As the door to the mansion shut and Diablo turned his attention to the dust that was kicked up after Anzu was sent tumbling off into the wall on the opposite side of the courtyard, he noticed as it began to fade that Anzu was no longer sitting unconscious against the wall, or against the wall at all. Diablo glanced around to try spot Anzu, but it was no good, he escaped within the slim moment Diablo was distracted with seeing the other group off.

Diablo’s boots crunched into the dirt and pebbles that lay on the ground as each step made the chains on his uniform clink against one another. Diablo spun slowly, checking each crevice for Anzu’s next attack.

Until finally…

Anzu’s silhouette darted out from behind a few boxes with a sword in hand. Diablo noticing within the 2 second time frame he was given to spot Anzu and skipping 1 second of time as Anzu’s blade slashed through thin air.

Diablo reappeared in the same position, facing away from Anzu who had already turned and thrown himself back at Diablo. Diablo turned, unsheathing his sword in the process, blocking Anzu’s attack.

The two jumped back from one another as Diablo stared daggers into Anzu’s soul.

Anzu smiled as he once again lunged forward at Diablo who blocked Anzu’s attack once again. Anzu continued to swing at Diablo as their swords continued to clash. Diablo’s stone-cold face contrasting with Anzu’s malicious grin as Anzu continued striking Diablo who continued to block without countering.

Finally, Anzu swung his leg round at Diablo who skipped 1 second of time to dodge it, reappearing behind Anzu, slashing up at him, ripping his clothes but missing his body by centimetres as Anzu dodged at an intense speed, jumping back to put some distance between them.

Anzu chuckled

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“You’re still pretty powerful, Diablo.” He said with a sinister grin sat upon his demonic face.

Diablo continued to stare angrily at Anzu, unsure of what he meant by that.

“Giving me the silent treatment, huh? Well I suppose you don’t remember.” Replied Anzu.

“What do you mean?” Replied Diablo finally.

Anzu smiled, not taking his eyes off Diablo for even a moment. “I asked you earlier, whether or not you understood why your ability worked the way it did.” Asked Anzu as he slowly patrolled around Diablo.

“I don’t.” Replied Diablo which only made Anzu scoff a soft chuckle, mocking Diablo for his answer.

“Do you want to know?” Asked Anzu smiling maliciously.

Diablo continued glaring at Anzu, dead eyed, as the soft forest breeze flew through the air, wafting the twos clothes around in unison with the leaves upon the trees that surrounded the castle courtyard.

“These aren’t ‘abilities’, Diablo. People aren’t born with these; they aren’t passed down from parent to child. They’re not something awakened through training. They’re given to us.” Said Anzu as he stopped circling Diablo and picked up a glass of some sort of wine that sat upon one of the many boxes in the courtyard.

“What are you talking about?” Replied Diablo, still sceptical towards everything that came out of Anzu’s mouth.

“They’re curses. Abilities that come with a catch, either mentally draining the user, physically draining the user or just an ability that resembles something that hurts the user.”

Diablo continued to look more unimpressed by the second as Anzu continued to talk.

“For example, you’re a guard, someone who is supposed to protect those around him and yet, your ability only lets you skip your own time. You are cursed to only ever be able to save yourself and watch everyone around you suff-“

“Shut up.” Said Diablo interrupting Anzu who appeared shocked by Diablo.

Anzu began to chuckle but before he could even finish letting out his laugh Diablo had lunged forward, his eyes that of a pure rage and blitzing fire as he sliced off Anzu’s left arm with his sword. Anzu tried to jump back but Diablo spun around and plunged his right leg straight into Anzu’s stomach, sending him plummeting across the courtyard into a shed that sat in the corner as wooden boxes exploded and the shed caved in on Anzu.

Diablo walked towards the now annihilated shed with his sword in hand, gripping it intently as absolute unspeakable rage sored viciously through his veins.

“Anzu…” He muttered angrily.

“You really went and pissed me off.”

* * *