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."
