This chapter contains a reference to a certain achievement. . .

Also, Austin took a backseat role last chapter, but in this one and possibly the next one, he's not even in the proverbial car. He makes no appearance of any kind, nor does he get mentioned.

It's time we focus on building other characters.

Chapter 35: The Fire Staff Part II

Marlton's POV

Everything was going according to plan, at least when it came to building an elemental staff. With word from Kagutsuchi that Arlington had shot down the fiery aircraft, so I knew he had the last piece of my weapon. It had just turned round 10, and the snow was falling harshly. Strangely, as underdressed as I was, I was not cold. I had always been "hot-natured" as they say, but it was below freezing! And keep in mind I was only wearing a thin long-sleeve button-up. I wondered quietly to myself if it had something to do with my role as the Element of Fire.

I must have been in thought for longer than it felt, because I absentmindedly slammed into the side of the Fire tunnel entrance. I stood and stared into the dimly-lit entrance of the cavern, knowing the next step involved traveling to a whole new dimension. I was rather less fascinated with building the Fire Staff and more excited about what this alternate dimension looked like.

I traveled to the deepest part of the cave, where the frame of the Fire portal lie in wait, presumably discovered by the German miners. Nearby lay a gramophone, on the table, and next to it was the red disc that Kagutsuchi had promised! I carefully inserted the disc into the gramophone, where the music instantly began to play. It was a fine little melody, but I was distracted by the fact that rocks were floating into place to build the portal's frames. Part of me still questioned how such feats were possible, but the more sensible part had accepted this as new life.

I held my position from the few zombies that attacked until the portal had completely opened, forming a deep reddish color. I quickly traveled into it, and was greeted by a large, dimly lit area. In the distance, I saw the other three platforms of Wind, Ice, and Lightning, all empty and unoccupied.

I was paralyzed by pure awe. Physically, this dimension was the same as the real world, but large stones moved easily without any visible input, changing the pathways of the large room. Finally, I regained control and awareness, and I traveled to a pedestal that contained the Fire Crystal, the source of power for the Staff of Fire.

One portal rebuild later, and I was back in the normal realm of frozen north France. Everything was just as I had left it. I breathed a sigh of relief; no time travel or anything like that had happened. With everything ready, now I just had to save up money so I could buy the debris that blocked the entrance to the dig site, which housed the evil MPD that was causing all this on the first place.

I took out a small group of reanimated dead on my way, but I still wasn't rich enough to buy the way, so I set out to kill more zombies. I found a few stragglers at Generator 4, which I killed only to discover they were the last of the round. Round 11 began normally enough, the zombies began to rise from their burial points to attack lonesome me, but I had a DG-2, the most powerful firearm ever invented by man. However, a DG-2 couldn't prepare me for the revival of the Armored Panzer Soldat, which suddenly appeared in my face. I screeched, and fled from him, for he was dangerous. I walked to the dig site, but I was shocked to discover the giant robot stepping on the footprint I was just about to walk on.

Just as I thought it was all over for me, the Panzer Soldat was crashed by. . . A tank?

"I'm on a tank!" I heard Arlington scream victoriously at the crushed Panzer. "I'm on a Tank, motherfucker!" He passes by without a word to me, but I saw that he had that look of determination the other three of us had when we found out our destinies.

"Looks like everyone knows by now, so everyone of you needs to get to work building their staff!" Kagutsuchi ordered. His voice seemed vaguely familiar. . . Almost like. . .

My thoughts were cut off by a sudden thunderclap, distracting me. I had a job to do. After mowing down the zombies that got in my way, I marched down the dig site, playing the song that unlocked the secret stairs in the process, and found the four pedestals where the staves would be built. I fitted my pieces in and inserted the powering crystal. The staff roared to life, ready to kill. I smiled at my new weapon, it looked majestic, powerful, and lightweight.

I returned to the outside, where Misty fitted her Ray Gun into the Pack a Punch machine that sat nearby. She waited with an eager look on her face, and received a ice blue version of her previous weapon.

"I hope this is worth it, Marly," She then looked at me and smiled at the item in my hands. "Well, looks like you're the first to build your staff smarty-pants,"

"Now is not the time to procreate, Misty!" I exclaimed as I saw the look she was giving me.

She groaned and rubbed her temples in frustration, with all that happens, we never really do get alone time, and that greatly irritated her. She finally sighed. "I guess you're right, there goes Arlington now." She pointed at the mobster, who now held a piece of his staff, smiling and pointing at us.

"I'm on a tank, motherfuckers!"

We exchanged confused glances at this before she finally gave me a pleading look.

"Promise me, someday when this is all over, that we will have all the time in the world."

Before this all started, I would have told her the cold truth that our chances of success are only 43.67%, but now all I could do is stare into her eyes and quietly whisper "I promise,"