Katra braced himself for whatever Monty’s released power would be. The moment he uttered those words, something strange started happening to his body. It was as if spores were growing off Monty, and when they detached, a duplicate was born. However, the rate at which the duplicates were appearing was at an unprecedented scale.

Thousands of clones were instantly created and destroyed. But the growing didn’t stop at a thousand. A seemingly infinite number were growing off his arms, legs and torso, all while he was fighting. Zeke’s power was being pushed to its limit with every wave of clones being created in an attempt to squash them when they formed.

"You... monster."

Monty started laughing as he rained more blows on Zeke’s armor.

"We’re all monsters in this world, friend. You should have joined us when you had the chance!"

After seemingly having the upper hand, Monty took notice of something that started to worry him. The wounds that he had been cut with by Zeke’s sword were refusing to heal. In fact, more blood seemed to be pouring out of them by the second, even when he tried duplicating himself a new body, those bodies would share the same state he was in.

So, even if he could try and make a new body, he would be back to square one. Monty cursed to himself and laid down his assault harder.

"Enchanted sword, huh? Did the king make that for you? I can’t help but think so since its enchantment seems to have to do with blood."

"How about I shove the pointy part up your ass, and you can find out if it’s enchanted or not."

"My my, you are just as terrible as the king with that mouth of yours."

Monty slammed another fist into Zeke’s breastplate. A small crack started forming on its surface. A massive boom collided with his helmet. Another crack appeared.

’Shit. I need more time or I’m finished.’

Zeke racked through his head, trying to come up with a plan. He started sending up earth from all around him to close around Monty, trying to slow him down. However, he easily broke through it every time it encased him.

Suddenly, a crazy idea struck his mind, but it was a desperate gamble, and he had to hope his armor would survive long enough for it to work. Slowly, Zeke started manipulating the path of their fight towards a large forest with extremely large trees. When he got close enough, he kept uprooting them and sending large trunks flying at Monty.

However, Monty was easily breaking through them, even while their speeds and weight were affected by gravity to increase its lethality. The gravity was getting so dense around them that even the small amount of light breaking through the clouds seemed to be dimmer. This was the only thing that seemed to slow Monty down.

Zeke took this opportunity for a final counterattack. His sword went flying through the air, aiming to scratch at his opponent wherever possible. One cut got on Monty’s back. Another cut appeared on the side of his neck. His face started turning panicked as more blood seeped out at a rapid rate.

Monty went for a desperate tackle towards Zeke to try and pin him down or hurt him. However, Zeke caught him and sent multiple knees flying into Monty’s face using his armored leg.

Every single impact rang so hard through the forest that the leaves would rustle violently, and small critters would try to scatter for their lives.

Monty was being so overwhelmed that duplicates stopped coming out of his body.

’This is it. It’s my only chance.’

Zeke released the gravity holding down the entire area around him and lightened it around his body instead. Monty’s limbs felt free again. He used the opportunity to throw his most powerful punch right into Zeke’s helmet.

Zeke was thrown hundreds of feet out of sight from the impact, disappearing into a clearing in the forest. Monty took the moment of respite to catch his breath. The hardest part about being under immense gravity was the ability to breathe. Air filled his lungs slowly, then he dashed toward where he knocked his enemy down.

The black armor was left on the ground holding his stomach in front of him. He seemed to notice Monty and quickly stood up to continue the fight. After spiting up some blood, Monty slowly walked toward him with a malicious grin on his face.

"This is the end Zeke. I’m sure you are so full of questions of how I was able to get so strong. How was I able to survive this long? How were my duplicates able to survive with such little food?"

Monty closed the distance and punched the amor more and more. More cracks began to appear all around its edges. Zeke was about to lose.

"I’ll give you a hint. It has to do with my secret I told you about earlier."

Another loud crack sounded in the forest. After a final tumultuous blow, Monty’s fist penetrated right through the heart of the armor and out its other side. Zeke fell limp on Monty’s arm.

Monty grabbed his helmet and whispered to it.

"It’s because I eat myself, dumbass."

With that, Monty punched off Zeke’s helmet, to get one final look at his enemy. However, when he punched off the helmet, the suit of armor was completely empty. A dumbfounded expression found its way on to Monty’s face.

"No..."

Just then, a dark black sword pierced through his heart from behind. Monty coughed up more and more blood and looked down at the sword in horror.

"It... can’t be. You... when did you..."

Monty desperately tried cloning himself, but each and every clone that split off from him immediately collapsed to the ground, holding its heart. Zeke grabbed his head and pulled his ear closer to his mouth to say his final words to his opponent.

"Rot in the darkest depths of this earth, you sick bastard."

Slowly, Monty collapsed to ground. A massive pool of blood surrounded him as he bled out. His skin turned paler by the second.

Zeke walked over and studied his broken armor. He mourned its loss. Through many battles this armor had saved his life. Now, it was a pile of rubble, patiently waiting its turn to rejoin the earth.

He grabbed his sword out of Monty’s dead body and slowly started walking back towards the fight at the palace. As he walked, the scar on his face seemed to be bothering him a lot less.

"Much better."