chapter 1

Everyone settled down and listened to the official.

Luick sidestepped and let the Army General talk. He caught my eyes and held them for a moment before he began to speak.

“So, here are the rules, warriors. You can use any weapon you like. There’s just that little twist this year. When your name is called, you get your neck and go up on that ring.”

We all looked at the ring that was already set up outside as well as different weapons that were arranged nearby. There were super guns. Yes, high-tech ones that could maim someone permanently. There were others that were not guns. Yes, I meant that blade family and others. They were short and long, with varied designs, sizes and weights.

“And then, another three of you will be randomly called to gang up the first one who’s called out,” General Isoog added. “After fifteen dots, if none of you is able to defeat the first man, you just gave him the chance of a lifetime to join the army! He’ll automatically await for the semi-finals. Now, if anyone of you eliminates the first man, it is going to be your turn to be eliminated. Is that clear, warriors?” His eyes then settled at my face. It was like he was provoking me or something. I don’t know. Maybe it was just my feeling. Weird.

The men answered, “Yes, General!”

So, the fight was longer than usual. Before, it was only five dots. I bet my life to guess that this was going to be dragging and nerve-wrecking for everyone. I wondered if many could take blows for fifteen dots straight!

I heard from my father that fifteen dots was equal to thirty minutes on the planet Earth. As for me, the long dots wasn’t a problem. I could revitalize as many times as possible and I could immediately heal myself if needed. Well, for minor injuries mainly. Since I was not a pure Arcturian, I would bleed and die like Aryans—but most probably longer than they do.

I sat on a bench. That man who mentioned earlier about the new rules of the Banatan sat right next to me. He looked at me with curious eyes.

“You’re a female,” he stated the obvious.

The other Aryans’ attention was on us now.

“I am quite aware of that since I was a little being, in fact,” I answered with an even tone while looking at his face.

He chuckled. “I’m Frith.” He touched his chest with his palm downward fist. It was a formal way of introducing one’s self in an Aryan manner. Well, he was civilized. I give him that.

I mellowed. I gave him a friendly nod. “Xerra. And those five are my fellow Aigleans,” and I named each of them in front of him.

He greeted them as my fellows greeted him in a civil and formal manner, too. We talked for a little while when one by one the warriors’ names were called out. Kalith was the first one to be called among us Aigleans and then another three. I clapped Kalith’s right shoulder and wished him luck, so did our fellow Aigleans. I was quite confident that Kalith would get through the fifteen dots unharmed with his agility and skills.

We watched as Kalith fought against the three unknown warriors up on the ring. I heard they were Nazians. He fought well and did well. The time passed by and he was left alone on the ring. He didn’t kill any of the three but managed to get them all out of the ring. One of the rules that could make one win was keeping the enemies out of the ring. To be sure that would happen, the opponents should be maimed or injured—if not dead.

Kalith smiled in our direction and climbed down from the ring. He eliminated three opponents before the fifteen dots was up. And then, some more warriors were called out. And then, my fellow Aigleans, one by one. It seemed that it was programmed. I noticed. The Aigleans were always called out first before the group of three warriors.

My eyes zeroed in on the King who was clearly enjoying himself. His Creyer staff was in one hand, I noticed. The two seats that were placed at either of his side were empty. And then… he saw me. His eyes went rounder. Right, he seemed surprised that I was standing in the midst of the warriors.

I slightly bowed my head to let him know that he wasn’t mistaken and as a sign of respect. Huh! Respect my butt. I am here for him.

I saw him nod at me with a malicious smile on his lips. It was quite creepy really but I wasn’t afraid of him. He was a good-looking being in his sixties. And I never questioned why my mother agreed to be his Queen. Then, I noticed that his eyes scanned the audience and were settled on my sister, who was seated right opposite him. He just knew that my sister would be present wherever I am.

My sister waved at me with an encouraging smile, and I smiled back at her. My eyes shifted to the King once again. He was now watching the next match after he ogled at my sister.

Just when I was about to drag my eyes away from the King, I noticed a gray-hooded figure who sat at the nearby chair meant for the high-ranking officials, a few paces away from the royal family seats. I couldn’t see his face from where I stood. But his aura was familiar.

‘I’ll bet my life on it but I know that it’s you, stranger,’ I thought.

I looked down at my weapon that was comfortably placed at the side of my thigh. Ponpon gazed at me with his battle aura. He was oozing with it. I knew that instant that my turn was going to come sooner than expected.

Jegosh barely made it but he did. All of my five fellows were now awaiting the semi-finals. So, it was my turn now. My name was called. All the beings present were awed when I climbed up the ring with dramatic calmness. I stood there and looked around me. The seated beings on the benches looked at me like I was some alien species. Well, technically, I was. And I didn’t disappoint them.

My eyes went colder and I saw myself changing. My pale skin turned to blue. That’s right. My Arcturian heritage appeared before their very eyes. I was damn good and ready to take on whoever it is!

Three muscled Aryans came up to the ring, instantly surrounding me.

I pulled out Ponpon from the scabbard and he let out a battle cry. Of course, the three were taken aback because of my unique weapon. With only one sweep of my right foot, I hit one and he dropped onto the ground, right out of the ring. The two attacked me from behind but I ducked with one knee on the black marble floor of the ring, my poniard slashed their thighs in one motion and they were knocked down.

The two healed themselves instantly. The other one who was out of the ring was now rejoining them. I was surrounded by them once more. I thought they weren’t ordinary warriors. They had to be, as they appeared to specialize in healing themselves fast just as I was skilled to do.

Did that stranger know what was coming? Was that why he spent a lot of stone jewels just to give me the guabula flowers? Why would he go to that extent to care for me? Who was he really? I looked up in his direction where I last saw him. But he was nowhere to be seen. So I looked at the King instead, who was now smiling down at me. It was like he was just being given a treat! And that treat was me!

I dodged when I felt the intention of one of my opponents to attack me from behind. He could have kicked me real hard. It would have been painful of course. But with my current state as the real half-Arcturian being, I was more aware of my surroundings and the different energies.

Each of my opponents was holding their chosen weapon. The one who just attacked me telekinetically took a long and very sharp sword; the second one in front of me chose a huge axe; and the third one on my left side got himself a spear.

I glanced at my poniard. Ponpon was grinning at me like crazy that I’d never seen him before in such a state. Now what’s with his insane aura?