The Plagued World: The Story of Maximus

Episode Fifteen - The Hunt

Maximus flies through the sky, looking and sensing for energy. "It's pretty early, he's probably hiding to recover...but I'd assume he's going for the next biggest city," he talks to himself. He flies to, of course, the next biggest city. He lands on top of the tallest building, looking down at all the bumbling citizens. He smiles, seeing the city is in peace. He sits at the edge of the building he's on, closing his eyes.

He drifts off to sleep. The night turns into day, and Exodus arrives. "I half expected Maximus to be here," he says to himself. He fires an energy blast, killing hundreds. Maximus wakes up after hearing the explosion, he dashes out, flying after Exodus. He keeps firing blasts until he is kicked in the face by the woman from before.

Maximus stops just before, his eyes widening, "what the-" Exodus stands up, brushing himself off, "you again. I thought I got rid of you!" He dashes up at her, throwing a punch. It collides, sending her flying. She zips past Maximus, Exodus chases. Maximus watches, reverting back to base, "wh..."

Exodus grabs the woman by her ankle, throwing her to the ground. He dashes down, throwing a strong punch to her gut. She yells in pain, the area around her explodes. Maximus taps into Peacemaker form, dashing down at them, landing behind him, wrapping his arms around his throat, putting him in a choke hold. The woman stands, "Maximus-! You-!"

Exodus growls, pooling energy into his hand, putting it to Maximus's face, causing it to explode, sending Maximus off of him. His face burns, smoke flowing from the burn. "Maximus..." Exodus says, turning to him. "You're outnumbered, Exodus," the woman says. "You're done for," Maximus joins in, cracking his knuckles. Both the woman and Maximus dash at Exodus, attacking him.

Maximus kicks his feet out, and the woman strikes him in the face, sending him flying. "Go get him, I'll get the collection tools," the woman says, "and remember -- don't kill him!" she flies off. Maximus turns to Exodus, who was standing up. "You've grown so much, Maximus," he says, brushing himself off. "Don't try to play nice with me, Exodus. I remember those tests you gave me back in the day, and I remember you gave me a good smack around...this time, I don't even need this form," he replies, reverting to base.

Exodus scoffs, "you underestimate me Maximus, but I guess it isn't unwarranted..." He sighs, "I know I can't defeat you." "Then let me finish you, quick and painlessly," Maximus says. "No...as a warrior, I must go down with a fight," Exodus replies. Maximus sighs, "alright..." Exodus dashes at Maximus, throwing a strong punch, but he dodges it. He counters by kneeing his stomach, then he strikes him into the air. He throws his arms to the side, charging an energy beam. He fires it, engulfing him.

He pants for a second, looking at the carnage. The dust settles, Exodus floats with a battered body. The beam heavily damaged him. The woman from before runs up behind Maximus, "I've got the materials, where is he-" She looks up, "oh." "All it took was one blast," Maximus gloats, grinning. "Wow...I've been having a hard time just getting him to bleed. You-...wait, you're not Kevin's kid are you?" the woman asks, looking at him. He nods, "yup." She gasps, "oh! I-I'm so sorry-! I...I didn't know." He shakes his head, "no-no...it's okay, let's just stay focused."

Exodus growls, firing several energy blasts at them, but Maximus deflects them with ease. "I've had enough of you," he shouts, exploding into Peacemaker, snap-vanishing in front of him, grabbing his wrist. He spins him around, throwing him into the ground. "Now's your chance!" Maximus shouts. The woman runs over, swiping the dust away, trying to find Exodus. She fails, seeing that he got away. "Damnit! How is that possible?!" She shouts.

Maximus walks over, "he must've used the dust as a distraction...clever bastard." "We need to go find him, Maximus," the woman says. "Yeah, sure," he agrees. The two fly off to find Exodus. They search around for a while. "He's pretty damaged, I doubt he would go and fight a bunch of people at his current state," Maximus examines, looking around. "Yeah, that makes sense," the woman agrees.