Zero Sum

The Before After

It was not usual for him to hesitate. Necalli had faced many powerful foes before. But there was something about the arrogance of Cadmael that gave him pause. There was also the way he had appeared, suddenly as if out of nowhere. And gaining power and momentum on his own, despite not being affiliated with any of the factions.

Necalli had faced many powerful opponents before. They all had the same hint of arrogance. They all fell before his fists all the same. The rage of generations of Aztec warriors ran through his veins. The same rage that saved their civilization from invasion and collapse in the past. It was the code of their warriors, to obliterate their opponents completely, or be obliterated.

Cadmael had seen his own elite team of fighters be eliminated one by one. The team of berserkers that Necalli had rallied together. Lawless vigilantes that came from the unwanted runoff of the various other factions. Like a patched together tapestry. If the patches were made of bio-sythnetics, non earth metals, genetic manipulation, and fringe science experiments.

Still his calm expression was unnerving, even to a seasoned fighter. It seemed almost like he was expecting defeat, prepared for it, even relishing for it. Some soldiers develop an addiction to combat. It was evident in how easily a fighting force was assembled that supported Cadmael. The appeal of creating a nation of warrior elite, with its own land, government, opportunities, a real future. Instead of being abandoned by the various other nations they once fought for. It was an attractive prospect, being a career soldier, with benefits.

Focus. None of that mattered. What mattered is that lunatic ended the future of a woman, the only woman who allowed Necalli to abandon his ceaseless rage and desire to fight. So he needed to end him. Obliterate that madman. Completely.

It was a spectacular battle, they fought on even terms, at first. But the rage could not be quelled. As Cadmael taunted Necalli's over his previous defeats, failures, and tragic losses. Knowing that rage would make his opponent more unbeatable. Seemingly predicting the exact moment when the battle would start to turn against him, Cadmael began to gird himself for the coming counter attack. 

Necalli had a technique in his arsenal that he refrained from using if at all possible. Since his abilities granted him telekinetically enhanced attacks. Fists that once thrown could negate near any attack thrown his way, and make his own punches potentially be unstoppable. The level of enhancement was tied to his emotional state. 

Right now, that emotional state was rage.

He tended to always be holding back his full strength, lest he throw a punch that would be so unstoppable, Necalli himself would be unable to stop it. The cost of overwhelming strength so great came at the risk of being overwhelmed in return.

Focus again, none of that mattered now, this is the moment that he has been waiting for. Revenge, and if it costs him his own life, well worth the price. The rage. It made him feel pure. Washed of any hesitation and free to unleash the full extent of his power.

Blow for blow quickly turned into a relentless beatdown. Cadmael now lay under his heel just as easily as any other opponent had before Necalli. 

Remembering though, for just a moment, the man he had been before when he had Kyra. It caused him to hesitate, as if she was giving him a gift now to free him from his ceaseless rage.

But today will not be a day to discover whether Necalli will begin to make showing mercy a habit. Because Cadmael mutters something, unintelligible to any of the other warriors of the team now gathering around the ruined mound of the final battle site. But what he says releases Necalli from any sentiment of forgiveness and he pulls back his arm to form a fist. He pulls back with such force that it looks like a mere blink in time and creates a sonic boom.

There the fist remains for the moment, as it seems that even Necalli is having trouble reigning in his own unimaginable force...