Gays and Dragons

Chapter 10 - Challenger

"We need gold coins, Maddie, so that we can buy food and rent a room. I really want to sleep now." He keeps talking while I'm in deep thoughts.

I'm thinking if where on earth are we. We just fell into a deep hole and walked about a mile in an underground river. It would be very impossible that we reached a different country.

"Maddie, do you hear that?" He said and we stopped walking in the street. There's a noise of people in a distance.

Out of curiosity, we went to a group of people who are cheering and yelling. There could be some games or a match in here.

"Who wants to be the next challenger?" Someone yelled at the center of the circling people.

"I repeat, if you defeat Mito, the prize will be one hundred gold coins and this thief." He said while pointing at the prizes, which are a bag of coins and a girl in a cloak with her wrists are tied.

"Hey, Maddie! I guess it's a match." Chrys let out and I got an idea.

"The prize is gold coins, Chrys. This is what you've been talking about. We can get money so that we can buy food and rent a room." I told him and his face went to thinking something.

"No, no, no. I don't want to die fighting that big bald man. Do you see those lying unconscious bodies right at the corner? There's no way in hell I could defeat him. I'd rather sleep with Lera on the ground and starve to death." He explained and there he goes being a scared cat again.

"Who said that you will fight him?" I said and he stared at me confusedly.

"What do you mean?" He asked and I cracked my knuckles, then, his eyes went wide.

"Are you f*****g out of your mind?" He cursed and looked at the big man at the center.

"No way. You're no match with him. He's big and strong and he could just crush your bones." He explained and I just gave him a bored look.

"We have a challenger! Put your bets and the match is about to start. This match is between Mito and Ahadi." The man announced and the fight started.

The champion is strong and the challenger looks big and strong too. I guess that's a good match.

"You won't last a minute to me." The champion let out and the challenger just scoffed.

The crowd is cheering on their bets and the men are fighting for their reputation. They don't use any weapons. And, I think this fight is just body-to-body.

Then, a strong blow on the stomach made the challenger curled on the ground and I guess he passed out.

"The champion is still Mito!" The announcer yelled and the place was filled with the crowds' cheer.

"Is there anybody who wants to fight him? Come on, don't be afraid. The prize is raised to one hundred ten gold coins and this thief. This woman was caught stealing bread from my wife's stall in the market. So, as a punishment, I will give her to the winner as a prize. You just need to defeat the unbeatable Mito." He stated and this is it, I'm really going to try.

"Maddie, there's no way you can defeat that man. Did you see how strong he is?" Chrys keeps on discouraging me to fight. Can he think positively for just even a second?

"This is the only way we can get the money that can be accepted in their village. I'll just try. I'm not a black belter for nothing." I explained and his face is still worrying.

"What if you'll die?" He asked.

"Then, bury me," I answered and he shook his head out of frustration.

"Alright, listen, Chrys. If ever I can defeat Mito or everything goes sideways. I'll just call you with a whistle. If you can hear it, we'll go running. Stay here with the horses." I told him as we went to an alley near the venue of the match.

"But Maddie, what is--" He argued but I cut him off.

"I can do this," I let out and reached for some clothes that are hanging near a window.

Then, I put on some of the clothes so that they won't wonder what I'm wearing, and I made one cover my face so they won't notice that I'm a girl.

"Well, you've been kicking asses since forever. I'll just wish you good luck." He said and I tapped his shoulder. I got this.

——

Another match is done, and still, Mito is the winner.

"Can somebody last for a minute? This is so easy." Mito let out with his very ugly hoarse voice.

"Is there anybody who wants to challenge our champion? The prize is raised to one hundred twenty gold coins and this thief." He announced, and I raised my right hand while passing through some people in the crowd, then, made my way to the center.

"Oh, we have here a very brave challenger." He said and everyone's eyes are on me.

Well, they can't see my face and I can hear some are chuckling.

"How can he beat Mito? He's so small and thin. He won't last even ten seconds." Some of the crowd are murmuring, but I just ignored them.

"What is your name?" The announcer asked and I answered him with a low voice.

"People call me Carrie, but you can call me Car," I stated and trying hard to make my voice low so they won't notice that I'm a lady. I just hope I can handle him.

"Put your bets in. This match is between Mito and Car." He announced and I looked around. Then, my gaze stopped to the prizes, and there, stood the thief that's wearing a cloak and covering her face.

"Try to last ten seconds, Boy," Mito uttered and I just smiled.

This is going to be fun. I've been studying martial arts with my dad since I was four years old, and I've never been defeated in any fight. Tournaments, school fights, or street fights, I'm all in.

"Let's get it on," I stated and I waited for him to attack first.

He runs in my direction and about to punch me in the face but I dodged it. I went to his back and kicked the back of his right knee. And, he kneels on the ground but quickly stood up.

He charged at me again and punch me in the face but I ducked, and then, I kicked his private part. That must be hurt.

And, he curled on the ground cupping his balls. Damn, I guess I've strike too much. The crowd went quiet as he slowly stood up.

"Giving up?" I teased him and he just spits on the ground.

"You're just lucky. But this time, I will surely make you drop." He said angrily and he slowly walked in my direction.

I made a karate pose and I'm observing his every move.

He ran to me and he got the chance to grab my shirt, then, gave me a head-butt.

Shit, I felt dizzy for a moment but gained consciousness as he is about to punch me in the face.

I struggled to get out of his hold and I took off the clothes that I stole.

Then, the cover on my face was also removed and I heard the crowd gasped.

"It's a girl." Some say and I need to finish him off right now.

So, I attacked him giving him a flying kick and he was hit in the face but he just shrugged it off. f**k, I'm in trouble.

He tried to hold me, but I moved fast and I'm behind him.

Then, I hit a nerve on his neck with strong force using my hand and he went unconscious while lying on the cold ground.

"I'm not Carreon Maddison for no reason," I stated and spit on him.

Then, I touched my forehead and I felt something wet. I hope it's just my sweat. My eyes went wide as I got the look of my hand and I saw blood.

The announcer tried to check Mito. But he's clearly passed out and that means… I won.

"Where's my prize?" I asked him and he looked at me in disbelief.

"How did you defeat him?" He asked and I can sense something wrong around here.

I just shrugged my shoulders and opened my palm while asking him for the prize.

I looked around and the crowd is very quiet.

Then, I slowly walked to where the prizes are placed.

Well, I just noticed that the crowd is mostly men who are circling and going in my direction.

Some are cracking their knuckles and some got knives and swords. And, the announcer also pulled out a knife. This is bad.

"Umm, I just want the prize. That's just fair because I defeated Mito." I let out and some are shaking their heads.

And, I put my two fingers in my mouth and blew it. I just hope that he heard it.

"She must be a witch. Yes, she's a witch. No one can defeat Mito." They murmured.

How dare they accused me of being a witch?

My gaze went to the prizes, and I saw the thief cut the rope that was tied on her wrists using a knife and grabbed the bag of gold coins.

And now, I can hear horses running and I know it's Chrys.

Then, I ran to the thief and tried to get the bag of money from her, but the men around me attacked and I have no choice but to fight them.

I dodged and attacked them. Then, I grabbed a stool and used it as my weapon against their swords and knives.

I finally got a sight of Chrys and he called for my name.

"Maddie, over here!" He shouted and I found a way to escape from these men since some men are fighting each other because of their bets.

Then, I searched for the thief, and as I found her, she's trying to wave at me while fighting some men.

And, I got to fight some of them too on my way to her.

"We need to get out of here." She said and pulled me somewhere to an alley. I hope nobody saw us.

"No, I have company, and he's over there. Give me the money." I said to her and she handed me the bag of coins. Okay, I thought she wanted it?

"I'm coming with you. Please." She uttered and begged.

I whistled Chrys again, and he went to us with men chasing him.

"Maddie, let's go!" He yelled and threw me Reo's rope.

I jumped to his back and ready to drive him away, but I heard the girl again begging to come with me.

"Please, Car. I need to go with you. I'm one of your prizes too." She said and I got no choice but to offer her a hand and pulled her up.

The men are approaching near and I made Reo ran fast.

So long, suckers!