Chapter 1064: Gin And Theron |
*BANG!!!
Theron’s punch slammed against the barrier as his energy stirred.
His eyes were cold and detached. Emotionless as he carried out the task he was given.
He pulled his fist back...
*BANG!!!
Another punch. Ripples flowed from the point of contact.
Bella...
Theron clenched his teeth.
His wife wasn’t a good person. That he knew full well. But when was it that she began to change?
However...
Regardless of when that happened, the truth never changed.
He owed her everything.
And she was taken from him by Alice’s hand.
*BANG!!!
His punch collided with the barrier once more as cracks began to form.
Just as he was about to throw another punch, he paused and tilted his head back.
He could sense several auras rushing towards him, flickering through the Void to cross the gap as fast as possible.
And within that group...
A smile formed on his face.
A bitter nostalgic one.
But regardless of who was part of that group, he had already made his choice clear.
Right now, standing before them, he was their enemy.
Pulling back his arm, Theron held it behind his back and closed his eyes.
He felt the wind brushing against his face, pulling back his hair. He recalled the days of old...
During those days, he and Gin were still young men with hot blood flowing through their veins. They would argue but have each other’s backs.
One walked the path of Death, the other followed Allura down the path of Severance and would eventually reach the same realm she did.
Oblivion.
"Theron. Oi Theron, are you listening to me?" Gin’s voice echoed in his mind.
The young Lord of Death had a lively grin on his face, devoid of scars and with eyes full of vigour. In his hands he gripped a bottle by its neck, laughing while pointing at the maps.
"I’m pretty sure we can find the beast in these ruins. Allura said it’ll be a test of sorts but I think it’s bullsh*t. Honestly, knowing her, this test would probably kill most people." He grumbled, swinging his head back to enjoy the drink.
"If Allura tasked us with such a mission then I believe there is a path to success." Theron smiled and casually responded while maintaining his blade.
While most would have treasures as weapons or even manifestations of their own power, he preferred traditional weapons. Ones that you took care of regularly, maintaining an edge and showing care for the weapon you entrusted your life to.
This kind of connection wasn’t possible with something that was simply a manifestation of your own abilities.
It was a strange thought process that Gin couldn’t quite get behind.
"Yeah well, she’s the kind of woman who’ll say that if a thread can go through a needle hole, you can shoot it with a bow from across the country and achieve the same outcome. That’s the kind of possibility she offers." Gin rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps. But it proves her faith in you, does it not?"
Gin pursed his lips before laughing with a nod.
"I suppose it does."
Finishing his drink at the same time as Theron finished maintaining his blade, the two stood up.
Dark energy gathered around Gin to form a scythe while Theron enhanced his physical body.
"Same as usual?" Gin massaged his neck.
"Same as usual. I’m trusting you with my back." Theron chuckled.
Though he didn’t say it out loud, he considered Gin a brother. Though the man was older than he was, he never let age stop him from acting close.
Like an older brother, Gin would cover for his mistakes in front of Allura and the two would even sneak out at times.
Taking a deep breath, Theron opened his eyes at the gathering of Lords that had appeared before him.
Gin’s face had now aged with time. The numerous scars around his body.
Their relationship wasn’t as close as it once was but it was never severed. The two still kept in contact at times, going out for a drink or two, sharing news and simply enjoying each other’s company.
But now...
It was past the line of no return.
This connection between them was severed with no hope of reconciliation. After all, doing so required both sides to agree.
And even if Gin agreed, he refused.
"Theron..." Gin muttered with a deep sigh.
"Gin." Theron nodded.
"Is this really necessary?" Gin asked, landing in front of Theron.
In the back, Allura folded her arms with a serious look on her face.
Alice wanted to say something but Allura simply shook her head.
Her battle with Theron had ended before. Bella took Alice’s friend and in turn, Alice killed Bella.
Right now, it was simply a case of two friends seeing each other while standing on opposite sides.
"Necessary huh... Perhaps not." Theron shook his head.
He glanced down at his hands.
"This might not be necessary. I’m certain I’m in the wrong. But even so... I suppose I can blame you for teaching me how to be stubborn, right?" Theron smiled.
There were deep bags under his eyes. Long gone was the calm and composed Theron that Gin used to know.
All that remained was a fatigued shell of who he once was. Moving for one goal and one goal alone.
"You!... God dammit!" Gin lunged forward with a punch as Theron dodged to the side.
But just as Theron was about to counter, Gin struck with his elbow, forcing Theron to stumble back.
"Right... That old move. How many times was I caught off guard by it?" Theron wiped the blood away as he raised his arm out to the right.
Shards slowly appeared one by one before condensing into a single blade.
*BANG!!!
Swinging it off to the side, the simple weapon with no guard unleashed a whip of energy that left a deep crevice in the ground.
"When I first ascended to Lordship, this weapon is something you and Allura got for me." Theron smiled fondly while Gin’s expression warped with a hint of pain and anger.
"Do you still remember? I lost my treasured blade saving your life when we fought something beyond our level. You were bloodied and wounded, lying on the ground while your bones were visible to the naked eye. We were so close to death that day."
Flicking his wrist, Theron released two slashes that Gin quickly parried with his scythe.
With a smooth turn of his body, he diverted Theron’s blade and slammed his shoulder into his chest.
"You put your life on the line for me. And I did the same for you." Theron flipped through the air before stepping onto an invisible foothold constructed with energy.
"Yeah we did. And look where that led us." Gin spat with a frown.
Even if Alice didn’t kill Bella, so long as that mad woman was around, Theron would cover for her no matter what. He would try to do as much good as possible to offset the bad she did.
But life didn’t work that way. It wasn’t a cold transaction that could be shrugged off and Theron knew that full well.
So even without Alice, they would’ve fought sooner or later. The only difference would be...
They wouldn’t be using blades to talk. Instead, they’d be chatting over a drink across a table perhaps. As brothers.
Dark energy converged around Gin’s body.
"I know you’re holding back on account of our connection. Unless you’re willing to change your mind, don’t act soft with me." He glared.
Gin’s physical body started to revert back to his prime state. He needed to be in his best form to fight Theron.
Looking at Gin in this form, Theron chuckled and closed his eyes.
He recalled the past like a lingering dream that one couldn’t quite forget. Those joyful days that felt like they would last forever.
The only things they had to worry about back then were laughable compared to their worries today. Mundane thoughts that passed by in a blink.
*CLANG!!!
Theron parried without looking.
Gin’s scythe blade stopped inches away from his torso.
"Who’s the soft one, Gin?" Theron spoke slowly.
Despite reverting back to his prime state, the weight behind his strike was... laughably weak.
"How many spars did we have back then? Not once did you hold back like you are doing today. Pierce, slice, impale if needed. What’s holding you back?" Theron asked.
Pulling the scythe down, he headbutted Gin before twisting his body and slamming his heel into Gin’s stomach.
"!!!"
Crashing against the ground, Gin stabbed his scythe into the earth to stop himself.
The two glared at one another.
The original day of farewell was still fresh in their minds. That moment when they walked their separate paths.
"Don’t make me do this." Gin practically begged but Theron showed no sign of hesitation.
Back then, four cups sat upon a table as Allura was the first to raise her cup.
"The paths ahead will not remain the same forever. I’ve seen plenty of friends come and go. One day, we will stand beneath different skies and answer to different callings. When that day comes, walk straight without regret. For that is the only thing I wish."
Gin scoffed softly, lifting his own cup.
"Such a serious tone to start with. Shouldn’t we be more casual and light-hearted? Let me say this. If any of you become unbearable and insufferable, I’ll make sure to give you a good smack and remind you of who you used to be."
Karya rolled her eyes.
"You? Remind us? Senile old man, why don’t you look in the mirror first. As the youngest here, I think it’s only right for me to take that job."
Theron looked down at the reflection within his drink before raising it.
"I think that’s a little too light-hearted and casual. But I suppose you wouldn’t be Gin if you didn’t say something like that. We walked together, fought together. Entrusted our backs to one another. No matter where we go after tonight, those days will never change."
"Well said." Allura grinned.
Four cups met in the middle with a soft click.
"To the days we shared." She tilted her head back and drank in one go.
"To the roads ahead." The remaining three spoke at the same time before doing the same.
Exhaling softly, Theron’s eyes finally turned serious as he stopped holding back. That was his show of respect to the ones he saw as family.
Violent energy twisted around his blade as his aura started to climb.
The energy of Oblivion started to manifest.
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