Everyone settled down and listened to the official.
Luick sidestepped and let the Army General talk. He caught my eyes and held them for a moment before he began to speak.
“So, here are the rules, warriors. You can use any weapon you like. There’s just that little twist this year. When your name is called, you get your neck and go up on that ring.”
We all looked at the ring that was already set up outside as well as different weapons that were arranged nearby. There were super guns. Yes, high-tech ones that could maim someone permanently. There were others that were not guns. Yes, I meant that blade family and others. They were short and long, with varied designs, sizes and weights.
“And then, another three of you will be randomly called to gang up the first one who’s called out,” General Isoog added. “After fifteen dots, if none of you is able to defeat the first man, you just gave him the chance of a lifetime to join the army! He’ll automatical
The three Aryans simultaneously attacked me but I was faster than them. I kicked the chest of the second opponent in front of me who was holding the axe, sending him out of the ring flying. He landed on the ground hard, with a loud thud and face down. I rolled down to evade the sword and the spear that attacked from each side. I willed that Ponpon would grow longer. I heard the audience gasp.Ponpon smirked when he became longer than before. It was the first time that it happened. He seemed to look excited with his new self.“I’ll make them regret they joined the Banatan, Xerra,” Ponpon snickered like a maniac.I stared at him with my steely blue eyes and smiled at him. I parried both the sword and spear and swept the feet of my two enemies. One was hit but the other was quicker than the first one. He managed to dodge my attack. His sword was now threatening to slash my neck. However, I bent backward with a front kick and I sent him flying out of the ring.
The stranger pushed me against the wall and leaned closer to me, trapping my body in the process. I felt the heat emanating from his body, and his scent invading my senses. His breath fanned my face and his green eyes looked darker as they were never before. Although excitement ran throughout my body because of his nearness, I tried to ignore it at this current situation. However, it was hard for me to do it since his lips crushed into mine with heated urgency.I couldn’t resist even if I tried because my heart was reaching out to him and I wanted more. Just when I kissed him back, he stopped and looked into my eyes probingly.“You could’ve been killed out there!” He said through gritted teeth as he scolded me. He was heaving.I blinked and frowned at him. “Why are so concerned about me? This is what I’ve intended to do for months now!” I hissed. My eyes looked sharp as I gazed at him.“I should’ve stopped you!” he said and sighed. He let go of me.Sudd
Shahrae’s hand was holding mine so tightly. I was talking to the guard at the palace gate, which was made of cirthum, thus the blue color of it. It was right after we buried our mother that we went straight to the palace by a recula. We truly wanted to know what had happened to our mother.“We’re here to see the King,” I stated in a controlled tone.“The King is indisposed of at the moment,” the guard answered coolly. His eyes held no emotions as he looked back at me.I smirked. I looked at the guard sharply. “He’s indisposed of? Why? Because his Queen just died? Does that mean he’s mourning?” I asked sarcastically.The guard blinked. He swallowed when he saw my eyes turn into steely blue. My skin started to turn blue as well. But when my sister held me more tightly, I controlled myself and I turned back to my Aryan self.“Is there a problem here?” An elite warrior in uniform asked the gua
I dragged myself back to the present. I watched Jegosh and Morgeno go up on the ring. If I were weak-hearted, I couldn’t go on watching them fight on the ring, trying to kill each other. I just hoped that either of the two would give up so that he wouldn’t lose his life in this match.I glanced at Zelian. He was looking like he could murder someone right now. And that someone was preferably the King. I saw his eyes went up to where the King was seated. Then, he looked at Morgeno and Jegosh who were now fighting each other. The other two opponents were already out of the ring and busy recuperating themselves. I could only guess that those two were also elite warriors by just observing how fast they could heal themselves.Right. That stranger was telling the truth.Jegosh pushed Morgeno back forcefully and hit his chest with a kick. The two did not use any weapon at the moment as they were lying on the marble floor of the ring. It was so obvious that they had no inte
I threw my poniard toward the third being who lost that ball and hit him in the chest right through his heart, just before he slid out of the ring. As dots passed by, it was getting harder for me to breathe. I tried to revitalize myself with my violet aura but it didn’t work. I willed to change into my more powerful self, which was of my father’s heritage, but it was still in vain. How could this be? Was the smoke some kind of a suppressor? Or was it just because I am too weak now? But no. In normal circumstances, I could have done any of it easily. But obviously, at this moment, it was not a normal situation. I am here at the Banatan. My breath became more and more labored with each passing moment. It was like blocks and blocks that were too heavy were placed on my chest. And it was like I was going to pass out anytime soon.I looked around the ring with teary eyes. The smoke seemed to be only contained around it. I could see that my two remaining opponents were ready
The mysterious and handsome stranger came in and closed the door quietly.“What are you doing here?” I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand and stared at him while he took off his hood.“I was worried about you. I’ve been waiting outside for a long time!” he said and I knew he noticed that I was crying. He reached out and touched my face lightly. “It’s your mother, right?” He wanted to confirm it.I blinked fast to stop myself from crying again. I didn’t want the stranger to see my vulnerable side. “Yes. You really know me, huh?” I chuckled bitterly and turned around but he held my arm and pulled me into his embrace. I suddenly felt warm and protected in his strong arms, something I never felt before. His unique scent made me more aware of him, making my heart to lighten up. The pain and loss were eased by him in an instant—at that moment.‘How did he do that?’ I wondered.“It’s okay to cry. I even cried when she was gone,” he revealed serenely.
The stranger’s handsome face went serious. “Unfortunately, they caught him.”I nodded. “Really unfortunate, indeed,” I agreed. I personally owed that being because he stopped the death of my two fellow Aigleans. I silently promised that I’d make it even with him—if he’d still be alive to know how grateful I was. “So, where is he now?”He shrugged. “I think, they already put him in Uzob.”“In Uzob?” I echoed.That was where all Aryan prisoners who committed grave crimes against the Aryan royalty and the Aryan beings were put for life. I heard that it was a nasty place. But I had never been there myself because it was off limits to everyone except for the royal family and some high-ranking officials. Therefore, the relatives of the prisoners would never ever see them again once they were put in Uzob. And it was unheard of that an Aryan prisoner in Uzob could escape. I wondered how the place looked like. Perhaps, I’d visit it one day as an elite warrior just to
Each of my opponents took their own weapons. The first one had a pair of butterfly swords, the second had a bow and arrow, and the third had a scythe. I knew that the second and the third could well attack me without getting near me while the other had to come closer. I was weighing my options and was trying to guess who would attack me first as I couldn’t probe into their minds because of their distance. How I wished now that I had Shahrae’s skill of foreseeing the future even for only a few dots.The second started to attack me first and I dodged his arrows. He was not only using one but three at the same time. The others let him attack me for a few dots. I would either levitate, cartwheel, duck, sidestep, flip or use my poniard so I won’t get hit. I was quite amazed by his talent and agility. His arrows seemed to have an endless number even though I’ve only seen three left every time I looked at his back!What was that?In exasperation, I stunned him with my bla