"Strength activate!"
A roar of activation that would make someone assume the start of a grand battle between two armies, but no, it was just a human and a Gnome. The words Garrick roared are so simplistic and yet straight to the point. They could even be construed as insulting toward mages and the convoluted intricacies they conjure for their spells to feign intelligence. This was a demand for power, and no one would deny him.
The world fell silent inside the salt circle. The hum of carved runes on Garrick was followed shortly afterwards by the glow indicating the allowance of utter overpowerment on his foe.
"You know aspect buffing? I haven't met many might mages before."
Limony thought this but was unphased. In fact, he was more curious and intrigued to learn more about Garrick after this revelation of his learning of 'might' magic.
Garrick takes a step forward with an unblinking stare, he couldn't afford to blink, even a split second would mean another loss. So his drying eyes twitched with pain that started as a low moan but quickly rose to a screaming agony. Who knows how long was spent between the two staring, sizing each other up, but Garrick made the first move. The heavy thud of his boot on the wooden decking of the ship made it creak with worry as Garrick cautiously closed the gap while Limony was standing with a relaxed demeanour, which only made Garrick all the more cautious.
With each step Garrick took, the raucous crowd grew more silent, as if expecting an ultimate crescendo of violence any second, and they'd be right. A battle of might was a bloody and violent affair, and if experienced enough, it became almost like the unstoppable object versus the immovable object. Garrick, however, was far from that level.
Garrick lunged with the fibres of his body, all deadset on Limony's demise, and they agreed. Such a tremendous ejection of power to frighten the average enemy but too one-dimensional to worry Limony, who disappears from Garrick's sight only to reappear above and bring his tiny fist downward towards Garrick, who is still in motion, unable even to react. Limony's fist collides with Garrick's back and, with a wincing crunch, practically folds him in half from the impact as he smashes into the ground, unmoving, blood pooling around his face. The crowd isn't even cheering, like they did before; they only watch with a twinge in their stomachs, seeing a man crippled before their eyes.
"Garrick...?" Meetle stares in horror, tears filling his eyes, seeing Garrick unresponsive.
"I made sure not to hurt you too much, Garrick. The voyage is due to take a month, and you should be walking against after two weeks and about ninety percent healthy when we dock at Hjalthor." Limony walks over to Garrick's body, grabbing his shirt. "Understand we on this ship are warriors, and we take every challenge seriously no matter who offers it. That is the respect we give to everyone willing to sail with us. We'll take care of you and make sure you get the medical attention you need."
"Get your fucking ass up! You telling me you're gonna give up just like that?" Kyra's voice slices through the awkward silence of the ship.
"His back is broken. He won't be able to move even if he wanted to," Limony pulls Garrick's body, getting closer to the edge of the circle.
"GARRICK! MOVE!" Kyra roars again, but Garrick doesn't respond to her words.
"You not listening to me? He is physically incapable of moving." Limony's tolerance for Kyra's grating voice shouting pointless things is wearing thin.
A hand grabs onto Limony's face.
"What-" Limony confusingly ponders for a split second until an agonising vice-like grip squeezes, threatening to shatter his skull into fragments. Limony's instincts took over as his free arm morphed into an unsightly enlarged, muscled version, dwarfing his entire body, gripping the wrist attached to the unknown hand ferociously, completely mangling it.
Everyone stares in abject shock, including Limony, as whispers from the crew spread.
"He made Limony use his 'other' form."
"When was the last time we saw it?"
"Musta' been a year at least."
"He must be strong."
Limony's arm changes back as he looks down, seeing Garrick, still seemingly unresponsive, except for his mangled arm that lay beside his body and thinks to himself.
"How?! He shouldn't have been able to move. HOW?!!" Limony loses his composure entirely, which was his first mistake since the fight began because Garrick still has a working arm left.
Despite laying face-down, Garrick's other arm moves behind his body, almost snapping at the unnatural angle it moves at, forcing Limony to do something he couldn't ever remember doing in his life, something involuntary. He retreated.
Limony's eyes grew wide, realising he now stood at the other end of the salt circle, as far away as he could get without stepping out and losing, getting the attention of not just the crew but Dex too, as he stood with squinted eyes, gaining more interest in Garrick as time passes.
"I... retreated? He's lying face-down, drowning in his own blood. Why am I so afraid? And why can he move?!" Limony's mind races as he rapidly runs through the possibilities of how Garrick is able to not just survive this punishment but actively resist losing.
Garrick's working arm firmly slams against the deck, pushing against the blood-stained wood as he pushes himself up, his bones crunching with every inch he raises.
"What is this guy?!" A crew member shouts.
"If he doesn't stay down, then Limony will end up killing the guy!" Another crewmate adds.
"Stay down, Garrick! It's okay!" Meetle shouts with a shaky voice, his throat closing up.
Kyra stares silently but can't hide the scared emotions painted on her face, seeing Garrick in such a state.
"...Give...up?" Garrick's voice was weak. The energy needed to speak was difficult because Garrick was running on empty... like every other fight he had. He spits out blood and finishes standing up, turning to face Limony with his face painted in blood. "If I gave up... then I'd die. It's the one thing... I absolutely CAN'T do!"
"You'll die if we fight, Garrick. Just give-"
Hearing that pathetic word again enrages Garrick, who lunges at Limony. But his movement wasn't slow like before, catching Limony off guard, who can't dodge in time, so he blocks the incoming punch, absorbing the blow, sliding back a couple of feet. A shocking turn of events for Limony, not only did he have to use his other form partially, but despite Garrick being in such horrendous shape, Limony is somehow on the backfoot against him.
"What attack next? It has to be a kick; he just punched, and the other arm is useless-" Limony's mind races, trying to determine the next attack, but what came was something he didn't account for, nor would anyone. Garrick unleashes a hook with his mangled arm, holding the encapsulated agony of his pain. Despite being practically a sock with a mushy goo inside, it successfully connects with Limony's face with a boom, scrambling his brain.
"His... mangled arm?! He used his fucked up arm to hit me?! Why the hell can't he give up? He's torturing himself by fighting on." Limony was beyond shocked now. Not only did he have to block, but he actually got hit, and a strong enough hit to wobble him.
"He hit him?!" "LIMONY'S HURT!!!" "This landlubber might win!!!" The crew shouts in astonishment.
Limony had to respond and quickly. He throws a punch, and Garrick throws a punch with his good arm, connecting, causing an ear-splitting crack of noise to erupt from the connection, causing the crew to cover their ears in pain.
Limony was about to speak, but after looking up and seeing Garrick's crazed, blood-thirsty visage he kept quiet. If he weren't mistaken, he'd bet his money on Garrick enjoying this fight despite being in the condition he is. Limony tries to pull his fist away, but Garrick grips it tight as an evil smile sprawls across his face.
With his ever-empty energy stores, Garrick musters everything beyond what he has and puts it into his next attack, throwing Limony into the air, away from the ship and into the ocean. Limony grips Garrick as he is sent into the air, taking Garrick with him as they crash into the water a hundred metres away from the ship.
Limony reorients himself swiftly and swims upwards until he notices Garrick's unconscious body falling deeper into the ocean's abyss. He swims down and grabs onto Garrick. What the crew sees is a large dip in the water surrounding the impact area of Garrick and Limony, followed by their ejection from the water, landing twenty feet away back in the water.
"Babis, Give us a hand!" Limony shouts from the water as a half-elf sailor hurriedly chants as the water lifts Limony and Garrick up and carefully drops them onto the ship.
Limony stands up while Garrick lies unconscious, definitely not getting back up this time.
"So, what happens now?" A crewmate asks.
"A draw!" Dex decrees. "Which means you both share a hammock!" Dex laughs. Despite the situation that occurred and its twisted nature, Dex laughs with a carefree attitude.
"Back up, pipsqueak, or I'll pin you to the mast," Kyra walks over and picks up Garrick, which Limony does without delay.
"That was some fight. I'm impressed with his power when using aspect buffing. Must've been practising it for a year." Limony replies while looking at Garrick's body and the runes showing through the soaked clothes.
"A few days." Kyra bluntly replies, carrying Garrick away.
"What? That-" Limony was about to say it wasn't possible, but after that fight, anything seemed possible for Garrick.
"Right, back to work! The show's over!!" Dex bellows to his crew as they jolt into action, returning to their respective jobs.
End Chapter.