The Will of Shadows

The alley was a battleground, a clash of raw power against honed skill. Shadow and Gladiator circled each other, the tension thick enough to cut.

Gladiator wiped the blood from her lip, her knuckles tightening around her sword hilt. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

Shadow flicked his wrist, spinning his knife effortlessly. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."

Without warning, she lunged.

Shadow barely had time to react before the blade came screaming toward his face. He ducked, feeling the wind of the strike brush past his mask. Twisting his body, he sidestepped the next slash, his dagger flashing as he redirected her strike away from his chest.

She's fast.

Too fast.

Gladiator's attacks weren't wild. They were precise, controlled, and devastatingly powerful. She fought like someone who had faced countless battles and emerged victorious every time.

Shadow barely had time to breathe before she came at him again, a downward slash meant to cleave him in half.

Damn it.

He raised his knife just in time.

CLANG!

The impact rattled through his bones, forcing him to his knees. Her strength was overwhelming—his knife wouldn't hold out against her blade forever.

Gladiator smirked. "Struggling already?"

Shadow gritted his teeth. His arms burned from the force he had to exert just to block her. He needed to shift the fight to his advantage—somehow.

He suddenly let go of the pressure, allowing her sword to crash downward. At the last second, he rolled to the side, avoiding the blade as it carved deep into the concrete.

Before she could react, he flicked his wrist, sending a small projectile flying toward her face.

POP!

A blinding flash of light exploded between them.

Gladiator hissed, staggering back as her vision was consumed by white. "Tch! Flashbangs now? Cheap tricks won't—"

She didn't finish her sentence. Shadow was already on her.

He leaped up, driving his boot into her stomach with brutal force. The kick sent her skidding back, her boots dragging across the ground.

Shadow didn't let up. He darted forward, switching his knife to a reverse grip as he slashed at her exposed arm.

The blade scraped against her skin, leaving a shallow cut.

Gladiator growled. He actually managed to—

Shadow followed up with an elbow strike to her jaw, snapping her head to the side.

Then a knee to her ribs.

Then a baton strike aimed at her temple.

But she recovered fast—too fast.

Before his baton could connect, she caught his wrist in an iron grip.

Shadow's instincts screamed at him.

With a furious snarl, Gladiator yanked him forward and drove her fist into his gut.

CRACK!

Shadow's body jerked as pain exploded through his ribs. His vision blurred for a second as he coughed out air, his feet nearly leaving the ground from the sheer force of the hit.

Before he could recover, she twisted, hurling him like a ragdoll.

SMASH!

Shadow crashed against the alley wall, the bricks cracking behind him. His breath came in ragged gasps.

Gladiator cracked her neck. "What's wrong? All out of tricks?"

Shadow forced himself up, his muscles screaming in protest. He knew this was coming.

Fighting someone with superpowers was never going to be a fair match.

He could match her skill. But he couldn't match her raw strength or speed.

Still…

He wasn't done yet.

Gladiator stormed toward him. "You should've just stayed in the shadows where you belong, coward."

Shadow smirked, despite the pain. "Oh? And here I thought you heroes were supposed to be merciful."

Gladiator scowled. "Mercy is for those who deserve it."

She raised her sword again, preparing to end it.

Shadow's hand slipped into his belt.

Time to play my last card.

As Gladiator swung, Shadow flicked a small, cylindrical grenade to the ground.

A thick cloud of dark smoke erupted around them.

Gladiator scoffed. "Smoke bombs? You really are out of options."

She inhaled deeply, her body glowing faintly as she manipulated the air around her.

With a single breath, she sucked the smoke away, clearing the alley in seconds.

She smirked. "Pathetic."

Then her legs wobbled.

Her vision swam.

Her sword suddenly felt heavy.

"Wha… what is this…?"

Shadow straightened, his body aching, but his smirk never left. "Not smoke. Sleeping gas."

Gladiator's pupils shrank.

She staggered, trying to stay upright, but her knees buckled. Her body swayed dangerously. "Damn… you…"

With a final, ragged breath, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed onto the pavement.

Shadow exhaled, shaking out his arms. "Damn… that was close."

Bubble Boy—Troy—groaned behind him. "Y-You… actually beat her?"

Shadow turned to him, crouching beside him. "Not for long. Let's get out of here before she wakes up."

Pulling out a communicator, he dialed a secure line.

"This is Shadow. You'll find an unconscious criminal at my location. He's all yours."

He ended the call before they could respond.

Then, gripping Troy under the arm, he pulled him up. "Come on, kid. You're coming with me."

Troy, still groggy, let Shadow carry him.

The last thing he saw before they disappeared into the shadows was the flashing lights of police cars pulling into the alley.

—

When Gladiator's eyes snapped open, the first thing she saw were red and blue lights flashing around her.

The police were securing the unconscious criminal, cuffing him as they hauled him into a van.

Her hands clenched into fists. No. No, no, NO!

She slammed her fist into the ground, a deep crack splitting the pavement beneath her. The officers turned, startled.

"What the hell—?"

Gladiator shot up, fury burning in her veins.

She bent her knees—and with one powerful leap, she shot into the sky.

A deafening BOOM cracked the air, sending a shockwave through the street as she disappeared into the night.

The officers stood frozen, staring at the shattered pavement where she had stood moments before.

"Did she just…?"

Another officer swallowed hard. "We… might have a problem."