Episode II — The Sah’s Pyramid

Chapter 3: Michael vs. the Self (Part 1) 

Gebmar turns slowly, his gaze meeting the entity’s. Like Michael, the Self bears Aethryon’s Crown atop its head.

“The Self too? No doubt, you are Aethryon’s incarnation—” Gebmar’s words are abruptly cut short as the entity delivers a powerful punch to his face, sending him staggering aside, and clearing a path toward Michael.

“Gebmar! Ember, please help him,” Michael begs his sister, dodging the Self’s relentless assaults.

Ember rushes to aid Gebmar as he lies sprawled on the ground. To their relief, he rises unharmed, seemingly untouched by the attack.

“Relax, I’m fine. I’m an immortal being, remember?” Gebmar reassures her, tapping his face lightly. “This flesh-like façade is just an illusion. My true form is comprised of the elements.”

Ember sighs in relief. “For a moment, I thought I was going to have to see a crushed corpse,” Ember says, her tone shifting as she tightens her grip on Gebmar’s collar. “But you owe us an explanation. Who is Aethryon, and what’s his connection to Mike?”

Gebmar nods in response. But before he can speak, their attention is seized by a deafening explosion.

The Self has blasted a sizable chunk off one of the pyramids, but Michael narrowly dodges the punch by slipping between the entity’s legs. Rising defiantly, the mage meets the Self’s gaze. Initially looking disappointed by its failed strike, the Self’s expression twists into a malicious grin as the pyramid starts to crumble. Large chunks hurtle through the air as deadly projectiles, prompting the entity to teleport high into the sky, rejoicing in the chaos it’s causing below.

“Michael!” Ember screams as Gebmar seizes her, dragging her into a nearby building for safety. They find refuge inside just as the pyramid collapses with a deafening crash, sending debris flying in all directions. With Gebmar’s immortal body as a shield, they narrowly evade the raining shards. Some of them bounce harmlessly off the deva’s back, while others embed themselves firmly in his jacket and skin.

As a massive piece of debris hurtles toward Michael’s chest, he braces for impact, resigned to his impending doom. In a moment of desperation, he wishes for a shield to protect himself. A loud crash reverberates in front of him.

To his surprise, he remains unharmed, surrounded by a protective magenta aura that shields him from the impacts. As the debris settles, Michael stands untouched, much to the dismay of the Self.

“I never knew Mike was that strong.” Ember grabs her phone, taking a video of the events as they unfold.

Meanwhile, Gebmar calmly removes the crystal chunks from his jacket and torso. “You’ve seen nothing of Aethryon’s power yet. Just wait for what’s to come. If I were a mortal like you, I’d steer clear of that window. I don’t want your death on my conscience.”

Uncomfortable with Gebmar’s warning, Ember sets her phone down and retreats from the window. Outside, Michael and the Self lock eyes. The entity’s rage is evident as it swoops down to grasp a massive piece of debris, wielding it like a spear aimed at the mage, ready to strike him down.

Michael stands firm. As the Self approaches, Michael’s thoughts echo in his mind. The barrier around me is stronger than that chunk of crystal, and WAY STRONGER than any of the attacks you launch at ME!

Focusing all his energy, Michael strengthens the aura shield surrounding him, thickening it with every passing moment.

The Self lunges forward to strike. The crystal spear shatters upon impact with Michael’s fortified shield, crumbling into fragments. Seizing the opportunity, Michael extends his hands, redirecting the shattered debris back at the entity, striking it directly in the face. The Self staggers backward, struggling to clear its eyes, which gives Michael an opening to unleash a devastating energy blast. It sends the entity hurtling over the neon-lit streets of the city until it crashes atop the central pyramid, motionless.

Michael closes his eyes and feels the magic coursing through his veins, a sense of power and control over the environment washing over him. The ground beneath him begins to shimmer with neon magenta light and sparks dance in the air, filling the space with an electrifying energy. From their shelter, Ember leaps around, dodging the sparkling phenomena. She takes her phone out and begins to film again.

“What’s going on? Has Mike won?” Ember asks.

“Not yet, but soon. I wouldn’t want to be in the Self’s shoes,” Gebmar replies casually, sliding his leather jacket back on.

“How can you be so calm in a situation like this? Do you think my brother can win?” she asks.

“I’m certain he will!” Gebmar responds with a reassuring smile, his gaze fixed on Michael with hopeful determination.

As the Self regains consciousness, it finds itself being engulfed by the surface on which it lies, immobilizing it to a degree. As it struggles to break free, it notices Michael using his magic to manipulate the environment around them, further infuriating the entity. Focusing all its power, the Self manages to free its left arm.

“Oh no, you won’t!” Michael shouts, teleporting himself in front of the pyramid, catching the Self off guard.

Clasping his hands together, Michael conjures a tiny black hole that begins absorbing energy from its surroundings, growing larger and brighter with each passing moment. Sensing its own imminent demise, the Self exerts all its might to break free, launching itself toward Michael. They plummet down the pyramid’s side together like they’re on a giant slide, and the black hole disintegrates. Michael hastily forms an energy shield to protect himself.

Seeing this, Gebmar anxiously screams Michael’s name, and Ember gasps in horror at the sight of her brother’s struggle.

Landing at the pyramid’s base, Michael remains unharmed despite the ongoing struggle with the entity atop him. The Self seizes Michael by the neck; the shield barrier starts to weaken as the entity uses all its might in a relentless attempt to strangle him.

Thank you for reading Chaos’s Key.

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