In the present world there is a particular boy still very young. conversing with others who would speak with him first.
"Hey Goodluck on the match kid." the man encourage the kid
"Y-yeah thanks"
The kid walk passed the man feeling down. this is not the first time he is being reassured. Since losing simultaneously is the reason for his fame around the town, as the boy who never won on any cockfighting match.
Some individual looks at him and mumbling behind his back, "Again, how many times is it already"
"I don't know, i stopped counting"
This feeling of isolation is not affecting him anymore. He just wants to go back and feed his rooster.
It was night, everyone is closing up the windows of their homes. Its not that fancy just a bamboo made windows that is supported by a stick. turning off the light. But the boy doesn't have a those privilege.
Taking shelter under a thick tree, banana leaves as the roof supported by bamboo stick and a cardboard bed. It is a cold night, fire place is already out. the boy was looking at the sky, besides him is a chicken sleeping on a tree branch and a worn out rope tied on its right leg.
"Tomorrow is going to be the day" He mumbles before going to sleep.
The next day afternoon, on the gamecock dome. people bet to earn. it is an illegal place where players brought their roosters and fight each other. this is the main place to hustle cash.
bird flapping, chanting crowd, taking money, having a heated argument between two players, this is not new to him as he walk passed them holding his chicken.
"Hey there he is again"
"Oh please, now that that boy is participating i already know who i should vote for."
"HAHAHAHA"
His just silently taking all that backstab as he goes to the receptionist.
"What now, did you stole that chicken too." says the receptionist
'Of course the receptionist is doubtful, there's no way a kid like me could just raise a chick out in a slum.'
'No this was given to me by someone out of pity, but of course even if i say that the receptionist would just laugh me off and feel bad about me.'
'All those times i would have won if my rooster was on good conditions'.
All the roosters that he receive from that guy is either defects, Injured, with diseases, and with disability, some rooster's wont even survive the next day.
'This time is different.'
The previous battle is decided and they are now preparing for the protagonist fight.
Now is the time for his match against someone. crowd are cheering for the enemy, bets has already been placed. Few first time visitors who did not know his records bet on his side. In some cases sneaky people attempting to trick newcomers, some even create rumors that the protagonist's roosters are always top notch and always win just to trick them into betting my side and loss.
the kid is preparing the blade for his rooster, and adjusting any discomfort from the leg after wearing the tool, while waiting for the ready bell to ring.
While i haven't heard the bell i was thinking to myself.
This time is different, i just keep thinking about it.
'The person who keeps supplying me a defected roosters are matured enough to fight. Some wont last the next day after i take care of it. and those that survive wont even last the fight.'
In reality, the person providing him his defected roosters, not only do it out of pity but also to help him. thinking that those useless roosters that died could be use as a food. At the same time knowing the kid will use it for the fight, the person would bet high cash to the enemy side since his rooster is expected to loss.
'I always think, i feel bad for the roosters, they did not deserve this fate. me knowing they would die either way, and still use them for a fight. I cant help but feel guilty.'
Instead of eating the defeated rooster the kid would just bury them to pay respect.
'i am okay with begging from strangers for food, than eating my roosters that did not get a second chance. that has always been my way of living'
It did not change...
Flashback from the past, it was starting to go dark, the kid is going home after a defeat, carrying the deceased rooster covered with white towel. while preparing for a grave he noticed that there is rooster sitting on the three stem besides his bed, asleep.
This rooster just suddenly come up to the kid's place without any reason. At first the kid hesitated to care of it, but this rooster stays with him and is willing to get leashed. This rooster has every chance to escape but did not.
Almost like this rooster choose the kid to take care of it. is this some sort message, is this a response from the all the roosters that passed.
The kid stared getting teary eyed, thinking this that this behavior may have been all his deceased rooster's last call. and he promise to himself 'the next fight will be the last time i will be participating from a cockfighting match.'
Back to the present..
Bell rang and both players dropped their roosters.
The moment the feet touch the ground my rooster suddenly charges forward and does an offensive attack. The enemy chicken have enough time to block that charge with his talon colliding with my roosters blade.
The enemy rooster starts making barrage of fury slash but my rooster manage to evade it by flopping his wings and slide backwards while blinding the enemy rooster because of the dust.
Everyone was shocked this has never happened before.
The kid's rooster fighting like there is a human controlling it, it is not acting like a rooster at all.
The enemy rooster charge forward and jumped high with his talons directly aiming at the opponents head. As counter, the rooster suddenly slides forward and rolled over to avoid the contact.
The crowd cant believe they are seeing this.
the enemy roosters then close the distance and starts unleashing barrage of furry slashes while staying mid air by flapping its wings. the opponent did the same but instead of offense, it continuously blocking those furry slashed with its blade.
Everyone starts screaming on the dome, everyone is thrill by this unexpected event. others started getting worried that their bet might loss and a large money might get taken from them.
Deep down the kid was very shocked seeing his rooster perform unnatural moves. 'what am i witnessing' he looked around everyone at the dome is cheering from him. It is very loud the screams might even be heard from the neighboring village.
in my mind 'what if the police get involve with this'
Then he was distracted when he heard the host mentions that the rooster has been hit.
As he looks at the fight, his rooster bit the enemy's head with its beak and holds it in place and stab the enemy tummy with his bladed talon. blood is seen dripping on the enemy rooster and the enemy player was more shocked than angry about it.
the enemy player thought 'this should have been a easy fight for me' that's why he is frozen still unable to grasp what is happening from this match.
While the enemy rooster is heavily injured and movement is declining the kid's rooster release the beak and start performing continuous furry slashes. each one is deeply cutting the enemy rooster. blood splattering, an organ can be seen dangling from the enemy rooster.
As a finishing blow the kid's rooster jump and clenched its claw punching the opponent's head sending the enemy flying back while blood dripping traces is seen.
The Enemy rooster died on spot. The referee picks up both roosters and faced them close each other no aggression was seen on the enemy rooster. The referee then count to three while dropping the dead rooster 3 times. but no response.
that is when the match has concluded.
An ordinary victory which should have been dull and easy to forget from the audience became celebratory for the kid and astonishing.
Everyone in the crowd is celebrating that victory and the rooster's display of shear strength and demeaner
'i cannot contain my overwhelming excitement, this is the first time that i won, and not have i expected that this first victory would make people applaud me.'
'My heart is beating fast, my breathing is starting to thicken.'
' I'm starting to feel weak and my head is numb '
Before he knew it, he already falling down to the stage and onto the audience sit. 'i cant move my body and my vision is starting to worsen.'
' I knew beforehand that i am sick, i had this experience before but it always gets better every time i stop thinking so much. but i did think it would happen again and this time it is a lot worse than before. '
' I'm starting to lose my consciousness '
when he saw his blurry rooster holding on the rail and looking at him with a sad expression.
he thought to himself.
We won.