Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"Do you need some help?" Shinobu sounded genuinely concerned. Hendricks had just been knocked flat on his back into the mud. The underground fighting pit was a musty, dark room located in a secret basement of the local tavern. It smelled of smoke, salty sweat and blood. The crowd of fighters and npc's encircled the two brawlers, forming a claustrophobic ring. Their constant yammering became a drone that would swell or fall depending on how people's bets were fairing. The bard stood up and patted his pants. Blood filled his ears as hot anger began to take root. If he couldn't win a simple brawl here, how would he be able to win Steel and Soul? His opponent spit a disgusting looking loogie into the mud and grinned. An imposing, muscular monk advanced quick and mercilessly on Hendricks. Body shot, Right hook, followed up by a round house that buckled his legs. Hendricks could barely keep his guard up. A bard had to make music to enhance their offense or defense but he couldn't very well play his guitar in this situation. His opponent didn't even give him room to breathe! Two more punches connected in his ribs. Hendricks felt sore all over from being pummeled.

"Are you just gonna waste my time or are you gonna fight back?" The monk barked, throwing quick jabs at the bard's face.

THUD! WHAM WHAM!

POP, POP, BAM!

Each hit echoed through Hendrick's body. He hit the ground again, harder this time. Mud caked on his clothes, his face. He laid there for a while, not sure what was the point of continuing. A support caster had no business in a fight like this. The whole point of his class was to stay far away from conflict.

"Stay down clown. Unless you want me to keep beating you like a drum." The crowd roared with laughter at the monk's taunt. However, Hendricks realized something in that moment. A light bulb clicked on in his mind as the idea took root. His enemy had helped him learn something other than how to be a punching bag. To be an effective bard in the Ether, one had to play music that fit the tempo of their battle but there was actually no restriction on what they used to make said music. As long as there was a rhythm and a melody, a bard could access powerful enchantments. Hendricks hoisted himself back to his feet. The monk got into his stance to finish the job but was halted in shock. Hendricks raised his fists like a boxer. The monk shrugged it off as a bluff. A bard couldn't beat a monk hand to hand, which was absurd! He rushed in under Hendricks' guard, delivering a powerful blow to his sternum. Surely this would put him out for good. To his surprise though, two quick punches pummeled his shoulder. Weak and ineffective.

"This is just sad now man." The monk said through gritted teeth. "Give up already so we can get on with our lives!"

Two more shots. Then a third. The monk blocked them easily but then noticed something. Hendricks was humming some kind of odd tune. The discordant melody swelled in his throat as he began to sing. The bard swayed in his boxing stance to the timing of the song. The monk was perplexed to say the least. Hendricks, still humming, began pounding his chest rhythmically. Bit by bit, soft light began to gather around him. The bruises and cuts on his body started to heal as he drummed on himself with his fists. The monk rushed forward to stop whatever the bard was doing. He threw an uppercut aimed right at Hendricks' chin but missed? No. Hendricks had dodged it?! A counter attack caught the monk off guard as a staccato of jabs peppered his left side. Hendricks danced around him, hitting him all over. His strikes had started out weak, but each one seemed to be getting progressively stronger as they struck to the beat on the monk's body. He became aware of the music being made as they continued to fight. Each hit, both given and taken, began to form the bard's song. The battle moved and flowed, controlled by the music. Almost imperceptible whisps of red mana swirled along Hendricks' arms as his body fed off the magical energy. Finally, surprising even him, one of his punches connected with the monk's jaw. It staggered him. The fighter crumpled to one knee from the force of Hendricks' enchanted fist. Everything got quiet then. Shinobu's was just as shocked as everyone else. Suddenly, there was an explosion of applause. The momentum of the crowd shifted, they began to chant.

"Bard! Bard! Bard! Bard!"

"Yeah! You like that? Not so great getting punched in the face, is it?!" Hendricks said with a great amount of satisfaction. This was the power he was looking for! A little more practice and he would be unstop-

The monk's reply came in the form of a spinning kick that clocked Hendricks in the side of the head. He fell to the ground for the last time, unconscious. The crowd paused at the sudden turn of events. The monk swaggered to the middle of the ring, threw both hands up and roared. The audience roared back in approval.

Staring up at the ceiling, the bard could taste blood in his mouth. It didn't immediately sink in that he'd lost. The cheering of the crowd simmered as everyone got ready for the next match. Shinobu appeared above him, holding her hand out.

"That was awesome! What the hell was that man?"

Hendricks smiled up at his partner, grabbing her hand to hoist himself up off the ground.

"I'm not sure but I think I just invented a new genre of music." he said cheerfully.