by Nathan Howe
“I hope they survive.” Petrice glanced at Chilling. Petrice wanted this to be over. To help her family, her friends. To make sure the city recovered. “Please find him. So we can save the city.”
Chilling grunted and fell backward. “He's coming here. With even more.”
“Not good.” It scared Petrice that Spector was able to do this. The Stone was powerful, and he was taking advantage of that.
“No. Almost all the Ardents have left the building. Only a few remain and most of those are trainees or the few that ran out to assist Broken.”
In the distance, Spector flew towards them with a tail of Netherworld creatures with him. Petrice stood motionless with her face ashen. Beads of sweat puddled on her brow. She was complexly terrified.
“Kraftig run below. Man, the defenses in case he defeats us,” Chilling said. Petrice flinched.
“I can support you,” Kraftig said.
“You are.” Chilling hovered, never taking his eyes off the approaching Spector. “We require someone inside if we fail. You are the last line of defenses.”
“I understand.”
Spector
Below Spector chaos consumed the city as he designed it. Everything went according to the plan. It took longer than expected but that didn't matter. Soon he'd waltz into the Hero Coalition, defeat the remaining heroes and turn their defenses against them. Those that survived out in downtown against the hordes of Netherworld creatures he summoned would fall under their own weapons.
The stone controlled the Netherworld creatures, but Spector barely felt the strain of them. With so many, commanding them required more power and the stone provided it. Spector sent orders to multiple groups at a time and having them bombard different spots across the city. His undertaking was in full effect.
Spector waited for the heroes to depart the headquarters in mass. The buildings in the city were now at the minimum capacity. Taking the main one in downtown would allow him to overtake the other two buildings as well.
On the roof stood Chilling and next to him Mortal. It troubled him that she was still alive. Didn't make sense, but no matter, she'd be dead soon with millions of others in the city. Those who didn't bend to his will wouldn't last the night.
“Go kill.” Spector directed several of the creatures and watched as they veered off and swarmed people fleeing below them. Screams reached up to him as the Grave Knights surrounded people in fancy clothes running for their lives.
“Don't hurt us.”
Spector laughed. That is exactly what they would do. Hurt. Kill. The Grave Knights, with several zombies, charged the people and began a battle. The Knights sliced people's limbs off with their razor-sharp swords while the zombies bit and clawed the people as they tried to fill their hunger for flesh.
It was great. Spector smiled as he continued to fly toward the headquarters.
Sadly, it was time to stop goofing around, Spector increased his speed and raced to the building. Below him, as he flew, the destruction spread. More and more of his creatures rose from the ground terrifying those that were stupid enough not to seek shelter.
The Stone of Azuria hung from Spector's neck, as more Netherworld creatures arrived on this plane the stronger Spector got. Glorious power.
Spector reached the main Hero Coalition building in no time. Only Mortal and Chilling remained on the roof. The rest down below were dealing with the horde he sent to overwhelm the collation from below with Super and One Rush.
Disappointing that they hadn't finished that up. Spector hoped they'd make quick work of that group. With the amount of Netherworld creatures, they should have easily handled the few Ardents there.
“Hello Chilling, Mortal,” Spector said. He landed on the opposite side of the roof allowing as many of the Grave Knights and Liches to land between them.
“Real tough Spector,” Chilling said. “You can't handle us alone, so you summon all these.”
“Doesn't matter,” Spector said. He held onto the stone. “This grants me the power to defeat you.”
Chilling glared at the stone with desire in his eyes. He both hated and craved it. Spector hadn't expected that reaction.
“You want this don't you?”
Chilling shrugged. He nodded at Mortal. Using her mental powers to plan. It wasn't lost on him. They could talk together with no fear of him knowing a word. It was why he wanted her.
Spector sneered. “Whatever you're planning it doesn't matter. You already lost.”
“I don't think so,” Mortal said so low Spector barely heard her. Good. At least he hurt her. “That stone doesn't make you invincible.”
“No, it doesn't. But I'm the strongest Ardent in the world now. All will bow before me.”
“Uh. I'm not bowing before you or anyone else,” Mortal said. She stood firm. “I'm sure no one will bow before you.”
Spector eyed her. Hate filled him. Her arrogance. She wasn't any better than him. Just because she grew up with Ardents didn't make her better than him. Didn't make her stronger than him.
“You will bow!” Spector sent two grave knights at her. Grave Knights moved faster than the normal person yet somehow Mortal avoided them, letting them rush past her to tumble off the roof to their death. And that's when he realized Chilling had taken off like the coward he is.
“Close but no cigar Spector,” Mortal taunted him. How could she do that? She wasn't that powerful to begin with, a psychic that needed others to protect her.
“You act tough now. But I defeated you once. I'll do it again. I'll lay you up permanently this time. Make no mistake.”
“You're all talk.”
Now he was pissed. How could she say that? Spector gestured around. “All talk,” he sneered. “I did this. The biggest attack ever on Cynosure.”
She shrugged. “Not you. The stone. You're nothing.”
“I am not nothing! I did this. Me.” Spector held out his chest, smashing his fist against it. “I captured the Stone of Azuria.”
She smiled. “Actually you didn't. Super did.”
A blast of ice slammed into him from behind. Chilling. Damn, that was cold. Then a burst sent him flying backward. Mortal and her telekinesis. He was off the roof plummeting to the ground. It didn't matter. In a second he'd have the magic of the Netherworld prop him up, letting him fly.
James
The tide shifted when Invincible landed on the ground next to James. A mini earthquake came from the force of his landing, and it didn't even faze him. He stood with fire in his eyes. Deadly, even without the giant stone mallet he carried. Broken’s arms were covered in goosebumps from his entrance. It was enough to put fear into most anyone.
He grunted. Even Super took a step back with a hint of anger in his eyes. Invincible's eyes darted across the scene in front of him. Broken followed his gaze, nothing but zombies and ghouls in front of them. Sure, there were still a few other Netherworld creatures spread through the group. Broken had just beat them back and killing them. The zombies were easy but not with One Rush and Super assault on them too.
Super regained his composure. “You don't stand a chance.” He stared with fury in his eyes. “We outnumber you by a thousand to one.”
Invincible smirked. “A fair fight.” He swung his mallet in a large loop as he skipped into the center of a group of creatures. A cloud of mist flowed in his wake from the creatures being sent back to the Netherworld.
More stepped up to take their place. One Rush laughed as he lightninged in next to Invincible. “You are just delaying the inevitable.”
“I'm okay with that,” Invincible said with a smirk. He was confident and amused. Broken sprinted at Super who had proven to be Broken's superior in every way. This was about to change. He'd show to the world that he was a hero.
Broken used a similar arc to Invincible's to assail Super and the creatures that formed a wall next to him. The blade sliced through the zombies while Super easily sidestepped it. “Close cousin. But not close enough.”
Super
reached back with one arm and swung forward with so much speed that Broken barely dodged in time. He felt the breeze from Super's arm as it passed in front of him. Damn.
Super stood dumbfounded. Broken used that to his advantage and swung with full force. Connecting with Super’s side, sending him hurtling back into the group and taking out zombies along the way.
“You can't. No one can dodge me.” Super stood on his feet. A sneer formed on his red face. He spat as he spoke. “How did you touch me? That's never happened before.” Super was confused and furious.
“Lucky. I guess.” Broken wasn’t sure if he would be able to stay up with Super, but for now, he was happy and proud.
“Humph.”
Broken risked a glance at One Rush and Invincible, a mistake. Super landed a massive punch in Broken's midsection knocking the wind right out of him and forcing him back into the building. He dropped to his knees.
Then it rained arrows from the sky, it was a shocking and impressive sight. So many fell it was hard to see who or what the source of them was. It didn't matter that much to Broken. They killed numerous zombies.
Once the air cleared, two things came into focus for Broken. Pixie had arrived from the roof and sent all those arrows. It seemed impossible for one person to fire that many that fast.
Super lay on the ground with arrows enclosing his body. Not even, he dodged them all. Blood exited from the wounds scattered on his body.
Broken eyed Pixie as she landed next to him. “Will he be okay?”
“Not sure.”
More zombies arrived in front of them giving Broken little respite. Invincible cleared a path to them. “You handle One Rush?” Pixie asked.
He nodded. “Your arrows gave me the advantage. Unfortunately, I had to leave him on the ground unattended. But he shouldn't be waking anytime soon.”
“Good.” Pixie unleashed a volley of arrows at the zombies, she was running low.
“You think we stand a chance?” Broken asked.
“That depends on Chilling.” Invincible swung his mallet disintegrating a half dozen ghouls in the process.
Great. The odds of beating a person who summoned this many creatures wasn't good. The sky darkened above them. Broken gasped. His skin tingled. He closed his eyes, then opened them. Still there. He wanted to hide but knew he couldn't. It was nothing but Netherworld creatures.
“We're screwed,” Broken said. “Have faith.” Pixie shot her final arrow. “Chilling and Mortal can take him.”
Broken swung his blade. “I hope you're right.”
The three of them continued the fight. Pixie used her bow as a weapon, with her size she avoided the zombies and other creatures with ease.
Broken let the nanobots control his movements and heal him. The other two showed no signs of letting up so he wouldn't either.
After the skirmish with a never-ending horde of Netherworld creatures, a shift in the battle occurred. Broken wasn't sure what was happening. But they didn't seem as fierce or endless. They moved slower. That is when he saw Spector falling to the ground.
With Chilling firing more ice at him, encasing him, Spector shot Netherworld matter at the ice, doing his best to terminate the dive.
Mortal flew behind Chilling using her powers against him as well. Broken didn't want to think about the pain she was going through if she attacked his mind. He hoped they were trying to make him plunge to his death. It worried him that Spector would get away. It had been a long and tiresome fight.
Broken watched as the fall continued, as if in slow-motion. He wasn’t sure what to do. Spector got closer and closer. The two above him had scared faces as they attacked. It was a sight to see, and it kept Broken frozen in place with fear.
The ground thundered around them. As Spector slammed into the ground, the zombie's dissipated into nothingness. His body went limp, and if he weren't dead, he’d be injured beyond belief. He’d fallen from the tallest building in the world, but he was also a strong and powerful Ardent.
Invincible leaped onto the motionless body. Spector grunted. Invincible bent down to rip the Stone of Azuria from Spector. Broken eye’s widened in shock. Spector lived. It amazed Broken.
“No!” Spector fired a blast at Invincible, pushing him back. Broken dashed up next to Spector and ripped the necklace that contained the stone off his scrawny neck.
Spector screamed in agony. Then passed out. Broken scanned the sky for Chilling to give him the stone.
“Here.” Broken held the stone up to him.
Chilling flew away hissing. “No. Do not tempt me.”
Pixie flew up next to him. “I'll take it back inside. We have a new vault to hold it. One that not even Super can breach.”
Speaking of Super, Broken scanned the ground around him. Both Super and One Rush had vanished.
“Where are Super and One Rush?” Mortal asked. Arriving next to Broken. She appeared relieved and happy.
Broken shrugged. “Must have fled during the fight.”
“Not good.” Mortal appeared to reach out with her mind and made a quizzical face. “Nothing.”
“We'll deal with them later,” Invincible said. “Let's make sure this one doesn't slink away. Get the proper restraints.”
Petrice
The train rattled as they transported Spector to Remnant Heights which was the most secure prison in the country. Years ago the Hero Coalition with the government worked together to construct the prison. The Hero Coalition created a place that neutralized all Ardents. That made it the only prison that was capable of holding Spector.
Chilling rode in the caboose with Petrice. James rode in the front of the train with Invincible. Dozens of Ardents filled the train between them. Spector was in the middle of the train. He had nowhere to go. Yet Chilling didn't seem happy.
“You're acting like we didn't win,” Petrice said. Chilling stared out the window at the changing landscape. They went from the urban area, that is Cynosure into the center of the country. Soon the landscape gave way to barrenness, Remnant Heights, the prison, was in the middle of nowhere.
Chilling turned to her. “While we caught Spector, he caused a lot of damage to our home. It will be years before we completely recover.”
Petrice flew over the city several times since Spector's undertaking. She was sure thousands had been killed. And the buildings had taken millions if not billions in damages. It angered her to see the toll it took on the city, but she had been happy he was stopped.
“But he can't do it again.”
“Can't he? How many times over the years has the Hero Coalition imprisoned someone and they escape?”
“I've never heard of anyone escaping.”
Chilling leaned away to stare outside again. “You'd be wrong. Too many times.”
“It won't happen this time. The coalition is making sure of it.”
“I hope so Mortal.” Chilling seemed lonely and lost to Petrice, and older. “But I'm not sure we'll be able to beat him again if he slips out and acquires the stone. Or if he does something worse.”
Petrice tried to come up with something worse than him with the stone and couldn't find anything worse than that. “He'll never figure out where the stone is. It's been hidden, and only Invincible knows.”
What could be worse than the Stone of Azuria? The power the stone gave people with access to the Netherworld was unmatched, so Petrice thought.
“That means nothing in a world with people Ardents similar to you Mortal.”
True. Even with how strong Invincible was, a strong mentalist could slip into his mind and steal the information. Nothing was ever truly hidden. But it had been that way for a long time now. It hadn't been that big of an issue.
“It will be okay Chilling.”
“Mortal I'm old enough to not believe that. Just because we have Spector doesn't mean a new threat won't arise. Ever since the event, it's been that way. Part of me wishes God never gave us these powers. Ardents have done as much harm as good.”
“Didn't we need these powers to survive?”
Chilling shrugged. “That's what we've been told. I'm unsure if it's true. It all might be a big lie. Repeated to make us feel better about having these powers.”
Spector
The moon shone through the small window providing the only light. Spector's cell specially designed to block him from accessing the Netherworld. Knowing the power of the Netherworld was out there but not with his reach disgusted Spector.
The cell worked, Spector had tried and tried. But nothing. It was infuriating. He was no longer whole.
At least he was alone. Being forced to share a cell with a common Ardent would have been too much. But they don't generally capture Netherworld users alive. Two of Spector's minions from Djinn Park were here, the rest that private dick killed. They'd have cells close to his. This wing of the prison not only denied access to the Netherworld, but it also blocked psychics, too. It sent tingles down Spector’s spine. The types of people near him both scared him and excited him. Many of the most powerful Ardents.
The key to Spector's freedom would be to figure out how they blocked them. Then he'd be free. Spector knew he would be. It was his destiny to rule. That much hadn’t changed just because he had this minor setback.
Standing to stare out the window, Spector pined for it. It's only been one night, but it felt like an eternity. How he failed, he wasn't sure. It shouldn't have happened. He planned for everything.
Mortal shouldn't have even been alive at the end. How she lived still confused him. Chilling had to have something to do with that. He must be more powerful than people realize. He must have the ability to cleanse the darkness out. That is the only answer. No tech in the world would have saved her. Not even what the Hero Coalition had.
According to the Book of Samuel, only the first user of the Netherworld would be able to do that. If that was true. No. It wasn't. Couldn't be. If it was, that meant Chilling could be one of the first Ardents. One of the immortals that Spector thought to be a legend. No. Spector let that thought go. It must be the advancement of technology. Yes. That has to be it.