"Hmm. Well, I did say that I would go full throttle down but… how do I survive this fall first?" wondered Kai as he chuckled softly to himself with a most relaxed expression which betrayed the chaos surrounding him.
As he watched his surroundings, he also saw that there were some falling objects that alongside the participants.
"How about I gamble with this bet?" murmured Kai as he grinned widely. Determined he looked around and he spotted a bag a few meters away from him.
Relying purely on instincts, he tried to adjust himself in a position that would allow him to catch the bag. His heart thumped in his chest, adrenaline surging as he maneuvered through the chaos. Meanwhile, some of the participants had grabbed some of the bags, and as they pulled on the handle on them, parachutes would emerge from the bags.
"Seems that some of them have noticed that the parachutes were also mixed in with the falling stuff. Well, to be more precise, only those who followed their guts noticed first." Said the Trainer as he observed everything from his flying hoverboard.
Other participants who had noticed the parachutes, immediately started looking for the others to use. Following that logic, they started to grab parachutes and engage them.
Back to Kai's endeavor, his focus sharpened as he reached the bag. With a swift motion, he seized it, pulling the handle to reveal a parachute that expanded above him.
"Got it!" he shouted, the thrill of victory coursing through him. He engaged the parachute, and the sudden pull of air slowed his descent, transforming chaos into serene gliding.
After some time, the descent by parachute of the participants came to an end. Each had landed in a different area, close or far from one another. Kai felt a rush of wind against his face as he floated down into a small forest bordering the coast. The trees loomed tall and green, their branches swaying gently as he landed with a soft thud.
"Ugh… now how do I get out of here?" he grumbled, glancing around at the thick foliage. His parachute caught on the branches, wrapping him up like a cocoon. With a determined grunt, he wrestled to free himself, but the cloth ripped unexpectedly, sending him tumbling to the ground. "OUCH! That hurt." He exclaimed, rubbing his back as he stood up.
Kai brushed himself off and explored his surroundings. The forest was alive with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. He trudged forward, his curiosity guiding him.
After a while, he broke through the trees and stumbled onto the coastline, his gaze locked on the vast sparkling the sea that stretched out endlessly before him as its wave lapped gently at the shore.
"Huh... What's this smell? It smells awesome." Kai's stomach growled in response, drawn by the tantalizing aroma that danced on the breeze. Intrigued he followed the scent, making his way toward a small fishing hut near the water's edge. A humble house on a nearby hill caught his eye, its whitewashed walls glowing in the sunlight.
As he treaded the path towards the house, he found a single man at the grill. The man had tanned skin that gleamed under the sun, and a wide sun tattoo sprawled across his back. He was grilling fish, sprinkling salt and spices over the sizzling fillets, the savory scent making Kai's mouth water.
"Who are you?" a voice piped up suddenly, making Kai jump. He turned to find a young boy standing a few feet away, brandishing a spear and pointing it his back. The boy's expression was fierce, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Damn. What do I say? I'm just an adventurer on a quest to find a treasure. Yeah… no way they would believe me. What do I…" Kai's thoughts raced, but before he could think of a clever response, the mysterious man spoke.
"Leave him be. I am pretty sure he's one of the participants of Nilheim. Though I never expected one to just fall way out here." the mysterious man said, his voice deep and calm, laced with a hint of amusement.
Kai exhaled in relief, his heart settling as the boy lowered his spear. The tension dissipated like mist in the morning sun.
Meanwhile, "Haha. I never expected one of the participants to meet that person of all people. Truly, these diamonds in the rough have great potential." chuckled the Promoter witnessing the scene from his control room.
Back to Kai's predicament, "Have a seat. The meal is almost ready." the mysterious man invited, gesturing to a weathered wooden table set up near the house.
After a few minutes, plates were placed on the table, and Kai, the mysterious man, and his companion, who watched Kai with a piercing gaze, sat at the table. Grilled fish, golden and flaky, was accompanied by a side of fresh vegetables and rice.
"Dig in." the mysterious man said with a warm smile.
Kai who saw the plates could no longer hold in his hunger, wasted no time at all. As he scooped onto his plate, his stomach growled again, louder this time. "Thank you!" he exclaimed, diving into the meal. The flavors burst in his mouth, the fish tender and perfectly seasoned. The boy watched him eat, his curiosity piqued.
After the generous meal, Kai leaned back on his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. But even then, his worries did not settle. The mysterious man and boy in front of him did not look like participants at all. He could only wonder who they were or to be more precise what they were.
During that time, the Constellations' view count and comments were piling up. Each constellation was following specific participants, and in the corner displaying Kai's situation, strange comments popped up.
"Hey isn't that him?" one comment read.
"How did that participant stumble on him of all people?" another chimed in.
…
…
…
…
As the chatter grew louder, the Promoter observed with keen interest. "Let's see what shall happen to you now, my dear diamond in the rough. Especially when in front of The Lord of Blazes, Seas and Tempest, Leitihi." He mused, his voice dripping with intrigue.