Travelers

Chapter 35 - The Coming of the End

They came to the front doors of Renegades HQ, but before they had a chance to enter, the doors were thrown open with a gale force that knocked all of them over except for David, who simply floated back about a meter. David raised his hand and it glowed, ready to fire a beam of energy at whomever exited the building. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light and before them stood a strange man with long brown hair and a mustache and goatee. He carried a sword and on his face he bore a grimace that looked like it had become permanent. This was Obliteration, from what Jacob could tell. He didn't know every detail about Obliteration's powers, or even his real name, but he did remember one thing. He had made it his personal quest to annihilate epics. He believed them to be aberrations of nature, and his method of destroying epics was to destroy every potential epic, meaning every living human being.

Behind him, another figure glided down to meet them, and it was one all of them recognized. David gritted his teeth, for this was High Ventus. Rose managed a confused look, as she barely recognized him, but she was certain she knew him from somewhere. Richard recognized his friend's brother, but Jacob, Cat, and Mal all knew the figure as their first companion. Before them stood Vince, confidence and cruelty written all over his face. Before them, stood not their friend, but their greatest enemy. At the moment, he was clearly Lord Xander.

Behind him followed one more figure, obviously the goal of the attack. Pyromancer raised his hand and shot a jet of flame at the group. Jacob was certain they would be destroyed instantly, but he heard a voice of another friend shout something from behind them. The fire blasted across an invisible wall that curved in front of them. Jacob turned to see a familiar face that he had not expected. There stood Cedric, his wand raised, maintaining the shield. Jacob had thought maybe it was another Epic with shielding powers, which was someone he had wanted to meet. Suddenly, Obliteration shined once again and exploded into ceramic pieces a moment later. This was his natural defense mechanism. Jacob saw what had triggered it a moment later. Two arrows had struck true right in the middle of where his chest should have been. Next to Cedric now stood two more friends. Defréndel stood with his bow held high and his arm back as he had just let an arrow fly, and next to him was Strider, lowering his bow. Obliteration reappeared a few seconds later in another brilliant flash. It seemed the gang was all there, or at least so Jacob thought. He was proved wrong as behind him came a voice he hadn't heard in months. He hadn't heard it since they last traveled.

"Hello, Brother."

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Cat watched as every single story they had visited yet collided in this one moment. A thought crossed her mind, and escaped in a whispered voice, "Every single story... Every talent..." Suddenly, much to David's surprise, she leapt forward and transformed into a cat. The others quickly caught on to the plan. Jacob reached into his pocket and pressed the button on the side of his collapsed bow. He put on his sunglasses, not caring anymore that he was revealing himself as The Archer. He slipped them on and tapped their rim. Suddenly he was in his full outfit, and arrows were flying.

Mal stood and raised her hands. Water swirled around her. She remember a scene in The Lord of the Rings that gave her an idea. She reached out her hand and grabbed onto something in the swirling vortex. Moments later she had swung herself up on horseback, riding the aquatic stallion as she charged Lyndsey, who she had singled out as her target. Cat took on Ryan once again, since his whole vendetta started back in that training yard in Minas Tirith. Jacob took on Vince, his friend turned enemy. David tried his best to take care of Obliteration, but the two both had a prime invincibility. Cedric aided his fellow Hufflepuff, while Adrian helped Cat, being her teammate. Adrian didn't become the Sentinel and the others could use their powers without revealing their identity as Watchers. Lastly Richard, Defréndel, and Aragorn aided the others where they could.