CHAPTER 8

A/N – Hello everyone! First of all, thanks so much for all the support you're giving to my work, it means so much to me! Secondly, like someone duly pointed out, Kid totally missed the eighth chapter (as this one is all about Maka). Damn it! LOL. Oh well, shit happens and I didn't think of it at all. However, considering that in this story Kid is not so obsessed with symmetry and all, I have all the confidence that he will survive this unfortunate thing ;)

Maka munched thoughtfully on the piece of almost raw meat, observing the new training pairs. Galiel had invested in some new 'stock', all of them young boys in rough shape, skinny, ragged and if anything even more unskilled than her lot had been. Out of her group only two boys were still alive after two months of matches and their House had matches every week.

But now the blonde had a reason not to think of what cruel fate awaited the poor unfortunate souls before her and not even of her own fate to come – now she had Evans' challenge to mule over. Not that that was in any way more important that her very survival, but it might have been the key to fulfilling her task. If she were to achieve something as literally insane as what the scythe boy had asked there was no way in hell he could go back on his word. That still did not mean they would actually be able to fight together in the end, but still, it would have been a huge step forward in the plan Maka had conceived in her mind. Of course, if she were to be completely honest, it wasn't much of a plan really, but she was convinced that the only way to make enough money for Galiel to repay her father's debt was to deliver spectacular matches to thrill the crowd and she could not do that without a scythe.

And now back to the matter at hand – Soul Eater's challenge. I guess I had that one coming when I told him that nothing is impossible... So he chose to challenge me with an impossible task. Why would the shinigamis even care about a slave fighting in the Arena? They are only there to guard the king and the prince. Besides, all she knew was that they were some sort of magic creatures, just like the Clowns. To attempt to draw their attention meant to assume, before anything else, that they possessed judgment of their own. How do I know they're not just some mindless beasts?

"More garbage this time, I see"

Maka turned abruptly at hearing Kilik's voice, only to discover the other prized champion standing right behind her. But there was no amusement or even disdain on the olive-skinned boy's face as he observed the newcomers. The blonde saw that his forearms were still covered in bandages after he'd burned himself.

"Why does Galiel buy them, anyway? Most of them are such weaklings and their first match will probably be their last, too"

"Because they're cheap, that's why," Kilik replied bored." Good fighters are very expensive, even if they're human. Magic creatures are made by magi and magi don't work cheaply either. And Master Galiel needs to remain in the game - that is to sustain matches. But what's it to you why he buys them? We're only here to fight and die for his profit"

Maka sighed, there was no need for her to be reminded of that. "I know that, I just try not to think of it too much. So I try to keep my mind otherwise occupied…"

Kilik blew up a snort with a funny grimace and rolled his eyes. "Oh my… Could it be that you're troubling yourself with what I think you're troubling yourself? You can't take that seriously!"

The blonde scowled, but said nothing. Of course troll eater had told his friend about the whole thing and they'd both probably laughed their asses off at her. Bastards!

"Look Maka, Soul just says a lot of crap because he's pissed and bored and because you're always game and take it seriously. But it's not like he'll really do something to you if you don't fulfill that stupid challenge. He used to challenge me too in the beginning and he'd say he'd sneak up on me while I'm sleeping and stick my own firepots into my ass if I couldn't do what he asked. And of course I couldn't do any of the crazy things which occurred to him. But hey, look at my firepots – not in my ass yet!" the boy laughed.

A smile crept on the blonde's face at the thought of the expression Evans must have had while making those threats.

"And don't think you should worry because you're a girl – he really is into Blair. I mean it, he's into her big time. But being the bastard that he is, he'd rather drop dead than admit it"

Oh well, that's-

"Shit is upon us! Ton's of shit no less!"

Training Master Ox's sudden lamentations startled them both and interrupted Maka's thought. The training master walked towards them hurriedly and closely followed by Stein, who had a concerned scowl upon his face.

"And where is Evans? Surely he can't be sleeping at a time like this?!" Ox cried, eyeing the two. He looked like he was about to tear his two spikes of hair off any moment now.

"At a time like what? By the Gods, don't get your panties in a twist," the white haired scythe asked, slipping into view from behind a pillar. Sneaky bastard!

"We are doomed!" Ox Ford insisted. "A week from now our House will lie in absolute ruin! Look at these pieces of trash, that's all that there'll be left after our next match!" he said, pointing at the new boys, who had all ceased training and were staring at him in dismay.

"What do you mean?" Maka asked warily, her gaze trailing to Dr. Stein.

"I don't suppose you have heard of Harthgor," he addressed her, digging in the pockets of his robe in search of a cigarette. "He is-"

"Harthgor is a magic monster and a champion of the King!" the Training Master cut him off before he could say anything else. "He is so powerful that he usually fights several warriors in the same time and no one ever survives. He stands undefeated. He's half human half gargoyle, twice the height and weight of an average human and his bark like skin is armor in itself. His claws can pierce an average mail shirt, but the King insists that he should fight with swords and other weapons, like a warrior and not like a beast. Yet it is his magic powers that make him truly the most valuable warrior on the market. However, Master Galiel found wise to express the opinion that he's just a stupid beast with a cheap collection of tricks!"

Franken Stein shook his head and blew a cloud of smoke. "The words have reached the king's ears and challenge was made," he said. "We must fight Harthgor next week and Master has already chosen Evans. He won't go alone though and since Kilik is still recovering, you're the only suitable option, Maka. He wants to see you live up to your father's name"

Maka froze, terror instantly seizing her guts. Could this be… is this really the end? Am I really to perish so soon? And Papa…

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

She snapped out of it to see Soul's arm morphed into a blade and stuck menacingly under Stein's chin. "Do you even listen to what you're saying?" the scythe boy growled. "HER?! You're giving me her?! She's garbage, for FUCK'S SAKE!"

"It doesn't matter," the doctor said calmly, "When it comes to opposing Harthgor, everyone is garbage, including you, Evans. So there's no point in making a fuss about it, really"

Maka was grateful for Dr. Stein's determination in training her for long and hard hours in the past week, even if everyone was of the opinion that both she and the House champion would be fighting a lost battle. If anything, it had kept her mind off things for most of the time and that was important because not even now, as the lycan slaves were preparing their weapons, she would not think of how it would all be over before she could repay her father's debt, that there would be no more plans for her to make and how this was going to be the end of everything, right there, on the white sand now sparkling immaculate under the bright summer sun of the Citadel. No, the blonde would rather tell herself that it was just another ordinary fight – not that any particular fight could be qualified as ordinary, but still… things looked pretty much as usual.

Training master Ox Ford, looking on the verge of tears and broken down as he currently was, was ranting incessantly as to how this was the end of everything he'd ever worked for and how his master was so cruel and inconsiderate to have ruined it all with his recklessness and his big mouth. His pathetic laments finally managed to pull Soul 'Eater' from the stubborn silence he'd donned lately and the scythe boy jumped at his throat, threatening to chop his fucking head off right then and there if he didn't shut up, even if it was the last thing he was going to do.

Stein had convinced Ox to give Maka an old, worn breastplate this time for a change and the piece of armor gave her an unexpected feeling of comfort. It was still rusty in places, even though the lycans had done their best to clean it, and there was a strange sort of wolf carved on it instead of the silver gargoyle of Galiel's crest, but it didn't matter, it was still more than she'd had before. As weapons, she was to have a sword and two short battle axes, which were rather hindering considering their cumulated weight and that of the armor, but she would have to manage. And this time the slaves wrapped red pieces of cloth on her hands too.

Evans didn't look at her as the gate was eventually lifted for them to step out on the sand and the blonde would not raise her head to behold his hardened features either. She didn't know what could have been going on in his mind in that moment and she didn't want to, either.

"Just do what I tell you and maybe we'll live long enough to shove Ford his fucking goggles down his fucking throat," the white haired scythe muttered under his breath as he walked out first and Maka saw his mouth widen into his trademark sharp toothed grin as he waved at the cheering audience. Girls cheered for him enthusiastically, even if he practically stood no chance in this match - the blonde noticed – while no one cheered in particular for the King's champion, even if the magic monster would be the likely victor. Sure, they would cheer for the bloodshed itself, but not for him.

Harthgor had had another fight before and was resting in one corner of the Arena for a few moments, while a pretty slave girl washed the blood from his sword. She threw Soul 'Eater' a glance full of pity, which he noticed and it made him swear out loud.

"HA HA, well aren't you two a pitiful choice!" the monster laughed, his voice covering the noise of the audience. "But don't worry kids, if you behave, I promise we'll finish fast and without much pain," he added in a mocking tone, his muddy green eyes trailing from Soul to Maka disdainfully.

"You fucking ugly thing! I'll fucking tear you to fucking shreds!" Evans growled under his breath, his gaze narrowing and morphing his right arm into a blade demonstratively. He then glanced briefly at the blonde, motioning with his head for her to take position on the opposite side as they waited for the signal to be given.

The Master of Ceremonies finally waved his hand lazily and the audience roared even louder. At last, Harthgor rose from his seat, pushing the slave girl down as he picked his sword. He lifted it in the air with a growl which silenced the spectators. Then Harthgor launched his attack. He charged in Soul's direction at first, but then swiftly took a turn in Maka's. He quickly lifted his sword for a full blow, but she managed to slip away and the monster missed.

She swiftly sneaked behind him and the blade of her sword made contact with his armor skin, but the blow was far from strong enough to even push him down, let alone to cut through it. He merely bent and stumbled forward, as the scythe boy began to approach carefully, seeking an opening. It was but a moment before Harthgor straightened and turned back to her, growling. The blonde stepped backwards, abandoning the sword, both battle axes now in hand.

The monster charged again, swinging his own sword impatiently as he went for the kill. Maka drew backwards, managing to put enough distance between them as to throw both her weapons in his direction. One of them cut off his left ear as it flew through the air, before the broad side of Harthgor's sword reached her shoulder and threw her down on her back. As she was desperately trying to get up, he stroke again and crushed the upper part of her breastplate and her left shoulder. The crowd screamed wildly at the sight of blood, while Maka remained motionless onto the white sand, momentarily having lost her consciousness.

Harthgor let out a long growl before quickly turning to Evans next. In a second, blades crossed as the scythe boy bloked his attack. His swift moves made it difficult for the monster to follow, let alone to plan a full blow. The fight went on for a while and at one point Soul's curved blade sliced into the monster's hip. Harthgor must have realized that this opponent was much stronger than the other and he was not going to get tired too soon either, so he backed off and distanced, then pulled out a spell card from his girdle and threw it down on the ground.

In a blink of an eye, he multiplied and Soul found himself surrounded by no less than ten Harthgors, each bearing a different weapon. He quickly figured out that only one of them must have been the true one and bringing him down would be end of them all, but it was of course impossible to tell which was the real Harthgor. On top of that, any of the fake ones could kill him. They all attacked him in the same time, and even if he rejected them in the first row, it was impossible to escape their circle. But then Evans made a discovery, realizing that the fake Harthgors made no sound as they moved. Using his sharp senses, he identified the real one and charged with full force, stabbing him just below the ribcage. The monster stumbled backwards, letting out a terrifying growl. But just when the scythe boy was preparing to give him a second blow, one of the fakes from behind hit him in the back, throwing him to the ground. When he was down, another hit him with the boot, rolling him face up. A halberd blow then promptly cut his breastplate in two and partially crushed his chest. Soul's pupils widened as Harthgor lifted the halberd for the final stroke.

Thankfully, Maka's blackout had been relatively brief and the blonde had slowly begun to come back to her senses. The sun had blinded her and she had blinked a few tears, pain viciously flooding her awareness, but with relief the blonde had realised that the wound wasn't half as bad as initially thought. The monster had abandoned her – he must have seen the blood and thought he'd gotten her in the neck and caused a fatal wound, so there was no point in further wasting time with a weakling like her.

Get up! I must get up and make him pay for his mistake of having underestimated me!

To be continued

A/N – Cliffhanger… I know, I suck. Feel free to hate me for not yet revealing whether Soul will live through this matchor whether Maka will win in battle or be spared at the last moment by Prince Black Star's mercy. And will she manage to impress the shinigamis? Who knows… I haven't decided yet, so stay tuned for the next chapter!