The Plagued World: The Story of Maximus

Episode Seven - The Journey Begins

Twelve years later after his fight with Kevin, Maximus stands at the ruins. He sighs, walking to the chamber below. The bottle, still shattered, laid on the ground. Maximus leans over, picking the pieces up.

Suddenly, from the entrance of the ruins stood Charlotte. She was panting, sweat drips from her forehead. "Why did you storm off like that?" She asked. Maximus looks back at her, he shakes his head, "sorry..."

She kneels behind him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "What's this?" She asked. Maximus stayed silent for a moment. Then, he spoke softly,

"I never told you, huh...? Well, this...uh...this bottle, it held an elixir or something. It woke a hidden power within me. I came here years ago, and I hoped for answers..."

Charlotte nodded, "I understand. You came for answers again?" Maximus nodded his head, "yeah...but I knew there wouldn't be any." "Was it a calling?" Charlotte asked. Maximus stood, "something along those lines, I guess."

He brushed himself off, "my father and I fought here twelve years ago...I haven't spoken about it since. I was dreaming...when I first had my power awoken. A prophecy, I was told, a prophecy of the last Founder, which I am, apparently."

Charlotte stood, "I understand...somewhat. Do you think there is something else that you may have missed?" Maximus shook his head, "no...I've been here tons of times, searched thoroughly. Nothing."

"Have you ever considered if there was something under the ruins?" Charlotte suggested. Maximus looked at her, "I...no. S-Should I-...?" Charlotte smiled and took a few steps back. She gestured to the ground.

Maximus held a hand to the ground, firing an energy blast. The ground crumbles around him, collapsing under him. He fell to another, secret level of the ruins. From above, Charlotte looked down on him, "hey! Are you okay?"

Maximus laid under a bunch of rubble, "yeah...I'm good." He pushed the rubble off of himself, standing. He looks up, seeing that Charlotte had jumped from the ceiling. He caught her, smiling warmly at her.

The two explore the hidden section of the ruins. It was dark, Charlotte turned on a flashlight. They searched and searched until they found a door with a strange symbol on it.

"What is this?" Maximus asked himself. He walked up to it, putting his hand on the door. Suddenly, it glowed white. It pulsated, the ground began to shake. Maximus looked around him, the ruins were falling apart. He ran to Charlotte, grabbing her, summoning a force field of energy to protect them.

The door exploded, and with it, tons of rubble surrounds Maximus and Charlotte. Seconds pass, Maximus uses his energy to explode the force field to throw any rubble off of them. He opened his eyes, but then suddenly, his ears began to ring.

He drops to his knees, screaming in pain. "M-Max? What- what's going on?!" Charlotte asked, kneeling beside Maximus, comforting him.

"The-...the voices! They...they call me-!" He shouts, standing, running into the ruins, leaving Charlotte behind.

He enters a room, but is suddenly struck down. "Oompf-!" He fell to the ground, face first. He pushed himself up, looking ahead of him. A man with piercing red eyes stood before him.

"You. You must be the prophet," the man said. He walked up to Maximus, picking him up by his collar. He throws him into the roof, out of the ruins, and into the sky.

Maximus caught himself in the air, looking down at the ruins. A massive red energy blast flies at him. He put his hand forward, canceling the blast.

From the ruins arose the figure, now given light, he is a completely dark figure with pulsating, red eyes.

"Who the hell are you?" Maximus called out.

"The voices...you listened to them," the figure answered.

He dashes at Maximus with full force, pulling his arm back for a strike. Maximus erupts into Peacemaker form, sending the figure back.

Maximus's eyes open, his pupils now a strong, sharp red. He looks down at the figure.

"This pressure, it's immense...you seem like your father, and his ancestor," the figure comments, grinning.

"His ancestor? How do you know who I am?" Maximus replied, narrowing his eyes.

"We are connected. By blood. By prophecy. By truth," the figure began, "and this is your test. Prove to me your worth, and I will give you my knowledge."

He charges at Maximus, snap-vanishing behind him, throwing a punch. Maximus catches it with ease, throwing the figure to the ground. He lands on his feet, firing several blasts at Maximus as he dashes down at him.

Maximus evades the blasts, landing on the ground, lunging forward, striking the figure in the face, sending him flying into a mountain. Maximus snap-vanishes in front of the figure, pulling his arm back, throwing a full-power punch.

It cracks the mountain, sending shockwaves around the area. He jumps back, grinning.

The figure shakes his head, floating from the rock. Maximus scoffs.

"Not bad, Maximus," the figure compliments. He snap-vanishes behind Maximus, throwing a punch. Maximus goes to catch his fist, but is surprised by another punch to his stomach, stunning him for a moment.

The figure kicks Maximus in the face, sending him to the ground. He dashes in, firing several energy blasts. They hit Maximus, exploding on contact.

Maximus growls, letting out a roar of energy, stopping the figure in his tracks. Maximus looks up at the figure, opening his eyes wide, firing several wind blasts with just his eyes. The figure is struck several times, getting knocked back.

Maximus snap-vanishes behind the figure, striking him several times all over, then he kicks him in the stomach, sending him even further.

He then snap-vanishes above the figure, throwing one final, full-power punch to his face, sending him soaring to the ground. He collides, smashing the ground below him. Maximus floats above, looking down at the carnage. He sighs, reverting back to base.

He thought back to his fight with his father, remembering how he vowed to never use the form again...despite it being his strongest yet. The dust settles, the figure stands, looking up at Maximus.

"You are the chosen one," the figure says. Maximus floats to the ground, standing from the figure. "How can you be sure?" he asks.

"You fought valiantly. I do believe you used the form passed down by your father, the Peacemaker form," he replied. Maximus nods, "yeah...that's what my Dad called it." The figure suddenly begins to shine, the dark aura dissipates, leaving a young, well mannered man.

"My name...well, I don't have one. You can call me Seek," he says, smiling at Maximus, "also, I do apologize for attacking you out of nowhere. I can just tell, from within you, you aren't a fighter. Even if you have blood that rages with war."

Maximus crosses his arms, looking away from Seek. "I'm right, aren't I?" He asks. Maximus nods, "yeah...you are right. My father and I used to train a lot, but after we fought, I kinda...wanted to give up fighting."

"But you unlocked easy use of the Peacemaker form, did you not?" Seek continues. "I did, by my father's request - well, he forced me, rather. I don't like using it, that's my Dad's form, not my own. I want my own destiny, my own...power," Maximus replied.

"There is untapped power within you, you have yet to unlock it. You have grown and I believe you are ready for the next challenge. This journey, it will involve going to planets unknown, and fighting foes that even your father wouldn't defeat," Seek said, looking at Maximus.

Maximus turns around and looks at Seek, "and I suppose you are going to help me?" "Yes, it is my soul purpose," he replied. "Great..."

Maximus retrieved Charlotte, and the three went home. They discussed their plans, their ideas, and what comes next. 

The Plagued World: Maximus
Arc #3: The Prophecy
Coming Soon