Dan blinked, it was like the memory had been real, like he was reliving his life. He looked around and found himself still standing face to face with the god that was been Ea’s son.

“What they did to you,” Marduk shook his head, his voice thick with emotion, “and for them to make you my trial.”

“What is your trial for?” Dan asked.

“ Aššur,” he growled, the name rolling off the tongue like poison as it fell to the ground like a lead balloon. “It would seem that I have not inherited the ability to find as faithful a wife as you and mother, Aššur, he pursued my wife Sarpanit was unfaithful, this lead to a war between myself and Aššur, which in turn disturbed the peace of many gods, as such I am to stay here until they send a person to test my strength.” he shook his head, “To send you, what did they promise you to get this meeting set up?” he asked with a dark laugh.

“My wife, Abyzou” Dan gestured at her and she inclined her head to Marduk. “They have banished her from her clan, I am here to restore her honor.”

Marduk inclined his head at Abyzou, “Revered queen,” he called out to her.

“There is no need to call me that, you are a god of higher rank than I.” Abyzou shook her head.

“You have been selected by my father to be his wife, this might not hold the same sway it use to, but for me it is still the same as it used to be, seeing as he selected you, you are a revered queen of gods in my eyes.” he looked down at Dan, “Perhaps we should simply get on with the trial, it would seem as though this talking will get us nowhere.” Dan nodded in agreement and Marduk took several steps back, in his hand formed a fan axe.

The golden blade was formed like a fan, curving in a semi circle at the end of the halberd length pole, at the end of each of the sides was a particular spike that pointed back down towards the handle, lt looked more like a slashing weapon than an actual axe.

“The cruelty of our situation is until one of us is defeated neither of us will leave.” he said, “I trust you understand what this means, the gods have deemed it fitting for us to fight, a further way to continue to tear down your person, it would seem they are not content with simply tearing your soul into pieces, they must also cause father and son to fight.”

“I am sorry,” Dan said, his head cast downwards as memories of a life long past thundered through his head, “I have too much to do to allow you to win this, ” he looked up at the god that was Ea’s son. “Way too damn much to do.” he pulled the khopesh out of its sheath and fell into a fighting stance.

“Do not apologize, I would be disappointed if the part of you that cared so deeply for your wives, for my mother had vanished it is a part of you, one that can’t simply be erased, no matter how many fragments they cut you into.” he also fell into a fighting stance.

“Wait! Wait! Is there no other way?” Abyzou called out, frantically trying to stop there fighting.

This, this was not right.

“This is the only way, I expect you to not hold back, for I will do the same.” Marduk growled, and with an explosive set of steps he rushed forwards. A memory flashed into Dan’s head, and in a second he knew what he had to do.

The axe swung left, and with a practiced move Dan swung the khopesh across the right side of his body, the curve of the blade hooking across the back side of the axe’s pole and aiding in its momentum, while adding an upward thrust to redirect it. The result was a blow that went over his head, and continued far past where Marduk had intended it to go, leaving him open for attack, which Dan pressed. While the god’s axe and both arms were holding the axe across his body swung away he dashed in, the flat of his blade slapping the inside of the overextended Marduk’s knee, and causing the large man to collapse onto one knee, and using that knee as a ramp Dan ran up it and kicked off of the man’s chest, flipping backwards, all the while his foot found its place under the chin of his opponent. The blow caused Marduk to stumble backwards, and as Dan landed he settled himself into another stance, holding the khopesh back, and pointing the blade at him, while the pommel reseted near his chest.

“Ha, haahhhahahahaha,” Marduk laughed, he stood up, “that, that is nostalgic, I remember our sparring when I was a child, to think you would use my own move against me, did you know I created that to finally beat you?” he laughed again. “All those sparring practices, when you were teaching me, never once was I able to actually land a blow, I started to analyze you, how you moved, how you attacked, and to search for any and every counter. I called it the Ea smasher.” Dan smiled. He could see the small Marduk shouting that as he rushed him in a memory of a past long gone. “Ahhh, ” Marduk let out a sigh, “Never did actually get to use that attack, you saw right through it, didn't you? Still, it is good to see that if executed correctly it would have worked.”

He dropped into another stance, this time holding the fan axe behind him. “Perhaps I actually need this, you have always been an insurmountable shadow cast over me, even after I inherited your powers, there was always you, standing up there completely unassailable from my height.” he nodded to himself. “Indeed, I do need this, my thanks.”

“No problem,” Dan smiled, a warmth filling him, like a father proud of his son the feeling ran through his body coursing and adding a fire to his limbs that he drew strength from, he wanted to test and see how far this god had gotten since they had last sparred, no not him, since he and Ea had last sparred.

“Well then, I want to try some new ones I have formed, lets see how you handle this...” Marduk called out, once again rushing Dan...