Team Dual Paradox VS. Raging Storm

Part 4 (FINALE)

Titus leapt out of the way as one of Anora's shields slammed into the ground to his right, bashing the other one aside as it impacted with his hooked blades. He dodged and weaved faster than ever, his cybernetic body never tiring. Above him, Anora zipped through the air, keeping stride with his agility, keeping her distance and letting her shields do the attacking. Titus drew back an arm and launched one of his blades full force, sending it spinning in a deadly arc at his opponent. The blow would've cleaved any other opponent in two, but the weapon clattered harmlessly against her shield when it jumped between her and the blade.

   Titus called the blade back to his hand with the gauntlet magnets, but was suddenly spun around by a heavy shield strike from behind. Titus jumped away, glancing up at Anora, thinking quickly.

   "She's changed up her tactics," Titus thought. "Fighting from a distance. Heightened aggression. Using her shields as edged weapons. Attacking my weak points." Titus knew that in order to make Anora vulnerable again, he would have to force her back into close combat.

   "Gettin' tired yet, big guy?" Anora called down to the armored monster. "I don't want to kill you, but I will if you don't let up!"

   Titus said nothing, but stretched his arms out, as he did, the blades began to crack and arc with electricity. He stood still, then launched both weapons this time, charging forward. He rerouted power to his hand blasters, energizing them as Anora flew back, bracing her shields to intercept the blades. At the last second, he crouched, activated his jump jets, and sprung into the air like a rocket.

    Anora distanced herself the moment she saw Titus' blades thrown from his hands. She batted the first glowing weapon away, a small explosion of sparks blasting as the two object impacted. As she bashed the other aside, she suddenly noticed that Titus was midair right in front of her, hands clenched into fists; ready to strike! "Sweet Lordy!" She swore, putting her arms up in defense just as Titus struck. The melee sent Anora flying backwards, her arms bruised and numb from the mechanical beast's electric assault!

   Anora sailed into the side of another pillar, almost knocking the wind out of her. As she collected herself and prepared to fly once again, Titus slammed into her, grabbing her by the throat. The beast hung there, his boots and gauntlets digging into the pillar's earthen foundation as he began to squeeze his opponent's throat. The monster pulled her to eye level, speaking in a low growl.

  "To answer your question, madame...I do NOT tire."

    Far below, Victor and Rida danced in a deadly melee. Victor, using his blades as extensions of his arms, dealt lightning fast strikes to Rida, who, matching Victor's speed with her serpentine agility, dodged and countered with her talons and strikes from the water that surrounded her. Every time Victor came too close, the water orbiting Rida would whip out with deadly speed, cutting through anything in its way. Victor teleported time and again, only to resume his attack, refusing to let his reptilian enemy gain the upper hand.

   Rida's pain from pulling out her scale didn't sting anymore. The rush of a good fight was all she felt now. She leapt forward and delivered a series of slashes to Victor. The Frontier Ranger met them with his own blades, blocking them and sending quick stabs at Rida's hands, which bounced off her hardened scales harmlessly. She suddenly saw an opening at Victor's neck and took the opportunity, slashing out with an aquatic strike. Victor jumped and teleported, and Rida whipped out her tail, feeling it collide with something behind her. She spun around and rushed as she saw Victor tumble to the ground. She hissed with excitement as she lunged forward, ready to separate Victor's head from his shoulders in one strike.

   Suddenly Victor's hand shot forward and something pierced Rida's right arm, stopping her in her tracks. Fiery pain shot up her shoulder as she saw the red hilt of Victor's bayonet sticking from her bicep, blood trickling from the wound. As she shook herself from the shock, she heard Victor mutter something in a language she couldn't understand, then gasped in agony as the pain suddenly scorched her arm like a red hot iron. Out of instinct, she ripped the smoking blade from her arm and jumped away from Victor, who had risen from his feet. She crouched there for a moment, gasping in pain and using her water to wash the wound. As she looked up, she could see Victor picking up his blade and advancing on her slowly. She scowled angrily at her sneaky opponent. "What the hell was that?" She demanded.