Ethereal Madness

Chapter 26-Tuck-Tuck The Great

Alright Ami, we got this, I said.

But Tuck-Tuck doesn't know how to beat him...

So Ive been thinking about that.

Mhm?

And I thought, maybe if we just believe hard enough, we'll beat him.

For the first time in weeks, my head was completely silent.

What!? What's the problem? I snapped.

Mr. Tiger says that's not a good idea...

Well maybe Mr. Tiger needs to believe too.

Tuck-Tuck! Don't be mean to Mr. Tiger!

I'm not.

You are!

Look Ami, here me out.

Mmm. I could hear her pouting.

All either of us can do is punch and kick, right?

Y-yeah, the crack in her voice almost lowered my confidence.

I stared at the gauntlets. Without the red aura around it, they were like any other. They still looked nice and were suspiciously clean despite all the fightin' I'd been through in the past day, but hardly did they give off 'magic glove' vibes.

Get hyped Ami! You know I can't do this without you.

...I'll try.

Can't forget Mr. Tiger either.

Right! She brightened up.

Despite several bones popping and my muscles begging me not to, I raised up a fist at Quese and a grin spread across my face.

"What?" Quese snapped.

"I'm winnin' this time. And taken you out of this mess when I do."

"Tuck..." he trailed off and then sighed. "What an idiot you are."

It's not just for the three kids anymore. I scanned around me. Now, it's for all the lives affected by this rebellion of his. All the people who didn't do nothin' yet are in this mess. This time, it's for the city.

Quese and I stood there for a moment, neither of us moving a muscle, almost like reenactment of our meeting earlier today. All the small things became more noticeable, like the beeping of an alarm in the distance. A bead dripped from my forehead down my cheek, and for the first time I realized I was drenched in sweat. My breaths were also heavier than I thought and my arms got heavier as time went on.

I smacked my face with both hands. Snap out of it. Just a little more and it's over. I raised my fists and smirked. We got this!

One deep breath later and we were darting after each other. He got the first attack but I landed the first strike, a straight fist to the face. His face recoiled back and he made a pained expression.

He felt it? He felt it! My hit actually did something!

My celebration didn't last long, however. He retaliated by swinging at me. It wasn't that fast, but my reaction timing isn't what it usually is and I took it right in the nose. From there, it was an absolute slugfest, with each of us striking the other like no tomorrow. I landed clean hits and dodged a good amount, but it felt like I was punching concrete. Although, the fact that he winced in pain and actually dodged shows he's feeling something; but at the same time, it's like he ain't feeling nothin. He hasn't slowed down no matter how much I bop him.

He drilled a fist into my chest, and while it stung, it was nowhere as bad as this morning.

What's going on? Last time he punched me I swear I was ready to barf up my lunch. Is he weaker for some reason? Can I actually win this?