"AAAAAVAAAALAAANCCHEEEEEE!"
"YEEEEEAAAAAHH!" the crowd screamed when the entire ice field collapsed on the students. The Yetis could only stare up in shock at the oncoming impending doom.
Immediately many students quickly moved over to the front trying to get out of the avalanche coming their way, all the while taking advantage of the Yetis' confusion and killing any that was in their way.
The Grade A monsters realized that their control over their minions was was slowly failing, so they did the only thing they could: Protect themselves. The both rose their arms and together, and formed an ice barrier that stopped most of the ice from even touching them.
"So that's what North have been planning! Gotta say that this is indeed a brilliant plan! This was well thought out, getting rid of the competition together with the rogue monsters. Brilliant, ruthless and effective! After all, only the strong and smart survive." the announcer said.
"Coming up to the would be victors of this competition if this goes on, look at how quickly the North students are clearing out. And with that last girl moving out of the ice field, North have become the first class to clear the ice field with little injuries and casualties!"
"THAT'S WHY THEY ARE NORTH!" a crowd chanted from a certain position. I looked on over, and saw what seemed like a large group of grown ups dressed in black with the letter 'N' shining through. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that those are the parents of the North students. Also I think I just saw Flavo's father leading the cheer.
"Look at that, my dear monsters! East are the second to make their way out of the ice field with their leader limping but nonetheless being helped by his fellow classmates to reach the next round! I'm not even sure that he can move on with that...now hold on crowd... this just in, the East representative, Jay Winkling, will be dropping out for the next round,"
"Something about one of the Yetis grabbing him and almost making its way to the cave. No doubt the kid put up a fight, hence the injuries. I guess this time folks, being handsome doesn't come with advantages, I'm I right?"
That got a laugh out of everyone, including me. For sure, Jay, with his smarts and handsome face, he would make for a perfect prince one day. Too bad he doesn't like that stuff.
"Hey Max,"
"I swear Mr William..."
"What? Its something harmless, chill out,"
"If ever a teacher says chill out, it is almost never chill,"
"Hey! We can be cool too! We're monsters too."
I stared at the West teacher up and down. "Whatever you say teach,"
"Uh-huh. Anyways, I was just wondering, if you were down their with you group, what were the chances the yeti would grab you the second it saw you? Cause I just speculated that it would only be a second, what with you being half-elf and all,"
"Mr William, I am not above hitting a teacher. Keep that in mind,"
"You can try,"
"Ooooo! That's gotta hurt! Crowd, I don't know about you, but fighting a monster when in a rage state is not on my bucket list,"
I quickly followed the announcers words back to the ice field. "Oh goddammit, Mr William! You made me miss what was happening,"
"Don't be such a wuss boy. You didn't miss much, just that your classmates and the West students are fighting the two grade A monsters,"
"What?!"
"And aren't really doing well, looking at it now,"
Sure enough, my class and what remained of the west class were each facing their own grade A monsters, and the rogue monsters looked pissed off. I guess going to the caves wasn't the best of ideas too. And maybe the avalanche also, probably.
"What is this? Looks like the South class have decided to split up. Probably their best chance right now. The leading boy during the rain forest is one of them staying behind, together with a really tall black haired kid. The rest of the classmates look like they'll leave it up to them,"
"Ouch! Bareth and Clive. Your sacrifices wouldn't be for granted," I prayed for the two boys. But what's surprising is that Elvis stayed behind with Clive. I thought he'd try avoiding any confrontation with any monsters. May be he's trying to face his fear.
"And South are the third class to make it to the last part of the competition. West on the other hand..."
I understand why the announcer couldn't continue. What was left of the class was having a lot of trouble with the Grade A monster they were facing. It also didn't help that a few of the Yetis, realizing they couldn't get out of the ice field to run after the kids that escaped, tracked their way back to the remaining kids they could get.
Mrs Ivory stood above the class, shaking her head in disappointment, but still couldn't hid the slight smile on her mouth when she saw that one class was about to be eliminated. But something surprising happened.
"Hey hey, West are not out of the running yet! Look at the lump in the ice. A little girl from the class is quickly and stealthy using the yetis lack of attention to get out safely. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the remaining West students have chosen to sacrifice themselves for the kid. Quite noble if you ask me,"
In the end, Clive and Bareth did take out a good number of the monsters, earning a large amount of points, but the grade A monster finished them off.... or more accurately they were rescued by Flinty before they could suffer any more damage.
"Looks like we're up kid. Keep an eye out, will you?"
"Yeah, I know that."
"Just reminding you,"
"And we're back into the running folks. The monsters in the lead are North, and are about to come up with the most dangerous of the three stages. The Lava dome. Take a good look ladies and gentlemonsters,"
"OOOOOOUU! AAAAAAAAH!" the crowd stared in aware as a vent exploded with lava.
I stared in horror as the lava spewed from the vent hit a passing beast in the area. Let's just say, there is no more 'beast' to speak of. "Looking at it now, I think this part should NOT be part of the competition. And why the hell is the crowd cheering?!"
"Max please. That lava isn't as dangerous as you make it out to be,"
"You saw the beast that got completely annihilated in front of out eyes, right?!"
"Water under the bridge, kid. You should have seen last years competition. They had a lightning storm to face in theirs."
"OK, I see I asked the wrong person that question. A better question for you is, are you guys really sane?"
"But of course, Max. Sure, some kid got caught by the lightning and is still in a coma to date together with a few others the centurion beast attacked, but the rest survived. A few limps were lost here and there sure, but..." the teacher paused and his eyes shone with guilt, "...Ok, may be I should have left that part out in defending the board, but we're bringing up good warriors. That's what matters!"
"Is it?" I raised an eyebrow in question.
"Quiet. They kids are coming up,"
"Aaand North are the first in the lava dome. Question is, are they ready for the heat? Good for you guys to know that this part will be personally handled by the former class representative of South, Mandrax Randolf! Together with the the West class teacher!"
Suddenly I found my self up on the screen with my jet pack, right next to Mr William with the entire crowd staring up at me.
"Wave at them, kid. I think they know what you did for their kids," Mr William whispered while raising his arms to wave at the crowd.
I joined him, and flashed the brightest smile I could hoping not to get booed. I don't know how I would have lived with that shame. But surprisingly...
"What is this? The head general just stood up and is applauding the young kid!"
It wasn't just him though, the entire multitude of monsters all started clapping and even others giving a standing innovation.
"THANKS FOR SAVING OUR KIDS, FURRHA!"
"JOIN MY TEAM KID!"
"NO! HE SHOULD JOIN OUR GUILD!"
"MARRY ME!"
I don't know about the last one, but nonetheless I waved back at the crowd all smiles, then pointed back to the event in front of them.
"HE EVEN CARES ABOUT THE OTHER STUDENTS! WHAT A GUY!"
"I SERIOUSLY WANT YOUR KI–!"
Yeah...let's ignore that. More importantly, all this hype, and then I disappoint them while rescuing their kids. Well then, I just have to make sure that that doesn't happen.
"Anyways crowd, we're coming up to the last part of the run, and looks like North have already met their first monster, and my gods isn't it large!"
I caught up with the North students and realized they'd have to face a grade A monster the second they stepped into the lava dome.
It was a large fire lizard for your information, with hard scales that looked impossible to bypass. It's small head was all that it got going for it, but its fiery red eyes seemed like they could stare the fire right into you. That humongous tail behind it looked like to be their main weapon, and for this particular lizard judging from the claws in its four limps, the tail wasn't the only thing the students have to worry about.
"Let's get closer kid, we don't want to miss anyone or anything if something were to happen now would we?"
"No issues from me,"
We dived a lot closer to the field, so we could get a better view of the fighting going on. Clearly, Flavo was in the disadvantage what with trying to fight that lizard, which by the way, is accustomed to the heat there, so trying a fire spell on it won't end well.
It opened its mouth wide and blasted a huge amount of flames that easily overpowered Flavo's, and caught him right in the face. But before it could make contact with him, and invisible barrier appeared in front of him and blocked the oncoming attack.
"You're out, kid. Max, go get him for me," Mr William said as he kept his eye out for any more threats to the kids. Luckily, it was just this one monster they were facing.
"Hey, Flavo. Good idea on the avalanche thing, quite smart if you ask me," I said as I stretched my arm out for him to grab.
"Yeah well, I guess I'm out for the running. Wish I'd have had a chance to up against you though," he smiled, defeated, but took my hand.
Due to difficult circumstances, we couldn't talk long as I had to quickly return to Mr William's side. I rushed him to the save zone where a group of medics were waiting to check for any injuries.
"Hey, Mr. Hold up a little bit," one of the Med teams stopped me before I left.
"I have to rush back to the West teacher so can we make this quick?" I asked as I turned to the medic.
The med person who called me, a cute girl just about my age, smiled at me when she heard what I said. "Don't worry, I'll make this quick,"
"Uh...are you one of the medics by any chance?"
"Medic in training. Different camp. Aren't you in a hurry? Or is it because you've seen me and now your mind's blank,"
"Ah... "
"Anyways. Be careful out there, Mandrax Randoff. We were informed that there is a Centurion monster still to bare its fangs,"
"Oh, thanks. For caring at least," I winked at her.
She rolled her eyes at me before she said, "Not you I'm worried about. Guess who's gonna have to treat your cute little face when you're knocked out cold by that thing,"
"I'm stronger than you think–wait did you just call me–"
"Don't you have somewhere to be right now?"
"Oh, damn. I forgot!"
I blasted the jet pack into overdrive and launched myself back to the lava dome.
"What'd I miss?" I immediately asked as I made it back to Mr William.
"See for yourself,"
I looked over and saw that my class had made it to the dome, but they too were facing a grade A monster together with East. Though the little west girl was capitalizing on this and was quickly making her way to the finish line.
"The West girl might actually win this! Look at how quickly she's avoiding the beasts. But there had to be a reason to why the grade A monsters are this close to the start. And looks like the girl just met it."
I turned to the West teacher with a frown. He too didn't look too happy with this development.
The little girl stopped in her tracks and fell on her butt when a much larger lizard with three horns in its head made its appearance in front of her.
I stared up to the gods in dismay.
"WHY MEEEE?!"