Saber Rattling.

It’s the act of making threats of violence.

Most of the time, it’s empty actions, nothing but noise, hollow echoes into the darkness. Just a bunch of men standing in the woods, shaking their swords in hopes of scaring off the enemies at their gates.

It never amounts to the action needed to take what you deserve. That’s what you get from the men who’ve chosen to stand in my way.

That’s what we’ve gotten from the lot of you:

Noise but never any action.

It’s why Tombstone walks among us still. It’s why Michaela Attano still sits behind bars in Way’s Circus. It’s why I walk the halls of Arcadia, unchanged.

None of you has the motivation to do what needs to be done.

Felix…

Ezra destroys your brother and father, killing a bloodline you never had a chance to know about, and you vow vengeance for what he did to you… But he’s still here, a loaded gun that could turn its barrel back to you at any moment. Because all you could do was talk a good game to simply get him to leave you alone— you did nothing to keep him away.

Destructo…

You fell for Michaela and committed to fighting for that feeling in your chest. But now, because her sentiments were not reciprocated, you turn your back on Harold’s quest to free his daughter rather than standing shoulder to shoulder with him. You broke your commitment, and you gave up, as you have with everything else. Do you honestly think you’ve gotten rid of Klaus Way because you walked away? No, and that’s a knife that will still stab you in the back.

Victor…

My dearest friend who attempts to take me out, who declares to bring the end of me. But every time you breathe in, I am the gas that seeps into your lungs, flows through your bloodstream, and circulates around under your skin. And that itch? It’s a reminder that I’m still here.

Hell, the three of you even had the opportunity to rewrite me entirely. But you couldn’t force me into the Cleansing Pool. Do you want to know why?

Because you’re all bluster and no action.

You are three empty threats.

The lot of you just stand there and shake your sabers while they’re still in their scabbards. Meanwhile, action has accompanied every threat I’ve spoken from my own mouth.

I outfoxed a hunter.

I crushed the Pantheon.

And I have brought Zeus himself to his knees, single-handedly making him into the feeble old man he is today.

I am a force of nature.

I am greater than the gods.

I am all action.

At Red Snow, while you make noise, rattling your sabers, I will take action, pulling them from your hands to skewer your heads upon them.

Breathe it in, because when we meet in the ring, it will be the last time you can do so.

And that is not a threat, it’s a promise.