In The Palm Of His Hand

Ruby collapsed like an ice cube to the ground with a loud clang, while Jake remained stoic in the same invincible and stalwart posture. The blinding light gushing from his entire being dimmed rapidly, its scorching temperature returning to an acceptable level in a scant few seconds.

His cells greedily absorbed the excess heat and radiation and quickly returned to near normalcy, but on a microscopic scale they had tripled in size and looked like they were about to explode after being stretched to the limit.

Jake frowned as he achieved his victory. Strangely, he didn't get the expected thrill and gratification out of it. Did this mean they were even and he was giving up his revenge?

Not quite.

Ruby's last burst of fierce resistance had postponed the inevitable, but his plan remained the same.

'She won't stay unconscious long.' He refocused his mind on his goal.