Chapter CXXXVIII: Note – They’re That Old for a Reason ~Multehx

Multehx swung at Nictem repeatedly with the Rhyjulian, but each hit was deflected by his golden staff. And, before Multehx could turn at a noise behind him, a blunt pole of bandaged wood crashed into the side of his head. He doubled over, shaking his head and trying to regain his senses. But all it did was allow him a clearer view of the massive orb of fire Nictem hit him in the chest with at point blank range. He bellowed and went flying in an arc, crashing to the ground moments later. He skidded to a stop at Havering’s ghostly boots.

The Time Bender quirked a brow, folding his arms.

“Are you quite finished playing ‘punching bag’, or still want another five at it?”

Multehx glared and shot back, “HEY, least I am TRYIN’ here!! Gimme some slack, you sad excuse for a spook!”

Havering looked highly annoyed at that comment but rather walked over to Vole and Nictem, arms still folded. Vole’s fist sailed through the air in a graceful punch…directly through Havering’s face. Vole blinked. Pseudo rolled his eyes. Pseudo wasn’t one for physical attacks, nor was he solid, yet he smashed his helmeted head into Vole’s face. There was a loud, echoing CRACK and Vole’s hands flew to the area right between his eyes. Had he a nose, it surely would have been crushed.

Next, Havering assumed a fighting stance. Nictem did likewise, and the two went at it on an unspoken signal. Nictem raised his staff and swung it down, firing a tremendous multicolored blast at Pseudo. The spectral demon almost fell over backwards, but gained his composure just as quickly. He clenched both fists, then threw one arm out and up, and the other bent to cross his chest. He brought the arm he threw up down so that it bent perpendicular to the other and a red glow surrounded both before a blazing wave of fire swept the land and crashed over Nictem. The scribe of the council fell to the ground, then got to his feet. He had numerous burn marks, and was breathing heavily to regain his composure, while little flames still danced about his hair and clothing. He stood up straight, then took to the air, throwing both hands out. The night sky, once warm and red with the glow of the seas of magma suddenly went pitch black and a chilled breeze that reached the bones blew. Pseudo looked uncomfortably around, then up and saw the still clear form of Nictem against the blackness.

Nictem drew in his hands, waved them over each other once in opposite directions, clenched a fist, and threw it to the heavens.

“Soul Corrosion!,” he yelled.

Pseudo’s eyes shot open.

“But…you…you…CAN’T KNOW THAT!! It was banned by the demon monarch and the Magi Council in the fifth century!” he screamed. “They made me erase it from my memory even!!”

Nictem didn’t seem to care. He slowly opened his palm, an intense black glow emanating from it. The glow intensified and several projections flew off, reshaping themselves into ghastly ghoulish faces that rocketed for Havering. The demon threw up his hands and winced, preparing for the blast. And surely, it came. As the faces struck the ground, there was a tremendous blast of such magnitude, every sound was droned out. The dome of the explosion pulsed with black, dark blue, and red light. After a few moments, it faded. In its wake, the earth was scorched, and there was a large crater. In the center lay Sir Pseudo Havering. He groaned as he strained to sit up. Even his ghostly clothes showed they were badly burnt.

Malachai, who had by this time been awake moments before one of his men suffered their fate, to the present, shook his head in disbelief.

“All those Creation’s Weapon rings…they’ve given him amazing power.”

He looked over at Drakon, who was attending to Mel and Nero. Fanah bandaged Orson’s wounds while keeping an eye on the other injured council members. Malachai looked back at the crater and clenched his teeth. He knew he had to make a call, and he had to make it now. There was no way they could rely on Nictem to pull through for them. True, the boy had shown remarkable strength, but surely he had to be drained from that display by now. So, the answer was obvious.

The aged demon waved a hand.

“Nictem,” he shouted, “Come! Council, it’s time we made a strategic retreat!”

The council nodded and all save Nictem and Malachai teleported themselves and the injured along with them away. Malachai shot a glare across the field at C.R.

“Round one goes to you. But that’s only one down, and two to go.”

Nictem looked down at the prone form of Pseudo and scoffed, sneering, “Guess you aren’t up to the hype I suppose.”

He chuckled to himself before landing and vanishing in a yellow bouquet of flames. Malachai raised his hands and the ground began to shake. C.R. cursed and ran towards the Spectrum as fast as he could.

“C’MON! Get in here NOW! We gotta get the heck offa the planet!!”

Jaded ran and leapt in, landing in a crouch. Scilas and Kenzo leapt in as well. Omega was already in the engine room by reason of his being the closest. The others leapt onboard as well and the train began to surge ahead. At the last moment, Pseudo appeared in a burst of purple flames, and Multehx leapt in the door, landing in a kneeling position.

As the Spectrum began to gain height, Kenzo asked it. He got C.R.’s attention, then inquired, “What was the rush back there?”

C.R. didn’t reply but only nodded towards the window on the closed door. Kenzo looked out to see the planet. Malachai’s enraged bellow could slightly be heard, then there was a flash of brilliant black from where they had came. Two intense black comets seemed to be circling the planet, each going in opposite directions. Then, after a moment, they both met on the same side and collided. There was a supernova shaped black explosion and in its wake, nothing remained of the planet but floating particles of scorched earth.

Kenzo blinked and looked back to C.R..

“Pretty intense old coot.”

C.R. simply nodded.

“Ok, where to now?” Omega called back.

C.R. crossed his arms and looked out the window. “Well, we might just want to get our hands on the rest of the Creation’s Weapons…else they will and seeing this…”

He went silent. Kenzo only nodded and looked back out the window.

“One down,” he muttered, “Eleven to go...”