~Omniscient Pov~
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Piccolo braced himself, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. Jacob didn't seem like the same person anymore. The aura around him was unnervingly calm, yet it carried an overwhelming density that made Piccolo's skin crawl...
Fwish!
Jacob instantly appeared before Piccolo, causing him to widen his eyes for a moment, 'He's so fast!' He blocked the punch with relative ease, but he was caught off guard by the sheer speed that was used. It surpassed Jacob's current level of chi...
Not only that, Jacob had no wasted movements at all. None he could even exploit... Which shouldn't even be possible. Piccolo knew technique could allow someone to overcome a certain gap, but this? He had to reconfigure his thought process now.
"Haaa!!!" Piccolo yelled. He began to throw rapid volleys of punches and kicks, all missing their target by a hair's breadth, 'How's he doing that? I should be much stronger than him, yet he's able to dodge my attacks?'
Piccolo gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling under the surface. He couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment, but Jacob's newfound agility was pushing him to the brink. With every strike that failed to land, the gap between them seemed to widen
He felt Jacob's chi rising with each passing moment... Not just in strength, but in his movements as well.
Jacob's eyes remained focused, and calm, like a predator observing its prey... There was no hesitation, no sign of strain. It was as if he had transcended the limits Piccolo once believed defined their current battle.
In a split second, Piccolo decided to change tactics. He leaped back, putting distance between them, his mind racing through possible strategies. He needed to disrupt Jacob's rhythm, to create an opening, no matter how small.
"Let's see how you handle this!" Piccolo shouted, gathering energy in his palms. He launched a series of energy blasts, each one more powerful than the last, lighting up the battlefield with their intensity. The ground trembled, and the air crackled with energy.
But Jacob moved with an almost unnatural fluidity, weaving through the onslaught with the same effortless grace, each blast missing its mark by mere inches. Piccolo's eyes narrowed as he watched Jacob, his heart pounding in his chest, 'It's like he's predicting my every move...'
As the last of the energy blasts dissipated, Jacob stood unharmed, his expression unreadable. Piccolo's breath came in heavy gasps, a stark contrast to Jacob's steady composure. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks—this wasn't the same Jacob he once knew. Something had changed, something profound and unsettling.
If I don't figure out what's going on... Piccolo thought, 'I might not make it out of this fight. a winner'
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Jacob's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Piccolo... Is this all you have to offer?"
The words echoed through the battlefield, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding him. Piccolo's fists clenched, his breath coming in sharp, controlled bursts. He had always prided himself on being a formidable fighter now, but Jacob's effortless display of skill was shaking his confidence...
Yet, Piccolo smiled, "Don't get too cocky," Piccolo growled, his eyes narrowing with some determination, "I'm just getting started."
With renewed resolve, Piccolo pushed forward, his movements sharper and more deliberate. He wasn't just attacking anymore; he was probing, searching for any sign of weakness, any hint of a flaw in Jacob's seemingly perfect defense.
Jacob watched with a steady gaze, seemingly unfazed by Piccolo's renewed assault. Each of Piccolo's attacks was met with precision, every feint and strike dodged with the same eerie grace as before. It was as if Jacob was operating on a different plane of awareness, one that Piccolo struggled to comprehend.
Piccolo's frustration grew, but he knew he couldn't afford to falter. He had to adapt, to evolve his approach in the face of this unprecedented challenge. As he pressed on, his mind raced, trying to find any advantage he could seize before it was too late...
But once again...
Piccolo's lips curved into a rare, confident smile as he watched Jacob navigate the aftermath of his energy wave. There was a spark of satisfaction in his eyes, mingled with a steely resolve.
"You're good, Jacob," Piccolo said, his voice steady and filled with a newfound certainty. "But I've only been using 10% of my power up until now."
As the words left his mouth, Piccolo's aura flared dramatically, the energy radiating from him like a living force. The ground trembled under the sheer magnitude of his power. The smile on his face widened as he prepared to unleash his full strength, a mix of pride and anticipation shining in his eyes.
"Now," Piccolo continued, his voice growing more intense, "I'm going to use everything I've got!"
The air around him crackled with raw energy as Piccolo's chi surged to its peak. His entire being seemed to vibrate with the force of his unleashed power. The once calm and measured approach was replaced by a fierce, unrestrained assault of energy and strength.
Jacob's expression for the first time had shifted slightly, acknowledging the seriousness of Piccolo's declaration... 'Good, he isn't holding back anymore...' His calm demeanor remained, but there was a newfound intensity in his gaze. He prepared himself for the escalation, knowing that the real test was about to begin.
"HARRGHHH!!!!" The Namekian roared
Piccolo's next move was swift and powerful. He launched a series of devastating attacks with the full force of his power, each strike fueled by his unwavering determination. The battlefield erupted with energy, each clash of power sending shockwaves through the air.
Piccolo could keep up now, and because of this, he began smiling even wider, now thrilled to have a good fight. While Jacob's emotionless face finally revealed a curve...
As their battle continued, the surroundings started to change. The sky darkened, clouds swirling above them, and lightning flashed across the sky. The ground shook and cracked under the force of their energy, making it feel like their fight was altering the terrain around them.
Piccolo noticed that Jacob's features were becoming increasingly animated, the expressionless mask slowly cracking to reveal a more intense, almost psychotic look. Jacob's chi was rising rapidly, and it was becoming clear that his power was climbing at an alarming rate.
'No, he looks more like a madman by the second... S-Something's wrong! Piccolo thought, his concern growing as he struggled to keep up. Jacob's fists were landing with more force, each impact sending jolts of pain through Piccolo. The speed at which Jacob moved was also becoming overwhelming, pushing Piccolo to his limits.
Piccolo's breathing became heavier as he tried to fend off the escalating assault. 'I need to stop this,' he thought desperately. 'If I don't find a way to slow him down or counter this power surge, I'm not going to last much longer.'
Now, Piccolo was worried for his life, Jacob's Momentum wasn't stopping, it was climbing faster than before even. And as time passed, he realized how angry Jacob was getting, yet his smile remained...
He knew he had to act fast. With his heart pounding, Piccolo began searching for any opportunity to regain control, hoping to turn the tide of the battle before it was too late. With a final, desperate effort, Piccolo used his remaining energy to fire a concentrated blast directly at Jacob, not intending to hit but to create a massive explosion between them.
BOOM!!!
The blast struck the ground with a deafening roar, sending a shockwave that momentarily disrupted the chaos. The immense force of the explosion created a brief lull in the battle, and Jacob staggered, his focus momentarily broken.
Jacob clutched his head, "Grarrghh!!!!" While Piccolo heard a beast-like growl from his friend as if Jacob was annoyed at the fact he had to stop the fight in the first place...
But soon, he settled, and Jacob quickly shook his head, as if waking from a trance, his eyes clearing as he looked around, disoriented. He seemed to finally register Piccolo's frantic voice.
"What... what's happening?" Jacob muttered, his expression shifting from wild excitement to confusion and concern.
Piccolo, gasping for breath, saw the change in Jacob's demeanor and seized the opportunity. "Jacob! This fight needs to end. We're both pushing ourselves to the edge, and it's getting dangerous!"
Jacob's eyes widened as he processed Piccolo's words. The green lightning around him began to fade, returning to its crimson shade... And the manic intensity in his expression gave way to a more composed yet confused look. "Y-You're right," Jacob said, his voice calmer now. "I didn't realize how far things had gone..."
Piccolo took a deep breath, trying to steady himself once again, "Jacob, we need to end this now. We've pushed ourselves too far."
Jacob nodded slowly, his breathing slightly heavy and uneven... "I... Uh... I didn't mean for it to get out of hand," he said, his voice reflecting genuine regret. "I just... I just lost control."
Piccolo's gaze softened slightly, recognizing the genuine concern in Jacob's eyes. "It happens..." he said, trying to reassure him. "We both got caught up in the fight. It's important to know when to stop before things go too far."
"Y-Yeah... You're right..." Jacob mumbled to himself, still clutching his head. "Thanks for this Piccolo... I'll see you tomorrow." Jacob flew off without saying another word.
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"I'll see you tomorrow too...'
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END