Headed by a Snake

Apollonius smirked, calmly dodging the attacks or deflecting them by manipulating Orcus' wrists. Though he would have enjoyed making his brother look like a fool for the rest of the sun, he also knew his mana wouldn't last forever.

"⌈Heaven Creation: Greathammer,⌋" He swung a weighty mana-weapon at Orcus' side.

Orcus formed another ⌈Earth Shield⌋, blocking the attack. However, it could not stop the force and he staggered to the side, cradling his arm.

Holding onto his advantage, Apollonius continued. He rushed forward, his greathammer crashing down upon Orcus from above. The red suit of armor held his greataxe haft up to block the barrage of attacks, constantly stepping backward.

Finally, Apollonius stepped forward and to the side, rotating his body with a horizontal swing. Even through his brother's ⌈Earth Shield⌋ and greataxe, the traitor was launched backward.

He tumbled into the dirt and earth, crashing into trees. Great swaths of red paint were scraped off of his skin. Eventually, Orcus tumbled over, his momentum stopping with his face and chest sliding across the ground.

Apollonius walked forward, slowly and vigilantly. Using overwhelming strength was Orcus'-- no, Tancred's fighting style... but it seemed they had no idea how to fight against it.

Orcus steadily got to a knee, "[How the f*ck did you get so strong, 'Thanasius?]"

Apollonius gave a casual shrug, "I don't wanna tell you."

"[Then I'll MAKE YOU!! ⌈CHARGING BULLLLL!!!!⌋]" From the kneeling position, Orcus sprinted forward.

Still, it was too slow, Apollonius put his hands forward, "⌈Heaven Creation: Twin Lightfrost Blades.⌋"

He grabbed the two swords, made from frost and radiant mana, holding them in a cross guard. Orcus' greataxe smashed them into pieces, but Apollonius danced away before they could do any real damage.

"[Haha!! HA HAHAHA!!!]" Orcus cackled victoriously, "[Your weapons are--"]"

Apollonius clenched his raised fist, "⌈Scatter.⌋"

"[Oh, Flame take me.]"

Shattered fragments of ice and beams of light began to batter and cut through Orcus' armor. Orcus flailed his arms, activating ⌈Earth Shield⌋ after ⌈Earth Shield⌋... But no matter how defensive Skills he activated, he was being overwhelmed.

"Alright, Apollonius," Tanamar whispered. "Let's finish this."

...

Apollonius' eyes glowed bright with power.

"[Hear my name and tremble in fear... for I am Apollonius... The Oathkeeper.]"

His eyes glowed bright with power as he grabbed the heretical weapon that Orcus wielded. He wrested away the foul greataxe, still burning with hatred and dark magics, and tossed it aside.

It was just a mana-weapon... and its true form was far smaller. However, Apollonius held the advantage with his brother disarmed. Orcus had always been too stubborn to master ⌈Mana Creation⌋ to high completion.

"[Your name means NOTHING to me!!]" Orcus yelled, "[For I-- I am the Oath-BREAKER!!!]"

Apollonius was struck in the head, a loud clang echoing across his metal body.

It did not hurt. Apollonius had forgotten what pain felt like.

Once more, The Oathbreaker shot his right fist forward.

He was Father's masterpiece... his pride and joy. The formations that powered him amplified his energy tenfold... and his materials were extravagantly dense and resilient against attack.

However, Father had built Apollonius first... and though he was lighter, he'd always been faster.

Apollonius ducked down to dodge the punch, returning a right of his own.

It struck. Hard. It felt right... it felt good. This was what pleasure felt like.

"[How dare you show yourself before me, Brother.]" He powered a left hook into Orcus' side. Then again, satisfied by the crack of metal.

"[...after what. You Did!]" He leapt up and smashed his right elbow atop Orcus' thick head.

The red-metal heretic had enough. He draped his arms around Apollonius like a lover begging for mercy.

"[If you seek redemption,]" Apollonius reached his right knee back... and powered it into Orcus' side, "[You'll find none from me.]"

He heard a human screaming, like their bones were broken. It was a scream of pain.

"[I have nothing to apologize for, Apollonius.]"

Apollonius' confidence shook. His brother's voice had changed... His entire aura had changed.

Orcus reached his hand forward, thick white steam spewed out of the dragon head on his arm.

Apollonius tried to break away, unable to see through the sandy clouds.

...Something was wrong. His brother wasn't letting go.

They were falling... and they struck the ground together. Orcus scrambled atop him.

"[Everything! I! Did!]" Fists rained down as Apollonius struggled to block, each leaden strike clanging against his guard. "[Was! For!! HER!!!!!]

That was right... Pontius-- no, Orcus... he had a wife. He loved her. But was reason enough to turn his back on the Eternal Flame?

A fist found its way past, striking him again in the face.

The heretic's fist... it was heavy.

Apollonius felt something... something unpleasant. Was it pain?

No. It was shame. It was disgust.

Tens of thousands of Tyrions looked up to Orcus, Hero of Tyrion.

Those same people suffered his betrayal... their lives reaped by The Oathbreaker, Champion of the Snake Cult.

All those Faithful... they were worth more than one human woman! They were worth more than one man's selfish quest for revenge!!

Bringing dishonor to their Father, forcing him to live in shame... even if it were his only sin, Orcus did not deserve to live.

Apollonius popped his hips upward, forcing his brother off of his chest.

Orcus was unbalanced and had caught himself on his palms.

Apollonius shoved the stronger Divine Armor away... and tried to get to his feet.

It was... so hard to move.

Orcus had grabbed onto the sides of his head with both hands.

It rang. Something felt wrong... bent. Orcus had struck him with his knee.

What was he feeling?

This was pain.

This was what pain felt like.

Apollonius put his arms up... trying to defend himself.

...They had grown slow. His entire body had become slow. His arms... they moved... but the speed... was wrong.

« Run System Diagnostics, Quick Scan. »

⟬ Mana is corrupted in the following locations... ⟭

...Apollonius was afflicted by the heretic's magic. He needed to reboot... he needed to repair the faulty processes.

Orcus had widened his stance, his fist reared back. He moved forward, rotating his body.

That fist was aimed at Apollonius' face.

It struck true.

...and everything grew dark.