Hidden Before Their Eyes

Chapter 30: Losses and Wins

I watch nervously from the crowd as Dracix slowly looses ground to his opponent. If he looses this one then for everything to work out he needs to win his next two. I tap my foot nervously, but try to keep the action as quiet as possible. I have not seen Codra since yesterday and it has put me on edge, even though I already know that we are only in the beginning phase of her plan.

Dracix looses his fight and I promptly stand and make my way out of the audience. I need to be training for my own fights along side of hoping for the plan to fall into place. If I loose too many fights it may be noticed that the matchup was rigged. Worrying about uncontrollable factors is useless, so I head to the training arena, fully prepared to drown away my worries through repetition and exhaustion.

Not long after I have begun to train an incubi comes up and picks a fight with time. I all too willingly oblige him. We clash for not long before I managed to thoroughly subdue him, putting him in his place. My steam having burned off by him I stretch my muscles out and then return to training, focusing in on the basics. I could be fighting anyone or any species tomorrow and I need to be prepared to fight an uphill battle. I may have easily won yesterday day facing a human but the same may not prove to be true for tomorrow.

By the time it begins to get darker outside I have a dull ache from having repeated the same motions over and over again. It is not such that I will be in pain tomorrow during my fight, but it burns enough to tell me that I have improved slightly. I cool down and then head to my room for the rest of the night.

Walking up to my third opponent of the week I see that I am facing a succubus. This should be right up my alley to win. I have spent the day lazily to wash away the dull ache in my limbs. Now I am prepared to go all out, bringing my best foot forward. Around us the other fights are beginning to break out among the pairs. In response both my opponent and I begin stepping forward.

The succubus launched the first attack, bring her right fist towards my face, and preparing to launch a second attack with her left. I dodge just slightly and in the moment between her two attacks I start my own. Dodging her second fist by a large margin I bring my leg up in a round house kick to her head. She manages to block in time, but instantly a bruise flares up on her forearm.

She sweeps my feet from under me, having taken me by surprise, and I purposely drop down to the ground. She starts to lean down to bring in a finishing blow when I bring my left leg up and slam it into her right side. She stumbles away and I jump up with ease. I walk over to her and grab the back of her neck. I bring her head down as I slam my knee into her face. The sound of a crack informs me that I have managed to break her nose.

She stumbles back and snaps her nose back into place, although slightly crooked, and starts towards me again. Her fortitude is something to be contended with. As soon as I am within her reach she brings her fist into my gut, causing me to slightly lurch forward. I could have, and should have, avoided that.

I jump back away from her, just barely managing to not slam into one of the other people that is engaged in battle. My opponents focus shifts, if only momentarily, to the other person and I take advantage by falling into a summersault in the opposite direction. Her eyes on me once more I stand and get into stance to prepare for her next attack.

Just as she is about to reach me once more I bring one foot up and with as much strength as I can muster I kick into her gut, sending her flying onto her back. I walk over to her and kneel down next to her head. I lightly place my hand around her neck and wait for her to submit to me. She breathes heavily as she begins to struggle away from my hold. I retaliate by increasing the weight of my grip and soon enough she submits.

I offer her a hand up and she graciously takes it. We walk out together, but not before I feel the distinct shiver of someone watching my retreating back. I shake off the shiver, but still pick up the pace to get out of the arena.