CHAPTER 17: Forfeit on her own accord

Hiding the chain was not the only thing the gods had done to keep it off the hands of other, they had placed a curse on the chain. The chain was cursed to inflict ten percent of the pain it inflicted on others on its wielder. For every attack she made on that man, the chain inflicted ten percent back to her so you could imagine just how much pain she was in at the moment. 

Her back was soaked in cold sweat. Yet she stood straight like she was indestructible. In that same stance she had won her first round and was looking into the next.

Seeing how her first round had gone, the following contestant had made a decision to avoid the chain's attack at all cost. If wishes were horses, all men would ride. Unfortunately for them their fate was decided to be that of the first man the very moment they stepped into the ring. Even if they tried to avoid the Chain, the chain had no thoughts of avoiding them. Controlled by Alia's mind, the chain appeared to have a mind of its own too. It surely could not be avoided.

Countless warriors came and fell, carried out of the ring in the same style with just a strand of consciousness left. After a number of defeated battles, the Jaegers began to discuss amongst themselves. They proposed between themselves "she uses the chain because she is not good in close combat, as long as you can get close to her, her attacks would become limited"

Her next opponent after that had this thought in mind as he walked into the ring. Once the bell rang, he disappeared from his spot, his speed so fast that his movements could not be seen by the natural eyes. Everywhere went silent. People s eyes flew to and fro in the ring, hoping to catch him while he moved yet they saw Nothing. Including Alia. A small from appeared on her face. Battling an invisible for was not in the slightest bit part of her expectations. She focused her eyes on the ground, waiting to see the sign of his foot steps as he walked around yet still after looking on for minutes she saw nothing. It was almost like the man was floating above the air or was walking so fast that he didn't even leave his foot print.

Out of the blue, the man appeared again and when he did, he was standing at her back. Alia felt his breath but before she could turnz his fist pounded on her back in full force. An infrared scan of her broken back rib appeared in her mind as her body was struck. 

The girl's body stumbled forward she lost her footing and fell to the ground. Her body rolled in the dust like a pebble on water then finally came to a stop. Blood splurt out of her mouth, the pain she felt was immuserable. 

Grunting she stood back on her feet with shaky hands and trembling legs. Thankfully the man had not used any weapon in his attack or she might already had been knocked out with that one blow. Weapon or no weapon, getting hit by him frequently would in the end knock her out at this rate. She had to find a way to stop him and to do that she had to be able to see him first. He was moving so fast that the naked eyes could not see him. After he hit her, he had disappeared from the ring, she wasn't even sure if he was close or not. 

She stood on alert, her eyes darting round her in high alert. She dreaded the minute he would reappear and launch another attack on him. To see him she would need a supernatural pair of eyes to be able to see him.

Perhaps it was time to reveal another of her trump card.

She inhaled deeply and exhaled. Her hand crossed in front of her chest. The chain made a loud whizzling sound then began to stretch. It grew thrice the size in a short time then the the chain circled around her body. It began to revolve around her, twirling dangerously as it did. She meant to use that as a shield to keep the man away while she walked on unleashing her trump card. 

The hand in front of her chest twisted and moved in an unusual pattern. When she was done a golden light shone on her index and middle finger, one that she immediately placed on her forehead. 

"I summon the power of Helios's eyes." She muttered under her breath and moved that finger over her head. She slid the finger once again over her eyes and her brown lens eyes changed into a deep shade of gold. It shone bright golden light as if a torch had been lit in her eyes. 

With her glowing eyes she could finally see clearly, even what no one else could see. She could see how the winds blew, even the insects that flew across the yard did not escape her eyes. The man that had almost seemed to be invisible was now bare to her eyes. She could see him randomly moving in the ring. This time she got to notice the source of his speed. His shoes appear to not be ordinary. Two small feather attached to the end boot that aided his steps as he walked. The wings flapped continuously acting as propeller to his step and making him inhumanely fast.

A gloating smile stretched across her lips. Now that she could see him, his sneak attack was not going to work on her anymore. Instead, it was time she made her own surprise attack.

She flicked her wrist and just as the young man changed his position yet again, a rune appeared at the place he was moving his feet and sucked his whole body into it. The rune acted like a door that transported him to another location. An exist door appeared next to Alia just as the man was spat out by the rune. She grabbed unto his collar. The chain formed a glove around her fist and it landed on his chest squarely.

The man was pushed out to Meters away. He crashed into the ground numerous times and finally came to a stop. Not a stop exactly cause the moment his body was to fall on the floor, a rune opened underneath him and teleported him back to a spot next to Alia again. Her leg stuck out and slammed him back into the rune. He got spat out at the other side. Flying to the heavens like a rocket. Yet another rune appeared above him sucking him into itself, he was spat out as usual next to her, she landed a punch on his face...then his stomach...then his back...

The pull and throw continued like this. She wasn't using the chain this time, rather tossed him around with the help of her runes. Perhaps enraged by the punch he had landed on her. Alia did not stop till she had punched and kicked him enough to her desire. By the time she stopped the man was beaten beyond recognition. A swollen eye and bloodied mouth, he was in a total disheveled state. Alia was no different, though much better than he was. Her ponytail hair had broken lose multiple strands that now glued to her forehead along with her sweat.

Her chest heaved up and down in heavy breaths. A thin trace of blood adorned the corner of her lips. She was the one doing the beating yet she had also sustained injuries from using the chain. That chain was a hundred percent jinx. A very annoying one.

She wiped the blood off her lips. At the same time, she shook her arm. The chain slowly began to evaporate like dust into the air. Soon there was nothing left of it, just the bright red marks it had left on her arm. Now that it was gone, everyone could see the ghastly burns it had caused to her hand.

A wave of admiration rose in the hearts of everyone for her. She had fought relentlessly though also going through her own pain. Truly a great fighter she was.

The unconscious man was carried out of the ring, and she on the other hand turned and began to walk out. She was fully aware about the amount of strength she had left. She was on her wits end alreadyz if she continued to fight then she was bound to lose the next round. Instead of being known as someone that got defeated, she preferred to keep her image as a valiant warrior and forfeit on her own accord.

"Are you okay?" Raaya asked the girl immediately she was out of the ring.

Alia nodded. She looked at her red arm and smiled "this is nothing, once I gain my strength back, I'll take care of it"

Raaya nodded, slightly in relief. She turned and said to Dylan "Dylan it's your turn"

The boy finally had a reason to stay awake. His set of golden eyes opened then he stood up and walked into the ring.