An unknown period of time later Noxus awoke to a booming voice that seemed to echo off the inside of his head and get louder with every second. “Be quiet, my head is pounding I don’t need your insistent yelling making it worse…” He realized he had almost said Nigel but that couldn’t be right, he remembered Nigel was gone without immediate medical attention his friend would not have made it, he could tell at least a couple of hours had passed by how much his pain overload had faded from a burning sun thrashing its way through his head into a weak throbbing in the back of his mind. That was one of the drawbacks of being a berserker, while he could keep fighting long after others would give up, and with a ferociousness unequaled by anyone else on the planet, he wasn’t immune to pain he still felt the pain, but he had trained his mind to hold the pain back. Using adrenaline, he could force his body to continue long after others would quit, but after his adrenaline wore off all the pain would hit him at one time usually forcing him to rest for a while after or in the case of a more difficult fight pass out like he had just woken up from.
The voice again pounded through his head, “GOOD YOU ARE AWAKE, I THOUGHT YOU MAY HAVE ACTUALLY GIVEN UP AND DIED THERE.”
“Quiet down whoever you are I can hear you just fine there is no need to yell. Is the lich dead and were you able to save my brother in arms? How did you get here? Did the armies of Plantixstra finally come to our aid? Why can I still not see, shouldn’t my regenerative abilities have healed this by now?”
“One question at a time mortal.”
“Mortal? What like your one of the Banished gods?”
“As a matter of fact, yes I am. I am @$#%$&%#^4 but you can call me Phil since I doubt you can speak in the language of the gods.”
Noxus was struck quiet he didn’t know how to respond to the fact that one of the Banished had chosen to risk punishment from the higher being to come and communicate with him. No one had heard of the Banished coming to this plane of existence for centuries. The last time it had happened was when one of the Banished had decided that he took a liking to a young mortal follower of his and came to steal her away back to his own dominion, that god is said to have suffered 4000 years of drowning, but what is 4000 years to an immortal.
“Now to your other questions, first know your other friend has chosen to be reincarnated on another plane. He felt like there was nothing left for him in this world the suffering and misery caused by corrupt leaders and the loss of all good magic, he felt, had destroyed what was once a beautiful world. In accordance to his wishes I eased his suffering and sent him on his way to one of the dimensions that I created in my youth as a god. It is quite the magical realm I got the idea from watching one of the higher beings’ worlds. They have no magic but the technology and stories that they can come up with are amazing they have thing called GAMES that would really blow your mind…”
Listening to the banished ramble on Noxus began to lose his patience, “Um… excuse me but you were answering my questions.”
“Oh yes sorry I do tend to get distracted, where was I? Hmm. Yes, your friend has moved on, the lich is dead again but for good this time, his last spell used all the magic in his body as well as the surrounding area to cause a mana implosion field which drew all the ambient magical energy from 3 miles into his body where he tried to compress it causing such a massive explosion. If it wasn’t for your friends sacrifice and quick thinking there would be nothing left of either of you except his shield. It wouldn’t be able to regenerate its body even if there was anything left to regenerate.”
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“As for how I got here I’m a god I can get anywhere though I don’t believe I can stay here much longer, I was allowed to speak with you and your friend because of the amazing sacrifices you both have made in destroying the evil corrupting the land. No, the armies of Plantixstra didn’t come to your aid nor would they have if the lich wasn’t destroyed here, they don’t really care what happens to this kingdom or any other as long as theirs is safe. And finally, to your last question the answer is the same as to why the lich cannot be reborn the ambient magical energy is non-existent in the space where the spell took place, you didn’t think you could regenerate with nothing to fuel the creation of new flesh did you.”
“Now on to business. I give you the same choice I gave to your friend…”
“Brother.” Noxus interrupted “He deserved so much better than what this world could provide him. I am glad he has chosen to move on perhaps he can finally find the life of peace that he was never able to afford in this life. Till next we meet in Valhalla my brother.”
“Ah, yes excuse me… Brother. Now please my time is limited so back to the choice you have.”
“Your first option is to stay on this world and lead it to new heights. Now if you choose this option there are some things you should probably know. The first thing being that you will be forever alone, as you are already aware your comrades have been slain on the journey here, but if you choose to stay here not only will you never find another equal in combat but neither will you find an equal in love. A fitting and peaceful end for one who’s life was so full of blood don’t you think?”
“Second, you can choose to forsake this cruel world and move on to Valhalla to meet with all the lost comrades and brothers in arms who have fallen before you. If you choose this option you will again live a life of peace and plenty. Feasting with sisters, fighting with brothers, a good life no doubt. Your name will be etched within the histories of this world as the god of the battle berserkers.”
“Now for your last choice, and the one I hope you choose, I will take you from this world and transport you to mine. I will give you a choice of a new body in which you will start over on your path to the height of combat. You will retain your spot in Valhalla with the chance of further your renown depending on the deeds you accomplish within your new life. If you are lucky you may even be able to surpass your current self or even obtain a minor godhood. Now since I am pushing this option so hard, I am required to also tell you that there will not only be benefits to this but also some detriments as well. Besides starting from scratch your favorite weapon the great axe will be forever out of your reach in this new world. You will be forced to find a new path to greatness.”
Noxus, unsure as to whether or not he could believe all he was hearing dropped to his knees on the ground. In his world of darkness all alone he contemplated the options he had just been told he had. How was he to decide, he had already ruled out the first option for the same reason he was sure his brother Nigel had, everyone who meant anything to them had been taken from them by the war, this world held no meaning to him without those he loved to share it with him. Between the other two options is where he was having a difficult time choosing. Should he finally realize his dream and ascend to Valhalla for his eternal rest or should he continue his lifetime goal of mastering combat?
“I know this is a lot to process but I’m going to need an answer fairly quickly.” Said Phil
Turning his head towards the voice of Phil, Noxus asked “Is there a chance that I will get to fight again with Nigel?”
“I wont lie to you that the chance is slim. The world you will be going to is much bigger than the one you know with a much higher population also. Just finding him again will be a challenge as well as the fact that he chose to start completely fresh with no memories so you will have to rebuild your comradery, but the chance is there if you care to look for it.”
“Then I choose to go to your world. If there is the slightest chance that I will be able to repay Nigel for saving my life I will do all I can.”
“SO CHOSEN”
With a thundering clap the castle where the battle had taken place was no more, and in its place was a statue of Nigel hunkered below his shield and Noxus wielding his massive battle axe both standing atop a pile of undead glowing with a golden light and a plaque underneath claiming the two as the heroes of the world.