by Nathan Howe
"Are the Withering as bad as they are made out to none Ardents?" James asked.
Gravitation Woman poked her head into the front. "The Withering now or the Withering of old?"
"There's a difference?"
Valiant Rush nodded. "Back when it founded, what, a hundred years ago or so. They were dangerous. Ardents dedicated to their leader that died."
Gravitation Woman continued. "Now, fewer and fewer Ardents join the group. They mostly commit petty crimes. They are responsible for a lot of the drugs that flow through the park and surrounding districts. But they do little in the way of damage with Ardent powers."
"Why doesn't the Hero Coalition clean them out then?"
"Take more than riding Djinn Park of them to rebuild it. They have talked about it the last few years. Trying to find ways. But many of the members of the Hero Coalition still refused to encroach the district. We aren't appreciated by most of the residents."
"Really. I thought the civilians loved Ardents, the Hero Coalition. With the attention they receive. It's almost always positive. The internet is filled with videos and pictures."
"While many people worship Ardents. Desire to be one. It's not universal. Those in Djinn Park despise us because they blame us. To them, it's our fault it went to hell."
James understood it a little. But it was generations ago. He hoped the residents got over it by now.
"We're downplaying the Withering a little. It won’t be easy to take them out. Not many have Ardent powers that are formidable and dangerous. They are trying to raise the dead." Valiant Rush drove the SUV across the bridge that separated downtown from the warehouse district next to Djinn Park.
A few minutes later they exited the SUV at the edge of the actual park. The Sun shone bright, making the park inviting. A trick, the park consumed people as much during the day as night, more so.
The crisp air kissed James' skin, refreshing. "Where to?" James asked.
Gravitation Woman leaned to Valiant Rush. "Just going to walk the park for the time being. Not part of my normal patrol. Never worked the north part of Cynosure."
It didn't take long for a group of Withering thugs to surround them. Why do that? Even though they outnumbered them four to one, they stood no chance to win. James was sure of it. He'd seen both Valiant Rush and Gravitation Woman in action, two of the best at what they do. James was no slouch himself now.
"You are unwelcome here," the lead thug said. He formed a ball of electricity in his hand, an Ardent. None of the others showed any signs of being one.
Valiant smiled. "We aren't here for you. Just go."
"We can't. A reputation to uphold."
"Gravitation Woman?" Valiant Rush nodded, with a smile.
A large bubble formed around them. Gravitation Woman concentrated, a force exploded from her sending the Withering thugs flying through the air.
"Go," Valiant Rush said. The thugs stood and scattered to the wind.
Chapter Seventeen
Petrice
As Chilling and Pixie flew next to Petrice, they continued to explore for warehouses and hot spots for the Netherworld in Cynosure. All night, Petrice's eyes drooped. Her shoulders sagged like she carried bricks.
What would be nice was a lead on David or Scott. It was too much that Scott was evil now, and if David was alive, he could be, too. Petrice kept picturing the two together causing mayhem. A deadly duo if they both went bad. She cringed and shivered at the thought of it.
"We must have checked out at least two dozen warehouses," Pixie said.
"You're right. This is going nowhere," Chilling said. "Let's rest. I'll try to come up with a better approach."
They adjusted course and went to the closest Hero Coalition building. There was one on the north side of Cynosure (the city had three buildings as gathering points for the Hero Coalition). They landed on the roof, roughly the same as the building in midtown. Petrice and Pixie went down to the floor designed for members to relax and rest. It held a few rooms with beds. Petrice walked over to one and rested her head. Pixie joined her in the room, taking the chair in the corner. Chilling stayed on the roof to figure out a new plan at least that is what he told them.
Once Petrice's head hit the pillow, she passed out.
Twenty minutes later she woke with a start as Chilling rushed into the room. Pixie vaulted into the air. "Who? What? Why?"
She noticed Chilling. "Oh."
He nodded at them. Petrice rubbed her eyes. She needed a lot more time than this. So did Pixie. She wasn't her usual chipper self.
"I felt someone using the Stone of Azuria. He's definitely in the warehouse district, on the west side of Djinn Park."
"How does that help exactly?" Pixie asked. She settled back in the chair she used to sleep in. "We've been scouring Djinn Park since last night."
"True." Chilling frowned and folded his arms. "I can't pinpoint a location. But he's out there. He reached deep into the Netherworld. Bending the minds of others. Warping them."
That didn't sound good. Petrice wished she understood what was going on. The ultimate plan would be nice. The lack of any progress frustrated her. She reached out with her mind. Trying to touch Scott or David's minds. Nothing. Without the aid, she received from Chilling and Pixie she couldn't reach them. Even with that boost, it wasn't much.
"Do we continue to search randomly?" Petrice asked.
"Not random. I want to get closer, tap in and see if I can follow it. The closer I am the better chance I have."
"Okay let's go." Petrice yawned. This sounded extremely unlikely to help. She imagined that Chilling would have already done it. He must be desperate.
"Are you sure?" Pixie asked.
"Yes. We have to uncover where David and Scott are. Save them if we can."
Chapter Eighteen
Spector
A minion of Spector's knocked on the door. Spector stood from his desk in the outer chamber of his quarters.
"What?" Spector walked to the door and opened it.
The small figure stared blankly at the ground. "Uh. Sir. We have reports of Valiant Rush is in Djinn Park with Broken and one other."
"And what are they doing?"
"Sir. We heard they threatened Withering. But other than that nothing."
Spector laughed. They hunted him. For the warehouse, they used here. He expected it, planned for it. They wouldn't discover his lair.
"Summon One Rush and have him meet me in my throne room."
The minion nodded and slowly back away from Spector.
The thought of the Hero Coalition members threatening the Withering made Spector smile. He hated the Withering as much as the Hero Coalition. The Faith of Withering pretended to be something they weren't. They tapped into the Netherworld without realizing it. Thought it was hell and wanted to resurrect the soul of their former leader. Fools. It wasn't possible. If so Spector would have done it eons ago.
The throne sat in the back of the room. Spector sat in the chair moments before One Rush arrived. His imposing figure filled any room he entered. If Spector didn't have complete dominance from the Stone of Azuria he'd be worried when One Rush decided to make his move against him. Since the transitioning, his beastly nature took over. He'd kill anyone or anything. It was in his eyes. They shone with hate, with death. Spector planned on using that to his advantage. He leaned forward, "I learned that your cousin is near again."
One Rush stopped mid-stride. Frowned. "I must make him pay for what he did to me. You have to let me go."
Spector paused he was debating about it. Making One Rush squirm. "Why?"
"I'll kill whoever tries to defeat me. My family. My former friends. They abandoned me. Let this happen. They'll pay."
"Good. Go. Kill."
One Rush spun on his heels and left the building. Spector stood to follow. He trusted him, but he wanted to watch this clash for himself. Worth the risk of being seen. To see One Rush trash those heroes. Ardents who thought they were better than others. They weren't.
Soon Spector would have the full power of the Stone of Azuria under his control. He'd convert Cynosure into his own Diablo Island.
The Netherworld allowed Spector to fly, not all users could, just the truly powerful ones. One Rush gained the ability to leap great distances. He made it to the park in no time.
Chapter Nineteen
James
Walking in circles through the park bored James to tears, only slightly better than sitting in his cage. He hoped this wasn't what Petrice did all night with Chilling. It didn't seem to be the best approach to James. With Ardents, James thought they'd have one who'd be able to locate the people. Or one smart enough to figure out a better plan.
After their third circuit of the park, James wanted to quit. "This is a waste of time," he said.
Gravitation Woman nodded. "I want more than stupid drug deals. I'm sick of calling Cynosure Police. They sent a single officer over. They care less about Djinn Park than the Hero Coalition."
Valiant Rush grunted. "That's not true."
James shrugged. It appeared to be the case to him. But he wasn't going to voice that to the rest. He had trouble understanding how it had been left behind. Thrown to the Withering. "I vote we leave. Or at least check in with the others."
After they finished the last few hundred feet of their current trek around the park, they stopped in front of the SUV they rode over in. It suddenly crushed under the impact of a person who landed on it. James stepped back. The mystery villain who ambushed Petrice and James stood in front of them. His eyes had transformed, they emitted a darkness from them, but otherwise still the same. "Ahh!" the villain screamed. He stepped off the SUV. "Time to die."
Valiant Rush stood next James, growing in size, Activating his Ardent powers. Gravitation Woman activated her shield around them. The villain laughed as he stepped through. "Damn," Gravitation Woman said. "Magical object involved with this one."
"Or just that much stronger than you," Valiant Rush said.
"No." Gravitation Woman sent out a burst of gravity at the villain. He shrugged that off. "Definitely magic. He walked through it way too easily, and that would repel even you."
"Fine, magic." Valiant Rush stepped up to the guy. "Doesn't mean we can't beat him."
James' eyes narrowed, and he rubbed his chin. "What's so wrong with magic?"
Gravitation Woman sent another burst of gravity at him that bounced off again. "No idea, but for some reason those who use magic or have magical objects can resist natural Ardent powers. Not completely. If we continue to bombard him we'll take him down. Just take ten times longer."
Great. James removed his sword. Good thing his powers weren't the same.
The person smiled through his skull mask. "You stand zero chance of beating me."
Valiant Rush assailed with speed that James didn't think possible and landed a punch on him that sent him flying. He laughed. Was that all he did? James rushed to him, sword ready. He swung with all his might, but before it connected a bolt of lightning sent him careening at Gravitation Woman knocking them both to the ground. James jumped to his feet, quickly rotating to assist Gravitation Woman up. "You okay?" he asked.
She dusted herself off while staring past James. "I'm fine."
An epic battle of fisticuffs occurred in front of them. Valiant Rush fought the mystery villain toe to toe. James wanted to be able to do that. Go up against the biggest and strongest. Some day he would. Colby preached time and patience. It would be great if it happened now. James sprinted behind the skirmish to sneak up on the person and support Valiant Rush. James took his sword to attack and swung with the blade to the side as not slice this man. Before it connected the villain shoot another bolt of lightning this one into Valiant Rush. It staggered Valiant Rush but didn't knock him back as it did to James. The villain caught James' sword. "That the best you got." The villain taunted them. Playing with them.
Valiant Rush pounced and pulled the skull mask off. James staggered backward, his jaw dropped. No! It couldn't be. "David?"
David shook his head. "David no more. I am One Rush!"
James dropped to his knees. He's alive. Yet he didn't feel relieved. David had mutated. Something corrupted him. Made him do this. First Scott and now David. James' family was collapsing around him.
Petrice spoke to him. We are one our way.
David is alive.
I noticed.
James stood. "You can't beat us all, David."
"One Rush," he said. "And the three of you won't be a problem."
James smiled. In the distance, Mortal, Chilling, and Pixie flew to them. The six of them would easily handle him. Well, not easily but they'd take him into custody and hopefully restore him to the person that James cared about. David followed James' gaze.
"Damn," David cursed. "I'll kill you. My master will see to it."
"Who's your master?" Valiant Rush asked.
"A powerful man," David said. "Soon he'll tell me his plan. And I'll make sure that he succeeds."
A dozen zombies emerged from the ground, bringing their awful scent with them. David smiled. James tried to detect the source. In the sky not far behind David, a short man flew with shoulder length brown hair and a black and purple outfit.
Lightning shot from David. Connecting Gravitation Woman and knocking her out. She lay motionless on the ground. Great protecting her was key now. The zombies swarmed to her. The stench they produced staggered James, he'd never get used to it. Along with their appearance, bones protruding everywhere and skin dangling every which way.
Mortal, Chilling, and Pixie landed in a semi-circle around Gravitation Woman. Tentacles formed around the zombies, Chilling's work. It was an interesting Netherworld trick. It allowed Valiant Rush and James the chance to work through the zombies that are if David wasn't still here. He beat James from behind. "Ahh!" James shrieked as his skin melted from the heat the lightning David struck him with. A loud thud on the ground sent James to the ground.
Chapter Twenty
Petrice
Great. Scott. He wasn't alone. A short man flew above. He smiled as watched the scene below.
"Hold!" the Netherworld user said as he lowered himself. David and Scott joined him one on each side of him.
"Who are you?" Chilling asked.
Petrice tried to scan his mind. "Aaaah!"
"Tsk, tsk," the man said waving a finger. "Don't go venturing into my mind Mortal. Or any of the others here. You'll hurt yourself."
The man held out his chest, making himself bigger, still tiny compared to the mammoth men on either side of him. "As for who I am. Call me Spector. I am the strongest Netherworld user there ever was."
"You've gone mad," Chilling said. "Release it."
Spector smirked. "Mad? Me? I don't think so. I've embraced the Netherworld unlike you who fears it."
"For good reason. It's an evil and dangerous plane with creatures you don't understand."
A deep, loud howl burst from Spector. "You think I don't realizes the danger. You're a fool Chilling."
James somehow fully recovered from the ambush and inched forward. Tentacles spawned around him. "Stay still the adults are talking," Spector said. "You may think you stand a chance, but I have the real muscle with me."
Petrice couldn't argue with him. Valiant Rush was strong, but no match for Scott; if only Invincible were here. And her mind tricks were useless too. With Gravitation Woman out they were at a real disadvantage
Invincible we are under attack in Djinn park. That was all she managed. It wasn't easy talking over such a distance to people not closely related. She needed to correct that. She hoped it worked and he'd show up and support them.
"Okay," James said through gritted teeth. "Talk."
"You can't use the Stone of Azuria Spector," Chilling pleaded. "The amount of damage you'd do to yourself, to those around you."
Spector shrugged. "Please. I've used the stone and I will again."
Petrice didn't enjoy the sound of that. Chilling said he sensed
him using it. But didn't know what he did. Petrice hoped it wasn't anything too crazy. From what she saw so far of the Netherworld, nothing good came from it. They must locate the stone and reacquire it. Not let him operate it anymore.
Chilling stared at Spector. Eyeing him with intense hate. Petrice didn't think it was possible for a hero to hate another so much. It scared her. Chilling eyes darted to David, then Scott. He frowned. "You used it on them didn't you?"
"I have."
"How could you," Petrice shrieked. "What did they do to you?"
"Me? Personally. Nothing. I required the strongest at my side. So I acquired it. You were going be next. Your family was going to be my steppingstone. Letting me take control of the city."
"Why me?"
"You're part of a powerful family. You'd wreak havoc on the city under my command. A nice little collection. Two brutes at my side. You'd add an interesting dynamic. Make us more powerful than Ashes."
"I'd die before I helped you."
Spector shrugged. "David said the same thing. But Scott here. He volunteered."
Scott sneered.
"No." Petrice couldn't wouldn't believe it. The Scott she grew up with protected others. "You're lying."
"Afraid not," Spector said.
"No." Scott bared his teeth and stared intensely at Petrice. "I hated being part of the Hero Coalition. All their rules." He spat as he continued to talk. "And our family is so stifling. I wanted power. To be free to use my strength at full force. And Spector allowed that. He granted me even more. He made me stronger." Veins throbbed in his neck.