"...After that Rage and I returned." Nia concluded her report. Magnus, Nia and Rage had reported to Mason's chambers after successfully returning from their mission. Nia and Magnus stood in front of Mason while Rage leaned against a wall with his arms crossed.
"So you didn't get Liam?" Mason asks.
"No, sir." Magnus says hanging his head in shame "He has become more powerful than I had anticipated."
"I see...well he was not expected to be there in the first place so I couldn't have expected you to be ready to deal with him." Mason sighs.
"But Elder Mason! We let him get away we could have pursued him! We SHOULD HAVE pursued him!" Magnus exclaims.
"No." Rage speaks up who until now had remained quiet. He stood up straight as he spoke. "Not pursuing him was the right option."
"What?!" Magnus exclaims "You have no idea what we're talking about Rage! This isn't any of your business understand?"
"Magnus pull your head out of your ass and think about it." Rage says his tone a bit disgruntled as he was making an effort in restraining himself "I understand I don't know much about the Paladins or as much as you guys do about Hephrostosis but I do know when it is best to let someone go. If Liam is as high up on the food chain as you claimed then he would have retreated to their main fortress, church or whatever. We wouldn't have stood a chance then."
"Why you red headed know it all..." Magnus grumbles.
"Enough!" Mason barks "I will not have bickering in my chambers! However, Magnus, Rage is right. It is reckless to just follow him without knowing where you will end up. Especially if it could result in the death of all three of you. If you three die then all hope would be lost."
"Yes, Elder Mason my apologies." Magnus says.
"As for you Rage, remember you are here as an aid for us. While I have no issues with how you choose to perform as long as it doesn't put your team at risk until you are given a title and rank in our Order you are to respect those above you which includes Magnus. Do I make myself clear?" Mason scorns.
"Yes, Elder Mason." Rage says bowing his head "I am sorry for my outburst."
"Now then, Magnus, Nia you two are dismissed. Rage I need to speak to you alone." Mason says. Both Magnus and Nia bow and leave. Mason turns to Rage and sighs. "Rage, I can tell you are bothered by something what is it?"
"Is it that obvious?" Rage asks "Well with all due respect it is Magnus."
"What about him?" Mason asks.
"Well Nia told about his blunder when Hephrostosis was reborn." Rage answers "He made the very same mistake tonight. Charging in with reckless abandon. Had I not been able to destroy the sigil and free us...had I not been there both he and Nia could very well be dead."
"I see..." Mason sighs "You are not the first to question Magnus's leadership abilities Rage...however that is not what I wish to discuss with you."
"I'm all ears Mason." Rage says.
"So as the Elder I receive communications from Kira through visions or sometimes she spiritually visits me...anyway she came while you were in Canada. It was in relation to you." Mason explains.
"What about me? I see no reason why she should be concerned about me. I am not one of her chosen or blessed." Rage inquired.
"Well she is concerned." Mason says "Concerned you'll turn or something and make us vulnerable."
"I understand her concern however it is unnecessary. I cannot be turned into any of those foul monstrosities." Rage says. "I have battled monsters like them before."
"I see now then in addition I want you to go to our training field and meet with Credo. I pray you have no quarrels in unleashing your unbridled power for a while?" Mason requests.
"For what reason?" Rage asks crossing his arms showing he wasn't too fond of the idea.
"Well Credo and Julia requested you let them scale you at full strength. Credo so he can issue a rank and Julia so she knows what she'll be working with in terms of your armor." Mason explains.
"Very well understand the nature of your request means I am going to be unable to fight for a day or two and it may not be best to do it down here." Rage explains.
"What do you mean?" Mason asks.
"Well if you want me to use all of my power I al afraid using my ultimate ability, The Ultima Chaos Finisher; Darkness' End might cause some collateral damage." Rage explains.
"Alright be sure you mention that to them." Mason sighed rubbing his chin. "Better get going now. Julia and Credo aren't the most patient people."
"Very well." Rage says. Rage turned and walked out. After a few seconds a woman with elegant blonde hair appeared in the room with Mason.
"Did you believe him?" Mason asks her "Kira?"
"I do. At this point having any aid is crucial. A Chaos Guardian is an unexpected yet irreplaceable ally. If we are to protect this world from not only Hephrostosis but those who may come after we will need to remain on Rage's good side. Especially if we cross paths in the future." The woman responds.
"I believe he plans to stay here with is for a while." Mason says "Live within our community."
"That would be a welcome change. It would be nice to have someone who can tell of Mobius' past and of beliefs that differ from our own." Kira smiles as they both look out of the window that oversaw the training yard where Rage had approached Credo.
"You're not worried he might try to take some of our people to train as Chaos Guardians?" Mason asks a little surprised by Kira's answers.
"No. He is the last one Mobius has. Unless his offspring carry his abilities after he is gone the Chaos Guardians will be forever gone." She answers.
"But...what would happen should someone like Vlagh return then?" Mason wonders.
"Perhaps it is Mobius' fate to fade into Darkness. Or a new hero will rose up and stop Vlagh. That is beyond our ability to guess or predict though." Kira suggests "Be careful Mason...we still know little of what Hephrostosis and his cursed cult are planning or their scope..."
Meanwhile, Rage and Credo stood in the training field awaiting Julia. "So what is it I will be doing?" Rage asks looking at Credo.
"Well we're going to send some training drones after you and we want you to destroy them. I believe they're going to be set to the configuration we used for Paladin testing. However we are going to be strictly measuring your power abilities. You'll need to go all out."
"Yeah Mason told me. You realize if I use 100% of my power I will be down and out for a day or two." Rage answered.
"Oh? Mason never mentioned that." Credo says looking intriguing "Please explain."
"Well while I may have limitless access to Chaos my body has a limit. If I use too much or a move with so much power I have to rest or I could seriously hurt myself." Rage explains. "My body still has its limits."
"Ah I see guess we all have that to worry about." Credo chuckles.
"By the by what is this test made up of?" Rage asks
"Well normally we have the test taker against a Paladin in battle while Julia runs a bunch of calculations but I am worried that in this sense it may not be a viable option." Credo replies "I certainly wouldn't go up against you, nor would Julia."
Julia walks up as he finished his sentence "Alright everything is ready now all we need is to decide how we test him...given none of us want to face a Chaos Guardian..." she says.
"I'll fight him." A voice pipes up as Magnus approached the three.
"Magnus are you sure about that?" Credo asks. He simply drew his sword. Action enough to show he was serious.
"Magnus, don't do this." Rage says calmly "I have to go all out per Mason's directive I may kill you if we were to fight in this exam."
"I am not going to fall for your lies, Hedgehog." Magnus spits as he walks into the arena followed by Rage.
"Magnus...this isn't about what happened in The Elder's Chambers is it?" Rage asks as the two walked around the slightly raised center platform.
"Damn right it is!" He shouts as they stopped across from each other "I am sick of everyone acting like we're in some gifted air having you around. I am going to beat you and show everyone how weak Chaos Guardians are!"
"Very well." Rage sighs in a grim tone as he moved to a side stance and extends his right arm. A soft glow of light and fire began before his weapon appeared. Burejingukaosu, a dragon wing looking sword with an emerald eye in the hilt guard. "Prepare yourself." Rage says as a small barely visible energy flare rose around him.
"Begin!" Credo shouts and instantly Magnus charges for Rage to begin an offense.
"Predictable!" Rage shouts as he flash stepps to the side and leaps back to keep a good distance. He then glowed as he held his sword out "Incinerate! Burejingukaosu!" He calls.
Suddenly a pillar of fire erupts as Magnus leaped for another attack but he stopped as the pillar erupted. It raged for around 30 seconds before dying down.
There Rage stood. He stood in a dark gray kosode with some strange inscription on the left breast area. Medium jet black hair covered his head and his eyes had changed from emerald green to amber. "Ryuu Saishu Burejingukaosu." He says in a monotone voice.
"Wh-what is this?!" Magnus exclaims shocked by the power and vibe Rage was giving off.
"This is my strongest form...my Final Form." Rage says. "Mason wanted me to go all out and I will."
"A simple change in clothes won't intimidate me!" Magnus shouts firing spears of light energy at Rage who barely lifts his hand and a Chaos Barricade blocks the attack.
"Time to end this. Chaos Finisher; Zantetsuken Overdrive" Rage says before he vanished and appeared behind Magnus "It's over." He says blandly before a gush of blood came out of Magnus' shoulder and he fell.
"I don't believe it..." Julia says astonished.
"What?" Credo asks.
"Either he is That powerful or our sensors and things need redone. I can't get an accurate power level..." she answers. "This Chaos Energy is just too much for our systems to comprehend."
"Well given how easily he defeated Magnus I would say he is easily over 5 million." Credo says.
"Agreed. I assign 10 million plus as that was the last reading I got before things went haywire." Julia says
"But that would put him past what Elder Mason was at in his younger years." Credo says "You sure?"
"Yes. Chaos Guardians are more powerful than most of us given the nature of their power and they have to be since they operated on a scale much grander than us Paladins." Julia affirms.
"Wait." Credo says "Look." He points back to the arena where Magnus was standing back up. Rage, who had already powered down fell to his knee.
"It's not over yet..." Magnus says "I can still fight."
"Magnus don't push yourself." Rage says calmly slowly standing up "You are too injured to continue."
"What about you? You brought yourself to your knees by over exerting yourself!" Magnus shouts
Rage sighs "I used all of my energy up. I was ordered to go all out which I sort of did. Had I used my ultimate technique you wouldn't be alive. Or if I hadn't skillfully hit you where I did. The Zantetsuken Overdrive is a clean cut which if I had hit you in the center of your body like it is supposed to be used would have killed you." Rage explains as he reforms his sword "I can still fight physically fine. Just not with Chaos." He then dismissed his sword.
"Shut up!" Magnus screams rushing at Rage who turns and grabs his sword with his right hand wincing in pain as the blade cut into his hand.
"I told you!" Rage shouts grabbing the sword and throwing Magnus by the blade which he lost the grip of leaving it embedded in Rage's hand. "It's over!" He pants in a scratchy voice. He then slowly starts to remove the blade inhaling sharply in pain before exhaling after it was completely removed. He let out a sigh "ugh that hurt." He says holding the sword in his left hand and tossing it to the side before walking away.
Credo and Julia had made it to the entrance of the arena by this point as Magnus stood back up. He got ready for another go before Credo stopped him as Julia tended to Rage's hand.
"Let me go!" Magnus spits as he struggled to break free. "I can still fight him!"
"That's enough!" Credo shouts sternly "Or have you lost your damn mind?! That last attempt Rage just threw you aside! You're finished. Rage won."
"Bullshit!" Magnus grunts.
"For Kira's sake Magnus swallow that god forsaken pride of yours for one minute and look at the facts! Rage is stronger than all three of us! He has to be in order to do his job!" Credo frowns as he explains what happened with Julia's calculations.
"You believe that?!" Magnus scornfully inquired.
"Magnus what has gotten into you?" Credo asks worried. "You're acting more prideful and reckless than normal..."
Meanwhile Julia had just finished bandaging Rage's hand "Better?" She asks. Rage opens and closes his hand a few times before nodding.
"Yes thank you." He smiles with his response.
"You held back didn't you?" Julia inquired.
"Yeah." Rage sighs "Sorry...I didn't want to severely injure Magnus though it sure seemed like he did to me..." he finished looking over to Credo and Magnus.
"He is prideful to a very dangerous end." Julia sighs. "I fear it will be the end of him."
"I know what you mean." Rage says "I was the same once...too a long time to fix it and it was a rude awakening..."
Credo walks over to Rage and Julia as Magnus limped off. "You gave him quite a thrashing Rage. You could of taken it a bit easier."
"You wanted me to go all out and I did." Rage says "I was still holding back as much as I could while trying to give you guys the data you so desired. On that note, how'd I do?"
"Well...our equipment broke after 10 million..." Julia says.
"What's with all of the racket?" A voice calls out. Credo, Rage and Julia look in the direction it came from to see a tall voluptuous younger looking woman with long brunette hair dressed in a white and gold embroidered robe. Her hazel eyes giving off a somewhat sultry look. It was Natalia the Arch Mage.
"Natalia." Julia says "We were running Ragis Chaotic here through a power measurement test."
"Ragis Chaotic?" She asks "Hmmm I think I have heard that name before...something about the old Chaos Guardians...?"
"Yes, he is the last of them." Credo nods "he came on board with Elder Mason's blessing to help us against Hephrostosis."
"I see." She says looking at Rage "For someone as old as our books claim you look good." She smiles.
"Well that would be because my body doesn't age past 24ish." Rage says.
"Oh?" She exclaims "Well that is quite an ability." She chuckles.
"What did you need Nat?" Credo asks
"You no fun Credo always right to the point with you." She pouts. "Well I had a break between some research and figured I would come meet the new guy I sensed among us. Never thought he would be a Chaos Guardian or so cute." She says flirtatiously.
"Uh thank you?" Rage thanks her in a more unsure tone. She just laughed.
"Well I better get going I have a lot of work to do..." Julia says "I am sure Elder Mason wants to hear the results of your test Rage." She says
"Oh right." He nods "I should be off too."
Rage returned to Mason's chambers and knocked. "Enter!" His voice calls and Rage walks in. Mason looks up from his desk and sits back "Oh Rage what can I do for you?"
"Julia says you're interested in the results of my test." Rage says.
"On! Indeed!" He says a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Well...she said the equipment broke after 10 million..." Rage shrugs.
'10 million? That's crazy even I didn't get that high when I was younger...he is probably well beyond that if the equipment broke.' Mason thinks before speaking "Well that is incredible then by my right as Elder of the Paladins of Kira I, Mason name you, Ragis Chaotic, Lord Paladin." He announces "Now moving on I have a mission for you..."
"Yessir what is it?" Rage asks.
"We have learned that The Cult has trapped an old Mobius hero...I am sure you know him...Sonic the Hedgehog?" Mason explains.
"Yeah I know him." Rage says a bit annoyed at the mention of the name.
"Do you not get along with him?" Mason asks.
"No." Rage responds shaking his head. "Sonic abused and misused the Chaos Emeralds multiple times because he is too weak to face the battles he gets himself into. I hate anyone who abuses the power of The Emeralds. Still...to lose him wouldn't be good. He would be a pain if working for the enemy so it would be best to save him." He sighs.
"Good I was going to send you either way. He is in the wilderness of the Amazon. The mission is to rescue him and bring him here." Mason explains
"Sounds easy enough." Rage nods.
"Oh and Rage...if you ever fight Magnus in the future like you did during the exam I ask you not be so rough." Mason warns.
"Will do." Rage says nodding to show he understood
"Good Nia and Magnus are already there waiting for you. Do not disappoint." Mason says.
"I won't." Rage says before using the magic spell to teleport to Brazil.