The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 453: Race - the start

The teams finished their list of three and handed it over to the judges. Each list was checked thoroughly.

Hex understood from Sterling that in past events, teams had included members they had recruited as the competition continued. For example, a captain at the Transformation Stage of a team that had been kicked out, joined one of the teams still participating.

They allowed it that time, as there hadn’t been any rules in place forbidding it. But with time, and due to extensive discussions, the rulebook had been expanded. Now it was forbidden.

Sterling pointed a tome on the judges table. The tome was thick. Hex estimated it to have around ten thousand pages.

"When this competition first was organized, the rulebook was a page. Half a page, actually. With four rules: no killing, captain has to be a direct descendant of the patriarch, team members should have an existing contract for at least fifty years to work under the captain, and to complete at least one contract with a region not within the client list.

And now?" Sterling sighed. "There are almost nine thousand rules, each with sub sections, provisions, exclusions, inclusions, warnings, scenario’s, and who knows what more."

Hex smiled wryly. With time, even the simplest things ended up being complicated. That was how the world worked. Interesting as it was, he paid it minimal attention. His eyes scanned the crowd in search of Althea. He hadn’t seen her. Not yet.

Clap. Clap.

The representative took the stage again and clapped his hand to draw attention. As soon as every eye landed on him, his smile broadened.

"Thank you all for your patience. All the names are checked. And we are ready to go. Elder Marvin, please. Let the list of names participating in this round blossom."

Elder Marvin, an elderly man with drooping shoulders, pulled another leaf from the root, until it stood high and wide, displaying the teams and the names.

Alliance of Cursed Ones 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Captain: Sterling Poundersire (not participating)

Team: Hex Darkenmane, Elron von Eickelwood, Gronke

Elron chuckled as his made-up name flashed on the leaf. The guy enjoyed the smirks and frowns from the crowd.

Heaven’s Army

Captain: Althea Thunderspear (participating)

Team: Fiona Lilyleid, James Swornsword

Eye of the Sky

Captain: Svetlana (not participating)

Team: Sven, Serenade, Starria

Tyrannical Trident

Captain: Krovia Trident (participating)

Team: Alluvia Trident, Conk Trident

Divine Servants

Captain: Ella Moneiwell (not participating)

Team: Hestia Emeraldes, Starshe Killblade, Hans Stellar

Wrixian Heroes

Captain: Vonhorst (participating)

Team: Vonbeak, Vonfang

Touch of Life

Captain: Sister Lily (participating)

Team: Sister Leafsong, Sister Verda

Shifting Sands

Captain: Shadow One (participating)

Team: Shadow Two, Shadow Five

"Oh, this fills me with such excitement," the representative squealed. "Every one of you is a powerhouse. The race even makes my heart thump."

His theatrics fell on deaf ears. None of the people present gave him any attention.

’Fake names’, Hex thought with a chuckle. Only a few people on the list put their real identities. Some used made-up names – Elron was still grinning like an idiot at his own immaturity – while others hid their true identities.

Hex had no reason to hide his. People already knew more than he would want them to. Even his persona as Mike seemed like a wasted effort. It wasn’t like people had seen through it. Not yet. But he wondered if it made sense to hide. Once the Crack fell, the enemies who would attack, wouldn’t care whether he was Mike or Hex.

Two judges took the main stage and placed a ten meter high hourglass.

"Thank you judges," the representative yelled. "With this, the time will start. In a minute. But before that I have one last remark."

Everyone turned toward him. Glad to be the center of attention again, the representative smiled.

"The reward of this round is ten million Wrixian coins for the number one team. With each rank lower than that, one million will be subtracted. The team ranked at the second place will thus receive nine million, the third one eight million, and so on.

BUT that’s not all.

On each branch, near each flag, there are treasures. They are yours IF you can find them and IF you can keep them till the end."

With that remark, the sand in the hourglass started to fall. At first there would be white sand. Once that finished falling, they could start. The countdown to the start had begun.

It was then Hex noticed Althea exit a small tent and join the rest. She didn’t look at him but he was certain she had noticed him. His senses picked up the tiniest of details.

"How about we start slow?" Hex asked the group once they were gathered at one spot. Everyone turned toward him. Some of the eyes held curiosity. Some frowned at him.

They had been whispering to each other and did not expect him to come with something now. Even his team members looked at him. Elron looked intrigued, Gronke bored.

"Look. There are thirteen branches. The first one stretches out the furthest, with each subsequent branch decreasing in size," Hex started. The first branch was a couple of thousand meters from one end to the other.

If they all lost time on the first branch, their chances to reach the top within time would diminish. Even Hex with all his advantages needed time to find the flags. They wouldn’t be in plain sight. And by the looks of it, they were just normal flags.

There was no energy radiating from them, no discernable smell, or anything else that gave them away.

Even Sven, who had looked the most wary of him, nodded when he realized what he was proposing.

Seeing everyone agreeing so far with him, Hex continued.

"So, what I propose is that we all pick a region and focus on that. From the second branch we can start to do as we please. Of course, if we all are willing to keep things friendly till the top then I am okay with that too. I won’t be the first to attack. That I promise."

After a bit of silence, they all nodded. Hex’s team ended up near the edge of the other side. He didn’t mind.

"Teams, ready....," the representative cried out. "...and START!"