15 Copper Faced Ruben

-Perspective change-

Ruben was sitting down drinking mead from an oversized barrel in his left hand. With a half eaten bull on a skewer in his right hand. He lazed around all day. Relaxing on a bed made from a huge pile of leaves. He lay his massive head back and contemplated how he got here in life. He wasn't even really half-giant, people thought he was, and he let them, but he was actually just an unusually tall human. His bounty poster called him one and that was enough for most people to believe it. Not him. He had met a giant once and was no more than a child in its eyes.

With his size he should be welcome in any military. And yet when he tried to join the Selvar nations armed forces, when he turned 17, he was chased away for being a monster. They called him a man eater and shot at him. Just because he was different.

So he ran. He eventually found work in a circus as its strong man, but the ringmaster seemed to want to use him for more than just circus work. He had him fight in the underground circuit and took most of the money for himself.

Ruben was a patriot who loved his nation, but was forced to run and was eventually made to fight for others amusement. He hated it.

See, the Ring master had a devil fruit power. The peto-peto fruit. With it he could make anyone into subservient pets by placing a 'collar' on their necks. As long as one could hear his commands one had too follow. Of course he didn't know that little secret till years later.

One day people stopped cheering at his victories and started booing. It went on in every city they went to. He didn't understand why, didn't they come to see him win? That's when he realized he had gotten too big, too strong and his constant fighting made him skilled and faster than you would expect for his size. Now they only wanted to watch him fall.

The ringmaster fixed this by having him fight groups of people. 10 at a time? No problem? 20 at a time? Why not? 30? Might be pushing it, but screw it! Bring it on.

People ate it up. Normal men would gather to fight him in massive groups and then go home sliming thinking they had nearly bested a giant.

When he finally figured out how the ring master's power worked he had fought more than 100 times and was tired of it. He plugged his ears and stomped down right on the ring master.

When he left the circus he spent time roaming. Until eventually someone panicked at a half-giant sleeping in their yard and eating their crops, so they put a bounty on his head. They had sent a team of fairly skilled hunters, who were promptly and swiftly bested. Hunter after hunter came at him for the bounty on his head. And as he fought them off it increased until it got to where it was today.

He hated the greedy bounty hunters, he hated the crowd that cheered and booed, but most of all he hate the people who chased him away when he only wanted to help.

He wanted to enjoy his life and defend the weak, not fight for his life against savages.

He had the fight once. When it was for fun against other strong men in the circus, or when he faced a warrior who bested him with speed rather than strength. He enjoyed a challenge and friendly competition like in the early days. The last bounty hunter that challenged him ended up a contortionist after he tried to poison Ruben as he slept. Only to have the massive man roll on top of him and pin him there till the next morning. Ruben had been kind enough to drop the man off at a doctor, but people seemed to think it was a warning to those seeking his head.

The reason he was called copper faced was because his face was red. Not just any red. A rusty copper coloured red. He had inherited that straight from his mother. His hair from his father. It was a tuff of yellow in the shape of a bowl. It looked like he had a container stuck on his head.

'Sigh' he let out a large groan and sighed. The air from his breath blowing away the leaves scattered around him.

He finished his roast bull and dropped the skewer. Looking up at hollow of the large tree that was his home he smiled as he saw a squirrel run in and then back out after seeing him.

Just as he was reminiscing about the past he heard a rather interesting shout.

"Copper faced Ruben. I'm calling you out. My name is James Marshal ||. Come out and fight me. One on one, no holds barred. You hear me. I CHALLENGE YOU!"

Ruben got up slowly and causally peered our and the weirdo who challenged him. He was wearing a suit, holding a round shield in his left hand and a square hammer in his right. With a large backpack filled with weapons next to him.

"Go away. I'm to tired and drunk to put up a good fight. Come back tomorrow." Said Ruben from within the tree.

"If you promise to fight me in your best condition I'd be glad to wait till tomorrow." Happily roared the man calling himself James Marshall ||.

Ruben paused. 'Was this guy serious?'

"Don't be stupid. If you fought me you'll die. Go home." Yelled Ruben

"No can do big guy. Lenora told me to defeat you if I want to learn how to shoot like her. So I have to beat you. On top of that it's my life and I'll love it like I please thank you very much." Yelled jame back to Ruben.

'Wait Lenora sent a bounty hunter here? For me? That's just weird. But if it's someone she sent I might as well see what he's made of.'

"Fine. I'll take you on right now if your ready. But don't blame me if you go home in a body bag." Said Ruben as he stepped out of the tree. His massive size speaking volumes to his strength.

'Gulp' James audibly gulped as he got his first full view of Ruben. James is only 5'11 at best, so seeing someone so much taller than him he couldn't help but take a step back.

Ruben was slightly disappointed. Lenora had been his friend since his time at the circus and if she sent him an opponent it must be to test the kids strength. But this just seemed cruel. Sending someone as green as this to face him was like sending the someone to their death.

Oh well, he had always trusted Lenora. After all she could have turned him in for the bounty long ago, but she didn't. She was his friend and if she wanted to see what this guy was made of then Ruben would be glad to help.

He stuck his hand into the tree and pulled out a massive kanabo. (A metal studded club)

As he swung it over his shoulder he spoke. "Are you ready to die James Marshall ||?"

"Always! But I don't plan on dying today!" James said as he stepped away from his bag and out into a more open space.

"A good answer. Now come at me. Let me see what your made of bounty hunter." Replied Ruben as he readied his stance.

-Perspective change-

I steadied my breathing as I sized up my foe. He was easily two heads above even the biggest cave bear I had fought to prepare for this.

I gripped my shields handle, spun my hammer in my hand and lowered my stance. It was time to fell a giant.

Focusing inward I used the power of my soul to trigger my adrenal gland and my endorphins. Forcing them to work overtime. Somthing I learned I could do while in the forest.

I then ran forward full tilt towards my foe.

He raised his kanabo with one hand and brought it down in front of me. I sidestepped into a roll as I avoided his mighty blow. Not loosing an ounce of speed as I sprung back up and continued to run towards him. Jumping onto his weapon and sprinting forward I used every ounce of my legs strength to leap from the base of his club to the bottom of his chin. Swinging my hammer upwards I attempted to land to the first blow.

He reacted too quickly and with his free right hand slammed me back into the earth with an open palm strike.

Shaking my head and pulling myself to my feet I revelled at the half-giants strength. He was far stronger than any bear. And he was cunning too, luring me in with his left only to smack me down with a well timed palm strike. If he hits me dead on even once with his Kanabo I'll definitely be done for.

I took a second to steady my thoughts and appreciate the events in my life that led me to such a challenge.

Trying once more I sprinted towards Ruben and readied for his retaliation. Only it didn't come, he seemed to have expected to finish me in a single blow. Taking advantage of his mild surprise I bent down and cracked the dry ground beneath me as I sprung up with all my might.

It was then Ruben smiled "Your crazy. I like it" a savage grin coming to his face.

I wasn't trying to reach his chin this time. I was aiming for his knee cap. Just as I was about to land my hammer he pulled his right leg back, switched his Kanabo to his right hand and swung it at me while I was in mid air.

I panicked and tried my best to get my shield at an angle that would help mitigate the coming blow. It barely worked. Instead of hitting me dead centre with his deadly weapon I was struck by the bottom and managed to avoid being launched like a baseball.

Though anyone who knows baseball knows what happens when the ball hits the underside of the bat. It almost always becomes a ground ball.

The underside of the kanabo struck fiercely and smacked my body into the ground at an odd angle. I barely had time to use ukemi to break my fall. It was a jarring blow. I could barely steady myself when I finally stood up.

"Oh you can still stand? Your not bad." Came the pleased voice of Ruben. He had spent far too long fighting weaklings and was beginning to get interested in meeting someone after so long who didn't fall after one hit.

It wasn't just his strength that made him so dangerous, nor was it his judgment, but rather it was his reaction speed that made him such a threat. Most larger individuals sacrificed speed for raw power. Not Ruben, he was a well balanced machine.

I spat out a mouth full of blood. Wiped my nose with the back of my fist and started to rethink my approach. Ruben seemed to be happy to wait for me to come to him, so there's no need to rush in blindly.

Focus James focus. Find his weak spot. Everything has one. It's just a matter of pinpointing it. He's still human regardless of his size, so his weak spots should be in same general area. His neck is too thick to choke him properly, so think of something else! The key is to reach him without his death bat catching me. A wicked grin came to my face. I was loving every second of this.

Taking a few steps back I began to bounce on the balls of my feet. Time to get into a rhythm and trip him up. My feet started moving faster and faster. Mimicking the movements of tap and hip hop dancers, along with several martial based foot works, i started to close the distance while seemingly acting drunk.

Ruben didn't seem too surprised and only went further on guard. I began to sprint towards him while maintaining my unique foot work. Causing me to sway and bend in weird ways as I ran. I kind of resembled a lesser version of the wacky-inflatable-arm-flailing-tube-man.

Ruben lashed out and struck out once my with his studded club. I avoided it by a hair, debris being kicked up all around me. He dragged the weapon across the ground as if to sweep something from under a couch.

I jumped and arched my back like an Olympic pole-vaulter. Barely making it over the metallic studs. before landing and continuing to close the distance. We kept that up for several minutes. Ruben swinging his weapon. Me barely avoiding each strike and trying to get closer.

I was starting to tire, but so was Ruben. Strength costs wind after all. And it can't be easy swinging that massive tree trunk around.

When I was finally close enough and before Ruben stepped back, I swung my hammer in both hands like chopping at a tree and slammed it right into the side of his foot. Right on the bone that protrudes from the ankle. He reeled in pain and tried to step on me, but I rolled and side stepped every time. We continued In this strange tango from sometime. Every time I got close, I would smack his ankle, heel, or shin. All the while he was trying to stomp on me, of smash me with his Kanabo.

He seemed to have enough though. Since he jumped backwards after a particularly nasty hit to the back of his knee. He steadied himself and gripped his Kanabo in both hands before raising it clear above his head.

"You've done well. It's been awhile since anyone has wounded me in a fight like this. Minor though it may be. Now brace yourself. I won't be holding back any longer."

I swallowed down the blood in my throat before steadying my mind and preparing for his strike.

He brought down his weapon with the full force of his weight behind it. I was startled by the speed, but my mind was racing so I had time to react, not much time , but enough.

Spinning slightly and doing a small jump backwards I covered my face with my shield as the blow caved in the earth where I stood. The shrapnel from the stones shattering flew in all directions. Pelting my shield like bullets.

I used the dust cloud to my advantage and sprang forward. Gripped tight to one of the protruding studs on his weapon. When he raised it the second later to strike me once more I rose with it. Straight up in the air. Just as the dust began to settle and he realized I wasn't there. I jumped off his Kanabo and wielding my hammer in both hands again I struck him in the temple with every ounce of strength I had. Landing on his shoulder, his head tilted back as he tried to look down at me. I wound up once more and this time struck his chin. But before I could move and land a third blow he used his right hand to brush me from is shoulder.

As I tumbled down his massive arm, I rolled and jump to the side as he tried to swat me like a mosquito. Grabbing onto the collar of his orange shirt I swung my hammer up to meet his lower jaw. He was forced to take a step back.

Involuntarily falling down his shirt after the blow. I took my chance to swing at his stomach. I heard him

Ruben then lifted his shirt and sucking in air he pushed me off him with his stomach muscles. I flew off him in a strange manner. While falling through the air I tried to correct myself. Before landing. But I could see Ruben grip his Kanabo in both hands and swing it towards me. I only just had enough time to cover myself with the shield so as to not get hit head on.

Not that it helped much seeing as his full swing caught me dead in the centre this time and I soared at least a hundred feet. Slamming into the ground I continued to roll violently, until I smashed into a tree that barely managed to stop me.

At least half my bones were either cracked or broken. My shield dented beyond repair and hammer still barely gripped in my hand. I looked into the distance and saw Ruben lower his weapon. I tried to stand, but failed as I slowly lost consciousness I heard him say.

"Good fight. If you survive and your still up for it maybe we can go another round sometime." Ruben said as he rubbed his jaw and ducked back into his tree hollow with a slight limp.