I have always considered myself to be a giant compared to lesser men. My ancestors blessed me with my natural height which tops at just about 191cm, while I took utmost care to develop muscle worthy of this body.

Yet, in the presence of the man before me, if indeed he could be considered a fellow human, I couldn't help but feel like David facing Goliath.

With a towering presence, he stood two full heads taller than me. His frame exuded an aura of superhuman proportions, casting an imposing shadow that seemed to eclipse everything around him. Each step he took resonated with a weightiness that commanded fear and impotence in the face of this behemoth.

His shirt strained against the defined muscular regions of his chest and arms, emphasizing the sculpted power beneath the fabric.

Even his jaw looked like it was made of razor sharp iron from the way it moved like.

Compared to him, I was already experiencing rapid weight loss from being underfed for so long, though I still held enough muscle to, hopefully, not get rag dolled by the likes of him.

“Nice to meet you.” I said, and raised my hand towards him.

Heaving a heavy breath, he turned away from me, and went towards the man I presume was his master.

“You, come over here!” Robbrecht yelled for me.

“Yes, sir?”

Robbrecht seized me by the nape of my neck and pulled me closer to him, his voice lowered and more secretive.

“If you win, you will become the champion of this plantation. That comes with less work, more delicious food and, more importantly, the comfort that’ll come.” He pulled me back, and showed me a rather crooked smile.

I couldn't help but wonder about his true intentions. If he wanted me to win, then why had he subjected me to starvation?

It didn't make financial sense to weaken a potential champion.

Nevertheless, I nodded in agreement. Winning was my only option. It would grant me the trust and respect of my fellow slaves and earn me authority in Robbrecht's eyes.

“Do you see that guy there?” He said, his gaze fixed on someone.

Following his eyes I laid my eyes on the owner of that giant.

The most accurate way to describe him would be the polar opposite of his slave.

He was of average height, and he was more akin to a fat, plump football.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I owe him money. If you lose, he will become your new master. Compared to him, I’m a fuckin’ angel!” He snorted out.

“Alright, quit stalling, you two!” The man yelled out.

“Alright,” Robbrecht slapped me on my shoulder “go get him... if you can, anyways.”

Well that’s motivating... I thought as I looked at his sly grin for the last time before going in to the arena.

Despite my intellect, I had also invested in my body. After all, according to Thucydides, an Athenian general and scholar, the society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.

Besides the remaining muscles on my body, I had several years of experience in Thai kickboxing and Taekwondo. While technique was undoubtedly important, I knew that sometimes, sheer brute force could also prevail, especially when facing a significantly larger opponent.

In this very situation, it seemed like one of those cases.

“At least tell me your name.” I asked the goliath.

“...Kyle.” He said, his voice predictably deeper than the lowest note on a massive church organ.

Of course he’s called Kyle.

A middle-aged man, presumably the one who would be refereeing, stepped between us, his face marked with a stern expression.

“Alright, short of no bites or any attacks towards the family jewels, anything will be allowed. The first man who loses consciousness, loses.” He said.

We nodded.

“Alright, take your positions.”

I adjusted my stance, spreading my legs to shoulder-width apart. Then I raised my arms, keeping them poised for both offense and defense, while maintaining a slight forward arch in my back.

In contrast, his stance appeared flawed, filled with openings waiting to be exploited. His arms were elevated too high, carelessly exposing his vulnerable liver and stomach to potential strikes.

Furthermore, his legs were splayed wide apart, making his rear leg a glaring target for any well-placed attack.

A big guy like him moves slower than normal.

I might be able to do this... I thought.

The hold man put his hand out in the air.

“Begin!”

However, Kyle, with his immense size and raw power, moved as if the wind was on his side, killing any chances of triumph I had.

In the first moments of the fight, Kyle's movements were astonishingly graceful. He swayed effortlessly, a stark contrast to his imposing figure. With deceptive speed, he slipped past my punches and kicks, his body bobbing and weaving like a seasoned boxer.

Despite Kyle's surprising agility and speed, I managed to land a few solid blows. My fists connected with his torso and arms, but it was like striking a solid wall of muscle. While I could feel the impact of my punches, they didn't seem to faze him.

Each time I managed to connect, Kyle responded with even more determination.

His counterattacks were relentless, and his immense strength began to take its toll.

Unlike me, his fists felt as if it could go through any concrete you throw to it.

One of his punches would do more than whatever I threw at him combined.

A sharp jab to my jaw left me seeing stars, and a follow-up hook to my side sent a shockwave of pain through my body.

As the fight wore on, it became evident that my strikes, while accurate, lacked the power to truly incapacitate Kyle. His sheer size and muscular endurance allowed him to absorb my blows with surprising ease.

In a split second, Kyle closed the distance and unleashed a devastating hook aimed directly at my liver. It happened so fast that I had no time to react, let alone block or dodge the incoming blow. His immense strength and agility were on full display as his fist was about to connect with my side.

This was the end for me.

But then, in the blink of an eye, everything around me ground to a halt. It was as if time itself had paused, freezing the moment when Kyle's punch was inches away from landing.

And I still couldn’t move.

“Do you need help?” A woman’s voice, so perfect you’d think she was an angel, rang out loud in the sky.