"Anyone ever tell you you're a real asshole, kid?" Jacob said as they walked toward each other.
Gonna be a real pain getting any headshots in, he thought as they stood face to face.
Taro didn't give him much time to dwell on it. They unloaded on each other — a barrage of hits, each one making a disgusting echo across the arena.
All three Mercer siblings sighed simultaneously as they realized their father had absolutely no plans to play it safe.
They kept throwing. Really sucks I can't get any headshots. Jacob mentally shrugged. Just gotta make my own.
He delivered a devastating uppercut into Taro's abdomen — dropping him to one knee and drawing blood — before finishing with a heavy left hook.
Taro stared up at the old man.
That's the second time now, Taro thought, managing to block the uppercut aimed at his chin.
Jacob took the opportunity to slip past his guard entirely, caught a piggyback on Taro's shoulders, and started unleashing a volley of punches — each one landing like he was personally inside Taro's skull using his brain as a speed bag.
"Views pretty good from up here!"
For a brief second Jacob could've sworn he felt the distance from the ground shrink — before he was immediately suplex'd into the sand.
He barely managed to wake up before Taro's fist crashed down beside him, kicking up a dust cloud where they continued their slugfest.
"There — did you see it, Iris?"
She nodded. "Zero sum mass distribution. He used it to increase his impact momentum." She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "Gosh darn it, Father — why wouldn't you listen."
They ended up grabbing each other's fists and holding there — before Jacob decided it was a great idea to deliver a headbutt.
Which, as expected, knocked him out.
The reactions from all three siblings were some degree of shame.
Taro found his opening. In what would've been comical if it wasn't about to kill their father — one of his arms went baby-small while the other doubled in size and muscle — aimed directly at Jacob's sternum.
The first knuckle connected, which managed to wake Jacob up. In a shocking display of reaction time, he blocked the rest of the follow-through.
Not without consequences. Two of Jacob's fingers on his right hand twisted in directions that made someone in the crowd throw up.
Both fighters stood there panting for longer than felt comfortable.
"I can't believe it — Master Taro is… is evenly matched!" Ora said with unbridled excitement. "This old man really is the bee's knees, as they say!"
Jacob stopped and looked up at Ora. How old does she think I am?
He shrugged — followed by a disgusting crunch as he reset his fingers back into a fist.
Both sides of the spectators threw up.
Taro raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't hurt?"
Jacob snapped his hand back and forth. "Not even a little."
For a brief second it seemed like Taro smiled.
"Very well. Tell me — does this?"
He took one step forward. Almost instinctively Jacob raised his guard.
Every part of Taro shriveled — except the right arm, which tripled in length and doubled in size — and sent Jacob flying, skidding across the sand like a rock skipping on water.
That wouldn't kill him, Taro thought, already running after Jacob — extending his right leg as he shriveled to five feet, compressing everything into that one limb to connect with the still-moving body.
Jesus Christ, these guys have superpowers?, Jacob thought as he knocked out against the wall.
Iris, sensing his thoughts, had an eyebrow twitch.
"Maybe if you'd let me talk—"
"Sis — who are you talking to?" Ethan said, backing up slowly.
"No one. No one."
Taro, back at ten feet, charged. When in range he shriveled his muscles — diverting mass into his right arm — and tried to crack Jacob across the cheek. Jacob threw up his guard and got sent flying again. His lead forearm had started to bruise badly.
He's relentless, Jacob thought as he stabilized himself. Can barely breathe properly.
He blocked the long range overhead punch that came down like a whip.
And simply smiled in response.
This is amazing.
Jacob pressed both feet against the wall and shot off — striking a pose like some sort of superhero — and crashed directly into Taro while he was still shriveled with his extended arm. Taro spat blood as he was the one sent flying this time.
Jacob landed. Bloodthirsty smile spreading across his face. He started chasing after Taro's airborne form.
Taro, seeing Jacob approaching rapidly, shifted all his mass to his legs to brake his momentum.
Yes.
He barely had time to shift back before Jacob jumped — double overhand — and drove him face first into the sand.
Yes! More!
Taro, from the ground, delivered a tooth-breaking uppercut that Jacob ate clean — before Jacob grabbed Taro's arm and started trying to rip it off.
For the first time, Taro was genuinely concerned his arm might come free entirely. He shriveled his legs to enhance his upper body strength.
Jackpot.
Jacob kicked both of Taro's kneecaps simultaneously — dislocating them — making his head drop. Jacob immediately followed with a three-piece combo that snapped Taro's head back up.
And for the first time in years, Taro was smiling.
"Yes! You're amazing!"
He shriveled his arm — then resized it while it was still in Jacob's grip — and it connected with Jacob's chin like a hydraulic press on steroids, sending him flying head first back into the sand.
Taro's muscles started to twitch — expanding and deflating simultaneously.
He started shrinking.
Nine feet. Eight. Seven. He didn't stop until he hit exactly five — his upper garb falling away to reveal his new form. Compact. Immaculate. The kind of build that made several Anthorian women in the crowd avert their eyes for entirely different reasons.
He had a killer smile on his face as Jacob woke up again.
"You — you're amazing. Do you know how long it's been since—"
Jacob held up a finger.
"Ah ah. Save me the anime villain speech. Shut up and brawl."
Taro's smile went wide and slightly evil — the kind that clearly pissed Jacob off — which thrilled him enormously.
"Yes. Yes, let's."
Both fighters ran at each other and engaged in the third slugfest of the match — each experiencing something they hadn't felt in a very long time.
Pleasure.