The Boy Chosen by Crepitus

It had been long ten years since the intolerable death of Medikus's beloved parents. Since then, he had grown into not only a man, but one of the scariest wranglers alive, and the most wanted man in the Western Sands. At age eighteen, he'd killed more sheriffs than any average wrangler can in a lifetime. Still wearing his signature jacket passed on to him by Auxilium, he was considered a man amongst boys, and in the Western Sands, only Great Eight Gordias would dare stand in front of him in a one-on-one fight. He frequented a bar, not far from Auxilium's bakery, and it proved to be the stage of most of his greatest fights.

"Hey Sam, if you don't mind, I'll have my usual!"

"Medikus! Why of course! You know, you come here every day, but I still can't believe such a man of your status would be a regular of mine."

"Well, your drinks are my favorite you know!"

The bar was covered in all kinds of firearms. Sam was a collector and was well equipped to protect his bar and his customers. It was one of the things Medikus most liked most about the bar.

"One moonshine coming right up!"

Medikus sat there, basking in the joyful sounds of chatter and soft music, as he peacefully sipped his drink when he heard a sudden commotion outside.

"Where is he?! Where is that bastard Medikus?!"

"Looks like I've got company Sam. Do me a favor, get everyone behind the bar counter, things might get a little heated."

"Alright you heard the man, everyone back here with me!"

Sam ripped his favorite gun off the wall, and just as the last of the customers got behind the counter, the first shot rang out, and zoomed right past the Sam's ear. Medikus had already ducked down, and the bullet traveled straight through the top of his hat. Three more shots entered the building, with Medikus written all over them, and with lightning quick speed Medikus drew his sword and blocked them all without even looking behind him. Cup still to his lips, he slurped down the rest of his beverage, before slowly turning around to face his new opponent. The man shivered as Medikus met his gaze.

"You know, it's pretty rude to interrupt a man in the middle of his drink. And you and your poor aim put a hole in my hat, you rat bastard! Now how should I kill you?!"

"You think you can outrun the law forever, don't you?!"

Medikus recognized this sheriff immediately.

"Ah, it's you Betas, Gordias's evil second fiddle. I believe I should be the one asking you that. You can't outrun me forever! I like that hat of yours by the way, it would make a lovely replacement for mine you just ruined, wouldn't you say?"

"Well, if you know who I am, then why don't you bow in fear, you dirty peasant?!"

"Fear? You don't even know fear. But you'll learn today!"

"So, you're a cocky little shit are ya? Just like I've heard! I've been waiting for this moment, to take your head to Gordias, and see it next to your mother and fathers!!!"

"And you're just another name on my record, a small page in my story! So, let's cut to the chase. How do you plan on beating me, and especially after signing you own death warrant with that last comment?!"

"Ha! I don't need a plan for you kid, I'm obviously the stronger of us two!"

"Idiot."

Medikus shot across the room an instant and hit Betas with a punch that sent him flying out of the bar.

"D-damn you! And how'd you take my hat?! Just what are you?!"

Medikus threw his old hat down and put on what was once the hat of0 Betas. He stepped outside to find five sheriffs with six shooters trained on him.

"Hmmm, so that was your plan, huh? Now things might actually get interesting!"

"S-sure, keep acting tough, but I can't wait to bring your head to Gordias! Fire!!!"

Medikus ducked, and the sheriffs all took themselves out, completely missing Medikus.

"Ahh, the dangerously exhilarating smell of gun smoke. Any more tricks Betas?!"

Beta had already mounted his horse to make his escape.

"He must've seen me deflect the bullets! To think it would be that easy to scare a man with such keen sight, he must've seen his own death coming then! But you won't escape me!"

"Oh no you don't! Pearl!!!"

Medikus whistled loudly, and trusty white stead charged out of the gun smoke, and in one clean motion, Medikus flipped into the air and landed on her back and pursued Beta.

"Damn you Medikus!!!"

Beta shot back behind him, in hopes of slowing Medikus down. Medikus and Pearl dodged, one shot. Two shots. Three shots!

"He's all out, Pearl, let's make our move!"

Medikus stood on Pearl's back, and once they got close enough, he did a front flip into the air, drew his sword, and sliced off Beta's head in the very same motion, landing right back on Pearl's back. The attack was so fast, most people never even seen him draw his sword. People watched in awe, as their hero proved once again that he was the strongest wrangler in the Western Sands. Everyone came out into the street, cheering Medikus's name at the top of their lungs.

"Good girl Pearl, I couldn't have done it without you."

Pearl neighed gleefully. Medikus looked around, and a smile broke out on his face. He loved to see happy so faces around him and it made working so hard to become the people's champion worth it. Sam walked up to him to congratulate him.

"How can we thank you Medikus?"

"No need for anything special Sam, I just want you all to keep smiling like you are now! In fact, here take this!"

Medikus handed a huge sack of gold coins to Sam.

"Everyone, free drinks, on me!"

The people roared in celebration and flooded into the bar to get their drinks.

"You're too much, kid, you know that right?"

Medikus looked down beside him to see Auxilium standing by his side.

"Says the only man stronger than me in the Western Sands. I believe you taught me that move, if I'm not mistaking."

"But you pulled it off, and you have a way of helping people that I never did have. Your words inspire hope, and your strength reinforces that hope. You're just like your dad!"

"Yeah..."

"You remind me of him in his early years. Still got a long way until you get as strong as prime Midaco though."

"You always say that Aux!"

Medikus chuckled.

"Here kid, come over to the shop when you get a second, I've got some information I think you'll wanna hear."

"Sure thing, I'll be over there shortly!"

--

"God damnit!!! Medikus this, Medikus that, why can't any of you bumbling idiots catch that excuse of a wrangler?!"

"Gordias sir..."

"Shut the hell up and get out there!!! If I have to move so much as a muscle to stop him, whoever he doesn't kill, I will!!! Now move it!!!"

"Y-y-y-yes sir!!! All remaining units follow me!"

Gordias sat at his desk, paralyzed by the thought that one average wrangler could kill so many of his men.

"Medikus, to think that kid would not only evade me for ten years, but he killed most of my men by himself! He's even tougher to catch than his dad!!!"

Gordias slammed his fist into his desk, causing the whole room to shake, and a couple of heads fell off his wall, with eerie thuds. Just then, Gordias looked down on his desk to see an excerpt of an article.

"Mmmm, I'll catch him that way then!"

--

"An Elixir Brawl, really?!"

"It says it's a mile south of here! It isn't a joke; strong opponents will show up! I thought you'd want to know!"

"You should have said so sooner, it might've started already!!!"

Medikus called for Pearl and jumped on her back as soon as she came.

"A mile south, let's go Pearl!"

"Don't die kid! You got this!!!"

With a kick, Pearl took off in the direction of the Elixir brawl. Medikus sat on Pearl's back, meditating before his fight. Pearl's instincts were so keen that she knew their destination before they even came close. Just as they arrived, Medikus flipped in the air and landed dramatically.

A sign that read, "Western Elixir Temple", hung above the pyramid shaped temple. Medikus walked in the door slowly and stopped in the center of the brawling crowd. Just as a group of guys lunged at him, Medikus unsheathed his sword, slicing their heads off instantaneously. Just then waves of people lunged and shot at him, and he shredded them all in bunches. One after another, heads flew all over in Medikus's brutal, blood lusted onslaught. The temples keeper watched in fear and horror as he saw Medikus murder everyone without even losing even a hair. He slaughtered them all effortlessly and as the last man fell, he turned toward the temple keeper slowly.

"H-he's, asleep?!"

Medikus had fallen to sleep, which activated his autopilot ability. After years of fighting sheriffs to save his life, he learned how to program his body to fight and defend itself even in his sleep. Ultimately, his paranoia and muscle memory gave him the ability to even hone his fighting abilities in his sleep.

"HEY!!!"

"Huh. Umm, hello sir?"

"Please turn around and witness your work, my new Elixir Brawl winner!"

"Oh that?! Haha if I had woken up sooner it would've been faster."

"You're quite remarkable, aren't you? What is your name?"

"Medikus. And you?"

"I am Temple Keeper Joe."

"Isn't that name a little bland for this book?"

"Shut uuuuup. Anyways, I bestow upon you the Gift of the Elixir. Drink it, and become a God, or something like that."

Joe walked down the Elixir to Medikus. Medikus, without a second thought, downed the whole thing in one gulp.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

--

"A starry night. Where's the ground? Where, where am I?"

These were Medikus thoughts as he floated through what seemed to be space.

"So, you are the boy Crepitus chose this time. Seems you might have some real potential! Lightning be with you!"

"W-wait, No!!!"

A flash of lightning rushed from just above him, striking Medikus straight in his heart.

--

"That ought to make him angry!"

Gordias stood, and slowly walked away from the corpse of the once snow-white horse, Pearl. With blood-stained red fur, a hole riddled body, and a letter where her head once was, Pearl had seen her last day. The letter read,

"Fight me, Son of Midaco!"

--

"What? I'm back!"

"It seems it wasn't a fluke after all. You are a chosen Trigger, now let's see what element you control!"

Medikus took a deep breath and concentrated on the electricity in his body.

"HA!"

Medikus shot a flash of lightning out of the tip of his fingers, leaving a scorch mark on the ceiling.

"Impressive."

"Yes! I won!"

"Now, leave this place immediately! Sheriff's much stronger than Gordias have just become your worst enemy. If I were you, I'd seek out the one they call Ignious the Dark."

"Got it!"

Medikus ran out of the temple, excited about his new ability, when he turned to see the corpse of a horse.

"P-p Pearl? PEARL!!!"

Medikus ran over to the dead body of his slain companion. With tears in his eyes, he read the note left behind by Gordias.

"Fight you?! After you killed my mom, my dad, and Pearl?! No, I won't fight you! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"