The world watched in silence. Skies burned. Oceans trembled. Every satellite focused on one battlefield the battered ruins of Istanbul, now a cratered wasteland of steel and bone. In the middle stood IronSoul, armor cracked, bleeding from the mouth. Across him floated Zerion, chest heaving, blood dripping from his lip. The punch that sent him to Mars left a mark not just on his face, but his pride. They circled each other. Ash rained like snow. Fires burned in the distance.
Zerion "You're persistent… for a mortal."
Atlas spits blood "You bleed like one of us… god."
Zerion tilted his head, cracking his knuckles. "This world doesn't deserve you, . It never did. The people you protect? They'll turn on you. Like they always do."
"I know… but I still fight for them."Atlas said.
Zerion growls "Then die with them."
Without warning Atlas lunged. He didn't fly. He charged through the rubble, kicking up stone, leaving trails of molten earth with each step. He leapt and landed another punch square on Zerion's cheek, harder than before. The ground split in half. Zerion flew back into the mountains, crashing through three peaks before stopping. Before he could react IronSoul was already there. He punches. Each blow shattered the air, tearing apart mountainsides, ripping trees from the ground, sending shockwaves across the continent. Zerion roared, grabbing Ironsoul and slamming him into a glacier, freezing the air around them. He drove a knee into Atlas's ribs, then blasted him with a point-blank eye beam that vaporized everything behind him for miles. Atlas screamed in pain but twisted through the beam and headbutted Zerion so hard his nose shattered. They stood again. Bloodied. Shaking.
Zerion snarled. "You should have bowed."
Atlas growled back. "I'd rather break you."
The sky was quiet. No more thunder. No more light. Just two figures… standing in ruins. Zerion, the godlike conqueror on one knee. IronSoul, Earth's last hope barely standing, his armor dented and leaking power, his face bruised and soaked in blood. IronSoul right arm hung useless, broken in three places. His fingers were twisted, bones shattered. One eye had gone black, swollen shut, and his breathing came in short, shallow gasps. Zerion, too, was no longer the image of unstoppable power. His once-perfect skin was burned and torn, muscle exposed. Blood leaked from his mouth. His chestplate gone. He stared at Atlas, jaw clenched. Then… He fell to both knees.
Zerion coughs blood "How... is this possible?"
Atlas limping forward "Because... I don't stop".
"You're dying." Zerion replied.
Atlas "Then I'll die… standing."
The wind howled across the broken earth. Atlas raised his one working arm, hand clenched in a trembling fist.
"This… is for Earth."
He threw one last weak but furious punch, hitting Zerion's jaw. Not strong enough to break it.
But strong enough to say "You didn't win."Atlas gasping. Zerion's head snapped to the side. He blinked… swayed… And fell face-first into the dirt. Atlas fell to one knee, blood dripping like raindrops from his chin. He looked to the skies no longer red, but gray. The battle was not over. But the god was on the ground. And the mortal was still breathing.
--- To be continued…