The Power of the Prince

"I wish to save my master" Manic answered.

"Within your mind I can see you were not the one who requested an audience with me." The titan responded.

"It appears your thoughts are not completely your own. You have interference blocking your true self. I can see it, dormant within."

"My true self?" Manic questioned.

"You will see in time the seeds of discord have already been planted within. Although you may not yet be aware."

Manic was confused by his answer. He lacked understanding of things outside of accomplishment of his objective. Although he was able to think he was inhibited to only focus on the task at hand.

"You are quite an interesting case, you are the first to commune with our world. So I will give you some insight into what has happened. Something within you requested power beyond what the power crystal typically provides you for absorption."

"We have always maintained a mutually beneficial relationship as we do not reside in your 4th dimensional world. Think of our crystals as anchors tethering our world to yours. The crystals naturally maintain a set amount of power after charging is complete. The rest is absorbed into our world which feeds my kind."

"The crystal within you just so happens to be of my essence. Which is why I summoned you here, I can lend you a portion of my power."

"I'm not sure if you will be able to survive it as you are now, I will grant it to you under a condition if you survive you must accomplish a task for me. Do you accept?"

"I accept" Manic replied.

"I am Prince Larimar and I am with you. Accept my offering and don't forget our pact if you survive this encounter."

Manic returned to the physical world his system began to boot up again.

"System analysis: system operations restored."

"Anomaly detected."

Manic lifted his head. In the distance he could see Halcie and Keonu engaging Azeri.

Keonu touched the ground and blue energy began to form at his elbow and pulsed towards his palm. It caused a fissure to form and crack open the earth. It started at Keonu and raced towards Azeri. This caused Azeri to fall off balance and Halcie jumped in to capitalize on the opportunity. She lunges at Azeri with her super heated blade. As she drew within striking range of Azeri activated his stasis field drastically slowing her momentum.

"Did you think you had me?" Azeri whispered to Halcie.

Azeri then stabbed Halcie with his short sword through the lower left portion of her stomach. The blade protruded through her back. Halcie gasped in shock. She glanced back at Manic out the corner of her eye. She was too weak to speak but she mouthed "Im sorry."

Images of Halcie began to flash in Manic's head.

"I'm gonna build you into my best creation yet."

"I'll always protect you my son."

"I lost my Mom and Dad early on in the war, but now that I have you, I can have a family again."

System corruption detected: system Error...error

Manic vision blurred and a feeling he had never felt before began to overrun him.

"What is this power." Manic thought.

Strong feelings of sorrow, hate and rage began to overwhelm him. They came gushing out like a broken dam.

A power began to surge into him. The power permeating from him crystal was so intense his chest became illuminated. A dark aura began to spread around him like black flames. He appeared as a demon being awakened from a long slumber.

Everyone engaged in battle froze when they felt the chill of the aura reach them. Azeri dropped his sword and Halcie collapsed facing Manic.

"...Manic." Halcie was able to utter before passing out from the trauma of the blade within her abdomen.

The fire from the burning wrecked seemed to be absorbed by the aura and the air seemed to be sapped of all heat until there was an icy chill all around.

"What is this power." Azeri uttered in disbelief.

"This is beyond the power crystal, where is this power coming from?"

The dark flame began to fill in Manic's dismantled arm and leg. He stood up and faced Azeri. The flames raged from the creases in his frame. His hair waved as a wild black blaze of flame.

Manic paced towards Azeri, the dark aura pulsed with every step.

"System access: stasis field."

Azeri activated the stasis field and took a defensive posture.

Manic took a deep breath, steam poured from his mouth as he exhaled.

"Azeri you would dare harm my friends and ..my mother." Manic bellowed his voice distorted from the power radiating from his body.

Manic dashed in cutting right through his stasis field as if it didn't exist. Azeri gasped, evasion was impossible at the speed Manic was moving. Ironically time seemed to move in slow motion. He watched the overflowing rage and power pouring from Manic. He could feel the icy aura freezing him in place.

Manic cocked his arm back in the dash and delivered a blow that sent Azeri flying into the wreckage of the toppled building. The building collapsed inward as the force of Azeri's body hurdling in destroyed the pillars propping it up.

Manic paused standing in place then collapsed. Falling unconscious where he lied. The dark aura around him dissipated and the temperature around him returned to normal.

Keonu ran over to Halcie to see if she was still alive.

"Halcie... Halcie." He yelled as he checked her pulse. It was weak but he could still feel it.

He glanced up at Manic, now reverted to the heap he was once before.

"What was that? I've never seen anything like it."

Halcie opened her eyes slightly and saw Keonu kneeling beside her.

"Keonu my love...please get my son and Iona out of here." Halcie confessed as she pleaded.

"It's too late for me."

Before Keonu could respond a rumbling could be heard in the wreckage. Azeri came walking out of the dust. He was badly damaged but was able to mitigate some of impact with plasma shields. He was lucky Manic wasn't wielding a weapon when he engaged.

"I must have that boy." Azeri sneered breathing heavily.

Keonu wasted no time.

" System access: Advanced Vanguard."

The command ported Iona and Manic to his position.

"System access: recall"

The blue aura surrounded them again and ported them back to Hyylion where he first tested the ability.

"Aya, we need you now." Keonu radioed to the aid station.

Azeri stood glaring into the distance. His face softened.

"It appears the operation was a success. The inhibitor has been lifted with the virus I implanted....It appears I underestimated the Archivist, he really does wield great knowledge. I'll be seeing you all soon residents of Hyylion. I must have that boy."