The Failed Hero

The final battle between the two bohatiers and three gods raged on.

Perun’s thunder rolled in every direction. Whenever his lightning struck a tree, it didn’t burn, it melted instead.

Levoslav had to defend skillfully against arrows and battle-axes that Radegast kept pulling from under his belt. The God of War had his boar hat on, or rather, his human head gave way to the wild boar’s head.

In the meantime, Dragomir clashed with two Poludnica and one Bannik. Bannik was a spirit with a male body and a liquid head that always dripped like water.

“Don’t kill them both, my dear vassals,” a woman commanded the spirits. “We need one alive to spread the folklore.”

Her crystal-white hair was perfectly braided. She held a sickle in one hand and a staff that looked like nothing special in the other. But the ground beneath it froze whenever she tapped it. Moreover, a ticking sound surrounded her.

Such was a being called Morena. The Goddess of Death and Winter. Also known as The Cold Bringer.

“To think that the likes of you would be able to kill Mokosh and Stribog! Sure, they weren’t the strongest, but even Dazhbog couldn’t pull off such a feat!”

Dragomir evaded Poludnica’s golden sickles.

“Are you okay, Drago?” Levoslav panted. “I thought Poludnica could only live in the fields!”

“The rules of my vassals belong to me,” Morena smiled, as she revealed a golden tooth.

SLASH!

“Aaarghh!” Morena screamed.

“Pay attention during a battle.” Dragomir had cut off the arm holding her sickle.

Blood sprayed from her wound, making her collapse to the ground.

The closer Dragomir got to her, the louder the ticking sound was.

SLASH!

He used the opportunity and swung for her heart. The axe tore open her chest, but instead of finishing her off, it knocked a small golden device loose from inside.

It hit the ground with a metallic clink.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

And then the ticking stopped.

In the meantime, Levoslav cut off the liquid head of Bannik and pierced one Poludnica right into her heart before slicing up the other one.

Radegast leapt in front of Morena.

“That’s enough, you pest!” He kicked Dragomir away, sending him flying much further than a regular kick would have. But gods were a different kind of beast.

Dragomir spat blood.

Damn it… why do they feel stronger than the first time? I have to get that thing or else I’ll create a time paradox!

Perun came crashing down like a bolt of lightning toward Dragomir, but Levoslav deflected him with his blade.

“Good job on wounding Morena! She doesn’t look it, but she’s the most dangerous out of the three!”

“Yeah… tell me about it. The first time we fought her she almost killed me…”

“But why does she have to be such a beauty?” Levoslav complained. “I’d kill to have a wife like her!”

“There you go again… sweating the important stuff, heh.”

Levoslav helped Dragomir stand up.

“We should retreat for now,” Dragomir suggested.

“No, we’re close! We have to learn about the source of their power!” Levoslav’s hair was soaked with sweat.

Dragomir observed. But what were his choices? This was pretty similar to how it went before. He knew the betrayal would be coming. Unless he stopped it somehow. But how?

Leaving Morena’s heart behind was definitely an option. But not a good one. That would lead to a future where Dragomir would eventually be killed in Leshy’s forest.

“Cover for me, Levo!” Dragomir sprinted towards Morena’s body but Radegast still defended her.

Levoslav deflected all of Perun’s attacks, redirecting one of them toward the God of War, sending him flying away.

Dragomir slid on the perfectly green grass and grabbed the metal object that had fallen from Morena’s chest.

Radegast threw another arrow with his bare hands, without needing a bow.

Dragomir dodged at the last second. The tip of the arrow grazed his cheek.

“I’ve had enough!” Perun slammed his axe against the ground with full force. The battlefield collapsed as lightning strikes swallowed everything as far as the eye could see.

At the very last second, Dragomir threw his battle-axe at Perun, slashing his throat.

“Argghh!”

“Perun!” Radegast leapt toward his ally and slung him over his shoulder, then did the same with Morena and leapt away from the destruction Perun had caused.

As the ground collapsed, Levoslav and Dragomir tumbled down the cliffside.

“Give it back!” Radegast yelled after them.

“Leave him!” Morena’s voice echoed. “My heart might one day bring us back together.”

The gods’ voices carried through the air. But after a faint thunderclap, they fell completely silent.

Levoslav and Dragomir lay on the ground, bruised, small rocks still falling around them.

They wheezed.

Dragomir pushed himself toward his partner, helped him sit up and lean against the cliff wall.

“You good?”

“Do you think Morena would accept my proposal if I asked for her hand?”

“Yeah, you’re fine,” Dragomir quipped.

Both of them burst into laughter.

But then...

…

…

...Levoslav grabbed Dragomir by his neck, a vein popping on his forehead.

So it’s here, after all…

“You’re ridiculously calm in a situation like this, Drago.” Levoslav panted.

“I just have no strength left…” Dragomir’s voice was weak, strangled by the pressure of Levoslav’s hand.

“You came from the future, didn’t you?”

“What gave it away?” Dragomir’s eyes grew increasingly bloodshot.

“It’s always the little things.” Levoslav let him go, letting Dragomir gasp for air. “Your hands have scars I’ve never seen before. The way you knew about Mokosh and Stribog. Even your fighting style is completely different, more analytical. You’re basically a new person.”

“So you knew ever since that battle…?”

“I knew from the very beginning.” Levoslav drew his sword. “Remember what I asked about your shoulder? Radegast never hit you with one of his axes during our first battle. So you either mixed up your memories, or you simply made that up.”

Dragomir’s eyes kept darting in every direction, expecting something to happen.

“Pay attention to me!” He pressed the blade against Dragomir’s throat. “Or do you already know you’re not dying?”

“We’re a little off but I’m sure that he’ll find us here soon.” Dragomir squeezed the golden device he had picked up. “That level of destruction couldn’t ever be overlooked.”

Slow, sarcastic claps followed from behind Levoslav.

“Just incredible, ‘Drago’!” Veles approached the bohatiers. His eyes immediately fell on the object in Dragomir’s hand. “I’d be careful if I were you. That pocket watch can save lives, but it brings danger to anybody who owns it and knows the name of its original owner. Kinda ridiculous, I know, but she’s the one who made it that way.”

Alright, around this time, something pierces Levoslav’s heart. But what? And from where? How do I stop it if I have to save him?

“I brought one bohatier to you as promised,” Levoslav turned to Veles.

Back then, I gave my right to rewrite the rules to Veles in exchange for saving Levoslav’s life. And Veles used it to rewrite the world in a way that shifted the balance of power…

“Indeed. And you not only killed some gods. You even wounded the two strongest ones,” Veles’ eyes flashed. He could barely contain his enthusiasm.

But in the end… Levoslav said something unthinkable.

“So what do you think? Will you show me how it works? Can I finally become a god?” Levoslav bowed his head low, as if pleading.

Yeah, just like this… But wait…!

Dragomir’s hands trembled. The conversation between them shouldn’t have lasted this long. Or rather… it should have continued after Dragomir traded his right for Levoslav’s life.

What’s going on? He should have been… And then it hit him. He remembered that when Levoslav died, the wind blew uncharacteristically stronger. Don’t tell me that Stribog…!

“Don’t be so hasty, my friend,” Veles said. “We’ll use Dragomir for the Eleventh Commandment, and you can add the Twelfth.”

The Eleventh Commandment… That’s when everything went south. I can’t allow them to create even more!

Levoslav was too excited. He grinned so wide he didn’t even realize that there was dirt on his cape. And Dragomir used this brief moment to snatch Levoslav’s sword.

Within seconds, the blade… and his beloved cape… were stained red.

“Dra… go…” Levoslav whispered. Blood trickled from his mouth as he dropped to his knees.

“Hey! No fair!” Veles stomped his foot with exaggerated frustration.

Dragomir stepped back. His hands trembled even more. “I… killed him… I k-killed my best friend…!”

“He’s not dead yet, you donkey,” Veles interrupted his mumbling.

“Veles!” He grabbed his shoulders. “Please, let’s make a deal, just like the last time!”

“Last time?” The God of Trade blinked.

“I’ll sell you my right to rewrite the world! But please, sell me Levoslav’s dushe, both of them!”

Chapter 25: END