Tipping Point (Shadow)

What was he doing? Lucius had asked himself that question repeatedly, day after day. He thought he knew before, but now he wasn't entirely sure. Were his goals to big? Was it even worth it? Would he be remembered for his struggle, or his brutality? And did it even matter, in the end? He was going through an existential crisis of sorts. All the things Blood Tithe had done to him had battered away at his mind and body. He finally got up after his little meeting with Silus, finding his lab spotless surprisingly. He had gotten the most sleep in one time he had ever had, and boy did it feel good.

"Hector! Coffee!" Lucius yelled from his bed before grunting as he pulled himself up into a sitting position. Hector had proved far more useful since the invention of his exoskeleton, even out of combat. Lucius had taken it upon himself to make utility bodies the AI could control to fulfill day to day needs, like his coffee.  

"Right away sir, how was your rest?" The AI's voice responded, echoing out from the walls it seemed as their was no apparent source.  Lucius got up and hobbled to his bathroom, then began to do all that boring morning stuff like teeth brushing and a shower.

"It was fine, what time is it?" Lucius asked.

"3:24 PM sir." Hector responded.

"....Hold on, what day is it?" Lucius said, confused as he went to sleep an hour after that time.

"Tuesday." The AI said, not seeming to understand what Lucius was so worried about.

"I slept for three days? Jesus..... Where are....the children?" Lucius asked, sincerely wondering what they could have been doing all this time, alone.

"Isalia, Lucas, and Ryan are currently in the training simulator." Hector said in response.

"Ah, well, tell them i went out." Lucius said as he walked from his room and out into the main lab area. One of the utility bots made it's way over to Lucius with a tray, presenting the metahuman with his 'morning' brew. Lucius drank the entire thing in a few seconds flat, setting the cup down before walking over to a pod of sorts. He stepped in, swiping a few times on a holographic pad within this pod, and it shut. In the next moment mechanical arms surrounded him, placing various pieces of armor and gadgetry on Lucius until he was fully costumed. The doors then slid open, allowing Lucius to step out with a clang as his metallic boots hit the sleek lab floors.

"Going alone sir? You know what happened last time you did that. I advise you bring along reinforcements, if it's that sort of trip that is." Hector stated, getting a groan from Lucius.

"I guess you're right, have Lucas come down here. He needs to be taught a few things anyway." Lucius said before sitting down, waiting for his son to meet him. It was odd calling him that, Lucius had only known the boy for a few weeks. He knew he should care for him, but maybe that would come in time. In a few moments the black haired boy would enter the room through automatic sliding doors, he had an odd smile on his face.

"Well you look cheerful." Lucius said, his voice filtered by his mask. Lucas wondered why his father always had that stuff on, sure it was cool, but the armor didn't look very comfortable.

"Yeah, i guess so.... So da-...i mean, Lucius. What's up?" Lucas asked, catching himself on the word dad. It seemed this whole thing was a little odd for the boy as well. Lucius wouldn't draw attention to that just yet though, it wasn't the time nor the place.

"I want you to come with me on a little outing. I'm worried about you, we don't need your powers going out of control again, so i figure it might be a learning experience." Lucius said as he got up, heading over to some kind of glowing pad on the floor and typing in coordinates on the terminal next to it.

"Um, ok......i....i won't have to use them, will i?" Lucas said, visibly scared by that prospect. He didn't like it, losing control, not one bit. It felt good to let the rage take over, and that was the scary part about it, when it was happening, he liked it, only after when he realized what a monster he was did it leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Yes... I know it's hard, and I'm sorry i have to force you into it, but you have to learn how to control yourself. The only way you'll be able to do that is with experience." Lucius said. Lucas's face then went pale, he was almost shaking, and all the cheer he had walked in with was gone. He knew Lucius was right, but he hated himself when he used his powers, he was like the exact inverse of his real self.

"O-ok..." Lucas sad softly. He then started constructing his own attire, a dark long coat, fingerless gloves, and combat boots.

"I like the get-up.." Lucius said, hoping to at least cheer his son up a little. They would be going after shadow, who Lucius just realized from looking over a computer screen was killing randomly in Chicago. He was a loose cannon, and a general pain in the ass at this point. He couldn't be fixed, that's what Silus had told him, but maybe Lucius could at least get some info if he captured the young man. Lucius and his son then stepped onto the platform, and they were gone in a literal flash. They would be teleported to a building near the last place shadow was seen, and considering the fact the kid seemed to be on a killing spree, he probably wasn't to far away.

"Tell me, Do you feel, Lucky Punk!?" Shadow would ask the man that was currently being hanged upside down by webbing of shadow's. Of course, he wouldn't be able to answer with his mouth being shut tight but then again when he spoke he spoke really, really loud. So to avoid a hurt ear the Revanant had gone and.. sewn the meta's mouth shut before wrapping it in shadows and finally he hanged him upside down on a street lamp just far enough so Shadow could talk to him face to face.  Soon he would get bored of playing with this human and do something, their were some people hiding in the buildings nearby but why chase when you have one in your hands. "Tell you this bub. Have you ever wondered what it's like to burn, slowly.. Well you won't feel it today hahahaha." Shadow would finish with a demonic laugh before dropping to the ground and rolling under the trapped meta human, the man shaking and making noises that were really starting to annoy Shadow. "Oh be quiet. Just think of it this way, if you survive. You get to know what being eaten alive feels like." Marcus would taught the fellow before rising both hands to his head, just reaching a few centimeters under it, he would allow his hellfire to form from his arms and the earth next to him before bringing it to his hands, combining the two orbs of fire together, he could feel his skin peeling back and fourth, burning and healing and he loved it.

"See you later.. or in a few short hungry seconds." He would whisper before releasing the beam of fire upwards, making a sort of beacon though the man and as soon as he was done the body fell on top of him, mostly missing most of his old parts. Rolling him off, Shadow would get up before kneeling down and started to rip out any bit of meat that looked edible before going down on it, a crunch sound came with his chewing. "I Think. I over did him... Well.. Arr who am I kidding." Shadow say as he stood up and looked over his art. Seems the guy didn't survive.. How sad.

It was never hard to find shadow, which was odd considering the handle he gave himself. You would think he was some kind of stealth, shadowy metahuman. Nope, a demon that had taken a liking to fire as of late. The beacon of fire immediately alerted Lucius to shadows whereabouts, but he didn't make a move yet, only watched as the flames reflected off his optics. Lucas looked even more worried then before, and he knew what was coming.

"You best get yourself ready." Lucius said, turning to the boy. He knew how hard this was for him, and he didn't want to upset the boy, but it had to be done. The more he used the powers the more control he would gain.

"...n-NO! I can't, there are people here......i could hurt them.....like i almost did to Isalia and Ryan." Lucas said. He knew there was likely no going back now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't plead with his dad.

"I won't let that happen, ok? It will be better if you do this, i promise." Lucius said.

"...Alright." Lucas said, almost crying. He stuck out his hands, producing a faint red glow that would eat at the roof they were standing on once he crouched down. Instantly he felt it's effects on him. In a sense it was a relief, like a drug. This made him feel strong, powerful, but it also made him evil, to the point where he would lash out at his own siblings. He felt himself losing himself to this bliss, and quickly pulled away from the ground. His eyes were sparked with a red glow, already in the haze his powers created.

"N-no.....i don't want this! Just, please! Take me home! Take me home dad!" He said, trembling for his pockets. He removed the vile of pills Lucius had given him weeks before, and they would knock him out if taken. He felt he needed to, right now, or he was going to lose himself. Lucius walked toward him, hugging him and moving his armored hand through the boys shaggy hair.

"You don't always get what you want, Lucas. I'm sorry." Lucius said as he grabbed the pills from his son, instantly vaporizing them. Lucas then collapsed, in partial tears, bowing his head. He felt the desire again, almost like a hunger, but it couldn't really be accurately compared to that. This is the instant Lucas' will broke, as incredibly strong as it was this force within him was stronger. He sent out a pulse of energy, which Lucius shielded himself from quickly. In a few moments the roof and all that was on top of it had been incinerated, and it was on the brink of collapse. Lucas then stood, nearly unrecognizable as the innocent boy he was, a delighted smile across his face.

"Thanks for that, 'Dad'." Lucas said in an almost mocking tone before he dashed toward Lucius, hitting his repulsive field so hard it shattered and sent them both flying. With a thud Lucius found himself in the streets below, he thought he could control Lucas, what had he done? Lucas was relatively unharmed, and with great speed and strength leaped into the air, achieving something that could be mistaken as flight. He would crash down in the alley where shadow was, his fist hitting the concrete just as red energy pulsed out from it, adding to the boy's power.

"This is gonna be fun." Lucas said, the slasher smirk still wide across his face and his red eyes just adding to the horror.

Shadow heard a thud and turned to see a child, his eyes were red and he had a smile Shadow liked. He just stared at the kid for a bit bring another piece of burnt flesh to his mouth and biting down on it before pointing to the kid. "Ello their lovely. You look as batshit insane as I do. Maybe even more. Want some?" Shadow would say as he turned to pick up the dead body that was lighter then it was before but then again, it was alive before and now it was a mess of blood and gore. He would throw it to the new kid but it wouldn't land close, he still had this human strengh. "I'm almost full." Shadow would say in his demonic voice as he wondered how this kid would react, he had this sort of look that just told you I'm a monster.

He has Red energie, you might want to exceris.. Dark tried warning J of the red energie being close to that of Reds but the demon wouldn't have it.

"Dark. What did I say, no talking from you." Shadow chided the lesser being and turn back to the kid.

So now Lucius had a problem. Well, multiple problems. He saw Lucas dash over to where they saw the fire, so there was one. He didn't want Lucas to get hurt. And then there was the problem of Lucas being totally out of control. Once this was over, regardless of if they captured shadow or not, Lucas would have to be detained, again. Lucius got up, brushing himself off before running down the alley toward where Lucas jumped.

Lucas had a sort of bloodlust, but he wasn't a cannibal. In fact, the disgusting dismemberment just made him more enraged. It was hard to contain it all, and he felt himself wanting to jump at the young man, to tear his damn eyes out. His body shuddered, and he had nothing left to say, he just wanted to hit something, to release all the excess emotion. With a single step forward, he would turn into a blur. Moving at speeds no human ever could. He was just getting started, so it was about three hundred miles per hour.

As he charged forward he formed a large black two-handed sword, one that was about as tall as he was yet he would easily fling it around like it was nothing due to the fact it was actually made of red energy. Once he reached shadow, he swung this sword in a wide horizontal arc, then with superhuman speed followed it up with another. His focus was on removing this person from the planet, and nothing else mattered.

Shadow watched as the boys body shuddered and gave a small smirk before his mask appeared over his face. Then, the kid was gone, like literal gone but a blur remained for a second and oh goodie. That blur was heading for him. Not knowing what this was, the Revanant activated that lovely meld they stole from Dark and watched as the kid reappeared with a rather impressive sword that he began to swing at Shadow.

After the kid sliced though the shadowy form trice, Shadow felt a small tingle though his stomach before reforming his body and bringing his fist back at the same time. Reformed he would light his fist ablaze with hellfire before bringing all the flames to the top of his knuckles while swinging his fist upwards for a uppercut. If the hit connected to the kids chin, Shadow would be releasing a torrent of flame upwards at the kid's head. If not then he would release the torrent anyway while spinning in a circle. Hoping to catch the kid off with the surprise second attack if he was to dodge the first.

Lucas' sword ended up going through shadow, which visibly aggravated him. After both swings shadow reformed and came back with a counter, which seemed to be an upper cut. Lucas' mind had already processed dozens of outcomes to that action before it even happened, and picked the most probable one. He simply weaved out of the way of the fist at great speed, it was too predictable. However, what happened next wasn't, Lucas didn't know the nature of shadows powers exactly so it was harder to react to. The turret of fire whirled around shadow, catching Lucas on the shoulder.

Lucas grunted in pain....before beginning to laugh after dashing away from the blaze. The burn on his arm wasn't too bad considering the fact his clothing was made of red energy, which took most of the blow. Though a little blood could be seen, it was starting to heal slowly. Lucas then decided to take a slightly different approach, radiating red energy for a moment before finally pulsing it outward. The entire alley lit up, and everything in it was either blown way or turned to dust. This was only fueling Lucas' power and rage, he would need to be stopped before he continued. The walls on either side of them were damaged and looked as if they were about to collapse. Pretty much everything else in the area was too, though what happened to shadow was a bit unclear. Lucius finally made it to the alley, seeing Lucas just as he let out his pulse. This was bad.

"Ohh, Sanic the whojo is here." Shadow would say with a small laugh as the kid dashed away but then.. he began to emit red energy for a second and soon Shadow saw why, a pulse emitted from the kid made the demon do some quick thinking and with a finalizing decision, the Revanant decided to use one of his own ability's. Looking up, Shadow's body would begin exploding in shadows that enveloped him and he was gone before soon reappearing in the sky as far as he could go facing upwards. "I'M FLYING." Shadow would yell in his demonic voice before feeling the air shift under him and soundlessly he began falling back to the earth.

Yet he wasn't fully untouched as his back felt a tug of the power that the kid released in the alleyway and a melting feeling could be felt along his back before finally he landed with a loud thud on the now somewhat destroyed and melted ground that he once stood upon, a crack as bones snapped upon his landing. "Oww. Flying is not for me." Shadow would groan as he began to use the shadows to lift himself up and keep himself upright just in time to see an face he fell in love with only days ago. "Lucius. I must thank you for what you did. I mean without you I wouldn't be around." Shadow would say in-between loud cracks as his back bones began to mend themselves and his skin slowly regenerating from the kid's energy acidic effects.

Superhuman fights were always interesting. The way various powers worked off each other and pushed them to their limits. Very fun to watch, though Lucius couldn't to that, this was someone he cared about.....or at least was trying too. He saw shadow achieve some kind of flight, honestly it looked terribly painful but then again the demon didn't ever show any care for such things. He hit the ground hard, bones cracking and such. Lucius wondered if that was the best way to get out of that situation, he ended up damaging himself pretty severely anyway.

As soon as Lucius walked up Lucas swung his sword at him in blind hatred, but it was literally caught. Lucius let out a grunt as the sword was burning his hand with it's harsh acid effect, but powered through and sent his own energy through it rapidly, shattering it. This was a bad situation really, he couldn't detain Lucas just yet, and the boy couldn't even speak he was so enraged. It seemed Lucius would just have to throw Lucas at Shadow until this was done. He turned the boy around and kicked him in the back toward shadow, hoping he would change targets. And that he did, he once again launched at Shadow, ready to pound him into oblivion. With speed that was now shattering the sound barrier he launched at shadow, throwing around five tank obliterating punches at his enemies head and mid section in under a second.

"Oh? Well, i guess it's my responsibility to get rid of you then."

Marcus watched the interaction between the kid and Lucius, it was very interesting. Seems that the kid was a means to stop Shadow as proven when the kid tried to attack Lucius and failed before being flung his way and Shadow learned something. He was more sane then the child. Plans coming into motion, Shadow would let the ki.. or the kid would be sending what looked like multiple fist but knowing it was simply the Sanic magic. Shadow felt every hit in the face and stomach as the kids fist cracked bone and bruised skin. This would have killed normal humans, so it was a good thing his Revanant skin had finally decided to show up when Lucius a while back as it was only broken ribs and cheekbones.

Reeling back and seething in pain and with the onslaught of fist ending. Shadow would construct a blanket of shadows that would form to wrap itself round the kid and then he would try to fling him back towards Lucius and while doing so he also created a sort of stunt ramp towards the kid to also try and knock the kid back at Lucius with force just in case he managed past the blanket. After one or the other, Shadow would make a break for the insides of left wall that the kid made easy to enter earlier to try and hide. Allow the dog to bite the master.

So it seemed Lucas' onslaught was very effective, causing several apparent injuries on Shadow. It likely would have killed a normal person, so it was lucky for Lucas' sake Shadow was the furthest thing from human.  In the next instant Shadow returned the attack, attempting to wrap Lucas up in some manner of shadow blanket. It was pretty impossible to see coming, so Lucas was wrapped up, though that wouldn't hold him long it seemed because he was already tearing it apart with his incredible strength. Lucas would then be thrown at Lucius, who dodged his falling son by simply stepping out of the way. He saw Shadow run into the building Lucas had blown a hole in, he was likely trying to buy time to heal or perhaps even run away. He was smarter then Lucius thought, trying to use Lucas against him.

The boy instantly attacked Lucius, running and striking with viper-like quickness no normal human would be able to see. Lucius had mastered many fighting styles, and that combined with his near perfect reaction time made this easy. He weaved out of the way of a few punches, then threw his son off balance with a construct at his feet, using his own momentum to throw Lucas into the wall shadow was hiding behind. Lucas grunted in pain, but Lucius knew he wouldn't be done for more then a few seconds. Lucius teleported into the building to avoid getting attacked again by Lucas, appearing in front of Shadow.

"Using my allies against me Shadow? And here i thought you were no mind for tactics." Lucius said with a smirk before unleashing a wave of energy that would shatter the wall behind shadow regardless of if he evaded or not.

As Shadow sat in a comfy chair in the building he too shelter in, he allowed his jaw to click into place and a organ to remove rib bone that too soon also came back in place. "Wonder how the wonder twins are doing." And almost like that, seemed he had an angel listening in on him, Lucius appeared out of thin air and Shadow gave a small crackle of laughter, melding into a shadow and standing as Lucius released a wave of energy at him, Smashing the wall and blowing both their cover.

"Did you know. Shadow never really tried his potential. His smarts. I'm simply the guy who gets shit done in this body." Shadow would explain before sinking to the ground and blending with the shadows created by household objects to hide. He would allow Lucius to talk or hunt around for him but he would be looking for a shadow. A absence of light and this allowed Shadow a perfect surprise when the time came.

This little shit was so annoying. Truly, Lucius hated the nature of his powers. Though, he had learned to deal with pretty much anything, so this was nothing. The situation was pretty under control considering the fact his own kid was trying to kill him. Shadow once again dispersed, and the little stunt he pulled allowed him to heal up to a degree. That was the problem with regeneration, as soon as you gave your opponent time, you were back at square one.

"I wouldn't try to hide from me....." Lucius said, pretty confident in himself. Lucas had been thrown back from the wall as soon as it was hit, sending him flying into the other wall of the alley. He was burnt up, maybe a few broken bones too, but he was healing and staggered to his feet. If Lucius was to do this, well, he needed Lucas out of the way. Or, perhaps he could try something else. Letting his energy flow through him Lucius send a rumbling pulse at Lucas, who saw it coming and met it with his own energy. The crimson waves of acidic light hit each other, causing the already burnt area to pretty much turn into nothing but a crater. Most of the buildings were falling apart, including the one Lucius was in. But this was fine. He gathered another pulse of energy and redirected his wave he sent at Lucas, flinging the red energy in all directions around him. The entire room lit up with red light, blasting it apart. After it was over, the building would also be a crater, maybe a few ruined walls as well, and Lucas was even more powerful.

Shadow had planned on making an attack but what Lucius started doing made him laugh mentally for a bit before rising up and unmelding before laughing out loud a little more all the while making his way behind the man. That was until the man released a pulse all round and sent the Revanant ageist a crumbling wall that along with the wave sent them both out an onto the ground of black smoulder. getting up, Shadow felt his face that was partially melted from the pulse but began healing. Still the pain was their just.. Not as bad as it could be. "Boy oh Boy. I never knew you had a knack for creating monsters. First me then this child. I wonder how many you've made without your own knowing." Shadow would say as he rubbed his shoulder and looked around, this sort of damage wasn't his style but then again it wasn't even his doing. These two did this for him and it almost made him blush under his mask.

Still he wanted in on the fun and started to grabbed at the mist that surrounded him, forming a bit into fist's and others into lines of Darkness. He would send the fist's towards Lucius while making the lines travel along the ground until getting close which then they would rise as sharpened Tendrils to try and spear though his Armour, hoping the burnt ground and fist would distract him enough and if this wasn't enough... The boy was closer to Lucius too. "I can't figure what to say to you Luci. Thank you or Just Die."

It seemed Lucius' pulse drew his enemy out, which was the intention really. As slippery as Shadow was, Lucius was tactical enough to thwart him. Once Shadow reappeared he said something about Lucius creating monsters, which Lucius couldn't help but smile at under his high tech mask. It was true, he had created monsters, many more then Shadow even knew, but it still eat at him that's what Lucas was thought of. He didn't ask for those powers, heck, he didn't ask to be created.

"Don't get angry.......don't get angry, you can't do this pissed off. You'll end up getting yourself and Lucas hurt." Lucius told himself as he felt his blood start to heat up. Shadow thought he could taunt Lucius with Lucas, and my god if he found out the boy was his biological son then he would do it until the cows came home. It was irritating, but Lucius couldn't let himself become enraged, what kind of example was that to Lucas? Shadow would form two fists of shadows and send them at Lucius. Now he could evade them, or shield himself, but Lucas was up, healed and charging at his own dad with a replacement sword, even larger then the previous one.

Ok, well, this was easy, right? It was a basic tactic to use your two opponents against each other. Lucius kicked his teleporter into high gear, it would need to cool for a long time after this because of repeated use, but it was worth it. He ported behind shadow, about ten feet, and Lucas changed his course. He now had to go through Shadow to get to Lucius. Lucas then charged Shadow at blinding speed, perhaps faster then he could react to with sword raised. In the instant he closed the distance he swung the huge sword three times rapidly, moving so fast they couldn't be seen by the human eye.