the hunger games (part 15): tournament of champions(3)

"Let go of me!" Lumia screamed demanding to be freed, as she was dragged across the castle floors by the guards. She wanted to break free and insert her anger on them, but unfortunately she was restrained by the power cuffs.

"Ha.. some kind of princess she is." One scoffed, dragging her across the many rooms. It didn't take long before they reached the throne room, opening it king troy could be seen in front.

"Your highness, we've successfully retrieved the princess." The three male guards bowed, crouching down to their knees.

"Oh.." Troy softly said, slightly gazing at them with a lazy expression. "You can leave now." He gestured to which the guards bowed, in return exiting the room.

"I thought you'd be happy I had a change of heart and spared your life." Troy softly spoke, staring at his daughter who had a frown on her face.

"I'd rather die with them than live with you!" Lumia scoffed, spitting to the floor causing Troy to raise a brow.

"So this is how you treat me after all I've done for you. How ungrateful.." Troy's aura burst out, causing Lumia down to the floor unable to breathe properly by this overwhelming force.

'Pho-ugh I-i can't breathe..' Lumia couldn't get a word out, as the life was being sucked out from her. Standing up, Troy slowly gazed at Lumia with an emotionless face. Sighing, he slowly descended down the red and gold stairs. he was wearing a black and gold top with black pants, a red and blue cap swaying softly in the wind as he approached.

"Your attitude is getting worse daughter.. I don't know what they did to you, but I promise I'll save you." Troy softly spoke, crouching down a bit to the struggling Lumia unable to move struggling for her life.

Releasing his aura Troy could hear Lumia gasp and cough, panting in deep and huge amounts of air.

"Y-you can't just leave them there.. you know they'll die." Lumia stuttered still catching her breath. She was still bothered about Kyle and falcon still in the forgotten desert, and worse they were running out of mana.

"You still don't get it.." Troy chuckled softly, shaking his head a bit. "They're just peasants, they're meant to do whatever we say. It should be a great honour to them if they die." Troy frowned, a little disgusted hearing those words from his daughter.

"H-how could you be this cruel. Ever since that day, ever since Mom died you've never been yourself." Lumia said, a hint of sadness and regret in her tone staring at her father. Bending his head a bit, lumia's words seemed to have gotten to Troy as he clenched his fist tightly.

"You're right, I've never been the same. But as with all things, everything doesn't remain the same forever." Troy uttered, a sadistic grin planted on his face gazing at Lumia. The latter could feel the chills coming off her father, which made her heart skip a bit as she wasn't looking at the father she once knew. no! she was looking at a stranger.

"I can't let you keep getting involved in peasants matter anymore, so you'll be permanently restricted from leaving this room."

"N-no you can't do that."

"But I already have daughter." Troy softly spoke, and his body started disappearing turning into spoke fading in the air.

"All this is for you good daughter, the kingdom needs a new ruler. Once you learn to make tough decisions like me then you'll be ready." Lumia heard Troy's voice echoed in the room, going lower until it faded into the wind.

"Shit! I can't escape." Lumia cursed as she was flung back, by touching the throne room door. She'd tried leaving the room but it backfired on her, as a mana barrier had been cast on the room.

"I can't stay her but still.. am too weak to do anything against him." Raising her left arm, a burn mark could be seen at her forearm. She then activated her ability, as faint purple light glowed into her wound healing it.

"Kyle, falcon, I hope you're all right." Lumia softly muttered falling to her knees, as tears strolled down her eyes.

...

"Your highness you should be resting.." ona said, bowing slightly seeing king troy approaching in front. She knew they'd retrieved Lumia from the forgotten desert, leaving Kyle and falcon. She'd asked to be a part of the operation but she knew troy suspected her, and wouldn't be stupid enough to give her such task.

"Now why would I miss the end of the biggest hunger games off all time." He smiled, slowly walking past her to the arena. "Afterall this is the tournament of champions finale."

"Hell yeah, this is fucking awesome!"

"Yeah.. I've never witnessed so much blood being spilt these past days."

"Who cares! this is what we paid for. Am just bummed out shadow slayer hasn't been present during these last two fights."

"Now that you mentioned it yeah.. where the hell is he?"

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Everyone's attention were pulled by king troy, as he was now down in the arena. "This has been a spectacular ride not just for me but for all of us, as we honour our ancestors traditions and relive a part of what they witnessed." A soft clap resounded a bit in the arena as Troy said those words.

"I know many lives have been lost and many more will be, but as the saying goes no pain no gain right?"

"Yeah!"

"This is to die for!"

"This 54th annual hunger games have exceeded all the others without a doubt. From the beginning to this moment. I understand we all have high expectations during these last moments, and I promise not to fail in giving you all a show to never forget."

"Yeah! Bring on the carnage."

"I can feel my heart thumping faster than ever."

"We love you king troy." Multiple screams and cheers erupted from the countless crowds, all staring at king troy.

"I love you all too.. without further delay, I'll like to announce the beginning of the tournament of champions!" He shouted receiving massive cheers and shouts to which he just waved, exiting the arena going up the stadium to his reserved spot.

With the order, the commencement of the tournament of champions had begun. Unlike before the maze didn't spring up this time, instead a small podium made of earth did. About four individuals could be seen standing there, three male and one female with a bow and arrow.

'Where are they?' Aurora wondered seeing no signs of Kyle or falcon. She didn't know if they were dead, but she had a gut feeling they weren't.

'He can't die...'

'Roar!!!'

Their attention was drawn by a loud roar afar, looking they could see a beast slowly approaching. Looking at the beast it was a panther, with four snake like dark green vines by it's side. It's tail was replaced with that of a scorpion's, except it was two. It's skin was deep brown hardened to the max, while it's blood red eyes glowed slightly.

Seeing the beast the crowd erupted in the loudest shout and cheers ever, as they loved the scene.

'Hmm.. let's see how they handle my pet.' Troy scoffed, looking at the screen with a quirky grin of satisfaction and proudness in his eyes.

"I-is that what I think it is?" A scruny male with a plasma handgun shakily pointed at the menacing beast.

"Yeah, it's the last boss of this cult game." Another angrily spoke gripping his silver sword tightly.

"So we just have to kill this bastard and we'll be free right?" The last male with brown curly hair chuckled holding two blue axe.

"We're not getting out alive.." their voices were suddenly pulled by aurora, who had her down a bit.

"W-what do you mean?"

"There's a reason why this is called the tournaments of champions for a reason. Think about it, the best of the best against the best of theirs. It may look simple but I promise it's not, and the king is overconfident we won't survive this king tier beast."

"What?" The three men all exclaimed, stepping back a bit hearing those words from aurora. Their pupils looked to have sunken deeply, as fear clouded their entire body.

"I'd suggest you deal whatever anger you have on it before you die. At least you'll get some comfort." She smiled awkwardly, immediately placing one of her red arrows to the bow firing it at the panther beast.

'Swoosh.. bang!' The arrow flew fast, meeting it's target colliding with the beast and exploding upon impact. The smoke immediately settled, and there wasn't even a single scratch on the terrifying creature.

'Roar!!'

"Haha, I annoyed it. Guess we're gonna die now. Oh well.. I'll hit you as hard as I can." Aurora chuckled, her body surrounded by fire as she added her fire ability to her arrows and even her bow.

'Bang! bang! bang!' The attacks hit the beast but no damage at all was done, to the menacing creature running forward. It had just took its first step, but it had covered an insane amount of meters as it closed the gap between the group.

"No.." was the last thing the peasant with the axe said, before his head was severed from his body rolling to the ground.

"J-james.." they hadn't even seen the creature move, let alone keep up with it. The first moment it'd stepped forward, than the next their friend was dead.

"You fucking cat I'll kill you! "

'Swoosh! swoosh.' The heads of the other two men were swiftly cut off, as the panther like beast devored them.

"I-i didn't even see it move." Aurora stuttered a bit, staring at the creature. She hadn't seen it move not once, only swoosh sounds followed by the decapitated heads of it's preys.

Finishing it's treat the beast then raised it's head, staring at aurora with it's red blood red eyes.