Close Nemesis

Chapter Eight: Re-Emergence

XALIR:

I float above the city, scouting for Oppugnant, as the deafening sirens echo throughout the stormy Podplanatan air.

Then, the sound of a nearby explosion reigns triumphant over the bells. I look around the city to see if I can see any flames. Fortunately, since I can't see the explosion, I assume that it's nowhere near the city.

However, even though I'm hovering above the ground, I can still feel the shockwaves.

I turn around, facing the tall mesa that overlooks the settlement. I rise higher into the sky, and notice smoke rising in the distance. I hear Oppugnant's signature gruff voice as they call my voice.

"Rotcetorp, you're alive! How?"

"The person you killed was an impostor. But that doesn't matter now. What matters to me is your inevitable defeat."

Oppugnant floats towards me, swirling strings of plasma in their hands. "You will never defeat me, vile monster!"

With a gesture of her hands, Oppugnant causes a pillar of rock to rise up underneath me. It knocks me away, and I fall to the ground, disoriented. Before I can crash onto the ground, I manipulate the air to hover once more.

Faded blue and green plasma envelopes the rock, which soon transforms into plasma-fied water. I project fire towards the water, pushing it with my all might towards Oppugnant.

Oppugnant stops shooting water at me, but my fire and air powers cut out, causing me to topple to the ground.

As my body forcefully strikes the surface of the mesa, my bones are left stinging with pain. When I finally muster the energy to get up, I turn to look down at the settlement below. I spot Oppugnant descending towards the parliament, which is situated on the other side of the river that runs across the town.

I know why Oppugnant's left me all alone. It's because they're trying to kill the prime minister of Podplanata III. I know the prime minister's corrupt, but I can't let Oppugnant kill them. That's why I'm sprinting off the edge of the cliff, hoping my air powers can take me to the parliament.

I won't let them succeed. Not after what they did to my best friend, Aacis.

However, I start to free fall. Not exactly what I had in mind, but okay.

Finally, my air powers kick in, and I find myself soaring through the cold wind as lightning flashes in the dark clouds above. Rains starts to batter my helmet, but that doesn't matter. What matters is my duty to kill Oppugnant.

I arrive at the stone pillared entrance to the parliament, which has been since reduced to rubble by Oppugnant. As I glide through the smoking hole left by Oppugnant, I hear distant screams from inside the building. As I stroll through the narrow purple carpeted lobby, I come across a litter of smoking bodies. They just seem to be security guards. Not necessarily important.

But, my next find is very important, as what I do next could determine the fate of the galaxy. Looking directly towards the back of Oppugnant's silver cylindrical helmet causes me to feel something that I've rarely felt before.

Rage. Anger. A lust for revenge.

I convert these violent emotions into a powerful burst of fire. However, Oppugnant senses my presence and rotates themselves to intercept my attack. They block my projectile fire with the palms of their gauntlet. It is a spectacular sight as Oppugnant's circular mirror visor catches the scorching orange glow and reflects it as the colour of the rainbow.

As I stare into the visor, Oppugnant chuckles.

"You will pay for each and every person you kill, Oppugnant. Your reign of evil is at an end!"