THE HIGH TABLE

DARIAN BARROS:

A few years ago, we heard rumors about a secret martial arts school whose students would be much more powerful than ours. Sooner or later, they would send their champion to challenge us. That day has come. The director of the Shikokan School chose me to be its champion. I am charged with the heavy responsibility of discrediting that unknown school. The fight will take place in an alternate universe on an infinite planet so that we can fight without holding back. You can go there and back at will through a portal—a technological gate that connects Earth to any realm. There, it is extremely hot and dry, and the landscape consists of nothing but high mountains as hard as diamonds. I am the first to step through the gate. I kneel on the ground in seiza, waiting for my remarkable opponent. I am wearing my usual black karate gi, black sneakers, and white socks.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I got a message from one of the top elite martial arts schools in the country asking for a favor from me - as a freelance kill for hire, I am the guy they usually call for the harder missions, or to solve an issue that no one can. This time, the issue is not one that is complicated for me, but rather has been bothering several schools around the country. The mission is to face the top student of the Shikokan School who has been monopolizing the scene, and being cocky about it. Not only does he play the cocky card, but also has made it a point to mock, discredit and disrespect the other students. Someone had to take his ego down a notch, and this is where I step in.

Although here on earth, I am quite a force to be reckoned with, my muscles, skills and wit always helping me achieve what others cannot, I am not sure where they are sending me, and into what setting. I have heard once of this special place these new-age martial arts schools send their students to practice, where their powers, strength and stamina are elevated, and heightened. Not sure if that would do the same to me and my abilities. I am no superhero, but I know how strong and good I am and can hold my ground, no, can win in a fight.

 I smile when I arrive to the meeting point at one of the dojos and find the sensei who messaged me standing next to a plain white wall. He points to a spot in front of the wall where I am to stand in my tight compression shorts, tank top over which a hoodie hides my real muscular frame and sneakers and wait, then flicks a switch on the wall and a portal opens. He asks me to step inside and bids me good luck against a student called DARIAN BARROS.

DARIAN BARROS:

When the gate opens, I see a sporty warrior who doesn't seem very powerful at first. However, his behavior and the determination in his eyes immediately prove me wrong. I stand up and bow politely towards you. "My name is DARIAN BARROS, and I'm from the Shikokan Ninja School. May I know who my adversary is?" I ask peacefully.

MUSCLE MARINE:

Before you are able to finish your "polite" intro, I step forward, launch an unexpected fist to your gi covered un-flexed gut. And as you fold, I jump and spin knee you in the head, sending you reeling backwards. "Not a bad place. Hahahaha." As I land in a stance, myself stunned at how fast and strong my attack was. "So this is where they come to train..." checking out the place, looking around at the arid, empty surrounding.

DARIAN BARROS:

"I finally manage to get on my feet, several hundred yards away. "Those weak hits didn't hurt me, but you were obviously holding back," I say to myself. "Damn, that SOB doesn't play by the rules, and he is really powerful. I must end this quickly." I quickly take off my sneakers and socks and carefully observe my opponent, trying to catch the slightest opening.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I stand firm, taking a stance, my legs spread wide, my arms lifted and my fists clenched. It looks almost like I am mocking you in this pose. I wave at you to come to me. "Come on. Lets do this. They said you were the best, but they need you taken out. Not sure why, as long as I am getting paid." I laugh and roll my shoulders, and you see them undulate under the loose baggy hoodie I got on covering my muscular frame.

DARIAN BARROS:

 Who the hell is this guy? I ask myself as I carefully analyze your stance and musculature. Your teasng is obviously a trap. That's why I choose to step slowly and carefully toward you, ready to dodge any super-fast attack. I cannot afford to disappoint my director or bring shame upon my school.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I see your trepidation, your hesitation. Its a smell and attitude in a fighter I know well and can decipher easily. I smile as I retain my stance, ready to strike or to dodge any attack you can throw. This fight will not be an easy one, but yet not a very long one either. I raise my arms a bit, and wave just my fingers at you, taunting you to attack.

DARIAN BARROS:

Thanks to my superior strength and agility, I can perform surreal actions. I grab a tiny rock with my toes and throw it at you with enough force to destroy the mountain behind you. But this is just a trick to get your attention. At the same time, I run sideways at the speed of light. I move so quickly that no standard human can see me. After a very brief moment, I try to surprise you by kicking your jaw from the side.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I am stunned at how fast you are and what you did with that stone. "Damn. That is impressive..." But my voice hides both mockery and awe, and you can't them apart. My senses are suddenly heightened, and I need to take care - we are not in a normal place. Everything seems to be amplified here... So maybe my powers and strength are too?

I take a stance and get ready for you as I see your leg lift and make its way towards my jaw. Everything now seems to be happening in slow motion, now that my body has gotten acquainted with the surrounding and my senses tingling. I see your leg coming at me, and I step back, making you miss your target. I chuckle and feel proud.

DARIAN BARROS:

I'm surprised by your quick move and roll on the floor hundreds of meters away. With the agility of a feline, I get on my feet and peacefully look at you again. "Damn, his moves are so fast and accurate. I was certain he would counterattack. I say to myself, slowing my breath. I have no idea about his fighting style. He looks tough and acts like a muscular guy, though his loose clothes cover most of his body. This time, he will come to me." I straighten my back, inviting you to attack.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I see you waving me over, and I smile. And before I step towards you, I grab my hoodie and peel it off me, revealing my ripped upper-body, corded with muscles and veins. I smile when I see your eyes widen. "Yeah. You like it, huh? I am not your average fighter... And you will discover that soon enough." I flex and make my muscles ripple all over, then start inching my way towards you, arms raised in a fighting stance, making my biceps bulge large, almost distracting you.

DARIAN BARROS:

Your musculature is huge and shredded. I've never faced an opponent like you who combines strength and speed. When you flex, I admire every part of your body bulging as if you were growing to twice your size. Your shoulders, arms, back, and thighs... Veins pumping blood and muscles tensed. "That's impressive and pleasant to watch, but showing off isn't a martial art. What do you have in mind?" I whisper, certain that you can hear me despite the distance.

MUSCLE MARINE:

Then suddenly, I push on my heel and propel myself towards you. 'Lets see what this place can help me do...' I think to myself as I suddenly feel my speed increasing, rushing at you. I ball up a fist and lunge at you, aiming hard for your pecs, but then at the last second, I drop it to your abs and connect hard. "What I have in mind is to end you..." Answering your question you thought I would not hear.

DARIAN BARROS:

You are moving so fast that all I have is almost one microsecond to flex my abs and absorb your devastating punch reight into my stomach. The impact is so brutal that I'm sent deep into the mountain far behind me. The rock in this universe is supposed to be harder than diamonds, but your strength seems to be limiteless, and you can do everything you want. No time to lose. I need to counterattack quickly before you manage to hit me once more. Immediately after that, I try to get away from the core of the mountain and try to kick your face, after bouncing several times around you to disturb you.

MUSCLE MARINE:

"I hate grasshoppers..." As I take your hit to my face. Your foot connects hard, snapping my head to one side. I realize that anyone's hit are suddenly exponentially amplified in this place. So this means that you are strong also back in the real world... But not strong enough. As I dodge your next attack aimed at my head, grab your ankle and hold your leg still for a couple of seconds. Before I let it go, I ball up a fist and slam it hard to your inner thigh, knowing that with the force augmented, it will certainly damage the nerves in your leg and make it limp.

DARIAN BARROS:

Your punch to my thigh is so powerful that it hurts more than a billion lightning strikes flowing through my nervous system. No human should survive this. But I've endured much worse. I feel a mix of pain, pleasure, and admiration. Only elite martial artists can deliver a hit so quick and precise, causing so much pain with one single punch. I'm convinced you were holding back. Despite the pain, I manage to jump several hundred meters away. When my foot touches the ground, the pain in my leg strikes again, but I manage to use my wounded leg almost normally. This is a huge advantage for an elite warrior like you. I won't be able to move as fast as before.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I see you pull back, jumping and landing on your aching leg. I rush towards you, step into your zone and deliver punch after punch to your gut, forcing you back towards the mountain wall behind you. Trapping you, I fire a barrage of fists to your abs, breaking them one by one, tenderizing them. "The core... is the most important part of the body..." I laugh, as if I am giving a lesson in anatomy.

DARIAN BARROS:

Though I hadn't heard of you before, you're probably the most serious opponent I've ever faced. Your punches are so powerful that they could shatter the Earth. I've trained my abs hard my whole life, but it was clearly not enough compared to your power. Your punches can destroy diamonds as if they were nothing, and I can feel your fists trying to break through my strong armor of muscles. Each punch is powerful enough to shatter a galaxy, and I can feel your strength increasing. You're so fast that it's too difficult for me to escape. All I can do is flex as hard as I can and enjoy the moment. "Hmm, yes, you're probably right," I answer, spitting saliva as I talk.

MUSCLE MARINE:

But I barely listen to you and keep pounding hard and deeper with every hit. I grind my fist into you, making sure you feel it. "I am not as strong as you are imagining me to be, but something in this place feels great and overpowering. I love it." The air in this world is making my muscles and body ripple with power. I laugh and keep pumching you, making your body scream.

DARIAN BARROS:

Something new is happening! I've never been overpowered like this before. It takes millions of hits to weaken my muscle armor, little by little, but I can see how determined and passionate you are, relishing your growing power. I can feel your powerful blows getting deeper and deeper into my belly, tearing my muscles and damaging my internal organs. I'm experiencing the erotic moment of a perfect gut punch. That's why, instead of begging you to stop or trying to get away, I'm asking for more and ignoring the pain.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I follow you closely as you try to pull away, throwing a hard punch into your gut with every opportunity I get. I make sure my fist is grinding into you with precision, tenderizing your bricks. I feel so strong, I am loving this place. I smile at you when I see you in pain.

DARIAN BARROS:

Your punches are so powerful that my steel muscles can't handle your strength and start tearing apart, exposing my organs. It's both scary and exciting! I keep flexing, gathering all my strength into my abdominal muscles as I vomit a mixture of gastric juice, saliva, and blood. I feel the end of the fight is near, but I won't give up.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I pull back to see the damages I inflicted on you. I smile seeing you drop to your knees. "Is this what they call their best fighter? Pfffffff." I start walking around, scouting around, feeling the atmosphere and what it is doing to my body now. I flex, and love the feeling in my veins.

DARIAN BARROS:

Your cocky attitude is probably my last chance to gain the upper hand. I relax all my muscles and focus my remaining strength in my arms and legs. I get on my feet faster than lightning and aim for your chin. I try to knock you out with one punch.

MUSCLE MARINE:

You manage to slug me and snap my head to one side. I smile as feel the fear in your eyes and the way your body is shaking and trembling. "That was a good shot. But not good enough." As I lunge towards you and tackle you down to the dusty ground. The impact is greater in this place where everything is amplified, even the crash.

DARIAN BARROS:

The impact was so brutal that it dug a huge crater into the supposedly unbreakable rock. No human is supposed to survive this. I did, but damn, my body hurts so much. No one has ever destroyed me like this before. I hope my director forgives me for being so weak. I realize now that my last chance of winning just flew away. That guy is so strong. How could I never have felt his ki before? I try to stand up. The crater is so deep that it's almost dark here. Where did he go? Is the match over already?

MUSCLE MARINE:

But I have gone nowhere... just waiting for the dust to settle so I can find you and continue destroying you. Although I was ordered to take you out completely, I am rethinking if I should keep you and help you recover... might be useful as a permanent punching bag. I smile as I see you again, trying to get up to your feet. I step closer and snao grab you by your neck. "This place makes the power in my muscles greater... does it also make .e stronger?" As I lift you up high overhead and start pressing you up and down, laughing at how easy it is.

DARIAN BARROS:

"You can punch me as hard as you can, I'll never surrender" I say, clenching my teeth, as an immense pain flow though my body.

MUSCLE MARINE:

"You sure about that?" As I prepare for another fist to your gut. "But you might die..."

DARIAN BARROS:

"I know you won't kill me, as you enjoy too much keeping me alive as your personal punch bag." I say, spitting blood.

MUSCLE MARINE:

"Think again." As I slam a hard fist to your gut, and switch it to a claw. Digging my fingers into your abs, I pinch them hard. "I was sent here to end you. And that's what I plan on doing... eventually."

DARIAN BARROS:

Hhm your claw is probably the most painful technique I've ever experienced so far. The pain is just incredible. "Hmmpf... *gasping* Is that all? I can't even feel the pain."

MUSCLE MARINE:

I claw deeper and then suddenly a wince forms on your face. "There it is." I smile before letting you go and making you drop. I walk around in front of you, flexing and making my muscles ripple. "I have to thank you for choosing this place for this fight."

DARIAN BARROS:

"Y-your welcome. Glad you like it too. Otherwise I'd have never experienced your tickling techniques..."

MUSCLE MARINE:

As you finsh your taunting line, I turn to you and deliver another gut drilling punch to your midsection maming you almost puke. You vomit and spit some blood and I smile. "Tickling?" I pound again and again. "You prefer to die than to concede..."

DARIAN BARROS:

Your last punch was so powerful that I had no choice but to fall to my knees, holding my abdomen and vomiting bile and blood. My internal organs are severely damaged and my wall of abs is seriously weakened, yet I can't stop laughing. "You have a lot of strength, but that has nothing to do with martial arts. I don't fear you. I don't fear death."

MUSCLE MARINE:

"I am not here to do martial arts. I am here to end you." I smile, as I see the fear suddenly creep onto your face. "Yeah. I am here to take you out, make of you just a memory." As I say that, I rush into your, spearing you in the gut, lifting you and dragging you across the field, into the mountain wall behind you, aiming to make of you just a mosaic in the hard stone.

DARIAN BARROS:

I know I shouldn't, but I'm actually enjoying this moment. It's a rare privilege to fight someone as powerful as you are. Having my abdomen destroyed like that is also deeply erotic. With each punch, I spit more blood. "I bet you can't even claw me deep enough to grab my spine." I say, one word at a time, which is probably stupid teasing.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I pull back, smiling. "Is that a challenge? Your funeral anyway." I take a stance in front of you, spread my legs wide open, squat slightly, ready. I notice you getting hard in your gi and I smile. "I can see it is turning you on... I will gladly oblige." And without hesitation, I send a fist aimed at your gut. As it slams hard, digging into your abs, I spread my fingers wide, claw and push deeper... until I am compressing your midsection deep. I feel behind my palm something hard. I look up, smile at you. "There it is. Thought you didn't have one... but you do." And I grab it.

DARIAN BARROS:

The pain I feel throughout my body is impossible to describe. My mind is exploring new kinds of sensations. My nervous system is sending new kinds of signals. It's a mix of extreme suffering and extreme pleasure. I look at you in the eye, spitting blood, unable to move but still awake. One thing is certain, however, it will take time to recover.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I keep a tight claw at your gut, releasing your spine, and pull you out of the mountain wall. I turn around with you hanging in my grip and walk back towards the portal. "Lets finish this 'training' in a more real setting, what do you say?" I smile at you, knowing you wouldn't like that as I step into the portal that opens and suddenly gravity takes its toll on us. Everything goes back to normal... You feel real pain now, excruciating and you feel my real tight grip on your gut.

DARIAN BARROS:

Now, I have no choice but to try to defeat you in one hit. You're so close that I grab your head and try to give you a headbutt, which is also hard on me because it uses a lot of my abdominal muscles. No matter how much pain I'm in or how badly my stomach is hurt, I have to knock you out now. Otherwise, this is over.

MUSCLE MARINE:

Stepping back into the dojo where the portal is open, I see students and teachers from both schools gathered, forming a circle around us. I lift your body and drop you hard to the floor. I lift a foot and slam it hard to your chest as you land on your back, pinning you down. I start push my heel into that softened spot between your pecs. "This is your champion. Or should I just call him chump...?" I laugh as I hear you wince and scream beneath me. I look down and see you try to grab my calf, worshippingly almost.

DARIAN BARROS:

You're putting so much weight on my chest that I fail to stand up. Moreover my whole body hurts so much that I'm almost unable to move a muscle without yelling. My breath is weak and noisy, and I cough from time to time. I'm afraid this is over

MUSCLE MARINE:

I pull my leg off your chest and squat a bit, reach down, grab you by your hair and start pulling you up, into a sitting position first, then onto your knees. Then to your feet, and soon, lift you up by your hair, legs dangling. The senseis look in awe and terror... both of them - the one who hired me and your own - unable to understand what happened. I smile at them as I reach up with my other hand and grab your jaw. "You sent me for him? What were you thinking? He would beat me?" I laugh. "I must thank you for the best workout I have ever had. That place is amazing."

DARIAN BARROS:

"Y-you can put me down, I say, gasping. I can still stand up. N-no need to be cocky."

MUSCLE MARINE:

I wait for your sensei to speak, smiling at him. My other hand grabs the small of your back... your spine, pinching it tightly. "You think you can..." I answer you.

DARIAN BARROS:

As expected, my director is staying silent. He can't accept defeat. It's my fight, so I am responsible for bringing it to an end by any means necessary. In this situation, words are unnecessary. I just stare at you, swallow, and try to punch you in the face one last time.

MUSCLE MARINE:

As I let you go, giving you one last chance to concede and surrender, you decide to attack me with a punch to my face. "Stupid." I snap grab your incoming fist, wrapping my fingers around it. I start to squeeze it hard, crushing it. "We are no longer in your power-world. This is real..." I start feeling your fingers snap in my grip, your hand breaking. I look at your sensei who seems to have disowned you. I smile and slam a hard punch to your bruised gut, showing you that my hits are still as powerful as they were in the parallel world.

DARIAN BARROS:

The audience remains silent. All you can hear are my bones breaking, one by one. But that pales in comparison to your violent punch that goes deep into my belly, compressing my internal organs and snapping my spine with the sound of a car crash. My abdomen is so severely damaged that I can't vomit anything up. The pain is unbelievable. My eyes are wide open, staring at the floor.

MUSCLE MARINE:

I suddenly drop you to your knees, your legs not able to hold you up. I snap a tight hold of your head from both sides now. "Any last words... Sensei?" As I look into his eyes and smile. And in one swift move, I twist your head to one side then the other, cracking your neck. I turn to the other sensei and bow to him, slightly mockingly saying... "Mission Accomplished." I flex to everyone in the dojo, seeing some with hardons, others scared shit-less... a couple even creamed their gis.

DARIAN BARROS:

The director speaks for the first time in a calm voice, saying, "You were brave, and you defeated our Darian. Leave his body on the floor and just go. You are no longer welcome here."

MUSCLE MARINE:

I stand tall, smile and flex my body. "You will need me again soon. Hahahaha" As I start walking away towards the door. I turn around, flex again and step back towards him, making him think I ma about to attack... He flinches and I laugh a loud guttural laugh as I turn around and leave the dojo, slamming the door behind me.

THE END.

Published: 2025-09-07, viewed 98 times.