Gabe's wooden arms bore the brunt of the kobold's relentless assault, each swing of the berserker's hands leaving fresh gashes of varying depths. The wood splintered and cracked under the onslaught, yet Gabe's focus was elsewhere. The pain, though present, was a distant echo in his mind, overshadowed by the urgent need for a change in pace. All the while, the trainees and adventurers watched on. Hope, trepidation, tiredness, it was all there.
Gabe's mind continued its never-ending race, hollowed eyes darting around both his opponent and surroundings. They soon landed on his game changer. 'Those will have to do.' The now frenzied kobold paid no heed to Gabe, more interested in sinking her claws into the vertical guard. The price for that soon presented itself as Gabe shoved the kobold back.
Rabid barking was the only warning he got before the dog-based monster leapt. And as she drew the fierce yet elegant arc, Gabe saw it—a fleeting opening as the mad mauler overextended, her balance momentarily compromised. With a swift, decisive movement, Gabe rolled. The kobold's eyes widened in surprise as her target evaded being shredded...AGAIN! For the COWARD! HE! WAS! Sliding to a halt, the kobold turns... and pauses as she tried to process what she saw along with the other trainees.
Gabe stood in his impersonation of a boxing stance. His leafy appearance was still there, and the orange poncho, though slightly ripped, was still functional. The only difference was his arms. Jutted splinters coil around his forearms, the ends, creating small cracks that were slowly mended by the sap leaking from them. Shakily, one of the arms was raised, the palm pointed towards the frustrated Kobold, the pointer and thumb perfectly aligned with Gabe's vision. "God, hope this works...fractured needle." The wispy murmurings of Gabe were barely heard as the sap changed to wood. And then chaos ran rampant.
The thorns were propelled forward; a wall of repurposed flesh launched at his opponent. Hairs standing on end, the Kobold zigzagged across the field as the shrapnel littered the ground just like before. A shadow appeared in her peripherals, but by then it was too late. Gabe's fist collided, launching his opponent out of the ring.
Breathing heavily, Gabe stood tall, his frame seeming even larger under the sun's final light. The match finally over, the drill instructor sent the rookies home. As the last of them shuffled out, the gate was soon closed once more, leaving the adventure platoon with themselves. "My, what a fascinating lineup we have." Jeremy was the first to speak on the recruits. The drill instructor snorted. " 'fascinating' is putting it likely. They are more like walking disasters the lot of them." His eyes narrowed as he thought of what he saw today. "Especially a certain someone. Jeremy, did the book have any records on that oakly fella?"
"None actually." The wizened medic's response made a few of the adventurers tense at the implication of an unknown factor. The drill instructor folded his arms behind him in contemplation. "I see. we'll keep him close for now. IF anything suspicious is found, you lot know what to do with 'unwelcome guests.' "'SIR, YES SIR!'"
The villagers stood around as the inauguration ceremony took place. Though mirthed on the more 'abnormal' adventures-to-be, they were still accepting. Better these guys than them after all. Gobsung flipped the small brooch as much as he could, his eyes glinting at the small emblem. Gabe also looked at his, but with more thought into what it actually meant. He, a once aimless wanderer, now had something to works towards. The instructor droned on before declaring that 'initiation', will begin tomorrow. The final test before being a full-fledged adventurer.
Now returning to the Ox's Grazer, the goblin and tree pause as they watch Matt, contrary to Gabe's expectations, bustle about, taking orders to be later served by his hired hands. Gobsung simply ordered whatever dish had a mix of honey in it. "Well, looks like you two boutta make yer selves useful after all." Matt dumped the orders for the duo before sitting beside Gabe, having served all of his latest customers. "Something like that." "You boys better watch yourselves. The Treble Forest is crawlin with creatures no ordinary person wants to deal with." Matt scooped up a portion of Gabe's dish, much to his ire. He shelved it for later though as Matt has valued info...probably. "Knew i shoulda added some more spice to the stew. Anyways, that forest is full of tricks and brute force. From common boars to bears having no business being bigger than my inn! And even then, they don't compare to the singing phenomena."