Alert: Rhy has won

The noise clattered out from our weapons, the sound of steel on steel echoed through the streets. Neither of us were giving ground as we pushed back and forth slashing away at each other, the rain splashing by our feet. Each tiny movement rippled on the wet floor. My arms hurt as I relentlessly attacked. My feet darted back and forth with every hit, blocking and attacking, lost in an endless cycle of hits neither of us hesitating. With each blow time seemed to stop, the endless torrent of rain relenting with every clash of our blades. I dived forward with my feet jumping off the stone floor and towards him my sword crashing into the metal shaft of the spear, my entire body pushing down into his weapon pressing down, I dropped down onto the ground, dropping my sword as I dodged under the spear, my fist rising to his chin. Closing the gap I jumped up, my fist smashing into his face, He grounded himself and widened his stance, then it started his entire body coated with fire as he grabbed onto me. We were enveloped in flames as he held me, I struggled to get away my skin burning, my health decreasing. Calm down! I shouted at myself as I struggled pathetically, my arms flailing. I kicked out with my leg hitting the hilt of my sword. It spun off the ground and I grabbed the ribbon, swinging it around to his arm, the blade cut into him.

'Alert: Skill activated - "boiling blood" '

His wound bubbled and he dropped his spear clutching the wound. I jumped back gripping my sword.

"Heh heh that trick again? I'd hoped you'd gotten stronger."

He charged at me, his spear dragging behind him as he ran. Then with one hand he swung it round in a long arc, the long weapon crashing into my side, I swung my sword up to defend my feet sliding across the ground. I pushed the spear off charging forward into Avon's open stance. He smiled and opened his mouth.

"ONE BILLION ARROWS RISE FROM THE GROUND AND PIERCE MY ENEMIES! HOLY BATTLEGROUND!"

The words sounded out through the silent street. Had he reduced the cast time? It was too late to dodge. I braced myself for the millions of arrows but nothing came. I opened my eyes timidly to see his fist flying through the air hitting me in the face. He dropped his spear, bunching me as I blocked. I dropped my sword too blocking. My arms forming an X over my body. Each hid smashing into me. It wasn't that his punches were especially strong but for some reason they hurt. He punched into my arms for minutes never letting up, hitting me with one fist after another each punch got weaker and weaker. I stood there in the rain, the punches were barely taps now, his face was covered by his hair as he looked down. He punched me with such little heart. Until he stopped entirely. Falling to his knees. He stared up into my eyes as I stood the rain falling on the ground soaking both of us. I watched as his eyes streamed with tears. The rain charged down in the empty street that was the only silence as we stared at each other.

"Dammit!"

His fist smashed into the street, anger and sadness pouring out.

"I'm still not strong enough. I know she loves you. Dammit! Dammit."

All I could do was stare at him, I feel so bad? Is this really how it's going to end?

He screamed into the air, the rain stopped. Not because of anything he had done. It just stopped. The clouds parted and a ray of light broke through shining on us as we sat soaked, in the middle of a street. I stared at my best friend as he sat crying. He lost the will to fight, the one thing he loved more than anything. It crushed me. I was so sad. It was worse than seeing my grandpa's corpse, somehow seeing Avon give up on everything my eyes started to well up. I cried the kind of silent crying, involuntary but necessary.

'Alert: Rhy has won.'

"Why did this have to happen. Why did I have to fall in love with her? of all people why her? Why did I have to fall in love with the girl who loves my best friend?"

I couldn't come up with the words to comfort him. There was nothing I could do but stare. I wanted to help but how? What could I do? What was there to do?

"This doesn't change anything, I still have to go. And I still think of you as my best friend but in the end i still hate you. I hate that you have her love. I hate that you have this incredible power. I hate that you stand so high above me and I hate that you brought me up to your level, that you let me glimpse the summit knowing I could never get there. I hate you."

"I….I'm"

"It's fine you don't have to say anything. Thank you for fighting me. Thank you for faceing me one last time. I hope you figure yourself out before it's too late."

With that we walked separate ways. Our backs turned, we never looked back, the rain had stopped leaving a momentary spot of light. But we both walked away, back into the rain. Back into the darkness, back from the light our backs turned we walked onwards to our own paths.

I walked through the streets, they were empty. I walked through the rain trying to find Chaaya. Until I came to a crowd, a huge crowd. The world stopped for me. People chanted and talked but everything was silent as I saw that message. The one alert I didn't want to see. The one thing I couldn't bear to look at. Were my worst fears coming true? Could it be?