Chapter 17: Joe's Violent Weather

Chapter 17: Joe’s Violent Weather

Back with Joe and his battle against Sludge.

Joe stands, a few drops of sweat dripping down his face, as his right arm is encased in shadow.

Sludge smirks. “Do you see it now!? Your right arm is now useless! It will be much more difficult for you to use magic attacks.”

Staring at Sludge with narrowed eyes, Joe thinks, “My right arm is useless, but it does not keep me from using my weather magic. It just takes longer to use it.”

Continuing to smirk, Sludge says, “This will be fun.”

Despite his large size, with a burst of speed, Sludge runs up to Joe and punches him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Sludge thrusts his fist downward to follow up, but Joe thrusts his leg upward to kick him in the face.

Sludge growls. “I was going to let you live a bit longer and just beat you up with my fists, but now you have angered me!”

Taking the opportunity, Joe runs through the woods to his right and hides behind some trees.

Sludge chuckles as he walks into the woods, holding his demonic blade eagerly. “We are both friends here. No need to hide behind trees.”

Using the Shadow Sword, Sludge slashes some trees, easily slashing through them. As the trees fall over, he discovers that Joe is not behind any of them. From behind a tree, ten meters from Sludge, Joe focuses magic energy into his left arm.

Joe thinks to himself, “I have a plan to rid him of that sword, but because my right is encased in shadow, I can’t use it as fast as I normally can, and this is an ability that already has a decent length of charging to do before use. I need to keep out of sight.”

Sludge continues to cut down more trees, his temper rises with each one that falls, becoming impatient. Soon, he loses his cool and goes crazy as he chops more trees with the Shadow Sword.

“Come out!!! I know you’re around here somewhere!!! Face me, you coward!!!”

Joe takes a deep breath and begins running again. His feet rustle through grass, fallen leaves, and sticks, catching Sludge’s attention.

“There you are!” Sludge yells as he begins to chase. “Don’t run from death, human!!”

Joe runs into a creek with Sludge hot in pursuit. Now standing in the creek water, Joe turns around and faces Sludge as he also reaches the creek water. Joe hides his left arm behind his back, hiding his charging energy.

For just a few moments, they stare at each other, both determined. The only sound comes from the running water of the creek, splashing against their feet and rocks.

Joe speaks first. “If you want to live, I suggest you don’t come toward me.”

His left arm continues to glow and charge magic energy behind his back.

Sludge grits his teeth as he thinks, “His right arm is still in shadow. He couldn’t possibly have an attack that could destroy me.” He then shouts, “You’re bluffing! Your right arm is still useless!”

Sludge begins charging forward, not fearing Joe at all. As he gets close, Joe takes out his left arm and releases his attack.

“L3 Tornado!”

Suddenly, a medium-sized tornado is released from his left arm as the clouds above them begin to shower rain and lightning. The tornado picks up Sludge and the water surrounding him.

Spinning around in the tornado’s vortex, Sludge screams, “How can you do this!?”

“It’s simple!” Joe shouts back in reply. “Ever since you encased my right arm in shadow, I have been charging magic energy in my left arm. Now, how about I use that sword of yours?”

The winds of the tornado rip the sword from Sludge’s hand. As Sludge and the sword spin around in the tornado, they collide many times, causing him to be sliced up into numerous pieces by the powerful sword.

Eventually, the Shadow Sword is flung out into the distance by the tornado.

“Well, I warned you,” Joe says, smiling victoriously. “Time to finish this! Thunderstorm!”

Many bolts of lightning strike down from the clouds above, violently striking the shredded pieces of Sludge, turning all the pieces of his body to ash. Moments later, the tornado dissipates, vanishing like it was never there.

“Well, that’s that,” Joe says, fully satisfied with his victory. “It’s time to get back to Emily and see if I can find Kurt, Zeth, and Sasha.”

Joe puts an end to Sludge using his tornado!

Chapter 17 END

To Be Continued in Chapter 18: Battle in an Open Field