Chapter 3, Creature of darkness.

The award ceremony was as amazing as everyone expected, the victorious heroes recieved the prize they fought so hard to get and a golden trophy covered in colorful jewels. They finished the adventure in only 4 hours, it was a new record, only the most experienced players could achieve such a feat, however only one of the party members survived the final battle, it was almost a party wipe, but they won.

Not a single team failed the adventure, they qualified to the final tournament after all, the one hundred teams were the best of the best, but all the groups had many casualties, half the group dead, or only two survivors to tell the tale. The dangers were something no one ever saw before, so the fallen heroes paid the price to help their friends to reach victory. Only one team finished the adventure without having any party member dead, sadly for them that was not enough to win the tournament, the most important thing was to finish the adventure as fast as possible, and they finished last.

There were good prizes, not only for the first places, but for almost all parties, ranging from limited edition figures to replicas of legendary weapons, artifacts, items of all sorts which are the dream of a collector, were awarded to the heroes. They were called one by one to the stage to recieve their prizes, and take photos. Until it was the turn of the last team, the 100th party.

The group reluctantly walked to the stage when it was their turn, they felt completely desolated by the results. All their dreams and hopes were crushed when they noticed everyone else had already finished the adventure. Like students during an important test, who see all their classmates finishing and leaving the classroom, until it is empty, and the only thing in front is a half empty page with uncertain answers on it.

The previous teams were aclaimed with rounds of applause when on the stage, however as more and more teams were called, the enthusiasm of the multitude decreased. For the 100th team, there was no enthusiasm left. Why wasting praise on the last of all? if the tournament was a race against the clock, the 100th team definetly were the losers, it was truth that they managed to finish the adventure, but to end last, probably it would have been better for them to don't even bother finishing. They were seen as shameless beggars who were expecting a reward in exchange for dissapointing performance.

- Maybe we should just leave -\, said Faye timidly while looking at the dissaproval of the crowd. It had been a long day and the least they needed was to endure that.

- But... if we leave\, we won't even get our limited edition copy of the game...-\, answered Zafiro without a single trace of shame or fear on her face. - That's the main reason why we registered to the tournament -

- These bastards dare to look at us like if we owed them something\, maybe the other 99 groups could look down on us\, but not the crowd who didn't participate in the battle\, they didn't even qualify -. Said Mathew\, nearly losing his temper.

- Aye\, but dont let them ruin your day bro\, we did our best\, nobody can do more than the very best - Said Runkdar trying to comfort his friends.

- Aww\, i wanted to win so bad... that legendary broom of Enaya should have been mine -. Said Mila while glancing at the previous team\, one of them was awarded the broom -. She took her enormous hat off with an expression of sadness that would have made rocks cry if they could actually cry. A little black cat appeared on her head still half asleep. - Kuro? you were hidding inside my hat all this time? -

- You didn't notice because of the wig\, so he was with us the whole time? he must be hungry - Said Kunoichi while grabbing the kitten from her friends head.

- Why the long faces guys? we didn't come here tempted by the cash prizes or the expensive replicas\, i remember that back then we didn't even care much about the possibility of winning something expensive. All we wanted was a limited edition of the game\, to play it together and have fun like we always do\, in that regard\, we succeeded -. Said Ashram\, trying to look unmoved by the defeat at the eyes of his friends.

They all agreed. The prize was not important, only having fun playing together, and they did have fun, it was an adventure never seen before, that alone was a prize in itself. With determination in their eyes, the team continued walking and climbed to the stage, there was an awkward silence sorrounding the place. The presenter, a bald man stuffed inside a suit that ceased to be his size many years ago, welcomed them with a smile that looked as fake as his toupee.

- Well\, well\, well\, what do we have here?\, isn't this the most formidable party of all? -\, Said the man looking at the crowd\, expecting aproval to his words. - Of so many teams\, you are the only one without a single casualty during the battle\, what were you doing? hidding the whole time till the danger ended?-

The multitude laughed their asses off, breaking the silence that reigned minutes ago. The presenter made weird faces like some sort of evil jester to please the crowd at the expense of the group on stage. Mathew clenched his fist and would have jumped on him if Runkdar didn't put a hand on his arm. - It's not worth it buddy - Said Runkdar.

- No\, no\, seriously\, how is that even possible? Hell!\, even the champions had many dead\, yet you didn't. So\, did you just bore the judge to death till he just decided it was enough and allowed you to pass? Your team leader must not be the brightest bulb in the chandelier -. Continued the jester with it's derison\, and as he laughed with the crowd\, the toupee on his head moved slightly because of the sweat.

Faye had enough of the mocking and stepped up uncapable of holding back anymore.

- Who the hell are you to talk to us like that!? Said Faye to the impertinent clown.  - Don't you dare to keep talking down of my friends or our leader!. He alone is much more intelligent and capable than all of you together! - Continued Faye while pointing at the multitude and the laughter extinguished. - What's the point of finishing an adventure with all your friends dead!? Ashram didn't want that any of us to be watching while the others played\, so he was careful to guide us avoiding death. As i see it\, you are the losers\, stepping on your friends to win a prize.

- Oh my god\, this girl is out of her mind!!! - Answered the presenter in a grotesque burst of laughter. - This is just a game!!!\, who cares if someone dies? is not going to die for real\, is that your excuse to finish last? you are really a bad sport. - Continued the man visible altered. - So you are the leader? boy you are pathetic\, instead of guiding them to victory\, you go and guide them to finish last between one thousand people. Hahahaha I think you should reconsider things and start playing Tik Tak Toe or Ludo\, that would be more appropiate for your capabilities! Hahahahahaha.

Faye was about to slap him, but Ashram stopped her, - there is no need for that, he is right, it is my fault that we ended up last.

- You see!? He admits it himself! He is a loser!!! LO SER!!! Said the presenter trying to make the crowd laugh again\, but the effect was the opposite\, the waves of laughter died out. At the beginning it all looked like a joke\, but now it was not funny anymore\, they felt remorse and were ashamed of their previous behaviour.

- What's wrong? do you feel pity for them? it was just a joke. - Said the ill-mannered man with an hypocritical smile. He turned his back to the multitude and directed a menacing face to the party. - You better laugh and go down  of the stage quickly. But the moment he lowered his head to look at them closer\, the toupee on his head moved again\, sliding a bit. Kuro\, who had been watching without losing any detail\, took it's chance\, and swiftly pounced over that strange animal that was on that poor man's head.

- MEOWWW!!! - Said Kuro while attacking the weird furry animal on the top of the man's head\, the kitten struggled like if it was a life or death duel.

The presenter did all that was in his power to keep the toupee on its place, but despite his efforts to prevent it, his fake hair fell to the ground. Revealing the egg shaped dome that was his sweaty head. It shined majestically like a second sun, reflecting the lights of the stage as if it were some sort of magic orb. The crowd started laughing even louder than before, while watching the hairless man trying to grab the toupee from the kitten fangs, but Kuro retained his hard earned trophy and dodged the man nimbly, it's tenacity was comparable to that of a black panther holding it's prey.

- KURO!!! I told you a thousand times you must'nt grab garbage\, - Said Mila while taking the toupee off the kitten's fangs. Faye took it and threw it to the crowd\, before it's owner could recover it.

The laughter continued and drowned any other sounds or voices. - Let's get out of here immediatly. - Said Ashram while helping his friends to go down the stage. The security guards, who were waiting their opportunity to intervene, aproached them at full tilt. - Run guys, run, they are going to kick us out or arrest us. - The party was sorrounded, as the guards were getting closer from every direction, there was no escape. Or so they thought, but an old man with a long white beard and a uniform that made obvious he was the janitor, made a signal to them to run in his direction.

- This way\, hurry!!! - Said the smiling old man\, as he openned a door for them. The group of friends thanked him and dissapeared through the door\, which was closed after them.

- But the poor janitor\, they are going to blame him\, maybe fire him. - Said Mila with concern.

- It we go back\, we would waste the opportunity he gave us\, making his good action worthless\, we got to keep running -  Said Mathew.

The corridor they stepped in, seemed to be an emergency exit, it was dark, and as they kept moving through it became darker and darker, until the lights fadded entirely and it was impossible to see anything. They grabbed their bags and started looking for the cellphones to illuminate the path, but before they could do it, a door oppened and a dazzling light broke in covering them,  their eyes were painfully blinded by the burning light. The impact was so sudden that they even lost their footing and fell, but the fall, was not short, they fell for some time and their hearts bumped in their chests.

They hit the ground hard, but not as hard as they should have, considering how long they fell, the strange radiant light dissapeared, a few seconds later, they started recovering the sight after blinking many times. They were in the middle of a park, but there were no people or children playing, or dogs walking with their owners, in fact, you couldn't see any buildings around. Only trees all around, and a blue sky with some white clouds that looked like cotton.

- WHAT IS THIS PLACE!!!???

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