The Hunter

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.

My right arm becomes my blade, I need to pierce Heller while his guard down. I need to hurt him enough for a second attack without time for his defense starts and get him out of our way out.

Pariah's skills are like invisible chains against Heller, I already can reach him and his eyes are still looking in Pariah's direction.

The suppressed Heller moves slower, my blade will surely hit him first and pierce his abdomen, the perfect hit chance.

*blades clashing sound*

- What the hell?! - I react surprised by my right arm blade parried by a black military knife, Heller fast reaction did not surprised me, but how he did it. Where this knife get from?

Heller right foot stomps my abdomen pushing me a few steps back, I can remember our first meeting looking his fight stance. Right hand holding the knife upside down in the front, both hands closer to each other, the military tactical stance for close armed combat. 

- With only one knife I hunted you before, you lost to me two times and not only one, try to remember that feeling again. Who is the prey between us. - Heller proclaims spinning his knife with his right hand one time, challenging me for another round.

Yes, I can remember, at that time the only thing in my head was how Heller had potential to become another of my tools, not giving a care about how a trained fighter he was before.

"Heller is adapting to my suppression, you need to open the path faster!" - Pariah sends me another order with his mind, worried about himself and not who Heller is focused right now.

The Blade form is not the optical choice against someone that can react fast, I flex my arms close to my body changing both this time, my choice now is Claws form.

Round two Heller, try to parry these! I advance once again against him.

"Dashing Slice!" - the faster attack with the claws.

*blades clashing sound*

Heller reaction got even faster, parrying both my claws sequentially using the upper half blade of his knife, hitting with extreme precision the inside part of my claws and not giving me a chance to shred his body. We both take four steps back after the clash, without losing focus still staring to each other.

I cannot stop to analyze Heller strategy, time is not a favorable factor for me, I need to keep attacking until break his defense. 

I start my attack again! I need to be faster!

*blades clashing sound*

Heller parry both my claws sequentially again. We both take steps back after the clash once again, but this time while taking steps back Heller take another knife from his jacket's pocket with his left hand, looks like he will not risk parry both my claws with a single knife anymore.

His stare did not change, this round is another lost for me, Heller defense and will are still strong.

- Show me Heller! How long you can last with those toys! - I provoke speeding up my offensive against Heller, who even with two knifes is still in the defensive.

*blades clashing sounds series*

My claws and Heller's knifes clashes, we are both at the same speed and now Heller can counter my attacks. I take turn between attack and defense, parrying his knifes with the outer side of my claws, I never used my claws for defense before and Heller do not gives me time to change the form of my arms.

We both need to takes steps backs to increase the impulse of our attacks every round, yet the time for this action keeps getting lesser, Heller with just two knifes and superhuman speed make me feel fighting another me, even with less blades in each hand, Heller's attacks are a close replica of my Dashing Slice.

*faster blades clashing sounds series*

I can finally hurt Heller with the air pressure create by our attacks, yet the same applies to me, cuts appears in our bodies and in the room. We never fight like this before, in a situation the no one want to leave a single opening, without trusting in our regenerate skills because our own current limits.

I wanted to believe the we are both at our current maximum power, however I can instinctively feel that this only applies to me, I start feeling pain over all my body, like every cell of my body started to complain of physical stress. I do not know how much time I can keep up with Heller in this speed anymore.

*faster blades clashing sounds series*

I cannot break his defense, Heller knife's skills are superhuman, he spin his knifes faster enough to parry my claws and create his chance of attack. Sparkles are generated from our clashes, the metal sound echoes inside the room faster and faster, until I cannot even hear my own thoughts, only this damn metallic clashing.

-Heller! - I scream his surname furious, I will not be stopped, I will slice you out of my way! I will not lose again!

*faster blades clashing sounds series, with a loud clashing sound for last*

I got repelled for the first time, taking two steps back because of the force.

"Mercer!" - Pariah voice screams inside my head and I can feel his pain.

*Pariah pain scream sound*

I look to Pariah and watch the issue, Pariah holds his right wrist close to his own body, while his right hand is bleeding pierced by one of Heller's knifes. I can feel his fear.

- I do not care about you motives to work together, yet you both can share the same choice now. The choice of your last words. - Proclaims Heller releasing all his murder intent, free from Pariah's power, making me tremble for the first time of my life.

I created my own Nemesis, the ultimate Supreme Hunter, James Heller. Only one thing is inside my mind now, how can I survive this time?