It's early morning, the teams are gathered on the stadium field and the crowd cheers for them. It is a joyous occasion, for the new participants who have begun their journey, for returning teams ready to give it another shot, for the audience members who are all eager to see the fighters give it their all. Even those who were eliminated during the selection were in high spirits, disappointment can wait until after the tournament's conclusion.
[This is stupid.]
Dimas is probably the only one not to be excited. Lilee had explained that this part of the tournament is when the teams are separated into two groups and each group is given a task to complete. Only eight from each group can move on to the actual fights. He saw it as nothing more than a glorified chore assignment.
"Welcome citizens and visitors of Onaq!" The ladybug woman talks into a glass orb. Crystal diamonds embedded in locations around the stadium amplify her voice.
[Finally. Let's get this over with.]
"It is my great honor to announce the beginning of this year's Capricornus tournament."
A cheer erupts from both the contenders and the audience.
"Fellow viewers, we will witness the rise of a promising team. A team that will undoubtedly make Onaq proud to be called their first step to greatness. Who knows? Maybe we'll see the birth of a new champion."
The audience cheers once more, almost all of them doubt it but they cheer nonetheless.
The ladybug woman clasps her hands. "Let us commence with the Tasks! Fighters, a letter should appear on the back of your card."
Dimas turns his card over, sure enough, a B is on the back of his card.
"Anyone with an A, please gather to my right. Those with B, please gather to my left." The ladybug woman directs the teams.
Soon, there are two separate groups on the field. The A's and the B's.
"As we all know, each group will be assigned an objective. The first eight from each group to complete their objective will move on to the next phase of the tournament."
As she says this, the atmosphere on the field becomes tense. People begin to study their fellow competitors, sizing them up. Trying to see which one of their opponents could prove to be challenging. Oddly enough, Dimas feels at ease in the hostile environment. It reminds him of the fighting tournaments back in his hometown.
"A's, your task is to collect a goat horn. B's, you will be collecting a fish scale." The ladybug woman holds up a goat horn with bronze symbols in her right hand and a rainbow-colored fish scale on her left. "However, before you all go out and begin harming any animals, these can only be earned by completing a job post with a red border around it. These jobs were selected randomly and are spread throughout Onaq's many job boards. Once completed, let the job poster know which reward you need and they'll be able to request it for you. We will meet back a week from today to announce the winner's." A large bell rings twice. "Let the tournament begin!"
Every team begins their scramble to the job boards. A few teams are able to fly out of the stadium, some teleport directly to the job boards, one team even travels via underground. Those who are limited to traveling by foot head for the only exit.
Dimas is able to reach the exit before it becomes congested. However, when looking around he realizes Lilee was still inside the stadium. He sucks his teeth in annoyance.
[Should've made her run more.]
With the clock ticking, Dimas decides to move on without her. If there was any chance of getting to the next round, he would have to move fast. It's not until he starts running that he realizes that he has no idea where the job boards are.
Dimas follows a trail of people to the first job board. Unfortunately, a large group of teams was already surrounding the board. Dimas attempts to push his way through but the wall of people is impenetrable. He looks for weak spots in the crowd but every time he's found one it ends with the same result, a few elbows to the ribs or face that push him back followed by an empty 'Sorry'.
[I could probably punch my way through.]
Dimas ignores the idea, he knows that it's just his anger talking.
[There's going to be nothing left by the time this crowd leaves, gotta keep moving.]
It's a good thing the entire town was currently at the stadium, it left the streets free for the contestants to roam. However, this meant Dimas couldn't ask for directions from anyone. He did try asking some of the other teams but they would be too busy to answer and one team answer ended up sending him to the wrong location. After the second hour, he had stopped following others who seemed to be looking for boards because most of them turned out to be purposefully misleading others into wasting their time.
It was mid-afternoon by the time Dimas circled back to the first job board. Five hours of searching and he had nothing to show for it. He looks at the papers littering the ground. None of them are what he needs. He takes a deep breath.
[Dammit… Looks like I'm gonna go back and check the other boards. Wait… The judge never said how many of those jobs were available.]
He takes another deep breath.
[Is there enough for every team?]
Another deep breath.
[Would other teams sabotage the job postings?]
And another.
[Wouldn't put it past any of them.]
And another.
[I should've just punched my way through when I had the chance.]
Dimas's fist connects with the wall with a dull -thud-. Just then, the bell from the stadium rings. Dimas can only assume the audience will soon swarm the streets. He leaves in a hurry to avoid being there when it happens.