Pai’s Potential

Rondo’s punch shakes the acid inside Pai’s stomach, flying across the ground. Blood flies painting the air. Rondo walks up ripping his shirt off, burnt markings tattooing his body. “Bullshit you killed Rook. He wasn’t that weak, there’s no way with me wiping you across the floor,” says Rondo.

Blood paints dirt between Pai’s feet, holding his knees. My body is overheating, I still can’t fire too many flares. Rondo darts for Pai, elbowing him to the ground. Rondo crushes his head under dirt.

“You look at me while I’m talking to you. Yeah, I know you didn’t kill Rook, but you do have some strength. Just not enough to make me even consume one power ore. I’m thinking that a star-style user killed him. I'll go help Miss Rich end her.”

Pai disappears under Rondo’s foot. Releasing a solar flare before the unwelcomed alien. Rondo’s essence mecha arm erases Pai’s rage, and the two attacks clash with each other.

The beam breaks through the solar flare shooting Pai’s arm, burning some skin around the holy ring. Rondo catches him by the hand. “What do we have here? What makes this little thing interesting? I know who to sell this to, looks like we're going to universe two after all.”

“Don’t you dare, bastard, let go! Come, Danika!" Pai's lungs and vocals are empty. Danika doesn’t appear. Wait, this isn’t like Danika? Where is she at? Danika, where are you? Pai floats alone in the expansion realm, only his essence comforting him.

“Don’t mind if I take this. This essential tool could bring me more money than every power ore.” Uncertain that his Seeker will come, Pai remembers what Danika said. “Maybe it’ll be ripped apart from the two powers or you’ll probably turn into something else.”

Rondo slides Pai’s holy ring off. Pai’s eyes fade out to white, and the sought mark disappears. Rondo shakes Pai’s demised bleak body. “Is this kid dead, was it really that easy? Why would someone rely on an essential tool so much? I’ve never seen someone go stiff without one?”

Danika appears from Pai's chest floating up, laughing with a smile. “See why he’ll be your king. I can’t wait to see how he burns you alive.”“King? This kid being a king, that’s not funny at all. I think you have too much ambition on his brat. I’m a king, you kiss my feet,” laughed Rondo.

Throwing Pai’s spiritless body away, he falls surrounded by red flames in the expansion realm. A red-figure teleports in the distance moving closer. The reddish pink solar flares and flames glue with the sought boy.

It feels so good, I wanna sleep here more. I could use some good sleep, please let me, Dad…It reminds me of Mom. Why couldn’t anything go how I wanted!

Red essence rings out Pai’s chest growing with the second. Every inch of him glows blood red, slowly fading away into flames.

“Hot, Hot, Hot. Damn this is hot, but It could be better. Hot, it feels so amazing.” Pai laughs. Swimming inside thick crimson flames, reaching for another light, yet he rises from the ground off his back.

“Who are you and who’s the pretty little flame floating above?” No hesitation, throwing a punch for Pai. The impact shoots the surface off, thick dust spraying the land like shotgun rounds. Where the fuck did he just go?

“Lovely to meet you, what’s your name?” said Pai, looking at Danika.

“This kid, where did that speed come from? Was he holding back this whole time?"

“Hey, seeker, who’s this kid?”

“It doesn't matter, because you’re gonna die now.” The dirt eats Pai’s knees, strong heat mirages ooze through his mouth and nose. Essence steams, shaking his eyes like he's gone mad.

“It’s so hot, but not good enough. Where’s all my heat? There's nothing here. I need more, that's all for me.” Pai uppercuts himself, licking up blood.

Get a hold of yourself, you asshole. “Wait, was that my voice? Shut up you bastard, I like this heat. Why are you trying to stop a good thing from happening, who are you?”

I’m you, idiot! “Shut up, shut up. I want more heat, that's all. That's all I want, please!” I’m being split in two, my head is killing me!

Pai’s skull bounces off the ground over and over again. Get a hold of yourself, you’re making me want to vomit.

Flash of essence erupts upon Pai. “No reaction at all?”

I’m losing myself and there’s not a fucking thing you can do for me, HAHAHA...Nothing." Pai pulls down his pink hair. Those burning sought eyes could pop out from any movement.

“This kid has lost his mind?”

“Do you know where my heat is?” Essence fades from him. “This is all because of this damn ring?”

“Wait, are you the one hiding my heat from me.” Rondo's mecha arm heats his surroundings.

“Oh, so you do have my heat. I’m gonna have to take it all back. I hate when people hide my things…So give it back!” Pai’s flashback: Maybe it’ll be ripped apart from the two powers or you’ll probably turn into something else. Danika smiles above.

“Finish him, King! Protect what’s yours, never let these worthless people touch your flames again!” Madness screaming laughs, causing an earthquake. Pai stabs himself in the chest with his hand. The wound pours boiling essence and blood.

Slowly pulling something out, a crooked feather sword is revealed. Blood dances between his teeth, Pai’s essence ignites to the atmosphere. Inside the blast, Pai bangs the sword under him. Everyone on the battlefield sees the perfect match between sought and seeker screaming wonderful essence.

Dodging poisonous knives, Sola sees Pai’s essence ahead. What’s going on over there? I gotta hurry and finish this up. The gigantic blast of essence slowly dissolves to nothing, however, Pai isn't there. Danika still floats above.

“Where did he go? Fucker totally vanished into nothing. Where did he go, who is this fucking kid!”

Danika sighs. “That information never concerned you, just enjoy your death.”

Rondo stands frozen in place. Chills flee down him, gripping his hand as sweat leaks through. Pai’s crooked feather-style sword cuts along dry dirt. Standing before Rondo, he’s unrecognizable.

Bright rocky, uneven red mask covers Pai face completely, revealing no facial features. Heat mirages storm from his body and from behind the mask itself, red essence plays along the crooked feather-style sword.

Each step taken is brought to flames. Pai's sinister giggle rings perfectly in the battlefield’s chaos. Rondo pulls back a punch ready for the sought Vader.

Pai points the sword directly at Rondo's chest faster than Rondo could react. A giant crooked spinning solar flare rockets from the blade; the flare blots Rondo into the distance. Massive explosions erupt over him.

Opening his hand the holy ring isn’t there. Pai’s so fast, Rondo didn’t notice he took it back. “Wait, don’t. I still haven't found my heat source yet,” vows Pai. Shut up, this isn't me! I'm ending this my way! The holy rings explode essence around, bonding together again.

His left eye shines through the cracked mask. Breaking like glass on the ground, disappearing to crumbs. “That was annoying, Danika. So that’s what happens? Where were you? I was calling for you.”

Danika floats in his hands. “King, look at the strength you hold. It’s only the beginning, you’ll be able to do so much more,” answers Danika.

“Yeah, that was some power, nevertheless I felt myself losing grip. I thought you'd come and find me, but it was just me alone. I wanna defeat him, but not lose my mind in the process. I don’t wanna end up as a mad king,” says Pai.

She kisses Pai on the forehead. “I would never let that happen.” He wipes his forehead. “Let’s just wrap this up, I’m pissed off now.”