Zeke lays flat upon the thick grass, watching as the floating orbs intertwine. In and out, looping. Dancing along to their own harmonious hum. Like fairies they beam as bright as can be. So full of energy, even without a host body.

He reaches down to his pockets for a second packet of sweets feeling a stiffness about his few moving joints. It seems he's still not recovered much of the energy he exerted in the battle. His eyes blink heavy, his chest beats hard. He has finally regained his breath, yet can still feel his pulse working overtime.

His eyes take in the scenery. Tree's almost destroyed, claws cutting clean through the bark. The earth torn up all over. The insects have once again found their song, chirping away. The smell of moss, almost too intense, with his senses out of whack.

Hands stutter together, raised above his head. Fingers press tight. A sting presses at his temple, throwing his focus.

Zeke holds his breath, pushing harder and harder. A slight glow, then gone.

He lets out all of the air he held. His hands fall to the ground.

"Maybe I overdid it a little." He mutters to himself, rolling onto his side.

His hands push up from the earth, his body shakily raises. On hands and knees, he takes one more deep breath. Bracing for the final push. His hands up first, his body verticle. One foot planted, then the next.

"I gotta get moving." He says as he reaches down to his absorber.

“NalasLitael, please pardon my memory. Just see them safe. Okay?" His nose wrinkles hoping the passage if their spirits isn't dampened by his lazy verse.

Today, his memory won't allow him access

The gun-like object is pulled from its holster and raised towards the first set of orbs. Zeke pulls the trigger. A sharp pain attacks his heart, like a dagger stabbing against his pulse and piercing his veins. A blue glow is exerted, beaming out towards the orbs.

Zeke grunts, holding in stray tears. The pain is unbearable. He grits his teeth, and clenches his fists.

The orb is drawn over at the slowest of speeds. Zeke's hands shake, his trigger finger weakens.

The orb, closer and closer. Eventually its absorbed.

Zeke let's go. His aura disperses suddenly. His breath grows heavier, and heavier. Sweat drips from his brow. The whites of his eyes gain a slight blue tint.

He leans over, his hands on his knees. Trying to catch his breath. His heart is pounding frantically. His hands shake uncontrollably. He drops the gun, a tear comes to his eye.

Every cut, every bruise. Every muscle, every bone. The ache is intense. Like his body has nothing more to give.

Pictures flood into his mind of his bed-ridden mother, At the time too ill to move. His father, how he remembered him last time he seen him, had dark black circles lining his eyes. A pale complexion accompanied a bony structure.

Zeke closes his eyes, fighting off the pain. He fights the memories and the sorrows. He needs to concentrate. He's running out of time.

A strange sense tickles at the hairs to the back of his neck.

Zeke's eyes dart open.

Before he can react, he's smashed in the chest by what feels like a sledgehammer. All goes silent. Before he knows it he is flying backwards through the air, crashing into a nearby tree. The impact drives up his spine.

He wails in pain, yet struggles to exert any air from his lungs. Every breath in is unaccompanied by a breath out.

His eyes tear up. His chest seizes tight. He tries to force a breath, but nothing.

He glances forwards. Before him, somewhat blurred by teary vision, is a creature as large as any Zeke had seen before. Its claws are as big as a small boy. Its arms are longer than a king-slitherer. Its horns are like those of an airborne fire-breather.

As Zeke blinks, the picture becomes clearer. Pitch black, triangle-shaped eyes, as dark as a moonless night.

Only a single thought fights from the back of Zeke's mind. This is no mere Crawler. It must be the level two.

The beast closes in, Zeke Struggles. He pushes. His breath holding off. He pushes and pushes.

Suddenly, as though shocked by electricity, his body takes over. He breathes out, his throat clears. He dives to the side. Just in time. The beast crashes by taking with it a chunk from the tree.

Zeke rolls, unable to find his feet. He stumbles up, His eyes locked on the enemy. It turns, coming for its second attempt.

Zeke can do nothing but turn, running through the tree line. He can hear its steps, closer and closer.

It's clear now; this nalite is out of his league.

He lowers a fist to his stomach, hoping his three burst rule is allowed to be broken just once. He gains ground, but his surroundings don't slow as much as they usually would.

A quick glance to his rear shows no sign of the level two. A loud crash catches his attention. Directly in front of him. The beast.

Zeke slides to a stop, turning again. His heart pounds even harder. His legs feel like they could give way at any moment. His mind no longer being controlled. Running itself.

Before he knows it, that force. The sledgehammer.

Zeke is sent sprawling, forced over the side of a high slope. For a moment he's parallel to the ground, making no contact. Then he crashes, rolling down.

He sees the bottom drawing nearer. Then. Nothing.