Ultimate Predator

Spoiler Warning: Planned Content!

This is the finale of the War of Rage mini-arc which will unfold either during or towards the end of upcoming Season 6, Ronin WarriorSpectra. This is for my personal notes and to codify upcoming chapters.
Premise

Fresh off of defeating a Suberbeing-class enemy in the first of the prophesized Three Wars-the War of Rage-the Ronin are visited by an old acquaintance requesting aid halfway around the world. At first it seems their fight against the Baltokor isn't finished, but they soon learn there is a far deeper mystery at work.

Plot points/Scenes

1. Out of Africa-Naria of the Taulagi Tribe of Tanzania makes her way to Japan in search of the Ronin.
2. Voice of a Lion-Mukala, who Ryo once fought in the past, fills him in on the enemy assailing the tribe.
3. The Loud One with Fat Cheeks-Instead of a Baltokor survivor, the creature is revealed to be a nightmarish clone of one of the Ronin.
4. The Valley of Black Crystal-The others investigate wreckage dropped by the Baltokor mothership, hoping to uncover clues.
5. Priestess of the Sun-Naria finds herself a captive of the creature and believes there is more to him than meets the eye.
6. Hunt to His Heart's Content-The Ronin manage to incapacitate the creature but Naria intervenes on its behalf much to Mukala's chagrin.

Themes

The passing of judgment is a central theme in this chapter, both touching on Mukala's actions in the past and the creature's perceived malice. Ironically enough Mukala is blamed by his own tribesmen for the creature's rampage despite the fact that they blindly worshipped the Black Sun Armor years ago. Sometimes brute force is not the best solution and even though the Ronin have by now fully broken in their new Spectronin Armors, they have to weigh whether the creature's actions warrant such extreme power.

Structure

Exposition

Act I

Out of Africa

A freighter pulls into harbor at the Toyama docks and a cloaked and hooded passenger disembarks. The sailors comment amongst themselves why would someone want to come to Japan from Africa of all places. They have no idea but she paid well with rare goods like jewelry and precious gems. The figure draws odd glances from passersby but keeps herself concealed. After much walking and hitchhiking, she eventually makes her way to the forest surrounding the Koji Estate.
Before she can reach the house itself, she is intercepted by Chi Chi Lina, Danae, who draws her sword and asks in Thangien why she is intruding in the area. The hooded figure speaks in a different language and Danae is able to understand her intentions and sheathes her sword, instructing her to follow. Instead of leading her to the estate, she guides her to the entrance tunnel for the Roost. The mysterious woman is startled to see so many different individuals such as Trakar, Thranctipo, the Thunthen, and the Neo Ronin going about daily activities in the main cavern. Danae leads her to the conference room where Ryo is going over a map with Anubis and Rowen and discussing the aftermath of their battle with the Baltokor. Danae tells Ryo he has a visitor and the woman pulls back her hood.
Ryo is startled to see it is Naria, the African priestess and the fiancee of Mukala. While he is overjoyed to see her and greets her enthusiastically, she quickly states she would not have come so far without a good reason. The other Ronin are summoned into the conference room and listen as Naria describes how the Taulagi witnessed the final battle against the Baltokor and that wreckage from the mothership fell from the sky and landed in the ruins of the Valley of Black Crystal. Mukala led a scouting party to investigate and found a strange metal sarcophagus in a crater. One of the younger hunters got too close and the pod opened, the creature emerging from within seizing the hapless youth. Mukala escaped with the rest of the party, but since then the creature has been terrorizing the area.
First it preyed upon livestock kept by the tribe then began attacking tribesmen that attempted to retaliate. The other tribesmen believe it is the Black Sun returned to pass judgement for forsaking their worship, but Naria and Mukala know it is not a god but an otherworldly beast and that the Ronin would know how to stop it. Ryo agrees to help her since they suspect one of the Baltokor must have survived. Because the Elemental Armors lost the ability to teleport due to spectralization, they are going to use Sky Platform Argonauth to travel across the globe.

Conflict

Act II

Voice of a Lion

Because the last thing the Ronin need is the Taulagi seeing the Argonauth and thinking its yet another god, its staying high above the clouds and they'll do an airdrop over the Secret Valley. Naria mentions the valley is exposed because the Tree of Life vanished along with the Black Sun. She initially thought they would be targeted by neighboring hostile tribes, not this strange creature. Ryo assures her it'll be fine and uses his Inferno sub-armor and the spectronium wings on his back and carries her personally. The others jump out from one of the lower levels and Rowen, Cye, Tanya, and Dais catch the others and tow them to the ground safely but Cale misses his target and ends up landing in a cluster of vines, fuming but easily slicing his way out using his claw gauntlets before meeting up with the others.
Naria offers to guide them to the village but Ryo tells the others to go on ahead while he stays behind to have a look around, switching back to Wildfire sub-armor. After he's sure they're out of earshot Ryo calls out that he knows Mukala is watching him. No response. Ryo turns around and tilts his head up, spotting Mukala standing on a branch high overhead. He is wielding a carved wooden boomerang instead of the black crystal one he once carried. The stoic warrior meets Ryo's gaze and Ryo grins, teasing that "he never calls, he never writes". Mukala keeps up the silent act a moment longer before smirking and commenting that Ryo "hasn't changed". He drops down and the two clasp arms heartily-the first time they've greeted each other cordially in years, Ryo saying "Right back atcha". He says he had a feeling it was him he glimpsed as the Baltokor mothership exploded and that Naria told them there was trouble but he asks Mukala for details.
Mukala says he's lost many strong warriors to the creature's hunger, and worse yet, it seems to relish devouring human flesh. He states that it "walks like a man but speaks with the voice of a lion". Ryo asks what it looks like and Mukala says it bears an uncanny resemblance to one of his friends. Ryo, puzzled, asks which one, and Mukala says "the loud one with fat cheeks". Alarmed, Ryo promptly shouts into his wrist-com to be on the lookout for a clone of Kento in his Avatar form. Rowen asks how can he be so sure and Ryo says Mukala specifically mentioned "the loud one with fat cheeks." Kento says "yup, that's me...and I'm NOT fat!" Sage comments that the Baltokor had him captive long enough they easily could've harvested enough genetic material to work with. Ryo says he'll meet up with the others and Kento asks "did he seriously call me fat?" before Ryo closes the connection.
Mukala is puzzled and Ryo tries to explain as politely as possible that the invaders from the sky captured Kento some time prior and apparently wanted to create a loyal servant in his image. Mukala asks why and Ryo tries to explain that they likely prized his strength. Mukala again asks why, since he easily defeated Kento in the past. Ryo asks to change the subject and hopes Mukala can keep up as they go to meet up with the others before taking off springing through the trees, moving quickly thanks to his Armor. Mukala is not far behind but has trouble keeping pace, somewhat jealous that Ryo still retains his Armor while his was destroyed.
They meet up with the other Ronin and Mukala is surprised by the Spectronin Armors, having never met the former Warlords or Tanya. Despite the not-so-subtle jab from earlier, Kento tries to let bygones be bygones with Mukala, telling him he should visit Thanged sometime, he'd enjoy it and "just tell them you're a Ronin Warrior, you'll get all your meals for free." Mukala replies he's not a Ronin Warrior but Kento shrugs "they don't have to know that!" Mukala seems to briefly consider the offer and Sage says he shouldn't be so quick to exploit Mukala's naivete and give him bad ideas. Kento retorts he's just "trying to bridge the cultural gap" and Sage comments "That shouldn't be done by someone like you."
All the while Mukala observes the exchange. Except for Ryo and Sage he'd only had fleeting interaction with the other younger Ronin. He's treated being a warrior all his life as a solemn duty but to him they come off as almost goofy. Before the other Ronin can even introduce themselves, a terrifying sound echoes through the forest, sounding like no beast anyone's ever heard. Kento states in a tiny voice that he does not sound like that when he roars, drawing a confused glance from Mukala. Rowen and Cye mount their skyboards and take off to do some scouting while Cale and Sage take of running at tremendous speed through the jungle while Kento and Anubis use their cables/chains to swing through the trees. Sehkmet goes off leaping at the same speed Ryo demonstrated earlier, surprising Mukala with how fast their Armors allow them to move. It doesn't take long before Cye calls out over the channel that they've found it and relays that "it looks just like him!"
Cye and Rowen are pursuing the creature from above as it bounds over the ground on all fours. It pauses abruptly and swings a large sophisticated-looking rifle about and fires a shot. Rowen tilts his skyboard up in time to block but the blast nearly knocks him off balance. Cye relays that its packing pretty serious firepower. Rowen theorizes that the Baltokor likely programmed it with knowledge of their weaponry. Ryo says they'll come in for a surround and take it down. He switches to Inferno sub-armor again and flies off ahead of Mukala, leaving him in the dust. Fuming, Mukala gives chase, arriving at the edge of a rocky clearing where the other Ronin have the creature surrounded. Kento is sickened by what he sees.

Rising Action

Act III

The Loud One with Fat Cheeks

The creature looks like an exact mirror of him in Avatar form, only with nearly black skin and a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. It appears to be wearing tactical boots, cargo pants, and a gray shirt with a tactical harness, but is hunkered close to the ground on all fours like a beast. Ryo alights on the ground and changes back to Wildfire sub-armor and draws out his fire rod. Sage asks his call, and Ryo says it's taken lives: there's no other option. Mukala watches in awe as the Ronin unleash their secondary weapons, striking the creature directly and sending clouds of dust billowing up, hiding it from view. Ryo signals for them to stop as the dust rolls and starts to settle. No movement detected. He sighs and says "It's finished. It's dead."
Just then, a dark form leaps out from the cloud and tackles Kento to the ground. Kento blinks dust from his eyes and looks up, shocked to see the creature pinning him by his shoulders. Tanya screams as the creature looks like it can easily bite Kento's head off. The creature leans down, teeth bared, before it pauses and closes its mouth. It leans closer and Kento tries to turn away as it sniffs him several times before making a puzzled groan and backing away, still on all fours. Kento is equally confused and the creature stares back a few moments before bounding away into the jungle.
The others rush over and Tanya asks what the heck was that all about. Sehkmet says if he didn't know any better he'd say that creature recognized him. Dais asks why the heck would the Baltokor want to clone Kento of all people and Anubis replies why not? They wanted a servant that would serve them without question, possessing all of Kento's power but none of his compassion. Kento is shaken because he could have easily ended up like that if he ever lost his Heart of Justice. Cye comforts him that he's still human no matter what, but whatever the Baltokor did to that creature, there's nothing human about it.
Naria arrives at the clearing, having heard the battle, and Mukala scolds her for leaving the village while the creature could be close by but Naria argues she should be at his side no matter what. Ryo comments how the creature didn't even suffer a scratch from their combined firepower and asks Mukala if there's any habits he's noticed. Mukala replies that while it's killed many villagers on the outskirts, it has yet to directly attack the village. Ryo asks Kento if he can sniff it out and Kento waves sure, just gimme a sec. Dais asks doesn't someone have to beat him up for him to transform and Cale teasingly asks if he could volunteer. Kento smirks and says it's all about the right mindset and steps away from the group and dismisses sub-armor, reverting to civilian clothes. Mukala and Naria are confused as Kento bows his head and clenches his fists, apparently concentrating.
Kento clenches his teeth and growls as he transforms into his Avatar form quickly, having learned how to transform at will thanks to training from Kaosu before the Baltokor invasion. Mukala and Naria are startled and Rowen teases Kento "scared the pants off of them" (neither of the two wear pants). Kento glances at them and says sorry before scowling and pointing at Mukala, retorting "that's what you get for calling me fat!". Ryo says to stop goofing off and Kento grumbles he knows before closing his eyes and tilting his head up slightly, sniffing the air. Cale teases not to get distracted by food while Sage tells him to shut up and let him focus. Kento's eyes pop open and he lets out a strangled growl. Ryo asks what's wrong and Kento replies "...he's killed again..."
The team takes off with Kento bounding over the ground on all fours while the flyers follow above and the others on the ground. Ryo-wearing Inferno sub-armor and flying with the spectronium dragon wings, asks if Kento has to run like that and Kento replies he can move much faster, something about less wind resistance. Ryo retorts back that as big as he gets he's nothing but "wind resistance" and Kento sniffs that he's just jealous. Ryo shoots back "What, that you gained three hundred pounds? Yeah, sooooo jealous..." As physically fit as he is, Mukala is struggling to keep up with their speed while Naria carefully weaves her way through the underbrush keeping the flyers in sight. She notices they are getting close to the village outskirts.
They come upon the creature hunkered over a bloody mass of bones where it seems more interested in licking the flesh off like a lion. Ryo asks Kento to try communicating with it and Kento cautiously creeps forward. The creature glances at him and growls but says nothing and goes back to feasting noisily. Dais comments the creature has worse manners than Kento and Rowen scolds this is serious. Ryo asks if Kento's tried reaching out telepathically and Kento says he's been trying but it's like the creature can't hear him: it's not blocking him, but it's not responding either. He scoots closer and timidly tries asking the creature if it can "share" trying to engage in conversation but the creature lunges at him briefly, swatting at the ground the way a lion would to ward off a competitor. As it moves away from the bloodied bones, Mukala catches glimpse of a beaded bracelet he recognizes as one he'd given to a promising young warrior.
Seething with cold fury, Mukala discreetly holds his wooden boomerang at his side and tweaks off a wooden sleeve, revealing a sharpened edge hidden in the weapon. Angry that the Ronin seem to be making light of the deaths of so many tribsemen, Mukala tenses and pulls back his arm. Ryo notices movement out the corner of his eye and asks what is Mukala doing, but before he can stop him, Mukala hurls the boomerang at the creature, the blade aiming for the neck.
The blade bounces off with a clang and sticks into the ground on one end, a large notch left in the edge. The creature seems annoyed at first then roars, enraged, and lunges at Kento, taking its anger out on him. It catches him off guard and digs its teeth into his flesh between his neck and shoulder, tearing out a huge chunk of muscle. Tanya screams in horror and the creature escapes into the jungle once more. Rowen and Sage rush over to Kento to examine him with Rowen assuring the others he's fine: the creature didn't hit anything vital.
Naria says they are close to the village outskirts and says they can take him there to be treated. Ryo says they should keep Kento out of sight and Naria offers to hide him in their hut. Tanya remains at his side and puts fresh Richtho leaves over the wound, having to use several because of his increased size. Tanya goes off on Mukala for nearly getting Kento killed, with Mukala calling her an "ignorant foreigner!" and Tanya calling him a "Pagan savage!". Ryo tells them to cool it and they need more info on what they're dealing with and return to the village to strategize.

Climax

Act IV

The Valley of Black Crystal

The villagers are not terribly thrilled to see the Ronin and one of the tribesmen starts bickering with Mukala, but the Ronin can't understand what he's saying. (The Taulagi speak in a variation of Swahili). Ryo is confused about what's going on and Rowen wishes they'd brought translator buds with them. Mukala hangs his shoulders and closes his eyes as two tribesmen flank Naria and drag her forward. Ryo asks what's going on but Mukala simply looks away, clenching his fists. An elderly tribesman comes up from behind Naria and pulls out an ornate bone dagger. Naria looks scared but seems to have resigned herself.
Rowen cries out just as Ryo mutters "the hell..." The tribesmen freeze upon hearing several clicks and hums and whines as the Ronin aim their gauntlet weapons at them. Mukala is alarmed but Ryo states that he knows they have no right "trampling on their beliefs, or whatever" but they're not going to let his people do this. This isn't a demon or rogue "god", it's an alien creature empowered by technology: they're not going to "appease it" by sacrificing innocent people. The tribesmen release Naria and she runs over to stand behind Mukala, the Ronin keeping their weapons trained on them until they leave. Ryo asks Tanya to stay with Naria to make sure these "primitive screwheads" don't try anything funny, to which Tanya agrees. While she and Naria remain behind to treat Kento's injuries, the others will investigate where it came from, with Ryo asking Mukala to lead them to the site of the Valley of Black Crystal, where it was first encountered.
As Naria and Tanya walk back towards the hut, they are greeted by a baby elephant carrying baskets filled with Red Flower petals. Naria thanks him for his foresight while Tanya fawns over how cute he is and rubs his head but gasps when she notices five huge gashes in his rump that look only partially healed. She asks what happened and Naria explained the creature attacked him not long after it started its rampage and the village took over caring for him in exchange for him running errands for them. Tanya asks how he managed to escape and Naria comments "because the creature took his mother instead". Saddened for the baby elephant, Tanya hugs him and he reaches up and gently pats her face appreciatively with the tip of his trunk. Tanya doesn't mind that he smells like dusty dirt and poop.
Naria sets to boiling a salve from Red Flowers and says she hopes it works better than "last time". Kento thanks her but grimaces from his injury and Tanya swats him upside the head, telling him to stop talking. The wound is so large and deep the leaves aren't working fast enough to stop the bleeding and Naria prepares fresh bandages. She hears Kento's voice in her mind saying he's suffered worse injuries and Naria almost drops the bandages, frightened. Tanya notices her panicked expression and assures her it's okay, its just Kento, he "mindspeaks". Naria remarks she's never had anyone mindspeak to her and Kento apologizes for scaring her but Tanya slaps him again, telling him to stop thinking.
The others arrive at the ruins of the valley, it having been effectively powderized by the dueling Infernos. Only a scant few crystal formations remain intact, completely inert of any magical power. They find the fallen capsule and Rowen examines it, reaching inside to inspect the clear bluish liquid within. He suspects the capsule served as an incubation chamber and the liquid acted like amniotic fluid while the creature developed. Cye spots an open compartment on one side, suspecting this is where it got its "toy" from. Rowen says the Baltokor probably gave it rudimentary training but didn't finish programming it, leaving it effectively a blank slate. It isn't attacking out of sheer malice, it's behaving like a wild animal. The only reason it's been attacking the Taulagi is because it perceives them as a threat and competition for food. Mukala isn't happy about them ascribing sympathetic traits to the beast.
Back at the village, Naria says she needs fresh water and tells Tanya she'll get some from the stream nearby. She ventures outside with a clay pot and kneels down beside the stream. She pauses when she sees a reddish tint in the water and recoils slightly. Her gaze drifts to the side and she is horrified to see the creature kneeling beside the stream some distance away. She never imagined it'd come this close to the village. It is drinking deeply, the blood from his teeth staining the water of the stream. It doesn't seem to have noticed her yet and she slowly stands up and backs away step by step. A single twig cracks under her heel and she gasps in fright. The creature sits up and turns her way slowly, opening its eyes. It stares at her calmly at first and then tenses and growls softly. Naria attempts to plead with it while moving away but the creature prowls in her direction before launching into a bound. Naria drops the pot and tries to flee to no avail as the creature snatches her off the ground and vanishes into the jungle with her.

Falling Action

Act V

Priestess of the Sun

Tanya contacts the others with the bad news that Naria's gone missing and villagers heard her scream and the beast's roar near the village. They quickly return and Mukala berates Tanya for letting Naria get taken, but Tanya retorts that it's HIS fault Kento got injured in the first place, otherwise Naria wouldn't have been in harm's way. Some of the villagers that accosted Naria earlier arrive and apparently taunt Mukala in their language. Dais wonders what the heck they're saying and Sehkmet comments it sounds like they're saying now that the creature has what it came for, it will leave them in peace. Dais snorts doubtful.
Mukala ruthlessly decks the apparent leader of the hecklers, drawing satisfied chuckles from the other Ronin. Ryo places a hand on his shoulder and assures him they'll find Naria and bring her back safe and sound. Mukala frets it might already be too late and Ryo uneasily replies that it literally wouldn't kill him to be a tad bit optimistic. Rowen uses an arrow from his crossbow to trace a crude map in the sand, making a diagram of the valley, the village, and places where the creature's been encountered, drawing a circle encompassing all locations. The creature is treating the area like its territory, and that its den must lie somewhere in the center. If it wanted to, it easily could've killed Naria instantly, but it's likely saving her for a specific reason. They find its den, they'll find her, but they need to move fast.
Naria awakens to find her wrists bound with vines and sees her arms draped around the neck of the creature as its climbing a sheer cliff face. The creature pauses and whines in exhaustion and Naria quips that it shouldn't be eating so many humans: it's probably bad for its health. The creature grunts apparently agreeing with her, and Naria wonders if it understands her. It arrives at a cave nestled behind a waterfall and gently sets her down on the floor. It turns to go deeper into the cave but pauses when Naria starts trying to slip out of her bonds and kneels down and ties the vines snugly. Naria doesn't know why it's sparing her and argues that she doesn't have as much clout as she used to and if its holding her hostage hoping to use her as a bargaining chip, it won't work.
The creature kneels down infront of her and leans close, peering at her. Naria leans away, uneasy. The creature almost seems fond of her. The creature seems to realize it's making her uncomfortable and backs off, crawling off a short distance and returning with a fresh antelope carcass clenched in its jaws and drops it infront of her. It peels off a strip of flesh with its claws and holds it up to her face and Naria recoils, politely saying she doesn't "eat as he does". The creature seems angry and draws its beam rifle and Naria closes her eyes fearing the worst. The rifle fires and Naria smells charred flesh but feels no pain and opens her eyes to see steam rising from a hunk of flesh on the carcass. The creature peels off another strip and again offers it to Naria, who reluctantly nibbles a corner and chews the crunchy meat with great effort. She quips that its technique needs work: it tastes like charcoal, and the creature chuckles in good humor. Naria is surprised its treating her differently from its past victims and watches as it crawls away and curls up to nap.
She looks down at her bonds, knowing if she tried undoing them here the creature would hear her and retie them. She surveys the cave and sees no exit aside from the entrance but notices a rock ledge just wide enough to fit a person. She scoots towards the ledge very slowly, anxiously watching the creature incase it awakens. So far so good. It feels like hours of inching towards the exit and onto the ledge which slopes up towards the top of the cliff, careful not to tip over. Once safely beyond earshot, she hurriedly slips out of her bonds and pelts through the jungle.

Resolution

Act VI

Hunt to His Heart's Content

She hears the crash of branches and is horrified to see the creature bounding through the jungle off to the side. She cries out, begging it to let her leave in peace, unsure why it is so obsessed with her. The creature pounces, aiming to intercept her. Mid-arc, another form collides with it and tackles it, pushing the creature back. It's Kento-recovered from his injuries- and for a split horrifying second, Naria can't tell the two apart. Kento shouts for her to run and the creature tries to bite him in the neck again but Kento hardens his arm and jams it in the creature's maw, snarling "Oh no you don't!" He grapples with the creature but it breaks free and chases after Naria again.
Tanya-in full Spectra Typhoon Armor-swoops down and scoops Naria up in her arms, saying she's got her and flies out of reach. Naria is grateful but looks down and sees the creature bring its rifle around to bear. Tanya mutters "shit!" as the creature takes aim. Naria gazes down worriedly and the creature hesitates, frowning and slings the rifle behind its shoulder. Tanya wonders why he didn't take the shot. The creature takes off running after them, and Tanya doesn't think it can possibly reach her, but it starts scampering up a tall tree, planning to catch her midair, Tanya not realizing at first and unable to veer away in time. Kento catches up and intercepts it again, knocking it to the ground. The two fight again and Kento clasps his hands together and swings mightily at the creature's face.
His roar echoes through the jungle and the other Ronin and Mukala arrive on sight to find the creature unconscious and Kento cradling his wrists. He grimaces and thinks they're broken and Sage walks over to inspect him, stating "yup. You broke them. Congratulations, you somehow managed to break them both..." and tends to him. Tanya lands on the ground and sets down Naria and walks over to the creature as the others are able to get a closer look at it. It's skin isn't black, but rather a very very dark shade of purple, and it seems to have large thumb-sized scales covering most of its skin from the neck down: that's probably how it managed to deflect Mukala's specialized boomerang. Tanya tweaks one out and stores it in a compartment on her belt for analysis later. The creature is still knocked out and completely at their mercy and Ryo and the others raise their weapons preparing to finish it off.
Ryo blinks in surprise when Naria steps infront of him and holds out both arms. She states "as a priestess of the Sun who gives Life, she cannot allow them to harm this creature". Mukala demands she moves and asks if she's out of her mind, reminding her that it's killed many people. Naria says the creature is not wholly evil and that it spared her when it easily could have devoured her like the rest. Tanya confirms this, recounting how the creature could've easily shot her out of the sky but didn't. It couldn't because she was carrying Naria. Naria argues that the creature is just as much a victim of its cruel masters-who created it then abandoned it without purpose-than they are of its misguided savagery. The creature stirs briefly upon hearing her speak on its behalf but is too incapacitated to move.
Naria tells Mukala just as the Ronin forgave him for his past actions, so too should he forgive the creature. Mukala grumbles that he never ate anyone, but some of the younger Ronin look like they'd disagree given the beating he dealt them years ago. Naria turns to Ryo and asks him that because he has knowledge of many worlds besides their own, is there not such a world where they can send this creature where it can live in peace and hunt to its heart's content. Ryo looks awkward about the proposal but thinks there might be one of the Outer Worlds in Thuruk where they can drop him. Kento feels sorry for the creature, commenting in some way it's almost like a brother. Mukala protests against pardoning it but Kento growls if he has a problem he can take it up with him, and Mukala seethes but ultimately relents.
The creature awakens to find himself on a jungle island part of a coral atoll in the middle of a vast ocean. The Ronin have decided to deposit him on Planet Aguar, where the surface is mostly water and there is plenty of food nearby. Should the creature get out of line, the Kikua can easily put him in his place. The creature looks up at the otherworldly sky and roars, seemingly pleased.

Components

Goals

• Over-arching: Unlike the Geods, the Baltokor demonstrated one-hundred percent contempt for lesser races of even modest technological progress. Allowing even a single survivor to escape justice is not an option.


• Secondary: The Taulagi are an incredibly superstitious people and are quick to resort to archaic solutions to deal with unusual situations. When they fail to see reason, the Ronin intervene both to keep them from repeating the same mistake they made with the Black Sun and smooth over Mukala and Naria's reputations with their fellow tribesmen.


• Tertiary: Initially perceived as a mindless beast, the creature demonstrates to Naria a level of depth that belies its savage nature.

Hooks

Canonical Lore: Original Animated Series

Mukala and Naria are characters featured in OVA "Legend of Inferno" where the Ronin learn of a shadowy counterpart to the White Armor of Inferno which they've previously come to rely upon in pivotal battles. Unlike the twin Soul Swords of Fervor, the Black Sun Armor boasts a large ornate boomerang seemingly made of the black crystal which birthed the Armor. Driven by his "god" to do battle, Mukala uses the Armor's power to abduct Ryo and Sage halfway across the world. Rowen and Kento waste no time mobilizing to rescue them, but Cye finds himself conflicted and the team is left fractured as a result. After much reflection and trial, the team reunite to challenge the rogue Armors and in the process free Mukala from the sway of the malicious Armor. The five Elemental Armors are thought permanently destroyed, but it is later revealed not to be the case in "Message"...

• The Ronin have not seen either Mukala or Naria in over five years. Ryo thought he caught a glimpse of Mukala observing from the jungle during the final battle against the Baltokor mothership over the Great Rift Valley but dismissed it at first as a figment of the imagination.


• Mukala is a tad bit jelly at the Ronin's new Spectra Armors. While not necessarily a pariah, his own tribe blames him for the disaster that nearly unfolded because of the Black Sun. Regardless, he is still the strongest warrior and hunter and still tribal protector.


• Wreckage from the Baltokor mothership is discovered at the ruins of the Valley of Black Crystal, where both Inferno Armors first manifested in the world and where the final battle took place. The supposedly mindless creature demonstrates an alarming grasp of the advanced technology of its masters.

Future Fight

There was a scene originally planned for a collaboration spinoff set in the far-flung future titled Star Ronin where a descendant of Mukala named Makao duels a Native Thangien named T'Riven for the right to wear the Lion AnimArmor. At this point in time Earth is under hostile alien occupation and civilians lulled into a false sense of peace with an opposition force operating out of Thuruk and abroad. The Taulagi were relocated to Planet Banguk where over the centuries they have rebuilt a new civilization out of the ruins of the lost Bangukians. Makao defeats T'Riven and becomes the new African Wildfire, fulfilling the Ancient's dream of new teams of Ronin Warriors to protect the world when it is finally liberated. Star Ronin has been permanently decanonized from Age of Defiance and this plot element will likely be folded into the series finale.

Stakes

The Baltokor pursued a "salt the earth" approach in their campaign, planning to exterminate Humanity in order to "save" them from being Converted by the Totalitary. If the creature is left unchecked, it may very well seek to carry out the will of its masters.

Moral Quandaries

The creature has already demonstrated hostility by attacking and even eating members of the Taulagi, and the common solution to a crazed animal is to simply put it down, but it may not be so straightforward given what the Ronin learn about the creature's origins. The Baltokor were an incredibly ancient advanced race, but they had exterminated numerous other sapient races before. The Ronin completely annihilated them without a second thought in order to protect their home and prevent other races from suffering a similar fate. Because the creature was created by the Baltokor, can they justify simply executing it outright?

Cruel Tricks

Kento already suffered being held captive and controlled by the Baltokor when they first arrived then during the final battle, the Baltokor leader attempted to seize control of him yet again. When the creature is revealed to be a clone of him in avatar form, he views it as an embodiment of what he could have become if he'd abandoned his humanity.
Planned Content

This isn't the last we see of Mukala and Naria. The Ronin are summoned for aid again at some point when a twisted shaman wreaks havoc on the region and Michelle engages it in mystical combat, gaining a powerful foci of her own upon defeating it. Tanya and Kento visit the village again when they are supposedly threatened by an invading tribe. Kento is poisoned and one of the Taulagi men offers to treat him, but Tanya soon discovers the whole thing was a ruse for the "healer" to somehow "steal power" from Kento and challenge Mukala in combat. Mukala at this point has created a facsimile of his old Black Sun Armor out of polished wood reinforced with resin and assists Kento in putting down this rogue tribesman.
Months later, Kento and Ryo visit the creature living on Planet Aguar. Now calling himself Savage, he seems mostly content with his exile but dismissive of their attempts at friendship. Much later Savage forcefully conscripts Kento to rescue his female Kikua companion Segune only for the two to discover a burgeoning Totalitary presence on Aguar. Segune is unfortunately Converted and Savage ruthlessly dismembers her but is left distraught. Kento leaves him to grieve in peace, believing Savage has come one step closer to being human because he knows the pain of loss. The Ronin are concerned because this means the Totalitary are getting ready to move.

Red Herrings

The Taulagi foolishly believe the creature is the Black Sun returned in human form to exact vengeance for abandoning their worship. At the same time they blame Mukala for nearly leading them to ruin but are eagerly willing to sacrifice Naria thinking to appease the creature.

Relations

Protagonists

The Ronin Warriors

Ryo, Rowen, Kento, Sage, Cye, Tanya, Anubis, Dais, Sehkmet, Cale

Allies

Mukala

Naria

Neutrals/Bystanders

The Taulagi Tribe

Adversaries

The Creature

Backdrops

Locations

Japan during the opening of the chapter, Tanzania, Africa during travel, then later the Secret Valley and the remains of the Valley of Black Crystal while investigating the creature.

Threats

In addition to its feral nature and immense strength, the creature has access to a powerful weapon that it knows how to use. It managed to shrug off focused fire from the Ronin's secondary weapons with nary a scratch. It seems able to navigate the jungle far more nimbly than the Ronin with their Spectronin Armors or the Taulagi, who know the jungle inside and out.

Encounters

Discussion (Opening) Investigation, Combat, and Pursuit (mid-chapter/finale), Negotiation and Reflection (finale).

Past Events

The Valley of Black Crystal was effectively pulverized during the climactic battle between Mukala and Ryo using their Inferno Armors. The not-so-Secret Valley is left exposed with the loss of the Black Sun and the Tree of Life which once shielded the valley from the outside world. The Ronin destroyed Baltokor capital vessels across the world where they planned to give Earth the ID4 treatment during the War of Rage, but the mothership lurked over Africa's Great Rift Valley until finally destroyed.

Plot type

Chapter Summary