Fighting the Boss

Mamoru blocked a heavy fist with the side of his blade, the blow sliding him back slightly. He grunted and jumped back to avoid getting grabbed. The man’s hand took a clean slice across his knuckles, but he seemed unfazed by the wound.

He grinned at the blade.

“I recognize that sword.”

A punch that carried with it a sonic boom flew past Mamoru’s head. He spun and cleaved into the man’s side, where he had left himself wide open, but the blade barely made a paper cut. Mamoru grunted and a kick sent him flying across the room. He bounced off the wall and hit the floor hard.

“Dear princess, are you still in there?” Abe laughed. He strode across the room like he owned the place. “Don’t worry, I made very good use of your body over the years.”

The man lifted Mamoru off the floor and threw him into the wall. “001 has been a wonderful asset. Any competitors could get crushed with ease.” Abe lifted Mamoru again and punched him in the stomach so hard he spat out blood. An elbow strike brough the high school boy down to the floor. “Why she is even what led me to coming up with this AI human integration initiative!”

Mamoru was lifted and tossed across the room like a ragdoll. He crashed into the computer and monitors on the desk and slid onto the floor beside it.

“I suppose that does explain why she’s been so active the last few days, probably sensed you or something. I wouldn’t be surprised if she joins us in a bit at this rate, though, by the time she gets here, your little boyfriend will be dead.”

Mamoru. Are you okay?

Mamoru grunted something unintelligible.

The man was tough. Too tough. It was like trying to fight a train. He wasn’t sure he could beat the man when the strikes he did make weren’t even bleeding.

I don’t think you can make him bleed.

Mamoru stood up and stumbled back as his opponent simply walked his way.

I think he’s a lich, he has the aura for it, that’s how he’s stayed alive and young so long. You can cut him down with ease at this rate.

Hikari made it sound like that information would give him an easy win against this opponent. As if he could turn the tide of battle that easily. If not for the adrenaline boost, and Mako’s buffs, he wasn’t sure he would even be standing.

On the far wall, the promised squad of managers burst through the door, all decked out in white uniforms with steampunk-like gear to accent. Mako gently set down Mae’s pod and cracked her knuckles like she was about to go medieval on them. Considering how old she was, it was probably going to be even worse than that.

The fight exploded at the side, but Mamoru still had his opponent to face.

The man smirked as the high school boy continued to back ever closer to the next wall. What did Mamoru even have to use against him? He had air and fire, maybe water given Hikari’s memory, but none of that seemed to help.

The man continued to approach, and the head in the machine was silently mouthing something, but without being able to hear made it seem disturbing. Mamoru watched Mako easily knock down a manager which probably would have been a whole drawn out fight for him. She could have jumped into the fight against this man, but she didn’t. This was a fight for Hikari and him. Maybe it was due to the mark on his palm, but he got the sense that is what she would say. He gripped his blade tight and faced his opponent.

The blade of his sword burst into flames, and the wind focused around it. He needed it to go to the back, Hikari moved the magic as he tried to imagine it.

The wind around the blade, and the fire focused on a small area. The air focused in a small area, and the air flowing around it. Forced into a smaller area.

The flame of his blade was focused on the thin strip of the back and air into a tighter magical constraint.

This isn’t easy you know! Hikari groaned. Mamoru would have to thank her later. He rushed forward while she completed the magic and swung his sword at his opponent’s chest. The man, blocked it with his forearm, and gave a smug grin, but only for a second as the back of the blade erupted with a jet of flames.

Abe grabbed the blade with his other hand, and Mamoru felt the force of his pushing get completely overtaken by the thrust the magic was generating. He slashed the man in two, and the blade went flying from his hand across the room.

It clanged across the floor as the magic stopped and spun up against the wall. Their opponents severed body didn’t let even a drop of blood escape, he snarled at Mamoru before trying to grab the boy’s leg. Mamoru jumped over the attack and ran to retrieve the sword.

Across the room, Mako finished knocking out the last of the managers, then strode over to the boss. He tried to grab her, but she batted his hand away and lifted him up.

“Very good, young master, but I sense you’re battle is just beginning. I will dispose of this trash for now,” she said calmly while their opponent pulled with all his might on one of her fox ears. Mako carried the boss to the stairwell, and he made a small scream that quickly grew faint. She came back in with a self-satisfied expression.

Mamoru quickly pulled some of the head’s contraption apart, and sliced a few sections until the whole thing shut down. He kept the blade at the ready, waiting for Mako with the pod to come by his side, then marched up the access to the rooftop.

The city air filled his lungs once again, lights illuminating from below leaving a contrast of harsh color below and black empty sky above.

Hikari spoke up with concern in her tone. Mamoru. She’s coming.

In the distance, a small light approached. It was not the light from the air bus Yamiko and Mirai had claimed, that should have been larger. Nor was it flying in a normal pattern, those on the ground might even have mistaken it for a UFO by the odd movements, but after a moment it became clear the light came from a grey van that was on fire, propelled by bursts of magical force, and unsteadily flying straight toward them.

Mamoru ducked on way, and Mako the other. The van crashed onto the top of the building and rolled between them. It deformed up against the door they had emerged from and for a second the only sound was the roaring fire.

Then a bang.

Then another.

The side of the van burst open and the puppet Hikari emerged like a butterfly that failed to transform in its cocoon. She looked at them, with blank expression, but Mamoru could still feel an ocean of bloodlust directed at them.