Fractured God

Tibaut turned behind to see Mr. Bentley at the top of the stairs, looking down at them.

“Mr. Bentley!? What are you doing here?” He turned back to the seated man who looked like Ezekiel. “I should be finished with him in-”

“Ezekiel, what's taking so long? Don't tell me you're feeling hesitation. And I was thinking we had the same idea.”

Mr. Bentley said as he walked down the stairs, with a cane in hand.

Tibaut turned to him.

He looked calm, almost too calm for what was currently happening. Combined with his words, Tibaut wasn't sure what was going on. He gave himself a small pinch to confirm he wasn't dreaming.

Tibaut immediately turned back and looked back at Ezekiel with uncertainty. Ezekiel sheepishly turned away and sighed.

“Come on old man, I was just planning to knock him out. I even stabbed him with some poison, the kid should be out before we have to worry about anything major happening.” Ezekiel answered.

“If you have the ability to stab him, I don't see why he isn't at your feet right now. Don't dilly dally with this, we can afford a death or two if we want a smooth exit.”

Tibaut had to hold his head and did his best to keep himself on his feet. He felt like he was going to pass out and it wasn't from the poison he cured himself of. Had he slipped into a portal to an alternate dimension? Had Funny Valentine placed him in a dimension similar yet distinct to his own? Maybe he suffered immense brain damage in his fight and he could no longer accurately interpret the English language.

“Now quickly-”

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?” Tibaut shouted, looking manic.

Mr. Bentley yawned with disinterest before turning around. “Kill him, Ezekiel, we don't have time to waste.” He made his way up the stairs, his footsteps echoing throughout the now-silent building.

Tibaut tried to follow him but his momentary distraction cost him. Ezekiel appeared behind and placed the knife to his throat.

Tibaut's teeth clattered as he tried to look around.

“Is it, is it really you?” He nervously asked.

“In the flesh.” He answered. He took the knife from his throat and turned Tibaut around.

“If I'm gonna kill you of all people, I'd at least like you to go down fighti-”

Tibaut slowly walked over and gave him a hug, his eyes dull. “You really are alive.” Although Tibaut wanted to show joy he knew this wasn't the time for that.

“Woah, get off me. What makes you think I wanna hug a guy? I'd rather Vanessa or even Ruby hug me.” He sighed as he hugged Tibaut back.

He patted him on the back before Tibaut moved off, his eyes cold. He wanted to bring himself to say he was glad, but, if he was the man in black, then…

“So you killed all those people.” He asked.

“(Does he know!? Shit does Elizabeth do too?) Killed? Who are you talking about?”

“The other adventurers that went missing.”

Ezekiel stroked his chin and looked upwards. “(What am I thinking, he didn't even know it was me until now.) Ah, them. Nah, they're currently working for me.”

“Huh?” Life reappeared in his eyes. Maybe he wouldn't have to kill him after all. “Wait a second then... why'd Mr. Bentley talk about killing me? What did you guys do that'd require getting rid of me?”

He sighed and pulled out his knife, his demeanour clearly changing. His face was cold and he only had a few more words for Tibaut.

“Put up a good fight.”

He rushed towards him and Tibaut scrambled to ready himself. He fainted a punch from just outside Tibaut’s range and flipped forward into an axe kick.

“Huh? Gah, wait a second, time out, Ezekiel can't we talk this out-”

Tibaut quickly backed away, from the knife being stabbed at him. He felt a chair slammed into his side and parried the knife, before being slammed by a knee to the gut. He grabbed Ezekiel by his waist and flung him into a nearby wall, throwing the chair at him as well. Ezekiel managed to kick off the wall, but the chair intercepted his bound off the wall. He had to parry it before stabbing into a smaller-than-average fireball being thrown his way.

“Stop being such a stubborn prickling and tell me why the hell you have to do this!” Tibaut shouted.

Ezekiel showed no reaction to his words and ran straight towards him. Tibaut gritted his teeth and accepted his challenge head-on.

The two formed a whirlwind of blows with both narrowly blocked and dodging the strikes of the other. They even had their feet involved, both trying to strike and trip the other when they saw the chance.

Ezekiel fainted with a headbutt and grazed Tibaut’s neck with the stiletto. Tibaut tried to back away but Ezekiel kept persistent and kicked himself towards him. Tibaut masterfully countered by lowering his body, catching his body and throwing him several feet away with a fallaway slam.

Ezekiel scoffed as he landed on his feet with the deftness of a cat, wondering if Tibaut was trying to slam him into the floor but the fire spear that landed on his shoulder told him otherwise.

(“He prepared it as soon as he backed away…. It truly is unfortunate you came here tonight, Tibaut. You have a decent future ahead of you. Better than mine was, anyway.”)

Tibaut was still hesitant and kept a vigilant watch on him. (“He didn't react to it, so I guess it should be fine to use those.”)

He summoned more of them behind himself and awaited Ezekiel’s next move.