Chapter Twenty

Everyone got the message and everyone marched their way around the shores of the lake towards the beacon signifying the sacred valley. There was no timer, but it didn't seem like the thing you wanted to show up last to. It was a reminder to map out the area extensively. This constructed area couldn't be that big. If only Hyacinth had kept his teleportation unsealed, but then his size would have provided a different problem. It was not lost on her that both of his skills let him eschew walking.

They moved along the shore and then up a hill. The land didn't quite fit right. Transitions were too sudden between the sand, rock, dirt, grass, and trees. How could this valley they were heading towards be sacred if all of this was designed and built in the last few months? Harmony moved her walking to align with Loap. With her studying the one clue they had every day nearly all day if anyone had any answers their linguist would. This time the bunny girl was clothed, having finally spent some of her contribution points to buy armor. It fit her perfectly. Tyler had pestered Harmony to craft some for her immediately hoping she'd buy it.

"This sacred valley a reference to anything?" Harmony asked her.

"Oh, is that how the message was constructed for you? Mine called the place Fa'thppt. Which more closely translates to your words earthen cradle of special souls. Reference? Ah, the obelisk. Nonsense of competitors' blood to cleanse the valley floor. Ridiculous, blood makes things dirty, not clean. Keeping connections sacred. That makes more sense. For mine, there was one line that referenced my translation of Fa'thppt, read cradle. Almost as incongruous as that blood-cleansing logical leap. I'm not convinced about any of the text's value so far."

Loap at least head the right attitude. Harmony wasn't sure she wouldn't obsess over such dramatic statements as using blood as a cleaning agent. Her new profession did think there were some things blood could cleanse, like shame, secrets, and witnesses. Though maybe that was an over-influence of necrotuned?

"If you do think of something let me know."

"Yes, Royal White," Loap answered.

The path wound them up a hill toward their illuminated spot which wasn't the valley, but instead a plateau at the edge of the sacred valley. Two other plateaus completed the stage. A giant bird, about half the size of Nae's Garden's chicken, sat on one, a bond waiting for their master. On the other plateau, a man wearing golden furs over the remains of a blue tunic was catching his breath at the top, taking the summons as a race. The competition was arriving.

As for the location, Harmony gazed down at the sacred valley. Others joined in to stare, and Adric arched an eyebrow. Loap's ears twitched. Owlsley sniffed.

Gareth stuck his head over the edge. The bookie was the first to comment. "What a rucking trash heap,"

The sacred valley was filled with everything from ugly thorn bushes, rubble, and a gross-looking pond with wispy green vapors. There were patches of buildings in shambles, piles of garbage, and a small forest that looked to be toppled and rotting. Clouds of insects buzzed about, and movement from skulking packs of varying animals or monsters could be seen popping out before hiding again. All of which was jumbled in with no organization. It looked smaller than it was because of the amount of clutter across the area. Their numbers man, Gareth was accurate to the point of bluntness.

They would need to wade into that mess if Harmony's hunch was correct. "Everyone, figure out the quickest way for you down." She let authority touch her words. There, she led. Word spread.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The other tribes arrived. The group with the bird was green with the remains of their starting clothing tied to them. Red, green, and blue, they'd been sorted and color-coded. Cute. Not that they didn't have the same quality issues. One had been forced to use the golden furs, and the other group wore purplish snake or lizard skins. Farm monsters around each camp. Harmony really wanted a map now. If they could make it to the other camps that would mean access to more materials and shared information.

A necromancer-led group in all-black clothes and armor wasn't the image she necessarily wanted to project during the games. Being able to switch out into furs or skins would soften that image.

Where were Max, Rose, and Len? [Intruder Sense] wasn't some version of telescopic vision. She'd have to meet them down there. In the trashy, dirty, brambly ruin of a scared valley. Loap's cradle.

The competitors were all here waiting and they had to be as impatient as she was. Crafting armor for everyone was boring and only resulted in what felt like incremental gains to her skills. The small insights about blood, and small tricks to shape the dead materials without [Beautician] were a chore to gain. "What's next!" Harmony yelled, letting her voice echo over the valley.

After no response and some moments of general rumbling, Hyacinth popped his head up. "Gweep!" He cried expressing his frustration and boredom. A mighty cry for his currently tiny body.

"We're ready!" Adric Cried, joining in.

The floodgates of frustration opened with howls and yells. They were here to compete and let their cacophony spill over the valley. It was very satisfying but still didn't result in progress. Everyone should be here.

The bird grabbed a person on the far plateau, not viciously, but to lower them down. Could it be that simple? "Into the valley now!" Harmony ordered.

With Hyacinth's ability to slip into the shadows sealed, the bad habit of sharing his laziness to jump to where he wanted to go was off-limits. So, Harmony availed herself to try other resources. Committing, Harmony stepped off the edge of the plateau for the sheer drop into the valley below.

Chronostais kicked in. Sealed as it was, it only slightly sped up her perception. Choosing not to use something because it wasn't as good would be stupid. A cleaning rag was better new than half worn out, but you still used the tools you had when you had a job to do.

Stamina was amazing stuff, and Adric with his [Stamina Engine] had a lot to teach. The prince had the best teachers in everything, and while he didn't listen to many of them, the evolved expert, a blade dancer, who taught him how to run up or down vertical surfaces was one of the few he did.

Stamina provided metaphysical weight and mass, and Harmony's small size was actually advantageous in this situation as it added a flat growing amount rather than a percentage of what she had. Using that to boost skills was the primary function of the way it extended just outside of the body. So rather than have all her force falling downward a portion of it pushed her towards the sheer cliff, allowing her to rotate and place her steel-covered feet against it.

It still required skills like [High Kick], [Style and Grace], and [Poise and Bearing] to move down the cliff's face. It also only looked like you were running as the main goal was to slow and control your descent. There were other ways to get down, definitely, but this seemed like fun.

Beside her Adric let out a hoot of joy. He was her backup in case she failed.

Halfway down confirmation came.

Dara Westwood of the Green Tribe is the first to enter the Sacred Valley. She has earned her tribe ten bonus points and has started the first challenge. Hidden in the Sacred Valley are coins of gold, silver, and copper. Worth ten, five, and one point. The team with the highest point total gets a prize and the team with the lowest must vote off two members of their team.

The girl with the giant bird made it down first. Ten points that's the value of a gold coin. How many are there? How valuable is that benefit? Harmony touched down with a thud allowing her skills and armor to take the brunt of the impact. After days of waiting, at least with this treasure hunt, it felt like the Ascendant Games had finally begun.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.