Deprivation

"It's far from over."

There across the parking lot, standing over Venus, was the embodiment of greed.

It was Midas.

He held a gleaming purple gem in hand. Midas grinned.

"Activate Trinity Gem, resurrect Venus Van Hattum."

The gem flashed and began radiating a revitalizing aura. Particles of pure light emerged from within the crystal, being absorbed towards Venus' dead body.

The feeling of radiant energy suddenly increased in the atmosphere. Venus' neck began to mend back together.

The blood that stained the pavement shriveled while fresh new blood circulated throughout his entangled veins.

In an instant, his eyes relatched onto a glimpse of vanity. Venus quickly sat up catching his breath.

He wheezed as life rematerialized before him, choking on what he thought was still his overflowing blood but was actually just his saliva. Venus looked ahead towards Abel and Axel, then up at Midas who stood above him. His eyes grew wide in shock.

"Midas!" He coughed. "You're too close to me!"

"Shut your mouth," Midas laughed. "If it weren't for me, you'd still be dead right now."

Venus went unspoken.

"With an increased amount of power like that, we can easily get through this tournament and win."

"You imbecile... Don't you dare look at me like a tool!"

Midas scoffed. "Trust me, I'll use you like one if I have to."

"Tsk!" Venus brushed his shirt off.

Midas then looked up towards Abel and Axel.

"What's this? I thought I killed you two."

Abel eyed him with discomfort. He subconsciously ran his hand over his stomach to feel for the supposed wound. But then again, there was no wound.

"Doesn't matter. I'll finish the job right now."

A sudden burst of energy crackled the air, and Midas began an instant sprint towards the two.

While sitting down, Venus felt an abrupt pressure compress his heart.

"Urg—!" He clutched his chest in pain. "Midas... you broke the Pact you damn imbecile…"

In the action, Axel heaved his hatchet at the running Midas, who weaved out of the way completely avoiding it.

"Must say you got some shitty aim!" Midas pounced forward unsheathing his knife.

Axel stood still, seemingly about to take in the attack. Abel noticed this, and jumped in front to parry the strike.

Clang!

Midas was swayed back by the force of Abel's block.

"You're still as annoying as ever Abel."

Upon hearing this, Abel suddenly felt something light inside him. Anger swelled up within.

It was a sudden urge, but Abel wanted to know his real name now more than ever. He hated the fact that he still went by the name given by the very person who betrayed him.

"I trusted you, you know."

Midas scoffed. "Like I cared."

"Tsk!" Bitter emotion then drove Abel to move forward, slashing in Midas' direction. Hatred and resentment resided within each swing. His urges swayed down a path of agony. Abel now knew what he wanted.

He wanted Midas to be in pain.

Abel kept slashing and slashing, not once giving Midas a chance to fight back. Each blocked strike was quickly followed up by another, creating a game of clear-cut offense and defense.

Midas felt annoyed, but smirked with a sudden realization. "That's right..."

Abel pounced forward engaging another attack, but this time it was interrupted by an alarming feeling. It felt as if his heart had just shattered like glass. He clutched his throbbing chest in pain, suddenly losing all motivation to fight. His rage-induced state was now reduced to a state of absolute weakness.

On the other hand, Midas was seemingly invigorated. He raised his knife, viewing the clear opportunity he now had to finish Abel off. But his excitement was quickly interrupted by a strike in his direction which he dodged. Axel had joined the fight.

"You—!" Midas ducked under Axel's swing. His face was written with clear intent. Axel's eyes read bloodthirsty.

The two exchanged countless attacks and dodges. But Midas had a clear upper hand. After all the defense he'd been playing against Abel, he felt it was his time to strike offensively.

Though some missed, he was landing some slashes on Axel. Cuts gashed his arm, his chest, and his shoulder. Axel responded with numerous irritating grunts of pain.

Though he was on the receiving end, Axel's intense expression never changed. It seemed to only intensify. But Abel noticed Axel was struggling. He felt compelled to support his pair.

Abel's anger for Midas was suddenly reawakened, and he got back up on his feet. He began to charge in his direction. Axel noticed this and hopped back as Abel lunged in for a strike of his own. Midas jumped back in defense, annoyed at Abel's return.

"You okay?" Abel retreated alongside Axel. He was visibly irritated. He'd been this way ever since the reveal of his true motive. Axel clearly had strong emotions centered around his brother.

"This is my mission, not yours. You aren't a part of this matter to begin with." Axel kept his eyes peeled forward, not once engaging eye contact with Abel. But Abel continued to watch him in concern.

"Whether it's my matter or not, I want to help you."

Axel sighed. "I don't NEED YOUR HELP ABEL!"

Abel froze in shock.

"This is about MY brother, not yours. I'm going to be the one to avenge him, and you aren't going to meddle with that!"

Abel's heart rate picked up. He felt disregarded, and that made him feel somewhat mad.

"You know I'm just trying to be a good guy and help you out—"

"SHUT UP!" Axel screamed. He'd had enough of Abel by now.

"You two seem to get along well," Midas chuckled.

Abel looked ahead. Midas was readied with his knife, looking more energized than ever. Behind him, Venus now stood watching with a grin.

"There's a lot of negative energy coming off that hatchet imbecile. You should use it Midas."

"You're right." Midas clenched his hand into a tight fist.

The air suddenly collapsed, condensing into a singularity.

Abel's ears popped. He gasped for air with the realization that it had become thinner. Abel looked to his left, and now saw Axel clutching his chest in pain.

"What the hell?" Abel said. "What did you just do?!"

Midas opened his hand, looking down at his palm that glimmered with liveliness. "Just borrowed some of his energy..."

"Is that part of his sinful power? Just like Venus' force-like abilities, Midas has some of his own?" The thoughts circulated Abel's mind, spiraling into a feeling of negativity. Abel was unsettled.

Looking back up, he noticed Midas was now charging towards them. He had built up more speed than before. Everything about Midas was super-enhanced.

He lunged forwards, his knife piercing through the thin air. Its tip was aimed directly at Axel's weakened chest that he clutched.

Midas smiled. "You're done for!"

Abel watched in awe with the realization that he was about to witness Axel die. But the thought was quickly interrupted by a grasp at his arm. Abel was pulled towards Axel.

"H-Huh?"

Abel suddenly found himself directly in front of Axel. Before he could gather his thoughts, Midas knife drove straight into its target, impaling through the constricting layers until the blade was completely enveloped in flesh.

Abel's chest gushed with blood.

"Guh—!"

Familiar pain and agony overtook his consciousness.