As we return to Burmington. We enter the town easily with no issues. The guards welcome us recognizing us by this point and allowing us to pass in.
As we make out way in, I separate from the group to go to an armor shop to get some well, a replacement for the lost armor from before. Once again I am shirtless only this time I have scars now. More at least.
I enter the shop and explore and after a while, I find myself a new chest piece for me to wear. It is similar to my previous one except it doesn't have exposed arms. I guess that's what I am buying this time. I also buy a new one-handed sword for me to use since I lost my other one. Also a boy and a holster for one
As I finish my purchase I thank the man at the desk and walk out of the shop and return to the group.
As I make my way to the group they're chatting about some rumors of a bigger monster but it seems outlandish. So far we have only encountered large rodents and wolves. Not really monsters but meh I don't care.
"Yeah, I heard that apparently something big with one eye is marching around in the Western part of town but there is no evidence of it," Lara says to Arla.
"Hmm, strange. I have not heard of these rumors as of yet. Perhaps it is recent news."
"I wouldn't call it "news" Arla," I say walking up to them wearing my new suit of armor.
"Oh looking nice in that Coda." Arla comments smiling.
Lara turns around and sees me and turns her head scoffing at me. I guess she is mad at me for something but I am not sure yet. Gotta be something I have done. If not I am just an innocent little boy. Sort of.
As I am dozing off thinking in deep thoughts Lara taps on my shoulder and brings me back to my present situation. I look up to her with a smile and she gets a bit flushed and studders a bit with her words.
"I-ahem...I was wondering if you would be willing to get something to eat with us or if you are going to go shopping again."
"I think I will take a walk a bit around town and maybe visit Ariel. So no thanks"
"Hmmph!" she says as she turns around towards Arla.
Lara starts walking away and Arla just shrugs and walks away with her. I feel sort of bad for Lara but what can I do. I will make her understand me one day.
I start walking around town for the next couple of minutes exploring the place and scenery for a while. I also stop by some produce markets and eat some fruits there as my breakfast instead. I guess I was hungry.
As I am walking I start remembering the grey man in the suit who hired us to hunt down monsters. Or just seems to be wildlife. I better search for him while I am at it.
*few minutes later*
"Doo do doo" I start humming to myself awkwardly realizing I don't remember much music at all in my current life or past life by this point.
After a bit of exploring I notice a man and an elf speaking to one another and realize it was Ariel! Sweet she's here! But who is that man she is speaking with?
I pretend I am looking through the produce and listen in on what they're speaking about for a bit by eavesdropping.
"Oh thank you sir for the offer, but uhm...please leave me alone."
"Oh but cmon honey, you know you want to. A nice young elf like you surely would want to be with a man like me."
"i-isaid please stop. I just am here to shop for some vegetables for myself nothing more"
"Well how about a snack for me to hehe" he says before grabbing her wrist a little to agressively.
Okay that's enough of that. I am not going to let me first mother be handled by another man! That sounds weird because it is now that I think about it...Whatever she deserves better and I know she wouldn't want a hoodlum like him.
I start walking over to him and tap on his shoulder. He turns around confused and looks down at me a bit seeing at he is a bit taller than me by 3 inches.
"What do you want kid...Can't you see I am trying to woo someone right now?" he says in a sour tone which pisses me off. This confirms a few things. He is a douche. Also, he is trying to take advantage of my mother!
"I think you have the wrong idea...sir...I am just wondering if you are bothering this young lady(that sounds so weird to say about my mother)...If so please don't grab her wrist if she doesn't want you to. That rude and inappropriate." I say assertively not moving my body.
"Listen here boy...I don't care who you are. I am having this woman-"
"N-no you are not! I refuse!" Ariel says with a bit of fear.
"Shut up! Come with me!" he says grab her arm to tightly and starts walking off with her. That are hell to the fuck no! Is that a song? I swear it must be. Anyways.
I stop dozing off for a moment and walk up to his back and grab his shoulder to stop him. He briefly turns around and slaps me with his right backhand sending me a couple of steps backwards.
I put my hand to my face shocked a bit but smile. Because now I think I have my excuse now to put this man in his place now. I get up from my stand and grab him by the color of his shirt and push him against a wall.
"C-Coda!" Ariel says shocked
"S-sorry! I am busy at the moment" I say turning my head around to speak to her.
The man growls inhumanly and knees me in the stomach which hurts a lot more than usual because of my stomach injury from the knife. Luckily the armor helped.
I wince a bit with one eye closed and and throw him away from me onto the ground which he recovers fast from. He gets himself up and charges at me and tackles me nearly knocking the wind out of me.
I Take my hand and start punching his stomach but it feels like I am punch a bag of meat! He is so thicc skinned for a human.
He picks me up with both arms and raises me above his head similar to...oh no. Like Bane did to Batman. Don't break my back!
He then turns towards a produce stand and throws me tight into it causing fruits to go flying everywhere and juices to spill.
He stands up in victory over me and Ariel runs over to me in shock of this event.
"Coda are you alright honey?!" she says with a very concerned look on her face.
She puts her hand over my head and caresses it which feels good on my head. I nearly fall asleep then and there from her touch.
"Ha, dumb little lizard....bitch get over here" he says while grabbing her arm tightly and pulls her away from me.
I reach out to her and she reaches back to me. our hands make contact and I stop him from taking her as he turns away and kicks me with inhuman strength into the wall causing it to crack. and me to spit out.
*Crack*
"Ack!" I scream out in pain from the impact. I feel like a rib just broke.
But forget about that I need to protect her!
I get myself up painfully and tackle him down and start throwing hands on him. pounding on him. I grab his neck and start squeezing but her takes his hands and easily removes them off of himself.
What the? How strong is this guy! I trying pushing back but he is to strong for me. He knees me again but crack my armor somehow. He is way to strong for me!
He then throws me away again but into an alleyway with pedestrians watching the fight. Where are the guards?!
I get myself up all wobbly and draw my sword out seeing as this is a more dire situation for it to be used in.
As I draw it he charges at me with superhuman speed and grabs the handle of my sword before I could successfully draw it fully out and pushes me away. Resulting in me dropping my sword.
I fall over with a loud thud and my armor continues to crack. I better buy better armor or this guy is litterally cracked! Get it? Anyways...fourth wall break.
I get myself up and get a boxing stance and ready myself for another fight but he just stands there with my sword in his hands.
What is he doing with it? He start fiddling with it and grabs the sharp edge and cuts himself on purpose on the edge. He then breaks the sword in half. Oh come on I just bought that!
"W-what are you doing?!" I tell out in confusion.
"Oh nothing" he says while starting to increase in size suddenly.
He starts increasing his size up to 3 feet more in height and his eyes merge into one. he hands and fingers grow claws and he throws away my broken sword.
"Wraaargh!" he growls as his size increases
His transformation has made him unable to move. Maybe my only chance to strike a blow to him. I run towards my broken sword and grab the handle and then jump at him attempting to stab him. I stab him right in the right part of his chest.
I get shocked to the fact he doesn't respond to the attack and only smiles. He then wraps his arms around me and starts squeezing me in a bear hug!
"Aaaaagh!" I scream out stabbing him a couple more times with red blood pouring out of him.
I start hearing my armor cracking again shit! At this rate this armor will snap and I will have broken armor pieces in me by this rate.
I notice his smile and toothy grin fade a way and he legs me go and drop kicks me about 10 feet away from him.
I spit out a bit of saliva and move over to my side. I start huffing and breathing hard. I am so tired. This guy is to strong for me to beat. He is bigger, and has better pain tolerance than me.
I get myself up on the wall and get myself up slowly breathing hard.
*huff huff*
"What's wrong kid...had enough?"
"Hey stop right there!" someone tells behind him