Chapter 29 - Into the fire

Running along the trees, not knowing who she dodged, Alex launched herself over the river using a limber tree to slingshot herself.

I don’t know who it was, but I got easier targets to deal with, rather than with someone carrying around that amount of bloodlust.

Shooting into the greenery, the numbers kept updating her about her surroundings, finding a nearby group she could hunt.

Although tempting, it’s too close to where I had the run in. You know what they say, don't hunt where you’ve taken a shit. Man, I’ve picked up too many bad sayings since I’ve been here.

Letting the girls go unmolested, Alex kept up the pace, moving silently through the forest like a specter, hauling as much ass as she could within a half hour, not stopping for even a break.

Finally, when she felt she had gained a good enough distance, she leaned on a tree, opened her canteen and took a breather and a swug. Resting while expanding her senses, a minute later she heard the sounds of people clashing nearby.

I should keep resting but… If it’s my allies, I should help them. I'm going to need them to deal with that alliance.

Putting her canteen back into her backpack, Alex got up and headed towards the sounds of violence. It didn’t take long for her to come across who was fighting. One black bandana vs. three silver clips.

Hmm… They are not on my database to be well off. Let’s finish them off quickly.

Swinging off a branch with a knife in hand, Alex flew through the sky and landed on the back of what she felt was the strongest of the three. She dug her knife through the girl's throat, shocking her, as she hit the ground hard.

As the two remaining silver clip girls noticed the ambush. Alex was already pulling out her machete and throwing a few knives at one of the girls.

Unexpectedly to her, their reactions were fast, as one girl parried her knives mid air with a short sword, and the other clashed head on with her machete. Alex sent a fire style punch straight at the girl she was clashing blades with and decked the girl, making her flip in the air. She wanted to keep up the pressure, but the killing intent she felt from behind left her no choice but to roll along the ground and avoid the short sword aimed at her neck.

Pulling a knife out of her hold, she faced the girl wielding shortswords in army camo, as the other girl landed on her feet.

The black girl spit a wad of blood and gave Alex a dirty look, “Alex of the Black Card Gang. That was pretty fucking cowardly. But you fucked up, now your bounty is going to be mine.”

Alex shrugged, “For an unknown bitch, you sure talk like a big game.”

“Why, you! I’m going to pay you back ten fold for what you did to Rieta! You're going to have to wear those bandages for life!”

Alex's eyes widened as the numbers warned her.

Drop to the ground and roll to the left or be eliminated.

Never being lied to by the numbers, she did as told, and felt the narrow dodge as an explosive burst came from the black girl, flown over there, before rolling, and seeing the Asian girl dig her weapons into the ground where she once was, having bounced off the trees to pull off the attack.

Alex's mind went into overdrive as the numbers updated the danger rating of them around the power of the top ten.

They are stronger than me, but aren't listed on the top 100 rankings.

Dashing in, the Asian spat, as she sent a fury of slashes trying to cut Alex to pieces, “Stop wiggling like a worm and get your ass handed to you.”

There were people who were hiding their strength?

Alex used the fire style to parry and send counter attacks at the Asian, as the black girl launched herself like a comet from the sky at her, sending an axe kick aimed at her forehead.

“Just fucking die!”

Punting the asain with a kick in the chest, Alex used the force to get away from the fight.

Also they have teamwork?

“You’re just wasting our time! You insects, just lay down and die already!” Roared the black girl as she went for a superman punch.

Something is wrong! How deep do their machinations lie?!

Aiming for the right moment, Alex jumped atop the girl's fist.

“Wha—!?”

Still.

“You might be stronger, and you have some grand teamwork.” Alex chuckled before sending a brutal kick to the black girl's head.

“But,”

Alex smiled as she grabbed the asain's arms midair above her before the swords could pierce her, before then throwing her at the black girl.

“Now!” Alex shouted and, in response, the black bandana ally threw her rope forth while moving in a strange manner that wrapped around the two enemies.

“You think this rope can hold me! WHAT!” Trying to break the rope, the black girl tried to use her muscles, but was unable to make it budge. Even the asain tried, but couldn’t cut the rope at all.

“You're not smarter than me,” Alex laughed and tapped her forehead with a knife, “Catch ya later, losers.”

Throwing two knives Alex aimed for their foreheads and tased the shit out of them, knocking them out.

“Good follow up there, Reipi. As expected of someone reaching rank 15.” Alex offhandedly said, as she began looting the bodies of the fallen.

“Thanks for the assist, Mummy. Thought I was a goner,” replied Reipi, heavily breathing as she bandaged her wounds, wincing at the bruises over her body.

“What are allies for? Here, you're cut.”

“You're only taking a third?”

“I’m not that charitable. We’re doing fifty-fifty, are you good with that?” Pulling out her knives from the girls foreheads and the neck of the one girl, Alex turned to Reipi.

“Long as you don’t backstab me.” Twirling her rope back into her backpack, Reipi gave her a neutral look.

“Likewise.” Alex said, as she played with her knife, digging dirt out of her nails.

“Then we have an accord.” Reipi held out her hand to which Alex shook it.

“The deal has been struck. Let’s get going, shall we.”

“Let’s, Can you freely run along the trees?”

“Uhhh. I haven’t had much training in it.”

“Then I’ll scout ahead and take point. I’ll be silent and give hand signals. Do you remember them from class, Reipi?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be Rank 15.”

As they talked about rules of engagement, Alex was thinking.

Are they cheating? Even if they have more members in their alliance, they shouldn’t be able to team up so fast. Are the teachers on this? No, the headmaster would never allow it. Then, how are they doing it? If it’s within the rules of the examination, although I have some theories, I need more information.

“Are we good to continue?”

“Yeah, we’re good on the rules of engagement. Lead the way, Mummy.”

“It’s Alex.”

“Hmmm. I’ll think about it.”

Bitch. Why can’t anyone be respectful? Should I change to nicknames as well? Fuck it.

“Alright, bondage, we’re going north.”

“Wha—? HEY!”

Alex decided not to listen, climbing up a tree and began moving from branch to branch.

I wonder if I’ll still be marked with me not hunting for a bit. I earned two tags from that fight, it seems they hunted someone before fighting bondage. We should get a lay of the land and pick out a base of operations in order to rally our forces. A hill would be a good idea... Alright lets…

*Whirrrrrrrrrr*

Is that a plane? And so close? I remember the headmaster said there would be supply drops... There’s no way it would… You gotta be fucking kidding me.

Staring at the sky, Alex's mouth was opened wide, seeing the cargo hold of the plane open up, dropping a cargo extremely close to her location. And using the numbers, she was able to come up with a landing projection that put the landing site thirty meters from her location.

Swinging down to the jungle floor Alex landed in front of Reipi.

“There is a cargo drop landing thirty meters away from us. I want to go for it.” Alex got to the point with Reipi eyes opening wide.

“You want to go for that death trap? This place is going to be swarming with magical girls, it's going to be a bloodbath!”

“And fortune favors the bold. Are you a pussy, bondage, or are you a magical girl? I’m going with or without you.” Alex declared with utter confidence in her voice.

“I’m no fucking coward! I’m from the Black Card Gang, and we have a name to uphold! Lead the way, we’ll show those bitches who's the boss!”

Inwardly, Alex smiled, as she turned around and began to run.

Ah, so easy to stoke a fire.

Indeed, let's gamble.

Shut up, Xel, no one asked you.

VIRGIN BITCH!