Sans's magic hums loud and hot. It's not sleeping or calmly sitting beneath the surface. Now, it's an intense energy waiting, waiting, waiting for the chance to lash out. The Monster's eye glows bright with its blue glow. Sans doesn't think he could put it back to sleep if he did try. This reminds him too much of how fast the cold had sunk in last time. The magic could rip itself free and rush away if he's not careful.

     "You have to take this seriously, but remember, I'm not actually going to kill you", Santos must have realized how badly the Monster was freaking out, "Monster battles don't like cheating. I can't make a move now until you do".

     Sans doesn't understand exactly what Santos means when he says there's no cheating, but it gives him a chance to quell his panic. Doctor Gaster is still standing on the other side of the room. This was planned, so it can't be anything that could hurt Sans, right? It's his turn now. What does that even mean? Sans doesn't know what else he can do, but he knows that he doesn't want to fight. Papyrus wouldn't want him to fight. He can't see them, not exactly, but the magic knows that there's other options.

*Check

Felix Santos
LV- 11
Atk- 8
Def- 10
HP- 1,495

If the Sergeant really wanted you dead, he would have brought a weapon.
Santos watches you with practiced patience.

      The words appear in Sans's mind like he read them off a screen. They do nothing to comfort him.

     "Good, Good, you checked my stats. That's always one of the first things you should do. I'm going to check your information so you can see it", Santos nods his approved. The Sergeant doesn't have magic to guide him, but his intention is clear enough.

*Check

Sans
LV- 1
Atk- 1
Def- 1
HP- 4/5

Sans is a fragile, artificial Monster, and does not understand what is happening.
The Monster is shivering with fear.

      Santos frowns a little. "You don't have to be so nervous kid", the name isn't given much thought, "I've never seen such low stats on a Monster. Records say that the lowest defenses could only get down to five. Still, it's your turn. Attack me. Perhaps you'll surprise us, yet".

The artificial Monster doesn't want another turn. He doesn't want to fight. Sans's left eye glows brighter in agitation. He knows for sure that this is wrong. Fighting is wrong. Sans doesn't want to attack anyone even if they hurt him first. Integrity. The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Sans has his own will and personality, but Papyrus's half of their shared soul will always have influence.

*Mercy

Santos frowns. "You have to attack your opponent, kid. If you don't, you'll die". The Sargent rushes forward without any warning. Sans freezes, rooted to the spot in fear even when he knows what's about to happen. Another pulled blow knocks him to the ground again. "Why do you just stand in place? Your Hp is too low for you not to dodge". Sans scrambles away on his hands and knees to put distance between them. He could feel it when another point was chipped off his HP.

*Mercy

Doctor Gaster can't see the Monster's HP, or the how their surroundings have faded to black, but even he flinches when Santos swings again. Sans's first instinct is to freeze in place just like last time. Instead, his soul pulses in his chest. He jerks to the side just as Santo's fist slams into the ground. The Sergeant ends up doing a point of damage to himself.

*Mercy

Santos doesn't pull his next punch. Sans dodges that one, but he doesn't expect it when Santos's foot crashes into his chest. He rolls over and slides a few feet on the smooth floor. It stuns him, and Sans doesn't feel the the burning pain until he tries to move. When he looks down, there are several cracks on a few of his ribs just above his soul. They burn horribly. The cracks make a grating sound against the bones when he weakly sits up. Doctor Gaster steps forwards as if to intervene, but Santos holds up a hand to stop the scientist.

This is the first time that Sans has been hurt. This is the first time he's felt true pain. The lingering aches and drowsiness from day to day activities don't compare. Papyrus might have been brave enough to not give up, but Sans isn't a human. He's hurting and scared. When push comes to shove, a true Monster will always lash out. Sans isn't a Monster, either. He doesn't want to attack. His magic flares even hotter. It spews out of his soul and quickly rushes out to manifest. Unlike last time, Sans abruptly plugs the hole. Bones shoot up out of the ground to surround him. Curled up on the floor like he is, the bones burst out of the ground to surround him. They curve inwards and end in scarily sharp points; the rib bones form a shield, or cage, around him. It's not an attack, but a defensive move.

"That's more like it!", Santos shouts in triumph, laughing. He steps forward again, squaring up for another swing. Santos doesn't pull his punch this time. His fist hits one of the rib bones hard enough to crack it in half. The entire thing dissolves into dust. The individual particles cling to his skin. To the shock of everyone in the room, the dust seems to almost dissolve pieces of Santos's skin. He hisses in pain and steps back. His HP is being slowly chipped away. The distraction is enough for Sans to end the fight. Santos isn't focused entirely on fighting anymore.

*Mercy

     The room abruptly flickers as it returns to its normal color scheme. The glowing blue magic in Sans's left eye goes out. His magic sighs, settling back down to calmly hum underneath the surface again. Santos grimaces in pain, bit he's kinda disappointed that Sans was able to end the fight.

"That was a little much, Santos", Doctor Gaster frowns. Sans jumps when the doctor appears at his side, kneeling down with a magic injection in hand.

"That's the only way he's gonna learn", Santos replies, clutching his arm, "Besides, did you see that attack? They have some kind of acid effect when they dissolve. It burns. Impressive".

"Yes, yes, we're all very concerned for your sun burns", Gaster smiles a little. He drags out Sans soul and injects it with the artificial magic. The Monster winces, but doesn't argue or pull away. Doctor Gaster gives him a second dose before stopping. Sans's cracked ribs slowly begin to mend themselves. His magic wells up from deep inside the breaks and seals the cracks before fading to white. Gaster writes his observations down in his notes.

"Is there anywhere that I can wash this off, Gaster? I'll try not to smash any more bones in the next round", Santos asks him. The stinging isn't anything he can't take, but Santos is worried because it didn't stop after the battle did.

"I'm sorry for hurting you", Sans speaks up in a quiet voice. He clumsily gets to his feet. "I can try to help. If you want. If you won't hurt me". When the Sergeant says nothing, the Monster comes a little closer. He feels terrible for hurting someone, even if they hurt him first. Still, Sans is scared of Santos. The large Human hurt him and cracked his ribs. Their actions didn't match their words. Sans doesn't understand why Santos kept talking to him like the Sargent was helping. Was Santos helping him? Sans didn't know he could do magic like that.

Sans doesn't know what he's doing now, either. His magic responded to his intentions during the fight. Now, he can feel it try to do it again. The Monster inches closer to Santos. Sans looks at Santos's arm, to his expressionless face, and back to his arm. Santos doesn't give any sign of hostility or movement. Sans gingerly steps even closer and grabs Santo's wrist in one hand. He would later tell Gaster that the Monster's bones are strangely smooth, as if they're made of porcelain. Sans's eye lights up again with a surge of magic. He freezes for a moment, expecting Santos to lash out, but then he relaxes when nothing bad happens. The Monster brushes his free hand against the injury. Where the skin is red and irritated, the color shifts to a faint blue. Santos and Gaster are both amazed when the color fades. The skin is perfectly healthy.

"That's...... amazing, kid! Hurting is one thing, but healing is a very special gift", Santos smiles. Sans flinches when the man raises his hand, but then he feels it come down gently on top of his head. Santos affectionately rubs the Monster's head, as if ruffling the hair of a young human child. It's the kindest touch he's gotten from anyone besides Papyrus. The same person has brought the most hurt and..... the not hurt. It confuses Sans.

"It seems it's regenerative abilities extend beyond itself. Unexpected, but a useful mutation", Doctor Gaster hums in thought, scribbling more notes and inspecting the area where the wound once was.

"Tired", Sans mumbles, dropping his hands. He looses his balance and falls back on his butt. He looks back up at the two adults drearily.

"Looks like he's at his limit, G. Where's his room? I'll Cary him back", Santos is leaning down to pick Sans up before Gaster can object. The Doctor will have to have a word with him about boundaries.

Santos isn't treating the artificial Monster as he should be. Sans flinches a little when he's lifted up off the ground. It's not the rough handling that Hansen used earlier in the day. Santos pulls Sans up until the Monster is settled against his chest. It make him seem a lot smaller. Sans instinctively shift his arms around the Sargents's neck when Santos shifts his own grip. He then looks up at Gaster, waiting to be lead back down the hallway. Gaster sighs before motion him over to the gym doors. Sans slowly lets his head droop down on Santos's shoulder. Before either know it, the Monster is asleep.