Thomas opened his eyes to a white tile floor stretching into endless space. He knew this place the dreamscape. The realm of the samurai.
"Yo, Samurai!" he called. "What's the word? Where are you?" He turned and froze.
A figure stood before him, grinning with a sinister smile. Lucifer.
"I found you, Thomas," he said, his arm morphing into a spear. He lunged, stabbing Thomas in the shoulder. Thomas staggered back.
"Surprised, hero?" Lucifer mocked, stabbing him again. Thomas collapsed, bleeding. Lucifer loomed over him. "I'll end this now."
As Lucifer raised his spear-arm, Thomas kicked his kneecap, halting the strike. He scrambled up, clutching his side, blood pouring.
Lucifer smirked. "Don't run we're not done."
His arm transformed into a rope with a spearhead, launching it into Thomas's back. Thomas gasped, paralyzed, on his knees, blood flooding his lungs.
Lucifer approached, forming a sword in his other arm. "This is the end." He swung. CLANG. A glowing samurai sword deflected the blow.
Lucifer hissed. "You…" The samurai stood firm. "You are not welcome here." Lucifer sneered. "What will you do to stop me?"
"I will destroy you." The Samurai replied.
They clashed metal against spirit, blow after blow, sparks flying. Then a sonic boom. A figure descended from the sky at impossible speed.
Lucifer leapt back.
The newcomer landed 9 feet tall, armored in stainless steel with gold trim, sapphires and rubies glinting. Mighty eagle wings spread wide. A lion's body, but the stance of a warrior. Intelligent. Divine.
Thomas, bleeding, watched in awe.
The lion warrior's voice thundered: "Lucifer, you are not welcome here!" Lucifer smiled. "It's been a while, Asad." Asad raised a mighty hammer. "You must leave."
Lucifer chuckled. "Will you make me?" "It's not time yet," Asad said. "But you've been challenged." Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "Challenged?"
"The Almighty has declared Thomas will face you in combat. The fate of humanity will be decided. Lucifer grinned. "If I win, I will keep the world as my footstool. No interference?"
"No interference," Asad confirmed. "But if you lose… you will meet an unforgiving death." Lucifer paused, then nodded. "Very well. I accept."
" It is inevitable," it is now written in stone. Lucifer beware this battle is far from over. Asad said.
Lucifer Looked at Thomas bleeding body Thomas is at a state of almost death yet Thomas does now whimp or beg. Lucifer replies "very well I done enough damage for a day, remember you only live because I allow it, not Asad". As Lucifer turns around he takes a look back and says "Asad next time you interfere me and my business I will kill you". Lucifer vanished like smoke.
Asad turned to the samurai. "Thank you. If you hadn't intervened, Thomas would be dead. "He traced Thomas's dreamscape using Steve energy, when Steve battled Lucifer " the samurai said.
Asad nodded grimly. "Lucifer has a grip now."
He knelt beside Thomas, placing a glowing paw on his back. The wounds sealed. Thomas gasped, life returning to his eyes.
"I am Asad," the lion said. "Servant of the Almighty. I was sent to aid you and deliver a message." Thomas stood, sore but alive. "Thank you."
"The Almighty wouldn't let his underdog die so soon," Asad smiled. Thomas bowed. "Thank you, Almighty. And thank you, Samurai."
The samurai nodded. "We're at a critical moment. Lucifer can now access your dreamscape. He traced Steve's energy here."
Thomas frowned. "So I'm not even safe when I sleep?" "Correct," the samurai said. "We must train your mind to control the dreamscape."
"Control?" Thomas asked.
"Lucifer shaped his arms into weapons. That's reality control." The Samurai replied. Thomas smirked. "If I have to learn algebra to shapeshift, so be it."
The samurai laughed. "We'll call it that."
Asad stepped forward. "Thomas, training begins now. You have a battle to prepare for."