The group had just reunited.
Penta gave the trio time to clean themselves. Though he wasn't 100% sure, he just looked at the dog who barked back.
"Okay, it seems we can eat now." Penta slowly said.
"Finally." The trio muttered causing Kaya to giggle a little.
After a delicious meal provided by the Inn and in large quantities of stew. They finally slumped into their chair satisfied at the meal.
"We are going to have to stay here to investigate the source of this issue. From henceforth, the schedule will be training in the morning. Breakfast. Searching for clues. Free time... to train!" That fleeting hope that was "free time" to the trio was vanquished as soon as it sprouted.
Like that a week passed.
In the wilderness around the woods, a man was rushing as fast as he could.
The man was solemn and felt pressured but he stayed on the path and rushed as fast as he could. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel. He knew he almost made it. The final push was all he needed.
He put force into his steps but just at that moment in his peripheral vision he catches two other men similarly dressed rushing at an even faster pace. Trying to claim territory to that light.
He couldn't allow himself to be beaten. He couldn't allow another setback.
"Faster!" He yelled and tried applying as much physical force he could muster to his body, propelling him forward.
The other two who saw this flinched slightly before pushing past their own limits to try and prevent the other man from achieving his aim.
The man who just shot forward, seeing their aggressive pursuit reminded himself of his goal.
Like a man finding water in a desert, the man through sheer will arrived outside the woods. Standing in front of him was a little bench with three people on it.
A large brawny dark-skinned man with bristle-like hair. He had a roguelike glow to him. Beside him was his precious sisters. Two young and cheerful girls. This family of three to him held his life at times and this was one of those times.
He looked beside himself and saw the other two men arrive.
"I won!?" Excited could be heard from Karu's mouth.
Little Kaya got up and grabbed a box and presented it to Karu while smiling.
"I won! "I did it!" Karu dropped to his knees while holding the box as though it was his precious baby. He eyed the other two who had grieving looks of desire.
The trio, namely, Griss, Faren, and Karu.
They were subjected to harsh body training from day one but their unwillingness to follow these random training projects caused Penta to grow dissatisfied.
Hence, he started a tournament.
Once a week there will be a race and not just anywhere but through the forest with beasts inside. Wearing the body weighing weights. Penta was merciless due to the reward.
The winner of the most races between now and when they arrive at the Storm Tribe will receive a one-time coupon.
"Coupon is good for one request that the group will assist in achieving as long as it doesn't counter the group's interest."
It was a free ticket to get everybody including Penta to join on one request. When they had complained that it wasn't worth much. They were immediately smacked as Penta got mad at their stupidity.
"Think about it you fools! One request but you own the contents of the request as long as it doesn't go against everyone else's interests and their lives.
Meaning you could get everyone here to help you get a treasure, kidnap an enemy, be your bodyguards for a day, take a week off?" Those last words were the spark that lit the wood.
Sana was sitting on Kaya's lap while Kaya shook her head disappointingly at their excitement for time off.
Her brother was too much for them.
Back to the first race.
As Karu opened the chest. A carved boar tusk laid inside. It was one of the ones Penta had drawn the light symbol on. It was a symbol of your victory, kind of like a trophy. It had no other purpose than memorabilia that served to say you earned this.
"Congratulations!" Penta said while grinning.
Karu was the most motivated this week, as he really wanted to get a win. It seemed he had a task already in mind. However, seeing his intensity this week, Griss and Faren didn't take it too seriously.
The results showed them what overconfidence meant.
They were very upset as they didn't expect Karu to suddenly have so much more strenght.
"Want to know why?" Penta smugly looked at the two who were surprised.
"Why?" They asked.
"Hey Karu! When was the last time you took off those weights?" Penta smugly asked the question.
"hehe... not since I put them on." Karu embarrassed at being found out laughed awkwardly.
"WHAT?" Griss and Faren were surprised and also upset with themselves. They didn't think Karu who usually was someone they didn't really consider much to have gone that far to win.
That day marked the moment when the trio truly started competing.
It may have been due to Penta's coaxing or the glory of winning, or simply their own pride but that day started four weeks of extreme training and competition.
The days started flowing by as the second race passed, then the third... finally on the fourth week.
Someone had two flashlights, and the other two each had one.
Penta was going to continue until the search was done so on the fourth week the search was over but Penta had kept it to himself as he found the evidence of what caused the boars to suddenly rampage into this area.
He allowed the race to continue to see if there would be a tie, forcing a final race or if there would be a clear winner.
Unfortunately, there was no final race and the trio had a winner.
Karu had triumphed again.
Griss won the second race while Faren took the fourth one causing this debacle where Karu won the first and third race.
"This is unfair! I didn't even get a chance to win!"
"Well it sucks doesn't it?" Penta just laughed it off.
The man simply did not care since he was planning on making a move himself as well.
They had settled for dinner and Penta explained the situation. He advised them that there was a recently evolved first-grade beast that had taken over their area.
It was some sort of serpent that seemed to have four legs. It didn't have a regular body but one entirely made of scales like a snake. Understanding that their mission was over, there was slight unrest in everyone but Karu's eyes. He simply did nothing but stare down and eat as he didn't want to be the one to light the fuse.
"Alright, now you two sore losers can have a chance at redemption." Penta suddenly said after they had eaten with a wicked grin.
"What do you mean?" Faren and Griss felt a bad premonition.
"Simple. We have another race this time." Penta continued while taking a sip of his tea.
"We will race again. All the way back to the tribe. Without the weights. However, I will be included in the race but fear not, I will also be bringing the girls and my pouch that weighs me down heavily.
Sounds pretty good right?"
Karu just ignored this conversation as he knew something was up but couldn't tell what.
"Something isn't right!" Faren was the first to voice his concern.
"What's the reward?" Griss understood the crux of the matter was what was on the line. Already they owed Karu a favor due to them being manhandled into a "group" as their "honorable ***** brother" Griss thought.
Penta smiled at Griss.
"Why of course, the right to pick the missions until the Tribe newbie rankings!" Penta's words dropped like an apache helicopter's guns can plow holes leaving one akin to swiss cheese.
"WHAT!?" Everyone was shocked.
The girls were less concerned as anything that was dangerous for them explicitly would be vetoed by Penta but they were shocked he was willing to go that far.
"Indeed," Penta said with a solemn face.
His thoughts on this matter were serious. He took a liking to the trio and he really wanted to be a good brother to his sisters that he somewhat adopted.
He has been secretly fostering a group/team mood between them with these games, tournaments, and favors. They had yet to realize this but that was due to the clever use of exhaustion. He had already made an entrance at the entrance ceremony, why not make an entrance into the tribe world properly.
The only time would be during this so-called rookie tournament that some described it as.
He was excited as Griss had advised that there are good chances to get special rewards too depending on the year.
Nonetheless, what Penta had said had caused them to change their countenance.
The right to choose the missions may seem simple but to them, it was a different story after all. If one really thinks about it, they could decide to take individual missions and just buzz off from the torturous training.
Penta was clever as he knew what Griss and Faren wanted most was to be able to be in control and Penta the dark roach never allowed this to happen.
With this as a motivator, the doused spirits of Griss and Faren had reignited into a flame of passion.
They were even excited to test out how fast they would be after taking the weights off. They had been training with it ever since and weren't allowed to use their full strength without them. It was a basic training tactic but it was an efficient one for those who hadn't trained their bodies as properly.
- The next day -
After having thoroughly been praised and complimented by all the villagers and after many repeated promises to return and visit. The group had made their way to the forest leading back to the Storm Tribe.
Standing at the entrance to the path that led back to the Tribe. A group of six were preparing themselves.
Penta had already gotten his little cart made to pull the girls along without making it too uncomfortable. Griss, Faren, and Karu excitedly started hopping around as though they just realized they had bodies.
The weights they were wearing weren't anything excessive but it still made a thud when it dropped to the ground.
Feeling their newfound freedom, they couldn't help but smile at their new strength.
As they all held to their positions, they were suddenly washed over with a feral aura.
The trio gulped unconsciously at the new feeling. They looked around with their heightened senses only to notice Penta smiling at them with a wicked grin.
"Now, little ones. I am sure you know the rules. First back gets to claim the glory while the rest will follow the rules." He said while motioning towards the road ahead.
"If the little princesses would," Penta said as he gripped onto the little cart he was going to pull tightly.
Kaya seeing her cue.
"Ready!~"
Everyone started tensing while Sana giggled and held onto her sister.
"Set!~"
The focus in everyone's eyes started reaching its peak.
"GO!~"
"BOOOM"
A crater was left behind as all four of the contestants headed off in their own direction at blinding speeds.
The speed compared to their past selves just a week ago seemed absolutely different. Including the fact that they were finally allowed to use their shamanic energy, their speed had turned ridiculous.
Griss who was at the highest level next to Penta suddenly felt his body listening to him like never before as it shot past trees and shrubs with alarming precision.
Faren and Karu both felt the same feeling and it was exciting. After all, wouldn't anyone be excited once their strength sees such a sudden surge.
This originally took four days with rest and such but today they were hell-bent on getting back at their fastest speed.
The rushing sounds of these tribe members caused birds to scatter and wild beasts to fear.
One man, in particular, was running with heavy footsteps but his speed had not decreased. The cart he was pulling wasn't even rolling on the ground like normal.
It was actually flying in the air with his grip alone.
The way he ran made it so there wasn't much instability for the girls riding in it as they just felt themselves flashing through the surrounding scenery without being alarmed at their speed.
"Sis!" Sana tugged at Kaya's shirt who was enjoying the ever-flowing scenery.
"Yes, little Sana?" The moniker for the little one that Penta kept calling her stuck and now even Kaya started using it.
"Me miss Big sis Celia and Uncle!" She cutely mentioned what went unnoticed by Penta who was focusing on assuring he had control over the group even with all the extra disadvantages he gave himself.
"Ah? I see" She smiled while gently patting Sana's head that was getting blown everywhere in the wind.
"I'll ask our honorable brother to take us to see her sometime soon okay?" Kaya softly reassured which made the little one smile from ear to ear with a cute smile.
"Yay!" She jumped into Kaya's embrace and happily fell asleep while Kaya returned to her reading while occasionally looking around.