XL
The ground beneath us rumbled violently, sending jolts through Black's shadow horse. The beast stumbled but quickly regained its footing. Before we could recover, Bob's voice thundered overhead, brimming with amusement.
"Hunters! Only the first 50% to cross the finish line will pass this exam! Do your best—or fall behind!"
The announcement sent shockwaves of panic rippling through the hunters. Fear mixed with desperation, and everyone's pace quickened. There was no time to breathe, let alone hesitate.
A woman glowing with an aura of speed zipped past us, her smirk flashing as she called over her shoulder, "Catch me if you can, slowpokes!"
Black urged his mount forward, shadows billowing like smoke in our wake. Just as we began to close the gap, I noticed a figure above us—a hunter riding a sleek, floating surfboard. He swooped down with ease, overtaking us effortlessly.
I pressed my earpiece. "Selena, heads up. Speedster and surfboard guy are closing in on you."
Her response was calm, her voice crackling through the comms. "Speed girl's already here—and not as clever as she thinks."
The distant sound of explosions confirmed Selena was already setting traps.
We pushed harder, Black's shadow horse galloping at full tilt. The speedster reappeared beside us, her eyes narrowing as she glared. Just as she prepared to surge ahead, the ground beneath her feet turned to quicksand. She yelped as she sank to her knees, her momentum broken.
"Who's the slowpoke now?" I muttered with a smirk as we sped past her.
Selena's voice came through again, steady and focused. "Marsh ahead. Looks like harmless flowers, but it's crawling with crocodiles. Avoid it."
"Got it," I replied, relaying the warning to Black. He steered sharply to the right, bypassing the marsh entirely. A few hunters weren't as lucky—venturing too close, they triggered the trap. The vibrant flowers morphed into snarling, toothy predators, snapping hungrily at their prey.
"Next hazard: weird rain," Selena warned. "It's dense, like iron. Nearly tore my bike apart."
I scanned the sky, spotting dark clouds rolling in. Heavy droplets began to fall, clinking like metal as they hit the ground. Black maneuvered us in a zigzag, dodging the lethal downpour.
Selena's updates came fast and precise:
"Lava flow incoming from the left."
"Gravity reversal ahead—brace yourselves."
"Invisible walls—follow this pattern: hard right, sharp turn, long left, then another right."
Each warning was relayed to Black, who adapted with precision, guiding us through the obstacles. The race was a gauntlet of hazards designed to test every skill a hunter possessed. Selena's directions were our lifeline, her foresight keeping us ahead of the chaos.
"Why don't you just give the earpiece to Black?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"Because you trust me to make the calls," I replied without hesitation.
Selena chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's keep it that way."
The hours dragged on, each new challenge more grueling than the last. Hunters scattered across the field, avoiding confrontations where they could. But not everyone was content to play it safe.
Through the Soul Links I'd planted earlier, I felt the tension mounting. A group of hunters was converging behind us, their intent clear—they wanted us out of the race.
"Black, we've got company," I warned, tightening my grip.
He glanced over his shoulder, his expression darkening. "Let them try."
As the first hunter closed in, I snapped one of my Soul Chains, wrapping it around his leg. He struggled, his balance faltering, and fell back into the pack. Another lunged forward, only to be met with a burst of shadow from Black's mount, forcing him to retreat.
"Stay focused," Selena's voice cut in. "The finish line's close. Don't let them slow you down now."
Her words reignited my determination. We pushed harder, dodging every attack and hazard thrown our way. The jagged silhouette of the Fighting Tower loomed in the distance, its gates glowing like a beacon.
This race wasn't over yet—but we were getting closer with every step.
A harsh burst of static crackled in my earpiece, followed by Selena's voice, sharp and laced with irritation. "Motherfucker, someone just sent a missile my way! Good thing I've got a spare bike!"
I barely had time to process her words when I caught a glint of metal streaking toward us—a missile, tearing through the air with lethal precision. My pulse spiked. Whoever fired it wasn't just trying to slow us down; they wanted us out of the race entirely.
"Black, faster! We've got incoming!" I shouted.
Black gritted his teeth, shadows billowing like smoke as he pushed the shadow-horse to its limit. "This is the fastest I can go!" he growled, frustration simmering in his voice.
The missile closed in, its high-pitched whine slicing through the chaos of the race. My mind raced, weighing options, each one more desperate than the last.
Then I saw it—a faint shimmer of aura outlining the missile. A Maker's work. That was all I needed to know.
Channeling my own aura, I summoned my Soul Chains, the energy writhing and snapping as though alive. With a flick of my wrist, the chains shot out, coiling around the missile in a vice-like grip. The propulsion sputtered as I forced it to a dead stop, holding it suspended in mid-air.
"Come on," I muttered through clenched teeth, pouring more energy into the chains. The missile struggled for a moment before dropping to the ground with a dull thud, fizzling out harmlessly.
I exhaled, tension easing just slightly. "That's one problem solved."
Black glanced back, wide-eyed. "Next time, maybe give me a warning before you pull something like that."
I smirked. "Wouldn't want to ruin the thrill."
But I wasn't about to let that missile stunt slide. Hunters knew the rules: you hit someone, you'd better be ready for the fallout. Revenge wasn't just satisfying—it was expected.
I sifted through the web of Soul Links I'd planted earlier, feeling out the nuances of each hunter's aura. It didn't take long to find the culprit. His aura practically screamed "missile," radiating a cocky confidence that made me grin.
Too far for a direct attack, but distance didn't matter with a Soul Link. I drew on the energy of fifty hunters, their auras pooling into me like a flood. Carefully, I balanced it all, then sent it back—every ounce of it—to the missile guy.
I imagined his face when the aura debt hit him like a brick wall. Good luck recovering from that, buddy.
The race pressed on, chaos erupting at every turn. Selena's updates came through the earpiece like clockwork, each warning crucial.
"Pitfall coming up. Hard left!"
Black veered sharply, the shadow-horse skidding just inches from the edge of a gaping hole.
"Lightning rain ahead," Selena called. "Stay low and find cover!"
We darted beneath an overhang, dodging the electrified downpour as bolts struck the ground in blinding flashes.
Further ahead, trees twisted unnaturally, their branches snapping toward us like jaws. "Stay close to me!" I shouted, guiding Black through the labyrinth of grasping limbs.
Each obstacle was more brutal than the last, but we kept our pace. Hunters around us scrambled, some falling victim to the traps, others barely hanging on.
The speedster girl reappeared, her aura crackling with energy as she zipped through the terrain like a bolt of lightning. She drew closer, her smug grin flashing as she prepared to overtake us.
Not happening.
With a flick of my wrist, my Soul Chain lashed out, wrapping around her legs. She stumbled, her momentum broken just long enough for us to pull ahead.
"Better luck next time," I muttered, smirking as her curses faded behind us.
Selena's voice came through again, calm and steady. "The finish line's close. Don't lose focus."
I tightened my grip on Black, determination flaring. The race wasn't just about winning anymore—it was about proving we belonged here, that we could handle whatever this insane course threw at us.
The Fighting Tower loomed in the distance, its gates glowing like a promise. We weren't there yet, but we were getting closer.
Hunters of all kinds darted through the landscape, their methods of transportation ranging from the ingenious to the downright absurd.
Ahead of us, a sleek, muscular horse bounded gracefully across the terrain. Its shimmering aura revealed the truth—it wasn't a mount but a hunter in full transformation mode. Impressive, sure, but no match for Black's shadow beast. We surged past, leaving the equine competitor in our wake.
Next, we came upon a figure wobbling precariously on an old-fashioned bicycle. I couldn't tell if it was a joke or sheer desperation, but the sight of him pedaling furiously almost made me laugh. Black's shadow horse shot ahead, leaving the cyclist struggling to keep his balance.
Then came the pogo stick guy. Yes, a pogo stick. He bounced furiously, his aura flaring with every leap, as if sheer determination alone would propel him to victory. I had to admire his commitment, even as we sped past him, his frustrated grunts fading into the distance.
The landscape blurred as we raced on, but a sudden flash of light drew my attention. A teleporter materialized ahead of us, his jumps chaotic and uncoordinated. He'd appear a few feet ahead, vanish, then reappear farther off, his movements erratic and frantic. Without precision, he was all over the place, unable to maintain a consistent lead.
A low, menacing snarl broke through the noise, and I turned to see a woman riding a massive wolf. The beast's powerful strides matched our pace, its claws digging into the ground with feral intensity. The hunter's gaze locked onto mine, a challenging gleam in her eyes. For a moment, it seemed like she might overtake us, but as we rounded a sharp turn, her mount stumbled. She fought to regain control, her balance wavering, and we surged ahead once more.
The final stretch was pure chaos. Hunters converged from all directions, their desperation palpable as they pushed their Gifts and skills to the limit. The air buzzed with tension, every competitor fighting for a coveted spot among the top fifty percent.
Selena's voice crackled through my earpiece. "I'm already at the finish line. Hurry up!"
"We're right behind," I replied, my eyes locking onto the massive metal gates in the distance. They loomed like the promise of salvation—or the edge of a cliff, depending on how you fared.
Black urged his shadow steed forward with one last burst of speed. The beast's hooves pounded the ground in a relentless rhythm, its shadowy form a blur against the frenzied backdrop of the race. I tightened my grip, leaning into the motion as we barreled toward the gates.
The crowd of hunters thinned slightly as we neared the finish line, their numbers dwindling as some fell behind or were swallowed by the traps still lurking in the course. The gates began to close, their heavy, grinding sound a stark reminder that time was running out.
"Faster, Black!" I shouted.
With a final, desperate leap, Black's shadow horse propelled us forward, its form dissipating into wisps of darkness just as we crossed the line. We landed on solid ground, sliding to a stop as the gates clanged shut behind us.
The sudden stillness was jarring after the chaos of the race. Hunters were scattered around, some gasping for breath, others glaring at the gates as if sheer willpower could have forced them open a second longer.
I straightened up, adjusting my jacket and trying to look more composed than I felt. Black was visibly drained, his shoulders slumping as he wiped sweat from his brow.
A familiar tap on my back made me turn. Selena stood there, smirking, her expression a mix of teasing and acknowledgment.
"Not too shabby," she said, her tone light but with an edge of sarcasm. Her gaze flicked to Black, clearly noting his exhaustion. She knew how much I relied on others—on their strength, their speed, their endurance—to get through situations like this.
I shrugged, brushing off her comment. Borrowed power or not, it had gotten us across the finish line. That was all that mattered.
~040