A weak gust of wind gently brushed against Astel's lightly tan skin. Thoughts flooded his mind, waking him up in a daze.
Before him stretched an endless expanse of sky, covered in colorful stars.
'The mind palace?' he thought in confusion.
Before he could grasp what was happening, a fist slammed into his side.
Astel dropped to one knee, coughing. "What was that for?"
He looked to his side and froze. Staring back at him was himself, wearing an angry expression on an otherwise arrogant face.
"Paying you back," the other Astel said before kicking him across the face, knocking him onto the see-through ground.
Astel lay face down, staring at the endless thick fog below. "Why am I here?" He tried to push himself up, only for a foot to smash into his stomach.
"You're asking a lot of questions for someone who is dying."
Astel gritted his teeth and forced himself into a sitting position. "Dying? What do you mean? I succeeded." His voice was matter-of-fact, almost triumphant.
The other Astel reached into his mind and summoned the odd-looking spear, thrusting it straight for his chest.
"I warned you multiple times."
Astel rolled aside, dodging the strike and finally getting to his feet. "And yet I still did it. Admit it—I won!"
He focused his energy to use his fragment and gain control, but nothing happened. A shiver ran down his spine.
The other Astel unleashed a flurry of spear thrusts. Astel dodged and weaved with difficulty, getting clipped several times until blood ran down his body.
"The only thing you've won is a ticket to hell," the other Astel growled, pausing only to refocus. "Think about why you're here and not there, idiot."
Astel staggered back, then instinctively reached for the same spear. To his surprise, it appeared in his hand. Both Astels now wielded the same weapon.
Astel smiled grimly. "It's because my perfectly healed body is trying to get rid of you."
He shortened the spear into a sword and charged.
"Why are you so stupid?" the other Astel sighed, parrying with ease. "Aren't we supposed to be the same person?"
He shifted his own weapon mid-strike, extending the shaft to land an almost instantaneous thrust. The spear drove into Astel's side, burying deep.
Astel grabbed the weapon, channeled his energy, and shortened it, forcing it out of the other's hand.
But the other Astel didn't falter. He rushed in close, fists flying. Blow after blow rained down on Astel's face and ribs, forcing him to abandon his own weapon and defend himself.
He was slower.
Desperate, he tried to summon his shadow Notion to escape—but nothing came.
"You're not trying to run, are you?" the other Astel mocked. "There are no shadows here. No escape. Just give up already."
Astel raised his hands to guard, then suddenly dropped them, catching a strike and counterkicking. But his leg was caught. The other Astel grinned, twisting to throw him off balance.
They grappled, struggling for footing. For a moment it seemed they might both collapse, but the other Astel's superior movement kept him upright. Astel shoved off, stumbling back to create space.
"How are you so much stronger than me if we're the same person?" he shouted, yanking the embedded spear from his side.
After a moment of silence the other Astel said, "Fine, I'll humor you." He smirked. "My consciousness was born from your subconscious."
"I already figured that out," Astel muttered.
"Not done, simpleton," the other hissed. "I'm a manifestation of your combat fragment. The part of you responsible for everything tied to combat."
Astel spat blood, throwing the spear away. "I know what the combat fragment is. I'm not that stupid."
The other Astel chuckled darkly. "And yet, you haven't conquered it. Haven't even come close. So I don't know why I exist. But over these past few months, I figured something out."
He circled Astel like a predator.
"You're weak. You don't deserve this body."
He lunged with a barrage of punches, faster and faster.
"So, what, you want to take my body?" Astel gasped, breath short, pain numbing his wounds.
"I want to make sure 'Astel' becomes a hero. As our mother wanted." His grin was cruel. "And I'm the only one who can make it happen."
Astel ducked under his blows, swept his leg, and knocked him down. "I can't let you do that. Those people need me!"
He dropped onto the other Astel, pinning his arms with his knees. Fists rained down as he shouted between every strike:
"They. Need. ME! Me, not you. ME!"
The other Astel freed an arm, seized his wrist, and used leverage to throw him onto his bleeding side. He pinned him down, but Astel kicked with both legs, flipping him overhead and scrambling back to his feet.
Holding his side, Astel limped forward, screaming, "I'm a hero! Do you hear me?!"
The other Astel stood, barely hurt, white sparks fading behind him. "You're nothing without me."
He rushed forward and delivered a brutal kick, slamming Astel to the ground.
Before Astel could rise, a spear pierced his shoulder, pinning him to the ground. A second followed, driving through the other shoulder and crossing him in an X.
Blood gushed.
On his knees, crucified, Astel choked, "I won't let you get away with thi—"
Blood filled his throat, cutting him off. He coughed violently, crimson spilling down his chin.
The other Astel looked at him almost pitifully. "I was starting to worry I wouldn't wrap this up in time." He smiled faintly. "I'll take care of us. Don't worry."
His laughter echoed faintly as he slowly disappeared.
*
Sev shouted at the top of his lungs, warning of the danger ahead. His nerves were fraying. It had never been this close before. Could he actually make it?
He bit his lip until it bled, forcing himself to focus.
The sandworm was back, chasing them fast.
Then he spotted a herd of desert bison. An idea sparked.
"Steer us right!" he barked.
The young coachman, Max, hesitated. "Are you sure? We won't make it if we don't go straight."
"Just do it and don't question me, Max!"
The sandworm closed in. It was faster than the caravan.
"Everyone inside the storage wagon!" Sev ordered. "You too, Max. If this works, there won't be a carriage anymore, but I'll need you alive."
Max nodded, released the reins, and ran to the back.
Sev grabbed hold himself, whispering, "Astel… wake up already. This is getting out of my control."
They reached the herd. Sev cut the reins and freed the bison, positioning the wagon between the animals and the distant cave.
He darted into the carriage looking for Astel, but the bed was empty.
"Where the hell is he?"
The sandworm roared closer. Sev sprinted for the supply wagon, leaping between carriages as the monster surged beneath the herd.
With one colossal bite, it swallowed the entire herd and sent the supply wagon flying toward the cave.
The world spun violently. In the chaos, Sev glimpsed something.
A small glint flickered near the sandworm, drifting closer to its massive form.
Sev narrowed his eyes. 'Astel?'
But before he could be sure, the sandstorm surged in, swallowing everything.
They were only moments away from certain death.