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Stormz followed Dumb into the massive throne room, a weight on his shoulders. His heterochromia eyes were examining the statues in front of him.
Of course. The Syndicate were full of themselves, why wouldn't they have a room dedicated to their top members?
.. what if he actually joined? Would he have turned out like them? An image appeared in his head: a statue of himself in a massive room meant to house kings, a big smile on his face. His ego shining for everyone to see, the massive purple scythe in his hand.
He shook his head.
He was better than that. He was a king now, a friend to Jelex and Slushly. Would he forget about them this easily?
As the two walked down the hall, something caught Stormz eye. A stone statue, tall and proud of someone familiar in broken armour. Familiar eyes, even though he only saw them on rare occasions.
Squid.
OnlyASquid.
He..
He was a part of the Syndicate..?
Is that why he was gone? Is that why he left, why he disappeared? Why he didn't bother contacting him anymore?
He didn't realize he stopped moving. He was just staring.. staring at his best friend’s statue.
“Ohhh yeah I know him! I knew the throne looked familiar.” Dumb trutted back over, a soft look on his face. He was obviously proud of himself, proud of killing HIS best friend.
“You know him..?” Stormz asked, glancing over at the demon. He was geared and held Mazeheart in his hand, the large hammer-like mace sitting on the ground as he dragged it over the blackstone. “Yeah, I fought him. His name was..” Dumb looked away briefly, snapping his fingers as he tried to think of a name.
“Squid. That was his name.”
Stormz hand started to shake on Envy. The purple chains glowed as his anger rose over the grief, wrapping up his arm and moving to his red wings.
“You.. you killed him.” Stormz’s voice cracked in his fury. Dumb turned to him in concern.
“Yeah.. and I killed him. What– what's–”
Stormz launched himself toward Dumb, slamming him into the blackstone wall, his eyes glowing a neon purple.
“YOU?! YOU KILLED HIM?!” Stormz roared, tightening his grip on Dumb’s shoulders. The demon was not expecting the fallen angel to grab him and push him into the wall violently, his mace loosening in his grip.
“I- I did– what's the big issue..? He was a Syndicate member–” Stormz pulled Dumb off the wall and pushed him back in with force. Dumb groaned, his vision blurring.
“YOU KILLED MY FRIEND.” Stormz snapped, his knee jabbing into Dumb’s chest. He stepped back, watching the demon fall to his knees and gasp, the wind knocked out of him. Stormz’s face twitched, brief guilt washing over his features before it was drowned out by hatred.
“Y-yeah.. it–” Dumb coughed violently, his hand moving to his chest. “It wasn't on purpose–”
“I hate you.”
Dumb inhaled with difficulty, his eyes slowly finding Stormz’s face of pure fury. “You.. you don't mean that..”
“You're right. I fucking hate you.” Stormz pulled Dumb off the ground, throwing him across the room on unsteady legs. The demon managed to catch himself before he fell on the ground, his eyes wide.
“What– what happened to being friends–” Dumb’s voice sounded broken. He couldn't lose hope. He couldn't let another one of his friends die.
Dol9hin appeared in his head, her hair draped past her shoulders. Normally someone would be worried about long hair in a fight, but she seemed to keep herself safe. Her white and pale blue wings folded up against her back, one of the only maces in her hand. She turned, only to see Stormz’s angry face.
“We aren't friends.” Stormz replied coldly.
“We were never friends.”
Dumb felt those words stab him in the heart. He almost lost his balance, his lungs compressing against his will. His heart pumped faster and faster– what happened to being teammates? Friends? What happened to all his friends? Was he cursed?
“Yes we were, you offered a house to me in Kymiyo–”
“That was before I learned you were a murderer.” Stormz stepped closer, throwing Envy at Dumb. He dodged just barely, watching the fallen angel pull it back on the long chain connected to his wrist and the weapon.
“We are both murderers. You can't just say that–” Dumb panted, his hand moving to his hair. “True, but I at least didn't kill one of your friends.”
Dumb exhaled, the heart inside Mazeheart beating loud in his ears. The mace pulsed with light, Dumb standing shakily.
“You know I haven't seen Squid in a long time. He disappeared one day, never got in contact with me, never made time to come and see me.” Stormz moved closer to Dumb, his hand pale from gripping Envy so hard.
“This is Tusu’s doing! He's trying to pin us against each other please Stormz.. It was out of self defense I swear–”
“YOU SHOULD’VE DIED.” Stormz screamed, his wings fluffing up. A purple glow radiated from under his skin, pants leaving him as he stared at the surprised demon.
“You.. should've died instead.”
The colour drained from Dumb’s face, astonishment filling his features. He..
He didn't mean that.
..right?
“Hate is a strong word, Stormz.” A familiar cold voice made Dumb turn quickly.
His eyes caught the glint of the crown first.
Stormz laughed harder, Dumb looking over at him worriedly.
“Great. Both people I hate are in the same room!” Stormz continued to laugh, Tusu looking at him rather unimpressed. Dumb couldn't help but look away, his chest twisting.
He only did it in self defense. He was protecting himself, he wanted to escape the labyrinth.. Stormz can't put that on him.
“I honestly wasn't expecting you two to team up.” Tusu looked between Dumb and Stormz, his face plain but malice seeped through his tone. It was cold, calculating.
“Stormz, why would you team up with your friend's killer?” he asked, almost genuinely. “You see what he's trying to do?!” Dumb exclaimed at the fallen angel.
“Who was it again? Squ–”
Stormz launched himself with his wings, swift and unexpected right for the Syndicate leader. He wrapped the scythe blade around his neck, a bright fury of purple in his eyes.
“YOU. You of ALL people don't get to say his name.”
TUSU looked over at Dumb, unfazed by the scythe against his skin. “And you? Dumb? Do you remember the siren? I'm sure you do, she taught you the ropes on that mace of yours.” Tusu’s eyes narrowed.
“It was so easy to get her out of the war. It was so easy, just like how it's easy that you lose your friends huh? One by one.. they fall and you can't do anything about it! You are useless.” Tusu pushed Stormz away as if annoyed.
“Both of you are pathetic. You let your emotions drive you, which doesn't end up well for either of you.”
Stormz growled, slashing his scythe across Tusu’s chestplate then spun it in his hand to get a better grip. Dumb quickly flew up with his own wings, flying upwards with the help of rockets then diving bombing down on Tusu, smashing his head in.
The crown glowed brightly on his head, Dumb’s mace hitting the fragile part of the head only for it to regenerate seconds later as if nothing happened.
Stormz annoyingly grunted, slicing Tusu’s arm then his back, summoning chains soon after to hold him in place as Dumb continued to berate the man with mace hits.
The fallen angel had trouble keeping the chains around him however. He had to keep a death grip and adjust his feet so he could tighten the purple chains around Tusu’s body. He laughed, almost manically as he spat nonsense in his manic moment. Dumb knew he wasn't in his right mind, but he needed the help, so he kept attacking. He followed their original plan.
Tusu stared at Stormz, disappointed as Dumb continued to mace him in the back then the head again. He quickly dodged Dumb’s next descent, grabbing his ankle and throwing him into the wall. He then pulled on Stormz’s chains, making him lose balance. That's when Tusu starts fighting back.
His sword strikes hurt like hell. Of course a sword stabbing through skin and bone would hurt normally but his blade felt like it was dipped in lava and was scolding hot as he attacked. Stormz screeched on many occasions, especially when the metal collided with his fragile wings. Dumb wilted at the sounds, continuing to dive down..
Smash. Smash. Smash.
His weapon didn't do shit.
That couldn't be right.
“Dumb– Dumb– I need you to focus!” Stormz threw down his last strength potion, using the adrenaline to collide his scythe with Tusu’s sword. Dumb swung his mace into Tusu’s side, staggering him slightly but not doing major damage.
Was he out of strength himself?
He scoured his pockets only to find nothing. “Stormz– hold out I need strength!” Dumb called out, flying up to a pedestal to search his ender chest.
“Hu–rry up.” Stormz panted, another pained screech filling his ears. It made him fumble on one of the strength potions he grabbed. He cursed at himself as he grabbed his last one.
He turned back to see Tusu striking at a weak point in Stormz’s side where his armour wasn't protecting him. He cried out, his hand grabbing Tusu’s hair to get a better grip to kick him away but that only made the sword puncture deeper. Red fell from his wounds, huffs leaving his mouth.
Dumb continued to try and fight, his former? friend struggling. He had wounds scattered over him, long ones on his legs, some on his shoulders, red dripping from under his hair too. His totem popped, healing some of his wounds.
“That.. that was my last totem.” Stormz spun in a circle, causing himself a headache. Envy was following Tusu’s stance, the man moving quickly that it was hard to keep up. “STO–”
Squelch.
A sword went through his chest, his eyes going wide in surprise. Envy rattled in his hand chains wrapping around his arm in multiple layers as the fallen angel fell to the ground.
He fell directly on his damaged side, a cry of pain leaving his mouth. Dumb landed on the ground, quickly running towards Stormz in a panic.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Not again.
Not again.
Please not again.
Not again.
Dumb grabbed Stormz, pulling him away from Tusu who was slowly advancing on the panicking demon. Dumb’s dark hands grazed multiple different wounds, not even knowing where to start.
He choked, his vision blurring..
A different familiar face appeared in his vision.
Pika.
Pika was lying in his arms.
Gop in his arms.
Axo in his arms.
Dying.
Why.
Why.
Why..
Why.
WHY.
WHY.
WHY ME.
WHY HIM.
WHY NO ONE ELSE.
WHY NOT THE SYNDICATE.
WHY.
He sobbed, trying to reach for potions. “St-Stor–Stormz. L-look at m–me please..” his voice was so broken, his hand slowly moving it to look at his face in his field of vision.
His eyes were closed.
Dumb put his ear to Stormz’s mouth only to hear..
Nothing.
He scrambled, laying the fallen on the ground only for a strong hand to grab his wrist and yank him away from his friend.
“Stormz! St–Stormz..” he cried, Mazeheart’s heartbeat pounding in his ears.
“He's dead.”
Tusu’s words rang through his ears.
Dead.
Dead.
Just like Pika.
Pika..
“I’M SORRY.” Dumb called out to the corpse for no response. Envy stayed tight around the fallen angel’s wrist tightening and securing itself around him. Dumb yanked his arm away from Tusu, his angry, red eyes finding the man with a crown.
Cave his head in.
Stab him through the heart.
Throw him off a cliff.
He couldn't stop the thoughts that invaded his brain when he launched himself back up into the air then dived down.
And down.
And down.
Over and over again.
Over.
Over.
And over.
Over.
And over.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Keep doing it.
One day he won't be standing anymore.
Tusu sighed, grabbing Dumb’s shirt collar and slammed him into the ground. Dumb pushed against the foot now pressing down on his chest. His eyes were so clouded, so angry, mindlessly thinking as Tusu dragged Dumb away from Stormz.. or what used to be him.
His strong hand secured around Dumb’s neck, the man pushing him into the wall and lifting him above the ground with one hand.
“This is your fault, you know. Let another friend die because you weren't strong enough. Weren't fast enough.” Tusu sent those corrupted words into Dumb’s head, the demon starting to thrash against Tusu’s grip.
“No– no it's not–”
“Really?” Tusu tilted his head. “He called out to you.”
Dumb's eyes widened, the demon giving up on moving. Tusu dropped him to the ground, Dumb landing on his knees. Sobs kept leaving his mouth, his eyes unable to come off of Stormz.
“This could've been prevented, you know. If you never went looking for that superweapon–” Tusu’s eyes moved down to the pulsing Mazeheart. “Gop would still be alive. If you weren't so careless Pika would still be here. If you didn't act, Squid wouldn't be dead.”
“Stormz would still be alive.”
Dumb dropped Mazeheart to the ground, the pulsing heartbeat leaving his ears. His soul was damaged, broken, his eyes staring forward at the blackstone ground.
Tusu scoffed, almost as if annoyed. “You would've never had to meet me.”
Dumb hugged his arms, tears leaving his eyes.
Tusu picked up the mace, glancing back at Dumb before walking away in silence. He left the demon alone with Stormz’s corpse.
Dumb couldn't take his eyes off the fallen angel.
Why did he try.
Why did he interfere.
Why did he put all his friends in danger.
Where were his friends? All of them had to be buried.
Gop.
Axo.
Pika.
Dino.
Dol9hin.
.. now Stormz.
…
What can I do?
What can I do.
Why am I like this.
Why can't I protect no one..?
I'm supposed to be able to protect the ones I care about.
Now they are gone.
Buried where the flowers lie.
And I'm alone once again.
…
What am I to do?
Stare at his decaying form?
My vision is blurry, my ears are ringing.
It's hard to make sense of anything anymore.
Without crumbling.
…
What am I to do alone?
My weapon is gone.
My spirit is gone.
My hope.
My care.
Myself.
…
I feel broken.
Without him.
My last teammate.
My last friend.
…
The pencil fell out of his hands. Dumb gripped the book tightly, Tusu long gone but he hadn't moved. Stormz’s body was almost gone too, his form dissolving into white stars.
…
Protection.
Is it too much to ask to be able to protect?
Why must I lose everything to be able to do so?
Why can't I keep them.
Alive.
…
This is my fault.
My stupidity.
My selfishness.
My foolish actions.
…
Why must it hurt.
It hurts so much.
My chest feels heavy.
…
What will I do now…?
…
A cry so melodic but pained filled the empty room of statues. Other than that it was empty. Silent. Suffocating to few.
What can he do about it. Not much.
Dumb swallowed another cry, gripping the book of his gibberish.
..will it always be this painful?
...
"Sometimes protecting someone means walking away."