"I still think I would have gotten them to agree at five hundred thousand," Dollaire commented, counting the money between her fingers. Her feelings for Sterling hid behind her love for coins. She wasn’t the only one. Each of Sterling’s followers appeared money-minded grubs. And yet...they were loyal. Loyal to him. As Hex often heard Sterling explain, at least he knew what the price of their loyalty was and that he was happy to pay for it. Hex didn’t understand how it worked and had written it off as a merchant’s logic. Their quibble would last amidst the roars of the crowd. Some people had commented on his performance. You are a damn good Druid. Can’t wait to discuss with you the benefits of having a Bear as a companion beast. Such comments came from the Council members who were Druids themselves and considered themselves scholars. Before his experiences of the first round he would have welcomed a chance to deepen his understanding of being a Druid. Now, he wasn’t as interested. So, Hex brushed them off with his most polite smile and most meaningless thank yous and promises. ’What’s the point. They can’t do what I can nor will they understand without me revealing my secrets. With the Dragon Bear Soul presence and its unwillingness to share the bond with other beast companions, I have no use for such stuff.’ The forty thousand coins he received as his share wasn’t much when compared to his previous gains but wasn’t little either. His deal with a particular shopowner helped him gain membership tiers with each round passed. He touched the pouch, feeling the cold metal of the coins. They warmed his heart. This was the reason for his decision to join the tournament. It was an opportunity to gain treasures. ’Time to visit the oldest store again. And this time, I won’t need to visit in person.’ The thought of seeing all the rare treasures displayed on those moving shelves made him salivate. Added to his previous gains, he could acquire some nice treasure. Perhaps something to enhance his Bear Soul. And...this time he wouldn’t need to hide his presence. One of the privileges he gained allowed him to visit the shelves from anywhere inside Wrixia. His membership card acted as a key, allowing him entrance from a point of his choosing. For now, while others screamed and his friends quibbled about the exact amount they could have negotiated, his attention turned to the match about to start in the arena. Heaven’s Army vs Mountain Sons A match promised to be filled with highlights. The arena brimmed with excitement and bloodlust as the leaders entered their towers. Being a spectator differed from being a participant. The mood around him aroused an anticipation in him too. He barely noticed he clenched his fists, Althea’s beauty enraptured many hearts. As the leader of Heaven’s Army she entered her side of the tower. Many people had heard of her. Few had seen her. Today, however, the arena was packed with almost the entire city. Despite the chaos in the arena, her appearance and presence filled the surroundings with a sense of serenity. The boisterous crowd fell silent, one by one, as more people saw her, sitting at the window, her hair moving ever so slightly with the wind. Some elderly people even burst into tears, crying with smiles on their faces. Among those a few even prostrated before her, worshiping her. She was Heaven. She was Fate. And...she was before them. For a moment, every eye was on her and every mind was filled with her image. Noticing the crowd’s reaction, Hex felt worry creep up his heart. Not out of jealousy. He didn’t envy Althea. He worried about the burden she carried. As the Chosen to be Heaven itself, deciding the Fate of everyone, living or death, came at a price. The price of losing oneself. ’She wanted to be independent, to live a life according to her own will.’ A loud noise broke his train of thought. The referee signaled the start of the match, breaking the immersion of many. The Mountain Sons looked grim. To their dismay, they too had fallen in a trance before their opponent’s beauty. Their team consisted solely of male participants. Compared to the petite and well-gowned members of Heaven’s Army, the men of Mountain Sons looked like trolls. Big, oaf-like, with slightly opened mouths from which saliva dripped, and their eyes shifted all around, as if they were confused with each step. Their clothes, if sheep-skin wrapped around the middle and upper thighs could be called as such, seemed faded and filled with dark smears. Blood, if Hex had to guess. Whose, no idea. Althea’s people didn’t move toward the middle. They remained at the tower and opened up thick tomes, from which they started to sing. Soft, melodious sounds spread out. Others couldn’t tell but Hex sensed the effect immediately. ’The sound clings to the elements in the air, causing them to sink toward the ground.’ Hex’s senses could pick the slightest changes and signals. What a brilliant ability. Hard to detect, hard to defend against. In his mind he came with a couple of methods to counter if he went against the Temple’s choir team but most were tailor-made for him. Intrigued, he turned toward the other team to see their strategy. Well...they didn’t have any. At least, not a sophisticated one. And yet, it was brilliant. The troll-like mountain folk roared...in unison. Their counter to a synchronized singing team was roaring in sync. Hex, and even Althea who appeared calm, felt stumped by such a crude yet genius tactic. Hex focused on the surroundings. Their mighty roar broke the bond between sound and energy, sending it swirling. Like snow by a burst of wind. The choir tried to remain unyielding but their will couldn’t compete against their opponents’. The Mountain Sons lived up to their name, remaining firm and steady, roaring without end. They approached the tower slowly but steadily. Their roars burst open the eardrums of the weaker ones in the arena. With the decreasing distance, it affected the choir too. When one buckled, falling through his knee, the rhythm of their song was broken. A chance the oafs didn’t miss. One rushed forward, ready to take out as many as he could while willing to take the tower’s attack head one. Only, the attack didn’t come. Confused, however unwilling to miss the opportunity, the first attacker wreaked havoc upon their weak opponents. The petite choir members were like children against full grown mountain apes. Blood splattered as the members were thrown away, unable to stand again. The crowd’s reaction split into two major groups. One cheered and screamed, enjoying the blood and gore. The other reeled in shock, whimpered in pain through sight, and prayed. Their prayers begged for these poor children to be saved. Actually, there was a third group, although calling it a group was a stretch. Hex was on his own. He had stood up. Not out of pity. He was shocked. And furious. He stared straight at the target of his fury. ’She did it on purpose.’