armor of ice was melting on the ground as he lay passed out on the cold cement floor. Frozen water was an excellent barrier from physical assaults, but it came up lacking as an electrical insulator.
“Most of these can only generate or shift a certain kind of element. Of that seven percent, about a quarter have total mastery of their element. The ability to sense it, create it, control it, and alter it in any fashion they see fit. Now, of that quarter, a mere ten percent are so powerful that they can give their physical bodies aspects of their element. Stony skin, boiling touch, and even a thing like lightning speed becomes possible.”
“Yeah, yeah, we get it, you’re the cream of the crop, you rise to the top,” Roy said, shaking off the last attack. It had been a strong charge, but he’d remained standing. He was somewhat pleased to note that of the men’s top five ranks, only he and Chad could boast that claim. “Big whoop, we’ve heard it before.”
“The point I was trying to make, good student, is that even that ten percent of a quarter of seven percent is still classified under me. Because I don’t just assume my element, I can actually turn into it,” Professor Fletcher concluded. “So let’s see, still standing we have two resistance- and strength-based fighters, one absorber, one super speeder, one density controller, one rubber man, and one short range teleporter. Decisions, decisions.”
6.
Gilbert readied himself to leap again the moment the Professor disappeared. He knew he couldn’t win this way, but if he kept mobile long enough he might run out the clock until one of the combat capable people took him down. Professor Fletcher lurched forward and Gilbert teleported through the world, arriving at the rear of the gym, hopefully a long way from both sight and mind. A jolt of energy surged through his body, scrambling his wits and sending him crashing to the floor.
“Teleportation is a useful tactic,” Professor Fletcher informed him. “But the limitation is that you still think and react at human speeds. Which means someone who moves fast enough can easily sneak up behind you. In the future, try to think in terms of multiple jumps so as to confuse your opponent.”
Sasha stood on the balls of her feet. She could see when he transformed and see how the mass of energy moved. She alone could outmaneuver him; she alone might stand a chance. This was how she would start her year: not as the freak’s ex-girlfriend, but as a warrior on par with the new fighting teacher.
The surge of light and power flashed toward her, quick, but not so quick that she wasn’t able to slide out of the way. He was very fast but as she twisted her body around she knew he wouldn’t overtake her. She kept knowing that, right until his large hand closed around her arm.
“You are extremely fast,” Professor Fletcher complimented. “But unlike me, you still have too many physical limitations. Ever with your sped up reaction times, your bones and muscles can’t match lightning. Which means you can’t match me with dodging alone; you should have used a little offense as well.” It took an impressive charge to drop the girl with pink tips in her dark hair, but she tumbled to the ground like the rest eventually.
Hector took advantage of the distraction to charge forward. He’d been waiting since he got to the HCP for a match up like this. For all the electricity this old man might be packing, there was nothing he could do against Hector once he turned his body to living rubber. Not only did it give him amazing protection from bludgeoning attacks, but it rendered him an insulator. This was his fight to win. He reached the professor just as Sasha fell, letting fly a mean left hook toward the wrinkled face. His fist connected only with air, as he found the teacher standing to his side.
“Quite bold, and I can see why. To the untrained, this match seems heavily weighted in your favor. Of course, that ignores
Learning to Kill: Stories