My Burden No More

In the wake of Godfrey's sacrificial attack Flintwood's mind went blank as the force from the thunderous explosion washed over him. The room shook and the ceiling began collapsing on top of him and Jasper. Jasper of whom was flung from the force a distance away during the sudden explosion. The debris from the quickly collapsing ceiling battered the still standing bestial form of Flintwood.

Flintwood's intimidating form had only a sliver of his once imposing demeanor. His spine and what little remained of his back seemed to be what kept him up right. A bit of his skull was blown out exposing a section of his brain that pulsated like a heart. The light in his eyes flickered as he struggled to maintain focus just as he struggled to breath with torn lungs.

The souring pain coupled with his monstrous willpower seemed to be what kept his mind awake but what pushed him to take a step forward remains a mystery. "Damn it all, I was already hanging on by a thread, but this may actually push me over the edge".

Flintwood slurred his words as he stammered forwards. He did so with the grace of a drunkard but his ability to retain that level of movement despite the state he's in required praise.

Flintwood could have called it quits there. He need not have to push himself this far. The world has lost its color in his eyes only shadows and blurs flashed past his vision as the darkness encroached further.

But still Flintwood walked he did so with an untold difficulty. Existence at this point was pure agony with each step he had to endure the pain of exhaustion, the pain of a mind numbing hunger, the pain of a broken body, the pain of lost friends.

The steps he took on the scalding ground to reach Nathaniel was just the same path he had lived through for a long time the only difference being that this path he currently walked had an end. Reaching Nathaniel was that end, words alone could not described how much he wanted to rest, and rest he shall once he reached his goal.

The room shook more violently once the ceiling collapse further. The scolding air was filled with dust kicked up from the debris. It blanketed everything blocking site from more than a few feet in front of anyone which did not matter to Flintwood who had already reached the cell door of Nathaniel's cell.

Flintwood reached out with his right hand only to realize that it had long been blown off during the explosion. Without an ounce of care, Flintwood used his other hand. His claws shredded the steel with little effort.

pieces of the door fell to the floor allowing a large gust of Heat to fill the room where the Nathaniel resided. Flintwood sauntered into the room his steps where weak but they still pounded onto the floor from his weight. As he made his way towards Nathaniel, Flintwood placed his hand on Nathaniel's chest.

Nathaniel's state was poor, Flintwood barely clinging on to his sanity did not notice this he didn't even notice the look in Nathaniel's eyes though the two were so close. Flintwood only touched Nathaniel to check if he was still breathing.

Nathaniel stared at the ragged monster in front of him and with certainty in his voice, he said," you look like shit Captain Flintwood".

Flintwood did not hear a single word the Nathaniel said but his wandering eyes did catch him flapping his gums. With a strained voice that's gargled on his own blood Flintwood with his last breath said," I cannot hear you, I can barely see. But I still ask of you, in the end, do not become like me".

Flintwood gave the Nathaniel no time to dwell on his dying last words. For he used what strength he had left to slit his own throat. From the throat down his sharp nails cut into his chest severing bone until even his gut where slashed. Hot blood rain onto Nathaniel's body then it came down like a waterfall.

Nathaniel found the warmth of Flintwood's blood relaxing until he found out that the blood was acidic.

It ate away at Nathaniel's body his flesh melted away from his bones. His eyes had sunken into his skull and his brain had become a pool of jelly. Even the pleasure of screaming was cut short once his throat filled with Flintwood's blood.

And there both lay a corpse of a monster known as Flintwood on the ground next to a bubbling soup of what once was Nathaniel. From this blood pool tendrils squirm and latch themselves onto Nathaniel's bones. These tendrils grew in number and they became the foundation for Nathaniel's new body. The squirming mass of flesh formed muscles became veins and birth new organs.

Nathaniel's rebirth with ghastly, it was haunting to watch even for a trained surgeon, but it was intriguing for all to see. Nathaniel did not guide this process his body moved on its own by instinct. It created a new heart a better heart than he ever had before. His brain appeared to take the form a thousands of squirming worms each interlinked and working together better than any normal one could have hoped for.

His muscles became steel, skin armor, and his blood that was his weapon. By the time the wriggling mass formed his eyes they glowed with an eldritch light. The light of his crimson eyes was a sign Nathaniel was rebuilt better than ever. Truly how he did not know but he will find out.

With a burst of energy Nathaniel rocketed from his bed. Black strands burst from his scalp turning into luscious long hair. He breathed heavily as if he saw a horrifying demon born only in the lowest pits of hell. But that was not truly the case for, yes he was shocked but shocked only by the experience he had just undergone. Though all his organs had ceased functioning and his brain was essentially gone he had never once lost consciousness

. He couldn't accurately describe what happened to him only speak about it as though it were an out of body experience.

He witnessed and felt himself being built in a ways he could not imagine before. He felt more connected to his body now then he had ever been before. The time he spent reforming could not be accurately recorded in his state because to him time felt infinitely long as it was short. Nathaniel wanted to relish in this experience he felt as though there was some kind of hidden knowledge deep within himself that's beg to be released. Though Nathaniel deeply wanted this the noise outside demanded his attention. Alarms blared and with his newly acquired abilities came improvements to the old ones.

The rumbling of footsteps in the distant halls was as loud as a waterfall the guards constant shouts was the waters roar. Nathaniel had never heard such distant things so clearly he hadn't even been able to think clearly in months since his imprisonment. But all the mental pain that plagued him seemed to have washed away.

"They call this a curse I feel no pain, I see no demons, I only feel power coursing through me. What is evil about this the only evil that could have come is the envy and jealousy of others who have not this power and yet so many with this gift suffer".

Nathaniel turned to get off the bed his feet splashed and the remnants of Flintwood's blood. The still acidic nature of it had no more effect on him than a puddle of water. Nathaniel look at the morphed remains of Captain Flintwood. This great Pirate's body was a reminder of what his future had in store.

Nathaniel's gaze lingered long and hard on Flintwood's corpse he engrained that man's death into his mind so he wouldn't forget.

With that done Nathaniel walked off paying no respects to Flintwood. Their deal had concluded they were not friends nor will they ever have been. Yes, though Flintwood was a man deserving of respect during his final moments like any other Flintwood was also a pirate and Nathaniel didn't care much for pirates.