The Plagued World: The Story of Maximus

Episode Seventeen - His Return

To shakes the bottle of Exodus's blood, narrowing his eyes at it. "Will it work?" Kevin asks. He nods, "yes, for certain. We just need to break down the proteins that give the user power, and that should be it." Kevin yawns, "okay boss...I'm gonna go lay down, it's been a long day." He walks away, and stops beside Maximus, who was sitting in a chair, still in the mysterious form, concentrating on something.

"Hey buddy, wanna go home?" He asks. Maximus opens his eyes, looking up at his father, "no." Kevin was taken aback. He nods, "alright then...I'll see you later." Maximus closes his eyes again. Kevin leaves. To sighs, "this will take a while." Maximus opens his eyes, standing up. To puts the blood in an analyzer, turning around, seeing Maximus leave.

"Where you off to?" He asks. Maximus shrugs, "finishing things." He exits. He flies over to where the battle took place last, seeing the remains of Exodus's body. He sighs, "we could've done good together."

He suddenly swipes his arm, slicing a fleshy substance, looking over to it. "What the...?" He looks at his hand, it was bleeding. His eyes widen, and suddenly, a massive surge of energy flings him back.

There stood Exodus, once again. His hair was brighter, almost white, like Maximus'. "What the hell? You're alive?!" Maximus calls out. Exodus grins, "I can't believe that worked!" Maximus stood in awe, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"This is my final stand! I have taken your blood as mine, and with that I have gained unparalleled power!" Exodus shouts, his aura multiple times stronger than before. Maximus closes his eyes, "we'll see about that."

Exodus chuckles, "you may have gotten the best of me last time, Maximus, but I now have your abilities...and most importantly, that wicked transformation of yours." Maximus looks up at Exodus, "you won't beat me." Exodus laughs, dashing at him, throwing a punch. He evades, countering with a punch of his own -- which Exodus catches.

Maximus's eyes widen. Exodus throws another punch, but he evades, backflipping to safety. He clinches his fists, "his speed, reaction times...they're just like mine...how is that even possible?!" Exodus fires several energy blasts, which Maximus dodges. He jumps and flies into the air, spinning around, firing a super powerful energy beam.

Exodus deflects it, grinning at his opponent. Maximus's breath hitches, "damnit..." Exodus suddenly appears behind Maximus, striking at him. He evades to the side, his attack nearly missing him. He grabs his arm, attempting to throw him around. Exodus strikes at his face, but he blocks it, letting go of him.

He glides back, shaking his head, "it's impossible..." His breath quickens, almost unsteady. Exodus was the same. Suddenly, from above, To crashes in, throwing a punch at Exodus, which he blocks with ease.

He kicks his stomach, then elbows his neck, sending him crashing to the ground. "To!" Maximus cries out. He snap-vanishes down to the surface, catching him, laying him to the side. "Come on now, why did you have to go do that?!" He yells at him. To groans, "...I thought you needed help."

"There's nothing you can do against him...and I'm not sure I can either. If we can both defend and attack without thinking, how would either of us get the upper hand?" He says, asking to himself. To shrugs, "...I don't know. I'm sure you'll figure it out, you are a wonderful fighter..." He passes out. Maximus looks at his friend, then back to Exodus, who was watching.

"Are you done yet?!" Exodus shouts. Maximus narrows his eyes, snap-vanishing up to him. The two stare eachother down, glide back, then dash -- clashing with eachother. Exodus breaks the clash, kicking Maximus, but he blocks it, throwing a punch, which Exodus evades. They trade attacks, neither of them getting close to damaging the other.