Myself Once More

Caption (to assist readers):

- Everything is good. - = speech of the character

"All good." = character thoughts (during certain scenes)

*boom* = ambient or scenery sounds (similar to using other types of comic fonts)

This chapter is told from Alex Mercer's point of view.

Heller walks slowing in to my direction while I fight against my internal instinct to surrender once again, is there really no way out? I will lose once again?

"This is my last gift to you Mercer, fight against Heller until your last breath!" - Pariah sends me a mental message together with his last gift. Yes, this is what I needed, one last strength boost!

My body starts trembling even more, is not more fear, is like a strong injection of poison mixed with adrenaline, I can use my full power like in the Critical Mass state for a limited time, Pariah gift is a power booster with my own life as the countdown.

*loud scream of Alex Mercer*

I scream loud finally making my body stop trembling and ready for struggle until the end!

- Extra Time! - I screams hitting the floor with my right claw using my Groundspike attack against Heller, creating a massive line of black spikes raising from ground, tall spikes enough to pierce even the roof, finally breaking this room and pushing Heller out of the way at same time.

Heller easily defends against my surprise attack, creating his shield with his left arm, Heller looks unharmed and not surprised. The playtime with knifes are over.

- Parry this! - I launches myself using my Hammertoss attack adapted for the current environment, launching myself even without jump too high, fast like a train in the direction of Heller.

*heavy loud impact sound*

All the floor shakes, I push Heller away even with his bigger shield created with both his arms blocking my attack, getting me out of the shattered room for the first time. I take a fast look around, looks like we are in a mixed of secret lab and underground military shelter type of place, my actual condition will be better with this more space to use.

*loud impact sound series*

I hit Heller with my Hammerfist Smackdown combo, I can see his pattern still focused only in defense with his shield, waiting to adapt against me again? Not this time, Heller, more space, more power to use and I finally pushed you far enough!

I revert both my arms in Claws again and I hit the floor harder that before.

"Groundspike Graveyard Devastator!" - my strongest attack with the claws.

*loud sound of rocks breaking and metal clashing*

Massive spikes of biomass erupt from the ground, creating a deadly circle of spikes close to me, shaking the floor even more that before.

- Do want to bury us together Mercer? We are three floors in the underground! - shouts Heller between the spikes and debris created by my attack, further away that before, probably to escape the range of my last attack.

- I don't care! I will blow all away to survive! - I shout back while starting running, if Heller's strong point is Adaptation, mine is Survival and this challenge will just be another one for the count!

I revert my arms to the normal human form, focusing all my power in my legs to run in the direction of the destroyed elevator, the only way out of this place, still meters away.

I can hear Heller running and breaking all obstacles between us, Heller is getting closer even against my current top speed.

Both our skills works better with this more space for movement, the current decisive factor is our difference in power levels. Heller was obviously stronger before, by even suppressed giving me a hard time, yet Pariah's last gift made the difference, our gap is lesser then our last final fight.

My instincts scream about danger, I roll in the floor evading the surprised attack of Heller's Blade, a horizontal slash, passing close and above my ducked body. 

After recovering in the floor, I fast counter attacks with strong right stomp coming upside down from the ground targeting his blade from the side, Heller's blade hit by my blow goes up leaving a gap in his defense.

I give a spin launching a strong right roundhouse kick targeting the opening, Heller's reaction still is fast, moving his body to receive the hit from his left side and blocking with his left arm without a shield protecting himself this time.

I have the feeling the we are still not close in brute strength, I feel faster that him now, but not enough because of his precise reaction time.

*loud sound of metal clashing*

Heller attacks me again, this time with a vertical slash done me his right arm in Blade form, I successful block his attack with my own right arm in Blade form too, holding the back of the Blade with my left hand and with my right knee touching the floor. I cannot push Heller back, his strength locks me and I using all my power to not be cut in two.

- I will not let you escape Mercer. - proclaims Heller putting his left hand to push his Blade against me, staring at me with a angry expression. The Hunter is all out against his Prey.

- Stay out of my way! - I scream furious using all my remain power to not lose in terms of strength, I will not give up! Never again!

I stand up giving a strong left punch against the back of my right arm, surpassing Heller's pressure and freeing myself. Heller reacts slower that my right foot kick, hitting hard his waist and breaking his current stance.

Heller steeps back to recover his stance and I can feel my thoughts changing.

I advance forwards, with a strong right punch targeting his face, Heller puts both his arms up, closing his upper guard, one fast feint and my punch changes direction penetrating his defense. One clear strong hit in his Solar Plexus, pushing Heller five meters away.

Heller drops his guard, I see a clear path for another round, yet I refrain my self.

Heller recovers and advances against me, this time without skills, a bare hand fight starts.

His right knee is blocked by my left elbow, my right punch is blocked by his left arm, his left punch is parried by my backside right hand. We both hit each other foot, my left kick clashes with his right kick.

I can see a new path for me, thanks to Heller I can evolve myself once more. Heller is not my own Nemesis anymore, this fight for survival is making me evolve even as my own self.

We both have our trigger and paths, I was fool who got blinded after my fail attempt to be like a normal human, losing part of myself in the process. I did not lost to Heller just because he was only physical stronger, I lost mentally too.

Forget about a escape plan, I am can finally feel back alive, my trigger was my thirst for survival, evolving between the line of life and death against every foe or menace in my way.

- Here I go Heller. - I advance for another round calling him with a subtle voice tone.

*sound series of a loud bare hand fight*

No skills, I want to fight and learn with Heller, exchanging blows without defense.

I drop my guard down, returning every punch and kick back against him, until our fight becomes a bloody brawl with our black blood mixing together with every hit.

I can see the fire inside Heller's eyes, both our determinations are clashing, my eyes are not losing, I will not look away, I will beat you. 

*sound series of a loud bare hand fight*

I start replicate Heller's technique, even if not perfect, I feel progress with each hit, our exchange keeps closing to a draw.

*sound series of a impact*

Right punch against right punch.

Left kick against left kick.

Right Roundhouse kick against right roundhouse kick.

Simultaneous left punch in the face, we both hit each other face at same time.

Two steps back, same stance, same damage, our power level is finally matched.

Heller's strategy fails, this cannot be a fight with holding back anymore.

I feel like mine and Heller's instincts resonate with each other, we both grow at the same time using our Black Mass, two monsters 3 meters tall baring our arms like fangs to tear apart the beast in front of us.

*loud Mercer and Heller scream at the same time*

We screamed and advanced like two monsters ready to kill each other, unlike my last defeat, I will use everything I have until my last breath.