Ruler's Trials

Chapter 5

Savar and Karel stopped on the ridge from which they had a good view of the area where the flag should come from. After about 10 minutes of waiting, they noticed movement in the forest. Karel's advanced memory told him that this was contestant number 23. He looked in good shape and without major injuries. He carried a large flag on his back. Hm, they come in different shapes, big and small. Savar started towards Twentythree, but Karel stopped him and waved his head to the right of them. Three contestants were approaching Twentythree. They separated and began to surround him.

A noise to his left drew Karel's attention from the scene before him. At the last moment, he dodged the knife. He punched the attacker in the jaw with his left hand, knocking him to the floor next to him. He reached for his dagger with his right hand and threw himself at the attacker. He cut him on the shoulder, but the attacker managed to grab him by the wrist. He forced the attacker to let go of him with a knee to the crotch, but the attacker rushed back at him, knocking the dagger out of Karel's hand and grabbing him by the neck. With one hand, Karel tried to remove the attacker's hand from his neck, but the attacker was too strong. The other hand finally found a stone with which he hit him several times in the temple area. The attacker collapsed, and Karel reached for his dagger again to stab him through the eye. He glanced at Savar. One opponent lay dead next to Savar while he was still fighting with another. They were wrestling in the dirt with Savar lying on his back and the attacker punching him in the face. Karel approached the attacker from behind. He noticed Karel but Karel was faster and stabbed him in the neck. Karel puffed and fought for air as the rush of adrenaline ran its course. Three on us, three on Twentythree?

Karel pulled his dagger out and turned towards the place where he last saw Twentythree. One of the attackers was lying dead, and the other two were attacking him. Karel pulled Savar's sleeve, signaling him to join the fight. Running towards the trio, Karel arrived first and attacked the attacker who a second before managed to knock out the Twentythree. But the dagger got stuck in the attacker's left shoulder blade, and he turned towards Karel as if a long piece of metal hadn't been stuck in his back. Shit, Eight. A story circulated among the contestants that Eight turned off all pain receptors, making him unstoppable. The other attacker and Twentythree had now a fair one on one fight.

Karel moved away from Eight, calculating his next attack. Savar rushed past him and rammed like a bull into Eight, knocking him to the floor. Eight was also the biggest, tallest, bulkiest competitor, next to him Savar looked like he was a beginner in the gym whose growth stopped too soon, although Savar was one of the biggest men Karel has ever seen in his life.

Karel put his hand on his hip and pursed his lips as he watched them fight. Okay, maybe we can get by without another death.

"Two, immobilize his right arm."

Savar obeyed Karel which left Savar open to attack. The next blow to the head almost knocked Savar unconscious but in the next moment all the pressure was gone. Eight was gone.

"What was that?", Savar turned around in confusion.

"I pushed his help button. Now we know how they do it. Teleport."

Savar clutched the side of his face where the blood was pouring down, "You could have told me that earlier."

"And to miss rolling on the floor? No way."

"Oh really.", Savar grabbed Karel and pressed him to himself, "I'm still convinced that you're a girl. And since you're so shamelessly teasing me, you'll have a hard time convincing me otherwise."

Karel hit him on the chest, trying to get out of his grip, "No, I just thought it was funny. Let me down."

"As you wish, honey.", Savar mischievously laughed and removed his hand. Karel staggered backwards, regaining his balance at the last moment.

Ignoring Savar's expression, he looked towards Twentythree's fight, both fighters were exhausted and heavily bleeding. "Knock them out and take the flag.", Karel suggested.

"Speedy, I'll leave it to you. I'll check whom we eliminated."

"Making me do all the work.", Karel huffed but Savar was right. Karel's enhanced speed will come in handy again.

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Savar returned after a few minutes. Karel was holding the flag, the two fighters were gone.

"Where did they go?"

Karel pointed his index finger up, "What about you?"

"There were Ten and a guy with some number above twenty."

Karel rolled his eyes, "You have no idea about numbers above twenty?"

"No, they are unimportant. No one with a number over twenty will win the flag."

"Statistically yes, the chances above 20 are very small. So 7, 8, 10, 15, 23, 31 and some 20+ numbers were eliminated."

"We don't know who else has fallen from the top 10, but we can assume that 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 are still active, along with our numbers 2 and 6."

"1 and 4 must fall."

"Again you and setting up the Trials."

"You're setting up again," Karel repeated in a mocking tone, then became serious, "Look, I don't want to deal with those two characters who stayed in the last century. If they were asked, none of the commoners would participate. They can only bring tyranny to the Empire. I don't even want to risk it."

Savar sighed, "Ok, just for you, 1 and 4 won't come back with the flag."

"Thank you. This means that the best candidates are 3, 5 and 9."

"Nine is a total freak. He doesn't drink, he doesn't laugh. A fucking statue."

"True, but better than a dictator."

Karel looked around. The day was coming to an end, "We have to move and find a place to sleep."

"You took the word out of my mouth. Let's go."