Chapter 27: Dominator
Kail staggered as he rose, fighting the crushing weight of his injuries, the agony lacing his every breath. Blood pooled under his skin, his arms shaking with the effort it took just to stand. Across from him, D.Y.L.A.N. stood unaffected, watching Kail with an almost clinical detachment.
"Fighting just to die," D.Y.L.A.N. said, his voice cold and contemptuous. "Pathetic. People like you are pointless."
Kail barely registered the insult. Thoughts of JLC, Michael, and everyone else depending on him flared in his mind, fusing his pain into a single burning focus. If he wanted to protect them—if he wanted to get past this monster—he would have to push himself past his limits. He grit his teeth, willing his body to go beyond what it could handle. As he surged his power up to 90%, his muscles screamed in protest, his vision blurring from the toll.
But he didn't care. He launched himself at D.Y.L.A.N. with a speed that left cracks in the ground beneath his feet, catching the android off guard. His fist collided with D.Y.L.A.N.'s metallic frame, sending him crashing into a nearby floating building that splintered upon impact. Kail grabbed him mid-air before he could fall, slamming him down onto the ground, the shockwaves of his blows splintering the pavement and shattering nearby windows.
Kail kept pounding, each punch more desperate than the last, tearing through walls and blasting craters in the concrete around them. D.Y.L.A.N. lay beneath the onslaught, his cold, unchanging expression mocking every effort. After a moment, Kail stopped, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looked down at the android.
D.Y.L.A.N.'s voice was unwavering, almost bored. "Is this all you can do?"
With a swipe of his hand, D.Y.L.A.N. unleashed a surge of ice that hit Kail like a truck, slamming him back with an unforgiving frost. Kail crashed into the ground, the force enough to make him stagger. His body felt like it was tearing itself apart, but he forced himself to stand. D.Y.L.A.N. barely had a scratch, and his chilling gaze remained fixed on Kail.
"You're a disappointment," D.Y.L.A.N. spat, raising his hand to deliver the final blow.
Kail gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't keep this up. He had one last option—the backup plan Michael had drilled into him before coming to the square. Gritting his teeth, he activated the emergency teleport device, his surroundings dissolving as he rematerialized back at base.
The room around him spun as he reappeared, collapsing to one knee. Smoosh, Bmixture, Pixel, and Kirbo turned toward him, their expressions shifting from shock to grim understanding as they took in his battered state.
"Sakura Square's gone to hell," Kail gasped, barely able to keep his balance. "We need backup, fast."
Kirbo's eyes narrowed. "Send Pixel," he said, a trace of confidence lacing his voice. "Let him show these nobodies what real strength is."
Pixel, unfazed, shrugged. "Alright, let's get this over with." He adjusted his gloves, his tone casual, though his eyes betrayed a fierce readiness as he turned to leave.
But Kail didn't notice Kirbo slipping a dagger from his belt, the flash of steel disappearing as quickly as Kirbo's smirk. Before anyone could see, Kirbo activated his own teleportation, disappearing in a whirl of light and leaving them none the wiser.
By the time Kirbo reappeared at the battleground, D.Y.L.A.N. was gone, his path of destruction stretching ominously across the city blocks. Kirbo looked around, taking in the eerie silence.
He didn't have to wait long. A sudden crack sounded behind him, and Kirbo spun just as a figure leapt into view, slamming his fist into the ground with a bone-shaking impact. Kirbo dodged, landing lightly on his feet.
Laugh sneered, his eyes flashing with a predatory gleam. "Kirbo. I've been waiting for this."
Kirbo raised an eyebrow, his usual arrogance flaring to life. "Finally decided to come out of hiding, huh? Thought you might've run off like the weaklings around here."
Laugh smirked, his tone dripping with venom. "Let's see if your bloodline is as strong as you think, or if you're just as weak as the rest of them."
The tension between them crackled, both poised to strike, the city around them silent and waiting.
