To Find the Infection

Chapter 14: Survive!

The Earth was already in the slow process of breaking apart. Whatever that was left of the earth began to melt underneath the incredible pressure. Lava covered most of the Earth's surface, coming from the fissures and splits on the crust. Heavy rains were scattered around the world, flooding many areas. This seemed to be the end of the world.

Majotte didn't care though, all he wanted right now was his own life, and nothing more. With the last few ounces of his old strength, he managed to shoot back into an ascended Saiyan. He braced himself, then shot upward out of the hole at top speed, making sharp turns to avoid falling debris, twisting and turning away from the chunks of rock. Majotte's body began to cool down as he exit the inner mantle, then seconds later, out onto the crust, until his body finally shot upward out of the hole.

"That's it." Majotte grunted to himself. "I have no more energy, except this small amount that I need to survive." he added. His hair instantly changed back to its original black color. though still spiking upward. Majotte dashed away as far as he could from the hole as magma shot upward and spurt out of it. A large rock came out, and headed for Majotte's body. Quickly, Majotte rolled behind a small hill, which protected him from the rock. The rock collided with the land, making a small crater next to Majotte. Fire erupted from the hole, followed by more lava.

"The core," Majotte said aloud, "It's over, the Earth is doomed, and I have nowhere to go." He turned back around, and began to walk as steady as he could, until he saw a familiar face. "Erutan! Where the bloody hell did you go?"

Zain looked on at his deceased mother, Gwenalin. She was as beautiful as he had remembered. Her long red hair flew softly in the mysterious warm breeze, her eyes sparkling as if they were enchanted.

Gwenalin spoke, "Zain, the Earth is being destroyed from the inside out. Just look at it." Her hand motioned towards a pond of very shallow water that appeared next to her heavenly figure. Zain crawled up to the hole, and stared into it. Zain looked at the water in confusion, but it dissapeared from his mind once the water began to swirl around. A moving picture began to slowly come into view. Zain saw Majotte losing his power, he saw his sword plunge into the depths of the core. He saw Rahk and Majotte running from the crater, but most of all, he saw the core itself. It was ready to blow at any minute.

"You see, your time isn't up, there is one person who can save the planet..." she talked smoothly towards Zain. The pond swilred once again, and inside of it, was a picture of Erutan, apparently running back into a thick forest. His body was damaged, but working fine otherwise, his clothes were completely singed as well, as if he had been in a battle. Gwenalin looked towards Zain, and lay her fragile hand on his shoulder. "But, he will need your assistance." she added. "Just as the prophecy foretold.

Zain's head shot up to his mother. "Me?" he asked her. His heart was beginning to race at her words.

"Yes, now go." Gwenalin said to Zain. "You are the last of our race, show all what a Woodling's powers can do. Go!" With a loud popping noise, Zain was engulfed in a blinding light. Zain shielded himself from the light due to its brightness.

Zain's eyes shot open. He was back on the surface. His dismantled house only feet from his body, Majotte and the fake Erutan nearby, with Rahk resting on the opposite side of the field from Majotte. Zain threw his head up. "ERUTAN!" he shouted.

As if he was summoned by Zain, Erutan came sprawling back to the battlefield. As Zain had seen in the pond with his mother, Erutan was in bad shape. His entire left arm was bleeding, and where the golden brace had been there was a large gash. He looked towards Majotte, who was staring the other way. This thought was suddenly tossed aside, due to a sharp pain Erutan suddenly felt inside of his head.

A voice whispered in Erutan's head. "The Earth is about to explode, you can stop it." the voice faintly spoke.

Erutan began to shake, his body fell limp, his knees struck the floor in fear. "But, what if I blow it? Why take such a gamble on the lives of all the Earthlings?" he thought. He suddenly heard a faint voice come from the damaged Woodling houses. "Zain.." Erutan thought. Sure enough, by the ruins, Zain stood staring at Erutan.

"Zain, the Earth is doomed! What can we do?" Erutan shouted back to Zain.

"What?" Majotte shouted. His head turned from Erutan, then to the fake. "If that's Erutan," Majotte said, "then who is he?" he added, pointing towards the fake.

As if on que, a shiny purple orb came sprawling from the lava crater in the Earth. It liquified, and entered the fake Erutan. The fake Erutan did not scream, struggle, or panic, it was if it allowed the strange orb to invade it.

"That damn old man!" Majotte yelled in fustration. Suddenly, the clone ran towards Majotte, and threw a kick to Majotte's face. Majotte brought his hands up to block the attack, but even with the protection of his arms, his body was knocked back a foot or two. The clone then raised its hands, and a geyser erupted from the ground beneath Majotte. Majotte jumped to avoid a fountain of lava that shot out from the geyser. Majotte landed poorly on the ground, stumbling onto the floor.

Majotte stood back up, only to be met by the fake Erutan's knee connecting to his gut. Majotte was sent into the air, and was once again attacked by another geyser that appeared from beneath him.

"What the hell are you guys waiting for!" Majotte yelled to Erutan and Zain. "I got this guy, no problem!" he shouted, running towards the clone. Icicles sprouted from the fake's hands. Majotte managed to jump into the air to avoid the ice, then gave the fake a roundhouse kick, which to Majotte's misfortune, was caught by the fake.

The fake laughed, then threw Majotte back to the ground. Majotte stopped himself by putting his hands under his head, stopping the attack. Majotte then gave the fake a kick in the face with his other foot, hurling the clone backward and into the air. Majotte jumped after the fake, and elbowed it on the back of it's neck, sending it back to the surface. The clone stopped itself from the impact of the ground, and quickly fired an icicle back towards Majotte, which pierced his shoulder. Majotte fell shamefully to the ground, coughing up blood, which splattered on the grass.

"Damnit Rahk, why did you throw my sword?" Majotte asked. Majotte then had a new idea. He quickly jolted towards the fake, then bursted back into a Super Saiyan. "This is my last ounce of energy." Majotte thought as he tackled the clone. Both fighters then plunged into the hole once again, falling straight down and into the inner core. Majotte released all of his power as soon as the core was visible. He and the fake then plunged into the center of the Earth.

A figure began to walk out, a smile spread across his face. The clone smiled, and looked at the core.

"Finish..." the fake spoke darkly. It raised its hand to the core, preparing to blow it up, when suddenly, it's eyes widened. The fake's face turned pale as his blood shot out from his waist. Majotte shot out from behind the clone, clenching in his hands, his broadsword, which was in mint condition. The clone was split in half, and was sent sprawling into the core, making a dark hiss as it melted. More purple liquid entered the core, and spread through the ground like veins. Majotte jumped onto a small ledge, sweating, then fell onto his back.

"That's it for me." Majotte said. "No more energy to even stand up anymore." he added. He pulled himself towards the wall of the hole, and sat upright, watching the core prepare to burst.

"Erutan, we must focus our energy." Zain said. "Grab my hand."

Erutan wasted no time, regardless that Zain was his enemy. He quickly grabbed Zain's hand, then awaited Zain. Something happened however. Erutan felt his body dissapearing. His body began to glow white, almost blinding him. He looked towards Zain, who was also glowing white. The two figures were then engulfed in the bright light. An explosion appeared from were they stood, the light scattered around the ruins, the grass, and the hole.

The light began to dim. Erutan and Zain were nowhere to be seen. In their place, stood a different person, only one person. The figure stood tall, almost six feet, his muscular body was clad in a black trenchcoat, black pants, black boots, and a green shirt. A sword was also strapped on his back, the handle bearing a green orb symbol. His eyes were purple with golden rims. He was a complete balance of the other two, Zain and Erutan.

Without a word, the man jumped high into the air, the speed he was going at causing sparks to scatter behind him. From where he jumped, flowers began to bloom. The man's body was then seen falling into the hole at speeds that made the ground around the hole fall into it. He began to pick up more speed during his fall, flying well over the speed of sound. He could see the core ahead of him. It had turned into a devilish black color, and was already beginning its final preparations to explode. Without hesitation, the man jumped straight into the dark core. He was absorbed into it, making no sound, as if it feared the man. It began to explode in various spots, incinerating any rocks that were caught in the explosions, as if a battle itself were taking place inside the core. A huge bubble began to form on the surface, growing bigger and bigger, larger than any manmade structure.

The man emerged from the bubble, making a small pop. He flew just ahead of the flames, which flew upward, covering every crack of the hole, swallowing it up. The man began to dash upward to escape the hole. He saw Majotte sitting upward, staring at him. He quickly grabbed Majotte, and finished his run upward and out of the hole. The man and Majotte shot straight out, and flew to the side. Seconds later, the flames shot from the hole fiercly, and into the air. The flames continued to shoot out, spitting out rocks and more magma.

The man walked towards the edge of the hole, bringing his hands together, concetrating. Spurts of magma shot around the man, but never touched him. Around him, clouds began to hover, darkening. It began to rain. This wasn't normal rain however, as soon as it touched the magma flowing out, the magma froze in place, and became solid. The rain was intensly cold. The flames now stopped. Finally, the man closed the hole with his abilities.

The man turned and smiled at Majotte. "Not bad, huh?" he chuckled. His voice was a flow of two voices, unified into one.

"Interesting." Majotte said to the man. "This is quite a surprise, but, how do you know my name, and who are you?" Majotte asked.

The man thought for awhile, comically poking his cheek in thought. "I got it!" he snapped. "You can call me Zutan. I'm a fused warrior between Erutan and Zain. I suppose since Erutan knew you, that you are my friend, which is why I saved you." he explained.

"I see," Majotte said, "I guess things are going to be kind of different with you two merged together." Suddenly, Majotte's hair shot straight upward, becoming a Super Saiyan once more.

"It's about time this damn sword began to kick in."

Zutan's body suddenly felt strange, as if it was falling apart. Then, out of nowehere, Zutan dissapeared, revealing Erutan and Zain.

"That sixty percent of the energy I lost from earlier, from Rahk throwing it into the core," Majotte said, grinning. "Is finally coming back. I feel almost better than ever, come on Erutan."

"What?" Erutan questioned.

"I mean, lets get things settled here." he said. There's two of us, and one of Zain." Majotte looked towards Zain. He clutched his broadsword, and lifted it behind his back, staring at Zain.

"Your time has come." he told Zain, who was struggling to grasp the situation.