Masked

by G S Michaelson

  “I am strong. Only the strong survive.” Jack said, as crimson liquid danced through the air.

  Another attack, this time from his right, sent Tyrone flying towards the end of the rooftop. He bounced once, twice as he tried to slow himself. The wooden roof had cracked now. The force of the blow overcoming lumber and timber.

  I was alone my whole life.

  Jack stalked towards Tyrone. Each step slow and meant to inspire fear.

  If anyone dies, they deserve it. That’s how the world works. That is the reality.

  Tyrone shook off the pain searing his insides. Reminding himself of the stakes.

  If he lost here, Jack would go on and kill his friends. The others would be forced into a 2 on 1 battle, or even more depending on how the fights would turn out. They would get away with their mass murder, and move on to somewhere else.

  He couldn’t allow that to happen.

  Jack felt the rush of air as the wind was drawn towards Tyrone, blowing away debris. His palms open, he aimed for the rooftop below them.

  Wind Cannon!

  The building exploded as the wind rushed through it, shattering the rooftop, clearing away the rubble below. Both men fell as their footing was destroyed.

  Jack landed on his feet without a sound. Tyrone braced himself as he slammed into the ground. He winced at the impact but forced himself to get up. To lay down would be to die.

  “What a stupid, boneheaded plan,” Jack said, “You’ll have killed yourself just as easily as I’d have died.”

  “That’s true, but I didn’t die,” Tyrone replied. “Guess that means I’m strong.”

  Jack’s eyes narrowed.

  “That’s yet to be seen.”

  Jack’s veins bulged as industria flowed through him, from the mask to his body, and back. Tyrone could only watch as the transformation began.

  Tiger Mask: Anwanwu.

  Fingers extended and became claws. His spine expanded as a tail sprouted from his back. Eyes slit through the mask hole as the mask melded into his face, becoming part of him.

  He roared, the sound shattering whatever glass was left intact and chilling Tyrone to the bone.

  “Do you like this?” Jack said, “Just for you, I’ve decided to embrace my Anwanwu. You’re gutsy, you took out Alfred, you’re determined. But you’re not one of the strong.”

  Tyrone had already leapt, propelling himself with a combination of industria and sheer leg strength. His arm knife handed through the air as he approached the beast man.

  Wind Slicer!

  Jack’s eyes dilated as he continued, “And so I’ll kill you with power befitting a gutsy man.”

  The wind attack raged, slicing through the air, only to meet an equally formidable attack.

  Jack had swiped through the air with such sheer physical power, Tyrone’s wind blade was cancelled out.

  Before the Sabre could process the scene before him, a first embedded itself in his stomach. He tasted copper as blood spilt from the side of his lips. Another blow, and then another, and another, the final one sent him skidding across the floor.

  Jack wasn’t done with him yet, his claws sliced through Tyrone, cutting his skin and splitting his arm open as he slammed into the wall.

  “Argh,” Tyrone started to scream, but a kick struck his face then, interrupting his cry. The Tiger was relentless in his assault.

  Tyrone bit his cheek and countered.

  From inside the warehouse, the wind raged, claws cleaved the ground up, tearing it apart. Blood splattered as the men clashed.

  * * *

  “Lionel,” Eva grabbed her partner as he lay on the ground just outside Foxtrot. “Are you ok?”

  “Ugh,” Lionel stumbled over his words, “Lost some blood. Dizzy.”

  “Here, have a regen pill,” Eva slipped one into his mouth. It immediately began to take effect. “That should hold you together for the next few minutes while we find Caine.”

  Lionel nodded as some of his wounds sealed themselves. It would do for now.

  “Is everyone done?”

  “Just about. I can’t hear the sounds of a battle anymore,” she said.

  As of on cue, Aiden’s team landed beside them. He had met up with Deidre and Bart just after they had won their respective duels, and the three had quickly searched out Eva and Lionel.

  “Tyrone is still fighting,” Aiden said. “Jack’s the only one left.”

  The sound of the shockwave reached them at last.

  “Damn,” Lionel said. He peeked out the window. One of the warehouses had been reduced to rubble. The wind which has furiously raged before was now calming down, yet he could still make out two figures clashing in the dust cloud.

  “Let’s go,” Eva said, quickly taking charge. Everyone leapt out, heading towards the sounds of battle. It didn’t take them long to reach the ruins, the sight they saw chilled them to the bone.

  Tyrone collapsed on the ground, his eyes unseeing. Blood spewing from his many injuries.

  Jack stood over him. His body bruised, but he remained in better shape than his unfortunate opponent.

  “You put up a good fight, but it’s over for you,” Jack said, as his claws extended. Raising his hand high over his head, he remarked, “That was good.”

  A beam of industria struck him square in the chest just as he started to swing down. He looked up, a malicious stare directed at Eva.

  Flechette Swing!

  Deidre swung her blade, the glass shards slicing through rock, wood and debris, but missing Jack who had propelled himself over it.

  “Stop getting in my way.”

  He landed noiselessly, on all fours, the light accentuating his animal features.

  “Get away from him,” Eva rushed to Tyrone’s side, aghast at his condition.

  Lionel, Deidre, Bart and Aiden stood between her and Jack, a human wall.

  “I can always kill more of you,” He simply said.

  * * *

  The Tiger.

  Interlude.

  He had always been alone.

  Unlike Rocky, he didn’t have anyone before. Nor did he have someone after.

  Caine had found him. Just like Caine had been found in his time, just liek Caine would find others. He and Caine developed a special relationship, whether Caine reciprocated it or not. All he had would be put in service to Caine.

  Why not?

  Rocky arrived in his group. He had successfully cased the others away. The ones that had stuck by, they were truly loyal to Caine. He would make his faction the strongest, the best.

  “Get out of my face,” Rocky had yelled.

  Jack couldn’t do that. He needed perseverance. A brawl soon ensued. Rocky wouldn’t back down. Good.

  He licked the blood off his face. The rush from his esoterica threatened to overwhelm him, but he kept it under control. He could do that.

  It was a few years later now. The report came in. Alfred and Quinn had failed. Foiled by a Tyrone Sy. Caine had read the report — the one he stole from Aslog — and then discarded it. Jack had picked it up.

  Tyrone Sy.

  He had heard that last name more than once.

  This was his prey.

  Chapter 35 - The Ferocious Tiger

  Tyrone’s vision cleared as he slipped back into consciousness. His wounds hurt, but he could still fight. In his brief moment of unawareness, his determination to carry out his plan had solidified.

  He slowly became aware of sound as Eva held him, whispering to him.

  “Stay with me, you’re good. You’re going to be ok.” Peeling out a regen pill from her pack, she offered him one, he pushed it away.

  “Don’t.”

  “Tyrone.” Eva said firmly, ” You need to take this.”

  “I have a plan, just listen.”

  * * *

  Lightning Spear!

  Lionel dashed at Jack, his arm engulfed in lightning. The other man prepared to pounce, then he noticed the shadows racing on the ground towards him.

/>   Aiden crouched in the darkness, gaze fixed firmly on him. Bart and Deidre circled him.

  Jack crouched, his muscles tensing up as he lay ready to pounce.

  “Stop!” Tyrone yelled, “Just stop.”

  Everyone, including Jack, stopped.

  “He isn’t your mission anymore,” Tyrone said, “I’ll deal with him — you guys need to go find Caine, stop him from escaping.”

  “That’s a risky plan,” Eva said to him. To the others, she said, “He’s right. Caine is our main priority.”

  “Although, now that we’re here there’s no chance he’ll let us go,” Aiden pointed out.

  Tyrone knew that wasn’t true. He bet Jack now had a fixation on him that was accentuated by his animal traits. His faith was rewarded.

  “If that’s what you’ve decided,” Jack said. “I’ll take on his challenge.”

  “Fat chance,” Lionel said, lightning coated his arm again.

  “Lionel! Trust me.” Tyrone said, “I can take him.”

  Lionel hesitated, he desperately wanted to take down Jack, but he wasn’t sure if he would hinder more than he would help.

  “Go! We cannot let Caine get away,” Tyrone insisted.

  “Just remember, this was your idea,” Eva said.

  One by one, they all slinked away.

  Lionel turned his head as he left. He said only six words. But they were enough.

  Tyrone smiled in response.

  Win. Then come and join us.

  “You’ve got guts — like I said before,” Jack replied. “I won’t leave here until you’re dead, as long as you don’t run away.”

  “Deal.”

  Debris fell around him, the building crumbled.

  Jack crouched on all fours, then he pounced on Tyrone. His thighs muscles coiled and uncoiled like solid steel in that instant, as he crossed the gap between them, claws outstretched.

  Jungle King’s Evisceration!

  His lunge was met by an elbow, Tyrone moving quickly into his space, using Jack’s momentum to his advantage. Another elbow, this time in the back, slammed Jack into the ground, cracking it. Blood spewed from his mouth. He grinned, spinning around before the first droplet hit the ground. His hind leg slamming into Tyrone in the same motion. The Sabre was lifted off his feet temporarily, the blow adding another splash of red to his tapestry of red, brown and purple.

  The Tiger opened his palm, his claws curved wickedly. A jab with steel like muscles. A twist as claws met flesh.

  Jungle King’s Winch!

  Tyrone was sent flying back. Jack’s claws had penetrated the skin. Tearing through him. He nearly screamed, but once more the remnants of the wall knocked the air out of him, each graze inflaming the pain.

  As the rubble cleared, Tyrone stood up. His shirt fell off, thoroughly destroyed. Cruel lines laced his skin. Some of his side was missing, but the blood had already coagulated. Industria visibly pulsed around him, then faded away.

  A defiant glare aimed at his opponent.

  “I’m not down yet.”

  Jack’s grin twisted his face.

  “You will be.”

  Powerful muscles exploded, shattering the ground under him. Tyrone barely had time to catch sight of his claws before he was blown off his feet. On his chest, five fresh claw marks to add to his collection.

  Jack frowned. He had intended to take some of the Sabre’s skin off with that blow. It was like his skin had hardened.

  Tyrone came to a stop on the ground, blood starting to drip from his fresh chest wound.

  Then Jack was beside him again. He swung his claws at Tyrone’s head, but the Sabre’s arm intercepted it. Jack tried to pull it back, but Tyrone’s grip didn’t budge. In a blur of motion, the Tiger felt two powerful blows slam into his chest.

  He grunted in pain, a trickle of blood dripping from his lips. It felt like he was being struck by another Anwanwu user. Still, Jack’s own strength had not diminished. A leg sweep and Tyrone lost his balance. His grip on Jack had became a disadvantage. The Tiger grinned and raised his clawed hand again as Tyrone was thrown to the ground.

  Jungle King’s Evisceration!

  Sharp pain burned through Tyrone’s side, and then he was sent skidding across the floor. He came to rest, among the debris. Once again, he was bleeding, but not as much as Jack would have expected.

  “How the hell are your blows stronger?” Jack growled, “How the hell are you still alive? Something’s different about your body. What did you do?”

  “Confused?” Tyrone looked pleased with himself, “It’s the Art of Enhancement: Omni Max. In exchange for sealing away my esoterica for a brief amount of time, my body’s physical power increases. You don’t have something like that where you’re from?”

  “I would never think someone was so stupid as to use it in a real fight. Much less explain it to his opponent,” Jack replied, “Every advantage is to be clawed at. To be held. To be grasped with both hands.”

  “It’s working, isn’t it?” Tyrone replied. Jack lunged in response.

  Another blow. His jaw held in place, his industria coating it.

  His ribs this time. The pain, but his industria held them in place.

  The spell would last seconds more, but that was enough, even now Jack’s arm began to peel, exposing the human flesh below.

  His Anwanwu was wearing off.

  * * *

  “Anwanwu isn’t an ability without consequences. The users know it runs out, and he’s been using it since the start of the fight. With the Omni Max ability, over I can outlast him. When he’s weak, deal the final blow.” He had explained to Eva.

  “So that’s why you were testing yourself earlier this week,” Eva had mused. “That’s foolhardy and desperate. That spell is a last, last, last resort. What if you die?”

  “Then I die. But you guys would have stopped Caine. The intel you got from Beth changes everything,” Tyrone said, “That’s the mission. Don’t get delayed here.”

  “You’re irritating.” Eva said, “But just this once — I’ll indulge you.”

  * * *

  Jack glanced at his extremities, his claws already receding as the mask began to weaken.

  “What’s wrong?” Tyrone said, blood covering one of his eyes, “Is that rented esoterica of yours beginning to fade?”

  Jack felt the rush of wind before the attack made contact with his skin. The spell had worn off.

  Wind Slicer!

  The attack tore through Jack’s chest, sending him flying backwards, slicing through already ruined walls as it did so. The taste of blood now filled his mouth as he came to a stop, splintered wood and rubble now bruising his skin as he slowed to a halt.

  Raising his head, Tyrone was already in front of him.

  Wind Railgun!

  “I won’t let you recover, I won’t give you a moment to catch your breath,” He vowed.

  The attack hit nothing but air. Jack ran on all fours, still animalistic, leaping off rubble, he leapt towards Tyrone as the latter turned to meet the challenge.

  Art of Assault: Rampage Shot!

  Once more, the attack missed Jack entirely.

  The Tiger was now in front of Tyrone, he thrust his foot into the Sabre’s stomach. Before the impact would fully register, Tyrone felt pain as Jack slashed his shoulders, then his stomach, then his shoulder again, slicing him, and a final solid blow sent him to the ground. Tyrone gripped the concrete around him, as he struggled to stand. Jack roared and charged at him.

  Once more.

  Art of Enhancement: Omni Max.

  It wouldn’t last long a second time, but it would be long enough.

  Industria now flowed through his body, powering his every blow, matching Jack blow for painful blow.

  “You mock and mock and mock ordinary people,” Tyrone slammed Jack’s head into the ground, as more of him began to revert, punctuating each clause with a blow, “You brutalise them, you use them as puppets, you attack them, you toy with them, and you think that
being the ‘strongest’ allows you to do all of that?”

  Another solid blow sent Jack slamming into another wall.

  “Let’s see just how tough you are now that your mask is nearly drained,” Tyrone said.

  Jack peeled himself from the wall. He cracked his neck. His body was nearly reverted. His Anwanwu had dropped leaving a shattered mask behind. Jack was still dangerous, but he was magnitudes less so now.

  “Your industria is waning,” Jack said, “You’re nothing but prey now.”

  “Your mask is shattered.” Tyrone said, “Now all that remains of you is your true strength.”

  “This mask is part of me,” Jack said, “The original beast mask is part of my being now. Even if it’s shattered, for now, I can always manifest another - after killing you.

  The two stared at each other. A droplet of blood rolled down Tyrone’s face, rolling off his nose and starting its journey to the ground.

  Two pairs of feet pushed off the ground towards each other. All energy focused on crushing the other. Jack manifested one set of claws, focusing his mask abilities on his left side. Tyrone drew his industria to his right side.

  Jungle King’s Mighty Drill!

  Jack’s arm pierced through Tyrone’s stomach, ripping through his body and erupting from the other side. His other arm grabbed Tyrone’s right arm, stopping him from finishing his attack. Scarlet oozed from the wound, and from Tyrone’s mouth as nausea threatened to escape.

  The previous lone blood drop hit the ground.

  “Now, it’s over for you,” the Tiger said. He licked the blood off his foe’s cheek, and continued, “You did your best, you bought your friends some time. But in the end, I am stronger, and so you die.”

  He let Tyrone’s right arm fall as he moved to pull his own arm from the commando, but it wasn’t happening. Tyrone firmly placed a grip on his arm, he would not be letting go. Jack yanked and yanked, but his arm was held fast.

  Art of Restraint: Bind.

  “That’s a basic move,” Jack scoffed, “I’ll break it in seconds.”

  “Maybe.” Tyrone said, “But seconds is all I need.”

  In the struggle, Jack hadn’t noticed Tyrone forming the wind ball in his right arm again. Now, the rushing of the wind was impossible to ignore. He could have sworn it looked bigger, and he would have been right.