Ali Baba was utterly befuddled, bewildered, and could hardly think right.
So far, all he could do was dodge and run by instinct. Sindbad was so set on fighting him that he nearly avoided being killed with each attack from him.
Yet even if he wanted to attack back, he found that his own arm lacked the strength to do so. He couldn't fight Sindbad, even if the other man was seriously trying to end him. Not out of fear of this incredibly strong foe. He feared Sindbad's strength, of course, only an idiot wouldn't.
But the reason why…
" You're strong. I know you can pull through this."
The boy gritted his teeth. " If I was nothing but a tool for you, why were you encouraging me so far?!"
He needed not to encourage him. He needed not to praise him. He only needed to use him.