A sharp, metallic clang reverberated through the air as Joshua blocked Copperhand's swing with his forearm, chi reinforcing his flesh to withstand the force of the blow. Sparks flew as the rebar glanced off, but Joshua wasted no time retaliating, launching a lightning-fast punch aimed straight at Copperhand's face. Yet, to Joshua's astonishment, his fist struck only air. Copperhand had tilted his head just enough to avoid the blow, his movement precise and effortless.
"How did you—" Joshua began, but the words barely escaped his lips before Copperhand retaliated. The older man's left fist shot upward in a brutal uppercut, forcing Joshua to arch backward in a quick dodge. But Copperhand wasn't done. With practiced ease, he unclenched his fist mid-motion, grabbing Joshua by the collar. Planting the rebar firmly into the ground, he used it as leverage to twist his body and hurl Joshua through the air.
"Not happening!" Joshua barked, twisting mid-air with a burst of chi to regain control. With fluid grace, he countered, flipping to deliver a vicious kick aimed at Copperhand's temple. The kick connected—but not as intended. Copperhand's copper hand intercepted the blow at the last second, absorbing most of the impact. Still, the force was enough to drive Copperhand back a few steps, widening the distance between them.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted around them. Philip, baring his fangs in rage, led Joshua's men in a full-on charge toward Copperhand's crew. But as the attackers closed the gap, Copperhand's people drew steam-pistols in unison, their weapons hissing faintly as they came to life. For a split second, shock flickered across the faces of Joshua's men—except for Philip, who merely growled and pressed forward. Without hesitation, Copperhand's people opened fire. The crackling discharge of steam-pistols filled the night as bullets ripped through Joshua's men, dropping them like flies.
Philip alone survived the onslaught, using two of his comrades as improvised shields. He snarled as the lifeless bodies absorbed the brunt of the gunfire, then hurled them forward, sending Mut and Hill sprawling to the ground. Nunin, on the other hand, had thrown himself behind the crumbling wall of a nearby ruin, narrowly avoiding the barrage.
"I'm going to rip you to fucking pieces!" Philip roared as he surged forward, his eyes burning with fury. But before he could close the distance, Viper stepped in. The snake-tattooed man delivered a swift, punishing kick to Philip's gut, stopping the demi-human's charge cold. Philip staggered, clutching his midsection as he glared daggers at Viper.
"You'll be dealing with me, pup," Viper sneered, beckoning Philip forward with a taunting motion. Philip growled low, his narrowed eyes fixed on his new opponent, his body tensing like a coiled spring.
Back at the center of the battlefield, Joshua stood motionless, seemingly indifferent to the slaughter of his men. His piercing gaze remained locked on Copperhand, studying the man intently. "Hmm," Copperhand muttered to himself. "Just as fast and strong as he described." His attention flicked briefly to the copper prosthetic, his brow furrowing slightly as he scanned it for signs of damage.
"What are you on about?" Joshua demanded, his voice low and sharp.
Copperhand let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as though amused by the question. "I thought you said the time to talk like civilized folk had ended," he said, pointing the rebar at Joshua with a smirk. "So why are you still talking?"
Joshua closed his eyes and exhaled, his irritation bubbling to the surface. "You're right," he admitted, his voice steady but laced with barely-contained rage. "I should just kill you and get it over with."
"Then hurry up," Copperhand shot back, his smirk widening. "Since it doesn't take long to burn down a warehouse."
Joshua's eyes widened in realization as Copperhand's words sank in. He had left his remaining warehouse unguarded. "You bastard… these aren't all your men!" he growled, his voice trembling with both fury and dawning understanding.
Copperhand let out a quiet laugh, his tone mocking. "No, of course not. I sent someone to burn down your other warehouse," he said, his voice as calm as if discussing the weather.
Joshua's chi flared violently, but instead of striking Copperhand, he turned on his heel and sprinted toward a nearby ruined building. The move was unorthodox, almost desperate, and for good reason. Joshua wasn't trying to get inside the building—he intended to plow straight through it, using his immense power to bulldoze a path in the most direct route back to his warehouse. He smashed through the first wall like it was paper, debris exploding outward as he barreled into the structure at full speed.
But his rush came to an abrupt halt. The moment his foot snagged on a thin wire hidden in the rubble, a sudden burst of flames erupted all around him. A massive explosion roared through the building, shaking the ground and spewing fire and smoke into the night sky.
Back outside, Copperhand shrugged nonchalantly, his expression unmoved by the fiery chaos. He glanced back toward the ongoing fight between Philip and Viper. Philip was growing increasingly desperate, his claws slashing wildly as he tried to land a hit. Yet Viper, despite lacking Philip's monstrous strength and speed, had the clear upper hand. The thug's movements were precise and calculated, his strikes targeting Philip's weak points—the temple, liver, sternum, throat, spine. Each counterattack chipped away at Philip's endurance. Even with his unnatural toughness, it was only a matter of time before the demi-human succumbed to death by a thousand cuts.
Copperhand didn't bother stepping in. His men stood back as well, clearly confident in Viper's ability to handle the fight. "I'll continue on with Joshua," Copperhand said, hoisting the rebar over his shoulder. "You can handle yourselves, right?"
Viper sidestepped another of Philip's frenzied swipes and smirked. "Yeah, don't worry, boss. I got this." He punctuated his words with a sharp kick to Philip's ribs, sending the demi-human stumbling back.
Satisfied, Copperhand turned and strode toward the now-flaming building Joshua had charged into. Stepping through the charred and smoldering debris, he let out a low whistle. "Would you look at that? Barely a scratch on you," he remarked as he spotted Joshua standing amidst the wreckage. Despite the explosion, Joshua appeared mostly unharmed—his clothes singed but intact, his body seemingly untouched by the flames.
Joshua turned to face Copperhand, his voice calm but laced with venom. "You're one smart guy, aren't you?"
"I try to be," Copperhand replied with a faint shrug, reaching into his pocket. "Oh yeah, almost forgot. Hold on a sec."
Joshua's eyes narrowed, his body tensing. He prepared himself for an attack, but instead, Copperhand casually pulled out a small piece of cloth and tossed it onto the ground between them. The fabric bore an emblem, one Joshua immediately recognized. He froze, uncharacteristically still as he stared at it.
"How did you…?" Joshua's voice trailed off, his expression briefly unreadable.
Copperhand smirked and gestured casually. "The drug you were making? The ingredients weren't local. That meant you had to be smuggling them in from the outside. So I tracked down your merchant, killed him, burned his stock, and brought back a little souvenir for you." He pointed at the cloth. "Think of it as a memento."
Joshua stood silent for a few seconds longer, his body trembling. Then he began to shake—not from fear, but from rage. His chi flared more intensely than ever before as a snarl escaped his lips. In a burst of speed, he launched himself at Copperhand, punching him square in the chest, the fact that it landed somewhat surprised him however, given how Copperhand has been fighting him. The force sent Copperhand flying sideways, crashing into the remains of a wall with a thunderous impact.
Copperhand slumped for a moment, shaking his head as he slowly rose to his feet. Despite the tremendous blow, he looked far less injured than he should have been.
Joshua cracked his knuckles, his voice cold and deliberate. "I don't usually torture people to death," he began, his tone promising violence, "but I'll make an exception for you."
Copperhand let out a low chuckle as he rolled his shoulders, unfazed by the threat. "Don't expect me to scream in pain," he said, his voice dry. "I'm too dead inside for that." With a smirk, he readied himself for the fight to come.
Joshua charged forward, his chi surging as his eyes locked onto Copperhand. But just as he closed the distance, Copperhand flung a handful of dust he picked up while he was on the floor into the air, the gritty particles catching Joshua in the face. The brief distraction caused Joshua's attack to miss, his fist cutting through empty air as Copperhand sidestepped and drove the tip of the rebar into his liver with a sharp jab. The blow didn't break Joshua's skin, but the force was enough to make him grit his teeth. Pain flared in his abdomen—a dull, throbbing ache that wouldn't be ignored.
Joshua swung his arm back, aiming a powerful backfist at Copperhand's head, but once again, Copperhand evaded it by a hair's breadth. Joshua's thoughts churned as frustration boiled within him. *He's nowhere near as fast as me. How is he dodging all of this?*
Copperhand raised the rebar again, feigning a follow-up strike. Joshua braced himself, ready to counter, but instead of completing the swing, Copperhand suddenly dropped the weapon mid-motion and threw a punch with his copper hand. Joshua clicked his tongue in irritation but managed to block the blow. The force behind it was immense—it would've left a mark had it landed cleanly—but Joshua's focus on the punch blinded him to the rebar.
Copperhand's free hand snapped back to the dropped weapon, seizing it with precision, and drove it straight into Joshua's sternum. The strike sent a sharp, radiating pain through Joshua's chest, and his breath hitched as he staggered back.
"You utter trash!" Joshua roared, his fury erupting as he pulled back his fist, readying his rapid-punch technique. But before he could unleash it, Copperhand leaped backward, putting considerable distance between them.
Joshua's astonishment was evident. "You… you knew what I was about to do?" he growled, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Copperhand grinned, almost lazily. "From what I've heard, I could probably take that barrage of yours, but I'd rather not. Too much effort."
Realization dawned on Joshua as his brow furrowed. "You… you know how I fight. Not just my techniques but my speed, my strength, my toughness—everything."
Copperhand let out a long exhale, rolling his shoulders as if the fight was barely warming him up. "Looks like you've figured it out. Let me guess: you're wondering how you managed to land that one hit earlier?"
Joshua narrowed his eyes. "Because you didn't know I could move that fast."
Copperhand snapped his fingers. "Correct. That was something I didn't account for—your ability to move that quickly without relying on that 'lightning step' of yours. But don't bother asking who told me about you." He waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not going to spill."
Joshua gritted his teeth. "I already have a few suspects in mind."
Copperhand shrugged, his expression unfazed. "Fair enough. And in case you're wondering why that earlier punch didn't do much damage…" He tapped his chest with his copper hand. "Cybernetics. Got a whole mess of them. Shock absorbers, reinforced joints—the works. Let's just say my last case didn't go so well, and I had to make some… adjustments. Not the most interesting story, so I'll spare you the details. That said, I do have weak points. My liver, for instance—no cybernetic protection there. And my right eye? Not as sharp as the left." He tapped near his right eye with a knowing smirk.
Joshua's gaze hardened. "Why are you telling me this?"
Copperhand's smirk widened. "Because, right now, I'm just picking on a weakling. Figured I'd give you a fighting chance."
Joshua's jaw clenched as a vein bulged in his temple. "A weakling?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.
"I mean, that's what it looks like to me." Copperhand's tone was as nonchalant as ever, his confidence practically dripping from his words.
Joshua's rage erupted like a volcano. "I'll show you weak!" he bellowed, slamming his foot into the ground with enough force to cause a localized earthquake. The ground beneath Copperhand shifted violently, throwing him off balance for just a moment.
"Lightning Step!" Joshua shouted, disappearing in a blur of motion. He reappeared in an instant, driving his knee into Copperhand's stomach with such force that they both smashed through two walls, landing in the adjacent building amidst a cloud of dust and rubble.
Copperhand let out a grunt, his body absorbing the brunt of the blow. But just as Joshua was about to capitalize on his momentum, a sharp pain erupted in his temple. Copperhand, despite the impact, had managed to swing the rebar in a wide arc, striking Joshua in the head just as the knee connected.
"Another unexpected move," Copperhand muttered, coughing slightly as he stood up from the rubble.
Joshua glared at him, his chi flaring wildly again. He barely had time to react as Copperhand swung the rebar upward, aiming for his jaw. Joshua tilted his head just in time to avoid the strike, but Copperhand had already anticipated the dodge. With a flick of his wrist, Copperhand tossed the rebar aside and rammed his shoulder into Joshua's chest. The sudden impact drove Joshua backward, and before he could recover, Copperhand hooked his leg behind Joshua's knee, sweeping him off his feet.
The two crashed to the ground in a heap of limbs and dust, with Copperhand pinning Joshua beneath him, his copper-hand ready for the next move.
Copperhand unleashed a flurry of punches with his copper hand, each strike slamming into Joshua's forearms as he raised them in defense. Even with his chi-enhanced toughness, the impacts sent jolts of pain up his arms, the metal fist hammering like a relentless piston. Joshua grunted, his muscles straining to absorb the blows. Timing his move just right, he drove his elbow into the cracked floor beneath them. The ground gave way with a loud crash, and both fighters plummeted into the building's dark, dusty basement.
Copperhand rolled to his feet, brushing off debris. "Using the environment to your advantage? Smart," he remarked, his tone casual as if they weren't in the middle of a brutal brawl. Joshua was already up, launching himself forward with unrelenting aggression. He spun into a 1080° kick, his leg slicing through the air with blistering speed.
Copperhand ducked beneath it, the breeze from the kick ruffling his hair, and countered with a sharp left hook. Joshua landed smoothly, intercepting the punch with an open palm. He prepared to unleash his rapid-punch technique, but Copperhand anticipated the move. Before Joshua could strike, Copperhand drove an elbow forward, forcing Joshua to block with his forearm. Without missing a beat, Copperhand rotated his copper hand, gripping Joshua's arm in a vice-like clamp, and shoved him backward to create space before snapping a solid punch into Joshua's face with his left hand.
"That doesn't hurt!" Joshua growled, his voice filled with defiance. He retaliated with a back kick, aiming to catch Copperhand off guard, but the seasoned fighter sidestepped effortlessly. Copperhand shifted his weight and fully committed to an upward strike with his copper hand. Joshua, expecting another feint, hesitated for a split second—enough time for the uppercut to connect cleanly. The impact rattled Joshua's skull, his vision swimming for a moment.
"I'm surprised that staggered you. Usually, you need a brain for it to bounce around in your skull," Copperhand taunted, his smirk sharp and mocking.
"Goddess, just shut up!" Joshua roared, leaping into the air. He swung his leg in a powerful arc, sending a fiery crescent of energy blazing toward Copperhand. The attack carved through the space between them, but Copperhand sidestepped the fire with uncanny precision, closing the gap.
"I knew you'd try that," Copperhand said, moving to counter with a knee.
This time, Joshua didn't retreat or block. Instead, he stepped into the attack, twisting his body to seize Copperhand's right wrist in an iron grip. His hand clamped down like a vice, and he leaned forward with a triumphant glare. "Didn't think I'd do this, did you, bastard?" he growled, mimicking the maneuver Malvin had used against him before.
Copperhand's lips curled into a smirk. "You got me," he admitted coolly. Then, without hesitation, he slammed his copper hand into Joshua's face.
Joshua grinned through the pain, refusing to let go. "Fine by me," he growled, cocking his arm back and delivering a punishing blow to Copperhand's jaw.
What had been a tactical battle devolved into pure brutality. Strategy, techniques, and finesse were abandoned as the two warriors traded blow for blow in a savage slugfest. Each punch was a test of endurance, a challenge to see whose willpower would break first. Copperhand's copper fist smashed into Joshua's cheek, while Joshua's own powerful strikes battered Copperhand's unprotected face.
Sweat and blood flew as they continued their relentless exchange. Each hit echoed through the crumbling basement, the sound of flesh meeting metal punctuated by grunts and snarls. They didn't dodge, didn't flinch—both men were determined to outlast the other.
Finally, with a thunderous crack of knuckles against flesh, one of them swayed, their legs buckling under the accumulated damage. With a heavy thud, one of them collapsed to the ground.