043

 

Vance drop-kicked another clone in the mouth, knocking it in a perfect arc backwards into the dust. More came at him from behind, and he placed his hands on the ground, twisting around and kicking two in the head. He moved into a front flip, then turned around just in time to punch the final clone straight through its stomach, leaving a gaping hole in its chest as it crumbled to the ground.

 

Losing his patience, Vance let out a roar, rippling psynergy from his arms. The remaining clones were mercilessly throttled, left with no chance to defend themselves as purple death ripped through their energy.

 

He shivered. It felt as if the raging flow of psynergy was going to burst through his body like a waterfall passing through a plastic straw. Purple tendrils leapt off his body, completely unhindered and without control. It felt good, but at the same time, he felt as if he’d lost the ability to slow himself down.

 

The sound of clapping hands crept into his ears, and he swerved to face Averyl. Vance watched as purple flames just like his own began to arise from Averyl's body. They spread out to incredible lengths, encircling him within a wide sphere of pure power.

 

Vance stumbled backwards. Finally, after all this time, Averyl wasn't holding back anymore.

 

"Let’s go..." Vance growled, vision blurring as psynergy raged through his veins.

 

"You've done well, Vance." Averyl grinned. "Now I'm going to have to calm you down before you hurt yourself..."

 

Vance surged his fist up with power and dove toward Averyl. The young man threw all his force forward, crashed into Averyl's darkened shield and barely cracked through it. Refusing to give up, Vance shoved his body forward, despite the beating his body had taken.

 

"How does it feel?" Averyl said. "You've summoned up the innate power of your bloodline."

 

"Good," Vance coughed, his aura flickering. "Now we can finally fight for real."

 

"No..." Averyl frowned. "Vance, you're done."

 

"No I'm not!" Vance screamed. "I need to get stronger! Before the tournament starts, I need to know that I can stand a chance against people like you!"

 

"You think you can surpass me after a few months of training?" Averyl raised an eyebrow. "How insulting..."

 

Wind began to pick up around Averyl, whirling his black locks and cloak in the breeze. A heavy gale picked up and shot toward Vance, propelled solely by the pressure of Averyl's power.

 

Vance blinked as debris flew into his tired eyes, but as soon as he opened them again, his uncle was gone.

 

Averyl snaked his head out from behind Vance's shoulder. "The end..."

 

Before his nephew could even gasp, Averyl immobilized the berserk youth with his long arms.

 

Vance tried to free himself, but the more he exerted his power, the more he realized it was futile. "Fine," he sighed. "I'm done."

 

"Good boy." Averyl snickered. "Now let’s go wash up."

 

Averyl took Vance back to the campsite, where he was able to sit and relax for a bit. His uncle told him stories until their fire began to die down

 

*************

 

as Eden was roused from her slumber. Struggling against her fatigue, Eden rose to her feet. She’d sensed something – an unfamiliar aura. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blur. She turned abruptly, in time to to see two glowing orbs zoom right by her face. Eden leapt out from the campsite and backed up against the side of the mountain, watching the orbs with extreme caution. She counted four in total, all gliding around as if surveying the terrain.

 

"I see you’re all by yourself, little girl..." Eden heard a voice above her and looked up to see a middle-aged woman floating in the air, held aloft by shining white boots. On her face was a confident, prideful expression, accentuated by smeared, smoky eyes.

 

"Who are you?" Eden stared up in confusion. "Why are you here?"

 

"My name is Naomi Darcouver." Naomi glided the orbs closer. "I'm looking for my stepson."

 

"S...stepson?" Eden narrowed

 

*************

 

his eyes as he looked up to Averyl. After rekindling the fire, they’d begun to have dinner. "You sure I should leave now? We’ve still got a few days left until the tournament."

 

"I told you, you passed..." Averyl said curtly. "You’re free to go."

 

"Why now?!" Vance shouted. "I just felt like I was on the verge of a breakthrough back there...like all my weeks of training are finally starting to pay off! I can't stop here!"

 

Averyl chuckled lightly. "I never said you were done for good, but I've done all that I can with you at this stage. Now, you should go try out what you've learned in the real world..."

 

Vance's face lit up. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I'd like to see what Cliff thinks of me now. Alright, fine, I’ll go back. Right after I finish eating this."

 

Just like every other day, fresh fruit, vegetables, and grain lined a mat on the ground. Vance reached

 

*************

 

her arms out and commanded all four orbs toward Eden. "Where is he? He came here with you, didn't he?!"

 

"You're his stepmother?!" Eden shouted, ducking out of the way. "No...what, why? Why are you here? This doesn't make any sense!"

 

"Answer me!" Naomi growled, squeezing her fists together. "What, do you think I'm going to have mercy on you because you're a poor little girl out in the wilderness? Hah!"

 

"What are you–" Eden's speech was severed as one orb flew forward into her chest. Her psynergy protected her body, but the force still knocked the wind out of her.

 

It made no sense. Eden could feel the woman’s aura, but it lacked both depth and intensity. Yet she could also feel psynergy spilling out from the woman’s headset, as if it was somehow enhancing every blow.

 

"I’m just doing God’s will," Naomi said. "You should cooperate, for your own sake."

 

As Eden struggled to catch her breath despite her fatigued state, the next orb slammed into her head, blurring her vision and sending her reeling. Her body felt so tired, like she could do nothing but curl inwards, relying solely on her psynergy barrier to keep her safe.

 

"Tell me where he is!" Naomi screeched. "I'm going to kill that little bastard!"

 

Eden moaned in

 

*************

 

delight as Vance devoured his last juicy Yamato pear. "Man, these are so good."

 

Averyl devoured his own. "Glad they're to your liking."

 

Vance stood up. "Well, I guess I’ll see you later. Do you know which Dark Zodiacs will be at the tournament?"

 

"Oh, they'll all be there." Averyl grinned. "We're all looking forward to this event."

 

"Don't say 'we,'" Vance muttered. "That makes it sound like you're one of them."

 

"I am, though..." Averyl pursed his lips. "Not all of them are as evil as you think."

 

Vance rubbed his temple and began to walk off from the campsite. "If you say so. They're all going to be fighting in it?"

 

"Not quite," Averyl remembered. "Some will stay outside to secure the area and deal with any outside forces, like the Dimensional Knights."

 

"Oh yeah, I heard the Knights are–" Vance said, then quickly covered his mouth.

 

Averyl chuckled. "I'm not going to tell... What do you think I am, one of them?"

 

Vance snorted, then froze as he felt a sudden psynergy aura

 

*************

 

surged as her orbs converged on Eden's back, driving her into the ground.

 

"Just tell me where he is." She sneered. "It can’t be that hard."

 

"I don't...know..." Eden croaked.

 

"You're a horrible liar! Tell me the truth, or I'll have to punish you again!"

 

"Please..." Eden looked up at Vance's stepmother with fading eyes. "I really don't..."

 

"Well then." Naomi grinned. "You're no use to me then, are you?"

 

The orbs rose from Eden's body and swirled around her as Naomi flexed her fingers. Eden tried to move her body and manipulate her psynergy, but her muscles wouldn’t listen. I guess courage isn’t enough after all...

 

Eden looked up just in time to see a black flash explode through the center of the mountain, breaking through the remaining crag that Eden had yet to finish demolishing. The shadow shot across the sky, connecting with Naomi's back and sending her flying into the dirt. Her orbs dissipated immediately.

 

He stepped on to the ground, black hair cascading over an even blacker cloak, brimming with confidence and power.

 

Averyl? Eden thought to herself, staring at the back of the tall man who had just saved her from certain death. What's he doing here?

 

The man turned his head to the side, and Eden could see his profile. His hair had grown longer, and he didn't have that pouty frown on his face anymore, but there was no doubt about it – he was Vance.

 

"Vance..." Eden called out to him, but his eyes were focused on someone else.

 

"Naomi..." Vance grunted, cracking his knuckles. "What the hell are you doing here?"


Next: Get Out of My World