The Unleashers Part 2

Part 2: A World of Difference

Perhaps Vic had a good point for this thing he put together for me to use. I honestly didn't know whether or not I'd even get to use it. But at least it's on standby just in case of emergency.
"Alright. We've had this discussion. Now I have other plans to take care of for the day," I stated.
At that moment, my now 12-year old nephew, Isaiah, showed up.
"Hey tio, Josh is here. He wants to talk to you. He said you know what it's all about" said Isaiah.
"Oh great," I groaned, not at all enthusiastic. "Alright, bring him around."
Isaiah went to go get Josh and bring him around back.
"What does Josh want to see you for, Rod?" Crow asked.
"He thinks I owe him $50 when we were betting on horses at the track," I replied.
"Why does he think that?" Crow wondered.
"Well we bet on two different horses. I bet on Flash Gun and he bet on Sling Shot. We bet that our horse would beat the other in the race but neither horse won. But Sling Shot got further than Flash Gun, even though he didn't win. So Josh insists that since his horse did better, that I owed him $50. But I didn't think we agreed to that. I thought we agreed on if our horse finishes first over all the other horses and won the race. Not on whose horse did better. So I insisted that I didn't owe him anything," I explained.
"So that's why he's here? Are you going to pay him?" Vic asked.
"Not all of it. I'm only forking over half of it to shut him up. But I don't even know for sure if I really want to," I said.
"Why not?" Crow asked.
"I have pride. Josh does too. That's why I hardly ever get any respect out of him whenever I do something nice for him. Hell, I can do the most generous, kindest, thing for him and he'll still disrespect me. For example, there was a time I washed his car and vacuumed it inside after he let me borrow it as a sort of thanks for letting me use it. And he got mad at me because he lost a contact lens, still fresh in it's packet, in between the seats and couldn't find it and thought I might have vacuumed it up. I swear to God. That is 100% true," I stated.
"Ouch. Well maybe you did and didn't know it," Vic thought.
"I'm not saying I didn't because I had no idea. I didn't even know he lost a contact in there. Perhaps I did vacuum it up. But come on. I did him a favor because he did me a favor. Shouldn't we be even?" I said.
"You did him a favor to return the favor. You wanted to be even so there wouldn't be any arguments. So don't let there be any arguments this time. Go ahead and meet him halfway by paying him half of what he thinks you owe him," Crow suggested.
"He'll just argue that I owe him the whole $50. There's no satisfying him. Even if I paid him in full, he'll still disrespect me. There's no winning," I said.
Isaiah, as well as Rafael, came around to the backyard.
"Josh is here," said Rafael.
He moved aside and revealed Josh behind him, who was showing off his usual unhappy scowl.
"Oh. It's nice to see you too," Vic greeted him sarcastically.
Josh and I just glared at each other, not at all happy to see each other. Of course, when are we ever?

While I was handling my problem, Ricardo was busy with his own. In just a few days, he would have to present something to Rebecca to show that he cared. He was still strolling around town, pondering on possible gifts but could think of nothing.
"I'll never hear the end of her bitching if I don't present her with something. But what the hell can I give her? Jewelry?" Ric wondered.
"There are better ways to please her," an ominous voice said.
"Who's there? Eavesdropping on what's none of your business?" Ric asked.
Ric looked around in a gloomy alley that the voice came from. When he entered his shadow shaped into Effron's shadow and emerged from out of the wall, revealing Effron himself, frightening Ric by surprise.
"I love prying into people's business. I'm like their shadow, following them wherever they go," said Effron.
Ric was surprised to see Effron again. But not really up to talking with him at the moment.
"Effron? What do you want?" Ric asked.
"I want to help you, friend," Effron answered.
"I don't need help. Last time you helped me, we merged together and I turned into a monster," said Ric recalling the Fusion Delusion saga.
"Sharing a body with you was no pleasure for me either. Believe me," said Effron.
"Tch," Ric scoffed.
"I just couldn't help overhearing. Did you say you wanted to please your loved one the best possible way?" Effron asked.
"I don't think this is any of your business, friend. But if you're really interested for whatever reason, yes. She's the most horrifyingly beautiful woman there is who deserves nothing but the best. People ought to see her that way," Ric replied.
"People should worship her?" Effron asked.
"Yeah. That's exactly what I mean," said Ric.
"This girl, Rebecca I believe is what you called her, she must really mean the world to you?" Effron thought.
"That's the way I see her," said Ric.
"Interesting. You wish to satisfy her the best way you know how. If she truly means the world to you then what better way to show that you mean it than to give her the world?" Effron suggested.
"Tch. Yeah. I'll need literally the world's biggest wrapping paper for that," Ric sarcastically replied. ""Give her the world." Yeah right. Not at all possible."
"If you love her so much then you really should show it by doing the impossible," Effron stated.
"You yourself having potential to conquer the world. With your shadowy, fiendish powers. What have I got? Nothing. Besides, it's not at all possible to give the world to someone. If it were, don't you think someone would've conquered the Earth by now?" said Ric.
"And "by now", you mean today. You think it's impossible to conquer the world but it's not. Even you yourself can make it happen. As a matter of fact, out of six billion people on this puny planet, you're the one and only person who can make it happen. No one else can. Only you," Effron stated.
"Yeah right. I don't care about world domination. I'm not that kind of villain. I live only to make life a misery for others and that's the only thing I'm capable of," said Ric.
"That's what you think. But you, Ricardo my friend, have potential. The most potential out of any human-being alive to pull this off," Effron tried to persuade Ric.
"Enlighten me," said Ric.
"Gladly. You see, I know some knowledge that is highly valuable. So valuable that you're the only one I can share it with," Effron started.
"Tell me," said Ric.
Just what did Effron know that no one else knew? And what could this possibly have to do with Ric, of all people?

Josh and I were still glaring at each other, waiting for the other to respond. Josh broke the silence.
"You've been dodging me all week long. You know what I want," said Josh.
I still didn't think I wanted to do this after all but if it would get Josh off my back, then so be it.
"I don't want any childish arguments like always. We're gonna settle this like mature grown men," I said.
"Then man up and hand it over," said Josh.
"Whatever it takes to make amends," I said.
I took out a $20 dollar bill and a $5 dollar bill from my wallet and held it out to him. But Josh wouldn't take it.
"That's twenty-five. You owe me fifty," he stated.
"I don't think you deserve anything at all. But I'm willing to meet you halfway. Take the twenty-five," I said.
"Hell no. It's fifty or nothing," said Josh.
"I don't want to argue. Take it," I said.
"I will if you shell out the other twenty-five," said Josh.
I was starting to get annoyed. And it seemed Josh was too.
"Why don't you just take half so we can bury the hatchet?" I argued.
"We can bury it after you've paid me in full," said Josh.
We didn't want to argue but we seemed to be doing just that. Vic, Crow, Isaiah, and Rafael watched worryingly.
"Last chance! Take it or you're not getting a cent!" I said.
"You're cheating me! You don't screw over family!" said Josh.
"Look who's talking! You've screwed me over dozens of times and you know it!" I bickered.
"You spit when you talk, and you and I both know that!" said Josh.
The others definitely didn't want this argument to go any further. Rafael decided to end it by taking out a $50 dollar bill from his own wallet and dropped it.
"Woah! Hey! Josh!" said Rafael.
He picked up the money.
"Look what fell out of Rod's wallet. It's a fifty. Now take it and stop arguing," said Raf handing over his own money.
"I'm not taking it unless Rod gives it to me," said Josh.
"I'm not giving you anything," I said taking Raf's money.
I put the fifty into my wallet, believing it really was mine, entirely unaware that it wasn't.
"Uh, Rod. That's my money," said Rafael.
"No it isn't," I said.
"Yes it is. I dropped it myself," said Rafael.
"Stay out of this, Raf," I told him.
"This stingy bastard. He's got all this money in his pocket to blow on limousines, hot tubs, fancy clothes, burritos, video games! But he can't even fork over $50 to his cousin!" Josh complained.
I was shocked to hear those words. Crow covered Isaiah's ears so he wouldn't hear any of the swearing and Vic covered his eyes in case it got violent. Things looked like they were getting very out of hand.

Effron was still sharing some special information he knew of to Ric. Ric was following along as Effron spoke.
"Quite some time ago, a strange object was found here on Earth. It was discovered by a group of humans and taken for examination. They realize that this object possesses strange energy that is practically endless. These humans wish to harness it and use it's unlimited power for their own purposes. However, they can try all they want to wield it but they will never succeed. No matter what, they will not be able to extract it's power. And even if they did, the results could be disastrous. That's because they have no idea what it's unlimited power is capable of," said Effron.
Ric was still following but he was pretty unsure about what Effron was saying.
"This object is called the Yresyr. A very appropriate name given it's power," said Effron.
"What do you mean?" Ric asked.
"The Yresyr's unlimited power allows whoever wields it the ability to defy and alter all reality. Whoever possesses it decides what exists and what doesn't as well as defying what truly is. Meaning the wielder can change the world as they see fit, determine what is, what isn't, who lives, who doesn't. That is why it's referred to as the Yresyr. The user can erase anything they want," said Effron.
This information actually interested Ric who was pretty impressed about what this object could do. But he was still a bit sceptical.
"Now I find this very hard to believe," said Ric.
"What I'm telling you is the truth. Nobody else on this planet knows about this object's true potential. You're the only human who now knows," said Effron.
"But why should I know? Why are you telling me this?" Ric asked.
"The Yresyr's power is so great that not just anyone can use it. The Yresyr will not allow itself to be possessed by just anyone. Those who even try to hold it will be unable to and met with a violent, burning reaction. It will only allow one who desires a better, different world not for their own personal gain but for a worthy cause," said Effron.
"You're saying?" Ric wondered.
"I'm saying that you will be the one the Yresyr will allow itself to be held by," said Effron.
"What?" Ric said dumbfounded.

Josh and I were still having a bit of a quarrel, exchanging arguments back and forth.
"You throw all your money on this trash! A fancy home, a fancy car, your merchandise, your movies! You wouldn't even have this crap if it weren't for me!" Josh griped.
"You'll wanna stop right there," I said.
"No! Who introduced you to Hollywood? Who got you famous? I'm the one who showed you to Hollywood! I'm the reason why they chose you! I'm the one responsible for your stardom! While you were still trying to get your messed up life back together after all the crap you committed!" said Josh.
"Don't even bring that up!" I lashed.
"If it weren't for me, you'd still be out banging on the streets!" said Josh.
"Say what?" Vic wondered.
"Oh crap. He shouldn't have said that," Rafael quivered.
"I told you never to mention that ever again!" I said up in Josh's face.
"I got you famous! And you never showed any thanks! You used me! You used me to get famous! Just like you use me all the time, dragging me into your stupid predicaments that are just a waste of my time! Making you famous was a waste of time if I had known this was how you'd thank me in return!" Josh bickered.
"I bet you're jealous. I bet you wish you were me. I bet you wish you were famous," I said.
"You used me! Nobody uses me!" Josh stated.
"I bet you wish you had my swanky place, my luxurious limousine, and all these babes fighting over me. That's probably why you keep hanging with me in the first place, wanting to cash in on it all," I said.
"Not anymore. This is the last time you'll ever see of me," said Josh.
He took out his wallet and took out a small certificate of authenticity stating he was an official member of the Lightning Strikers.
"Lightning Strikers, my ass!" he said tearing it up then threw the pieces at my face.
I couldn't believe he just did that and neither could the others watching. For someone to totally diss and tear up a Lighting Striker's certificate. It was an total insult to me.
"I don't need to be a part of your dumbass team. I'm done, ex-primo. I'm outta here," Josh declared turning away to leave.
I clenched my fists, trying to resists not going too far.
"I brought you into the Lightning Strikers because you're the one with the messed up life now. You're the black sheep of the family. The loud, rude, obnoxious one the whole family has to put up with. Well I know something that you don't. I know that some of the family says terrible things about you when you're not around. They remark how rude, aggressive, and selfish you are. You yell at people and push them away whenever they approach you, even when doing something nice for you. That's why I made you a part of the Lightning Strikers. So you could be a part of something good and look good to erase that tarnished reputation so people would think differently of you. As well as something you could be accepted in. Because you'll never be accepted by anyone else with that attitude. Nobody else will accept you. You think you're better off without the Lightning Strikers? Then go on and walk away. You've got nowhere else to go. Nobody else to turn to. You think I used you? The only crowd that will accept you will only pretend to. They'll really use you. Taking advantage of you every chance they get," I told Josh.
"I don't need you. I don't need anyone in the family. I've been left alone my whole life. Walking out on you to go out on my own won't be any different," said Josh.
"To think I actually gave you a chance and thought you could be something better. Well forget it! I was wrong! You're never gonna change! You're the same stubborn mule you've always been except now you're 90% uglier!" I told him.
"Then to hell with you and the hairy rat's ass on your chin!" said Josh as his very final words he'll ever say to me.
With that, Josh stormed off in a huff and left me boiling mad like a tea kettle.
"Mountain Dew-guzzling Mountain Dew guzzler," Josh said under his breath.
Josh was now gone for what would be permanently from now on. Vic and Crow let Isaiah see and hear again.
"What happened?" Isaiah asked.
"Never mind. Forget this ever happened. Forget anything that ever happened with him around ever happened. He's no longer one of us," I said.
"It's going to be very quiet without him. Very quiet," said Vic.
"Maybe we ought to go, Vic," Crow suggested.
"Yeah. We have a night out to attend anyway," Vic agreed. "Are you sure you don't wanna come, Rod? Just to get your mind off of this?"
"No. You guys go on," I replied.
"Alright. Take care," said Crow.
The two left Rafael, Isaiah, and I.
"Guess it's just the three of us. The way it was before what's-his-name got into the picture," I said.
"His name is..." Isaiah started.
"I don't care what his name is," I interrupted.
I was still very upset over this whole argument. But I wasn't going to let it bother me any longer. It was time to move on.
"He should've done it. He should've taken the twenty-five. Now I have extra money to spend on a date with Rhonda," I said.
I was counting the money in my wallet and found out I had more than I realized.
"Weird. I have more money than I thought. Must've miscounted. In that case, I might as well treat Rhonda to the greatest night out of our own," I thought.
I went to go call Rhonda and Rafael followed.
"Can I have my $50 back, Rod?" Rafael called to me.

Ric was still hearing the knowledge Effron was sharing with him about this so-called "Yresyr", an object said to give one control over reality. Could such a thing exist?
"Think about it, Ric. The best way to show someone that they mean the world to you is to give them the world. With the Yresyr, you'll be capable of altering all that exists on this planet, shaping it to your liking. Or rather to Rebecca's liking. She can be in absolute control over the human race who will have no choice but to submit to her unless they wish to be removed from existence," said Effron.
"It'll only result in failure in the end. There will always be someone to oppose the two of us and put an end to it all. Just like always," Ric thought.
"Not if you rub them out before they can even interfere. I suggest eliminating any potential threat to you and her and then begin changing the world. With no one to oppose you, you can reign supreme forever. There's nothing the humans can do. There will be no one to help them and even if there was, you could eliminate them easily with the Yresyr's power. There's no winning for the humans. You and Rebecca will reign together for eternity," said Rebecca.
Ricardo was thinking it over a bit.
"Come now. Rebecca will be upheld as the goddess you declare her to be. All of humanity will realize that. The world could be hers and yours and no one will ever take it from you. Especially not that lightning adversary of yours," Effron persuaded.
That last sentence intrigued Ric. All that exists will be Rebecca's and his and there would be no possible foils to oppose them. Anyone who challenged them would cease to be. All thanks to the might of the Yresyr.
"I still have my doubts. You said the Yresyr won't just let anyone use it's power. Only someone who seeks a better world not for their own personal gain but for a worthy cause. And then you said I could. How is that if I use it to control reality all to myself?" Ric asked.
"Because you're not using it all to yourself. It's not for your own gain. It's for Rebecca's. This is your gift to her. Your token of love. The Yresyr will realize that you're doing it for her out of love to make her happy. Therefore you will be able to wield it. And it's yours to keep. No one can take it from you," said Effron.
It started to make some sense to Ric. Effron might've had a point.
"Rebecca would love that a lot. Hell. Why buy flowers and candy when I can give her something even better? The world," Ric thought. "But where is this thing? This Yresyr?"
"In a far eastern city of the country. A city you people of Earth call San Francisco. It's being held in a top-secret laboratory by the local agency there," said Effron.
"An agency in San Francisco? You'd have to be talking about that JUMP agency Rebecca dislikes. Rod's own loved one is a part of it," said Ric. Then he started to make final decisions. "But are you sure this is really going to work?"
Effron opened a portal leading to an unknown place.
"If you're really interested in retrieving the Yresyr come with me. There is something I have to share with you first before you go," said Effron.
Ric was beginning to have second thoughts about this whole thing. He could indeed amaze Rebecca by making a world where she's worshiped by humanity and no one would oppose them. This could be the ultimate gift one could give to their loved one. Though it did sound too good to be true.
"Last chance," Effron warned.
After a bit, Ric reluctantly agreed with Effron's offer and followed him into the portal.

San Francisco seemed to be totally fine now that Dr. Nefarion's plan had been foiled. Just to be safe, JUMP was still patrolling the city. Except for Claudia who was still at headquarters. Lester Gage, the local comic book geek, entered JUMP HQ with an album in his hand.
"What's up guys?" Lester greeted.
"What are you doing here, Lester?" Cameron asked.
"Well I just got back from Isotope Comics which just started distributing these totally epic JUMP series trading cards as of today," said Lester.
He opened the album and showed his new collection of JUMP trading cards. There were cards of every agent, special moves they were performing, in their original and brand new Triple JUMPers outfits, and even some other their greatest adversaries as well.
"I wanted to show them to the agents and see if they wanted to sign them too," said Lester.
Claudia saw one of her, which had a colorful, foil design that made it look very valuable.
"Is that me? How pretty," Claudia thought.
Cameron saw one of himself in the album too.
"Ah man. They used my 12-year old picture," said Cameron.
"What do you think, Mr. Crawford?" Lester asked Curtis.
"You must have a lot of free time on your hands," Curtis replied.
"Free time and money," said Lester.

Little did anyone know that they were soon to expect a surprise visitor. Somewhere in the city, a portal opened up and Ric stepped out of it. He was holding a strange, red, black, and golden bladed scepter in his hand. The portal closed behind him. Ric looked around at his surroundings. Nobody seemed to notice him simply appearing from out of nowhere. And there was no sign of the JUMP agents anywhere.
"Those agents must be out patrolling the town. That means they're not at headquarters. Perfect," Ric thought.
He strolled around town with the scepter firmly in his grasp and walking with it like it was a cane. He was looking for JUMP HQ, the place the Yresyr was secretly being contained. Eventually, he found JUMP HQ. But rather than go inside he walked around the building with his scepter pointed along the walls. After a bit the tip of his scepter started to shine like it sensed something on the other side of the wall.
"Found it," said Ric.

Meanwhile, Simon and the other scientists were still doing their research on the pyramid, unknown to them as the Yresyr. Simon looked at his watch.
"I think we've earned a little break. Let's grab a bite to eat," said Simon.
Just as the scientists were getting ready to go on break, an explosion blew the wall down into the laboratory. This startled the Crawfords.
"What was that?" Cameron cried.
"That sounded like it came from the labs," said Claudia.
The Crawfords hurried to the labs and left Lester behind.
"But you haven't seen the BUMP series yet," said Lester.
The whole laboratory was covered in smoke from the explosion. Simon turned off the alarm as the Crawfords entered the lab.
"Simon! What's going on?" Cameron asked.
"I don't know, chief," Simon replied.
The smoke dissipated with Ricardo standing in the hole of the wall from the explosion with the tip of his scepter glowing. Cameron and Simon recognized him from my birthday last year.
"It's him!" Cameron and Simon cried.
"Him?" said Curtis and Claudia, not familiar with Ric.
Ric looked at his scepter, surprised that he managed to break down that wall with it. He didn't think it was capable of that.
"Sir, please put down the spear!" Cameron ordered.
But instead Ric launched a black blast from the scepter and Claudia activated her airbag feature in her suit, to protect her son, husband, and Simon from the shot. The shot also pushed her aside, however.
"Mom!" Cameron cried.
"Claudia!" Curtis cried.
Ric launched blasts of energy all around the lab while Simon carefully made his way to the Yresyr. He knew JUMP wouldn't want this thing to be found out or stolen. He put on his heat-proof gloves and took the Yresyr and put it in a case. Ric stopped shooting and turned to Simon aiming his scepter at him.
"Please don't. I need that," Ric told him.
"This is top-secret JUMP property," Simon told him.
"Not secret enough if I know about it," said Ric.
Curtis helped Claudia up after she saved them.
"Who is this guy?" Curtis asked.
"I am Ricardo the Fallen," Ric replied.
"Nemesis of Rodolfo. Lightning Rod," said Simon.
"We have no quarrel with your group," said Cameron.
"A fly has no quarrel with a swatter," said Ric.
"Are you planning to swat us?" Cameron asked.
"You have the Yresyr and I'm here to take it," said Ric.
"Y-Yrseyr?" said Simon.
"The pyramid in the case," said Ric. "It's power is impressive. Too impressive for you to harness. Especially when you don't know what it's capable of."
"What would you know?" Simon asked.
"I know much more about the Yresyr than you ever will. Only I know it's purpose that it serves. And I'll be taking it off your hands," Ric stated.
"You'll never take it!" said Claudia.
She shot some crystals at Ric who shot at them with his scepter then shot at Claudia. When she was down, he shot at Simon, blasting him at the wall and making him drop the case. That was Ric's chance to get it. He opened the case and saw the mysterious pyramid flashing inside. So this was the Yresyr Effron told him about. The powerful object that grants whoever uses it the decision of what is and what isn't. But this thing couldn't possibly be held by bare hands. Ric was a little unsure of whether or not to hold it as he remembered what Effron told him.
"He's got the Yresyr!" cried Cameron.
Claudia was about to get back up and Ric knew he didn't have much time. He grabbed the Yresyr with his bare hands. Surprisingly, the Yresyr was not burning him like it burned Curtis. Ric was astonished. To actually be holding such an object with unlimited, unbelievable power in his own hand without a glove. Cameron, Curtis, and Simon were just as astonished as Ric was.
"Unreal! There's no way!" Simon cried.
"How can he even hold it?" said Cameron.
Claudia finally got back up.
"Never! You won't be leaving with it!" she declared.
The tip of Ric's scepter glowed and the Yresyr glowed with it as if the two wanted to be joined. Claudia started to attack as Ric touched the scepter's tip to the Yresyr and Claudia immediately stopped. Ric suddenly felt a powerful force come over him as the Yresyr flashed repeatedly while the Crawfords and Simon watched in horror. Black and white energy from the Yresyr released and traveled through Ric's body, as his eyes glowed and flashed like the Yresyr. He could feel it's power rushing through his veins within. Ric's body was becoming covered allover in black and gold armor. He had a red coat under his armor and two triangular flag-like capes on his back with symbols of his Fallen Star emblem on them. But the most distinguishing feature was a bizarre-looking type of headgear that was forming around his head. It had a pair of horns on the front with golden blades and a pair of curved horns on the sides. All of this from being infused with the Yresyr's power. White comic text appeared onscreen displaying the name of this transformation.
THE KRONI RIC
The Crawfords and Simon were shocked.
"So that's what it does," Simon said worryingly.
Lester came over to see what all the hubbub was about and saw Ric in his amazing outfit.
"Oh my god, dude! That's totally awesome!" said Lester in amazement.
Claudia wasn't going to stand for this. She activated her airbag and came at Ric with her Crystal Ball attack. Ric held his hand out and simply held Claudia back with ease as she tried her best to overpower and crush him. Ric gathered his energy and sent it through his hand, which shattered the crystal coating on Claudia and blasted her through the wall at incredible force.
"Mom!" Cameron cried.
"No!" cried Curtis.
Ric was beginning to really like this new power. He saw a part in his scepter like it was meant to hold the Yresyr and placed it in there. It was true. Unbelievable as it may be. The Yresyr saw through Ric's desires for a better world for Rebecca, his loved one, and allowed him to use it's power. But how, or rather why, would such an object allow him of all people? Whatever the reason, it was now Ric's to use as he wanted.
"You've yet to see what the Yresyr can really do. You're all going to submit to my loved one. It's a new beginning! The beginning of a brand new world!" Ric declared.
He shot a beam from his scepter, making a portal, and proceeded to leave through it. Claudia deflated her suit and tried to stop him but he was already gone and the portal closed.
"No!" Claudia cried.
"He's got the pyramid!" said Cameron.
"I'm sorry, chief," Simon apologized.
"That object was not supposed to leave JUMP HQ. This is just terrible," said Curtis.
"We'll contact our agents. Have them search all of San Francisco. That pyramid must be retrieved immediately!" said Cameron.
"I'm on it," said Claudia.
Claudia took off to go find Ric as Cameron contacted the rest of JUMP. They had to get the Yresyr back from Ric before he did who-knew-what with it. Lester was entirely clueless about what was going on.
"Can someone fill me in, please?" Lester asked.

JUMP could search all of San Francisco all they wanted. They would never find Ric. That's because he was no longer in San Francisco. He was now back in Austin, having just exited through the portal he took there. Effron rose out of a portal on the ground and greeted Ric upon his return.
"I see that you were successful. That's a very nice ensemble you have on," said Effron.
"You were right all along. Everything you told me was true," said Ric.
"Naturally. Now then, I do believe we had an agreement," said Effron.
The Forever Heroes were patrolling the city, making sure things were safe so they could have their night without worrying about any danger in the city.
"You know what you have to do," said Effron.
Ric looked over at the Forever Heroes. It seemed he and Effron had made a secret deal with each other. Effron fulfilled his end of the deal. It was time for Ric to repay him.
"You have my word," Ric assured.
"Then eliminate them. Do what you wish with the Yresyr after. But first, eliminate those puny Forever Heroes for good. Just as we agreed," Effron stated.
He disappeared and left Ric to fulfill his end of the bargain.

The Forever Heroes had finished checking the city.
"Everything's good on this side," said Crow.
"Same here," said Vic.
"No danger," said Starr.
"Good to go," said Iso.
"No threats around here," said Breaker.
"Then let's get outta here. The night club awaits, boys," said Vic.
"It's Iso's turn to buy drinks," said Breaker.
"You can't even drink, Breaker," said Iso.
Before the five could depart, a white beam shot from above, nearly hitting Crow.
"What was that?" Crow asked.
Ric landed from above before them.
"Ricardo?" said Vic.
"What's with the get-up?" Breaker asked.
Instead of answering, Ric shot a blast at Breaker. Vic drew his V-ersatyl but before he could attack, Ric's fist smashed him in the face out of a portal right in front of him. Ric stomped his foot in the ground, through another portal, which made it emerge underneath Crow, kicking her in the chin.
"How dare you!" Crow cried.
She and Starr attacked with green magic energy and light energy but Ric made a portal which swallowed them. Iso came at him with his swords slashing and Ric fought him off with his scepter. Breaker was about to smash him with his cybernetic fist from above until Ric vanished into thin air, thus Breaker smashed the ground instead.
"Where is he?" Breaker asked.
Vic saw Ric up above.
"There!" Vic cried.
With a swing of his scepter, Ric rained down a shower of spear-shaped beams upon the Forever Heroes, who did their best to avoid them.
"What's this guy's problem?" Vic wondered.

Forever Deities, Prospedite, Exaltheart, and Sacremight were watching this fight in Forever Realm.
"Who is that human?" Sacremight asked.
"It appears to be one of Vic's friend's enemies," said Prospedite.
"I must admit that's a nice get-up he has on. But it's trash compared to my outfit," said Exaltheart.
They saw their chosen warriors struggling as best as they could to fight off Ric. Ric seemed to be having the upper hand and making short work of them.
"Humans of Earth normally don't have these strange abilities," said Prospedite.
"Why hasn't Iso managed to land a single punch yet?" Exaltheart asked.
"Neither of our heroes have. This human is putting up quite a challenge," said Prospedite.
"Get it together, Breaker," Sacremight groaned.

Crow and Starr tried some team tactics but Ric froze them in midair with his scepter and pushed them with a powerful energy force. Vic and Iso attacked together with slashes of their V-ersatyl and swords respectively. Ric was fighting them off with his scepter and was moving incredibly fast, keeping up with them easily. In fact, Vic and Iso were having trouble keeping up with him instead. His scepter's blade glowed and slashed through Iso's swords, cutting the blades off of both of them.
"Impossible!" Iso gasped.
Ric kicked Iso away and pursued him, attacking him each chance he got. After wearing Iso down, Ric held his scepter at him and the Yresyr unleashed a white beam.
"ISO!" the other four fighters cried.
Iso could only watched in terror as the beam hit him and engulfed him. When the beam vanished so did Iso. He was no longer there.
"What happened to Iso?" Crow cried.

Exaltheart was shocked. His chosen, brave hero he selected had vanished before his eyes.
"No! Iso! Where is he?" Exaltheart panicked.
Normally he's excessively proud of Iso to the point that he deems Iso unbeatable. But seeing him so easily beaten and just disappear was a shot to his exalted heart. Exaltheart could not find or sense Iso anywhere down there.
"I don't sense him. What happened?" Exaltheart cried.
"What is this power?" Prospedite wondered.
Sacremight was feeling a little uneasy himself.

The other four heroes were speechless to see Iso disappear.
"What did you do to him?" Starr asked.
"The same thing I'm going to do to you," Ric replied.
Ric unleashed a wave that pushed all the heroes off their feet and he went after Starr, elbowing her in her back, stunning her. Then he made her disappear with a shot from the Yresyr too.
"Starr!" Crow cried.
"You bastard!" Breaker roared.
He flew at Ric only to be shot by the Yresyr too. Now Breaker was gone.
"Breaker!" Vic and Crow cried.

Now Sacremight was in shock. Now his chosen warrior was gone too.
"This can't be happening! Breaker's gone! I can't sense him either!" said Sacremight in terror.
"Vic! Crow! Get out of there!" Prospedite cried.

Both Vic and Crow were angered at the disappearance of their comrades. Ric only looked at the two of them entirely unimpressed with a mean, serious look on his face.
"Come on then! Do something about it!" Ric taunted.
Vic empowered his armor and Crow enchanted herself and they attacked. Vic attacked by turning his V-ersatyl into various weapons from a sword, to a mace, to a club, to an axe, to a spear, anything he could hit Ric with. But Ric was able to knock these attacks back easily. Crow lashed her Enchanted Lasso at Ric who simply grabbed it and pulled her with his scepter and the Yresyr right at her.
"CROW!" Vic cried.
The Yresyr shot Crow and made her disappear as well. Vic was all that remained.
"I can't believe you!" Vic snarled.
"It's amazing what you can learn from others from other worlds," said Ric.
"You're really gonna pay for that!" Vic assured.
He slashes a series of blue V's as a distraction for Ric then came at him with his ultimate attack. His V-irtue attack. He was prepared to slash Ric to pieces but Ric stopped his attack with his scepter. The blade of Vic's V-erastyl sword broke. Ric's body unleashed pulses of black and white energy from within that pushed Vic back. Vic was much too tired and weakened to keep fighting any longer. Ric walked up to him and Vic looked up at him. Ric aimed his scepter directly right in his face and shot him with the Yresyr's beam, eliminating him too. The only remaining Forever Hero, gone.

This just couldn't be happening. Prospedite, Exaltheart, and Sacremight just couldn't believe it. How could these powerful fighters they chose that have survived and conquered numerous battles fall so easily this instant?
"Vic! Crow! They're gone too!" Prospedite cried.
"Curse that puny human!" Sacremight snarled furiously.
"Who does he think he is?" said Exaltheart.
The three of them had lost their chosen warriors. All of them. Gone. No longer in existance.
"Iso," Exaltheart whispered.
"Breaker," Sacremight whispered.
"Vic. Crow. Vanished," Prospedite whispered.
"How is this even possible?" Sacremight wondered.
Then he noticed the object in Ric's scepter.
"Wait! Look!" said Sacremight.
"It's... but it can't possibly be!" Exaltheart cried.
"But it is. It's the Yresyr," said Prospedite.
"So that's how he wiped out our heroes so easily," said Exaltheart.
"But what's the Yresyr doing on Earth? And how is that human able to wield it?" Sacremight wondered.
And then the three of them saw Effron appear before Ric.
"Is that Effron?" Exaltheart asked.
"What's he doing on Earth?" Prospedite wondered.
It seemed that these Forever Deities happened to know about the Yresyr as well.

Effron snickered impressed by Ric's performance.
"You've done well, Ric," said Effron.
"I've kept up my end of the deal as well. Remember what we agreed on," Ric told him.
"Of course. The deal is complete. As promised the Yresyr is yours and the world is your loved one's. Do as you wish with it. The Forever Heroes have been erased from existance and are no longer a threat to me. I must commend you on doing something even I couldn't do myself," said Effron.
Effron prepared to take his leave through a portal leading to space.
"The Yresyr's power is impressive indeed. Use it carefully," he told Ric.
Then he turned back to him.
"But remember what I told you. It's part of the deal we made," Effron warned.
Ric just stared at him but nodded, assuring that a deal is a deal.
"And don't forget the other thing I told you. I would be looking out for that if I were you," Effron told him.
He turned back to the portal.
"I wish you good luck. You are truly going to need it. And if you know what's good for you, you will not go back on your word," said Effron.
With those last words, Effron left through the portal, leaving the Yresyr and the world to Ric. Ric was free to do what he wanted with both. Just as long as he keeps true to his word and did not break the agreement he made with Effron. Whatever it was.

The Forever Deities were really furious as well as concerned. With the disappearance of their heroes and the Yresyr on Earth, things were most certainly looking grim.
"This is absolutely terrible," said Sacremight.
"That object does not belong down there," said Exaltheart.
"We'll have to warn Idolfaith. Earth is under her watch," Prospedite suggested.
"This threat can not continue to run amok," said Sacremight.
"If it does, reality as we know it will cease to be," said Exaltheart.
"Something must be done. Our chosen ones must return," said Prospedite.
The three went to fill Idolfaith in on this threat. She looks over Earth so she deserved to know what was going on down there. And there was no way they could just stand by with their heroes gone. Something must be done immediately.

Back on Earth, Ric was speaking with Ivan and Rufus about this newly obtained power of his. Ivan was looking over the Yresyr.
"This is awesome! I've never seen anything like it," said Ivan.
"This is very incredible. But are you absolutely sure you realize what you're doing, Ric?" Rufus asked.
"I'm not doing anything terrible. This is only a gift of love to Rebecca. Other guys buy flowers. I give her the world," said Ric.
"YOU! ARE! SO! DEAD!" a voice bellowed.
The three heard the voice and saw Jared running to them with a marker in his mouth.
"Where have you been?" Ric asked.
Jared spit the marker out.
"We have a guest," Jared replied.
Josh appeared with a drawn-on beard on his face from Jared and was incredibly angry. Ivan and Rufus's eyes widened in fright as Ric just simply stood there, not at all intimidated. Josh was so angry he was seeing everything red from his POV. He saw Jared who taunted him by flapped his tongue repeatedly. Josh roared ferociously and stomped over to the Fallen Stars in uncontrollable rage. But before he could do anything to them, Ric grabbed him by his throat and lifted him. The power of the Yresyr gave him this extra strength to lift him like nothing. Ivan, Rufus, and Jared were shocked. Josh snarled like an animal and tried clawing at Ric to get free and strangle him for interfering.
"You're a disgrace. So fueled by rage you can't even see straight," said Ric.
Josh tried to get out of Ric's grasp and proceed with his thrashing. Ric held his scepter up to Josh.
"What are you doing, Ric?" Rufus asked.
"You know that your fury can only lead to devastation and desolation. It's all it's good for. But could very well be useful," Ric thought.
He touched the tip of his scepter to Josh's forehead which instantly stopped him from squirming. Energy flowed through Ric's scepter into Josh's mind. Josh's eyes turned white as the energy entered his mind then returned back to normal. Ric dropped him and left him laying there.
"What'd you do to him?" Ivan asked.
"Keep an eye on him. I have somewhere else to be," said Ric as he walked away.
"Where are you going?" Jared asked.
"Effron's threats have been erased. Now the next order of business is to erase any threat to Rebecca. If I'm to construct the perfect world to show my love for her then I should see to it that nobody prevents that from happening. I'll erase the biggest threat that opposes Rebecca. Those meddlesome JUMP agents she despises," said Ric.
"You're really going through with this whole thing, aren't you?" Rufus asked.
"It's the only way to show how much Rebecca means to me. Rebecca will be revered. Shrines will be built to her. Her legacy will live for centuries to come. And anyone who denies that will cease to exist. Nobody will deny me my token of love to her," Ric stated.
He opened a portal to return to San Francisco and eliminate the threat that could get in his way from giving Rebecca the world. That was none other than JUMP. Ric looked at the Yresyr, the object that would make a new world possible.
"Reality is set in stone. Unless Ricardo controls it," Ric stated.
He entered the portal and went back to San Francisco. There he will be met with many angry crime fighters. How exactly would JUMP fair against Ric's power if the Forever Heroes were defeated so easily?

Effron was in his own world after settling the deal with Ric. The Forever Heroes were gone and are no longer a threat to him. It was time for Effron to move on. He looked back at Earth one last time.
"Phase 2 can now commence," said Effron.

To be continued...