CH.6 ESCALATION

They sized eachother up some more. Balladaus shook out the hand that caught the fist of Exios. "Your punches pack some real power, im impressed."

Exios stayed on guard trying to find an opening. Suddenly vines burst from beneath his feet and instantly wrapped all through his body ensnaring him. He tried to use brute force to break free but he couldn't break them. Balladaus shook his head, "disappointing" he said holding out his hand, a wooden spike starting to protrude from it. A foot long wooden spike shot from his hand, piercing Exios in the stomach.

Exios painfully grunted, his eyes twitched and blood trickled down from the side of his mouth. He looked down at the spike which was lodged halfway in his gut, then another spike shot into his shoulder, then his left thigh. After a moment Exios went limp being held up by the vines.

Balladaus made a pretend frown face. "Awww, is that all the famous nation breaker has?" He placed his hands on his hips and casually walked over to Exios and whispered. "So all those stories I heard when I was a kid were just stories after all." He raised his hands and the crowds cheering heightened.

Exios fist clenched shut the vines exploding off his arm. He caught Balladaus off guard with a punch in the face sending him tumbling for thirty feet. Exios pulled the rest of limbs from the vines with ease. He ripped his shirt off and pulled the spikes out one by one. His veins had turned gray and the wounds didn't bleed. He stood and watched Balladaus climb back to his feet.

Balladaus cursed and wiped off the little bit of blood coming from his nose. "Now that was a punch that stung." Exios appeared in front of him throwing a punch which he managed to block with his forearms, but still made him slide backwards ten feet. He felt like his arms were vibrating, Exios rushed him again. Balladaus vanished and reappeared fifty feet behind him. Several spikes struck Exios in the back, but they couldn't even pierce an inch into his skin and fell out.

"I guess it's time to stop messing around" said Balladaus. Vines suddenly burst from the ground all over the arena, growing and taking shape. In a matter of moments around one hundred clones of Balladaus surrounded Exios. They all attacked at once, with each punch Exios would destroy a clone and another would take its place. The real Balladaus stood back watching Exios fend off the clones. He took a deep breath, placed his hand on the ground and began pouring energy into the earth.

Exios jumped, dodged and struck down clone after clone, but for ever one he destroyed another emerged from the ground. He grabbed one by the throat and threw it as far as he could. It collided into an invisible barrier in front of the trees and seats. Exios confirmed what he remembered; that the trees were imbued with magic that cast a barrier protecting the people in the stands. He intentionally held back until he confirmed it.

He jumped back from the clones, focused energy into his fist and punched towards the wave of clones rushing him. A big Shockwave smashed through the clones and slammed into the barrier with a thunderous boom scaring the audience. A huge chunk of the clones had been reduced to splinters. More clones were still emerging from the earth.

Exios spotted the real Balladaus kneeling with his hands on the ground. He threw another heavy punch, launching a Shockwave at him. Several huge wooden walls erupted from the ground to intercept the Shockwave. Each wall stood fifteen feet tall and a couple feet thick. The Shockwave hit the first wall and completely destroyed it scattering pieces of wood across the entire arena. Clones piled in on top of Exios, they began merging together and hardening into a thick mass of wood completely enveloping him.

Exios exerted a massive amount of energy from his whole body completely destroying his wooden prison. More clones began emerging, Exios focused a huge amount of energy into his fist and launched it at the wooden walls. He focused the Shockwave into a beam the size of a person. It easily pierced through the remaining three walls.

Balladaus could feel the Shockwave breaking through the walls, he jumped out of the way right before the blast reached him. Exios used the blast as a distraction and dashed to Balladaus, catching him off guard with a blow to the ribs. Exios felt the bones shatter before the blow sent Balladaus flying, slamming into the barrier. He fell to the ground laying motionless.

Exios huffed and puffed, all the damage and strain on him was finally catching up. The crowd had gone quiet watching in awe. "Should we call it quits?" Said Exios.

Balladaus struggled to his feet holding his side. He bent over and started coughing up blood. "You completely shatter my ribs and damaged several organs, with one punch. That's pretty scary."

"So you agree that we need to call this off? We're both pretty beat up, I think we've given them a good enough show."

Balladaus smirked deviously, "but were just getting to the good stuff."

Several wooden arms burst from the ground and grabbed Exios by his ankles, wrists and shoulders. He tried to break free like he had before but he couldn't.

"You won't break free so easily this time," said Balladaus. "I infused alot of energy into these restraints." He put his hands together like a prayer. "Now it's time for the grand finale" he announced. A massive vine the size of a tree shot from the ground behind Exios, the top of it opened up into a sunflower. The head of the flower pointed down towards Exios and began to glow.

Remadaus had been watching the fight from his own private vip area, he sat on the edge of his seat tapping his foot and biting his thumb nail. Once he saw the sunflower shoot into the air, he gasped and jumped out of his seat. "Thats enough!" He shouted. The roaring audience faded to whispers.

Remadaus stared down Balladaus like a stern parent. Balladaus smiled and gave his dad a thumbs up, then a wicked smirk spread across his face as he pointed his thumb down.

The sunflower emitted a bright light like the sun, then a beam of fire shot down directly on Exios. A wave of flames spilled in every direction splashing against the barrier sending the audience into a small panic. Athena kicked and screamed as guards kept her from trying to run into the arena. Once the flames subsided, every piece of wood including the sunflower had been reduced to ashes.

Balladaus stood completely unaffected by the flames even his clothes were unburnt. Exios laid flat on his back, the ground around him crackled and smoked. His clothes, hair and most of his skin were all scorched off.

Athena felt like she couldn't breath; she could feel his life force fading. She went into a frenzy scratching, biting and clawing until she broke free from the guards. She ran at Balladaus like a wild animal, but before she could reach him vines sprouted up and restrained her. She struggled to break free, her face wet from tears, screaming 'you killed him' Over and over.

Balladaus snickered. "Calm down crazy girl, you see my specialty actually isn't combat." He walked over to Exios. "I specialize in giving life." He kneeled down and placed his hand on Exios's chest, glowing green lines began to spread across his body. Exios breathed deep, his skin and hair started rapidly regenerating.

Visions began flowing into Balladaus. He saw a man shrouded in darkness. He stood surrounded by an army that was closing in on him. The man let out a deep roar, a Shockwave exploded from him like a bomb. The army, their weapons and gear, everything for miles were turned to dust. Even the mountains turned into sand. His vision shifted, he looked up to see a massive shadowy figure staring down at him like an insect. The figure went to slam its fist down on him.

Balladaus snapped back to reality. He fell backwards and scrambled away from Exios staring at him full of fear, sweating profusely. Remadaus made his way over, "did you heal him?" He asked sternly.

"Hes." Balladaus studdered, keeping his eyes focused on Exios. "Hes truly a monster."

Remadaus grabbed his shoulder, "you saw something didn't you?"

Balladaus looked at his father and nodded. "I saw destruction incarnate, it was terrifying."

Remadaus smiled, "im happy to hear the real Exios is still in there."

Balladaus looked at his father puzzled. "What do you mean the real Exios?"

Remadaus waved it off, "ill explain later. Right now can you please release the girl."

Balladaus released Athena and apologized to her. She ran over and knelt down next to Exios. "Is he gonna be ok?"

Levi walked up with a medical team and stretcher. "We will take him back to his room to be treated" Said Levi. The medical team struggled with moving Exios onto the stretcher complaining that he weighed as much as three grown men.

"Let them know, I'll see to his treatment myself" said Balladaus. "No one will know how to help him. He is completely unique, unlike any other human I've ever seen before."

"How do you mean?" Levi asked.

"With one touch i know everything there is to know about someone's body, but when I touched him it was like reading a foreign language. His bones, muscles, skin, everything about him down to the molecular level is different. Also, he's been infused some sort of very potent magic."

Athena avoided making any eye contact and walked off with the medical team carrying Exios.

Remadaus wrapped his arm around his son. "Walk with me, there's a few things we need to discuss about Exios." Remadaus instructed his security detail to wrap things up, then walked off with Belladaus. Half the audience had already left in a panic, the other half celebrated and talked about the fight.

Once Exios was in his room the medical team struggled to lift him onto the bed. Before leaving they told Athena someone would come to check on them periodically. She sat next to him on the bed for awhile hoping he'd wake up any second. Before she knew it she fell asleep next to him.

Remadaus and Balladaus entered a private royal lounge room, it was lavish and artisticly decorated. They sat down on some couches that surrounded a large thick, polished oak coffee table. Butlers and maids greeted them asking if they needed anything while setting fresh tea on the table. Remadaus dismissed them and had everyone leave the room.

"So, tell me what you saw." Remadaus said leaning forward setting his elbows on his knees.

Balladaus took a sip of his still hot tea and proceeded to tell his father about the visions he saw.

Remadaus leaned back into the couch. "Well, I'm happy to hear the real Exios is still in there somewhere."

Balladaus had a jarred expression. "What do you mean by the real Exios?"

Remadaus caught him up on everything Exios told him. "It sounds to me like what you saw in your vision, was a glimpse of Exios at full strength."

Balladaus dragged his hand down his face. "That is truly terrifying. . . But still, I don't know if it will be enough. We're up against Barbatos, plus the other kingdoms."

"Is Barbatos really that strong?"

Balladaus winced, memories of seeing Barbatos fight flashed through his mind. "He is incomprehensibly strong. I believe if he really wanted to, he could destroy an entire continent."

All the color drained from Remadaus's face. "Men like them really are in a league of their own."

Balladaus nodded in agreement. "Regardless, things have been set in motion. We will need that power, I'll see what I can do to help Exios get it back."

Remadaus sipped his tea. "Good, I'll be leaving at first light to meet some of the other kings and try to forge alliances."

Balladaus stood up and began walking toward the exit. "You know the kings may join us father, but no monster will go against Barbatos unless they believe we can win. They will need to see what I saw."

Remadaus stood up holding his thick belt. "Thats why I'm counting on you my son."

Belladaus walked out, leaving his father alone.

Exios woke up to the sound of the door creaking open. He quickly sat up to Belladaus standing at the foot of his bed.

"How you feeling?"

Exios rubbed his eyes trying to fully wake up. He looked over to Athena who was still sound asleep.

"She wouldn't leave your side."

Exios turned back to Belladaus. "You, were inside my head."

Belladaus averted his gaze. "Yes, I was. My abilities let me heal by touch, but they also let me see into others minds. I cannot help it.

"What, did you see?"

"I saw. . .too much. I saw your suffering, your anger, your hate, and. . . Unfathomable destruction."

"So you believe who I say I am now?"

"Yes, but I also saw that your power is being restrained by some sort of powerful magic. If you let me, I can try to help you break it."

Exios paused, "let me think about it I'll have an answer for you later. Right now all I wanna do is take a shower I still smell like charcoal."

Balladaus winced, "yeeaahh sorry about that. I was just trying to get you to bring out your full power, I had no idea of your situation."

"No problem, you have some interesting abilities. I see how you managed to make it to monster class."

"Thank you, i worked really hard to get where I am."

"I can tell, and so can your father."

Belladaus smirked, "Anyways I'll leave you to finish getting back on your feet." Exios waved him off, then slumped back down inmedietly falling asleep.

Athena woke up to Exios just finishing his shower. She sat up and watched him as he began getting ready.

"Where are you going? You should be resting." She asked rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Rest is a luxury we can no longer afford. Things from here on out, are going to be moving a whole lot faster.