At the same time the presenter announced the name of the event, the center of the arena opened in the same way as the wall that hid the public so far. The sand that covered the ground fell into the opening and a platform went up, replacing the center of the place.
In the middle of it, a pedestal was erected, and a black egg was placed on it. It had to make the size of a basketball, which was a pretty impressive size for an egg.
"An egg ! Do you think it's eatable ?" Kast asked visibly interested in something else.
"Of course you can eat it. You can eat for several days with an egg of this size." Miraj replied with a smile. The two squirrels had the same idea.
"I don't think the goal of the Egg Rush is to cook this egg, unfortunately..." Arun tried to bring them back to reality with an embarrassed smile.
He could not be as relaxed as they were. He knew he did not have the strength to fight any of his opponents, and that Shuu should not have it either. What annoyed him the most was that the meerkat was hurt by his fault, when he had not asked for anythin ... If he had known, he would have avoided to use the [Pet Pact] !
At both ends of the arena, the ground also opened, and two new platforms rose from the sand. The field of the event was installed, and the presenter spoke again.
"Now I'm going to explain the rules of the Egg Rush. It's a pretty simple game that will only oppose two teams at a time. So there will be two games, and the two winners will compete in the final." It was this event that would determine the winner of the Meerkat Show...
"It's an event that will appeal to both your physical abilities, and your mind. The two teams will each be placed on one of the two platforms at the end of the arena. When the start will be given, the goal is to grab the egg in the middle of the arena and bring it back to your starting platform."
Arun better understood the name of the trial. It was once again the speed that was going to play a big role, but not only.
"However, as in the Meerkat Race, all shots are allowed. If your opponents take the egg before you, you have every right to take it back from them, by the means you want." Obviously, this rule was still there. It was not the weak team of Arun and Shuu who could win by using force...
"One last thing. To spice things up a little bit, a different special rule will be added every time, which will help to diversify the competition a bit, and also give everyone a chance to win."
"It seems great. I can't wait to see what these guys are capable of..." Kast was already fired up, looking forward to the other two teams that were with them. They already knew the strength of Toma and Rusheb, but as for Jigô and Ornella... Nothing was safe.
"Don't just run to the egg, or you're going to lose us right from the beginning. I know I'll have to think about a plan alone, but I hope you won't act like an idiot." Miraj said, sighing. Certainly, she seemed to know the red squirrel, which had a tendency to be quickly very enthusiastic.
"So I will announce the names of the first two teams which will face each other in the arena !" The presenter's voice rang out again, and Arun felt his heart beating faster and faster.
"Shuu... I'm sorry. I didn't want to take you in such a place." The vet apologizes to the meerkat, who had been unnecessarily injured by his fault, and who might be injured again. He was a vet ! His role was to heal the animals, not to put them in danger.
However, Shuu smiled at him with confidence.
"Don't worry. Even if I'm scared, even though I've been in pain, I don't want to deflate now that we're here, no matter who our opponents are. I want to take my revenge, so we'll win the Meerkat Show !" Arun smiled as he saw his friend's positive attitude. He was right. You should not give up before playing, no matter the risks.
But looking at their opponents, Arun had to admit that their chances of winning were quite low.
"Do you have an idea, like for the race ?" The young man asked his friend, who was just beginning to think.
"Not at all. I think we should first wait until we know this famous rule before we can elaborate anything... It's on that basis that everything will be played out." Despite his young age and childlike appearance, Shuu was far from being unconscious as Arun might have thought. He knew very well the risks he was facing by participating in the Meerkat Show.
"First team : Toma and Rusheb !" In his heart, Arun hoped that it would not be they who will chosen to confront them. Even if they did not know the other team composed of the white shark and the wolf, he preferred to avoid the cannibal and violent meerkat.
"Second team : Arun and Shuu !" As a dirty trick of fate, they were named. Arun sighed in spite, before sending a smile to Shuu. Even though he seemed more confident than the vet, the fear could be read in his eyes.
"And here's the special rule for this confrontation !" Instead of the presenter's voice, a drum roll was heard from the speakers. After a few seconds, a cymbal sound announced that the rule had been decided.
"The lead egg !" When the presenter's voice announced the name of the rule, a brilliant number appeared in white on the black shell of the egg. For the moment, it was written "0".
"The lead egg ?" Shuu repeated, intrigued by the enigmatic name of this rule. The presenter fortunately added some explanations.
"The weight of the egg will vary during the game depending on the actions of the participants. That's what the lead egg rule will change!"
The explanations were still very imprecise... What actions would change the weight of the egg ? And above all, by how much ? This game will be even more complicated than expected.