“Good evening, one and all! The Academy of Contractor Certification is proud to welcome you once again to this year’s Finals tournament series!” Mistress Helena paused at the podium in the center of the arena, allowing the crowd to cheer and release some energy so she could continue speaking.

  Tonight, I bring you the final fight in our series, the Solos Championship! Another pause for the crowd, but this time there were chants for each fighter, Nate couldn’t make out who was getting more applause though.

  Nate looked around the crowd to see tens of thousands of alien people of so many species. He started to get emotional thinking about how hard he had worked to get here and what it meant to him that so many people wanted to come and see him fight. He understood why celebrities and athletes seemed to get emotional when winning an award or trophy of some kind and always thanked the fans for their support.

  It was empowering to see so many people cheer for him, not even including his parents who had traveled light years to be here tonight. His friends, who had been with him since he arrived at the hub, the ones who without their help and direction this would have never been possible. His team, who he had trained with, suffered with, fought with, lost with, and celebrated with were here, just like he always knew he could count on them to be.

  Right now, he would bask in the limelight, but soon, it would come down to why he came here. He looked over to Biff, who was standing with him, flexing his large physique and waving to the crowd. He looked at Nate and dragged his thumb along his neck, nodding like a roided out Neanderthal. Nate looked away and waved to the crowd as Mistress Helena put her hands up to quiet the crowd.

  “Tonight, we have one of the best matchups I’ve seen in a while since my time at the school. On my left, we have Mr. Biff Ripton!” The crowd cheered and chanted his name before Helena stepped in again.

  “On my right, we have Mr. Nathan Foster!” The crowd cheered and chanted his name as well. The emotions Nate had been feeling swelled in his chest as he lifted his hands, waving.

  “In about 15 minutes, their duel will get underway. On behalf of the faculty, the Union Contractor Governing Board, and all these fans, gentlemen, we wish you good luck!”

  Helena disappeared, leaving Biff and Nate alone on the stage to wave and salute the cheering crowd. After about thirty seconds, Nate faded and awoke back in the connection chamber.

  “Nathan Foster, you are due in the arena in fourteen minutes.” The loyal timekeeping referee said, probably for the last time to him.

  Nate slid off the bed and waited for his friends and family to arrive, but it was only Jax, Jarris, Dee, and Lindy who showed up. Lindy, who was wearing her elegant black silk jumper, strode into the room and grabbed Nate by the arm and hand as they sat down on the benches waiting for Jax to begin his presentation.

  “Dee, you look fantastic. I didn’t know you could clean up so well.” Nate remarked.

  “Only for your big night, wonder boy.” Dee replied, resting her back up against a locker while laying her legs out along the bench.

  “And Jarris, are you enjoying your date this evening?”

  Jarris gave Nate a side eye and a low growl as he was staring at the presentation board, waiting for Jax to start.

  “Nate, I know we have been in this room before and have said, ‘this will be a tough fight,’ but this one truly will be. I’ve been studying Biff’s tapes from today and I can certainly say that he has resonated. He hasn’t been as careful as you in revealing everything he is capable of now, but he has been holding back somewhat. Luckily, he had to fight someone else who resonated so it forced his hand on what to show and what not to show.”

  “Here’s what we know: Aside from him getting the physical benefits of resonating that we all get, his abilities have obviously changed slightly. First, the most important, his momentum attack. My hypothesis is that he can gain momentum much quicker and doesn’t have to be moving his whole body to do so. He can swing his hammer, as you see here, and it appears to accelerate very quickly to a devastating effect on his opponent.”

  “Next is his pump-up ability, or the red vines as you call them. Instead of his veins popping and turning red, all of his skin turns red now, but to an unknown effect. I think it’s morphed to include thick skin.”

  “You can see this earlier opponent trying to slice his skin but isn’t able to draw blood unless they go in with a direct stab.” Jarris interjected.

  Jax nodded in agreement. “Lastly is his leap. He can go from point A to point B very quickly from a standing position. This, coupled with his momentum ability, will have added power, so if you see him jump at you, you might want to dodge or warp.”

  Nate nodded. “What about his gear, anything I need to know there?” Nate asked.

  “His gear is similar to Durgan’s, a padded shock-absorption bodysuit that doesn’t cover the extent of his extremities, and of course his hammer that can channel his momentum ability.”

  “Got it.”

  “We’re rooting for you, Nate.” Jax smiled.

  “Thanks, Jax. Couldn’t have done this without you. Without any of you.”

  Jarris stood up to leave. “We’ll leave you to it, kid. Make us proud.” He said as he held out a hand towards Nate.

  Nate looked at him confused but took Jarris’s hand and shook it. Jarris left and closed the door behind him, while Dee, Jax, Lindy, and Nate gathered in their pre-fight huddle.

  “Thank you, guys.”

  “Go get him, wonder boy.” Dee said with a firm confident tone.

  “We believe in you, Nate.” Lindy said softly.

  “No matter what happens, should we grab an ice cream cone before we have to move out tomorrow?” Jax quipped.

  The team laughed out loud before almost all simultaneously agreeing with nodded heads and teary eyes. The team broke the huddle and Dee gestured to Jax with a head flick to suggest they leave. Lindy stayed behind with Nate to see him off to the connection chamber.

  “How has it been having alone time with my Mom?” Nate said, holding Lindy’s hands.

  “Oh, she’s great. It took a second to understand her, but I think she’s starting to like me. I think the more I push you around a bit and love on you the more she likes me. So I’ll just have to do that more, I guess.” She said as she stepped closer, putting her arms around Nate’s neck.

  Nate put his hands on her hips and they shared a soft, intimate kiss. He ran his hands along her bare back, tracing her curves as they continued to kiss. Lindy let out a soft hum as they separated.

  “Go win for me, ok?” She said softly as she gave him another quick kiss. She turned to leave and Nate couldn’t help but check her out as she strode out of the locker room.

  Nate felt a warm electricity all over before turning and entering the connection chamber and laying on the bed. After a few moments he appeared in the arena to see the announcer dropping from a jumbotron high in the middle of the arena. Biff appeared on his side of the arena, clad in his armor and holding his oversized war hammer.

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  “Ladies and gentleman!” The announcer started.

  “It is my pleasure tonight to introduce the fighters for the Solos championship this evening!” His tone was enthusiastic and joyful.

  “In the red corner we have Biff Ripton, number one seed coming into the tournament today. In the blue corner, Nathan Foster, the number two seed in our tournament. Two incredible fighters, one incredible fight. Let’s go!” The announcer finished to a roaring stadium, hands in the air.

  The countdown began and the familiar horn blew signaling the beginning of the fight. Biff didn't waste any time. His whole body faded from its yellowish tint to a bright shade of red. Nate stared on noting that he looked like the Red Hulk but more pink. Once his color transformation was complete Biff leapt into the air towards Nate. He shot across the field like a cannon ball and slammed his hammer on to the ground where Nate was standing. The impact of the hammer sounded like a bomb went off, but Nate was unphased as he performed a spinning swipe with his spear into Biff’s back, sending him tumbling along the ground.

  “You look cute in pink Biff, nice of you to get gussied up for me.” Nate quipped.

  Biff Stood up, unfazed by the attack. He held out his hammer, pointing it directly at Nate. “I’m going to squash you like the little bug you are, and then I’m going to steal that pretty princess of yours.”

  Nate frowned and activated his full body repulsion shield before pointing his spear back at him. “Let's go big boy.”

  Biff roared and charged at Nate moving quickly over the ground without moving his legs. Biff once again met air but swung behind him this time to stop Nate from striking him in the back again.

  Nate wasn't there, but was leaning against the wall with his hands behind his head and one foot flat on the wall. “You think I'd use the same move twice?”

  “Fight me!” Biff roared and leapt again.

  Nate proceeded to lead him on a wild goose chase around the arena for a whole minute which in the middle of an intense fight is a long time. Biff charged again and when Nate warped out of the way this time he appeared behind him and struck him in the back sending him hurtling into the wall. Biff quickly got up and roared charging after Nate again, and again, and again. Nate dodged and warped again and again, again, just toying with Biff. Nate was using Muhammed Ali’s float like a butterfly, sting like a bee strategy, the only problem was that Nate noticed it wasn't working. In fact, Biff was turning a darker shade of red and was moving faster instead of slower. His intention was that he would wear Biff down and then knock him out when he got tired enough. But Biff wasn't getting tired. Nate was a matador in the ring with a raging bull that didn't get tired. He had to think fast or he himself was going to get tired and then it would be all over.

  That's when it hit him, he needed to treat this like an actual bull fight. Nate stood still and allowed Biff to charge at him. When Biff got very close, too close for comfort, he warped and activated his aura ability to cause Biff to land and stumble to the ground. Nate then stabbed his side with his spear, but barely punctured the skin. Biff roared and swung his hammer while Nate was confused and connected with his shield. When Biff and Nate had fought before, his momentum ability always seemed to be the antithesis to Nate’s repulsion shield making it act more like an actual shield than what it could really do which was repel.

  Nate realized then that this fight was going to be even tougher than even Jax thought. Nate was determined to win though, and he was going to have to use a different strategy that was going to require near-perfect execution.

  Biff turned to meet Nate with a big, mean smile on his face that stretched from ear to ear. Biff inhaled and swung his hammer down on Nate, only meeting air. Nate warped to Biff’s right, causing Biff to swing his hammer from the ground to swipe at Nate.

  Nate ducked and slapped the back of Biff’s hammer with the haft of his spear, focusing all of his shield into hitting the back of the hammer as it swung by. Nate connected with the hammer, which accelerated Biff’s swing, causing him to spin out like a top and fall to the ground.

  Nate then warped and appeared in the air above Biff as he was trying to collect himself, letting himself fall down on him with the stabbing end of his spear pointed down. Nate fell into Biff’s right shoulder, and the spear sunk in much deeper than when he first tried to stab him before.

  Biff fell flat on the ground roaring in pain as Nate pulled out his spear and warped away. Nate’s risky maneuver paid off, and now Biff was crippled.

  Nate watched on as Biff tried to pick up his hammer with his right hand but could barely lift it. He picked it up with ease with the left hand and looked at Nate with a mean frown. If Nate could manage another attack like that, then the fight would be over.

  Biff was a smart fighter though, so he was going to have to come up with a different way to do that again. Nate had to figure out another way to use his momentum against him again. But how?

  Biff leapt through the air and swung at Nate, only to meet empty space again. Determined to make something happen, and feeling confident now that Biff had a limp arm, Nate got in close again and started trading blows with him till he could find an opening. It was almost like a sword fight from every medieval movie he had ever watched. Biff would swing with his hammer and Nate would block.

  Biff’s hammer swung and was blocked by Nate’s spear empowered by his shield. Biff swung again and it was blocked again. Biff got angrier, and his swings became wilder and more unpredictable. Nate continued to dodge and block before realizing he was starting to get tired. He warped away to catch his breath.

  “C’mon, c’mon! Don’t run away now, little baby!” Biff screamed.

  Nate ran towards Biff and swiped at his midsection before being met with a hammer blow from the side, causing him to roll on the ground. Nate didn’t feel the blow, but rolling along the ground wasn’t exactly pleasant.

  Biff swung down, and when the hammer hit the ground, before he could raise it for another strike, Nate put everything he had into knocking it away with his shield. He connected with the hammer and sent it flying across the arena into the wall on the other side.

  When he turned to make a second attack though, he was met with a punch to the face from Biff’s weakened arm. Nate sailed through the air hearing Biff’s roar of pain from exerting his arm that was barely operable.

  Nate crashed to the ground fifteen feet away. He struggled to get up before Biff was already on top of him. Nate activated his shield in time but was still rolling along the ground, not able to get his bearings after that devastating punch to the face. Nate looked up to see a fist hurtling towards him but moved just in time for it to miss. Nate activated his aura to full capacity and got up to his feet.

  “That was a good hit, Biff, but it’s time to end this.”

  “What is this!” Biff screamed in confusion.

  “My secret weapon.” Nate smiled.

  Nate picked up his spear and walked over to Biff to stab him when all the color left his body and returned to his normal pale yellow hue. Nate stabbed down into Biff’s gut when he felt a stabbing pain in his leg. Nate fell over and looked down at his leg finding an almost three-inch thick gaping hole in his thigh. Nate screamed in pain as Biff laughed, coughing up blood in the process.

  “I got you, stuck like a pig.” Biff continued to laugh, Nate’s spear sticking out of his gut.

  Nate looked at Biff, who had a long bony spike coming out from his limp arm over the top of his fist.

  “Didn’t see that one coming, did you, shit stain?” Biff laughed through gritted teeth.

  Nate began to panic. The wound in his leg was serious. He remembered Yoli talking about the femoral artery at one point while she was in med school, and Nate knew he wouldn’t have long if that was cut. Blood was pooling and pouring out of the hole in his leg. He needed to end this fight now.

  Biff pulled the spear from his gut and started crawling towards Nate. Nate saw this and started crawling towards his spear on the ground.

  Nate grabbed his spear and then positioned himself on Biff’s back before he could grab him with his good arm. Nate began stabbing as hard as he could into Biff’s red skin. Biff screamed in pain as Nate used his body weight the best he could to actually get his spear to sink in. Nate started screaming as he stabbed again and again and again.

  Nate was causing damage, but not enough to kill him. He crawled further up Biff’s back and reached to stab into his neck armor where it was thinner. He started making a hole through the fabric but he was running out of time. Nate crawled up further and started bashing against Biff’s head but with his toughened skin he was barely showing any sign of damage.

  Nate looked at his leg, which he had lost all feeling in, and grabbed it to heave it up to give him more support. A little blood was starting to show on his spear, but Biff was laughing, unable to move and unable to grab Nate.

  “I can’t even move and you still can’t kill me. HAHAHAH.” Biff roared with laughter.

  Nate went to stab into Biff’s good arm when his spear slipped out of his hands and slammed to the ground from its weight being increased by his aura. Nate tilted his head, and that’s when it finally clicked.

  Nate picked up his spear and helped himself up using his spear as support. He held his spear above Biff’s head, sharp end just over his temple, and let go.

  Nate’s gravity aura forced the spear down into Biff’s head. Once it made it through the tough skin and skull, it slid slowly through his brain till it stopped when it hit the other side of his skull from the inside. The evil laughter had stopped, the struggling had stopped, his breathing had stopped. Nate collapsed and laid there, listening to the crowd cheer his name before he passed out.