The Plagued World: The Story of Maximus

Episode Four - The Test Pt.2

Kevin wakes up early Sunday morning, it was 5:30. He climbs out of bed quietly, walking downstairs to get coffee. Maximus was peacefully sleeping, awaiting the morning before him. Kevin walks outside to the porch, looking to the city before him. He basks in the warm morning sun. He sighs, sipping on his coffee. To, a familiar face, walks up the drive way.

"Up early as always, huh Kevin?" To says, waving to him. Kevin waves back gently, "always." To slowly walks onto the porch, standing next to him. "It's so wonderful to see the city in the morning," Kevin starts, "it never gets old. I wish I could see it more often." To nods, "agreed. Say, how's Maximus?"

"Hmm? He's sleeping, I don't want to wake him up too early, the kid deserves a long sleep in," Kevin responds, sipping on his coffee again. To nods, "yep. Well, I'll leave you be for now. With you being back, I'd like to take you two to train sometime soon." Kevin nods, "sure, that'd be great."

Kevin watches To as he leaves. He talks to himself, "what should I do? Maximus is close to eclipse me...I need to make that happen soon."

Following that morning, Maximus walks from his bedroom and downstairs. He rubs his eyes tiredly, yawning. He notices his father sitting on the couch, sipping on his coffee. "Good morning, Dad," Maximus says, approaching the livingroom. "Hey kiddo, ready for the day?" "Yep! Ready when you are!"

The two exit the house, Exodus stands before them. "Oh, what a surprise! How're you Exodus?" Kevin asks, smiling at him. "Hello Kevin. I am here to spar with Maximus, it is time that I check my abilities," he responds candidly, smiling the same smile Kevin gave him. Kevin looks at Maximus, "do you want to spar with Exodus?" "The last time I did, I got my butt kicked, Dad..."

"That's not what Exodus told me," Kevin says, smiling down at him. He nods towards him, "go ahead." Maximus sighs, pulling the sleeves back on his hoodie. He walks to the yard, in front of Exodus, looking up at the six foot, three inch man. Exodus looks down on him, the cheeky smile still remained.

"Okay guys, let's have a fair fight. No tricks, no reserves," Kevin says, acting as a referee. He stands between the two of them, looking at them. "Dad, this is just a sparring session...don't treat it as if it were a wrestling match...it's embarrassing," Maximus says, a hue of red across his cheeks.

"Three. Two. One. FIGHT!"

Exodus dashes at Maximus, taking him by surprise. Maximus leaps into the air, avoiding Exodus's attack. "D-Dang, you're even faster than last time," he says. He lets his power erupt, tapping into his Awakened Form.

Exodus dashes into the sky, throwing a punch at Maximus's cheek, sending him further into the sky. He catches himself, shaking his head, "oh gosh..." He charges up, firing a couple of blasts at Exodus. He deflects them, pushing through, grabbing Maximus's wrists, throwing him to the ground.

Maximus stands, brushing himself off, "okay...that hurt." "Maximus! You need to break your limits if you wish to kill me! From here on out, I intend to kill you," Exodus shouts. Maximus looks at Kevin, he smiles and nods. "Dad are you insane?!" Maximus shouts. Exodus charges at Maximus with full strength in mind, throwing a very sharp punch to his gut, causing him to cough up blood. Continuing his pursuit, he throws another strong punch to his cheek, sending him straight to the ground, causing the ground to crumble around him.

Maximus lays there, blood dripping from his lips. Exodus lands in front of him, holding an arm out, preparing to kill him. An energy blast forms in his hands, "this was a good fight, Maximus." Suddenly, a sudden burst of limitless energy erupts. A pillar of red energy fills the sky. This sends Exodus back, he smiles at this sudden awakening. There stood Maximus, hair completely red, eyes white. He growls, unable to contain this energy.

"Now the real battle starts," Kevin says silently to himself, watching this transpire. Maximus walks from the wreckage and up to Exodus. For revenge from before, he throws a single punch at Exodus's stomach, sending him to the ground. He looks down at him, growling, "you don't intend to kill ANYONE. Do you HEAR ME?!" He kicks him to the sky, firing a full power blast.

Exodus falls to the ground, clearly defeated. Maximus reverts back to base, sighing, "..." Kevin walks up behind Maximus, putting a hand on his shoulder, "good job. I knew you could do it." "...why does that power awaken a deep anger inside me?" Maximus asks, looking at his father.

"This form is an emotional one, that's why it brings out so much power, because with power, emotion is behind it. Realize this, and you can control that power for your own will. If you can, try tapping into it now?" Kevin asks, taking a step back. Maximus nods, closing his eyes.

He takes a deep breath, thinking about things that makes him mad. It doesn't work. He tries to raise his energy, it doesn't work. He sighs, shaking his head, "still no..." "That's okay, it's expected you won't learn how to perfectly control it. However, it was...weird how fast you tapped into the perfected state of Peacemaker, I used a imperfect edition of the form, but you managed to reach the perfected state quickly," Kevin says, smiling at his son.

"I don't know either...maybe it was that liquid that lady had me drink?" Maximus questions, sitting down on the ground. Kevin shakes his head, "I don't think that's likely. Maybe it awoken your path to the form though?"

Maximus shakes his head, "I-I don't care...I'm going back inside..." He stands and walks back into the house. Kevin watches. He then looks over to Exodus, walking over to pick him up and take him inside.