Chaotic Hero
Chapter 8
This has been a long time waiting for a lot of you guys. Sorry, but I was having a Hell of a time trying to get a way to work in the next arc and more ideas to build up. Though admittedly, this will start out a bit slow with giving Izuku some exposition. And then build something more for later. Also, I'm having to make up several creatures to fill in gaps left by the series and game itself. While skipping halfway through Tom's match. So on with the show.
(No POV)
Izuku hummed upon arriving and looking up at the screens in the Port Court. Watching a rather intense match happening. "Man oh man. Major T is running into some heavy opposition." Peyton said before munching on a hamburger. Sarah nodded and said, "yeah. Codemaster Tirasis's Murkoac has been a real problem."
"Wasn't that the tentacled creature he beat you with Peyton?" Kaz asked the slightly more experienced player. Who agreed and called it a beast on par with M'arrillians. "So what's happening now? Tom's battling Codemaster Tirasis?" Izuku asked as Tom in the Drome was casting a mugic with his Najarin.
"Song of Future Sight!" the genie called out before being coded. Sarah and Peyton realized they hadn't really brought Izuku up to speed on the Codemasters outside of their names and minor referencing. "Yeah, Tom's up against one of the leaders of Chaotic. We talked about them being the ones who banished Clay and Krystella before. But a major part of what they do is to act as like… well boss challenges for players."
"Sarah's right. They have the rarest and craziest kinds of scans in the game. And they're the best at strategizing in all kinds of ways! And our boy Tom has toppled three of them so far." Peyton explained after Sarah.
Kaz continued by explaining the rules in which a Codemaster or player could challenge one another. Noting that at least seven wins in a specific battle drome were needed for either possibility to happen. "And if you manage to beat a Codemaster, you get a special location scan from them. Letting you go to there and scan all kinds of things. Like that creature up on Tom's board."
Izuku looked up and saw an Antidaeon and a strange hefty cat like creature with two long fangs. "That creature is called Smildon. You can only find him in Prexxor Chasm. That was the first scan Tom won." Kaz said as Tom picked his next location. Or rather he used the other capability of Future Sight to set up his next location.
"Antidaeon attacks Skavoric at the Kuvian Caves!" Tom announces with a smirk. Turning into the duck man creature with a smirk. While his opponent a lizard like monster whose art showed it sticking to walls. About the same size as Murkoac, but this one seemed more at home in a hot or volcanic area. Given the fire burning from it's eyes and the limbs that seemed to drip burning sap or lava.
And that was what Tom was counting on. Once the battle began, steam seemed to erupt from the creature as it was forced to flail around. Only to be blasted by Tom and the ship he was piloting, The Nemesis. And thus, the Codemaster's creature was quickly reduced to code.
"I should have known you might try something trickier. I even remember seeing that location from your faux match against KiddChaor. But tell me: why did you go after Skavoric instead of one of my other creatures?" Tirasis asked with a smirk behind his helmet.
Tom returned it by saying, "because I think I know what you've been doing during the match. Murkoac has stayed right in the center of the board and been beating me down with all the elements and pretty high discipline attacks the whole time. And you've only moved the other creatures around him. But the biggest clue I had was when I beat a different one that was next to it. Suddenly, Murkoac stopped doing water attacks. That's because…. It's getting powered up by the others!"
"Correct on all counts MajorTom. Murkoac's ability lets it use the elements and a portion of the discipline scores from all the allied creatures on the board. So what do you intend to do next?" Tirasis asked with a narrowed gaze. Tom let out a breath before noting that he would take the battle in a new direction.
And to that end, he pulled Antidaeon back along with Smildon and his revived Vlar at the rear. Forcing Tirasis to move his creatures forward to engage Tom's. Attacking Antidaeon with an earth user Garapco and defeating him. But Tom was able to counter with his Smildon and the use of Geo Flourish and Ballad of the Belittled once his opponent's disciplines were reduced enough.
As Tom moved his Vlar forward, Tirasis was forced to move his second to last creature forward as well. Namely, the wind attacker Harature. A bird like creature that attacked Tom's Vlar from the sky with a jetpack that amplified air and fire attacks. "Well that's great! Just need to wait for the moment." Vlar said while hopping and jetting around the trees of the location.
His moment comes when the bird dives at him with a Hammer Dash attack. Vlar backflips just in time and swipes the jetpack off of his opponent. "Didn't know I could do that did you! Well here's something else you might not expect! Whirlwind Scythes!" Vlar shouts as several blades cut and strike the back of Harature.
Which not only causes damage but weakens the power of the creature as well. It tries to strike back with a Sirocco attack. Thanks to the stolen jetpack though, Vlar easily evades and unleashes a powered up Ash Torrent and then an Inferno Gust attacks to code the large bird.
"Clever move MajorTom. But now I wonder what your next move will be." Tirasis said with intrigue as he was down to his last creature. And it was Tom's attack. He spun the location randomizer and hoped the last location was the one he was hoping for. Smiling slightly a Prexxor Chasm popped up.
"Smildon attacks Murkoac!" Tom says while putting his hand up to the screen. Becoming the cat like ancient beast from the Chasm itself. "Let's get Chaotic MajorTom." Tirasis says with a bit of gurgling from his creature self. As the pair were transported to their possible final battle location.
Outside of the Drome, Izuku was humming and wondering how Tom figured out what the Codemaster was up to. "He's done this a few times with his other matches. Figuring out how Cromax kept coming back, piecing together a way to code all of Hotekk's revived creatures at once, and figuring out Chirrul's mugic and mugician draining strategy to the side and turn it against her." Kaz notes. Smiling while thinking about how his best friend helped him with his own Codemaster victory.
"It's part of why Tom's become kind of famous. No one else can say that they've battled or beaten as many Codemasters as he has. Though I wonder what he's betting on with Prexxor Chasm." Sarah said before looking back up at the match in progress.
Within, Smildon was blasting away with a few attacks as Murkoac fired back with a few of his own. 'It's not as strong as before. But it still hits hard. I didn't bring us here for no reason though.' Tom thinks after using a Shockblade attack on a few of the surrounding trees. Pinning his opponent's limbs.
And just in time for what Tom had been waiting on. The Blight of Prexxor Chasm. It roared as it made it's way to attack the pair of creatures. Murkoac's eyes were wide as the disease-like entity started bloorping and squirming it's way toward them. Trying to use attacks to free itself. 'No good! I'm not strong enough now!' Tirasis thought as he only cracked a few of the large trees off his limbs.
Smildon meanwhile smiled as he started climbing up the side of the Chasm and protecting himself with a few of the crystals that lined the cliffs. Stopping the Blight's attacks. But Tirasis wasn't as lucky and was quickly overwhelmed by the mass of green and purple. Ending the match with Tom's victory.
Not many were celebrating back in the Port Court though. Mostly because it wasn't the bombastic end most of them had been hoping for to close the match. Instead, it seemed more like…. "I mean it's not like he cheated. Yeah. But still, it wasn't quite the same as when he fought Crellen or Hotekk. It's a little like the Amzen match, but less impressive," a few players around the court said.
"Huh. Well that was certainly an interesting way to end the match. And very clever. I see why Codemaster Crellen has had his eyes on you. Not to worry, MajorTom. I'm not one for making it hard for the victors of my matches to get to their new locations. You have earned this." Tirasis said before pushing a series of buttons on his Codemaster scanner.
And Tom was given a scan of a special group of islands. One that Tirasis noted he'd find several large and impressive creatures among the archipelago location gifted. "May it serve you well in future matches. No matter what form those take." And with that Tirasis lowers down into his drome.
As he was finishing his descent, a person calls out to him from behind. "So? Do you still have doubts about his potential?" Crellen says with his hands behind his back. Tirasis sighs slightly before addressing his friend. "No. He has proven himself to me with this victory of his. If he had lost again, then I might have stayed opposed. But he was clever in how he took the battle his direction."
"Good to hear Terrance. Now it just comes down to if MajorTom feels he is ready I suppose." Crellen said as the pair adjourned to talk with the other Codemasters. While this was happening, Tom was being congratulated by his friends. As well as a few other watchers of his match. SlickNick, Shinwan, and a handful of others who knew Tom congratulated him before his main friends. "Nicely done bro! That's Codemaster number four under your belt!" Peyton said with a clap on Tom's shoulders.
Kaz said much the same and Izuku noted how creative it was how he used locations to defeat his opponents. "Let alone that crafty strategy of using Vlar to steal your opponent's gear and power up your attacks!" Tom chuckles before admitting it was only possible if Vlar didn't have gear. "That's why I wasn't upset when he first got coded," he said before giving Sarah a look.
Both looked like they wanted to do or say more. But they were in public and their two older friends reminded them about that matter. Sarah cleared her throat and said, "great job as ever Tom. Now you've got a cool new location right?"
"Uh right. Here it is." Tom said before showing the location in question. It was called the Kalkuren Archipelago. "So, this is where Codemaster Tirasis got all of his crazy big beasts and what not?" Peyton asked with some excitement. Mostly because he was never sure where the creatures that beat him were from. Kaz was excited too and wished he could go with his best friend. "Last time we did that, you ended up blabbing the secret of Dranakis Threshold to everyone."
Sarah's biting comment made Kaz wince while Izuku looked on in confusion. Tom noticed this and suggested that they all take their seats at their usual table. Before recounting the story of the Threshold and various troubles that came with it. After hearing the whole story (rather than parts of it) Izuku had to agree it was Kaz's fault.
"You didn't really think that through did you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow Kaz's direction. Who grumbled and tried to say it wasn't his fault. "Kaz, be serious. This is kind of the same problem back home. You're so obsessed with Chaotic and trying to prove it's real that everyone sees you as crazy. You almost had all of your Chaotic stuff taken because of it."
"What's wrong with trying to prove its real!?" Kaz shouted in frustration. This time Sarah and Peyton had to point out the problems with trying to prove Chaotic's existence. Namely, how he wasn't actually transported to the world of Chaotic, just a mental copy of himself. And anyone who could or might corroborate his story would be written off as being asked prior that they agree with him.
Izuku gives Kaz a look. But then it changes to slight understanding gaze before saying, "why do you want to prove it's real so badly? Because honestly….. it almost feels like you're wanting is what I've gone through in wishing to be a hero in my world."
Kaz and all of the older teens were wide eyed hearing Izuku's point. The red head sat back before pulling up his glasses to rub his eyes. "That's not inaccurate. I just… I wish everyone really understood just how cool not just the game but Chaotic itself really is. And, well I want to prove its real so everyone knows I'm not crazy."
Tom looked down upon hearing that before sighing and looking at Izuku again. He hummed and thought about a number of things. Something Izuku picked up on and asked him about. "It's uh…. You know what, Izuku. How about you and I go on a scan quest? Let's go to Rock River Canyon. I want to show you something special."
"Uh sure Tom. I guess I could be up for that. But don't you want to check out your new location first?" Izuku said with some confusion. Tom waved it off by saying he could do that later. Hurrying Izuku off to the Transport Center.
The rest of his friends though were confused. "What was that all about?" Peyton asked and Kaz just shrugged. Sarah though had something of an idea from all the times she and Tom had talked. 'Wonder why he asked Izuku? Maybe because he's not from our world?' she thought before saying she was going to head home.
With Izuku and Tom though, they quickly made their way through the location and explored a special region of the canyon. "So this is the Crystal Cave. Cool location." Izuku says before trying to get a scan. Tom stops him though and says, "save your location scan for somewhere else."
He then guides Izuku to Akarakk Cavern. And the strange low gravity field it generated. After Izuku had some fun moon leaping around the location, Tom told Izuku the story of the place and what it somewhat meant to him. "This was where I stopped Simon and his crew from destroying locations."
"So does that have something to do with why you've been a bit….. uneasy when talking about some Codemaster things? Like what are they looking to make you one or something?" Izuku asks while the location scan was running.
And the grunt and then seeing Tom looking down told him he was correct. He tries to backpedal and say he wouldn't say anything or that it wasn't a big deal. "No it is. And that's some of the problem. And why I wanted to talk to you Izuku." Tom said before taking a seat on the upper rocks of the cavern.
He patted the spot next to him before talking with Izuku more on the matter. How Crellen had initially come to him in his player guise to talk with him more on the matter. Saying, "Crellen or Curtis thought I would be perfect to take up the position because of all the different kinds of good I've done. Helping creatures in Perim, stopping Klay and other dangerous player's plans and scams, even protecting locations and similar even with no reward. But…."
"You're uneasy because of the responsibility and other things. Feeling like…. You aren't worthy of a position of leadership like the Codemasters. You'd maybe rather…. Stick to just being a good friend and helper in the day to day of Chaotic. Like you did for me and a number of other newbies. Right?"
Izuku's description and insight makes Tom chuckled before leaning back. "Izuku, be honest. As someone who enjoys Chaotic, someone who's been a hero with the very powers we only get in the game, and someone who knows me…. Maybe not well, but knows me as a mentor; do you really think I can do this?"
The green teen doesn't hesitate. He gives a quick 'yes' and noted that Tom might be able to do even more for Chaotic, the players, and maybe even Perim itself if he took up the position of Codemaster. "I just hope you'll still have time to show me more things. Codemaster Tom." Izuku teases while looking over the first few things he scanned while traveling with Tom and Kaz.
Tom gets a laugh at Izuku's joke before looking over at the scans from Izuku's first scan quest. "Thanks Izuku. Listen, how about we get you a special creature for your deck? I have someone special I want to see and in mind." Tom says before telling Izuku to set up for Kiru City.
The two meet up at the Overworld Arsenal where Izuku assumes he was going to scan Bodal or his assistant. "Nope. We're headed up there." Tom says before pointing to the castle at the center Kiru City. Izuku gulps as he follows his friend and mentor up the stairs to the castle.
And once there, they are greeted by Intress and Zalic. "Tom. Good to see you. This is the boy Aivenna met, yes? Is there some pressing matter afoot?" Intress says with some unease. Tom chuckles and says that luckily it wasn't like that today. "I was hoping to talk with Maxxor about something if he's in. Also…. Well let's just say Izuku here is a big fan of him too."
The beetle man and tiger woman share a look before shrugging and opening the doors to the castle. Izuku is awed by everything around him as they are moving through the palace. And his jaw fully drops when they enter Maxxor's study. Who greets the pair cordially.
"It's good to see you my young friend. And an even younger friend I hope?" the leader of the Overworld says with a smile directed Izuku's way. He gulps and then shakes Maxxor's hand and says he was a big fan. "Using your scan really helped me to save a number of people. Let alone the others in my world."
This surprises the creatures and they ask what he meant. Leading to Izuku giving a retelling of how he found out he could turn into creatures in his world. With both Intress and Maxxor being exceptionally proud of the boy for his actions in saving Eri and others. "Actually Maxxor, I was thinking he could use a new scan of you. Maybe with more of your help, he can save even more. Let alone helping to inspire me." Tom explained before asking to talk with his creature idol alone.
Maxxor nods and says, "it would be an honor to help a young hero like Izuku. And I think you'll be quite interested to find out the newest capabilities I have." Izuku smiles and gets his scanner out to capture the Overworld leader's code. His eyes bugging out when he saw that Maxxor had water as one of his elements alongside fire and earth.
Tom whistles and noted that he wouldn't mind that scan either. "But uh. I wanted to talk to you about something special Maxxor." Intress nods and escorts Izuku out to the palace mugic library for a rare new mugic to use.
"So what is it you wanted to talk about Tom?" Maxxor asked with some intrigue. Tom cleared his throat before telling Maxxor about his recent Codemaster match. Not only coming out victorious and gaining a new location to explore. "But I've also been offered a chance to become a Codemaster myself. To….. sort of lead my fellow Chaotic players."
The green humanoid was surprised but congratulated Tom on his potential leadership position. At least until he noticed Tom's face. "You're not sure if you are ready or worthy of such a position, yes?" Maxxor questioned with a light smile. Tom nodded and said that Izuku had given his side as someone who had been helped by Tom more than once. "But I also wanted the advice of someone who knows what it means to lead. And that's you."
Maxxor smiled slightly and closed his eyes. "I know all too well about those thoughts Tom. I thought and felt those same things myself back when I took over leadership of the tribe from my father. They never truly go away, but you must face each day like you might a battle. Ready for whatever comes and to make decisions. Good or bad. But know that I am proud of what you've done for Perim. And proud to call you a friend."
Tom's eyes get a little misty hearing that and thanks his creature friend. Shaking his hand before going to find Izuku again. Who was celebrating at having gotten a Fluid Fugue mugic to compliment his new water attacking Maxxor. The pair chuckle before thanking the Overworlders again and porting back to Chaotic.
Once there, Izuku saved his new scans while Tom called Peyton and Kaz. Finally telling them about what he'd been offered. To say they were floored would be an understatement. But Tom managed to put enough of a lid on them to mention something important. "Listen, no one knows who the Codemasters really are. So, and this is really for you Kaz, keep this quiet. Especially if I can put together something while I'm in the council."
"That's fair. And I'll…. Try to think of it like the secret of Iparuu's home. But are you 100% on Peyton too? Remember that whole "Codemaster Hotekk" affair?" Kaz said with a raised eyebrow. Peyton grunted and agreed with Kaz that he messed up there. "But, I've got the sense to not let this out. It'll be locked up tight! Oh wait, does uh Sarah know already?"
Tom cleared his throat and admitted she did. Before awkwardly admitting they were together. "Yeah, we know. Not the best kept secret bro." Kaz and Peyton responded. Causing Tom to face fault and let out a strained laugh. As Izuku ran up, they talked about a few more things involving Chaotic. Least of which was a little plan Tom had for the future.
Once that was done, and the others had ported back home, Tom made his way to the Beta Drome. He let out a tense breath before going into one of the battle sections. He skimmed through his scanner to find a special card that Codemaster Crellen had sent him. Once at the docking station, Tom placed his scanner and clicked on the card in question.
Electricity seemed to flow all around and light shone beneath him. As he was lowered into the drome and hidden meeting place of the Codemasters. "So you have come MajorTom." Codemaster Crellen said as he and the other Codemasters were lit up before the teen. Tom gulped as he looked upon the seven leaders of Chaotic. Hotekk and Amzen, even with their masks on looked annoyed by his presence. Imthor, Tirasis, and Crellen seemed to approve. Chirrul and Orran seemed more neutral but a bit inclined toward approval.
"I take it you've made your decision Tom Majors?" Imthor says behind his orange mask. Tom nods and says, "I have. If the offer is still open, I will become the next Codemaster of Chaotic." The Codemasters share looks and speak among themselves for a moment. But the decision is made. With five to two voting to induct Tom as a new Codemaster.
Crellen comes down and addresses the teen he'd taken an interest in. "I knew you had something special when I met you in Perim that day. Congratulations again, Tom. Or rather, Codemaster Crellen," the man says before handing Tom a card like the one he used to show who he was in the Beta Drome long ago. Tom gingerly reaching out and taking it. And the uniform of the Codemaster in question flowed over him.
So, this ended up being more Tom centric than Izuku. But when I get the next idea for Izuku's next rescue mission, I'll have that up. This time though, was about Izuku helping to get Tom to see what he could be as a Codemaster. Let alone the young man having some other ideas about what he could set up in Chaotic.