The Order of Jade

Chapter 16 - Course of a Lifetime

Valor was ready to undertake the course. He was more ready than he had ever been in his whole life, and finally he could fulfill his dreams of joining the military. But he first had to pass. And he was going to give it his all like he never had before.

Valor turned up at the course, and he was met with over 15 different competitors. The tallest and strongest looking one who was severely overweight walked up to him.

"Who are you skinny?" The tall competitor asked with an evil smirk look on his face.

"I'm Valor, I'm in this cou....." Valor tried to say before the competitor cut him off.

"Shut up, listen here, newbie, I'm winning this course, and your going down, so don't bother impeding on my victory." The competitor said, Valor looked to the ground and slightly nodded. The competitor then started to walk away, then Valor spoke.

"You shouldn't be too confident, I doubt the climb will suffice, on a fat shit like you." Valor taunted him, and then the competitor turned back around and marched back to Valor.

"What did you call me?" The competitor asked furiously.

"I said........fat......shit." Valor said, kicking him in the balls, then kicking him in the face when he was on his knees.

"YOU DONT ANSWER LIKE THAT TO ME, BECAUSE ILL KICK YOUR ASS, YOU UNDERSTAND!!!?" Valor shouted at him while he was on the floor, lying in pain. The competitor nodded and stood up, half bent over and he walked away.

Valor already thought that this place wasn't great, the people were all increasingly selfish and could care less about each other. Valor didn't see soldiers, he saw mercenary's, people who served themselves. He waited around for a few minutes and an instructor walked in.

"ATTENTION!!" He shouted and the competitors lined up.

"Listen all of you, after today, most of you will be dead, there's no getting out, so make the most of your last moments on the earth." The instructor said, leaving all of the competitors in shock. Including Valor. But now it was a win win situation, if Valor died, his family wouldn't have to deal with him anymore, if he lived, they still wouldn't and he would be in the army. So he didn't care if he died.

"Get yourselves ready, I'll be back in 10 minutes. The first challenge will take place in the swamps." The instructor ordered.

Valor and the other competitors were there, in the swamps, where're the first challenge would take place. The instructor walked in and gave out the first set of orders.

"Alright, here's what's gonna happen, your gonna stand in the water, when 3 of you leave the challenge ends, hurry up!!" The instructor ordered, and they all went in without a question. Valor said to himself that he was never going to stop, but, words meant nothing in that situation.

Everyone was in and the time started. 2 hours. 3 hours, the competitors were struggling, they were in pain, there were 15 to begin with. Then the first one gave up.

"I'm sorry, I'm done." One of the contestants started walking out, and out of know where.......

"WHAT THE HELL!!!!?" The tall contestant shouted in terror, as the competitor was met with an arrow to his head. Striking fear into the hearts of all the competitors.

"That's one, don't be next!!" The instructor shouted, not caring about the competitor who had just died. Now everyone knew what would happen if they even thought of giving up.

Another 3 hours passed and the 14 remaining competitors were struggling to stay awake, and they were dying right on the spot. But Valor could still go on for a bit longer, he had to.

The next 2 contestants couldn't go on, however an arrow was not used on them. They died right where they stood, like rocks they fell, sinking into the water like anchors. Valor was beginning to lose consciousness, but the instructor cane and shouted soon enough to wake him up.

"Get them out of there!!!!" He shouted, and a group of soldiers ran in a got them out.

But that was just the beginning.....