Chapter 18: Desperate Measures

Elias knew a direct confrontation with Silas, empowered by the alien device, would be suicide. He had to be smarter, faster, more resourceful. He engaged Silas, a whirlwind of black and white, but his attacks were primarily aimed at distraction, keeping Silas occupied while he formulated a plan.

He dodged Silas’s frantic knife strikes, using the disintegrating debris of the diner as cover. His “Veridian Sight,” though fractured and unreliable in the chaotic energy field, still gave him fleeting glimpses of Silas’s movements.

While trading blows, Elias’s eyes darted around the room, searching for a weakness in the device. He noticed a series of glowing conduits running along the floor, connecting the main unit to smaller emitters positioned around the diner. If he could sever those conduits, he might disrupt the energy flow.

He feigned a retreat, luring Silas closer to one of the conduits near a shattered table leg. As Silas lunged, Elias used his enhanced speed to grab the jagged piece of metal. He spun around, throwing the sharp edge with all his might, aiming for the glowing conduit.

The makeshift projectile struck the conduit, sparks flying as the energy flow was momentarily disrupted. The humming of the device stuttered, and the green light flickered. Silas roared in frustration, momentarily losing his focus.

Elias seized the opportunity. He lunged towards the main unit of the device, intending to rip out any visible power source. But Silas recovered quickly, tackling Elias with surprising force.

They crashed to the ground amidst the disintegrating furniture, a brutal hand-to-hand struggle. Silas, fueled by the alien energy, fought with a ferocity Elias had not seen before. He was stronger, and faster, his movements imbued with an unnatural power.

Elias, weakened by the draining effect and still recovering from his earlier injuries, was on the defensive. He blocked Silas’s blows, his muscles screaming in protest. He knew he couldn’t win a straight fight. He had to rely on his speed and his wits.

He managed to break free, scrambling towards another conduit. Silas was right behind him, his knife raised for a killing blow.