Ragnarok: Clashing of Souls (Chapter 6)
A red dot drifted across his view, left, right, up and down, at various speeds and angles of attack, in response he moved at light speed, deflecting one after another with his hands.
His vision blurred as he saw nothing but a red line dashing across the ring before him, relentlessly attacking.
“Alright! Keep going old man, just a bit more and you’ll run him through!” Muramasa said with a grin on his face.
“My oh my!” Adam looked down at the ring, his glance shifting to the spot near the god’s audience not too far from his own lounge. “It appears your hero is struggling quite a bit, oh queen of the Norse.”
Vidar looked down at the duel, eyes narrowing as his hand went to the handle of his weapon. “No.” Freya spoke decisively, her gaze not averting from the battle. “None can interfere once the match starts.”
The god went to open his mouth but was once again stopped by the goddess beside him. “He won’t fail, he never has or ever will. The champion I made will be victorious on this day.” She spoke, her hand crushing the throne she sat on into dust.
Come on now, try new tricks already. Give the audience a show before you go and kick the bucket.
“Ah…Ah…” Deep breaths were all he could let out in response while defending himself, in the midst of the crimson barrage he saw the briefest of openings and took it.
The light speed jab was launched forward, grazing past the red cloth that covered Longinus’ eyes, the human ducking under the blow and following up with a thrust aimed at Baldur’s heart. But that too was met with nothing but empty air. Baldur swiftly and perfectly went under the blow, resting his whole body upon one hand before launching a sweeping kick.
‘That will slice clean through my legs!’ Quickly thinking, Longinus jumped above the kick as it cut into the ground. Radiant light appeared from below, Baldur’s fist surging with power as it launched upwards at the human champion.
[Aesir’s Light: Gullinbursti]
‘He can’t dodge in the air’
As the rising comet of a punch headed towards him, Longinus brought his spear up and placed it against his foot to guard against the hit. A flash of light enveloped both of them, the ground beneath Baldur broke as he sent Longinus flying across the ring. The human spinning in the air, his bones still shaking from the impact still as he landed on the ground, stabbing the spear into the ground to slow himself.
[Aesir’s Light: Gullinbursti]
The god did not slow down on the follow up bringing down an overhead hit. The punch slipped past Longinus as he moved his body to the side, the blow shattering the earth it struck, sending shards of rock all over the place.
Longinus ducked down, dodging another perfectly executed attack, a left hook aimed to tear him in two. Next was another overhead meant to bury him into the earth from above. He moved to the side to avoid it, at the same time launching another quick jab of his red spear at Baldur. The god deflected it with the back of his hand before ducking under the follow up swing as Longinus took distance.
Instead of another follow up hit, Baldur changed his approach. His left extended forward more than usually, taking a sharp breath and becoming a white blur, rapidly moving across the ring. Flashes of his figure darted around Longinus, the human holding a stance as he waited for the god’s strike.
Baldur’s rapid movements closed in around Longinus, dashing continuously around him in a circle just shy out of both of their ranges and creating a ring around Longinus.
A slight shift to the side, ducking his head low, a back step. Three actions that avoided three consecutive jabs. Through the of his creation, Baldur still held his stance perfectly and launched [Aesir’s Light: Nanna]
“You really can’t give this old man a break, eh kiddo?” Longinus said mostly to himself as a bit of sweat ran down his forehead.
“Perfect footwork, perfect form. Only one such as I could replicate this, yes yes! Baldur’s method of attack cuts off any way for Longinus to escape!” Ratatoskr spoke into the mic as he and the audience were captivated by the god’s movements. But the truly strong saw even further beyond it. Perfection, even after taking so many hits from the crimson spear, each movement, each shift of his feet, angle of the jab, all of it was done so precisely as if it were a textbook example of the movements shown. And yet.
A mere man stood untouched.
From each and every direction, all at blinding speeds these bolts of light came, each looking to be the finishing blow. The human would compare to being surrounded by spears, or had he known of them, being shot by high caliber rifles.
He parried the attack from the front, taking a step back for the one to his left, side stepping the one from behind, ducking under another aiming for his head. Each dodged by a hair, tearing up bits of his clothes as they ran past him.
“But even in the face of such fierce attacks, not one manages to hit Longinus!”
Relax, just keep going and one will eventually land…probably
Baldur didn’t have much time to listen to Loki’s words as the crimson spear shot ripped through the air at him once more, stopped by the norse god’s guard as his right hand parried it before launching a counter jab with his left. Longinus avoided it, the punch scraping past his cheek before Baldur continued his movements around him.
The spear made its way through the barrage of jabs, each parried by Baldur and counter attacked by another jab that was getting close to its mark. Another line of red flew through the air. Baldur’s reflexes were late to react, the spear slipped through his guard and struck him in his ribs. Instead of a flash of pain that the spear tip usually provided, a blunt force pressed into his chest.
Baldur’s eyes darted down and widened, ‘He struck with the other end!?’ His eyes moved back to Longinus, quickly trying to counter with a jab and shake the spear off with his other hand, yet to no avail. The human shifted the god’s center of gravity with the blunt end, throwing off his posture and stopping his footwork. The jab misfired and Longinus stepped forward, twisting the spear and bringing the front downwards in a swing, drawing more blood from the Baldur’s shoulder.
The god gritted his teeth and pulled back with a blinding step, yet the human followed in pursuit. Baldur quickly let out several rapid blows at close range, all blocked by the polearm or dodged entirely by Longinus before he launched a counter for each of the strikes.
He’s good for a geezer, come now next trick, I’m already bored of this one, the audience will follow suit
The battle continued, exchanges ebbed and flowed. Badlur unleashing the full extent of his arsenal, divine out boxing, blinding speed, perfect movements, punches, kicks, elbows all performed without a shred of wasted movements. Every technique the Norse could implant upon him was on display, without mistakes without doubt at their pinnacle. And even still.
Divine outboxing was crushed, that blinding speed outpaced, those perfect movements stopped in their tracks, his offense evaded or defended against. At the face of such godly power, Longinus stood firm, avoided the peerless attacks and tore into the Light Bringer’s immaculate frame.
The God Killer slipped past another light speed jab, the crimson spear shining with a light as it hit into Baldur’s forearm, tearing past it and into his chest. Baldur jumped back before it could run him through completely.
Baldur stumbled and rolled across the ground, finally stopping himself and standing on one knee as he caught his breath. Heavy pants escaped his lips, the cries of worry and cheers for the champion of humanity were all but mere static noise to his ears as his clouded eyes focused solely at the man in front of him. ‘...What can I even do now…’
Well guess this is the end of it. You have tried everything, every bit of your strength and skill you had to show. That perfect saviour that the gods created, at the knees of humanity’s saviour! Can’t think of a much more pathetic death than that!
Loki’s figure appeared behind the god, his cape digging into Badlur’s bloodied clothes as he laughed into his mind with gleeful malice.
Everything he tried, everything failed. His resolve wavered further and further, hearing those words again in his head, echoing loudly to the point they shut off Loki’s taunting.
‘Become strong… Be better than anyone… Train harder than anyone… Be perfect.’
Freya held Baldur’s face in her arms, looking down at him with a reassuring smile at his efforts in the past, destroying every enemy before her pantheon and keeping the peace. ‘You did well my son. Such strength has not been seen in our pantheon in many millenia. You went above and beyond what I asked for, you truly became my hero.’ Her hands pressed into the sides of his face, nails digging into his skin and her sweet voice fills his ears. ‘But not yet, there is still more to do. You must continue carrying on your purpose, the expectations of all of heaven rest upon those shoulders. You failed once but you will not let it happen again. Keep fighting, for me, keep being strong and crush our enemies. My hero.’
‘My Hero’ Pathetic saviour ‘Be strong forever and always’ Preach about peace and protecting when all you do is crush anyone in front of you ‘Fight and win for me, crush our enemies’ Struggle until your last breath and die as a liar
His breath became rapid, gasping for air as his gaze turned to the ground, the sharp pain of all of his wounds pierced into him again. The visage of Höðr staring up at him from the ground, eyes torn out and his features unmoving.
“...” Longinus paused, the grip of his spear tightening at what he saw before him. ‘...Why…’ What stood before him was something he had only seen once, not a burning fire of a brave warrior looking for glory, but a weak light that was surrounded by darkness. Shell of spreading despair and shattered hope that ate away at a wavering soul. That day flashed before him, the only time he had been able to see the world as much as anyone else. A scenery he will never forget, and that saint upon a cross which he had slain.
His lips pursed, as he tried to look away but his head still remained firm. The view was gone, the world of dark and light returned. And his grasp of the spear weakened. ‘No… Not again.’
“...Yo kiddo, still hanging in there?”
Baldur’s head snapped upwards, ready to dodge any incoming blow, yet one did not appear. The human's voice was not of mockery and deceit, yet strangely that of concern.
“... I guess… You could say that I am… You’re letting yourself worry for me even at a place such as this?” His voice was hesitant as he tried to hide it the best he could, but to Longinus all was clear. His light was being snuffed out bit by bit.
“...” Longinus paused for a moment, resting his spear on his body before answering. “...I just felt it right thing to do, kiddo. I haven’t been in many fights like these but… Doubt anyone would wish for it to continue like this.”
“... Like this?... We were both sent to annihilate the opposition… What is more there to this?”
First time I agree with you there
“...I haven’t a clue.” Longnius spoke bluntly but with a voice still with compassion. “But I sure am not going to blindly follow what others tell me…Not anymore…” He whispered the last part to himself, only Baldur being able to faintly hear it. “If I’m to fight so be it, but I’ll do it the way I want it to be, not following in someone’s footsteps or going in a way another pushes me towards. I’ll be on a path I set myself on.”
“...”
In the stands, Oni looked at Muramasa with concern before the human spoke before him. “It’s all good, let the old guy do what he wants.”
I can’t guess who’s the more pathetic fool, you or the geezer for not finishing you off. All that babbling going to the waste of air like you!
Loki’s insults and mockery fell on deaf’s ears. Baldur’s eyes locked onto Longinus as a flash to that day, the one that he failed, that he wished to forget of for so long.
“You know little brother…” Höðr spoke with a sort of sincerity Baldur had not heard from his brother before. “Your deeds are plenty and your heroics nuremous… But, if you were to encounter a challenge that will push you to the edge of your life and in the face of dispair… Do not follow anyone’s orders, even if they were to mock, laugh or scold you… Do what you think will be the best and carve your own way through to the light.” His hand goes to pat his brother’s shoulder as he let out a smile. “I’m sure you’ll make the choice that feels the right for you, Baldur.”
The moment ended as soon as it had arrived when he heard Longinus speak once more. “Sorry about all that, must have been embarrassing hearing this old man talk like that…” The man stopped as he saw Baldur, no movements were made nor words spoken. But that fading light began to give off a new glow.
Baldur clenched his fist, the pain of his wounds tearing away at him as he stood up. His hands went to his cape, detaching it from his shoulders as it dropped to the floor. He let out more heavy breaths as he tore off his bloodied top. His bare body, once so elegant, bloodied and battered with cuts and slashes, but even more so the black lines that ran across his skin, those left by Loki.
The gods flinch and begin to talk amongst themselves. What has become of their hero, what is he about to do?
All of it fell onto Baldur who still stood tall. ‘Forgive me, brother… That it took me this long to see.’
So ready to accept it yet or-
Loki’s words stopped as he felt a scorching sensation, Baldur’s body beginning to give off a heavenly light, the cursed marks on his body began to glow radiantly. Loki’s phantom began to disappear with them.
You brat! You think you’ll be free of me from just this! I’ll haunt you until the end of your days, at your lowest I will watch you fall! I will
“Quiet. This is not a place for the likes of you.”
Without even a screech of agony, the cursed being that would be forgotten in history was evaporated by Baldur’s light in an instant.
Baldur, the greatest of the Norse, appeared before Longinus as something he never witnessed in his life. A brilliant beacon in the dark, shining brightly and more radiant than anyone else he had met before.
The Light Bringer, at the attention of all of heaven and earth, ready to take a step onto the path he chose.
“Let’s go. To our light.”
[Aesir’s Light: Svalinn]