The Breeder

by L G Nauck

  The regulator snickered, waving her hand towards a corner that had a board with names on it.

  “You will see the match line-ups over there. Now I need to go find some shistakie on a stick. I will come back for the first two competitors within ten minutes. That is all. If you have questions, deal with them yourself.”

  Alena watched the regulator saunter out of the room while the rest of the group hurried towards the board. Alena knew she wouldn’t be able to see over the mass of fighters, so she decided to reside within the shadowy corner until people dispersed. She highly doubted she would be first but if that turned out to be the case, she needed to be ready.

  Alena shuffled from foot to foot, adjusting her stance as she considered everything the regulator had said. She hadn’t learned anything new from the speech, but she knew she needed to be worried not only about her competitors, but also the regulators. Historically, they weren’t friendly to humans trying to enter the prestigious ranks of military. And she knew they would enjoy watching her suffer. Which meant she needed to showcase her strength and determination early on. Meticians respected spirit and that was something she had plenty of.

  She also knew that she would not be walking away without plenty of bruises and broken bones.

  Her eyes moved back to the crowd of contestants as they began to disperse, a couple of them high-fiving, clearly happy with their placements. Alena felt a pinch of disappointment when she imagined her and Kaleck high-fiving, hyping each other up.

  There would be none of that right now. She was surrounded by enemies.

  She was glad he had come to support her though. At least she had someone cheering her on.

  Alena grunted as someone intentionally bumped into her, glaring as they walked away. She responded with no reaction, finding the action pointless. He could hate her because she was a human or he could hate her because she was a competitor. Either way she would probably be facing him eventually and then she could demonstrate her strength.

  Alena pushed herself away from the wall and walked over to the placement board. Some other contestants were still perusing the board and ignored her as she joined them. Glancing over the many lines and names, she found hers paired with a “Herm Treaz.”

  Interesting name.

  But of course, she had no idea who exactly this Herm was. Unfortunately, there were no details connected to the names, so she had no idea who or what she would be fighting. Her eyes glanced to see she was the fifth to fight.

  Not bad.

  She turned away from the board when she heard two names called and watched as two humans exited the room. The two looked to be about equal in body build but she knew that fighting skill had nothing to do with physical strength. It was impossible to tell what someone’s capabilities were until they were engaged in combat.

  Alena could boost her advantage with weapons. She knew that there was a weapon stand beside the field that she would need to take advantage of. She would be able to take as many or as few as she needed.

  The important part would be getting the most effective weapon without weighing herself down. Since she would need her speed to run and dodge, she knew her best weapons would probably be a light sword and a bow. Her advantage would be to fight from a distance because she was smaller and would be facing those with more physical power.

  Her concern was with the Meticians and their speed. Not only were they naturally strong, but they also had a speed that could put her on the ground before she could pull out a single arrow. She would have to make sure to move quickly as soon as the match started, making herself a difficult target while also loading her own weapon.

  Would she be able to see them quickly enough to strike a blow?

  That was yet to be seen.

  She knew she would probably be waiting for a while, and since she did not want to engage in conversation with anyone she may be fighting with, she decided to walk around the room. The room they were in was big enough to contain the twenty-six competitors but was not large enough to give anyone any real privacy. Fortunately for her, it had enough room so that she could walk in laps without touching anyone.

  She decided it would be healthier for her mind and body to spend the time moving instead of standing still. She wanted her muscles to be fresh and her mind cleared. By moving, she felt her anxiety decrease and her mind begin to form multiple battle tactics and scenarios in her mind.

  Kaleck had always said she was a natural when it came to fighting.

  Her mind played a dozen scenarios in a matter of seconds, contemplating ways she could overpower her opponent.

  She wasn’t sure how effective each technique would be once she was fighting a Metician or Oreki. Alena inconspicuously eyed an Oreki from the corner of her gaze, examining the rock-like body. That would definitely cause some issues when trying to land a hit.

  She wondered how the Meticians did it. Her eyes landed on an Avian Metician who was stretching out his legs. It was easy to tell what type he was by the beak shaped mouth and feathers that stuck out of his shirt. Did he also have the ability to fly?

  Alena held back a snicker as she imagined him pausing during the fight to fly off and lay an egg.

  That could be awkward.

  Her eyes returned to the Oreki to see that ze was staring off into the distance, appearing to be mentally vacant. She wondered if ze was meditating or deep in thought about the upcoming battle. She wondered if Oreki ever felt fear…

  From their constant stoic facial expressions and tough exterior, it seemed like nothing could rattle them. Besides, who could kill a being made completely out of rock?

  Alena listened to the sounds that were coming from outside. From the loud bangs and shaking, she knew it had to be a heated battle.

  The sound made her excited yet nervous at the same time. She had been able to train herself to the best of her ability, but others had years of professional experience. Could she compete with them?

  After about fifteen minutes, the sound ended, and the announcer shouted the name of the victor. Cheers resounded throughout the arena, echoing in the small room they all occupied. The victor walked back into the room, blood running down his face, but his head was held high. The loser did not re-enter. The opponent was probably either seeking medical attention or dead.

  The next two competitors made their way to the door and exited. How long would this one take?

  Alena knew she wasn’t the best when it came to patience. It was one of the things Kaleck told her she should work on. But she was also stubborn. And the combination was not a good mixture.

  She shuffled her feet and rolled her shoulders at the same time, keeping her muscles stretched and her blood flowing. She could not afford to go into dormant mode.

  It took an hour before she was called. Once she finally heard her name, she let out a breath in relief. She was tired of waiting around, struggling through a mix of anxiety and excitement. She started to move towards the entrance, feeling her heart accelerate in anticipation.

  Alena let her eyes wander to find the other competitor who was also approaching the gate. From what she could tell, the person she was going to fight was human. A large male with bulging muscles and a hard expression.

  This was someone she could handle.

  She was used to fighting humans and knew how to look for weaknesses. She could not say the same for the other species.

  The other competitor did not look at her as they walked outside, the sun almost blinding her with its’ intensity after being in a small, dark room for so long.

  Alena moved to the side of the arena, picking a couple swords to slide into sheaths on her back as well as a bow and a quiver full of arrows. She also chose a few knives to place into hidden areas on her body. Once she was satisfied that she had enough weapons, Alena strode to the middle of the arena.

  She sized up her opponent, taking time to assess his stance and potential areas of vulnerability. He had chosen a large axe as his weapon. A large weapon that matched the large man.
But it would also make him slow. Alena let her eyes wander to see if she could see any other weapons on his frame. From her perspective she couldn’t see much. She would have to make decisions based upon what happened during the fight.

  “Opponents get ready!”

  She watched as the larger man smirked, swinging his axe in what was supposed to be an intimidating fashion. She smirked right back at him, lowering herself as she braced herself to run. She may not have huge muscles, but she had speed. And she would get to a position where she could gain the advantage. She had noticed some trees in the right corner that would be useful.

  “Now remember, killing and maiming your opponent is encouraged. There are no conciliation prizes here so let’s see some action! Commence!”

  Alena heard the wild cries of the crowd, energized by the upcoming mayhem that they craved. There was nothing better than the action of a good fight. One that crushed beings and left them debilitated.

  It wouldn’t ne her. Not today.

  Alena pushed off the ground, her feet carrying her body at a quick speed to the side, moving towards the trees she had spotted. From her peripheral vision, she saw her opponent moving towards her, his eyes burning with a blood lust as he gripped his axe. He was faster that she expected but she was still faster.

  She grabbed one of the arrows in her quiver and loaded it into her bow while moving, her body turning to face the oncoming bulldozer at the same time her foot caught a rock behind her and launched herself into the air.

  One. Two. Three.

  Arrows shot towards her opponent, two of them being knocked away by his axe but the third stuck in his right bicep.

  The sound of his grunt and momentary pause was enough to bring a grin of satisfaction to her face. The grin disappeared however when he picked the arrow out of his muscle like it was nothing and tossed it aside, his predatory smirk being directed at her once again.

  Perhaps one wasn’t enough for the big fella?

  Alena turned and ran once again towards the trees in the corner, planning on gaining the elevated ground so she could hit him from above. One arrow may not cause a lot of damage but twenty would definitely slow the meat boulder down.

  The sound of a large object moving through air brought her attention to the large, sharp axe that was about to slice through her. She turned and jumped to the right at the last moment, the axe being implanted into the ground where she had been.

  What a foolish oaf, throwing his one weapon to her….

  Alena jumped back when her she sensed something else being thrown at her and looked in surprise at the other smaller axe that was implanted into the ground in front of her.

  She guessed that answered her earlier question.

  She looked up, quirking an eyebrow at the muscled giant that was still directing that creepy smirk towards her.

  He was playing with her.

  He didn’t think she stood a chance.

  That was something he would regret.

  She watched as the oaf pulled out another axe from behind his back and started to swing it in taunting manner. Alena grabbed the axe that was planted in the ground closest to her and with all of her strength, she yanked the axe out of the ground and, spinning her body, launched the axe right back at him.

  The look of surprise on her opponent was all she needed as she began to run, shooting arrows at his body as she moved in a circle around him, staying a safe distance away from his strike zone. The oaf had been so distracted by the axe she had launched that he did not have time to dodge both his own weapon and the multitude of arrows flying at his body.

  Alena slid and stopped a distance behind her opponent, holding still as she examined his stance. From what she could see, he had batted the axe away, but he had quite a few arrows sticking out of him. And since she had aimed for more vulnerable areas, most of them had become stuck in his abdomen and chest.

  For a moment everyone was still, even the crowd held their breath as they waited for what would happen next.

  And then there was motion. Her opponent dropped to his knees, his breathing labored. Alena straightened her stance, watching as the large male fell to the side, appearing to be slipping into unconsciousness.

  Then a roar of cheering and applause.

  She had won. Alena did not bother acknowledging the crowd, her eyes searched for only one face. Her eyes met Kaleck’s excited face in the crowd and he gave her a thumbs up. She smiled in return, feeling satisfied and relieved. She had won her first of many matches.

  It gave her confidence.

  She could do this.

  She walked away from the arena, replacing the weapons before moving back to the competitor’s area. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her opponent being carted away. Even though he had lost, he was still alive. Which would mean he would be given medical attention, but that didn’t mean he would be walking out of here. Although there was assistance for those who had lost, their pride would be severely damaged. Many chose to commit suicide instead of going back to their families as failures. Also, it was encouraged for competitors to cause death. It made it so much more intense for the crowd.

  Alena reentered the competitor’s area, feeling satisfied at the looks of appraisal she received. The fact that she had survived her first fight despite her size made her a challenge. This meant they would be looking at her in a new light, searching for weaknesses that she had trained herself not to show. She may be human but that did not mean she was not dangerous.

  Alena walked to the same corner she had been occupying previously, awaiting the next challenge with nervous anticipation.

  Her first victory made her feel more confident, but she also needed to recuperate. Already, the adrenaline was wearing off and her body was demanding for her to rest. So, she leaned against the wall of the room. She knew better than to sit down and reveal her weariness.

  She was in a den of wolves and she couldn’t afford to look like prey.

  So, instead she leaned against the wall and tried to meditate as best as possible, awaiting the next match.

  She guessed the next match would be more challenging since the weaker opponents were being eliminated. Which meant she would need to generate new energy.

  The competition was not over the course of multiple days because they wanted to test each competitor’s endurance as well. This also gave Meticians an advantage because they had a large amount of energy and recuperated quickly. If she were to match them, that meant she would also need to regenerate energy quickly.

  They were looking for warriors that would be successful in a war.

  Which meant they were all tested on their limits.

  She let out a breath, imagining her body pulsing with energy. If you could imagine it, it would happen.

  Which is also why she imagined herself in the winner’s circle being crowned the victor. And then buying her very own house. Having her own space with a garden and all the food she could eat.

  She smiled at the thought before allowing her mind to clear once more into a meditative state.

  Chapter Four

  Alena was feeling confident in herself.

  She had faced a total of five opponents, all human, but each had presented a unique challenge. Her ability to wield multiple weapons had been a large advantage, especially since her opponents had all greatly underestimated her.

  She was steadily moving up the ranks.

  Which begged the question, what was next?

  Alena looked at the board, seeing a name but nothing else. That wasn’t anything abnormal, the other competitors had not been identified either. Perhaps they were pairing up opponents by species. Or did they think her too weak to face anyone else? She couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.

  She turned to walk to the gate, knowing that her name would be called soon. It had been a while since the sounds outside the room had ceased. And the fact no one had re-entered seemed like a bad sign. The fights had been escalating and it seemed like more competitors were willi
ng to “finish the job.”

  Alena took a deep breath, composing herself as she mentally prepared for the upcoming battle. She had come this far, and she was not going home.

  The sound of her name being called had her moving outside, her eyes secretly searching for who else was approaching the exit. She was confused when she noticed no one else was approaching the doorway.

  Where was her competitor?

  As she moved into the large arena once again, she noticed it was late evening, probably around seven. They had been fighting all day with limited breaks in between fights. Soldiers were not meant to get tired.

  Alena picked a sword, a few daggers, and her bow once again. She knew what her strengths were and they had not steered her wrong yet.