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Echo of insanity
1 - An unstoppable force meets an immovable object

1 - An unstoppable force meets an immovable object

His phone dings with multiple notifications from the city's heroes. A handy app developed by some tech-junkie hero. It seemed idiotic in the beginning, but is now used regionally by most supers across the globe who strive to help and protect their homes.

His eyes scan over the notifications:

Dead.

Injured.

Severely hurt.

Incapacitated.

Unable to fight. Calling all heroes. URGENTLY.

The messages make it out as civilians, officers and heroes alike have all been victims in the path of an unknown villain. Evil has been on the rise more and more, the law giving more control over to the heroes who are able to stand up against such dangers. But one villain taking down this many heroes? In such a short amount of time? Usually he minds his own business, picking out and studying his targets first. Or even encounters as happy accidents, but he can't ignore this. He straps on his boots and heads for the location.

Bodies line the streets, families smeared against windowfronts. Empty officer uniforms flap as the wind catches them. Heroes lay beaten, broken, dead. Each seem to have a different injury, meaning this is possibly a multitalented villain or someone proficient in their abilities. His eyes scan over the heroes laying sown about, their weaknesses targeted.

A hero in a blue suit supports himself against a wall, shaky, with a hand across his ribs, blood staining the corners of his mouth. There's been so many new recruits, it isn't even worth remembering their names anymore.

He approaches the beaten hero, "Where?"

The hero looks up at the skyline, his breath wheezing as he strains against speaking, "Tallest building."

"Just my luck," he sets off, eyes fixed on the location, barely any further damages or bodies outside of the city square. He reaches the building, jamming fingers and feet into the concrete, scaling the stories with minimal effort. He pulls himself over the edge, eyes settling on the woman.

She sits on a step of the steel tower, feet dangling, gently swinging. No fancy protection. No suit. No mask or helmet. She wears a simple jean with a band t-shirt.

"You did this?"

She looks at him now, her striking green eyes catching his. Her face screams boredom, "Hmm?"

"You don't seem the type to be able to cause all of this destruction. What's your ability?"

"And you don't seem the type to be able to fly."

A force pushes him backwards, off the edge of the building. He barely gabs onto the ledge, pulling himself back up.

"Fucking psychics."

She sighs deeply, "I suppose grouping me in with the psychics might make sense. But not entirely. You really only have a border piece of the puzzle."

She leans back, looking up at the red sky, "Sunsets here are gorgeous. Absolutely love watching them."

He stomps into the roof with force, kicking up several pieces of sharp concrete flying towards her. She falls backwards off of the step, the pieces barely miss her. She remains floating mid-air now, looking upside down at him.

"So what is it? Own personal gravity field? You like a star?"

"Aww... no one has called me a star before." She reaches to a crossbar, pulling herself upright, "You're sweet. I like you."

"You're causing problems. You've hurt and killed people who didn't deserve it." He walks towards her, stopping only an arm's length away, "And I'm not about to let that continue."

"They attached me first. I was just walking about, minding my own business. So, really, it was self defense. Someone just hears where I am and all those goody-two-shoes heroes come rushing in to hurt me. Are they expecting a purple heart?" She steps closer, closing the gap between them, "Are you sure you're the good guys? Attacking just whoever?"

"I'm not a good guy," he clinches his fists, knuckles cracking, " And the families you've killed?"

"Oh yeah. Them. They were either rude or simply in he way." She flashes a smile and taps a finger on his nose. "Boop," she chuckles, turning and walking to the edge of the building.

He grabs her hair, yanking her back, throwing himself forward and down, headbutting her in the face. She slams into the roof, concrete cracking below the impact.

"Kinky," she chuckles again, completely unhurt. She touches the wrist of his hand holding her hair with the tip of a single finger, pushing it up. His hand automatically releases, fingers splaying open.

He stomps at her head, the cracks in the roof running deeper. This only gets met with another sigh from her, "You done?"

He grabs her by the throat, squeezing, "Explain yourself."

She wraps a hand around his wrist this time, the power draining from his body. He immediately releases, ripping his hand free of her grasp and standing back, "Oh, you're one of those."

She stands, facing him, combing through her hair with fingers to straighten it, "One of what?"

"You steal abilities. Make them your own."

"Not quite that either." She flexes an arm, looking at her bicep, "Still pretty average. So I don't think I vampire'd your powers."

"Then tell me or fuck off. So I can either kill you now or go devise a plan to do so later."

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"Why don't you fuck off? You are interrupting my enjoyment of the sunset."

"This is a city you've invaded. Killed innocents. Injured and killed heroes attempting to stop you. I'd say you should."

She waves him off, turning her back to him again, "When I'm done with my business, sure."

He leaps forward, kicking her in the back, sending her flying off the building, "Fucking child killer!"

A chuckle comes from just over the edge, making him approach and look over, "I am going to hurt you."

She tilts her head, floating backwards, "I really like you."

He jumps, pushing himself off the ledge, swinging a fist at her face. She simply does a twirl in the air, barely avoiding his fist. She grabs his hand as he flies past, "I'm quite hungry. Know of any good places for dinner around here?"

He grips hard, using all his strength to slingshot her into the ground, slamming into her. A force pushes him backwards again, breaking his grip. She stands, dusting herself, seemingly irritated now. The moment he finds his footing, he breaks out a large chunk of tarmac, flinging it at her. It disintegrates before it clears even half the distance. Her gaze settles on him again, his body becoming lighter. His feet lifting off the ground. He flails, managing to grip the top of a streetlight. Suddenly, gravity multiplies tenfold, sending him crashing into the road, breaking the streetlamp to pieces. He struggles a moment, getting to his feet again.

"You can't hurt me."

Gravity around him changes again, sending him flying into the sky at the same speed he came crashing down. Up and up, past all the buildings. He flails a moment, then calms, waiting for her to decide on her next move, unable to do much mid-air.

She follows him up, mere centimeters out of reach, "Just how invulnerable are you?"

"Why do you care?"

"Curious how long you'll last."

"Longer than your patience."

She smiles again "Now that sounds fun."

He looks down, noticing their continuous ascent, "You won't be able to kill me. No one has."

"That's good. I don't want to kill you."

"You won't break me either." He looks at her again, "But I will kill you."

She returns his gaze, still with a smile, "I know. Everyone does. But I'll take that breaking you part as a challenge."

The air becomes thin and cold. He just stares off into the distance, becoming lost in thought as she turns to stare out over the clouds at the setting sun. He is now unable to tell if they've stopped their ascent, or of they're going higher still.

The moment the sun disappears over the horizon, she turns to look at him, "So, back to my question from before. Any suggestions for a nice dinner?"

"Either send me up or take us back so I can try killing you again."

Her head tilts again, "Do you still feel pain? Having such high invulnerability and all?"

"Why does it mater?"

"I can have you experience it quite easily. I have found that I sometimes go numb if I don't experience pain every now and then."

"Bitch, I don't care. Either send me into orbit or left me fight you. This is all just fucking boring."

They start lowering, but he finds his air to be less. Oxygen not making it to his lungs anymore. Soon, he fights to stay conscious, but shows no other response to the danger. Her eyes remain fixed on him, carefully observing. Eventually, he loses consciousness. A moment later, air rushes his lungs, waking him, burning. Her lips pressed against his. He immediately wraps both hands around her throat, squeezing with all he's got, his breaths ragged. The burning sensation moves from his lungs across his entire body, her eyes still scanning him. He flinches slightly, but does not release. She traces over his forearm with a single finger again, making it feel like a blade is cutting into his flesh. He visibly flinches now, still not letting up. She wraps her other hand around one of his wrists, the sensation of needles piercing his flesh. His power starts draining away again. He hesitates, but now lets go, a full grimace of pain pulling across his face. She places a hand to his chest, the feeling of a blade slowly piercing into him. He weakly attempts to pry her hand away, the pain clear on his face. The pain gives way to a warm and gentle touch. She moves away, the soft touch lingering against his skin. They land and he raises his fists. She steps back still, examining his face. He carries no fear. Only determination. He begins is approach again.

She smiles as he yet again floats just out of reach, "I definitely like you."

"Fuck!" He flails desperately.

She turns and starts down the street, looking into the shop windows as she passes by. The moment he lands, he breaks free an absurdly large piece of tarmac, frisbeeing at her. It appears to hit and crush her. He immediately charges forward at a high speed, punching downwards into the tarmac slab, breaking through and leaving craters beneath.

Clapping comes from his immediate left, "Quite the show!"

He swings, maintaining his high speed, but his hand stops mid air, centimeters from her face. A shock wave passes by her, damaging buildings across he street. He presses against the barrier, anger seething from him. His fist moves forward ever so slightly.

She pops her head around to inspect his fist, " You actually managed to move. You must really want to kill me."

He attempts to swing again, missing as she steps back, looking at his feet, "This was fun. We should do it again sometime."

"I'll fucking kill you," he screams.

"You'll get another chance someday. "

He finds himself unable to move his legs, frozen in place. She walks off again. He attempts to force movement, but is only able to do so once she is gone. He spends over an hour looking for her, or even just a trace, before giving up and returning to his home.

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