08...

~Task... Fist and third Pov~

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Getting an eerie feeling. I quickly upped my guard, yet as if he was responding to my thoughts, the hooded figure charged forward, his speed now even more manageable for me. I felt like I was on cloud-nine. The pain in my bones feeling like they were a distant memory...

He jumped, his agility showing in spades as he spun twice in the air.

'Another kick?!'. I blocked, but nothing came.

My eyes widened 'A feint!?' I thought, but it was too late. He took advantage of me upping my guard in front of my face, taking the opportunity with his great agility...

*Fwush!*

I felt my feet lightened underneath me, my perspective quickly turning sideways. However, in sheer reflex, I caught myself with my left arm, fixing my posture before landing.

'Holy hell! Did I just do that?' I didn't know I could do something like that... But it felt so natural...

'I'm changing..' I thought, feeling a subtle shift in my posture.

The hooded figure eyes widened for a mere second, ever perceptive, observed the transformation taking place. "Impressive. You're learning," he remarked, a glimmer of surprise behind his confident façade.

His admission struck a chord, a recognition of the adaptation occurring within me.

"Call me Taskmaster kid, you've earned it..." He offered, likely acknowledging the budding rapport between himself and the fighter in front of him. His name hung in the air, a brief pause amidst the chaos of battle.

'Taskmaster? Wait, I've heard of him before!' I thought in realization. A bit disappointed in myself in not knowing such a character.

With that sudden revelation, the fight continued. Taskmaster this pushed slightly harder, adjusting his tactics.

In the midst of the clash, Taskmaster and I engaged in small intricate exchange, I was soley on the offensive, using my improved moves that I got earlier in the fight with him. But, he was just, dodging...

*Swish!*

*Swish!!*

*Swish!*

"*Whistles*"

'Not bad.' taskmaster thought, Impressed with the ever improving technique...

He heard the air being pierced with each punch. He could tell, the child In front of him knew his stuff, even though the kid wasn't an expert in boxing, his technique was refined, just lacking a slight touch, a bit of, instruction...

*Bump-*

Task master felt something sturdy behind himself, 'shit!' He thought. Feeling the wall. However, he smiled...

'Incredible... This kid... His stance has gotten much better, and his exploitable areas have shortened considerably...' Taskmaster analyzed. Effortlessly dodging the strikes of the child in front of him. It was as if he was dancing as he faught. His foot work impeccable...

'Got you!' I thought, having him backed into a wall. I dashed. Throwing a powerful right jab.

*FWISH!!!!*

Taskmaster hearing and seeing the blow coming, easily moved outside of the way, using more of his speed than he thought he would need to in the first place...

*BOOM!~*

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*Crumble... Crumble...*

The wall crumbled in the face of my punch, leaving a 12 inch crater in the middle of it. I was half surprised. Having more than half a ton of striking power plus immense striking speed and technique made a deadly combo... I had never done something like this before...

'I thought so. The kid's strength, speed, agility and technique have improved dramatically since the start of the fight. He's growing stronger, and stronger...' Taskmaster noted. His smile still present underneath his mask...

'Let's test you learning capabilities then...' Taskmaster decided, this time, going in for the attack instead.

A series of attacks were thrown at immense speeds, I could barely to any of them. I dodged and weaved as best as I could, but as time continued to pass, his movements were once again manageable for me. As a matter of fact, they were becoming easier to comprehend...

I studied each of his punches and kicks, movements and absorbed them into my repertoire. But I couldn't shake this was weird feeling I was getting... He can end the fight whenever he wanted. Was he, playing with me? Testing me? If so, why?

I pondered these things to myself. but I paid it no heed, I couldn't just think for the thrill of the fight... Plus, my body was getting taxed, I had to end this quickly. Our earlier exchange was getting to me...

'This is it. My body feels like utter shit, and my adrenaline is practically gone... I have to give it one more push, one, final push!' I thought with finality, steeling myself.

However, just as I was about to attack, taskmaster quickly backed away...

'What the hell is he planning?' I saw him slowly raise his right hand, signaling for me to come.

I gritted my teeth. 'He's definitely playing with me...'

In a final, desperate push, I closed the distance between us, unleashing a flurry of moves I had learned from observing him earlier in the fight. It was a culmination of his own techniques, woven together with my own flair.

'I knew it! This kid! He's just like me!' Taskmaster thought to himself, smiling excitedly.

The moves I learned from him flowed seamlessly, a testament to his own teaching through combat. I punched, kicked, I even used his own footwork in one fell swoop, but he was too fast for the current me, and far more experienced too...

"Shit!" I shouted in frustration, catching my breath.

Despite my efforts, I still fell short of victory. Taskmaster was just too skilled, too experienced and mostly, too strong... But as I stood there, I saw it. His eyes... There was a glint of something unexpected in his eyes: respect?

He nodded slowly, a grudging acknowledgment of my skill and ingenuity. "Not bad, kid" he remarked, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "You've got potential, serious potential..."

I looked at him, a little confused... "Th-Thanks...?" I said, not knowing what else to say, leaving an awkward silence between us...

"But, playtime's over..." I heard him say, barely over a whisper.

'...Eh?' I thought. He disappeared from my vision once again...

*BOOM!!!*

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Alex felt his bones shifting, only to feel that sense of lightness on more, his body flying once again...

*Crashes into a wall~*

"GARH!!" I coughed up blood, my arm broken. Pain coursed through me, and I couldn't ignore it anymore...

Before I knew it, I was on the ground, bloodied and bruised, my body unable to keep up with a single serious strike... I watched as he got closer, my vision doubling and blood covering my vision...

Taskmaster stood over me, victorious.

"As I thought." he commented, almost casually. "You can't adapt, to what you can't see..."

Defeat stung, but in those moments, there was a stark realization that not all challenges can be overcome with sheer determination. Taskmaster's unparalleled skill and strength had proven too much for me this time.

It was a humbling reminder that I shouldn't've fuck around and, find out... But it was worth it...

"Haha~... Hahahaha!~" I laughed, irony couldn't have been this sweet... My insides felt like they were destroyed...

"Sorry kid, your talent is just too much to waste, especially by just livin'" I heard him say. I couldn't care anymore, my injuries were a lot this time...

Just as he was about to take Alex...

*Thunder flashes violently...*

Taskmaster turned earing the sudden turbulent whether. 

'Something isn't right!... Those kinds of clouds out of nowhere... Could it be?' He thought to himself, hoping and praying to whatever god out there that existed, that he was wrong...

Dark clouds rolled in, crackling with violent energy. A mysterious figure materialized amidst the storm, hovering with an air of authority that made even Taskmaster pause.

'DAMN IT!' Taskmaster thought grimly.

The person emanated power and confidence, their presence commanding the elements around them. With a raised hand, they halted Taskmaster's advance, a silent yet forceful gesture that immense volumes.

In that moment, even though barely conscious at this point, Alex glimpsed a figure shrouded in the tempest, their features obscured by the swirling winds and torrential rain. Yet, an undeniable sense of familiarity washed over me, as if he had seen this figure before too...

Taskmaster hesitated, a rare display of uncertainty crossing his face as he sized up the unexpected arrival. The air crackled with tension, the storm matching the intensity of the standoff between these two individuals.

Without a word spoken, the figure in the storm seemed to convey a message, a warning perhaps, to Taskmaster. It was a silent exchange, but one filled with an unspoken challenge, a reminder that there are forces beyond even his formidable abilities.

He hissed with resentment.

However, even taskmaster, recognizing the weight of the situation, slowly took a step back, his gaze locked with the enigmatic figure in the storm. Reluctantly, he conceded albeit with great hesitancy.

He backed away from Alex's body, as the storm began to dissipate, the figure fading back into the tumultuous clouds.

'Wh-what?...' Alex thought confused, seeing the strange occurrence.

As Taskmaster retreated, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that he had just been saved by someone with extraordinary powers, someone beyond the realm of ordinary mortals. The mysterious figure had intervened just in time, leaving me to ponder the identity of this unexpected savior.

"A woman?" Alex thought, seeing the figure, especially her silvery glowing white hair...

Within moments, the storm gradually subsided, and the figure descended from the turbulent skies, landing gracefully nearby. Though her presence was powerful, she made no grand entrance, simply standing with an air of regal authority that seemed to command the very elements around her.

Taskmaster remained cautious, eyeing her warily, while Alex struggled to rise from the ground, still recovering from their brutal exchange mere moments earlier. The mysterious woman's gaze shifted from Taskmaster to me, a hint of concern flickering in her eyes.

"You're hurt," she observed, her voice carrying a soothing yet authoritative tone, a voice that resonated with an innate strength...

I managed a nod, acknowledging my injuries, I fell back down. Taskmaster, ever the opportunist, tried seizing the momentary distraction and made a swift move towards me. But, before he could reach, the woman raised her hand, a subtle display of power that halted him in his tracks once again.

"ENOUGH!!!!" She commanded, her voice cutting through the tension-filled air, reverberating the buildings around too.

Taskmaster froze, his expression a mix of frustration and grudging compliance. He clearly recognized the authority she wielded, a force beyond even his own considerable abilities.

In that fleeting moment, there was an unspoken exchange between them, a silent battle of wills that conveyed more than words ever could. It was a clash of powers and personalities, a confrontation between someone fueled by ambition and another guided by a sense of responsibility.

The woman's gaze lingered on Taskmaster, a silent warning in her eyes. Without another word, she turned her attention back to me, a faint aura of concern surrounding her as she assessed my condition.

With a subtle nod, she indicated for me to be still, a gesture filled with empathy and a silent assurance that I was safe, for now. And just like that, my mind wavered into unconsciousness...

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END