The Purest of Evil part 3
"Clash,"
Claus raised his sword pointing at Lucas who remained stern and impassive but still greatly confused. Lucas was having serious trouble processing how this was possible and just what exactly was going on. Claus rushed forward while Lucas stood his ground. Claus swung his sword diagonally in opposite directions first to the right and left then stabbed forward. Lucas took one step to the side to avoid the jab then grabbed Claus's wrist then pulled his across his body to unwind and slam his knuckles into Claus' right cheek. Lucas was about to punch him again but Claus brought his foot into Lucas's gut also getting Lucas to let go. Lucas feel back while Claus rushed him again making Lucas take a few steps to the right to avoid another slash from Claus' weapon. Then he hammer his fist into Claus' jaw making Claus fall back. Claus rubbed his jaw experimentally feeling the sting of the contact and gave Lucas quite a surprised look. Lucas wasn't messing around anymore than he was, and if he didn't know any better he'd guess Lucas wasn't hesitating in the slightest. Lucas still remained impassive in facial features though. Claus rushed forward again but this time he reversed his grip on his sword. He swung his fist as if he was punching, and although Lucas avoided the fist the blade slashed against his side. Claus stopped himself then turned sharply for a tornado kick that Lucas barely got his arms up to block. The strength of the kick knocked Lucas off balance as he began falling back suffering some damage from the kick. Claus brought his fist back then sent it directly in Lucas' jaw hammering him to the ground on his back. Claus raised his sword to bring down on Lucas though his eyes showed a great pool of hesitation his muscles were stiff and absolute. Claus brought the sword down aiming for the center of Lucas' body hoping to end him quickly. Lucas caught the blade between his palms holding it up despite the clear struggle it was to get a grip. Before Claus could place his weight on the blade Lucas kicked out to kick Claus right on the inside of his thigh close to his crotch. Claus yelped in pain as the simple strike made his body almost topple over. While he was leaning Lucas positioned the point of the blade to implant in the ground next to him. He then reached up to grab Claus' wrist then stood up ramming the top of his head into the bottom of Claus' jaw. Then he threw Claus over his shoulder making Claus drop his sword and land on the ground harshly. Rob and the masked boy stood on the side watching in slight awe.
"Alright, so maybe you are Claus," Lucas finally said relaxing that impassive face with one of confirmation. "How are you here?"
"That doesn't matter…it's just something that has to be done. I don't want to do this Lucas, I really don't," Claus said rising off the ground.
"Then don't,"
"But it has to be done. If it's not then a lot of people are going to suffer,"
"What does that mean?" Lucas asked curiously.
"I wish I could explain to you, but they told me that telling you might do more harm than good,"
"You've never been one to conform to other people's wishes, but I guess that's just the weak person you grew to be after you left to take your revenge," Lucas said coldly. Claus winced at Lucas' harsh words never thinking that his brother would say something like that to him, or that he would seem so uncaring. He expected a lot more emotion then what he was receiving. He understands his hesitance to believe he's who he appears to be, but he didn't seem to care one way or the other. "You won't beat me,"
"Are you sure about that bro? I've always been the better out of the two of us in just about every way," Claus spat. He more said it out of spite for how Lucas was speaking to him and the cold reception. He personally never thought like that, but he only said it to get a rise out of his apathetic brother.
Lucas smirked. "Last I checked I wasn't the one that had to pick myself up off the ground just now. Besides, you were barely a threat back then, but now you're nothing,"
"Barely a threat?" Claus questioned.
"I had the power to challenge you Claus. I was too…handicapped to use it. A lot of things have changed for me since the Dragon's awakening, a lot of it for the better. But you being here, right now, could be a good thing. The only problem is where your allegiance is. Keep fighting me and I may not continue to hold back,"
"Do you hear yourself right now?!" Claus questioned incredulously. "The Lucas I know wouldn't ever talk like this or be so hung up on this self-righteous agenda. You sound like Porky!"
Lucas' eyes showed a brief pooling of agitation. "I'm not Porky,"
"Where I stand it's hard to tell the difference," he growled through his teeth
"Well what do I care about what a dead person has to say?! So if you really want to do this fine I'll put you back in your grave where you belong!" Lucas yelled. Both boys seemed taken back on Lucas's words. Lucas placed a hand over his mouth knowing at that point he's gone too far. "I…I didn't mean that…" he shuttered. He hadn't been thinking at all just acting totally on impulse. The words felt like they just slipped out.
"See Claus, now you can see the change first hand right in front of you. In his eyes we're all flawed insignificant creatures that need to learn their place and go where we belong. He doesn't care one iota more about you then he does the dirt under his shoes," Rob said glaring at Lucas as he walks to Claus' side. Lucas notices he had Claus' sword in hand. Rob held out the weapon to a still gaping Claus. Claus looked at the sword then to Lucas.
"That's not true Claus. I care a lot about you that hasn't changed I…." Lucas stopped himself as he saw Claus take his sword with a look of resolve. "Okay, I realize I can't take back what I said. But if you know what's wrong with me why not help me?"
"This is helping you," Rob said.
Lucas shook his head, "Whatever problem I've caused this is just an easy way out for you. In my opinion it's pretty cowardice to sink to such a desperate play without exhausting all options. Don't even try to say you have because of your tenacious attitude to kill me I'd say this plan was pretty high on the list," Claus' eyes quirked at that idea however Rob stepped forward with resolve.
"Maybe it is, but it's the cleanest most effective way," Rob drew a dagger from the sheath on his back. He held it up and Lucas could see the blade of the dagger has a purple glow to it. An extremely odd weapon he's never seen before. Lucas looked over to the Masked Boy to see he stood off to the side with a somewhat conflicted look on his face. Rob glanced at the Masked Boy then huffed in disgust. "The two of us should be able to take you,"
"Don't do this…" Both boys charged toward Lucas this time with the full intent to kill. "Please stop…" Lucas begged as he took a few steps back in fear as he held his head in hands. "I don't want to kill you!"
Even with Lucas' distraught nature the boy dodged the first round of blows. Lucas seemed to be fighting a battle on two fronts, one internal and one external. Rob swung his knife in a reversed grip, but Lucas ducked underneath the swing. He then grabbed Rob's arm, the same one holding the dagger, and held up the dagger to parry Claus's thunder sword. Claus mashed his teeth as he pulled back then stabbed his sword forward, but again Lucas parried it with Rob unable to get his arm back. Lucas then swung Rob's body so that Rob's feet smacked Claus in the face. Lucas then tossed Rob aside then tried to make a break for it. He couldn't fight them when he didn't know what he was capable of. The desire to kill them was becoming all consuming and it'll only be a matter of time until he started using lethal force. A blast of psionic energy cut him off as he was thrown back. He looked to see Claus' hand stretched out with rubbing running towards him. Rob seemed to focus for a moment as the blade began to glow then he swung it to unleash a purple crescent wave. Lucas gasped as he rolled avoiding the wave then popped onto his feet then began running trying to avoid the crescent waves with clumsy dodging maneuvers. Claus watched on trying to resist the innate urge to attack Rob for the close calls he was giving Lucas. Claus took aim planning on blasting Lucas. His hand began glowing with white mixed with a light blue energy covered with hexagons.
"PK…" he swallowed a lump in his throat knowing this position Lucas is in won't last long so he had to attack now. "Love Ω,"
The attack shot out in the form of a giant white light barreling toward Lucas. Lucas barely dodged another crescent wave and noticed his chance to strike back as he prepared to fire off a quick PSI attack. However, he stalled when he realized a psionic attack was barreling at him. His eyes widened in shock as he knew it was too late for him to do anything. An explosion followed with a slight rush of wind that followed the wake of the blast. Lucas went flipping through the air then slammed back first into a boulder in the pit below. He let out a gasp of pain as he felt an unnatural feeling as his spine seemed to have shifted. He hit the ground in a heap covered in scratches and bleeding from his side and forehead. Claus and Rob walked to the edge to see the damage done and were surprised to see Lucas so beaten but still alive. Rob turned on Claus.
"You held back didn't you!?" Rob demanded.
Claus simply glared daggers at him as he let an animistic growl escape his throat. "That is my brother. I grew up with that kid. EXCUSE THE HELL OUT OF ME IF I STILL CARE ABOUT HIM!" Claus yelled. This made Rob back off immediately realizing that this was probably a lot harder than Claus let off. However, Claus knew that attack should have killed him or at least knocked him unconscious. However, they see Lucas attempting to catch his breath from the punishment. Lucas tries to lift his body off the ground but let out a shout of pain as he felt his back wouldn't allow him to move. Lucas couldn't believe he survived that omega level blast from Claus. Rob smirked though as he slid down the slope then began walking toward a struggling Lucas. He walked over then slammed his boot down on Lucas' back making Lucas shout out in agony. Rob smirked as he grinds his heel into Lucas' back making Lucas' hollers in even more in agony. Claus mashed his teeth in pure fury at this blatant show of torture.
"Rob!" he called. Rob stopped then turned to look at Claus to get a fierce deadly glare looking at him. "I said you could kill him if it came down to this but do it quick. You make him suffer, I make you suffer three times more," Rob frowned as he was disappointed he couldn't have as much retribution as he wanted to. Claus was pretty disgusted with the kid at this point and couldn't wait until he didn't have to see him anymore. Suddenly, he heard a hissing sound. He turned his head to the Masked Boy standing next to him who was incredibly quiet and clearly greatly troubled. Claus didn't know who he really was as he hadn't seen his face either. He knew next to nothing about the boy except the fact he had PK Love. That simple fact though did hint to who the boy was in Claus' mind after all he had seen when they had come to convince him to kill his brother. But back to the hissing sound he heard, it was simply annoying and distracting. He looked around trying to find it. It grew louder until eventually it sounded extremely close. He looked at the ground then noticed a black orb with a lit fuse on it. His eyes widened and before he could say anything the bomb exploded revealing it to be a smoke bomb. The explosion grabbed Rob's attention as he turned his head from his taunting Lucas with the dagger. A concentrated blizzard suddenly slammed into him throwing him into a rock wall and freezing him to it. Lucas looked up to see Kumatora rushing over to him. She scooped him up in her arms with Lucas trying to suppress cries of agony. She hurried out the steep pit and at the top was Duster assisting them the rest of the way. Once at that point they ran off. Rob managed to use PK Fire to remove the ice that encased his lower body. He looked toward the clearing smoke to see Claus picking himself rubbing his head and then extending a hand to The Masked Boy which he accepted.
"What the heck happened?" Rob asked.
"We got ambushed," Claus put simply.
"Was no one watching out for them?"
"Well if you weren't taking your sweet time this conversation wouldn't be happening,"
"Geez…I think we should go after them hit him while he's still weak. Come tomorrow he'll be almost 100% and we can't afford to wait that long,"
"Won't that mess things up even more?" The Masked Boy asked.
"The subtlety ship has sailed kid. We gotta get him now or never. This is the second time we've come so close, he's pretty broken far as I can tell. We can overpower the girl and the thief to finish him off,"
"But I doubt it'll be that easy anyway," Claus said. "They aren't pushovers and they realize that we're pretty desperate. I don't know if we can handle them if they decide to play the same game we are,"
"…Good point…" Rob muttered. He reached into his pocket to fish out a sphere the size of his palm. He pressed the top button for a hologram keyboard to appear. He typed in the correct code then a menu appeared. He hit a button then suddenly the sphere began to float in midair as a small beam shot out the top and formed a holographic screen. At first there was static for a few moments until finally someone answer.
"Hello?" answered a boy on the other end. This boy is dressed in a black pin strip suit, black gloves, and a matching black fedora hat to match. He appeared to be around the age of fourteen. Rob rolled his eyes at the boy's appearance.
"Arcane what are you doing in that get up?" Rob asked.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't my old partner Rob," Arcane said with crossed arms.
"Old partner?" Rob questioned.
"Yeah, since you apparently dumped me to hang out with these two amateurs,"
"You said you didn't want to come,"
"And like a lousy friend you believed me,"
Rob rolled his eyes. "Whatever, can you just get your butt here?"
"Finding yourself in over your head and you need me to bail you out again? It might cost you ya some DP," Arcane said glancing at the back of his hand in an uncaring fashion.
"Fine then don't come," Rob said crossing his arms then turning toward Claus and the Masked Boy. "We already got the target with one foot in the grave already let's just take our chances with what we've got,"
"Wait hold on a sec," Arcane said quickly growing interested. "What do you mean he has one foot in the grave?"
"Well my amateurs as you call them have successfully severely wounded him. His body is battered and he's unable to defend himself for the moment. But if we don't pursue now then he may heal and we'd have an even bigger problem on our hands. So we're going to finish this once and for all. I thought you would've wanted in on this, but guess not," Rob shrugged as he moved to take the sphere to end the transmission.
"Wait hold on!" Arcane quickly stopped him. "Give me a few moments and I'll be at your location,"
"Hurry it up," Rob said then ended the transmission then put the sphere back in his pocket. He turned back toward Claus and the Masked Boy. Claus looked troubled but that was nothing too new at the moment, but the Masked Boy is what really caught his attention. "Now you, maybe I should send you back home. You've been pretty useless ever since we came here. Even worse you didn't even throw a punch in that last fight. If you don't want to help then don't be here alright,"
"Rob leave him alone," Claus said standing in between Rob and The Masked Boy.
"Don't defend him, I'm so done with this kid its time he realizes what's at stake and-,"
"Do you know what's at stake?" The Masked Boy said speaking up. Claus and Rob turned to him surprised to hear such a venomous edge to it.
"Well it speaks,"
"Yes, it speaks, and it's pissed too!" The Masked Boy yelled which surprised Rob greatly. "You, Claus, and I know that between the three of us here I'm the most powerful. With a mere thought I could turn you into dust!"
"Now who does that sound like?" Rob stated. The Masked Boy had a dangerous aura suddenly surround his body making Claus get the oddest chill that made him take a few steps back. Rob was confused with the motion as he could barely feel anything lacking a developed sixed sense despite his PSI abilities.
"How dare you…" he growled. "You have no idea what I'm willing to even sacrifice for being here, what I'll lose if we succeed. I'm risking all this thinking that this is the only way and suddenly there happens to be another way of doing this!"
"I said there isn't-,"
"You never said there wasn't another way, just one that wasn't as simple as this. If we've decided to take the easy way out of this then I don't think everything I heard about you people is all lies. In fact I don't think it could've been closer to the truth. You're users, manipulators, and liars. I was under the impression that you only had one Phase Twister, so apparently this Arcane person has another. That's two Phase Twisters so obviously you have better resources then you let on,"
"You want to have this conversation now?" Rob asked incredulously. "Because at this juncture your complaints are pretty moot,"
"Yes, I want to have it now!"
Rob revealed his dagger then points it at the Masked Boy's face, "Sounds to me like your turning traitor,"
The Masked Boy's one visible eye narrowed, "I may not have a lot of fighting skill or experience like you do Rob, but I do have my own set of skills. Did you know that with direct eye contact I can enter your brain and completely shut it down? It could kill you, or merely knock you out. It depends on how deep I want to dig," This made Rob flinch.
"If you had that skill you would've-,"
"I never made proper direct eye contact, besides his mind is too powerful it wouldn't work. I wouldn't be able to kill him with that move, but you on the other hand…"
"Okay stop it," Claus said finally stepping in as he pushed Rob's blade from The Masked Boy's face. "I don't know a lot about him Rob, but I have a feeling he's got a lot more to lose then either of us. He's a bit upset with all that's going on,"
The Masked Boy looked at Claus thankful then back to Rob. "I want honest answers. I'm not turning traitor, but you can consider yourself somewhat disadvantage if I don't come along with you,"
"In case you hadn't noticed Claus and I were the ones who injured him while you sat on your hands. With Arcane on his way I don't think we'll even need you," Rob said waving the boy off.
"Fine then," The Masked Boy growled. He turned on his heels then ran off making both Rob and Claus gasp in shock.
"Wait you can't just-," Claus was about to give chase when the boy suddenly vanished confusing Claus.
"How could he teleport without knowing the area?" Rob questioned to himself. He shook his head. "Once we're done with Lucas I suppose it won't matter if we ever see him again or not," Claus looked at Rob in surprise. "What?"
"You really disgust me right now," he said.
"Oh now you?"
"Yes, for good guys you really don't act like it, and it seems you couldn't care less about anyone," Claus said.
"So are you going run off in a huff too?"
"No," Claus crossed his arms as he said that. However, Rob saw more that he wasn't telling. Suddenly a rainbow portal appeared before them and Arcane stepped out of it.
"Alright lets go kill a blonde," Arcane said he took note of the lack of one member, but he didn't seem to care in the least. "So we ready?"
"Yeah let's hit it," Rob said opening another rainbow portal then stepping through. Next Claus and Arcane followed until it vanished.
Flint was stuck pacing around the house doing mediocre things until his son returned. Flint was terribly concerned about Lucas and this feeling in his gut told him something was right with his boy. Over the years he was thankful that Lucas doesn't resent him showing that Lucas indeed had his mother's heart. He knew if Lucas was anything like him he would hate his guts. Leaving Lucas alone all those years and pushing him aside like he was the problem child. It was not fair to do that, and Flint feels like he missed out on so much time getting to raise his son during a critical period. He was prepared not to let that happen again. He wanted his son to come into the house to see everything in order and spend a little time with him. However, Flint had been waiting for a long time and it was starting to concern him a bit. Flint looked at Boney to see the dog anxious as well to see Lucas.
"What am I doing?" Flint questioned also getting the dog's attention. "Someone is out there to try and end my son's life while I just pace around hoping he'll come back," Flint walked over to the table to pick up his hat and sit it on his head and adjust it a bit. "Well no more of that, come on Boney we're going to go find Lucas," Boney barked seemingly glad Flint finally decided to take action. Flint and Boney approached the door at the same time there was a soft knock. Flint and Boney paused in a lapse of silence. The knock was so soft that if he wasn't in front of the door he's not sure he'd have heard it. Curious Flint opened the door to be greeted by quite a familiar sight. A boy dressed just like the Masked Man, his son Claus. The boy was startled as he stepped back seemingly surprised anyone answered. Boney growled as the dog was prepared to lash out. Flint trying to settle the emotional blow of seeing this boy tried not to act to hastily. "What is this?"
"I'm…" the boy stopped looking down.
"Speak up,"
"I need your help sir!" he said quickly and looking up with a determined eye. Flint noted that although the attire was the same he was missing a few of those cybernetics from Claus, also the voice was clearly someone younger. His stomach settled a bit, but now slight irritation was about to take over. He had half a mind to sick Boney on the kid, but he decided to keep a level head.
"Well son first you're gonna answer my questions," Flint crossed his arms. "Then we'll see about the kind of help I'll give you,"
The boy seemed to relax a bit, but still quite nervous. "Alright," Flint stood aside to allow the boy entrance. The boy shuffled inside trying not to be too nerved with the stern stare Boney was giving him and the showing of his canines. "Down boy, we can't get anything out of him if you maul him," Flint said rubbing the dog's head. Boney calmed down at that, but didn't fully relax. The boy stared at Boney with a slight gaze of awe.
"Boney really is as well trained as , and really smart," the boy said. Flint looked at the boy surprised.
"How do you know his name?" Flint asked.
"I know I lot about this family…" he began unsure. This behavior reminded him so much of Lucas it was crazy. However, Flint refused to let his guard down knowing that this person was one of the people to try and take Lucas's life. "I didn't want to kill him, but I thought it was the only way to make things better…"
"When has taking a life ever made things better in the long run, and why would killing Lucas do anything,"
"It would rewrite history," he explained which made Flint tilt his head. "I wanted to save him from what he'll become, from the pain that will be caused by his hands," The boy looked up at Flint with a sad expression that Flint wasn't sure how to interpret. The boy swallowed a big lump in his throat as it looked like he might break down.
"What do you mean rewrite history Lucas hasn't done anything but good?"
The boy was shaking not sure how to channel his emotions. So he rushed at Flint making Boney instantly alarmed, but then petrified in shock to see the boy latch onto Flint as he hugs the man tightly seemingly in tears. Boney wasn't the only one startled as Flint is totally confused as he stares down at the child crying into his waist"…He's going to kill you grandpa!"
Grandpa….
"Wait…." Flint grabbed the boy by the shoulders then gently pushed him away for a moment. He squats down to get to eye level with the boy to see the tears streaks still flowing. "What did you call me?"
The boy seems like an emotional rollercoaster at the moment. He couldn't say anything so he simply reached for his helmet to remove it. Making Boney and Flint gasp in total shock. The boy's facial features were eerily similar to Lucas. He has a few freckles on his cheeks, dirty blonde hair in a swirl similar to Lucas's and the striking blue sapphire eyes that reminded Flint so much of Lucas's. The boy seemed to regain himself a little to smile a small smile.
"My name is Alex. I'm your grandson... and... I'm Lucas' son,"