This World Can't Handle A Cultivating Bad-boy.

The climax of events leading up to one line and one line alone.

As Aegon stood there, listening to who he considered his closest friend in this world, stand and sell him out over the phone.

He also wasn't completely deaf to the rest of the call, he clearly heard Eli say he just wanted his sister back.

But right now, he only had one thing to say.

"How long?" Aegon spoke finally.

Eli froze, his eyes were wide open while beads of sweat trickled along the sides of his head.

Not hearing an answer, he continued. "How long have you been trying to kill me?"

"..."

The tension in the room was volatile. The silence was suffocating but their stare held strong.

"It's not exactly how it seems," Eli spoke slowly, raising his hands innocently. "There's a lot more to this than you think."

"Then explain," Aegon hadn't moved an inch from the frame of the door. "Let me understand, because this doesn't look good at all."

Eli's mouth opened but no full words came out. If looks could kill, Aegon's would've struck him down on the spot.

"I can't." Eli finally made out. "I know it's hard to trust me right now—"

"Hard to trust you?" Aegon scoffed. "You've tried to kill me... consecutively."

"I didn't have a choice." Eli shook his head. "Could you just act like you didn't hear anything. It'd make everything easier."

Aegon's brows shot up in disbelief. "Act like I didn't hear anything?" Scoffing, "Why I go right now and swing an arm round your shoulder?"

"This is for the best."

"Do I look like I care?" Aegon cut him off. "I know they have your sister and whatever—"

Eli tilted back. "And whatever? They have my family, what do you expect me to do, Aegon? She's my family."

"Not at the expense of everyone else in this world," Aegon sighed. Sensing the tension between them he lowered his tone. " Eli, tell me everything you know."

"I really can't do that." Eli said, his eyes to the side. "They'll kill her."

"..."

Neither said anything, they already knew what this impasse implied.

Shaking his head, Aegon stretched off his blazer, his eyes locked onto Eli's. "Please don't make me do this, man."

Eli did the same. "I really don't have a choice, brother."

They took a minute. Shrugging their blazers' onto the bed and unbuttoning the shirts.

The two took their stance. Fists raised, eyes sharp and legs spread.

"Trixy, lend me your strength." Eli whispered under his breath and his body bulged up. He stretched the seams of his tailored pants, and threatened to rip his undervest.

As the horn jutted from his head, he locked his, now pink, eyes onto Aegon's. "Please reconsider."

"I really can't." Aegon answered. His hands dangerously hot but not hazing.

Eli moved first. ~BAM!!~ With a kick he launched Aegon outward and crashing onto the end of the hallway.

Dust billowed up and pain surged at Aegon's back. Moving hand to crutch the pain but Eli was already charging towards him like a bull.

He immediately jumped to the side just before impact. Raising his fists and waiting for Eli to emerge.

Eli rocketed out of the wreckage with swinging boulder like punches. Aegon seemlessly avoided them all, drifting across the corridor in the process.

He backflipped to the end of the hallway. Stretched his fists and let the fire erupt from his palms—not enough to kill, but enough to stop him.

Eli shielded his face with his hands and pushed through the flames.

Just as he reached Aegon. ~BAM!~ Aegon delivered a devastating knee up his jaw that sent him stumbling back.

Eli's head continued to spin and his moved to get back to his feet. He turned back to see Aegon in a familiar form as his.

He'd almost forgotten about the Replication affinity. But, it was just for fifteen seconds so what's the worst that could happen.

The grounds were square now. The two highered their hands again, ready to go at it.

Eli lunged first—sloppy, predictable. Aegon sidestepped, grabbed his wrist mid-swing, and twisted. The crack of bone echoed through the corridor.

His fist angled toward Aegon's shoulder. He shifted to dodge, but mid-motion, the Eli's hips twisted.

He switched targets with terrifying precision, ramming his fist into Aegon's open stomach.

~Ghk—!~

Aegon staggered backward, his shoes skidding against floor. His insides tightened, his breath knocked clean out.

But Eli didn't drop. He spun, elbowed Aegon in the ribs, and shoved him back.

Aegon stumbled—just a step.

"I can't let you win, Eli. Too many people have already died." He muttered as steadied himself although his face was bubbling red.

They circled each other. Fast footwork. Controlled breathing. Aegon's eyes scanned—shoulder tension, weight shift, telegraphed rage.

Eli charged again. Aegon ducked under the punch, drove his shoulder into the his gut, and flipped him over his back. The floor shook as he landed.

Eli scrambled up, blood dripping from his nose, fury, no—fear, in his eyes. In fact, it engulfed him.

"She's my sister, man." he pleaded, spittle leaving his lips.

Levi didn't answer.

He just moved.

A brutal uppercut snapped Eli's head back. Aegon followed with a knee to the chest, then a hook to the jaw. Eli staggered, dazed.

But Aegon wasn't done.

He grabbed the hem of his undervest, slammed him into the wall, and began hammering.

Fist after fist. Blood splattered. Bone crunched. Eli's arms stopped blocking after a while, hands slumped to his sides.

Both their forms gradually dropped as they shrunk back down to size.

Seeing Eli's face, a mess of blood, sweat and saliva—even the cruelest heart would've felt something.

He'd clearly gone too far. Evident from the rubble that was now their hallway.

He shrugged. Alex would take care of it.

"..."

A few moments later Aegon sat beside a barely conscious Eli, splashing water on his face to somewhat make him decent.

The two hadn't spoken since.

"How long have they had your sister?" Aegon broke the silence.

"Since before the Adept Trial," Eli confessed. "They texted me at Claire's party with her picture and since then... I've been their bitch."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Because," Eli paused. "No one would care. Our parents are heroes in other nations, it'd take them a while to get here... If they'd even come."

"And no one else at all?"

"I tried passing a secret message to Mirage but I don't think he got it."

Silence slipped between them once more, save for the pitter patter of the shower.

"Do you want revenge?"