“You can’t win against me,” called Second Wind. “You will lose, Malcolm. Give up your powers, and I’ll let you live.”
“Take them from me,” said Malcolm. “If you can.”
They were both in the air. Second Wind flew at him in a burst of movement, the green arms flailing around him, making it hard to tell where his body was. His white energy sword swung in a vicious downward arc, but Malcolm flew out of the way, countering with another energy blast that went wide of its intended target.
Malcolm had a headache, and it was getting worse by the minute. Using Savior’s powers along with his own wind manipulation was like doing calculus in his head while reciting poetry. The focus it took pushed him to his absolute limit, and he could tell from the way Second Wind was pressing on the attack that it was obvious to his opponent, as well.
He lost sight of Second Wind for an instant, and felt the green tentacles close around his arms as he was attacked from behind. Malcolm let out a shout of surprise and called forth Savior’s super strength, twisting and flinging Second Wind away from him a split second before his hand could reach out and steal his powers.
Second Wind didn’t manage to slow himself with his wind manipulation before hitting the trees. In some ways, that worked to his advantage, forcing Malcolm to go into the forest after him. The magma pool still flowed hot in the center of the clearing, and fire was spreading across the grass and trees, threatening to engulf the entire area.
Malcolm dropped back to the ground as he entered the trees, listening for sounds of movement amidst the crackle of the fire spreading across the forest behind him. Between the canopy of the branches and the smoke, it was almost as dark as night, and hard to see much beyond a few feet.
He took a step forward and then froze, his instincts screaming to him that something was off. Malcolm dropped to one knee on reflex, and Second Wind’s white energy sword missed his head by only a few inches, cutting through the trees on either side of him.
Channeling super strength, Malcolm caught one of the tree trunks as it fell and hurled it toward his right, where Second Wind had been hiding in wait for him. He was rewarded with a surprised cry of pain, and immediately began preparing an energy blast to follow up with.
Second Wind retreated back into the air, recognizing where his advantage lay. Malcolm launched his energy blast in pursuit, the largest one he’d managed yet. It missed Second Wind, but exploded close enough to batter him with the shock wave.
Malcolm took flight, hoping he could slam into his copy and end the fight, then and there. He took the risk, and paid for it. Second Wind’s disorientation was a feint, and he swung his energy sword in a surprise strike that took Malcolm completely off guard.
He pushed himself back, but the tip of the bright weapon cut a gash in his shoulder. Second Wind reversed his swing, trying to sever Malcolm’s arm with it. Malcolm put more distance between them, holding a hand over his wound and feeling hot blood underneath his fingers.
The longer this fight goes on for, the more the advantage tips toward him. I need to end this.
Malcolm cut off his wind manipulation, letting himself fall back toward the magma pit for a few seconds. Second Wind hesitated, anticipating some kind of trick, as he should have. At the last second, Malcolm flew back into the trees, settling into a spot in the forest where the smoke was heaviest.
Immediately, he began forming an energy blast, keeping it oriented behind his body and hiding as much of its glow as he could. He poured his strength into it, building it up into a larger sphere than any he’d tried before.
“You’re not the hiding type,” called Second Wind. “I know you’re up to something.”
“Why don’t you stick your head into the trees and find out what?” shouted Malcolm.
He worded the comment as carefully as he could, knowing that Second Wind’s logic would flow similarly to his own. Second Wind would interpret his taunt as reverse psychology, a way for Malcolm to buy himself some time off his opponent’s fear of walking into a trap. And that was exactly what Malcolm wanted him to think.
Second Wind didn’t waste any time in pursuing him, flying through the trees at full speed with his wind manipulation. Malcolm knew exactly how that would affect his momentum, and how hard it would be for his copy to dodge or turn on a dime at a moment’s notice. He waited until Second Wind’s silhouette became visible, and then launched an energy blast the size of a yoga ball directly at his chest.
The attack hit Second Wind exactly as Malcolm had intended it to, instantly vaporizing one of his arms and a significant portion of his torso. Second Wind dropped to the ground in a crumpled heap, his injuries beyond what any regular human could endure.
Unfortunately, Second Wind was not a regular human. Malcolm pressed forward on the attack, knowing that it was possible for his copy to use Tapestry’s regeneration power to recover over time. He didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
Second Wind was on his feet by the time Malcolm was in range to finish him off. Malcolm could see muscles and tendons stitching across the space of his massive wound, healing so fast that it was like watching a time lapse video of months of recovery.
“Nice try,” said Second Wind. He took advantage of Malcolm’s surprise, lashing out with his energy sword and slicing a painful gash into his hip. Malcolm felt his heart sinking as he realized how hopeless of a fight he’d gotten himself into.
He doesn’t have to focus like I do to use his powers. I can’t match him.
“It’s past the point of me letting you give up,” said Second Wind. “Sorry, but one of us has to die, and it’s going to be you.”
CHAPTER 35
Malcolm fought off a growing sense of dread as he considered his options. He couldn’t kill Second Wind outright, at least not with anything less than an attack that destroyed his entire body. That might be possible with an energy blast, but it would require time for him to build it up, and even then, he’d still have to get lucky enough to hit Second Wind with it full on a second time.
I need to keep him distracted, and try to surprise him somehow.
“This is a pointless fight,” said Malcolm. “Neither of us can kill the other.”
Second Wind smiled and shook his head.
“We both know how Savior’s powers work,” said Second Wind. “If you drop your guard, I most definitely can kill you.”
He lunged forward, slashing wildly with his energy sword. Malcolm focused his invulnerability power, but let it drop after the first few strikes to push himself out of range of Second Wind’s hands with his wind manipulation. He paid for it with another cut, this time across his back, like a clean lash from a whip.
“See?” said Second Wind, triumphantly.
“That doesn’t make it any less pointless,” said Malcolm.
“On the contrary,” said Second Wind. “I think this is the only fight between any two beings on this planet worth having. This will decide everything.”
“This will decide nothing,” said Malcolm. “This is all about you, your ego, and the blood on your hands. Killing me won’t change the mistakes you’ve made.”
Second Wind glared at him.
“And what about your mistakes?” he asked.
What about you? That’s a mistake I’m currently trying to resolve.
The two of them clashed again in a flurry of attacks and feints. Malcolm didn’t dare move in close enough to expose himself to Second Wind’s green tentacles, fearing that if he got grabbed, the fight would be over as soon as Second Wind laid a bare hand on him.