Chronicle 43

After a well-paying match overseas, where Mundo dominated the other team without even using his signature leg, he came back to find his house in poor condition. The backyard looked like a warzone and the inside was battered. There was at least one major hole leading through from the backyard to the front lawn. Nosy neighbors raised eyebrows as he set down his bags and got to work restoring it to its pristine normalcy.

Mundo had learned many different trades in his youth in Peru. His parents taught him to always be prepared to do everything himself, even when he could afford to have it done by someone else. He took pride in the work he did, and once he was finished repairing everything, he thought to check the surveillance camera footage.

It took him a second to remember Alice was staying there. When he saw the scuffle between her, Lunar Lightning and Cassius Killmove, he called her immediately. He put the phone on speaker and juggled a ball with his feet.

“I’m so sorry about your house, Mundo. I’ll pay whatever I can to fix it.” Alice said sincerely.

“No, no, that’s not why I’m calling. Well, first, glad you’re alive. That guy was psycho!”

“Which one?”

“Not the moon guy. I could tell the moon guy was on your side.”

“Yeah, he is. He’s an actual hero.” Alice thought of Lunar Lightning’s defense of her. “The one we were fighting, get this; his name is Cassius Killmove.”

“No way.”

“Way.”

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.” Mundo stopped doing kick-ups and rolled the ball into the backyard. He sat on his couch, his back to the front door, which he’d left open. “It looked like you did something with your body on the video. Like it became crystal or something.”

“Yeah… Why don’t we meet up? Maybe next week. It’s a lot to explain.”

“Okay. Text me.”

Mundo hung up and put his phone down. He heard a single footstep, very close behind him.

“If Cassius Killmove is too wordy, call me C.K.” a deep, jittery voice came from the suited man standing in Mundo’s living room.

“Okay, C.K.” Mundo stood and walked around the couch to become toe to toe with the large man. The video hadn’t done justice the way Cassius moved. It was as if he was out of sync with time itself. “If you’re here to pay for the damage, I appreciate the offer, but the work has already been done.”

“Big star like you, I’m sure you have a guy for that.” Cassius said. Mundo stayed silent, waiting to hear the reason he was there, no mind to worry about pride. “Anyways. Your friends. I need to know where they went.”

“I couldn’t tell you. Because I don’t know.”

C.K. dashed the short distance between him and Mundo, a hand nearing the neck of the futbol star. “You have no idea what I’ve been through to get back here.”

“I was brought up to be hospitable to everyone. But you tried to kill my friend, destroyed my house and now you’re threatening me.” Mundo took a small step back and leaned on the arm of the couch. “I’m considering asking you to leave.”

“You really are as pleasant as they say.”

“For now.” Mundo’s eyes flashed a hint of violence, staring straight into Cassius Killmove’s eyes.

“Then let’s begin.”

Cassius dashed forward to grab Mundo by the throat, but Mundo was fresh off a twelve hour plane ride and he slept like a baby. The golden-legged player ducked and launched an elbow at C.K.’s ribcage, a warning shot. It hurt. C.K. was staggered for a moment, realizing every move Mundo made was enhanced by the positioning of the leg. But he knew the rule that Mundo was famous for upholding. The golden leg was a last resort, never to be used to gain advantage, only to level the playing field.

Mundo moved to the backyard, enjoying the dance and not looking to have his house destroyed again.

“This is familiar.” Cassius said as he dashed towards Mundo.

“I’m sure.”

Mundo picked up a ball from the floor and threw it at Cassius. He figured out that there were no in-betweens for the suited man. He couldn’t be caught moving between positions, only at the destination. He threw a few more balls to get into Cassius’ head. Its something he had done on the field against new opponents. Trying to figure out the way someone was inclined to move gave Mundo the upper-hand in most situations.

As the last ball passed by the flitting C.K., Mundo made his way towards his best guess of C.K.’s new position. He was correct, but he didn’t account for the fact that Cassius was a natural boxer who knew he was being read. Mundo sprinted towards the spot, and Cassius overshot by a good amount, a fist extending outward to catch Mundo square on the jaw. It was lights out.

Cassius Killmove jittered under Mundo to lift his body. He carried the superstar back into the house and laid him on the couch. He knew Mundo would continue fighting when he awoke, so his first thought was to disarm him. “Disleg him?” he thought. With Mundo’s leg propped up on the coffee table, C.K. readied himself.

One arm flashed into a cocked back position. Severe intent in his eyes, Cassius looked down at his target, the golden leg. His arm would pass through and sever the golden limb that made Mundo such a threat to him.

Cassius flashed to his completed strike. But it was short. The side of his hand was still above the leg. And the leg itself was unusually reflective. Not just reflective, but shining. Golden light grew brighter and brighter until he couldn’t stand to be so close. He moved near the stairwell of the mansion with his hands up to block the overwhelming light.

After a few moments, the goldshine faded. From inside the light, between Cassius and Mundo stood the deity of the sun, champion of the golden realms, Zol.

“Leave this place.” Zol’s voice came from every direction..

“Listen, I came from the moon to get here. I didn’t come to fight. I came for information.”

Zol had no patience for the arrogance of man incarnate. The golden orb atop his staff unlinked from the shaft and floated towards Cassius. The jittering man couldn’t ignore its power. He dashed away, into the backyard, but the orb grew larger as it calmly followed behind him. It grew to cover his entire field of view, everything around him turning to flaming gold.

When the orb retracted, there was no longer gold. Just flame. Cassius Killmove had been transported to the center of the sun.