> Maze and Hide (Hosts): Welcome to Avalesk’s very first Enchanted Pet Parade!
Everyone watching at home, inside the venue, including the VIPs who are currently logged in to the custom server itself as ‘Virtual-Live’ viewers cheered as floats of various themes rolled in one by one forming an ultra-long parade. On top of each float were the pets of the contestants.
All of the pets looking behaved and proud. Some of them even smart enough to wave at the crowd and pose for the crowd. Unlike the violent nature of the first few events in the league, the Pet parade felt more like a vacation. Specially for the VIPs as they watched live, eating fantasy food that were even more delicious when compared to the food we have in real.
Majority of them content to just lounge or dine, enjoying their stay in this fantasy-medieval theme park that can only be accessed once a year.
Leading the parade was Maze and Hide themselves. Maze’s avatar looking like an armored fighter. The funny looking hat being the only sign that she’s included in the parade. Hide in turn felt more looked like he belong with the crew. His scholarly robes and jester hat matching so well together the children started expecting jokes from him.
He had even summoned colored elemental spheres. Randomly juggling them for a while, before making them float behind to serve as props.
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The crowd awed at the grand event. Each float sparking curiosity and artistic taste as each of them were designed by the combined effort of the contestant and the pet themselves. From miniature castles, mountains… to a float made of clouds… to a float that looked more like a portable kitchen...
Some floats even went a bit too weird or edgy but that didn’t become much of a problem as the hosts, being the legendary shout casters themselves, are well versed specially when it comes to praising Eccentrics.
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Lily Meadows, now Lily Ketchup now she’s in the virtual world, screamed in complete adoration as her cute and adorable Gemmy let out the cutest moo. The baby crystal hoof Gemmy stood proudly much higher than the majority of her competitors due to the crystal cave themed float she was riding on. As expected, the calf had instantly made a bunch of votes after seeing by the crowd, the little cow’s massive follower count on social media account making her the obvious limelight of the show even before the event had started but Lily didn’t really care about all of that. She just wanted to showcase her companion to the world and have the little thing experience more love and adoration.
‘This reminds me of the herding quest that’s still pending…' Lily’s thought drifted before she almost choked after seeing a suspiciously empty area within the team park. There she saw the very man whom she probably offended. Laughing and cheering. Seemingly just enjoying his time with her wife.
Wife… She unconsciously shivered upon seeing the blood maiden in the flesh. Memories of her encounters with the wicked woman resurfacing before an even colder shiver ran down to her spine.
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pet contest…
line…
he’s a contestant as well isn’t he…
Lily’s stomach somehow started to virtually ache. The grim premonition settling on her transforming the cheers of the crowd into hammers slowly chipping away her heart. Surely enough he couldn’t have such adorable pets… couldn’t he…
She couldn’t even finish her sentence before the crowd silenced, everyone’s attention on the final float that has deliberately slowed it’s speed. The float highlighted a bone tree, with several skeletal avians perched on top of it. The Skeletal bird at the center though the smallest was clearly the leader of the flock. Lily herself couldn’t grasp what’s so great, until the float passed right by her.
‘Cool’
Everyone in the crowd including Lily murmured as unlike the floats that looked more or less crudely done. The float with the Bone Tree looked nothing less than a work of art. The avians were carved so intricately that it’s cuts and curves were enough to warrant a new era of modern design. And the actual pet itself…
The Skeletal Bird unlike its larger companions looked indescribably beautiful. As if no words would ever be able to describe such level of design. Yet it moved as animatedly as the others. Even flying together with them to visit other floats as well as playfully peck and perch on some of the viewers.
Finally, they landed on top of the couple that was having a picnic from a far. Snaps of screenshots flashed all over the scene highlighting the blood maiden as well as the skeletal creator himself happily having a meal while playing with their ‘children’. Sending mixed emotions, of awe, beauty, and then outright shivers for those who really know the two.
Seeing all of this, Lily could just raised her flag in defeat. No amount of cuteness would be able to top off that.
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The voting portion quickly ended with The Beautifully Carved Skeletal Bird: Hel and Levi dominating the voting charts. With Lily and the baby crystal hoof in second and so on.
The Talent portion stood next as the top five finalists, were given a chance to showcase the talents of their beloved pets. This time the Baby Crystal Hoof Gemmy placed 3rd, Her gem crafting abilities clearly still in it’s infantry stage being out done by the cooking Hidewing-Bear named Pico. Hel easily one the talent portion as well. Showing of how she could carve intricate designs using the bones she collected, the judges going wild after seeing her transform into a beautiful humanoid artwork with just using her [Bone Design] ability. Even being able to dance and bow towards the viewers and the camera. Hel thanking everyone through actual words while in humanoid form really just sealed the deal.
Hel being a bit too much, for the early stages of Avalesk. Making everyone more curious about the skeletal creator himself.
Next comes the loyalty portion. This comes more of a bonus round. And comes more of a personality test for the pets to give their player companions a hint of their true selves as well as to what they really desire in life. Ultimately revealing goals and possible weaknesses that could make or break a bond between the companions.
Having bad experiences with Loyalty tests during previous games, two out of the five finalists dropped out voluntarily for this portion. Only The Chef Hide-Wing Bear Pico, The Baby Crystal Hoof Gemmy as well as The skeletal bird Hel entered the Loyalty trial grounds.
During the test the Hide-Wing Bear Pico ended up choosing the ultimate ingredient over his own player companion… Causing lighthearted laughs and an understanding nod from his player companion. The Baby Crystal Hoof Gemmy on the other hand went back and forth clearly undecided even after minutes of the test. The little gem calf eventually chose Lily after much deliberation. It had even closed her eyes unwilling to look at the SSS grade gem again lest it tempts her little heart. The scene melting the hearts of everyone watching in the process.
The Skeletal Bird Hel on the other hand just flew a straight line towards her creator. Her version of the loyal test couldn’t really be called a test as there was only the path that leads towards her creator. Nevertheless it stated the little bird’s heart. The singular path even more impressive. As it showed the testament of the system. That there wasn’t anything in Avalesk that could test its loyalty. With the applause of the crowd, this went as a solid win for Levi as well.
Completely winning the Pet Parade Event by a clean 3-0 sweep.
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To be continued.