Alma and the man clash their fist, her body isn't strong enough and get send backward. Alma grabbed a tree nearby to stop herself. Sweats running down her face, her breath coming out raggedly. She already tried to attack this man, but he's stronger than her. Alma got the feeling that he can win against her easily, he just prolongs the battle to have fun.
"Come on, is that all you got?" the man taunted Alma. His lips formed into a mocking smirk.
"Shut up!" Alma snapped. She sends an uppercut with her right hand to his jaw which the man blocked easily with his left hand. But Alma doesn't stop, she spins her left leg forty-five degrees and kicks his head and the man blocked it again with his right hand.
Alma quickly draws back and blows a left hook to his abdomen. The man was pushed back a few steps, he laughed a little. "Not bad, but you need more than that to defeat me," he said before vanishing from Alma's vision.
Suddenly, CRACK!
Alma's body crashed with a tree, making the poor tree fall. "That's how you fight someone. Now, get up and fight me properly!" the man yelled.
Alma gets up from the crater that forms on the earth. Her body is already full of dust and her skin full of bruises. But strangely, Alma only feels excitement. She feels the adrenaline running in her body, pumping her heart to beat faster.
She runs to the man with a high speed, the man also does the same they clashed blow in the middle. Fists and kicks are thrown at each other vital area, the sounds of their fight rumbling loudly, like the sound where two big elephants crushing each other.
"Let's get serious," the man announced before he kicks Alma's body hard. He doesn't give Alma any chance to counter his attack and keeps plummeting Alma.
It was one side trashing, Alma can't keep up with her opponent's pace at all. She just began to learn how to control her power and hasn't mastered it. She knows how to fight from her training in Visa's family but the man completely overwhelms her.
Alma's body smashes the ground, creating a new crater on the land. The man walked leisurely to Alma. "If you want to be safe, give me the document."
Alma glared at the man with frustration, she knows she is weak but to think she doesn't have a chance to win at all makes her feel depressed. "Now, don't feel frustrated. You're just too weak," the man mocked. – "Give me the document," he demands again.
"Over my dead body," Alma spat with a gritty voice.
"A stubborn girl, aren't you? Very well then, goodbye, Kumaika," he said before making Alma faint.
The man bends down and picks the bag from Alma's body. If only the bag isn't made from a special material it must has been shred when they fought.
"You didn't hold back, eh, Rohan?" a woman voice commented from behind the man.
Rohan doesn't turn back and just stretches his arms while yawning loudly. "I held back you know. If I don't she will be dead by now, Tika."
"Still, you can at least go easy on her. You completely crushed her," Tika grumbled. She's crouching down and examining Alma.
"I already go easy on her by letting her fight me like an equal for at least five minutes. Isn't that enough?" Rohan argued. He doesn't understand the need in going easy, it's not like the enemy will let you go just because you're weaker than them.
"She's not an enemy Rohan. This is just a test," Tika reprimanded like she knows what Rohan thinking.
"Ya ya, whatever you said. At least I finish my mission. Can I go now?"
"No, you have to help me move her to the car. We will go back together, that's the leader order."
"Haaah… and here I think I can go back to play my game," Rohan grumbled. But he still helps Tika bring Alma to a car that parked two kilometers from where they fought. After all, he doesn't want to get punished for rejecting an order.
***
Alma wakes up inside an unfamiliar room which she assumes is a clinic, because she can smell the scent of disinfectant in the air. A woman with a soft expression is standing near Alma. The woman has auburn hair that reminds Alma of Rey.
"How do you feel?" the woman asked with a soft voice. Somehow this woman makes Alma feels calm and safe.
"A bit dizzy but I'm okay. How long I have been unconscious?" Alma asked back. She can't help but think she keeps blacking out numerous times lately.
"Just five hours, you have many bruises but it already healed," she answered.
Alma looks at her body, her bruises are indeed gone. "Thank you, Miss…."
"Call me Tika and you don't have to thank me. I'm just doing my duty."
"What happened with me?"
"You fainted after the fight and I bring you here. If you feel better you can eat first. The leader already waits for you in her office," Tika said while pointing to the food on the table.
"What meat is that?" Alma asked suspiciously.
"It's deer meat, don't worry. I know you still can't eat our food," Tika smiled.
"Thank you, I'll go to the leader after I eat."
"Alright, see you again later, Alma."
Alma just nodded and bite down the meat. It tastes a bit like mud but she can tolerate it. She knows she will be weaker when she eats animals but she still can't bring herself to eat a human.
After eating she jogs a little to the leader's office, her mind full of her failed mission. Alma feels ashamed because she failed a simple mission like that after she said she won't let them down. But failure is a failure, she vows to be better next time. She will make sure that she can fight back at least.
Without knowing it, she arrives at the leader's office. She knocks on the door and waits.
"Come in," Raven said from inside.
Alma opens the door and enters the room. Her green eyes enlarged automatically due to shock.
"It's you!" she yelled at the man inside the office.
"Yo, we meet again, Kumaika." Rohan smirked.
"What the hell?! What are you doing here?!" Alma fumed.
"I'm here to report my mission of course," Rohan answered nonchalantly.
"You guys tricking me?!"
"No, we're not. We testing you," Raven interrupted.
Alma looks back and forth between Rohan and Raven. She feels cheated because they tested her without telling her. Still, she knows that they did it to know where she stands.
"Did I pass?"
"Yes, but you're weak," Rohan mocked.
"I'm not weak!" Alma snapped. If only they're not in the leader's office she will gladly kick this man again.
"Oh, you are."
"You!!!"
"Enough! Stop arguing you both! Alma, I will give you another chance to prove yourself. Your next mission will be hunting. Rohan will be your partner," Raven stopped their argument.
"What?!!" both of them exclaimed.
"Your mission is five days from now, that's an order. Now get out from my office, you make me get a headache with your bickering," Raven ordered.
Without another choice, Alma and Rohan walked out of the office leaving Raven alone.
"Haah… when will they grow up a little bit? I hope they can learn working together with this," she muttered tiredly.