It was the beginning of the end of the world.37Please respect copyright.PENANAqx0e0JREbI
Follow the trail of burned homes and trees.37Please respect copyright.PENANApop94m3KvV
Several burnt corpses lay scattered around as Abyssal ran, top speed in search of Achlys. He couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t caught up to her yet. But he started to get the feeling she was gaining speed.37Please respect copyright.PENANASecc3RFbNq
At first, there was a clearly defined trail, but darkness had enveloped the sky and the ashes and destruction grew wider on the path until Abyss felt like he was in a forest of nothing. Grey particles drifting around like snow forever.37Please respect copyright.PENANAIXM2iSkwGY
If the coming darkness was spreading and growing more prominent and the burned and ruined trail continued to grow, that meant the fire ball of vengeance Abyss imagined Achlys in had to have grown proportionally, and he started to wonder if the same could be said for her speed. She probably had incredible momentum by now.37Please respect copyright.PENANAfwRzUYb8qe
Still, Abyss didn’t let this get him down. He was suppressing all his emotions, using the ever-hungry vessel inside him to banish any fear or sadness he had. He didn’t understand why this was only working now. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe it was a blessing from whatever real deities might exist out there. No matter what the cause, Abyss wasn’t going to turn his nose up at it.37Please respect copyright.PENANAh4RsBUEzAp
If her didn’t think about anything, he could keep moving. He just couldn’t get caught up in his own head.37Please respect copyright.PENANANhuqOzQuSf
If there was one thing he learned from Achlys that he could still agree with, it was that a purpose can help overcome grief for a time. He channeled any worry or sorrow into an unbridled rage.37Please respect copyright.PENANAwjjHuN58uG
And this rage was coming for Achlys.37Please respect copyright.PENANA0TzwnbnjhL
Abyss pushed himself past the limit. He was far enough away that is Volt started breathing again, the lightning abilities wouldn’t try to make the journey. So now, Abyss was free to let loose.37Please respect copyright.PENANAcDzvGP6xNf
A flash of blinding white light filled the air for the shortest moment before it was gone. The only thing remaining was the roar of the earth and wind processing the blast and producing a rolling thunder.
Only a moment later, Abyss saw a small, burning light pulsing and fighting with a wave of darkness, both elements spiraling out of control.37Please respect copyright.PENANAH5DkFtrWSR
“That must be her! Don’t give up now,” Abyss cheered himself on as he ran straight for the orb of utter destruction and chaos.37Please respect copyright.PENANAmbgBaPmznj
As Abyss continued to draw near, he began to struggle to keep looking at the wave. Some moments it would be fine, like looking at the darkness beyond the stars at night. The next, you’d be blinded by a miniature sun wreaking havoc on the planet.37Please respect copyright.PENANAVxhmwHWPux
Still, Abyss did his best to keep an eye on the terrifying sight. If he looked close enough into the darkness, he could see Achlys in the center, producing a soft glow.37Please respect copyright.PENANAopdTkjaGvd
I have to get to her without being burned alive.37Please respect copyright.PENANAf9T1gG1JIv
Abyss clenched his teeth and activated his own ability as a backup in case he couldn’t dodge all the pyrokinetic waves. Still, he hoped he wouldn’t need his shield of devour. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to absorb this whole orb of death.37Please respect copyright.PENANAbwLqPemdUW
Abyss braced himself and did his best to time his launch into the darkness of the orb.37Please respect copyright.PENANARZWgk59CI6
I have no idea how this might turn out, but here... goes... nothing!37Please respect copyright.PENANAifcdSTXdDZ
Abyss jumped into a dark patch of the swirling orb of black, orange, and gold.37Please respect copyright.PENANArGjsJXFkT4
Just Abyss let down his guard, thinking he was through, a stray flame caught his right arm. He let out a cry of pain. Achlys didn’t even get a chance to turn fully toward the sound before the strange gravity caught hold of Abyss and sent him flying to the center into Achlys violently.37Please respect copyright.PENANAUuMEmZhn93
The orb dissipated and the two were blown to the ground Abyss on top of Achlys.37Please respect copyright.PENANA1uaCmVhFJS
Panicked, they both got to their feet and took battle-ready stances. Squaring each other down, they circled, each scanning for weakness.37Please respect copyright.PENANAC3pxbMQzjR
“Oh, Abyss,” Achlys finally said, tauntingly. “You thought you could take me? I know all about devour. For example, it can only be activated with direct touch. All I have to do is keep my distance, and you won’t be able to do-”37Please respect copyright.PENANAuwwFdI7Pru
A blast of electricity whizzed past Achlys’ ear. That’s when she realized what Abyss did.37Please respect copyright.PENANAYhTSFdyr3t
“Of course,” Achlys growled. Achlys’s left arm was hidden behind her back and her eyes glowed red. “You should know, the only thing that lingers after the thunder is gone is the flame!” Achlys threw a fire ball at Abyss, who barely dodged. “So, we’re doing things the hard way.”37Please respect copyright.PENANAXAdN2K2N2n
“I guess so,” Abyss replied. His left arm was singed from the flames and numb from the bolt he’d just shot. He let it drop to his side with a groan.37Please respect copyright.PENANAE9OUFcEzEA
“Pathetic, you were injured before I even made a shot. How are you supposed to fight without your arm.”37Please respect copyright.PENANAWHZdIYtg8F
“Well... for starters,” Abyss said, summoning a lightning rod in his right hand and throwing it, aiming for her heart.37Please respect copyright.PENANAs1u7b3fOav
“I am not left-handed.” 37Please respect copyright.PENANAWMl5Xvytld
Achlys attempted to dodge, but her right hand was caught in the blast. She let out a cry of pain but replaced it with a growl. “Well, I have news for you, because I am.” A cone of flame shot out from her left hand, it formed into a dragon and spiraled around Abyss in a tornado of flames.37Please respect copyright.PENANARQA1z11PBn
Just as the large mouth came in from above to consume Abyss, he put up his right palm and absorbed the fire. The tornado unraveled and his veins glowed red in his arm. Almost just as quickly, his burning veins cooled, and the energy dissipated. Absorbing the effects with devour was different from absorbing the power from the source. I didn’t obtain the ability to control the flames simply by protecting himself.37Please respect copyright.PENANAsT4kzMGGMy
In the commotion, Abyss didn’t see Achlys’ glowing, green hair.37Please respect copyright.PENANAhGQB13FWkp
Abyss quickly began to feel nauseous, and it was only then that he realized what she was doing. Achlys lifted her arm, and the black, smoke-filled sky started to rain fire. Abyssal’s eyes widened as he realized the position he was in. He could only do so much against other abilities. If he wanted it all to stop, he had to get to her.37Please respect copyright.PENANAgD0lFh9Rh8
Abyss grit his teeth and allow sparks to fly off his body. Embers fell on his head and shoulders, but he didn’t have time to focus on the pain. Some of the flame was flicked away by the pulsing electricity, but it wasn’t enough to sustain him. Abyss mimicked Achlys’ motion and the storm clouds began to rumble.37Please respect copyright.PENANAoN5Paz1kia
Electricity joined the flames in the sky. A bolt of indigo lightning came down between the two super-powered teens.37Please respect copyright.PENANAsI64c6XpIj
“You missed,” Achlys smirked, but a loud rumble of thunder covered her voice. The embers glowed red on her skin, and she began to glow a blazing orange as the atmosphere charged her.37Please respect copyright.PENANAFLdEn1IiRD
The discharge from the bolt gathered around Abyssal’s feet and ran up his body as he glowed electric blue. “That feels a bit better. Never thought I’d end up liking so much electricity. He charged at Achlys who condensed the flames falling around her into a shield. Abyss pulled back just in time as Achlys was able to run off to the side. Abyss huffed and prepared to run after her.37Please respect copyright.PENANAdfevYhpnbB
Achlys’ feet and palms sparked as she converted them into small rockets and took to the sky again. Her face twisted into concentration as Abyss looked up at her in frustration. That’s when he realized she was trying to combine her powers. The flames in her hands flickered between red, white, and black until she was holding a smaller version of the giant orb she was before.37Please respect copyright.PENANApyxqv4eaUa
Abyss realized he had to act now before she finished charging her ability. He bent his legs and electricity crackled around his own hands and feet. As he jumped, he let the electricity explode beneath him, using the shockwaves to launch himself higher. He winced as he realized he couldn’t keep doing this, but he had to get higher.37Please respect copyright.PENANA0wUPe3DGCR
More blasts of electricity burst beneath him as he felt his legs and arms become sore. Abyss focused all his energy into his right fist that sparked blue and yellow.37Please respect copyright.PENANAH5MiZ3enHP
He aimed for the black flames now coming up from Achlys’ closed eyes.37Please respect copyright.PENANA6W9diJx4FB
Just as he made contact, the smaller orb exploded and threw him back, 3rd degree burns forming over half of his body.37Please respect copyright.PENANAFOHifumH0Q
Achlys fell back with a shriek of pain, clutching her face.
* * *
As the dust settled, Achlys was barely recovering and Abyss was unconscious, buried beneath dust and ash.37Please respect copyright.PENANAPlUVQoPAeJ
That’s when a large man, 10 feet tall, slowly approached the victor. His face was something almost serpentine with ridges on the top of his head like a crown.37Please respect copyright.PENANApJKANBE3RD
“The problem child has been disposed of on the battlefield. Now for his rebellious daughter.”
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