Kemuri

Chapter 3: Ready, set, GO!

It consisted of 1.2-kilometer-long laps around the village, the contestants have to last the longest they can. The difficulty of this test stems from the addition of weights to the contestant's back after each lap. Just like the agility test, half of the contestants would get disqualified by the end. The remaining contestant moved to another location in the outskirts of the Ardiente village, near the wooden spikes surrounding the village.

"Gonna blow you both out!" proclaimed Pyro, confident in his capabilities

"We'll see!" responded Huitzi, just as determined. Honoka stayed silent, unlike the agility test, she wasn't sure to be as good as the two Boys. One of the Luces stood beside the line of contestants and signaled the participants "Ready, set, GO!

Pyro and Huitzi bolted! They directly widen the gap between them and the other contestants. They were hitting each other's elbow in their dash, neither of them able to overtake the other. "These idiots... They know this isn't a race, right?" sighed Honoka, casually trotting. Brillante was running beside her, sweating profusely from the sun hitting his skin.

Huitzi and Pyro still hadn't slowed down and were still trying to sabotage the other using precious energy. As Pyro tried to bump Huitzi on the shoulder, the ladder slowed just enough so his assailant would dash in the air. Using his momentum, he tried to make him drop by pushing on his back while getting himself out of the way. Pyro kept his balance and manage to put his foot in Huitzi's way, slowing him down. The squabble was never-ending, and without noticing they were back at the starting line.

The weights were weighed jackets made out of metal strapped to the contestant's body. The normal procedure is for each contestant to start light to not get overwhelmed too quickly but Huitzi and Pyro preferred to go unorthodox. In unison, they both barked "GIVE ME THE HEAVIEST!", with fire in their eyes. The Luces were perplexed but had no reason not to oblige, heavier weights were more valued in the final ranking. Both strapped 30 kg jackets and rushed back into their race, leaving the Luces stunned by their sheer will, and their recklessness.

40 minutes into the test, more than half of the contestants had already stopped, some passed out and others were throwing up, the blazing sun not helping them one bit. Honoka just stopped, completely out of breath, her legs barely holding her up. She went to sit in the shadow of a tree with other participants. She drank water to her heart's content and stretched her aching body, at least confident that she made it to the next stage. Far away, she could hear rumble approaching.

"How are they still not done?", she said, breathing heavily." Do they not get tired?"

They stopped in their tracks, raising some dust in the process. Both were panting like wild animals and their faces were drenched in sweat. They snarled as one, "MORE!". The Luces refused to add any more weights, again, both boys already having to carry 60 more kg. The boys didn't try to argue and simply headed back on the tracks.

After two more laps, finally, Huitzi's strength left him. As he was about to start his lap, his legs couldn't move anymore, he tripped and couldn't get up after that. "HAHA! I told you! I promised I was going to beat you!" cheered Pyro, using most of his energy simply to keep standing. Huitzi would have gone back at Pyro but all he could do right now is roll on his back and stare at the sky, a smile on his face regardless.

The summer sun shone brightly despite the village clock ringing 6pm. After that the number of contestants was cut in half once again, it was time for the strength test.