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The skaian portal let off a glow as the two trolls descended from it, one with more grace than the other.
“dammit! vwhy does that fucking thing havwe to be so high up?”
“L0L! 5K1LL 155U3, DUD3!”
“not funny!”
Cronus got up as quickly as possible. At least it was flat ground from here on. The land’s strobbing lights didn’t help the headache from falling on his face, though.
“W3LL? Y0U’R3 7H3 0N3 WH0 KN0W WH3R3 70 G0. WH47 D1D 48R4C4D48R4 54Y?”
“it’s abraxas! and he honestly wvasn’t wvery clear. he mentioned something about a tent.”
“L1K3 7H47 0N3?”
Mituna pointed to a giant circus tent barely visible in the distance.
“yeah, that wvould be it.”
Cronus took his motorcycle out of his sylladex. He got on with a practiced pose.
“are you gonna get on or vwhat?”
“5UR3.”
Mituna got on the backseat after some hesitation. He could tell from the sensation it hadn’t seen much use, which didn’t surprise him. Cronus started the bike and they drove off towards their target.
“ah, this is it! i’m finally gonna fulfill my destiny! aren’t you excited, tuna?”
“Y0U D0N’7 G37 70 C4LL M3 7H47.”
“party pooper. anywvay, you still can’t deny that destiny has put us together. it’s our fate to face evwil together. you and me, buddy!”
“...”
It always bothered Mituna when he acted so friendly towards him. Where did that guy get off thinking they were friends? At first he found him entertaining, and he still sometimes did, but the insistence was starting to make him feel kinda bad. Still, this guy was basically a walking red flag, no way he’d ever be friends with him. And yet, he was here. Normally he would have said no to his ridiculous fate bullshit, if it wasn’t for HER. Megido had shown up before, and told him he absolutely had to accept Cronus’s request. He was never sure what her deal was, but she obviously knew shit. Following her advice had saved his life many times, so he wasn’t gonna risk it.
Cronus’s eyes were focused on his goal. Maybe too focused for someone who’s driving, but luckily this land was pretty barren of obstacles. Its claim to fame stuck to the sky. It had already been months since his denizen told him of his fate. Ever since then, he had taken up magic and studied it intently for the moment his nemesis would appear. And that moment was now. Abraxas instructed him to get Captor and travel to the tent in Makara’s land. He had no idea what he’d face, but he was ready. He had never been more ready in his entire life. He’d finally show everyone what he’s got.
The bike finally came to a stop as they reached the tent. It looked even bigger up close, and yet its insides were covered in darkness. Cronus stood in front of the entrance with a meaningful look, trying to mask his shaking.
“50… 1 GU355 W3 G0 1N?”
“y-yeah.”
They both walked into the darkness with heavy steps.
Their visions were soon clouded over completely. The silence was deafening. And yet, they could both hear something. Not in the room, but right in their heads.
“WHAT A SURPRISE… WHAT DO YOU MIRTHLESS FOOLS WANT FROM THIS NINJA?”
It was a voice they’d never heard, but they both somehow knew who it belonged to.
The darkness was suddenly filled with light. Several eastern lamps covered the inside of the tent. Standing in a throne in the audience seats was Makara. His mouth was just as covered as it always was, and yet they had no doubts it was him who had spoken.
“probably should hawve expected it’d be him…”
“N-N4H, 7H47 C4N’7 83. KURL0Z 15 CH1LL. MU57 83 50M3 M1X-UP FR0M Y0UR DUM8455 D3N1Z3N 0R 50M37H1NG…”
“to be honest, something about him alwvays creeped me out. especially that wveird religious thing he’s alvways on about. i suspected it wvas related to the dark lord somehovw.”
“Y0U’R3 0N 480U7 7H47 4G41N? C-C’M0N, M4N, H3 C0ULDN’7-”
Their conversation was interrupted when Kurloz took a step forward. That insignificant action caused a sound that sent chills down both of their spines.
Cronus equipped his wand. Mituna didn’t need a specibus, but despite his doubts, he was already focusing his powers and analyzing the battlefield.
“I’M GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU AGAIN. WHAT ARE YOU MOTHERFUCKIN’ HERETICS DOIN’ HERE?”
The voice again rocked their heads. They couldn’t help but tremble, as if on instinct.
“H3Y, 8R0, 1 D0N’7 KN0W WH47’5 G07 Y0U 50 M4D, 8U7 H0W 480U7 W3 74LK 17 0U7? 1’M 5UR3 7H15 15 JU57 50M3 HUG3 M15UND3R574ND1NG.”
“OH, THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING, BROTHER. I WAS TOLD BY THE MIRTHFUL MESSIAHS THAT SOME HERETICS WOULD COME TO INTERRUPT MY MIRTHFUL TASK. I JUST DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD BE YOU FOOLS.”
Kurloz equipped his AMETHYST SPIKED CLUB. Mituna took a step back.
“HUH? C-C’M0N, 7H47’5 N07…”
Cronus hit him on the arm.
“0UCH! WH47 7H3 H3LL?!”
“i don’t think there’s anything to talk about, dude.”
“5H17.”
“i newver liked clovwns anyvway.”
Kurloz jumped down to their level. Cronus’s guard was immediately broken as something pounced on him from the side. This distracted Mituna long enough for Kurloz to lunge at him. He was able to react in time and psionically launch himself away.
Cronus’s hands were occupied holding back the claws coming at his face. Claws belonging to Meulin. He was admittedly distracted by her “assets” being so close to him, but it didn’t keep him from noticing the strange, hollow look in her eyes. Fortunately, he was still a violetblood so it was easy to kick her off him and send her flying a considerable distance. Didn’t seem to bother her, though, as she landed on her feet with no issues and started towards him again.
Cronus hesitated to use his magic against her. He knew how lethal it could be. Still, he decided to try holding it back into a blunt force. This kind of scenario wasn’t something he had practiced for. He never expected he’d have to hold back.
Mituna used his psionics to grab several of the lanterns and toss them at Kurloz, but he easily tore them to shreds with his club before they reached him. Mituna reluctantly prepared to fire an optic blast.
Meulin skillfully dodged all of Cronus’s beams, and with each one she got closer to him. He grew increasingly exasperated. The nerves of a real battle were making him forget all of his aiming practice. But before she could reach him, a giant dualcolored beam broke through the space between them. They both took a step back and looked towards its origin.
Mituna’s blast had been about medium potency. It wasn’t to be used lightly, but someone like Kurloz should have been left gravely injured but alive, and Mituna was left with psionic energy to spare.
And yet, as the smoke cleared, Kurloz’s silhouette rose from it, seemingly unharmed. On closer inspection he did suffer some bruises, but they were practically nothing for a beam that would have atomized a LICH QUEEN. Mituna though he could briefly see the RAGE symbol shining on his chest.
“WH47 7H3…”
“UP FOR ROUND TWO, HEIR OF DOOM?”
Cronus regained his focus and took advantage of the distraction to score a direct hit on Meulin. It launched her into the wall, hard enough to leave a mark on it. Her body fell limply on the ground.
“got her!”
“7H47 GR347! 4 L177L3 H3LP H3R3?!”
Mituna was now spamming optic blasts at Kurloz, but they all seemed ineffective. His flight kept him away from his attacks for now, but he got the feeling it wouldn’t work for long.
Cronus focused a strong beam towards Makara, who immediately reacted and jumped out of the way. His full attention switched to Cronus, completely forgetting Mituna.
“heh, afraid of a little magic trick?”
“YOUR MIRTHLESS BLASPHEMY WILL SOON BE EXTINGUISHED. THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL SPELL YOUR END, BARD.”
“don’t count on it!”
Cronus focused his energy on another flurry of beams. They made his cape flutter, which Mituna thought looked dorky as hell.
Kurloz jumped into the air, avoiding the beams and leaving Cronus off guard. He barely managed to dodge the club as it came flying down at him. He struggled to dodge a second hit, and was left completely off balance. But before the third hit could get him, a burst of air launched at Makara’s face and pushed him back. Mituna had taken one of the balloons outside and blasted its air at him. Cronus was able to fall back a safe distance. But before he could counterattack, Kurloz stomped the ground, making everything shake.
“NO CHOICE. YOU MORTALS SHALL WITNESS A FRACTION OF THE VAST HONK!”
The portion of floor around Kurloz cracked, and then rose into a pillar, lifting him beyond their field of vision.
“wvhat the fuck is he doing nowv?”
“1… 7H1NK 1 KN0W.”
“wvhat?”
“...”
“dude?”
“5HU7 UP! 1… 1 7H1NK 7H47’5 WHY 1 H4D 70 83 H3R3. 1’V3 533N 7H15 1N 0N3 0F 7H053 CL0UD 7H1NG5. 1 KN0W WH47 1 H4V3 70 D0.”
“wvha-”
“1 70LD Y0U 70 5HU7 UP, DUD3! L1573N, 1’M G0NN4 H4V3 70 C0N741N 17. 1 7H1NK 1 5H0ULD H4V3 3N0UGH P150N1C P0W3R 70 D0 17, 8U7 4F73RW4RD5 1 W0N’7 83 1N C0ND1710N 70 F1GH7. 8U7 H3 W0N’7 83 317H3R. 7H47’5 Y0UR CH4NC3 70 G37 H1M. D0N’7 FUCK 17 UP! 5H17, WHY D0 1 H4V3 70 R3LY 0N Y0U 0F 4LL P30PL3… 7H47 57UP1D 5N4K3 7H1NG 83773R H4V3 833N R1GH7 480U7 4LL 7H47 D3571NY CR4P!”
“of course he vwas! you can leavwe it to me, buddy!”
“W3’R3 N07… WH473V3R.”
Mituna flew closer to Kurloz, leaving Cronus on the ground. He knew he had no hope of stopping him. Whatever was causing his invincibility, only Cronus’s magic was powerful enough to break through it. He now stood up on the platform, right in front of Kurloz. And yet his presence was completely ignored. Kurloz was clearly struggling to break his mouth open. He looked kinda silly, but Mituna knew the power of what he would do was no joke. From what he saw in that vision, he wasn’t even sure he would survive this. But he couldn’t flake out now. He had no choice but to trust Cronus. He focused his psionics powers, his efforts matching Kurloz’s. From the ground, Cronus could only see strobing lights. But he was ready. He trusted Mituna like Mituna had trusted him. He was sure one day they could both laugh about this together. As friends.
Someone else sat on the stands, watching. She smiled.
Mituna finally solidified the shield. He was sweating buckets just from keeping it up. The shield covered both him and Kurloz. He couldn’t make shields that didn’t surround him. They were usually meant to protect him from the outside, but this time the outside was the one being protected. And no sooner did he finish that the strings around Kurloz’s mouth finally gave way. He only heard the sound for a split second, before everything went dark.
Cronus heard some kind of white noise as the barrier was blown apart. Mituna fell directly towards the ground. Cronus barely managed to catch him as the pillar crumbled.
“you okay?!”
“...”
No response. The blood coming from his mouth wasn’t a good sign. He hoped Meenah could do something about it. Soon it started coming from under his helmet. But Cronus left his concern aside to focus on the threat. He could get Mituna help once Makara was dealt with.
As he ran towards the rubble, he saw Makara, dizzily standing over it. At this point he wasn’t surprised to see him unharmed. This was the chance. Finally, they would all see. This would just be the first step on his grand journey. His quest to defeat the dark lord would be spoken of in legends. It all started here. He aimed his wand and released the energy he’d been building up during his wait. All of his hopes and dreams were focused on this shot. The shot that would determine his fate.
But it wasn’t Makara it hit. Inexplicably, it was red blood that splashed on him.
“damz?”
Her corpse sprawled on the ground. Cronus’s confused mind couldn’t see anything else. He couldn’t even see the bat about to collide with his face.
He flew a few meters. His face was filled with blood, his own this time, and a pain he had never felt before, which mixed with the confusion, leaving him in a state of delirium. He wanted to blame that delirium when the same Damara he had just seen on the ground stood before him, right next to Makara.
“wvhat the hell… are you…?”
“Who do you think?”
A grin covered her face. A grin that terrified him. As he tried to look away from it, his gaze fell on her body, still laying on top of the rubble with a hole in its chest. And yet…
His gaze then focused on his wand, some meters from him. If he could just get it back, maybe he could-
CRACK
Makara’s foot crushed the wand into pieces. And with it, the last of the Cronus’s hopes.
“NO MORE OF THIS BLASPHEMY, MOTHERFUCKER.”
Makara’s voice no longer filled his head. It was now coming straight from his mouth. But that was somehow even more horrifying.
Damara stepped up to Cronus. She held his bloodied face with her pristine hand. Cronus’s was shaking, and at the same time was paralyzed by fear.
“It’s okay. You are better off without it. It would only doom us all in your hands.”
“8-but… i can’t… it’s my…”
“Destiny…? Heh… You really think it was the destiny of someone like you…? You know that’s not true… You’re no hero…”
“8ULLSHIT! I…! i am a hero…”
He heard the sound of a body being dragged. Meulin approached them, leaving a trail of yellow behind her cargo. She handed Mituna’s body to Makara.
“You sure managed to convince HIM you were.”
“PRETTY HEROIC FUCKIN’ SACRIFICE.”
Kurloz grabbed Mituna’s arms and shook him around like a puppet. Cronus’s heart was filled with fury.
He slapped Damara’s hand away from him.
“you fuckers! i-i don’t knovw vwhat you’re planning, but you vwon’t get awvay vwith this! i’ll… i’ll…”
“YEAH? WHAT’S THE PLAN, MY INVERTEBROTHER?”
They all stared at him, grins on their faces. None of their eyes looked normal. Just trying to look into them made Cronus’s head hurt. It’s like they were a portal to something beyond his understanding, constantly changing. And despite himself, he didn’t have the courage to gaze into the unknown. So he just looked away. At his broken wand, at Mituna’s body, bleeding from every orifice, at the corpse of Damara, that he still couldn’t comprehend.
“i’ll… i’ll do something! i don’t knovw wvhat, but i’ll get the others! wve’ll stop you! i vwouldn’t underestimate me if i wvere you!”
“You really think you can stop it… WHEN IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED?”
“HMM, BUT HE DOES MAKE A GOOD POINT, MY BROTHERS. MAYBE, JUST IN CASE, WE SHOULD END THIS THREAT HERE…”
“wvhat?!”
Kurloz took heavy steps towards Cronus. He stood over him, wielding his club.
“ANY LAST WORDS?”
“please don’t-!”
Cronus’s hands uselessly covered his face. But when he expected everything to end, his ears were instead greeted by a burst of laughter. As his eyes reopened, he saw them all jeering at him. Even Mituna’s unconscious body was made to laugh by Kurloz’s expert puppetry.
“WHAT A HERO!”
“MEWHEHEHE!”
“If you really think you can do something, try it. Rally everyone together, maybe you’ll even win. That’ll just be another doomed world for me to discard. And you will go with it.”
He didn’t understand what she was saying, yet the real meaning of it sunk deep into him. He was now unable to look away from her eyes. From the numbers and the colors. From the inevitable. And he knew it didn’t matter what he did. Nothing mattered. There was no hope. And without hope, there was no point in trying.
“Now, run.”
His body obeyed instinctively. He got up as quickly as he could, and ran. As the jeers still sounded behind him, he ran. As the tent’s darkness was left behind, he ran. And as the years went by, he never truly stopped running.