Defeated Yet Free

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

“Fantastic. You’ll be happy to know that a good chunk of my IQ is probably lost as well as pieces of my brain.” It takes a moment to rub at its head, trying to soothe the pain.

"Perhaps, pal. But there's something I want to tell you. You destroyed my camp. The night is coming. There is no chance that I will make it back to my camp. But I will tell you this. My life is my own to do what I want. You may come in and destroy everything, but in the end, I am still more than you. You're still a beast..."

The puppet master slowly raised his sword, bringing it up towards his neck.

"... and I'm a man."

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

In a bout of rage and energy, the beast makes a well placed slash, the ice forming a thick wall in front of Maxwell. Aha! Before the little snake can get away again, the Deerclops scoops the man up in its claw, mindful this time to keep his arms tightly pinned to the side of his body so he can’t use that blasted sword on it again! It squeezes the little survivor, as if to make sure he won’t somehow dematerialize out of its grasp, “Got you!!” It looks like it’s about to bite Maxwell’s head off for making it chase him so long, but the angry expression changes into one of shock.

As it was about to take a step, it feels something ensnare both its feet, and at that point it’s done for.

The Deerclops topples, taking Maxwell and his shadow with him. He lets go of Maxwell to be better able to catch itself when it falls, however, a sharp rock meets the side of the beasts head as it goes down!

And for Maxwell?

He took quite a tumble to the ground, hitting the hard ground. The puppet master had wished that he could have used someplace better, with at least with grass or dirt, but this rocky location was the only place that he could manage.

"So, the mighty has fallen.... well now... what do I do with you?"

The puppet master stood back up, sword at the ready. He could head right towards the eye, blind the creature. Or maybe slash at its legs to cripple it.

Choices... choices...

The puppet master approached the deerclops, a wide, but weary grin on his face.

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

"You’re spry for your fragility! What do you hope to accomplish running around like a gobbler??" Those things are a real pain to catch, too.

Of course, dodging was easier said than done. The emerging icicle chunks made things difficult, the puppet master getting struck in the side by one of the jagged icicles. But the puppet master persisted...

"You almost got me there! Come on! You can get me!"

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

"Are you trying to bore me to death?!” It’s growing cautious again, it expected there to be traps at his camp. What could be out here that Maxwell wants him to go to?

With the shadow one more created, the puppet master was quick to tie the long piece of rope onto the rock, and handing the rest of the shadow. And with that, the puppet master stepped out into view.

"Come now, Deerclops! You're so close! You don't want me to get away!"

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

And a short term sacrifice for a possible victory was worth more than anything.

"Hey, one eye! I'm over here!"

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

"Come now, creature! You cannot defeat me! I am Maxwell! I am the man who knows everything!" The puppet master's taunts continued, even as he entered his camp. A small and cozy place, but all the puppet master needed was one thing.

Rope.

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

Then the puppet master reached into his jacket. It was a risk, but it was a risk he had to take. He had to use the Codex Umbra. Turning open the book, the Codex hummed, shadowy energies emerging, a fragment of Maxwell's mind splitting off and creating a shadowy copy.

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

Ouch!!

Well, at least it was thankful that it thought not to bring him near its eye. Or even shove him in its mouth… It swiftly lets go of the tall man, to prevent anymore painful shadow stabbings, making him fall the great distance back down to the ground.

"What's the matter? All that intelligence of yours and you still fell for such a simple trick? Tsk, tsk, tsk, you're nothing more than a wild beast in the end!"

The puppet master wanted the Deerclops to be riled up, wanted the Deerclops to be angry. Anger and rage always were the best way to make things act impulsively. With only one hand unharmed, the Deerclops would have a harder time swiping away at him, but Maxwell did not intend to strike once again. No...

"Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Hell, perhaps I am! Yes, I am that man, you worthless creature! What sort of thing will you do about it!"

Now it feels a bit more cautious. Is he armed and it just can’t tell? It would be super annoying if it let its guard down and he happened to have a spear that he could stab in its eye. That wouldn’t be good at all.

"Well, I too, grow tired of this prattle." It mimics. Barking is one of its favorite things to do, but that doesn’t mean it can’t bite!! Hmm it quickly reaches down to grab the man, being sure to keep him out of reach from its eye!

The puppet master gazed up, amused by how the Deerclops reacted. Mimicry and all. What a silly little thing it was, to be mimicked by a giant creature.

But then it reached down, and unlike moving out of the way like a normal person, the puppet master simply allowed himself to be grabbed. He felt the pressure on his body, but he grinned all the while.

"Unarmed! You foolish creature! You forget who I am! I am Maxwell, and I am the Puppet Master!"