Chapter 18: Unfolding

[This chapter contains scenes from Episode 12: Claire and Present Danger from Trollhunters]

The sound of clashing blades rang throughout the dark woods as Jim fought Bular, doing his best to defend against the savage, powerful blows of the son of Gunmar. The massive black Gumm-Gumm was unrelenting, cleaving trees in two with his cleavers and hunting Jim down with as much savagery and fury as one could imagine possible. It was already hard enough to fend off Bular's attacks, what made it so much worse was the fact the troll was trying to force his way past Jim and go after Claire.

Despite the girl running, leaping over roots and darting around the undergrowth, Bular continued to swing through the trees like a stony black ape, taking swipes at her while Jim continued to place himself between them.

"Fight me, Bular! Stop going after Claire!" Jim roared, clenching his teeth as he tried to goad the Gumm-Gumm.

"Perhaps if I take away something you care for, Trollhunter, you'll understand how pathetic you are!" The troll roared, leaping from the trees and slamming into the ground, sending up a cloud of dust as Jim dodged to the side but was still caught by Bular's follow up punch.

Flying through the air, Jim slammed into a tree, a burst of smokey blue magic cushioning the impact, but he was still injured from the blow.

"Jim!" Claire cried out, stopping as she saw him struggle to get to his feet.

"Don't stop! Go!" Jim ordered, horned helmet appearing around his head as he turned back to Bular, clashing swords with the troll.

"So concerned for your female flesh bag! You humans are so weak!" Bular snarled, pressing down on Jim with both blades, almost causing the Trollhunter's feet to sink into the forest floor.

Jim grunted, struggling to keep the massive troll back as Claire started running once more, doing her best to get away from the battle. Bular just chuckled though, pressing his horned face closer to Jim's as he did.

"What's the matter, Young Atlas? Too much weight on your shoulders?"

That was the cue. This was Bular testing Jim and, at the same time, testing Strickler. There was rage behind the troll, but something was different than the first time. Instead of burning like a wildfire, his fury was directed somewhere. Focused. Cold. This wasn't the same Bular Jim fought before. He was becoming more like his father.

With a roar, the Gumm-Gumm swatted Jim away, striking him with his second blade. While he managed to block the attack, the weight of the blow was still enough to make Jim's knees weak.

He knew he wasn't a physical match for the troll. He wasn't even a physical match for Nomura or Strickler in their troll forms. Jim had always won his battles through ingenuity or doing something unexpected, taking advantage of his opponent's arrogance. However, this was different. Bular might still be toying with him, but he wasn't leaving himself open. Worse yet, he was playing off Jim's weaknesses and using Claire to divide his attention.

Jim was grateful for his helmet hiding his face from Bular. He didn't know what face to make, and he wasn't sure he would be able to keep his own emotions in check.

"Come, Trollhunter, I only need you to open the bridge." Bular snarled. "I don't need your arms or your legs. Or your friends."

"Leave them out of this, Bular." Jim growled back, tightening his grip around Daylight. The black troll didn't respond with words though. Instead, he leapt up into the trees, swinging over Jim as he started pursuing Claire once more.

Jim felt his blood run cold again as he sprinted forward, throwing his blade at Bular, causing the troll to stumble and fall from the trees. Slamming into the ground, the Gumm-Gumm was quick to turn his blades on Jim once more, forcing him to summon Daylight back to his hands to defend, but it wasn't enough to keep the troll at bay.

Every strike was like a car running into him at full speed. Jim's body cried out, protesting the abuse, but he couldn't back down. There was too much at stake. Things had already changed so drastically that Bular came after him instead of Nomura, he couldn't just take any of it lying down.

"Jim! Jim, where are you!"

Immediately, Jim recognised Toby's voice calling out through the woods, the lumbering, heavy sound of AAARRRGGHH following him. However, instead of relief, fear flashed through Jim's mind as he saw Bular's glowing yellow eyes mock him right before the troll disengaged, turning and rushing towards the sound of Toby's voice.

"Tobes! Don't! Get out of here!" Jim pleaded, rushing forward, following Bular's form through the shadows. Toby and AAARRRGGHH wouldn't be a match for Bular. He would kill them.

Images of Toby lying unmoving beneath piles of rubble flashed before Jim's eyes and a panic fueled his step. He couldn't let Toby die again. He couldn't fail his best friend. If he did, it would all be for nothing. Everything he and everyone else sacrificed would mean nothing if he couldn't protect his friends then and there.

The tree line opened up and Jim saw Bular leap through the air, his blades clashing against AAARRRGGHH's stony forearm as the large troll defended Toby as the chubby boy panicked.

"If it isn't the traitor!" Bular snarled. "Now a human's pet! How low you've sunk AAARRRGGHH!"

"No! Friend! Not pet!" AAARRRGGHH protested, staying on the defensive as Bular wailed on him, striking over and over as he tried to get to Toby.

"Fight me, Bular!" Jim shouted, finally reaching the black troll.

However, as Jim leapt through the air, Daylight raised overhead, the Gumm-Gumm smirked, spinning around and swinging his blade. There was no time to dodge, no time to do anything as Bular's blade slammed into Jim's helmet, shattering the silvery armor and sending him tumbling across the forest floor as he slammed into a tree.

"Jim!" Toby cried out, darting out from behind AAARRRGGHH to try and rush to his friend's side. However, as he did, Bular stopped him, lashing out and slamming the chubby boy into the ground with his massive, clawed hand.

"Wingman!" AAARRRGGHH roared, the marking across his body beginning to glow green. Bular didn't give him the chance to do anything though, headbutting the troll and sending him sprawling back.

"Let me go!" Toby struggled beneath Bular's grip, using whatever he could to batter the troll's fingers. It didn't seem to even tickle though as the Gumm-Gumm squeezed him, crushing the air from his lungs and lifting him up off the ground.

"Tobes!" Jim groaned, trying to stand but feeling the world spin around him. He could vaguely make out the sound of Claire's voice also calling out through the woods, but he couldn't focus as he felt blood trickle down his face.

Bular snarled, looking towards AAARRRGGHH then over towards where Claire was approaching from.

"As much as I despise it, I think I'll take a page from the Impure's book." Bular growled, looking over at Jim. "You will open the bridge, or your fleshy friend will die."

Holding up Toby in his grip, Jim could only watch as Bular turned, disappearing off into the dark woods.

"No… No… Tobes! Toby!"