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 dominating him 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. "Now we're talking."
He moved faster than he had ever moved in his life. One second he was standing by the bleachers, the next he was right in front of the creature with his fist buried in its stomach. The thing doubled over and let out this pained howl that echoed through the gym.
"How's that feel, asshole?" He grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and threw it across the room like it was nothing. It crashed into the wall and left another crater, bigger than the first one.
The smaller dogs were all looking between him and their leader, probably trying to figure out what the hell was happening. He didn't give them time to think about it.
"Come on then," he said, grinning. "Let's dance."
Three of them rushed him at once. He caught the first one mid-leap and slammed it down so hard it went through the gym floor. The second one tried to bite his leg but he just grabbed it by the jaw and ripped its head clean off. The third one actually managed to scratch his arm before he punched it so hard it exploded.
"This is fucking amazing," 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 head. When it looked at him, there was hatred in its eyes but also something else. Respect maybe. Or at least acknowledgment that this wasn't going to be the easy fight it thought it was.
"What did you do?" it growled. "What power is this?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," he said, cracking his knuckles.
He rushed forward again, throwing punch after punch. Each hit sent the creature staggering backward. His speed was insane now. He was landing five or six hits for every one the monster could throw back.
"You like that?" he shouted, driving his fist into its ribs. "How about this?"
He grabbed it by the shoulders and drove his knee into its stomach with enough force to lift it off the ground. The creature tried to claw at him but he was too fast. He ducked under its swipe and uppercut it so hard its feet left the floor.
This was the best he had 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.
The creature was getting desperate. It let out another roar and suddenly all the remaining small dogs in the gym started moving toward him.
"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.
He moved through them like they were standing still. Grab, throw, punch, repeat. Each hit was devastating. He was so much stronger now that the smaller dogs couldn't even hurt him. Their claws just bounced off his skin.
"This is too easy," he said, tossing another one into the wall. "Come on, give me a challenge."
While he was cleaning up the pack, the big dog was trying to sneak toward the gym doors. Probably planning to run away and regroup somewhere else.
"Oh no you don't," he said, spotting the movement out of the corner of his eye.
He grabbed the last small dog by the tail and threw it at the bigger one. Both creatures went down in a tangle of limbs and snarls.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, walking over to where they had fallen. "We're not done yet."
The big dog pushed the smaller one off and got back to its feet. It was breathing hard and had cuts all over its body from their fight.
"You cannot keep this up forever," it said. "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 a little. Not much, but enough that he noticed.
He pushed the thought away. He was winning. That was all that mattered.
He grabbed the creature by its hind leg and lifted it off the ground. It was massive, probably weighed more than a small car, but he held it up like it was nothing.
"How's the view from up there?" he asked, then slammed it down onto the gym floor.
The impact cracked the concrete in a spider web pattern. The creature tried to get up but he stomped on its back, pinning it down.
"Had enough yet?" he asked.
It twisted its head to look at him and he could see the fear in its eyes now. Real, genuine terror. This thing that had been so confident before was now completely at his mercy.
"My master will not forget this," it said. "He will come for you."
"Let him come," he said. "I'll be waiting."
That was when he felt it. The golden light around his body sputtered like a candle in the wind. For just a second, the power faded and he felt normal again. Weak.
The creature felt the change too. Its eyes widened and then it smiled.
"There it is," it said. "I told you it would not last."
The light flickered again, more noticeably this time. He could feel his enhanced strength starting to drain away like water through a broken dam.
"No, no, no," he said, trying to force more power into his body. "Not now. Not when I'm so close."
But it was too late. The golden aura around his body faded completely and suddenly he was just regular Jax again. Strong for a normal person, sure, but nothing compared to what he had been a few seconds ago.
The creature under his foot pushed up and threw him off easily.
"And now you die," it said, getting to its feet.
The exhaustion hit him all at once. It felt like he had just run a marathon while carrying a refrigerator. His legs were shaking and he could barely stand up.
"Shit," he gasped, stumbling backward. "This is bad."
The creature stalked toward him slowly, savoring the moment. All that confidence it had lost was coming back with interest.
"You had your moment," it said. "Now it is mine."
It backhanded him across the face and sent him flying into the bleachers. The metal frame bent under the impact and he crumpled to the floor.
Everything hurt. His ribs were probably broken and he was pretty sure he had a concussion. The creature wasn't even trying to kill him quickly. It was taking its time, 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 and tried to protect his vital 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.
"Please," he gasped. "The others. Don't hurt them."
"The others?" The creature laughed. "Most of them 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 blood running down his chest.
"Any last words?" it asked.
He looked over at Diana, who was still unconscious by the wall. At least she was alive. That was something.
"Go to hell," he managed to say.
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.
That was 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. He fell to the floor gasping and coughing.