"Are you guys really about to do this over pizza!?" Valentina cried out.

But Zack and I didn't even look in her direction. I focused on stretching and getting ready. And Zack seemed to be fully focused on the same thing. For once he didn't have a cocky smirk on his face. Which to me confirmed a hunch I had about this whole thing.

Jack was off to the side with the girls and Leo. Since Zack wanted to use Bean as part of his arsenal. We had to call him in to make sure the girls didn't get caught up in the collateral damage. I was grateful this abandoned island was our playground. It means I really didn't have to hold back.

I looked Zack over as he popped his neck, giving me an intense stare down. Then he eventually popped a smirk at me. I was used to seeing this smirk when he fought someone in school. I hadn't seen this in awhile. Zack was definitely pissed off at me. I wonder if it's really just about Annual? I only went along with this whole thing because I knew he needed to let off some steam.

Well, I can't say that's entirely true. Ever since I fought Elizabeth, there's been this fire inside me. I started to fidget a bit, I decided to go ahead and activate my strength. Yeah, deep down I just craved this. I saw an opportunity to let it out, and I leaped for it. Even now, I was smiling back at Zack with intense excitement. Geez, I'm disgusting.

"You're going down hero boy!" Zack said as he held up a thumbs down to me.

"Are you ready!" Jack called out.

I smirked at Zack and held out my hand.

"We'll regenerate, so don't hold back. Just like last time." I said as I summoned light armor over my body.

"My Knight, do not disappoint me like before." I heard my goddess whisper to me.

"FIGHT!"

I immediately stomped on the ground. The rocks and dust flew up into the air, and I darted to the left around it. Then I summoned a metal-clad boomerang and chucked it to the right. His usual starter is a wall of compressed air. But, I know he can't make a full dome to cover all of his sides.

My eyes grew wide as I came around. There was nothing there but my boomerang coming back to me. I skidded to a stop and caught it. Where did he go!?

I looked around and eventually stopped at the building. He wasn't in the sky, so maybe he went inside? But the door was shut and the windows weren't broken.

Before I could even think of a plan. I felt something wrap around my ankles and yank me up into the air. I looked around and saw one of Zack's vines coming from the ground. I also noticed a huge hole in the ground next to the vine. Did he go underground!? Is that a new spell!?

I replaced my boomerang with a sword and went to slash the vine. But before I could even get to it. I saw a bright emerald flare flash around me. Then I felt something hot crash against my chest and sent me flying through the window. I bounced and crashed through a desk and then a table and started to roll on the floor. Finally hitting a wall.

I quickly sat up and prepared myself again. I started to think back to before the match started, those stretches Zack was doing. Zack doesn't ever stretch before matches, and he was doing a lot of them. Come to think of it, that hole from the vine had a similar shape. Did he dig up the hole before the match!? And if that's the case there might be more traps.

Before I could even think about what I was gonna do with that. I felt a truck slam into my chest! I held my ground and used my strength to tank the blow. Only sliding back on the ground, but damn that hurt! I activated my eyes and slashed. But, nothing was there. So much for conserving my energy...

I looked around the area, and suddenly I felt another hard hit to my face. I looked around again but nothing was there. Not even the sound of movement! Bean could shapeshift, I wonder if he had a complete stealth mode now. Clever, even if I use my eyes. I can't dodge what I can't see.

I dove forward, hopefully away from Bean. And as I did, I noticed a green glow coming from outside. But it seemed like it was filling the sky. Was he gonna blow up the whole building!?

As I stood up I felt another clock to the face. But this time, I was ready. I tanked the hit again. And then I grabbed his arm and immediately slammed him to the ground. I saw the outline of his body thanks to the filth on the floor. This form of his made him a lot skinner.

That's when I got an idea. I summoned blades and quickly stabbed Bean all over his body. Avoiding any deadly blows. I glanced over at the window, and I could see shadows and flares of what I assumed were Zack's rain of fire.

I kept Bean stabbed into the ground. Then I charged to the opposite side of the room. It was only a matter of seconds before I got to the window. I broke the glass and stood on the frame. I looked up and I was speechless. Hundreds of fireballs were In the sky coming down on the building. I stared up at the sky and waited for the right moment. As the fire crashed into the roof above, dust and rubble filled the sky. That’s when I took my chance. I activated my strength and launched myself forward. As I landed I stomped my feet into the ground, then I quickly bunny hopped away.

I turned back and saw the area was full of dust and falling debris. I decided to take this moment and sneak back to Zack. I decided to move behind the buildings for cover. Taking my time to catch my breath as I moved. As the dust cleared, I watched the blue mist from my blades shine through the rubble. And Zack immediately lowered himself to the ground as he took notice. Dispelling my weapons does look a lot like a kill, and it seems like Zack noticed too. It was about thirty big blades I put into him. I held the one Albion sword I kept, and continued to creep around.

"Ha! You're still a loser! What do you think now huh!? Still think you're better than me!?"

As Zack said that, I darted at him.

"Still think You're some hero!?" He roared

I went to slash his head off, but as I got close. I noticed the look on his face. It looked angry, genuinely angry. That line, 'still think You're better than me?' I hesitated. And as I came close, I slashed at his arm instead of his Neck. I skidded to a stop and saw the crimson trail of his blood, followed by his wails of agony.

"Why do you hesitate!? Finish him!" My goddess yelled.

I hesitated to respond to her. I looked over and I saw Zack on the ground writhing in pain. I summoned a spear and aimed toward him. I can't risk not finishing it. She might threaten Lux again. Dammit, I let that feeling consume me again. Forgive me, Zack, I reeled my arm back to launch. But right before I was gonna throw it. I felt something burning in my chest. I looked down, and I saw reptilian claws embedded in me. Suddenly the air vanished from my lungs, and I looked back for a moment. And there stood this tall figure with alligator-like skin. He had long stringy black hair, and rows of sharp teeth. But telling from his eyes, I knew it was Bean.

My vision was fading, and it wasn't long before everything went black.

"You are a disappointment." My goddesses whispered.

…

"I can't believe Santa left us here.." Zack grumbled.

I sighed and leaned back on the ground. Letting the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline fill my mind. I lifted up the blueberry ice cream and took a bite.

"At least he left us food?" I said between bites.

"What's the point of the pizza! We tied!"

"Well, technically I died first."

"Like that matters, if Bean didn't disobey orders I'd be the only one dead."

"Still, if this were a real match we both lose. Bean doesn't immediately vanish when you die. So even if I took off your head and insta killed you. I still would've died."

Zack groaned and took a bite of his ice cream.

"The mighty destroyer of worlds doesn't like ties. I wanted to mop the floor with you."

"Yeah, I assumed you wouldn't blow up the building if I killed Bean early on. Since you wanted me properly distracted from escaping. Luckily for me, I saw the shadows and flares of your fireballs. Guess I was a little cocky there and underestimated Bean though. I thought if I kept him alive and damaged him a lot you'd assume we were still fighting."

"You’re really letting that urge take over ya know?"

I looked over at him.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't even activate your eyes in the beginning! You were definitely fast enough to react to my vine. You were just so caught up in wanting a challenge. Man, I really don't get all this hype about you. You lost to Weis and pretty much lost to Lizbeth. You're pathetic."

"What the heck is your problem lately?"

He looked over to me and glared.

"I'm just a little sick and tired of everyone in the world thinking You're the second coming or something! I was the one who saved your butt with weislung! I'm the one who saved the hostages while you fought Stone! And I'm the one who convinced you to let Arthur save Annual!"

"You act like I haven't thanked you for any of that! I've told you I'm grateful! What do you want from me!? A gold star!?"

"I want Annual to see what a failure you are!" He roared as he tossed his ice cream away. "She's put all this faith in you! Some guy who's out here flirting with other girls right in front of her! Knowing that it'll crush her! Right after you abandoned her for years!" I blinked a few times. I felt my heart race as a cold chill ran down my spine. "You know I tried for years to make her smile! I tried to convince her we should leave our filthy dump of a home! But it always seems to come back to you! Stryder, Stryder, Stryder! I'm sick of it always being about you everywhere I go!"

"Zack, I-"

He grabbed my collar and yanked me over to look him in the eye.

"What am I even then! Your shadow!? Does nothing I do even matter!? Am I stuck being blanketed by your stupid justice crap?"

His voice cracked and his arms trembled. He was breathing hard. I looked back into his eyes, and then I reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"You promised.." I mumbled.

"What!?"

I leaned my head back and rammed it into his face. He groaned and fell back.

"There you go holding everything in again! You promised you wouldn't. And if you do it again, you're getting another!

"Shut up!" He roared.

He quickly got up and launched himself at me. Tackling me down on the ground.

I quickly flipped him over onto his back, and got on top of him.

"No I won't! Zack, I feel the exact same way as you do! You're so good at talking to people, calming down situations, and always confident in your attacks. You were there for me when I needed sense smacked into me! You're right, you've saved me a lot. And I know for a fact I couldn't have done stone or the seven swordsmen without you."

"So why can't she see that! Why is it that I'm not good enough!?" His voice cracked again, and I could see tears brimming from the corner of his eyes." lux Is with Jack, I couldn't do anything for Annual when she was sick! And now you're changing so much. It's only a matter of time right? Before you all get bored of the lovable idiot!? Just like everyone always does."

Suddenly the memory of Jack and Lux came into my mind. That moment, the moment I realized I can't save everyone. I slowly let go of him and stood up. I didn't say a word as I walked over to the pizza box.

I summoned a sword and cut the slice in half down the middle, and then walked back over to him. I held out the slice for him to take. Then I tapped my necklace.

"Zack you're my best friend. You've saved me just as much as I've saved you. I'll always be right by your side to tell you when you're being stupid. And nothing will change that."

He looked me over, there was some relief on his face. He took the slice and wiped his eyes.

"I learned this lesson the hard way. When Lux was feeling bad about the past. I couldn't do anything to help her. But when Jack came in, he knew just what to say. And I realized that, sometimes you can't save everyone. I know that's hilarious coming from me, but. Annual is her own person. She's gonna grow and experience pain. And sometimes all you can do is just be there for her when she's ready. You’re a good brother Zack"

He took a bite of his pizza and sighed.

"Yeah right.."

"Don't take my word for it. Talk to her, don't keep wearing a mask. If you really want her to look at you differently, you have to show her the real you. The good, the bad, and the ugly."

"What if, what if I'm just bothering her more."

"Your emotions are valid Zack. Trust me, Annual loves you. Love doesn't judge."

He sighed and looked back to the lake. The sun was beginning to set on the waters. Bathing it in its orange and amber glow.

"Maybe your right. Yelling at you did feel good."

I smiled and grabbed another popsicle, and he followed my lead.

"Trust me, this ice creams gonna feel even better."

I held out my popsicle to his, he smiled and tapped mine with his own. Then we dug in. Even now, the cold popsicle made my whole body feel warm. Like my mom was wrapping herself around me.