It's Almost Mine!

He begins to realize that the strength gap between us is narrowing. His strikes no longer send me flailing backwards, instead I can match his pace, his foot steps, his rhythm.

It's almost mine!

With a confident step forward, I slash forward, my swing sends him staggering back.

The evolving grin on my face stutters as... why does he not look scared?

Taking the distance between us, he clenches his tanto blade, as though focusing his life force into the blade, the air becomes stiff and my legs begin to tremble. 

How many stages does this boss battle have?!

"Strange, isn't it? Those we deem shallow or pathetic are often the strongest, they desire the most, they hold the strongest bond to life, to themselves. In that, we are the same..."

As he steps forward I nearly vomit, his body moves as though it had an after image, each step leaving a weaker apparition of him. The uncertainty makes me feel queazy as I can't tell which is which.