The Final

"You know you are unbearably cocky for being so unbelievably weak." Thorne began with a malicious sneer.

His remark instantly pissed me off, as I instantly lost my cool. "Look at yourself, you live a pathetic life who's only purpose is to spit on other people's accomplishments. I'm here to beat the shit out of you."

Professor Ego didn't appreciate our petty insults towards each other either, although he kept his eyes fixed firmly on the ground, focused entirely on observing our feet. "Enough," he interrupted sharply. "Guys, let's finish this quickly so that everyone can go home, it's nearly curfew. In fact, please refrain from further making me lose my patience and energy. I've had a long day and would prefer not having to drag this out too long. So no holding back!"

"Understood, TREMOR WAVE!" Thorne smacked his hand on the ground creating ripples of earth shooting up around me knocking me away. This was the spell that defeated Emerson, yet it was weak since I resisted it due to me being in the right position. It felt good.

I darted towards him and immediately unleashed a flurry of punches. Thorne however blocked each one, his face strained slightly each time he moved, before punching me in my chest, catching me completely off guard.

As I reeled from his blow, he pulled his arm back, preparing for a second strike, aiming directly at my shoulder blades, intending to bring his full strength into it.

Professor Ego bellowed, "DON'T YOU DARE STOP THAT MOVEMENT, FIGHT!"

As Thorne was caught off guard, I dropped to the floor and grabbed his leg, knocking his balance off and using his own weight against him, bringing his own torso right above the ground, flipping him and causing him to fall backwards.

I managed to stay on him long enough to hold him down and land a punch across his mouth, cutting his bottom lip wide open and causing blood to drip down onto the concrete beneath.

"STONE SPIKE." I could hear him cry out, but by the time he could react, I was already slamming his head against the floor with extreme force, enough force to cause his nose to break open from where it hit.

But before Thorne could retaliate, I felt a sharp stabbing pain erupt throughout my body as he brought up a large boulder that struck me right in the back. It hit with such power I could not stand, instead I toppled over to the side with my left arm broken, and my torso bruised, preventing me from breathing properly. My vision blurred and darkened as my eyes tried to close.

"I can't believe you made the finals. You're so weak it's actually laughable!" Thorne exclaimed harshly, his tone dripping with condescension.

I grunted, rolling over and rising from the ground to stand once more, taking a step closer to him until I stood right next him, his eyes never straying from my face, studying the sweat dripping down my forehead, noticing my trembling hands gripping tightly around his neck.

"You're a wreck, you can't even muster the strength to-" Before he could finish that sentence, my body began glowing a violet aura. The entire crowd stood there in awe as Thorne looked at me with a baffled expression.

Then Ego's voice pierced through the quietness of the arena, his voice filled with worry and authority, "CYRUS DON'T DO THIS!" But it was too late, the damage had already begun, Aether filled up my body as the temperature rapidly increased around us.

My body felt hot, searing heat spread throughout my being like wildfire, consuming every single part. My vision was going cloudy as it took all my effort to remain standing.

But this was a game changer.

Thorne realized as his expression changed rapidly, trying to compose himself to attack. But before he could even get into a battle ready stance, my fist collided into his stomach, sending his whole body flying back from the impact of the punch. His body slammed hard against the stone wall and sent cracks spider-webbing out along its surface. When he hit it, his head jerked backward and blood came spurting out of his open mouth.

However, that wasn't all that happened to his face; his nose was also shattered, his face was split open, and blood flowed freely down his body like a torrent. His arms were broken as they had twisted weirdly after the initial impact of my attack. The sheer intensity of his injuries almost looked painful, even from where I stood. After that I lost consciousness due to the potency of Aether flowing through my body.

Ego's Perspective:

"SHIT. CYRUS I TOLD YOU THAT'S ENOUGH!" I screamed out, hoping for a response, but it was too late. Cyrus has been completely engulfed in the corruption of the Aether in his body.

In the blink of an eye he was in front of Thorne, preparing an attack to finish him off. "What the hell are... you?" Thorne grunted in agony, his speech slurred by the broken bones and bleeding mouth.

"I am the architect of despair, I am everything that you want to be, and I am the last thing that you will ever see." Cyrus spat out, his face contorting in anger and pain. He looked demonic.

"CYRUS, DON'T DO IT!" I rushed over and grabbed Cyrus pulling him back.

"Fuck." He shouted as a pain racked my entire body and blood dripped off his nails. "Let go.." he screamed out, trying to break free of my hold.

At that point my hold of him loosened but not before Cyrus attacked with all his might. Blood spattered and coated his knuckles, his eyes a glazed purple, dark blue rings lining its surface. His irises burned deep and bright, making them seem brighter than usual and giving him a dangerous look. "You are not Cyrus... you're something far more dangerous." I managed to choke out in horror, my lungs failing me due to exhaustion.

"Don't test me SK." His voice was different too, sounding deeper and darker than normal, lacking the hint of kindness and lightness I heard earlier, his words coming out as a threatening growl. His entire body was smoking slightly and emitting small, deadly sparks.

"SK... you fucking piece of shit." I incanted a scythe made out of oblivion magic that cleaved towards him. It tore a gaping hole into his leg as a red streak appeared against his thigh but didn't break flesh.

Cyrus snarled viciously as he staggered away, avoiding my attack and stumbling back several steps before regaining his balance. I continued slashing relentlessly.

"Damn you..." Cyrus growled, his voice laced with venom.

He looked at me with anger bristling through his body. Before he could attack again, he dropped to the ground unconscious. It seems Cyrus fought back for control and won. I'm curious to know what the hell is causing him to switch personalities...