《Wanted: Dead or Alive》Chapter 26 - 'Already Over'

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[Fall - Blue City]

Jennings felt as if he had phased through in a metaphysical manner, as his knowledge of his father escaped him in the moment. He could not recognize this formidable opponent that resembled his kin standing above him. He was familiar with Isiah looking down on a younger himself, but this instance invigorated like never before.

Even with an immensely-sized fragment of ice stuck in Isiah's arm, the power gained by the shadow Agi abilities was tremendous in of itself. Multiple instances where the Agi seemed to casually display physics that defied precedent in this world. The one thing that proved a difference in this encounter than all others previously experienced by the renegade was that Jennings could hear the inspirational whisper of his lost brother, “Brother...”

Jennings raised his eyelids and used the momentum from having his punch caught, just to turn himself one-hundred eighty degrees in the air and strike the broadside of Fujeh’s blade, sending it into the abyssal mist for good. With both fists now glowing, he swung his right hand around fully to strike his father square in the chest, which sent him flying back several meters within the void. Across the stage he flew, and even crumbled floorboards beneath his sheer weight upon landing. A loud, bloody cough erupted from Isiah while he was able to muster up enough strength to send two shadow Agi projectiles at Jennings. They jittered through the air toward Jennings.

If there was one thing that Jennings felt he could live without, it was further scars. Yet with the carried force that a single projectile from his father had hit him with, he knew for a fact that another scar was destined to be paraded around. A noticeable gash appeared vertically under Jennings' right eye down to his jawline. Blood began to pour out from the wound.

Isiah charged Jennings and lifted him with a giant bear hug before slamming him into the wooden floor beneath, breaking several planks near the point of impact. Jennings felt the jaggedness of the stage pieces pinch into his skin from all angles. He knew he was in a terrible position.

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Isiah begins lecturing while simultaneously circling around the outskirts of the shrouded mist, waiting for his prey in the dry heat.

“You really thought I couldn't kill you sonny' boy?”

He lets out a hearty laugh to his own amusement.

“Let me allow you to hear some last words of advice Johnny … I ain’t your half-brother.”

The wind picked up in the vicinity as light struggled, yet eventually succumbed to the absolute darkness afoot. The scene was as if the sun had suddenly vacationed unannounced.

Looking up from the bottom, Jennings knew he had to do something quick while Isiah relished the pain he was already in. With the amount of unknown variables he’d encountered involving this shadow Agi in recent weeks, he didn’t want to risk if the dampening darkness that continued to expand from the stage would enhance his abilities. Jennings revised his decision and enacted.

He created a platform of ice underneath him to raise himself above the next blow from Isiah. The Agi powered blast found its mark onto the pillar of ice that Jennings stood upon, shattering the foundation and sending him falling to the ground.

“Get down here!”

Refusing to stay as a still target, Jennings lept from a narrow shard he could garner footing from the ice pillar and jumped behind Isiah attempting to blindside him. Yet again Isiah was prepared with an elbow placed firmly against Jennings' forehead, stunning him momentarily. Not wasting proximity, Isiah then proceeded to rain down fists through a flurry of substantial punches.

Although Jennings was able to absorb most of the punches by defending soundly with his impressive technique, a few still hit their intended target and inflicted further damage to him. He now laid in the middle of the stage, bloodier than ever. Short moans barely escaped Jennings' mouth as he attempted to slowly stand to his feet. Isiah took two big steps backward on the stage, hoping to gain more momentum for his next strike with a glee-filled smirk stained upon his bruised, inflated face.

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Isiah pushed himself forward yet he was barely able to move an inch.

“What the-?!”

Isiah yelled, looking behind him for a semblance of an answer. The formerly lifeless Fujeh had managed to create a shadow Agi restraint, similar in shape to a metallic chain, to pull back Isiah successfully. Unable to move an inch against the superior power of Fujeh's dying grasp. A sudden inclination overtook Isiah, prompting him to slowly turn back towards Jennings.

To his surprise and by his next return glance, Jennings had already positioned his pistol to Isiah's right temple as it glowed an intense shade of blue. The gun began to freeze and completely engulf the firearm from grip to barrel, leaving a stream of brittle ice melting beneath.

The father that never showed compassion towards his son was now crying in agony knowing the result that would manifest at his son’s hands. The last words Isiah would ever moan slowly dripped from the relative’s mouth to prelude the firing blast.

“This is for Isaac!”

With a combination of a gunshot and explosive ice Agi force applied to the side of his father’s skull. The brisky cold wind flowed directly into the relieved son's stoic face. Followed by a spatter of fresh blood.

Tears of joy rained down his cheek and dropped below to fuse into a puddle with his father's pool of pain. The silence was inching away at the shrouded Agi that began to deplete before his gaze.

“Penny! Penny! It's-” a rough cough paused the sentence before Jennings continued, “It's over, come on out.”

After some seconds, he limped toward the part of the stage were Fujeh remained still and motionless. Being optimistic for this heated instance, Jennings believed the older Agist to simply be passed out for a duration. Yet when the minutes passed as the Sun casted more tiredness on the day, the slow pace eventually allowed for Penny to return and join Jennings on Fujeh's side.

Life wasn't over for the aged Agist just yet, he opened his heavy eyes and peered at the duo before muttering some words of advice.

“Make sure... the shadow Agi remains spreading across the land. Within it, your beliefs that I have only shared a glimpse of, may bloom. Even the dark can contribute to the light, with the right handler. Take shelter from any worries at my residence in Parso for as long- as you need ...I-”

The statement would never be completed, marking those as his last words. The once emotion-filled wrinkled face of the spry Agist faded into nothingness. All his anger and hatred left with him.

Jennings looked up from Fujeh's corpse and continued to shift his vision upward, toward the clouds looming above and before adding.

“Who was that man, couldn't have done it without him. Reckon’ that was a last request.”

Penny peered upon Jennings joyful expression for the first time ever, at least to her belief, it was genuine smile. She was a bit overwhelmed with that same infectious joy herself, internally feeling accomplished. The Penny from here on out was strong. Maybe not as strong as her new ice-Agi wielding, friend on the run. Still damn strong, however.

Jennings wasn't joking when he said to her.

“The worst is already over.”

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