The wind stirred softly through the trees as Scott marched forward, his steps steady but purposeful. His body ached from the previous battles, a dull soreness settling into his limbs. His muscles were tight, strained from overuse, and small bruises marked his arms and legs, reminders of the encounters he'd been through. He could feel the exhaustion seeping into his bones, slowing him down just enough for it to matter. Yet, there was no room for that now. He needed to assess, to strategize, to act. He couldn't afford a single misstep.
Logan wasn't someone who underestimated his opponents, especially not now. Scott had blasted him through the trees earlier, but Logan would recover quickly. And Scott knew exactly how his enemy fought—Logan liked to charge head-on, relying on his healing factor and brute force to wear down his targets. He was relentless, always getting up no matter how many times he was knocked down. But Scott also knew that Logan wasn't here to kill him. He was here to drag him back to the mansion, which meant that Logan's tactics would be somewhat limited.
Scott could see the path to victory, but it was narrow. His body was tired and injured, and Logan was fresh and unyielding. The odds were against him, but this wasn't just about winning. It was about proving to himself that he could beat this.
With a deep breath, Scott's eyes flared red as he fired the first optic blast at Logan, who was still trying to get up. The blast hit squarely, knocking Logan back down. Scott kept walking forward, peppering Logan with quick, precise blasts, keeping him off balance and unable to fully recover.
But Logan wasn't down for long. As soon as he found his footing, he began dodging the incoming blasts, closing the distance between them. Scott saw his chance. The closer Logan got, the more vulnerable he became.
Scott charged up a powerful blast, ready to take Logan out in one move.
-X-
Lying on the ground, Logan growled to himself as he began to get up, his mind replaying the fight he'd had with the kid. Scott was good. Better than Logan had anticipated. It wasn't just his skill with his powers—though that was impressive—but the way he fought, the way he thought. Scott had Victor's attention for a reason. The kid was sharp, always thinking three steps ahead, always calculating.
But no matter how good Scott was, he didn't stand a chance against Victor in the long run. Not in the kind of fight that Victor would push him into. Logan knew that. Still, he respected Scott for pulling the stunt he did back at the Conquistador's HQ, blasting him when he wasn't ready. That had been a smart move, and while it had worked, Logan was pissed at himself for allowing it to happen.
Even with that advantage, Logan knew he held the upper hand. The kid was skilled and tactical, but he was also running on fumes. Scott's exhaustion and injuries were his weaknesses, and unless he landed another decisive blow like before, Logan was going to win this war of attrition.
Logan rose to his feet, ready to engage again, but just as he stood up, he was hit by another optic blast. It caught him off guard, slamming him back. A series of blasts followed, forcing Logan to backpedal, the red beams hitting him hard and fast. He gritted his teeth, frustrated by the constant barrage of energy. As good as Scott was, Logan couldn't help but feel Victor's mocking voice in his head. "Better than you," Victor had said about the kid, and it irritated Logan more than he cared to admit.
Dodging the next volley of blasts, Logan began to move forward, forcing himself closer to Scott despite the onslaught of energy. Scott was walking toward him as well, matching Logan's pace. Logan smirked. This was exactly what he needed—up close and personal. As Scott fired a more powerful blast, Logan anticipated it, dodging at the last second, ready to close the gap and finish the fight.
But just as Logan moved in for the attack, a cloud of dust exploded in his face. He cursed, realizing too late that the powerful blast had been a feint, a lure to get him into position. Blinded by the dust, Logan could only react as Scott grabbed him, using the momentum to flip him to the ground. Before Logan could recover, a concentrated optic blast hit him point-blank, driving him deep into the earth.
Logan snarled in frustration as the dirt piled around him, his body buried in the hole Scott had created. He could feel the earth pressing down on him, the heat from Scott's blast still lingering in the air. His growl rumbled through the ground as he looked up at the sky, seeing Scott glance down at him briefly before turning away.
"This fight isn't over," Logan muttered to himself as he clawed his way out of the hole, his body healing from the damage. He knew Scott was setting traps, trying to outsmart him. Logan wasn't going to fall for another. As he climbed out, he grabbed a chunk of rock and hurled it into the air. Sure enough, an optic blast destroyed it, giving Logan the opening he needed to rush toward Scott once again.
Scott barely had time to react as Logan closed the distance. The two collided in a furious exchange of close-quarters combat. Scott struck first, using his elbows and knees to create space between them, mixing in quick optic blasts to keep Logan off balance. Each hit was calculated, aimed to minimize risk to himself while doing as much damage as possible.
Logan was relentless, swiping with his claws and aiming powerful kicks at Scott's legs. He used his experience to predict Scott's movements, countering with precision. Despite Logan's pressure, Scott managed to land several solid hits—an elbow to the ribs, a knee to the stomach, and a well-placed open palm strike to Logan's jaw.
But Logan wasn't slowing down. The fight was turning into a war of attrition, and Logan knew it. Scott was good—damn good—but Logan had centuries of experience on his side, and the kid was running on empty. As the two exchanged blows, Logan could see the sweat pouring down Scott's face, the way his chest heaved with labored breaths.
Even though Scott was keeping pace, Logan knew he was reaching his limit. Scott's optic blasts were growing weaker, his strikes slower. Logan pressed harder, refusing to give Scott any time to regroup or catch his breath. He couldn't afford to let the kid get another upper hand.
Scott frowned as he realized Logan wasn't giving him the space he needed. He'd been trying to find an opening, waiting for the moment when Logan would make a mistake. But Logan wasn't letting up. Scott's frustration grew, knowing that he couldn't afford to lose, not here, not now.
With a roar, Logan drove his shoulder into Scott's chest, knocking him back. Scott staggered, barely keeping his balance as he tried to regain control. Logan followed up with a powerful swipe of his claws, forcing Scott to duck and roll away. But even as he dodged, Scott knew he was losing ground.
He couldn't keep this up much longer.