"What's so funny?" you demand of Tao.
"You really don't see how hopeless your situation is?" Tao asks, sounding highly amused. "Right, I guess you can't detect energy. This new body of mine is a wonderful thing. And, it tells me your energy is dropping fast. Another minute, maybe two, and you'll be unable to keep fighting."
He laughs once again. "All I have to do is outlast you for that long, and you'll be helpless."
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Another minute, maybe two. That's all the time you have left. At the rate this fight's going, that won't be nearly enough time for you to defeat Tao.
But, there is a chance you could defeat him in a much shorter timeframe.
It's an extreme gamble, but it may be your only choice right now.
Closing your eyes, you find what remains of your power; a well of energy that's steadily draining through the hole Tao put in your body. You harness that power, and, with a yell, magnify it.
Below you, Tao frowns, his energy-detecting parts presumably telling him that your power is increasing.
You give him little time to mull over that, zooming down and kicking him in the face just before you land, sending him sliding across the ground on his back and crashing through the wall at the edge of the ring.
Tao picks himself up, growling at you and taking aim before firing another wave of energy from his palm.
You easily dodge it, but Tao comes rushing at you, intending to attack while you're distracted trying to evade his attack.
Using the Afterimage Technique, you avoid his strike, and Tao cuts through a mere illusion.
You appear behind you, slamming both fists into the back of his head and sending him sliding across the ground on his face, stopping near the edge of the ring.
"Damn you!" Tao shouts, picking himself back up and glaring over at you.
You rush across the ring, and he moves to meet you, only to receive a knee to his gut for his efforts.
>Continued
