Algirak stuck his bandages against Llestren's body and grimaced. "I must have left an ounce of him behind… I suppose I'll just have to steal it from your pawn…"

He lifted Grivonym to point at Serkukan. Serkukan burst forward and reeled his fist back.

The world froze in place, leaving them with their weapons just inches away from each other.

The blue armor snuck forward carefully atop a snowy mound, coming to rest behind a jagged tree. Silvery hair hovered over its shoulder, from beneath its helm. It outstretched a hand toward Grivonym.

Not a sound… Llestren cautioned.

The blade began to vibrate. Ever so slightly, it began to rise away from his bandaged hands.

"How naive, worm…" the blade whispered.

The blade shot toward the blue suit of armor, who barely raised their gauntlet in time to deflect it. The black metal shattered its crystal carapace and revealed the shimmering aura beneath. Time accelerated again.

Algirak took Serkukan's fist and twisted, breaking his arm.

"You seem to have forgotten my limited control over time, Tirolith…" he turned to the figure. "Oh, but you're not Tirolith? The pawn and Llestren, too? Interesting…"

The suit of armor leapt back. Algirak shot two soundwaves.

The blue figure dodged the first, though the second hit Grivonym, knocking it further out of reach.

"What should we name you, hmm? Seems unkind to erase you without even giving you a name…" he transformed as Serkukan rushed him again, swatting him away with his wing. "Defiler, heretic, martyr to a false prophet… bow to me and you might have just a sliver of hope left for survival."

Algirak turned down to Serkukan, quickly rising up to release a roar that shook the world. The airwaves dug into Serkukan’s scales and drew blood. The black dragon turned back to the blue figure, then growled when he realized it had escaped him.

Something's off about his movements…

The figure darted through the woods with exceptional haste. Chunks of dirt and wood leapt up from the boot prints it left behind.

It's as if he can witness Serkukan’s movements before they happen… but that's impossible, unless…

The figure dove as a shockwave cleaved the surrounding trees in half, forming a blockade ahead.

Algirak swooped down and cackled at them. "It'd be best if you released Llestren to me now, heretic. A new god is rising, and his name is Algirak…"

His tail whipped back suddenly as a humanoid Serkukan flew toward him with Grivonym drawn, sending the comparatively diminutive figure splintering through a tree.

"Perhaps it'd make sense for me to play with my other friends, no?" he delicately turned to face Serkukan's bloodied body.

But then came seering, jarring pain, thrusting Algirak so far from his ideal reality that his mind became just as scarred as his body.

The azure figure shook his world as they appeared ahead of his left shoulder, Grivonym shimmering as it carried forth the momentum gained during the removal of his wing.

Algirak screamed in an unfamiliar anger. His scales rose to reveal the burning flames beneath before he quickly closed his carapace again and attempted to regain his composure.

His next attacks were thrown in vicious flurries at the blade-wielding heretic. Rabid strikes with little precision or thought behind them, sharp blows that even this insignificant, hybrid duelist could deflect with one-handed swings of their blade.

He retracted back and snarled, "My many apologies to Llestren'vatis, but it seems I can no longer drag on the duration of this climax…

A passing snowflake began to warp the air around it, a deafening buzz emitting from it.

The rest soon followed suit as the falling snow around them became a swarm of deafening pain.

Cedric, Tirolith, you have to…

The being's hands came up and held back the particles of snow. Some slipped through the defenses as well, scraping sound against the heretic's armor.

"But not only can I do this…" his words carried through the snowflakes.

Cedric!

A dark spike came from Algirak's human hand again, piercing the back of the cobalt helm. "I can be anywhere at once, in a field like that."

A crooked chuckle rasped along the wind.

Water dripped down his hand, tapering off into the snow.

"First, water from the dragon you've possessed… then the blood of a wayward vagabond, the straggler child who you trust so dearly to stop me…"

"Raaaaaugh!" came a man's shout from behind him. That sick, twisted, and abrasive pain tore through him then, and the black blade of Grivonym pierced through his robes.

"You dare mock me with that… that shit! You think yourself so worthy, a mortal man capable of killing god himself?" the oozing robes sneered. He extended a hand and shot Cedric in the chest with a powerful vibration.

Cedric stumbled. Blood drooled from his torso.

And Algirak grabbed the blade in his other hand.

"Now, for that experiment I had mentioned…" he grasped it and swept it sideways through Cedric's torso. The strangest sound, like shattering glass, echoed through his mind, followed by an unbearable separation from his body.

Just a moment later, as his scream concluded, he was returned. His soul had become lighter.

And white stars began to glisten upon Algirak's scales as he had transformed once again.

"It didn't kill me, it–"

"That's right, boy…" he cracked his long neck as if sinking into his new form. "But I will…"

The dragon lurched toward him.

Cedric swung the boltshaft free from his back, shattering the energized crystal into Algirak's face.

He snarled as lightning arched across his skin. Horrendous blisters followed the trails. Algirak shook his head back and forth to free himself from the momentary blindness.

Grivonym was flying again. Cedric ran after it, took it from the ground where it landed, and carried it along to the collapsed forest, to the broken tree that his bloodied Relistar was dying beneath.

"Serkukan," Cedric slid down the mound where the man in red had been tossed. "Caloria damned, he's made a mess out of you…"

The red warrior's tan face had become just barely exposed from beneath his armor. He choked up blood.

"Well, it makes my job easier, anyway." he held the blade steady. "I don't understand how this works, but if I kill you… I can absorb you, right? I need to. Algirak, now he can–"

"Move through time?" Cedric's throat constricted. He ran his fingers along the side of his neck. Blood trickled through his hand as he found the huge gash that Algirak had left behind. "Let's be realistic: what chance did you think you stood, regardless of that?"

The boy dropped to his knees.

I need… just one last trick. One last distraction...

Algirak inhaled sharply then darted back to hide against a tree. "What was that?"

He twisted his head either way, surveying wrecked forest land and vibrant sky alike, finding nothing to sate his discomfort.

"I felt it, you felt it too… what was that?" he turned back to the boy, who had already driven his sword through Serkukan’s chest. "NO!"

The sky exploded into fire and ash, clouds pulled apart as the the sky fractured, the universe and reality rending themselves apart. The world fell under the amber glow of the eternity beyond.

Algirak's scales flared red entirely.

Cedric huffed. “This is… he activated Dyosius, Llestren… he opened the gateway to…”

The forest instantly became bombarded with fire and ice from either side. Every projectile from either side erupted in echoing vibrations. Cedric stood steadfast for a moment before Serkukan’s plate emerged and covered his body.

"You're not worthy of such a power! The power of my kin, my brother, my–"

Reality shifted and suddenly Algirak was on the receiving end of Cedric's flurry. Fists came sprinting from every direction, faster than Algirak could react, and too frequently for him to catch with his runaway temper.

And then, finally, a stunning kick to Algirak's head that nearly blew out the dragon’s eardrums.

The black dragon went back and then down. Tar drooled from his broken face.

Strike now, Cedric. If he stands again, Dyosius will–

"He's been using Dyosius this whole time. That's how he can see your movements, how he can react so quickly… as he is, he's just a poor conduit for the entirety of your race. But without the Omnestatum… you’re all too weak to fight at that extent."

A shattered purple eye lifted to see the figure.

"Any more would destroy everything. Even him."

Algirak grumbled something.

Cedric stepped forward. Grivonym appeared in his hand.

“But it doesn't matter. It never mattered, because I, the new deity over this realm, possess everything."

Cedric lay bleeding out in the snow before he even knew it, his legs separated from his body. When he finally realized his reality, he could only scream at the bloody stump at the end of his torso. The red mist of Serkukan's energy leaked out…

And Algirak was euphoric…

He swept in beside Cedric with his recovered wings, "Time heals all wounds, does it not?"

The boy did not have much coherent to say.

It didn't matter much to him anyway; once Serkukan’s energy seeped under his scales, the stars across his body exploded into brilliant supernovae. He crossed back to the boy with only another cackle, finding his voice to be much less of a hiss upon the wind, "I hope you aren't dumbfounded by your present reality, boy… what did you expect when you came to face me?"

The boy shot him a surprisingly cold look. Algirak almost hesitated, wondering if the boy had any other tricks.

But I suppose I can just end it here…

He sucked in air for a shockwave – Any ordinary attack should do. I’ll need my spare powers once I ascend to Azafel’s plane… and kill him!

He fired.

But it missed.

"What?" his hiss returned, only briefly. "There it is again, that power… how are you doing that?"

Cedric squirmed and whimpered. His hands were covered in his blood then. He had lost the cool demeanor that had briefly crossed him.

"I'll have to finish this up. Our playtime ends here, and I march upon the Greater Ring. Farewell, boy."

His shockwave glided through the air again.

But yet again, it missed.

The boy’s strangely stalwart gaze returned as he looked at Algirak. No sound came from him anymore.

"Are you dead? I suppose I shouldn't be so lucky…" he decided to wander slightly closer. Perhaps Serkukan or Llestren had altered my aim in some way. Perhaps they were more powerful than I had realized, in the end.

But thank the graces that Dyosius has powered me, and me alone.

"I'll do this once again, and that's it. This is the finale of your life. This is where your story closes. This is–"

"Not my end, Algirak. The Relistar protects me." he broke his silence. He began to sit up.

"Boy, we're in the interstice between fate and reality. There are no laws to govern us here, no more than the rules of nature to guide us. The Relistar is broken, a useless toy now. Go ahead and draw it out, just see how vibrant its colors are, now."

He dug into his jacket with a wince upon his face before he froze to look at Algirak.

"Go on, boy."

There came the crystal–

A PLATINUM CRYSTAL.

Algirak froze time.

Cedric closed his eyes and time began to move again. Tirolith, within his mind, burned at the overwhelming drain on her powers.

As long as I kill Algirak, I can… This is fine. I’m content with…

Algirak’s body tore a hole through Cedric’s and rose up like a dark shadow. The red energy fuming from his flesh burned the air. Cedric’s skin blistered as it seeped into his pores and under his skin.

"You f–" Algirak whined. The black dragon retreated through the echo of his words, his snaking head lowered as the stars reassembled upon his skin, the red supernovae leaving his body.

Cedric struggled to stand, crimson legs beneath him. A black sword in his hand. His body barely held itself together with ice and blood. "The Relistar is dead, Algirak, but… I promise you… I will kill you."

Algirak launched forward, his skin becoming a riptide of deafening vibration. Whatever remnants of the forest yet stood were torn down around them.

Cedric raised his crystal in his off-hand. Time froze around them, just long enough that he could carve another slice into Algirak’s torso, then dart away with Llestren's energy as well.

When time unfroze, the riptide ended and Algirak wheezed violently at the ground, vomiting sludge and acid.

"And now," Cedric braced his weapons before him.

"No… NO!"

"FULFILL MY PROMISE OF DEATH, ALGIRAK!" he thrust the crystal forward. The surface shattered, blinding energy coursing through his entire body and overtaking his mind. In his last stalwart defense against the crippling mental power of the crystal, Llestren'vatis burned away from his psyche, dead eternally.

And Algirak as well, his body burned beyond recognition, collapsed to the snow before him. Ashes hovered between them.

Cedric's legs gave out and disappeared. He dropped to the ground, slobbering tears and spit all over himself. The Relistar fell to the ground beside him, burnt out and empty. The white star was shattered.

His eyes drifted up again as they started to close, finding a strange solace in death, if only because the black robes of Algirak lay unmoving in the snow across from him.

And a red haze lingered above it.

"S-Serkukan, please! Dyosius is not what you think it to be; I've tried to explain so many times–"

"I didn't come here because of Dyosius." he spoke firmly. Powerfully.

Algirak rasped, "Then why?"

"I'm here to kill you." his answer was absolute.

"Jealousy because you're not the firstborn? Because Evra created you with man, and away from a proper bloodline! Is this truly how you want to spend eternity, a rabid game of cat and mouse?"

"Eternity? No, Algirak; this ends now. Forever." he turned to his hand and materialized his glaive once again.

"Brother, please!" he begged and began to crawl backward.

"Dyosius saved you once, but that's all it affords."

"I won't need it this time…" he raised his hand and the air began to pulsate around it.

"You have a promise to fulfill, don't you?" With a singular, smooth gesture, he impaled Algirak’s body. A dark mist fumed out and into Serkukan's scales. He growled and grunted as he fought back the dark energy's grasping at his mind, eventually sequestering the voice within himself.

He turned to face Cedric, who lay unconscious in the red snow behind him.

"And the same goes for you, Castelbre. Our time together has been… extended, if only because of the aid we required in finding Grivonym.

I'm sure you'll understand…"

The voice echoed in his mind even after Serkukan was gone, though he couldn’t be sure if he was hallucinating or not. His psyche remained fractured, likely even more so with the inclusion of Algirak to his mental chatter. The voices kept going and going, collecting until they became the sound of wheels churning through snow, boots and horseshoes plodding along beside them…

A man whistled. "Bind his arms and legs, place a muzzle on his mouth and a hex on his mind. That should be plenty, in case he warrants any potential threat. Be prepared; he may be an eldritch mage, but doubtfully more."

"Cedric Castelbre. Are you sure he's really worth all the effort? We could use a temporary hex instead…" a woman's voice trailed off.

"We're not executing him, Vleren. He's only a pawn."

"What? Vyncis, that's–"

"Unprecedented, yes. In our time, at least; not since the first and second eras has capturing a man like this been possible… think of the knowledge, of the influence he could hold on our world…"

"Think of the damage that could be done if that power goes unchecked. Are you willing to take responsibility for what you could cause by doing this?"

"I am."

"I'm not." he heard a blade slide out of a scabbard.

The man chuckled. "Tirrowin, summon Akvum. I'll have this one done for insubordination."

"I am not your subordinate."

"Fratricide, then. The semantical side is all your choice; Akvum will be unhappy with you either way.

And even if you do take this chance…"

He whistled more loudly than before. Men around their position gave a chant and stamped their feet. It could be assumed that they drew back their bowstrings with arrows nocked.

"I command the men. So I suggest you stand down and fall in line."

There was a hesitation in the air before the crunching of snow resumed. After another moment, the tension resolved and he assumed that the bows had gone down.

Then a slow crunching of snow began toward him.

A figure got close. He could feel loose, thick fabric brushing his arm. "I'm sure Akvum should be plenty pleased with this fine of a catch…"

And he was hoisted up, thrown into a pile of hay that he presumed to be the back of a wagon, and dragged away to yet another unfamiliar place, another step in his journey of damnation.

And Serkukan lamented much the same.