User blog comment:Goldencahill/OC Written Fanfic Contest of Champions - Round 2/@comment-28185666-20161105171408

“I wanna be, the very best…” Agent Gladius mumbled, humming to himself as the Depletor finished replicating from its blueprint. He stowed it away into a Pym Particle hammer space of sorts, with the rest of his large weapons.

“…S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent ever was…” he continued, content. Once upon a time, he would have been restricted to donating a stipend of Gold to Hank Pym for a single piece of gear stowed away.

“Recruitment is my real test…” He hummed. With ISO-9 and his severance package, he could fit an entire arsenal in his pocket.

“….Max level is my cause.” He mouthed, making sure his Hellfire Club and blue tinted Diamond blade were safely stowed away before he exited the lavish safehouse.

Uncharacteristically, someone in… unrefined garments was waiting outside. Stranger yet, his target came to him for once. “Lady Liberty, is it?” He regaled, giving a falsely modest and lazily short bow.

“Agent Gladius is it?” She disappointingly stated, sizing him up. “Thought you’d be taller.” She gruffly scoffed.

Savage.

The Agent scratched his temples. “Here about the home invasion I take it?” He assumed.

“Yes sir.” She aptly and disdainfully answered.

The Agent looked at her inquisitively. “Let me guess – given ETU’s penchant for property damage… they thought your people did it.” He extrapolated.

She looked irritated at having to deal with irritating people. “And it’s been paid for. In which I’m sure your people are well off enough to reimburse us accordingly.” She bargained.

It was reasonable enough. Agent Gladius rubbed his fingers shrewdly, thinking while looking her in the eyes. “….And if we don’t?”

She was expecting that. Few people paid their debts, especially the unconscionably rich. “I’ve been authorized to make your life difficult.” She emphasized, rasping her knuckles. “You’ve practically stepped into villainy.”

That was a fair perspective and true enough. He tutted politely, and waved her off. “Lady, I’ve worked for Emma Frost. Make a genuine threat next time – “ He declared before interrupting himself, as the floor turned into… Teflon?

Agent Gladius gritted his teeth, and stayed down.

“I’ll trust you’ll wire the money, unless you want to be the fall guy.” She sniggered, taking a modicum of pleasure in messing with him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The Agent gently nodded his head. “I will mission, across the land…” He murmured, slamming his Evolutionary Fist into the ground, gaining the Moral High Ground as the pavement raised itself, breaking the material change and smashing Lady Liberty skyward. The Agent swept himself up, as Liberty lightened herself enough to float in place.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“…Villains, far and wide.” He mumbled, readying himself and scanning her with the Singularity Matrix while she delivered her monologue.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“Well, isn’t this earth shattering. You can dig your own grave, which is barely more impressive than the last guy I had to deal with.” She mockingly praised.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">He was about to respond, but… damn. Touche.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“Each character, to understand…” He babbled, syncing the Greater Knowledge with his earpiece. Substance alchemy at a molecular level. Anything physical could be used to devastating effect.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“…The combo that’s inside.” He continued, letting her rush him with a heavy impact drop, which he boldly stood his ground to, waiting. He timed it to a narrow opportunity, punching her body the instant before she collided with the ground – sending her recoiling away, and him sprawling back as both attacks struck as intended.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“Ugh….. Hellfire Go…” He groaned, as his entire body felt numbed from the shockwave. She appeared to have been knocked out, but she was already getting up. Tough. But apparently, he’d recover first – her attack spread out into the entire courtyard, while his was on point.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“Beat me to the punch. Can’t catch a break, can’t I…” She groaned equally, brushing herself up to see him pull out an oversized gun of all things. She focused on the ground – and the buildings around that Agent.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“It’s you or me.” He hesitantly sung, turning the safety off the Depletor and lining up the sights. Before he could, tiles off the roof slammed around him, throwing his attention.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Long enough for Lady Liberty to float, dash, and jab her hand onto the gun.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">It fired – the bullets and gun massively lighter – but the firepower unchanged. The recoil blasted the weapon out of the Agent’s hand, flimsily blasting off into the night. The bullets worthlessly pinged off her body, without the force required to trigger the explosive rounds.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“Let’s not fight my good lady – “ He impatiently suggested, only to take a high density punch to the chest, sending him sprawling through the safehouse doors. Well, she was probably right to be angry about him using a gun.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Impressive strength, all things considered. “Oh….. be my girlfriend…” He slurred deliriously. “…On an Earth we must defend….” He added, before sighing.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">She looked on him with a modest amount of pity. “Great. I always have to deal with the crazy ones.” Lady Liberty seethed, making her way through the fractured entry.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Agent Gladius blinked, as the Singularity Matrix finished processing. “Hellfire Go…! A strike so true….” He yelped, as his flamethrower, ignited and burst, sending bursts of fire in her direction.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">She wasn’t expecting resistance, but fissioned the oxygen in the air, turning it into pungent but inert sulfur as the flames stopped a meter in front of her. “Gold spending will pull us through…!” He announced, as the flamethrower augmented itself – gold plates finally attaching as it became up gunned. “You tripped me, so I’ll flame you.” He smirked, as the flamethrower projected the jellied fuel, bypassing the inert sulfur and funnelling a torrent of flames onto Lady Liberty.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">She adapted; she couldn’t stop the fire as it was energy and plasma. But, using one hand to maintain the oxygen reduction, and the other to solidify the petroleum, she reduced its ability to burn. Some went through, as prolific fire singed her clothing. “Hot headed bastard, aren’t you?” She managed, solidifying the chemical structure on her clothing to make them fire retardant.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">“Hellfire Go.” He responded, as he was already up and poised to pummel her with his Oni Breaker. The swing dazed her, but as soon as it connected, it dropped to the ground and cratered, now several tons in weight. He abandoned it, as she managed to toss an innocuous piece of rubble his way. He quickly drew a Diamond blade out of hammer space, slicing the debris in half, but the sheer weight of it pushed him back several meters as those pieces stuck fast in the surroundings.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">He regained his footing, dashing forward ready to slash in an overhead slash. A strike so blatantly obvious that even in her injured state, had multiple countermeasures. She intended to adhesively prep the floor so he’d cohesively stagger on the spot, open to reprisal. Before he got close enough, he slammed the ground with his fist.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">His Evolutionary Fist.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">The carpeted floor bounded forward, slamming her into the décor of the wall in a soft thud. He withdrew his gauntlet from the floor, letting her collapse to the floor, unconscious.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">She wanted to make his life difficult. He couldn’t have that, could he.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">---

<p class="MsoNormal">She awoke to a sky rise apartment view the next morning. The Agent sat 90 degrees opposite, absorbing the view while gingerly sipping his coffee.

<p class="MsoNormal">“The money has been transferred – minus damages done yesterday. Enjoy the coffee, Lady Liberty. Flat white.” He politely gloated, as the frothed latte art showed the Hellfire Club emblem.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt"> (1248 Words)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">---

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">Upon request and if time permits, an extended version of this fanfic, incorporating the extended Pokemon Theme Song, will be made available. Granted, I don't expect what will likely be 2500+ words to be judged (let alone read), and will only be done for completionism sake.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt">