The Original Beefcake

"So this is what happened." Kou touched his chest where the skin was still fresh and rosy. "We have already informed the authorities and given them all the evidence. On the plus side, it seems we are allowed to keep the equipment and sell it to settle damages." Marcus gave Kou a weak smile, but the man seemed deep in thought. They were on the second level in the hospital building and a warm breeze came through the half open window. It smelled like the sea. "There was nothing you could have done. It was an ambush and a wicked one too. If they hadn't underestimated me and Mason we would have suffered heavy losses," Marcus said and Kou nodded.

"Did you know this was the second attempt of an expedition by this science group?" Kou said, staring out of the window and Marcus shook his head. "The first time we met a swarm of small nasty things that tried to eat us. The security group ran away, leaving the civilians behind. I was the only one who stayed to defend them. Four people died before we got out. Of course we burned the names of the bastards who ran away, but it matters not." Marcus was shocked to hear this, then he remembered a tense atmosphere between the scientists and the security group. "This time nobody died and nobody ran away." Kou smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, "But we might be cursed." Now both of them laughed.

They continued to talk about the ambush and what they could do to prevent something like this in the future. Then Kou asked Marcus something difficult, "Marcus, how are you so strong? How can you be so tough and yet have so much power at this low level, as a Fighter?" Kou looked him into the eyes and Marcus saw nothing of the nervousness and tension of the first days, Kou was absolutely calm. Marcus knew Kou only for a short while and they would part in a few weeks. What can I tell him? Marcus thought.

"It isn't for me. It is because of Achara," Kou said. "I'm a supporter, I know that and I really enjoy it too. I never wanted to be leader…," his voice trailed off. Then his eyes focused again, "Achara doesn't show it, but you being so strong really hit her hard. You are younger and your class is at the bottom like hers, but you make it work and she feels like she is failing." Marcus didn't answer for a while and Kou could see him struggling, "It is okay, just give it a thought."

Marcus left the military hospital and walked back to the dorms. By the time he had entered his room he had made up his mind. He pulled out his new laptop and a familiar alien artifact. He wrote down some numbers, a few sentences of advice and what he hoped were wise guiding words. He read it a few times and changed a few things around and realized he had no printer. Lucky for him many scientists are stuck in their ways and they have several printers. Minutes later he knocked at Achara's door. "Yes?" She opened and looked at Marcus with tired eyes. Marcus took her hand and put a folded piece of paper in it. "The rest is up to you." Without another word he walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Achara behind.

Kou came back to the dorms the next day and told everybody they would return to the dig site tomorrow. "Are you sure you are fit again?" Achara asked, with a worried look. "I have recovered and by the time tomorrow I will be back to 100%," he said with a smile.

With the money from the sales of the bandit gear Mason paid Marcus back, looking much happier now. They prepared for the return journey and Marcus spotted a pair of knives in Mason's equipment. "You are dabbling in melee, too?" He asked and watched the man load some of his belongings into the car. "Dabbling? I might not be focused on melee, but a greenhorn like you I can take on any day," Mason said with a grin. Marcus knew that there were Arcane Archers who had started to move away from a pure ranged focus to a more hybrid combat style. Mason seemed to be one of them. "Why the change? Is pure ranged not much safer?" Marcus asked, out of curiosity.

To Marcus' surprise Mason took out a cigarette, quickly checked for Ms. Russell, and lit it up, "A few years back I would have agreed with you. I was quite proud of my abilities and performance and I never bought into the whole 'second rate' damage dealer shit you read in the forums. That was until I saw a high level Elemental Mage in action." He blew some smoke into the perfect blue sky.

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"They always had a lot of fire power, but once they get their Game Changer. It isn't even close." Game Changer, a common term used to describe a passive ability, abilities that are always active or activate under special conditions by themselves. They are considered some of the most powerful abilities any class can get. In the case of the Elemental Mage their fourth ability Mana Boost is such a Game Changer. Elemental Mages have powerful attacks, but get drained very quickly. Mana Boost changes that. If an Elemental Mage was able to throw out a dozen big attacks over a long battle, now they could throw a dozen per minute and keep going.

"I realized, I will never be able to compete with something like this and started to look for alternatives. A hybrid style is more demanding, but it offers more options," Mason said and added, "If you like, we can go a round or two." Marcus was happy to do that. "Just don't go overboard!" Kou warned them, they wanted to move the next day. Marcus and Mason got into armor and met in the training room. Mason took out two simple knives and Marcus stopped him, "You should use your real knives." Mason laughed, "Don't worry I don't look down on you. I will use them later, you will understand it then."

Figthing Mason was tough. The man wasn't only fast and reasonably strong, he had no refined fighting style. While Lars and Russo had highly efficient styles, Mason's fighting style was born from experience and practical combat. He constantly changed his attacks, weaved in feints and sometimes weird movements that confused Marcus. That said, Marcus did his best and Anchor together with his high vitality caused Mason problems.

"I can see how you would be a pain in the ass to deal with. And strong attacks against you feel like I'm hitting myself. You aren't moving at all," Mason praised Marcus, and he tried even harder. After a few rounds Marcus finally got a low powered Impulse Hammer in. It was still enough to throw Mason to the floor and made him cough. "Holy mother of god," Mason moaned. "That is your attack?" Marcus smiled and gave him a hand.

"That is one wicked attack you have cooked up. It bypasses armor nearly completely and hammers you with raw power," Mason said, and Marcus felt proud of his achievement. "Alright, then I will show you mine too." Mason changed his knives and took out another pair, which looked not that much different to Marcus. "You heal quickly, right?" Mason asked, and Marcus started to feel a bit worried.

They went back into their starting stances and the dance started anew. Marcus was extra cautious and Mason danced around him with his superior speed. They clashed several times and suddenly Marcus felt pain rushing through his left arm. When he looked at it, Mason's knife stuck in it up to the hilt. Marcus gasped and Mason took the knife out. Some blood trickled on the floor. Mason shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry for that, but I thought experiencing it would be the best way for you to understand." Marcus looked at the knife that so easily had overcome his armor and his toughness. "What just happened?" Marcus asked.

"You know about Penetrating Arrow? It is based on our ability to harden materials for a short time. I can do the same with these knives. They are extra thin and in the hand of the average person they would break or dull quickly. In the hand of an Arcane Archer, who knows their shit, they become deadly weapons. Especially against big, tough targets like you," Mason explained. "You gonna be fine, right? I don't want to be chewed out by Kou or Ms. Russell," The American said, with an apologetic smile. "No worries, it will be gone in a few hours. Thank you for this lesson, I have a lot to think about." Marcus said respectfully.

"Yes, don't tell Kou. He would be mad." Kou stood at the door and watched them with his arms crossed. "Oops," Mason said. "It will be alright Kou. There will be no problem tomorrow." Marcus tried to defuse the situation, but Kou had a wolfish smile. "Then Mason, what do you say is Marcus's greatest weakness?" The other man thought for a moment, "Speed, but even more so reach. Marcus has no tools for an enemy who can stay at range." Kou nodded in agreement. Marcus knew that, but his class had no options for this and ranged weapons didn't fit his combat style at all. "That is why you absolutely need a support or a good ranged damage dealer next to you. Or your whole power turns to nothing," Kou explained, with a serious look on his face.

"And Marcus, what do you think is Mason's greatest weakness?" Kou asked, and Mason squirmed. Marcus looked at the long haired man and thought for a moment, "Durability. He has power and speed, but if he gets hit he might fall very quickly." Mason looked unhappy, but didn't deny that.

"And because of that he needs somebody who keeps enemies off his back," Kou said. "You two better learn to work together." Kou left without scolding them any further. "I think we were schooled right now," Mason said and Marcus nodded. Kou saw a lot and understood a lot, Marcus had no doubt he was an amazing analyst. "How much power did you put into that hit from before?" Mason asked, with his eyes still on the back of Kou. "20-30% I would say," Marcus said.

"Your abilities are scaling with vitality, aren't they?" Mason said. Marcus felt caught and panic set in. He turned without saying anything, but the other man continued, "It is the only way this is possible. When do you intend to share this knowledge with the rest of the world? There are a lot of Fighters out there struggling." Mason didn't wait for answer and walked towards the shower, leaving Marcus behind, feeling like an ass.