Chapter 11

The Spirit of a Warrior

After the events that led CopyMan to become ranked 3, he headed toward the so-called "place of battle". He had found that particular place deep inside the DDN homepage, this place was actually the netbattling machine that was to be used for the final of the N1. The actual netbattling arena was very standard, normal panels and plenty of space to move around. There, stood a navi unlike anything CopyMan has seen before. Navi had a genie-like appearance; he wore a turban on his head, had big purple fists and curiously had no legs. He simply floated in the air and instead of having legs; he had a small trail of mist.

I sense it… Power… ! So, are you the ranked 3 navi? Said the strange navi.

Indeed, I am CopyMan…

I have been waiting for you… The UnderKing has a delicate task for you…

Why should I listen to you… In fact, I can take your rank and the UnderKing will tell me of this task himself.

You know how to obtain what you want in the UnderNet… Power can get you anything. I am MistMan, if you beat me, I will tell you where you can find the UnderKing. And if you can't… Deletion shall be your comfort! The navi known as MistMan melded into nothingness.

Where are you! Show yourself coward!

Oh, but I will. A cloud of purple mist went out of a golden lamp that was on the ground many panels away, the mist revealed to be none other than MistMan himself, who arrived at high speed ready to punch CopyMan with his huge fist. CopyMan, being unaware of MistMan original location took the full impact of the punch. Ranked 2 disappeared once again. The lamp sent another cloud of mist that once again attempted to punch CopyMan.

This won't work twice! His hand changed into a BambooSword and slashed at MistMan. Unfortunately, the punch arrived at the same time as he slashed, MistMan was gone but the punch had definitely hitted.

How can you expect to defeat me if you can't even figure out where I am?

This should show you! TankCannon1! A huge cannon appeared instead of CopyMan left arm and a massive blast was sent toward MistMan. As the smoke from the blast dissipated, only the small lamp could be seen. This lamp… It has to be the key… Thought CopyMan. The mist navi once again went toward him, CopyMan evaded him on his left and switched to his basic fire navi form, and fired his firearm toward the lamp who once again created a cloud of smoke that took the shape of MistMan. The gout of fire went through MistMan and burned the lamp.

You've figured it now… Well, let's see how you handle this. The now smoking lamp sent a huge amount of fog on the field, completely surrounding CopyMan.

W-What kind of trick is that! Show yourself!

Oh, I'm here… Or maybe here… No, I'm there! The attack came from behind and sent CopyMan flying a few panels away. As he went through the fog, CopyMan started to feel pain coming from his stomach…

Poisonous mist!

Indeed! He had no choice but to duck in the mist to evade the punch.

I have to get out of here. CopyMan ran through the mist and fired his flamethrower toward MistMan true body. The lamp moved out of the way, the mist went back inside the lamp and reformed the navi once again.

Not bad, no holding back now! The whole field was now covered in sand and many dunes randomly appeared in the sand. CopyMan legs then half-buried into the sand.

What's that!

Your doom! MistMan used this opportunity to rush at him and landed a powerful blow.

Argh! CopyMan managed to get himself out of the sand afterward. You may seems to be more than I can handle… But it's not true! He looked at MistMan data and attempted to analyse MistMan data, but the data, was incomplete. He then looked at the lamp who was also incomplete.

It's useless, I have severed my spirit from my body and both halves cannot live without the other. Your copy ability is useless on me! This time, MistMan fist did a tremendous amount of damage to CopyMan and sent him down the dune where he was standing. You're pathetic, where's your warrior spirit, you fight as if you only fight for survival. What are you fighting for?

What am I fighting for? He was once again surrounded by the purple fog. MistMan appeared before him in the fog.

Tell me, what are you fighting for?

I-I don't know. He activated his AirSword and slashed at MistMan who appeared behind him.

Is that all? Maybe you aren't fighting for anything.

I fight for myself, to survive… I want more power to be able to do as I please, to protect myself from the peoples that hunts me.

This is why you fail… Then, I'll have no qualm destroying you. There was no alternative, CopyMan dodged by going deeper into the poisoned fog. Come to me my demons, show this fool the true spirit of a warrior! The fog splitted into two clouds who changed into dark shadows with two red eyes, the shadows moved toward CopyMan while the lamp sent the mist navi toward him. He couldn't evade them for very long, as CopyMan attempted to fire an HyperBurst toward the lamp, one of the shadows got a hold of him and began draining his lifeforce while ranked 2 charged at him.

There's no choice, I have to try something… He tried to change the field into lava panels to get rid of the sand, but a few seconds after, the sand came back.

Even the battlefield obey my whim, you don't stand a chance…

You leave no choice don't you? His arms changed into blades of fire and his foots started to float over the field.

AirShoes… Not a bad decision, but will that be enough? They both charged toward each other and CopyMan managed to slice ranked 2, making him dissipate and sliced toward the lamp. MistMan true body managed to evade the blade but a part of its handle was destroyed. Return to the dust of the desert! MistMan called a WindBox who sent a whirlwind at CopyMan, but something was strange, the sand was carried into the tornado and cutted CopyMan flesh while he struggled against the wind. Once the tornado ended, he was sent back to the sand.

I refuse… I refuse to give up! He then flew back above the sand and activated the LifeSword program advance, a blue energy sword appeared in CopyMan hands and he sent a huge sonicboom toward MistMan.

Then, be deleted! He called another WindBox who sent strong gusts of wind on the sand which created a huge wave of sand that was headed toward CopyMan. The sonicboom wasn't able to get through the tsunami of sand, so CopyMan was caught in the wave and deeply buried under a dune. MistMan approached the dune. You aren't even worthy of a clean deletion; your fate shall be to rot under the sand for eternity. Should you survive, come to the UnderSquare, you'll be given your task. And he went away in a puff of smoke.

As the sand shined under the light, a small movement could be seen on the dune and suddenly, a hand emerged from the sand...