Potential Versus Efficiency

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 James Heller's point of view.

*Loud screams from Heller and Mercer at the same time*

We screamed and fought like wild animals, using our claws to decide who gets to live in this land.

I ripped apart Mercer's right eye at the same while ignore his attack slashing my chest left side. We're not humans anymore, our regenerating bodies show this, even if I'm not like Mercer in my beginning, we are the same type of monster right now.

Two monsters fighting to the death, using only instinct to kill, forgetting how we tried to live like normal humans in the past. I can see myself in Mercer as a reflection of the inner wild beast inside me.

*Blades clash loudly*

We can think and fight alike now. We change our arms into blades and clash our attacks.

- Die! - We both scream the same desire, without backing up.

*Heavy Impact sound*

Now we both hit each other with our left arms, thinking like the same beast and sharing equal intentions, with the right arm in blade form and the left in hammer fist form. 

*Blades clash loudly mixed with heavy impact sounds*

We push each other with every heavy attack. We advance together to clash once more, taking turns attacking and defending.

We can attack and defend with the our blades forms. The Hammer fist form lets us use the right timing to break our opponent's attack, neutralizing and countering our foe with a smart use of brute strength.

I'm not blinded by revenge like last time, but I feel like I'm losing myself while letting Mercer influence the battle.

Mercer is strong and I have to take him seriously. Even if we have the same potential and skills, we are not the same. I was a Marine Corps Sergeant before becoming this monster, with my past working as strong pillar, I made the difference in dealing with the Black Virus without losing my identity.

I decide to purposefully let my guard down, waiting for Mercer to attack.

*Huge loud impact sound*

Mercer hits me in the center of my chest. I can feel the pain, strong enough to shake my mindset, exactly like what I wanted and needed to get my mind back on track.

I'm flying above the ground while Mercer is getting closer, ready to attack with his blade.

*Loud piercing metal sound*

I spin to my left, using the weight of my left hammer fist to help spin faster, making Mercer's blade pierces the floor, missing me. My body still spins above the ground as I watch Mercer fail his attack.

I change back to my normal self before touching the ground after a complete spin, feeling the floor with my back, finally stopping on the floor. I recover my stance with one jump and stand up before Mercer free himself.

Mercer changes his arm back to a claw in seconds after failing to free himself with his blade stuck on the ground.

Mercer is in his most dangerous form. This form is a powerful enemy that can adapt focused in his survival until his further potential of evolution, becoming superior to the enemy it faces in the process.

We glare at each other. Mercer doesn't advance, waiting for my next move.

Our fight is starting another round once again. I am ready to challenge Alex Mercer as James Heller, not as his copy or same monster specimen. 

- Is Alex Mercer on the defensive? Got scared of me again? - I challenge Mercer, provoking him to attack first. I switch my stance with my right fist in front of my left, because I confident that even without powers, I would be prepared to face any opponent.

- See how long you can fake being human, Heller! - Mercer runs at me angrily. 

You're wrong, Mercer. I already knew the human James Heller was dead and I needed to see Pariah one last time to let go of the last possibility.

I easily parry Mercer's Hammer Fist with my left back hand. He pushes me with his back hand trying to push me over using our size difference, like forgetting that I am still heavy without changing my weight mass even in my human form.

*Two heavy sounds*

I hit his right rib with my left hand and his stomach with my right hand. I'm doing while not changing my arms, yet capable using the same power as the Hammer Fist form.

Mercer steps back, coughing up black blood. He returns to his normal human size and looks at me, waiting for my next move.

I can see our differences when it comes to the Black Virus, we act like opposites. Both using our skills in different ways.

Mercer's instinct stimulates him to wait for a chance to counterattack. However, mine is to optimize my actions to achieve the desired result in the best way possible, optimizing my actions for better attacks.

The strongest survivor of human's history is fighting me, in a type of battle than whoever surpasses the opponent before his death's call will be the winner. 

I'm fighting the true form of Alex Mercer and I am going to beat him, I will get stronger and become the toughest version of myself at the end of this battle.