Chapter 40: The Garden Is Your Salvation (2/2)

”I discovered the garden by accident. But I am grateful for it. The garden spoke to me. Offered me the salvation I looked for. It knew exactly what I wanted. So, it granted me the power to do so.” He spoke, holding up a small bottle of purple liquid. ”The seed of the garden. It can grant any person unlimited potential. Gives the powerless power and those with almighty strength a stepping stone to something greater.”

”At the cost of their mind.”

”A minor inconvenience compared to the power it grants. Yet we are missing something…”

”Guess you didn't expect it not to work on me, huh doc?” Alton teased.

Rodger shook his head, walking away. ”While a surprise, yes. Whether somehow your body rejected the garden's fruit or the garden rejected you. We are going to find out.” As Rodger moved in closer readying the liquid Alton mustered up all he could spitting at Rodger. The small dose of liquid smacked the bottle from his hand smashing it. ”Why you little shit!”

Vanguard held his hand out, shaking his head. ”Don't like someone like him bothers you. As you can see Alton, we haven't gone out of our way to stop your powers. You can try all you like to use them to escape. But your powers are no match compared to mine.”

”Oh, please. Why would I try to escape? I'm at the final boss, there's no turning back now. Besides I've got you all where I want you.”

”So what? Your special team can come and rescue you? Sorry to burst your bubble but no one is coming. They don't even know where you are.”

Alton sighed nodding. ”Yeah, probably right… is what you want me to say. You might want to check your phone.”

”What?” He spoke glancing down at his phone seeing hundreds of notifications from his stream, forums and personal social media accounts. ”What have you done?”

”Who me? I haven't done anything. I can't move. But you know me, I do like a good gamble. Do you think I was just going to confront you without a plan? Get real.”

Vanguard gripped his phone, seeing endless comments from the same account. Vanguardian each one with a different number at the end. He knew this was Percy's doing. ”What have you done?”

”I just recorded our lovely confrontation for the world to see. Sent the footage via a drone to my team who took in their hands to spread the word. Spread the message.”

Vanguard glared at the message reading it out loud. ”Vanguard, the clinger of fame and fortune. Your sinful ways of disposing of any kind of competition are barbaric and villainous. You hold onto your dying fame like a disease. The countless victims under your belt throughout your crusade of greed and wrath end today. We will expose your ways to the world and take you down ourselves. The people of Rhinefield will learn the truth as Team Rhapsody will save the day… what a joke.”

”Ha, it seems Zin and the others really outdid themselves this time.”

”I got them banned! How did they manage to cause such a stir?!”

”You don't get it do you Vanguard? We aren't just any streamers. We're God damn superhero wannabes. And just like superheroes we just don't know when to quit.”

Vanguard threw his phone away barking. ”This won't change anything! You're a fool, Alton, if you think you can win. Without their leader Team Rhapsody is nothing. They will fail all the same, and by tomorrow people will forget this even happened. Your streaming days are numbered. Mine? They will go on forever.”

”That I agree with you on, if I was the leader. A leader is meant to bring their people together. Hatch up the plans. A leader never gives up. Never gives in. A true leader helps their allies no matter what. I know just the girl who fits that bill. You're in for it now Vanguard! Just you wait till my leader gets here. She's a real handful.”

Vanguard charged at Alton only for the wall to fall apart as light blasted into the shrine. Vanguard turned around, covering his face gritting his teeth. ”Damn it…”

Zinnia stomped her foot on the ground, holding her hand out, pointing to Vanguard. ”Vanguard your rule has come to an end!”

”We are here to save our friend!” Emil shouted.

”And… and put your evil natures to an end!” Percy yelled.

Zinnia struck a heroic pose grinning from eye to eye. ”For we are Team Rhapsody, the greatest superheroes ever!”