Within the Apple Ch12A

Chapter 12

Empire 88 Fighting Pit

Hookwolf groaned as he came down off his tiptoes, teeth clenched as he felt his brute based healing kick in. Nevertheless, he could still feel the pain from the boot that had been planted right between his legs with a speed he’d barely been able to follow.

“Still want to stick to no rules for the fight?”

The smirking face of the Magus asshole was doubled up a little as he limped back a step or two, surprised that the other fighter wasn’t pressing the advantage.

“You’re a cocky little shit,” Hookwolf ground out through clenched teeth.

“I’ve been called worse by better,” Magus shrugged, looking around at the wide eyed stares he was getting. “What, have you guys never seen a low blow before?”

Hookwolf laughed painfully, though he was now able to straighten up and move almost without pain. Before he’d triggered, he had no doubt that blow would have left him on the ground puking his guts out for the better part of a half hour.

“Never saw anyone suicidal enough to try it with me is more like it,” He said flatly. “You’re gonna pay for that, boy.”

Magus just laughed, “I’ve been a pitfighter before, lapdog. Been trained by the very best there is, from Wildcat to the Bat and even a little time with the Captain himself. You don’t rank.”

None of those names meant anything to him, which told Hookwolf that the kid was either bullshitting or he was vastly overestimating the skills of his trainers. He knew every good pit fighter in the country, and most of the top ones worldwide. Aside from a couple who’s powersets were really bad matches for him, Hookwolf figured he could stand toe to toe with them all.

“You’re not getting that hit in again, kid,” He told Magus with a shake of his head. “and I’m am going to shred you.”

“It wouldn’t be as funny the second time anyway,” Magus shrugged with a grin and a wink. “Sorry if I was too… rough with your sensitive parts. I’ll be gentle, promise.”

Hookwolf gritted his teeth, he was getting real tired of the innuendo too. He flexed his power and roared as he charged in, blades spinning around his fists as he swung for the kid’s head.  He was surprised when the kid didn’t dodge, opting to block and bat away the swings with efficient moves that would have been perfect in a normal fight, but against his blades should have resulted in tearing the idiot kid’s arms right off.

So he was more surprised when the blocks actually worked.

Falling back to reassess, Hookwolf snarled, “Brute too?”

*****

Xander was enjoying himself, probably a little bit too much in all honesty. Blocking the attacks had been fairly easy, since he was pretty sure that Hookwolf was so used to his powers doing the heavy lifting that he’d not put a lot of muscle into it… or skill.

“Armor,” he corrected, casually examining his arm where the blades had tried to tear through, noting that several layers had been cleanly sliced. “Carbon fibre weave, aramid underlay. Quite cut resistant even as mundane materials… I have to say, kind of impressed though. Regular knives wouldn’t have even scratched it.”

“I’m a Parahuman, nothing regular about me.”

“So I see,” Xander nodded as he shifted his stance. “Well then, let’s dance.”

With a snarl, Hookwolf again charged in, this time with even more blades spinning in lethal whirling speed. Xander blocked another swing, ducked the follow up, and delivered an underhand punch into the man’s guts, lifting the Nazi off the ground with a grunt. Little more than that resulted from the blow, however, and Xander had to roll clear before the walking blender descended on him with intent to puree.

Coming back to his feet, he turned just in time to intercept the next attack, weaving through the gauntlet of blades with his arms up to protect his head as he turned in a spin that snapped his elbow around and into the steel wolf mask with all the strength he could muster.

A crunch could be heard as Hookwolf stumbled back, blood flowing from under the steel as the Nazi involuntarily grabbed for his face.

“Motherfucker!”

“Yeah,” Xander said, “mask like that has to be fit really well or it’ll break your nose everytime. I’m guessing you can’t fully change your head, either cause of a power limit or because you don’t want to blend the wolfmask, am I right?”

Hookwolf growled, letting his power fully out. The steel mask was instantly caught up in his blades and torn to shreds.

“Smart guy, huh? Well now you get my full attention you little shit,” He snarled.

“Good,” Xander gestured for him to come on. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

*****

He was going to tear that cocky shit limb from limb, Hookwolf decided as he surged forward.

His blades tore up the ground, digging furrows in the concrete like it was loose soil as he moved. The kid was fast, though, and kept getting out of the positions he was trying to maneuver him into. Hookwolf was fighting back the growing frustration, knowing that he had plenty of endurance and with his powers fully unleased none of the kid’s blows were even slowing him down now.

This went on for a minute, maybe more, he lost track. It felt like a lot longer, but Hookwolf was used to how time seemed different in a fight. The cheers of the gathered spectators and the roar of blood in his ears… even when he didn’t haveears any longer… was all the fuel he needed to keep going forever it felt like.

They traded blows, and slowly the kid’s fancy pants armor was getting shredded. Soon it would fail, and he’d draw blood. When that happened, it was all over other than the screaming. The kids blows were strong, he could feel them, which was impressive… but they weren’t doing any damage now that he’d surrendered fully to his powers.

Now, if only the damn kid would stop grinning like a fucking loon!

“I admit it,” Magus said after a moment, causing Hookwolf to pause, “I can’t touch you with your power fully unleashed like this.”

Hookwolf grunted, “Good of you to admit… so why are you fucking grinning?”

Magus laughed, headed tilted back as his whole body shook. Everyone stopped cheering and just stared at the lunatic. You could have heard a pin drop when he stopped his laughter.

“Oh, Lapdog, haven’t you noticed?” Magus asked, waving his hands over his armor.

Hookwolf felt his power hidded eyes widen in shock as the armor was repaired in front of them, leaving Magus looking fresh as he’d been when they started.

“I haven’t used my magic yet,” The kid fucking winkedat him again. “Round two, lapdog.”

*****