Given enough time, the thing might die from blood-loss. That’d be the safe rout.

Pineapple swung out with another giant leg sweep. I jumped over it. Taking a few steps forward, the thing sent two wonky jabs my way I was able to dodge the first, but was nicked in my side by the other and went back a few paces.

I changed my grip so it was up higher on the pole and blocked Pineapple’s cross. My hands stung from the impact, I felt it ring through my arms and the pole bent into a boomerang shape, but I wasn’t the one who took the hit.

I guess I can get in at a different angle now.

I ran around to Pineapple’s flank and stabbed him with my bent bar.

He screamed again. He didn’t even try to attack he just looked around himself and screamed. Once it was finished It did a strange growl that sounded more like gurgling and glared down at me with it’s slanted eyes.

Pineapple lifted its arms, jumped up and grabbed hold of the top of the cage — more blood splattering from his eye in the process— before doing what I could only describe as juicing the acid out of himself. He squished his head on the ceiling and all of the bubbles and pustules covering his skin popped and then leaked like a barrel one by one until it was raining acid, filling the air with the smell of a horrible and potent vinegar.

“Ooh, that’s got to hurt!” The announcer said with a fake sort of sincerity, “Our champion only pulls that one out when he’s really mad, and the match has been going on for a while. A rare sight folks!”

I tuned him out and ran to the nearest corner of the ring and crouched, covering my face trying to avoid the worst of it.

“Looks like we got a little baby. Aw, can’t handle it?” the man said mockingly, “Well, even if it doesn’t make you feel better, I can guarantee it makes Pineapple feel better to know your turning red! Just like our tomato’s in the back!”

Whats with tomato obsession.

The acid wasn’t too strong (as in it wouldn’t be disfiguring unless I was dumped in it), but it still burned. Whenever it splashed on my clothes I heard light sizzling and felt the air brush up against my skin followed by a burning sensation.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I need better equipment. The boots are good, yes, but everything else I have may as well not be there.

Only once the monster stopped screaming and the sounds of the acid pouring finished did I look around again. The ring had the acid pouring out over the sides. Obviously, my boots were better than the description made it sound like.

Pineapple looked down at me breathing heavily. The creature’s bulky muscles were visible underneath all of his flaccid skin.

He dropped to the ground.

“Meteor incoming folks!”

As his feet impacted all the acid that was still trying to escape the arena exploded up and into my face I tried to cover my face again, but it didn’t matter too much in the end. A huge amount of acid leapt up from below my arms and hit my, chest, neck, chin, and all the way up to my eyes. I closed them, but the acid got in them as soon as I opened them again.

I couldn’t see more than a faint fuzz of what was around me and the bright lights above.

Crap. No.

My breathing was increasing. I tensed up. I didn’t know what to do.

Can I even fight?

My eyes were watering trying to get rid of the acid, tears burn against my face.

“Oho! Looks like this match might end a little bit sooner than expected. What a relief. The electricity bill is pretty high.”

How do I even…

A fist slammed into my chin. I felt a tooth or two crack and scream at me in pain. I didn’t know where I was anymore. I walked backward, clutching my twisted metal bar in one hand, the other grasping around behind me for anything.

“I’ll take it from here laddie!” Abs yelled.

Thank you.

I wanted whatever help I could get at this point. I didn’t care that it was one of the worst people I’d had so spend time with.

“No you don’t you little-” The announcer sounded like he’d lost it.

I heard a few footsteps and then it all went silent.

The light above me dimmed for a moment. I heard the metal above me ring and then creak.

Splash!

He had jumped over from the stands apparently. But his landing splashed more acid on me. I gasped out in pain.

The announcer quickly started shouting expletives and insults directed at Abs which quickly devolved into meaningless shouts of rage which just mixed in with the sound of whatever Abs was doing to Pineapple.

The light cut out of my vision and I felt the air following a punch rush up to my face only for it to, stop.

Fump.

“You’re turn pimples!” Abs said excitedly.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed around the arena. Silence followed for a moment, air whistled.

Thud.

“PINEAPPLE!” The announcer finally said.

"Ehh, piece of cake every time.” Abs sighed then mumbled something about eating frog legs and technicalities between frogs and toads.

Based off of where his voice was coming from, he was right in front of me. Everything smelled acidic now, I couldn’t find him from that alone.

Drifa was trying to shout something in the background, had for a while, but I couldn’t understand it with everything else ringing in my ears and all around me.

“No,” The micro-tone man said in a low voice, “Don’t you dare come up here again!” He sniffed, “I’ll meet you down there myself!”