Gaiman stood heaving, immense heat radiating from his cracked armor. His body glowed a terrifying crimson. He knew his cooling system was destroyed; if he used his fire power now, his internal core would melt down completely.
"Come on!!" Gaiman roared, forced into a defensive stance, unable to unleash his flames.
Murphy didn't hesitate. He sprinted through the steam, winding up a massive haymaker!
WHAM!
Gaiman caught the punch with one hand! Even with reduced speed, the Warlord's strength was absolute. He twisted Murphy's wrist and countered with a heavy blow to the chest.
"Urgh!!"
Murphy was launched backward, slamming hard into the base of a giant satellite dish pillar, denting the steel.
"Murphy! Get up!" Philip's voice crackled in his ear. "Drones are ready... Aim for the left waist! The armor plating is open!"
Murphy gritted his teeth, tasting blood, and stood up. The Titan Gauntlet hummed aggressively, like a starving beast.
"On it..."
Murphy charged again! They clashed in a flurry of blows, sparks flying amidst the rising steam and heat.
Gaiman tried to grab Murphy to crush him, but Murphy ducked low... In his hand, he tightly gripped a Shotgun Shell Philip had given him. He channeled all his kinetic energy into his fingers.
THUNK!!
Murphy jammed the live shell directly into the exposed gears of Gaiman's waist!
"A gift from my brother!!"
Murphy kicked off and backflipped away instantly.
KA-BOOM!!!
The impact and friction detonated the shell inside the joint! Gears and hydraulics in Gaiman's waist shattered. The giant stumbled, losing his balance.
"NOW, PHILIP!!"
"EAT THIS!!!" Philip screamed.
The three tiny drones hovering above released their fully charged payload. A massive bolt of concentrated electricity struck Gaiman all at once!
ZZZZAAP... CRACK!!!
Blue lightning engulfed the Warlord. His body seized up, systems short-circuiting. He stood frozen, paralyzed.
Murphy saw his opening. His mechanical arm pumped energy until the gauge smashed past the Red Zone (Overheat). The metal of his gauntlet began to glow.
"THIS ENDS NOW!!!"
Murphy sprinted in, putting every ounce of his weight and power into a straight right punch to Gaiman's chest!
KA-BOOM!!!
The impact caused a kinetic explosion, venting superheated steam from Murphy's arm. Gaiman was launched like a ragdoll, smashing through one satellite pillar... then a second... and a third, bringing the steel structures crashing down.
Gaiman skidded through the mud and finally lay still... black smoke billowing from his motionless frame.
.......
Silence fell. The storm that had raged all night began to fade.
Dark clouds parted, revealing the golden light of the morning sun, illuminating the wreckage.
Murphy stood panting in the center of the clearing. His right arm trembled uncontrollably... his hand and forearm were severely burned from the overload explosion, skin blistered and raw.
"Murphy!!"
Philip ran out from his cover, rushing to his brother's side, eyes wide with panic.
"Bro... your arm..."
Philip didn't wait. He reached out with trembling hands over the burns. A faint, pale green light began to form once more...