Chapter 8/ Episode 7: Paths

A flashback occurs 7 years ago as little Cloud was running in the fields while holding his ears in pain due to the screams of pain and sorrow he was hearing in his head.

"Stop!" Cloud said as he fell on his knees while still holding his ears in pain, "Stop! Make it stop!"

Cloud lifts his head and stares with fear as the sky suddenly turns black and the face of a wolf-like beast appears in the sky, grinning evilly at him

Back at Xondu forest, Cloud awakens and finds the yellow cloth in his hand, which left him surprised.

"What happened?" Cloud asked within himself as he noticed a lot of unconscious students on the ground, "I'm with the yellow flag cloth.... Did i win? Damn, my head... I feel like i got a hangover."

As Cloud rubbing his head in pain, he noticed the sun setting which made him stare at with a scared wtf face.

"Oh crap! I've got to hurry!" Cloud said as he quickly stood up and started running.

Back at the academy, Zera was sipping from her cup while smiling at the sun setting.

"The sun is setting and Cloud hasn't arrived." Zera said within herself, "Looks like that white head won't be able to-"

"Hey, Zera!" A voice cuts in on Zera.

Zera spills out her drink in disbelief and turns to see Cloud, standing beside her.

"You've Got To Be Kidding Me!" Zera said, "How did you get here?!"

"Xondu forest is the forest i'm very much comfortable with." Cloud said, "I know it like it is the back of my hand. Now, are you going to take the yellow cloth from me or wait for evening to fully reach?"

"Fine!" Zera said as she snatched the cloth from Cloud grudgingly and walks away.

Cloud facepalms himself out of exhaustion and sighs.

"Man, what a day."

The students, being surprised by what they just witnessed, began to murmur among themselves.

"Impossible!" A male student said, "He managed to pull through despite all of this madness."

"The whitehead keeps getting more and more impressive." A female student said.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Another male student said while folding his arms.

"For a minor to get this far despite everything that has happened to him... He has really gotten my respect." Another male student said.

During this incident, a pony tail female student pushes out of the line and slides on her knees.

"Cloud of the Stormwind!!!" The female student said excitedly while closing her eyes and raising her fist.

"CLOUD OF THE STORMWIND!

"CLOUD OF THE STORMWIND!

"CLOUD OF THE STORMWIND!

"CLOUD OF THE STORMWIND!!!" The students chanted while pumping their fists in the air.

Cloud, initially surprised by their actions, smiles at them and raised his fist in the air, causing the students respond with a wild cheer.

Sting and Killer bee, who happened to be in the midst of the students, smiled at Cloud, during the students cheer. Karma, on the other hand, stared at Cloud, stoically from afar while Van coldly glares at him.

At the infirmary, Leorona and Ernia, along with multiple adults were emitting lights with their palms, over the unconscious students bodies. Ernia, however, noted Leorona's grumpy face while emitting a light over a male student.

"That damned Zera...!" Leorona said, "That crazy, redhead bastard! Who does she think she is, to tell those students to run wild like that?!"

"Calm down, Leorona." Ernia said, "I can understand why you are angry but maybe you should-"

"You want me to calm down?!" Leorona angrily cuts on Ernia, "Are you paying attention to the number of students, we and the other healers must revive?! You want me to calm down when we have a madwoman, who told every student not to hold back at all, just so she can have a thrill of watching as they rip themselves apart <which i know she mostly said that just to make sure that Cloud doesn't make it> But what in 2 hells is wrong with her?!

You want me to calm down?! THIS IS HOW WARRIORS DIE, ERNIA!"

At the dinning room, Cloud walks towards Killer bee while she was eating and sits beside her.

"Can i help you?" Killer bee asked while smiling.

"You won the fight, didn't you?" Cloud asked, "Why did you give me the cloth?"

"Why did you take it?" Killer bee asked, "Opportunities comes once in a lifetime and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to finally prove yourself.

Plus, you were completely amazing in our fight and I'd like to see more of you in the tournament."

"Ok... Thanks?..." Cloud said in confusion with a raised eyebrow, "Don't know what you mean by me being amazing, but once again, thanks for the cloth."

"You're welcome." Killer bee replied while smiling with her eyes closed, "See ya in the tournament, Cloud."

The door suddenly opens as Zera walks into the dinning room and all the students turned to look at her.

"Listen up, all of you!" Zera said, "If you can remember, i announced that only those that have submitted a flag cloth, will have the chance of competing in the tournament!"

"Now, here they are!" Zera said as she proceeds to call out the name on the list.

"Karma of the Dreygar tribe! Dam of the Kenar tribe! Jagami of the Graundar tribe! Sting of the Ripar tribe! Meeno of the Kenar tribe! Onak of the Graundar tribe! Van of the Tenplar tribe! Govo of the Ripar tribe! Pit of the Ripar tribe! Dunen of the Graundar tribe! Gorn of the Tenplar tribe! Xorian of the Kenar tribe! Killer bee of the Tenplar tribe! And Cloud of the Stormwind tribe!"

Cloud being surprised, concerning the list, turned to look at Killer bee.

"So, you managed to get your name on the list?" Cloud asked.

"Yep!" Killer bee replied while smiling with her eyes closed, "Used my gates to take a green cloth from Rish of the Kenar tribe, right before he could deliver it to Zera.

You should have seen the look on his face, It has hilarious!"

"I see..." Cloud said as he spots Xorian from afar, sitting on a table and smiling.

"So, he was able to make it despite what happened." Cloud said within himself, "With the list of people that have made it; This tournament is going to go over the roof.

Everyone is going to give everything they've got, in order to become a pilgrim, so I've got think of how to survive this and not slack off; Otherwise, I'll just get myself killed."

"Oh, there is one more thing i have to say, concerning the tournament and the rumble." Zera said, "As you know, we told you that you haven't gotten a pass until you've submitted a flag cloth to us. However, there was a special cloth, we chose not to inform you about, because we knew how you'd all chase after it and that cloth happens to be the yellow cloth."

Cloud, Killer bee and other students instantly became surprised due to Zera's revelation and began to murmur among themselves.

"The yellow cloth..."

"Isn't that the cloth, Cloud gave Zera?"

"This is interesting."

"The yellow cloth..." Killer bee said within herself, "But isn't that the cloth i gave Cloud?"

"Special cloth..." Cloud said within himself, "But what's so special about it?"

"The truth about the yellow cloth is that anyone who brings it to us, will have a direct access to the semifinals ... " Zera said.

"What?!" Cloud and Killer said in shock.

"No way!" A female said in shock, "So you mean that the whitehead will not fight until the semifinals?"

"I should have knocked him down, right before he gave the flag to Zera!" Another female said while angrily closing her eyes and clenching her fist."

"Same here." A male said.

"Interesting..." Xorian said while grinning.

"Wow, they all look hungry..." Cloud said within himself while nervously looking around..

"Congratulations, Cloud!" Zera said with a huge smile, "Enjoy your time in the tournament..."

"While you still can..." Zera said with a dark smile.

The dark smile on Zera's face, made Cloud and Killer bee to shiver a bit.

As soon as Zera left the dinning room, Cloud noticed Killer bee staring at the ground with the look of disbelief while trembling and sweating.

"Bee...? Are you alright?" Cloud asked with the look of concern.

"You... You're joking, right?" Killer bee asked while staring at the ground," You mean i let this opportunity pass me by...?

It's ok... Its ok... Just calm down, Bee... Just calm down... Just ca-"

Killer bee suddenly passes out, leaving Cloud and the other students horrified.

"Bee?! BEEEE!!!!" Cloud shouted while holding her unconscious body.

Meanwhile as Zotek and Schroeder were walking outside the academy, Zotek suddenly stops and looks up in the air, causing Schroeder to halt with him and look at Zotek with concern.

"What is it, Zotek?" Schroeder asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Something is here." Zotek said as he turned towards Schroeder, "This unusual presence, i have been feeling it since last month and whatever it is .... it's definitely not human."

From afar, the cloaked man was sitting on a cliff while observing the academy and suddenly grinned.

"That man, Zotek, is an extraordinary person." The cloaked man said, "It takes immense power to even feel a bit of my presence.

However, it doesn't matter. The young ruler's awakening is at hand and what better way to show it than the tournament itself."

The cloaked man's eyes began to glow and emit a blue streak of light as he levitated in the air and spread his arms apart.

"Prepare yourself, all ye mortals..." The cloaked man said, "Beware and tremble with fear ..."

"For all life shall perish at his feet!" The man said in a dark, deepened voice.