It had been 12 hours since Epic and his squad of 25 men were travelling to the South Gate, to unwillingly help Otto and Fletch overthrow the king, Apoc. Epic and the squad had made it half-way, and were now taking a short break, at the location shown on the map by Otto. The sun seemed to be slowly baking the HIVE into a huge, spherical, cookie. The path was dirt, there were no trees or greenery anywhere in sight. Epic thought 'This is different from at home' he was remembering everything. When he was on Earth, attending PIMD high, meeting his friends, the incident in the rain, arriving at HIVE, Otto murdering someone in Sophie's home, the spy, fire, being captured. It was all there. Nothing would change now. Then Epic remembered one more thing... The kiss. It had been months since he'd last seen anyone he actually knew. Epic returned to the present. He took a mouth-full of water from his water bottle, and looked straight ahead. Two silhouettes in the distance. As if they knew he was there, one of the turned his head toward Epic and the squad. Five men stood. "Stand down" Epic spoke "But sir" One of the soldiers protested "Leave them, they are doing nothing at all" But that wasn't true, as the first silhouette nudged the second one and pointed directly at Epic. 'Who were they?' Epic thought as the second silhouette looked. The sun caught her face. Epic couldn't believe his own eyes. It was her. Sophie. She must have noticed who the first silhouette was pointing at. She ran, straight at Epic. Epic stood, but only to be knocked back down by Sophie's embrace. "...It was you." Epic said aloud Sophie punched Epic in the stomach, winding him. "What happened?!" Epic gasped for air, Sophie's punch was a solid hit. The soldiers Rose and restrained Sophie, the first silhouette revealed himself. It was Dan! He knocked the guards away from Sophie only to be attacked himself. Epic stumble to his feet. Rose his hand. The soldiers thought he was going to scorch Sophie and Dan... They were wrong. The flames shot from Epic's hand, like a bullet from a gun. And engulfed everything in front of him. To there surprise, Sophie and Dan were unscathed. "I've been trained to control my flames much more now, I can choose who is burnt.' Epic explained. The remainder of the soldiers stood, drew there weapons. "Under the orders of Otto himself we are to dispose of you, Epic, if you betray him, burning some of your own squad is seen as this and you shall now be exterminated." Every single soldier dived at Epic. Epic's hand glowed red for half a second, then from his hand emerged a protective shield of flames. The soldiers bounced off harmlessly. The shield then shrank and formed a ball of fire in Epic's palm, he then threw it at a small fraction of the squad, wiping them out completely. Epic, Sophie and Dan engaged the squadron. Meanwhile... Otto was almost there. He could see it. The throne room. He entered, and was greeted by the stern, emotionless look on Apoc's face. 500 men filed into the room and surrounded Otto. A dark shadow that belonged to no body slithered through the crowd, killing whatever it came into contact with. Otto unleashed an unholy light, and every tensing man surrounding him withered to nothing. Otto drew his blade and approached Apoc. Apoc tried to stand but from the shadow emerged Fletch, Fletch pinned Apoc back into the chair. Apoc struggled but it was all for naught. Otto pierced Apoc's neck and ended his life. By HIVE law, Otto was now king...
Otto looked around. He was sitting in the king's throne. His throne now. 'now to find the crystals. Ben will take over for a bit. If we find epic, we will kill him. Got that fletch?' 'yeah.' fletch said as he looked at the mirror. 'that mirror seems creepy to me.' Otto walked to the mirror. He saw no reflection. Then he saw something step into sight in the mirror. He threw a fireball at it, and the mirror cracked. He fell to the floor. Could it have been? Did he drink too much? Or was it that he looked like king Apoc himself? 'what happened?' fletch asked with concern. 'y-yeah I'm fine...... I just saw...... Did you see him A's well? Or am I going mad?' "and his weakness shines through" thought fletch, grinning wickedly.
Epic, Sophie and Dan were almost finished the squadron off. 5 left. Epic released a burst of fire, but the flames redirected themselves to one sole man. They disappeared into his body. Absorbed. This surprised Epic, but he was glad. "Finally, a challenge." Epic told himself. He formed a sword of flames. Sophie revealed her wings, ascended 20ft into the air and launched endless spheres of air at the other 4 squadron members. All the while, Dan manoeuvred past the continues ariel attacks and attack the 4 men individual men one by one. Epic lunged at the 5th man with his flame-blade, the man raised his arm and blocked it, but didn't notice Epic's other hand enveloping itself in fire. Epic drove his flame covered fist into the man's stomach. The man fell to his knees. Then to his face. Dead. Sophie and Dan had long ago finished the other for with there un-matched teamwork. Then, all 3 of them travelled towards the castle of the King. Epic suspected Otto would have taken the throne by now. Epic knew Otto would have him hunted for betrayal with a heavy price for his head. So Epic would take the fight to him...