Gotta push through! I run as my feet hit the ground harder than ever, leaving the fiery footprints as I glide across the ground. Normally, I would be shaking in my boots from fear, but right now I can't help but feel ecstatic. Even though we might die here, I'm gonna have as much fun as possible! There's a storm in the center of the ruins, pushing Yohan and me out, although he's holding it back for now. I can see her tearing him apart, but he's doing a good job at what he's doing. I think.
"COULD YOU HURRY UP! I CAN'T DO THIS FOR MUCH LONGER!!!" Yeah, no, gotta hurry this up then. The wind screeches across my ears as I instinctively skate towards the Ethereal's blind spot. Bingo! I jump headfirst into the eye of the storm as Yohan continues to struggle, although before reaching him, my gaze wanders to the side, and before I even get the chance to notice it- WHOOSH! A swift blade of wind trails across my torso, opening up a new wound. Well damn, who coulda seen that coming? I enter free fall as my body hits the ground, the impact multiplying the pain.
"AH SHIT!" I look down at the gash as its image is burned into the back of my skull. But in a strange turn of events, the blood starts to evaporate, and flames appear where the wound should be as it begins to be cauterized.
The searing flames, although not as bad as before, still hurt tremendously. The wound begins to close as I rise to my feet. "Damn! These powers got all kinds of perks to them! Too bad I didn't get them when..." exhaling, I refocus and begin again towards the storm, this time staying low to not get hit by the countless storm of blades awaiting me. I pick up the pace and arrive at the same spot as before.
Using the flames on my hand to part the heavy winds, I see Yohan with his skin being pulled apart slowly and agonizingly, with his fleshy remains scattered across the ground. The ground shatters as I dash towards the fray, almost knocking her head off for sure, before she gracefully waves into a kick that stretches across my face, sending me back into the ground. She's so much more skilled than I am in every way, this shit's hella unfair! I grab my face, unsure of whether or not it's been cut just before she engages me in a closer style of combat.
I throw a punch. She blocks. I throw a kick. She counters. I try to blast her with flames. She snuffs them out before they even escape my palms. Is this how anime characters feel while fighting? I let go of my stubborn approach of fighting her in close quarters and take a couple of steps back. More like a mile, as I use the flames from before to create some distance. My heart pounds as the difference between us becomes clearer. I'd never be able to beat her, not in a fair fight anyway hehe... I run behind the flames, obscuring the area around me in smoke that doesn't seem to have much effect on me. She follows the sound of my footsteps, chasing me down.
As she appears in my field of vision, I raise my hands, firing flames from my palm, and she dodges out of the way. I smirk, thinking, "All according to plan." I break out of the premises, moving to the next building as she's hawking me down. The blasts are deflected, and it's starting to get a little repetitive as the aggressiveness is toned up each time I fire another.
On top of just chasing me, she starts to stack blades that come in from the ground, ones that come down from the sky, and a whip that trips up the timing of all her attacks. She retracts it, and as it hammers down, I clumsily jump to avoid, but doing that leaves me in a position to get blasted. As I do a barrel roll, scarring the ground around me with an almost claw-like hold, seeping my fingers into the ground as the skin peels off, leaving nothing but a vulnerable and exposed layer.
I slow myself down, which gives her enough time to finally catch up. But this time, I don't give her any pushback. I brace for impact, knowing full well how I intend to end this dragged-out battle.
The flames violently rage around both of us. Although she hasn't noticed, ever since I started shooting these flames, the environment has been drowning in flames, and they're only getting bigger since her wind powers or whatever keep giving them oxygen. If I can focus...
My train of thought is cut off as she reaches me and grabs my neck, slamming me and dragging me across the ground. I grit my teeth to not show any pain, not wanting to exhibit exploitable weakness. "Hey, I didn't ask to be dominated, but if you're offering..."
A surprised look sprawled on its face, surprising me as I thought it was incapable of understanding dirty quips like that. I take advantage of the awkward moment and put both of my feet towards her gut and shoot flames strong enough to send her flying back. How's that for decisive! Wait, I don't think that finished her off, actually.. I look around and set my sights on her, although earlier I couldn't see it; those blasts actually did do some damage. But that's it, a couple of scratches here and some burn marks there? I thought getting these powers would supercharge me. But eh, who cares at this point? I've gotta hurry up before Yohan dies.
I make my way through the flames, determined not to let them distract me. It's strange. Before, I couldn't stand the sight of fire. But now I feel as if it's a part of me. She stands there, imposing a little fear on me, but behind her is Yohan's body with burn marks where his exposed flesh is. And he's fighting her? Of course she would fight him, you idiot! I shouldn't have gotten Yohan involved.
Realizing my lapse in judgment might cost him his life, I try to enter their fight, but he turns around and gives me a harsh look. I understand what he means almost immediately. Got it.
I turn on a dime and run away and find a good vantage point. I find a building with a high enough drop, and I ponder a bit on how to climb before ultimately just leaping up there. I do a cool superhero landing and get a clear view of the battle.
It's hard to comprehend what's going on, partly due to the flame, but mostly because they're moving too fast, even for my now enhanced eyes to see clearly. Damn,t Yohan! I need a straight shot to finish this! Come on... COME ON!
I frantically look around, trying to keep pace with the m before I just decide Fuck it. This ends some way some how. I push off the building, causing collateral damage, and glide through the air flows past me. Yohan holds her down and tries to position himself in a place where I can hit her, but he ends up getting in the way. I hesitate a little before he screams, "DO IT!" I set my fist aflame and close my eyes, hoping that going full force and trusting him was the right thing.
As my fist flies through the air it hits something, something that activates my entire body in a new way. And as the feeling starts to pass I hear a voice say, "Who are you?" It kind of sounds like...
I open my eyes to see the Ethereal with a missing arm, somehow in Yohan's place. It's staring back at me as if it's confused as the moment slows to a stop. My vision goes dark as a flash of sparks appears on her body, illuminating my eyes. The sparks grow bigger and bigger until, BOOM!
I'm blown back with the utmost force in an explosion that engulfs the entire area. I try and keep my footing but the area around us starts to crumble, and what seems to be under is a void of stars. "The unstable environment is due to the loss of the anchor! The Ethereal we were just fighting before!"
"What's gonna happen to us?" My body goes cold, and I zone out as I realize this could be my possible doom. My lack of focus causes me to slip and fall into the void, with Yohan chasing after me.
"JAKE!" He reaches his hands out to try and grab on to mine in the cliche dramatic kind of way. There's no way I'm doing that. I retract my hand in a swift motion, and Yohan's face changes to one of disappointment and surprise. "Really, bro?"
"Sorry, man that's kind-" Darkness.
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My body... What the hell was that? A terrible dream or something? The sun blinds me as I adjust to my current situation. I look around and...
We're back in the city???