"So Impactor's power is Impact.....When you say it out loud, you kinda feel like you're stating the obvious."
Sinvula frowned before taking a drink of his coffee.
"To put your ability in your alias when you're supposed to keep it hidden as long as possible.....Is that Impactor guy an idiot?"
"He is."
Sinvula and Kiara answered Bastion's question in unison.
"He doesn't seem to have common sense. I mean, who would pick a fight with me of all people? Not even the strongest countries would try that."
"He defeated you, though."
A gust of air hit Bastion in the forehead and made him fall off his seat.
"He got lucky."
Sinvula stood up.
"Where are you going?"
Kiara asked while idly tapping her cup with her finger.
"To test the limits of this guy's power"
Bastion struggled off the floor.
"Keep the civilian casualties to a minimum. If your destructive impulses get too strong, fly into the ocean and fire all the attacks you want until you've calm down."
"I know, I know."
Sinvula left the house, leaving the two behind. Kiara looked at Bastion.
"You know he's going to destroy that city, right?"
".....Yeah."
Braga, Portugal. Tensions were at an all-time high after the city had experienced several major incidents in the last 24 hours. One of the main causes of this tension was walking through the streets wearing a cloak and a wrestling mask.
"Ugh..."
He stopped and held his stomach. He put on a serious face and shook his head.
"I can't eat yet, it's too early. I'll just get hungry again."
"The President has declared a state of emergency for the entire country and has ordered a mass evacuation of citizens in Braga. The government is asking that all citizens remain calm and try to evacuate in a timely manner."
He turned his head towards a TV in a local restaurant he was next to. The TV was turned off and the staff quickly locked up the shop. People around him were evacuating as fast as they could.
"A state of emergency....I hope those guys were able to leave too. More importantly..."
He looked around at the anxious and frightened faces and those desperately trying to escape.
"Did I screw up?"
"Yeah, you did."
Impactor turned around to see Sinvula standing behind him.
"It's the Mad Shaman!"
Those around them started running even faster. Impactor lifted his fists.
"Calm down, Rookie. Let's wait until the normies leave."
Sinvula smirked.
"However, if you want them to get turned into minced meat, then I'm okay with that."
Impactor silently brought his fists down.
"Did you come for revenge?"
"Of course."
Sinvula hovered off the ground and took a seat in the air.
"I have a reputation to uphold."
"Are you sure you're not here because I beat up your friends?"
Sinvula's eyes narrowed.
"You must've gotten fed up with life to be provoking me like this?"
"When did I provoke you? I was just saying you guys seemed close with the way you protect each other, so I knew you would come for me. After all, I would."
"......."
Sinvula said nothing and just stared at Impactor while the citizens fled. After nearly 10 minutes, he spoke.
"I'm amazed. You don't fear me at all, do you?"
"I mean, you're just a guy like me. What's there to be afraid of?"
"Death."
Sinvula showed a wide grin.
"I know how your abilities work. Well, even without knowing I have a million ways to kill you. Doesn't that scare you?"
"No."
Impactor answered without hesitation.
"If I die, I die. What's there to fear?"
He slowly lifted his fists.
"The only thing I fear is not accomplishing the goals I set for myself."
"Am I your goal?"
Impactor shook his head.
"You're a stepping stone."
Sinvula straightened his body, and his feet touched the ground.
"Now you're sounding like someone deserving of fighting a Calamity."
Sinvula nodded with a smile.
"Alright, let's do this. I'm going to fight you man to man with my fists. Let's see the limits of your abilities and your spirit."
"Thanks!"
Impactor flew at Sinvula. He threw a punch. Sinvula gathered air around his fists and punched out. A thunderous noise erupted between them; all glass windows shattered simultaneously.
(He really absorbed all the force behind that punch.)
Sinvula thought as Impactor stepped in with an uppercut. Sinvula stepped back and an invisible force erupted in front of him. He was forced back a few steps.
(He released the force he absorbed.)
Impactor accelerated towards Sinvula, firing a barrage of punches. Sinvula evaded the punches with swift footwork. He punched Impactor in the throat.
"Geh."
Impactor didn't stop and aimed a kick at his head. Sinvula lifted his arms to block the kick. An explosive noise erupted as his body was blown to the side. Sinvula looked at his arm which was trembling.
(That attack had more force than the ones he absorbed from all my attacks so far....That means he can store the impacts and use them later.)
Impactor chased after Sinvula and cocked his arm back. Sinvula crossed his arms in front of him. Impactor swung his leg at his shin. The kick swept Sinvula off his feet. Impactor moved in for a follow-up. His eyes widened when Sinvula spun in the air, defying gravity, and slammed his leg on top of Impactor's head.
"Ugh."
(His body doesn't seem to have a weak spot when it comes to absorption.)
Impactor grabbed at his leg, but Sinvula moved like a leaf in the wind and evaded his grasp.
(It seems he still feels pain when he gets hit, it just doesn't do that much damage beyond his skin.)
Sinvula landed on his feet.
"Are you scamming me?"
Impactor glared at him behind his mask. Sinvula showed a confused expression. Impactor pointed at him.
"You said you'll fight man to man and yet you're flying around?!"
"......."
Sinvula lifted his hand and swiped it to the side. Destructive noises reached Impactor's ears as all the buildings in the path of Sinvula's hand were demolished, and their debris floated in the air. Sinvula flicked his wrist, and the debris was sent flying into the distance.
"Trust me, I'm holding back quite a bit."
Impactor remained silent and had his eyes locked on Sinvula.
(He's still pretty calm.)
Sinvula smiled.
(Even though I'm holding back, I feel he's doing the same. His abilities are definitely greater than he's shown so far. Also, despite no evidence of martial arts training he's good at fighting....)
His smile turned into a savage grin.
"I can't believe I'm getting a bit excited."
Air gathered around his fists.
"Alright, let's bring it up a notch!"
He threw two punches in front of him, and a blast of wind hit Impactor with a dull sound.
"First, let's see the limit of his abilities! Just how much can he absorb and store in his..."
Sinvula's words trailed off and the smile left his face.
"What? Aren't you coming?"
Impactor asked while glaring at Sinvula, who was dumbfounded.
"If you aren't coming, then I'll come at you!"
Impactor blasted off the ground and flew at Sinvula.
"Ohhh--Huh?"
Sinvula flew into the air before Impactor could reach him. However, he didn't attack him, he just floated in the sky and looked at him.
"Oi, what's wrong?! Come down and fight!"
Impactor angrily shouted at Sinvula, who wore a troubled expression as he looked down on him.
"....My guy, your clothes."
Impactor looked down. His coat was torn to bits, revealing the even more torn up clothes underneath. No, they couldn't even count as clothes. They were just pieces of cloth attached to his body.
"What's wrong with my clothes?"
"You're practically naked under your coat like some exhibitionist!"
"Oh...Well, you tore my clothes off last night-"
"Phrasing!"
"What? That's what happened. After that, your friends came and tore off the rest. I had no choice but to throw on an old coat I found."
"Couldn't you have changed?!"
"I mean, I knew you would come for me and that you would tear my clothes off again, so I didn't want to waste any more clothes."
Sinvula covered his face with his hands.
"Didn't you get any battle uniform from the Hero Academy?"
"I didn't go to the academy. I had family issues I was dealing with."
"I see."
Sinvula let out an exaggerated sigh and placed his hands on his hips.
(What should I do? I don't feel like fighting anymore. I mean, I need to regain my reputation by defeating him but...)
He glanced at Impactor and grimaced.
(I really don't want to fight someone who's naked except for his underwear!....By the way, why is his underwear the only thing undamaged?)
Sinvula asked himself the real questions.
"So, what if I'm half-naked? You're fighting me, not my clothes."
Impactor grumbled.
"It's no use, this guy's an idiot."
He turned his back to Impactor.
"I'm lea—"
Sinvula felt a chill run down his back and spun around. Impactor was in front of him with his arm cocked back. Sinvula flew back to create distance. Impactor kicked out behind him. A loud noise resounded as Impactor flew at Sinvula like a bullet. He slammed his fist in Sinvula's chest and sent him crashing into the ground.
"Ugh...."
Sinvula groaned as he lay in a crater. He looked up and Impactor was flying towards him by rapidly kicking the air.
"He can use his powers like that too?"
Sinvula floated to his feet and Impactor swung his leg like a whip. Sinvula leapt over it. The force from Impactor's kick blew away a building nearby. Sinvula floated above him and thrust his finger down. Electricity shot from his fingertip and hit Impactor in the head.
"?!"
Impactor's body froze and his consciousness flickered.
"Your ability is strong, but it has many weaknesses. One thing I figured out was that attacks that don't carry much impact will do damage. Like being shocked by electricity."
Sinvula landed behind him. A noise reached his ear as Impactor's elbow flew and hit him. Sinvula spun in the air and landed on the ground with his eyes peeled open.
"I can't believe it...He's already recovered from an electric shock to the brain."
Impactor stiffly turned around and faced Sinvula.
"He's still recovering? Then how was he able to attack with such power?"
Impactor lifted his fists while glaring at Sinvula. This glare caused Sinvula's chest to heat up.
"This guy's potential is sick!"
The ground burst open and the air started to tremble. Sinvula blasted towards Impactor with a sonic boom. A thunderclap reverberated as Impactor was hit with a devastating punch. Shockwaves spread out and caused the road and buildings to crack.
"Argh!"
Impactor let out an agonising groan, but he didn't move an inch.
"Hahaha! You actually absorbed most of it! However..."
Sinvula hit him with an uppercut and caused another thunderclap.
"You still feel the pain from my attacks. Did you know? Enough pain can cause your body to freeze u—"
Impactor hit him with a punch to the face. A deafening explosion erupted, flattening everything in one direction while Sinvula was blasted away.
"P-Pain is something you can overcome with a strong mind."
Impactor spoke while breathing heavily. A massive shadow cast as a house landed on top of him. Sinvula sat crossed leg on top of the house.
"I agree."
He looked at his hand which was covered in cuts and bruises.
"I normally wear an invisible armour made up of compressed wind to block attacks, and you easily broke through it and hurt me this badly. We're both in pain..."
The house exploded and Sinvula spun in the air while laughing.
"Yet here we are still fighting!"
He shouted as Impactor flew out of the dust cloud, roaring at the top of his lungs.
"Entertain me, Impactor!"
An earth spike grew from the ground and slammed into Impactor from below. He destroyed the spike but found Sinvula in front of him. Impactor was hit with a flaming punch.
"Flames work on you too, right?!"
Impactor grabbed Sinvula's hand and hit him with a headbutt. The force from the headbutt cleared the dust clouds around them.
"Hahaha!"
Yet, Sinvula laughed. He grabbed Impactor's face and flew into the sky. They were a hundred feet above ground in a second. Impactor kicked Sinvula and forced him to release him. He kicked the air to stay in the sky. He and Sinvula quickly traded blows before parting. They flew at each other again, firing kicks and punches as they manoeuvred through the sky.
"Tell me, Impactor."
Sinvula caught Impactor's punch and pulled him close, forcing Impactor to lock eyes.
"Can you absorb and release at the same time?"
Impactor stared into Sinvula's eyes for the first time. The brown eyes that would always be hidden by his hair were deep and soulless like an abyss. There was no warmth inside them, just a swirling madness.
"You...Who are you? You're different from the guy I was fighting earlier."
Sinvula looked at him for a bit before a demonic smile, bearing the cruelty of man, crawled onto his face.
"A calamity."
Day suddenly turned night as thick black clouds blocked out the sun. Lightning illuminated the darkness and thunder released its cries. The earth trembled in fear and ghastly winds bullied everything around them. Buildings were being uprooted and brought into the sky as twisters of death descended from the heavens. Witnessing the scenes in front of him, one word came to Impactor's mind.
ARMAGEDDON.
"Impactor."
All emotions faded from Sinvula's face.
"If you survive this, I'll acknowledge you as a Hero."
Sinvula lifted his other hand while still holding on to Impactor, who was struggling to break free. Impactor clenched his fist.
"Goddamit!'
He threw a punch with all his strength. Sinvula watched this punch approach with no emotion.
"Detonation."
A new voice entered his ears; a voice he was very familiar with. His eyes darted and he realised he was suddenly surrounded by red lines.
"Why?"
Sinvula mumbled as the red lines glowed.
"Why are you interfering, Alala?!"
A catastrophic explosion erupted. This explosion cleared the dark clouds and freed the sun. It dispersed the tornadoes and brought tranquillity to the world through overwhelming destructive force. When everything settled, Impactor was in the centre of the city ruins, breathing heavily.
"D-Did I win?"
His body swayed back and forth as he tried to stand his ground. Some distance away, someone looked at him for a bit before turning in the direction of the sea. There, Sinvula was floating on the water surface with fury staining his face.
"My apologies, Sinvula. However, I also have a score to settle with that brat. So, I can't afford for you to kill him before me."
They started to walk away.
"I hope you understand, as a fellow Calamity."