The chief of the Flower Village was awestruck when he saw that Ryu was cursed by the Black lightening.

“Who did this to you?” were the first words he said when he got back his senses.

“I think his name was Rai or something like that…. And I have been living with this curse since 4 years.” Said Ryu.

“4 Years!!! That’s too long…you should have been dead by now…I am sorry but no one has ever lived for more than 2 years…” said The Village chief in complete disbelief.

“Well, I have the spirit of the Eternal Shadow Dragon inside me, but you know more than that what is keeping me alive?”

“What?” asked the village chief curiously.

“My thirst for revenge against those who have killed my family members.” Said Ryu filling up with rage just by thinking about his uncle.

“Ryu, you have a lot of years ahead of you…don’t succumb to revenge, it’s bad…remember Ryu if we go on killing each other for different reasons, there will not be any humans left on the face of earth…” said The village chief with a lot of wisdom in his words.

“Ok leave that…do you have a cure for the black lightening or not…” asked Ryu.

“We Medicos don’t side with any warrior clans but I think I can make a little exception…You saved my daughter…” said The village chief thinking.

Then he got up, went to the library and started referring many ancient scrolls and after some time came back and said,”Ryu, you are in for luck…the main ingredient for the potion to cure your condition is the oil extracted from the petals of a Black Rose and they bloom every 5 years…this is the fifth year and they might bloom any day now.”

Ryu was happy that for the first time in so many years something was happening just like he wanted to but his happiness was short lived…

Something totally unexpected happened his blade started glowing…something it hadn’t done in 4 years.

Ryu was totally shocked and he lifted his sword and muttered the words “I seek Vengeance”

As if the sword got life the sword moved and pointed in a certain direction. Ryu’s hopes were all gone and the glowing became brighter with every passing moment.

“What are you doing?” asked the Village chief.

“No time to explain…take everyone you can and go to a safe place…hurry…” said Ryu

“Why, tell me.” Asked The Chief anxiously.

“Look, you all will die if you stay here…now leave.” Urged Ryu further.

The village chief woke up his family and took them to a safe place which was underground.

There he signaled other medicos to come into their hiding place.

Ryu shrugged his shoulders, picked up his sword and went to entrance of the house and just as he opened it a huge boulder came hurtling towards him at super speed.

But because of Ryu’s extreme physical training he was able to dodge it just in time and when he looked up he saw a whole army of people, undead ninjas, warriors made slaves, and different kinds of human- animal hybrids.

Ryu slowly said the words ,”Shadow Katana Activate” and his sword went up in black flames….he got ready to make the first move but he was suddenly stopped in his tracks when he heard the cold voice of Kagekami who came on a horse.

“Hello Ryu, my my, you have grown so much… I give you one last chance…join me and I will make you the Commander in Chief of my Army and together we can conquer the world…” said Kagekami.

“I don’t join hands with the likes of you…Kagemaru…” said Ryu extremely angry.

“How many times should I tell you dumb kid…Kagemaru died long ago…now I am Kagekami, the God of Shadows…” said Kagekami.

“One who steals other warrior’s moves and eternal animal spirits is nothing but a pile of dirt…” said Ryu remembering how the Eternal Spirit of the Sunshine Dragon had been extracted from his adoptive father Mr.Taiyoukou.

“Let’s hear the same words after my army is done dealing with you….” Said Kagekami.
As soon as he finished his sentence his vast army started the attack on Ryu…destroying everything in the way.

The undead ninjas were the first to come near Ryu and just as one of them was about to land his sickle on Ryu…Ryu vanished from his place… The undead ninjas were confused for a moment and it took everyone a while to realize that Ryu had moved extremely fast from his place and through hordes of people and was directly aiming his attack on Kagekami.

“Shadow Reaver…..” bellowed Ryu and was about to strike Kagekami but he couldn’t because of some kind of force field. That force field was strong enough to repel Ryu over some distance.

When Ryu got up he felt kind of dazed….he thought “What was that?”

Kagekami said in his cold voice ,”That’s the Turtle Back Shield….had to personally kill the leader of the Turtle clan to extract it…but it was worth it…your weak Shadow Clan Attacks are no match for it…”

Ryu stood up but a kind of weakness gripped him…he felt weak and thought he would fall down if he hadn’t taken the support of his sword to remain standing….

Kagekami saw Ryu’s condition and said,”This Force field not only blocks attacks but also sucks out chakra from its attackers as long as they remain in contact with it….Didn’t I tell you…this is the perfect defense…”

Ryu thought,”I really feel weak…how can I attack someone who keeps sucking my energy every time I attack.”

As Ryu was still preoccupied with all these thoughts…Kagekami now ordered his army to attack and destroy the entire village….

“What to do…Body bear with me for a while longer….” Thought Ryu and as if his inner soul listened he was suddenly filled with a renewed energy…He slowly said,”Thanks Dragon….”

All the mixed bag of soldiers both alive and dead attacked the village at once and Ryu knew he had no choice but use the one attack which he never thought he would use…he didn’t have enough time or opportunities to practice that attack… he didn’t know even if he would survive the curse after using up so much energy but for that one moment he didn’t care…he just didn’t want anyone else to get hurt… He stood up looking even more serious than usual..He felt a slight trickle of blood come from his cut forehead…

Ryu bellowed the words,”Shadow Clan’s Forbidden Attack - Black Inferno….”

Saying those words Ryu struck his sword into the ground…for a few seconds nothing happened it was like a lull before the storm and hordes and hordes of people were coming to attack him and the village and suddenly the ground started shaking violently and some fissures were formed and from those fissures black flames erupted as if they were erupting volcanoes.

A ring of fire had formed around Ryu and black flames continued coming up in various places totally annihilating everything in its path to nothingness.

But Ryu knew that he couldn’t keep this up for long because this attack uses a lot of chakra and he couldn’t afford that now…he felt that attack was weakening and he already started feeling giddy again but said “Dragon, one more time, help me out now…”

And he felt he could use some more energy and the attack became active again…
Ryu screamed and the radius and intensity of the attack magnified several times and this time it was enough to even engulf Kagekami and his generals and his entire army…
The generals of Kagekami had just enough time to enter the Turtle Shield but his minions were not so lucky and most of them perished in the unforgiving black flames.
After it was over Ryu felt the branches of lightening spread further over his chest and arms and felt as if they were tightening the grip over his body…he was unable to breathe properly…his vision was blurring.

The last visuals he had were that of Kagekami coming close to him and saying, “Never expected you to do that Ryu, now I am even more inclined to fight you…come to the Castle of No Return if you truly seek revenge…and I don’t think you will be needing any of these flowers…”

Just as Ryu was about to say, “NO….”

Kagekami raised his hand and waved it and the entire floral gardens including the Black Rose one were engulfed in flames and were reduced to ash in a matter of moments….

Ryu’s hopes were crushed again… and as he was too weak even stay awake and he fainted.