Amongst the massive pool of water were loved ones.
"Phineas, how've you been?" His father responded.
The man Phineas had been tirelessly searching for all this time was right there beside him, a revelation that left him momentarily stunned. It was none other than Centario Thobert, a former distinguished member of the renowned Exploring Institution. Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions and uncertainty, Phineas found himself at a loss for words.
Centario's appearance was a stark contrast to the memory Phineas held. His once vibrant demeanour had given way to a visage printed by the passage of time, accentuated by a scruffy white beard resembling scattered dandruff. His eyes, a piercing shade of blue, carried the weight of sorrow that had left an indelible mark.
Phineas, caught off guard and struggling to compose himself through a bout of coughing and choking, fought to gather his thoughts and find the right words.
"Could it truly be you, Dad?" he managed to stammer amidst his turmoil.
Centario's response came with a mixture of sentiment and exhaustion, his voice carrying a faint echo of his former vitality, now overshadowed by a haunting demeanour.
"What do you think, my son?" Centario replied, his words laced with a complex blend of weariness and longing.
The man before Phineas appeared almost akin to a figure from the realms of the undead, his vitality drained from his very being, his voice a mere whisper as he struggled to utter his words, a poignant struggle evident in his attempt to shed a tear. Macwell explained that the world he had left him in was filled with dead loved ones drowning in pain and regret.
"Why is my mother here?" Phineas asked. "She's alive at home."
Macwell looked at him with a sad smile on his face, looking at a clueless Phineas.
"I'm dead, Phineas." His mother sighed. "Whoever is living in your house is not your mother."
Phineas choked, he began to contemplate every situation that could have led to his mother's death.
"Why did you bring me here?" Phineas asked.
"So I could escape." Macwell laughed.
Macwell teleported his way out of the Muri, landing the final blow on Phineas. Macwell was too experienced; Phineas transformation's attacks were very easy to read, and Macwell was able to disarm him. The crowd roared as Macwell won, although they were also cheering for Phineas. The crowd scattered, with Macwell meeting up with Phineas and Hatred.
"Congratulations, you won." Phineas sighed with a strict demeanour and a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Macwell laughed as he handed them a bottle of liquor as compensation.
"How did you fight me while in the illusion?" Phineas asked.
"Soul control. One of the most effective ways of fighting," Macwell responded.
He explained that SoulControl can allow the person to control their movements while unconscious; it gives them a heightened version of their awareness, strength, and reflexes.
"I can teach you how to use it if you want." Macwell continued.
Phineas and Hatred looked at each other; they weren't sure if he could be trusted. The smile on Macwell's face made the decision easier to make. Yet they followed their lesser judgement; they didn't have the time for it, although Phineas needed the strength if he was to face the Spades again.
They trailed behind Macwell as he led them to his sprawling abode, a magnificent mansion that exuded an air of opulence and mystery. Upon crossing its threshold, they found themselves in a world of grandeur and secrecy, as they stumbled upon a concealed bunker concealed beneath the mansion's lavish facade. This hidden chamber was a veritable arsenal, stocked to the brim with an array of combat gear, weaponry gleaming dully in the dim light, and formidable weights that hinted at the rigorous training that took place within those walls.
However, as they surveyed their surroundings, their initial sense of awe quickly morphed into a chilling realisation. The bunker's walls bore grim and visceral testament to past events, as streaks of dried blood marred the surfaces like grotesque artwork. The scene before them evoked the imagery of a brutal slaughterhouse, where violence and conflict had left their indelible mark, forever altering the space into a haunting tableau of brutality and anguish.
"Why is there blood on these walls?" Hatred asked.
"Training, if you're not pushing yourself to near-death experiences," Macwell said, his words rinsed in sorrow.
Macwell asked about Phineas' weird transformation. It made him stronger and mentally weaker at the same time.
"I don't have a name for the transformation."
"You could call it Hades or Artemis," Macwell replied.
They liked the name Artemis, but they were wondering how this soul technique worked. Macwell explained that he needs to know why he turned into Artemis. Hatred spotted a trending pattern that Phineas only transformed when he was in a state of fear and near-death experiences. So, Macwell decided to provide Phineas' with incredible pain and agony.
Artemis had woken, his hair flowing into the air and his muscles burst out of his skin.
"Phineas, are you there?" Hatred asked.
Phineas felt as if he was locked out of his brain and soul. As he opened the door he saw Ealker Futurum.
"Who are you?" Ealker asked.
"I'm the owner of this body, Phineas Thobert." He responded.
"Well, I've been sitting here watching you get your ass kicked and pissing yourself. I couldn't just sit here and die along with you." Ealker sighed.
"Why are you here, controlling me?
"The real question is, Why are you here?" Ealker responded
Phineas explained that he isn't strong enough to defend his friends, defend himself, and defeat The Spades.
Ealker laughed.
"I need you to stop controlling my body."
"Phineas, I've measured your power, and I can tell for sure you aren't strong enough yet. You need me."
"Your movements are too violent, Ealker; they are easily readable."
Ealker explained that their souls keep colliding with each other, and although he was slightly stronger because he doesn't own the body, it's harder for him to use it.
"Soul fusion or forging is incredibly illegal and dangerous. You may die." Ealker responded.
Phineas understood the implications, noting that he was out of options. Ealker explained that in order to forge souls, you need similarities between the different souls.
"So what do we have in common, Ealker?" Phineas asked.
"We are both sociopaths."
Phineas laughed. "I'm not a sociopath."
Ealker explained, "I've been watching you from my chambers. Your impulsivity, aggressiveness, and isolation"
Ealker explained that he had been with Phineas since he was a child. He had witnessed the majority of the experiences that he had been through. Phineas denied this claim repeatedly, but if it helped him become stronger, he would go along with it. Their fingers touched, and Phineas felt a source of energy drive through his fingers and body. He finally could see and envision what was going on around him.
He felt an affinity for swords now.
"The transformation provides you with some of my characteristics. Like alcoholism, sword fighting, and some other unimportant stuff." Ealker explained.
They spent what seemed like days in his mind together.
(When physically present within your mind, time moves much quicker.)
The two of them had synced together, and Phineas pupils turned orange.
They began to attack each other; every punch was stronger than the last.
"This is not Artemis," Phineas roared. "This is Futurum."
Macwell laughed. He had seen within Phineas an amount of growth that very few people can obtain within an hour. But not everything seemed normal. Phineas arms began to flame up. Tearing the basement up with fury amongst the smoke, his hand emerged, slamming it into Macwell's face.
"I think you're ready." Macwell coughed.
Behind him was a cannon, forged with the rarest of diamonds and crafted by Luneriam.
The cannon transformed into a human stance, a cannon for arms, heads, and legs.
"Meet my son, Calibre," Macwell said with a smile and grin construed on his face.