Chapter 12: Clash of Titans
The sky above L’Manberg had darkened, as if reflecting the tension and chaos of the battlefield below. Thunder rumbled in the distance, ominous and foreboding, but it was drowned out by the clash of weapons, the shouts of soldiers, and the cries of the wounded.
Tommy’s sword clashed with Technoblade’s axe, the force of the impact sending shockwaves up his arm. The sheer power behind Techno’s strikes was overwhelming, but Tommy didn’t back down. He gritted his teeth, pushing against the force, his mind focused on one thing: keeping Techno away from L’Manberg. From Tubbo.
Technoblade, for all his strength, fought with a calmness that unnerved Tommy. His movements were precise, efficient, and he barely seemed winded despite the intensity of their duel. To Techno, this was just another battle. Another war. But for Tommy, it was everything.
“You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that,” Techno remarked, his voice steady as ever, even in the middle of combat. He blocked another swing from Tommy’s sword with ease, his expression unreadable. “But you’re outmatched.”
Tommy growled, refusing to let those words shake him. “Maybe! But I’m not letting you get past me, Techno. Not this time!”
He swung his sword again, but Techno parried with ease, sending Tommy stumbling back a step. The force of the blow rattled through him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. This wasn’t just about proving something to Techno—or even to himself. It was about protecting L’Manberg and the people he cared about.
Especially Tubbo.
Techno’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if reading Tommy’s thoughts. “You think you can save him, don’t you? Tubbo, L’Manberg… all of it. But war doesn’t work like that, Tommy. You don’t get to win just because you want it more.”
Tommy gritted his teeth, swinging again. “Shut up!”
Their weapons clashed once more, sparks flying from the impact. Tommy could feel the strain in his muscles, the exhaustion creeping in, but he refused to give in. He had to keep going. He had to hold Techno off long enough for Tubbo to—
His thoughts were cut short as Techno’s axe came down in a swift, brutal arc. Tommy barely managed to block it, the force of the blow sending him sprawling to the ground. His sword slipped from his grip, clattering against the stone floor of the battlefield.
For a moment, the world seemed to blur around him. The sounds of the battle faded, replaced by the pounding of his own heartbeat in his ears. He could see Techno looming over him, his expression cold and detached.
“Tommy,” Techno said quietly, his voice carrying a weight that sent a shiver down Tommy’s spine. “You don’t have to die for this.”
Tommy blinked up at him, struggling to catch his breath. The pain in his side from Techno’s strike was sharp, but it wasn’t enough to dull the fire still burning in his chest. He wasn’t giving up. Not now. Not ever.
With a grunt of effort, Tommy forced himself to his feet, grabbing his sword as he stood. His body ached, and his breaths were shallow, but he held his ground.
“I’m not dying today,” Tommy spat, raising his sword once more. “Not while there’s still something worth fighting for.”
Techno’s eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, something like respect flickered across his face. But it was gone just as quickly.
“Then come at me, Tommy.”
---
On the other side of the battlefield, Tubbo fought with a ferocity that surprised even himself. Every swing of his sword felt heavier than the last, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him as he fended off the Syndicate’s soldiers. His mind was split between his own fight and the one happening across the field, where he knew Tommy was facing Techno.
Tubbo’s heart raced as he caught glimpses of the duel between Tommy and Techno. Every time Tommy staggered back, Tubbo’s breath caught in his throat. He wanted to be there, fighting alongside him, but he couldn’t. He had his own battle to win—his own people to protect.
The masked figure from the Syndicate advanced toward him, their movements swift and calculated. Tubbo barely had time to react before their blade was swinging toward him, and he blocked it just in time, the force of the strike nearly sending him to his knees.
“You’re in over your head, Tubbo,” the masked figure said, their voice sharp and mocking. “You think you can lead this nation, defend it from us? You’re just a boy.”
Tubbo gritted his teeth, his anger flaring. “Maybe I am! But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop fighting for it!”
He pushed back against the masked figure, his sword cutting through the air with newfound determination. He wouldn’t let them win. Not here. Not now.
But even as he fought, Tubbo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. His mind kept drifting back to Tommy, to the look in his eyes before the battle had started—the unspoken promise that they would protect each other, no matter what.
And now, as the battle raged on, Tubbo realized that promise was slipping away. He had to get to Tommy. He had to make sure he was okay.
With a sudden burst of energy, Tubbo broke away from the masked figure, dodging their next attack and sprinting toward the part of the battlefield where Tommy and Techno were fighting.
His heart pounded in his chest as he ran, dodging Syndicate soldiers and L’Manberg’s own forces alike. He could see Tommy up ahead, still locked in combat with Techno, their duel drawing the attention of everyone around them.
“Tommy!” Tubbo shouted, his voice barely carrying over the sounds of the battle.
Tommy glanced back for a split second, his eyes meeting Tubbo’s. In that moment, Tubbo saw everything—the exhaustion, the pain, but also the fire that hadn’t gone out. Tommy wasn’t giving up. Neither of them were.
But then, just as Tubbo reached them, Techno’s axe came down in a powerful swing. Tommy raised his sword to block it, but the force was too much. The blade snapped in two, and Tommy staggered back, his eyes wide with shock.
“Tommy!” Tubbo’s voice cracked with fear as he rushed forward, his heart pounding in his chest.
Without thinking, Tubbo lunged between them, raising his sword to block the next strike. The clash of metal echoed around them, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
Tubbo stood there, his sword locked against Techno’s axe, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. He could feel the weight of the weapon pressing down on him, but he didn’t back down.
“Not him,” Tubbo growled through gritted teeth, his eyes locked on Techno. “You’re not taking him.”
Techno’s expression shifted ever so slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. For a moment, it looked as though he might say something, but then he stepped back, lowering his axe.
“I see,” Techno said quietly, his voice almost… respectful. “You two… you’re different.”
Before Tubbo could respond, a shout from the Syndicate’s ranks caught Techno’s attention. He glanced back, and with a final, calculating look at Tommy and Tubbo, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the chaos of the battlefield.
Tubbo stood there, breathing heavily, his heart still racing. Tommy stumbled forward, his hands shaking, but he was alive. They were both alive.
For now.
But the battle wasn’t over yet. And neither was the war.
