“Begin!”

Colbie lunged forward, deciding to go with an offensive strategy. I have to get close, and not let her fire off any of her paralyzing attacks! At the last moment, she jumped forward, striking out with her right hand, expecting to break through Vera’s guard. 

Vera sidestepped, and surprisingly, used her human hand to grab Colbie’s wrist. She pulled, and Colbie came crashing down on her other side, surprisingly close to the line. 

Colbie got up, surprised by the counter, and took up a more defensive stance. Vera showed no change in her demeanor, simply rotating to face Colbie again. The message was clear: I don't need my quirk to stop that. 

Colbie stepped in, slower this time, cautious of the claw. She jabbed and threw a straight punch, hoping to break through a block with the claw. Vera instead evaded, reached down with her claw, and seized Colbie’s leg with frightening dexterity. Colbie lurched, and Vera used the momentum to toss Colbie across the arena like a toy. Colbie crashes to the ground, her ego bruised more than her body.

She looked up, and finally saw what she was dreading: Vera's claw extended, at her. She was about to be struck with the paralyzing fluid. She slammed her tail down, rolling to the side, and rushed forward before Vera could fire another shot. Surprised at the speed, Vera tried to fire again; but Colbie managed to wedge her hands between the pincers, forcing them open. Both girls pushed against each other with their strength, but neither one moved. They were locked in a battle of strength and of wills. 

Vera attempted to squeeze shut her claw, but Colbie held fast. In fact, she pried them open, almost completely. She saw that Vera’s face was bruised; she must have managed to land a glancing shot when she had been thrown across the arena. Colbie grunted at her opponent. “I won't let you use that trick on me.”

Vera’s face changed; she seemed pensive, but her resoluteness soon returned. Colbie couldn't help but feel like she underestimated the situation she put herself in. 

“My Enervo Claw,” Vera explained, “is a versatile weapon. The internal mechanics of its snap allows me to fire paralyzing fluid to my enemies, leaving them motionless. Additionally, I can generate debilitating light, sound, force, and even heat depending on how powerful snap is.” 

Colbie saw the light blue fluid building up in the well of the claw, seeming to overflow from the sides. Soon, it would reach her fingers, and Colbie don't fancy being paralyzed this close to Vera.

“There's something else you should know.” Vera continued, drawing back Colbie’s attention. “THe blast from my claw increases the more I pull back the pincer. And by resisting, you’ve helped me reach its maximum potential. ‘

Colbie faltered. Vera’s grip had loosened for a moment, meaning that yes, Colbie had forced her claw fully open. She remembered the flash when Vera had fought Hannah; and the powerful jet of fluid that had knocked her out of the arena. Her claw had only been about ⅓ open then, from what Colbie would remember. Now it was 100% pulled back, and right in her face. Shit.

Well then, Colbie thought, i'll have to make some distance!

Balancing with her tail, she threw up her leg, kicking out at Vera’s stomach. The girl flinched from the hit, and Colbie threw her claw to the side, jumping away and advancing backwards. 

To her dismay, Vera had the foresight to stop forcing her claw shut, and it still remained pulled back. As she recovered, it spilled paralyzing fluid on the platform. 

Colbie had to get back, try to shield herself from the blast, maybe throw a rock to disorient…

Vera regained her composure, swinging her claw back into true aim. 

Colbie turned her armored back and shielded her head. Too late!

“Too late.” Vera echoed contemptuously. She fired.

No-one saw the blast. The light blinded every eager eye in the arena, causing some to cry out in pain. The sound was deafening too, like a million symbols crashing around you in a single condensed moment. The shockwave of sound and light lingered almost, like a slow wave a few seconds after it happened. Not even the camera’s witnessed the event to relay to the people back home. 

When people bared to look back to the action, they saw Vera, standing 2 yards back from where she fired, her claw shaking slightly at her side. There was residue on the platform that echoed the blast, a line drive right to where Colbie had been moments earlier. Colbie, though, had shielded herself with her armored back; her body was now stuck in a broken wall of the arena, seeming to have blacked out from the attack.

Vera had won.