- His Final Stand [2]

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A/N: Sorry this took so long to post.

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"In all honesty, I had believed you would go the entire fight without showing your little hidden skill."

As Cain's glare passed over Alan, who returned it back with white eyes, he couldn't help but find some reason to taunt the man.

"How long were you planning on hiding it?"

Alan said nothing, as the lightning that flashed around him slowly grew more and more prominent.

'He's building up his strength. Fine, let's see what the little pup has to offer?'

"I never planned on showing it to begin with. You just forced my hand."

Snapping him from his thoughts, Alan's voice pierced through the silence that had shrouded their little battleground.

"Force your hand? In my experience you can never force someone's hand. You can only push them to the edge and it is they who jump."

"Your saying I wanted this?"

Turning the idea over in his head, Cain thought hard over his own words.

"I guess you're right. You did want this."

Though Cain had spoken the truth, he could see that it did nothing to calm the already dangerous Alan. While he said nothing, and showed no signs of anger, Cain knew Alan was only hiding his power.

"Want this?"

And just as he had predicted, Alan's rage began to snap away at his calm demeanor.

"You say I wanted this?"

Clenching his hands into fists, Alan's anger began showing more clearly, as the light flashing from the tips of his fingers grew.

Suddenly, silence decreased in the chamber, no words spoken, and no sound could be heard. And just as Cain was preparing to strike first, Alan's body suddenly disappeared.

The calm before the storm.

When Alan reappeared, his body in the air, Cain took only a moment to cross his arms in defense, before Alan landed a terrifying punch.

As Alan's fist connected on its target, bolts of lighting, as thick as a grown man's arm, shot out from the connecting point, digging into the ground and smashing it to pieces.

The ground shattered and broke apart, not from the force of Alan's punch, but the fact aht Cain never moved even after the attack landed. Thus, sending the force of the attack straight into the ground.

Cain was quick to react when blocking the attack, as he wrapped his left arm around Alan's, and, twisting his body, smashed Alan into the ground.

But Alan wasn't the same as he had once been.

Once his back came into contact with the ground, Alan placed his hands on the floor, twisted his torso, and swiped his feet across the ground, sending out a wave of lightning sparks that followed his leg's path.

However, even with his newly revealed powers, Alan did nothing to the stone-faced Cain, who took the blunt force of the kick to his knees without flinching.

But Alan wasn't done yet.

Once his kick landed, Alan didn't wait to see its effect, as he knew it would have no effect on Cain. Instead, he drew back his leg, twisted his body around, and pushed off the ground, causing him to land only a few feet from Cain's reach.

Glancing down at his knee, Cain made no form of expression. Whether it was anger, annoyance, or just plain uncaring.

He turned over the sight of the lingering bits of lighting that danced up his leg and knee before disappearing.

"You're quite strong like this. Tell me, why wait until now to show this side of yourself?"

Alan didn't answer, in fact, he completely ignored Cain's question, and instead, asked his own.

"You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to be like this? Alone! Forgotten!"

Cain shrugged, not minding the fact that Alan was currently breaking his own mind with every word he said.

"Beats me. In my eyes, all I see is some foolish child who just wanted to impress mommy."

Gritting his teeth, Alan pressed his foot against the ground, shot forward, and landed yet another terrifying blow on Cain.

However, once again, Cain raised his hand to catch his fist mid flight towards his head.

The result caused a shock wave of electricity to blast out in every direction, seemingly endless as it reached the walls of the chamber, crackling against the stone.

"Shut up!"

Cried Alan, as he brought his face close to Cain's, his spit flying in the air out of rage.

"I tried! I tried proving that I was worth something! But it wasn't enough, so don't you dare blame me!"

Gritting his teeth, Alan gripped tightly onto Cain's hand, the very same hand that had caught his attack, and attempted to push it back, snapping his wrist in the process.

Whether it was the adrenaline running through his body, or the power he was using, for whatever reason, his strength doubled while Cain's weakened.

-Crack!

And just like that, Cain's hand was bent in an awkward angle from its original position, facing backwards, farther backwards than it should have been.

Though Alan slightly celebrated this newfound victory, he didn't let his mind get distracted, as his eyes locked on Cain's side, his ribs exposed.

Using this opportunity, Alan brought up his leg, and slammed it against Cain's torso, letting out an even louder snap.

-Crack!

"Erk…Gah!"

Though Cain did his best to hold in his pain, subtle sounds of his pained moans and labored breathing told Alan all that he needed to know.

'This is it. I'm winning!'

Taking no time to waste, Alan continued pummeling Cain with his leg, in the same spot as before, damaging Cain's already broken ribs.

With each kick, Alan could feel Cain's strength being to leave him, as he began hunkering down, and bending over from the pain, in some half hearted attempt at protecting himself.

Alan just scoffed at the sight, the 'oh so mighty' man he had once feared when facing off against him, was now no more than a broken and bloodied form of his former self.

'Weak? How can he be this weak?'

Raising his fist up high, Alan brought it down on Cain, feeling the man's jaw break against his fist. He pushed the crumbled body of Cain up, as he struggled to stand on his feet.

'What happened to that man?"

Alan eyed the shuffling body of Cain, before his face twisted in disgust before he twisted, and left one last kick at his abdomen, the lightning from his feet creating a blanket of white light.

Cain didn't stand much of a chance, as his body was shoved back into a wall, just as he had done many times before to a man just as weak as he was now.

Alan didn't bother keeping his emotions inside him any longer. After seeing the body of Cain flying across the chamber, his back slamming against the wall, Alan had given up trying to keep his frustration down.

"How can you be this weak?! What happened to the man who was fighting me?!"

As Alan's anger rose, the lightning that sparked from his body increased, his skin flashing with a dozen bolts of white.

Through the dust he could hardly see anything but the faint outlines of Cain, as the man appeared to be gripping the wall in hopes of pulling himself up.

This only fueled Alan's anger, who had been expecting a valiant fight, one that would make his name heard by even the gods. It was why he exposed this hidden skill of his.

Though the price it would cost him, he certainly could say, was not worth this half hearted fight.

"B*llsh*t! Where's the man who was meant to fight me?! Where's that man who brought me fear - brought us all fear!"

The outlines of Cain could be seen struggling to stand upright, Alan didn't hesitate to punch out in open air, causing a bolt of lighting to shoot from his arm. The bolt flashed in a range of vibrant whites and blues as it burned itself deep within the dust cloud, sending a bright flash accompanying it.

Alan gestured to the dust cloud and to Cain, as he looked out around the chamber for his allies.

"Is this the man who you trusted?! Is this him!?"

Falling rocks and the sound of debris and they hit the floor, jolting Alan back to the dust cloud.

"Where is he?"

His anger rose even higher, but if one paid close attention, they could tell that he had hints of regret, and sadness within his voice. Though it was only subtle.

"Where is the man who inspired this fight? Where is the man who made me wish for an end? Where is the man who brought me fear!?"

As his voice echoed out through the chamber, Alan ducked his head low, silently whispering to himself, no one in particular.

"Where is the man who said he would bring me death?"

-Crack!

-Dok…Dok..Dok..

The sounds of rocks as they hit the floor pierced through the silence like a blade of silver and fire.

It was nothing grand, nothing powerful, and with Alan's outrage still lingering in the air, it held no meaning.

But it was heard nonetheless.

"Right here."

The falling stone and dust surrounding him began to settle, and out from the clearing cloud came Cain, who strode forward, his confidence returned.

Seeing him, Alan almost sighed in relief. He knew the cost of this power he was showcasing, let alone the strength that would be taken from him if this battle could not end quickly

And, like all others watching, Alan knew that with Cain having arrived at the scene, that fire once again lit inside his chest.

This battle would end quickly, easily, and painlessly.

Well…

Alan had doubts about the latter.

"Took you long enough."

Alan said as his eyes paused on the many scars that decorated his body. Broken bones, bruises turned purple and green, covered his side.

"I was beginning to think you were just some weak excuse."

A scoff.

'Did he just scoff? At me?'

"Coming from the man who was tossed around like some stick, distended to sink in the mud where he belonged."

Arching his back straight, Cai's side - which had been cupped inwards from Alan's ruthless attacks - began pushing itself back out.

Similarly, his wrist, which had been snapped back, was correcting itself, shifting back into its original position with a snap.

Alan was more than shocked by the sight, as Cain's body looked as if it was healing itself.

'But he's not using magic. How is that possible?'

As if to answer his unspoken question, Cain turned his gaze back to him.

And it was then that Alan realized it. His jaw, which he had broken with his most recent punch, was still broken. Twisted and hanging from his head as if the flesh between his teeth was all that kept it from falling.

"What the hell?"

Was all Alan could mutter, before he heard the sound of a voice coming from that disembodied jaw.

"Surprised. You can't destroy a body with no soul in it."

"What the…"

Alan tried to mutter to himself, but was too shocked to finish.

'No soul. What is he talking about?"

"Tell me Alan, do you see my mouth moving?"

"Y-Your mouth?"

As Cain had said, with his jaw being broken, he couldn't make any sound, let alone a few grumbles from the back of his throat.

'So how is he talking?'

The answer came in the form of an echoing voice, filling his head with a muffling pain.

Clutching the side of his forehead, Alan looked back to Cain, who was slowly reassembling himself.

"Your…You're-"

"In your head?"

This time the voice didn't echo or resonate inside his mind, numbing his brain. Instead, it came from Cain's own mouth, as he clutched his jaw and snapped it back into place.

"How…How are you…"

The numbing pain Alan was feeling was getting worse, it's echos sounding as if they were in a tiny box, constantly hitting him.

He was afraid his own ears would bleed, but he knew that they wouldn't. How could they bleed from something they've never heard.

Seeing Alan struggle, clutching both sides of his head, Cain smiles sadistically, taking great joy in the man's pain.

Kneeling down, Cain centered himself so that he was directly in front of Alan, face to face.

"You can't kill a body that has no soul. What, do you think this body is the real thing? You really think I would be so overly confident to take myself into an actual battle? I admit I'm strong, but even at times like these, I find it just a little hard to control my darker side."

In a flash, Cain's arm shot out, and gripped around Alan's neck, easily leaving several marks.

Bringing his face even closer, Cain could hear the clear sounds of Alan's labored breathing.

"And sometimes….it controls me inside."

Without moving any part of his body, Alan found himself slamming against a nearby pillar, stuck there and unable to move.

Even as he struggled to free himself from this unseen hand, Cain held him there.

'He's not even close. Is this some type of magic?'

Cain stood far away, far enough that he couldn't touch Alan with his bare hands, but that didn't matter to him.

Alan was somehow suspended in the air, his body being crushed against the stone pillar and this unseen hand.

"Let me go!"

"Why? So you can have your 'valiant' end?"

Alan didn't bother answering. Insead, he reached out with his right hand, focused his power, and shot a beam of lighting out from his fingertips.

The beam was strong, and with that strength, it brought down an already crumbling pillar, as the base exploded, sending shards of debri out in all directions.

"Hm?"

Turning his head, Cain found quite a sizable pillar coming down on top of him, before he raised his left arm around his head and braced for the impact.

-Crash!

-Boom!

The sound of the pillar crumbling as it came in contact with the ground was explosive. The sound made its way to everyone's ears with fear and wonder in their hearts.

They all thought the same question.

'Did he survive?'

But for those who knew him better, knew him well, would think this question to be no more than an instinctive guess. Something they didn't believe to be a possibility.

As Alan fell to the ground, from mid air, he could see a figure so clearly walking out from the dust, without so much as a scratch on him.

His left arm raised to cover his eyes from the dust in the air, as his eyes locked with Alan's.

For some reason, Alan felt a warm feeling rise inside his heart.

Since they started this little battle between themselves, Cain had only let his expectations down, leaving him crushed in believing that his own life, the life he was so willing to give up, would be taken by someone like him.

But seeing Cain walk from that dust cloud, his clothing fluttering because of the wind, unscathed, and unworried, Alan couldn't stop the feeling.

It was strong, warm, and a breathless feeling that felt like a fire rising from the depth of his heart. A heart he had once mistaken to be broken.

'Yes.'

The moment Alan's foot touched the ground, he shot forward. Remnants of the lighting surrounding his body left trails of wisps behind him, as his body moved across the ground like an arrow through the sky.

His speed was doubled thanks to the lightning powers he decided to unveil, and he held nothing back when he did.

'This is it.'

Alan came dead on from the front, his fist flying before he could even think to move it.

But alas, the blow hit nothing as Cain, matching the speed, pulled his body to the left, avoiding the attack entirely.

But Alan wasn't done yet, as the moment he saw Cain dodge his attack, he swiped his arm horizontally across the air, attempting to swipe at Cain's head, but once again he arched his back, as lightning split the air above him.

'This is it!'

Alan wasted no time, as the moment his arm reached nothing, he brought it back to himself, and snapped his two arms together.

The result of this was to combine forces of electricity, reaching the pinnacle of his body's limit. Doing so, the lighting surrounding his body began expanding, in a second, a sphere of lighting surrounded him, and expanded rapidly in all directions.

Cain, being so close, stood no chance at dodging or at defending himself, so he allowed himself to be shot back - flung across the chamber. He landed cleanly on his back with a thud.

"Great…"

He groaned, trying to right himself up.

"...This is where the fun begins."