Deep inside his mind. Arthur was sitting in a puddle. A chess table laid out before him as a demon made of blue fire sat across him. A smile painted across the demons face. Or at least what seemed like one.
"Do you think you are strong, Child?"
The demons voice somewhat resembled Arthur's, but it had an underlying tone to it that he couldn't quite understand, like a booming echo. Arthur stared at the demon with a puzzled look on his face.
"Uh…not exactly. No. Why?"
"Well good. Do you think that relying on someone's else's strength will grant you victory?"
Arthur thought for a few moments before he understood what he was talking about. His skill brought out 'someone else' inside of Arthur's mind, and enhanced his body to the highest decree.
"…a victory is a victory. Is it not? It just isn't mine. In a way."
The demon simply chuckled.
"You lack character. You're like a terrible script being written by a man who doesn't understand the complexities of life. You're just a blank state for fate, aren't you? A tool. For that twisted woman."
Arthur was simply shocked. He had never exactly expected a barrage of insults. Displayed on a small screen beside the table was his alter battling the serpent. He seemed to be enjoying. Arthur let out a sigh and moved a chess piece forward. They completed their game in silence. Arthur wasn't very good at chess.
"Checkmate." The demon chuckled.
"Yes, you won…"
"I've peered into your heart, you are a coward, and a fool, and that's all you've been for your whole life. How long will you keep hiding? You're a disappointment. You can try to convince yourself you have a steadfast mind. But a steadfast mind wouldn't have given up so easily on itself. You are fragile. A mirror just waiting to be—"
Arthur kicked the table out of the way and grit his teeth.
"How long are you just going to insult me?! You think you know me better than everyone else?!"
He yelled at the demon. But the demon simply chuckled.
"Like I said. Fragile."
Arthur grumbled before forcing his alter back into the depths of his mind and him back into his body. He was flying up in the air. The serpent below. About to swallow him. He put his foot on the head of the serpent and flung himself further up. Allowing himself to focus.
'Is that what I've been missing the whole time? A goal? Draw a star. When I think about it. It really doesn't make a sense. A star is a circle. I've drawn those plenty of times. Maybe. I just have to…become one? I don't know…god, I don't want to think…I just want to…'
[You have reached a state of absolute concentration. Unlocked skill: 'Absolute Concentration']
'Huh…?'
Time seemed to slow around Arthur. He had isolated himself from the world. He felt like he could smell, see, and hear everything. He twisted his body. Focusing on the maw of the serpent. He coated his body in aura and started to twist himself like a drill. Plummeting himself into the mouth of the beast and severing it apart from the inside. While his alters aura was made for destruction, the aura of the pendragon house was meant for precision, grace, beauty, and justice.
The serpent had been torn to shreds from the inside. And Arthur had already pierced its heart. Arthur was covered in greenish blood as he yanked the hide of the snake off of him.
'Ugh…'