Chapter 99-Hot Springs

"Ahhh…"

I let out a sigh of relief as I sink deeper into the boiling water of the hot springs, the warm water soothing my soul.

I close my eyes, and relax in the warming embrace.

That is…until I hear Gaia let out a startled shout.

"WWAAAHHHH!!!!!"

"What, what is it?!" I cry as my eyes shoot open and I jump to my feet.

I peer over to Gaia, to find him staring at another man bathing in the hot springs, dumbstruck, as the two men frantically point towards one another.

"Y-y-you!" The two men stammer.

"Gaia…do you know this man?" Old-Man F asks.

"Yeah…" Gaia growls, "This is the member of the Children of Fire that I fought…the SECOND SUN."

Mine and Old-Man F's eyes widen.

That man that Gaia is pointing at is staring at us with an annoyed scowl. He has silver and purple spiky hair, which is matted down with water. On top of that, he has filthy, red blood-stained bandages covering his right eye. His most noticeable features are his silver prosthetic right leg and left arm.

"So this is the guy who has two elements…?" I ask.

"Yeah…" Gaia growls, "So what are you doing here, CARBON?"

"What am I doing here?!" Carbon snaps, "What are YOU doing here, Gaia?! This is my home town, you bastard!"

Gaia's eyes widen. "Your hometown?"

"Even though I haven't stepped foot in Agi Town in years, I grew up in these Hot Springs."

"What happened to your limbs?" Gaia asks as he motions to Carbon's prosthetic arm and leg.

Carbon turns away and sneers. "I got into a fight with Prometheus, he burnt 'em off. I created these prosthetics with my Steel Charge".

My eyes widen. "How come? Isn't Prometheus your leader? Smokey was wholly devoted to Prometheus…until the end."

"Don't compare me to that steamy fuck!" Carbon snaps as he turns to face me.

"I-I'm just curious!" I recoil, "Prometheus burnt my arm off, as well."

Carbon narrows his eyes at the wicked burn scars covering my body.

"You fought Prometheus…and lived? "How'd you manage that?"

"Not sure…" I sigh, "I blacked out mid-fight, and then Prometheus fled."

Carbon turns away and sighs. "I'm not like the others. I didn't join Prometheus to further his own goals. I joined…so that I can get close to Prometheus. And KILL him."

Gaia raises an eyebrow. "How come?"

"WHAT'S IT TO YOU!" Carbon snaps as he turns to face Gaia.

"OBVIOUSLY, we're against Prometheus," I explain as I narrow my eyes at Carbon, "And the more allies we have to stand against him…the better."

Carbon sighs.

"YEARS ago, Prometheus…sexually assaulted by grandmother," Carbon explains, causing our eyes to widen, "Making my mom Prometheus' daughter. From there, Prometheus forced my mom and dad to get it on, resulting in ME being born with two elements. THAT'S how Prometheus spreads his blood, his seed. That nasty BITCH screws any E-Charger he can find, in order to create powerful Fire-Charging "children"."

"I'm…sorry to hear that…" Old-Man F sighs.

I tremble in rage at Carbons' harsh words.

"Prometheus…" I growl, "That bastard…"

"Don't act like YOU'RE not capable of the same shit, Water Charger," Carbon sneers as he turns to face me, "He's YOUR older brother, you two are the same. Maybe I should try and kill you too…"

Immediately, the ground begins to tremble, as sand begins to swirl around Old-Man F.

"I'd like to see you try…" he and Gaia growl in unison. 

Carbon stares Gaia and Old-Man F down for a moment, before turning away.

"Whatever…I fought Prometheus and lost. I don't care about anything anymore…"

"That's perfect," I say as I hold a hand out to Carbon, "Then JOIN us."

Carbon raises an eyebrow at me. "I heard from Prometheus…didn't you try this same shit with Smokey?"

You fought Gaia to a draw. You're powerful, Carbon. Join my team…and I'll grant you a second shot at defeating Prometheus."

"TCH," Carbon smirks to himself, "You're a bastard, Water Charger."

I blink. "I am?"

"Yeah," Carbon answers as he turns back to face me and takes my hand, "I ain't gonna join you, but…I can at least help you out."

"How so?" I ask.

"I'll tell ya' what Prometheus is after-" Carbon answers as he slinks back into the Hot Springs, "All four E-Chargers of the original elements had been in one room, right?"

"Um…yeah. When we fought Prometheus."

"Perfect. Prometheus should now be headed towards the Tomb of the Last."

"The Tomb of the Last…?"

"It's an ancient temple said to be required for jump starting the Elemental Apocalypse. Prometheus once told us that once all four E-chargers reunite…he will head to the Tomb of the Last after thirteen days, in order to jumpstart the Elemental Apocalypse."

"Jumpstart?"

"Now that the four E-Chargers have made contact…the Elemental Apocalypse is starting to take place, hence all the earthquakes n' tornadoes n' shit," Carbon explains, "However…by feeding his blood to the Tomb of the Last, Prometheus can cause the Elemental Apcylapspe to trigger IMMEDIATELY, rather than gradually leading up to the event."

My eyes widen. "So if I never bothered searching for Prometheus…the Elemental Apocalypse would have never happened…?"

"Nah," Carbon answers, "Prometheus would have come to find ya', anyway."

"This is perfect," I smirk, "All we have to do is kill Prometheus before thirteen days, and we win."

"Maybe the map is leading us to the Tomb of the Last?" Old-Man F suggests.

"Are you sure?" Carbon asks, "Judging by those scars, even if you run into Prometheus again…you won't be able to defeat him."

"You sure about that?" Gaia asks.

"WANNA GO?!" Carbon asks as he jumps to his feet.

"Gladly…" Gaia growls as he does the same.

As the two men stare each other down…I can feel the tension in the air.

"Are they…rivals, now…?" I ask.

Old-Man F shrugs.

"So what do we have to do to get strong enough to kill Prometheus?" I ask.

"WE?" Carbon asks as he turns to face me, "I've heard about that Devil Eye of yours, Water Charger. Only YOU can defeat Prometheus."

A chill runs up and down my spine.

"Right…" I reply, "Prometheus can't negate my ability to E-Charge…"

"How about this," Carbon smirks, "Let's get out of the bath, and I'll tell you what you need to do."