"Congratulations, Number Seven!" Thelicia congratulated the giant man only barely surpassing the volume of the excited, cheering crowd thanks to her voice enhancements. "Your bravery and unwavering spirit have earned you the right to carry The Cleaver into the first round! Use it well!"
"Seven! Seven! Seven!" The crowd cheered the number of their new favorite contestant that walked over to the dead beastkin girl to pulled The Cleaver out of her back.
The weapon was lodged so deep into the girl that Number Seven ended up lifting up her whole body, hanging limply off the blade. So, he had to put her back down on the ground and then step on her to hold her body in place as he pulled out the stuck weapon, tearing out more blood and guts.
Seeing this gore, one participant fell to his knees and hurled, which was displayed in close-up on the giant sphere above them, causing the crowds to break into laughter at the retching, tearful participant.
"What's wrong with them?" Beatrice asked, astonished by the callousness of the crowds.
"Weren't you eager to participate in this violence?" Olivia asked, though her disgust at the unfolding events was also blatantly apparent.
"This is way past simple indifference or celebration of violent entertainment," Beatrice said. "They're getting off on the gory brutality."
"Or they're just glad to be rid of disgraceful cowards who were spitting on the spirit of these Games and had no business being here in the first place," the 'bubblegum' girl—with number forty on her armband—said as she casually walked past Beatrice and Olivia.
"There's nothing about this to be glad about," Beatrice said, though Number Forty had already walked further ahead, toward Number Seven, and did not seem interested in a response.
"And that's just another reason why I'm getting my sister and getting out of this accursed city," Olivia said.
"Where would you go in this demon-infested world?" Beatrice.
"I'll figure that out when it comes to it," Olivia said.
Beatrice's own dilemma was harder. She wanted to save this city. But can the people this far gone be saved? Do they even deserve it? Beatrice looked up to the many different crowds of Klapsus citizens and saw some spectators curse and spit as they tore up and/or threw some kind of papers or tickets to the ground.
"Do not lose heart if your chosen participant has already been eliminated!" Thelicia cheered up the first losers in the guessing game. "For these Games, we have an additional bonus reward planned! Those among you that chose your winner poorly may still find your spirits lifted as you will all be competing for a first-rate oral service from a certain miss Gamma! As long as you keep your tickets, that is!"
"Noo!!"
"Shit!"
The few cries of dismay were drowned by laughter as people pointed fingers at the unwitting fools.
"This wasn't how it was last time!"
"Haha! Is it ever?"
"Now, we do not know much about this mysterious miss Gamma," Thelicia continued. "But what we do know is that she possesses incredible oral skills. Tongue or throat, you cannot go wrong! She certainly would be very popular if she ever was a part of the S.E.C.R.E.T. Guild that absolutely does not sponsor this event!"
Many people in the crowds snickered.
"But we have all waited for the main event for too long!" Thelicia's voice echoed through the fiery mines. "Though we do have so many potential Champions to choose from, I hope you have all made your choice because the first round starts now!"
Here it comes! Beatrice put aside her thoughts about the abhorrent crowd and concentrated all her attention on the first round of the Games.
"Attention all participants!" Thelicia finally addressed the sixty-four remaining contestants. "The first round will require you to form groups of four people! You have five minutes to do it! I'll say again: groups of four, five minutes! Once you decided, stand shoulder to shoulder with your other three teammates with no more than a foot between each of you. Those without a team after five minutes will be eliminated!"
"Five minutes?" Beatrice looked around. "That leaves barely enough time to say hello and form a team with the first people we come across at random."
"Indeed," Olivia agreed and stood up. "But I will not be joining your team."
"Oh?"
"I mean no offense, but I have to make it through on my own! If I can't manage even one round with my own strength, then what's the point!?"
"I understand," Beatrice nodded, approving of such self-reliance. "See you on the other side then!"
"Good luck!"
Olivia and Beatrice ran off in separate directions to find three other random people to form a team with for the mysterious challenge that awaited them.
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