Tsugi No Level

Chapter 22: Extra Speed

Demo having just received brand new gloves is eager to see what his friend just made for him. He smiles as his hope of winning the fight has been rekindled. He knows that simply charging at the stone clone won't do much. His inability to quickly use Higher Reasoning to transform an item leaves him vulnerable to attacks. He smiles as he now knows why Li-On showed him the fast transforming technique.

"I should have practiced more."

But the gloves he just received might be able to fill in the gaps of skill between the clone and Demo. Demo slowly walks forward and controls his breathing as he gets closer. Once he is close enough where he feels he might surprise the clone with a sudden speed attack he dashes forward at his top speed.

The clone sees him coming and tracks Demo with his eyes. And times his arrival in front of him and the punch that is coming. The clone gets ready to avoid the punch and slash Demo one final time. Demo sees the clone following him and getting ready to counter but believes in his body's ability to take a hit. He decides to follow through with his plan and throws his punch.

The gloves activate and a burst of energy comes forth from the back of the gloves around Demo's arm. The added burst of energy speeds up Demo's punch, the clone's eyes open up fully as he is unable to react in time. And for the first time since the fight started, Demo is able to connect. But because he was surprised by the sudden increase in speed and power his balance was slightly off and he hit the clone in the shoulder. But the punch was so hard that it shattered the clone's shoulder and its arm flew off. The clone doesn't scream but instead just looks at its damaged arm without saying a word.

Demo on the other hand smiles as he looks at the glove that just punched through the clone.

"Nice."

Tens uncle's jaw drops to the ground in surprise. In no world did he ever imagine Demo to actually inflict damage on KetsuEki even if it's a clone. He looks at Ten with a confused look on his face.

"What just happened?"

Ten who is still being helped by Mai looks at his uncle with a smile.

"There are several techniques and skills the clone is using to predict and counter Demo. The biggest issue would be experience. The clone has but a fraction of the power of the real Prime Perfect but its reflexes seem to be beyond what a human should have. Taking all that into account there was only one answer."

Ten looks back at Demo who is about to start attacking the clone again.

"Make Demo faster."

"How do the gloves make him faster?"

The gloves recognize kinetic energy and use the wind coming in through the holes between the knuckles to activate a small engine inside the glove. The glove uses the engine energy and kinetic energy to combust itself and that force comes out from the back."

"Wouldn't that burst just rip his arm off or at least dislocate his shoulder?"

"Any normal person ... yes. But Demo is somehow special. His body isn't normal. He is the only one who is able to use those gloves."

Demo hops twice to reset the mood and the energy. Knowing he can now hurt the clone he wants to see if his short and quick attack plan could work as well. He walks towards the clone ready to engage in some infighting. The clone takes a proper sword fighting stance reading itself for Demo. Demo is now within range of the clone's blade, the clone is still following its order to bring Demo back and not kill him. So its first inclination is to counter Demo's attacks and render him incapable of moving. Demo knows that the clone doesn't plan on killing him so he is comfortable enough to approach like this.

Demo takes one more step forward and then throws a jumping punch that the clone sees coming and moves to avoid. But once again it's too slow in its reaction and gets hit. Another piece of its body goes flying. It swings down its blade but Demo knew that it would and so the two attacked at the same time. But because of his gloves, his speed is increased and his attack lands first and blows away the clones other arm.

Then Demo releases a torrent of punches that strike the clone all over its body. Each punch is like an explosion of power. Once the dust settles the only thing left of the clone are its feet. Demo smiles as he looks at Ten and then throws up his right hand with a thumbs up.

"NICE!"

Tens uncle looks at a happy Demo and then at Ten who is still being helped by Mai.

"You are going to have to leave this planet."

"I know."

"You should go with him, I have a feeling he will make some changes to this universe and the laws that are in it."

"I'm sure Ten agrees."

As Demo walks towards Ten and his uncle the clone's feet also scatter to the wind. With the last part of the clone gone its disappearance is noticed by the original. KetsuEki who is drinking with Li-On and the gym members puts a glass close to his mouth and smiles.

"He should be able to survive out there."

KetsuEki then drinks his drink as he continues to party. Demo and Ten and his uncle are in the spaceship. The uncle shows Demo where to put the core. Once the core is put in the ship activates. And all the screens and lights turn on. Demo looks around at all the fancy lights and smiles as he is happy he has a way out.

"Li-On told me to go to the last destination in the memory."

The ship has an onboard computer that has its own AI and recognizes what was just said and responds.

"The last location in my memory is planet Hominidae, on the continent Cerebral. Is that where you wish to go?"

Demo nods.

"Yup."

"Confirmed. Do you wish to depart immediately?"

Demo looks at Ten.

"Are you sure about coming with me?"

Ten is still helped by Mai who seems to be making the decision on Ten's behalf.

"Yeah, we are sure."

Ten's uncle starts walking towards the exit of the ship. And without looking back he decides to give Ten some last words.

"Don't worry about your mother. I'll take care of her. I promise you she will be back to her old self someday."

His uncle continues to walk out of the ship and then goes to Ten's mother who is still sitting on the ground. She hasn't moved or reacted to anything. Ten's uncle helps her to move further away from the ship's takeoff area.

As they are at a good distance from the hangar the roof opens up and the ship goes up into the sky. And quickly it goes into hyperdrive and disappears into the universe. As the ship can no longer be seen his uncle looks at his sister expecting a tear on her cheek as he only son left. But there is nothing. She just stares into nothingness as she did before.

His uncle looks back up to the sky.

"Good luck you two."

Chapter 22 Fin