The Masque of Wire Mac
Now, he was on the roof of his mansion, waiting for his next opponent. He couldn't help but shudder as he remembered his fight with those six characters, especially Hockey Mask and Vampire Girl. Master Hand sure knew how to make fights scary! Then, he told himself to stop living in the past. What had mattered was that he got through that fight, just like he got through…
It was only luck that he'd gotten through that castle, because the muscular blonde guy had arrived. If he hadn't…Luigi didn't allow himself to complete that thought. After he'd gotten back, he'd done some research on that skeleton guy, and his findings were horrifying. The skeleton guy was Death, and he served someone by the name of Dracula. Had Death delivered his soul to Dracula, Luigi would've spent eternity at that bloodsucker's beck and call. Who knew what kind of perverted things Dracula would've made him do?
But he was here. Alive. Pushing back against that traumatic experience and turning it into motivation to become a better person. Maybe he'd ask that blonde hunk to teach him a few moves. Either way, next time he confronted Death or Dracula, Luigi would be ready.
The sound of shuffling brought Luigi back to the present. A figure wearing a green hoodie stood across from him in a boxing stance. The plumber brightened. "Little Mac?" he asked.
The boxer raised his head, and Luigi started. His face was nothing more than a green, wire grid. No eyes, no nose, no mouth. His thighs and legs were also green wire grids, and with that hoodie, he kind of resembled a Greenie. "What in the Inferno?" muttered Luigi.
Then, he understood. This was Wireframe Mac, the iteration of Little Mac who didn't speak—just made 8-bit noises. The faceless boxer had the tendency to weird out Smashers, gamers and spectators alike. Luigi was definitely creeped out, especially when Wire Mac turned his face directly toward him.
Luigi took a deep breath and dropped into a fighting stance.
"Ready…GO!"
Wire Mac hunched his shoulders, bobbing and weaving his way toward Luigi. The plumber dodged all of his punches and returned with several punches of his own before grabbing and slamming him forwards. As Wire Mac lay on the floor, Luigi crouched down and launched himself at him. Both got up, and Wire Mac got even with a wicked left hook to the jaw, followed by a mighty straight punch to the body. Luigi groaned—this guy could sure fight like Little Mac! Before he could react, Wire Mac had him in a Piston Punch, spiraling him towards the sky. But then, Luigi kicked himself free and spun into Wire Mac a few times with his Cyclone.
Then, they went back to exchanging punches, shuffling about the mansion's roof. Boxing was no stranger to Luigi. He boxed for a few years in college, and then competed in a small, amateur boxing tournament back in 2003. So, he could easily keep up with Wire Mac and his powerful punches. However, Wire Mac's featureless visage and his silent stealth had Luigi's nerves on edge. This opponent seemed more machine than man.
Don't think like that, he chided himself. He's a Smasher, same as you. And every Smasher has their weak spot. You can win this, L!
Just then, Wire Mac's Straight Lunge slammed into Luigi, nearly knocking the breath from him. The man in pink responded in kind with a forward smash and then leaned against the roof, gathering his bearings. He pulled himself together in time to parry and block the next flurry of punches and give himself some breathing room with his "sissy-fists" dash attack. Then, he fully recovered and battered Wire Mac with short hop f-airs and flip kicks. But a punch from Wire Mac sent him back to the floor.
Luigi kicked out, tripping Wire Mac. The two men stared each other down before resuming their exchange of heavy blows. It was than that a lightbulb went off in Luigi's head. What better way than to defeat Wire Mac? The same way many Smashers beat Little Mac!
Smiling to himself, Luigi danced toward the edge of the stage, punches continuing to fly between him and Wire Mac. When he was balanced on the ledge, he made his move.
"C'mon, Mac!" he shouted, provoking his opponent. "I'm right here!"
Wire Mac leaped forward to finish Luigi with his Jolt Haymaker. Luigi ducked, and Wire Mac sailed right over his head and into open space. The plumber watched amusedly as his opponent tried and failed to recover with his up-B, plummeting into the blast zone.
"Wow," he mused. "Wireframe Mac may be creepy, but he's still no air fighter."
"Stay focused, Luigi," Master Hand's voice boomed. "I'm sending one more opponent down to you."
Luigi whirled as a giant shadow loomed over him…
Uh-oh. Who could that be?