His victory was but a moment before he heard Kid’s voice calling his name. Before he had a chance to look, he felt a force against his face. He flew from the tower’s limp body and fell several yards away. It took his mind a moment to catch up with the mental images of the foot that had kicked him in the face.
He turned and saw Aerysn moving toward him at an unreasonably fast pace, one faster than anything Aerysn had displayed during their fight with the other immortals. He landed before Treycore and smirked. “Like I said. You and me. One-on-one.”
Treycore snarled. He pushed to his feet and threw a fist.
Again, Aerysn moved at an impossibly fast speed, blocking his attack.
“You sure weren’t showing that earlier,” Treycore muttered.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Aerysn said before shoving against Treycore’s chest, pushing Treycore back.
Treycore recovered and went after him again, throwing another punch, which Aerysn blocked by pushing his forearm against Treycore’s quickly. Treycore kept at him, though, like he had with the tower, but Aerysn evaded each blow effortlessly, smiling broadly, so pleased with how easy it was for him to win against Treycore.
Treycore had discovered the gift the Almighty had bestowed upon this higherling.
But Treycore fought regardless, wearing himself down from how much effort he exerted. His muscles weakened from the battle, he leaned forward slightly as he caught his breath.
“This is where I’m having some real fun,” Aerysn said. “Watching you, this supposedly miraculous creation, bow before me.”
Treycore stood tall. “I bow before no one.”
Aerysn moved so quickly that Treycore hardly saw him. He felt a pain shoot through his pelvis from a blow Aerysn had evidently laid into his balls. Treycore bent forward in agony, knowing that was what Aerysn had wanted to see, and as he looked up at Aerysn, he saw his broad grin expand even further. He was thrilled, excited even.
Aerysn turned to the audience behind him. “I am Trey’s god now!” he called out to a room of screaming immortals equally thrilled at his conquest. He whirled back around and lunged forward, throwing his first real punch.
Treycore dodged it, but just as soon, Aerysn’s other fist came around, hooking Treycore in the jaw. Treycore forced himself to punch forward into the guy’s abdomen, but between how solid it was and how weak Trey was from the fight, it didn’t do much good.
Another fist came down and hit Treycore in the face, knocking him to the floor. Aerysn straddled him. Treycore fought and resisted every punch Aerysn offered, but because of his speed and strength, Treycore’s resistance proved futile. Aerysn beat on his head until Treycore couldn’t think, couldn’t move. He was paralyzed and pained, and Aerysn rose to his feet to celebrate his victory.
But with what energy Treycore had, he kicked Aerysn’s feet out from under him.
“Son of a bitch,” Aerysn said, rolling back and kicking Treycore in the face so that his head whipped back against the wall behind him.
Treycore felt as though a sword had pierced through his skull.
“Trey!” he heard Kid’s voice.
Kid’s beautiful voice.
Aerysn stood back up, looking down at the defeated Treycore, who turned to the mortal he was fighting for. The mortal he loved.
Still forced at Rand’s side in a headlock, Kid’s eyes were filled with desperation and worry.
I have to fight. For Kid.
He started to crawl to his feet, but another kick from Aerysn threw him backward and falling onto his back.
He tried to will his limbs to life, for Kid, not himself.
But he couldn’t.
It was over.
He had lost.
Tears rushed to his eyes, and all he could manage to push past his lips was a “fuck.”
Rand stepped back into the center of the auditorium, pulling Kid alongside him. “It looks like we have a victor!” he announced. “None other than our newbie, Aerysn, who was a more than worthy opponent.”
