The battlefield was quiet for a moment.
Broken pieces of metal drifted across the calm ocean. Sunlight reflected off the waves and the scattered remains of Dr. E's ruined fortress.
Super Nico stood in the middle of it all.
His glowing green aura pulsed like a living fire, its color flowing across his body.
Noir slowly straightened across the battlefield.
Bruised.
Bloody.
But still standing.
His red pupils burned with stubborn pride.
Rex leaned toward Viper.
"…This guy might actually be immortal."
Viper shook his head.
"No."
He watched Nico.
"He's just incredibly stubborn."
Noir wiped blood from the side of his mouth.
"You done yet?" he asked.
Nico stretched his neck slowly.
"You're tough."
Noir smirked.
"Finally noticed?"
Nico rolled his shoulders.
"But honestly…"
The green aura flared brighter.
"I'm kinda bored."
Before Noir could react, Nico disappeared.
CRACK.
The punch landed square in Noir's stomach.
The impact bent his entire body around Nico's fist before launching him across the battlefield.
Noir crashed through a floating slab of wreckage before smashing into another.
The debris shattered.
Nico appeared instantly beside him.
He grabbed Noir by the collar.
Then slammed him down.
BOOM.
The rubble cratered beneath them.
Noir coughed violently.
Nico lifted him again.
Then punched him.
CRACK.
Noir flew across the battlefield again.
Rex winced.
"Ouch."
Noir crashed through more wreckage and spun across the metal before finally stopping.
Slowly.
Painfully.
He pushed himself back up.
Still standing.
Still glaring.
Nico cracked his knuckles.
"You really don't know when to quit."
Noir spat blood.
"You think I fear you?"
Nico shrugged.
"No."
Then he stepped forward slowly.
"I think you're annoying."
Noir charged again.
But Nico was faster.
Much faster.
He appeared behind Noir.
Then beside him.
Then above him.
Three hits landed instantly.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Noir shot across the battlefield again.
This time he bounced across the rubble before crashing into a twisted tower fragment.
The entire structure collapsed into the ocean.
Water exploded upward.
Noir climbed out of the wreckage again.
Breathing hard now.
But still standing.
Still glaring.
Nico sighed.
"…Alright…"
He raised a finger slowly.
"Let's make this interesting."
Noir wiped blood from his chin.
"What are you talking about?"
Nico pointed at him.
"You get ten seconds."
Noir frowned.
"…What?"
Nico stretched his neck.
"Ten seconds before I knock you out."
Rex blinked.
"…He's giving him a handicap?"
Viper shrugged.
"Classic Nico."
Noir's eyes narrowed.
"You arrogant—"
"One."
Nico began counting.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Noir charged again.
Nico dodged effortlessly.
"Two."
Noir threw a spinning kick.
Nico leaned backward.
"Three."
Noir lunged with a punch.
Nico caught the fist.
Then casually shoved him backward.
"Four."
Noir roared and rushed him again.
Nico sidestepped.
"Five."
Noir swung wildly.
Nico ducked under the punch.
"Six."
Noir launched a desperate kick.
Nico blocked it with one hand.
Nico's green aura flickered.
Rex noticed.
"…Wait."
Viper frowned.
"…You see that?"
"Seven."
The aura flickered again.
Nico raised his hand.
Preparing the finishing blow.
Noir charged one more time.
"Eight."
The aura weakened again.
A slight crackle sounded from Nico's energy.
Nico's eyes widened slightly.
"…Huh."
"Nine."
The aura suddenly collapsed.
The green glow vanished instantly.
Nico's fur returned to normal.
His body dropped from the air.
His knees hit the rubble.
Hard.
"…Ah."
Rex's eyes widened.
"…Oh crap."
Nico collapsed onto his hands.
His breathing was heavy.
"…D-damn…"
He tried to stand.
But his legs trembled.
"…That form…"
He clenched his fists weakly.
"…takes way too much energy…"
He looked down.
"…If only I could find a way around this energy loss…"
His strength gave out.
He collapsed onto the rubble.
Trying to crawl away.
Behind him.
Noir began laughing.
A deep.
Cruel laugh.
"I knew this time would come."
He walked forward slowly.
Blood still running down his face.
But smiling.
"You relied on that power."
He raised his hand.
Purple energy began gathering in his palm.
"And now…"
The energy sphere grew larger.
"…you die."
Rex moved instantly.
CRACK.
His fist smashed into Noir's jaw.
The impact sent the panther flying across the battlefield.
Noir rolled across the rubble before sliding to a stop.
Rex stepped forward.
Breathing heavily.
Noir slowly stood again.
Completely unfazed.
Then he vanished.
CRACK.
His fist slammed into Rex's stomach.
Rex cried out in pain.
But grabbed Noir's arm before he could pull away.
"NGH—"
Rex held him in place.
"Nico…"
He gritted his teeth.
"…rest up…"
His grip tightened.
"…Viper and I will take care of this son of a bitch…"
Then Rex punched Noir.
BOOM.
The hit launched Noir across the battlefield again.
Rex immediately chased after him.
Their fight continued across the wreckage.
Punches.
Kicks.
Impacts echoing across the ocean.
Back on the rubble, Nico tried to catch his breath.
Everything hurt.
His muscles burned.
"…Great…"
He groaned.
"…Now would be a good time to rest…"
Then something blocked the sunlight.
Nico looked up.
A shadow fell over him.
Something was dropping from the sky.
Fast.
It landed with a thunderous impact.
BOOM.
Metal feet struck the rubble.
Dust exploded outward.
When the smoke cleared, someone stood there.
It looked exactly like Nico.
Same shape.
Same build.
Same posture.
But made entirely of metal.
Red metal plating covered its body.
Cold glowing eyes stared down at him.
Dr. E's voice echoed nearby.
"Ah, finally…"
He stepped out of the wreckage.
"…Metal Nico has arrived."
Nico stared.
"…Who the hell are you?!"
Dr. E exploded with rage.
"HIS NAME IS METAL NICO, YOU BASTARD!"
He pointed dramatically.
"I JUST TOLD YOU THAT!"
Nico blinked.
"…Okay…"
Dr. E smirked.
"And his objective…"
He pointed at Nico.
"…is to beat up you and your friends."
Then he raised a Phantom Ruby.
"And TAKE the Phantom Rubies!"
Metal Nico crossed his arms slowly.
Then his body erupted with blue energy.
WHOOOOM.
The red metal plating shifted.
Transforming.
Changing color.
Red.
To blue.
Energy radiated outward violently.
Dr. E raised his scanner.
The lens flashed.
Power Output Level: 9,500
Nico stared.
"…Oh."
He sighed.
"…That's not good."
The machine stepped forward slowly.
Silent.
Cold.
And ready to fight.