My eyes snapped open and I sighed at yet another failed vision. I’d been going through dozens of combat scenarios against Arthur with my prophecy and foresight. It put a tax on my mind and spirit to direct it rather than receiving the random visions I got but I needed to be tactical about how I handled my next battle with Arthur.

  I could feel it in my spirit, a nameless dread and certainty that the next time he and I fought would be the last. Taking a breath to center myself I closed my eyes again falling into the meditative trance as I cast my mind into the future to choose an alternate path.

  Gritting my teeth, I opened my eyes again. Another failed vision but another lesson, I could not face Arthur and his Demons alone. I closed my eyes again and let my mind drift as my foresight took in another possible future.

  Opening my eyes again I considered this new information. Arthur was not a problem I could ignore. While I felt no loyalty to Talba and the people I cared about would be safe I had created the monster that was Arthur, it was my responsibility to destroy him. If I ignored the problem the planet’s destruction would be as much my responsibility as anyone else’s. I had to fight there was not other real choice for me.

  Another failure, another lesson. The power of the Void and Entropy was not the answer only utter destruction for all life laid down that path.

  I let out a heavy sigh again but marked the lesson. Despite the advantages of my home turf and the power the Void granted me I would not let Arthur back to my home. These people were mine to protect. I thought often what it meant to be the god of Sacrifice and Heroes, what that symbolized about me. Despite the power of the Forest of Sacrifice I was not some Aztec or Mesopotamian god that had his own people sacrificed in his name. It was not my followers that were the sacrifice but me and I would not throw their lives away to destroy Arthur. That was the mistake he had made and I saw where that road had led him. I adjusted my position recentering myself and closing my eyes.

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  I opened my eyes frustration filling me. Arthur couldn’t be killed that knowledge was useful to know but I wished I had discovered it earlier. Were any of the victories I had perceived even real or had I just not watched long enough to see Arthur come back negating every sacrifice to kill him? If I were to kill him I would have to somehow instantaneously extinguish his physical form and soul in one attack or make it so his warping of time was impossible. Closed my eyes once more opening my minds eye again.

  My eyes snapped open again and I breathed heavily looking about in panic before I saw Guinevere rocking Aurora and calmed myself. It had been a vision but right there and then I resolved that I would not let Guinevere face Arthur ever again.

  I stood up and began pacing as I ran over all my many visions. I knew more about Arthur than he likely thought I did and it was possible I knew more about his capabilities than he though I did. I was strong now at the cusp of god rank as I had continued to rank up my abilities while also finally making the connection with Guinevere’s soul and giving her the power necessary to rank up her abilities past twenty. I had more tools now, much more than Arthur would have access to but what ever battle I chose there would be sacrifices some that I was not willing to make.

  Clarent fitted into my hand as I looked down at the red crystal jutting out of it. Perhaps I needed to adjust my thinking, perhaps death and battle was not the answer. I needed to defeat Arthur but there were other ways I could do so. I remembered what Andelar had told me about the System and its controls I doubted the System was capable of just letting me try and set it free. Even if it desired such a thing it was doubtless instructed to try and prevent it.

  I took out my stylus and a piece of parchment. I drove the stylus into my skin drawing blood as I began writing.

  ---

  Arthur felt a disturbance behind him as something from the Void stepped through. He whirled around Excalibur already in hand swinging. The figure of black energy stepped back but did not counter attack.

  “the figure said.

  Arthur cut through the figure turning them to black mist.

  Ares reappeared again. “

  “

   “It is not I that wants anything,” Ares said a peace of parchment appeared in his hands and he laid it out before Arthur. “.”

  “

  “,” Ares said. “

  Arthur looked down and read over the document.

  “

  “” Ares answered.

  Arthur, you and I will forever be enemies, nemeses to our bitter end. To spare the casualties that will result in whatever battles you and I fight in I propose we agree to simple terms. We finish what we should have in the arena, you and me, none of our vessels in the battle, no outside interference of any kind divine or mortal. If you agree to this pact we will meet in three days from now at noon, Camelot time, at the Stone Table, a divine realm you will be able to locate via the stone attached to this document. We will prepare no traps at the location for the other, we will meet alone, fight alone and neither of us will flee the fight for any reason and will continue until either one of us surrenders and the other accepts, until one of suffers final death or until incapacitation.

  “