I have a very short chapter for ya today. But I have to warn you… EXPLICIT IMAGERY WARNING! If you cannot handle graphic scenes, skip to the end of the chapter!
Delta- Just to clarify, the power of the ice sword was Cullen's power, not Charles'. But it made a pretty cool scene either way. And idk… Maybe there is an Ash Ketchum? Maybe goes by the name of Red? Coincidence? I think not!
May- I love Cullen too, he's very fun to write. A fun and tense fight with raised stakes, can't let Duke steamroll the gym challenge now, can we?
-000-
Max groaned as he awoke in a dark area, yet it was somehow light enough so Max could see himself. Thinking about it, the area wasn't dark, it was an area full of dark colors, like black and purple.
"This is what I imagine the universe would look like, it's just missing the stars," Max said out loud as he got up so he was standing… Which was weird since there was no floor. However, he was used to these sensations as it was very similar to the subspace Duke inhabited.
"I wonder what this damn entity is going to do next," Max said, annoyed as he pinched his nose. "This Nuzlocke thing, whatever it is, is starting to really aggravate me. Yet it still intrigues me…"
"Max, we meet again…"
"I don't think meet is the right word," Max shot back. "More like terrorize as I don't even know what the hell you are. What do you even want from me?"
"You haven't figured it out yet? I thought you were a smart one, I left clues everywhere. My my Max, I am very disappointed in you."
"You're actually insane or sadistic. Or both," Max growled out, his patience running thin fast. "I ask again, what do you want from me?"
"What a temper! I love it, show me more… More!"
"Shut up!" Max yelled as he grabbed the sides of his head. The voice was everywhere around him, echoing around him. But the voice was also inside his head, bouncing around the small space that the brain occupies. "I'm done playing these damn games! Tell me what you want from me! Now!"
"Simple, Max, very simple. The problem with a big brain is that you lack the ability to see the simple things. Now, why would I allow Duke to influence the realm that I gave you, hmm? Or maybe why did a sword randomly appear to save your life? Or how about how weak that Shadow was compared to what Duke was fighting. I can see that you've put on some muscle, good, good."
"Yeah yeah, I get it!" Max snapped back. "You want me to get stronger. But that doesn't tell me what I want to know! What. Do. You. Want. From. Me!"
"I'll show you…"
The sadistic chuckle that bounced around the area started to make Max's head hurt. It was everywhere, there was no escape from the noise and it kept building and building in volume until it was almost deafening. Suddenly, the sound stopped.
A few seconds later, there was a flash of light, and after the light died down, Max found himself standing in front of Vince and his partner, Remus. While Max could see the two in front of him, it was clear that they couldn't see him. They were acting normal despite the very strange situation.
"Now… Attack!"
Remus' eyes glowed red as he turned towards his partner. The spider tackled Vince to the ground and started to jab Vince's chest with his sharp legs. Blood flew everywhere and Vince's screams of agony filled Max's ears.
"Stop it!" Max yelled out as he ran towards the two. However, before he could reach them, he was pushed back by an unseen force. Remus continued to maul his human partner, tearing apart the rib cage and ripping off his arms and legs.
It seemed like an eternity as Max was forced to watch the massacre. Even after his throat was ripped out, Vince was still alive and still screaming, spraying blood everywhere. Remus' venom was dissolving the ripped off pieces of Vince and soon, all there was left was Vince's head amid a pile of ripped flesh. The Ariados held up two of its legs before plunging them into Vince's eye sockets and started to tear apart his head.
Max wanted to vomit. He wanted to run away, he wanted to hide, scream, anything! But he was frozen. Eventually, there was nothing left of Vince besides a few scraps of flesh and his bones that were licked clean. There was a weird could of energy hanging around the eaten carcass of Vince, it was a pale green color that only Max can see.
Suddenly, Remus was gone in a flash and the energy swarmed around Max before flying into his body. Max felt a strange power rush through his veins as his vision was clouded by the same pale green color. After his vision cleared, Max found himself in front of a bloodthirsty Remus, Vince blood dripping off his fangs.
With a roar, Remus launched himself towards Max, who barely dodged it in time. The strange feeling of power from earlier grew, forcing Max to stop running. Listening to his instinct, Max raised his right arm and a string of webs fired at the spider, tripping him up as it hit his legs. Max stared in shock, unable to believe that he was able to use Vince's powers.
Another roar shook Max out of his shock and Max focused on the feeling of power rushing through him. He held up his right hand once again and some webbing came out of his palm, forming what seemed to be a spear. Max rushed forward, as did Remus, and jumped over the spider. He flung the spear down and it pierced the middle of the Ariados. Remus fell forward as blood sprayed everywhere, coating Max in a fine layer of crimson. Thankfully, the spider did not move again, disappearing in a cloud of pale green energy moments later.
"Well done…"
With that, the scene in front of Max shifted. He found himself standing in front of a worried Duke, who immediately ran to hug the young adult. Max couldn't help it and he broke down, crying into Duke's shoulder.
All Duke could do was hold him.
-000-
"Hey Mom, is it just me or has Max been acting weird lately?" Thomas asked as he helped his mother cook dinner.
"I am worried," his mother replied as she stopped chopping the onions and set down the knife. She turned around and leaned against the counter, looking at Thomas. "But I'm giving it some time. He's probably going through things that we wouldn't understand. When he wants to talk, he'll talk."
"I guess…" Thomas replied with a sigh.
"What's up with you?" She asked bluntly. "Max isn't the only one acting funny around here."
"Oh, you noticed?" Thomas asked sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head, an easy-go-lucky grin on his face. "I'm just worried about Max is all. And I've been having the strangest dreams… Would you believe me if I told you about a pirate Corphish that shoots water and ice swords?"
"You have one overactive imagination," his mother replied as she rolled her eyes, returning to her cooking. "I find it hard to believe you are the oldest out of you two. If I didn't birth you…" The two shared a laugh as they resumed talking and sharing funny stories.
Thomas, however, refused to bring up his dreams about Max…
-000-
This project is part of an extended universe with Plegian Gengar's "The Rose That Was Always Red," maycontestdrew's "The Iron Knight," and Fuzzboy's "The Courtship of the Heavenly Plates." I recommend checking out the rest of these guys, they are amazing writers!
