Chapter 244: The Dying Sensation Part 1 (1/2)
A group of children were out playing in the hills just out of sight of their respected homes. Tired of being confined to the area, they wanted to venture out further in hopes of seeing the capital of Victoria in the distance. The four children were running and across the field, feeling the wind blowing between their ears. They were as free as can be. Or at least that's what they first thought. Making it to their destination, the children stopped seeing the city that never sleeps on full display. Watching the sunrise, all the children had the same smile of wonder plastered across their faces. This wouldn't last long as a dark shadow swept over the land. Standing at this serval dark shadows appeared as the stage of pain appeared in the plenty. Neither spoke as each child stepped back, terrified. Soon they began to run, trying to flee from the danger. One girl wasn't so lucky tripping over her poor shoelaces collapsing to the ground. Trying to scurry back to her feet, she was too slow as a copy went to take her.
Screaming out, a large object crashed down to the ground knocking them both back. ”Are you alright, Millie?”
”Mister, Marcus!”
Vanguard stood looking worse for wear with torn clothes and his arm wrapped into a bandage being held up. Another set of bandages were around his right eye showing a beaten down broken man. Holding the clone up, he slammed it to the ground destroying it entirely. ”You will harm these children no more phantom!”
Percy formed back together, cackling. ”Aren't you proud of me, Vanguard? I'm doing all of this for you. I'm sharing my gift of the pain you caused me. Don't you feel guilty?”
Vanguard clumps a chunk of rocks in his hand, throwing it at the copy. Destroyed, Vanguard wasn't aware of the damage he took alongside Percy. The last clone jumped at him and, with his only free handheld, him in the place, pinning him to the ground before boosting the weight in his legs as he slammed down, crushing Percy. The children let out a sigh of relief as the danger was gone. Vanguard glared at his leg, seeing it bleeding. Gritting his teeth, he whispered to himself. ”How much longer will you haunt me, Percy?”
****
”We need to get you help, Alton.” Alice pesters as the three walked over a large set of hills, with Iris still being carried by Alton. ”What's so important about that, man?”
Alton glanced at his wound, which he had frozen over for temporary care. ”Don't worry about me. Marcus is in danger. He will need our help.”
”Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Vanguard trying killing you and the rest of Team Rhapsody on serval occasions. If it was me, I'd let Percy put the man down.”
Alton took a breather wiping his head. ”Why are you still with us, Diego?”
Diego shrugged his shoulders. ”I've got nowhere else to go.”
”Whatever, usually I would agree with letting Marcus die, but we need everyone to defeat Mortem no matter what. Like it or not, but Marcus plays a key role in stopping them. Besides, you remember he saved our lives against Scarlett's father, right, Alice?”
Alice sighed, nodding. ”He did save us… I still don't like this. I definitely don't trust him.”
”I'd trust Vanguard more than Alton…” Diego whispered to himself. ”Are you sure he's here?”
”The locals told me that he was spotted in the dense hills of the capital. It's our only lead, after all.”
”That's all we've got to go off on? Wouldn't it be easier to just head back to your base of operation? I'm sure fancy pants Florence can find him in a heartbeat.”
”We don't have time for that. Trust me on this.” Alton whispered. ”If we lose Vanguard, my plan goes down the drain.”
”Your plan?” Diego questions.
”Well, that's a start.” Alice states pointing to a child running towards them. ”We can always ask the kid.”
”Ask the better question here. Why is he running?”
Not far behind the boy, the hills turned a dark black as shadowy figures flooded the area. Alton gritted his teeth. ”Pain… Take Iris Diego.”
”Umm, sure, but you seriously aren't going to rush in just like that?”
”Alice with me.”
The two rushed onwards to the boy's aid as Diego held Iris, sighing. ”You are… Damn it.”
Alice swooped in through her portal, snatching the boy before he was caught backing out to safety. Alton crashed down, freezing everything around him as all the clones of Percy were held in place. None of them resisted watching Alton idly giggling like school children. ”So much pain. So much pain. So much pain.”
Alton didn't give much more thought to cut down each clone without much issue. However, cut off one head, and two more will come as more clones flurried to life. Swiping his hand around, he let out a quick burst of ice, distancing himself from the others. As more tried pinning him down, Alton fell backwards as a portal rippled open, saving him. The swarm Alton opening above gripped his hands together, letting out a blizzard consuming all in the area. Slamming down, all the clones shattered, leaving an empty battlefield. Rubbing his hands together, keeping warm, Alton wandered over to Alice and the boy sighing. ”You alright, kid?”
The boy stared in awe. ”No way another one like big brother.”
”Huh? Big brother?” Alice questioned.
The boy stood up, nodding. ”Yes, big brother. He protects everyone from evil spirits. No matter the situation, he'll always help us.”