Levels
Cinder had nearly doubled in build, clenching his teeth as he strained to reach another level, he did. Kane was standing 10-11 feet away, awaiting the next move. Cinder's arms spread apart and he fired two energy balls simultaneously. Kane timed it perfectly, leaping 14 feet above the explosion, using the smoke to his advantage. Putting his 213 pounds into his left foot, which found Cinder's face.
As Kane's attacker hit the ground, he flipped off his face to stand, back to him. Cinder spun and/or flipped to meet him, unfazed. Before the Enforcer could react, Cinder flew forward and thrust his left leg into Kane's stomach, breaking a few ribs as he smashed into the wall. Kane didn't give up.
Sprinting forward, he let his fury out. A left hook, backhand, and a well-placed right jab sent the warrior sprawled and flattened against the wall, blood trickling from his lower lip and left nostril. Kane doubled over, clutching his ribs, groaning at the faint pain in his mind. He canceled it, pushing away the thought of injury and assuming another fighting stance.
Hmmm, a worthy opponent, he drew my blood, now I shall draw his! Cinder floated a few feet above the ground and chuckled at his helpless victim.
All this time, Leon had been watching as if in a trance. He finally broke out of it when he noticed in dismay that his friend was losing. He surveyed the area; the smoking ground, the burning chairs, downed guards- Guards? A long sword was lying beside one of them, and he was careful to reach for it in silence.
With the last of his rage and strength, as Cinder was swooping toward him, he leapt up, uppercutting the demon's belly. Kane flew up and forward, Cinder flew up and back. Kane had propelled himself faster and farther than Cinder was flying. He used that to his advantage, grasping one of Cinder's wings. Still clutching the wing, Kane landed, crashing the warrior onto the floor. Kane swung him around six times before smashing his face into the nearest wall, the wall cracked and all but crumbled.
Leon watched in despair as Kane fell against the opposite wall and collapsed, exhausted. He felt the sword's woven handle in his palm, watching the artificial light glint at the tip of the blade. Bringing the blade below his waist, his palm diagonal, he began to focus.
"What's this? A hero of some kind, perhaps? Or maybe just another fool." Cinder bellowed.
It was six years ago, Leon remembered, when his father was still alive. He had taught his eldest son swordplay, not just basic training, he even got into mastery of it. But he hadn't used a sword in six years, he hadn't even touched a real one for that time. He prayed that it would come back to him, but doubts clouded his mind.
I've got no chance, the Enforcer was stronger than I am, but now... No chance...
Leon pushed the thoughts away, no matter how strong they beat at his subconscious. Slashing the sword to rest behind, and parallel to his now turned body, his eyes rose to meet that of Cinder's. Leaping into the air, straight at his opponent, he brought the sword around in a half-circular motion above his head. He focused with all his heart and soul, and brought the blade down.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Trevor shook the guard awake, and, when that didn't work, slapped him hard. He knew this guard, his name was Dick Peterson, only a corporal in the Direct command line. His eyes fluttered open and he sat there, looking dazed.
"What's going on, where's the commotion!?" Trevor shook him again.
"Huh?" Dick said drunkenly, then was shoved aside when Trevor heard, and felt, the massive vibration shaking the walls. It came from the main stage; he sprinted in the direction.
* * * * * * * * * *
The wind from the slash rippled from the sword, blowing dust and small debris away. Leon unclenched his teeth and opened his closed eyes to see a long gash spanning from Cinder's left shoulder down to his right hip. He had gotten through the armor, but his blade had never touched skin. Leon cursed himself and his doubts for this stupidity, he didn't have a chance.
Leon felt the full force of the blow, slamming him through the last podium to hit the far wall. He lay with the wind knocked out of him, only a few feet from where Kane lay. Both of them looked into the face of death, whose arms became orbs of light, each arm aiming at one of them. Both awaited the deciding blow...
Suddenly, Cinder's arms stopped glowing, and he strode to where his victims lay. He eyed them curiously, then grinned.
Bastard, you just want to savor your victory, maybe return to your master with our severed heads. Kane thought.
Kane was expecting he to be the first, but instead, Cinder stood over Leon, and raised his fist.
Sasasasasasasasasasasasasasasasasasasasaaaaaa!
The energy surges seared across Cinder's back, baking his wings, throwing him off balance. He flew against the wall as the energy rained down on him, the blasts doubling in size and amount. For once there was pain on Cinder's face, as he took in each blast, leaving a blackened scorch mark his skin. Finally, the surges stopped, and Cinder slumped over, his armor in rags.
Trevor discarded the two energy cyclone guns, drew his customized thrust sword, and charged at Cinder. Cinder may have been weakened, but not weak enough not to catch the sharp blade in his hand.
"Why are you doing this Trevor," Cinder whispered, still holding on to the sword. "You know you can't defeat me."
"It must be done." Trevor yanked the sword from Cinder's hand as the demon cried out in pain.
"Yaaarrrghhh!!" He stared down at the deep gash in his palm and the trickle of blood raining to the floor. After regaining control, he clenched his bloody palm and said, "So be it."
Cinder became a ball of fire again, charging his power to its limit, Trevor just stood watching. He flew forward; Trevor jumped easily aside as he crumbled the wall with his electrical fist. Cinder whirled, executing multiple roundhouse kicks. His legs sliced through the air and he received a swift sidekick, repositioning his diaphragm as he fell into the stage. He recovered quickly, heading on yet another collision course with Trevor, but it was almost desperate this time.
Trevor finally attacked, aligning his sword just right with Cinder's left wing.
The dead piece of flesh fell to the floor quivering; it finally stopped. This sort of brutality was unexpected for Trevor, for anyone. But there he was, he had just sliced off one of Cinder's wings. Leon threw up at the first sight of the trembling flesh.
Cinder, however, miraculously, took no notice of it. His right arm, though, began to shake, as energy surged through it. Suddenly, from the elbow to his fingertips, there was an electrical block. He didn't need wings to fly and easily floated upward, then sped forward, screaming.
It was 8:00, Sunday night, Trevor remembered, when his mother took him outside to look at the stars. She said that daddy was up there, with the kings and queens of Eternity. She said that when it was time, the great Dragon Xenotra would return him to the earthly plain. That when it was time, I would bring him back.
"You asked for this, now-
I hope you're watching this daddy, I don't think this will bring you back, but if you're there, the back of Trevor's blade only scarcely touched his forehead as he bowed it.
"-prepare to die, YAAAAAAA!"
Help me... His eyes shot open, emitting something unheard of for centuries, a power...
Cinder's electricity surged through the air, making no connection. He felt the sharp, wrenching sting of the thrust sword in his right shoulder, disabling the arm. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked down the metal to the hand holding it, then up into a glaring face.
As he was pummeled to the ground by unseen blows, Cinder realized that Trevor would not let him live, unless someone intervened, which wouldn't happen. He was on his back now, looking up into the green fire Trevor claimed to be his eyes, between them, a blade no thicker than the strand of hair beside it. Trevor brought the blade over his head, spun it around into stabbing position, and whispered, "So be it."