Marc Arden and the Siphilon Academy

- A Wrench in the Rain (Part 2)

The class passed under the stone arched exit from the east wing corridor and into the fields. Theo walked in front of Marc. Just as Marc took notice of Theo, Marc realized something. The small passageway Theo had suddenly entered from and into the east wing when they were heading to their class after assembly was the same passageway to the fields.

That had Marc wondering what Theo was doing in the fields.

As the second years' crossed the fields in unison, Professor Corden split the teams off into their respective genders and pointed them over to two small buildings outside the arena - locker rooms. Professor Corden accompanied the boys into the locker room to prevent any unrest from breaking out.

Marc grabbed a new pack of combat gear that lay on a shelf and entered a fitting room. He slid into the black suit easily, then realized the size was slightly too big for him. Just as he was about to change back into his uniform, the combat gear vibrated to life and shrank, shaping into Marc's body, firm but snug. Cushioning his feet from the ground was a thick pad sole.

After all the boys were fitted and ready, they reconvened with the girls outside and entered the arena together.

It was empty.

The arena had the usual concrete stands for the audience to be seated, but the ground in the center was just flat grass.

All the students were instructed by Professor Corden not to cross the borderline of the ground. A white line connected to the borderline ended up running into a podium at the entrance side of the arena.

On the podium was the unmistakable shine of a Diochete.

"Allow me to begin the match!" Professor Corden strode over to the podium and stood there. "I will be your referee for the match. I will also serve as the medic should anyone require tending."

Professor Corden laid his hand on the Diochete.

"The rules are simple. Fight your opposing team for their flag and deposit it into the vacant spot at your own team's flag stand to win the game. There will be various terrain for you to fight across. No severe incapacitation will be tolerated!" Professor Corden said out the last bit sternly and stared a look of steel at everyone until they agreed to his terms.

He nodded and turned back to face the podium.

"I guess that's all there is to it. Respective teams…take your position!" Professor Corden concluded.

From the borderline, cutting across the middle of the pitch was a half line. Marc's group crossed to the far side of the pitch, while Loveren's team settled at the home side.

"The arena floor is infused with Pulsium, so allow your elements to shine. Let the match…begin!" Professor Corden's voice roared aloud, enhanced in a way that his words reached every corner of the arena, amplified.

Professor Corden's face knitted tight in concentration. He twisted the fixed Diochete on the podium and Marc could see it just about spinning rapidly and glowing.

All around Marc, terrain erupted from the ground. Marc's team were rocketed high by the hillside rising from under them. A red flag lay standing on top of the hill.

Marc could see only a few minor changes to the plains where Loveren's team stood, Marc could also see their blue flag. From up above the hill, they looked puny.

On the right side of Marc stretched the beach. Sand ploughed out of the ground in massive quantities.

Theo's eyes shined mischievously at the sand on the beach.

Marc turned to face his left side.

The woods rose straight out of the ground. Growing from shoots into matured trees in a matter of seconds.

Marc surveyed the entire map from atop the hill.

"Team Hybrid, follow me!" Marc commanded. "Judy, enhance your vision. Theo, enhance your hearing. That way we'll know if they try to sneak upon us. High ground gives us an advantage!"

The team marched down the hill through a dirt path. They jogged the last few yards to reach terra firma. As they walked towards the woods, Marc enhanced his strength, focusing on his muscles around his body.

Scarlett tried not to stare as Marc's muscles shifted. She occupied herself with enhancing her swiftness. Marc held in mind the time in which the team took to descend the hill. He felt perturbed leaving the flag entirely unprotected.

"Scarlett now would be a good time for you to start swimming on to the other side," Marc suggested, halting their walk to the woods. Theo, I need you to accompany Scarlett to the beach. Once she leaves, redirect your route back to our flag. We need some sort of defense."

Scarlett and Theo took this all in fine spirits, starting their jog towards the partially visible beach.

"Team Hybrid! Enhance whatever you can wherever you can. Clint, it would be ideal if you boost your speed. We could use a rapid web-shooter to trap them up nicely."

Everyone nodded at him and enhanced themselves. They entered the woods together. Marc's plan here was to fall into Loveren's trap all alone, taking in most of the damage. By doing this, Loveren's team will be vulnerable and exposed, easy for Marc's teammates to counter.

So Marc sprinted ahead, earning surprised cries from his teammates. He ran on through the woods until he saw some light ahead.

He wondered if that was Loveren's team, still preparing to wreak mass havoc.

It wasn't.

Marc crossed the woods and right into the edge of enemy territory. He yelped and backed away into the woods. He stayed at their team's frontier in the woods, waiting for his team to catch up to him.

The woods looked really ancient and heartless. Marc wondered how Professor Corden brought forth such a feat.

He stood there, panting onto the foliage strewn about the ground, on his knees.

He lifted his head up violently, he heard voices. Sagging back to his knees in relief, he saw Chris' face break through the greens, giving him a why-did-you-do-that-without-me smile.

Marc regained a steady supply of oxygen and rose. He told them why he ran ahead of all of them.

"That was stupid, Marc! Really stupid!" Was Rose's reply. Everyone else just nodded uncomfortably.

"So what are we going to do now? Loveren's team is still not here." Clint asked.

Marc browsed for strategies in his mind. He was used to it as he often strategized leading an army into the Palm every time he scouted its paths, imagining his army fight against a horde of beasts.

"Yeah, they're still at base. Judy, I want you to try to spy on them from all the way here. Try to see what they're up to. And while you're at it, wove a thick, tense piece of rope along the ground at the edge of the woods. Hide the rope with some leaves. Make sure it's strong enough to trip Loveren's team."

Judy shrugged and went on to peering out into the plains. Holding regular intervals to craft the rope.

"I'll charge Judy's rope with a lightning bolt. That ought to immobilize our enemies." Chris announced. Marc smiled at him in relief. Chris was just as good at strategizing as Marc, if not better.

"Rose, once the enemy starts approaching, I need you to stay ready, hidden. Just as they are about to hit the rope, I need you to flash the brightest of lights into their eyes. This will guarantee all of them to trip." Marc ordered.

"Hmmm…yeah. But finding a good hiding place here is…" Rose's voice trailed off. She set about searching for a place.

Marc's eyes finally landed on Clint, who stood cross-armed. "Clint, you're my secret weapon. Once they all trip and fall, I need you to web them all up as fast as you can. Keep your speed enhancement at the tips of your fingers. They won't know what hit them!"

Clint pumped a fist in the air. "Got it! And what will you do?"

Marc winked at him. "Once you web them up, I'll just set Fire to Judy's rope to surround them even further in danger. I hope a forest fire breaks out. That way you guys won't have to deal with Loveren and his team. You can either defend or attack. I'll immediately set out to assist Scarlett at the plains."

"Sounds good to me! But the part where I web them all up, I'd prefer if it were from above."

"There are plenty of trees around here man!"

Clint laughed apologetically.

Clint picked a tree and started scrambling up its branches. The very same tree hid Rose in a small alcove deep besides its roots.

Marc observed Clint, who was finding it hard to reach a particular branch in the tree.

"Marc!" Judy shouted. "They've just finished enhancing their entire team and now they're coming in fast!"

Marc scowled and barked at Clint to hurry up. The latter shot a string of web onto a higher branch and pulled, launching himself up and onto the branch.

Judy just finished tying her rope onto the trees and Chris immediately charged it with electricity. Rose crouched under the tree – only her eyes and palms barely visible – waiting to spring on the enemy.

Marc commanded Judy to retreat back to base. Chris escorted her with the promise of coming back to help.

Marc slinked under the shadows of a tree that veiled him with its long, hanging vines.

All was silent.

Then the steady noise of swift footsteps entered Marc's ears. Marc shifted slightly, readying himself to move.

With many shouts and jeers, Loveren's team entered the edge of the woods. Marc watched Rose from between the vines. She sprang out of her hiding place with a guttural cry, shining light right into their eyes.

They crashed into a heap, gasping in shock as electricity sped up their ankles, and in perfect succession, Clint jumped out of the tree from above, rapidly shooting webs mid-air in a blur, tangling up Loveren's team effectively.

Clint shot his last string of web onto another tree up high and swung low to avoid hitting the ground. He rolled onto solid ground with ease.

Marc came out of his hiding place and surveyed Loveren's offense, piled up uncomfortably and swearing.

At that exact moment, Chris came bursting into action, carrying a bolt of lightning - radiating with energy - that he threw perfectly streamlined. The bolt struck the webs that trapped Loveren and his teammates and shocked all of them for good measure.

Marc congratulated his teammates and concluded,

"Team Hybrid, let's get out of here! Let's make them desperate!"

Marc shot a fireball onto Judy's rope and it immediately caught fire. The fire started spreading onto nearby leaves and branches.

Marc cast one last eye around the woods before leaving Loveren's team to their ordeal.

Marc came out into the no man's land in the centre of the map. The woods were so dark that when Marc entered outside, he had to squint against the bright sunlight.

He looked around in the direction of his flag and saw it still gleaming red upon the hill. But surrounding the hill was a massive sandstone wall. Marc wondered if Theo was behind causing that.

Marc smelled smoke and looked around. The woods was engulfed in fire. He smiled to himself.

Without leaving Scarlett alone to wait any longer, Marc ran across the land and towards the beach.

On the way, he saw the two boys named Jordan and Harland defending Loveren's flag. He was aware that their eyes followed his movement.

They were readying themselves to fight

Marc brought his foot down onto the sand of the beach. There, hidden beneath a dune, was Scarlett.

Marc jogged to her and asked,

"Everything alright?"

Scarlett nodded and replied,

"What's up with the others, all fine?"

"Yeah, we successfully trapped Loveren's entire offense in the woods. I started a forest fire just in case."

Scarlett scowled deeply.

"That's not going to be good. Loveren won't be too happy with what you did. He'll find a way to escape. Did you station anyone to supervise them?"

Marc shook his head.

"Then he's going to come back angrier than ever, Marc!" We've got to hurry if we want that flag!"

Scarlett immediately lifted a large sum of water from the beach, which looked weird without a horizon.

She started twirling the water around her with Wind and didn't care if sand mixed in with the water.

Scarlett inclined for Marc to do the same with his fire. Marc complied. Once they both were at a respectable size, they rose out of the dune and rushed in at the two boys guarding the flag.

They seemed to have expected an attack, for Jordan – the Cloud bender – had a huge, dark, gloomy cloud over him. The other boy – Harland, his name was – just brought his fingertips from both hands onto his temple and shut his eyes tightly closed.

Marc – with his fire lapping all around him – was hard to miss. All Jordan had to do was look for a bright, orange ball of fire that contrasted against the green fields and he'll see Marc.

The moment he did, he clenched his hands into a fist and punched the air in the direction of Marc.

The cloud overhead rumbled and slowly began floating towards Scarlett and Marc.

Marc disregarded the cloud and Jordan. He ran straight for Harland. Scarlett had no choice but to go for Jordan.

Marc and Scarlett were well underneath the cloud when it started raining in a sudden downpour. Lightning flashed and struck the ground besides Marc.

Marc yelled and redoubled his strides. At the moment, Marc managed to dissolve the rain while still maintaining his massive fireball, but soon later, he started panting in effort.

He sensed Scarlett behind him, collecting the rainwater and fusing it with the hurricane she made.

Marc was a few yards away from Harland when he lost maintenance over his fireball. The rain slowly caused his fireball to dwindle in size.

Marc ran within range of Harland, stomping his foot down on the wet, muddy ground of the plains. He saw Scarlett already duelling against Jordan, who was backing away from Scarlett's sheer size.

Marc focused on Harland, when he suddenly lost focus and his stare dropped down to the ground. His thoughts grew fuzzy and sluggish. He felt slightly detached from his Fire.

His eyes landed back on Harland, who was smiling with his eyes closed, his hands still remained at his temples. Marc couldn't do anything but watch, immobilized, as his fireball reduce half in size.

A gasp escaped Harland's lips, and Marc's mind started to tickle.

Suddenly, Marc's thoughts started swimming.

…He was in Acanon talking to Dom. He was at Mr. Barnum's bakery, lying against the counter as he surveyed the hooded figure in the corner. He was in Dom's grove, ramming his hand into the golden light emanating from the stone grave…

Marc struggled to fight for control over his thoughts.

…He was outside Cartrile, looking at Scarlett's face from under his fire inside the stone cave. He was at the pond, fighting against Dom and Scarlett. He was at the Offbendi camp, readying himself to fight the big brute, Ramon…

Jordan's cloud shot another lightning bolt dangerously close to Harland. It was enough to break Harland's concentration. Marc cried out in triumph and collected his remaining reserves of fire into a small fireball at his right palm.

He was about to shoot it when Harland regained control over his mind. He slumped into another stupor.

…He was outside Middenheim, suspending Scarlett by her wrist. He was inside his house, hugging his mother with tears on his face. He was in his room…

Marc wildly struggled in desperation, trying to block Harland out of his memories. That effort was enough for Marc to gain control again. Marc flung his fireball at Harland.

The fireball engulfed Harland's shin, branding a hideous black mark across it. Harland screamed and fell onto his knees. Marc launched himself at Harland and punched him extremely hard on the face.

The force was enough to c***k Harland's nose and throw him onto the dirt behind him.

"What the hell are you?" Marc screamed himself hoarse.

"M-mind bender…" He managed to croak.

Marc leaned down and punched him one last time in the face, trying to force Marc's memories out of him. Harland slumped onto the ground.

Marc straightened up, flexed his bruised knuckles, and walked over to the flag. He plucked it out of the stand and turned around.

Scarlett was still fighting Jordan, who kept summoning clouds from the sky and bringing it out in front of him to soak Scarlett's hurricane. The grass around them was so despicably muddy that Marc found it incredible to see them still standing upright.

Scarlett grimaced in frustration. She tried to push harder, but it was no use. Jordan still managed to keep her at bay.

Marc approached Jordan from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. Jordan jumped and turned around. That small distraction caused Jordan to lose control over the clouds and they dissipated into the air.

Marc stepped aside immediately as Scarlett let out a victorious 'Ha!' and shot a forceful torrent of water at Jordan.

Jordan finally slipped off the sludge underneath him and fell to the ground. Scarlett continued to drench him in water.

One minute…

…two minutes…

The entire land around was flooded in water now. Jordan was stubbornly trying to fight against Scarlett's torrent with feeble mini clouds.

At last, Jordan slumped backward and started thumping the ground desperately with his hand, tapping out.

Scarlett withdrew, and Jordan keeled over on his side and started choking madly. His clothes were matted onto his body and his skin was wrinkled.

Marc whistled and looked at Scarlett. Her face was tinged with a slight paleness and she was panting heavily. She swayed on her feet.

"We need to get out of here fast, and you successfully accomplished tiring yourself past your senses. Well done Scarlett! Couldn't you have left him to me? One punch would've fixed this!" Marc chided.

Scarlett glared at him, stumbled to his side, and leaned on him.

"Uhhh…and what, pray tell, are you doing?" Marc asked, peeling Scarlett off him awkwardly.

Scarlett let out an exasperated sigh and spoke very fast,

"I can't walk on my own. You need to help me."

Marc raised his eyebrows at her. She rolled her eyes at him, raising her hands up.

He handed Scarlett the flag, tucked one of his hands around her shoulders, and swung her off her feet with the other hand.

Marc glanced at Jordan – who was wheezing badly – then at Harland – who was stirring groggily – before turning and running back to their base. Professor Corden entered from the side of the arena and approached the dislocated defense of the opposition.

Marc passed the woods when Scarlett slipped slightly down his arm. He hitched her back up, feeling the burning exhaustion of his biceps and triceps.

"This so reminds me of the first time we met, Mr. Volcano!" Scarlett suddenly said with her eyes closed.

Marc's laugh broke every time he stepped forward with a jolt.

"Isn't that when you roasted me for everything I tried to say?" Marc asked innocently.

"You know, that statement is as wrong as it can get," Scarlett replied.

"Oh really? Please enlighten why!" Marc countered sarcastically.

Scarlett squinted up at Marc as if he was a bug she wanted to squish,

"Firstly, you do the roasting, not me. And secondly, you couldn't even try to say anything. It's so easy to shut you down."

Marc stopped and made to drop Scarlett on the ground.

"Hey! Why did you do that?" Scarlett pouted.

"Not so tough anymore huh?" Marc concluded. Scarlett huffed discontentedly.

Marc approached a wall outside their base. Theo had built a sandstone wall.

At that very moment, his arms screamed at him in protest.

"There's no way I'll be able to haul you over this wall!" Marc told Scarlett.

Suddenly, angry cries raced across the air. Marc whirled around to see Loveren's entire offense brandishing sledgehammers and metal clubs and running directly at Scarlett and him. They were helplessly trapped out of their base.