Ch 6 Part 5

It was a rare sight for the alchemist to behold, females that where fighting the change. With puzzled looks on their faces, the alchemists then dug out a second sigil stone and placed it in the rarely used secondary placement. As soon as the stone touched the placement surface, the horrific nature of forcing the change became evident. This was the first time they had to use two stones on a set of female fighters, but it was necessary. As they recited the incantation to activate the second sigil stones, Krista and her opponent cried out in great pain once again as the change was forced upon them both.

The change is a fluid flow of transformation. Many believe it to be a beautiful thing. As though watching art being painted with the body. Although to have it forced upon you is a different thing entirely. As soon as the change was forced, the crowd hushed. The snapping of bone, tearing of flesh and screams of anguish was all that could be heard through the arena. Noshing of teeth and tearing fabric resonated for all to hear. This was the true intent of the large stone walls. It was not to drown out sound, but to amplify sounds on ground level. With the use of guiding sticks, they pushed both of the combatants out of their holding cells to the main arena. The pain appeared to be madding to them both as they ran straight toward each other.

Krista: (Screaming in great pain as she locked eyes with the opposing female…) "I cannot take this pain, if you are the one causing it, I swear I will stop you."

Opponent: (Staring blankly into an unknown direction….) "Where is this pain coming from? I have to stop it, its driving me so damn mad."

Another great roar was heard from the crowd as the long-awaited confrontation began to unfold in front of them. Pounding their feet below themselves, the crowds deafening stomps even began to hurt Krista's ears. Her opponent already being thrown off balance from the vibrations, was screaming in great pain as Krista neared. Just as Krista was about to attack, her opponent leaped blindly. A blur was all the eye could see, a glint of razor-sharp claws. Krista barely dodged her leap, getting a deep long scratch down her back from her opponents back foot. Krista jolted with a start as she just realized her now perfect body was injured. She stared blankly at it as she screamed out loud.

Krista: "Gods be damned, how in the hell is he going to want me if my body has been scared up. Look what you did you bitch!"

Opponent: (Still partially dazed from the loud thundering crowds…) "Who is talking to me and why are they so mad? Is there someone with me?"

Krista: "How dare you talk as though you didn't know I was here! You just scratched my perfect back up! He's not going to want me if I am scared up!"

Opponent: (Looking around as she is still partially dazed from the continued thundering sounds…) "Did I really scratch someone? Oh, am I with someone again who wants to hurt me again? But why? Why am I being attacked again? I still do not understand?"

Krista just stared in amazement as she gave such an answer. Did she really have no clue as to why she was here either? She was so mad that her now once perfect back was marred some, all that went through her mind was "how am I going to get Nuvaro with a messed-up body like this? It is bad enough my nails are a mess." She turned her body quickly and started slicing her front paws wildly through the air, connecting with her opponents' right shoulder. Krista felt the connecting blow as her opponent screamed in great pain as Krista's front paw sliced through almost to her bone. Out of pure reflex and instinct alone, her opponent reached up with her uninjured arm and sent her paw down the side of Krista's face and neck in an act of utter desperation. Slicing deeply, her opponents claws mildly stuck as she ripped them out of Krista's skin. Krista jumped back stunned that her face had just been smacked as she froze in place momentarily. As though the moment were still fully processing in her mind. Her opponent once again lunged forward; taking advantage of the fact that she had momentarily froze up and jumped on her back as she started biting and clawing her back feet down Krista's back relentlessly. It was a sheer act of desperation once again to have Krista stop hurting her.

Krista screamed in great pain as her opponent shredded her as though she may die herself. Their last failed movements gave view of flesh waving like the pages of an open book. After a few minutes, they both collapsed on the ground from blood loss.

Both Krista and her opponent were trying in vain to focus but it was no use, between the fighting and the blood loss, all they could hear was the roaring screams of the crowd's excitement as several footsteps belonging to the "Body Gatherers" neared them. Krista strained to focus as she saw the blurred figures approaching, but she was far too tired and becoming dizzy. Leaning down, the head gatherer leaned in as he checked to see if either of them was breathing. With both still breathing, he signaled to the announcer with their conditions.

Body Gatherer: "I have checked both combatants and say to you that they are both alive, but unable to continue the fight. If they are not treated soon, they may bleed out. I believe they fought well for beginners. What say you?"

Announcer: "Well if that is your assessment then this fight is over. Let the boss know before I give a finalization on the outcome and let me know what he says. I need to know if he is going to allow them to live or if he wants us to finish them off."

Body Gatherer: "You got it. I will be back shortly."

Running off with a fast pace, he entered the private booth belonging to Oshwa the Brave. The look on his face must have said volumes before he could even speak out loud.

Oshwa the Brave: "I can most likely tell from the look on your face that this little battle is finished. Please let the announcer know it is fine to say it was a draw. This was a decent showing for beginners. Their reward will be allowing them to live for another fight."

Body Gatherer: "Yes sir, as you say."

He turned on his heel running back to the announcer giving him the message. The announcer rang out declaring the draw and that both combatants would be treated and allowed to heal for their bravery in the ring. After all, it was a good showing at the very least and had drawn the crowds like no other fighters has done in a long time. With both surviving, the possibility of sales on a rematch would surely sell as many seats as this one did. And so, the body gatherers carried the two out of the ring as healers were called to each of the cells in hopes of making sure they did not die within the week from their injuries. After the initial intensive care week was up, the healers declared that they would most likely live, but that they would need several months to heal up from such massive injuries. Oshwa the Brave seemed to be fine with the outcome and thanked the healers as they left medicine behind to be distributed once a day for the next week. More than happy with his arrangement with Kale the Slaver, Oshwa was glad he would see a good return.

Back in their cells, the saber girl was resting, still woozy from the medicine the healers made her drink. Her only thought was wondering why she was being placed in these fights at all, she still did not understand and could only hope it did not happen again. Krista's despair only grew more and more as she was marred quite badly from the fight. Not even the solace of the rat carcass comb she had been packing around all this time was bringing her any comfort. Her only thought that kept circling in her mind, "I am so scared up now, too deep of marks to ever fade away with time. How will Nuvaro still ever want me? I do not understand why my perfect body had to be ruined." It appears her delusion of obtaining Nuvaro' s love might finally break, but only time would tell if that was going to be the case.