The Ardent Saga Omnibus

by Nathan Howe

  “Or just that much stronger than you,” Valiant Rush said.

  “No.” Gravitation Woman sent out a burst of gravity at the villain. He shrugged that off. “Definitely magic. He walked through it way too easily, and that would repel even you.”

  “Fine, magic.” Valiant Rush stepped up to the guy. “Doesn't mean we can't beat him.”

  James' eyes narrowed, and he rubbed his chin. “What's so wrong with magic?”

  Gravitation Woman sent another burst of gravity at him that bounced off again. “No idea, but for some reason, those who use magic or have magical objects can resist natural Ardent powers. Not completely. If we continue to bombard him, we'll take him down. Just take ten times longer.”

  Great. James removed his sword. Good thing his powers weren't the same.

  The person smiled through his skull mask. “You stand zero chance of beating me.”

  Valiant Rush attacked with speed that James didn't think possible and landed a punch on him that sent him flying. He laughed. Was that all he did? James rushed at him, sword ready. He swung with all his might, but before it connected a bolt of lightning sent him careening into Gravitation Woman knocking them both to the ground. James jumped to his feet, quickly rotating to assist Gravitation Woman up. “You okay?” he asked.

  She dusted herself off while staring past James. “I'm fine.”

  An epic battle of fisticuffs was occurring in front of them. Valiant Rush fought the mystery villain toe to toe. James wanted to be able to do that. Go up against the biggest and strongest. Someday he would. Colby preached time and patience. It would be great if it happened now. James sprinted behind the skirmish to sneak up on the person and support Valiant Rush. James took his sword to attack and swung with the blade to the side as not slice his man. Before it connected the villain shot another bolt of lightning, this one right into Valiant Rush. It staggered Valiant Rush but didn't knock him back as it did to James. The villain caught James' sword. “That the best you got.” The villain taunted them. Playing with them.

  Valiant Rush pounced and pulled the skull mask off. James staggered backward, his jaw dropped. No! It couldn't be. “David?”

  David shook his head. “David no more. I am One Rush!”

  James dropped to his knees. He's alive. Yet he didn't feel relieved. David had mutated. Something corrupted him, made him do this. First Scott and now David. James' family was collapsing around him.

  Petrice spoke to him. We are on our way.

  David is alive.

  I noticed.

  James stood. “You can't beat us all, David.”

  “One Rush,” he said. “And the three of you won't be a problem.”

  James smiled. In the distance, Mortal, Chilling, and Pixie flew to them. The six of them would easily handle him. Well, not easily but they'd take him into custody and hopefully restore him to the person that James cared about. David followed James' gaze.

  “Damn,” David cursed. “I'll kill you. My master will see to it.”

  “Who's your master?” Valiant Rush asked.

  “A powerful man,” David said. “Soon he'll tell me his plan. And I'll make sure that he succeeds.”

  A dozen zombies emerged from the ground, bringing their awful scent with them. David smiled. James tried to detect the source. In the sky not far behind David, a short man flew with shoulder-length brown hair and a black and purple outfit.

  Lightning shot from David. Connecting with Gravitation Woman and knocking her out. She lay motionless on the ground. Great, protecting her was key now. The zombies swarmed to her. The stench they produced staggered James, he'd never get used to it. Along with their appearance, bones protruding everywhere and skin dangling every which way.

  Mortal, Chilling, and Pixie landed in a semi-circle around Gravitation Woman. Tentacles formed around the zombies, Chilling's work. It was an impressive Netherworld trick. It allowed Valiant Rush and James the chance to work through the zombies as if David wasn't still here. He hit James from behind. “Ahh!” James shrieked as his skin melted from the heat the lightning David struck him with. A loud thud on the ground sent James tumbling down.

  Petrice

  Great. Scott. He wasn't alone. A short man flew above. He smiled as watched the scene below.

  “Hold!” the Netherworld user said as he lowered himself. David and Scott joined him one on each side of him.

  “Who are you?” Chilling asked.

  Petrice tried to scan his mind. “Aaaah!”

  “Tsk, tsk,” the man said waving a finger. “Don't go venturing into my mind Mortal. Or any of the others here. You'll hurt yourself.”

  The man held out his chest, making himself bigger, he was still tiny compared to the mammoth men on either side of him. “As for who I am. Call me Spector. I am the strongest Netherworld user there ever was.”

  “You've gone mad,” Chilling said. “Release it.”

  Spector smirked. “Mad? Me? I don't think so. I've embraced the Netherworld unlike you who fears it.”

  “For good reason. It's an evil and dangerous plane with creatures you don't understand.”

  A deep, loud howl burst from Spector. “You think I don't realize the danger. You're a fool Chilling.”

  James somehow fully recovered from the ambush and inched forward. Tentacles spawned around him. “Stay still, the adults are talking,” Spector said. “You may think you stand a chance, but I have the real muscle with me.”

  Petrice couldn't argue with him. Valiant Rush was strong, but no match for Scott; if only Invincible were here. And her mind tricks were useless too. With Gravitation Woman out, they were at a real disadvantage

  Invincible we are under attack in Djinn park. That was all she managed. It wasn't easy talking over such a distance to people not closely related. She needed to correct that. She hoped it worked and he'd show up and support them.

  “Okay,” James said through gritted teeth. “Talk.”

  “You can't use the Stone of Azuria, Spector,” Chilling pleaded. “The amount of damage you'd do to yourself, to those around you.”

  Spector shrugged. “Please. I've used the stone and I will again.”

  Petrice didn't enjoy the sound of that. Chilling said he sensed him using it. But didn't know what he did. Petrice hoped it wasn't anything too crazy. From what she saw so far of the Netherworld, nothing good came from it. They must locate the stone and reacquire it. Not let him operate it anymore.

  Chilling stared at Spector. Eyeing him with intense hate. Petrice didn't think it was possible for a hero to hate another so much. It scared her. Chilling eyes darted to David, then Scott. He frowned. “You used it on them didn't you?”

  “I have.”

  “How could you,” Petrice shrieked. “What did they do to you?”

  “Me? Personally. Nothing. I required the strongest at my side. So I acquired it. You were going be next. Your family was going to be my stepping stone. Letting me take control of the city.”

  “Why me?”

  “You're part of a powerful family. You'd wreak havoc on the city under my command. A nice little collection. Two brutes at my side. You'd add an interesting dynamic. Make us more powerful than Ashes.”

  “I'd die before I helped you.”

  Spector shrugged. “David said the same thing. But Scott here. He volunteered.”

  Scott sneered.

  “No.” Petrice couldn't wouldn't believe it. The Scott she grew up with protected others. “You're lying.”

  “Afraid not,” Spector said.

  “No.” Scott bared his teeth and stared intensely at Petrice. “I hated being part of the Hero Coalition. All their rules.” He spat as he continued to talk. “And our family is so stifling. I wanted power. To be free to use my strength at full force. And Spector allowed that. He granted me even more. He made me stronger.” Veins throbbed in his neck.

  Petrice cried. She rocked back and forth closing her eyes. Trying to pretend this wasn't happening. How could her family be evil, forced
or otherwise? She wanted to mend them. Part of her thought about reaching out to their mind, with them being so close she'd be able to at least touch them. But she feared now they would radiate pain and knock her down, similar to the zombies or Spector's mind. The taint of the Netherworld on them. She saw it clearly now, in their eyes that the Netherworld had a firm grasp on them. They'd never be the same.

  Spector

  The pain on Mortal's face brought a smile to Spector. He lived for it. To cause as much pain as possible to any Ardent, that was in his way. He'd be the most powerful ever. Of that he was certain.

  “Enough,” Chilling said. There was something about Chilling that frightened Spector. The way he had contact with the Netherworld differed from his own. You didn't see it seeping from him. No matter. “What is your plan with the Stone of Azuria?”

  “My plan? It's simple, complete and total rule of the city. Ensurift. The World.”

  The heroes present eyed him with contempt. They heard this before, Spector was sure. But none had his power or the Stone of Azuria. Spector planned on backing up his statement and soon.

  “That's not possible. Not even the stone would offer you that much power.” Chilling hovered connected to the Netherworld.

  “Doesn't matter. I'll hold sway over the city soon. I'll summon so many creatures you'll be overwhelmed and outmatched.”

  Spector smiled showing teeth. The thought of the people in downtown running around for their lives from zombies, ghouls and more. A glorious thought.

  Spector leaned in slightly to Super. “Take out Valiant Rush.”

  Then to One Rush. “Your cousin, Broken I believe, shatter him.”

  Both nodded.

  Super lowered his shoulder, sprinted at his top speed and rammed it into Valiant Rush. Spector reached into the Netherworld and freed his zombies, in doing so, James was freed. And he avoided One Rush's strike. Damn. Spector launched his own burst against Mortal. She would be the first victim of his ascent to the top of the Cynosure food chain. The zombies preoccupied Chilling, Pixie, and Mortal as they protected their injured comrade.

  Spector used this to his advantage as the war progressed in front of him. Valiant Rush gave it his all against Super, but that was a losing battle. As was the one that Broken had with One Rush. A perfect plan made Spector more certain he would win. If he removed this bunch from the picture now, the rest wouldn't stand a chance.

  He reached into the Netherworld. He couldn't call any more creatures right now and survive. If he had the stone, he'd be able to, but he left it behind for safety. His next step was to learn how to use it to call the horde. But first, he ventured deeper in the Netherworld. Pulled the darkness into himself, it both burned and soothed him. He held it for a moment and sent a blast at Mortal.

  “Watch out!” Pixie warned. But she was too late. The bolt of Netherworld darkness seeped into Mortal. She screamed in agony and dropped to the ground.

  “You bastard,” Pixie said. She fired a volley of arrows at Spector. He brought up a shield of darkness. They fell to the ground harmlessly.

  “I've won. Face it.” Spector hovered in the air. Laughing.

  A thud sounded in front of him. There stood Invincible, with a half dozen other heroes.

  “Run!” Spector shouted. He flew off into the air as fast as he could. “Plan W,” he shouted with a hint of panic in his voice.

  One Rush and Super let off their most powerful punches and strikes, suppressing the heroes. Letting them achieve a brief head start. Spector used his connection to the Netherworld to create a fog to block the view. They escaped back to the hideout unseen.

  James

  The others quickly dispatched the last few zombies. Gravitation Woman and Mortal lay on the ground. “Are they alive?” James asked. They weren't moving. His heart pounded against his chest. He worried that she was dead. If she died and he lived, James would never forgive himself. He owed her and needed her to be alive to repay that debt.

  Chilling nodded. “But not for long. Get them to the hospital at downtown headquarters. I'll fly over to support the doctors. I can help slow the progression. They have the equipment to halt the process and to channel the light back into people.”

  That wasn't close, and the traffic would kill them. James couldn't let his cousin die. She saved his life. He ached from the brawl with David. But he would tough it out. “I'll carry Mortal.”

  “Are you sure?” Invincible asked. “I can have another do it.”

  “I'm faster.” James was sure he was the fastest here. This was needed.

  Invincible nodded. “Okay. Be safe and quick Broken.”

  “I will.” Broken had no worries about him, it was Mortal. She appeared weak and fragile.

  “Aegis Embers,” Invincible said. “Can you carry Gravitation Woman?”

  He nodded and walked over to pluck her up as James lifted Mortal. Her skin had turned from the usual tone to a dark purple with hints of black. James cringed. She didn't look well. Aegis Embers was James size but had wings on his back, and skin a bright orange color. Not human, a Phoenix who could fly. He leaped into the sky and flew away with Gravitation Woman while James sprinted out of the park.

  Petrice's body was heavy in his arms. Her breathing shallow and she moaned a few times. James wouldn't let her die. He tried to make himself faster. Come on nanobots, go. The weight in his arms lifted slightly. His speed increased. He rushed past cars, dodging them. Horns followed behind him, but he didn't care.

  At the bridge to downtown, Petrice screamed out. “Noooo!” then slumped back lifeless in his arms. Darkness seeped out of her. The skin was even darker, soon she'd be yet another shade. Her eye's sunk deeper on her face.

  “Stay strong Petrice,” James whispered. “Getting close.”

  In the distance, the top of the headquarters rose above. Only a few more miles. It would be in the hands of the people that saved his own life once he arrived. James trusted the people at the Hero Coalition. Even if they did crazy experimental stuff if it saved Petrice that is all that mattered. He worried he wasn’t fast enough, that his own speed wouldn’t get her there in time.

  James turned on the last street, in front of the building a gaggle of people stood, dressed in scrubs. Good, they called ahead. Fear left him knowing they would be working right away. He hadn’t even known he was that scared of having to rush in and up, but he had been.

  He reached the doctor and gently laid Petrice on a bed. “She's barely breathing,” James panted. He couldn’t help but stare at her barely rising and falling chest and panic. He did his best to control himself.

  “We got her.” He shooed James away. They strapped Petrice in and rushed into the building without glancing back.

  Several remained out front staring at the sky waiting for Aegis Embers to arrive with Gravitation Woman. James stood in front unsure what to do. Should he go in or wait? He didn't want to get in the way.

  A few moments later Aegis Embers landed with Gravitation Woman. They rushed her up. She wasn't completely out like Petrice was. She suffered the damage from being hit by lightning, it could kill you, and James cringed experiencing the pain again. In a way, he was lucky they didn't have to rush him here.

  James circled the statue of Titus in front of the building. He wanted to do something, but unsure what. This Spector person was completely nuts. The Netherworld had corrupted him beyond repair. That much James figured out for himself. He didn't understand the Netherworld but from what the others said you didn't mess around with it. If it was the home of zombies, that told James everything.

  After his tenth time around the statue, his eyes scanned the building wondering what they were doing to Petrice. He only wanted them to cure her or keep her from being evil. The thought of her to being like David and Scott petrified James.

  Later, several others stepped out of a Hero Coalition truck, in the group Invincible, Valiant Rush and Pixie. “Have you had a medic check you out?” Invincible asked.

  “No. I'm fine.”
James ached from the battle, but he ignored it.

  “Go. You too Valiant Rush. You both took heavy shots today. I'll talk to Chilling soon to figure this out.”

  “But–.”

  “No.” Invincible had interrupted James before he protested. “You go to the medics. Let them check you out. We will find a way to fix this.”

  James relented and walked into the building with Valiant Rush next to him. “You did well today Broken.”

  “I wish I felt that way.”

  “You stood toe to toe with people stronger than you, with more training than you. And you're here to tell the tale. That's a win.”

  James shrugged. “They got away. Mortal and Gravitation Woman are hurt badly.”

  “Those things happen. They are alive. They'll recover. As a hero, learning to cope with people getting hurt is a skill one must master. It's an unfortunate part of the job.”

  A tough thing to accept. James didn't want to. He'd try his best to not let it happen again. James would be better than the evil scum that is attacking him next time. James vowed he'd protect those around him.

  At the downtown headquarters, they had a medical division where they saved James and now worked on Petrice. But they had a smaller medical center for the basic checkups that James and Valiant Rush required. They walked up to the third floor of the building to the clinic. The area bustled with people in scrubs, at the front desk sat a normal person, most of the people that worked in either hospital here weren't Ardents. Some Ardents worked in them because their primary power was healing based. Many of them were field medics. That would be enough for them. Just get some Grunt candy, painkillers to dull the pain and let them go.

  A nurse took both through several tests. Checking them inside and out. Passing them through several machines that beeped and buzzed as they stood or laid still in them. James hated it.

  An hour later the nurse stood in front of them. “You both should take a few days off,” he said. “But I know better than to make you. Just try to take it easy. You have bumps and bruises that will fade.”