Future Defenders - Book 2 - Call of the Multiverse

Chapter 21 - Mismatch

Emerging from the portal of Origin Prime, it had grown substantially since Riley's last venture there. Buildings towered above the clouds, all their own theme from their original worlds. The streets now vibrant with colours of all kinds in the place of the blankness it once had. Looking down one way of the road, he could see no end to it. But the other way, he instantly knew what was at the end of it was where Evil was.

He began to approach the fortress where no doubt the final battle would take place. It had to end here, one way or another. He climbed the hill to the top, only a large obsidian gate standing between him and the fight of his life. Standing at either side of the end of gates, were two guards made of goo like the things the others had described when they were last in Origin Prime, and Evil's form. Upon noticing him approach, their arms turned into sharp spears and aimed at Riley, ready to pierce through his heart.

"Stop," Commanded Enigma, walking through the gate as if it weren't there. "I have orders that Riley is not to be killed when spotted. Evil wants to slay him himself."

At the command, the two guards lowered their arms and stood aside to allow Riley through. Enigma gestured for him to follow, before walking back through the closed gate again. Riley followed on behind, teleporting inside the fortress seeing as his enemies weren't kind enough to open the gate for him to enter. He stood in the large courtyard that almost stretched on for what would've seemed miles, had he not been able to see the ends. From the other end, a dark figure emerged from the arched doorway, his smile still sitting there.

"Well, you've come to die then," Evil spoke, approaching him. "Finally given up knowing that your so called friends are either dead or in my clutches.  One soul stands now chance against an army of mine."

"I thought you knew about how much murdering I did. Thought it'll haunt me as a regret forever, I killed everyone on my own island countless times with little to no effort. And I don't even intend on using the powers that made me a monster to beat you."

"If you won't, then it's your funeral!"

Emerging from the ground behind, one of Evil's tentacles thrashed through the ground, aimed directly at his good version's heart. It only took a matter of seconds for Riley to realise his enemies attempt at an ambush attack and teleported out of the way to atop the walls of the fortress.

"Nice try, but you're now too predictable." He mocked, knowing that it would only enrage his counterpart.

""Getting belief early I see," Evil responded, hiding his anger. "Let me shatter it for you!"

Evil launched himself at Riley, claws sharp to slash his throat. Riley simply stared at him, a smirk on his face, and slid underneath, leaving Evil to slam into ground. Kicking himself off the walls as he fell from them, he launched himself to the centre of the courtyard.

"So much for shattering my belief," Riley mocked again, further agitating his enemy, before thinking to himself, "Idiot, I don't need to defeat you, I just need to distract you. If only you knew."

Deep in the basement of the fortress, a portal ripped through the walls that sat opposite to entrance of the dungeon, with the sea dog Rusty popping through and looking around.

"Coast is clear," they whispered, before emerging from the portal, shortly followed behind by Adam and Jester.

The sounds of Evil's onslaught of attacks and anger echoed through the hallway, with the occasional mocking of Riley's.

"He certainly is distracting him." Adam whispered. "I'm guessing we're not too far from where they're fighting."

"We're almost directly under the courtyard, and that down there is the dungeons." Rusty pointed down the dark corridor. "We gotta above before we're spotted."