The crowd gathered around the outside of the fairgrounds. As the assistant, Sareen and Torchette walked toward the cheering masses, an announcer positioned himself on a platform next to a pit.
"Welcome to our tenth annual Circus Of Del Lusion race of fear," he hollered as he spun towards the crowd.
"Today we have victims from around the solar system ready to go head-to-head and one-on-one with our circus stars. So let's sit back as we introduce our first challenger," the announcer said with obvious pleasure.
"He's from this local planet of earth. He's an arena warrior from the arenas of the national leagues. He's the one, the only, the Amazing Zero," the announcer boomed.
Lanyle strolled out from a tent to the platform. From the crowd that usually booed the challengers, they cheered in recognition of the name.
"So this race is safer than the arena, right?" Lanyle asked the announcer.
"To tell you the truth, it's not called the race of fear for nothing," the announcer responded without speaking into the microphone.
Lanyle looked surprised. "Guess they don't call it the race of fear for nothing."
Suddenly, from a tent on the opposite side of the platform trumpets sounded from a speaker system.
"Now announcing the dashing, daring and all together fiercest competitor ever. It's the Neko mancer," the announcer said into the microphone as Skalesha Thaites cartwheeled out of the tent. She was followed by a cabit, two tigers and a house cat.
Once she stopped cartwheeling, she made a hoop appear out of thin air and let each cat jump through it.
"So are we going to race or are you going to do magic tricks?" Lanyle challenged and looked at his watch.
"Oh, don't worry. I only have one more trick to do and I'll think you'll like this one," she answered.
Lanyle truly looked frustrated. He was aware he was retired, but now he was downgraded to waiting on such antics that were truly unprofessional, he thought to himself.
"And for my final trick, I'll do my most death defying feat ever. I'm going to fuse myself with the cabit Sphenkus and race this fool," she cried and grabbed the blue cabit. She positioned it in front of herself.
"So I say to you, sir, luck fu."
The blue cabit started to glow and absorb into the Skalesha. Silence prevailed for a second, then a heartbeat was heard. Blue light glowed from inside the girl then poured out of her mouth and eyes. She illuminated a dark blue for a second. As it subsided, a roar sounded from the light as a cat girl was standing where she once was. The girl hunched down on all fours and jumped to the platform as the cats followed her.
She stood and asked, "Impressed yet?"
Lanyle just looked at her and admitted, "Eh. I've seen much better."
Skalesha sauntered over to the announcer and sneered, "Please explain the rules to him so I can pwn him already."
The man with the microphone commenced with the rules for both Lanyle and the crowd.
"Rule number one. No going above the pit. Rule two. No attacking the Neko mancer. Rule three. No destroying the bridges to the fair. Rule four. First to get back here or is still alive wins."
Lanyle looked at the announcer. "Wait a minute! You said I can't attack her, but she can attack me all she wants."
The announcer scanned him and advised, "If I were you, I'd worry about the tigers."
YOU ARE READING
Truly: First Omnibus
Science FictionIntroduction In a world where fate is dealt to you like cards and destiny dealt out to you from the unseen forces, will you always accept the cards you are dealt or will you defy the dealer and play by your own rules in this universe? Two such playe...
