Chapter 33- Destruction

A few minutes later, I sat under a tree and rested. Until I thought about moving, the time is passing, and I don't have much time to rest. I already encountered four monsters. The other part of my clothes was torn and full of blood. Fortunately, I have a tube inside. Some parts of my shoulder were exposed, good thing it's not that cold here. My jeans were slightly ripped on the knee part because of the monster earlier that pulled my leg with its long nails. My bare arm was already wounded. My points keep on rising as I encounter monsters.

I already have five points. As the tournament progressed, I felt weaker and weaker, but I couldn't find at least one of my teammates.

I stopped walking when I heard a crackle on the left side of my direction. It gave shiver down my spine when I heard the familiar growl of a monster. I turned around and I was not mistaken. There's a monster standing and looking at me as if it wants to devour me. Oh crap.

I closed my eyes in annoyance, it was just almost a minute ago when I killed a monster. And now, there's a monster in front of me again. Ready to devour me alive.

I ran, I hid behind a tree and pulled out my weapon made of tree branches. Its tip is sharp, enough to kill a monster.

The monster growled loudly, and I slid to the ground when the monster suddenly pulled out the tree I was hiding from the ground and threw it away. Compared to the ones I encountered earlier, it is bigger and stronger. I was about to run when he pulled my foot and I felt his nail-biting into my skin. I quiver in pain and tried to escape.

The branch I was holding, fell on the ground. I tried to reach it, but the monster kept on pulling me away.

"Shit!" I cursed and I closed my eyes in extreme pain. He pulled me even harder and fortunately I immediately grabbed the weapon and stabbed him in the hand that made him growl in pain and let go of my foot.

I got up and ran faster as he touched the wound I made. I hid again in a tree not far from the monster. I held my leg, but it won't stop bleeding. My breathing became rigid as pain enveloped me. I close my eyes and held the knife I made out of a branch. I could hear the monster approaching.

I thought of a way and turned my gaze to a stream not far from where I was sitting. I could see the water flowing from it. There is a tree branch on the edge of the creek and one end of it is pointed.

If I used the weapon, I made to kill the monster, I would not succeed, it is too small for the monster whose triple of my size.

When I thought of a plan, I peeked at the monster and he was still a bit far from me. So, I stood up and faced him.

"Hey!" He turned to me and gritted his teeth. "Come and get me!" I ran to the branch on the stream and I heard him chasing me. I tried to run even though my wound was still bleeding and at any time I could faint from the pain that was engulfing my leg and arm.

The monster growled loudly again, and I felt he was close to me. The monster is thrice bigger than me and its steps were big so he can chase me quickly. But I still have to make my plan succeed.

When I got closer to the stream, I moved quickly and picked up the heavy branch. I lifted it and faced the monster as he jumped on me the branch pierced his chest and I also splashed in the water.

I went up and frowned as the water covered my bleeding and sore wound. I saw the monster dead and the branch stuck to his chest.

I sat on the edge of the creek and drank some water from the stream. I've been thirsty before and it's good that there is a creek here. But my leg still did not stop bleeding even after I washed it.

I started to walk, and my arm blinked again. It means, my score has increased.

"Hey there!" I almost jumped in shock when Sophia appeared in front of me. One of the members of Magical University. Her familiar grin showed up. I wish I only saw my group, then her.

"What do you need?" I said reluctantly while I was still walking straight.

"Nothing. Just your points," she said with her monotone voice. But I just laughed. I could see the annoyance in her voice because of my laughter. "What's so funny, loser?"

I stopped laughing but the grin still lingered on my face. "You. You're funny. And don't call me a loser. It's too old, don't you think? Is there anything new? And bitch please, I have no time for your bullshits."

"What did you say?" Her palm clasped as she frowned in anger.

"Which one? The one I called you bitch or the one I said I don't have time for you?" I sarcastically said that made her angry even more. I remember her as Mary. The bullies don't have a place to choose, eh? Even here within the tournament, there's still someone like her.

"You, bitch! Let's just see if you can fight me!" She took out a fire on her hand and threw it at me which I immediately avoided.

I gasped in anger. "Stop it!" I pulled out my lone weapon and held it tightly. "I'll deal with you later. When I kill the monster behind you."

I saw the shock and fear on her face. She looked behind her and saw the monster standing behind her, so she ran in my direction.

"What are you waiting for? Kill that ugly monster!" She said while holding the hem of my dress. I pulled her hand away from me.

"Tsk. You're scared?" She might even tear my clothes apart from what she was doing. She followed me as I hid behind a tree. I came up with a plan because if I wanted to see my teammates, I have to kill the monster first.

"Hey, listen. Can you be my trap?" I asked Sophia, emphatically, but she looked at me and frowned.

"Are you insane?! I don't want to!" She sat on the ground as if she doesn't want to fight at all.

"Then, I'll leave you there!" I left her there and rushed at the monster. "Hey!" He turned to me and I threw my weapon and it plunged towards him. But I was surprised when he caught it with his hand. "Shit!" I ran but he immediately grabbed my shoulder and his nail sank there causing me to frown in pain. I grabbed his hand and put out the fire, so his hand immediately loses its hold in me.

He immediately released me, so I fell to the ground. I still can't stand, and my vision was blurred. I heard a tree being cut down and it was made by a monster. The branch was about to pierce me when something unexpected happened.

"Althea!" Sophia shouted. She pushed me and she was the one stabbed by the branch. My eyes widened as the branch penetrated her stomach and she spilled a lot of blood out of her mouth.

"No, Sophia!" I tried to stand up and pulled out the branch of the monster I had killed earlier and stabbed it in the monster. The ground shook slightly as the monster fell along with Sophia's body.

But I caught her. My tears were still flowing. We were not on the same team, but she chose to help me. My hands were shaking again because of the flow of a lot of blood coming from her stomach.

"W-Why the hell are you crying?" Her voice was slow and weak. Blood was still coming out of her mouth.

"Hush. I'll find help--" She didn't let me finish.

"I don't need help." Tears dripped down my eyes even more. Even though she almost lost his life, she was still really stubborn. "I-I joined this tournament because I know there is little chance that we can return. I chose this because I want my life to end here. Where Rhian died."

I was stunned. She and Rhian are friends, too. Based on what she said, Rhian's disappearance seems to have had a big impact on her life. She closed her eyes and her breathing weakened as if she was having a hard time.

"No. don't close your eyes, Sophia! Goddamn it!" I yelled at her.

"I-I can't do it anymore, Althea. I need to rest. But before that, c-can you do something for me?" I nodded in response and wiped away my tears. "Take care of Isaac, please? Rhian loved him so much and I know he is happy for Isaac. He loves you."

It was as if my heart was breaking. I want to be angry with everyone, I want to be angry because it's about Rhian again. But what is my fight against the woman everyone loves? What do I do against the person they first loved? And she's still my sister. I do not fight even if the world is reversed.

I nodded even though I wasn't sure. "Y-Yes. I will love him." Sure, I will continue to love Isaac. I will do that from afar. I will love him until my heart gets tired and I just give up voluntarily.

Sophia smiled bitterly. "Be brave, Althea. I want you to live after this Tournament. D-Don't waste my time saving you."

"I will. Now, rest." She nodded and closed her eyes. I felt her hand fell to the ground, and my tears flowed down my cheeks. I cried, but I could no longer feel the pain of my wounds. She sacrificed herself for me.

"I promise, Sophia. I will live." I leaned her body against the tree and slowly stood up.

I walked to the creek a second time and again I cleaned my body filled with blood then I started walking again even though my body was weak to even take a step.

But whatever it takes, I'll live. Just like what I promised to Sophia. I'll face everything with all that I have.