The golden light was still coursing through Jax's body, and he felt incredible. Like he could punch through a mountain if he wanted to. The creature that had been destroying him just seconds ago was now backing away, its red eyes wide with what looked like genuine fear.
"Yeah, that's right," he said, rolling his shoulders and feeling the new power settle into his muscles. "Now we're talking."
He moved faster than he'd ever moved in his life. One second he was standing by the bleachers, the next he was right in front of the creature, his fist buried deep in its stomach. The impact sent ripples through the monster's flesh, and it doubled over with a pained howl that echoed through the gym.
"How's that feel?" He grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and threw it across the room. It crashed into the wall and left another crater, this one even bigger than before, chunks of concrete falling to the floor.
The smaller dogs were all looking back and forth between him and their leader, probably trying to figure out what was happening. Their coordinated attack fell apart as confusion took over.
"Come on then," he said, golden light pulsing around his fists. "Let's dance."
Three of them rushed him at once, but they might as well have been moving in slow motion. He caught the first one mid-leap and slammed it down so hard it went straight through the gym floor, leaving a splintered hole in the wood. The second one tried to bite his leg, but he grabbed it by the jaw and ripped its head clean off with barely any effort. The third one managed to scratch his arm before he punched it, and the creature just exploded into a red mist.
"This is insane," he said, looking at his hands. The golden light was pulsing around his fingers like liquid electricity. "I could do this all day."
The big dog was getting back to its feet, shaking its massive head. When it looked at him, there was pure hatred in its eyes, but also something else. Respect, maybe. Or at least acknowledgment that this wasn't going to be the easy kill it had expected.
"What did you do?" it growled, its voice rougher now. "What power is this?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," he said, cracking his knuckles.
He rushed forward again, throwing a blur of punches. Each hit sent the creature staggering backward, leaving dents in its hide. His speed was insane now. He was landing five or six hits for every one the monster could throw back, and the few that did connect just bounced off his golden aura.
"You like that?" he shouted, driving his fist into its ribs with a crack. "How about this?"
He grabbed it by the shoulders and drove his knee into its stomach with enough force to lift it completely off the ground. The creature tried to claw at him, but he was too fast, ducking under its swipe and delivering an uppercut that sent it airborne.
This was the best he'd ever felt in his entire life. All that time being just another strong guy at school, and now he was something else entirely. Something better. Something that could actually protect people.
The creature was getting desperate. It let out another roar, and suddenly all the remaining small dogs in the gym started converging on him at once.
"Really?" he said, turning to face the pack. "You need backup now?"
There were maybe eight of them left, all snarling and showing their teeth. They thought they could overwhelm him with numbers.
They were dead wrong.
He moved through them like they were standing still. Grab, throw, punch, repeat. Each hit was devastating. The golden aura around him seemed to burn them on contact, and they yelped and tried to retreat, but he was too fast.
"This is too easy," he said, tossing another one into the wall where it splattered. "Come on, give me a real challenge."
While he was cleaning up the pack, the big dog was trying to crawl toward the gym doors, leaving a trail of dark blood behind it.
"Oh no you don't," he said, spotting the movement.
He grabbed the last small dog by the tail and threw it at the bigger one like a missile. Both creatures went down in a tangle of limbs and teeth.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, walking over to where they'd fallen. "We're not done yet."
The big dog pushed the smaller one off and struggled to its feet. It was breathing hard, and had cuts all over its body from their fight. One of its eyes was swollen shut.
"You cannot keep this up forever," it said, though its voice was weaker now. "That power will burn you out."
"We'll see about that," he said, but even as he said it, he could feel something changing. The golden light around his body was flickering slightly. Not much, but enough that he noticed.
'No, not yet. I need more time.'
He pushed the thought away and grabbed the creature by its hind leg, lifting it off the ground. It was massive, probably weighed as much as a small car, but with the golden power, it felt like nothing.
"How's the view from up there?" he asked, then slammed it down onto the gym floor.
The impact cracked the concrete foundation underneath. The creature tried to get up, but he stomped on its back, pinning it down with his enhanced weight.
"Had enough yet?" he asked.
It twisted its head to look at him, and he could see real terror in its remaining good eye. This thing that had been so confident, so superior, was now completely at his mercy.
"My master will not forget this," it said, its voice barely a growl now. "He will come for you."
"Let him come," Jax said. "I'll be ready."
And that's when he felt it. The golden light around his body sputtered like a dying flashlight. For just a second, the power faded, and he felt normal again. Weak. Human.
The creature felt it too. Its eye widened, and then it smiled, showing broken teeth.
"There it is," it said. "I told you it wouldn't last."
The light flickered again, more noticeably this time. He could feel his enhanced strength draining away like water through his fingers. The weight of the monster under his foot suddenly felt real again.
"No, no, no," he said, trying to force more power into his body, trying to hold onto that golden feeling. "Not now. Not when I'm so close."
But it was too late. The golden aura around his body faded completely, winking out like a snuffed candle. Suddenly he was just regular Jax again. Strong for a normal person, sure, but nothing compared to what he'd been seconds ago.
The creature under his foot pushed up hard and threw him off easily. He tumbled across the floor, already feeling the exhaustion hitting him.
"And now you die," it said, getting to its feet despite its injuries.
The exhaustion was overwhelming. It felt like he'd just run ten marathons back to back while carrying weights. His legs were shaking so bad he could barely stand. Every muscle in his body was screaming.
"Shit," he gasped, stumbling backward. "This is bad."
The creature stalked toward him slowly, savoring the moment. All that fear it had shown was gone, replaced with cruel satisfaction.
"You had your moment," it said. "Now it's mine."
It backhanded him across the face, and without the golden power to protect him, the hit sent him flying into the bleachers. The metal frame bent under the impact, and he crumpled to the floor. He could taste blood again.
Everything hurt. His ribs were definitely broken again, and he was pretty sure his shoulder had re-dislocated. The creature wasn't even trying to kill him quickly anymore. It was enjoying his suffering.
"This is what happens when mortals try to play with power beyond their understanding," it said, kicking him in the stomach.
He curled up, trying to protect his organs, but there wasn't much he could do. He was completely drained. Whatever that golden power had been, using it had taken everything out of him and then some.
"Please," he gasped, looking over at Diana's still form. "The others. Don't hurt them."
"The others?" The creature laughed, a horrible sound. "Most are already dead. The few that remain will join you shortly."
It grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Its claws dug into his neck, and he could feel warm blood running down his chest.
"Any last words?" it asked.
He looked over at Diana one more time. She was still unconscious but alive. At least he'd bought her some time. That had to count for something.
"Go to hell," he managed to choke out.
The creature tightened its grip, and black spots started dancing in his vision. This was it. After all that power, all that strength, he was going to die just like everyone else. Just meat, like the monster had said.
And that's when something flew past his head and punched the creature so hard its entire head just disappeared.
The headless body stood there for a second, still holding him by the throat, then collapsed backward. Jax fell to the floor, gasping and coughing, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"Man, you guys are loud," a bored voice said from the doorway. "Could hear you from halfway across the school."
Jax looked up through watering eyes and saw a skinny kid in a trashed school uniform standing there, casually wiping blood off his knuckles. Behind him was a girl with her hands glowing faintly red.
"That was my kill," the girl said, sounding annoyed. "I was about to fry that thing."
"Too slow," the skinny kid replied, not even looking at her.
"I wasn't too slow. You just rushed in there without warning like always."
"And now it's dead. Problem solved."
They were arguing like this was completely normal. Like they hadn't just saved his life. Like there weren't dead bodies everywhere.
"Who... who are you?" Jax managed to ask, his voice rough from nearly being strangled.
The skinny kid finally looked at him, and his eyes were completely empty. No warmth, no concern, just cold assessment.
"Someone who's clearing this dungeon," he said. "You just happened to be in the way."