House of Cards

Undying Avatar

*CRASH!* *BAM!*

“What in the?!” Chloe exclaimed after hearing something crashed on the ground. ‘I turned my head towards the direction where the sound seemed to have originated and saw a cloud of dust towards that area. ‘Oi- oi, don’t tell me they fought? Already?’ I stood up as soon as I realized that something bad is happening. Van grabbed my shoulders and whispered “That’s the direction where they went.” I nodded my head in response. ‘Just what is that guy is thinking? Rain had not been a person who blatantly shows and bully others with his abilities as a matter of fact he felt really distant like he is not with us with every sessions for the entire year while Kadmus on the other hand is quite the opposite and based from my experience- the quiet ones are the ones everyone should look out for.’ I told myself as I grit my teeth in annoyance.

“Why is there any need for us to fight here when we could just talk it over?” I asked as he crushes a branch with his hand and did not even bother responding to what I just said but instead, he just smiled at me with full of anticipation like he was waiting for something as confirmation though I don’t really know what he is aiming for going as far as bringing that innocent tree down but one thing is certain, this man- Kadmus Ferlin will not listen to any word I am saying.

Kadmus dashed around with excellent footwork for someone who secludes himself from the world in the name of his research. ‘This guy- is he really just a researcher? Those movements and footwork are not from someone who is supposed to be a researcher. Was he training himself even while working?’ I thought as try to evade his touch that can cause an instant death. ‘Maybe I should move as fast as well.’

*FWOOSH!*

Kadmus missed me when he swing his hands towards my direction and was surprised when I reappeared a few meters away from him. “That’s some insane movement, no wonder I can’t land a single touch!’ he exclaim in a very weird tone like someone who had already foreseen something like this happening. “I know how your ability works so who in their right mind would let you touch them? Are you crazy?” he finally opened his mouth so I retorted back. But instead of talking back, he just flashed a smile like he had been doing from the very beginning. ‘Not even going to bother saying a word again, just what is this guy thinking of achieving from a fight with me?’ Those thoughts came rushing to my head as I dodge his fast swinging hands. After dodging almost a hundred attacks from a guy who is supposed to be a researcher I decided to do a counter attack. ‘He knows that my special ability is to wield lightning- and after seeing my face, he is definitely thinking that I have something more to show. Maybe the purpose of this fight is to find more about me- this crazy bastard.’

*CRACKLE!* *CRACKLE!* *CRACKLE!* *CRACKLE!*

A dark-blue lightning faintly appeared on my hands, since he is standing on the ground I might as well try if I can electrify him with my lightning. I glanced at his face and saw a reaction similar from before when he saw me moving fast, I guess he is surprised again- well, if that is your plan from the very beginning then might as well oblige and help you get what you want. I let out a surge of electricity and directed it towards him but nothing happened, he is still standing there with a huge smile in his face. That’s when I realized what happened. ‘This bastard- he came prepared.’ I grit my teeth in disappointment. He lifted his slacks slightly and the reason why my electrical attack failed. “That’s something that electricians would use in rainy days when fixing open wire electric cables- no wonder my electrical attack was futile.” I let out a disappointed tone. “You came prepared- you scheming fox.” I added while he flashed a huge grin on his face. “Sorry to disappoint you my friend- I wouldn’t want to get electrified early before I could even achieve my goal.”

‘If this guy came prepared for the ground- he should be prepared on the other parts of his body as well. Dang it- dealing with a scheming bastard is a pain in the ass- regardless of that, I could not harm him much since Chloe would get angry later-agh! What a pain in the ass situation I am in.’ I thought as I scan his body for other devices that extinguishes electrical properties. “You must be wary if I carried some other things as well right?” he asked as he slowly approached me. “Why wouldn’t I be? You wouldn’t settle this over a conversation then the only solution is to knock you unconscious.“ I retorted with a slightly annoyed tone.

After the failing of my attack, he took the initiative and attacked me once again. ‘This guy- he is exploiting the fact that I can’t hurt him as much as I could since I am someone acquainted with his niece. ‘This is getting annoying.’ I thought to myself as I want to really hurt this guy but I can’t that it was almost vexing. Then all of the sudden he made a little too much movement with his arms that his abdomen is wide open, a time for counter attack- without a single hint of doubt, I go and went for the kill. ‘Hopefully this punch will knock him unconscious.’ The welling frustration within me with nowhere else to go was instead put at the back of my punch that I was unaware that I punched a little too strong that he was actually sent rolling on the ground a few meters away from where he was standing.

‘Oh sh*t!’ after coming back to my senses I ran towards him only to find that he was helping himself stand up. “Are you okay-“my concerned words came to a halt when I saw the same grin in his face before the fight started a few minutes ago. “Man! That was a lot heavier than what I have expected, I almost got knocked out cold.” He joked as he pat his clothes. ‘This guy- is really messing with me.’ I could no longer see him as a simple civilian so I decided to take it seriously which he immediately sensed. “Oh my, looks like you are doing playing around, why don’t I take this seriously as well.” He said as he extends his arms outwards. “Behold, this is something that I was a technique that I was able to create after a few years of trying to improve my ability. And you are the very first one to have a taste of it!” he proclaimed with a confident tone.

The instant that he extended his arms, the grass, the trees, the flies, the bees, and everything that was inside a certain distance from him died and aged and turned to dust immediately, leaving no signs of life. ‘So he can expand the influence of his special ability to the things around him. Well, he is a genius so it’s not a wonder if he can improve his ability to this extent.’ I acknowledge him as I walk towards him. “Are you sure that you should be walking towards me? You know full well how my abilities work- are you willing to take the risk of dying by my hands?” he asked confidently.

“You wanted to know the reason that’s why you decided to fight me right? Then why don’t you see for yourself?” I retorted with a cold tone as purple lightning envelope my arms and legs.

*CRACKLE!* *CRACKLE!* *CRACKLE!* *CRACKLE!*

‘Is he trying to try and reach me before my ability can age him? That’s impossible, I have tested some things before and there is no way a fast moving object can survive my ability. They tend to disintegrate faster than they can reach me- there is no way a human can survive- that is if he really is human.’ I thought as I determined that Rain’s course of action is going straight at me. “If you are that confident in your ability then why don’t you come to me!? Let’s see if you can surpass everything that I have tested and stand at the top!” I taunted but then suddenly he disappeared in my sight that immediately gave me goosebumps, the hair on my entire body stood up like skyscrapers after seeing something that was not possible even with the technology that we humans no have, supersonic speed.

*FWOOSH!*

‘The sound came in really late- he was able to move that fast?! He did not even leave a single after image! If it is not supersonic speed then is it teleportation?! There is no way a human can withstand that speed- it would tear their body to shreds in an instant!’ those came flowing in my head as I rack my brain and solve the situation the instant he disappeared. It was only a few milliseconds have passed that he disappeared and yet it feels like a few days have already passed, my brain and heart is throbbing like crazy I think my head is about to explode. I look around me to see where he will appear when all of the sudden a chilling voice entered my ears. “Your ability is deadly to all kinds of life-“ the voice came behind me but the person who spoke those words is standing in front of me entering the range of my ability.

*KSHHHHHK!* *KSHHHHHK!* *KSHHHHHHK!*

In that instant his arms that seemed to be moving slow aged almost immediately as well as almost the half of his body, leaving the other half young and youthful. ‘Just as I thought, even speed can’t break through my ability.’ I thought to myself. “Like I told you- there is no way a human can withstand the force of time.” I declared with a huge grin on my face but then something unspeakable happened. My eyes widen and my jaw almost touched the ground when his hands turned back to being youthful, even his face- it almost felt like he time traveled. “But what if there is something that has life that even your ability has no control over, what would you do?” his chilling tone strikes through my spine as my body tingle in uneasiness as my entire body break some sweat and my entirety trembled in the vast difference in our abilities. His presence is so suffocating that I feel like an ant standing in front of a human ready to stomp the life out of me. He grabbed my shirt that was made with a material that can withstand electricity and even lightning yet it burned like it was nothing. “Does this concludes your goal?” he asked with a terrifying tone with his gaze felt like it was piercing my soul. Seeing that there is no way that I can beat something as this thing, I concede defeat. “I surrender.”

‘What the f*ck did I just awaken? An undying avatar? What a monster.’ I whispered to myself after realizing how idiotic I have done.