Seasons Beatings Part 8

Considering the current situation, I expected to feel many things, fear, anxiety, dread, and above. Yet miraculously, I didn't feel anything stronger than the overwhelming sense of nostalgia I had because situations like these were something that I was not a stranger to back in the days as a thief amongst the lower levels.

Still taking Frag's rare words to heart, I didn't bother to worry about really anything, thinking was never my strong suit anyway. Instead, I also took a page out of an earlier book and just had blind faith in the months of work I've placed and the lessons I learned from people far more capable than I. So without letting a hint of doubt betray me, I got back up to face Dr. Nefario in full swing.

"Can't say that I'm sorry to disappoint, but it's honestly on-brand for me. Besides, it's not like I'm looking for your approval; the only person I need approval from is myself," I said as I stood up in the laxest position possible.

"Interesting philosophy, you have my full respect for keeping that to the very end. Let's hope it keeps you alive," they said in theatrical finally.

Despite our rather talkative natures, the room managed to grow deadly quiet as Nefario unleashed their full arsenal! Then, in a familiar flash of light, the doctor disappeared in thin air, probably another trick played by the Nefarigrams.

Realizing that sight wasn't the best option right now, I closed my eyes and let instinct guide my hand. So with that, my surroundings faded away as I waited. I waited for the coursing air that comes with a raised attack, the vibrations of an oncoming strike, and of course, the heavy weight of a fast-moving hit.

Those three factors came barreling in like a rocket as, at the last possible second, I unleashed a dynamic backflip that sends me straight to the earlier flipped over the table!

By the time I landed on the somewhat ruined furniture, the place I once stood had a small fist-sized crater! With their location now known, I didn't even waste a second, launching off the table without even missing a beat!

Like a bird of prey, I swooped in with a raised kick. Said kick missed the mark, however, forcing me into a roll to maintain speed. I didn't have to wait long to find their location again, though, hearing a sharp fall that was a couple of feet away from me! With that, I kept advancing, switching gears to run even faster!

That speed seemed to be a weakness, though, in response. I got met with even more explosive shots than before! However, what I saw wasn't what I felt; there was no heat, no speed, no danger. At that moment, all I saw were the arrows, ignoring the oncoming holograms and instead focusing on the concentrated stream of fire right on me!

At the drop of a hat, I lowered down at the last second, redirecting all my momentum to my legs as I sprang forth in a low tackle. However, that same tackle ended up leading up to something even grander! Because once I felt their presence get even closer, I unfurled into a split-second ascending kick! This time, I hit something as I felt a mass recoil but not relent.

In response to such a blow, I felt my leg get grabbed with a literal iron grip as I spun around like a ragdoll! Then, with almost rocket-like torque, I got thrown towards the monitors. However, I didn't let that bother me in the least bit cause I refuse to back down; I refuse to let my work go to waste, not when I can see the result dead set in front of me!

So with the power of the throw, still fresh, I spun in the air, repositioning myself against the wall and diving myself back in with the mother of all right hooks! Rubber skin meets metallic limbs as I could feel Nefario get pushed around! All at once, Nefario finally dropped with the holograms, exposing their proper form as they entered one last tirade.

"Excellent effort, Ricochet. I see you finally mastered your rebounds and your intuition. This means I have to take a chance to evolve further past you. And that involves converting every last piece of power into this final blast, then so be it! Enjoy the approximate heat of one thousand five hundred degrees caused by forced-."

The Doctor never could finish their explanation, though, as, in complete surprise, Eternus managed to spring back up! Faster than even I could track, Eternus wrapped his cape around them, trapping them completely through still shut eyes while giving me one last order as the Doctor tried to escape. Yet despite cracked ribs, Eternus spelled it out to the bitter end.

"Finish them off, Ricochet!"

With that, like a powerful springboard, I collected whatever leftover momentum I had to knee them in their helmet once again. Pieces of their broken masses started to fall apart as the accumulated energy from his gauntlets released in an impromptu explosion that consumed us all!