• Amethyst eyes narrowed, a scarred grimy looking fist clenched, and bright white contrasting teeth gritting; Ultio's anger was immeasurable. The thought of being weaker then the man he once called a friend; the very thought brought forth a fit of rage that simply couldn't be contained. Watching his silver blade glisten in the sunlight, Ultio felt inclined to strike him while his back was turned, but was able to keep from making any rash decision as he exchanged blows with the large creature that towered before them.

    "Ultio!" The brunette looked back at him with a passive grin plastered across his face as he leapt into the air to avoid the sudden swipe from the creature's tail.

    Ultio remained idle; still speechless from the demonstration of strength and agility. He wasn't aware of the behemoth's fist as it came rushing toward him, but was tackled to the ground and ended up avoiding it in the process. Ultio's eyes were wide, giving the man a glare as he climbed back up to his feet and charged at the creature.

    Ouranos, Ultio's pupil, had come a long way.

    The creature they had been facing was a menace to a nearby town, they had contracted Ultio and Ouranos into disposing of it; offering a handsome reward. It was a dark black shapeless giant, had sharp crimson eyes, long curved claws, a hunched stature, and dirty deformed teeth protruding from its mouth. Despite its bulky features, it was surprisingly agile and had incredible endurance.

    Raising on mighty foot as high as it could, it created a devastating shockwave, crumbling the earth as the ground shook violently, but it didn't affect Ouranos, who had already leapt into the air with his blade pointed toward the creature's skull. The blade merely nicked the surface of its forehead, it smashed its fist into Ouranos abdomen, but Ouranos remained conscious even while freefalling and skidding across the crushed up separated rock that had been created by the shockwave.

    Ultio had still been recovering from the shockwave when he realized that Ouranos had been wounded, he couldn't get his mind off the fact that he wasn't as strong as him anymore…Ouranos had left him in the dust.

    It had only been a few years since Ultio, a polished mercenary, had taken Ouranos on as a pupil. At the time, Ouranos was but a child, too naïve to understand the world and what atrocities it contained. Ultio sympathized with the boy and took him in only to teach him how to defend himself, but he grew closer to him, and saw Ouranos as a little brother and couldn't just leave him on the wayside.

    In their short time together, Ouranos had more than excelled as a student, and proven to be a lot stronger than anyone Ultio had ever met.

    Instead of being proud of him, Ultio grew contemptuous. Ultio hated Ouranos for being stronger than him; he didn't want to believe that someone could be at his level in such a short time. He had worked all of his life to become stronger and Ouranos, an orphan boy, had already become incredibly powerful.

    Another shockwave threw Ultio off balance after he finally managed to recover; he staggered a bit, but held his ground while reaching for the hilt of his own blade.

    The desolate area they had led the creature to was a suitable place for the sort of destruction it had created; it was a wasteland a few kilometers from the village. The area was completely dead due to the fact that it had been deforested in an effort to collect lumber. Whatever cracks and scars left behind wouldn't affect anyone in the long run.

    Drawing his blade the raven haired man ran passed Ouranos, who was still catching his breath, he wanted to show Ouranos that he wasn't going to be left behind…No; he wanted to prove to himself that he was still a capable fighter.

    Letting out a roar, Ultio skidded to a stop a few inches away from the creature, swinging his blade horizontally at its thigh, but its skin proved to be too thick to cut with his blade...That or his blade was too dull. The frustration of not being able to inflict any damage distracted Ultio and ultimately left his guard down, the creature raised its foot to trample him, but it came to a halt and shrieked out in pain.

    In his peripherals, Ultio spotted Ouranos with his blade lodged into its foot.

    Saved…!? He had been saved by Ouranos, it was a low blow. Ultio misinterpreted it as Ouranos insulting him or showboating when in reality, he only wanted to keep his friend from meeting a brutal end.

    "Get the hell out of my way!" Ultio threw his shoulder into Ouranos's, knocking him off his feet, and then drove his own blade into the creature's foot, it let out another shriek, and then swung its leg back and forth until Ultio had gone flying a few yards away. His sword had been lost in the struggle, he watched the monster removed the sword from its foot, and then discarded it like a piece of scrap metal.

    Ultio tried jumping back to his feet, but realized that he was still at a loss of breath.

    "Ultio, are you alright!?" Ultio shot a glare in Ouranos's direction; he still had his sword in hand, while only standing a few feet from the hulking monster. There was no answer, Ultio's pride kept him from answering. Blood fell from his lips, he watched Ouranos as he held his own against the colossus.

    With a simple thrust of his blade, the creature swung its fist back in pain, blood falling from an open wound on its knuckles. Blood pooled on the ground around the foot with two holes in it, taking a step forward, the creature lost its balance and fell onto its side. The crash sent a large dust cloud surging in Ouranos's direction, but he didn't let it intimidating him, he charged into it like a bat out of hell.

    After coming into a clearing, he spotted the creature on its side still; he leapt into the air, and drove his blade into the side of its skull. He twisted several times and pushed down to dig deeper and deeper, pressing his feet against its temple.

    Letting out an unrecognizable howl, its voice eventually died off until it sounded more like a moan.

    Ultio was forced to watch as Ouranos triumphed where he had failed, his eyes were wide, and his fists were clenched as Ouranos hopped off the creature and brushed sweat off his brow nonchalantly. Ouranos had surpassed him…The pupil had surpassed his master. His blood began to boil as Ouranos walked toward him with a carefree grin, his eyes grew glassy, and his breathing became sporadic.

    "Are you okay, Ultio?" Ouranos didn't let Ultio answer, "That was a tough one, but I was able to pull it off, huh? What'd you think?" It was as if Ouranos was doing it purposely, which he wasn't, Ultio walked passed him in attempts to dismiss the situation. He walked toward the now fallen creature, pulling a dirk from its sheath, and cutting off a thick layer of its skin as proof of its demise.

    "Looks like I didn't need you too much after all, eh Ultio?" Ouranos had sheathed his blade and stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked into Ultio's direction.

    "Shut up…" He muffled his voice as he rose to his feet.

    "Say something, Ultio?" Ouranos quirked a brow, Ultio snapped around in his direction and drove the blood soaked dagger into Ouranos's gut, the air retreated out of Ouranos's lungs as he feebly tried to brace himself for the blow. He grabbed Ultio's shoulders, squeezing them tightly, and then grasped hold of his neck.

    "You think you are better than I am!?" Pulling the blade out and pushing it back in over and over; he let out a loud roar. His eyes locked with Ouranos's, almost as if sympathetic, but the look on Ouranos's face pissed him off even more…

    How could he look so content even while being stabbed?

    "Stop laughing at me!" Ultio shoved the blade into the side of Ouranos's neck, sealing the deal as he began to choke on his own blood. The brunette's grip on Ultio's neck loosened as he dropped like a rock onto his back. Blood quickly pooled around his body as his heart began to slow, his skin grew cold, and his eyelids heavy.

    While standing over the one he considered to be his little brother, Ultio felt no remorse for what he had done. In his mind, he had eliminated a potential threat. Leaving Ouranos alive would've only meant that he could betray him later on.

    In his mind…He had done the right thing. It was necessary.

    Blood dripped down from the end of the blade that was still clutched in his right hand, his grip slowly began to loosen, and then fell to the ground, splashing a bit of Ouranos's blood onto the surface of his boot.

    "You think you're better than me!? Do you!?" He demanded, speaking to a corpse at this point. "You think that this meant anything!? I spent my whole life doing this; you're not even half the man I am!" Losing his breath, Ultio brought kicked Ouranos in the ribs several times, forcing his body onto its side.

    "Weakling…" It was the pot calling the kettle black and deep down; he knew that.

    It was the feeling he had been dreading, he didn't want to feel weak, but struck Ouranos when his guard was down. He asked himself why he had done it, but in the back of his mind knew it was because he wouldn't have stood a chance if it had been a fair fight between the two.

    In the end…It was Ouranos who had defeated the creature as Ultio watched, for he was helpless without his sword. Envy and pride played a factor in Ultio's motive, he didn't want to acknowledge that Ouranos was naturally gifted, and he wanted the power and glory for himself. Had Ouranos not proven to be stronger then Ultio, he would've gladly shared the glory of the victory with him…Now, he stood at Ultio's feet lying in a pool of his own blood.

    Ultio was left with nothing, to live a life that would amount to nothing, because he knew deep down…He would've never been as strong as Ouranos, no matter how much he trained, and how much experience he had...Ouranos would've won every single time.

    Abandoning the layer of skin half cut off, Ultio began to walk away from the scene in a daze.

    He…He rubbed it in my face! I could see it eyes; he thought that he was better than I am. How could one who had absolutely no experience advance farther than I could!? I spent my life working, practicing, and fighting for my life to be bested by someone who didn't even know how to wield a blade before he met me!

    The thoughts plagued his mind as he continued to walked, both praising and hating himself for what he had done to Ouranos. He was doomed to live a life in the shadow of his pupil…