Kaleidoscopic crystals stood at the center of a formation, it blocked intruders with a painful pulse. Each time it pulsed, it would grow in strength, the longer it took for someone to make a step forward, the more powerful the pulse. The formation was designed as a repulsive domain, to shield the user inside. There was a dummy stuck to a post directly behind the shield, they only had to go from one side to the other and destroy the dummy.
The target dummy was the kill switch.
One by one, the participants were sent through the shield. Some made it a few inches, and when met with the polar opposite of their abilities, were quick to fall over in agony at the first pulse. The tumbling feeling would take over and some people would lay flat, unconscious, unable to continue advancement.
Hana sat by Jeannie and waited for her turn, it was a line of about 800 that had to make it through the testing round. Jeanie made a habit of watching the contestants to see if anyone used an advantage. Plenty of people tried shielding themselves but the crystals would eliminate the shields and then go after the user. The first forty contestants didn't make it to the center but a few of them stood long enough to fire a shot at the dummy.
It was a test of strength, not success or failure.
Hana's number came up before Jeannie, she covered herself with her wings and walked to the target dummy. Poking it, it fell over and she dispelled the shield. It was so anti-climactic that the entire crowd was speechless. Looking around like a deer caught in headlights, Hana freaked out and tried standing the dummy up. The crowd started to laugh and an usher walked her back to her seat.
When it was Jeannie's turn, she focused the Wild Red Heart technique and tried to force more of her bloodline to support her every step. It didn't increase the potency of her bloodline but it did bring out a more beastial side and gave her the strength to push closer than any of the others before her, except for Hana.
She was cheered by the crowd when she got a few feet further than all the men who had come before her.
Everyone seemed to be very happy watching the young girls compete, they were a change of atmosphere to the bloody reality of the venue and profession of fighting, hunting adventure and slaughter. Jeannie's face lit up like a cherry, even when she was passed out, she was still beautiful.
The stage crew brought her to safety and the next contestant was up. Shaking their heads, they wondered 'What are these girls eating?'
Neither of them were from the same tribe but both had shown unique strength during the tests.
During the round of eliminations the contestants went from almost 5000 to 2500, 800 and after shield test, only three hundred participants remained. Hana and Jeannie watched the rest of the crowd, it was time for the next event to start most of the contestants were ready for combat.
"During the next round, we have a special treat. Each opponent will be fighting a wild beast. Your job will be to defeat it, the type of opponents you face will be decided by the judge panel themselves so there will be no preparing specifically for your targets." The announcer took a deep breath, she said, "Come prepared and be ready to fight for your lives, these tests will not be interfered with. However, there is a way out. If you're facing certain death, you can surrender and judges will restrain the summons."
When there was no more commotion among the crowd, she pointed toward the stage.
"OKAY!" Cheering the crowd up and changing pace, Jan Trensta pushed the megaphone closer to her face and hit the button again on the side. A loud 'Bhiii' sounded and then she started speaking again. "We've set up four stages, each participant will have to defeat three creatures and one of the previous year's disciples. There will be no killing of the disciples, victory at that stage will be decided by knockout."
The Crowd was excited, 'finally fighting!'
The first contestant was a Qilinkin child, he was no older than 15 but he had white feathers and a positive attitude. He struck down the first beast, a Coolie with some fancy family magic manipulation but when it came to the second opponent, he was not a match. The Gorehound was more than he could manage, he got a few strikes in but the gorehound was simply too strong for him. It bit down and into the kids arm, almost tearing it off and then the kid surrendered. The summons was dismissed and the emergency teams took him off the stage.
People were excited, there was blood on the stage and it was only the first round. Cheering for the kids recovery, they all started to shift their eyes to the next contestant.
A Poocha girl, she had stoneskin and wore red. The announcer watched her enter and ran commentary.
-"Looks like she's going to be an interesting participant, The first beast, a Hitcher." when she spoke, she used a gloomy, unpleasant tone to her words.
It was a comical fight, the young poocha girl was strong, even able to withstand the pressures from the previous tests but the hitcher was a different sort of creature to defeat.
-"Oh my! its got her by the feet! Amazing!"
The Hitcher vine grabbed her and thrashed about. She slammed against the stage multiple times, none of which were hurting her dramatically but the punishment to her pride, as a Poocha, was getting to the extreme.
-"What's this? Its.. Wow, that's awful."
The Hitcher vine tore her clothes and though her skin was made of stone, she couldn't bare being exposed in front of everyone. She surrendered and left the stage without looking back.
Jeannie felt bad for the girl and wanted to chase after her. Hana stopped her, "she cannot grow as a person if humility is never experienced. Sometimes the greatest things we can do for someone, is nothing at all."
Jeannie realized in that moment, the Poocha girl would not be accepted as a disciple but she could return next year. "I have to at least tell her to come back next year. I'll be right back!" She ran off, leaving Hana in a lurch.
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