"...This is your chance. Give me everything you’ve got."

"Everything, huh?" said Fulgardt, scathingly. To think Skullius had reached a point where he could comfortably look down on him like so.

They were entangled in darkness, interpreting it within an infinitesimally minute space of time within the Labyrinth of the Yoke. This might have been a conversation happening inside their heads and within the labyrinth at the same time.

That was why they were both stripped bare of the powers they had obtained recently.

Fulgardt looked human, and Skullius no longer resembled a war god. In the background, some pitiable creature with slivers of Fulgardt’s likeness wheezed weakly, steeped in unimaginable agony. There was plenty of relevance to it.

"Everything," Skullius confirmed. "I’m surprised you didn’t dash for your Mantle while we were in the Bosom. You could have added it to your arsenal. I thought you had confidence in that thing, given that it’s useless to anyone other than you."

Fulgardt shrugged. "I don’t need that thing to win. I never did, really. It’s a crutch I convinced myself was necessary before realising that was part of a lie."

Skullius laughed so hard that the Immoral raised a brow. What was so funny?

"You’re really trying to stay loyal to this ever-evolving theme, aren’t you? Unfortunately for you, I know how much of a lie that is. You just might be the most impressive hypocrite I’ve ever met. You put the likes of me to shame, Fulgardt."

"What have I done this time, brat?" Fulgardt cocked his head to the side.

Skullius pointed at the figure suspended in the darkness behind the Immoral.

"When I threatened to destroy the labyrinth earlier, you said you didn’t care, that it didn’t matter to you anymore. That was either a really good bluff – and you were actually sweating on the inside – or you truly believed that until you were proven wrong," he said, grinning. "You only survived Boron’s halberd because of him, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the first time you’ve used him in this way."

Fulgardt shrugged. "And that makes me a hypocrite, how?"

"Now I have to lecture you about what a hypocrite is? Isn’t your favorite gimmick calling all Deities false gods and hypocrites? Don’t tell me you don’t even know what the word defines, sockethole. Go ask one of those hypocrites what hypocrite means."

"I never claimed to be a god – a being of perfect logic and omniscience – now did I?" said Fulgardt, brows raised, nostrils flaring. "If anything, I’m consistently inconsistent, as one of the only people in this Reality who understands their place. I’ve never claimed to not have weaknesses. My plans fail, my designs are flawed, but in the end, Direction – the Wanderer’s destiny – qualifies my actions as right. Don’t you get it by now, you moron? Receiving the graces of a true Divine being is the only mercy for creatures like us."

"Right," said Skullius. "So, when you gave up a piece of your soul to a Primeval Deity in order to obtain the quirks of Higher Fundamental Barter, that was also consistent with your faith in the Wanderer, was it?"

"Why wouldn’t it be? I offer up no reverence or loyalty to that Deity. It’s simply a transaction – a means to reach the freedom I desire."

Skullius paused and scratched his scalp. This was frustrating. He eyed the battered figure in the distance again and shook his head disapprovingly.

"So, anything goes with this faith of yours, huh? No restrictions, no judgment."

"That’s what true freedom is." Fulgardt sat down in the abundant darkness. He gave the pained figure a glance. "If it makes your oozing heart feel any worse, my brother did nothing wrong all his life. Nothing at all. He was always in my shadow, obedient, meek, and kind. He was easy to walk over. Submissive. It was endearing when he did everything I said. But when I found him to be submissive to others as well, even those with ill intentions, forgiving and sweet, I was repulsed. Even before the revelation of the Wanderer came to me, I found that sentiment – the substance of the Deities of Aigas – revolting."

As Fulgardt spoke, the resemblance Skullius had seen between the Immoral and his brother faded. That was all for the good.

When he and Fulgardt had blended together earlier, sharing memories and experiences, he’d found out about this trump card of Fulgardt’s in the labyrinth. He understood its functions, but not the core of its origin. Indeed, it sickened him to know that Fulgardt’s brother had been blameless and yet...

"I knew when I began my campaign against Quintess and his wenches that he would follow me and do everything I told him, but I didn’t think I could bear it. I needed a coalition of strong-minded allies who believed in the cause, not a toolbox disguised as a man," Fulgardt said. "That’s why I valued Quilforg and not my brother. I can hardly remember his name." He allowed himself a sniffy chuckle. "Like Rias, I led him to Divinity after discovering the secret. He was a secret himself. He never saw the light of Aigas again since I began working on the Labyrinth. Why would a tool need to wander around on Aigas, especially if its purpose was as an assurance?"

"You know how I almost perished before, right? Sure, you do. I got too ambitious and tried to escape AKHASHA’s Reality-wide hold on Divines by appealing to one of the Primeval Deities. They betrayed me – I’ll find that bastard." His grin was passionately fatal. "I only survived because of my assurance. Did you know that the Broader Existences of siblings are highly compatible with one another? I didn’t know either until I came to as an idea in the powers I left behind – the powers you took on. If it weren’t for my assurance, my WILLS would not have remained as they did."

"So, you leeched off your brother’s Broader Existence twice to survive death?" Skullius said, his eyes turning colder and sharper.

"And his body too." Fulgardt nodded repeatedly. He appraised Skullius. "I bet I appear rancid to you by now. I’m glad," said Fulgardt. "You proved me wrong on one account today. You’re not as spineless as I thought. You are capable of making sacrifices, too, even if you do it with a bleeding heart. That’s not freedom, though."

"Perhaps not," said Skullius, and he took a breath to calm himself. As if he needed another reason to kill Fulgardt. "But I’m going to make sure freedom is the last thing you can obtain. I told you, didn’t I? You’re going to give it your best – no excuses – and I’m going to seal your freedom for good."

"To your credit, you’ve already managed to restrict me to Aigas, so you just might be worth your word. But I can get rid of that restriction soon enough." He pointed a challenging finger at Skullius. "I’m going to dismantle these newfound powers you’re so proud of. I’ve figured out your weakness. It’s in the name of your body, funny enough."

Skullius gave a subtle, sniff-like laugh. "Funny, indeed. So, we’ve both revealed the weaknesses of our strengths, huh? Even better than that, I guess we’ve already decided the kinds of fates we’re going to deal each other. Let’s play our cards then."

---

[Author’s Note]

I know, I know. The themes are too overt. I couldn’t help it.