The next game was set up in a large clearing that was found not far from camp. It was a perfect spot for long-distance target practice. Natasha explained the rules to everyone. Austin would create constructs of varying strengths. These constructs would have spikes on the side from one to three. One being the least durable and three being the most. Then the constructs would be summoned at three different lengths. Each length would provide a multiplier from one to three, depending on the distance. Finally, each participant had a minute to get as many points as possible. Austin was very excited for this game because he would be an active participant in it. No more sitting around while he waited for people.
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The order of the participants was the placing of the people in the race. This meant that Gavin would go first and then Maya. Austin sat on the side of the middle of the field while Gavin stood in the center of one side of the field. Natasha stood next to Austin as the announcer and to keep track of the time. While Beth sat next to Austin to count points.
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“Are you ready?” Natasha projected her voice out to the field.
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Gavin rubbed his arms nervously as he started to get into position. Austin was shocked to see that Gavin was nervous. Gavin entered a sort of battle stance with one hand forward and the other held back. He looked over at Natasha and gave a nod in confirmation to her.
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“Begin!” Natasha threw her arm down to start the game.
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The moment Natasha said begin, Austin channeled his Essence to the field. Silver crystalline stands sprouted out of the ground at various points. Each stand was topped with a circle target with a crown of spikes from one to three.
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Gavin immediately targeted the furthest target with three spikes. His Essence formed in his back hand as a silver ball shape. Like a pitcher, he threw the ball forward at the target. It raced through the air, but it started to become smaller as it went further. By the time it hit the target, it was half its size. The blast scattered into sparks as it hit the target harmlessly.
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Gavin’s face twisted into a scowl at the results of his attack but he tried not to be deterred. He continued throwing blasts of Essence but went for closer and weaker targets. While he was able to destroy the one-spiked targets with ease, he only destroyed the two-spiked targets around half the time. He was completely unable to destroy the three-spiked targets.
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“Time’s up!” Natasha declared with another downward gesture of her hand. She then quickly leaned down to Beth, where Beth whispered the results in Natasha’s ear. “Forty-two points! Good work, Gavin! Now will the next contestant come up?!”
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Gavin and Maya passed each other as she stepped up for her turn. As they passed, it was obvious they had clear opposite statures. Gavin’s shoulders slumped as he walked away. An obvious sign that he felt that he did not do well. Meanwhile, Maya walked with a confident and eager stride. Her back was straight, and she walked in long steps.
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“Tag out,” Mike tapped Austin’s back as Austin watched Gavin and Maya.
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Austin nodded and stood up, allowing Mike to sit in his place. Mike now had a clear view of the field to create constructs for the game. As Mike sat down, Austin leaned against a nearby tree and watched the field expectantly.
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Natasha started the match, and Maya quickly sprang into action. One after another, she created golden flames of Essence in her palms and threw them forward. While Gavin threw his Essence like a pitcher, Maya danced back and forth and released her Essence naturally. The one and two-spiked targets were decimated by her display. She could destroy most of the close three-spiked targets, but was unsuccessful at destroying the ones that were further away.
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“Good job, Maya! That was one hundred and fifteen points,” Natasha declared as she finished the game.
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As Austin returned to his position, he watched Maya skip off the field. In excitement, she grabbed Elliot and spun him around before she sat down. Austin was happy to see that Maya did well. He just hoped it was good enough to win. Since she was the second contestant, there were still many more to go.
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Austin created constructs for the contestants without paying much more attention. He was mostly interested in seeing how Maya would do. Because she was finished, Austin paid less attention to the individual results. Around halfway through the contestants, Austin started to feel the effects of his use of Essence. While it did start to tire him, he could not help but feel eager to create constructs. As he gained a rhythm, he felt like he was getting training through his creation of constructs.
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Austin’s attention grew as it came to be Josh’s turn. If Maya exhibited an excited confidence, then Josh exhibited a stoic confidence. As he walked to start, his eyes were focused on the targets before he even made it to the starting line. It was as if his mind was completely focused and cared only for winning the game. Nothing else even existed to Josh. He had something to prove and he was going to prove it.
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The moment Natasha began Josh’s game, he sprang into action almost as fast as Austin. Unlike Maya and Gavin, who made motions with their shots of Essence, Josh stood still and lifted his hand forward. White flame shot forth from his hand in a scatter shot, hitting multiple targets at once and decimating them. In quick response, Austin caused more crystalline targets to erupt from the ground.
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Josh’s blasts of Essence kept coming without slowing. Austin was forced to create constructs faster and faster as Josh destroyed the targets. The game turned into a battle of Josh’s blasts and Austin’s constructs. Austin was put on the defensive as he was forced to create constructs to keep up with Josh. Despite the conflict, Josh seemed completely unfazed. Meanwhile, Austin’s breath started to labor. The toll of creating constructs for every game and the increased speed of creating constructs for Josh wore Austin down. He felt that if it went much longer, he would pass out.
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“That’s time!” Natasha yelled out. “Very good, Josh. Three hundred and fifty-two points!”
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Austin let out a sigh of relief as Natasha called time. He could not believe how much he was pushed by Josh’s display. Austin figured he could handle the target game for the entire time, but he never expected that someone could be so skilled. He especially did not expect to see how much Josh had grown in his skills.
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“Go ahead and rest,” Mike said as he placed a hand on Austin’s shoulder. “Jess and I can finish the rest of the contestants.”
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“Are you sure?” Austin said in between deep breaths.
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“Definitely, I can tell how much that exhausted you. Go sit with your family until the end,” Mike smiled in reassurance.
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“Thank you,” Austin said as he stood up. He struggled for a moment as his legs felt incredibly heavy.
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As the next contestant walked to the starting line, Austin walked towards Maya and Elliot. He stumbled a few times as he struggled to lift his legs to walk. He was not sure the last time he felt so exhausted. Not even long days in the office had taken this much out of him.
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Austin noticed Josh taking a seat by himself in the corner of the crowd. He glanced over to look at Josh, and Josh responded with a look of his own. As Josh looked at Austin, his serious expression broke into a smug and confident smile. It was as if the smile spoke to Austin. Josh felt as though he defeated Austin in their mock battle, and Austin honestly felt the same. Josh had proven himself against Austin.
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As Austin reached Maya, Elliot was sitting in her lap. He slumped down next to Maya and took a deep breath. Exhaustion hit him in a huge wave, and he just wanted to rest. Maya started to rub Austin’s back in comfort. Even Elliot recognized Austin’s exhaustion and sat quietly in Maya’s lap. Usually, he would ask Austin to play, but he knew that Austin needed some rest.
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Austin felt his body fall into deep relaxation as Maya rubbed his back. The relaxation made Austin fall against Maya. Once he fell, Maya wrapped an arm around him. Before Austin knew it, he had fallen asleep.
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***
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Austin napped hard, but it did not last for long. Maya started to shake him vigorously as the last contestant finished. As he struggled to wake up, he wiped drool off his face. Then he looked at Maya with a confused expression, like he did not recall where he was.
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“The game is over,” Maya said urgently. “You need to get up there for the announcement of the winner.”
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“The game?” Austin still felt confused.
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“Remember? The contest for winning one of the weapons?” Maya said.
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“Oh! You’re right!” Austin exclaimed. “I must have slept so hard that I forgot.”
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“Yeah, you did. Now go up there!” Maya insisted.
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Austin nodded and stood up. He lightly jogged to the center of the field, where Natasha and the rest of the group stood. While he definitely was not back to one-hundred percent, he felt much better than before he passed out on Maya.
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Once he arrived at the group, Austin took his spot next to Mike. Mike gripped Austin’s shoulder tight in reassurance. Luckily, it seemed like no one blamed him for his state. Something that he was definitely thankful for.
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“Another contest complete with exceptional performers all around,” Natasha started her announcement. “Enhancing one’s body is the first skill someone learns from Essence. It almost comes naturally. The ability to form Essence into a projectile is more specialized and takes a great deal more skill. No matter your ranking, I want you all to know that you performed admirably.
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“With that said, there can only be one winner. This winner performed exceptionally and completely above expectations. Josh, please join us,” Natasha extended her hand forward towards Josh.
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Josh walked forward confidently to the weapons. After his display, it was obvious that he would be the winner. His demeanor showed that he knew that as well. He moved in a way that it was obvious that he won. Once he arrived at the weapons, he barely gave any in the group a glance. Instead, he quickly pulled the blue silver scimitar out of the ground and rested the backside of the blade against his shoulder.
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“Thanks,” Josh said flatly as he turned around.
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“I thank everyone for their hard work in preparing for this contest. I will admit this contest is not only to reward you with a weapon but push you to your limits so you can grow. With that in mind, don’t take a loss as a failure. Instead, just think of all the hard work and growth you have gone through over the last few days,” Natasha moved back to her announcement. “Gavin and Rick, I’m sorry to say that you were our worst performers on this challenge. You will be eliminated.”
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Austin glanced over at the crowd to see the two who lost. Rick was a scout with one band around his arm. Austin was not sure if he was a teenager or just recently entered adulthood. He had a baby face with no facial hair, and his long brown hair just accentuated it. As it was announced that he was one of the losers, Rick let out a deep sigh.
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Gavin did not take his loss as well as Rick. He let out a loud curse and stomped one of his feet at the reveal of the results. He was definitely incredibly frustrated. Austin could not help but feel bad. Especially after Gavin’s exceptional performance in the first round.
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“With that, the remaining contestants should prepare themselves for our next contest,” Natasha finished.
