I solemnly stared at the dust that filled the building she crashed into. I was feeling it now. The guilt of all of this. I didn’t like thinking about how I was gonna kill her. The worst part was I couldn’t think of a nice way to do it. She was a strong opponent, and I virtually had no upper hand on her. I used my summoning more creatively, and she seemed to follow the same swing pattern. But that's all I had.

I started to jog forward, increasing my speed as I went. The building ahead of me was about two stories tall. It looked rather barren. Walls were missing from top to bottom, and it looked fragile. Like one hard-hit would collapse the whole thing.

As I got in close, I was greeted by a black and red blur. I quickly leaped to the side and just barely dodged whatever it was. I looked forward again and saw two more coming. One was raining down from the sky at me. While another was flying toward me. I jumped back as the thing from the sky slammed down a few feet in front of me. While the other one just zoomed past me. But it was way above me.

I could tell from the one in front of me now that she was hucking spears at me. But why did she-

RRRRGGHH!

A loud and eerie creaking cried from behind me. I quickly turned around and saw the hook from the crane I slammed into. And it was flying down onto me! I used my strength and leaped forward again. Crap! She played me! She used that first spear to line me up, and the second to drop that one onto me when I jumped back!

As I looked forward and started to think again. There she was, coming down on me with her huge blade. Lux’s face flashed into my mind. I acted fast and shot myself up at her with all my strength. She grunted as I slammed into her. We both flew back and slammed into the ground. I summoned a chain as we landed and wrapped it around her leg. As we rolled I popped up onto my feet and with all my might flung her forward and let go. She flew like a baseball and crashed into the half made building.

I took a moment to catch my breath. I could feel the stream of sweat running down my face and into my eyes. I wasn’t like Zack. My energy to us my abilities came from my stamina, not some mana pool. I guess I got it now why she only summoned that sword and spears. I’ve been draining myself.

I sighed and stood tall. I stared at the building and balled my fist. I’m needed to end this now.

I took a breath and then charged into the building. As I came in close, I could see her up and preparing to charge me. I could tell from the way she held her sword she was going for a left swing. I deactivated my eyes and when we met in the middle I preemptively dodged her. And it's a good thing I did! She had a powerful swing! I could feel the wind pressure hit my face like a fan as she swung past me. She stumbled forward a bit but quickly turned around toward me.

I only activated my eyes as she went to swing. She was glaring at me as I calmly dodged her strikes with relative ease. She was getting angry, and I knew my calm attitude was just making it worse.

I learned her pattern quickly. She went for a right swing, then a left swing. Then she’ll go for an upward swing, and come down. I had her slam into the building a good couple times. I was sure it only needed one more hard-hit before it toppled on us. Just what I was hoping for.

As she came down for her downward strike, I summoned swords and made an X with my blades above my head. As she slammed down onto them, I slightly panicked. This one had a lot more force than the other swings! I moved the direction of the slash down to the ground beside me. I pinned her blade down with my own.

Her eyes grew wide and I quickly slid up her blade with my own. She stumbled back and let go of her sword. Just barely dodging my slash. She fell back on her butt and summoned a shield over her. I quickly came in and focused, all of my strength. Then I stomped on her shield! The whole building shook from me and started to come down. I then leaped forward out of that place.

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As I rolled on the ground I could hear the loud crash of the building. But the sound I couldn’t ignore. Were her screams.

I soon came to a stop and the dust and debris from the building filled the air around me. I panted heavily as sweat ran down off me like I was in a shower. It felt like I just ran five miles. It was hard to catch my breath.

As the dust settled and her screams faded. I was greeted by silence.

No words, no cheers. Just silence. I thought about the pain she must be experiencing right now. Flashes of that dark void filled my mind. The pain of being crushed under a building like that. I swear I was just born to make good people suffer...

I slowly pushed myself up to my feet. And this wave of immense pain washed over me as I put pressure on my right leg. The same leg I used to stomp on her. I growled and leaned on my left.

I could feel the sudden rush of cold air sweeping over me. Goosebumps rising on my arms as I shivered.

“You definitely broke something kid.” I heard Jack hum next to me.

I quickly turned to my left and I saw Jack floating down toward me. He was staring intently at the building I just toppled.

He whistled.

“I didn’t peg you for the type guy who’d kill in a sparring match. What? Did she piss you off?”

I just looked to the ground. Not saying a word. I felt dirty, disgusted with myself. He just confirmed it for me. She really was dead.

“Geez Stry! I didn’t think you’d go for the win like that! Thought you were gonna pussy out!” Zack called out to me. I looked up and I could see Zack leaping down from the sky above me. "Was totally wicked though!”

He landed and immediately leaned on my shoulder. I fell a bit onto my right leg and the pain came rushing back.

“Ahh crap!” I grunted as I shoved him off and fell onto the ground.

I looked over at my leg and noticed Ice was now forming over it.

“I guess you pushed your body too hard with that last attack. She probably died on impact, but it was wise to drop the building on her just in case.” Jack added.

“Shut up, please. Just..stop.” I mumbled as I looked at my leg.

“What’s wrong? You just won the fight, why are you so crabby?” Zack huffed.

“Because I just killed someone that’s why alright!” I yelled.

“She’s getting regenerated! Calm down, golden crusader. You died too before it’s no big deal.”

I felt the heat rise my chest in me as he brought that up. I balled my fist and glared at him.

“And do you think I like dying!? Do you think it was fun burning to death you insensitive prick!” I roared back.

“Hey let’s calm down,” Jack interjected.

“Well, it’s not my fault you decided to smash her to death! You didn’t have to kill her you know! So don’t go crying to me like I just killed her!”

“I didn’t have a choice!” I cried. I punched the ground next to me and kept my fist balled. “I’d rather die again then make someone go through that.”

“So what? You gonna ignore what you did to stone?” Zack added.

“It's not the sam-!”

“Ah, good job my child. I am pleased with your work.” Her voice loomed over to me like a whisper.

I felt my heart sink, and my rage build. Zack and Jack were silent. This was the first time, everything didn’t go black. I slowly turned around and there she was. Jack and Zack stood in awe of her.

My goddess.

It was like she was living fire. Her long blue dress flowed and flared against the wind. While her hair floated around in the sky like she was in water. Her pale skin was almost white to me. Yet I could see a slight tinge of blue in her. And her eyes. It was looking into space. They were dark, but had a blue shimmer to them like stars. She stood over us all. Staring down to us like we're animals at the zoo.

“So this is what the Archetype guardians look like…” Jack muttered.

“Is this a joke to you?” I grumbled out as I forced myself up.

My leg was still screaming in pain. But my rage was stronger than the pain. She made me do that to Isabella, she held Lux’s life in the balance like she was some toy!

“Do you think it’s funny to treat us like this!?” I yelled as I stomped over to her.

I summoned a blade, and before I could take another step. She appeared in front of me. Her eyes staring deeply into mine. I could feel my knees begin to buckle. It was like staring at a shark. Like she could just devour me at any second.

“Yes, yes I do. I find enjoyment in watching you all squirm. You, silly humans, are nothing. Just another world, just another life form that will one day vanish. WIthout leaving a trace of yourself behind.”

I shivered. I wanted to move, I wanted to run. My whole body was trembling. But still, I couldn’t run. I couldn’t just back down to her.

“U-us humans, our lives. They do matter.” I stammered back with a shaky voice.

Her eyes grew wide as she stared into mine. A small smirk etching itself onto her face.

“Arthur..” She said softly. “I see why you're his favorite.” She moved closer to me, right next to my ear. “Don’t disappoint me. If I see you not trying again, I’ll implement the same rules again.”

This time. I couldn’t even breathe. It was like my whole body was stone. I blinked, and everything was normal. I dropped to the floor and desperately tried to catch my breath. Her eyes blared into my mind. Sending another shiver down my spine. Mixed with the wave of pain shooting through my leg.

Arthur and the goddesses, just what the heck was really going on?

“Let’s take you home. You need some rest, kid.”

“The hell was that!? Was that his goddesses!?” Zack chirped.

“Yeah.” Jack replied.

I slowly stood up, panting heavily now. But my leg was feeling better, and her eyes just abruptly stopped appearing in my mind.

“Why was she blue and not red?” Zack asked.

“I’ll explain later. Let’s just move. I guess I forgot to explain somethings...” Jack sighed.