“Shadow Spread.”

The shadows rose thirty feet up to the ceiling.

“Shadow Box.” NoOne distorted the shadows, creating a box around the Freedom Forcers.

Shadow walls came out from within the box, separating the rebels from one another.

Bob’s shadow battle began the second the box was completed. His shadow’s pupil started to glow brightly, collecting energy in its core. A black laser burst out from his shadow without warning.

Bob calmly shot a laser of his own, causing the two beams to slam into each other.

“As if I could lose to my own shadow, hmph,” said Bob as the shadow’s laser was destroyed.

Bob’s laser then zoomed into his shadow, leaving a giant hole in its wake.

The wounded shadow rammed into Bob, sending him bouncing away.

As Bob ricocheted from wall to wall, he slammed into his shadow.

The two of them bounced off the walls, rapidly firing lasers at one another.

“Not bad. Hmm, I wonder if you can copy my Phase Form,” said Bob with a spark of intrigue. His body became transparent.

The shadow’s lasers shot right through him, unable to make contact. Oddly enough all of Bob’s laser beams hit their target spot on.

“Now, behold the manifestation of my soul!” Bob concentrated his spirit energy and manifested it as a spectral blade.

The weapon was a ghostly green-and-blue beam of spiritual energy. A spectral aura constantly spiraled up, sprouting from the eyeball’s side.

Bob lost his transparency but didn’t seem to care. He knocked off the oncoming lasers’ trajectories with perfectly timed smaller lasers of his own.

“This is the very essence of my being! You shall be destroyed by the Atma Blade!” exclaimed Bob, his weapon crackling with power.

The shadow repeatedly rammed into Bob.

“This is an insult. How could NoOne think I could ever be defeated by a mere projection of the absence of light created when sunlight hits an object?” asked Bob with mild annoyance. He then shoved the Atma Blade into his shadow, destroying it in an instant.

His shadow reformed beneath him, becoming two dimensional once more.

“That was rather boring. Let’s hope the master behind the shadow provides me with better entertainment,” said Bob with a grin. He approached the shadow wall and concentrated. The spherical warrior bent the space around it and passed through the wall.

“So you’re the first one here. I am truly impressed with your abilities,” said NoOne, his head resting on his palm.

“Do not complement me. When a pessimistic coward gives praise, it means they have low expectations of you. You assumed that Exp 8 would get here first, didn’t you? That is why you garnish me with such kind words. You underestimated me. I will make you regret your masqueraded insult,” said Bob as he approached the shadow master.

Karson’s confrontation began the instant Bob’s scuffle started.

Karson looked at his shadow and lowered his head.

His right arm trembled. “What kind of treason is this? Having to combat one’s shadow is like fighting against one’s own soul. I’ve never felt so betrayed! Does NoOne have no honor at all?!”

Karson’s shadow turned around and began pacing in the other direction.

“I truly sympathize with you, comrade. Even you have…(shudder)…the Button! Why must life be so cruel? For that matter, why must death be so cruel? Oh, but worry not, my coal-skinned friend. I would never target your weak point. If there is no honor in battle, then war is mere barbarism!” exclaimed Karson, cocking his arm.

After the tenth pace, his shadow turned around. It fired dual pistols at Karson furiously, reloading one while the other was still firing.

Karson tossed a smoke grenade down and then rolled onto his belly.

“Very well played, but you are lacking in the accuracy department.” He rolled out of the smoke cloud, his revolver hands ready to fire.

His foe was nowhere in sight.

Karson heard the cocking of a rifle behind him.

The shadow fired directly at Karson’s button.

The bullet zoomed by, just barely missing the Button.

“How can you be so inconsiderate? Such dirty battle tactics will leave you with an empty victory,” said Karson, his revolvers switching to shotguns.

His shadow rushed forth as it loaded up dual submachine guns. It then dived underneath his legs, firing at its enemy’s button frantically.

“Coward!” Karson kicked his shadow while his foot pumped bullets into it. He then fired off both of his arms at once.

The powerful blasts sent the shadow into the air.

Karson’s hands each loaded up half of a Gatling gun. They then fused together.

“You wanted to use underhanded tactics! Well then, how do you like seeing the weapon that took the honor out of war!” yelled Karson as he mowed down his shadow. “This clip has more than enough bullets to take you out!”

Once the smoke cleared all that was left of his shadow was the Button.

“I refuse to disgrace myself by targeting someone’s weak point! Now, let’s move along, shall we,” said Karson, approaching the shadow wall.

His shadow reappeared beneath him, having a hole where the Button should have been.

Karson’s arms merged into a rocket launcher and blasted a hole through the shadow wall.

He hopped through the gaping hole and landed before NoOne.

As Karson’s dishonorable bout began, Atatasuki was confronted with a shadow fight of his own.

He stared at his shadow for fifteen seconds, concentrating intensely. He took a deep breath and calmed his trembling legs. “I have waited years for this day to arrive. A new flavor of muffins shall finally hit the market. Show me your power! Create the very first shadow muffin!” exclaimed Atatasuki, saliva dripping from his mouthpiece.

His shadow opened its chest, exposing the shadowy muffins within.

The black muffins were then launched forward as if shot from a catapult.

Atatasuki opened his arms, trying to catch the muffins. One fell right into his grasp.

“You amateur, these are way too hot. Look at them! They are black and crusty. This isn’t cuisine. This is a muffin miscarriage.” Fueled by his great disappointment, Atatasuki charged up to his shadow. “Feel the agony you put this muffin through!” He gripped the crispy muffin in his fist and punched his shadow right in the face.

The shadow was knocked off the ground.

Atatasuki hooked his arms around his foe’s neck and smashed his head into its face. He followed up with a powerful punch to its gut.

The shadow fell down to its knees, coughing up a black fluid.

Atatasuki looked at his shadow with eyes aflame. “Unacceptable! How can you call yourself my shadow, if you can’t make proper muffins? I disown you!” he yelled, strangling his shadow.

The shadow’s stomach made a ringing noise. It opened its chest, revealing seven hot and crispy muffins within. The shadow took out the muffins and held them in its fists, setting its hands on fire.

“With food this horrible, taste testing is deadly! But in order to eat properly baked shadow muffins…there isn’t much I wouldn’t do,” said Atatasuki as he dodged his shadow’s quick jabs. He kicked the poser’s leg and then slammed his palm up into its elbow.

The shadow’s hand popped open, giving Atatasuki the perfect opening.

The passionate prototype manually lowered his mouthpiece and opened his mouth as wide as he could. Once the flaming muffin was in his mouth, pain filled his hollowed eyes.

The shadow slammed Atatasuki’s chin from below with its burning fist.

After accidently swallowing the muffin, his screams came out as muffled gibberish. He pounded his stomach in desperation.

The shadow muffin flew out of his mouth.

His shadow pulled back its fist and then thrust it upwards.

Atatasuki grabbed the fist with one hand, his other hand still holding his stomach. “That was a disgrace to all muffins! How can you even make muffins taste bad? Deliciousness is sewn into their DNA. If my shadow is this worthless, then I don’t need a shadow! Super Microwave, Body!” His chest overheated, steam pouring out of it. The heat then dispersed, setting Atatasuki’s entire body aflame. “The muffins have chosen me as your executioner!” He punched his shadow viciously. Super Microwave, Fist!”

The flames on the heated warrior’s body all moved to his fist. They combined into a new fearsome golden-brown flame.

“Instant Bake,” said Atatasuki, knocking the shadow’s hands aside. He then slammed his flaming fist into the shadow. The fire burst out as an incendiary torrent. When the flames subsided, his shadow was soft, a little puffy, and a bit crispy.

“That’s called baking. You can practice it in hell,” said Atatasuki with a dark tone, cracking each finger individually. Both his fists caught aflame as he pushed them against his shadow.

A continuous stream of fire melted his shadow into ash. The shadow then reformed beneath him.

“I’ll never look at you the same way,” said Atatasuki, peering down with disgust.

In a different barrier, Kawai’s scuffle started the exact moment her brother’s bout began. She looked at the ceiling, lost in thought. Her eyes beamed with childish wonderment.

“What if I could be with Exp 8 and his shadow at the same time? It would be incredible! That would be the ultimate threesome,” said Kawai, a trail of drool dripping from her mouthpiece.

Kawai’s shadow leisurely floated up to her. It waved its hand in front of her face. It shrugged and then smacked her down with its tail.

“I was having a wonderful dream and you spoiled it! There’s no one around right now. I’m putting the cute away. It’s time for this little kitten to reveal her claws. Sound Shot!” exclaimed Kawai, pushing out her hand.

Nothing came out.

“Butter-muffins! I handed the Sound Artifact over. I may have lost my only advantage over you. But I’m still going to win this. Come on, you little bitch, hit this kitty with everything you’ve got,” said Kawai, opening her mouthpiece and sticking out her tongue.

The shadow zoomed toward her, smashing its knee against Kawai’s face.

“I said hit me, not cushion me! Hit me harder!” yelled Kawai as her tail spun around.

The shadow punched her in the face, but Kawai hardly flinched.

“My weakness is your weakness!” Kawai’s tail slammed into her attacker.

The shadow bounced up as soon as it hit the floor.

Kawai zoomed up and wrapped her arms around her shadow. “Energy Embrace, Drain!” Her body glowed as she absorbed her shadow’s energy.

“I had you waste your energy with those attacks so you would have slightly less energy than me. But that difference in energy is all I need,” said Kawai, coiling her tail around her shadow.

The shadow squeezed Kawai in a tight embrace.

“We’ll see who runs out of energy first. I’m still pretty tired, but I’ve got some energy to spare,” said Kawai, wrapping her legs around her shadow’s torso.

The shadow’s tail shot up, breaking the grip of Kawai’s hardened tail.

“You won’t overpower me,” said Kawai as her jet boosters started up. She rammed her shadow into the ground repeatedly as their tails wrestled for supremacy.

“I’m a little bit disappointed. You’re nothing like me. You don’t…play with your prey at all. Hey…why aren’t you getting…tired?” asked Kawai with exasperated breaths.

The shadow’s tail wrapped around Kawai’s tail and yanked on it harshly.

“Owiee! You don’t get…fatigued, do you? How could I have…messed up so bad? Big brother, save me,” whispered Kawai as she fainted.

The shadow tossed her up. It then whacked her with a fortified tailspin.

Kawai smashed into the shadow wall.

While Kawai fantasized about shadow sex, Exp 8 admired his shadow.

“Wow, you look badass,” said Exp 8, sizing up his shadow.

The shadow ripped out its Ada and tossed it at the enemy.

“You ungrateful bastard, how can you treat your Ada so poorly?” He picked up the shadow Ada and brushed it off. “NoOne has made a mockery of me! I’m going to kick this handsome bastard’s ass and then I’m going to bust out of here and beat that shady freak with a single attack!” yelled Exp 8 before firing a laser net.

His shadow strafed to the side, perfectly dodging the laser. It then fired ten nets as it advanced toward him. Each net made contact and wrapped around him.

Exp 8 crawled around in the nets like a caterpillar in a spider web. “How the hell can he shoot ten? Damn it, how does Kawai break out of these?” he asked, trying to squeeze his arms through the holes.

“It seems he has infinite energy or none at all. And as for Kawai, she saps away the net’s energy. Then she breaks it with her little bitty fingers. She’s so cute, hmmhmmhymm,” said Ada.

“Good to finally hear from you. So, how the hell do I beat him?” asked Exp 8 as his shadow slowly approached.

“I’m not so sure you can. But you might as well give it your all. I know, why don’t you use the new abilities Devlin gave you?”

“Sounds like a plan! Wait, Devlin gave me new powers?”

“You weren’t exactly in tip-top shape when you left the lab. It hurts him to see his creations perform inadequately. After Nina beat all of us, Devlin gave everyone enhancements. Well…everyone but me. Why am I so useless?”

“You aren’t useless at all. You give me helpful information…sometimes. So, uh, you gonna help me get out of here?”

“Use your upgraded strength to tear those nets to pieces!” cheered Ada.

Exp 8 grabbed the nets with both hands and ripped them apart. He leaped back to his feet as his shadow zoomed up to him.

It lashed its fists furiously, mixing high, low, and mid strikes.

Exp 8 dodged each attack with his enhanced speed.

“This is great! So, what new abilities did I get?”

His shadow’s shoulders opened up and two automated guns popped out of them. The turrets aimed at Exp 8 and fired black bullets.

“That’s one of them,” said Ada.

“That is so awesome,” said Exp 8 as he jumped off the walls to dodge the bullets.

His shadow leapt off the ground toward him.

“You’re so predictable!” Exp 8 shot a laser net, but his shadow punched straight through it. He used this moment to fire an orb in front of him. Turrets then popped out from his shoulders and pumped the orb full of bullets.

The bullets rapidly increased the orb’s size, making it bigger than Exp 8 in mere seconds.

The shadow’s jets jerked it backwards, causing it to slam itself into the ground below. It bounced up from the collision and started creating its own orb.

“I’m beginning to feel like the Ultimate Exp. BIG BALL, SHOT.” Exp 8 thrust both his fists forward with all his might, hitting the orb in the center.

The sphere of energy shot forward like a bullet, absorbing his shadow’s orb in the process. It then smashed into his shadow, crushing it against the wall.

At that exact moment, Kawai was smashed into the other side of the wall.

The shadow wall shattered from the combined impact.

Exp 8’s shadow faded away and then reappeared beneath him.

Kawai shot forward, landing in Exp 8’s arms. She was knocked out cold.

Exp 8 put his ear to her chest and felt relieved. “Good, she’s alive. Hey you, shadow freak. You hurt my little sister. Get your pansy ass down here! I’ve dealt with the true Kawai, so you won’t be a pain at all,” he said, pounding his fists.

As Exp 8 started to avenge his sister, Bob opened the curtains for his battle with the shadow master.

“I’m going to end this with one shot,” said Bob, his eye coursing with red energy.

Karson then entered, greeting his circular comrade with a salute.

“Ugh, oh well,” said Bob, powering down his laser. He then turned to the war machine. “Good work. Shall we begin?”

“You made my shadow dishonorable!” yelled Karson, rushing at the sketchy bastard.

“I’m sorry. I want to win…just once. I know I’ll have to draw every ace I have if I want even the slightest chance of beating you guys,” said NoOne, standing up from his chair.

The wall behind the shadow man began to melt.

Atatasuki busted in, still steaming from his fight. “I knew you guys would win. Sorry I took so long. I had to teach my shadow how to properly cook,” he said, his fists aflame with rage.

“We must begin this instant! If I happen to beat the three of you, then I’ve actually won,” said NoOne, lifting his head up.

NoOne’s body sank into the floor, becoming completely flat. The shadow glided across the floor, headed straight for the weaponized soldier.

Karson shot at the shadow, but the bullets only hit the ground.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!” yelled Atatasuki, trying to step on the shadow frantically.

The shadow’s hands stretched out and grabbed a hold of Karson’s shadow.

NoOne gripped the shadow of the Button. “Shadow Stretch.”

“I thought I had destroyed it! You can’t be serious!”

Like a mirror image, Karson’s button expanded as NoOne stretched the shadow button. It kept growing until it covered the soldier’s entire back.

“I give up! White flag! White flag!” yelled Karson, putting his hands in the air.

“I accept your surrender. Move and I’ll kill you. That’s one down.” NoOne rose out from his shadow. He leapt at silver brawler as his arm sharpened. He then thrust his serrated hand through him. “You are all weak from fighting your own shadows. Exp 8 isn’t here! Take these factors into consideration and realize that I may actually win. Kehahaha!”

Atatasuki, still impaled to NoOne’s hand, looked down at him and gave him a thumbs-up. “I’m glad you’re finally gaining some confidence.”

“It’s time to show the Freedom Forcers my worth,” said Bob, floating toward the shadow bender. He fired a quick laser, cutting his opponent in two.

NoOne’s upper half fell to the floor. He ripped off the arm holding Atatasuki and stabbed it in the ground. “Stay there while I finish my fight.” He sharpened his other arm into a sword.

“Alright, but only because you asked so nicely,” said Atatasuki, holding his wound while seething in pain.

NoOne’s upper half leapt forward and lashed its hand at the battle ball.

Bob swerved out of the way, floating behind NoOne’s upper half. He then surrounded his body with spectral drills.

By the time the shadow master turned around, it was too late.

Bob rammed into NoOne, making spiral holes all over his body.

“Shadow Manipulation, Self Betrayal,” said NoOne as his upper half swirled in unison with the drills piercing him.

Bob shot a laser at point-blank range.

As soon as the laser was released, his shadow fired out a laser. Their lasers clashed, sending sparks flying every which way.

Bob turned his eye slowly, angling his shadow’s laser.

The laser drilled into the ceiling.

A circular piece of rubble collapsed from the roof and crashed into Bob.

“It’s okay, man. We all make mistakes!” hollered Atatasuki.

NoOne’s blade-arm stretched like elastic as it repeatedly stabbed through the rubble at various angles.

“Cheap! Cheap! I’m calling it! That was unfair!” yelled Karson, still holding his arms up.

NoOne pulled the battle ball up to him. His chest morphed into a grater. He dragged Bob up and down the grater as the helpless Exp screamed in agony. The shadow master tossed his victim aside carelessly once he was finished.

Bob crash-landed right in front of the shadow man’s bottom half.

The chopped shadow wrapped around him like a constrictor.

“Is that it?” asked NoOne as he looked around with paranoia.

Bob fired his laser at NoOne, but the shadow master deflected it with a laser from his attacker’s shadow.

The laser sliced into the ceiling, causing another chunk of rubble to collapse on Bob.

“If you try once and fail, don’t bother trying anymore, you’ll just fail again. Ohooh, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but here it comes: you have all lost! Face it, Freedom Forcers, without your leader by your side, I can actually win!” exclaimed NoOne, his hands flinging upward.

When Bob was about to obliterate NoOne with a single laser, Kawai’s shadow confronted Exp 8.

The shadow entered through the remains of the shadow wall, paying no heed to his insults. It jetted itself onto his face and latched on.

Exp 8 ripped the shadow off his face. “Her shadow is clingy too, huugh.” He tossed his sister’s shadow up like a tennis ball and slammed his fist into its face.

As a result of his new awesome power, the shadow skyrocketed into the wall way in the back.

The shadow wall stretched to its brink and then shot Kawai’s shadow back.

As the shadow zoomed toward him, it flipped in midair. Its tail recoiled, smacking Exp 8’s chin. With the increased velocity, the attack knocked the enemy off his feet.

Exp 8 dropped Kawai, but quickly caught her with his prehensile tail. “Hell yeah! And I thought it was just for decoration.”

The shadow fired a laser net from its palms during the confusion.

The nets wrapped around Exp 8’s arms, holding them against his back.

His tail grabbed onto Kawai’s tail as she slipped out of its grip.

“You can’t hold me down!”

As soon as Exp 8 broke free of the nets, the shadow latched onto his face. He ripped it off like an adhesive bandage and then got a better grip on his sister. “Damn, this thing is a leech with infinite energy!” He slammed the shadow to the ground.

It bounced up at just the right height for a follow-up attack.

Exp 8 punched rapidly with his free hand, building up speed. He then hit the clingy shadow with the refined force of his fist.

The shadow was sent flying forward like an airplane. It smashed through an entire line of shadow walls. It then crashed into the final shadow wall, stretching the rubbery wall to its threshold.

“I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with you, little one. NoOne is the one controlling you. I’ll be sure to kick his ass for you.”

The wall recoiled.

Kawai’s shadow was once more sent flying back to Exp 8.

A single small orb came out from his hand.

The shadow crashed right into it, but it didn’t explode.

“I’m in control now.” Exp 8’s shoulders opened up, revealing his turrets. They shot into the orb, expanding it exponentially. The leader of the Freedom Forcers turned away. “Boom.”

The explosion consumed every shadow cell with it into oblivion.

Exp 8 flung Kawai back into his arms and held her close to his chest.

His sister awoke with a stretch and then beamed up at him.

“Don’t worry, sister, everything will be okay now,” said Exp 8, touching her cheek.

Kawai smiled weakly.

Exp 8 kicked the shadow wall in front of him. His leg talons tore it open.

“I bet I’m the first one to show up.” He then squeezed through the hole awkwardly.

NoOne looked in front of him, sighing as he saw Exp 8’s leg poking out.

NoOne’s torso rushed to battle. His upper half lunged at rebel leader and slashed furiously.

Exp 8 trapped the shadow manipulator in a double laser net. He looked at his defeated allies, his fist quaking. “I’m the last one to arrive?! This is ridiculous!” His turrets fired at the nets as he walked toward Atatasuki.

“How are you doing, brother?” asked Exp 8, trying not to sound worried.

“We softened him up for you,” said Atatasuki with a blood-smeared smile.

NoOne sawed through the fortified net, tearing himself free. “I have a winning streak. I’m not going to let you ruin it!” he yelled as his upper half stampeded toward the hero.

“Honestly, I’m a little worn out from my fights. Kawai, can you drain what’s left of his energy?”

“Of course…anything for you…big brother,” said Kawai drowsily as she left his arms and floated up to NoOne. She tightly embraced the enemy, depleting nearly all of his energy.

“I have infinite energy!” exclaimed NoOne, barely standing up.

“When you use it up so carelessly, of course you’re going to run out,” said Exp 8, almost tipping over.

Kawai floated back to her big brother and drifted into his arms.

“Karson, you can relax now, huh-heh.” Exp 8 crouched and flicked NoOne’s upper portion.

The shadow master fell to the ground, knocked out on impact.

NoOne’s shadow walls faded away. His bottom half vanished along with his arm, freeing both Atatasuki and Bob. Karson’s button then shrank back to normal size.