Villainy and inevitability

Weary of defying and denying, he walked to the mountaintop podium and barked.

“You’ll never win,” he shouted quietly. “You’ll never take my freedom. Between my temples and between your temples, we both know. I have resisted your lies and your false prophecies with all the strength I had. I am weary and exhausted, but I defy you to the last.”

There was a smirk in the voice that replied. “What need have I for your mind, when I can wear your body down to a nub?”

“Oh, we both know you need ...