After a day of rest, the entire village gathered once more in the central arena. The air was charged with excitement. Today, the competitors would face each other.
All the twenty competitors stood in a line before the elders. Weapons and armor's were displayed on long wooden racks, polished and ready. To maintain fairness, the village elders had provided everything blades, axes, small spears, shields, gauntlets, even simple wooden sticks were provided. Each competitor was allowed to choose the weapon of their choice, they could take as many as they could.
One by one, they stepped forward and choose weapons and defensive gears for themselves, Soon all were armed. Now to decide the fighting order, lots were drawn from a jar.
By fortune or by some coincidence none of the five most anticipated fighters, Jai, Aspen, Mei, Ryan, or Vayu, were pitted against one another, as if Lady Luck herself wished to save the best for last. The crowd buzzed with excitement, eager to see them clash.
The match order was set: Aspen second, Mei fourth, Ryan fifth, Vayu seventh and Vijay will fight the last round.
When both the competitors for the first match came on stage, the fifth elders began the match and the first battle began.
Chandra was tall but very thin, his opponent Vamika, one of only two girls in the competition. Though smaller than Chandra, Vamika fought with ferocity, her twin daggers flashing like sparks. Chandra's big swings and unorganized attacks slowed him down, and after a relentless exchange, Vamika struck the finishing blow, disarming him and Chandra surrendered. The crowd roared with cheers for her victory.
Then came the second match. Aspen stepped forward, leopard skin still tied around his waist, his axes glinting under the sun. His opponent, Shri was a similar build to aspen but slightly smaller in height, he looked steady but nervous, clutching two heavy and broad daggers in his hands.
The elder signaled the round to start .
Aspen rushed forward as always. Shri matched his momentum and rushed towards him, Aspen threw one axe, then the other, forcing Shri off balance as he dodged. In that split second of opening, Aspen closed the distance with terrifying speed.
The crowd gasped as Aspen slammed into Shri with a brutal tackle that shook the ground. Shri staggered back and fell and giving him no time to recover, Aspen's fists rained down on him like thunder. Punch after punch, giving him no space to breathe.
The match was over almost as quickly as it began. The elder raised his hand.
"Winner Aspen!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, as Shri was taken to infirmary for treatment.
Aspen raised his hand, blood still on his knuckles, his eyes burning with pride. This time, he would not allow himself to be underestimated.
************
After the third fight Soon, it was Mei's turn.
Unlike Aspen, she didn't charge recklessly. Mei knew she lacked his brute strength, her advantage was in her speed, precision, and control. Her opponent, Vishal, stepped forward wielding two short spears, twirling them in hands slowly.
The elder signaled the start as both approached slowly, circling each other waiting for the other one to break the stalemate but soon Mei not able to take this anymore, darted forward.
Steel met steel as Mei darted forward, her twin daggers clashing against the tips of Vishal's spears. His strikes were fast and relentless, each thrust pushing her a step back. The crowd roared and cheered.
But Mei even though was getting pushed back remained calm, her eyes sharp, her breathing steady. She let him push, let him believe he was in control. Then, as Vishal threw his full weight into a forward thrust, Mei suddenly ducked.
The force of his own push put him off balance. Mei slipped past behind him, rolling low as Vishal stumbled and fell hard to the ground his spears clattering away.
His face hit the ground hard Vishal groaned in pain. Mei slowly reached him, she seized his right hand and asked in a soft voice "are you alright" Vishal touched by her soft gesture looked ay her and said" I am fi.... aarghhhh" and with deliberate precision Mei bent two of his fingers backward, a sharp snap echoed through the arena, Vishal screamed, clutching his mangled hand as tears welled in his eyes. But Mei didn't stop. She struck him across the nose with her dagger's hilt, drawing another cry of pain.
Panic filled his face as tears started flowing down, with his good hand he tried to shield his face but Mei caught that hand, holding his another two fingers firmly. Fear flickered in Vishal's eyes as she leaned close, her voice cold and steady.
"Surrender" she whispered, "or suffer".
"I–I surrender!" he gasped, his voice breaking.
But the moment the words left his mouth, Mei bent his other two fingers and another sickening crack filled the air. Vishal screams filled the air, this time no cheering came from the crowd.
"Why?" Vishal cried, sobbing in agony "I surrendered just like you said!"
Mei rose, her expression cold and her voice sharp "That was your choice… not mine".
She turned and left the stage, her steps steady, Vishal laid curled on the ground, crying like a child.
The crowd was totally silent but the fifth elder broke the silence "WINNER Mei". Mei hadn't just won; she had crushed her opponent's spirit.
***********
Ryan stepped forward for his match, bow slung across his back, quiver at his side, he carried short throwing knives strapped on his chest, easy to reach and throw. Unlike Aspen or Mei, he wasn't much intrested in violence. But his life in the mountains had changed him.
His opponent, Siddhartha entered he seemed full of energy, two daggers in his hand, body crouched to rush the moment the elder signaled to start. His eyes darted left, over and over, pretending he would charge that way. But Ryan's sharp gaze caught the pattern.
"Too obvious, He'll go right" Ryan thought.
The elder signaled "Start!".
In a flash, Ryan who had already loaded a arrow on his bow before the start fired Right. But Siddhartha, with a sly grin on his face, sprinted left instead. The crowd cheered at his trick, and Ryan's arrow struck onto the dirt harmlessly.
Ryan's jaw tightened. He drew another arrow, his calm cracking "why it always happens to me". He waited, watching. Siddhartha's sprint began to slow as he adjusted his stance for a charge. Ryan's fingers loosed.
The arrow whistled through the air and this time it struck. It sank deep into Siddhartha's calf.
"Arghh!" Siddhartha stumbled, clutching the arrow to remove it from his calf, but Ryan didn't give him a chance. Another arrow flew, lodding into Siddhartha's hand, his scream split the air.
But Ryan's assault had only begun. With cold precision, he aimed again and again at the same leg. Arrow after arrow struck, until Siddhartha's leg looked like a porcupine.
The crowd gasped in horror as Siddhartha cried, writhing on the ground. His daggers lay forgotten, his body trembling in his agony he even forgot to surrender.
Before Ryan could shoot another arrow, fifth elder raised his hand quickly.
"Enough, This match is over! Winner—Ryan!"
Ryan lowered his bow, his eyes cold, unreadable. He had fought with rage and cruelty, this was not the way of a hunter. Ryan felt uneasy inside, he felt he had strayed away from the path of a hunter.