--- [Isaac’s perspective]
Up until now, he hasn’t been fighting even remotely seriously.
He could have ended the fight whenever he wanted, and the only time I could stand up to him even a little bit was when I made big permanent sacrifices.
It sounds like he’s finally about to fight seriously…
He also knows about my specialty now.
The moment the boost runs out, I’m dead.
I need to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“Goodbye, Isaac.” – Gael
As soon as he says that, I permanently sacrifice my ability to count past 10.
Suddenly, he rushes in and hits me in the chest.
I’m blown back, but the boost is enough to let me live.
He doesn’t stop and instead rushes in again to follow up with another attack.
He grabs my arm to stop me, then immediately hits me in the stomach.
To make sure I don’t go flying again, he doesn’t let go of my arm.
That punch hurt even more than his last; the boost is about to run out…
Before it does, I permanently sacrifice my ability to have children.
He tries hitting me again, but I manage to block the attack with my other arm before it can deal any significant damage.
At the same time, I pull my arm out of his grasp.
I try hitting him, but he parries the attack with ease.
The boost is running out again…
He throws another punch, but just before it connects, I permanently sacrifice the vision in my left eye, gaining just enough power to not suffer significant harm.
I quickly retaliate with a kick to the side, completely ignoring the damage I just took.
I don’t care what happens to me, I just need to take him down!
The kick makes him flinch, and I take advantage of that by throwing a punch straight to his face.
It missed…
My sense of depth is all screwed up after that last sacrifice…
But the show must go on!
The boost will run out again, I need to refresh it.
I permanently sacrifice the ability to move my left arm.
It immediately goes limp, and all the pain I felt in my broken fingers goes away.
I rush in and grab the back of his head, then slam his face into my knee as I jump up with everything I’ve got.
Before I know it, he has wrapped his arms around my body.
He slams me down into the ground, and intense and sharp pain shoots through my spine.
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“GHAUHA!!” – Isaac
His face…
It’s completely unharmed.
The knee to his face didn’t even make him bleed from his nose.
How…
He lifts his foot up and prepares to stomp me.
In real time, I can see his movements accelerating; the boost is running out again!
This is so annoying!
But I have no choice; it’s the only way I can even remotely compete with him.
Before his foot reaches me, I permanently sacrifice the extended lifespan you get from using BDM, then roll away.
I grab his ankle, then yank it forward as hard as I can, making him lose balance and fall.
I quickly get on top of him then repeatedly hit him in the face with every ounce of power in my body.
It’s not enough, I need more!
While my previous sacrifice is still active, I permanently sacrifice my ability to naturally heal.
I clench my fist, grit my teeth, then…!
No, not yet!
I need more!
I permanently sacrifice the ability to move my left leg.
More!
I permanently sacrifice my sense of smell, the hearing in my left ear, the ability to sleep more than one hour at a time, and every physical sensation other than pain!
The power is so intense it feels like I’m about to explode!
I clench my fist so hard my arm starts violently shaking, and my nails dig into my palm, before letting it all go and slamming it directly into his face.
“DIEEE!” – Isaac
“…” – Gael
Is it…
Is it over?
…
Suddenly, he pushes me off of him.
His nose is bleeding…
What a cruel joke.
“That hurt.” – Gael
How…
How is he still alive?!
I thought I was roughly on par with him after a single significant permanent sacrifice, and now I did half a dozen…
Was he always that strong?
Was he really holding back by that much, even after he decided he’d kill me?
…
I never even stood a chance…
I’m sorry Iris, I failed…
I couldn’t kill him…
I’m sorry!
--- 16 years ago
“Ahhh! So cold!” – Iris
“We told you it would be cold! Why would you jump into the pond in the middle of January?!” – Isaac
“Seriously… Are you crazy?!” – Gael
“Oh, come on! It’s not that big a deal! Join me!” – Iris
“What?!” – Gael
“No way!” – Isaac
“Aww…” – Iris
--- 12 years ago
“Gael… Could I copy your homework? I forgot to do mine! Sorry!” – Isaac
“Sure, I don’t care.” – Gael
“No way! You need to do it yourself; it’s the only way you’ll learn the material!” – Iris
--- The present
What are these memories…?
Is this what happens when you know you’re about to die?
Your life flashes before you, and you remember all the tiny moments throughout your life you thought you had forgotten?
…
I don’t want to die…
Not…
Not before I beat him at least!
I don’t care what it takes; for Iris’ sake, I’ll even make the ultimate sacrifice if it means winning.
--- 3 years ago
“Isaac…” – Iris
“Hm?” – Isaac
“Do you ever think about Gael…?” – Iris
“… Of course… How could I not?” – Isaac
“I… I just want to know if he’s okay. I don’t need him to come back, he has his own life and I’m sure there’s a good reason for why he hasn’t returned, but… But I just need to know that he’s safe! Every single day… It’s the only thing I can think about… I ju-” – Iris
“Iris! He’s dead… You need to accept it already! I miss him just as much as you do, so I understand, but… You can’t continue living like this! Wondering whether or not he’s still alive causes you nothing but pain and suffering. If he truly was still alive, you know he wouldn’t want you to hurt like that.” – Isaac
“…” – Iris
--- The present
The ultimate sacrifice, huh…
I really have no other choice…
Wow…
I tried so hard to use everything else at my disposal, but it wasn’t enough.
To overcome a gap like this, nothing else could ever do it.
The ultimate sacrifice…
The thing I value the most…
Iris…
Tears start swelling up in my eyes, making it even harder to see properly.
I’ll permanently sacrifice Iris.
Every memory we’ve made together.
Every moment we’ve spent with each other.
The joy of knowing you, and the agony of losing you.
The impact you’ve had on my life is immeasurable; who knows what I’ll become when this is over…
But…!
Every waking moment of my life since I lost you has all been for this.
This is it; this is when I finally set things right…
The power…
I can’t feel it…
Did it not work, or…?
He picks me up by the throat.
“For real this time… Goodbye. I promise I won’t let your sacrifice go to waste.” – Gael
He squeezes as hard as he can, but I can barely even feel it.
I can breathe just fine…
While trying to make him let go, I grab his wrist.
But…!
The moment I touch it, I completely pulverize it.
It worked; the power is there.
But why can’t I feel it?
Is it simply so much that my body can’t comprehend it?
“GUAAAOHH!! What the-?!” – Gael
I reach out to him, and put my palm on his chest.
“Goodbye, Ga- G- …” – Isaac
What’s his name again…?
I push my hand forward, and it passes through his chest as easily as it goes through air.
His heart is gone.
Most of his left lung is gone.
“Isaac…” – Gael
My name is his final word…
His body tips backwards, and he lands on the grass below.
He’s dead.
It’s over…
But…
…
Who was he?
Why did I want to kill him again?