The Twist On Quake

"Ah! Before we get too eager here, you're forgetting that I am Sky Asterio... well, I suppose in this situation, I am only 'Asterio', since you have the 'Sky' part of me within yourself," The copy of me, who now called himself 'Asterio' said.

"Asterio... I like that, you take the burden of my name off of me, and I'll kill you for my power," I told him.

"That's more like it, Sky. That's the me that I remember. However... there's actually one last thing I need to seal the deal in this battle," He said. Asterio walked over to Cole with his hand on his shoulder, and then promptly shoved his fist into Cole's chest.

He impaled Cole, obviously, but Cole didn't regenerate, instead, Cole morphed himself into Asterio, and the two mixed appearances quickly.

"Incarnation of Transfer... The Incarnation of Wrath... The Incarnation of Healing... I think that's everything, isn't it? All the Incarnations I'd need to beat Sky?" He asked. He had Cole's voice now and even shared some of his annoying gaze.

In front of me was an unstoppable powerhouse... one that would need to die today.

If Asterio got loose from this dome containing him... it would mean the end of the Earth. I understood that, just by watching his movement and presence.

"Alright, Cynthia, Fico, please leave this place," Asterio said. I sat in confusion, watching both Cynthia and Fico willingly retreat to the opposite side of the dome.

"You don't want to triple-team me? You might stand a better chance," I told Asterio, but he laughed, shaking his head.

"No! Of course not, I don't want them to get in the way... I've been dying to fight you, Sky. Ever since Avie kicked my head off, I've been yearning for the ability to go against you here and now, in a battle that would end it all. My hatred for you would end when you die, and when I'm able to make an alliance with the real Asterio," Cole told me.

I refused to summon the black strands again, not even sure if they still worked now that the person who emerged from them came to fruition. While watching Cole, I realized that both Cynthia and Fico were already on the opposite side of the dome...

I couldn't figure out how they made it out, but they waved at me before turning their backs and leaving.

"I know, you already asked me, 'What about triple-teaming you?' or whatever silly question you had. Look, Sky, I wanted to make this as clear as day to you," Cole told me. He stomped his foot into the ground, and ice shot over to me.

He had used Belle's ability without a sign of fatigue in his body, not like I had when it reduced my lifespan.

"All of your friends on the opposite side of this dome that's barely holding me in... you could put all of them in here, multiply their power by thirty times, and then give them all black strands at the same level as you, and they still wouldn't even kill me," Cole told me.

He didn't move fast, wasn't flashy, and had no brightness like Illya or the others did when fighting. He walked over to me with the Mahina Blade in his left hand, red gauntlets on his forearms, and a pistol on his hip, each of which reminisced when I initially traveled to the black lake.

"Show me what you've attained this entire time. Show me that you're a worthy opponent," Cole demanded from me.

[Deity Mode: Engaged]

[Adrenaline Surge: Activated]

[Incarnation of Wrath: Engaged]

Golden strands wrapped around my body and when I left the ground, a shockwave emitted off of my old position, and both Cole and I clashed sabers and blades as we came head to head.

The Mahina Blade could cut through all strands... but it couldn't cut through metal.

Under the mess of golden strands coming out of the handle, the small piece of the Mahina Blade that broke off by the guard had moved up to the perfect point to clash with the Mahina Blade. I surprised Cole as his eyes warped in excitement.

My eyes had turned purple and I had expected tunnel vision to follow, but it remained missing completely. I could see all, and my senses were heightened.

With his offhand, Cole tried to strike at my neck. He moved his hand with a thunderous roar and I immediately activated Shike's ability, absorbing all kinetic energy, and pushing it through my hand to win our clash.

Sparks flew and both Cole and I were sent back, landing on our feet as if nothing happened but a gust of wind.

My eyes slowly moved to focus on Cole again, and my memories began to run through my head.

No... this isn't like the time with Orion. I wasn't fighting for freedom.

No... this isn't like the time with Illya. I wasn't fighting to protect my friends.

No... this isn't like the time with Providence. I wasn't fighting to avenge my family.

No... this isn't like the time with Quake. I wasn't fighting to protect the world.

This was it. I am Sky Asterio, through and through. My memories, my feelings, they're not invalidated all because I'm not the person I thought I was.

They're equally as important, maybe even more important than before. I'm not fighting for freedom, to protect anybody, or to avenge anybody. The reasons are no longer so definable.

As Cole ran at me again, I felt my heart rate shoot up as it solidified in my mind.

All that I had done... now more than ever, it mattered so much more. It was more important than anything...

I was fighting for myself. I am fighting myself.

I will not lose, I will not be consumed, and I will end the person I was four hundred years ago.

I dropped my saber, summoning a strand weapon that was closely resembling a spear, and dodged Cole's strike from his mace head while jumping to the side.