Edji vs. Mist

Protection of the bayside was typically an easy task for Mist, the aquatic elemental. Being a heroine who controlled waters, she was in her element, quite literally.

For the moment, though, she was on loan to another force, belonging to Seashore City. It wouldn’t be long before she rejoined her home city, but first she had to deal with the last day of duty.

Sitting atop a dock, watching the sunset while she swung her legs back and forth, she began to realize it was close to dinner time.

“Oh, I almost forgot about the spaghetti I made earlier!” Reaching into her bag, Mist dug out a fork and container of pasta, coated with delicious tomato sauce and chnkls of well cooked beef. Taking her fork, she began to eat, when she noticed that, drawing near to the dock was a strange, non-human man, covered in spikes. “Hm?”

“Mwahaha-Bwahahaha! Onward, my humble ship! To acts of villainy and utterly diabolical deviousness!” The strange man was running on what appeared to be a barrel, the wooden container spinning like a log as he ran on it.

“This is new.” Mist put away her food and waited, until at last the being managed to make his way onto the dock, his barrel stopping right next to the pier. “Hey, who are you?”

“Hahaha! I’m so very glad you asked, strange, blue haired woman! I would normally explain who I am at length, but I have a card, explaining it succinctly.” Reaching behind his back, the stranger gave Mist a business card.

“’Edji Vilalin: Supremely Sinister Schemer, Vile Villain, Master of Malice, Overlord of Odiousness, Cruel Crimelord, Dark Despot….and Attorney-At-Law’?” Mist read on, noticing a number of smaller titles in inanely small print.

“Yes, though my legal services aren’t cheap. Regardless, I thought I would only list my most reviled and wretched monikers. I go by many, many titles, you know.”

“I can tell…So, why’re you here?”

“Why, to cause chaos and disorder! To swiftly sow seeds of strife and arouse appalling amounts of agony! This is a villain’s first and foremost desire, after all!” Edji grinned darkly. “Now, I ask you to kindly step aside, while I go to engage in some crimes, such as jay walking!”

Mist was unsure if she should take this stranger seriously or not, but regardless, she knew that she couldn’t let him commit crimes.

“Hold still there, I’m not going to let you just go and do something evil.”

“Oh?” Edji asked, intrigued. “Who are you, exactly?”

“Mist. I’m a superhero who cooperates with law enforcement.”

“A superhero?!” Edji’s jaw dropped. “Could it be? Truly?”

“Um, yes…I have a license for it as well as being deputized to enforce the law.”

Edji was seemingly deaf to her words, soon turning and stroking his chin. “Hmmm…If I defeat a superhero, my villainous credit will be cemented, and I can even add hero halter to my list of accolades!”

“Um…You’re whispering pretty loudly…”

“Oh, you heard it? Then I suppose all pretense of subterfuge is out the window! Mist, I challenge you, and in defeating you, I can make myself even more magnificent!”

“You really like alliteration…”

“Aye. Alliteration is absolutely awesome, agreed?” Edji smirked. “Now, let us begin!” Reaching behind his back, Edji produced a staff and smiled. “Behold, the Crook of Contemplation, my finest weapon!”

“Fine, then I’ll go all out. I can’t risk you damaging the city.” Summoning several spheres of water, Mist approached, opening with a palm thrust, that pushed Edji back. “Prepare yourself!”

“I am prepared, and you will not be spared!” Swinging the staff, Edji watched Mist duck, but turned and kicked. His attack would’ve connected, but Mist conusted a wall of water to absorb the impact. “This cannot be!”

“Turning Tide!” swirling the water like a whirlpool, Mist watched as it caught Edji and grew larger, spinning him wildly.

“Twisted Twister!” Spinning in a counter direction, Edji became a blur, resembling a spinning top and whipping up winds and separating the waters. “Nice try!”
Mist punched, but Edji managed to evade it. Soon, the two were exchanging blows in earnest, with Mist finding Edji’s hard exterior blocked most of her simple blows, but Edji was even more surprised by her body becoming water.

“Your style is very fluid…Perhaps I should use my new technique, Thoughtwave!” Waving the staff, Edji’s mind was able to give off a simple telekinetic wave.

Mist was knocked back and began to realize her foe was getting more dangerous. “Try this!” Summoning six, rotating blades of water, she watched them all swirl like buzzsaws. “Water Cutter!”

Waving his staff, Edji managed to make a wall, blocking them all, though as he did, the Crook of Contemplation disappeared, and Edji looked tired.

“Manifesting one’s thoughts as matter is really draining…But I can’t give up!” Edji smirked. “I have so much fiendish foulness to commit, and I can’t if you stop me here!”

“You don’t have a choice….” Concentrating as much nearby water as she could, Mist readied a large stream of water. “Deluge of Destruction….”

“Looks like I’ll need help…Feng, come forth!” Reaching behind his back, Edj drew out a feather, and in moments, a large, green dragoness appeared. “Feng, Use your wind to create a barrier!”

“Um…O-okay.” The nervous dragoness was confused, but did as asked, and Mist’s Deluge was blown away, the spray spreading everywhere as Feng held it at bay.
Mist continued her stream, but ran out, and fell to her knees a moment.

Edji sighed in relief, but saw that Feng disappeared. He ambled forward. “G..give it up…can’t you see my supreme evil will be…victorious?”

Mist groaned, but rose weakly. “I can’t quit…”

“Nor…Can I…” Edji managed to gasp. “That staff took more out of me than I expected…I guess I need practice with its attack and defense uses…”

“Then…I suppose we’re at an impasse.”

“I suppose s-OOOOH!” To the surprise of Edji and Mist, the spiked being fell into the water, his points digging into his barrel, trapping him there. “Ack! NO! Victory was in my grasp! I was going to win!”

Mist sighed in relief, before chuckling, and laughing openly. “Hahahaha! Oh, man, that’s a relief…”

“I was cheated! Hero, save me so I may defeat you…No, wait, a villain like myself can’t beg for help. Some do, but it is unseemly for Edji Vilalin!”

“I can’t do that, but I can take you in for your arrest...After I rest.” Mist sat down. “That was the toughest fight I’ve had in awhile.”

“Such is common for a catastrophic conqueror like myself.” Still struggling to free himself, Edji strained. “How sad…My noble vessel, now my undoing!”
Creating a bubble, Mist trapped Edji inside and floated him over the ground. “Now, to take you to-“

Edji, however, poked the bubble with a single finger, startling Mist. The evildoer was freed, and landed on the ground.

“I’ve had people shoot those bubbles with guns and they didn’t break…You broke it with a finger poke?”

“Yes, and now I shall make my mistake. Consider yourself lucky we have tied in this destined duel, my new, watery rival!” Mustering the last of his energy, Edji ran away, dashing off with the barrel still attached to his back.

Mist tried to give pursuit, but was unable to catch up. The heroine, while disappointed, was glad she at least kept Seashore City safe, though she wondered if she had truly seen the last of Edji…