The strange trees were charred with strange fire that quickly traveled to the tops and licked the stormy skies turning a gloomy grey into a flickering orange.

Suddenly, two men burst from the charcoal remnants of a fell tree. They seemed to be fighting, a punch thrown here, a kick thrown there. The larger man seemed to be losing. His hands were aflame and he wore a red t-shirt and a thin headband in his chestnut hair. The second man, the one who was consistently landing blows, was obviously quite older, the young man seeming to be in his mid twenties, the older seeming to be fifty to sixty. He had cadiwhompus grey hair and was wearing a white lab coat that had been singed and torn.

There was something strange, Mercer noticed, in the older mans eyes. They had the same different-ness as everything else, but they looked sort of...Insane.

Now, something strange happened. The young man put his outstretched arms out in front of himself, the fire on his hand, which didnt seem to be burning him, suddenly shot out, towards the older man. The older mans eyes widened slightly, but he stayed calm. The fire hurtled toward him and just when Mercer thought that he was a goner, he jumped and did a front flip over the fire and landed smoothly on his feet.

"Your such a fool Caldera!! I'm gonna RIP YOUR ARMS OFF!! GYAAAAAAA!! AAAAAA!! The older man screamed. As he did so, he puffed out his chest, leaned back his head, and flexed his arms, which proceeded to tear apart the sleeves of his lab coat even though it was a loose fit. Suddenly, Lightning shot out of him in all directions.

"GYYAAAAAAHAAAAHAHAH!!" The lightning grew more intense. a stray bolt struck the man apparently known as Caldera, who had his arms crossed in front of himself, shielding him. Caldera slid back several feet as more and more bolts hit him until he was in a crater and there were heavy burns on his forearms.

"GYAaaaa...haaa...aa. Phew..." The man had finally calmed down.

"You done yet Raiken?" Caldera stated calmly. "A fool? Rip my arms off? Well, thats all quite intimidating, but if your so confident just because youve gained some ground, listen to this: Against an opponent like me, it not a matter of gaining ground, its a matter of SURVIVNG!!" RAIKEN! I MAY HAVE TO KILL YOU NOW!!!"

Caldera pressed his hands together and quickly, a concentrated flame appeared between them. It floated there for a second and Mercer Could not comprehend what happened next. The tiny flame burst into a giant supernova of heat and death.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, Alice and Mercer where mesmerized by this clash of the titans. To entranced to see that the giant blast was spreading rapidly in all directions, and they were well within range.