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INFERNAL BLIZZARD
It was Nicholas, bursting out from the darkness and lunging at Max, who barely had time to react before they were locked in a furious struggle on the wet ground. Nicholas kept yelling, "MURDERER!" his voice hoarse with anger and desperation, demanding to know how he could live with himself.
I knew I had to act fast before things got out of hand. I tried to pull them apart, but they were too strong and too focused on their fight to listen to reason. As I scanned the area for something to separate them, I realized we were deep in the rainforest with nothing but trees and bushes around us.
In one of my efforts to stop the fight, I resorted to yelling at the top of my lungs, hoping to distract them, "GUYS, STOP IT!" I pleaded, trying to reason with them. "NICHOLAS, JUST TAKE A SECOND TO LISTEN TO MAX!" To my relief, my plan worked, and both Nicholas and Max turned their attention towards me.
Nicholas' disappointed expression hardly changed as he turned back to face Max, who had lowered his head, but a small smirk played across his lips, and then he spoke calmly, almost too calmly. "We have something in common, Nicholas. We both have an unfair path to walk on. I have to do this, just as you are obligated to do what you have to do." As he spoke, flames began to leap from the nearby burned logs and engulfed the surrounding greenery. It seemed as if the very flames were preparing itself for an imminent battle.
"I didn't want things to end like this, but if it has to be this way, so be it." Nicholas stood firm, his eyes determined, as if he knew what was coming.
I had planned to intervene by running towards them and grabbing their arms to stop the fight, but before I could get too close, a blast of ice from Nicholas and a burst of flames from Max shot past me, almost hitting me. I stopped in shock, realizing that I was powerless in the face of their abilities, I could only watch in awe.
The occasional rain of the forest started to pour as Nicholas and Max faced each other. Nicholas conjured an ice shard from the droplets of the rain and flung it towards Max, who quickly countered with a ball of flames created from the surrounding fire that was burning the forest and casting an eerie light on their fight. The ice and fire collided, creating a loud hissing sound and a cloud of steam that obscured their vision.
As the steam cleared, Nicholas slid on an ice path he created beneath his feet, swiftly moving towards Max. Max created a wall of fire that blocked Nicholas' path, but Nicholas summoned a gust of icy wind from his hand, extinguishing the flames, and continued his approach. Max retaliated with a barrage of fireballs, but Nicholas, without hesitation, created an ice shield that deflected the fiery projectiles.
Max charged towards Nicholas, continuing his fiery assault on Nicholas's ice shield leaving a trail of flames behind him. As the rain grew heavier, the flames began to sputter and weaken, but Nicholas used the downpour to strengthen his shield. Suddenly, Nicholas shifted his focus and caused the ice shield to explode into a shower of razor-sharp ice shards, heading straight for Max.
Quickly, Max created a wall of flames to block the shards, but the hissing and dissipating of the dozens of shards, coupled with the rain, left Max vulnerable. He put his arms up to block the oncoming attacks, feeling the shards quickly pass him, cutting him with their sharp edges, and a few of them managed to stab his hands and feet, but they quickly melted.
Without giving Max a chance to recover, Nicholas charged forward, his fist glowing with icy blue. Surprisingly, Max met him head-on, his fists surrounded by flickering flames. Just like the steam that quickly appears and disappears as their fists clash, Nicholas darted to the side, sending a blast of icy wind from his palm. Max countered instantly, his hands shooting out intense flames like flamethrowers, turning Nicholas' icy wind into vapor.
Despite the fierce flames, Nicholas encased his body in ice, shielding himself as he walked through the fire. Then, with a swift move, he landed a powerful punch to Max's gut. Max staggered backward, gasping for air, clearly winded by the unexpected hit.
While Nicholas was putting off the fire that was on him, Max quickly regained his footing and sent a blast of fire directly at Nicholas, forcing him to jump out of the way. And just like Nicholas did, Max quickly got close to Nicholas, and catching him off guard he delivered a powerful uppercut, lifting him off his feet and sending him hurtling backward through the air.
Nicholas struggled to regain his footing, but Max was already on top of him, his hands wreathed in flames. Nicholas tried to block the incoming attack, but Max was too fast and his fire too powerful. Suddenly Nicholas closed his eyes and a burst of ice erupted from his body, freezing Max's fiery fists in place. Max struggled to break free, but the ice was too strong.
Nicholas took advantage of Max's frozen state, launching a flurry of punches and kicks that shattered the ice and sent Max flying backward. Looking weak and injured, Max struggled to get up.
Nicholas formed a spear of ice and charged towards Max, who narrowly avoided the attack by jumping backward. Then, Max countered by blasting a wave of fire, forcing Nicholas to leap into the air. Taking advantage of the situation, Max jumped into the air, and all the remaining flames followed, dancing around Max, waiting to clash with Nicholas.
Nicholas quickly noticed this and in a second reaction, he put out his arms, and an icy wind quickly spread out like a hose, turning all the heavy rain into heavy icy mist. In just a few seconds, the surrounding area was turned into what looked like a blizzard, covering everybody and everything in icy mist and extinguishing the fire in the process.
After the mist settled and the raindrops turned into snow, there was a moment of total silence. Nicholas stood while Max cowered on his knees with his head tucked in. The ice quickly melted, and the rain began to drop again. "It's over," Nicholas said, forming an ice spear in his hand again. I watched in shock as Nicholas hovered over Max, and my feet sprung into action as I started yelling.
I struggled to get closer to them, my legs sinking into the muddy ground as the rain continued to pour down. "You don't have to do this!" I shouted, desperate to make Nicholas understand. The terrain was in ruins, with the ground frozen and scorched marks covering every inch. "You're not murderers!" I screamed, trying to reach them through the rain and chaos.
"It's no use," Max said softly, rising to his feet. A small flame was still ignited beneath him, and he opened his arms, letting the flame run free. It quickly divided into hundreds of tiny sparks, spreading across the trees and leaves. "I CAME HERE TO DESTROY THIS FORSAKEN FOREST, AND THAT IS WHAT I'LL DO!" he screamed as the sparks grew bigger and bigger, igniting the surrounding area with waves of fire.
There was too much fire sparking everywhere. The flames spread like a raging wildfire, moving quickly and seemingly with a life of their own. I tried to run from it, but it was like being trapped in an ocean of fire. Even Nicholas was struggling to contain it, his ice powers unable to keep up with the inferno. He looked exhausted, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Watching the rainforest being devoured by the raging fire made me feel more helpless than ever before. I started to question my own capabilities, why am I even here? If only Ivory were here, maybe she could do something to stop this.
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Ivory! I've completely forgotten about her. She must've seen us already, with all the sound of battle going on and the rainforest literally on fire, it's impossible to miss. "Ivory!" I called out to her, hoping she was nearby to hear me.
In just a split second, Ivory appeared in front of me, looking calm and collected despite the surrounding chaos. "Hey, I was waiting for your call." She said with a half-smile.
"Have you seen what's happening? Why aren't you doing anything to stop them?" I asked, frustrated.
"This is a battle they have to face on their own. You and I cannot interfere. They must make their own choices and decide who they want to be. This is a defining moment for our future." Ivory explained, her voice steady and unwavering.
As the waves of flames grew larger and drew closer, I couldn't help but feel that something bad was going to happen if we prolonged this any longer.
"They'll just end up killing each other and destroying Itayó in the process!" I pleaded with Ivory, but she seemed unfazed. Frustrated, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. If Ivory wouldn't intervene, then I had to at least inform Nicholas of what Max had told me. "Fine! If you won't do anything, at least teleport me to Nicholas. I have to tell him something, and then we can let them do whatever they want."
Ivory looked at me with a wary expression before finally placing her hand on my wrist. In an instant, we were surrounded by towering flames that licked at the nearby trees. The heat was intense, and I frantically scanned the area for Nicholas. Finally, I spotted him, covered in ice as he struggled to contain the raging flames. I raced towards him, ignoring the burning forest around me.
As soon as I reached Nicholas, I yelled at him, "You have to forgive him!" Startled, Nicholas jumped in surprise. I repeated myself, "Forgive him! That's all he wants. No one else can do it but you." I could see the struggle in his eyes as he weighed my words, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
"I can't reach him!" Nicholas yelled out, his voice barely audible above the raging pillars of flames that surrounded us.
Desperate for a solution, I looked to Ivory and asked, "What about from above?" She caught my gaze and nodded in agreement. In a flash, she and Nicholas disappeared from sight, leaving me alone in the burning forest. I scanned the sky, looking for any sign of their return, but all I could see was smoke and flames. I was about to give up hope when I saw Nicholas in the distance, hurtling towards the ground like a comet. As he descended, his right hand pointed downward, and the rain that had been falling around us began to gather around his fist, swirling and forming an icy vortex.
When Nicholas went into the fire, an icy force exploded outward, the wave of cold spread out in all directions, washing over the flames and extinguishing them in a hail of steam.
I walked towards the silhouettes, each step echoing through the silence that now enveloped the area. The only sound was the rain tapping against the charred remains of the forest.
The steam started to clear and I saw Max lying motionless on the ground. For a moment, I feared the worst, "He's just knocked out." Nicholas said, putting my mind at ease. "I hit him with a fist made of ice." He explained as he collapsed onto the ground.
I gave a soft sight and as I looked around, I realized the fight had taken a heavy toll on the forest. The moon's light now revealed the extent of the damage. The once-lush greenery was now reduced to a desolate wasteland of burned branches, tree barks, and logs. It was a devastating sight, and I couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt.
"What do you want to do, Nicholas?" Ivory asked, prepared to do whatever he wanted to do.
Nicholas stared intently at Max, lost in thought. "I have to make sure this ends here." He finally said, his voice heavy with determination.
"I understand," Ivory replied, her expression serious. "Then we'll wait here until he wakes up. It's all of our job."
We all sat on the charred ground, waiting for Max to come to.
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The rays of the sun painted the sky with a soft orange, signaling the start of a new day. Max's groans stirred us from our slumber and we turned to see him sitting up, his eyes filled with unease. "Why didn't you finish me off?" he muttered, his voice laced with guilt.
"I'm sorry, Massimo," Nicholas said in a soothing tone. "I shouldn't have resorted to violence. I should've talked it out instead of fighting."
Max remained silent, his gaze fixated on the ground. "You'll never forgive me, will you?" He asked Nicholas, his voice heavy with regret.
"I can't." Nicholas placed a hand on Max's shoulder. "We pledged to make a difference on this island, but not through force. However, I'm still your friend and I want to help you. If you're willing to listen, we can work together to make things right."
Right then, Max looked up at Nicholas, his eyes watery and red. "What can I do to make it right?" He asked, his voice filled with pain.
Nicholas thought for a moment before responding, "Own up to your mistake. Turn yourself in. Whatever happens next, we can work through it together." Nicholas finally smiled softly, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. He stood up and offered a hand to Max, who accepted it.
"We need to go, remember? We still have Alba's dance to attend. It's almost 7:00 am, she must already be setting things up." Ivory reminded Nicholas, urging him to make a decision.
"Yeah, you're right," Nicholas said, nodding. "And she's been on my case for leaving her alone with Gustavo. He's been getting intense lately with everything happening, but now that we've settled this, I can deal with him too." Nicholas turned to Ivory, "Could you leave Massimo at the station? Then we'll head back to the house."
"Sure," Ivory replied, taking Max's hand.
Max's face and body looked defeated, willing to accept any punishment that awaited him. He turned to me and asked for my name.
"Ellion," I said awkwardly, realizing we had talked without introducing ourselves.
He gave a faint smile and said, "Thanks." in a voice only he could hear, but I understood.
"I'll see you soon Massimo, I won't leave you alone," Nicholas said before Ivory and Max disappeared.
Nicholas looked at me with a big smile. "Had you worried there for a second, didn't I?" he said, the relief evident in his voice.
"I knew you were going to save the day, you're that type of guy, aren't you? That's why Ivory listens to you, and probably everyone else." I replied, acknowledging his abilities to lead and to fight.
"Well, I don't know about that." then his expression became serious, "But I'm glad you didn't listen to me, and that you were there to talk to Massimo when I wasn't in the right mind. Who knows how things would've ended up if you weren't here? Fighting isn't the answer, talking and listening to each other, that's what we have to strive to do."
Nicholas then surprised me by getting close and embracing me. "Thanks, you'll fit right in with the group." He let go and looked at the forest, which was ravaged and left by the fire. "We'll fix this too, help it grow back to the way it once was." His face lit up once again, the same smile he had since I met him, came back, and I felt a sense of hope.
Witnessing the fight between these two convinced me that we could win with Nicholas leading the cause. "I'm grateful to be a part of this," I said.
Ivory reappeared behind us and led us back to the house. "Be prepared in an hour. Kyriah and I have to start preparing too." She said before leaving.
Finally relaxed and very tired, Nicholas and I walked to our rooms to get ready for the dance. As I got my clothes ready, Nicholas suddenly burst into the room. "Alba's not picking up, and she left her outfit for the dance here," he said, looking worried.
"That's strange. Have you tried Gustavo?" I replied.
"Yeah, but he's not answering either. Let's get ready quickly so we can go check on them. The Charity Center isn't too far from here." Nicholas said, rushing out of the room. I heard him changing his clothes even before taking a shower.
"Nicholas! You just fought Max. Take a shower and relax for a moment. Alba is with Gustavo, they're probably fine." I said, trying to calm him down. We hadn't slept well, and he hadn't slowed down since yesterday morning.
He paused for a moment, then nodded and headed to the shower. I went back to the guest room and tidied up the sheets when a small salamander jumped out and fell on the floor. I panicked, thinking it would jump on me, but it just stood there. It wasn't the same type of lizard that was in Gustavo's house, but it acted similarly. Its eyes remained fixed, but black goo ran from under its eyes and mouth, and it didn't seem alive or dead. But why was it here?
A horrifying thought rushed to my mind.
A horrifying thought rushed to my mind [https://img.wattpad.com/2c9c2cb6b55783cf5d487ecf67807be666853422/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f357678366d374c50353044476f673d3d2d313334393636303232382e313761396264643533373962643866663339333835333937373033392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Gustavo Valentino
Clemons Cell Ability: Parasitic Goo
Character Info: Broody but very intelligent, Gustavo has been an essential part of forming the revolution group, making strategic plans, and gathering information. He seems to dislike society, except for Nicholas and especially Alba, who grew up with him.