'Oh come on!' Leo dove behind a pile of crushed brick and stone, clutching his sword close as Bellestar skated away from him. He was in the center of an arena, the massive area filled with ruined brick walls and smoking cars like a town that had been obliterated by explosives. Really, it was just the setting created for his organised showdown with the experienced fighter, Zeta.
He still didn't know why this match had been set up, nor who called for it. When he asked Raphael for details, the archangel had no information. Even the receptionist refused to divulge the point of this fight. This really was the last thing he needed when he'd just been breaking into secret demon labs and discovering the graveyard of the best warriors in the colosseum. Leo had a feeling that this fight was lined up with ulterior motives behind it. Now that he'd seen those notes and the Seraphim, he couldn't shake his suspicion that someone was watching him.
'Every move,' began a feminine voice. 'Is landing precisely where I predicted.'
Leo risked a glance at this Zeta person. She was dressed in formal, almost military clothing, like something out of a sci-fi movie. A long black coat flowed behind her, making her seem rather large and villainous. She was in the middle of adjusting her ponytail, black and long enough to reach the back of her legs. Was she so confident that she could adjust her hair right now?
Her weapon was like none Leo could have even imagined he'd find here. It was a series of blue holograms that acted as computer screens and touch pads. There was no clear keyboard, but Zeta's fingers glided from place to place, as if it was something only she could see. Spiralling circles and panels zipped around her, leaving trails of light that would make anyone dizzy who tried to watch them. But that wasn't her scariest feature–her eyes weren't normal. Her white pupils were surrounded by multiple blue rings that matched her holograms. They shone and moved as she spoke or made gestures. It was almost as if she was part of the system she manipulated–and that was likely the truth. Was she a robot of some sort? Surely angels and demons couldn't grant these sorts of powers.
'Trying to read me is pointless, Leo Cadmus.' Zeta swivelled and stared at Leo's hiding place. 'I have every movement you could possibly make mapped out, and I will evaporate you on the spot when you do.' One of the flying circles fired a beam of white light, striking the dirt beside Leo. He snapped back and hid himself further behind the rubble.
'Shit,' he whispered. He'd tried so hard to lose her, but Zeta just kept finding him. Every time he attempted to retaliate, it was like she knew exactly which weapon he was pulling. With Bellestar thrown out of reach, he had very little in the way of options. Leo had one wildcard, but revealing it meant showing everything he had. He realised that Zeta's knowledge, or lack thereof, would be his only weapon against her. Was Tiam having a hard time too? Probably not. They had far more options than he did.
'Please, I do not enjoy games played by children. Come out of hiding and admit defeat.'
'Nope!' Leo raced down a ruined street, and the crowd threw up a cheer of excitement. Beams of light fired at him, but Leo easily shattered walls and old cars with his Ruh to block them. He at least knew there was no way for Zeta to pin him down with speed. She was merely walking, like some terrible giant hunting Leo to make bone bread or however that story went. Now, he just needed a plan. Should he run back to get Bellestar? No, that weapon didn't work last time. Zeta's holograms also acted as shields, blocking even physical attacks. Leo needed to get so close, Zeta wouldn't even be able to touch her keyboards.
'Hey Zeta!' he called as he rounded a bend.
'Yes, Leo Cadmus?'
'What's your weakness?'
'What?'
'Worth a try!' Leo ducked through a window and into one of the less demolished buildings. Laughter broke out from the crowd. At least his jokes were holding their own. He needed to work out how this woman was keeping track of him before she brought the building down on his head or something. Was it body heat? No, that wasn't quite right. But she was always headed for him, like a magnet. Was that it? Was it his sword?
'Come on!' He slapped his own forehead. This was all so pointless. Even if he worked it out, what could he do to combat it? Leo peered through the window and risked being vaporised. There was Zeta, walking down the street like she was having a relaxing stroll. He decided to test one more thing, out of stubbornness. He crept from that window to a window on the other side of the building. He watched her movements, although slight, she was gradually turning towards the new window. But why so slow? Was her sensor lagging, or was it–
'Ah!' Leo pointed at his Key. It trailed behind him at around the same pace Zeta turned. 'It's you!' He prodded the little white orb with a finger and sighed. Finally, some sort of breakthrough. He could use this. A Key could only move around ten feet away from its owner, but that was perfect.
'Leo Cadmus, I know everything in your arsenal, just quit now.' Zeta's voice got closer, but Leo was too busy preparing himself to check her position.
'That's a shame you think that.' He ducked beneath one window and sent his Key to the other. When the sphere was visible to Zeta, he leapt to his window sill and flung Nameless. The blade spiralled, spinning until it struck one of Zeta's keyboards. The hologram cracked like glass and trapped the blade inside.
Zeta's reaction time was far too slow to follow Leo as he barrelled into the street. 'Oh, you worked it out. It's a shame you didn't empower it with your lightning. You might have hurt m–' A flaming hand struck Zeta across the temple. She stumbled away, but Leo kept inside the dazzling lights of her system.
'And it's a shame you relied too much on your outdated info.' Leo clenched his hands, wrapped in hellfire. 'Trying to read me is pointless, Zeta.'