of the ryu and the world?! Are you serious?!" Master Hiruko scolded Ryu.
"Alright…I'll do it" Ryu said uncertainly.
"Do what?!" Master Hiruko questioned sternly.
"I will master this technique!" Ryu said with a determined look in his eyes.
Master Hiruko's tensed features relaxed.
"To begin, you must let go of all your emotions and thoughts and focus on your origins. Close off all your five senses and concentrate. You will see a form. Once you've seen it, open your eyes and awaken your senses or you will inadvertently awaken the technique and like I warned you, its effects are permanent. There is no going back once you begin" Master Hiruko said.
Ryu gulped.
"Are you ready to begin?" Master Hiruko asked.
"I don't quite get what I'm supposed to do" Ryu scratched his head nervously.
"The soul, it is a combination of the mind, the heart and the spirit. The basic principle is to unite these three parts of the human being" Master Hiruko said.
"I understand now…I think but how do I find my spirit?" Ryu asked.
"Your spirit is within you. Only you can find it" Master Hiruko said.
"Let me see, ninjutsu utilizes body and spiritual energy. My spirit must be the source of the spiritual energy I've been using" Ryu thought.
"I'll leave you to practice now" Master Hiruko said as he left Ryu alone.
After Master Hiruko had left, Ryu sat on the ground in the style of the monks and shut his eyes.
"I must unite my mind, heart and spirit" Ryu said as he tried to let go of his senses.
He was clueless on how to begin and he couldn't stop thinking of Atlanta. Four months passed and Ryu still saw no results. Then on the final day of the fifth month, he felt completely focused. He blotted everything else from his mind and focused his entire being on one goal, to defeat Tristran. Slowly, he began to see an image within his mind. It was like his soul had been lifted from his body and pulled million light years away from the earth. He could see the endless sky. He could see the countless stars and planets and at the centre of creation, there was a Dragon Zone made of pure elements. Within the Dragon Zone rested a mighty dragon, with the colours of all the elements. The Dragon seemed to be asleep and it looked peaceful. Ryu stared at it and felt an immense pressure. It was as though the entire universe was imploding within him. On the outside, the entire Light Ryu was trembling as though it was being shaken by a mighty earthquake. Ryu quickly opened his eyes and the earthquake ceased. He was breathing hoarsely. He felt frightened, as though he had just seen a god. Master Hiruko stood before him.
"You finally saw it didn't you?" Master Hiruko asked him.
"Yes, I saw a rainbow coloured dragon. It looked far mightier than any of the dragons I've seen so far and it was resting within the Dragon Zone" Ryu said.
"That Dragon Zone…is the original Dragon Zone, the centre of creation. The Rainbow Dragon is your destiny and the Dragon Zone is your identity" Master Hiruko said.
"I don't understand" Ryu said.
He wasn't sure of what Master Hiruko was talking about and part of him didn't want to find out what his Master's words meant. But a greater part of him yearned to understand what he had just seen.
"Your training is now complete" Master Hiruko said. "Exactly a year has passed since you came to the Light Ryu".
Ryu was led to the Temple above the ground. Rokkan was waiting for him. They had finally learned all they needed to know in order to defeat Shekan and Tristran. Everything else was up to them.
"Ryu, Rokkan, you have learnt all you need to know. It has been a trying year and we've moved heaven and earth to pass on the most powerful techniques of your ancestors to you. You have succeeded in mastering all of them now it is time to create your fates and safeguard humanity's future" Master Hiruko said.
"I guess it's time to leave" Rokkan said.
"Wait a minute. Master Hiruko, I've still got some questions" Ryu called.
Master Hiruko beckoned for him to approach. When they were a safe distance from everyone else, Master Hiruko asked Ryu what his question was.
"First of all, I need to know more about Silent Techniques" Ryu asked.
"It has something to do with Atlanta, am I right?" Master Hiruko asked.
"Yes" Ryu replied after a momentary pause.
"Silent Techniques are semi-magical techniques that have been sealed within the royal family of the Fire Kingdom. They are like a bloodline limit" Master Hiruko answered Ryu's question.
"And now my second question. The prophecy says;
A Sword must be wielded, a Sword must be made'. What's that supposed to mean?" Ryu asked.
"Two special swords are needed in order to vanquish Tristran. One has already been created and the other is yet to be created" Master Hiruko said.
"The one that has been created…it's the Sword Of Rai isn't it?" Ryu asked.
"Exactly, now one of you must create a special Sword infused with all your positive feelings. Such a Sword might be able to rival Tristran's fate techniques" Master Hiruko said.
"How do I find the materials for such a Sword?" Ryu asked.
"You will find them Ryu" Master Hiruko said with a reassuring smile.
"Hey Ryu! It's time to leave!" Rokkan called.
"Oh, and one more thing Ryu, take this. It is the Ryu(Dragon) medallion" Master Hiruko said as he handed Ryu a medallion with the image of two dragons overlapping one another on the Dragon Zone imprinted on it.
"It's got my name" Ryu said.
"I want you to use it in the forging of your sword" Master Hiruko said with a wink.
"Thank you Master" Ryu said with a slight bow.
Then he ran to join Rokkan. Master Hiruko and Master Hiroshi combined their powers and created a portal of Light.
"Soon, we will have a new legend to add to our chronicles" Master Hiroshi said as Ryu and Rokkan stepped into the portal.
There was a brilliant flash of Light as the two brothers turned back into statues.