Twenty-First Century Mankind

He saw the beauty of the natural, looked up at the buildings, and realized that Oneman’s innovations would one day crumble at the hand of the natural. The enlightened Conqueror walked calmly inside and stared at Oneman, just as the abominations had done so many years ago. He opened his mouth to say what they had wanted to say, but silence overtook him. Oneman was oblivious, for his pride blinded him from seeing Conqueror as wise.

That night Conqueror slipped back into his sheets and fell asleep in agitation. He walked in a place foreign to him with mist covering the sidewalks, but he knew it had to have been in the Great City. One by one hideous creatures stalked him in the shadows. He turned around, feeling their presence, but the wind was the only being touching him. He ran faster and faster until finally coming to a standstill where oxygen could revive his tired body. There, with nowhere to run, Conqueror caught a glimpse of seven figures hiding amongst the darkness. Exhausted, he tried to speak, but nothing came out. The creatures started to whisper something, but the words were so incoherent that Conqueror could not make it out. All at once, the seven creatures spoke in a chilling and shrill voice, saying, "And he will fall by his own hand." With sweat pouring from his forehead, Conqueror woke up. He lay there until the break of dawn pondering the dream.

And so, the years passed.

The time came when Oneman sat Conqueror down to explain the future. He said, "I have given you my gifts of strength, knowledge and power. You will become what I have become. The time comes near when I will rule through you."

Conqueror knew that this was his time set himself apart. All that he had observed and held within came out of his mouth with the force of a knockout punch. "Do your gifts carry any obligations? Do you take pride in me or the fact that you only see yourself in me?"

To this Oneman replied, "How dare you use my gifts and at the same time scoff at them. Foolish being, have you forgotten who you are talking to?"

Conqueror looked Oneman up and down and saw what others couldn’t see. He replied, "No, I have finally realized who I am talking to. You are the foolish being. Do you not realize that you are mortal and the things you create are only temporary? You cannot conquer that which cannot be conquered. Pride has taken you over like a demon that only lives for itself. It works through your hands and through your mind, never letting the heart beat with the virility of wisdom and compassion. You may as well be dead because the demon cannot live forever."

Oneman became enraged and looked at Conqueror with distain. He laughed aloud and evil poured out every breath. "You plan on destroying me, don’t you? Well come on then, you little wimp. Just remember that I made you and I can destroy you."

Remembering the dream Conqueror said, "I now see it all so clearly."

Matching each other in muscle, their bodies clashed with the sound of an earthquake. They fell hard to the floor with adrenaline pumping through their veins. They got up, trying to regain balance while grappling for the upper hand. Each one knew the other’s moves, for they were one and the same. Punches landed and bruises ensued. Blood spilled forth like a flood. Finally, Oneman grabbed Conqueror in a chokehold who, in turn, became dizzy with the lack of oxygen.