Chương 57: Episode 2: My Best Friend Has Beef With the Bus Driver

Everyone split into groups, and our class clustered next to Bus 101. I stayed near the front, arms crossed, but my eyes weren't really on the bus. They kept drifting back to Teo, back to the taxi, back to that moment in the tunnel. … Too soon… am I, Olsen? That was still sitting in my chest like it didn't plan on leaving anytime soon. Power came trudging up the dirt path, Mr. Bassi slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, completely limp. He didn't even slow down.

He just walked up to the back of the bus, popped it open, and tossed him inside. I blinked.

"…You good, Bassi?" I called. From inside the bus came a weak response.

"…I regret everything…" Yeah, that sounds about right. I turned back to Power, grinning a little.

"Sooo… where's the mysterious assistant?" Power froze, not fully, but enough. His eyes flicked around like he'd just gotten caught hiding something he really didn't want us to see. He looked at Don for half a second, then looked away immediately.

"…He'll get here when he gets here," he said quickly.

"Just, get on the bus." … That was weird. Power doesn't act weird. Ever. I glanced at Don. He wasn't smiling. Didn't say anything either, just watching. That didn't help. I shrugged it off, because what else was I gonna do, and climbed aboard with the rest of the class. And then I saw him. The driver. Same seat. Same posture. Same guy. Teo. … But not really. He was dressed different now. Black top hat. Long black cloak that draped over the seat like it was swallowing the light around him.

Everything about him looked darker and heavier. I felt my chest tighten slightly, same feeling from the tunnel. The rest of the class didn't even hesitate. They just walked past him like this was completely normal, sliding into seats, talking, laughing, arguing over who sat where. Like bro wasn't sitting there looking like the final boss of Chapter 12. I stepped up onto the bus slowly, eyes locked on him. For a second, just a second, I thought I saw him smile.

But the shadow under that hat swallowed it before I could be sure.

"…Yo," I muttered. He didn't respond, didn't even move. I walked past him anyway and slid into a seat on the right side. Don stepped up behind me and stopped. I looked back. The way he stared at Teo told me he already had history with the guy, but it didn't look like good history. His eyes narrowed a bit, then widened. He broke eye contact and sat down next to me like nothing happened. …Nah. I wasn't imagining that.

"What was with the stare, bro?" I whispered. Don shook his head.

"Nothing." Just a blatant answer, just like how Mason would reply most of the time. The engine roared to life before I could press him. Power hopped on last-second, dropping into a seat as the bus lurched forward, tires crunching against the dirt road. We rolled past Insane Middle School, then turned onto the main road through Iris Town. People waved as we passed. Kids shouted. Someone almost tripped trying to run alongside the bus. Same normal stuff. But I wasn't really looking at them.

I glanced forward and Teo sat still at the wheel. He piloted the vehicle with steady hands, but he was too steady. I had a reason to feel suspicious, but it was probably best that I didn't think about it again. We passed Old Man Vek, still reading that same newspaper from like ten years ago.

"Get a new one, man," I muttered. We rolled through the flower meadow, the same one Don picked from that time for Starla. Man said it was a "kind offering." Sure. We all know what that was. I leaned back in my seat, arms crossed, but my eyes drifted again, to Don. He was just too quiet. Not yelling about dinosaurs. And I knew why, because I saw it too. That reflection, that voice, that vision. I rubbed my hands together slowly. Earthnites don't get visions, that's not our thing.

So if I had one, that means something's wrong, or something's coming, and neither option is comforting.

"…You saw it too, didn't you?" I muttered. Don didn't look at me.

"… Maybe." That wasn't a no. Strange. I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling for a second. Dark Don was missing, and the Lunaranites were moving weird. There's a Lost Key nobody can find. Meteors hitting Zeriath. And now, visions? Voices? Mystery drivers acting like they spawned out of a horror game? … Yeah. This trip was not about to be normal. Not even close. I looked forward again. Teo's hands tightened slightly on the wheel, just for a second, then relaxed. Like he knew I was looking. … Nah.

I looked away. I'm not dealing with that right now. Power suddenly stood up in the aisle, grabbing onto the seats to balance himself.

"KIDS!" he shouted.

"WELCOME TO, ZERIATH!" The entire bus exploded. Screaming. Yelling. People climbing over seats just to get to the windows. I leaned forward, looking out. They weren't lying. Zeriath was bright and alive. Huge jungle trees stretching into the sky with cottages scattered across the land. People in robes playing instruments like this was some kind of festival. Villagers lined up, waving green flags with the Nomanite insignia. Kids holding signs: WELCOME TO ZERIATH! My grin kicked in instantly.

"This is AWESOME!" The bus rolled deeper into the village, slowing as more people gathered around. And then, I saw him. Eli. Standing right in front of the bus, waving a flag that said: WELCOME CLASS 101! Everyone lost their minds.

"ELIIIIIII!!!" He stood there in a green cloak, staff in hand, that gem glowing at the top like it had its own heartbeat. Beside him, Eldritch, looking ancient as ever. Dude looked like time forgot to take him. The bus finally came to a stop. Teo slowly stood up, arms spreading out like he was presenting a stage. The shadow from his hat shifted just enough, and this time, I know I saw the smile.

"WELCOME TO ZERIATH, BABY!" The entire bus erupted. Archie nearly combusted, Prince somehow back-flipped over a seat, Demaurion was already halfway out of his seat. I laughed a little, then glanced at Don. He was asleep. Of course he was. I shook my head, smiling.

"Unbelievable."

We all stepped off the bus, our shoes hitting the dirt like the start of a whole new arc. As the group scattered across the village, my eyes locked on Eli and Eldritch standing at the far end of the path. Same duo, same mysterious energy.

"Yo! What's up, guys?" I waved, walking toward them with Don trailing behind me. Eli smiled but didn't say anything, just gave a quiet little wave. Eldritch cleared his throat, coughing a few times before speaking in that trademark raspy, ancient voice.

"It's good to see you again, Arson.""'Olsen'," I sighed, rolling my eyes. He chuckled like it was the funniest thing ever, but then his attention shifted. Don was right behind me, gripping the Sword of Destiny across his back. Eldritch raised an eyebrow.

"Is that the King of the Celestianites you brought along? How are you holding up?" Don sighed and shook Eldritch's hand, but his eyes kept flicking back toward the bus driver, who now stood silently by the vehicle, arms crossed, scanning the students. Power stood next to him, just as tense. It weirded me out. Even Power looked uneasy. Something wasn't right. I decided to drop it and turned to Eli.

"Nice staff, by the way. Where'd you get it?" Eli glanced down, then motioned toward a nearby cottage. A family was out front, celebrating something. One of them, a tall, slim guy in gray robes with spiky hair and bright blue eyes, was smiling wide as he played with the kids.

"Your dad?" I asked. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Eli nodded.

"That's dope." I dropped my backpack, pulled out a red rubber ball, and turned to Don.

"Wanna play catch?"

"Yeah," he said blankly, sliding his sword behind his hoodie as we headed toward an open clearing near the forest. We faced each other. I charged a bit of Earth energy into my hand, making the ball glow faint green.

"Alright… catch this!" I shouted and hurled it. Don blinked, then teleported right in front of it, caught it midair, and rolled before popping up like nothing happened. We kept tossing back and forth as the sky burned orange and gold, fading into dusk. But something was off. His throws got slower. Sloppier. His focus wasn't there. When I snagged the ball easily, I called out, "Yo, Don? You good, bro?" He blinked, dazed.

"Huh? What?"

"You've been staring at the bus driver like you're plotting his downfall," I said, half-joking. Don's eyes widened. He looked away, back toward the bus driver. The dude was still there, staring at us. Unmoving. Just watching.

"He's making me uncomfortable," Don muttered, voice low. I frowned.

"He's just a bus driver, man." Don shook his head, dead serious now.

"No. He's changed. He used to be five-foot-nine. Now he's like five-three. Haven't you noticed he's shrinking?" I turned to look, and yeah, no lie, he did look shorter. Don's hand drifted toward his pockets. Twin daggers split apart with a metallic shing.

"I'm telling you," he said quietly.

"Something's wrong with that guy."

"WOAH, hey hey hey!" I jumped in.

"Don?! What are you doing?"

"I sense something," he growled. The bus driver shouted from afar, "Mr. Celestianite! Is there a problem?" Power glanced at Don, eyes screaming, Don't do it. But Don wasn't hearing it. He slowly advanced toward the bus driver, blades crossed in an X, Celestial energy sparking around him like thunderclouds forming.

"Oh, nothing," he smirked darkly.

"Just trying to figure out who you really are." Panic mode: activated. I sprinted ahead, blocking his path.

"BRO, there are LITTLE KIDS here! Tiny humans! This is not the time to go all anime boss fight!"

"He's just a bus driver!" I pleaded, full-on stressed.

"This isn't your BUSINESS!" Don yelled and backhanded me with celestial force, sending me flying into the forest. The world spun as I crashed through trees, landing barely a foot from the village edge. My ribs screamed. I looked up, stunned. Did Don really just assault me? Gasps rippled through the crowd. Archie stormed forward, fists clenched.

"Don! Snap out of it—" Don pointed one of his Celestial Daggers at him.

"I said, this is NONE of ANYONE'S BUSINESS." Archie backed off, wide-eyed. The bus driver finally spoke, voice deep and dripping with menace.

"You are a naive little creature." He chuckled darkly.

"I know all your secrets. Every last one. But there's one secret I care about the most…"

"WHAT SECRET IS HE TALKING ABOUT, DON?!" Ryan shouted, eyes wide, panic kicking in.

"STAY OUT OF THIS!" Don snapped back, voice cutting like thunder. And then it happened. The bus driver slowly reached up and removed his hat. No face. Just void. A swirling mess of darkness and static. He glitched like a corrupted character from an old TV, pixels warping and jittering as if his whole existence was lagging in reality. Gasps echoed through the crowd like a thunderclap. That's when we jumped in. Archie launched a fireblast straight at him.

The explosion rocked the village, flames casting the sky in searing orange. The shockwave nearly flung me off my feet. But the figure didn't even flinch. He deflected it, no movement, no emotion, like the blast was beneath him. Then Don came flying in with a dropkick, both legs slamming into the glitchy figure and launching him straight into the side of the bus. Metal screamed as he crashed through the bumper, shaking the whole lot. Smoke hissed out of the bus and blanketed the air.

And then he shouted it: "VILLAINS!" Out of the shadows behind me, five figures leapt from the forest. My heart dropped. The Illegals?! They'd escaped prison?! Screams rang out. Chaos exploded. The village burst into panic as people scattered like birds in a lightning storm. Don raised both swords, celestial power building between them.

"CHOSEN ONES, ATTACK!" Demaurion unleashed a tidal blast from his trident, pressure-heavy water roaring across the ground. Darn rode a wave of blood like a dark surfer of doom. Prince and King clashed mid-air, lightning and avian fury lighting up the sky in beast mode. Archie and Azure weren't far behind, throwing blue and orange infernos like dueling dragons. Ella clashed blades with Rusty in a violent, swirling duel of sand and steel.

"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" Power yelled, waving both arms like a stressed-out coach during overtime.

"FOLLOW ME, WE'RE GETTING OUT OF HERE!" Eli nodded, knowing Eldritch was too old to fight, and instantly teleported him away. Power joined him, warping all of Zeriath's citizens to safety along with the rest of Class 101. Back on the battlefield, Don bolted toward the Illegals' leader, Vironos, with both blades drawn, speed boosted to insane levels. Vironos launched out of the wrecked bus, glitchy tendrils twisting from his arms. One of them snapped toward Don like a snake made of corrupted code.

Don side-flipped, slicing the tendril mid-air, sparks flying. He propelled himself forward, energy crackling violet and gold, and in one fluid strike cut across Vironos's neck, landing in a skidding crouch. Vironos turned slowly, his grin glitching across his face. He hurled a corrupted beam straight at Don.

"HANDLE THIS!" The blast screamed through the sky at lightspeed, warping the air. Villagers below ran in all directions as the beam threatened to erase everything. Don vanished in a flash, then reappeared behind Vironos with a trail of light and fury and axe-kicked him down like he was stomping a meteor into Earth. Vironos cratered into the ground, rocks and dust exploding like a volcano. Still airborne, Don raised his dual swords high, eyes locked in.

"CELESTIAL RAMPAGE!" He rocketed down, foot-first, and slammed into Vironos with a shockwave that shattered the ground. The bus launched into the sky, trees snapped in half, and the whole forest shook like the world itself had flinched. Don stood above him, blades ready to end it. But Vironos grabbed one of the swords mid-swing and lifted Don into the air like a ragdoll, then flung him across the village like a comet. Don crashed through a house, a violet blur streaking through wood and stone.

In that moment, slow motion, I saw blood fly from his nose. Vironos warped in behind him mid-flight, grabbed his leg, and slammed him into the ground again. Then he spun Don like a human wrecking ball and hurled him straight toward me. We collided hard, toppling over in a heap of pain and dust. I groaned, helped him up, then saw the glitchy monster teleport directly in front of us. I sighed, eyes rolling, already raising my axe.

"Yup. Knew that bus driver was sus." Don tightened his grip on his blades beside me. Together, we charged. Don launched into the air like a comet while I rushed in low, swinging my Earth Axe straight at Vironos. But he was fast, stupid fast, and grabbed my axe mid-swing, flinging it into the air like it was weightless. In the same motion, he backhanded me hard, spun me around, and slammed a knee into my chest before following up with a right hook, then a left that rattled my vision.

But Don dropped in from above like divine retribution and dropkicked Vironos straight into the dirt. That gave me just enough time to recover. The moment Vironos staggered to his feet, I lit him up. Three quick punches, one final haymaker that nearly knocked him out cold, then a low drop and a brutal uppercut to his chin that sent him skyward. Two jagged earth pillars shot up mid-air, grabbing him by the legs and locking him in place.

Don dove in from above and sliced through both pillars with precision, sending Vironos free-falling straight back toward me. I grinned as my eyes flared dark green. I slammed my fist into the ground, and the earth around me erupted, forming a massive lotus-shaped spike formation that caught Vironos mid-air in a crushing crunch of stone. I wasn't done.

I charged my fists again, channeling raw Earth energy, and punched through the rocky lotus like it was glass, sending chunks flying and creating a shockwave so huge the village shook like a mini-earthquake had hit. The ground cracked. The air howled. Vironos was frozen mid-air, glitching wildly. I didn't give him a second to breathe. Fists. Kicks. Blows on repeat.

I went full combo mode, rapid punches, hard kicks, cracking through his glitchy form until I landed a final hit straight to his chest, sending him skyrocketing with a sound-shattering blast. And right there, mid-air, Don flashed in behind him, daggers in hand, slicing clean through with a radiant arc of celestial light. He landed in a perfect skid across the battlefield as Vironos crashed back down, his body flickering and glitching, corrupted energy crackling off him.

The dude stood back up slowly, power charging again. His grin was wider now. More unhinged. Don and I stood shoulder to shoulder, both in our stances. Me, fists clenched and grounded. Don, blades glowing with violet celestial energy. Then we saw it. The rest of the Chosen Ones were regrouping behind us, Ella, Prince, Archie, Demaurion, all watching as the Illegals fully surrounded them. And there, standing at the center of the enemy formation, was Vironos, grinning behind that faceless void of a head.

Azure's body flickered with blazing azure flames, eyes locking onto Archie like a living inferno. Then he turned toward Vironos.

"Should we apprehend them now?"

"Who's them?" Vironos said, his voice cold and flat.

"We're only taking one." Ella stepped forward, rage burning in her voice.

"Okay, what's going on?! How did you even escape prison?! And Don, YOU got some explaining to do!" Don shouted so loud the air trembled.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!" Before anyone could react, Darn charged Demaurion with his blood-red trident, swinging wildly, tongue lolling like a possessed maniac. Demaurion stepped forward, eyes blazing.

"YOU BLOODY FREAK!" Their tridents clashed once, twice, three times. But on the fourth strike, something snagged Demaurion's foot and he tripped.

"DEMAURION!" Archie yelled, igniting both arms with raging flames. Azure blitzed in and decked Archie with a flaming blue fist, triggering an explosion that sent us all flying in different directions. I was hurled through the air, landing hard on my back near my Earth Axe. That's when Don snapped. His eyes flared, glowing letters K and X burning with raw celestial fury.

"THAT'S IT!" he roared.

"I'LL ELIMINATE ALL OF YOU!" A violet aura exploded around him, celestial energy engulfing his entire body, and then he vanished. Don dashed toward Vironos with such speed it looked like he was phasing through reality. But just as he got close, Vironos snapped his fingers. Time froze. Don couldn't move. Vironos stood tall, arms crossed, glitching calmly like a virus made of malice. He stared straight into Don's glowing eyes.

"You are coming with us." Without warning, he extended a hand, and in his palm a glitching cube flickered into existence, warping space around it. Then he clenched his fist. Instantly, chains of pure digital static erupted from thin air, wrapping around Don's arms, legs, chest, even his neck. They yanked him to the ground with a slam. He couldn't move. Not even a twitch. KX Mode. Status: Fully restrained. If Power and Eli were here, things would be different. Where were they?! We needed backup.

Don gritted his teeth, straining against the glitch-chains, violet energy still flaring from his body, but it wasn't enough. Vironos let out a slow, disappointed chuckle.

"Not even the form the universe itself chose for you can break my hold…" He gestured toward the other villains, eyes glowing with wicked anticipation.

"Now let me introduce you to the rest of my friends." The Illegals stayed back, watching like lions in a ring. But Prince wasn't having it. Electricity crackled across his body as he stormed forward.

"YOU'RE GONNA RELEASE HIM. NOW!"

"NOW I'M NOT RELEASING SHIT!" Vironos snapped, and launched a glitch-blast straight into Prince's chest, sending him flying backward like a lightning bolt smacked out of the sky. I felt it then, dark green Earth energy igniting across my own body.

"WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH HIM, HUH?! What do you mean by 'the form the universe chose'?!" I shouted, desperate for a plan. But Don's voice cut through panic, raw and urgent: "OLSEN, JUST GO!"

"BUT WE CAN'T LEAVE YOU—""JUST. GET OUT OF HERE!" That last shout hit hard. Final. Like he knew something I didn't. But I didn't care. My hands trembled. My heart raced. I looked at Vironos, and something inside me snapped. Rage took over.

"YOU GLITCHED-OUT MONSTER! GET AWAY FROM HIM!" I charged, every ounce of Earth energy coursing through me, fists clenched, soul burning. I roared, ready to swing with everything I had. But I never made it. Vironos teleported right in front of me. Less than a foot away. His fists crackled with glitch energy, glowing at max output. He leaned close, just inches from my face. I could feel the air distort around him. Then he whispered: "Delusion Burst." His fist connected with my face like the hand of extreme force.

Wind exploded. Air screamed. The impact ripped the ground apart, creating a shockwave that cracked the sky. A blinding white explosion tore through the area, so intense it sent everyone flying and knocked them senseless. Vision gone. Sound gone. I flew through the trees like a meteor, crashing through branches, tearing the forest canopy apart. Still airborne. Still spinning. My body wouldn't move. My head felt submerged in water. Everything slowed. My vision blurred. My limbs felt like stone.

And as I drifted through the chaos, eyes fluttering, mind fading, I blinked once, twice. And finally, darkness.