…“A catastrophic downfall of immeasurable proportions,” he says with a wry smile painted below his overly manicured mustache. “That’s how the history books will refer to this moment in your storied narration. Many an opinion will be had, with some saying you forced the hand of the underworld to strike back, while others will be stalwarts of the grey eyed society and say your sadistic nature only had one true recourse, but me, I think you’re just another CUNT who thought he was better than those that know better.”

“I-I-I, I m-m-m-made y-y-you,” Luca’s stammers as he sways two and fro. “I-I-I, I a-am absolute, w-w-while y-you’ll always b-b-be you.”

“FUCK!” he roars. “You aren’t half done for are you? I-I made you, a-a-and you’ll never b-be me!” he mimics overdramatically, before thrusting a boot into his stomach and sending him to the ground once more. “I’M THE BENCHMARK! I’M THE ONE WHO EVERYONE WANTS TO BE! YOU! YOU’RE A BITTER MEMORY, BEGGING TO BE FORGOTTEN! NOW YIELD, AND I’LL LET YOUR DEATH BE QUICK!”

Luca’s laughs softly, as he staggers uneasily to his feet. “T-The benchmark? Y-Y-You’re nothing b-but a tick on t-the arse of l-life, and I’m life!” he grunts as he tightly clenches his hands into fists, and sizes himself up to Erik once more.

“Are you serious old man? You know I could beat you without any hands right now.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” he says with a wink as Erik feels something dig into the back of his neck….