CHAPTER 175: LINUXINIAN FOOTRACE (ALETHA: PART 32)

After waking up from the nightmare, Aletha got up and had a nice breakfast; Eggs and bacon with a sprinkle of salt and milk-- a light meal made for energy.

Even though the nightmare haunted the back of her mind, Aletha never spoke of it, and instead progressed through the dawn, swiftly changing her clothes to the new clean attire.

(Oh crap. I forgot about the race!)

Afterward she sprinted out the door with the ruby-haired girl, Alai, and the silver-haired man, Ubel, then the oranged-eyed Phthonus, minty Pridia, and the ghoul girl Emine. All of them had rode a horse- drawn carriage wheeling toward the outskirts of Linuxinia City.

* * * * * *

It was only then that the starting horn, a deep resonant boom, vibrated through the very ground, signaling the commencement of the race.

The sky, a canvas of brilliant blue, was instantly alive with the flurry of feet.

A sea of faces surrounded Aletha, a kaleidoscope of colors and textures, stretched as far as the eye could see across the city and toward the grassy field, a testament to the immense popularity of the Linuxian Footrace.

The towering green peaks enshrouded the foothills, with the dirt track winding up and down hills and valleys.

The air crackled with anticipation; The city square throbbing with a different energy entirely.

Banners fluttered in the crisp summer breeze, their vibrant hues a stark contrast to the grey stone buildings that lined the square.

Music, a lively, rhythmic beat played on drums and pipes, graciously filled the square, its pulse echoing the pounding hearts of the competitors.

A loud radio-like contraption screamed as the audience roared and cheered alike.

"And so we have it, the fiftieth year anniversary of Linuxinia’s foot race! All for the grand prize of one MILLION Gincoins!"

Ten racers, an assortment of vibrant silks and gleaming shoes, launched themselves into the ground.

The scent of roasted nuts and spiced wine hung heavy in the air, mingling with the sweat and exertion of the racers as they prepared for the grueling challenge ahead.

After that horn, Aletha found herself propelled upwards with Alai, Ubel, Phthonus and the others cheering her on in the distance.

"Aletha you can do this!".

"Go Aletha! Go Aletha!"

The starting line was a vibrant tapestry of diverse competitors. Each introduction got more lengthy than the last.

There was Kaelen, the swift-footed warrior from the Southern Mountains of Astait, his physique honed from years of battling harsh weather and even harsher enemies.

Then there was Serp, the enigmatic sorceress from the Whispering Woods of Destia, her presence cloaked in an aura of mystery, her silver eyes twinkling with hidden power.

Beside Serp stood Theron, the stoic knight from the Royal Pyramid of Zomrack, a figure radiating strength and unwavering loyalty. His armor, gleaming under the summer sun like his tan skin.

And further along, a smaller figure caught Aletha’s eye. Emine, the nimble rogue from the zombie village. To her surprise, she managed to be in the race, which shocked Alai and the others.

As the contestants prepared their legs and feet, the radio announced throughout the adena.

"This cross country race will span from Linuxinian Square all the way toward Valley of Glistenias, toward zombie village. Then through gushy geysers they shall return to the square and one victor shall be remaining."

The starting horn blared yet again, a sharp, piercing sound that sliced through the excited chatter.

The square erupted in a wave of motion as the runners surged forward, a torrent of vibrant colors and diverse abilities.

Kaelen, true to his reputation, shot off like an arrow, his powerful legs propelling him across the cobblestones with breathtaking speed. Serp, moved with almost supernatural grace, navigating the jostling crowd with effortless ease.

Aletha started at a more measured pace, conserving her energy for the long and arduous race ahead. She and a few competitors passed through the many blocks of towers, toward the stairs, and through the hills.

Barricades could be seen all over, the sun sweltering, and her body energetic. As she passed through the buildings, Aletha’s mind recollected her times of jumping from wall to wall.

She remembered climbing the wooden ledge with ease, scaling rocks with bare feet..

With those memories floating in her head, she latched her brown shoes onto the wall and pushed herself, skidding on the surfaces and passing stunned competitors, her pony tail waving back.

As the footrace continued, Theron, a force of unwavering strength, plowed a steady path through the throng, his muscular frame cutting through the bands of competitors.

Emine weaved through the runners, her nimble feet barely making contact with the ground.

Alai, ever watchful, maintained a protective perimeter around them, her presence a subtle but effective shield. She watched Aletha as she passed the square, cheering her on with Ubel and the bunch.

. . .

The landscape of the track unfolded around Aletha and the other competitors; a patchwork of fields and forests, rivers snaking their way across the earth like silver ribbons came into being.

The air was still, the sun warm on their faces, allowing them to appreciate the sheer beauty of the track.

The initial leg of the race proceeded relatively smoothly.

But this idyllic calm was short-lived.

"Get out of my way." Said Thereon as they zoomed past. "You’re too slow."

As the competitors approached the towering mountain range that formed the central crux, a sudden, violent windstorm erupted. The once-calm air transformed into a chaotic tempest, the wind buffeting their feet, throwing them off course.

"Look out!"

Goopy humanoid creatures arose from the earth, reaching over to Aletha, creeping with a roaring voice.

"For the prophecy foretold, that the Owners curse shall raze the stars and heal this existence." The humanoid shrieked as it opened its creepy purple book. "Or shall ye hearken to the false words left by the dragon?"

While the audience cheered, the monsters invading the track, the radio shrilled with static, saying...

"It appears ---- that bystanders have invaded --- the track! Be careful, my competitors!"

The audience and Alai fearfully watched and roared as humanoid beings rose from the earth, spreading their toxic goopy essences all over the track.

"It’s the Promise!" Pridia exclaimed with uneasy breaths, pointing toward the invading monsters."What are they doing here?"

Now that the windstorm and the invading monsters intruded the track, the race became an active test of skill and resilience, affecting all the racers.

"What are they doing? I can’t-" someone said seconds before a collision. "I can’t see!"

Aletha wasn’t alone in her struggle.

As they scurried around the turn, Aletha witnessed as other competitors struggled to keep foot on the track, some losing control entirely. Their feet buffeted wildly as they were flung off course.

Kaelen, distracted by a sudden apparition, faltered for a moment, losing precious ground.

Serp, grappling with a series of confusing spells although not allowed to, momentarily lost her way.

Theron, despite his strength, found himself trapped in a net of thorny vines, forcing him to spend valuable time freeing himself.

And yet Emine and Aletha and two more were left unscathed, charging through the obstacles.

The radio blared out as three more competitors raced through the grassy hill.

"And so folks, our competitors made it to Zombie village! Be careful of roaring flesh. Our competitors will be racing through poisonous ground."

"Poisonous?!" Aletha and Alai screamed in sudden shock.

As her feet scampered on the field, her eyes captured the sight of dark brown grass filling the track. Not just razed grass, but also water contaminated with sickly purple hues dotted about a cluster of ramps. With her white hair shining

Aletha passed through the first house, dodging approaching zombies while Emine and the others carefully trotted around the first hump.

As she jumped rooftop to rooftop, Aletha remembered how she rolled on the ground in the training grounds.

"There you go... Don’t let fear control you." Past Alai said in her mind as she reached over to Aletha from a wooden platform.

At an instant, Aletha bravely leaped to the air then rolled downward, catching solid ground. Those rolls she made paid off as Aletha implemented her training onto the foot race, rolling forward and stopping her two feet.

Afterward, Aletha and a brown-haired competitor jumped and skidded down, rolling on the dirt. Although she couldn’t celebrate it externally she did internally. She nimbly dodged reaching arms coming from behind, saying.

"Zombies!" She shrieked as she skidded on the ground away from the village, dodging groaning ghouls in the midst

"Get away from me."

Suddenly, Aletha felt a surge of adrenaline as she heard the roaring crowd. The exhilaration of the race washed over her, tempering her cautious approach into a playful one.

But that wasn’t all. There were only four more competitors left.

Emine, Aletha, Runa, And Serg. All four of the girls had successfully dodged countless attacks on the track and lumbered their ways through the last stunt.

The final stretch of the race was a thrilling sprint. Aletha’s eyes cruised over to Emine who gave a gesture, saying...

"You can do it, Aletha." She said, giving her a thumbs up as she willingly left herself behind. " I believe in you."

Aletha, pushing herself beyond her limits, surged ahead the competitors, her physical abilities propelling her forward with incredible speed. She remembered who she was competing for. The dark haired woman with magenta eyes and mask came into view. The heart-shaped locket and the purple glow. This forced her muscles to harden and her legs even faster.

Serg tried her best to pass her, but her feet were stubbed by a rock, forcing her to the ground.

Runa, her blue hair waving, just a couple meters away from the finish line, willingly threw sand in Aletha’s eye, causing her to crash out of the course.

Although the audience couldn’t see it, Alai sneered at Runa and when the rest found out, all Ubel, Phthonus, Pridia, and Alai screamed in unison.

"Cheater! That girl is a cheater!

Aletha, heard her ears ring with the audience chanting "Cheater. Cheater. Cheater" At that moment, she thought she had lost. The bits of sand strained her vision, forcing her eyelids shut as she ran.

"Ah, I can’t see."

Her visibility was obstructed, only hearing the loud sounds of boos echo around the block.

But just before she gave up, Alai reminded Aletha what they did throughout these seven days

"Aletha! REMEMBER what we did."

There was one particular training course she did that stood out from the rest. A stunt of pure excellence.

She had to slice a fruit using only Alai’s voice. Her eyes were covered in a blindfold, hearing Alai chant.

"Here!" Her voice echoed through the walls, "here

As Aletha came to her senses and stepped forward, instead of using her sword, she used her foot, striking the fruit with absolute precision.

Then Aletha was reminded of the prophecy, a strong girl shall come and swoop in. She was reminded of what Alai said and how much she believed in her that night. She was reminded about everything and how her sensei taught her and how Alai never gave up on Aletha

Runa, unjustly reaching toward the finish line, reached her arms to it.

But after hearing her rapid breaths, Aletha...

with shut eyelids ...forcefully kicked Runa’s leg, forcing her to fall into her knees.

The crowd roared its approval, sweeping up in the intensity of the final sprint. Only Runa and Aletha were left.

Although Runa fell to her knees, she couldn’t give up. Just as Aletha could reach the finish line, she felt something clenching her ankle.

"I won’t... give up. No matter what it takes."

"I shall be Queen of Zomrack and I shall take your position." Runa said as her grip increased. "I shall get the money and everyone will love me."

"Delusional!" Aletha tried hard, pushing her ankle.

And then, just as both feet met with the ribbons of the finish line...

Time slowed down.

The initial burst of speed faded, replaced by a grueling rhythm of pounding feet and strained breaths.

Once everything came into a silence,

"And the winner is..."

Before Runa’s feet barely touched the line, the radio screamed and pushed the silence away.

"ALETHA!"

It was at that moment, as Aletha rubbed her eyes and opened seeing the sea of faces, she heard them cheer her on, saying as the radio grew in intensity.

"Aletha. Aletha. Aletha!"

It was at that moment, Ubel, Phthonus, Pridia and everyone else went WILD chanting...

"Aletha. Aletha. Aletha!"

It was at that moment...

... that Aletha finally tasted the delicious flavor of victory.