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Immortal Chapter 3: Selections

Katashi sat upon the tiled arena. His eyes moved between all the different colored strands around him. Each of them represented a power. All the possible powers he could possibly have. However, he could only possess one power and had only one chance. Picking the wrong one meant instant death. "Damit how do I pick the right one? They all look the same to me," his mind raced around that thought.

His mind was left to wander. Did he have a time limit? Why was I here? What about...my family? In that moment he realized the entire time he had been there he never once through about his family. About the people closet to him. It seemed like he nearly forgot them. Like they had faded from his very memory.

In his mind, all he remembered was sitting at the kitchen table with his mother, sister, and brother. His father passed away years ago. The car that nearly caused his death was all that was left of his father. That thought brought a tear to his eye. The only thing he had left of his father was destroyed and gone. Of finding this thread and becoming a Watcher. If that was the only thing that stood between him and getting back to his family. Then by all the strength he had, he would us it to get back.

Luna let out a small gasp as suddenly he let out a large amount of energy. His body seething with it as he stared blankly as the strands. "That's it...find your reason to fight, find your reason to live," She smiled. The wolfs ears suddenly turned and she looked behind him. "What are you doing here Cerce?" She asked narrowing her eyes. Behind her stood a human form commander of research and development ring. The lowest ring of them all, which touches the great ocean.

The commander was cloaked by a great cape, which seemed attached to his shoulders. The cape stretched out in a dome and was completely translucent. With a cacophony of colors stretching down along the fleshy cape to the long tendrils that dragged behind him. His human form wearing a bright yellow overcoat under the cape. His eyes a deep green as he hides under an umbrella held by young man in a yellow shirt. Cerce's face was hidden behind a plain white mask that simply showed his eyes and mouth.

"Hm I was wondering where all that energy came from," He a smile went across the exposed mouth. His spoke with a high nasally tone and almost monotone. His hands hidden by his sleeves as he turned looked at Katashi. "Isn't he interesting," He heard a soft click and his neck locked in place. Bringing his hand up he pushed against his face and with a soft click his neck unhinged. "Damn these bones so useless," He motioned to the boy. Seeing this the boy neck to him reached up. With a loud crack, he snapped the exposed vertebrae back into place under his false skin. "Now where was I," he held up his sleeve from his cloak and let it fall from his hand. His true skin was a soft blue and nearly translucent through like the cape. His fingers morphed and suddenly became long tendrils. Stretching forward they whipped around Katashi just inches from him. Sparks flying between them as his own electricity arched to himself.

"Hm he's truly in a world of his own right now, he didn't even flinch," Cerce hissed behind his teeth as his fingers retracted. Once his hand had reformed, he glared at Luna who glared back. "Hm please inform me if this changes won't you?" He smiled a big toothy grin and walked away. He eyes moving back to see the boy as his smile faded. His technical intelligent mind with just a short glance he knew almost everything about the boy.

Meanwhile inside of Katashi's mind he still sat with his family at their apartment. It was not anything special just a place to live. Looking at his brother and sister, he smiled. His mother touched his shoulder but by the time he looked back, she had vanished. Quickly turning again his siblings were gone as well. A voice pierced through the room and the light faded suddenly to show seven men standing across from him. Each of them being drastically different. "Well now...isn't this young lad quite that strong one," The largest fattest man sat behind the other. "Indeed, he won't be much of a problem," A women next to him hissed.

"I know you," Katashi gulped watching all of them. They were the shadowy figures he had seen in Ligeron's pool. They were the seven generals of the Hunters. He let a bead of sweat drip down the side of his face. "Scared child no need to be, we offer all the watchers this, come with us and we'll never force you to choose whether to live or die," The fat one gurgled. "Why should I?" He asked gripping his fists. "Because these false gods are not for the likes of our humans, these beastly fools have nothing to do with us humans," They continued. "I think I'll stick with them, at least they don't hide in the shadows like a bunch of cowards," He spoke gently. "As you wish," They spoke and they faded suddenly.

As the light faded he was suddenly back in the arena. All the strands but one was now visible. A bright golden strand stretched around him brightly. He reached out and grasped it then a surge of energy ran through him. He gasped thinking for a brief moment that he had grabbed the wrong one. When in an intense moment light flared out from him in a great spiral. "Very powerful for a child his age, his power is that of a class c," Luna held up his hand. The cloud of dust erupting out from Katashi being deflected around her. As the power faded, it became concealed inside of his being. He looked up in a daze as all that power became absorbed into him. "What happened?" He asked Luna stepped forward kneeling before him. She helped him to his feet as he shifted from foot to foot. His eyes remained heavy as the sudden weight of power pushed down on him.

Suddenly he stepped forward and the ground cracked and shattered around his foot. "Careful every step while this power is incubating will let out some energy," He helped hold him up. "You must take deep breaths and calm yourself before you can walk," She explained. He nodded and stepped forward taking a deep breath. This time nothing happened and he was able to carry himself forward. "But...what about the last test?" He asked.

"It can wait till your energy stabilizes," She led him to a portal. Stepping through they entered a small room. A bedroll on the floor that she laid him down upon. "You'll be safe in the recruitment barrack, but I have to warn you, your energy stabilizing will hurt tremendously. If you survive you will have taken the second step toward becoming a Watcher," She explained as his eyes began to close. Suddenly he jerked and gasped loudly. His body suddenly throbbed and pain shot through his entire being. It felt as if his soul was being burned alive. A bright light radiating out from him as his energy constantly threw in and out sync.

He slammed his fist into the floor, as he lay unable to move. As he screamed the light, blue shirts of the medical sector looked at the door. "Commander Luna?" One of them looked at her. "Ignore it for now please he's just adjusting," She smiled warmly at her subordinate. The halls of the medical sector filled with light blue shirts. All of them serving under Commander Luna who is the head of the afterlife hospital ring. The shirt color of each member matching that of their captain. This shows what team they belong to and prevents confusion. All the members of this team are experts in healing magic and medical expertise.

Meanwhile in the lowest ring of Halo the waves splash against the coral encrusted shoreline. One massive sporting arena shaped building taking up the far east corner. Nevertheless the size; beneath this building was much more. Miles and miles of glass tunnels and spherical laboratories. The near bottomless ocean stretching down forever below. The young boy in the yellow shirt from before walking through the lowest hall. The sunlight not strong enough to reach this deep. A few lights in the tunnels illuminating the way. "Master Cerce? I have brought your meal," He spoke as he stopped at thick steel door. "Hm Come in Yoko," The commanders voice came from inside.

The door opened and the boy stepped into a laboratory full of high tech equipment. A blood stained table next in the center surrounded by powerful lights. A great sized computer off to the corner next to a glass wall. Water moving around the inside of the massive tank. The tank having a tube collecting the extremely cold seawater from outside. As well as a special machine connected to it. The machine increasing the pressure to that of the world most deepest oceans. Inside floating silently is where Cerce sat suspended. The dome at the top of his cape actually the large bell of a jellyfish. It pulsed softly pushing him up and down.

His entire body a light blue color his face very handsome. His hair slicked back turning into long ribbon tendrils down his back. "Would you like your food sir? Or shall I allow your guest inside?" He bowed. "Guest? You worthless child why are you making such an important commander wait!" He hissed and Yoko turned opening the doors. Andreas standing tall just outside. His thick hooves and heavy steps vibrating the room. "Dear brother...what do I owe this visit?" Cerce asked one of his tendril turning up the pressure of the tank. "Did you do as I requested?" The powerful bull asked his horns almost scrapping the ceiling. His massive tail swishing slowly behind him the rattle silent.

"Well did you do as I requested?" He spoke in his deep voice. "Of course, Anything for my favorite brother," His eyes moved to the large computer screen. One of his tentacles slipped into a hold in the tank. His tendril glowed brightly as he forced electricity through it. The computer clicked on and Andreas sat before it. Yoko stood beside him his head down as his tail wrapped around the young boy. Yoko keep silent as the screen flashed data before him. In a twinge of excitement, his tail tightened making the young boy gasp. His body writhed in the pleasure of the pain. His hands sweating he grasped onto the thick muscles and scales. He looked at the powerful immortal smiling with pleading eyes. Begging for the grip to tighten. Begging for every muscle to come close to crushing him. The scars on his arms and legs a testament. A testament to his master Cerce who he knew loved him very much.

"Please sir...tighter," He nearly whimpered and Andreas' attention turned to him. "How dare you speak to him you insolent boy!" Cerce yelled and one of his finger extended phasing through the energy glass. The long whip snapped across his face sending him flying away. He cried and shook as the venom caused every nerve to throb in pain. He jerked his climax nearing. Only a touch from his master could bring him to this moment. With a loud gasp, the boy fainted at the foot of a wall.

Alive but barely. "You know if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be allowed to do that," Andreas stood. "Yes I know all to well," Cerce smiled and slipped into the shadows of his tank. Andreas narrowed his eyes and turned walking down the hall slowly. Moving up the stairs to the higher levels all the bright shirts and lab coats bowed. As king over hell, he caused fear in all of the sectors especially the research and development labs. His black coat nearly dragged the floor. His black fur shinning in the artificial light.

Moving up the steps towards the surface, he stepped out into the glowing sunset. A powerful man watching from the stairway to the upper ring. This man a great black condor standing at ten feet from feet to head. Aztec designed tattoos across his entire featherless head. His intense purple eyes staring at his immortal brother. His massive wings wrapped around him like a cloak hiding his body beneath. "Well now aren't you a sight to see, What is the great Juan doing this far from the stealth and spy barracks?" Andreas looked up at him. "Amigo...I do not know what you see in that boy," He turned showing the end of his purple commanders coat. he moved the steps before opening his wings showing his entire body. It powerfully strong as if it was chiseled from stone. His hand and feet having the avian yellow scales and talons. With one flap he took off into the air and landed much farther away. Him now a mere speck on the higher rings.

Andreas let a small laugh escape his lips. "So much distrust between Ligeron's favorites and mine," he chuckled to himself. As Katashi screamed louder in pain Luna sat quietly just outside the room. She sipped her tea and looked back at the door. She turned back and took another long sip hearing the silence from inside. "So did you die? Or...did it finally end?" She sipped once more and set the cup down.

End Chapter 3