Chapter 27

Malamon was actually worried. His powers were over half gone. He’d tried to reopen them, but somehow that little prick had sealed them after he’d removed them. Fearing he might lose, he rested a moment, feeling his power barely recover. Watching Tom as closely as Tom was watching him, for a moment they were in a staring match. Flashing out, Malamon tried again to get near Tom. Barely surprised, they both fired at the same time. Tom hit Malamon’s leg, Malamon barely brushed the shoulder Tom’s numb arm was on. Both yelled in pain, both flashing out to opposite sides of the park. Tom knew that now he was in trouble. The shoulder was cut and burned. The arm wasn’t as numb as before; he had been able to move it a bit. Now, though, it was a limp piece of meat. Malamon fell as he emerged. Damn that ass! His leg was broken in two places, his hip had been wrenched out of place. The pain was worse than the last time they fought. Both in serious trouble, they each made plans to end this in the next and possibly last battle. Smiling, Malamon thought he had a way to beat Tom.

Tom could sense that Malamon was planning something. He felt the other’s power shift. Both were breathing hard, barely able to move. They prepared to flash out for the last battle. As they emerged near the center of the park, they both began firing. Tom’s aim was slightly off; he caught Malamon on the same leg again, rendering it completely useless. Dropping and firing, Malamon went just past Tom’s head. Tom’s vision blurred. He reached out, finding Malamon, ripping his energy magic. He pulled as violently as he could. Screaming as if he had been knifed, Malamon tried to shoot, cursing when nothing happened. Bringing up his shields as high as he could, Malamon shot another fireball, finding he no longer could shoot fire by itself. Trying to avoid it, Tom was brushed near his chest. Desperate to end this, Tom drew in all the energy he could, driving as hard and as fast as he could. He knew if this didn’t do it, then he was dead.

Releasing everything he had, he aimed directly at the center strand. Sensing something was different, Malamon tried to shield himself but was quickly overwhelmed. Tom prayed this worked because if it didn’t, he might as well kiss his ass goodbye. Hitting the center strand, Tom felt it give way but not break. Damn it! With that, he put the only energy he had left into it, his life energy. Malamon was shrieking, the pain was horrible. Trying to attack Tom, he found that his power was way too low to make a difference. Hitting Tom with what he had left, he crushed both of Tom’s legs. Tom, still refusing to stop, ignored the pain. Finally, after 15 minutes, he felt it start to rip loose. Malamon was screaming and cursing, sending everything he had after breaking Tom’s legs. He couldn’t let him win. Damn it! His life and magic almost gone, Tom reached as deep as he could and with a last huge push, the main strand ripped loose. Screaming, Malamon fell, grasping his head, blood flowing from his ears and nose.