Chapter 22:
The Cartoon Kid: Shard Hunt.
Training Chamber 12
The chamber emitted a steady futuristic hum, its pristine white interior bathed in cool light. Energy lines pulsed faintly along the walls as the system calibrated. Kira and Decibolt stood opposite each other at the center, combat-ready, while the Guardian observed from a hovering holographic screen above.
"No VR this time, so prepare to feel the pain," Molecular Girl said.
"I could say the same for you," Decibolt said.
"Without wasting time, let's begin," the Guardian said.
They exploded into motion.
Punches and kicks flew in rapid succession, strikes narrowly missing or glancing off guards. The air cracked with force as they disengaged simultaneously, boots scraping across the floor.
"Hold up! Let's add some environmental chaos," the Guardian said.
The chamber roared as it transformed. Smooth panels split apart, rising and collapsing into jagged rock formations. Dust and stone filled the air.
Kira extended her hand. Boulders tore free from the ground, twisting as she hurled them forward with Molecular Kinesis. Decibolt countered instantly, slicing them apart with spinning sonic discs that shrieked through the air. He launched more. Kira slammed them together mid-flight, detonating them in a concussive burst.
"Just throwing things as usual," Decibolt said.
He dashed forward, palm glowing.
A Deci Cannon erupted toward her.
"Repulsion field!" Molecular Girl said.
The blast unraveled into nothing. Kira spun, her heel cracking against his side and sending him skidding across the rocky terrain.
"And Kira makes the first hit!" the Guardian said.
She vaulted over him, aura flaring.
Full Body Repulsion detonated downward, slamming him into the ground hard enough to fracture stone.
"Not feeling so tough now, are you?" Molecular girl said.
"Oh, I'm just getting started—Sonic Storm!" Decibolt said.
Discs screamed outward in all directions. Kira dodged each with precise movement, leaping between them. She jumped to counter.
A gigantic sonic disc slammed into her midair, driving her into the ground.
"Now Kira's down! What will Decibolt do with this opportunity?" the Guardian said.
Decibolt ripped boulders from the earth and hurled them.
"Kinetic punch!" Molecular Girl said.
Her fist struck the ground. Molecular force surged outward, obliterating the rocks instantly.
"Both fighters are at peak form, but they're just warming up," the Guardian said.
They charged again. Blows traded faster now. Decibolt uppercutted her skyward.
"Anti-gravity!" Molecular Girl said.
His ascent stalled. Kira flipped and pin-kicked him straight down. He landed perfectly, knees bent.
"Sonic Pulse Blast!" Decibolt said.
The blast launched her downward. She rolled, sprang to her feet.
"Tired?" Decibolt said.
"Not even close—Kinetic Punch!" Molecular Girl said.
Rocks lifted and shot toward him.
"Sonic Barrier!" Decibolt said.
The shield held.
"Triple Sonic Blast!" Decibolt said.
"Molecular Shield!" Molecular Girl said.
Energy crashed harmlessly against it.
"Here's something you can never block—SONIC STEP!" Decibolt said.
He vanished, reappearing mid-strike. A rapid assault followed, ending with a Deci Cannon at point-blank range.
"Good job wasting one of your attacks," Molecular Girl said.
"I wouldn't call it a waste," Decibolt said.
"Kinetic Punch Barrage!" Molecular Girl said.
She launched him across the field, yanked him back with force, and buried a kick into his gut.
"Full Body Repulsion!" Molecular Girl said.
He slammed into the ground again.
He rose.
"Gigantic Sonic Disc!" Decibolt said.
He launched upward, firing.
"Remember this combo—Triple Sonic Blast!" Decibolt said.
The disc surged forward.
"It's been a long time since then—Repulsion Field!" Molecular Girl said.
The disc vanished. She spin-kicked him out of the air.
"You look tired; why don't you take a seat?" Molecular Girl said.
Gravity crushed him into the ground.
"Is a crystal cadet about to be defeated by a mortal?" Molecular Girl said.
"As if!" Decibolt said.
He sonic-screamed upward, lunging.
"Eat my fist!" Decibolt said.
The punch drove her into the terrain.
"This is a heated battle! Which will prevail—Kinetic Force or Sonic Force?!" the Guardian said.
They locked eyes.
"Kinetic Punch!" Molecular Girl said.
"Sonic Disc!" Decibolt said.
The attacks collided. Again. And again.
"Kinetic Punch Barrage!" Molecular Girl said.
"Sonic Storm!" Decibolt said.
Punches and discs collided violently as they rushed, blocked, dodged.
"Molecular Fusion!" Molecular Girl said.
Stone fused onto him like armor.
"Kinetic Punch!" Molecular Girl said.
The armor shattered, sending him flying.
"Deci-Cannon! Deci-Cannon! Deci-Cannon!" Decibolt said.
She dodged two. The third struck.
"Gigantic Sonic Disc!" Decibolt said.
She leapt over it. He followed, punching her down.
"Full Body Repulsion!" Molecular Girl said.
They both crashed.
"If I go down, you go down too," Molecular Girl said.
"I guess we do think somewhat alike," Decibolt said.
They clashed again, both thrown back.
The Next Phase
"Ready to crank it up," Decibolt said.
"You want your defeat to come faster? Let's do it," Molecular Girl said.
Her aura ignited. He transformed.
"Sonic platforms!" Decibolt said.
He ascended.
"You like going up so much? I can take you higher—Kinetic Punch!" Molecular Girl said.
She launched him skyward, leapt between platforms, and spin-kicked him down. He rolled and stood.
"Ripple Portal!" Decibolt said.
He blinked in and out, striking. She dodged each and kicked him down.
"I've been inside your portals so many times. I know when they're about to open.
Now MY turn—Molecular Taijutsu!" Molecular Girl said.
She struck in a blur, spinning him away. He escaped behind her.
"Bad move—Full Body Repulsion!" Molecular Girl said.
He slammed into the floor.
"Time for you to hit the ground. Sonic Disc! Sonic Disc! Sonic Disc!" Decibolt said.
She dodged—until discs rained from above. A portal opened beneath her. She fell out above him.
He uppercut her gut and blasted her down.
She stood.
"You idiot. You've used up all but one attack. I still have more to spare," Molecular Girl said.
She assaulted him with Molecular Taijutsu and trapped him in Cyclonic Gravity.
"What happened to 'Molecular Taijutsu is nothing to you'?" Molecular Girl said.
"Urgh—" Decibolt said.
He lunged.
"Up and Down Gravity!" Molecular Girl said.
He slammed repeatedly.
"This feels like what I did to Shadow Wing," Molecular Girl said.
She struck him down.
"Let's finish this, shall we?" Decibolt said.
"Alright—prepare to lose," Molecular Girl said.
"SUPER—" Molecular Girl said.
"FINAL—" Decibolt said.
"KINETIC PUNCH!" Molecular Girl said.
"SUPERSONIC RIPPLE BLAST!" Decibolt said.
The collision tore the chamber apart.
"You know what's great about my attack? Unlike yours, it's not a cannon.
I can launch ANOTHER—Kinetic Punch Barrage!" Molecular Girl said.
She pressed forward.
I'm about to lose... Decibolt thought.
No. I WON'T STAND FOR IT!
A glimce of what might be untapped power erupted.
"What the heck?!" Molecular Girl said.
She was overwhelmed.
"Repu—!" Molecular Girl said.
She smashed into the wall. Holographics flickered.
"AGAIN—EAT MY FIST!" Decibolt said.
He struck her down.
"You were delusional to think you could defeat me," Decibolt said.
He walked away.
Kira's vision returned in fragments. Cold stone pressed against her back. The air tasted metallic, sharp with lingering sonic residue. Her head throbbed in rhythm with a distant hum still echoing through the chamber.
She inhaled—and winced.
A thin trickle of blood slid from her nose, warm against her upper lip. Shallow cuts lined her forearms where compressed sound had torn through her aura, already sealing but still stinging.
"What... what happened?" Kira said, her voice hoarse.
Hakim stood nearby, arms folded, expression unreadable.
"You lost, that's what happened," Hakim said.
Kira forced herself onto one elbow, blinking as the chamber lights stabilized above her.
"But how?" Kira said. "I was winning!"
Hakim's gaze sharpened.
"You underestimate me," Hakim said.
Kira's jaw tightened. She wiped the blood from her nose with the back of her hand, leaving a faint red smear across her glove.
"Keep your dumb title. I only fought to prove I was superior," Deciboltsaid.
Her words came fast, edged with frustration rather than defeat.
"No!" Kira said, pushing herself upright despite the pain. "I'm tired of having a title I didn't earn."
Hakim stepped closer, shadow falling across her.
"Too bad," Hakim said. "'Cause you'll never surpass me."
For a moment, Kira said nothing.
Then she lifted her eyes to meet his, steady despite the cut along her cheek and the ache in her chest.
"Just watch me," Kira said.
She turned and walked toward the portal, her stride firm even as the floor trembled beneath her steps. The light swallowed her whole.
The chamber fell silent.
The Guardian's hologram flickered into sharper focus, turning toward Decibolt.
"What happened in the chamber?" the Guardian said. "I could read your thoughts—you were about to lose."
Decibolt remained still, fists clenched at his sides. Faint sonic vibrations rippled around him, barely visible, like heat distortion.
"To be honest..." Decibolt said. "I don't know myself."
The Guardian studied him closely.
"Could it be your Supersonic Decibolt hasn't reached maximum power?" the Guardian said.
Decibolt looked down at his hands. The hum returned—low, controlled, unfamiliar.
"...It would seem so," Decibolt said
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