Her lips flashed a chilling smile. She looked totally different than the little kid that was speaking mindlessly few seconds ago.
In high alert the man shifted, wanting to make distance between the both of them. Before he could even take a step, her leg stretched out and hit him. His body was sent spiralling into the air, distance away from her. She sped up and caught up to him in a split second. Her hand grabbed unto his collar then Her knee jabbed into his abdomen, everyone could hear the sound as his bones broke. That was either his spine breaking or perhaps his ribs.
The man yelled in pain and spat out mouthful of blood. Raaya had no will to hit him anymore, she grabbed his collar and flung him to the stage like a piece of cloth.
"How insolent!" Someone yelled from the crowd. The frown on everyone's faces even deeper than it had been before. Seeing that she had openly thrashed one of them like a beating drum was akin to slapping all of their faces.
"Insolent? I don't think so" Raaya shook her head "he said it himself. People should talk with their strength and not their mouths. He shouldn't have called me a child if he had no strength to back up his words" she said coldly and looked at the crowd.
"Did I at least prove I am worthy for a contest? Is there anyone who would dare fight against me? If there's no one then I'll take it that I won the mission"
Someone stood up angrily "don't be so hasty"
"Do you really think that you're that strong?" Someone else joined in standing. Soon half of the crowd were already standing with the same expression on their face. The rest didn't stand either because some of them were too scared to join this contest, some might also have thought they were too Honourable for such foolishness, while others didn't just want to get involved. Nevertheless the rest standing were ready to fight. The only possible thought in their minds were to win in a battle that hasn't even begun.
"There's no need for such foolishness_" The Kaiser started but was cut off by one of the men seated. The man had his hands crossed and his legs leisurely placed above each other. One could see he was more than relaxed in this tensed environment. Surely he was amongst the Group who refrained because he thought he was superior for such foolishness.
"Kaiser there's no need to stop them now. They've all agreed to the duel so let than have it" He said in a contemptuous tone. Raaya glanced at him and gritted her teeth. The man disdained her and this she knew. It was written all over his face.
She sneered "Don't make it sound like you are the more rational one. You're just too chicken to loose your title so you chose to sit on your high horses."
"when is this contest?" Someone asked.
"let's have it here and now" Raaya smiled and took a red handkerchief from her pocket. She waved it in the air and said "as long as anyone of you can take this handkerchief from me. I'll considered it that I have lost and would forfeit the mission."
"you would apologize too for your disrespectful words"
Raaya shrugged "sure"
At the back of the crowd her fellow teenagers standing there passed themselves a look. Alia sighed and shook her head, she took her sit and adjusted the cap on her head to cover her face like it was time to nap.
"Shouldn't we stop her?" Curtis asked with worry laced in his voice, he looked at the other boy and two girls taking a comfortable position in their seats waiting for the grand show to start.
Dylan pinched the space between his brows and sighed "go ahead if you want to take a beating like the rest of them"
"One step and she would take you as her enemy" Myra commented, she yawned and plopped her head on her palm. "just let her vent her anger on them. She'll shed a few drops of sweet and would blow off the storm in her head. This should be a walk in the park"
"A walk in the park? Do you see the bunch she's up against? That's a bit too much!" Curtis queried.
Myra frowned "That's what I'm worried about. What if she does too much?"
"Begin!" Raaya called out. Soon there was a bunch of men rushing towards her, perhaps they had thought to go easy on her thus only half a dozen rushed forward at first.
She shifted her body, avoiding an attack from two of them. Like a flash her body shifted again and appeared behind their backs. Her fists struck out, four evading on time but the rest were smacked heavily by the whirlpool of energy that swept along with that punch, their bodies were sent flying away like broken kites.
Raaya smirked at the four and immediately made her move, she couldn't injure them so she stuck to punch and kicks, still wherever her fist landed the sound of bones breaking filled the ears of people. Seeing that the first set was easily dealt with, more launched to take their place, this time more than the first that had come.
Raaya did her best avoiding ltheir attacks. She took a hit to her chest and staggered backwards a few steps. A trace of blood tricked down her lips. She paused and wiped the blood with her finger. Looking at the red liquid that stained her palm, a small smile graced her lips. She couldn't help but remember that day at the battlefield. So this was what it meant to bleed from a fight?
"Enough playing around. Attack me all at once, I should break a sweat all at once" she spat out. Her arrogance surpassing the fighting spirit in the air.
The rest waiting behind were riled by her arrogance. They all joined those standing around her, the girl's small body was surrounded by dozens of hefty men yet she didn't cower or show a frown rather she smirked and moved her feet.
One step and then another. It looked like she was taking mere steps sideways, yet after a couple steps, there were a dozen of her cracking her knuckles and smiling at the crowd.
Afterimages?!
Everyone's eyes flew open. They were surprised that such a young girl could pull off such a feat so effortlessly. In fact she pulled it off so well that they could not discern if these were afterimages or if she had divided herself into a dozen. Each image looked so real!
"Let's get this party started"
She dashed into her opponent. What follow was a one-sided thumping. Those hefty men were schooled like they were a bunch of kids. Despite their weapons and armory, they were pummeled till none of them could get up on their feet. When the last person fell, the afterimages disappeared and Raaya was standing In the middle of the battered men laying on the floor, the red handkerchief flying in the air like a flag of victory tied to her wrist. Her hair now falling till underneath her buttocks.
Surely the technique she had used had taken a toll on her. Blood was trickling from the corner of her lips. She wiped the traces of blood flowing down her lips as she stared down on the people on the floor and back up at those seated down.
The haughty expression they once had were gone replaced with caution and resolve. Raaya smirked and turned to the Kaiser. The man's face was dark, not angrily but on the slightest it seemed out of worry and frustration.
"They lost I won. The wager stands so it's settled. My team would go"
The man sighed and nodded "The Sky team would go, also I appoint Reid to go with them"
"Kaiser!"
"Kaiser!" Raaya and the supposed Reid exclaimed simultaneously.
The Kaiser roses his hand to dismiss their refusals. He gave them a Stern look, making them swallow whatever words they had intended to say.
"My words are final. They group would leave in four days, everything you need to know would be relayed to you. You all can go to the armory and pick out the weapons you would want to use. Rest well till then" He swung his sleeves and walked away. Not before he gave Raaya a conflicted look.
"Wow what a flawless Victory!" Raaya's group complimented her as they walked out of the hall.
Raaya shook her head displeased "in the end we got a babysitter on out tail"
"it's doesn't change anything, just take him as decorations" Alia consoled and flashed her an amused look "how did you do the afterimage trick?"
"it's not an afterimage. It called energy puppets." Raaya replied.
"can you teach me? It looked cool" Curtis joined.
"I can't, you don't have what it takes. Just stick to actual afterimages" Raaya spat out teasingly.
With everything settled, the group had their work cut out for them. In four days time they would journey to an unknown location where their first real battle awaits.