Naomi stepped out of the forest to find the beach she had been told to find. While they traveled through the forest clouds had begun to gather in the sky. Turning what should have been the happy sight of a beach. A much more dull and depressing image. "Girls! I found the beach. Let's get this stuff into position." Walking onto the beach she made way for her friends to come out. Because they have the highest strength Amaya and Sadie were picked to carry the boat through the forest.
The two girls grunted as they carried the boat to its resting place. They set the boat down in the sand and rubbed their back from the pain.
"Grab that knight. We need to ditch the body and get back to the hotel." Naomi said, walking over to the boat. Lifting the armored man by the shoulders. Sadie quickly came over to grab his legs. The two carried him over to where the sand meets the water. Swinging their arms away from the sea before preparing to toss him in. They repeated this motion three times before letting go and flinging the body into the water.
While the two caught their breath Darla and Tess unpacked some of the supplies left on the boat. Spreading out the various boxes, barrels, and one suitcase. Moving them so there was room for Lance to sit and sail. Setting the two oars on either side of the cabin. "Okay~ Boat's all set!" Tess gave a little hop off the boat.
Naomi gave a long stretch to pop her back. Hands on her hips stretching her back into an arch. "Good. Let's get going. We need to get back to the hotel before the games end. I heard the starting horn a little bit ago. Sadie, we're gonna lag behind and destroy our tracks. We need to make sure no one can trace us back to the boat."
Amaya, Darla, and Tess all made their way up the beach. They had to follow the shore until they came to a river. And then follow the river back to town. Naomi and Sadie followed behind the group to get rid of the footprints as they were made.
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After the starting horn was blown Lance and the rest of the celestial dragons were led by Leopold to the arena built for this event. The arena was built from polished wood imported from Mary Geoise. The arena was a colosseum. One wall held a scoreboard with nineteen slots for individuals. Hanging in front of red curtains. In between the stands and the curtains was a circular stage made of tan wood. Leopard moved to the stairs that led up to the stage.
"If the nineteen young Dragons who were chosen could follow me up to the stage. We can begin with the games."
Lance stretched before stepping in front of his family. "Welp! Looks like I get to go and handle this business!" He walked forward and waved at Tyrus and Abigail. "Wish me luck out there, Abigail!" Lance put on an extra coating of sugar to try and hide his true feelings of the event.
As the nineteen loaded onto the stage the rest of the nobles climbed the stairs to sit in the stage.
Lance moved with the crowd as he went to the center of the stage. Now in the perfect spot he looked around and saw who was picked for each of the other families. Lance recognized almost everyone here. Everyone who was selected was the same age as Lance. He went to school with these people. He had even bullied a good number of these kids.
There was exactly one person he didn't recognize. There was a girl with short green hair and two eyes of different colors. She wore a mask over her mouth and wore a black dress that went halfway down her thighs.
He wasn't the only one who gave her odd looks. But he seemed to be the only one keeping his focus locked on her. A quick glance around let him identify all the other families. Shepard, Eneverdean, Donquixote, Manmayer. Everytime he went through the families he couldn't find her familiar to any one of them. But there was only one family she could belong to-
Lance's thought was interrupted by trumpets blaring from the top of the seating. Each of the nineteen turned and looked up where the instruments were playing. At the top center of the bleachers. One of the five elder stars was sitting in a special box designed just for him. Lance hadn't ever seen any of the five elder stars outside of occasionally at fancy events. It was his understanding that it was rare for any of the Gorosei to attend celebrations on the surface like this.
The Elder Star sat with his hands over the tip of his cane. He raised his cane and banged it against the ground to signal the trumpets to stop. "My fellow Celestial Dragons. It is my pleasure to announce this year's Native Hunting competition. I, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, am honored to be the conductor of this Native Hunting Competition. And bringing four of our fine contestants into the fold of God's Knights. Our fine competitor's today weren't born for the last competition. So I will give a quick explanation before we proceed."
When Saturn finished his sentence the large scoreboard filled with ink. It rushed down from the top and wrote letters in the long sections. Spelling the names of all 19 contestants. And putting large zeroes on the far right end. Allowing several digits worth of space between the number and the end of the name.
Scanning the large sign Lance found the name of the girl he couldn't place. Gunko Jaygarcia. How the hell did he hide her for all these years?
"Located east of us is a small village attempting to repopulate this fine island of Oykot. They have refused to pay the heavenly tribute. And as such have allowed themselves to become the target of our fine game. There are 10,000 residents in total. Your goal will be to slay more of these "Rabbits" than any of your competitors. On the roof of the stage is our special proctor. Who will be observing you and telling the person who will be transcribing your score onto the board. The four with the highest score will be put in God's Knights as squires. And the three highest will be awarded special devil fruits. You all follow a proud tradition. I expect all of you to try your hardest."
Lance gave a small yawn from his position on the stage. While his eyes were closed the quest sound played. Opening his eyes he saw a proper quest prompt in his vision.
[Quest Received: Native Hunting Competition CCXLV. You have been selected to represent the Duval family in the 256th Native Hunting competition. Achieving success means a guaranteed spot in the God's Knights. Failure ensures your family's honor is tarnished in the halls of Mary Geoise.
Success Condition: Place Fourth or better in the Native Hunting Game.
Reward: A spot as a Squire in God's Knights. 5000 exp
Failure: Place Fifth or below in the Native Hunting Game.
Optional: Place Third or better to be rewarded with a devil fruit.
You do not have the ability to refuse this quest.]
Damn! Five thousand Experience? That was enough to take someone from level one to halfway to level four. It almost made him want to try and win…almost.
"Now then. Enough with the formalities. On my mark!" All nineteen of the dragons face the direction of the town. Readying themselves to sprint towards their quarry. Some taking running positions. And others, including Lance, just standing waiting for their que to start running. "Get ready… … … goooo!" He slammed his cane into the floor of his box again.
With the signal all of the young men and women ran. Ready to find their glory in the small shanty town.