Ch.85: Buried Past! Morgan Tenebris, A Man with A Thousand Secrets!

A day out in the Desert Zone was prime time for outlaws to escape into the widespread land, making off with their loot. Like any success theft, an outlaw must always keep vigilance from bounty hunters on the scene. The wiliest of these dastardly thieves can make off with tons of loot and get out of danger scot-free. Some so confident that no bounty hunter could put an end to them.

Unless, of course, you were dealing with the infamous Phantom Weaver.

A group of five outlaws were running with their tails between their legs as they were being pursued by a Hypno wearing a black trench coat, white shirt, gray sweatpants, and black shoes. He didn't offer much chase, or at least a decent effort. He ran with his hands in his pockets and a stoic gaze set on the fleeing outlaws.

"How the hell did we cross paths with that menace?!" one of the outlaws, a Bibarel, exclaimed. "You said the way back to camp was clear!"

The Noctowl flying close to the ground shouted, "You want to argue or do you want to fight that freak?!"

A purple flash shot past them in a narrow beam, cutting the cheek of the Noctowl. He shrieked and immediately flew upwards for safety. In his aerial climb, however, something caught onto his ankle. The sudden jerk stopped him before being thrown down into the sand like a sack of rocks.

The four other outlaws shrieked and split off in different directions to evade their pursuer. The Hypno narrowed his eyes, quickly identifying the fleeing quartet before slamming his hands down.

"Gordian Trap!"

The ground exploded from under their feet. Magical string shot up and wrapped around their bodies in a matter of seconds. Arms were forcibly pinned to their backs and legs were bound together, resulting in a face first trip to the ground. The Hypno huffed quietly, then stood up.

"This is hardly worth the effort," he grumbled. He lifted his hand, tugging on the magical strings connected to the tips of his fingers. "But I'm sure you'll make a hefty profit."

The Noctowl squirmed in his bindings. "You bastard! How did you find us so quickly?!"

The bounty hunter scoffed. "Amateur mistake on your part. I always keep an ear out for trouble." He reached into his coat and pulled out a wanted poster. "Also, best not to walk into town when your faces are plastered all over. Ever considered not showing your faces as a group?"

The Excadrill of their group gulped. "Are you going to turn us in?"

"Not yet." The bounty hunter gripped the strings and heaved up, reeling and throwing the outlaws into each other and binding them together. "I'll wait until they update the posters for your new crime, then I'll cash in on it."

The Bibarel snarled. "You're a bastard, you know that?!"

He narrowed his eyes darkly on the five, making them shrink back. "I'm just good at what I do."

"Yeah, you are!" He glared at the familiar voice behind him. How the heck did he find him? "Have to say Phantom Weaver, you do some mighty fine bounty hunting! That's the kind of skill you need around here!"

The infamous Phantom Weaver turned around and glared at the spunky Jolteon, easily recognized by the fedora and the aviator goggles he was currently wearing. "…Space Walker: Garret Ravenfield." He sighed and turned back to the criminals. "Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?"

"Sorry, my friend, but when I see something I like, I have to have it." Garret closed his eyes and grinned. "I'm greedy like that! Though, all this formality and you haven't told me your name."

"We're not friends."

"We've ran into each other a couple of times already. We're practically family!"

The bounty hunter rolled his eyes. "Why do you keep following me?"

"Like I said, I like you! Plus, you seem like you could use a friend!"

He huffed. "I don't need friends. I'm perfectly content on my own…" He glared at the ground. "No one needs me around."

"Hehehe…that's just the kind of attitude I expected from you. Though, I think you'll find my stubbornness outweighs your defiance. Besides, I come to you with a proposition."

The bounty hunter, Morgan Tenebris, turned around and glared down at the Jolteon to shoo him away again, but was surprised by the extension of his paw towards him. The cheery demeanor of the Jolteon strongly glowed off his face, reaching out to the notorious bounty hunter without a shred of doubt.

"Want to join Team Ravenfield?"

Drops of blood dripped onto the floorboards. Morgan stood in place, silent for minutes, with only the rain pattering outside to break through. He inhaled through his nose, then sighed.

"…It really is always a Ravenfield to start up trouble. That spiky doofus is rubbing off on me."

The Jynx coughed out droplets of blood, finding herself entangled in a web of magical string, with her shadow-coated hands a mere few inches from striking the Hypno's back. The thin, yet sharp string slashed into her skin from the speed they carried upon activation. Morgan didn't move anything more than a couple of fingers before this web found its prey.

'His reputation precedes my expectations. In the split second I had from striking him, he instantaneously trapped me in this web.' She tried to move, but it caused the string to tighten down on her. 'Argh! And the more I s-struggle, the tighter it gets! He's a pro! An expert on his craft!'

"Hey…lady." Her eyes widened to his emotionless tone. He made no changes to his stance as he stared at the shelves. "I've got a question burning inside of me, so answer honestly." He tilted his head and glared over his shoulder. "Did your count really think some amateur sneak attack was going to be the end of me?"

The Jynx blinked, then smirked villainously. "I have to say, Phantom Weaver, you are far more skilled than I imagined. I thought all the rumors surrounding you were little ghost stories to scare the criminal underworld. One of the most ruthless and coldest bounty hunters of this time. Some say you're a wandering ghost who has been around longer than anyone else." A dark chuckle rang in the Hypno's ear. "How long did you plan on run-AGH!" The binds tightened down on her.

"Listen carefully, because this is your only chance to stay in one piece." He twitched his extended index and middle fingers, coiling the string around them. "You're going to tell me what you plan to accomplish after today, then you're going to leave and never return. You'll tell your boss that I won't be dying on this day or any time soon."

The Jynx's hair fluttered wildly with her magic. She fought against the strain of the bindings and scowled down on him for a moment, then went back to her same smirk. "You're a smart guy, Phantom Weaver. Figure it out on your own."

Morgan huffed. "Does your boss honestly expect me to die on this day?"

"No…I'm just here to show you how far the shadows have come along since five hundred years. And who knows? I might get a lucky strike off and take your head as a trophy." Shadows stretched over her body. "Wouldn't that be something?"

While she talked, Morgan was busy observing the store. He felt sorry for the poor manager who met his untimely demise. Such a soul shouldn't have to be subject to an early death. Thankfully, in a morbid sense, it gave him plenty of room to use what he had on this speed hybrid. There was plenty to show off with his mastery over String Magic.

Speaking of, the Jynx extended out a serrated shadow armor and cut her way out of the string. "With the power of the starlight buster ore infused with the shadow that inhabits me, I've become a living reactor of speed and kinetic force! One punch will be the end of you!" She sped around the store, building up speed, then rocketed straight to Morgan's left side.

With her shadow infused fist, she struck the Hypno, rippling the air with a damaging shockwave that obliterated the walls shelves. For the brief moment, she had the largest grin on her face, but then faded to shock at the springy barrier she ended up striking instead. A tightly woven barrier of purple magic string.

"Grid Wall," Morgan announced, with one hand raised, extending out string from all five fingers. He casted a side glance to her. "You're fast, I credit you, but a young lad I know is much faster. This is a strong gust raging for days compared to a hurricane of tempered discipline."

Jynx growled and tried to retract her fist, but the Grid Wall broke apart and bound around her fist. "GAH!"

Morgan flexed his fingers, tugging on the tense string. "Completely meaningless if you wind up in a standard trap." He swiped his hand around the air.

Jynx was pulled by the wrist, flung across the store by a combined string, mixed together into a solid, blazing one. Morgan threw her to the floor, then commanded the strings to drag her through the walls, finishing it up by whipping her across the air a couple times before smashing her into he counter.

Fluid motions done through the dexterity of one hand.

Morgan kicked his basket of goods out of harm's way, finding shelter under a corner shelf. He kept one hand in his pocket as he approached the downed hybrid. "You're being illogical. I have you beat in skill and intelligence. Your speed would certainly trip up any standard fighter on the road…" He glared. "Sadly for you, my experience far exceeds everyone you'll ever come across."

Jynx slashed through the string with her shadow claws, then rose up from the collapsed counter. "The Phantom Weaver certainly lives up to his clever tricks." She smirked. "I'll make extra sure this next attack doesn't miss its mark."

She held her palms close together and channeled magic between them, forcing a pulsing blue sphere with darkness spiraling around it. She reeled it back and flung it like a baseball.

"Starbuster Special!"

Morgan tilted his head just a bit and let the sphere whiz by. However, the magic didn't immediately dissipate when it struck the wall. Curious, his eyes darted around and watched at the spell bounced all around the store like a rubber kickball. However, this one was picking up speed each time it ricocheted off a solid surface. Morgan had to actually put more effort into his casual dodges, like physically moving from the spot he was standing on.

Jynx flew up and laughed while the sphere bounced all around, seeming to never bounce in her general direction. "Like it? A little something I perfected with my newfound magic! Your little walls won't save you forever! Once it starts picking up speed, everything will be pulverized into dust!"

Morgan didn't even take his other hand out of his pocket as he moved out of the way of the speeding ball. "You just love talking, don't you?" He glared and slashed with his fingers, striking the approaching sphere. The ball grinded against his string, shooting sparks out in all direction.

Morgan twitched his pinkie and connected two strings to his shoulders. With a second twitch of the little finger, he vanished instantaneously, sending the ball back on its course.

Jynx gasped. "Teleportation?!"

"No." She turned and got a face full of shoe from a sharp kick. She was thrown into the path of her Starbuster Special, setting it to explode against her. Morgan landed on an aisle shelf, crouched over with his arms hanging. "Literally pulled myself out of danger."

His eyes sharpened as snack foods were thrown his way at subsonic speeds, wrapped in an aura of the hybrid's magic. A subtle twitch of his pinkie reeled him out of danger in a flash. He appeared atop the destroyed counter, then leaped away from the deadly protein bar projectiles (something he thought he would never hear himself think).

He landed atop a shelf, then slashed across the air, destroying the snack projectiles. Jynx sped across the store and gathered as many items as she could hold, chucking them at great velocity. Morgan crossed his arms and deflected the projectiles as his string spun around him like a whirling barrier. Again, with nothing more than the twitches of his fingers.

Jynx picked up a shelf and, after spinning it around hundreds of times, through it at sound busting speeds. "Clean up on aisle one!"

It was sure to hit, the hybrid shadow Pokémon thought, as the shelf rocketed into Morgan, too fast for him to dodge. However, he didn't need to dodge. In the split second the shelf was from striking him, a purple vertical slash swung upward and halved the whole thing, with the swirling string around him deflecting the wood chips flying at him. The shelf smashed through the wall behind him.

Morgan cracked his neck, then held his hand out, beckoning her forward. "This has to be one of the most exhilarating food fights I ever partook in. You're making my night."

Jynx sneered. "Real funny, bounty hunter, but you know one clean hit from any projectile multiplied by my speed will put you down."

"A mild exaggeration, but I suppose they are more effective than the standard bullet." Two strings traveled behind his arms, down his back and legs, wrapping themselves around two 2-liter bottles of soda. With some twitches from both ring fingers, he spun them around. "I still feel like you aren't letting me in on the big picture." He glared seriously. "I find it hard to believe your gang leader thought one shadow infused grunt would be enough to deal with me."

Jynx smirked. "Count Aeternus is wise beyond his years, a living genius to the world. There is no point to question the brilliance of a madman."

"Blindly following his word as law." He sighed. "Those who succumb to darkness lose sight of what matters in their world." He glared fiercely. "You don't know what forces you are playing with. You, your boss, and all others who hang on the word of a murderous ghost."

This provoked a chuckle out of her. "Oh yes, you would know all about that, wouldn't you?"

Morgan retained his composure, although he could feel a boiling sensation coursing through his body. "Promoting the promise of power, redemption, and vengeance, all without seeing what lies after the word is complete." He raised his hands. "If none of you see that, then there truly is no hope once you've fallen."

Jynx arched herself forward. "Spare me the sermon, bounty hunter!" She rocketed straight to him.

Morgan whipped up the two sodas, bound in string, and swung them into her. With a quick swipe of his index fingers, the string tightened around the soda and exploded open, showering the hybrid in sticky carbonation. She was spun off course and flew right past Morgan, slamming through the walls.

She tumbled into a small office, landing onto a desk. "Ugh, gross!" She pulled herself up. "I smell like a carnival!" She growled and swiped some pens and pencils off the desk and floor. "Eat lead, Tenebris!" She threw the writing utensils.

They punched holes through the wall, but Morgan was able to deflect them with the string spiraling protectively around him. He glared, then aimed his hand out, pressing the back of his middle finger against his thumb pad. String tightly wove itself around both fingers for his next attack.

"Compression Thread."

He flicked his finger, firing a condensed ball of string through the wall, perfectly shooting through the Jynx's shoulder in a fraction of a second. She gawked with the pain flaring through her arm as the darkness quickly wrapped around her and mended the wound. She gripped her shoulder and snarled at the wall.

"Neat little trick, bounty hunter." She looked at her hand and noted the droplets of soda rolling around in her palm. A devious idea came to mind. "Let me take a crack at it."

Morgan narrowed his eyes cautiously, then gasped as multiple shots of her blue aura fired through the walls. He contorted himself as the shots flew past him. His keen vision detected the projectiles to be the soda droplets, thrown at such a velocity that they acted as standard bullets. One even managed to nick his cheek like a razor blade.

"Prescient as usual, Tenebrae!" Morgan darted his eyes back to the wall, then flicked his pinkie as more soda bullets fired through, pulling himself onto the ceiling instantly. He clung upside-down and glared to the wall as the Jynx soared out in a trailed of her aura. She zipped up towards him. "Truly skill such as yours was obtained through years of hard work!"

Morgan twitched his finger again and vanished from sight, reappearing near the door. Jynx didn't let up, firing off more of the soda bullets. Morgan flickered all around the store with his incredible speed, avoiding the attacks, but unable to get a proper hit in. For an opponent below his skill, he credited her ability to keep him preoccupied.

"Your efforts, however, will hardly equate to the perfection we shadow hybrids will amass! Soon the Shadow King will have an army that will surpass the most powerful magic users in all lands! Not even you will be a match for us!" She outstretched her fingers. "Sonic Slash!" She swiped her fingers, cutting the air with a slashing aura.

Morgan put up Grid Wall and canceled the attack. "You are one crazy lady." He flicked out another Compression Thread, which burst a whole through her fluttering hair.

"Ha, nice shot!" She reeled her hand back for another slash.

Morgan smirked. "Thank you." He pulled back his middle finger.

"Eh?" She turned, then was suddenly struck in the eyes with a glass bottle that exploded a red, viscous liquid into her face. Her first thought was ketchup, but then the burning sensation assaulting her eyes told her something different. "DEVIL HOT SAUCE! AAAHHH!" She covered her eyes and stumbled around the store in agony.

Morgan leaped over her and slashed down a pile of thread, binding her arms to her sides. He pulled on the thread, holding his arms in a crossed manner. "You made the mistake of challenging me in such a confined space. I make use of all my surroundings to execute my targets." He glared. "If this were a hardware store, you'd be impaled with every standard tool in the book."

The Jynx couldn't break from her binds, not helped by the hell that was burning into her eyes. "You foolish…DEMON!"

Morgan flexed his fingers. "Now then…Ripcord Havoc." He pulled back on the string with a hard yank, releasing the Jynx into a mad spin that slashed up her entire body. She was thrown into the slushy machine, breaking it open and splashing her with the frozen contents. "Puppet Style: Dance of the Dragon."

Jynx pulled herself up, then gasped as Morgan wrapped his threads into the shape of a large serpent dragon. He swung his arms, making complex, contorted movements with his fingers, and sent the dragon speedily across the store. She took off into the air, but Morgan corrected the dragon's flight and ordered it to sink its teeth into her arm.

She cried out in pain, then wrapped her hands in darkness, cutting the head off with her claws. She gasped as the string unraveled and bounded her wrists together. Morgan swung both hands down and smashed her through the floorboards, dragging her along until she met the bottom of his shoe again with a skull-cracking kick.

Morgan slammed his foot down on her face and wrapped her body up in string. He glared down at her. "You want my full diagnosis? If it weren't for that shadow bound to you, you would've suffered from severe lacerations, internal bleeding, head trauma, and multiple fractures to the skeleton, specifically your skull." He ground his foot down on her face. "Of course, your short glimpse into immortality doesn't mean your regeneration is infallible."

Jynx coughed quietly, then smirked. "Still have some of your violent tendencies hidden away, don't you? Count Aeternus was right about you." A vibrant blue glow erupted from under her cocoon.

Morgan glared at it, then jumped back as the room was engulfed in a blinding blue light.

"HIYA!" Alex shouted as he threw his fist at Morgan. The Hypno caught the gauntlet-covered fist, using his string as extra padding. Alex smirked and, by grabbing hold of the Hypno's arm, threw himself overhead to divebomb with his knees. Morgan jumped back, avoiding the earth collapsing divebomb.

Morgan bounced on his toes, keeping one hand inside his pocket while the other extended string out, surrounding him protectively. "Alex, you aren't going to get any closer to beating me than the last fifty-seven times."

Alex flipped backwards, which threw his hood back, revealing his smug, Scrafty face. "That's why you're the perfect sparring partner! You've got talent that I intend to exploit! If I can take you down, I can take anyone down!"

Morgan huffed. "Your tenacity does surpass all others."

"I'll take that as a compliment!" He struck his fists together. "Now, this time, give me all you got!"

Morgan raised his hand and conjured string from his fingertips. "A request you will surely regret."

"Alright boys, I think that's enough roughhousing for one afternoon." They turned and were greeted by Willow, without her usual armor on. She was wearing a gray tunic and black pants. "While I wouldn't mind a good spar, your lunch is ready."

Morgan dispelled his string. "Much appreciated, Willow."

Alex slid closer to Willow. "Would you mind sitting next to me for lunch, my lady?"

Willow covered her face and blushed. "Oh…of course, Alex."

Alex beamed happily. "Excellent! Race you there!" He dashed off before she had a chance to say anything else.

Willow sighed and held her chest. "He's a doofus, but can't help myself."

Morgan smirked. "You two do compliment each other, I'll give it that." He crossed his arms. "Perhaps you and I could have a spar later."

Willow tapped her chin. "Ooh, very tempting indeed, though I think Alex is more inclined to take that offer."

The Hypno rolled his eyes. "What else is new?"

Willow chuckled. "Oh, you know you like the challenge. I bet there's a part of you that wants to go all out against him."

Morgan chuckled to himself. "Perhaps it is more difficult for me these days to find any adequate challenges. Not even from the standard tournament can I find that kind of drive." He sighed. "I had a…an acquaintance who was obsessed with fighting stronger opponents, almost like an addiction."

"What keeps you grounded?" she asked.

"For me, work…and drinking."

Willow smirked. "Hmm, perhaps I should be challenging you to a drinking contest instead? I would love to see where the upper limits of your alcohol tolerance lie."

Morgan shook his head. "You'd be on the floor way before that happens."

"I always see you drinking, yet you never suffer from it later. Are you sure you're not drinking water instead?"

"You're more than welcome to question me, but I can assure you I drink whiskey out of this here flask," he assured with a flash of his favorite flask. He guzzled down the whiskey held inside.

Willow sighed playfully. "Oh dear, my friend's an alcoholic and yet it doesn't see to affect him all that much. Morally speaking, I should be sitting you down for an intervention." She waggled her claw at him. "Though, that does lead me to wonder."

"About what?"

"The whole point of drinking is to get that nice buzz and cut loose. Why do you drink all the time if it does nothing for you? Do you just love the taste of whiskey that much?"

Morgan laughed quietly. "Well, I have gathered a desire for the taste, I'll give you that." He shook his head. "Though, I suppose it is morbid curiosity that keeps me going. I've never been drunk my entire life. Some do it for the buzz and others do it to…forget things…"

Willow tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Morgan shook his head and chuckled a bit. "Eh…nothing. My point is, don't waste your time guzzling down drinks for a stupid contest. I'll be the one cleaning up your mess."

She smirked. "You underestimate me."

"And you are doubting the strength of my liver."

She laughed and socked him in the arm. "You're one cool guy, Morgan!" She raced off to their campsite for lunch.

Morgan rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah…" He narrowed his eyes. "…I hope I am…"

The front of the store exploded open. The whole wall was taken down and scattered into the wind as woodchips. Morgan flew back, trailing with smoke, while keeping a protective barrier of string in front of him. He landed on his hands and flipped safely to his feet.

He patted some dust off his shoulder, then glared straight at the smoking store. The rain was as heavy as before, pattering down on him and soaking his clothes. He pressed his fingers together and waited for his opponent to make her next move.

Jynx came flying out of the smoke and threw a sonic punch at him. Morgan separated his fingers and caught the punch in a barrier of entangling string. The kinetic force slammed into his face, but only blew back his mane. He grabbed the retrained hybrid and slammed her into the wet ground.

"Your patterns are too easy to read. I suggest you change up your strategy."

Jynx pushed herself up and smirked. "You want something different?" She slammed her hand down. "Here you go!"

Morgan felt the ground tremble violently, cracks popping up with blue light pouring out. He swung a thread behind him and reeled himself back before the ground exploded open. He covered himself as rock scattered outward. He landed on his feet, with one hand lightly pressed to the ground.

'That starlight buster ore is potent stuff. Anyone would love to get their hands on that stuff for ammunition or volatile combustion fuel.' He glared softly. 'She can rapidly set the shadow's magic to explode, giving herself or anything she throws a tremendous speed boost, or simply using it to detonate anything she pleases.'

Jynx stood up and stretched her smoking hand, relieving the stress from the recoil. "I do wonder how long you can swing around before you slip up?" She smirked over her shoulder. "Why aren't you giving it your all?"

Morgan narrowed his eyes cautiously. "You still haven't given me a true answer. What is the purpose of this amateur assassination?"

"A sneaky guy like you should know better than to pry." She picked a chunk of rock up and tossed it around in her hand. "We both know I'm faster than you. What's to stop me from going after that lovely caravan of innocents? Some circus folk, I imagine. Though, from what I heard, you're toting around some people the boss had prior engagements with. Or rather, the family of his most sought prize."

Morgan scoffed. "An empty threat against my friends? As expected by the Anguis Organization."

"Ah…you openly call them your friends." She clutched down on her rock. "I wonder how long that bond can last?" She glared with a sparkle of sadistic glee. "Don't think you can hide behind a mask. I have to wonder what else you've been keeping tucked away from them?"

Morgan showed some teeth, tightly clenched. He felt a stinging from his left arm, pulsing over his body like a vibration. He resisted the urge to clutch it, choosing to stay focused on the battle.

"We know who you really are, 'Dr. Tenebris.' It's only a matter of time until the rest of them see you for the monster you really are." Jynx chuckled under her breath. "I'm just here to remind you that you can't run from fate. And now that you're tied up with the boss' enemies, well…that just makes things more complicated."

Morgan refused to show any aggression, no matter how much it stirred uncomfortable in his stomach. He flexed his fingers, conjuring up string that loosely wrapped around his hand. "You can tell your boss to shove it…I made my choices and I'll choose to live with the mistakes I made for the rest of my life." He glared. "I won't fall again."

"Oh…they're aware." Jynx reeled her hand back. "But that doesn't mean we won't make you suffer." She chucked the rock at high velocity.

Morgan moved his head out of the way, feeling the wind rushing against his left eye. However, it was merely a distraction for the Jynx to get in close and grab him by the shirt. She pulled her fist back and slammed it into his face. The Hypno flew across the ground before crashing down and pushing up dirt and mud in his way.

Jynx smirked with satisfaction, but then noticed the odd purple glow that surrounded the Hypno's outline. She then noted the odd shimmer of string coming off him. She turned around and, shockingly, saw Morgan hanging from the air, supported by a floor of string. The string was attached to the ground to give it support.

Morgan manipulated his fingers, which had dozens of strings coming off them, not just the tips. "Stage Set: Theatre House." He flexed his fingers a bit. "And now…Puppet Style: Thread Knight."

Jynx turned back and saw the clone of Morgan flip up. It was suddenly evident that the fake Hypno was a construct made up of magical string, with near invisible strings attached to him. It looked almost like Morgan, only with a prominent shade of purple overlapping. Morgan swiped his hands with wild movements of his fingers, commanding the puppet to lunge at Jynx with incredible speed. As this was a construct manipulated by his own will, it was far faster than Morgan's average speed when unassisted by his string.

Jynx quickly slashed with her shadow claws and blocked a surprising sharp swipe from the clone. Its fingers were coiled so tightly that the tips were incredibly pointing. Morgan contorted and flexed his fingers in odd ways, commanding his puppet to slash relentlessly against the hybrid, even managing a kick to the chin after breaking through her guard. The clone raised its foot and slammed it down on top her head.

The Jynx growled and raised her palm at it. She condensed her magic into her palm and fired an explosive energy wave into its face, blowing the upper torso apart. With it destroyed, she rocketed straight for Morgan. The Hypno tried to leap over her charge, but she was able to turn on a near ninety-degree angle and strike him from his right. Morgan blocked with his arm while also receiving an explosive wave for added force.

Jynx pointed and laughed maniacally. "Your little tricks won't stop me! You'll have to try harder than that if you want to kill me!"

Morgan flew with his arms crossed defensively. He grunted in annoyance. "I haven't been trying to kill you…but if that's what you want…" He reeled his hand back and fired a thick wire of purple magic from his index finger straight at her. "Purgatory Strike!"

Jynx floated out of the way, but the wire seemed to skip along the air and change directions, striking through her shoulder blade. It didn't just shoot through like a bullet, though. The cutting force it had behind it actually partially severed her shoulder from her body.

"AAAHHH!" She pressed her shoulder back against her and used the darkness to quickly patch it up. She snarled furiously at the Hypno. 'To think he has a killing attack so precise…he truly is dangerous.'

Morgan attached strings to the ground and safely landed. He twirled his finger and commanded the string to circle him. "Crescent Dance." He swiped his fingers and sent forth spinning blade constructs connected by a thin strand of string.

Jynx sped downward and darted right for Morgan. "Starbuster Impact!" Her body ignited in a blazing blue glow.

Morgan sighed quietly and lifted his ring finger. "Ensnarement Field."

The Jynx had little time to react as a mesh pattern glowed through the ground before springing out. It wrapped around her and trapped her in a makeshift net, meshed tightly for little escape options. She punched the net violently, but it was too malleable to do any damage.

Morgan twirled some string around his finger. "Living with regrets my entire life. No matter how much I atone for them, I still can't forget what I once was." He glared. "I refuse to bring my friends into that circle of hell I must endure."

The Jynx grabbed the net and tried to rip it apart. "You can't escape your fate! All shall fall to the Shadow King! His revival spells the end of all Pokémon! The darkness will live on! We shall claim this world! No longer will we be bound to the deep abyss of your vices! We, the shadows, are vice and sin come alive!"

Morgan sighed. With a few twitches of his fingers, the net tightened around her…painfully. "You're not a shadow. You're some pawn who thinks she can get what she wants by selling her pokemanity to a being of evil. Don't kid yourself thinking you can get it all because you made a pact with a false god." He glared at her. "Working for a mob boss like your count is disgraceful enough. This borrowed power of yours is only a sample of what the Shadow King intends to do to all who seek his power. You're just some Pokémon who thinks she lost her way and has nowhere left to go. Too quick to give up on everything.

"Let me tell you something…" He clenched his fingers. "No matter how tempting that power is, it'll never fill the void. An empty promise just to feel like something matters."

He paused for a moment, then took out his flask. He glided his thumb across the faded letters of 'W.V.' before sighing to himself. "Is it worth it? Tsk…the answer should be obvious, but some are too blind by ambition, loss, or pride to see past their own vices."

"Tch…spare me the sob story, old man!" Morgan glared at the net as it violently shook from the outpour of energy she was giving off. "You don't appreciate what is being handed to the world! This is the power that will make us all gods! To throw all that away all because of a few moral codes?! I'd gladly slaughter my whole family to have this power-!"

She gasped as three Purgatory Strikes slashed through her body, which cut the net open. She rolled out and cried out in pain while the darkness mended her. Morgan's hand was outstretched as he glared down at her. For once, he looked legitimately pissed.

"It seems your heart truly wasn't corrupted by the darkness. This is the dark twisted mindset that all of your organization seems to have adopted. Possibly from your count." He bared his teeth. "Why am I not surprised? Of course that lunatic would shove his own life story into your hearts. If this is what I have to expect from those who want to get drunk on power, sacrificing everything just to rise above all else like a false god, then I think I've found my reason to kill you."

Jynx pushed herself up and rubbed her bloodied lip. She showed a smirk. "Heh…if I can't make you fall…then I'll have to make you suffer. After all, while you yourself are incredibly strong, I have to wonder if your friends are just as…"

Morgan glared in the direction of the caravan. Just then, something different came about to his magical senses. Something he didn't feel anywhere near the caravan before. A presence similar to his opponent's, but different. A great darkness hanging over another soul.

"…You've been stalling me."

Jynx showed some teeth with her villainous grin. "You're pretty far away from them. I wonder if you'll catch them in time before they all get brutally slaughtered. Do you trust your Medicham friend has the strength to beat the darkness?" She laughed conceitedly. "Oh, who am I kidding? We've already taken one of your own, killed another, and forced another to end her life."

Morgan bared his teeth. "Clara…" He balled his hand into a tight fist. "…Callista, that demon…"

Jynx laughed quietly. "We'll kill the rest of them…then we'll go after Team Ravenfield and brutally slaughter them all. That is the will of the Shadow King."

Morgan stretched his fingers. "You won't get the chance. I'll kill you."

Jynx crossed her arms and clenched her fists. "Allow me to show you the full power of the shadows. The darkness and the starlight buster ore…the power of speed and destruction. Allow me to show you."

Magic crackled over her body. Morgan raised his hand, extending out straight edges of string. He observed with a sinister flicker in his eyes. Almost like a red glow reflecting off his pupil. Something was different about the way he was looking at her. That collected seriousness he often wore seemed to vanish.

"Starbuster Overdrive!"

Her hair blazed with a powerful explosion of blue magic. She smirked wildly and, in a flash, soared past Morgan, cutting his cheek instantaneously. Morgan's eyes widened at the speed, as well as the pressure that came after it, hitting him with a strong sonic boom. It threw him back, but was stopped by the Jynx's second attack, striking him in the back.

"My raw speed is inferior, you said!?" She struck him five more times in the span of a second, spraying blood across the air. "I'm destructive power at its finest! I will be the one to bring Count Aeternus' goals to life! I shall help in making the Shadow King the rightful ruler of this world! Best of all…!"

Morgan was slashed across the torso by a pair of shadow claws, coating him in a blaze of the ore's energy and the darkness. His eyes were darkened over, hiding the emotion hidden under them.

"I shall have the honor of killing the Phantom Weaver!"

Attacks came left and right without end, moving far faster than Morgan could get to move his arms or dodge. Each sideswipe tore through his cloths, lacerated him, and knocked him back with the force of the sonic booms.

"I'll tear you apart! I'll rip your flesh to shreds, mutilate your insides, and grind your bones to a fine dust!"

She slammed her fist into Morgan's stomach, with the kinetic force flying through his back. He didn't make any expressions of pain or contempt. He remained stoic to her attacks, which started aggravating her further into a well of insanity.

"Say something, dammit! I want to hear you scream!" She slashed across his chest again. "Aren't you scared?! You're helpless to save your friends! They'll die just like the rest of them! Why. Aren't. You. SCREAMING?!" She bashed her fist into his chest.

Morgan flew back, feeling like everything was moving at a slow drift. The wind felt calm. His injuries felt numb. His mind simply wasn't in the game to really care. In all this madness, he could only recall one person…

"OH CRAP! Not again!"

Morgan flinched, drawn away from his book and to the other side of the conjoined rooms, where the girls were staying during their stay in Scorch Grave City. He heard the particular sound of running water flooding the floor, but there was something…viscous about the sound. Not completely syrup-like, but it sounded like an outpour of slime running out of control. It was anything but toilet or sink water.

With Ava and Willow out shopping for some armor pieces and Garret and Alex looking into some new training gear, only he and Clara were in the conjoined rooms. Meaning…Clara did something bad again.

Morgan groaned at the, admittedly, obvious disaster going on, though argued whether or not he should check on her. He or anyone else of the team shouldn't have to keep checking on her every time something goes horribly wrong with one of her experiments. That woman was a walking disaster waiting to be triggered and all she needed were the right conditions.

He wanted to leave it alone and go back to his reading, for the questionably sane Lilligant is fully capable of caring for herself.

On the other hand, though…she was a walking disaster waiting to go off.

"Son of a…" Morgan grumbled before closing his book and walking over to the girl's side of the room. It was near identical to the boys' side of the place, with one obvious exception: the red fizzy liquid sloshing up to his ankles.

He groaned in disgust, then stepped his way through the liquid. He wondered whether or not he should know what she was working on in here. Sooner or later, the folks occupying the room below will be calling someone up about this. What a way to spend his afternoon.

"Clara?" he called out as he entered the bathroom. "Please tell me you weren't making the world's largest bath bomb." He looked around and saw no Lilligant present. He scratched his head. "Now where is she?"

"GAK!" Morgan leaped back as a form shot up from under the slime. It shook its head and wiped the slime from its face, revealing the mad Lilligant in her full glory. "Holy Mew, that was a rush!"

The Hypno groaned and reeled her up by the arm. "Good grief, Clara, what is wrong with you?"

"We speaking in clinical terms or just in general?" she quipped as she was pulled to her feet.

"By now, I'll settle for both." He sighed. "What were you doing?"

Clara scooped some slime off her shoulder. "Well, I was making myself a new serum to trap any bandits we ever come across. It was supposed to harden into a strong crystal form that covered up to the head, but…um, minor miscalculations with the ingredients I added."

Morgan deadpanned at the pool of slime they were in. "Minor? Sure…"

Clara groaned and dropped to her knees. "This is going to take forever to clean up!" Her eyes widened as an idea came to her. "Ooh! Unless I make a super powerful dissolvent that can-!" A finger was pressed against her 'mouth.'

"Clara…think before you dump dangerous potions on the floor. What you are suggesting is no more different than a strong acid." Morgan removed his finger.

The potion maker pouted. "Oh, what do you know?"

"I know what you're capable of and what you can do if you don't have a leash to reel you in." He held his hips. "You're cleaning this up the old fashion way."

"…Please tell me the old fashion way involves a potion sprayer."

"Clara…" The Lilligant slowly lifted her potion sprayer with a pleading glimmer in her eye. "No potion sprayer."

"Not even one teeny, tiny, little squirt?"

"No."

Clara groaned and shoved it away. "I hate cleaning…"

"I fear the day where you teach that bad habit to a child." Morgan grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bathroom. "We'll borrow some supplies from the custodians."

"Can't we just let the room cleaners come by and handle it?"

"I'm worried seeing this will send them into an early coma."

"Ugh! You're so pushy!"

Morgan pinched between his eyes. "And you're nuts, so we're both unlucky."

Clara blinked, then laughed quietly. "Hehehe…you can be such an old man sometimes."

It got a little chuckle out of him. "Forgive me if I sound a bit didactic, but you should be taking better care of your potions."

"Potion making is all about luck and guessing!"

"I don't make potions and even I know that's not right."

"Got me this far in the game, didn't I?"

Morgan rolled his eyes. "Yes, when you actually get it right."

"Maybe I could use an assistant then." Clara nudged his arm. "Interested?"

"That sounds like the worst possible thing I could do."

"Hey, you joined this team. Don't set your standards so high." She threw her head back and laughed.

Morgan looked away and scratched his cheek. "Yeah…guess so."

Clara spun around and stood in front of him, hands folded behind her back. "Hey, no matter what, we have each other's backs. I have you guys to keep me on track and you have us to give you something you reject, you big grump." She closed her eyes joyously and tilted her head. "You know you like us, so don't pretend not to care."

Morgan stared at the Lilligant blankly, unnerved by her boundless spirit. There was a fire in her soul that never seems to burn out. Someone like her…always managed to bring a smile to his face, even if she was acting like a fool half the time.

He had a reason to care.

"…You're one annoying potion maker." He patted her back and opened the door. "Now, about those cleaning supplies…"

Clara pouted. "Oh darn, I thought you forgot." String suddenly wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her sides. "ACK! Morgan!"

Morgan dragged her out as she kicked and screamed. "The sooner we get started, the sooner it'll be done."

"I hate cleaning!"

"And that is why you need me, right?" Morgan closed his eyes and smirked. "You silly…silly Lilligant…" A touch of red was seen in his cheeks, but he shook it off and continued to drag her.

For the first time in his life, ever since meeting Team Ravenfield, he had a reason to care again.

"DIE!" Jynx slammed her fist into his face, then grabbed hold of him and shoved him into the ground. "Why aren't you fighting back?!"

Morgan didn't answer, with his expression perpetually hidden from view. She couldn't read him at all. Something in that crafty brain of his was ticking away, or perhaps he finally succumb to his fate. She preferred the latter, but knew this one wasn't to be trifled with.

"Bastard!" She swung Morgan over her shoulder and slammed him into the ground repeatedly, soaking his clothes in the fresh mud. She released him and flew straight into the air. "I'll dive bomb you so hard, you'll split in two!" Her hair blazed even more passionately. "The shadows will rise! The Shadow King's will shall surpass all! He is the one…who will send this world into oblivion!"

She readied herself, then canceled her flight. She freefell for a moment, then extended her fists downward and reengaged her flight, using all her momentum to fly right down and through the Hypno to bisect him. She formed a guillotine style blade of darkness between her hands, trailing a vapor of dark smoke from the edges.

"This ends here, Phantom Weaver! From the world's most dangerous assassin to an example of the new age of shadows! Say your prayers!"

"…Good freakin' grief, you don't shut up."

Jynx suddenly felt all her falling momentum halt instantly. The stopping force hit her insides pretty hard, nearly making her vomit. Her eyes shook in disbelief and horror, seeing the guillotine almost a meter from striking Morgan. Had she been granted a second longer, this would've been over. Why wasn't she moving? She didn't feel the stop coming from her ankle or anywhere else on her body. It was like everything just chose to stop at that moment.

Morgan rolled out from under the blade and stood up. "Geez…look at what you did to my clothes." She struggled to face him as he patted the mud off his pants. "These were my nice clothes, too. I swear, kids these days…"

'What…What happened? He doesn't even look remotely fazed by my attacks!' Her eyes widened. 'Wait…his wounds!' She flew past him enough times to know she slashed him up pretty good, even some broken bones for good measure, but none were present. They were all healed…instantly. 'SHIT! Shit, shit, shit! He was playing me for a fool this whole time! That bastard!' She tried to move her body and float right-side up, but still couldn't move her body. 'Why can't I move?!'

"Hey, brat." Her eyes widened fearfully. He struck a cold gaze from over his shoulder. "What was it you said you were going to do to me? Rip my flesh to shreds? Mutilate my insides? Grind my bones to dust?" His glare deepened. "The honor of killing the Phantom Weaver?"

"What the hell did you do to me?! Why can't I move?!" she screamed.

"What? You haven't noticed?" Morgan sighed. "All that raw speed and you're still too slow to pick up on some subtle tricks."

"Subtle…tricks?" Her eyes, with great effort, strained to look at her hand. She gasped at the aura of the purple threads contracted around her muscles, tightly suppressing her ability to move them. "W-W-W-What…?"

"You were so busy striking me repeatedly…that you didn't notice me planting a little surprise during some of your trips." He glared. "Shadow Stitching. I weaved them around my body like an invisible armor, made up of thinly coiled thread needles. Each time you struck me, more and more of them entered your body and did the rest of the work." He lifted his hand and revealed the multiple strands projecting from his fingers, connected to various parts of her body. "My Shadow Stitching locks down the body with those threads. I normally can choose where to implement them with jabs, but…like this, they act more like a parasite entering the body. Catch my drift?"

Jynx's eyes widened as her hands started moving on their own. "You…You can't be…serious…"

Morgan moved his fingers, controlling the string within his captured prey. "I'm not an amateur. I was just letting you have your fun, like good little children should…before they face reality."

The Jynx's hands wrapped around her own neck, pressing the thumbs down on her throat. "Y-Y-You…You…ACK…GAH!?"

"I could make you suffer for the hell you put me through, but I'd be lying if I said I had a tough time." He glanced at her, his gaze softened, but not forgiving. "Raw strength and power…the second you flaunted your talents at me, you lost the battle."

"GAAAAH! GAK…AHACCJAK!" she croaked, flailing her stiffened legs desperately as her face turned a deeper shade of purple.

"…Tell me about this partner of yours. The one sent to kill the circus folk." He moved his index and pinkie in separate directions, releasing the Jynx's self-inflicted chokehold. "Tell me…and I won't suffocate you."

Jynx was no longer expressing pride in her power. Now, she faced the man in great fear. His aura gave off a murderous intent that filled her cold, dark aura with an unending dread far greater than anything she ever felt. Not even the murderous aura of Count Aeternus compared to this. The count's aura took great passion in death and murder, like it was a hobby. The aura of a psychopath.

This man took no such pleasure in death…but his intentions were merciless. No feeling or remorse—no, wait…there was a feeling.

Hatred.

"Talk. Now." Morgan kept his senses on the faraway caravan as well. No attack was made yet, though he could feel the preparations for one coming soon. He could already sense the assassin making his move, possibly entering the caravan.

Jynx gritted her teeth, realizing death was approaching. The words forced their way out, as if his aura forced the horrors of death into her mind. "He…He uses a Guardian!" she shrieked. "An Awakened Guardian! It's when a Celestial Guardian breaks from its shell-like armor and takes on a new form! Different power and strengths!"

"And…"

"And…it's incredibly durable! Attacking it won't harm the user! It's like a dead monster! Infused with the power of darkness to be forcibly awakened from him!" She clasped her hands together. "That's all I know! I swear!"

An uncomfortable, lingering silence hung over them. Morgan closed his eyes and sighed. "…Thank you very much."

Jynx sighed in relief. "Oh good…now please, let go of me-AAAAHHHH!" She was flung straight into the air. Thread tightly wrapped her into a cocoon, completely ridding any chance of her nearly paralyzed body to move. "H-Hey! What are you doing?! You said you wouldn't kill me if I told you!"

"I think you misheard." Morgan opened his eyes. They weren't black and the size of pinpricks anymore. His pupils were larger, more defined, and the color of crimson. "I said I wouldn't suffocate you."

Her eyes widened just as lightning struck over her, highlighting the horror in her face. "You…You bastard!"

Morgan twirled his index finger, creating a thick wire from the fingertip. The spot on his arm pulsed wildly, with wicked intent pumping into the Hypno's mind. Lightning crackled overhead, loudly followed by the booming roar of thunder.

"Purgatory Strike." Morgan whipped the razor-sharp thread directly upward.

"You bastard! You absolute, MONSTROUS, HELL-BENT bast-!"

The wire cut her vertically down the middle just as lightning flashed over them, illuminating the scene in a stark white. Blood rained from the sky and drizzled onto the grass, washed away by the pouring rain. Morgan kept his eyes on the ground, blocking all sounds but the loud thud of a body.

The pulsing in his arm stopped. He closed and rubbed his eyes, enduring a minor migraine that lasted a few seconds. Once his eyes were open, they were back to their usual appearance.

He glared in the direction of the caravan, feeling the faint presence of darkness. It was a half-hour away by walking, but he was sure he could make it in time before anything went down.

He struck a thread into the store, retrieving his basket of supplies. Once the basket was firmly in hand, he sprinted off, faster than before, with the added assistance of his threads speeding him farther down the road.

Lightning and thunder flooded the air with blinding light and booming sound. There was a change in the air. An ominous dread hung over Morgan.

A feeling he wished to forget.

A few minutes earlier…

All was peaceful inside the caravan. Lights were still on and some were still up, while others have gone to bed. The rain pattered down on the trailers endlessly, but most were able to sleep through it. For now, everything was right with the world.

That was all about to change very shortly.

Unknown to the folks inside, there was someone waiting to make his move and make the caravan into a slaughterhouse. A Sableye wearing the standard Anguis entire, but now with skin as dark as the night sky. His gemstone eyes glimmered a bright red.

Caesar smirked and trudged through the mud, straight to the caravan. "It's showtime." A dark figure, mangled in appearance, appeared over him, with an eerie, bellowing groan.