The Plagued World: The Story of Maximus

Episode Six - Eclipse of The Heart

"The voices?" To asks, walking up, kneeling before Maximus. "T-The ones from before, back when I drank that awakening water," he answers, tucking his knees close to his chest. To nods, sighing, "well- you see...this book, it...it has-...it has ancient history in the lives of you, your father, me, Margret -- all of the Founders...prehistoric Founders wrote that book detailing the prophets, their children...and it came all down to you."

Maximus looks at the book, "but...I'm not a prophet, I'm no...special person in any history." To shakes his head, "on the contrary, Maximus...you are the final Founder, the last of our race. You may be a half bred, but you are the strongest Founder out of all of us...these voices, I read, are a part of the prophets journey."

"My...journey..." Maximus repeats. "Each and every Founder went through a tremendous process that led to their true inner powers being awakened," To starts, "but not all Founders were the same..."

"Long ago, there was one tribe, a supreme tribe that ruled the world. The Grand Order. This tribe was the very first appearance of the Founders, their race...but there were many Founders who wanted to use their powers for wicked and evil doings," To says, standing. "These Founders created a schism of sorts, splitting the Grand Order into two different clans. The New Order, Founders who fought for peace and tranquility, and The Proxy, Founders who lived only for destruction and terror."

Maximus shakes his head, "and that book...? Who wrote it then? Was it before the schism?" To shakes his head, "no. It was long after the schism, and The First Plague." Maximus shakes his head again, "you mean...there was another Plague before you and my father?"

To nods, "of course. This Plague was set in stone by the leader of The Proxy, a man we are familiar with...Lucifer." "Lucifer...the person who almost killed my father?" "Precisely."

"To?"

To turns around to see Kevin, who just arrived from testing. "Kevin, it is nice to see you," To says. Kevin smiles, "that's an understatement! How are you?" He walks up to him, giving him a hug. Maximus sighs, standing up, walking out of the room. Kevin notices this, chasing after his son.

Maximus runs outside, his energy bursts around him as he flies off. Kevin just barely catches sight of this, doing the same, chasing after him. Maximus flies through the sky. He looks behind himself, seeing Kevin in pursuit. He growls, throwing an energy blast at him. Kevin's eyes widen as he is hit by it, knocking him from the sky.

Maximus increases his speed, tapping into his Awakened Form. Kevin stands up, brushing himself off. "Maximus, where are you going...?" He asks himself, bursting back into the sky.

Maximus arrives at the ruins from months prior. "The ruins," Maximus says, flying into it. Kevin was just shortly behind, "he's going to the ruins? Why? How come?!" Maximus lands in the ruins, looking up, seeing his father chase him.

He growls, throwing his hands to the sky, forming a shield around the ruins. Kevin stops, bursting into Peacemaker, firing a full power blast at the field, cracking it. Maximus shouts, forming another barrier, running deeper into the ruins. 

"Damnit, Maximus!" Kevin shouts, flying to the field, bashing it with his fist. Maximus looks around frantically. He catches notice of the bottle from before, still intact. He picks it up swiftly, looking at it. A sharp, painful ring shrieks in his ear, making him drop the bottle. It falls to the ground, shattering.

"NO!" Maximus shouts, shuffling over to the bottle, picking up the broken pieces. Kevin breaks through the fields, flying into the ruins. "Maximus, what the hell are you doing?!" he shouts, but then he quiets himself, looking at the boy, shambling with the broken pieces. Maximus was in tears, unnatural emotions flooded his mind. "Maximus...?" Kevin asks quietly, landing beside his son. 

"The chalice...the ONLY thing that could give me answers," Maximus says, trying to put the pieces together. "The thing you drank from? What good will it do for you?" Kevin asks, looking at the broken bottle. "It would give me the next clue, the next location I have to go, I am the final founder, this is my prophecy," Maximus says, shoving his father off of him.

"Maximus! You do not talk to me like that," Kevin says. Maximus turns to him, shaking his head, "I'm not a little kid anymore Dad. I need to discover the truth, or else I will go mad, okay? Don't make me force myself by you..." Kevin's cheeks get rosy from embarrassment, "young man..." Maximus's hair goes red, a strong flush of energy staggers Kevin as Maximus yells out, "I AM NOT A YOUNG MAN!"

Kevin narrows his eyes, taking a step back. He bursts into his Peacemaker form, "if you think you're a big man now, how about you take me down." Maximus growls, his energy surges constantly, until he snaps, letting out a furious roar. The ground shakes. Kevin covers his eyes with his arm. Maximus stands still, tears flooding from his eyes. He had done it yet again, he achieved the Peacemaker form.

Kevin looks at him, smiling, "good job son. Now...TAKE ME DOWN!" He lets out a cry of his own, dashing at his son. Maximus wipes the tears from his eyes, shaking his head, "everything is a test of strength to you father..." He takes a step forward, his father gets to his face. Maximus strikes Kevin in the face, sending him to the ground.

Kevin flips to his feet, growling. He fires tons of energy blasts, but Maximus deflects them all with ease. He counters by charging up to Kevin, striking him in the stomach, then he kicks his feet out, grabbing his ankle, throwing him to the sky. Kevin catches his balance, shaking his head. 

"You're doing great. Now it's time...for MY FULL POWER!" Kevin cries out, his power erupts further. Maximus looks up at him, shaking his head, "you never listen to me..." He cups his hands, putting them to the side, charging up a full power orb of energy. He fires it at his father. Kevin is caught off guard, the beam engulfing him entirely. Maximus sighs, "I'm not your shadow anymore." He dashes through the beam, going for a final strike. 

Kevin shouts, dispersing the beam, catching Maximus's fist. "You're great," he says, striking Maximus across the face, sending him to the ground. He snap-vanishes to the ground, picking up his son by his collar.

A tear trickles down Maximus's cheek, "you don't understand me father. Not anymore." Kevin narrows his eyes. "I won't let you make me who you want me to be," he says quietly. Kevin's eyes widen, he drops Maximus, falling to the ground, unconscious. Maximus stands above him, looking down at him.

He fired an invisible blast that struck Kevin in the chest. He sighs, "you'll never understand me." He turns and walks away, exiting the chamber. Maximus stands at the edge of the ruins, looking up to the sky. He looks at his hand, clenching it. He shakes his head, "no...I'm no 'peacemaker'." He reverts back to base, sighing softly. He flies off.