"Now, let’s see here..." The police chief chuckled
as the screen over his eyes flashed on. He first looked at the Slayer.
The small screens over his eyes flashed this information:
Name: The
Slayer
Origin: Natural
Archetype: Scrapper
Class: Broadsword / Invulnerability
Combat Level: 21
Current Health: 512.4
Current Energy: 100
"Good..."
The police chief chuckled. "Now, for Mach Blade." He turned to Mach
Blade.
Name: Mach Blade
Origin: Unknown
Archetype: Scrapper
Class:
Katana / Super Reflexes
Combat Level: Unknown
Current Health: ???
Current Energy: ???
"Darn it..." The police chief cursed under his
breath. "I thought Lord Recluse had gotten more information than that."
He smiled. "I guess that’s why he wanted more information on this
Hero."
"Are you ready, Mach Blade?" The Slayer asked, grabbing the
hilt of his sword with both hands. "Caus’ here I come!" He yelled,
and charged Mach Blade.
Mach Blade stood his ground, and the Slayer
raised the sword over his head and slammed it down to the ground where
Mach Blade was standing, sending dirt and debris everywhere.
"Got
ya!" The Slayer said. "What...?" He looked at where he had hit and
didn’t see Mach Blade anywhere.
"Not quite." Mach Blade said, and
the Slayer turned to see that Ken had gotten behind him.
The Slayer
Hacks at Mach Blade!
The Slayer’s attack missed!
"Slayer, you are
surprisingly talented in wielding such a large weapon as the Dragon
Slayer. However, because of it’s size and weight, even you cannot
wield it fast enough to catch an opponent who possess the kind of
speed I have. Coupled with the fact that you can only seem to swing
it horizontally or vertically, it becomes an extremely predictable
and AVOIDABLE weapon." Mach Blade narrowed his eyes. "I have no desire
to fight you, Slayer. It is obvious your desire to fight me isn’t
driven by greed alone, either. Why are so obsessed with proving your
strength?"
"Shut up and fight me!" The Slayer said, making a jab with
his sword straight at Mach Blade.
The Slayer Slashes at Mach Blade!
The Slayer’s attack missed!
"Where are you, coward?" The Slayer yelled,
looking around. He didn’t see Mach Blade anywhere.
"Up here!" Mach
Blade called, and the Slayer looked up in time to see Mach Blade land
a blow with the back of his sword on his shoulder, followed by a quick
succession of blows with the back of his sword onto the Slayer’s chest.
Mach Blade then jumped back, his sword glowing with odd blue energy.
Mach Blade uses (Attack not Found) against The Slayer for a reduced
86.2 points of Lethal Damage!
Mach Blade’s attack does an additional
reduced 57.7 points of Energy Damage!
Mach Blade attacks The Slayer
with (Attack not Found) for a reduced 94.8 points of Lethal Damage!
Mach Blade’s attack does an additional reduced 75.2 points of Energy
Damage!
Damn it... The Slayer thought, panting heavily as he leaned
on his Dragon Slayer, his red leather jacket torn and falling of his
body, revealing the blue shirt underneath. This guy’s strong... he
makes ME look like a weakling! The Slayer narrowed his eyes in anger
at Mach Blade. No! I can’t be weak! Never again! I’ll never...
"I’ll
never be weak again!" The Slayer yelled, charging at Mach Blade with
his Dragon Slayer. "I have to get stronger!"
He still has so much
energy left, despite that beating I gave him... Mach Blade thought
in surprise.
The Slayer jumped up into the air, surprisingly high
for a boy his age wielding such a large weapon. When I get stronger,
I’ll never be helpless... like I was... Tears began forming in his
eyes. I’ll never have to lose anyone close to me... ever again...
"THIS
BATTLE ENDS HERE!" The Slayer yelled as he brought the Dragon Slayer
down on Mach Blade.
The Slayer attacks Mach Blade with Overhead Slash!
The Slayer’s attack missed!
"I respect your determination, Slayer."
Mach Blade said, already behind the Slayer. Mach Blade then hit the
Slayer across his back with the back of his sword. The Slayer flew
forward, dropping his Dragon Slayer at Mach Blade’s feet and landing
in a heap a few feet away. "But determination alone can’t win battles."
Mach Blade uses his Backhand Slash against The Slayer, doing a reduced
87.6 points of Lethal Damage!
Mach Blade’s attack does an additional
69.1 points of Energy Damage!
"You should feel pretty bad in the morning,
but otherwise be fine." Mach Blade said, sheathing his sword. "You
should be able to move your body again in about an hour. Please try
not to move until then." He began to walk away.
"It’s.. not over...
yet..." The Slayer said, struggling to his feet. Mach Blade looked
back in shock.
"I... can’t... lose..." The Slayer breathed. "I can’t
be weak! Ever again!" The Slayer yelled, summoning what little strength
he had left to charge Mach Blade. However, Mach Blade moved forward
quickly and punched the Slayer in the stomach, causing him to fall
down once more.
Mach Blade Brawls with The Slayer for 26.1 points
of smashing damage!
"It’s obvious there’s something troubling you,
something from your past, I’d assume." Mach Blade sighed, looking
down the Slayer. "Since Lord Recluse came into power, many lives have
been torn apart, and I’d be willing to bet that Lord Recluse’s War
is one of the reasons for your obsession." Ken kneeled down next to
the Slayer, who was breathing heavily, trying to remain conscious.
"It would be best if you told me what’s bothering you, what happened
in your past. I can’t change anything, of course, but I may be able
to help you now."
"I don’t want you to help me!" The Slayer said harshly.
"I don’t want anyone to help me anymore!" Tears began streaming down
his face. "That’s what I’ve needed all my life, what everyone around
me always did. But when it was MY turn, when THEY needed ME the most,
I could never..." The Slayer sobbed harder. "I could never..."
"Even
from birth, I was a disappointment." The Slayer began. "I can only
imagine the shame my parents felt, the fact that two of the greatest
Heroes in Paragon City created a son that had no powers whatsoever.
I spent my childhood listening to the great adventures of heroism
my parents had, knowing that I could never become as great as they
were. I was usually left in the care of a babysitter as they went
off to save Paragon. I would watch the news programs on TV, which
at the time usually reported the heroic feats of the various Heroes
in Paragon City. I learned about a lot of great Heroes that way. Heroes
such as Statesman, the Back Alley Brawler, Sister Psyche, and many
others."
"But the ones that interested me the most were the ones that
had no powers and still became Heroes. They usually carried a weapon
with them, and I was particularly fond of swords. I would usually
search around the yard in front of our house to find the biggest sticks
I could, swinging them around as I pretended I was fighting alongside
my parents. Back then, I honestly thought that one day I would be
able to become a famous Hero like them."
"One day, when I was 9, my
parents brought home a wooden Katana that I could train with. But
I gave it back to them, because I thought the sword was too wimpy
to be used by a ‘real’ Hero. They seemed to understand, and at my
10th Birthday..." The Slayer’s sobbing redoubled. "My 10th Birthday...
they... showed me my trusted sword, the Dragon Slayer. They had specially
ordered it to be crafted for me, and told me..." The Slayer breathed
deeply. "They told me that when I was older, when I was STRONGER,
I would be able to..." The Slayer paused for a moment. "That was...
the last thing... they ever did for me..." He turned his head to Mach
Blade. "I’m sure you’ve heard about... the Ritki Invasion?" Mach Blade
nodded. "It just happened to be on that day that it occurred. When
the portals opened, they were called in, along with so many other
Heroes..."
He turned his gaze back to the night sky. "After that,
for one whole year, I trained. I trained with my Dragon Slayer, swearing
to honor their memory by becoming the greatest Hero Paragon City had
ever seen. And after that..." The Slayer smiled slightly, despite
his tears. "After that, I started my short Hero career in Paragon
City. It was the best three years of my life." He laughed softly.
"I had gotten into a Super Group, and was just starting to be involved
in some big missions, when..." His smile faded. "When... it happened
again..."
"When Lord Recluse began his War, I was only 14." The Slayer’s
voice became even softer. "During the Last Stand of Paragon City,
all of the active Super Groups were called in to defend the city,
and my group was no exception. We battled Lord Recluse’s Exterminators,
and were doing quite well, when..."
"Hyaa!" The Slayer yelled, his
Dragon Slayer slicing three Exterminator Rifles in half simultaneously.
Four more quickly replaced them.
"Man, there’s no end to these guys!"
Red Blast yelled as he used his Fire Breath on several Exterminator
Lasers.
"They’re not push-overs, either!" Titan 275 laughed as he
fought against 3 Exterminator Grenades.
"Don’t worry, we can take
em!" Slicer said as his claws slashed through 2 Exterminator Swords.
"We should fall back with the others!" One of the Exterminator swords
hissed to his partner.
"But if we let these Heroes live, and Lord
Recluse finds out..." The other shot back.
"I’ll handle them." A young
girl said, a hateful expression on her face as she grabbed the hilt
of the sword at her side. "After all, it’s what Recluse would want,
right?" She said, absolute hatred in her voice. "Get your men out
of here."
"Death Blade!" The two Exterminators said. "Right! We’ll
withdraw at once!" The remaining Exterminators retreated, and the
two dozen Heroes of the Super Group looked at the one opponent they
now faced.