The Conquerors Path

774  Chapter 772-Fight To Death Or To Win?

Luna watched with bated breath as the corruption of the divine half covered Austin, and it didn't even take a split second before she isolated the complete space, making sure that no one could see the situation, one that would instantly brand him as corrupt and strip him of everything Austin had worked so hard to achieve.

"Austin... what are you?"

As those words filled with pain and confusion hit, as Luna was about to do what should be done, a gentle blue light she had come to love covered Austin, the blue light fighting against the rest. A half-covering happened over Austin, making him look almost of mixed colours, and Luna could see deeper into it.

'A fight is happening, Austin hasn't lost yet.'

Thus, Luna did everything within her power to make sure that Austin was okay. She had a lot to tell him, and for it, she wished to see him come out just as he had gone in. The fight happened within her eyes as Luna watched the situation. At first, it seemed that red took the lead, but the blue fought back with even more strength at the issue.

The fight continued in a draw-like situation as Luna watched with bated breath, the aura of both powers raging forth to an extreme level. It seemed the final battle was at its point, as with a single clash of the auras, everything seemingly turned silent. Luna acted within that moment as she saw both the red and blue fade away from Austin's body.

Now, it was safe for Luna to approach Austin. If she had done it earlier, even she, with her powers, would have been affected by the situation. Thus, when things settled down, she reacted instantly, her full focus going on the body, and the moment she saw the situation within Austin's body, horror flashed through Luna's eyes as she screamed.

'NO!'

With that scream, Luna pushed her godly limits, powering her whole body as she used her essence to clutch onto Austin's dissipating mental realm, and thus, with one final move, she was able to hold onto the dying embers, using her powers to keep everything in check. She could see that it was reaching the end, yet the end hadn't been reached at all.

'Austin, this is the last thing I can do. Please, get out and come back to me!'

As she wished, she held the mental realm together, waiting for Austin to come back, hoping for Austin to come back.

...

'Urgh... I feel like I am being lost.'

Austin thought as he drowned through the liquid, his whole surroundings filled with darkness. Austin felt as if the whole world was turning blurry for him. He was drowning through it, his mind, which he had built to be strong, being broken by himself. Austin could feel the world around him slipping away, along with his life.

Austin's mind flashed with a lot of regrets as this kept happening. He hadn't completed any goal yet. If he were to die now, his family and all the girls that depended on him would be devastated. They would all go mad, and Austin knew it, the faces of his family and all the girls flashing by one by one within his mind.

It was added to the weight of the things he had left behind. Without him to keep an eye on them, without him to manage it all, everything would fall, and there was a high chance that the truth of who he was would slowly become known, which would devastate the hearts of all the ones who loved and trusted him.

'All the strength and power I had, making me divine, and yet now I float away to death like just any other mortal, alone and fearful, filled with regret.'

A content thought rang in Austin's mind as everything seemed to be shutting down, and just at the moment when everything was about to break, a connection was established, a power Austin was very familiar with entering his breaking mental realm, holding together the final embers, giving him one more final chance.

'Luna...'

Austin thought as he felt the power slowly holding his mental realm in place. Along with it, he also felt Luna's emotions, her desire for him to come back. A smile filled the cracked face of Austin as he thought.

'Looks like I am really not alone, even in my death.'

As Austin thought of this, his body, which was drowning in the dark water, was pulled forward. Before Austin could realise it, he was back again, standing within the 'water' land. But no longer did the pale surroundings look beautiful, and no longer did everything look fixed. Cracks spread everywhere that Austin could gaze at.

The ground that held vast waters was now dried and cracked, with barely any water there at all. Austin then turned toward the coughing sound, his gaze falling on 'Austin' standing in front of him. Both of their eyes met, yet now, neither of them looked as all-powerful and supreme as they had moments ago.

No longer any protection from the divine, no longer any mental power to pull off any tricks or use their power. Now, all that remained were two humans facing each other with just their fists and their normal will. The two of them gazed at each other, both understanding the fact that this was the end, the final stretch to decide the winner.

"Guess it's the good old-fashioned man-on-man fight."

Austin spoke, his words resonating along with the sounds of cracks and breaking happening all around. With a smile, Austin raised his hands to fight, both his and 'Austin's' bodies looking cracked and wretched, a reminder that they were part of this world that was being destroyed.

"Guess that's one way to end it."

'Austin' replied, with a much more emotionless and hollowed-out behaviour now. Since the corruption energy had all dried up, both gazes matched against each other as Austin and 'Austin' rushed at each other. Their fists now met the powerful punch, barely a dent against the fight before. Right now, it was a martial fight, and the two were equal in it, too.

Austin dodged the kick to his head, rushing forth with a punch against 'Austin's' cheek. It was a hit, but it also came with taking a hit from 'Austin' right in his stomach.

Austin gasped as the punch connected with his gut, sending pain through his body, but he refused to step back. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together as he grunted, pushing through the pain, and immediately swung his left fist up, connecting with the side of his darker half's face. The sound of knuckles hitting flesh reverberated in the silent realm.

'Austin,' the corrupted half barely flinched from the impact, his hollow eyes staring back with no signs of retreat. A cold smirk pulled at the corners of his cracked lips, 'blood' trickling down from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his movements slow and deliberate. The ground beneath them shook, more fissures spreading across the surface, and with each shift, the mental realm creaked. Both fighters stood, glaring at one another, each step they took forward mirrored by the other. The tension in the air was thick, but neither flinched nor hesitated. It was like looking into a cracked mirror, each side knowing that the other had the same weaknesses, the same strengths. No advantage to exploit, only the raw will to fight on.

"You're slowing down," Austin muttered through clenched teeth as he dashed forward. His legs pushed him off the crumbling ground with speed, his fist flying toward 'Austin's' jaw.

'Austin' ducked at the last second, narrowly dodging the attack, but the wind from Austin's punch sent a gust that ruffled his hair. In a smooth, practised motion, 'Austin' retaliated with a brutal uppercut aimed at Austin's chin, but Austin twisted his torso, just barely avoiding the full brunt of the attack.

Austin and 'Austin' stumbled back from each other, both breathing heavily now, their bodies broken, battered, and bleeding, now, it was just two men, devoid of the godly power that had powered them for so long. All that remained was their will to survive and the desperation to come out on top.

"You think you can get rid of me so easily?" 'Austin' sneered, blood dripping from his cracked lips, his eyes gleaming with evil intent. "I'm not just some mistake you can erase. I'm part of you, Austin. I am you."

Austin wiped the sweat and blood from his brow, his breath coming out in heavy pants, his mind racing through the years and the decisions that led him to this moment. There was truth in 'Austin's' words, and that was the terrifying part. This wasn't an enemy he could vanquish through sheer force. This was his darkness, his guilt, his regret, and fear.

"I know," Austin muttered, his voice softer now. "You are me. But that doesn't mean I have to let you win."

With new determination, Austin charged again, and this time, he fought not just with his fists but with every ounce of mental strength he had left.