Chapter CCXXVII: The Anti-Hero ~Multehx

C.R. hopped from the engine of the Spectrum onto the ground. Omega followed him, making the last of the crew, save Rainy who was fast asleep in one of the beds, to set foot on the planet. Omega drew his neo-sabre and activated it. C.R. looked around, tightening his grip on his cane. “Be on guard- the magik levels here are off the scale; that means the naturally high energy of the planet is mixing with the council’s. That means they’re close by.”

Everyone nodded, save Ratch who was peering over the horizon. C.R. turned to look at him. “What is it?” He looked over, serious expressioned. “Life-forms, approaching fast. They’re not registering normal body heat and they’re giving off exceptionally high energy emissions.” C.R. fixed his bowtie and readied himself in a fighting stance, his cane shouldered. “Get ready!”

Hell fell upon them as the first wave descended. Jadea, Vole, Nictem, and Nero struck. Nictem was first, lunging and bringing his staff down on C.R. The Rip Watcher skillfully raised his cane and blocked the shot, and the two beings warred for the upper hand. Jadea drew her katana and tried to hack Ian in two, but the boy nimbly leapt to the side and pumped a strong, red blast from the Quicksilver into her. She reeled and fell to the ground, stunned. Vole was sighting up Omega, but he suddenly seemed to realize something and ran into the Spectrum. So, instead, he tried for C.R. His bo struck next to Nictem’s staff, and the two slowly began to take the upper-hand in this clash of strength. Nero was last to join the fray. He grinned maliciously, drew out his dice, and tossed them at Jaded and Scilas, hard. Before the mercenary and assassin could block, the magik ivories struck them in the side of the head. They received a very unpleasant situation, not too unakin to a bad electric shock, and fell to their knees. Nero gloated for a moment before having Vole thrown into him as C.R. forced him off with a kick to the stomach.

The second wave, comprised of Fanah, Orson, Cydak, and Rebdok struck, but received a nasty surprise. As they lunged, the Spectrum roared to life; hovering off the ground and plowing forward. The group had to scatter to avoid being hit. Most were fast enough, but Rebdok’s scythe prevented him from fast enough movement. The engine struck him head on, and he was bowled to the side like a tin figure; on the ground and temporarily disposed of. Kenzo, who was blocking Orson’s magik blasts by this time, yelled to C.R. “Where’s Omega gone to??” C.R. blocked another of Nictem’s shots with his cane, growling slightly. “A call came in from Lich, he went to grab him fast.”

And fast was the operative word here. The Spectrum touched down above the ocean just outside Gold Island. Sparks began to fly from the hover-rails and the train jolted violently. Kuryami made his way in. “What in the blazes was THAT, you infernal being of wiring and bolts?!”, he bellowed angrily. Omega fought for control, getting out, “The hover-rails. This thing can’t fly close to water for long without them shorting.” Kuryami threw down his hands. “Then WHY are we flying so near it?!” Omega glanced over, having the controls in his grip under control. “Mana field around it’s quite high. Being in-tune with magik, and that being so close to it, it’d overload the train’s systems and we’d be nuked before we got there.” Kuryami rubbed his chin with a clawed hand. “That’s…not a bad reason, robot.”

The Spectrum began to rocket to rocket towards the Gold Tower. Omega thumbed a button on the control panel, sounding a rather loud horn. It drew numerous people out of their homes, and more importantly, Lich, Lumina, and Shero out of the tower. “Hrm, no time for explanations…better..”, Omega thought to himself. He shouted for the dark yoshi in the room to hold the wheel steady as he ran to the front of the passenger car. He ran to the open door, leapt out it, shot his hand out, grabbed the door-frame, and grabbed lich with his free hand. He swung them into the engine and laughed slightly to himself. “What was THAT all about??”, Lich asked. “Well, we have a bad mess and the others are kinda busy- we gotta get back to ‘em as soon as possible.” Lich nodded, then asked, “Where’s my brother?” Omega pointed. “In the back, still huddled up I think. Look, I’d try to help, but I don’t exactly trust our life in the hands of a being who’s never flown something as simple as a bi-axel dual overdriven by default solar-powered automobile, let alone a trans-dimensional, hover-train!” Lich blinked as the robot ran back to the controls, took them back, and piloted the train back to the planet.

As the Spectrum slowed, Omega noticed much had changed. Most noticeably, it seemed Fanah had Prismaya ensnared in her whip. Jaded was trying to be a match for Drakon, and Scilas was slashing furiously at Mel. Kenzo seemed to be fairing pretty nicely in a brute’s battle with NecronimusII. The big problem was Malachai. He seemed to be standing back, casting spells left and right that either boosted the abilities of the council, lowered those of the heroes, or just plain did some nasty damage to the good guys. Omega ran out, activating his Neo-Sabre and blocking Rebdok’s scythe. Kenzo dodged a right cross aimed for his helmet and chuckled to himself. “Glad ya could make it, greenie.” He called out. Omega snickered and blocked another scythe swing and tried to punch the Twilighter in the gut, missing. “Wouldn’t dream of it for the world! What’s the score?” Kenzo got his clock cleaned and dealt an equally damaging punch to the cattle-skull headed robot before answering. “Not too good. Vole’s down, but we’re steadily losing ground with that Malachai dude just making these guys even tougher! ‘Sides that, we really-12:00 o’clock!!”

Omega leapt and Kuryami sailed under him, crashing into the Spectrum. He looked over as he landed. Malachai had a pretty deep gash in one cheek, but apparently, the old guy was pretty tough.

Finally, Malachai threw down a gloved fist. “Enough fooling around!!”, he bellowed, throwing a firewall up around the heroes. The council teleported out of the flaming box surrounding the group, Fanah untangling her whip before joining them. C.R. punched the side and grabbed his fist in pain. Ratch ran over, putting a hand on his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”, he asked. C.R. gritted his teeth and forced his hand to flex open and closed. “Malachai is packing some serious intensity in those walls..hey, something doesn’t feel right.”, he noted, looking up and glancing around. “Isn’t everyone in here??”

He looked to his far right and his heart fell. He was afraid they might try it, and apparently, Malachai had sensed something and done it. Ian was standing in the clear, a distance from the cube, Quicksilver in his hand. Sweat trickled down the side of his face. He apparently realized the situation he was in. Malachai chuckled to himself. “Well well, seems we have a stray.” Nictem looked over and grinned maliciously. “Yes, seems so, dear leader. Any suggestions as to what to do?” Malachai looked over to Ian and sneered cruelly. “I sense an unusual magik emanating from you, boy!” Prismaya looked at C.R., confused. “Magik emanating?” C.R. didn’t reply, but only watched. Malachai continued. “Let’s see what yer made of, boy! Nictem, roast that child.”

Ian gulped and moved a step back. Nictem formed a red sphere in his hand and grinned evilly. “With pleasure.”, he coldly remarked before hurling the fireball at the boy. Time seemed to slow. Everyone braced themselves at what would certainly be the deathblow to their companion. Nictem snickered. Malachai simply grinned. NecronimusII thought to himself. Everything else was silence, until C.R. shouted and broke it.
“TONY, for God’s sakes, end it!!”
Ian nodded and looked ahead as the blast apparently struck him. There was a cloud of dust and everyone trembled at the realization one of their own was gone. All save C.R., who had a slightly hopeful smile on his face. And Ratch, who had his arms folded over his chest.

As the smoke cleared, a massive crater could be seen in the ground. And directly behind it, Ian stood, one arm akimbo, spinning the Quicksilver in the other. He had a determined grin on his face. Nictem was shocked. “But…HOW?!” Ian cocked his head. “What the HECK were ya tryin’ to do? Scorch me outta the Multiverse before we rid it of punks like YOU?” Out of nowhere, to his left, Pseudo appeared and folded his arms across his chest. Malachai and the other members were shocked. “LORD…LORD HAVERING!” they shouted, falling to a knee and bowing their heads. Nictem only raised his eyebrows, and NecronimusII nodded at Pseudo. Pseudo glared, clenching a fist. “Necronimus, what are you doing helping these degenerates?” NecronimusII shrugged. “The strong are the ones alive at the end, boss. I’m still here, so maybe I’m stronger than you.” Pseudo swung his fist. “Rrrgh, IMPUTANT ROBOT SCUM!!” he bellowed, and would have shouted many foul words, but Nictem interrupted. “Say, Malachai..”, he began, “Weren’t you saying the other day that Havering had strength almost to match the combined power of the Creation’s Weapons?” Malachai looked over. He was too taken off by the question to note the lack of respect and calling Pseudo directly by his last name. “Yes..I did. It’s truth.” Nictem smirked slightly. “So, powerful as most combined, but not all?” Malachai nodded. “Yes, the master never reached that point yet, what are you getting at boy?” Nictem’s smirk deepened. “Well, what if a being were as powerful as all the Weapons combined?” “Eh? How’s it possible??” “Well, it’s fact that if you destroy a Creation’s Weapon, you absorb it’s power.” Malachai quirked a brow. “I did not know that..”

Nictem nodded and continued. “Not a common fact, but I have a slight proposal.” “What’s that?” Nictem sneered. “Suppose…we got ALL the Weapons, and through some division of the power, we ALL became that powerful?” “….that… is an interesting point.” “Yes, I thought so, and what if we capture Havering here,” he jerked his head at Pseudo, “and divide his power between us as well?” Malachai looked up. “It’s blasphemous talk, son. But…it has merit to it.” Malachai rose to his feet and so did the other council members. Malachai drew his steel sword. “Sir Havering, if you would stand aside, then come with us once we destroyed the boy?”

Pseudo growled and shook his fist, glaring at Nictem. “You treaturous DOG! You caused this!! I swear I’ll destroy you all and revive with it!!” he shouted. Nictem chuckled. “Sounds like a declaration of war to me, Sir Malachai.” Malachai nodded and took a step forward. Pseudo assumed a battle stance. “I shall trounce you all for this insurrection!” Ian looked at him and took a fighting stance beside him. “Not without me, you OWE me that!” Havering slowly nodded and turned back to them as they began to charge. He began to conjure up a magik spell, speaking as he did. “Really, boy, that form will prove much to weak for this; why not assume something more appropriate?”

Ian grinned. “Thought you’d never ask.” With that he threw out his hands and a black glow surrounded him, soon blotting out his image entirely. When it faded, a new figure stood in it’s place. This one was 5’6”, had a pair of shiney metal boots(that had suddenly vanished from the Spectrum and appeared on his feet), green skin, no nose, a red scar over his right eye, a flowing green cloak, green, claw-like hands, darker green, neatly combed hair, pointy ears, and pointed teeth. He clenched a fist infront of him and drew a large sword from his back. It was black, had some runic sigils engraved on it, looked to be a cross between a broadsword and a scimitar, and had an opaque red, than an opaque blue etching. Psuedo looked over. “Hmm, polished the sword, have we?” The figure that was once Ian grinned. “Of course. Think it suits the Rhyjulian well.”

Malachai’s eyes widened at this. “Whyr-Da**** all! It’s Multehx707!!” NecronimusII snorted in rage. “I KNEW it was a weird scent! It was HIM!!” Nictem blinked. “Multehx? The Multehx?? The great adventurer, and meddlesome do-gooder? But I thought he looked…different.” Malachai looked over, scowling. “He’s a Twilighter too! This is his TRUE form; he’s not holding the punches in the least it would seem!” Nictem nodded then grinned. Always wondered what it’d be like to fight the Great Multehx..”

Multehx pointed his sword at the council. “Havering, let’s mess em up!” Pseudo nodded, and the two began running across the field. Malachai looked to the council. “Ok, we’re fighting two VERY tough opponents. The Rip Watcher couldn’t stand up to them working together even. Be on guard and let’s crush them!!” There was a cheer, and the council charged too, weapons brandished. The fun was just beginning.