The time has come for Frank to show the true power of his Zystem. There will be no distraction this time to end Burn Abbey's finest General. However, he is aware of his limitations. Once he activates his ultimate move, he won't be able to do so again due to the conditions his power requires.
He pondered for a second, recalling the lecture his Creator had once given him regarding his Zystem's limit. Every underling has their own set of conditions for them to manifest their ultimate.
There are three levels of power in a Zystem. The first level is the basic power abilities; Frank's flaming projectile fist and regeneration are among them. The second level is an advanced set of abilities, including his Lightspark and Deathspark attacks, which he demonstrated earlier. Then, finally, the last level, his ultimate. A power he will now present.
Frank thought about the day his Creator had given him his Zystem. He watched the clouds form and grow dark, which reminded him of an orchestra he once heard. Their music repeatedly plays in his mind, ceaselessly torturing him with a past he once was.
But it is not the time for nostalgic recollections, he thought. Now, it is time to use his ultimate power.
Frank raised his index finger. It slowly combusts, then it turns into a bright, flickering electric ball of energy. His eyes slowly surge into a blue blinding light.
"Behold. Lifespar–"
"Oi!"
Before Frank could utter his move, a familiar voice annoyingly disrupted him.
Frank glances in the direction of the noise.
"You look like the real deal. Are you the real deal? I think you are the real deal. What do you think, Zeth?"
Frank stops, shifts his focus, and turns toward the approaching individuals.
On top of the cement rubble and metal foundations, the carefree Zach stands, and behind him is Zeth, staring anxiously.
"You kinda look like that one dude we met earlier. Were you the one he was trying to be?! Ha! That's kinda embarrassing. Imagine your colleague having a crush on you!"
"So it seems Wahn failed his task."
Frank frowns.
"Wahn? Whatever. Let's fight!"
Zach said as he let out a grin, slamming his fist into his palm, confidently ready to throw down.
Zeth, however, didn't speak. His eyes locked on Hannibal's weakened form, then shifting his gaze to Frank. He sees Zoey and Zion lying face down on the ground. He clenched his fist, impatiently waiting to start the battle.
[Yeah, we are so eating that ugly fella.]
Zach jumps off the rubble and onto the concrete ground where the collapsed building once stood.
"So, are you the ring leader? The one leading a bunch of clowns?"
Zach pops his knuckles and stretches. Zeth follows and jumps off, and they both approach Frank.
"Greetings, Zachariah. I am Frank. It is such a delight to finally meet you."
Frank steps away from Hannibal and walks towards Zach.
At this point, the General is frozen still, emitting a large amount of silver and golden steam throughout his fragile, thin body. Behind him are Zoey, Zion, and Zephyr, whom he saved.
"You know me? Well, I can't say I'm surprised."
Zeth stops in his tracks, hands in his pockets.
"Why, of course. Everybody knows the infamous Zachariah Stein throughout the seven great cities. Especially in Necrocity…"
Frank ceases from his approach as well, close enough for him and Zach to have a standoff.
"Huh."
It took a second for Zach to reply as if he was thinking about something, but his sly smile was still present.
"Yes."
Frank said in return. A gust of wind passed by, and clouds of dust flew.
Silence. Tension rising. Zeth felt it.
What are they talking about?
Zeth asks himself, hoping for Zela to answer, but she doesn't.
"So, the kidnappings, it was Necrocity?"
Zark inquires. His tone turns serious.
"Precisely. We are building an army, and the Creator invites you to join us."
Frank extends his hand, offering it to Zach.
"No, thank you! I heard your training program back there is nuts!"
Switching back ot his upbeat demeanor, Zach points at the unconscious Zion.
"Ah. Not every product can be perfected, sadly. Zion is just one of the disappointments in our ranks. But I assure you, the Creator's plan is in motion."
Frank glances at Zion before turning his attention back to Zach, smiling.
"Kidnapping underling children is a wild plan, not gonna lie. Resurrecting a dead city is even crazier! How about this: why can't we let bygones be bygones, and you let me kill you here now, and I'll send him a message to fuck off eternally!"
Zach pouts, gesturing defiantly by raising his middle finger and showing it to Frank.
"Ah, I was told by the Creator that you would object. But I was also told to bring you to his throne… Dead or alive. He is waiting, Zachariah! He awaits you at the city where it all once began!"
"I doubt that."
"And why is that?"
"I just doubt it."
Zach eyes Zeth on his side, smirking, then returns his focus to Frank.
"Is that so? The Creator does work in strange ways."
Frank chuckles, then he shakes his head in disapproval. Soon, he covers his face. In the end, he frowns as if something disappointed him.
"The past was decided, and the future will be determined. The seven great cities stand and will be ready. The Zoldiers are prepared to fight another war. Can your Creator afford to waste thousands of his monsters like you just to prove a point?"
Zach tries to get through to Frank, but to no avail. His reasons can't penetrate a fanatic follower like him.
"You fool. The events of the past are only a matter of perspective! The future will be decided by what happens now. I, for one, know that it is our time to come out on top."
"Is that what he told you? You are blind, Frank, really demented in the coo coo blind. Just look at yourself! Do you really think that he will succeed in his plans?"
"Silence! I will not tolerate another blasphemous word against the Creator!"
Frank suddenly shouted.
"You dare ask me to look within myself? Then, let me ask: have you looked within yourself? Has colluding with the so-called civilized dulled your mind? Does keeping company with Zoldiers make you forget the past? Do you think it redefines you when you coddle with the sheep?! Let me tell you something, non-believer—"
Frank continues, his face contorting in a violent expression.
"It does not."
His voice growled, mouth almost salivating. Frank was overwhelmed by emotions.
There is a rift between them as if they had known each other before. The tension rises even more. Zeth felt it. It made him tremble to be mixed up with the two as a bystander. Awkward, at least, is what he felt at times as he tried not to feel anxious about the situation.
But it was no mistake that he felt such pain in Frank's voice.
"Am I talking to Frank or to you?"
Zach said. There was melancholy in his voice.
His head was facing down, drooling. Frank regained consciousness. Finally awake once again. He wipes his mouth and poses distinguishably like a fine gentleman.
"Apologies. The Creator allows himself to join in on the conversation. You see, one of his specialties in ensuring loyalty from servants such as myself is that he has planted his seeds within our bodies to… Monitor our activities."
Frank explained.
Zach didn't respond for a moment, apparently saddened by the words uttered. For the first time, Zeth somehow saw the team captain vulnerable.
"Heh. Ew, should you be saying that stuff to us? Err, too much information, am I right, Zeth? He does that a lot?"
Zach grins, his eyes slowly glowing a bright white light.
"Often."
Frank's head combusts, and his coils start heating up again.
[Y- You need to step away, Zeth!]
What? Why?
[Just get the hell outta here!]
Foolishly, Zeth didn't budge. It was a deadly standoff.
Zeth felt the deadly auras building up. A tremendous dread suddenly stunned him, rendering him unable to move away from the epicenter. The power that surges between Frank and Zach reaches its critical point.
It happened quickly and simultaneously. Zeth didn't know who moved first. All Zeth saw was Frank raising his index finger. At the same time, Zach performs the hand sign he had done earlier against Wahn.
"Ultimate Move. Lifespark!"
A deafening ring followed by a burst of blinding light suddenly pierced Zeth. He felt a raw, electrifying shockwave before a thunderous noise roared through.
KOOM
When everything finally settled, Zeth finally got his senses back. But in front of him is a bottomless hole between him and Frank.
Where Zach stood is now an abyss, precisely carved and infinitely dark.
Zeth, still and motionless, was shocked by the power Frank presented.
"Behold, child, my Zystem."
Accomplished, Frank blew the thin trail of smoke curling from his fingertip.
"My Unholy Intention."