The Great Belligerency [Round 4: Static]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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Cole ran out into the city, cursing the mysterious force fields that had suddenly appeared and had been getting the way at least since he and Girnham had left the zoo.

Why had they appeared in the first place? They didn't seem to be part of the city's security, for two reasons - first, they had cleaved several buildings indiscriminately. Second, what kind of security system would allow huge, gaping holes that anyone could walk through? It was a glaring weakness.

Why would anybody put up a nearly-unbreakable wall that could be easily, if inconveniently, bypassed altogether?

Cole paused. Of course. Balance.

Such a wall fit the god's modus operandi perfectly. Which suggested that, if Cole went through enough of the holes, he might find the blasted deity.

Balance had ruined his battle with Dove already, and now he was getting in the way again. The god would have to be dealt with.

A shame I can't kill him, Cole thought, as he flew along the wall, searching for the next hole. But I do have an agreement to keep.

****

"Who are you, how do you know who I am, and what do you want?" Cole asked.

"Not one to waste time with small talk, I see. Well, then, I'll keep this simple. You are in a battle to the death against several other beings from across the dimensions. I was once in a similar situation. And I managed to escape."

The minotaur had Cole's full attention.

"Is this your homeworld, then?"

Minotaurus grunted. "No. Not that I have any need to return there. I am now working for someone else. Someone who has taken an interest in events in these battles."

"And that's how you know about me, then."

"Precisely. And my employer has an offer for you."

Cole eyed him warily.

"An offer? Why does he need my help, specifically?"

"Hmmph. It's complicated, and not very important, frankly. What matters is this - if you kill Vandrel Reinhardt, preferably while still in this city, my employer will provide you with a weapon that can slay gods."

"I accept," Cole replied, without the slightest hesitation.

No, no, no! This was all wrong. The hero couldn't kill the tyrant as part of a job! He had to do it to save the city!

Soft sighed. She could just lift up the rock, but that wouldn't be a good story. She needed to be saved by a kind stranger or something.

Oh, wait. There was that one guy who was following her and trying not to be seen.

"Hey, you!" she shouted. "Get this rock off of me, or you'll get your toes cut off tonight!"

****

Several walls later, Cole finally found Balance speaking to a mob of human and non-human New Shambhalans.

"You criticize me for my actions? I simply apply the rules! For each human that dies, a non-human dies as well! For each non-human that dies, a human shall fall! I merely acted to correct the imbalance. You are the ones who created it!"

Cole groaned. This was exactly why he hated gods.