Mystery Guy: I know exactly what that thing is...
Shade: Who the hell are you?
Guy: Me? Just call me Bolt.
-= Bolt =-
A somewhat muscular man in a muscle shirt. Bald. Wears dark goggles over his eyes. Wears some big thick leather like gloves that covers his arms all the way up to his elbows. Carries a sack over his shoulders, which is tied shut with a rope.
Shade: I didn't ask for your name! Who do you work for?
Bolt: Work for? No one but myself.
Shade: Ok... Bye!
Shade starts to leave.
Bolt: Wait! Don't you want to know where that thing came from?
Shade: Not really. It's dead now.
Bolt: But...
Kari: Actually, I want to know.
Bolt: Yes!
Shade: What are you so happy about?
Bolt: Ahem! The story I have to tell begins...
Shade takes a swipe at Bolt with Infinity, but he jumps out of the way to dodge.
Shade: Cut to the chase!
Kari: Shade! Stop that!
Bolt: Whoa... What a violent guy.
Shade: We don't have all day!
Kari: Ok! Ok! Mr. Ummm...
Bolt: Bolt!
Kari: Mr. Bolt, how about just telling us the short version?
Bolt: Short version huh? I guess... (takes a deep breath) Decon's trying to break the ancient seal so he can bring forth the powers of hell so he can rule the world and with that creature there it shows that he's getting awfully close. (breathes out)
Shade & Kari: What!?
Bolt: Betcha want to hear the long version now!
Shade: Isn't there any other way...
Kari: Oh let's just put up with it for now...
Bolt: Ahem! Can I start now?
Shade mumbles.
Kari: Yes, go ahead.
Bolt: Ok. Thousands of years ago... There was chaos. The forces of darkness came and started a war. Lead by a single man, armies of demons ravaged the lands... No one really knew where they came from but it's been conjectured that they come from the pits of hell itself. The world was brought to the brink of destruction...
Shade: Isn't that just a myth?
Bolt: Were you just fighting a myth?
Kari: But the world wasn't destroyed...
Bolt: Obviously. The people rose up united and defeated the villain and the world was at peace.
Shade: But how?
Bolt: Who knows... But the important thing is that they did it somehow...
Shade: No it isn't!
Kari: Now, now... But why don't you know anything about how they were defeated?
Bolt: Well it was a very long time ago... Very few records survive to this day.
Shade: Then how do you know if any of it is real?
Bolt: Well there are the FEW surviving records... That and this corpse here oughta prove it.
Shade: Then how do you know Decon's involved?
Bolt: Decon has been hoarding all the knowledge regarding the dark ones. He's been raiding places for it for quite some time now... Plus, it busted out of the castle. See that big smoking hole there.
Sure enough, as they turn to look at the castle, a huge smoking hole is in the side of the castle.
Bolt: Speaking of which... This ruckus you caused is probably going to attract some unwanted attention. Shall we continue this elsewhere?
Shade: Hmmm... No. We shan't. We have no more business with you. (to the others) Let's go.
Bolt: Wait!
Shade: Quit following us!
Bolt: I still have some matters to settle with you!
Shade: Well I don't want anything to do with you!
Shade starts running, others follow.
Shade: Persistant aren't you... Scatter!
The four run off in different directions leaving Bolt behind.
Bolt: Damn!
Later... Shade and Kari meet up in front of their house.
Shade: So did you manage to lose him?
Kari: WIth ease!
They step inside and find Bolt sipping a drink while sitting on a chair by the table.
Bolt: Yo!
Shade: What are you... How did you...
Souka: Hi Shade! (Tia is back too)
Shade: You!!!
Bolt: Ahem!
Shade stops strangling Souka.
Bolt: As I was saying... I'm here looking to stop Decon and I would like to enlist your help. Both of you! Well, all four of you.
Shade: No.
Bolt: What? But isn't that why you're here? You who wield the Sword of Infinity, and Decon, who has the Staff of Eternity...
Shade looks seriously surprised.
Bolt: Could it be... You really didn't know... Well then, what do you say about joining forces now?
Shade: No, I have no interest in fighting in this little war...
Bolt: That's a shame... I could really use someone of your skills... Then I have no other choice... Hand over Infinity!
Shade: No.
Bolt: Shall we begin here? Or shall we move to a more suitable location?
Shade: I know a place... Follow me.
Shade, Kari, Souka, Tia, and Bolt arrive at some wide open plains.
Bolt: So how shall we do this? One on one? Or all of you at once? It doesn't really matter...
Shade: Awfully confident for someone who seeks a more powerful weapons aren't you...
Bolt pulls a three foot cylindrical rod from his bag...
Bolt: Hehe... With Raiden, I'll be able to beat just about anyone... Including you.
-= Raiden =-
Bolt's weapon. A rod with a small handle, total length about 3 feet. Has sharp metallic strips running down it, from tip to handle.
Shade: What is that thing?
Bolt: (holds Raiden across his face) Just something I whipped up... (electrical sparks start pulsating along the blade)
Shade: What the...
Bolt attacks, striking downwards at Shade, but he blocks by holding the sheathed Infinity horizontally... Electricity shoots all around from Raiden.
Shade: Damnit...
Bolt: Hahahahaha!!! Just give up!
Kari: Shade!
Shade: Stay back!
Kari rushes in to attack with Jegen. Bolt pushes off from Infinity and faces Kari...
Shade: (arms singed and smoking) Damn... My arms are numb... Kari!!!
Jegen and Raiden clash and the electricity sends Kari and Jegen flying back.
Souka: My turn!
Souka starts fires an energy ball at Bolt, but he stops it using the palm of his hand (glove).
Bolt: Not good enough kid...
Bolt points Raiden at the kid and lightning shoots out... Tia appears in front of Souka and blocks it with her barrier. Tia starts to feel pain, and instinctively crosses her arms in front of her, and is then sent flying back.
Souka: Tia!!!
Bolt: Whoops! Sorry about that little lady.
Suddenly, an energy ball hits Bolt in the face.
Bolt: Owww! (face singed) You should sit this one out kid.
Bolt fires electricity in a sweeping arc in front of Souka, which blows up the ground sending him flying back.
Bolt: Is it finished already?
Kari: Not by a long shot!
A spinning disc comes flying towards Bolt, but he uses Raiden and fires lightning at it. Lightning hits it, stopping it in midair... Kari jumps up and re-integrates it back into Jegen, then flies towards Bolt. Bolt takes a defensive stance ready for her... The tip of Jegen starts to glow, and when Kari gets within range, she swings out horizontally releasing a small energy arc. The arc hits Raiden, and fizzles away.
Bolt: (small eyed) What the hell was that?
Kari: Yes! (jumping gleefully) I can do it too!
Shade: Hehe... (hand on Kari's shoulder) Good job Kari... But I'll take it from here.
Kari: Shade...
Bolt: Back for more?
Shade: We haven't even begun...
Raiden crackles with electricity... Infinity unsheathes in Shade's hand, and he wields it with both hands... Bolt and Shade stand apart, staring at each other... Ready to strike.
End "Lightning Strikes"