The Cheat Seed

Chapter 41

There was a flash of light, and suddenly a hole appeared in the wall as Dave dragged Marcus through it. Their bodies tumbled across the curb in a blur of limbs and motion, Dave's momentum carrying them both outward with tremendous force.

Aaron shouted and Meya screamed when they saw their son dragging Marcus across the curb. Evy and Iris burst into tears at the sudden violence, their small bodies trembling as they clung to each other.

Aaron looked frantically at Albert and Reirin, expecting similar panic, but frowned when he saw them smiling instead.

"Ah, what an amazing way to welcome him," Albert chuckled to his wife.

"Yes, true. Dave's energetic as always," Reirin smiled and laid her head on her husband's shoulder.

"I am really sorry," Aaron said, shaking off his confusion as he addressed his friend.

"He has the Legendary seed of 'Rage Calamity'... He loses his cool suddenly if his emotions take control over him," Aaron explained, anxiety etched across his features as he watched his son.

"Oh, well that's okay, Aaron," Albert replied calmly, shifting his gaze toward his friend.

"When I said he came back, I forgot to tell you something... that he came back with a Seed."

*BOOM*

Before Aaron could process Albert's words, a massive explosion of energy erupted from the curb. Dave was suddenly blasted upward into the sky, his body shooting toward the clouds with incredible velocity. Aaron and Meya stared in disbelief as their son disappeared into the night sky, then looked down at Marcus as they rushed through the massive hole in the wall.

Marcus sat on the ground, his right index finger pointing skyward. With his free hand, he brushed his unsettled hair back from his face. He jerked upright with a jolt and reached behind his back, struggling to dust off the dirt clinging to his clothes and his burgundy red hair.

Aaron gazed upward, squinting to keep sight of his son. Dave's pupils had gone completely white, blank and unseeing. His Rage passive skill had activated automatically when he saw Marcus. When he eventually returned to normal, he likely wouldn't remember anything about what had just happened.

Marcus stood up and stretched his back, the motion fluid and graceful despite the chaos of moments before. He motioned a reassuring wave to his parents and Dave's, then took a deep breath.

Closing his eyes, Marcus focused on the air surrounding him, comprehending its density and flow. He connected the air between his palms, allowing it to flow infinitely through his fingers. In his mind, he formed an Infinity bond with the atmosphere itself.

His eyes snapped open a second later. He manipulated his fingers with subtle precision as he extended his hands forward, bending the very air to his will.

High above, Dave Vagner was plummeting back toward earth at terrifying velocity. Suddenly, his descent slowed as if invisible brakes had engaged. The air beneath him solidified, creating resistance that gradually reduced his speed.

Dave floated gently down like a feather on the wind. Marcus stepped forward and caught his friend on his shoulders, then walked toward the shocked Aaron and Meya. He placed Dave carefully on the balcony and stepped back, allowing his parents to take over.

Meya and Reirin immediately began healing Dave, their hands glowing with restorative magic. A yellow aura surrounded Dave's body as they worked to bring him back to his senses. Marcus nodded in understanding when he realized the previous incident had occurred because Dave had lost control of his emotions, triggering his passive skill.

Dave sat up with a sudden jolt and executed a perfect backflip, landing solidly on his feet. His eyes found Marcus, and rage flashed across his features. Apparently, he hadn't forgotten how Marcus had finger-flicked him into the stratosphere.

Marcus backed away slightly, moving toward the curb. Dave gathered himself and leaped forward with full force, his right fist c****d and ready to smash his friend to pieces. It wasn't that he wanted to hurt Marcus after his return—Dave simply needed to test his long-lost friend's abilities, to confirm what he suspected.

Dave took the risk and channeled his full power into his right fist. Behind him, Aaron shouted a warning, but Dave paid no attention. Lightning surrounded his hand, thunderbolts crackling and shooting around him as he charged his attack.

He bolted directly toward Marcus and drove his sparking fist straight at his friend's face.

*THWACK*

The sound of impact rang across the yard, but not as expected. Marcus had stopped his friend's blow with just his pinky finger. The resulting shockwave demolished what remained of the curb and the gate wall behind Marcus, but he stood unmoved, as solid as a mountain.

"Woah, nice punch," Marcus said with a chuckle.