You would think being stuck mid-fall, floating above what Jax could only assume was a lake with other people while nobody could move, would be…
Less mid-fall feeling.
But apparently, being frozen also included freezing that stomach-flipping sensation of falling in place.
Though the feeling was somewhat suppressed by boredom.
Jax could not move his eyes or anything else, so he was stuck staring at the same three people also suspended mid-fall, their faces contorted into looks of surprise.
Probably like his was.
Not that he could look down and check.
Across from him, also mid-fall, was a dwarven man in a fur coat with a heavy black beard and wild, unkempt hair growing down his head.
Beside him was a woman wearing polished silver-and-gold armor.
And then there was what Jax could only assume was a bear's ass.
Which he had been forced to stare at for the last hour and a half.
He had even been tempted to start counting the hairs.
Then everything shifted.
They could suddenly move.
A heartbeat later, they all felt the rush of cold water.
Everyone came sputtering to the surface and dragged themselves out.
"Almost two hours of waiting for it," the dwarven man said, sounding almost disappointed in himself, "and that fall still surprised me."
Jax found himself staring at the nearby path, where Aiden and Liora were jogging toward him.
They did not seem rushed, but they did look somewhat concerned.
"Hey, Jax," Aiden called. "We just—"
He paused.
"Are you okay, dude? You seem kind of out of it."
Jax lay on his back, staring up at the blackness that formed a dome over the entire property.
Weakly, he said, "I had to start counting hairs. There was almost nothing else to see."
The bear fullblood whipped around, indignation written across his face.
"Hey, man, what kind of perverted pastime is that?"
"Pervert?" Jax snapped, sitting up. "I didn't pick where I was looking. I was stuck staring at it for an hour and a half, you dickhead."
They glared each other down.
There was a size difference.
Jax's pride refused to acknowledge it.
"You wanna go, furball?" the bear asked.
"Bring it, trout breath."
Aiden and Liora seemed to share a look, then shrugged and turned to the other two.
The dwarven man and the woman in silver-and-gold armor shrugged back, as if they had no idea what to do about the situation either.
The dwarf turned toward the two of them.
"Hey, Grizzle, and…"
He looked to Aiden.
Aiden mouthed Jax's name.
The dwarf nodded.
"And Pax, just make sure ya don't kill each other. You'll get yer teams disqualified."
Jax had expected more.
Instead, the group made up of the woman in silver-and-gold armor, the dwarven man, Aiden, and Liora all turned and headed down the small path, while Aiden began explaining the game and how everything worked.
Jax looked back to Grizzle.
What greeted him was the sudden mass of a clawed paw flying at his face.
Jax braced himself.
The claws scraped against his Ki as he was sent flying to the side, skidding to a stop.
But when he whipped his head around, Grizzle was already at his side.
The bear's paw slammed down like a hammer.
Jax lunged away.
The ground dented from the force.
Grizzle has used skill Bestial Body (E).
Their skin hardens, and their claws sharpen.
Grizzle has swung their claws at you.
Grizzle has used skill Shredding Instinct (E).
Their claws are sharpened by ferocity.
You have used Lifeforce Control (D).
You have used 15 Ki to take 0 damage.
Grizzle has used skill Savage Strike (E).
They surge forward with ferocious speed.
The attack has missed.
You feel staggered by Grizzle's skill Overpower (D).
Crap.
Come on, move.
Jax staggered, wobbling slightly as he tried to keep his balance.
Then he snarled and lunged toward Grizzle, Ki building alongside an ample amount of frustration.
Grizzle rose up and swung both paws down at him.
Jax focused his Ki into his head and jumped.
His skull slammed into Grizzle's jaw.
The force rocked the bear hard enough that his head snapped back, his feet lifted off the ground, and his back slammed into the wall of a nearby building.
He partially went through it.
Grizzle started pulling himself out, a snarl building in his throat.
But Jax was not done.
He landed and rushed forward, channeling Ki into his paw.
With a bellowing snarl, Jax slammed his fist into Grizzle's chest.
Grizzle's growl died in his throat.
The wind was knocked out of him as he was sent through the wall, crashed through a carriage that looked like it would have been used to haul straw, and finally came to a stop against the far wall.
You have used skill Iron Fist (D).
You have dealt 54 damage.
Your skill Relentless Assault has activated.
You have used skill Iron Fist (D).
You have dealt 40 damage.
Your obsession stirs.
Jax walked through the still-crumbling wall, his body glowing with the pink-and-black-tainted aura of obsession energy.
"Is that all you got?" Jax asked.
A bit to his surprise, Grizzle was struggling to stand.
His jaw hung like something had been dislocated, and even from where Jax stood, he could see the massive bruise forming on his stomach beneath the fur.
The bear seemed to be struggling to breathe.
He was ready for a fight despite you doing nothing wrong.
He is a bully who must be taught his place.
Show you are worthy of Beatris.
Offer her his head for his transgressions.
He has challenged you.
He seeks Beatris.
Take his eyes so he can never dare to try again.
The words pulsed through Jax's head.
He stared down at Grizzle, his breathing speeding up.
His paw slowly moved toward the bear's head.
Jax touched the top of it and began to press down.
Grizzle groaned.
His eyes took on a panicked gleam.
An unconscious, manic smile slowly formed on Jax's face as his breath raced.
He could do it.
He could destroy this rival.
Beatris would be so happy.
She would love this.
She would be his.
All his.
Only his.
"Did you have to destroy the building, man?" Aiden called. "Don't tell me you killed him."
Jax's thoughts snapped away.
He jerked his paw back, horror spreading across his face as he realized what he had almost done.
He turned.
Aiden was looking around the wrecked room from the large doorway opening before making his way over to Grizzle, who was still on the ground.
Aiden crouched beside him.
"Hey, man," Aiden said, "can you give us a signal that you're surrendering here, or are you planning a dramatic comeback?"
Grizzle took a moment.
Then he held up both front paws in surrender.
Aiden nodded and turned toward the main building.
He and Jax walked in silence for a while.
Then Aiden asked, "Do you want to explain what that was now, or save it for after the round is over?"
Jax looked up.
Aiden had stopped, hands in his pockets, staring at him with one eyebrow raised behind his somewhat smudged glasses.
Jax took a moment, searching for any way he did not have to explain.
Then he sighed.
"Let's save it for after the match."
Aiden nodded.
"Then let's see about getting you a towel to dry off."
Jax saw a chance to lighten the mood.
He gave a cheeky grin.
"Now, who needs a towel?" he asked. "I feel like I could just shake right now and get it all off."
Aiden broke into a sprint away from him.
"You stay back, you soggy mutt!" Aiden bellowed.
Jax rushed after him, laughing.
"Come on now," Jax called. "A little water never killed nobody."