Slip.
The head of a three-horned goat rolled along the black stone of the mountain, my blade parting it from the rest of its body.
Today was day two of the duel. I had gained a lot of insight into my own progression.
I stood at the base of the dark mountain. Perspective really changes how big something truly is. From afar, the mountain looked normal, its size relative to others like it. But up close, you could feel it, the true apex of formations.
You might be wondering why I'm even bringing this up.
Well, it's because I'm going to climb it. Right here. Get to the top, and fight my doppelganger in the most epic way possible.
But to accomplish that, I first need to scale said mountain.
Thin slices of wind tried to scrape me off the slope as I approached. But my usage of frictionless was adapting, I was slowly evolving past the basic mastery I once had.
Applying frictionless climbing was a lot harder than it sounds. I had to manage every ounce of my Stellarium, activating it only where the winds hit and reinforcing the points gripping the volcanic stone.
The strain on my mind from spatial awareness at full throttle made me respect the explorers of Earth more than ever.
As I climbed, three unique aspects of the mountain revealed themselves. The slope toward the middle began to round out. Ridges jutted down into the heart of the mountain, darkness coagulating around them. And far above, my perception brushed against a crest. That became my goal, to reach it, and link with my star to gather more Stellarium.
The air changed as I arrived. The wind went silent.
Along the crest sat a small crevasse carved with ancient etchings, perhaps from the species humans once descended from.
Beasts filled the stone in crude but careful depictions, each line drawn with awe.
One carving dwarfed the rest: a serpent that stretched beyond what the artist could finish.
Ouroboros.
I traced the grooves with my fingers. She lingered in my mind, warm, trustworthy, yet impossibly old. How could such warmth survive in a place like this?
Beneath her carving were two symbols: an eye, perfectly round, and an X.
I memorized them, unsure why.
I stood back, encapsulating the full image of the carving in my mind. Such a grand being, and even she was at mercy to the Star that held her.
I stepped back into the sunlight, my focus tightening once again.
I need to not bite off more than I can chew. Ouroboros has shown no hostility towards me or my future.
If she hides something, its probably a sign I am not ready to bear such a truth.
My eyes finally drifted back to the peak of the mountain, the sun casting a dark shadow along it.
Other Jay POV
The wind howled around my skin, curling around the mountaintop and dispersing down the slope.
The sun casted a warm essence as I sat by my lonesome, my thoughts heavy with anticipation.
Will he make it?
Is this the day?
I felt the Stellarium in my soul tremble.
He… is growing.
I always feel it when the original grows. A pull deep in my chest, as if my own core shifts to match.
At first, I was proud. My original wasn't blessed by Lady Ouroboros with knowledge as he was born. He had to earn it.
That endless fuel for growth. I wish I felt that same feeling.
Hissss.
To my left, a small four wing bird perched beside me, its wings fully expanded, trying to showcase its might. Then it burst into the sky, its speed frightening for something so small.
I felt it circle me from above, as if waiting for an opening that would never come.
Seeing no movement from the other party it decided to take a chance on its opponent being weaker, a bold decision.
It's wings curled in a spiral formation, spinning it in the air until it was mere moments away from striking. Then it whipped its wings, slowing it for just one, critical moment.
But that moment was enough.
Slip.
Before the poor beast could even react, it had been split in two.
I felt as the poor thing collapsed onto the cold rock.
Would I end up in that same position?
As thoughts of the upcoming duel continued to fester, I finally felt him.
About 50 feet below, it seems he felt me too.
Ahhh, this feeling.
I couldn't describe my current mind. I was born out of the essence of control.
So why, why do I feel these useless emotions when I see this boy?
I was born out of control, and yet.
Yet.
I can't even control myself.
Dwelling at the deepest point of my soul, I finally had a breakthrough of my own.
About my own idea of control.
Jay POV
The presence of my other self daunted anything I had been prepared for.
I felt as he dissected the raptor aiming for his life with suck utter precision and control it made me doubt if I held a candle to his strength.
But that never stopped me, instead, it only made me go faster.
I had also gotten stronger, way faster than the last three months have done.
Stellarium flowed through me as I climbed, finally understanding the concept the star had shown me all those weeks before.
I had mistakenly taken it as just another essence technique. One that aligned with my star, but it was so much more.
It allowed me to siphon essence while moving, something even Ouroboros said was unfeasible.
Just how powerful was my star?
I drifted back into focus, my mind taking in the scenery before me.
The island felt so… small from up here.
I could see the lake where I fought the Raptors, the trees I had ran past, the cave I had slept in for so many nights, the beach I had met Ouroboros.
"You have arrived," My other pulled my attention, a small smile gracing his lips.
"Yes, I have." I kept eye contact with the man Infront of me, my eyes cleared of all the lingering doubt in my mind.
"It's beautiful up here, isn't it." He said as he glanced off in the distance.
I just stared back, following his gaze to the beach where I had first arrived on.
"I had so many words built up for this moment, but they died as I arrived here." I pinched my brow as I spoke, my mind trying to come up with something to say to the man before me.
"It's okay, I do not need words of pity." He glanced over to me for a second, then back to the island. "Like I said before. The only thing I truly want is to fulfill my purpose."
There was a small pause in his posture, like he wasn't fully admitting his mind.
Silence past between us, not out of awkwardness, but peaceful tranquility.
I broke it first. "Have you seen everything you want to?"
"...Yes." Another lie.
"Alright."
I pulled back my glaive, my eyes drifting to his.
"Lets start."