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A Hero Tale {Complete}

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~ End Of Chapter 194 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus cringed as Jenso walked past him. But he let him through. Then he turned to Bruce. Just like before, Bruce felt his grasp on Ki and the arcane leave him, while Nexus stood firm with his short sword in hand.

"You should be well aware that I cannot surrender," He said, as Jenso left the room, "But as long as I engage the enemy..." He waiting and glared. The silence carried on for a few more moments. "Jenso will lose," Nexus said softly. He swung his sword and pointed it at Bruce. "But I have no intent of silencing him, or anyone else. If you wish to fight to the last breath, don't let me stop you."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

In an instant, all of Jenso's energy left him. His Ki and arcane abilities were sealed, and his abilities changed to those of a normal human being. Nexus sighed. "You're a fool," He grunted, "And now you'll die a fool, at my hand, exactly how he planned it." Nexus summoned a blue sword in his right hand and tightened his stance.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus huffed loudly and his eyes wandered. He looked back to Jenso and then to the ground. "I've been working on such a feat for the past 3000 years. I haven't made much progress, but I'm sure.. I'm sure that one day.." He rose his hand and pointed at Jenso. "If you give me time, 10000, perhaps 9000 years. Maybe less, maybe more, I'll eventually..." He paused and let his hand drop. "This is our only hope, Jenso. You have to believe that. You can't punch your way through this one."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Nexus put his arm out in front of Jenso.

"Enough is enough, Jenso," He growled, "Abandon these childish notions. Think logically for once in your life." Nexus pushed him back with a strong thrust of his arm. "I am not stalling for anything, I am acting of my own free will. All this hope, all these fairy-tale dreams that you insist on making a reality, they won't happen. You're rushing in head first, like you always do, eager to die. Eager to throw away your life." He rose his hands and opened them loosely, as if to beg. "There are ways to win that don't involve bashing your head against a brick wall. There are options we can take. Let me help you one last time, come with us and abandon this nonsensical crusade." He brought a hand to his chest and squeezed the edge of his armoured plate. "We can win from the inside out, just you and me, if you just listen."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"You can't win," Nexus stated coldly, "As much as I hope, as far as you've come, there's no way to win." Nexus didn't move from his spot. "I haven't seen this kind of reaction from him for centuries. I hadn't known just how much power he could amass until today. The rift in space time is growing even faster than before, and now it's..." Nexus stopped and lowered his gaze. "I can convince him," Nexus started, taking a step forward, "I can convince him to renew his offer to you, even after all you've done. If you come with me to his study, I believe we can save your world, your friends, and most importantly, you."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 194 ~

_{You're Not Dreaming}

Jenso was nearing the half-way point up the massive tower. The floors were all the same. Large circular rooms, no furniture, no windows, no defining features at all. His path seemed unblocked, until he was stopped by Nexus. The man was wearing loose-fitting armour, and standing firm in place. He said nothing, while blocking the stairway that proceeded further. This was the first time that Nexus showed himself in person to Jenso, or anyone, for that matter. The man hadn't left the tower very often since coming to this world. Why would he? His ripped mask clung tightly enough to his face to show his expression- Anxious, waiting, and wanting much more than he could ever receive.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

There was silence for a few moments as Bruce made his way out of the chamber. Zelriane didn't move. Not until the swordsman had left. Afterwards, he focused on Oswald and clenched his left fist briefly. "It's no matter," the shorter man wheezed, "This is more fitting. Much more fitting." He tightened his combat stances and stared Oz down, while his arms were emblazoned by green energies. "Even if you guarantee your death." His eyes moved from Oz's face, to the stump that remained where one of his arms used to be.

"I'll be sure to even you out quickly."

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~ End Of Chapter 193 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Zelriane didn't stop, not noticing Oz's presence immediately as he carried through with his Akari strike. The dash itself moved through Bruce's phantoms, and surrounding clones, and shot him across the room, out of harms way, until Oswald's ranged attack made its way towards him. He spun towards it, and jumped up, clasping himself to the roof as the wall passed underneath him. The little man hung in place for a moment, before flipping back down to the ground beneath him, and landing with a silent plop. He glared at the shifting phantoms, and towards Oswald, biting his bottom lip angrily. "Every time I think myself privy to a duel, more of you show up to spoil my fun." He inhaled deeply and took his combat stance again. "Of all the arrivals, it had to be you."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Zelriane pulled his hand back, narrowly saving his fingertips. But he didn't stop his momentum, quickly pushing right back into Bruce's zone of control with another flurry of strikes and parries in the moment before his clones interfered. He struck forward with several punches before the clones closed in, one two three four five- Then he paused, swung his right foot up in a full body rotation towards the first blade, redirecting the first slash with a parry using his foot, while angling his small body to dodge the second with his right leg fully outstretched above his head, and his torso almost horizontal with the ground. Part of his Gi was torn away by Bruce's Ki in the process, but he was quick to follow through even further. As soon as both his feet his the floor, Zelriane dashed around one of the clones, taking its back and kicking through its torso.

"Cage me once more," Zelriane goaded with a quick voice, almost inaudible in spite of his movements. In the same moment, he took a familiar stance, and aimed to cut straight through Bruce and his clone in one swift motion.

"Akari"

Zelriane's body was like a sonic storm, punches and kicks with reactions that took any modicum of sportsmanship off of the table. A one on one encounter was his preferred scenario. With only one target, he could predict every move while his sight was unimpeded, and react with his superior speed before there was much of a chance to do anything. Without anyone to interfere, he could continue to solidify his pace, and pick up his tempo with a series of dodges, counters, and unbearably powerful initiative. Without any sort of solid defence, Bruce was fighting a losing battle.