74- FIGHT

“We found him!”

“Back left quadrennial, Dragon Te-”

They found him.

They found him. They found him. They found him. They found him. They found him. They found him.

They found him. They found him. They found him. They found him. They found him. They found him.

They found him. They found him. They found him.

“They found him!!!”

Osiris dissolved into an orange ray of light.

He completely flattened the path forward.

Sunnie, Vep, and Fibble ran.

“I know we’re probably safe but-”

“Better safe than sorry!”

Oh, god, he could feel him.

Osiris touched the border and felt his smile break his chapped lips. He tasted blood.

He broke the sound barrier.

He was so close he could almost taste him.

“CLOSER.” He growled. “ I NEED TO BE CLOSER.”

He could no longer tell the difference between his hate and love for Seth.

Was it love, or infatuation, he wasn’t too sure.

“But it didn’t matter.”

Not anymore.

Their dance will be delightful.

He knew very little about Seth’s powers.

“But I do like surprises.”

His eyes almost closed by just the thought of killing him. He was going to watch the life drain from those beautiful, silvery white eyes as he chokes every last breath out of him. He can’t wait to see how beautiful his skin blooms under his touch.

HE WAS-

“Dad, do you really have to do this?!”

Masika’s heart was breaking.

Horus watched his dad fix his armor and give them little mind as he tied up his hair.

“Horus.”

Horus grit his teeth but started a portal home.

His dad was serious about this fight.

One of them was going to die today.

Horus’s mouth wavered.

He knows his dad is strong. But he knows Osiris is just as powerful. He was almost a ninth ring. He could feel it when he saw him in the fields that day. Even now, he can’t understand why he did that.

Horus finished the last pieces of the portal when they all felt it.

He was coming.

Horus pulled his sister towards him as they stayed at the edge of the portal.

“Dad please-”

But he did not see them anymore.

Horus watched his father cast thousands of spells, each one specifically made to over power his stats.

He wasn’t underestimating him.

Good.

But as the Prince grew closer his smile grew wider and wider until the man he knew was gone.

“-I can’t lose you too!”

“Leave. That’s an order.”

Masika wept and Horus held her.

Horus took one step through and-

“Boo!”

The two of them were shot straight through the portal at a neck breaking speed. Horus felt his spine break. Masika’s legs were a jumbled mess.

The servants arrived in a panic.

“Call the doctor!”

Seth could feel him cross the border.

The hairs on the back of his neck began to stand.

He was already halfway there.

Seth cast every spell that he had towards defense and offense.

He needed more.

The Prince was at the ledge.

“Leave. That’s an order.”

He hoped they made it through because-

“Boo!”

Osiris was close enough to touch his nose.

The first hit was met with ice.

Steam shot out between the two, slicing through the ground and cutting the mountain with deep, blistering gashes.

Seth’s smile made his toes curl and break into the ground.

He was captivating.

Osiris flipped in the air and aimed a foot straight down and Seth blocked it before shooting stakes of ice up his right side alongside his punch. Osiris changed the direction of his kick and shattered the spikes while rolling away. He slid his hands and feet backwards before rocketing himself forward with the heat of radiation behind him.

His mana loved the ideas he had for heat sources. His mind was filled with games, movies, shows, books-

Seth summoned nine boulder sized ice stakes and rose them in the sky as he shot a solid block of ice from his stomp.

From the angle he stood they looked like bastardized onibi floating around the sky.

Osiris broke the stump in half and shot it back with some potency. Osiris jumped and dodged the spikes as he shot them mercilessly upon him, even shooting through the overs to get to him.

He wants it as badly as I do.

Osiris cackled.

Seth summoned thousands of paper shaped slices of ice and sent them spinning at him at every angle, surrounding him.

Osiris spun, and turned himself into a blazing tornado of magma and grenades. Seth shot a barrier up to keep the shards from reaching him.

As the fire dissipated around him Seth summoned two, thousand yard whips, and came for him.

A piece nicked his skin and Osiris could feel ice form across his cheek.

Gatta get close~

Osiris waited for a rear before using the whip as a bridge. He shot himself straight between Seth’s arms as they crossed. He aimed a knee to his kidney.

It was blocked by his staff, arms no longer holding the whips in place.

His hand gripped his skin and twisted.

He could feel his blood vessels burst.

He would have moaned, if not for the ice he was trying to summon to shank him with.

He shot his knee towards his chin and he released his grip. Osiris followed through and propelled them apart with a nice, classic explosion. Of course, now it was like a thousand packed into one.

Even the simplest ideas are fun.

Seth was in heaven.

His entire life he has never met anyone like Osiris.

He was a feet user.

He shouldn’t be able to move mana in the way he does, but he can. It was as if it was engraved into his very being.

There were no spells, no words, he was as comfortable with mana as he was.

No, maybe more.

When Seth thought he was getting the hang of his attacks he combined them. It was as if he was playing. Seth could feel his eyes pull into slits as more of his teeth touched the air.

He had canines.

Two sets on each side.

I thought he was a snake?

Osiris wondered, but couldn’t deny the heat that pooled in his stomach as his gaze met his. Osiris hummed and giggled in delight.

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The potency of his attacks never dropped.

Even as they raced towards the end neither let up an inch. Seth was captivated by him. No matter how he hit, where he hit, Osiris never paused in his onslaught of unforgiving incursions.

It made his blood boil in the best way.

Seth was a multifaceted fighter.

He could do close, mid, and far range, but seemed to excel at far. His ice acted as if it was alive.

It would move as if it carried no weight.

Seth dropped a fifty foot thick square block of ice half the size of the gorge onto his head.

That one hurt.

Osiris examined him.

But he wasn’t any better.

Seth could feel the two of them begin to tire.

This entire time the only words spoken between the two were….. boo. He wondered-

“Tired?”

Osiris suddenly shivered as his eyes became heavy.

“Very.”

He then closed his eyes as his smile stretched.

“Do you mind if I ask you something.”

Osiris raised a brow and stood.

“You want to talk, now?”

Seth stood.

They were a good twenty feet apart.

“Is that a no.”

Osiris’s smile strained as he slowly let it fall.

“What.”

His eyes were unreadable.

Seth fixed his hold on his staff to more of a grip. Osiris watched him with hawkish vision.

“Why do you fight for them.”

Osiris was taken aback by Seth’s sudden need to monologue. It was.. if he was honest, he was happy about it. He just assumed they’d fight and die. It’s how most of his battles go.

Then he dropped his question.

“Why do I, fight for them.”

Seth held his gaze.

He clenched his jaw.

Why DID he fight for them.

There were so many reasons, but few he could say.

“So that I can survive this war.”

That was the best he could give him.

Seth looked at him.

“It seems like they need you to survive.”

Seth watched Osiris’s jaw tighten.

“Why do you care.”

“I don’t.”

Osiris glared at him.

“If I said I knew you would hunt me down, even if I ran, would you believe me.”

Seth was…..delighted.

“I would.”

Because that’s exactly what he would do.

“What about you, why the war.”

Seth’s brows pinched slightly.

“You’ve been fighting without knowing why.”

Osiris just shrugged at him.

“Been that way my whole life.”

Seth wanted to know more.

He’s been dying to dissect that brain of his.

“War.”

“No, fighting.”

Osiris rubbed the back of his head and gave him a cheesy, embarrassed smile.

His stomach knotted.

“After prison, it’s kind of.. normal not to know why I’m fighting.”

Seth could imagine.

The Lux’s are notorious for their fight for the crown.

“Your father refused to send aid when the beastmen first crossed onto our lands.”

Osiris snickered.

“Figures.”

Seth wonders what he means by that.

“Would you ever join me.”

Seth watched those eyes fill with furry.

“Do not play games with me, Seth.”

A chill racked across his sides and up his chest. Seth bit his tongue to keep himself from showing.

“Especially when I can see your mana.”

Seth laughed.

With his mana below half he needs to-

Osiris was in his space, face no longer smiling.

“You must think it’s funny.” Seth felt gravity become heavy. “Let’s play.”

That singsong voice of his was replaced with heat.

Hot, boiling heat.

“Bludgeon.”

Neither of them were smiling now.

He still has more?

It was a blitz attack.

Whatever game he was playing with him before was no more. The hits were aimed to kill. Seth was sure the man has been serious since the beginning, but.

I really pissed him off.

His hits were earth shattering.

Seth was forced on the defense as he was no longer able to dodge every hit.

But even he can run out of mana.

The two of them were slowing.

Osiris was furious.

How DARE he-

Osiris was consumed by his hate.

It wasn’t just Seth, but his father, brothers, sisters, the Queen, his moth-

The man was bearing the weight of the crimes of many, and he was taking it.

Osiris worked him until he could feel his mana drop below his. He ripped that cane from his hands and snapped it in two.

Now he was pissed.

“Payback you-”

The fight turned dirty.

Osiris let him shove his leg straight up as Seth aimed a punch straight at his crotch.

THIS WAS HIS SPECIALTY.

Osiris bloomed in close combat.

His fists were not as strong as his kicks, but Seth’s face twisted each time he landed one.

More.

He fought like someone who knows a bit of mixed martial arts. Osiris could tell this was not his comfort zone, but he didn’t back down. Instead he-

Fuck, that one hurt.

Osiris watched with pride as Seth’s skin turned red, black, and blue beneath his hands.

He was slowing.

Osiris felt a hit have less kick.

Now.

Osiris started a bum rush of attacks aiming for ribs, kidneys, liver, gut, heart, a knee gave.

Osiris had him pinned to the floor as his own strength started to go. He started punching him over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over-

“Welcome back kids to another episode of How did we get here?!”

Adam stood above a castle.

“There once was a Prince named Osiris Von Lux.”

Adam walked in place.

“He was a caring child with high hopes of being the number one mage like his father!”

The king appeared.

“Then tragedy struck, the poor boy lost his mom, and dad that night.”

Adam was crying.

“His dad treated him coldly, locked him away, but he made it out and-”

The screen went black.

Socotra stood staring.

“You’ve followed the plot. Step. By. Step. No matter how hard you run you can never-”

Osiris shattered the screen.

Osiris roared into Seth’s limp body as he aimed his strongest hit toward his head only to crack the ground beside it. Osiris yelled and continued to create a dent until his fist bled.

He slumped over his body.

Am I really not free?

He could hear thunder. It began to sprinkle.

Osiris looked down at Seth. He was out cold.

“What am I doing?”

Osiris felt his neck tighten.

He didn’t have to do this. He didn’t have to do any of this.

Maybe if he worked a little harder he could have been strong enough to-

No.

He’s done everything he can.

He’s talked, yelled, screamed for them to hear his plea. He never wanted any of this in the first place! He never asked to be here. He never asked to-

He never asked for anything but peace.

Osiris pushed himself up and off of Seth and stood over him. His broken staff laid pathetically beside his head.

Osiris began to walk away.

Step.

Step.

Ste-

Osiris looked down.

He was stabbed through both of his hearts.

Wha-

He fell face first into a puddle.

He couldn’t move.

W-what, what, what-

He was dying.

I’m.. dying?

Osiris’s face laid half in water. He started to drown.

I-

Osiris could feel the heat begin to leave his limbs. The water burned his lungs on the way down. All he could see was the water’s reflection of the cold, stone ground.

More rain began to fall.

There was no team coming for him this time. No god. This was it. Osiris could feel a tear fall.

I don’t want to die.

I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.

I don’t want to die.

SETH WINS. FATALITY.