The Smurfocalypse Chapter 118: The Search for the Savant Cure part 19: Hefty's Darkest Hour! The Battle of Blood Mountain Concludes!
Hefty's situation was not improving as he still struggled to find a way to counter the Volcano Point. The difference between what Raptor can do with his Smurf essence and what Hefty can do on the first level is plain to see. As Hefty fought he realized he was not the strongest Smurf around anymore. Raptor has achieved a level of strength and power built up over years and through ascension that Hefty just could not keep up with using brute power and strength. It would take some serious brain power to make it out of this alive. While Hefty knew he could die here, and was confident that Port Saint Smurf would live on without him there was the problem that Raptor if he yet lives could destroy the others starting with the knights camping nearby. This battle wasn't just Hefty's revenge it went much deeper than that. He knew that if he didn't defeat Raptor that a lot of Smurfs he's grown to deeply care for could die in a potential retaliation that could occur after his death. Once again he was laying his life on the line for the survival of those around him.
"Why not just walk into the lava and give up? It'll be quick." Raptor said.
"Because unlike you I have a reason to live." Hefty said.
"A reason? After everything you've done you feel like you have a reason? All you do is kill to satisfy a silly title! Smurfs died horribly at your command and by your hand!" Raptor said.
Hefty was shrugging off Raptor's attempts at taunting him up to this moment. The moment where he felt less in control and less powerful. Hefty remembers vividly the faces of all the Smurfs he killed and notes his complete lack of remorse. He's even taken satisfaction in overpowering them showing off his skills and getting stronger as a result only to use that strength to repeat the process. It all started with the blackhearted. They forced Hefty into this lifestyle. Before the Smurfocalypse it was merely his hobby to get stronger. He did it for fun and never asserted his strength in a harmful way. Had he really changed so much, or was this his true self deep down and the end of the world allowed it to surface?
"I've never killed anything or anyone that didn't have it coming to them." Hefty said with confidence.
"You know that's a load of horse Smurf." Raptor said.
"I did what I needed to do to survive!" Hefty said.
"Justify it anyway your weak mind can! It doesn't undo the damage you've caused!" Raptor said.
Raptor's inability to see the irony in his words is testament to his complete lack of self-awareness. In his mind he can do no wrong. He is the Master of Blood Mountain and therefore perfect in every way. Showing his true colors to Hefty allows this fact to shine brightly. It was forces of evil that had uprooted his righteousness and they were to blame for his actions not himself. Hefty knew his journey was at the very least forced adaptation as was explained to him by Psychiatrist during one of his sessions. There was self-doubt, and then there was full blown delusion.
"I don't really care what you think. I know I did the right thing. I'm still doing the right thing. You're too far gone, and after what you did to Timber you have to pay with your life." Hefty said.
Though Hefty still had his doubts about himself because of this, he still was more focused on the fight. Raptor gave him plenty of time to think of a plan.
"If I can't use my Smurf essence on him directly. Maybe I can somehow bring it to him…" Hefty thought.
Hefty observes the arena looking for something he could use, or some sort of obstacle or situation he could take advantage of when the next wave of rocks shot out of the Volcano Point and began descending to the ground.
"That's it!" Hefty thought as he sheathed his sword and jumped towards a falling rock.
Hefty catches the large rock in midair, and generates a ton of his Smurf essence into it visibly warping the size of the rock as it is overcome with strength. Hefty then launches the rock at the base of the volcano hoping that his Smurf essence would stick long enough to do some damage. As the rock soars through the air visible Smurf essence can be seen rising from it as though it was fading due to its source being disconnected from it. However when the rock struck the base of the volcano the impact was meaningful. The rock collided with the base of the volcano causing the entire thing to vibrate as large chunks of it flew from the impact sight lodging the rock inside it. This brought back the excitement he felt as he made a breakthrough that he was now sort of self-conscious about feeling and he couldn't help but grin. There was seemingly no end in sight to how strong a Smurf could get, and he felt on top of the world as he launched another rock that had hit the ground using the same technique. Raptor was flipping out, but his words may as well be mumbles as Hefty once again found his center. He repeated the process of dodging lava and launching rocks until at last the Volcano Point crumbled and disappeared only for Raptor to not be seen anywhere. Hefty's eyes darted around the arena looking for his opponent only to see Raptor shoot out of the lava and rush his with his weapons drawn. Hefty instinctively leaps back to avoid being slashed at, but Raptor persists faster than Hefty can reach for his sword.
Raptor's speed became apparent as he rapidly slashed his katars at Hefty in a flurry of blows that seemingly had no end. Hefty was stuck in a position where he had to bob and weave to match Raptor's speed. The entire time he looked for an opening, and when he found one he punched Raptor so hard in the head it shattered his helmet and sent the Smurf flying as he landed in the lava disappearing under it again giving Hefty the time he needed to arm himself. Raptor would resurface from behind and leap from the lava to ambush Hefty. The sharp sting of claw-like blades scraping his back caused him to turn, but Raptor didn't let up and continued his brutal attack. Hefty leaps back before charging forward and deliberately striking Raptor's weapon on his left hand so hard the recoil breaks Raptor's hand. Raptor grabs his hand and swears before quickly leaping back into the lava.
"Coward…" Hefty thought with disgust as his eyes darted around again.
Raptor prepared another desperate ambush, but by now Hefty had adapted and was far more prepared as his leap from the lava had him face to face with Hefty. Hefty swung his sword just barely missing Raptor by an inch as he dodged, and then Hefty applied pressure by continuing to engage him in combat. He had Raptor at an advantage and continued to swing his sword which chipped away at Raptor's enchanted armor until he was just in his normal clothes bearing a striking similarity to Papa Smurf in appearance. Raptor scoops up some dirt with his good hand and attempts to throw it into Hefty's face to give him the upper hand, but Hefty ducks and then aims his sword straight towards Raptor's throat. This was it. Raptor was powerless up close and was out of options. Hefty glared at him with the utmost hate in his eyes and Raptor's hardened expression fades away as fear replaces it.
"P-Please… Don't." Raptor said.
Hefty raises an eyebrow and tilts his head slightly.
"Don't kill me… I beg you Hefty Smurf don't kill me." Raptor said.
Hefty scoffs and presses the tip of his blade against Raptor's throat.
"Don't kill me Hefty Smurf. I'll go far away and repent. You'll never see me ever again… I'll never hurt another Smurf again Hefty." Raptor said.
"Stop whining!" Hefty shouts.
Raptor then breaks down and gets on his hands and knees completely submitting to Hefty.
"Great Smurf no!" Raptor shouts.
Hefty kneels down to meet his gaze and grabs his left arm before laying it out on the ground flat in front of them and heartlessly cuts his hand off with his sword causing Raptor to scream out and shake as he began to bleed out.
"Now do you feel it? Knowing you're going to die, and knowing there's nothing you can do to stop that? That's probably how Timber felt, and I had to stand there and watch him die knowing he was in pain and that there was nothing I could do about it!" Hefty said.
Raptor stares up at Hefty in horror as he stands and Hefty lets him suffer a bit longer before striking him across the torso leaving behind a mess of gore. Hefty flicks what was left of Raptor off his sword before retrieving a cloth and cleaning the blade as he contemplated an escape route. Hefty makes his way through the burning woods the best one realistically could before his journey led him to the campsite. The others including Mammoth were talking amongst themselves as Smurfstorm still looked visibly troubled by his presence until she looked up and saw Hefty in the distance.
"Hefty?" Smurfstorm asked in disbelief before standing.
The others looked and saw Hefty step into the light before they were overcome with relief.
"You made it!" Smurfblossom shouts excitedly.
The others rejoice and Smurfstorm approaches Hefty. In this moment everything felt a lot better and everyone was just going with it allowing themselves to feel relief and joy. Hefty looks to Smurfstorm and she smiles warmly at him.
"You did it huh? I knew you could." Smurfstorm said.
The two of them just stare at each other before finally embracing each other. Smurfstorm hugged him so tight it was hurting his wounds but he didn't care. He allowed himself to feel better and hugged her back thankful everyone had made it out. Once Sweepy approached Hefty smiled warmly at him.
"Sweepy you have no idea how happy I am to see your ash covered face right now." Hefty said with a chuckle.
"It'd take more than a forest fire to bring down Sweepy Smurf!" Sweepy said.
Smurfstorm and Hefty end their moment and part from the hug only for Smurfstorm's hardened expression to return as she gestures to Mammoth who was seated with Jupiter and Archer still having a conversation in the background. Hefty nods in reassurance that he'll handle it and walks towards the fire.
"Tough night huh?" Hefty said to Mammoth as he sat down.
Mammoth just looks to him.
"Yeah…" Mammoth said.
"You saved Sweepy's life. I can't thank you enough." Hefty said.
"Don't mention it. It was the Smurfy thing to do." Mammoth said.
Hefty nodded in agreement.
"I feel like you got caught in the middle of things." Hefty said.
"Unfortunately." Mammoth said.
"Port Saint Smurf could use a Smurf like you Mammoth." Hefty said.
Smurfstorm who was confident Hefty would tell him to get out had a look on her face that almost implied she felt betrayed.
"Hefty… You can't be serious." Smurfstorm said.
"He's done nothing wrong. There's no reason not to trust him after what he's done for us." Hefty said.
"I agree. Mammoth deserves a chance." Jupiter said.
"It could be a new beginning for us. We could pick up the pieces and make something great together." Hefty said.
"I mean… We have nowhere to go so it's tempting, but the lack of trust is why I can't go." Mammoth said.
"Smurfstorm…" Hefty began.
"Please, just Storm." Storm said.
"Blossom!" Blossom says raising her hand happily.
"There's no need to be formal anymore. We're family now." Storm said.
"Then consider this Storm. There's two Smurfs here with no home, no place to go but out here in this dangerous world. They need our help and their innocent. What advice would you give to someone who would want to help them?" Hefty said.
Storm looks to Hefty for a moment trying to see the situation through his eyes. She knew turning them away was wrong and she was worried someone would be hurt by Mammoth, but with Hefty around to keep things in check she felt safer than she'd felt in a long time before meeting him. Reuniting with him restored warmth to her heart that she was slowly losing tonight.
"Oh I don't know… Maybe… Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world you know? If we helped them I mean." Storm said.
"Are you sure?" Hefty asked.
Storm nods.
"What do you think Mammoth? Want to come home with us and live in Port Saint Smurf?" Hefty asked.
"I would be honored to have a safe place where Compy could grow up to be a normal Smurf." Mammoth said.
"And we'll make sure he does together. Together we can do anything." Hefty said.
Mammoth and Hefty exchange a friendly smile and seal the deal with a firm handshake.