It started to rain. The pouring begins slowly, but it grows stronger by the second.
Zeth pales in the realization that he is facing a much stronger opponent. He wondered if Accelerate is fast enough to run, but Zela, in his mind, argues otherwise.
[Oh no you ain't!]
I was just considering… But I think there's no way out of this.
[There's really no way out of this! We either die later or now!]
Meanwhile, Frank watches Zeth's intense expression. He gently approaches, traversing the edges of the hole he had created.
Zeth also walks, but towards the other direction, avoiding the enemy.
"Child, what is your role in Zachariah's company?"
Frank asked, slowly chasing after Zeth.
"He kinda recruited me into his squad."
Replied Zeth, closing the distance between him and Hannibal and the unconscious Zoey, Zion, and Zephyr.
"Ah. May I offer you a position at mine? Spots recently vacated."
Frank smiles with his offer, and he stops when he reaches the spot where Zeth originally was.
"I know positions are vacated. We just killed one of you, and one joined us. I bet the Forces killed more."
Zeth rejects the offer with a bit of snark in his tone. As soon as he arrived at the location where Frank was, he knelt and inspected Hannibal and the three of them for their condition.
First were Zoey and Zephyr. They were bruised and battered, wounded but not bleeding. He released a sigh of relief.
However, Hannibal and Zion are releasing hot, colored steam and appear to be unresponsive, but nothing is life-threatening. Their bodies seem to be regenerating.
After checking in on them, Zeth stood up and turned his attention to Frank, who was patiently waiting for him.
"Bold of you to turn your back on the enemy."
Frank let out a smirk while raising a brow.
"It was nice of you to wait. Besides, I had to check my comrades."
"May I know your name? I don't usually face brave young underlings who are as naive as you."
"Name's Zeth, and don't count me out just yet."
Zeth rips off the upper half of his jumpsuit, revealing his stitched-up and lean body.
Frank grew curious, his eyes locked on Zeth's stitched features.
"You're an underling? Impressive. What Zystem do you possess? As you can see, my body is similar to yours, only I have less patchwork. Did someone do that, or did you do that to yourself?"
Frank points at his hand, the one he can detach and send flying, and on the wrist, there is a tangle of uneven seams.
"You got a lot of questions, huh. I didn't do this to myself. It just shows up when I got my powers."
Zeth assumes an offensive stance, gritting with anticipation.
"I have the same predicament, child. When the Creator gave me mine, it felt like I received a new life. A chance to prosper with his gifts and spread his word. But it does come with a price. My body turned into this unsightly vessel. For my Zystem to function, I have to make sacrifices."
Behind him, Frank glances at his coils. It hisses as it starts heating up.
"So you let your Creator put metal rods behind you so that you can control lightning?"
"My Zystem is more than lightning, child. Unholy Intentions is a gift that permits me to take someone's spark away from them with just one smite. Their life force empowers me to unimaginable lengths or… Use an even deadlier technique to vanish them in this realm once and for all."
Frank motions with his arms, presenting the abyss he created.
"Care to simplify it for me? Did you kill him?"
"In other words, child, the more I use it, the more powerful I am to send him to hell!"
The downpour grew stronger. The gusts of wind blow away small debris and fragile knick-knacks from the collapsed building. The rain is cold and wet—Zeth glances behind, worried for the well-being of the soaked-up Zoldiers.
"So the more you use it, the deeper the hole gets?"
"Exactly."
"Right. Enough questions. Are we doing this or not?"
Clenching his fists, Zeth's eyes glowed green.
"Brat. I explained my Zystem, and you won't indulge me with yours?"
"I prefer to give a demonstration."
Zeth boldly said. All Frank could do was acknowledge it and snicker.
Then they jumped from their spots and charged at each other, meeting at the center of the hole. Knowing that they could fall with one wrong move, that may be their plan.
Having only mere seconds, they act fast and think faster.
They met mid-air, with no footing, and were only a few feet above the endless pit.
Zeth threw the first punches. It was a series of barrages that combined a few kicks and sneaky headbutts.
[What is your plan?]
Get his Zystem. Defeat him with it!
Meanwhile, Frank casually dodges. His fists were beside him, waiting for the opportunity.
Everything happened in just one second.
Exactly two seconds later, Frank launched his projectile fist. It sets itself on fire and heads straight to Zeth's jaw.
But Zeth manages to block it, capturing Frank's severed hand with his palm.
Frank used the distraction, switching to offense. He manhandled Zeth like a doll. Kicking, punching, and even headbutting as well, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
When Frank's knee connected with his abdomen, Zeth puked some blood. He recalls the supposed training he had earlier with Zach. He thought Frank's blow hurt more. The captain must've been pulling his punches after all.
Three seconds in. Thunder struck.
Zeth refuses to lose. Instead of going offensive or defensive, he decided to wrestle Frank. He tackles the brute beast in front of him and locks his arms around Frank's waist.
"What are you trying to achieve here, child?"
Frank used his elbows and repeatedly sank them hard on Zeth's spine.
Zeth continues to grapple, hooking his feet behind Frank's ankles, yanking forcefully.
Four seconds.
Frank is about to bend backwards. In an attempt to save him, his rocket fist punches Zeth's face left and right to no avail.
Desperate, Zeth pushes both of them down.
"You fool!"
Frank puts his hand on Zeth's neck, strangling him.
"Am I?"
Zeth said coarsely as the hand grips tighter on his throat.
Five seconds.
But the distinguished underling won't let a child bring him down easily. Frank's eyes glow blue.
"Lightspark!"
Frank's coils hissed, releasing a wave of electrifying power.
Zeth screams in pain, and the shocking energy crawls throughout his body. It almost fried him up, certainly causing parts of him to be burned.
Released from Zeth's grip, Frank tosses the seemingly electrocuted Zeth. Caught by his flying fist, he holds himself with his own hands, his body hanging in the air.
Zeth falls, fading faint smoke trails.
Six seconds.
Frank assumed he won. He was mistaken. When he looked down to watch Zeth descend, he was in disbelief.
Below, the pit is blocked by thick, thread-like strings, roughly resembling a disorganized spider's web.
At the center, Zeth lies comfortably. Limbless but not helpless.
"Huh?"
Frank exclaimed, baffled.
Suddenly, Zeth's own floating arms and legs spin and strike Frank, hitting him from different angles and directions.
Frank jerks and growls as he takes the blows, absorbing every hit. All he could do was raise himself, hoping to avoid the frenzied limbs.
However, the limbs are powered by the Accelerate, a Zystem Zeth acquired a while back. Their speed catches up to Frank with ease.
Frank continues to tank the kicks and punches, swatting the limbs like flies. But enough is enough.
"Deathspark!"
Frank unleashes a massive discharge of energy from his overheating coils.
But it missed.
From the pit, on the spiderweb. A standing and unfazed Zeth somehow reattaches his limbs. He looks up, smirking.
Seven seconds.
Even at a high altitude, Frank could see the cockiness. Annoyed, he drops himself from the air. Headfirst, arms stiff beside him, diving straight towards Zeth. His posture generates a whistling sound.
Zeth jumps, expecting to meet him again mid-air. He extends his arms and detaches, attempting to grab Frank.
But he will have none of it. Frank intercepts the arms, grabbing them as he heads straight down.
Out of options. Zeth used his head. Literally.
BONK
Frank slammed his forehead into Zeth's skull. The impact ignited a shockwave of strength that stopped the pouring rain. A fog of steam builds up.
Eight seconds.
The fog creates a silhouette of their profile. They are both teetering and swaying, their stances all over the place. They hear each other groan in pain and confusion.
The dark clouds above move slowly, and the shy sun shines sheepishly behind. The smoke clears, revealing the two exhausted combatants.
Nine seconds.
Zeth exhales deeply, out of breath. Bruised and battered. Blood drips down his brow.
"In another life, our similarities in power would make us great acquaintances."
Frank said, almost at wits' end.
"I can use the time to explain more of my Zystem. But I guess you got the gist of it."
Zeth jests.
"Yes."
Frank sullenly said.
"But I don't have the time, and the similarities end here."
Frank added, posturing up.
"Time to finish this."
His coils heat up, hissing, almost melting.
Zeth blinked, desperately processing and planning fast.
"Lifespark."
Ten seconds.
[Blood sample acquired, loser! You gained the Unholy Intention Zystem! You now have access to his—]
Zela said before Zeth blacked out.