Where after the prince of the sirens and the priest finish with their duel, the game proceeds to the final battle. Will it end with an official winner though?

No one's POV:
-

He stared alternatively at Adrian and Alter with wide open eyesocket, blinking fast. His feet refused to move an inch. Ramirez, standing next to the smol skeleton rolled his eye.

Then abruptly and rudely pushed him forward. Geno stumbled and almost fell prone but managed to stay up. He shot a glare at the doctor, before turning again ahead and walked. He faced Alter and the 2 stood silent.

"The choice is yours priest. How is the fight going to be?" The minotaur asked. Still silent, Alter walked towards the weapons.

Geno couldn't know for sure what weapon the priest was going to choose, but something about the spears or canes seemed to convince him more. And so, he was extremely surprised when Alter threw at his feet a sword, while he held another in his hand.

He wasn't the only one, as most of the pirates were now whispering at each other for such questionable choice. The siren almost stepped back as he was looking at the weapon in front of him and the taller skeleton. Who just smiled calmly.

"Go ahead. Pick it up." He said.

"Little guy, do you accept this duel?" Adrian asked.

Geno looked at him before turning to face Alter again. Something was definitely off. Why choose the weapon in which he was less skilled to? Was he just trying to give him the win more easily or... or! He was underestimating him?!

No, that couldn't be. Geno shook his head left and right as he picked up the sword given to him by Alter. It was suitable for his size. He looked at the priest who had his hands resting on the handle of the upside down sword, the sharp edge pressed on the floor.

"I shall request one more thing for this specific duel. Am I allowed Adrian?" He asked the minotaur, with the same calm and enigmatic smile.

"Well... say it." Adrian allowed. Alter looked down at Geno.

"Winner in our duel can be any of us 2 on 2 ways. On the first, whoever is still standin' with the sword in their hands. Which means that whoever's weapon escapes their hands and touches the floor has lost. Make me drop my sword and you've won." Geno nodded, in the back of his head still trying to figure out why Alter would choose swords.

"And what's the second way to win?" He asked. Alter's expression slightly darkened, the smile dropped an inch.

"Since it's us fighting, each hit we give to one another will only bite us back. So, whoever causes to the other even the slightest of scratch has won. We immediately stop fightin'." He said. "Sounds simple?" Geno thought about it. There was no problem with Alter's suggestions, but he just couldn't stop overthinking.

"Let's get this over with." He said and held his sword with both hands.

"Brilliant!" Alter tilted his head to the left with closed eyesockets and a cheerful grin.

"Fighters prepare!" Adrian shouted. The tall skeleton held normally his sword with his left hand and stared down at Geno still smiling. "Fight!"

Geno stood on guard and looked up to Alter ready at any second to fend him off, on the slightest offensive motion of his. Instead the taller... just kept staring down at Geno smiling sweetly. This sweet cheerful expression set the siren off even more. He wasn't moving, he wasn't attacking, what was he waiting for-?

Wait wait wait, he was walking towards him! Geno prepared even more on defence mode as he looked at Alter approaching him... absolutely defenseless. His sword was just hanging, the tip almost touching the floor and he was literally letting his body open to many hits.

"No way, that's a trap! He can't be allowin' me JUST like this to hit him freely!" Geno's mind screamed and as Alter was 8 steps away from him, he looked away momentarily to think.

Big fat mistake to look away, even if it was for just a single moment.

Faster than a thought to be thought, Geno felt getting aggressively but swiftly spun around, his left hand that was holding the sword being raised in the air held by the wrist, from a hand that the very next moment clenched so tightly, caused him to squeak from the sudden sting.

His hand opened and his sword escaped its grip. Then he was pushed away and he stumbled, falling on all fours. He quickly stood up and looked around him fast. Where was Alter and where was his sword-?!

"Lookin' for this princess?" He heard Alter from behind him. Geno snapped his head to the direction of the voice calling him princess (>:0). The priest was holding Geno's sword in his right hand. He almost stepped forward to attempt retrieve his weapon. Alter then released 2 fingers from the sword's handle and Geno stopped. "Nah ah aaah." He did cheerfully. Adrian was ready to walk up, only for the priest to snap his head to his direction. "Step back Adrian, this duel ain't over yet." He said and turned to face Geno again. That's right. He hadn't let go of Geno's sword yet to fall on the floor.

Everyone waited to see what would happen. Then, Alter walked up to Geno slowly and offered him back his sword. Geno looked at him startled and took a step back. Alter just signed the smol with his head to take the sword. Hesitantly at first, then abruptly, Geno snatched the weapon from the taller, who chuckled.

"What was that a while ago?! He can't even teleport, just moved so Godarn fast!" His mind screamed as he stared at Alter with a very concerned expression.

"Focus Geno." The taller just said as he had positioned his sword with the sharp edge on the floor, his elbow resting on top of the handle while checking out the tips of his fingers on his left hand casually. Such chill and indifference caused a punch of nerves rush through Geno momentarily. He gripped his sword tighter, clenched his teeth and ran up to Alter, who sharply held the sword in his hands and blocked the smol's attack in an amateurish way. "That's more like it!"

"Game on!" Geno thought. The next minute passed with the siren attempting to hit Alter, unarm him, anything.

The priest was playing just defensive, blocking and evading easily Geno's attacks without breaking a sweat. The siren had started panting, his ribcage hurting from the fatigue. At such state, he gave away an opening for Alter to suddenly swing his sword to hit down Geno's, causing him to stumble forward.

Then the taller swiftly limbed behind him and pushed him forward. Geno almost fell, but managed to find his balance by momentarily using his sword as a cane to support himself. He turned to face Alter, who was again leaving himself open to opportunities to get hit!

"Shall I tuck you on bed princess? Ya seem tired." He said mockingly on a calm tone. Geno slapped himself.

"Don't let him anger ya damnit!" He knew damn well Alter was toying with him and proceeding to make him angry to loose focus. He wasn't forgetting Adrian's words from that time he saw Alter fighting Dave. Half the priest's success in battle was angering the opponent.

"It's an art to make the other loose their cool and eventually their focus. Playing dumb doesn't just work to make the other underestimate you, but cause them frustration. Making them think low of you. With these thoughts they move recklessly towards you and screw up. Stand back for a while, catch your breath, clear your head and attack again." Aldo had advised too.

Geno thought. Alter was not handling the sword right and whatever attack he couldn't block, even awkwardly, he was evading. He was way too fast and responding on time, even injured. How could he take him down?

He thought of his strenghts and what had he learned. What could he put to good use? He flinched as an idea had come in his skull. Had to try. He ran towards Alter and attacked him with his sword a few times. The taller blocked and evaded all attacks.

The smol seemed to be waiting for something specific, an opportunity to put his plan in motion. And indeed, as he jumped back and dashed again at Alter, he threw his sword vertically in the air. In that mere half second the priest looked up, he didn't prevent Geno as he slid underneath him.

Then twirled and kicked him vertically first and better on his already injured leg, previously caused by Aldo. The pain was obvious on the taller's face as he kneeled, barely holding balance with his sword to not fall prone. Then the siren jumped on his back and in the air, he grabbed his sword that was falling at that time.

Before getting pulled down by (non-defined in the era the story takes place) gravity, he did a graceful flip and landed on the floor perfectly. He stood in front of Alter and placed the tip of his sword beneath his chin, slightly raising his head to face him. He grinned triumphantly.

readers: WHAT in the anime was that?!

"Not bad for a 'princess' now." The smol commented. Alter returned his grin.

"You've really improved well. Splendid attempt though." He said as he swiftly fell back and his non-injured leg front-kicked Geno in the chest, who oofed as he fell back.

Before he could react, Alter walked up to him and pinned him down by the face. Blindly Geno tried to swing his sword at him, only to feel it getting clanged with Alter's and stopping. His other free hand grabbed the taller by the wrist, in an attempt to remove his hand off his face.

"FrjKanxakdjdbqhsi." He muffled something incomprehensible as he struggled to free himself.

Everything suddenly went dark, but still he could see the human seemingly standing in front of him, ready to throw a punch-

Geno finally got free from the taller's hold. He watched him as he stepped back, stumbling and ready at any second to fall backwards. He was pressing his hand on his burned eyesocket and seemed agitated.

His right one was glowing all blue, a small dark dot being surrounded by it and his gritted teeth caused the pirates confusion from that sudden behavior. The siren realised what he had done. He remembered doing it again. Back at Lisbon, the day him and Alter were trying to escape. He stood up quickly.

"Al!" He yelped. "Kiddin' ya not, I didn't do this on purpose!" He was ready to walk closer to the taller. But one gesture of his signing him to stop, put Geno motionless. Slowly Alter lowered his hand. His head that was turned to look down turned to the smol's direction. Still agitated and now frustrated, angry and annoyed.

And then his hand opened and dropped his sword on the floor.

Ignoring everyone's stares and whispers of the evergrowing confusion and surprise, Alter walked out of the circle with his arms folded over his ribcage, the gesture he was doing more often when he was in deep thought or silently praying.

"So you're just giving up?!" Dave asked frustrated flailing his arms in the air, words which just like all other the priest ignored. The tiger was ready to go after him, but Michael's tiny hands held his big paw, stopping him.

"Priest Alter is injured and tired too. If he wants to leave of his own accord and not worsen his state even more, give him his space."

For 2 out of 3 things Michael was right, obviously about the injury and for the priest wanting his space. Tired he wasn't really, but him and Geno knew what the smol had done, even accidentally to make him remove himself from the circle. Moments of awkwardness later, Adrian finally stepped up.

"Little guy. Do you want to proceed on the last round?" He asked. Geno turned to slowly look at him. Eventually he just nodded silently. The minotaur signed with his head for Ramirez to step in the circle.

The doctor removed his coat and handed it to Aldo. He stared down at Geno intensively, the calm before the storm if he was going to fight the small skeleton in the same way he had fought anyone else he had gotten paired up with. Adrian stood between them and held a coin in his hand.

He asked Geno if was was choosing heads or tails. The siren went for tails. The coin flew in the air, landed on the minotaur's palm and slapped it on the back of his other hand. When he looked at what the coin was showing, he shook his head left and right. He announced heads.

"Well sh*t." Geno thought. Ramirez didn't think much of what to choose. The very next moment he spoke.

"Anything and everything." He said. And seeing the confusion on everyone's faces, he spoke again. "Magic, fists, I don't care. Use whatever you've learned to use. There's no mercy." He completed. Geno silently gulped, but nodded. Adrian stepped away and everyone almost held their breaths.

They didn't know which one they wanted more to loose, since most had with both Geno and Ramirez spoiled relationships, but given how they had both fought their way to the finals of the game, the pirates were also curious to see who would be last standing.

"Fight!" The minotaur said loudly.

"Ah, one more thing." Ramirez said as he bended forward slightly. Geno stood on guard. "You better hope there's a real LoRd AnD sAvIoR out there, because only Him will save you from me." He said in the coldest tone.

And then suddenly dashed towards Geno snarling viciously. The siren prevented to step on the right, summon 2 small bones in his hands and the moment Ramirez dashed at him again he stabbed his right paw that was literally going to scratch him. Ramirez flailed his arm abruptly.

He caused Geno to fly a few feet off the floor and land inconveniently on his shoulder. But gritting his teeth tightly he prevented to stand up and face again the doctor who had removed the bone from his paw and was running towards him at crazy speed. Geno tried to avoid him at all times.

As he leaped back to gain some good distance, he summoned a mix of small normal and blue bones, sending them flying at his opponent. Ramirez stepped back abruptly too and raised arms in the air as suddenly from all around any metallic object at close range started flying and blocking off the smol's bones.

The 2 stopped throwing stuff at each other and stood still for a moment as if trying to catch their breaths. Then the doctor closed his fist that had been stabbed previously by Geno's small bone and it all turned silver. He ran again at the siren and with that paw mainly started trying to hit him.

Geno summoned just one small bone which Ramirez avoided easily, but failed to do so twice when the siren called back said bone with blue magic which hit the doctor's other paw, stabbing it. The alsatian looked at both his paws annoyed, then at Geno. That paw got covered in silver too, in the height of the wrist.

"Uh oh." Geno thought.

"So you've definitely chosen death like the fool you are." Ramirez said and proceeded to attack again.

"Okay, his paws can't get disabled, instead he made 'em tougher and stronger. And if I had to guess, the more bleeding I cause to him anywhere else on his body, the more he will toughen up." Geno analysed. "I dunno for how long he can keep this up, but I shall avoid causing him to bleed and focus more on bone-cracking hits." He decided.

Before he could finish his thoughts, a stinging screeching was heard that caused him to shut his earholes. All pirates started shutting their ears too because Ramirez was now scratching on purpose his claws on his other palm, causing this extremely loud noise of scrapping metal.

Once seeing Geno loosing focus he leaped at him, who didn't know how, but his instincts kicked in perfectly and at the very last moment managed to avoid him by bending and twirling around him at the same time, dancing like the wind. He turned to face him huffing loudly while stepping back.

Ramirez snorted and suddenly clapped his paws loudly. Geno saw quite clearly the grey soundwave coming at him that threw him back a few feet. He didn't stay down as he rolled backwards and hurried to stand up. The doctor clapped his hands again to send another sound wave.

Geno was quick to respond. He hit down and forward his left foot and swinged sharply his arms, sending a blue wave ahead, which collided with his opponent's. However Ramirez' still went through the siren's and made him fall back again once more.

"Your skeptical was right to attempt counter my wave with another one. Problem is you're lacking 3 things, experience, more stability and height." Ramirez commented.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS NOW?!" Geno yelled internally as he stood up and this time went for an attack first.

Whatever moves he did towards Ramirez, the other was avoiding them. Well, most of them, he did get a punch and a kick, on the shoulder and stomach respectfully. They didn't do much, as Geno hadn't hit him full force. Then from physical attacks the smol went to magic.

But when he started with bone attacks, the alsatian started allowing himself to get hit. Geno recalled quickly what would bleeding result to and proceeded to start using blue magic and telekinesis. A minute later Ramirez huffed annoyed.

"This fight has become boring. Let's give these idiots around me something more interesting." And then, he suddenly raised both hands, with the palms facing Geno. Next thing the siren knew, immeasurable pain travelled through his whole body as the limbs against his will started moving and twisting in ways he didn't want.

"Wha- What the heck?! AAAAAH, STOP IT ARMS AND LEGS!" He yelled as he desperately tried to gain control of his movement. "WHAT IS THIS?!"

"This is called core control garfish." Ramirez said casually as he twisted slowly both his hands so the palms were facing to the sky. As he was doing that Geno felt his arms and legs as if they were ready to knot themselves.

"AAAAAAAH!"

"This mix of earth and soul control magic allows me to manipulate not just the very culmination of your being but also all 13 big parts in your body that can bend and fold. The neck..." And there Geno felt his head as if trying to rip itself off his neck. "... shoulders, elbows and wrists..." Ramirez kept going and the pain just increased in Geno, especially in the arms. "... and the joints on your legs." He completed and by barely moving his fingers Geno felt his legs as if ready to get ripped in 3 pieces before dusting.

He screamed in bloody murder. So that was what it was called. Core control. He still could remember (not fondly) seeing such magic. Yes, Alter had used it first on that soldier, Goncalo, because he was the one who had slashed and burned the siren's eyesocket. Back at Lisbon.

The icon of the human's limbs going to extreme directions hadn't leave his mind to this day and he really wanted to forget it. But then it was commander Duarte on whom the priest had used core control. After burning his head, he literally ripped him in 2 vertical pieces.

Geno could feel now his guardian's frustration in the air, who knew he HAD to interfere. However the game's rules and Alter weren't allowing it to do something drastic. Still, the tall skeleton did limp ahead and looked at both Ramirez and Geno, with clenched teeth from worry.

"Thæt's ənøυgh døg." He said and Geno could guess Alter was still there but it didn't need long for him to go full guardian mode and loose control. Still, when he was looking at the dog, his face was screaming volumes that he really wanted to end him right here and now.

"Know your place and don't interfere where YoUr PrInCe doesn't want you to be. Unless of course..." Ramirez said suddenly but relaxed the control he had over Geno, just enough for the smol to turn look at Alter. "... Go ahead. Do it. Tell him to save you. Tell him to end my existence. Rely on him to save the day for you because you can't save yourself just like the still weak and pathetic monster you are, that more by luck managed to get so close to the end of this game. Or, you know. Simply give up."

"Stop struggling little child. Stop avoiding death, you just make it worse for yourself. Besides, what will there be to live for anymore? Why live in this filthy human community that doesn't even want you here? You are for them nothing but a pile of waste. Not worth anyone's time. And if you live, how will you do so, deformed and damaged? So, stop crawling back and let me take what's left of your soul quietly. Give up and the pain will cease."

Give up

Give up

Give up

Give up

Give up

Give up

Give up

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"DoN't GiVe Up JuSt BeCaUsE wE'rE nOt ThErE wItH yOu BrOtHeR."

He forgot his pain momentarily. As he stared to nowhere specifically, Error's voice rung in his head. He could have sworn he saw for a fleeing moment his presence. But he dismissed it. Was he hallucinating from pain again?

"Our absence should be the reason for you to keep going. It was out of your control to find us on time and save us. Our memory to you, I can only assume is painful to you, but live for us."

Fresh too now?!

"We ArE yOuR pAiN."

"But we are your strength."

Having to bring them in his mind in that moment hurt Geno far more than the physical pain the doctor was giving him. He lowered his head and shut his eyesocket tightly as if that would get him rid off these voices.

And then he clenched his teeth tightly. He raised head to look at Ramirez.

"Don't step in guardian." He commanded quietly much to the taller's confusion. "You made a huge mistake by allowing in this duel to use anything to fight. You might control my limbs right now, bυτ τhere's one τhιng γa dιdn'τ τake ιnτo accoυnτ, Mιsτer smarτ*ss." He said as his voice had started cracking.

"Uh oooh." His guardian did and stepped back slowly as the wind started blowing a little harder around. And indeed he had done well to draw back, because then Geno smiled at his opponent wickedly. Continuing his sentence since Ramirez hadn't ask what the smol meant.

|

ÆM

§IRƏŊ

He let out a loud hiss as the white pupil in his eyesocket turned thin and bloody red. The wind all of a sudden started not just blowing, but howling. It was moving the ropes and cloths up high on the masts so hard, the whole ship started dangerously staggering left and right.

All objects started moving by its force and caused many pirates to fall on the floor, including Ramirez who lost his balance and his control over the small skeleton. Feeling free, Geno started laughing crazily. He dashed at Ramirez and as he was on his back, he sat upon him and started punching him in the face fast and sharply.

About 10 hits later Ramirez managed to roll over and bite down on the skeleton's shoulder. The scream Geno let out scratched everyone's ears. But he was quick to respond by summoning a small pointy bone in his hands and start stabbing Ramirez anywhere he could.

Then he used blue magic and threw abruptly and up high the doctor in the air. He followed right after by jumping, leaving a faint cloud of blue and before him and the alsatian could both start falling, he twirled his whole body and kicked the other vertically down.

The speed with which Ramirez hit the floor caused the wood to crack and almost make a hole. He let out an aggressive whimper of pain but before he could even turn on his back Geno controlled himself to fall at massive speed and stomp him, leaving a loud scream of effort.

"Somebody has to stop him, he's going to kill doctor Ramirez!" Michael yelled as he held tightly onto Dave's leg, who was hugging one of the masts from the force of the wind. Many were trying to hold onto somewhere.

"Ðøŋ'τ γøυ ÐÆRƏ ƏVƏR ÆGÆIŊ τhıŋƙ I'm wəæƙ. Ðøŋ'τ æssυmə τhæτ jυsτ ɓəcæυsə I'm smæłł I woŋ'τ đø æŋγ łəss! I æm ŊØT whø I υsəđ τø ɓə! I ÆM ŊØT INCÆPÆߣƏ JUST ßƏCÆU$Ə I §ƏƏM £RÆGIŁƏ! ÆŊÐ YØU! ¥ŒU, ÆRƏ ŊƏVƏR ÆGÆIŊ GOŊŊÆ UNÐƏRƏ$TIMÆTƏ MƏ! Ŋ Ə V Ə R!" Geno yelled as he kept hitting Ramirez, who hadn't given up on the fight just yet.

At least for a little while. He managed to roll and push off him the aggressive little skeleton. The 2 stood against the wind's force and stared at each other intensively. This fight had turned personal for Geno now and he wasn't going to stop.

As he summoned a massive army of bones, all the doctor did was stare at them. He had no strength and endurance to fight anymore, he could barely stand at this point. He was bleeding from everywhere, but this time the blood seemed to run freely and not coagulate.

"LEANDRO!" Aldo yelled desperately, staring in horror what was about to happen. The bones flew towards the doctor.

"Νέφος Ερέβους!"

Out of nowhere, a big black cloud grew fast and abruptly between Geno and Ramirez, the moment the bones flew to end the doctor. They were stabbing that cloud and... never coming out of it from the other side. Swallowed.

The siren stared at it surprised. When all of his bone attack was swallowed by it, only then the black cloud shrunk, until it ceased, revealing a small, slightly taller than him figure holding an oh so familiar glowing cyan scythe.

"You..." Geno said with hostility and the wind suddenly blew harder. However Captain Reaper didn't seem to get affected one bit by the wind's power. Instead he started floating towards the pale skeleton.

"This duel is over right here and now." He said coldly.

"Don't you DARE approach me!" Geno yelled as he was stepping back and throwing bones at him, which Reaper was casually blocking with his scythe. The trauma hit him as the way the other was slowly approaching him was causing him to remember.

That night 7 years ago, the one night he was scarred forever, physically and emotionally. The pirate then was much taller and female, but giving the same vibes and threat... as of now. What irony of Fate was that, to get threateningly approached TWICE by skeleton necromancers?

"You're afraid of me. I see it." Reaper kept talking calmly, somehow being heard in the wind.

"STOP APPROACHING ME! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR KIND! IT'S BECAUSE OF SOMEONE LIKE YOU I'M... LIKE THIS! BECAUSE OF YOU I HAD TO LIVE AND FEND ALONE! BECAUSE OF YOU MY BROTHERS ARE GONE!" He kept screaming and hissing at him, upon his anger not controlling his mouth.

And suddenly Geno was surrounded by darkness. Anywhere he looked, black. Kind of like the monster afterlife. Also, the loud howling of the wind, the pirates' panicked screams, the creaks of the ship, gone. Deafening silence. As he turned around once more, another figure, Reaper, entered the darkness. He looked at him.

"Geno-."

"Get away from me already!" Geno yelled, more desperate than aggressive. He tried to use magic, alas, it didn't work. Nothing appeared. Reaper walked closer to the other. The siren tried to step back, but felt his legs heavy like rocks. He shut his eyesocket. "Stop haunting my memories, get out of my head. Stop..." He whispered and clenched his fists.

"Who am I reminding you of?" Reaper's calm voice was heard.

"The one who made me this disfigured mess I am today! I look at ya and I'm reminded of the day I lost all I had left. Leave me alone already, you damn dogfish, or at least end my suffering quickly!" The siren said quietly again, waiting for... anything to happen.

Seconds later he felt smooth leather touching his cheeks. He opened eyesocket sharply and looked ahead. Then slightly up. The captain had cupped his face with his glove-wore hands, being so damn close the threat caused an ugly shiver to run down Geno's spine, all while an unexplainable stir in his soul was caused.

But he couldn't even attempt to step back. He felt tired, weak to resist. Sleepy. Reaper stared at the smaller with a look that was both intensive and... tender? His thumb stroked gently just below Geno's melted eyesocket, not covered anymore by the cloud.

*readers hyping for being blessed to finally eat another snippet of afterdeath like:*

"Rest my sweet, tortured angelfish. Rest and please, allow me to hear ya out. Talk to me when ya wake up again." He said in a voice smooth and sweet like honey. Next thing Geno knew, his whole body collapsed and the absolute darkness of uncosciousness took over him. Last thing he felt were arms supporting him from falling forward.

~

When the black cloud that was surrounding both Geno and Reaper vanished, all the pirates saw was... no one. Nor their Captain, nor Geno. The wind had calmed down, leaving the deck a mess. Yalin and Aldo were kneeled near Ramirez, treating his horrible injuries slowly.

The only one who was nor wondering where the 2 small skeletons were, nor doing any action was Alter. Simply standing and looking at the alsatian with a blank expression. All while his symbol senses were showing him exactly where the siren was. Captain's office.

i promise, i'm alive-

ANYWAYS

who's ready to finally see the 2 lovebirds having a far longer soul-to-soul conversation and for geno to stop having such big distrust towards reaper, taking a step closer to having le official ship of this story sail?

that is when the next chapters come of course

5390 words. stay determined little bambini :) *pat pat pat pit pat pat pat*