Chapter 6: Part 1

Once again, Emilia stands in line with other newbies waiting for the challenge again. Once again, she has to jump through fire, run up a mountain and almost die. She didn’t complete the challenge last time. 

Emilia’s definitely dying this time. Perhaps she could use this time to run. If she makes it far enough into the challenge, she can escape the field. When Emilia gets out, she can run to freedom.

Borden sparks the fire racing across the ground creating a line. When the fire hits the wall, Emilia pounces over the flames landing on her broken ankle. Emilia immediately falls. Everyone else passes her, again, as she slowly gets back to her feet. 

Victor is the first to rush past Emilia sprinting up the mountain. Emilia hobbles as fast as she can hoping Borden doesn’t follow this time. 

Victor sprints as fast as he can while adjusting to four legs. A beast, clearly not a newbie, jumps out and knocks Victor over. The opponent snaps his jaws at Victor, but Victor runs into the beast at full force. 

Victor knocks the beast over then dashes on. Even Victor knows better than to kill those who challenge him in the game, he is already on thin ice for murdering many beasts already.

Victor stops short when he comes to a cliff. He looks to the other side calculating the length of the jump then backs away from the cliff. Victor sprints until he hits the edge of the cliff where he jumps flying to the other side. 

Victor lands on the other side of the cliff then turns back to see other newbies rushing to the cliff. They all stop confused scared. One is barely more than a child. A few of the beasts are women. At least two of the beasts look elderly. None of them will likely survive a harsh version of the challenge. Victor looks ahead then back at the sad looking group of beasts.

A tree with its roots already out of the ground rest on the branches of the surrounding trees. The tree looks long enough to reach the other side of the cliff while being secure to this side of the cliff. 

Victor rushes over then uses his hind legs to knock down the tree. The tree swooshes to the other side of the cliff, and like Victor predicted, it lands securely on the other side while remaining secure on his side of the cliff. The tree lands just before the newbies. One of the elderly beasts looks over to Victor; Victor nods his head. 

One by one, the beasts climb up onto the tree and make their way across. A few of the beasts shake, and some slip then fall. No one falls off the tree fully. They pull themselves up. The elder that looked at Victor is the last cross securing everyone’s way across the tree.

Once everyone makes it across the tree, Victor looks to the other side. Emilia is not with the group, nor does she seem near. Victor’s spirits sink, but it was Emilia who turned him. Besides, once all the beasts make it to the end, Emilia will be put to death. 

Victor pushes two large rocks place one on each side of the tree securing the tree. The newbies look at Victor wondering what to do. He takes in air then looks to the one who moved the fastest across the bridge. He looks strong.

“Can you pick up the scent of the lake?” Victor asks. The beast sniffs then nods. Victor says, “Lead the way.” Victor turns to two other strong looking beasts, “You two guard the sides of the group. Everyone else, get in circle closely packed. Those who are injured, elderly, and children keep to the inside of the circle. I will follow behind to keep you safe.”

Everyone follows Victor’s orders, and as he said, Victor follows behind constantly glancing back at the cliff disappointed that Emilia is never there.

Emilia finds the tree bridge and hobbles across. If she’d thought of this the first time, the beasts would’ve been more prepared for Victor’s attack. Emilia limps as she crosses slipping every now and then. 

Once at the center, all three of Emilia’s good legs slip. She lands on her stomach with both legs and arms on opposite sides of the tree. She tries to stand, but her body falls again this time landing on her broken ankle.