Chapter 53: [53] When the Story Changes
The rusty pipe shook in Pierre’s hands as Gideon circled him like a wounded bear. Blood dripped from the giant’s broken wrist, but his remaining hand still gripped a boarding axe he’d snatched from one of his fallen men. The weapon looked like a toy in his massive fist, but Pierre knew it could split his skull just as easily as the saber had.
Hardy’s endurance is the only thing keeping me upright. This bastard hits like a freight train.
Pierre’s ribs screamed with each breath. His left shoulder had gone numb after blocking one of Gideon’s overhead strikes. The giant’s technique might be straightforward, but when you could swing an axe hard enough to crack the ship’s mast, subtlety became optional.
"You’re slowing down, boy." Gideon’s voice carried the confidence of a man who’d outlasted younger opponents before. "That fancy strength of yours won’t last forever."
Pierre said nothing, conserving his energy. The giant was right—Pierre felt Hardy’s stolen power ebbing like water through a cracked dam. Each exchange cost him more than it cost Gideon.
The massive pirate feinted left, then brought the axe around in a vicious arc aimed at Pierre’s knees. Pierre jumped backward, his boots sliding on the blood-slicked deck. The axe blade buried itself in the wooden planking with a solid chunk.
A coil of rope whistled through the air, striking Gideon in the shoulder as he tried to wrench his weapon free. The giant stumbled sideways, his grip loosening.
"Keep moving!" Alyssa called from her position near the rigging. Her platinum hair had escaped its pins entirely, framing her face in wild strands. She hefted another projectile—a wooden block from the ship’s tackle. "I’m running out of ammunition!"
She’s been perfect so far. Every throw timed to break his rhythm. But she’s right—we can’t keep this up much longer.
In the longboat below, the remaining pirates argued among themselves. Pierre caught fragments of their conversation between the sound of his own labored breathing.