The earth spat them out, the smoke of Atala’s flames rising behind them. Without any words, Atala and Esu took off running. Atala’s eyes danced over the rising slope above them, wincing at the lack of trees or any significant cover.
“Esu, can you make us-” he paused as the lack of Odu on Esu’s skin caught his eye.
“Sorry.” Esu said, his eyes glancing down at the earth below. Atala said nothing, instead focusing on pouring his Ase into the air, creating invisible chains that wrapped around them, each chain link emitting fiery barbs.
“All of this will not kill him,” Esu pointed out. “In fact, can we even kill him?”
“Only one way to find out,” Atala said as a crimson shadow fell from the sky towards them. Iku crashed into the invisible chains, the barbs piercing past its crimson aura. Atala tried to explode the chains only for the crimson shadow to swell up, pushing back his barbs towards him and Esu. He only had time to push Esu away before his attack exploded; death energy along with his own power, struck Atala in the chest. His body shivered; his vital essence being swallowed as he stumbled backwards. Reaching out, Atala touched the explosion of his power but transforming it into purified Ase before absorbing it with his Odu. It cleared his foggy mind as a crimson blade fell on his head. Atala raised his hand, transforming the air into iron and blocking Iku’s attack. He rolled away falling under a tree’s shadow making earthen spikes rise and stab the spirit. Iku barely glanced at them as they crashed into his aura of Ase, losing their shape and power, their white tinted form unable to push through. From Iku’s empty hand rose a crimson claw like that of a hyena swiping at the retreating Atala. Just as it was about to tear through him, Atala sank beneath the earth, his form growing illusory. The attack struck the tree, and its branches crumbled into ash a few seconds later.
Iku’s eyes fell on Esu whose mouth was turning into a snout, sharp canines replacing his human teeth.
“The final vestiges of your humanity?” Iku inquired, a sneer on its face. Esu’s mouth opened as if to speak, but only growls came out. Iku’s sneer deepened and it added,
“I am a great spirit; I do not stoop low enough to harm beasts.” It turned away from Esu, before spitting onto the ground. By then, Atala had risen out of the earth, his form gaining substance and he conjured up a blade of white fire, swinging diagonally at the spirit taking its eyes off his brother. Iku responded even faster, its sword appearing in the spirit’s hand like lightning. With a growl, it blocked his attack then pushed down, its muscles bulging. Atala’s legs shook, the ground sinking beneath him. Grinding his teeth, Atala poured Ase into his arm and core, pushing up against the spirit. Iku stumbled, one leg rising off the ground only for it to come down as quick as lightning, its hand aiming for Atala’s chest. Suddenly, the air around Atala erupted into raging blue fire making Iku curse and stumble back, the flames sinking into his flesh, warring with its Ase.
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Iku crushed Atala’s attack, and he held his position, but the spirit’s crimson eyes were now wary. Atala used this chance to catch his breath and draw Ase from the air. Using his sensitive Odu, he captured the coordinates of his younger brother. Atala like Iku also held still, gathering and refining as much Ase as he could do before guiding it to his tired muscles.
Iku’s eyes narrowed as it said, “I should have killed you all those years ago along with your brother. Well, it does not matter now, I will kill you here.”
Atala said nothing, he only gathered more Ase, filling his Odu to the brim.
Suddenly, a small grin danced across the spirit’s face and its gaze flicked back to Esu. Ice crawled up Atala’s spine when the ground shuddered and something shot out at his brother. Esu ducked, missing it by an inch as Atala made to spin and run towards his brother, but Iku awaited him. The spirit was a blur of crimson, its sword like the wind as it stabbed towards him. Atala wrapped earth around himself, the force of Iku’s blows knocking him sideways away from Esu. His earth armor cracked under the weight of Iku’s power. Atala stomped the earth, transforming it into a swamp and Iku sank knee deep. Stirring the earth even more, he pulled Iku deeper running towards the spirit before turning the earth into hardened metal around the Iku’s ribcage. The spirit gasped as the earth sought to close itself around its middle. Then Atala focused on his earth covered knees and they glinted with metal just before connecting with Iku’s throat. There was a sickening crunch as Iku's throat caved inward. Atala barely gave it a second glance as he spun, throwing his blade of fire and pinning the thing Iku had conjured before it could approach his brother. It screeched, its form growing more distinct. It was made of earth, rocky in some areas and soft in others like the earth around them. Atala ignited his fiery blade, and its pieces scattered in a blaze of white.
Still running, Atala picked up his brother when he felt Esu struggle, nipping and growling “It’s okay, I-” he began but Esu barked and an urge to look back poured over him. Atala gathered his Ase around his heart without thought as he turned, and something tore through his chest. The force of it carried him forward and its tip went through Esu’s shoulder. Pain flared across Atala’s right pec as his breathing almost came to a halt. His mouth opened, gasping for air as he stumbled to his knees. In his body, Iku’s power ran rampant attacking the rest of his lung before spreading to other parts of his body. He could feel his bones growing thin, his muscles slipping away, his blood and soul-
Sharp claws dug into his shoulders and orange fire danced in his sight. His body lost weight, and the ground vanished beneath his feet before his consciousness slipped beneath the surface.
