\\ THE FIRST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT IS A PUPPET TEST, THE CONTENDERS SHALL ALL PARTICIPATE AT ONCE. THE PUPPET WILL SIT AND MEDITATE. EACH IS GIVEN ONE CHANCE TO BRING IT OUT OF TRANCE. THE ONES WHO DO SO SHALL QUALIFY. \\
" Who do you think will win ? " " It's obviously prince Rex Ryan. He is an overlord at this age and the one with highest cultivation level. " " What about that 11 year old ? " " Huh ? it would be a miracle if those lord level brat even qualifies. Humph, they really are overestimating themselves. " " I don't think so. "
\\ THE ORDER OF PARTICIPATION IS FROM OLDEST TO YOUNGEST. ALRIGHT, CONTENDER NO. 45, PLEASE START THE FIRST ROUND. \\
" Megan, who do you think we should observe ? " " My lord, I bet a lunch date that the 11 year old shall win. " " Any specific reason ? " " He is an overlord at such young age, talented than young master. He is calm and collected as well, A sign of patience and persistence. " " Let's see. "
Contender no.45 was a proud adolescent. A fire natured cultivator as well. Conjuring flames in his mouth, he spat them like a flamethrower at the puppet but they were extinguished about half a meter away. He failed.
\\ CONTENDER NO. 44 \\ the referee shouted emotionless.
Contender no. 44 was a pampered young lady, a water natured cultivator as well. She concentrated. A huge stream of water shot from the ground below gently floating puppet and threw it into the air. It gently landed a few feet away, meditating all the while. She failed.
\\ CONTENDER NO. 43 \\
Contender no. 43 was a noble. She was a Spirit seeker. She sat down and meditated. For a while, nothing happened. Then, all of a sudden, the puppet swayed and fell to the ground while she spat a mouthful of blood. She won.
\\ CONTENDER NO. 42 \\
........
........
\\ CONTENDER NO. 4 \\
A boy, barely 11 years old, walked to the stage under disdainful and probing gazes. " Megan, what do you think of this fellow ? " " He'll probably fail as well. He is just a lord anyway. " " Hmm, why don't we bet another lunch date on his win ? " " Fine, let's bet. "
The boy, oblivious to everything, simply walked to the puppet. No change was seen until he reached the half a meter benchmark from the puppet. Out of nowhere, the puppet started to shiver.
When the boy moved a step forward, it floated a step backward. When it's back touched the arena and the boy stepped forward, " KYAHHH..... save me...., " it shouted in a voice so shrill, it gave earache to the crowd. It ran away in a frenzy and hid behind the referee like a new born chick ( all the while trembling ) that had seen an eagle.
One could hear the wind blowing in the arena. " Um, referee, did I win ? " the jaws of the audience hit the floor. THE HELL !! IF YOU ARE DECLARED LOST, THEN WHO CAN WIN !! was the exact thought in everyone's mind.
" Y... You w....win.., " the referee could only speak like this to avoid the awkward moment. With a smile, Dastan left the stage. It took a grand total of twenty minutes to pacify the puppet before it agreed to continue the round.
Meanwhile, one could stuff an egg into Megan's wide open mouth. She was unable to process what just happened in front of her eyes.
\\ C... C... CONTENDER NO. 3 \\
A beautiful little girl walked over this time. " Say, will something like the previous case happen ? " " Maybe, never knew 11 year olds could be this scary... "
The girl gave a dazzling smile to the puppet sending shivers down it's spine. She raised her palms to the sky and softly spoke, " begin, " Taking that as a signal, the sky that was clear, clouded in a flash raining down hundreds of thousands of purple lightning bolts onto the stage.
" MUMMY, SAVE ME, AAAHHH, SAVE ME..... " the puppet ran for it's life shouting so loud, half of the crowd bled from their ears due to the cacophony of sounds. The puppet ran laps and laps around for an entire minute before she felt pity on the puppet.
She spoke, " Sky, stop. " The lightnings disappeared and the sky cleared like magic. " Thank you little sky, bye bye..... " she waved her hand to the sky which waved a hand made of purple lightnings back to her and vanished.
~~gulp~~ the referee gulped before announcing, " Y.... you win.. " He wiped the sweat on his forehead. He had never imagined, not even in his wildest dreams, that organizing a humble tournament would be this scary.