Part 10 - The Greatest Sin

Chapter 179 - Dusu Tiratearae Kronor

When morning came, it was obvious nobody had slept very well. Miles and Gwen found their way to the nearest of the many kitchens and settled down for a breakfast, which neither touched much of.

"Maybe today won't be the day? Maybe the Watcher will take too long to deal with and it'll be tomorrow?" Gwen suggested.

"Max said the Watcher had already agreed to it. I doubt he's changed his mind or he'd have interfered."

"He's the Watcher; he never interferes."

"Except when he does. Today's the day, Gwen. There's nothing we can do."

Jacob arrived in the kitchen, giving them a silent nod.

"You good, Jake? You look like you're gonna be sick." Asked Miles.

"Why would I be good? My best friend, is going to die today."

"Yeah. Sorry."

Max and Grace arrived a minute later just as Jacob was sitting down with a couple of slices of toast. Jacob gave her a wave, clearly not surprised she'd been brought back. Max seemed to be wearing a poker face, but both his best friend and Grace could see in his eyes that he was scared.

"Today's the day, people. Let's get this over with. The Watcher should be here soon."

And it was all too soon for everyone except Max. The Watcher appeared in the main entrance of the tower. The four mortals and Max came down to meet him.

"It's strange how quiet everything is, Dei Volente."

"That it is. But we have to deal with the ultimate problem before it's too late."

"I trust you to keep your end of the bargain."

"I will. I don't see a timeline where I don't."

"Then let's get this over with."

The Watcher walked over to the raised balcony the five were standing on, stopping directly in front of Miles.

"My life is in your hands, Miles Morales."

Miles nodded, raising the Sword Perilous. With a swift movement, he drove it into the second last High Elder God's chest. For a moment, nothing happened, then the Watcher began to break apart into ash and dust. The glowing light was soon all that remained, wrapping its tendrils of power around Miles and growing brighter and brighter.

"So…it is done. Only one remains. The star touches the horizon, its light fading to the nothingness from whence it came. Do not fear the future, Miles Gonzalo Morales. Embrace that which you are given, wield that which you fear. Mortal nor immortal will bar you from your fate. This will be the last time that we speak. I bid you farewell, Tiratearae Kronor."

The light slowly faded from Miles' mind.

"Tilår wasþ nalir."

For a second the spider thought it would have hurt Gwen, Jacob and Grace, but they'd covered their ears. He felt a little relief that he at least hadn't done that. But it was quickly washed away as he remembered what would happen now. Max took a deep breath.

"I guess there's only one left."

All eyes were on him. Gwen pulled him into a hug.

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes I do. Don't try and change my mind; it won't work."

She kissed his forehead, feeling tears well up in her eyes.

"Then…I guess this is goodbye."

"I guess it is. I love you, Mum."

"I love you too, Max."

She pulled away, looking him in the eyes one last time before he turned to Grace.

"I…hate this Max."

"I hate it too, but it's gotta happen."

"I know." She paused for a few seconds, then said: "I don't know what else to say. What do you say to the guy you love so much when he's about to die?"

"I dunno. What do you say to the guy you love so much when he's about to die?"

She laughed quietly, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too. See you on the other side?"

"I don't know what other side, but I guess so."

They pulled apart, exchanging one last kiss before Max turned to face Jacob.

"It's…been an honour, Jake."

"The honour, and mild amounts of stress, were all mine."

Max chuckled.

"Once again, thanks for everything you've ever done for me. Words don't do it justice; I just wish I got to repay the debt."

"Being your friend was a good 'I owe you'. I won't forget you, Max."

"I'd say the same but I dunno if I get to keep my memories when I die nowadays. But hey, maybe see you on the other side too?"

"I guess we'll wait and see. Until then, see you later."

Max nodded, then turned to his father who looked on the verge of tears.

"I…really don't know what to say except…I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything Legion me did, or didn't do might be a better way of putting it."

"It's fine. You're forgiven. And you're forgiven for what you're about to do."

"Goodbye, I guess. And I love you."

"I love you too, Dad. See you around."

"Yeah."

Max looked down at the Sword Perilous, then closed his eyes and knelt down.

"This is the scariest thing I've ever done." He muttered.

"So you've changed your mind? Cool, let's all go chill out and watch some crappy film then." Miles replied.

"No, I haven't changed my mind. I'm sorry; this is the way it has to be."

Miles nodded slowly, wiping away a stray tear. He tightened his grip on the Sword Perilous and took a deep breath. He pulled his arm back, ready to deliver the killing strike. After a few seconds, he completely broke down in tears and dropped the Sword.

"I…can't. I can't do it."

He turned and ran. Gwen ran after him leaving Jacob and Grace with Max. The former sighed and picked up the Sword.

"Then I'll do it. Unless you've lost the courage."

Max shook his head.

"I've said it a thousand times, and a thousand more. I have to go through with this."

Jacob drew his arm back and took a deep breath.

"Goodbye, Max. I'll miss you."

He drove the blade through his best friend's heart, pulling it free a second later. It hurt him to do it, but he wouldn't let Max torture himself or anyone else by spending an eternity finding another way. Grace knelt down, catching Max's body as it collapsed. She began to sob into it as a light rose out its chest. It wrapped its tendrils around Jacob and grew steadily brighter until it consumed him.

"It…is done. The Greatest Sin is finished. The star of the High Elder Gods has set, its light returned to the nothingness. You are Dusu Tiratearae Kronor, the Second Killer of Gods. You will be feared by all for what you do. But know this: the soul of your friend resides within you beside your own. Go and bend the world to your will, Dusu Tiratearae Kronor."

The light became darker and darker.

"Tilår wasþ nalir."

Grace was too busy crying into Max's dead body to care about the pain it caused her. Jacob felt his own tears well up as he got his first full look at his friend's corpse. He dropped the Sword Perilous and cried over what he had done.

Crossovers in this Chapter

- Marvel Cinematic Universe