Chapter 3

Nina wailed frantically at the injured host that had been the pitfall of her clumsy blunder. She had rushed down to the platform the moment the crowd had halted their barking and turned their confusion to the cause and effect below.

The older man was dressed in turquoise pagan robes that were now torn and grungy from the plummet. His arm was bloody and his face was terribly bruised. As the man roused from his stupor, he glared at the pinkette who hovered in unnecessary pamperness.

"Was this you who did this to me, stupid fool?!" He hollered, his face steaming with anger.

Nina paused her ministrations and clasped her hands together, "Yes. But I'm sorry. I didn't mean to harm anyone, much less you. I accidentally lost my footing and… are you okay?"

"No you dimwit, I am not okay!" The enraged host snarled. He flinched at his injury as he limped to the barriers that boarded the medic zone. Nina followed heed, not minding her surroundings.

"Are you naturally stupid or do you have an IQ for a toddler?" He threw insults at the Vermillion eyed girl who expressed despondency, but nevertheless continued to voice her concerns.

"You seem alright, considering you're speaking at a rapid pace." Nina affirmed, observing the man's robust behavior. Chatter was heard from above them as the crowd started picking up on the situation and soon, rumors started stirring the stadium like flies feasting on feces.

As Nina followed the entertainer to the sidelines, she spotted a device that looked like it may have belonged to him. Taking it upon herself, she retrieved the object and presented it to the older man. "Oh hey, sir, is this contraption yours? I found it on the ground."

Whilst Nina and the rumors flying about the said man, he made a three sixty turn upon the girl, his face fuming in embarrassment and screeched, "Shut up, you imbecile twat!"

The cry pierced throughout the arena, silencing most of the commotion within the vicinity. The host and Nina yelped and covered their ears, surprised at the belting noise that resonated from the device that Nina held.

The man cursed, from his ailing state. No longer was he only humiliated, but his body was giving off some ominous vibes. "Give me that! This mic isn't a toy!"

Nina stood back with a pout. She knew her clumsiness was a dead giveaway to trouble, but that didn't give this person the right to continuously criticize her for her wrongdoing. Sure, she accidentally plummeted him over into the fight zone…

Speaking of which, Nina glanced over to the center platform. To her surprise, the two demons from earlier were still at each other's throats. Why hadn't they stopped their battle for a break or a chance to escape? She would've thought the spotlight landed on her and the chap with the microphone. Apparently not.

"Due to some unfortunate events, the battle is still on!" The raspy voice, belonging to the injured host, spat into the hand-device. "Who will win? Watch closely… for the game is almost to its end!"

Nina could feel the anticipation in the arena as the audience sat on the edge of their seats, their eyes never leaving the fight and their voices shouting out numbers! It was then that the first downfall happened to be both demons, whom jabbed their assegais into each other's side, heavily wounding each other.

It was as if time had slowed. Nina could feel her heart beating twice as fast as the crowd were stomping their feet against the cement, all of which echoed in a rhythmic beat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. She froze as she watched the medics walk cooly towards the befallen victims and honored their life with a heaven's kiss.

A teardrop slid down Nina's face as she stared into the empty void of the gamble bowl. She caught the dark, relented gazes of the two medics that gifted their presence onto the platform. Vermillion meets blue eyes and it was a drift of understanding that they were one and the same, however not. Nina felt that if the circumstances were different and it were her instead of those two demons, then she could...would've destroyed this mundane playground with a flick of her ferocious temper. But that would just be a revelation for disaster, so condemned her mother.

To think Nina had thought highly of Anatae, hearing nothing less than a gossip cry from townspeople, but this situation was brutal in so many ways than one. What's so fun about killing people? What's the point in that if you become the last person on Earth? With adrenaline rushing in her veins, Nina turned on her heel towards the host who looked uncaring and distastefully at the scene before him.

"Stop it. Stop this. This game isn't fun!" Nina cried out.

The host turned his attention to her, his expression grim and yet casted a surprise look. "You're still here? Go home, you already did enough damage."

"But this is discrimination!" Nina shouted, just enough to catch a few attentions from the crowd. The host didn't take offense to her words and instead shrugged.

"Not my problem."

"Who here is in charge of this so called sport?" Nina spat, looking around. "I'll challenge a game and-"

"Oh you will, will you?" A voice yelled from above. Then one by one, more voices joined in and started pooling in bids. "Sweetheart, take it up with the King! He made the rules."

"SLAY!" Became the chant that waved across the arena. Nina was too upset to hear the gasps of the pity nor the the next words that left the host's mouth.

"It seems we have a female gambler and she wants to challenge our liege!" The host chortled into the mic. "Well, in that case…"

And before long, Nina found herself in a bet with the arena's host.

"Vermin girl, if you can survive the pits of hell through the next six fights, I'll personally escort you to the King. If not, your life will cease to exist."

Nina narrowed her eyes and gave a snort. "Since it's my challenge to start with, the choice of game is in my court."

"Whether it's a game of tag, you can run but you can't hide." The Host's snigger booms throughout the stadium. "Besides, I doubt you'll survive in the first fight anyway."

"You underestimate me." The pinkette muttered, her eyes flickered in cold fiery. Then with a show of her bicep, she thumbed the top stairs' exit where she declined from and said, "If I recall, I'm strong enough to tip you over a fence after barricading down a line of people."

The man clenched his teeth, his mouth forming a firm line. "So be it. Let's get this over with. You're laughing now but you won't be laughing on death row."

"Bring it."

"Choice of game."

"Arm wrestling."


Lo and behold, the Host was speechless as he watched Nina bring down the third demon after the first two lucky tries.

"Now we're talking." Nina thinks aloud as she welcomes the next newcomer.

"Are my eyes deceiving me or is this girl really a man in disguise?" The Host grumbled under his breath as Nina waved to the now cheering team of citizens.

"3 wins out of 6. You're only halfway through. Give up now and call it a day!"

As if she would fall for that! Her life was on the line and if she gave up such an easy game, she'd be throwing herself to the wolves and what was the fun in that if she couldn't fight back?

"Oh no, this was just a warm up!" Nina laughs heartily and turns to the next victim. A burly and muscular, indigo demon with gold orbs. He huffed, pounding the ground with his fist.

"Ready girly?" He hissed, "I won't go easy on you."

"If you think that eases your dignity, then have a go!" Nina grins and takes his hand in his. Feeling the strong grasp, Nina's nose flares and in an instant, slams the demon to the ground, snapping the fourth table to smithereens.

"Who is this girl?" The host exclaims into the mic, his expression giving way of disbelief. "Will she beat the remaining two victims or will she cease to exist the last remaining?"

While it should've seem like a battle of sorts, Nina was having fun out there. To the best of her ability, she was beating these guys left and right, but winning all the time could be boring. Having practiced arm wrestling on the streets, as to help her host family make some hush money, Nina thought it best to promote it publicly, as well. Now that she made herself insta-famous, going against average looking demons would be a piece of cake but hopefully, she'll face a true competitor.

"I forfeit," the last demon declared, placing both hands up in defense. Nina stood back, a hand on her hip as she shrugged in response.

"Well, it was fun while it lasted."

"Nononono," The Host anxiously bellowed into the mic whilst bee-lining towards the pinkette. "You can't do that. The game must go on."

"Oh come on, the game was played fair and square. He resigned and the game has ended." Nina reasoned.

"I challenged you to six fighters!" The man opposed, annoyed.

"And I initially challenged the King. But he's not here, is he?" Nina remarked in rebuttal.

"So then, what was the point of all this?" He sputtered, throwing his hands in the air in defeat.

Nina planted an index to her chin and thought aloud. "Mmm. A message. To the King."

"No! I challenged you and if you can't complete the game, then his loss is your loss!"

Nina huffed, her tolerance level growing vivid. As the man rants off to the audience, Nina holds up a powerful finger. Just as the man turns to face a glowering red temptress, she let's go and flicks the arrogant Host across the ring and into the medic wing.

A gush of dust gathers in his wake and the crowd goes wild. Nina beams, waving at the stands of people and welcoming their praises surrounding her.

"Serves you right for picking a fight with the red dragon!" Somebody shouts from the seats. And as if on cue, the choir chants Nina's new pen name.

Red Dragon.