Chapter 33

Black Dawn

“Minimize your movement!” Emma roared as she threw a barrage of punches at me.

It took all my focus to evade her attacks at some point in the middle of her barrage; she threw a wild swing. I plant my feet firmly on the ground, fully intending to counter her blow.

Emma unclenched her fist and grabbed my arm. An instant later, I was swept off my feet with a low kick. Emma easily lifted me in the air. I twist my body around landed back on my feet. I returned the favor and kicked her legs as hard as I could. To my surprise, her legs gave out easily, but I quickly realized this was set up for a counter.

As she fell, she twisted her hip and swung her leg at me. I duck low, evading her attack. Emma placed her hands on the floor and used the monument to spin her body around for another kick.

Knowing that another attack would be coming after this one, I let her kick hit me in the side. Emma's eyes widened when I grabbed her leg, stopping her flow of attacks.

“I’ll admit I’m impressed you stopped my kick. However, that wasn’t the point of the exercise. You’re supposed to evade my attacks with minimal movement.

“You seriously don’t expect me to learn this technique in a single day.”

“I mean, you made it this far with minimal combat knowledge. So, I figure you were a fighting genius who can learn a technique from a single glance.”

“Does someone like that exist? Actually, never mind, forget I asked.” As soon as I asked the question, I immediately thought of the royal guards. I’m sure one of them who ignores common sense can easily do that.

“Anyway, let’s continue our little dance- on second thought, it looks like we’re out of time.” Just as I got back into our fighting stance, the door to the training room opened. The hungover contestant sluggishly enters the room.

“Is that all of them?” After the last person enters. Dante turns to Bella.

“It’s all the ones that still want to participate.” Bella shrugs her shoulders.

“Then I guess we begin explaining the operation.” Dante was speaking to Bella. However, he spoke loud enough that everyone could hear him.

“Operation? Isn’t this supposed to be a trial?” Max step forwards

“It is, but if you want to survive. You should think of this as a mission. After all, you will all be hunting a Pale wing.

“What?! Is this a joke!” Fear, panic, and sheer disbelief swept over most of the contestants.

A pale wing is a massive flying beast that can easily destroy a village and perhaps even a small town with the beat of its wings. Calling them a threat would be an understatement. They’re a force of nature that requires quite a large military force to take them down.

“You can quit whenever you want. No one is keeping you here. Besides, I gave you an alternative, but all of you standing here decided to stay.”

Bella’s word silences the crowd. I thought back to how Bella tried to get me to quit the trial and become an adventurer.

Taking advantage of the silence, Dante took a step forward and continued to speak.

“I understand your concern. But know this isn’t a punishment. I fully believe every one of you is a capable warrior who can accomplish this task. But do keep in mind this will not be easy. The Pale Wing is a dangerous threat, but your true enemy will be the city itself. While the majins may have left the city. The Demon King presence still lingers here. For the sake of your safety and sanity. Assume everything down there is your enemy, including yourself.”

Dante leaves the room before anyone could ask a question or even respond.

“We’ll be arriving at Black Dawn in one hour. Use that time to prepare yourself and form your team. Oh….” Just as Bella was about to leave, she abruptly. “If you change your mind, then come visit my room. I’ll set up an appointment with the adventurer guild later.”

“I’ll love to visit her room.” Leo's tail wags energetically as he stares Bella back.

“Well, at least we don’t have to fight each other.” Aaron’s eyes seemed to sparkle with hope despite where we were heading.

“Yea, but now we have to deal with a monster that’s almost on par with a dragon.” Max brushed through his hair, clearly annoyed at Aaron’s foolish optimism.

“If we all work together, then we should easily be able to defeat him! Right guys?!”

I looked away from Aaron, debating if I should remind him that this is a tournament and some people will do anything to improve their chances of winning, including sabotaging their own teammates. Luckily for me, Max seems to be fully committed to fixing Aaron’s naivety.

“Even if by some miracle you manage to get everyone to work together, it wouldn’t be wise. We’ll be fighting in narrow streets, not to mention our opponent can create a large gust of wind with their wings. We’ll all be wiped out if were clump together.”

“If that is the case, then you should join my squad.” Emma grabs my shoulder and pulls me close. “I can train you during this trial.”

“That sounds good. But…” I look towards the man clad in old and rusted metal armor. Even with his face covered by his helmet, I was still getting bad vibes from him.

“I think I’ll work with my old team.” Emma frowns for a moment but quickly brightens up.

“I guess we can make this a competition. Let’s see which team can defeat the big bird first.”

I turn down her offer. Even though I decided to participate in the trial, I had no intention of racing to my death. Nor did I have any intention of facing the Pale Wing either. From the little information I got from Dante and Bella, it sounds like everyone will pass the trial if someone kills the monster.

After saying farewell to Emma, I search for Max and Jez through the crowd. I was surprised how fast people were grouping up. But then again, I guess everyone here realizes that exploring the old capital alone is a death sentence.

“So, you decided to stay?” Both Jez and Max looked down at me and crosses his arms. If I didn’t know any better, I swear I could see a slight smirk on his face.

“Against my better judgment.”

“I’m. Glad.” Jez placed a hand on her chest and gave me a small smile. It's quite a pleasant feeling to have someone genuinely happy to have me around. Then again, she could just be happy to have an extra body to protect her. For the sake of my mental health, I’ll choose to believe the former.

“So, what’s the plan?” I looked up at Max expectedly at Max.

“Now that the whole team is here, we have a decent chance of taking the Pale Wing down.”

“You can’t be serious, ah. Never mind.” Seeing the burning look in his eyes, I remember the sole reason he came here was to impress his family. And there’s nothing more impressive than killing one of the Apex predators of the sky. Maybe I should join Emma’s team after all.

I looked over to were in Emma direction. I immediately felt a chill when my eyes fell on the man in armor.

I don’t want to work with Aaron either. While I think he’s a good person, I get the feeling he and Leo will try to jump off a five-story building and attempt to hit the flying monster.

“There’s really no one sane here? Is it?” I grumble to myself.

Max begins to explain his plan, which basically boils down to him burning the monster while I and Jez distract it.

While Max continues to spew nonsense, I silently observe everyone as they form their team and plans. It dawns on me. At the start of the trial, there were around three hundred contestants now there’s only around fifty. A reminder we’re nearing the end.

I honestly never thought I would make it this far. I simply join this tournament in a desperate attempt to get my store. But now, regardless of whether I win or lose. I want to see this through to the end.

After about an hour pass, a feeling of sheer horror washes over me. It felt like the jaw of a beast was hovering just above my neck. And it seems I’m not the only one who feels this way. Even Emma, who was eager to fight, was now ghostly pale.

“W- What is this?” I hugged my body to stop the trembling.

“This is the Lingering presence of the Demon King.” Bella steps back into the room wearing a grim expression. “We’ve arrived at the old capital. Anyone who’s still feeling brave followed me.” Bella walked out of the room, but no one followed her. Instead, we all stare at the door, frozen in fear.

The first person to move was one of Emma’s teammates. His rusted armor creak as he put one foot in front of the other.

After nearly dying countless amount of times in a single day, it’ll be stupid if I give up just because I got scared.

I took a step forward. Each step I took, the fear holding me weakened. Eventually, I could leave the room along with everyone else who gained control of their body.

Bella and a few other soldiers stood in the hallway, waiting for us. The soldier approaches us, carrying bags. They dug into the bag giving each team a lantern and a strangely shaped pistol.

“We don’t have much time, so I’ll explain as we move.” Bella moved briskly down the hall, fully expecting us to follow her.

“Black Dawn is permanently cloaked in darkness. That lantern will be your only source of light. It also may scare away some creatures, may piss some off too, so be careful how you use it.”

“And the gun?” I raised the pistol in the air.

“That’s a flare gun. Shoot it in the air if you feel like you’re in danger or if you’re too injured to continue. Keep in mind you will be disqualified if you leave before the Pale Wing is killed.”

“In that case….” Max snatches the gun out of my hand.

“Hey, what the hell?!”

“It’s best if I hold something as important as this.”

Yeah right. I bet he’s holding it, so we won’t be able to run away.

“Dante and I will also be taking part in this trial. However, our main job is to protect the airship, so don’t expect us to save you when you’re in need. Any questions?”

“Yea.” Aaron meekly raised his hand. “Where is the Pale Wing?”

“I have no idea. But we have teams on the ground that’s been monitoring the situation. They’ve been ordered to stay out of your way, but you can ask them for assistance. However, keep in mind they have been there for a while.

I nearly asked if that was a bad thing, but then I remembered that intense feeling of dread that overcame me when we entered Black Dawn. Even now, this unpleasant pressure is hanging over me. I doubt I’ll be able to last a day, let alone a week here.

“Now then.” The floor in front of us is open. The ruins of the capital lay below us. “Find the Pale Wing and kill it. You only have a week to complete this trial.”

“Hey, you not expecting us to jump, are you?”

“This airship is our only ticket out of here. Staying airborne is the best way to keep it safe. But, of course, you’re more than welcome to stay on the ship if you want.” Bella said, giving me a smug grin.

“I know I’m going to hate myself for this later. Actually, probably in a few seconds.” I turn to Max and Jez. “You guys ready?”

“Yes.”

“Of course, I am!” Both Max and Jez nodded their heads at me.

“Then let’s do this!” I hop out of the airship and dive straight into the ruined city.

I let out a grunt as I rolled onto the cracked ground. The airship continues to fly low over the city, dropping the rest of the contestants off.

“Yea, I already hate myself.” The dread I felt earlier intensified to the point my sixth sense that warned me of potential danger was constantly going off.

“You know you could’ve warned us you were going to jump.” Max jumped to his feet and dusted off his suit.

“Sorry about that. If I didn’t jump right then, I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it at all.”

“Yea, I can understand that.” Max looks away

I expected Max to chew me out, but he quickly dropped the subject to my surprise. It looked like this place was getting to him too.

“So, how exactly are we going to find the Pale Wing in this mess?” As I looked around, I noticed a light in the corner of my eyes. A red light flew high into the air, temporarily brightening the night sky.

“A flare already? But we just landed.” Max's face pales.

“Maybe, they shot it by accident.”

“Yea, maybe that’s it.” My excuse seems to settle Max down. However, just as we begin to relax. Jez wyvern let out a screech.

“They’re. Here.” Jez placed her hand on the hilt of her staff.

“What? What’s here?!” I reached for my knife while nervously scanning the area.

A second later, a monstrous roar reverberated through the lonely streets.

A hooded woman wearing what appears to be a priest cloak emerges from the building. Sickly pale humanoids stood behind her. “What’s this?” The woman looked at us like she was looking at an insect. “You’re not Dante.”