The New Ajin

Chapter Two

Today was Friday, the beginning of the tournament. With each fight I won, I  would earn seven hundred dollars. When I make it to the championship round, and win, I would get three thousand dollars. There would be three fights before the championship round. I had no doubt that Ren put that Chika girl and me on opposite sides of the bracket.

The sky was already black with night and soon the Underground Fight Arena would soon come in view. People were already around me, walking towards the Ring. The people who come to the Ring can range from the rebellious teenager to the older man who had let gambling take the better of him. It was not as if I cared, really. As long as I got paid, the crowd could be nudists.

I walked into the abandoned ware house which was already filled with cheering people. In the middle of the large room was an octagon cage, better known as the Ring. I walked into a small hallway where only Fighters could enter. I found the rusting lockers and left my bag in there.

"How are you, Eri?" Ren appeared next to me.

"I'm ready to kick some ass," I gave him a thumbs up.

He chuckled, "there's my Eri."

I took a swig out of my water bottle and looked to see if Ren was going to further this conversation.

"You've trained hard this week," Ren said.

"I have. I really need to win this tournament," I said.

"I'm sure you will. I've never meet a girl with such natural talent as you. And then you have trained to harness your skills. I will admit though, you are making me a lot of money this weekend. Your and Chika's fight was the talk of the Ring. I already have five thousand dollars in bets," Ren said.

"Five thousand? The fight hasn't even been decided. For all we know, Chika might not even make it to the championship," I shrugged.

He chuckled, "mighty cocky I see."

I gave him a toothy grin, "always."

He turned to walk away, "I'll give you time before your fight. You're up in three fights."

I thanked him and made my way to the back room to warm up. I placed in my earphones and let the music distract me.

"Eri! You should come out now, your fight was up next," Naoki said behind me. I nodded my head and walked out of the warm up room with my skin coated with sweat and my muscles relaxed and ready.

The crowd erupted with cheers as I walked into the large room.

"Eri! Eri!" filled the room.

In the Ring, I saw my opponent pacing through out the Ring.

"I thought you said I was up in one," I whispered to Naoki.

"I guess the other fight went by fast," he whispered back.

I sighed and looked back at my opponent.  She had her dark brown hair tied up in a ponytail and her brown eyes stayed steadily on me. Her body was taller and skinnier than mine. I was obviously stronger than her. She wore a tight red Adidas t-shirt and black short spandex.

I scoffed at her, "looks like an easy fight."

I took off my hoodie and tossed it to Naoki. I kicked off my sweats and left them on the floor.

"Eri! Eri!" the crowd roared. I had my violet hair in a single braid down the middle of my head. I was wearing  a black Nike sports bra and black Nike spandex. There was nothing on my feet.

I stepped into the octagon Ring and the crowd went crazy. A large man in all black stepped into the middle of the Ring.

"Clap hands," he instructed.