Protectors- Wrath of The Stranger

Chapter Nine: Brutality of the Broken One

Apis sprang forward, lashing out at Noctum with all of his confidence. The knowledge that he was destined to win gave him a whole new level of newfound strength. His punches tore small rips in Noctum's skin, the glowing red veins pumping blood through the gaping holes. It was as if the cold from Apis's aura was stronger than Adam's heat, pushing the fire from his eyes,

"I will win because it is my destiny," Apis said, his voice devoid of all but for mindless determination, "I will end your life,"

"You already did that," Noctum replied, "but I came back, infinitely stronger. Stronger than you,"

Despite his taunt, Adam was breathing heavily, not used to the sheer amount of power his body was expelling. The Stranger took advantage of this, hitting Noctum with a knee in the gut. Before the bloody vomit had left his lips, Apis tossed the vigilante upwards, hitting him with the same vacuum punch that Noctum had used earlier,

"I have levelled every other god," Apis boomed, "you are no match for me,"

He pushed Noctum further and further upwards, the vigilante barely able to defend himself from the onslaught. Then they exited the upper atmosphere, the frigid vacuum of space closing around them. Even though no sound could be heard in space, Apis used his aura to communicate with Noctum,

"Well, Starless Night," his telepathic voice whispered as Noctum clawed at his throat, unable to breathe, "gods like me can survive days without oxygen. Now you, the starless night, will die among the very things that brighten your world,"

Apis pummelled Noctum from all sides, moving through the vacuum using his aura. Each punch, each kick, each elbow strike, Noctum felt them all, his body growing weaker, limply hanging in the void of nothingness. The pain began to subside, icy nothingness beckoning him, giving him a hollow feeling. He felt so alone, so broken, he longed to float among the stars for all of eternity. Even in that moment, he felt Apis' fist burst through his abdomen, tugging glistening organs out of him,

"No!" He screamed, but nobody heard,

He tried to think of his friends, to motivate himself into one last burst of energy, but he could not. He did not have enough energy left. He did not have enough life left,

"I could live a million years," Apis spoke, charging an energy blast, "and you would still be the greatest opponent I have ever faced,"

He let the energy loose, singing Noctum's skin. It reminded him of those years of torture, the worst time of his life. Then he remembered all that came afterwards. He remembered the night before his first battle with Bjorn, lounging atop the sand dunes on the beach, warm air hanging with the saltiness of the sea,

"You alright?" The voice that he thought he would never hear again said, "Earth to Adam,"

Noctum opened his eyes to see Phoebe, the soft serve ice cream held like a pencil in her hand, hair billowing around her shoulders like a halo,

"Phoebe..." He whispered, throat dry and sore, "I'm... sorry... I... failed,"

"No, Adam," She answered, "you did everything you could. Do you remember what you did when I was killed?"

"I... killed... everyone,"

"Yes. You did not try and kill yourself, as many would have in your situation,"

She leaned in closer, resting her head on his shoulder,

"You kept on living, and that's exactly what I'm asking you to do now. Please, Adam, keep on living,"

Then the vision was gone, and Adam looked into the stars, gazing into the space between, relishing in the sheer beauty of nothingness. He swung at Apis, who, surprised at his opponent's endurance, barely caught the fist,