Protectors- Consequence

Chapter Thirty: The Death of an Angel Pt1

The news footage around the world was the most watched video of all time, far beyond even the reveal of Noctum's face from mere days before. Everyone's eyes were on Noctum as he flung himself out of Shu's way, kicking him in the back of the neck with full force. His Aura surged inwards as he did so, giving him respite from the soul burner technique's effects. Shu spun anyway, lashing out with newfound strength, and although Noctum pushed and pulled his Aura with perfect precision, the god's strength and speed only increased as he forced Noctum backwards,

"You bastard!" Shu screamed, throwing caution to the wind, his blows getting heavier and his guard getting weaker, "I'll kill you for what you've done!"

Noctum saw an opening, and suddenly Shu's Aura was dispersed, and the man had blood running down his chin, and he was being held horizontally by Noctum's fist. Adam Oughton threw Shu forward, hitting him with a blast of Aura as he tumbled down the mountainside,

"You need to relax, you asshole," Noctum grunted as he landed before the crouching Shu, black and yellow bruises already forming on his arms, "just because you're immortal doesn't mean you can't fall in love. It just hurts more when they die,"

Shu panted as his arms rippled with Aura, the power turning itself on him due to the exertion,

"You've also failed to master Aura enough to swap between soul burner and your other states. You're already burnt out, Shu," 

Noctum seized his opponent's weakness, launching into a barrage of attacks by pulling his Aura into himself to increase his attack power. Shu was on the defensive now, being forced back by the sheer magnitude of the number of punches that flew at him, but with a grunt, he was able to find an opening and vacuum wave away. Noctum swung wildly, his Aura following his fists like a wave of grenades, blowing Shu into the mountain face, which was instantly broken on top, the giant rock sliding to the cold forest below. Shu lay in a crater that was left from his collision, and Noctum glided down slowly to land next to him, Aura flowing freely from his body,

"You're a very powerful and noble fighter," Noctum began, "but not even your drive to stop my villainy is enough for you to win,"

Shu struggled to stand, his body glowing as the snow above them melted far before they hit the ground,

"I didn't know it would hurt that much," he teared up, "she passed away from old age, but those forty years were the best of my entire life,"

Noctum kicked Shu off the mountain, hearing the cry of pain from the god, and he felt remorse, but not enough to cancel his conviction.

The virus was killing him. He could feel it throughout his entire body, ripping his insides to shreds. And that was when he saw her, the goddess, and she spoke to him,

"Adam, you have shown me much in your lifetime, but it is coming to an end soon,"

He found himself in purgatory, without any pain or scars, where his entire body was relaxed to its utmost.

"You have a lot to answer to," He started on the goddess, who seemed very sad when she spoke to him, 

"I- well, I have done a lot of foolish things in this universe," She started, her silky voice marred with pain and regret, "but none more than trying to keep you from coming back against The Stranger. And that's why I'm going to let you know something you shouldn't know,"

Noctum considered The One Above's apology, and although he wanted to deny her the satisfaction of accepting it, he knew that it was the best course of action if he wanted to leave purgatory,

"I accept your apology, Goddess," Noctum responded, "but I decline your offer of the future, as it was wrong before, and it will be wrong now,"

The Goddess spoke again before Noctum could continue, "No, your death was predicted to be at the hands of a god. It has not been removed, merely postponed to an uncertain point in time,"