Chapter 93: Golden Ecstasy

The Elite would make his first move, kicking up the sand and having his magic traverse it across his palms. Ennio would take his guns and run forward, firing his bullets to try and strike at the man in the eyes, so as to blind them before he was capable of doing such teleportation. What he didn't expect, however, was where the attack was being located, as his eyes would begin to feel cloudy, unable to properly see the assault he himself made. 

Ennio became Blinded

Realizing this, he'd aim for the figment that looked to be a person's head, having his bullets try and strike it. Talus, with his advantage, would be able to evade the bullets, attempting to box the man before he is capable of doing another attack. A Right hook, a left hook. A stomach punch, followed by a jab. A Straight left followed by an uppercut. A Straight right, followed by a left hook. Such a string of strikes went faster and faster, becoming a full barrage to overwhelm and damage the man further, yet Ennio still stood his ground. Moreso, because of such distance being closed in, the Cowboy would attempt to shoot at the man right at his chest, his gauntlets taking in the guns and, being within close proximity to fire it without any setbacks, took his shot straight for his heart. He could hear the penetration of skin and bone as he fired his bullet, letting him recognize that he has hit his target. 

BANG!!

In reality, he was not the only one shot down, as he could feel a warm liquid pouring out from his own body, right where his stomach was. Blood. He was bleeding. Talus would explain himself. "Warp Magic. The very style of teleporting something to somewhere else. Anywhere else. Anywhere at all...."

Despite the set-back, and despite such dirty handed tactics, Ennio was still smiling, still maintaining his ground. "So, you're finally using your skills to its peak. Good. Usually, I'd be disappointed that someone relies on magic, yet you're throwing yourself and had me take your bait. You're learning so quickly." He'd admit, before attempting another assault, as if the previous wound inflicted was barely a scratch. The sands began to shift, letting Talus see the Cowboy's next plot, to use the very sands as if they were his own eyes, the sands shifting sides to let him get a better sense of his surroundings. Ennio would go for a low punch, his gauntlets ready to pull the trigger, forcing the Elite to fall back, before aiming for an overhead punch to his cranium. The Cowboy would react to this by going lower, willingly throwing himself to the ground to dodge the attack, before he'd shoot his gauntlets and have the impact launch him higher to aim for a strike to the man's jaw, an uppercut to dislocate it.

BAM! KRACC!!

The attack was a success, as well as finding a weakness to his style of Magic, one that he was adamant in forgetting the first time he saw it: One cannot simply teleport something if it was a physical attack itself. The Range and projectiles are what caused so much trouble, hence a close quarters fight with no external factors would be more than enough to put down the Elite for good. Talus recognized this and would try to go for another offense, forced to block, yet waiting for the right moment to strike. A Barrage was sent to him, wounding his arms and his hands, having himself weave left and right to minimize damage. When Ennio would try to launch a straight left, this would be his opportunity, raising one of his hands to catch the punch, and the other to force the trigger to be pulled, shooting a bullet and teleporting it to one of Ennio's vitals: his Heart. He'd stumble back and grasp at his chest, feeling the bullet circulating across his circulatory system. With his magic, he would be quick to lodge the bullet amidst the wound, letting the minerals be removed and plaster itself across the shot, patching up the hole made, but at a cost of being on the defensive, being wide open for an attack in the form of a punch to his stomach and face, knocking him down to the sands, forced to blindly stare upwards at Talus.

Despite the wounds, the man would stand back up, much to Talus' dismay. He'd attempt to strike at him while he's down, which would be reacted almost instantly by Ennio punching at the Elite's shins, unleashing the bullet right at such a target. The man would seemingly try to pull back his feet and kick him right at such an opportune time, however..

KA-BOOM!!

An explosion, one made right upon Ennio's own hand, the bullet scattering itself and destroying not only Talus' foot, but Ennio's own hand as a result. Both of them would retreat, tending to their wound, with Talus being unable to properly walk, whilst Ennio got up after dealing with the bullet lodged within his heart, his hand now disfigured and damaged beyond repair, instead using the sands' minerals to construct a brand new hand for himself. "Why...Why did you do that?" Talus would ask, almost terrified he committed to such a dangerous tactic.

Ennio merely smiled and helped Talus up so they fought on even grounds, his blindness making it difficult to properly find the Elite, stumbling a bit and feeling the air to properly locate him and give his answer. "Why not? A Man shouldn't be afraid of something like this. To fight on an even ground." His optimism was almost infectious, and for a brief moment, Talus would show some happiness despite the tragedy he saw before him. He'd accept the offer, feeling his body being slightly invaded as the minerals would recreate a substitute foot for him to stand once more. "I can see it, by the way. You're still knee deep in despair. You're still worried about them, aren't you?" Ennio would ask. The Elite merely gave a small nod, as he'd prepare his stance to fight back. The Cowboy matched his with his own, answering once more. "Just as the guy said: You shouldn't feel sorrow. They are going out of their way to make sure you survive. They are going out of their way to make sure you can still fight. That you can still live. This is what it means to be a Man. To be in a Man's World. Clearly, you've seen it, right?"

Talus merely stared down at the sands, taking in this moment, before nodding. "Yeah.....I suppose so..." His tone was different when uttering such words. It was hopeful. It was recognizing what he was given. It was understanding what he is faced with.

For the first time in his life, he didn't felt confident or cowardly. He didn't felt lost nor did he felt egotistical. He was separate from the extreme ends. He was beginning to feel happy.