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Summer Wars: A Live Report Rip Off
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Chapter 31: All things must come to an end
Durn gritted his teeth as he backpedaled hastily. Luolis charged forward, swallowing up the space between them like a ravenous Iku-Turso. His axe was massive and slick with blood, but the maddened Finn wielded it as easily as he might a toothpick. Metal squealed as Durn barely shunted aside another blow. Durn managed an effort of his own, but Luolis casually batted it aside with a howl.
Durn needed to catch his breath. He needed to think. Luolis wasn’t allowing him to do either. The axe rose and fell, accompanied by booming laughter. Durn glanced over his shoulder. Luolis was herding him away from the staircase, towards a balcony overlooking the plaza below. Durn needed to come up with a plan. And fast. Running was keeping him alive, but in a few seconds there would be nowhere to run.
Durn chose that moment to strike. Blood fountained as his blade cut a wide gash in Luolis’ side. Luolis reeled, Durn prepared the killing blow. Suddenly his right foot slipped out from beneath him and the world went flying.
He’d lived a good life. That much Durn couldn’t deny. Every kid grew up dreaming of becoming king of the world, but he’d actually managed to do it. Suddenly he was the most powerful man in the world. He’d had it all. Riches, fame, everything. Turns out everything wasn’t what he wanted. Sitting atop a mound of gold didn’t make you feel alive. Neither did filing paperwork or sipping champagne on a private jet. There was only one thing that sent a shiver down his spine. One thing that gave him goosebumps and made his muscles tingle.
Luolis was standing over him, his axe poised overhead. This was how it was going to end, wasn’t it? That was the problem with living to fight. It eventually caught up to you. Durn glanced to the side. His sword was far out of reach. He’d lose his head before he could reach it. Luolis started laughing. He didn’t have much time did he? This guy was a lunatic. Luolis wasn’t going to give Durn a chance to scheme his way out of this. Luolis let out a roar as his axe raced downward.
“Oh, f!@k this,” Durn growled. Durn’s hand shot to his hip where his fingers closed around the handle of a dagger. The axe was closing fast, but Durn was faster. There was a flash of steel and a cry of pain as the needle sharp blade lodged itself in Luolis’ calf. Luolis’ leg buckled, altering the course of the blow that should have ended Durn’s life. Durn rolled to the side, tearing the dagger free. He was on his feet in an instant. Luolis tried to bring his axe to bear, but Durn was too fast. His dagger struck faster than a cobra, again and again. Luolis staggered back, disbelief etched on his features. “You just couldn’t let this go, could you,” Durn hissed as Luolis fell to his knees.
“F!@k you,” Luolis spat back. “Just put an end to this you piece of s!@t.” Durn grimaced as he met Luolis’ rage filled gaze.
“No, that’s not how this ends.” Durn’s hand shot out. Luolis readied every curse in every language known to man, but he lost consciousness the moment Durn’s fist collided with his forehead. He slumped to the ground, bleeding from a dozen wounds.
Durn took a deep breath and chuckled. It was pretty funny when you thought about it. His call to arms had attracted warriors from all around the world, but the whole affair had ended exactly where it began, him versus Luolis. Durn glanced at Luolis’ inert form. Luolis wanted to die, but that wouldn’t be right. As much as Durn hated to admit it, he’d be purposeless without Luolis. When the rubber met the road it was their battles that made him feel alive.
Durn cast his blade to the ground and surveyed the square. The fires would burn out. The city would be rebuilt. Someone would find Luolis and haul him off to a hospital to recover. Wounds would heal and time would pass, but his vengeance would never slacken. And when the time came for them to do battle once more, Durn would be ready. Durn smiled as he started down the staircase. Being king of the world was great, but that wasn’t what he lived for. The truth was, he only lived to fight.
--The End--
Writer: Mizenhauer
Editor: The Spirit of Tzuyu
Graphics: Hexhaven
