Chapter 44: Planetary Destruction
WARNING: This chapter contains the death of a character. Reader discretion advised.
Dozens of stories below, the three make their way into the Server Room. They look around, noting all of the pieces of advanced technology they’ve never seen before. Ana steps up to a computer in the middle of the room. She taps on the monitor as it begins to glow.
Henry: “Do you even know what you’re doing over there?”
Ana: “Not a clue.”
She continues to tap on the monitor. She’s greeted with screens she can’t even comprehend.
Mythril: “Let me take a look.”
He walks up and swaps places with Ana. She steps aside and walks towards the main unit housing all of the memory chips.
Ana: “There’s a lot of colors here.”
Henry: “Do you think they correspond to who it’s for?”
Mythril: “It would make sense. What color would Ren’s be?”
Henry: “Well, his Aura was fire, so if I had to guess I’d either say yellow or orange.”
Ana: “Really? That’s not what I was thinking. He feels more like a red to me.”
Henry: “I’M RED!”
Ana: “Sheesh, calm down. I get it, I’m sorry.”
Mythril: “Thankfully, they look to be labeled too.”
Henry: “Sweet. That’ll make this easier.”
Mythril: “Let’s see…we have Willow, wait. I’m sorting Z through A, I’ll fix it.”
Ana: “You can’t sort by color?”
Mythril: “No, just the alphabet. We have Agon-”
Henry: “Just tell us when you find Ren!”
Mythril falls silent to focus on his search. After a minute, one of the chips pops out of its slot.
Mythril: “That should be him.”
Henry: “I told you he was gonna be orange.”
Ana: “Shut it.”
Ana walks over and removes the chip before placing it in her jacket pocket.
Henry: “Are you sure that’s secure enough?”
Ana: “Do you want to carry him?”
Henry: “He’s my best friend, so yes.”
Ana rolls her eyes and takes the chip out before handing it to Henry. He smiles to piss her off as he places it up his coat.
Ana: “That’s disgusting.”
Henry: “I put him in my coat’s inside pocket!”
Ana: “Whatever. Let’s leave before Jace possibly destroys it.”
Mythril: “Do you really think he’s capable of doing that?”
Ana: “I don’t know how he did it, but that mixing shit he’s doing can cause some severe damage.”
Henry: “Yeah, but it’s just those cute lil’ energy blasts.”
Ana: “For now.”
The three make their way out and get on the elevator heading back to the ground floor.
Back to the top floor, Jack sinks into the darkness as Jace quickly thinks of an escape plan. He rushes towards the windows and covers his face with his arms. He smashes through the glass, but before he can fall he swaps his arm to Bolt and uses a lightning punch to zap himself in the direction of the roof. He lands and rolls before standing back up and letting out a deep breath.
Jack: “You must really want to die. I’m giving you as many easy outs as I can.”
Jace: “I’m leaving this place alive. You on the other hand…”
Jack: “Oh, spare me the speech. You don’t have what it takes to-”
Jace: “THIS IS FOR EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE!”
Within a flash, Jace appears in front of Jack. He grits his teeth and swaps to Burst before landing a series of Burst punches to Jack. He ends with an uppercut that successfully connects with Jack’s jaw. As he’s sent upwards, Jace swaps back to Bolt before jumping high up in the sky. He positions himself higher up and begins to descend with his fist winded back. He punches Jack in the head with a lightning punch, hurtling him back to the ground. Finally, Jace swaps to Freeze and shoots down a flurry of icicles. Jack gets impaled by one of them, but starts to laugh. Jace lands in front of him.
Jace: “What’s so funny?”
Jack: “Your pathetic attempts to kill me.”
Jack submerges himself in his shadow before appearing behind Jace.
They clash katana and fist as the impact makes them both slide backwards.
Jack: “I’m ending this.”
Jace: “Try me.”
Jack takes a page from Jace’s book and leaps high into the sky. He raises his right arm as a small ball of dark Aura begins to form.
Jack: “This will be my last attack. An attack so powerful, I may even destroy this island…maybe even the planet.”
Jace: “Bullshit!”
The Aura ball begins to grow rapidly in size. Before long, it reaches the size of the entire roof.
Jace: “You’re gonna kill us all!”
Jack: “If I can’t harvest this world to make a new one, then no one can!”
Jace: “Harvest this world!?”
Jack: “I created Absorbium with the intent of becoming a God! I wanted to remove all of the evil in this world and reshape it in my own image!”
Jace: “What evil could there possibly be for you to destroy?! The only evil thing on this island is you!”
Jack thrusts his arm in the air over his head, causing the ball to rise. He drops down below and slams his feet onto the concrete roof. The ball slowly begins its descent towards the two.
Jack: “There will be no evil when there isn’t an island, let alone a world.”
Jace: “I guess that means there’s one last thing to do before we achieve our goals.”
Jace & Jack: “I'm going to kill you.”
Down on the street, the other three make their way outside.
Henry: “Damn, did the sun set already?”
Ana: “No? It isn’t time for the sun to set. Why is it so dark?”
Mythril looks up as his eyes widen. He shuffles over to Ana and Henry, tugging on their sleeves. Once they look at him, he points his finger upwards with the two following with their heads.
Henry: “What the fuck is that?”
Ana: “I don’t know, but I don’t like the feel of it.”
Mythril: “Do we think that's Jace's doing?”
Henry: “Absolutely not. That power feels a lot more sinister than anything Jace could ever cook up.”
Mythril: “Did Jace lose? Are we going to die?”
Ana: “Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.”
Henry: “Should we run?”
Ana: “And leave Jace behind!? No!”
The two reel back in fear, but nod in agreement. They firmly stay outside of Titan and watch the countdown to destruction slowly heading towards them.
Back at the top of Titan, Jace and Jack both roar and charge at each other. Jack unsheathes his katana and goes for a slash, but Jace parries the blade, causing it to fly out from Jack’s grasp. It clinks towards the edge of the roof before falling off completely. Jack takes a step back and looks at Jace. He grabs his sheath and removes it from his waist. He tosses it off the same side of the katana.
Jace: “How performative.”
Jack: “So, you know what this means?”
Jace: “Yeah. You’re giving up everything for this.”
Jack: “I want to crush you with my bare fists.”
Jace: “The feeling’s mutual.”
Jack folds his arms and leans back. He falls, but submerges himself in his shadow before reappearing behind Jace. He tries to whip his head, but Jack greets him with a spinning back fist to the face. Jace staggers and stumbles from the force of the attack.
Jace: “Damn, I wasn’t expecting your scrawny-ass to have that much strength.”
Jack: “Aura users are automatically granted enhanced senses along with strength and agility.”
Jace: “Oh, so you’re fake.”
Jack: “What was that?”
Jace: “You said your Aura gave you what you have now. Before then, you were nothing.”
Jack: “Your childish attempts at mockery won’t work on me.”
Jace: “It’s a good thing actions speak louder than words.”
Jace swaps to Bolt before zipping himself towards Jack. He goes to punch, but Jace snaps to the left before another snap to land himself behind Jack. He lands a punch to the kidney before following it up with a knee right into Jack’s spine. He yells and retaliates with an elbow to Jace’s forehead. He stumbles back as Jack uses the momentum from his elbow to position himself in front of Jace. He dashes forwards and grabs Jace’s neck before chokeslamming him into the roof. Jace grabs onto Jack’s arm with his left arm and swaps to Burst. They both refuse to let go, only trying to intimidate the other into submission. Jace quickly swaps to Freeze and changes the temperature from blistering hot to freezing cold. The rapid change causes Jack to let go and grab onto his arm. Jace kips back up onto his feet and rushes to Jack. He grits his teeth and lets go of his arm before throwing a punch towards Jace. He also throws a punch towards Jack. Both fists collide with both faces as they continue to push their fists forward. Neither of them budge, so Jace decides to add in his other fist. Jack ducks down from the punch and punches Jace right in the solar plexus. He grabs his chest in pain and steps back a few feet, allowing Jack to follow through with another attack. Jace yells and releases his grip before colliding fists with Jack. They are both sent back a few inches, but instead of retreating, they continue to lob punches at each other. For every three whiffed punches, one lands on either side. Jace swaps back to Burst in between punches to rocket a final, stronger punch right to Jack. He’s sent airborne as he travels a few feet behind himself. He lands and looks up.
Jack: “There isn’t much time left.”
Jace: “You’re seriously going through with this? Can you not stop it?”
Jack: “I can, but I’ll only stop it once you die.”
Jace: “So, it’s a lose-lose situation then.”
Jack: “Exactly. Give up.”
Jace: “I didn’t lose my father and my friends just to give up here. I’m lucky to still have who I have, but because of you, some of them are gone.”
Jack: “It’s a good thing you and your pathetic friends will be able to greet them in the afterlife. Only a few more minutes now.”
Jace: “All I need is 30 seconds for this.”
He sprints towards Jack in a burst of rage before winding his left arm back.
Jace: “I haven’t tried this yet. Please work.”
He closes his eyes to try and focus while keeping an ear out for his surroundings.
Jack: “Another punch? Fine, I’ll match your strength once more!”
Jack walks towards Jace to close the distance. Jace opens his eyes and glances back at his arm. He’s done it. He was able to mix the elements one more time. With a yell, he aims his fist right for Jack’s shoulder. The impact causes a large flash and shockwave, pushing Jace back. After the flash fades, he can see Jack clenching his shoulder.
Jack: “What the hell was that?!”
Jace: “Something special I learned thanks to your Absorbium.”
Jack slowly releases his grasp, now showing Jace the destruction he’s caused. While the attack didn’t leave a hole like it did the wall earlier, it did melt Jack’s shoulder almost down to the bone.
Jace: “Oh, shit...”
Jack: “I won’t let you try that again!”
Jack, despite the practically missing shoulder, starts one last rush at Jace. In return, Jace shifts his left arm forwards and clenches his fist. Jack throws a right hook at Jace’s head, but he counters it with one of his suped-up punches. Jack reels back in pain once more as he looks at his now deformed and melted fist. He hunches over, letting his arm dangle.
Jack: “You know if you do this, you won’t be any better than me!”
Jace: “I’ve been thinking about that. It’s something that I was struggling with while on this adventure, but I realized something.”
Jack: “What is it?”
Jace: “You and I are not good people. My selfishness got thousands killed and my friends taken away from me. I don’t have to explain what you’ve done. You know what you’ve done.”
Jack: “I do. How does this relate to revenge?”
Jace: “Well, I learned that revenge isn’t clean. It isn’t sweet. It isn’t satisfying. At first, I wanted to kill you to avenge my father, but would he have really wanted that? Would he have wanted me to be the reason why Ben Jr. and the entirety of Rozay are now gone?”
Jack: “But I-”
Jace: “Bingo. There it is. You were ultimately the one who called down the laser. I got your attention and you wanted me dead. Both of us are to blame for where we are now.”
Jack: “I’ll kill…you…”
​Jace begins to walk towards Jack.
Jace: “This journey has also taught me that people like you exist. People that are so awful, that some may ask why they deserve to live. So, let me ask you that: Why do you think you deserve to live?”
Jack: “I’ve created one of the most successful businesses in all of Warrior’s Rest! I’ve invented new metals. I’ve done it all!”
Jace: “You’re doing things thousands, if not millions of people wish they were doing. You’ve been living the dream while others have been living in misery. You have what you have because you’ve been using those beneath you as your staircase to success.”
Jace stops walking and stands only a few feet away from Jack.
Jace: “People like you need to die.”
Jace turns his body, letting his right arm face Jack. He clenches his left fist and charges another punch. In fear, Jack tries to fix his posture and prepare a punch for Jace. They move their arms at the same time, but Jack’s punch is unable to land as Jace punches straight through his chest. They both stand in silence. Jace’s face goes from anger to horror. Although he claimed he was gonna do it, he’s taken aback by the visual laid out in front of him. He removes his fist from Jack’s chest, letting his body fall limp to the ground. Jace stares at his hand that’s now been stained with his mortal enemy’s blood.
Jack: “You…actually did it…”
Jace: “I…”
Jace can’t even speak as he continues to stare at his hand.
Jack: “Congrats…now you’re…just like me…”
Jack chuckles before tilting his head to spit up some of his blood. After a few more laughs, he stops. He stops smiling. He stops blinking. He stops living. Jace can only look in both terror and disgust as he continues to process his actions. Before he can truly reflect on the situation, he begins to feel the air around him pick up. He snaps out of his dissociation and looks up.
Jace: “Let's end this.”