Descent into the Abyss

Chapter 31

"Marcus..." Kou whispered in the back of his mind, "I can sense the power that flows through him. Be very careful."

A nod was all that Marcus could afford before a tingling sensation began creeping across his arms and neck. He dove to the left, his vacancy filling with a blinding flash of blueish light. Echoes of thunder followed by childish laughter and taunting filled Marcus's ears as he rose to his feet.

"I'll give you that one," Kyle called out across the barren parking lot. "Everyone else either dies or runs after that first strike."

Gripping the hilt of the black sword tight, Marcus bit back a retort, waiting for the next lightning strike.

"Calm your breathing, Young Marcus. He's still immature and will give an opening for a counter attack in due time. Just be patient."

Marcus nodded once more, taking a small step forward, the blade now to his side.

"I have to kill him..." He whispered to himself, his resolve solidifying.

"Try not to be too slow for this one," Kyle yelled, his hands towards the clouds above. "Wouldn't want you to die right away!"

Small clattering drew Marcus's eyes down to the loose asphalt bouncing around at his feet. A glance up to the smirking face of Kyle, fear seeping into his mind as the clouds parted and light filled the parking lot.

"MAR-" Kou began, his trainee already turning and diving away from the lightning strike from the heavens.

Asphalt and dirt exploded in a violent cloud of destruction, pieces of scorched earth raining down on Marcus's body. Climbing back to his feet, his back teeth began grinding against one another, his frustration growing by the second.

"I can't stay on the defensive, Kou. One hit and I'm dead."

"Did that one get a little too close? Fry some brain cells? Make you start mumbling to yourself?" Kyle inquired, laughing as he stepped closer, manifesting an orb between his hands.

"I have to attack, Kou... Or else I'm going to die here."

"Just be patient, Young Marcus. The tide is about to shift," Kou replied cryptically.

"Hey! If you're done talking with yourself over there," Kyle called through the haze of dirt. "How about we play some baseball? Gotta warn you though, I got a wicked fastball."

Marcus raised the blade, aiming towards the juvenile murderer, "Let's see if I can handle it."

Killer intent flashed in his eyes as he held the orb in a single hand, Kyle readying his right to launch the electric sphere. His arm reared back, and then forward, launching the deadly ball at Marcus with blinding speed.

Dust and smoke irritated Marcus's eyes, but a blink could cost him his life. His eyelashes fluttered for a millisecond, the hair on his body raising as the orb flashed by, narrowly missing him.

"That was too close..." Marcus breathed with a worried look, his grip tightening even more.

"What happened? Too fast for ya?" Kyle asked with a snicker, his right hand creating another orb.

"Figured I'd give you a free strike," Marcus lied, smirking back.

Anger flashed in Kyle's eyes, a second orb forming in his upright left hand to match his right.

"Then how 'bout we start playing by house rules?!" Kyle asked, launching the right then left orb.

The spheres spun with wild intensity, colliding with one another to form a larger, melon size, oblong shape. The newfound orb danced in the air, streaks of blue light racing behind as the electricity darted towards him. Taking a deep breath, Marcus could feel the energy inside him responding to the power Kyle exuded. Bringing the sword to his left side, he gripped it with both hands, and swung to meet the pseudo baseball.