Max had never seen a creature like this. Even though he had seen terrifying, mysterious stuff ever since he woke up here, atleast they were humanoid. Chuck, Melissa, Lin and the Samurai where all normal humans, although they didn't do normal human feats. He literally saw a robot and also a being called Time. And just a few minutes ago, he had seen a forest full of mysterious spirits. But they all paled in comparison to the thing in front of them.
The thing ahead of him was grotesque. It was a pile of smoke, joined together to give a ghostly semi-humanoid form. But it was large in size. This collection of black fumes had no legs and had a progressively thinning sheet of smoke underneath it, as if it were a Genie. The head was rather large and had a huge skull like face. It looked like it was made of material that looked like a bone, and a huge eye hole, making it a cyclops-like figure. And the smoke extended as its arms, each being the size of a human being, and its huge palms were replaced with huge bone like armour around it. It was covered in scars and cracks, for some reason.
Max understood that this was the most ghostly threat he had ever faced. He turned to his side to see Chuck, hoping for a positive response. But all he could see was the eleven year old boy, frozen in fear and sweating.
Max: I think we should run...
Chuck: Agreed.
As if they needed to deal with each other, they told each other their ultimate move. Immediately the next second, they started running, screaming as they went for it. As they started running, Max was worried if they would run into the "spirits" that he had seen earlier. And he was scared that Chuck would lead him away from their original location.
Max: Do you know where we are going???
Chuck: Yes!! Follow me!! I'll lead you to my village and we can lose whatever that thing is!
Max: Aye aye, Captain!!!
Max and Chuck were totally in sync with each other, running with their same feet and arm movements. Max was faster, but he had slowed down for two reasons. One, he needed Chuck to survive, cause he was a kid. And two, Chuck was the one who knew the way to his village.
Max turned around quick to see if the ghostly figure was following them. But it stayed away and it was in it's original position.
Max: Yes!! Thank God!! Something finally goes my way!!
As if Max jinxed himself, the moment he uttered those words, the Cyclops Ghost started attacking them. It was chasing them at breakneck speed, which made Max to scream in his highest pitch!! He felt like he triggered something in that being, for it to chase him.
Max wanted to run faster, but he was scared to leave Chuck behind. But the Cyclops was faster too. Faster than their current speed, probably because it was made out of smoke.
Max: This is even more terrifying than the man with the monocle!!
The instant he said that, Chuck looked up to him. And that very second, fear had vanished from Chuck's eyes, and what was left was something more in line with "longing".
Chuck: Man with a monocle??
Max: Ya you know him kid???
Chuck: Did he have a beard and mustache? Was it white??
Max had a realization that this kid knew something. It didn't feel like he was scared of it. He could see tears swelling in Chuck's eyes, as if he was asking Max to take him where that monocle guy was. It felt like he had a close relationship with that "spirit".
Max: Yes, that's right. He looked something like that I think.
Max was hesitant to answer for some reason. But he felt like he should be honest. Chuck's eyes widened upon hearing that. Like some sort of life had returned to his eyes. Something about those eyes was dead until now.
Chuck: Where did you see my uncle??!
Chuck asked a question that bewildered Max. He couldn't process the fact that The guy in the monocle was actually Chuck's uncle. But before he could answer, Chuck slipped and fell down in the forest. He fell with an "ouch", and on his knees, and rolled over, with inertia doing it's thing. Max tried stopping, but it wasn't easy.
Max put a hard stop on his feet and immediately turned back to Chuck. The young boy was trying to get up, but behind him, was the Cyclops. It was about five meters away from him and about to catch up.
Max quickened his pace, and for some reason, his legs moved the way he wanted it to move. It was like he had gained the speed that the Samurai was portraying. Granted, he was already moving at their speed, considering the fact that he had already went toe to toe with the Samurai.
When Chuck got up, the world became slow. He looked at the Cyclops right above him. Max jumped at him with full force and tried to punch the monster. But as he had feared, he went through the ghost and fell on his stomach, and immediately flipped to turn at the ghost again.The ghost was about to use its enormous arm to strike at Chuck. Chuck shut his eyes in reflex, and in that instant all hope seemed lost.
Max immediately jumped again, this time at it's back. But the monster turned again. But Max was prepared. As he went through the ghost's body he raised his left arm and shouted the name of his attack.
Max: Starmannnn!!!!!
With that shout, somehow he brought out another star from the palm of his left hand. And the star also did the same job it's predecessor did. It went through the ghost with a flashing effect and as Max hit the ground, it exploded into a starshine. All elements of the ghost looked even more broken and in an instant, it vanished from the plane of existence.
Max was breathing hard with this encounter. Somehow he defeated the Cyclops, but he didn't know how. Chuck was also beside him, panting. As the two men , or rather a boy in Chuck's case, they looked at each other. Max smiled.
Chuck: That was awesome!!!!!
Max: I know right!!!
They both gave each other a high five, and Max got up lending a hand to Chuck to help him get up too.
Max: So...about your uncle...
Max wanted to continue the conversation they were about to have, but Chuck raised his hand.
Chuck: Shh...not here. It's dangerous out here. Let's go somewhere safe first.
That suggestion did make sense to Max.
Chuck: We are very close to my village anyway.
Max: Woahhh...really??
Chuck nodded and smiled. Then he asked him to follow as he walked towards his left. Max quietly followed, making sure everything was safe around him. It was still night time and they had barely any light.
But soon they reached a tree.
Max was confused at first, as Chuck had stopped there.
Max: What? What are we doing here??
Chuck: We are here...this is my village.
Max raised an eyebrow, looking at the tree.
Max: I'm not sure you know what a village is...
Chuck: Ya, I do. Come on, let's go!
He tugged on Max's arm and ran straight into the tree. Max was shocked but he listened. He also ran in the same speed, and closed his eyes as he met the tree. He must've had real faith in that kid, cause he went straight in and somehow opened his eyes as he came out.
Max: Oh my god...!
Chuck was ahead of him, by the opening of the cave-like entrance.
Chuck: Welcome!! To my village!!
Max: Woahhh...
.....
[Maximus Augilleris Steefan: 71 days till Erasure]