CHAPTER 13: first opponent

The morning arrived in a jiffy. Time anticipated always had a way of running in a flash. Main city was alive and awake even before the the dawn had broken. Thanks to Raaya and her friends, this was the first time they would have the honours of watching the Gladiators Conquest. 

The city are was filled up in no time once the gate was opened. It might be an important event for the ones participating in the fight but for those that came to watch it was a mere enlightenment. 

Like everyone else the excitement coursed through the body of the group of friends. Their slightly baggy eyes showed for the lack of sleep in the night. Still they did not appear any less energetic than they always did.

Speaking of appearance...

Raaya, Alia, Myra and Dylan spared a confused look at their friend dressed up as a young aspiring Butler. The question marks in their head couldn't be more obvious from their questioning look.

"What do you think you're doing?" Raaya spat out in an exhausted tone.

The young man adjusted his black tuxedo and placed his hat firmly on his head. "This is my first public battle, I want to fight it in style" 

"You look stupid and you looking stupid make us look stupid. Take that off!" Dylan ordered leaving no room for argument.

"I don't look stupid, I just look... different" Though he said this he couldn't help but notice what a difference there was between their dressing.

The rest looked cool and suave in their battle regalia, Dylan had gold as stones on his long camo jacket floating free around his body, he looked like a military officers with a million medals, it was actually very cool. Myra had on an ancient Kimono with thigh length slit at both side. Long hand gloves with iron backs and a thin long whip curled at her right side hip, she looked alluring but with a dangerous vibe to that. Alia's double collar Cape did every Justice to her boyish vibe, coupled with the rune like ring on her index finger. Lastly Raaya's getup completely emphasize the group's valiant look. Her white hair tied into a ponytail, her hands covered in flexible iron gloves, high battles boot on her feet and a long sword strapped around her back. Even the tail of her long red coat danced around in accordance with the wind.

He didn't need to be told to know he looked out of place, still he felt very reluctant to change out of the outfit he had visionalize fighting in. 

—SWISH!

A streak of golden light flashed round him. In the next second the tuxedo was thorn to shreds, barely enough to cover his body. 

"It's easy to take off now. We don't have all day" Dylan said as he retracted the golden blade in his hand.

Curtis eyes opened wisely. The cold wind blew against his body telling him that his favourite clothes had just been reduced to shreds. He glared at Dylan.

Myra peeped through the curtain at the crowd that was gathering into the arena. Half the arena was filled by civilian who wanted to watch the fight. The other half was occupied by Jaegers, slowly the empty change had become fewer and fewer.

She turned back to announce "you better get dressed unless you want to fight in that rag. The Conquest would soon start."

Begrudgingly the resentful young man could only stomp away to change his outfit.

....

Suspensful drumrolls and sound of clanking bells filled the sky over Main City's arena. Next was the excited murmurs and whispers from the crowd of onlookers. The excitment on their end was on par to what used to be seen in th gladiator ages. While on the other side of the Arena, where Jaegers sat, there was a subtle seriousness in the air. They didn't have to hold serious expressions to give off a serious vibe. Their armours, weapons and battlefield looks already filled the air with as much seriousness as it could. They looked like an association of grim reapers waiting to claim the lives of people. 

At one part of the stadium like seat was a small open room witha podium. The Kaiser walked up to the podium. He waved his hand in the air and every sound seized almost instantly. The audience maintained silence as they listened to hear his introductory speech.

"Using the method of Conquest, we are gathered here to settle a dispute. Every outcome of this conquest stands. No one should go back on the agreement to question the outcome of this fight. Let the Contenders come forth!"

Raaya and her group walked to the centre of the fighting ring. Their appearance caused a slight uproar amongst the audience. They were nothing but kids, everyone could see this and now comparing them to the numerous crowds of hefty and bulky men in strong battle armour, holding scary faces, the probability of them winning this fight was zero to none. Relatively speaking their chances of winning was a 0.00001 probability. 

Everyone thought it would take a miracle for them to even win over half the crowd of opposed seated.

"The rules are simple. You can used any weapon as you like as long as you don't kill or heavily injure your opponent. Once you knock out your opponent that is considered a win for you. If your opponent also forfeits on his own accord then that is also a win for you. People who have forfeited or have been knocked out would have no right to fight again till the end of the Conquest. If any member of your team also leaves the Fighting ring, he or she is considered to be disqualified and only another member can continue in his stead. I repeat you are absolutely prohibited from killing or severely injuring your opponent, is that clear?"

Myra rose her hand. signifying she had something to say. At one glance you would think she had finally known what fear was and was going to forfeit the battle but the girl's questions shocked everyone.

"To what level is considered severe injury?"

"Cutting off a limb, putting your opponent in a vegetative state, causing them to be permanently bedridden or making them lose an organ is considered as a severe injury"

"What about excessive blood loss? As long as they don't die, it's okay right?" She asked again with a certain twinkle in her eyes.

Alia facepalmed while Raaya smiled to herself. No one else might know this but they knew, Nothing could placate this girl more than seeing her enemy shed blood. Perhaps that was one of the perks of being a part Vampire and part human. 

Still no one understood why she had asked. Strange looks were thrown her way like she was some sort of psycho. The truth wasn't all that fair from the assumption. But wait till they actually saw her in the battle field then they would be left with only one thoughts in all their head— MONSTER!

To decide the answer to her question, the invigilating counsel had to come to agreement for a few seconds to come to a conclusion. It took nothing more than a few seconds and they were back in their seats in the booth.

Kaiser replied with a cough "as long as they don't die and they don't surrender then it's okay. But once an opponent surrenders every mode of attack should seize immediately"

She nodded excitedly "okay"

"If by the time the last person from the opposing side is knocked out and a member of your group still stands, then your group would be considered the winner of this Conquest. On the other hand if all members of your group is knocked out, then you all failed the Conquest. Both sides are free to chose the sequence or order of their fighters as they like. With that said, with the powered bestowed on my as leader of the Jaegers association and Mayor of Main City, I hereby open the conquest. Let the battle begin!"

Drums began to roll. The crowd hummed rhythmically in accordance with the drumrolls. Amidst the chants, A broad shouldered man jumped from his seat into the fighting ring. The breast plates on his chest could not even fully cover the width of muscle he had underneath. A Viking head piece with two horn sat on his head making him look fearsome.

Raaya and her team looked at their first opponent. 

"I'll go first" Dylan suggested but Raaya held him back.

"They won't take us seriously but for safety reasons the first two or three people should have commendable strength. After that, their line up would be a bunch of weakling. There's no need to waste your strength on them. Let Curtis go first."

"Why me?" Curtis complained.

"You're our bulldozer. Take out as many as possible. Make it quick and when I give the signal, forfeit and let Alia take over, Dylan would follow after, then Myra and I would be last. Understood?" 

"Understood!"

The rest left the ring to their waiting sits while Curtis was left standing adjacent to his opponent who was Flexing his Dao sword ready to attack.

The Most anticipated battle had finally started and by the look of their first opponent, their fate looked very bleak.

But was it?