Adam dropped his bag near the barrier beside the door, its familiar blue glow catching his eye. It was identical to the one in the training grounds, a silent echo of countless hours spent honing his skills. He turned his attention to Eddie and Tilda. Eddie sat slumped on the ground, a hand pressed to the back of his head. Tilda knelt beside him, concern etched on her face. "Sorry I didn't hurt you too much, did I?" she asked softly, extending a hand.
Eddie chuckled, taking her offered help to his feet. "That's the idea," he grinned, rubbing the back of his head.
Adam approached, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I can't believe you guys started without me," he said, his voice teasing.
Eddie's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Oh, he's here."
Tilda turned to Adam, her expression softening. "Hey," she greeted warmly. "I heard about what happened. Eddie told me about the punishment the instructor gave you."
Adam shrugged, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Yeah, part of it was my fault," he admitted. "I can still manage, though," Adam insisted, his gaze falling on the black metal bracelet circling his wrist. "I won't let these things hold me back."
Eddie slammed his fist into his palm, a sharp crack echoing in the air. "Great, so how are we doing this?"
Tilda stepped forward, her expression serious. "I've thought about this, and I think it's only fair if it's two against one."
Eddie's eyebrows shot up. "Two against one? What?"
Tilda's gaze locked onto Adam and Eddie. "Since I'm a unique power holder, I think you two should face me. Plus, it's the only way I'll truly grow stronger."
Adam watched Tilda walk away, a knot of apprehension tightening in his chest. "Fighting Tilda…“ The thought echoed in his mind, a deeper voice, a voice of determination, countered the apprehension. “We need to do this.”
"I guess that makes sense," Eddie conceded, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "If we wanna grow stronger, we'll need to surpass our limits. And since Tilda's stronger than both of us, we'll need to work together to even be a match for her."
Adam nodded, a grim determination settling on his features. "I suppose you're right."
Tilda's voice cut through the air, sharp and decisive. "Then shall we get started?"
Adam lifted his fist, his heart hammering against his ribs, a drumbeat of anticipation and apprehension. "Okay," he said, his voice low and steady. "No holding back."
Eddie mirrored his stance, fists clenched, his eyes narrowed in focus. "Watch out for her swords," he warned, a low growl rumbling in his chest. The air crackled with unspoken tension, the promise of a challenging battle hanging heavy between them.
In a blur of motion, Tilda launched herself at Adam, her body a spinning gyroscope of lethal grace. A perfectly executed kick, aimed with deadly precision, whistled through the air, targeting Adam's chest. He reacted instantly, crossing his arms to form a shield against the brutal impact. But even as her foot connected, a golden blade, conjured from thin air, arced towards Eddie with terrifying speed. He barely evaded the razor-sharp edge, a shallow gash appearing on his shoulder before rapidly healing.
Tilda's feet impacted the ground with a jarring thud, the force of her kick sending tremors through the earth. Adam's own feet skidded back, leaving scorch marks on the ground as he struggled to maintain his balance. Eddie hissed, clutching his shoulder as the wound vanished, replaced by a faint tingling sensation. "She's gotten a lot faster than when I first fought her," Adam thought, a grim realization settling in his gut as he felt the lingering sting in his arms.
Without hesitation, Eddie extended his hand, a fiery orb coalescing in his palm. He hurled the fireball at Tilda, a blazing projectile aimed at her heart. "Fighting her up close is going to be a bad—" His thought was cut short. Faster than the eye could follow, Tilda vanished, reappearing before Eddie in a blink. Her fist, a blur of golden energy, shot towards his face. Eddie dodged, crouching low to the ground. "An opening," he thought, his eyes narrowed in focus. He launched a powerful punch, aiming for Tilda's exposed midsection. But Tilda was too quick. With a fluid motion, she rolled over Eddie's back, her movements as smooth and deadly as a striking serpent. She grabbed his jacket, using his own momentum against him, and hurled him forward with brutal force.
Before Eddie could react, Tilda brought her hands together, a sphere of molten gold forming between her palms. With a sudden, violent expulsion of air, she launched the projectile at Eddie's chest. The impact was devastating. It felt as if a cannonball of solid metal had slammed into his torso. A wave of searing pain ripped through him, forcing him to his knees, blood blooming on his lips as he tasted the metallic tang of his own blood. He felt a sickening crack in his ribs, the agony nearly unbearable as he crashed to the ground.
Tilda, momentarily surprised, felt a sudden shift in the air behind her. A surge of heat, a wave of intense energy. "You're forgetting all about me!" Adam's voice boomed, echoing through the battlefield. A massive fireball, a miniature sun, slammed into Tilda's back, engulfing her in a blinding explosion of fire and smoke.
Adam leaped back, his eyes narrowed, anticipating her counterattack. A golden blade, propelled by an unseen force, sliced through the air, narrowly missing Adam's face, leaving a shallow cut across his cheek. He recoiled, his eyes widening in alarm as he saw Tilda emerge from the dissipating smoke, completely unscathed. The area where the fireball had struck was now encased in a shimmering layer of gold, a protective shell that had deflected the brunt of the attack. Tilda's pupils blazed with an intense golden light, her eyes burning with energy. A palpable aura of power emanated from her, a tangible wave of golden energy that crackled in the air, promising a devastating counterattack.
Two golden swords materialized in Tilda's hands as the golden glow surrounding her body subsided, leaving behind a focused intensity. With a burst of speed, she charged towards Adam, her body a whirling dervish as she raised her swords, aiming for a devastating cross-slash. "Oh crap... I can't block that. I don't have a weap—" His thoughts were cut short as a solution sparked in his mind. He used the heavy shackles on his wrists, not as a shield, but as a lever, angling them to meet the incoming blades.
The strike landed with a deafening clang, sparks erupting as the golden swords met the unforgiving steel. The sheer force of the impact sent Adam to one knee, the pressure immense, but he held firm. Tilda, however, continued her assault, her energy seemingly increasing with each passing moment.
"Incredible," Adam muttered, a grin spreading across his face despite the strain. "She can fight like this even without that side of her." A strange thrill coursed through him. “Somehow... it feels... fun." His eyes, previously a faint orange, deepened to a faint, menacing red. With a surge of power, he pushed against Tilda's blades, forcing her back, and rose to his feet, ready for the next exchange.
"His power slightly increased, even with the shackles on, he's able to parry that," Tilda thought, a flicker of admiration crossing her features. Eddie, pushing himself to his feet, watched the exchange between Adam and Tilda. Adam's movements were a blur, a whirlwind of controlled power. Tilda swung her sword; Adam parried. Another swing, another parry. The dance continued, a breathtaking display of skill and strength. Their arms moved with impossible speed, a blur of motion punctuated only by the shower of sparks and the clang of steel.
"He's slightly falling behind," Eddie realized, "I need to help him, but I can't in this state." A grim determination set in. "Which is why…" With a roar, flames erupted around his body, his hair turning a vibrant crimson. His body felt lighter, his movements fluid and powerful, the flames enhancing his speed and strength.
Mid-fight, Tilda sensed a shift in the air—a sudden surge of intense heat and speed. She reacted instantly, leaping away from Adam just as he stumbled, his breathing ragged, sweat beading on his brow. Fatigue was clearly setting in. Before she could regain her balance, Eddie arrived, his body a fiery blur, launching a spinning kick blazing with intense flames.
"He's faster! "Tilda thought, barely registering the thought before she reacted. She blocked the kick aimed at her head with her wrist, the impact sending a shockwave through her arm. The force of the blow was immense, throwing her off balance. She tumbled through the air, her body spinning wildly, before crashing into a large tree with a resounding crack. The tree splintered, sending wood flying as Tilda was thrown back, landing hard on the ground, her feet skidding across the earth. The impact left her momentarily stunned, the sudden shift in momentum leaving her breathless and disoriented.
A sharp sting shot through Tilda's arm, a reminder of the force of Eddie's kick. She watched him from a distance, his brown hair now tinged with red, his body faintly glowing with an orange light. "You alright?" Eddie called out, his voice laced with concern, his gaze shifting to Adam.
"I'm okay," Adam grunted, wiping blood from his lip. "I can still manage... but these things are really slowing me down," he added, gesturing to the shackles on his wrists. "And they're tough."
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Before either could react, Tilda appeared before Eddie, her sudden arrival taking them both by surprise. A swift, powerful punch shot towards Eddie's face. He blocked it with a resounding thud, but the force of the blow created a shockwave that sent Adam reeling backward.
"There's more I can do," Tilda thought, a flicker of guilt in her eyes as she watched Eddie, "but I don't want to see them in pain. Especially pain caused by me." The restraint was palpable, a truth Adam instantly recognized. Eddie met her blow, the impact muted, the force deliberately lessened. "You're holding back," Eddie stated, his voice low and firm. Tilda remained silent, a subtle shift in her stance betraying her hesitation. Eddie closed the distance, his voice tight with urgency. "We can't surpass our current limits if you start holding back like that."
"I'm not going to," Eddie declared, his words a prelude to action. He exploded into motion, a blur of controlled fury. His fist, a fiery comet, shot towards Tilda with terrifying speed. Instinctively, she raised a golden shield, a shimmering barrier of defense. But Eddie's punch, fueled by raw power smashed through the golden barrier like it was paper. The shield shattered with a deafening crack, the sound swallowed by the roar of Eddie's momentum as he followed through with a devastating spinning kick, the full force of his enhanced strength and fiery power behind the blow.
His leg, wreathed in searing flames, became a blur as it connected with Tilda's abdomen with a bone-jarring crack. The impact exploded outwards, a shockwave of force that sent Tilda sprawling across the earth. Her body, a ragdoll of motion, tumbled end over end, each impact a jarring thud against the unforgiving ground. Dust and debris erupted in a miniature explosion as she finally skidded to a halt, her breath ragged, her body trembling from the sheer force of the blow. A crimson stain bloomed across her lips as she coughed, spitting out flecks of blood, the coppery tang heavy in the air. She clutched at her stomach, her knuckles white against her burning flesh, the agony etched on her face. Her eyes, wide and pained, locked onto Eddie, who stood before her, a figure of controlled fury, his flames dancing like malevolent spirits, his eyes burning with an intense, cold orange light—the eyes of a predator.
"Tilda! It's okay to go all out! We're your friends, we can handle it! Don't worry about hurting us, just fight!" Adam's voice, raw with urgency, cut through the silence, a desperate plea echoing across the ravaged battlefield.
Tilda's heard Adam and old memories of the past resurfaced. The people she saw getting absorbed that day. It was all because of her, she helped gather them. The guilt pressed hard on her. I need to get stronger, i need to stop it from happening again " she thought. Eddie came at her at an incredible speed. Appearing infront of her Tilda quickly materialized a sword and swung it up almost slashing Eddie in the chest as he leaped backwards. A fire ball quickly a came close to her. In a Swift motion she turned and cut the fire ball in half, splitting in two the fire ball landed behind her exploding as she looked at Adam her glowing golden. Adam felt the energy resonating from her. A smile tugged the corners of his lips. He and Eddie launched themselves at Tilda at the same time.
Tilda, a whirlwind of golden grace, met their onslaught with balletic precision. Adam unleashed a furious uppercut, a fiery fist aimed at her jaw. Tilda sidestepped with impossible speed, the heat of the blow washing over her as she spun, her golden blades arcing in a defensive arc, deflecting the follow-up punch from Eddie. His fiery fist connected with a clang against one of her blades, sending sparks flying. Undeterred, Eddie launched a spinning heel kick, aiming for her ribs. Tilda anticipated the move, dipping low, her body a blur of motion as she evaded the blow by a hair's breadth, the wind from the kick ruffling her hair. She retaliated instantly, her blades flashing, a double strike aimed at Eddie's exposed flank. He blocked one with his forearm, the golden blade biting into his flesh, the wound instantly cauterized by his fiery aura. The second blade, however, grazed his side, leaving a shallow cut that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Adam, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a torrent of fire, a raging inferno aimed at Tilda's chest. She met the flames with a wave of golden energy, deflecting the searing heat with effortless grace. The golden energy rippled outwards, pushing Adam back, but he recovered quickly, his eyes blazing with determination. He launched himself forward again, his fist a blur of motion, aiming for her head. Tilda countered with a swift, precise strike, her blade meeting his fist with a resounding clang. The force of the collision sent sparks flying, but Tilda remained unmoved, her stance unwavering. She followed up with a swift kick to his chest, the impact sending him reeling backward. He landed hard, the breath knocked from his lungs, but he was already pushing himself back to his feet, his body already beginning to heal.
Eddie, seeing his chance, unleashed a series of rapid-fire punches, a flurry of blows aimed at Tilda's head and body. She danced back, her movements fluid and graceful, each dodge a testament to her skill and agility. She parried, weaved, and countered, her blades a deadly extension of her will. One of her blades grazed his cheek, leaving a thin, crimson line that vanished almost instantly. He roared, fueled by adrenaline and a burning desire to overcome her defenses. He launched a powerful uppercut, aiming for her chin. Tilda met the blow with her blade, the impact echoing through the battlefield. Sparks flew, the air thick with the scent of ozone and burning flesh.
Eddie leaped back to Adam's side, his breathing ragged, his gaze fixed on the wound on his fist—a wound that stubbornly refused to heal. "I don't think I can keep up this form much longer," he gasped, his voice strained. "She's countering our every move," Adam agreed, wiping sweat from his brow, his own body screaming in protest. "Why don't you try that thing?" Eddie suggested, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"By 'that thing' you mean— No, I might die if I do it," Adam replied, his voice tight with apprehension. "Plus, I shattered the barrier with it last time. This is just training; I don't want to accidentally kill her…" His words trailed off, his breathing heavy, his body aching.
Before he could finish, Tilda appeared before them, a blur of motion. With impossible speed, she launched herself into the air, her body spinning like a deadly gyroscope. A perfectly executed double-leg kick slammed into both of their midsections simultaneously, the impact echoing through the battlefield. Adam and Eddie were sent flying, their bodies soaring through the air before crashing to the earth, their legs skidding across the ground as they tumbled. They landed hard, spitting blood, the pain a searing wave that washed over them.
"Oh man," Adam groaned, clutching his ribs, "this is the fourth time she's broken a rib…" His voice was laced with pain, but also with a grudging respect for his opponent's terrifying power."Fuuuuuuuck…" Eddie muttered, his gaze fixed on the sky. "What?" Adam asked, letting go of his chest to look up. What they saw stole their breath. A colossal golden hammer, its size dwarfing the training grounds, descended from the heavens, its shadow engulfing them both. Eddie's fiery aura intensified, his body blazing brighter as the hammer's immense presence pressed down on them.
"I know you told her not to hold back," Eddie said, his voice strained, a tear threatening to spill, "but isn't this a bit too much?"
"Just how much gold can she produce?" Adam whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Tilda floated in the air, seemingly weightless, her blonde hair now shimmering gold, her feet resting on a series of golden platforms that materialized behind the massive hammer. Panic seized Adam and Eddie as the hammer began its descent, its immense weight promising obliteration.
"Dude, throw me!" Eddie yelled, his voice tight with urgency.
"What?" Adam sputtered, his mind struggling to catch up with the unfolding catastrophe.
"There's no time! We can't outrun it in our condition!" Eddie shouted, his voice filled with desperation. The hammer was falling fast. Their only hope was a desperate gamble. "Alright," Adam grunted, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. He grabbed Eddie, hoisting him onto his shoulder, and with a mighty roar, launched himself into the air. His eyes glowed a furious red as he summoned every ounce of his strength, the weight of his shackles momentarily forgotten in the face of imminent danger. Ignoring the searing pain in his battered body, he hurled Eddie towards the descending hammer with all his incredible might.
"Spinning Blaze!" Eddie roared, his body twisting in the air, flames erupting around him until he resembled a fiery spear, a vortex of destruction. Adam watched in horrified fascination as Eddie met the descending hammer. A cataclysmic explosion followed, a deafening roar that shook the very ground, the hammer disintegrating into a shower of golden fragments. From the heart of the explosion, Eddie emerged, shirtless, his head bleeding, but his eyes burning with fierce determination. He was hurt, but he was still moving. He was still fighting.
"I've been compressing fire in my right hand for some time now," Eddie thought, "it's time to let it loose." He launched his fist towards Tilda's chest, a concentrated blast of compressed fire aimed at her heart. A golden shield materialized before the strike landed, but the sheer force of the compressed fire detonated upon impact, creating a blinding explosion of energy.
From below, Adam watched in horror as Eddie's body, spent and battered, plummeted from the sky. Reacting instantly, he launched himself upwards, his own body a blur of motion. He arrived just before Eddie hit the ground, catching his friend, his legs skidding to a halt as he absorbed the impact. Slowly, carefully, he lowered Eddie to the ground.
"Damn," Eddie groaned, a weak smile playing on his lips, "all my energy is depleted. It'd feel great to fall asleep right now." Eddie’s eyes fluttered closed, his breathing slowing, his body slumping against the earth. He slipped into unconsciousness, his fiery aura fading, leaving behind only the lingering scent of smoke and burnt flesh. Adam looked up, his gaze drawn to the sky. The shattered remnants of the golden hammer, scattered across the heavens, were shifting, transforming. The fragments, once solid and unyielding, were liquefying, morphing into a shimmering river of liquid gold that swirled and coalesced, forming thousands upon thousands of razor-sharp golden blades, suspended in the air like a deadly, glittering storm. Tilda stood amidst this aerial tempest, a serene figure amidst the swirling chaos, her golden eyes fixed on Adam.
A cold dread washed over Adam. "Should I do it?" he whispered, the question hanging heavy in the air. The forbidden power, the power he had sworn never to use again, pulsed within him, a dangerous temptation. Fear, cold and sharp, pierced through him. He was afraid of the power, afraid of what it might do to him, afraid of what it might unleash.
Suddenly, Tilda plummeted from the sky, her descent as swift and silent as a falling star. The countless golden blades, as if sensing her fall, liquefied, transforming into a torrential downpour of liquid gold that cascaded across the battlefield, a golden rain that promised both beauty and destruction.
Adam’s eyes widened in surprise as Tilda fell. He reacted instantly, launching himself towards her, catching her before she hit the ground. He cradled her in his arms, his gaze falling to the faint bruise blooming on her chest, a testament to Eddie's devastating blow. Even as he watched, the bruise slowly faded, the golden energy within her body subtly repairing the damage. She remained unconscious, her breathing shallow but steady. A sigh of relief escaped Adam's lips. The training was over, for now.