35 Chapter 28: I'sll put your punk ass in the ground!

In the Forest Border of Vacuo, Two people were clashing blades.

They Have fought for who knows how long...

Both covered in wounds that were slowly healing.

*Clang* "Tch, why won't you just die old man!?"

Haruki bellowed.

Corvus Laughed.

"Hehehehe, Haruki... I haven't felt like this in thousands of years."

Haruki charged towards Corvus, casting <<Exploding Star>>, Corvus did the same he covered his arms with a thick layer of magic circles.

Punching each other sent ripples throughout the area, creating powerful shockwaves.

The two stood at the center of the crater.

They continued to hit each other relentlessly, not giving each other time to breath.

Corvus noticed his swordplay was being used by Haruki.

"Hehehehehe, not bad kid... But let me ask you this, why do you even fight?"

Haruki stepped back and grinned...

"Well, it's to protect the people important to me... and you stabbed my girl, that's enough reason for me to kill you..."

Corvus furrowed his brows...

"You know at first I thought I was doing this for my family...

Time slowly passed and my reason for fighting is slowly getting more and more jaded, as the fight went on...

I thought to myself...

I'm so tired...

I'm so fucking tired of the climb, I can't even enjoy the view...

Impossible to enjoy a quiet moment.

The bad trouble follows me,

Waiting for the next fucked up thing to happen."

Haruki sighed and he used dimensional bite, pointing it at Corvus.

A red magic circle appeared below Corvus, it hardened his body. He held the giant maw that appeared out of nowhere.

"Nice try kid... *Nrrghhh*" Corvus created a magic circle that slowed down time around him and he stabbed the maw with a blade.

The maw screeched a deafening shout, making corvus cover his ears.

Haruki took this chance, He used lightning form stabbing Corvus with his claws.

His hands went through Corvus, But Corvus held Harukis arms and He Hammered his head on Harukis skull.

"I have seen countless empires rise and fall due to their own decadence... it was doomed the moment it met desire!!!

Deep down I already know that what I'm doing is pointless, I let Greed talk me into this because, I wanted a reason.

A reason to spread my hate,

A sole man's rebellion that is already over before it even began.

But in the end it doesn't matter...

I am a shadow of my former self who has lost everything."

Haruki pulled his arm back, Glaring at Corvus.

"If you're tired why not just stop? Just help me kill greed! we don't have to let the damage define us!"

Corvus sighed...

"Sigh*kid, you and I are more similar than you think...but a man needs to have a code, we may have the same motivations...

But we travel different paths, and no, this isn't about doing what's right...

We both don't have a better alternative, we couldn't find a reason to be better.

that's why...

even after Suffering defeat after defeat,

even if our own body is reaching it's limits,

to the point of breaking down...

we suck it up, stand back up and keep fighting.

you tell yourself...

'I couldn't die yet. I still had a job that must be done...'

That's why I could do only one thing... with my soul broken, and my flesh torn asunder.

I separated my humanity from my self, creating a monster that only seeks strength.

And eventually, I became the monster I struggled to fight in the beginning..."

Corvus laughed and he continued.

"I am aware of the sins I have committed, I wouldn't be calling myself a sinner if I wasn't..

I see the end of my path, no family in sight...

I tried to hold together my crumbling soul with what little humanity I had left.

but...

I've long approached my limit.

I've realized how important everything was...

everything I've lost...

In my pursuit of power... I took a look back at the halfway point...

Hehehehe, I was foolish to look back....

Then I saw you, I thought maybe you could change... no maybe even fix what I have lost...

Maybe right my wrong.

Tell me was this Monster before you right?"

Haruki was about to answer but Corvus raised his hand to stop him.

"It doesn't matter anymore... I know damn well, before you entered the Room of desire, you really wanted to kill me...

But after leaving it you became a man... I wish I could be the same back then.

The Raven King is the product of Pain.

I did not decide to become what I am. it was imposed upon me."

Haruki scoffed.

"Bullshit you made your choice, once you decided to work with greed that's when you lost yourself."

Corvus asked Haruki immediately.

"Ever wondered what happened to your life? How you end up here?"

Haruki furrowed his brows but he sighed.

"A couple of bad choices... but I've learned to live with it..."

Corvus chuckled.

"We choose, and we don't, like the two of us.

I didn't make a choice, because the old God's made one for me!

The moment they were taken from me I decided that it could only end with me together with them, or the other way around."

Haruki Silently drew his blade, He was staring at Corvus emotionlessly...

They both are aware they're at the tipping point.

No one made any careless moves, Haruki spoke as he steadied his stance.

"If that's what you want, Then... I'll put your punk ass in the ground!!"

Corvus fearlessly grinned.

He opened multiple space cracks...

A thousand of treasures, blades, any weapon created by the people of remnant...

Appeared from it.

He grabbed one and leapt towards Haruki.

Haruki removed his Vanagandr transformation..

Haruki then used ars magus to materialize weapons from his old world.

It became a free for all Melee.

Haruki picked up a random weapon, it didn't matter if it was Corvus' or his...

They clashed, the gunfire and blades clashing echoed throughout the forest...

He swung the axe trying to decapitate Corvus.

Corvus rolled on the ground, picking up a pistol, he shot towards Haruki.

Haruki Used Gula, an army of void bats blocked the bullets.

Corvus Created a magic circle beneath his feet, and he was covered in his Raven King Armor...

"Time to end this kid!"

Corvus fired countless Elemental attacks at Haruki,

Haruki used Gula to devour the magic power of Corvus...

Haruki heard a ringing in his ear, it was ars magus.

<<Remnant Old Magic Devoured... Absolute Domain, unlocked...

Absolute Domain tutorial will start soon. Time will be slowed for the explanation...

Absolute Domain - a stronger version of your aura, though it is transformed into an area where you are absolute... it's strength and range depends on how much aura/magic you have devoured. You could also use Magic in this state, Essence will be rapidly consumed in this state...

Use now? [Y/N]>>

"Hehehehehe Yes!!!"

<<Absolute Domain has been activated!>>

<<This will only last 30 seconds.>>

Haruki and Corvus was enveloped by a grey Globe of around 500 meters in diameter.

Corvus looked around he smiled, "interesting!! interesting!!! show me more Haruki!!"

Corvus was about to charge at Haruki, but suddenly his armor disappeared.

Haruki snapped his fingers, removing all of Corvus Magic abilities...

Corvus picked up his blade charging recklessly at Haruki.

"Kahahahahaha boy! this is truly interesting!"

Corvus slashed towards Haruki, Haruki gripped his blade and broke it, He immediately transformed into his Vanagandr form.

He punched a hole through Corvus, gripping his heart, he crushed it...

6...

5...

He could hear the countdown getting closer...

3...

Corvus was dying... Haruki prevented the Mark of Greed from resurrecting him.

2...

A long sword immediately flew towards Haruki. But he Dodged it and used Warmonger to devour the mark of greed on Corvus arm.

0...

Corvus was staring at Haruki with a smile on his face...

*Cough Cough...* Sorry kid... but that's not the mark...

He slowly stood up badly battered, and a hole on his chest.

Haruki was the same after using 'Absolute Domain, he was extremely exhausted...

He saw Corvus' Heart beating on the ground slowly regenerating... it went back to his heart.

Then he saw a mark, on his Heart...

With his Raven blade broken... he could only rely on his body's regeneration speed.

They were both panting in exhaustion...

They slammed their fist on each other's face...

They fell, they stood back up, they threw a punch again.

Rinse and repeat.

Staggering on his steps, Corvus spit out blood.

"*Cough cough* Can't kill me this way kid... you're only wasting your time..."

They were both covered in each other's blood.

"*Spits*, figured it won't be fair..."*Pant pant*

Haruki tried to lift Warmonger with what little strength he has left.

Corvus made a magic circle with little aura he has left...

It numbed the pain and boosted his strength...

Haruki Used warmonger to bite of a little bit of Corvus skin.

He gained a little stamina from it...

They charged at each other.

Corvus Jumped up, he created a red magic circle on his arm covering it with fire.

Haruki lifted warmonger and swing towards Corvus,

But they both didn't notice the one who threw the longsword a while ago was right beside them now.

She blocked Harukis blade and Kicked Corvus on the stomach.

Haruki was surprised by the sudden interruption, but when he looked at the one who stopped his blade.

A beautiful blonde woman, untainted by the Carnage surrounding her...

Her beauty was divine... and yet he can't help but feel melancholy, for when he stared at her eyes it was...

Desolate...

Lonely...

Like the endless abyss awaiting all of man...

And yet it was beauty all the same.

"Eris, God fucking damnit don't interfere!!!"

Corvus' shout anchored Haruki back to reality from his stupor.

The lady was silent... but she slowly put down her blade, she stepped back...

Corvus staggeringly walked towards Haruki. He fell down multiple times, but Haruki waited patiently...

The Lady finally spoke, her voice was as melodious as her beauty.

"Corvus, you might die you know... Our Lords don't like that."

Corvus then scoffed.

"They could easily find a replacement!"

Eris spoke no more, she just stood there at the sidelines, waiting...

Corvus finally reached Haruki, but his body was badly tattered... He gripped Harukis Collar...

"Go on kid! Finish what you started!"

Haruki stabbed corvus in the Chest and Devoured his Heart.

Haruki furrowed his brows but he slowly laid Corvus down to the ground...

Corvus smiled and tried to speak with little strength he has left clinging to life just a little more...

*Cough cough...* "He..heh... It's finally over... I've finally found... the power that could bring my...*Cough cough* family back... Death...

Listen to me kid... no Haruki... You really did me a favor... like I said we all made our choices, this... was mine...

I'm coming home...*cough cough*"

His grip on Harukis collar slowly loosened and his hands fell on the ground...

He finally found peace...

Eris slowly approached Corvus' body...

"His body may still have it's use... give it to me..."

Haruki was silent, but he pointed his blade towards her...

"Don't... you dare!!! Your Lords have already taken so much from him!"

Eris laughed... and her eyes narrowed.

"Why do you care? you took his life..."

She kicked harukis blade away and stabbed him in the stomach...

"Gaaaahhah!! Shit! "

He tried to stand back up, but Eris kicked him in the face.

Eris dragged the corpse of Corvus into the forest...

Leaving her parting words...

"You're weak... even if you still had the strength you still couldn't beat me...you couldn't even save yourself? how can you help corvus?"

Her words resounded on his ears.

Haruki was powerless to do anything...

Haruki laid in the ground looking up at the dark sky...

Rain slowly poured down.

He ignored the words of Ars Magus, when he devoured Corvus' heart.

He was drenched,

As he stared at the pouring rain, he thought to himself...

What's the difference between good and evil??

I feel like they're just sides of the same coin, the only thing separating them is circumstances...

it's ironic really the broken people that need help the most, end up being treated as the bad guys.

I wonder if things will ever get better...

but thinking about the future is a luxury for people who have it good...

While I just try to get through the day.

Secrets got me into this kind of rut...

Holding on to the feeling of revenge and hatred...

not being honest, not trusting anyone.

All this Drama bullshit and back-biting shit talk.

They're the ones who saved me from that abyss, Corvus and gluttony made me realize that.

He also made me realize one fact.

"I can't lose you"

Haruki said it out loud as he saw Neo running at the distance...

How do you save someone buried under so much?

How do you save someone without being pulled in yourself??

I guess I gotta start learning from the best.

From Her...