The grim reality

[vasily]

Silence befell all who remained in the arena. Fierhart was beaten. Archer stood over the fallen "hero", he body still tingling from finally facing his one time mentor. He falls to his knees beside Simon. He reaches over and brushes Simon's hair from his eyes as he speaks...

My dearest Simon. So disappointed I am. Did you really think I didn't know your plan? Did you not teach me the science of war? You believed that I won't know you were holding back. You didn't think I'd fight at my full strength. Sad is the folly of men. You hold back because you know the same thing I do. It's killing you. You've fooled so many. They believe you've changed. That you've been "purged". But not I. I can smell it in your blood still. How DOES it feel to actually see your own mortality? Perhaps now, laying here in defeat you finally grasp what is to come of this. I've change, Simon. What you choose to lose. I'm embraced. Stare into my eyes an see what you helped create. What you once were. And the what shall be your ultimate END. To finish you now would be unsporting.[/font][/size]

Archer rises to one knee over Simon.


No no. The realization of your mortality taste far better. I want to remember this moment for posterity. The day I watched "The Destroyer"...the living monolith rise to his feet having finally been bested. Come now, Simon. Rise. Rise and except you WEAKNESS to me.[/font][/size]

[simon]

Simon clutches his chest. His lungs feel as if they were set ablaze. From the very first blow Archer landed, Simon realized that something was not right. It felt as if he was hit by an axe and not a punch. But Archer was right. He knew it all along. For all these months, Simon was not well. He was in constant agony. His body, so used to being infused with the hellish power that made him "The Destroyer" for over 11 years, couldn't take the strain of being "mortal". It was proven in his fight with Thanatos. As fearsome a foe as he was, Had he been "whole" No one he'd faced to that point would have even lasted 5 minutes with him. He would have never tasted his own blood. And Archer knew it. As Simon gasp for air, he knew Lucas mocked him. And he knew there was only one thing he could do to end it. Simon takes in a deep breath and muster the strength to pick himself off the floor. Clutching his chest, he stands eye to eye with the now fully standing Archer.

You're wrong, Lucas. I don't need the darkness to beat you. I underestimated you this time. A mistake I won't make twice. You've declared victory already and the fight's no where even close to over yet. I thought I taught you better then that.

Archer was strong. Far stronger then anything Simon had ever faced. But he was also young and brash. Simon knew more about him then even he knew. Though his body ached, his mind was as sharp and finely crafted sword. He couldn't win a physical battle with him, but no man alive could ever win a mental battle with him.

[vasily]

Simon's words angered him. Archer clinches his fists and grits his teeth.

You DARE mock me??? ME!!! I could crush you with one blow. You can barely even STAND, old man. I'M YOUR SUPERIOR NOW!!! You are nothing!!! NOTHING!!! [/font][/size]

Archer's defenses were lowered. Simon played him link a cello. Archer in a rage had no idea what Simon's true intentions were. He only fed into it by losing his mental edge over the situation...

[simon]

Just one moment was all Simon needed. The slight distraction gave Simon enough time to breathe in deeply, and summon all the strength he had left in his body. This would be his last ditch attack. It wasn't the way he'd normally choose to end a fight, but there was no other choice. In a fluid motion, Simon cocked his arm back. To the untrained eye his movement was so swift if you blinked you would have never saw it coming. With a forward lunge, he unloads a thunderous blow into Archer's chest. It literally reverberates through the arena as if a sonic boom had cracked. The sheer force of the blow made the very ring shake. His form was flawless. Time seemed to have stopped the moment he made impact. Archer soared back off his feet. The blow hit with such force, he breaks THROUGH the ropes and falls halfway up the walk way. Those remaining in the arena gasp at what they had just witnessed. Simon didn't have the strength to follow up, or even see if his attack did any real damage. With all his strength sapped, Simon crumbled to the floor. As the screams of onlookers ring out around him, all fades to black. Simon closes his eyes and fades into unconsciousness...

To Be Continued...