97 Bloodfis (2/2)

The wyrm cooed in excitement as she anticipated bloodshed this early in the morning.

Azhar and Old Thane stood in a clearing within the woods. Not too far in the woods, and because it was under broad daylight, Li took precautions to secure the perimeter, placing a few shadowflies to float around as a means of surveillance.

Li sat on a fallen log as he watched Azhar take a general fighting stance against Old Thane. Zagan sat on the other end of the log, and the wyrm, cowed by his presence, huddled close to Li's legs, though she did look out to watch the mounting combat tension arising between Azhar and Old Thane.

”Do you know how to fight, lad?” said Old Thane.

”Course' I can,” replied Azhar.

”With your fists?”

”Know the basics. I can keep up in a tavern brawl, if that's what you're after.”

”Excellent. Then you know just as much as I.”

Azhar paused. ”Huh? Ain't you gonna' teach me some techniques? Like movin' around, flashy footwork, strong punches, and all that?”

Old Thane laughed. ”Nonsense, lad. You are right. In the Northwastes, where civilization grows thin, we learn no such combat art as the boxing and wrestling of the south. I've no sense of how to fight like how these southerners sway and move and jab.

But what I will teach you is how to fight, not how to dance.”

”Sounds like just my style.” Azhar smiled as he raised his fist. ”So? How's the fightin' like up north?”

”As I have said, words are not my domain.” Old Thane clenched his fists. ”And I can only teach how I was taught. And I learned by fighting.”

”Now I'm really likin' this trainin' of yours, old man.” Azhar cocked his head, looking at Old Thane with a little worry. ”But ya know, ain't bout' to rain on yer day, but even with one arm…,”

Old Thane smiled. ”You worry you will hurt me, lad? You are right. I've no illusions of how age has stolen my strength. Though I can beat to death the common man, an adventurer such as yourself is a different matter. Thus, with Li's help, I have restored some of my strength such that I may battle oncemore.”

”Took a few elixirs before ya got here? Was that why ya needed time to prepare?”

”It matters not the how when you face an enemy, just that you must match and overwhelm their strength.” Old Thane nodded towards Li, and Li realized he was nodding at Zagan.

Zagan narrowed his eyes, and Li could sense a significant amount of mana surging from the demon. The wyrm felt this, and she froze, petrified by the chaotic and destructive aura imbued within the demon's magical aura.

”Lad,” said Old Thane. ”I must apologize to you now. You will be hard-pressed. You will wish to die. But I have faith that you will persevere. You will learn.”

”Getting' mighty creepy all of a sudden, old man,” said Azhar as he cocked his head. ”Besides, I already told ya I'm ready to die for this.”

Li blinked.

Old Thane wasn't well, old anymore.

His hunched posture straightened out. His frame, already wide and powerfully built, became even thicker, his shoulders broadening. Though he already had a good amount of muscle leftover from a lifetime of combat and days of manual labor, it was exactly that: leftover muscle.

The rest that had faded away with the years and a life of peace began coming back. Muscle started to grow everywhere, and Old Thane almost looked like he was expanding outwards. He usually wore loose fitting shirts and pants, and Li had always thought this was because he had not been able to afford good clothes, but he realized now that there was a time that the old man had fit in them.

In fact, Old Thane's body strained against his clothes, almost tearing them. A network of bulging veins criss-crossed his forearms, and it was very apparent now that his hands, wide and hardened like calluses and scar tissue to be like bricks, had not gotten to that point from picking weeds, but instead by cracking skulls.

But though Old Thane's body changed so drastically, where he changed the most was his face. His wrinkles had all faded away. Loose, aged skin around his jaw tightened up, revealing a razor edge of a thickset square jaw perfectly built for absorbing impacts. His beard and hair had grown immensely, connecting together to frame his face with what looked almost like a mane of snowy white hair full of vigor, not age.

His expression twisted into a wide smile, baring teeth that were whole and sharp almost like those of a wolf. His eyes were still cloudy, still blind, but they were now wide with energy. There was not a single hint of patience or gentleness on that face.

It was pure, unbridled bloodlust.

Old Thane stepped towards Azhar, his arms hanging slightly bent at the sides because of the sheer width of his back muscles. Without a hunched back and muscle to fill out his frame, he towered over Azhar, even moreso than Launcelot did, and with that white mane, he looked almost like a lion, more beast than man.

”The hell kinda elixir did you drink, old man?” said Azhar, visibly shocked.

Old Thane closed the distance between himself and Azhar in an instant and loosed a massive haymaker at the hinterlander.

Azhar reflexively ducked under the blow, letting a fist the size of his head whistle past him.

”No heads up, old man?” said Azhar, still joking, but now a hint of nervousness invaded his voice.

Old Thane used his other arm to reach down and grab Azhar by the shoulder. With a roar, he ragdolled the ranger, picking him up and tossing him straight into a tree like he was throwing a pebble.

Azhar coughed as his back slammed against the tree, the trunk cracking at the impact.

”You talk too much,” said Old Thane. Or rather, this was no longer fully Old Thane. It was not just his body that had turned back the clock – his mind had reverted too, back when people called him the Bloodfist. His voice was full of strength, echoing out with a low rumble, like he was permanently growling. ”You wanted the Bloodfist? You have him. You wanted your fight? You have it.”

Old Thane took a step forwards and narrowed his eyes, his ears twitching as he heard a rasp in Azhar's breathing.

”Broken ribs and a pierced lung. Already dying. And you wished to learn how to fight? Pathetic.” Old Thane turned to Li with a nod.

Li waved his hand and healed Azhar fully.

Azhar stood up as his internal damage healed, his hand clutching at his side. ”The hell happened to you, old man?”

Old Thane charged forwards and unleashed a massive punch. Azhar, now more aware, rolled under it, getting behind Old Thane. Old Thane's punch collided with the tree trunk where Azhar had rested on, blasting it apart entirely in a shower of splinters.

”Shut your mouth, boy” said Old Thane as he turned to Azhar. ”And fight.”

”This is all part of the training,” called out Li to Azhar in a calm, casual and explanatory tone. ”When you go down, so long as you don't straight up die, I'll heal you. Eventually, the old man said to me, you'll learn.”