"Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world."
― Arthur Schopenhauer, Studies in Pessimism: The Essays
A clash of metal, iron spikes in his ears. Each blow from the Monkey’s staff numbed his body, Excalibur kept in his hand by instinct. Arthur frowned behind his moustache. The iron pole in his enemies hands hit with the weight of a moon, enough that he felt tested. For the first time since he’d been chosen by this cursed sword, a tingle of excitement touched his heart.
“You’re very impressive!” Monkey stopped his attack, perched on his staff. “But if that’s all you can do, I need to wrap this up… how long is ten minutes?”
“I.. you… what?” Arthur stumbled, awash in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“I promised I’d be done in ten minutes, but that ass usually falls asleep… so maybe I have time!”
Monkey slapped his staff against his palm, a grin on his face. The pole grew thicker than a barrel, ludicrous compared to his size.
“I’m going to give you twenty-five percent power, then I’ll deal with the rest!”
An iron column appeared before Arthur’s nose, too quick to block. A piston that cleaved the earth and buried him within the rock.
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“So, who’s next?” Monkey tilted his head. “How about you?”
He took a step and landed a mile away, under the shade of a huge tree. Rafe recoiled, a spring of movement as the halfling twisted from Monkey’s reach.
“Keep your hands to yourself!”
Rafe darted back, toward Aangor and the rest. He’d slunk to the side, hopeful that he could avoid the battle. Monkey had other ideas, his nimble fists a step behind as Rafe flipped and dodged.
“You’re slippery,” Monkey squinted. “I can’t see your face either… are you a ghost?”
“Certainly not!” Rafe backflipped through Monkey’s lung, dagger aimed for his face. “I’m the one who killed you…”
Dagger met flesh, the sound of metal on metal. A few sparks flew from Monkey’s fur, a reward for Rafe’s efforts. The weapon fell from his numbed hand, discarded as he scrambled away.
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“AANGOR, I COULD USE SOME HELP!”
The ape had closed enough to stretch out a hand, big enough to cover a city block. Monkey laughed and swatted with his staff, a casual blow that peeled Aangor’s fist from his arm like a fruit.
A bellow escaped Rafe’s friend, but the ape lashed out with a second fist. Monkey pruned it as well, a rush of blood that coated the city streets below. Aangor dropped to one knee, face a mask of rage.
“RUN, YOU USELESS THIEF!”
Aangor’s cry shook Rafe free and his feet turned, headed for Monkey’s back. A new dagger in each hand, he slipped around the amused fellow. A dance of death, where Rafe could do nothing but dodge. A missed step would be his end.
“It’s good to be loyal,” Monkey nodded, his hands closer than ever to Rafe’s neck. “Your friend will die if you run, so you better keep up!”
Blood rushed though Rafe’s veins, thunder in his ears. He moved, faster than he’d ever gone before. Light blurred the world around him, almost incomprehensible to his brain. A twisted painting he dragged his body through, muscles held by a thread. Monkey’s hand grazed his calf, then the back of his neck.
“Not fast enough!” Monkey laughed, his speed almost doubled in an instant. “But a good…” A glare of gold drew his attention, Rafe forgotten as the light built around them.
“He was as fast as he needed to be…” Fragmented stone, boulders and rocks alike, rose into the air, lifted by the golden glow. “But now his part is done!”
Arthur picked his way between the stones, as a man might walk through a garden. His gaze travelled from rock to rock, as if each held some beauty of its own. His armour was gone, as was his portly frame. In its place stood a man in his prime, barreled waist shaped by muscles alone. Excalibur shone in his hand, brighter than a star.
“Arthur!”
Rafe scampered behind his saviour, lungs filled with acid as he gasped for air. His friend was different, younger, but that didn’t matter to the frazzled halfling.
“Be careful, he’s definitely an Earth Deity…”
“Hahahaha! Earth Deity?” Monkey brayed, hands on his knees. “You’re kidding, right?”
The stone beneath them shook, even those suspended by Arthur's power. Monkey slapped his chest as a rush of heat poured from his body.
“Who said I was an Earth Deity?” An oppressive aura spread with his words. “The paths have been opened, bigger fish have entered your little pond…”
The air boiled, whipped to a furry by Monkey’s pressure. A smile, filled with wicked teeth, spread on his lips. His staff thumped the ground, and he strode forward. Arthur walked to meet him, a similar smile on his face.
“There are no bigger fish than me!” Chimes danced from Excalibur’s blade. “Now ready yourself, villain, the battle has just begun!”
Arthur vanished, only to reappear behind the arrogant Monkey. Excalibur was met with the twist of a staff, interest on Monkey’s face.
“You’re much stronger now… why is that?”
“I cannot fall in battle,” Arthur swiped at his enemies neck. “Each time I stumble, I rise again, stronger than before!”
“That’s useful!” Monkey bent around the broken space, left behind by Arthur’s attack. “You’d make the perfect training partner… but I’m super short on time!”
The heat from Monkey’s body multiplied, an inferno that melted the lands below. His staff swung in heavy arcs, a painted infinity in the air.
“I’ll let you see one hundred percent of my strength, a reward for a battle well fought!”
A golden dragon followed his staff, a serpent that grew with each revolution. Space pulled inward, collapsed around the weapons gravity. Arthur placed both hands on his sword, a star that denied the dragon’s light.
“”I’m afraid that I cannot return the courtesy,” Arthur breathed deep, his muscles relaxed. “I am as strong as I must be, when duty puts forth her call…”
Excalibur trembled, a tinny hum that smelt of grief. Light flowed from the sword, a circuit that enveloped Arthur's form.
“I am The King of Knights, right hand to the God of Justice,” Armor formed around him, birthed from his pores as power overflowed from his body. “No evil can escape me, nor can you.”
Vast wings extended from Arthur’s shoulders, tattered and filled with grey. Feathers fell, spots of light that passed though the ground.
“Be honoured, nameless Monkey, for you face the might of Excalibur!”
Arthur blitzed forward, an explosion of broken space. Monkey pounced, joy in every move. Staff extended to the heavens, he greeted the knight’s blow with all his might.