'I can feel something near my heart, two forces swirling around, like they were always there.'
The mark that once had no color now swirled like oil on skin, just like that of the giant's. Argent felt a new surge of strength; this time, it did not feel like an external source like the mark strengthening him, but a power that was a piece of him taking form.
He rushed towards Greth, Thranir's axe in hand, the patterns on it pulsed with his mark, its carvings shining the same silver and black as his chest.
Argent dodged a downward swing from Greth's club and jumped on top of it, running up to the giant's face and instinctively sticking out his left hand, pushing out the power that was building inside of him.
A searing white light came forth, blinding Greth temporarily. Argent didn't hesitate and slashed down hard with the axe. This time it was different. It wasn't just a light cut or a blow that slid off. This slash hit and cut deep. From the wound remnants of black particles floated up into the air.
Argent continued forward, landing in the mud behind the giant. Greth didn't shout in pain or make any gesture other than to turn around slowly with a huge grin on his face.
"Seems his faith wasn't poorly placed. Know this Argent. No human has ever, in the history of this world, awakened an element without the help of a god. Usually, your kind gets element upon their first death, and even then, they struggle to use it."
"I can feel it inside of me, like it's a part of my very essence," Argent said, holding his hand to his chest.
"Of course you do, element is a part of your soul. You seem to be a rare kind who has two elements within them. Once you master it, not many could stand in your way. But enough talk, let's end this. You have shown me your element, now it's time to face mine. "
The marks on Greth began to swirl and glow a deep, dark shade of green as roots emerged from his arm and crawled up his club, thorns spiraling around it.
The two ran at each other, neither holding anything back. Argent slid across the wet mud under a swing, slashing at the ankles of the giant. As Greth lost his balance, Argent went in for another slash, but his body wouldn't move.
Roots had crawled up out of the ground and weaved their way up him, restraining him from moving. He struggled trying to break free, but the roots only tightened their grip.
Then it came, a searing, bright white light emerged from all over Argent's body, enveloping everything in his immediate area. When the light faded, the burnt ashes of roots were falling off his body and flowing into the wind.
This time though, Greth was ready. His club was already swinging, hitting Argent square in the side, sending him flying, thorns breaking off and sticking into him.
Argent was breathing heavily and in staggered patterns, gasping for air. His hand was clutching his side, trying to stop the bleeding. This time Greth wasn't waiting; he was lumbering towards Argent. This was no longer a test; this was a fight to the end.
'One more go, everything I have...'
Shadows curled up Argent's arm and raced along the axe as he hurled it with everything he had. In the hard midday light, the weapon blinked out of sight, swallowed by darkness, then reappeared before the giant's chest. It struck just above the heart, biting deep, though not deep enough to reach it.
A tether of shadow lashed from Argent's hand to the axe buried in the giant's chest. When it caught, he dragged with the last scraps of strength he had, sending his shattered body toward Greth. He slammed into the giant with no plan, no thought, just momentum. The collision drove him down onto the axe's hilt, forcing the blade deeper, straight through Greth's heart.
"Guess we will call this one a draw, you did well, young one," Greth said, smiling as he faded away into blue particles, shining bright as they drifted upwards. The axe slipped from the empty air where his chest had been and landed against the muddy ground
Argent didn't have time to fully comprehend those words before he started to cough, blood spilling from his lips. Then it hit him, the realization. He hadn't yet landed on the ground. Looking down, he saw it. A jagged spear of roots and thorns was sticking out of the ground, going straight through him.
'Hahaha, I guess it is about time to see what death is like in this world after all.' Argent thought to himself as his body slowly started to break apart. The same shining particles floating up in beautiful clusters, shining like tiny stars in the light of the sun.
***
Thranir walks up to the spot where Argent died and reaches down to pick up the fallen axe.
"To think I would see this again, my father's hope for me, blessed by the gods themselves. I knew I had seen those eyes before. I wasn't wrong. I would call this fate if it still existed in this world without time."
He looks up to the sky, with a look of longing that hasn't been on his face for far too long to recall.
"Father, I'm the tribal chieftain now. I am not sure if you would be proud of me, or ashamed at what I have done to ensure our tribes survival. Either way, I would do it again, and again if it meant we lived. When the cycle returns, I will have to atone for it all."
***
Argent opened his eyes to white. An endless expanse of nothing stretched out in front of him. In the center was a hooded and robed figure. Cloaked in a blurry haze, no distinguishing features could be made out. He could only tell that it was shaped like a woman; the air hummed with its presence.
A voice came smooth, from all directions, both near and far.
"To those who have died for the first time, I come to bestow what is owed, the gift of element, the echo of creation."
"Um, it seems I already awakened element...could I maybe get something else?"