Creek!
“Look! The huge door is opening! Do we step through it?”
Each team that participated in the mid-level promotional tournament noticed the opening of the huge doors in their pyramids that they placed the Grace of Pinnacles into. A large Tombstone Portal was present behind all of them.
None of the Tomb Riders had to step in of their own volition because seconds after the huge doors opened, they began sucking in the myriad of Tomb Riders present before them. Even the Tomb Riders who were still spread across the desert of Scorching Dunes were being sucked inside the Tombstone Portals. None of them could resist its pulling forces.
“Woah! Are we going back to the Ghoul Stadium?” The members of the Shackle of Death squad saw each other flowing through the dark portal space. A brilliant light forced them to close their eyes. In the next moment when they opened them, they were all standing side by side each other in the crowded Ghoul Stadium.
“We’re back!” Glancing around the Ghoul Stadium, they noticed the other Tomb Rider crews standing in groups in a circular formation. Each of them had a large neutral Grace of Pinnacles positioned behind them. While everyone was wondering what they were far, they all heard the Initiator’s sonorous voice.
“Congratulations to all Tomb Riders who have participated in tonight’s promotional tournament. All of you gave us a fantastic display of strength. It was very entertaining to say the least.” The Initiator continued to hover over the crowd on his smartphone motor.
“As you all know, tonight’s tournament was a promotional match for beginner Tomb Riders to advance to intermediate level. Only 10 teams out of the 25 will be able to advance a level. Furthermore, there is a special reward for the team that comes in at first place. Every member of that squad will be given a versatile transformable Ghoul Gemstone.”
The gathering of Tomb Riders were talking among themselves with general expectation. Not a single team was excluded from the wanting of a versatile transformable Ghoul Gemstone. With something of that calibre, they could soar higher up in the ranking and become world-famous. They wouldn’t need to struggle to survive anymore, they could just live.
Perceiving the natural build-up of chatter, the Initiator quieted the crowd. “Everyone! Your attention, please! Ahem, the results of this tournament have just finished been calculated. Judges have taken into consideration the number of artefacts collected coupled with your stylish performance and the count of high-ranking Ghoul Monsters that were slain. The winners among the top-10 will receive double the amount of Ghoul Souls that was collected and will be given a basic tour permit to visit a low-rank Ghoul Graveyard facility.”
“Wow! If we make it in the top-10 we can get to tour a Ghoul Graveyard facility!” Cockroach and the others were excited for the ranking to be revealed. He clasped his hands and began praying. “Dear God, please let us be in the top-10! Please let us be in the top-10! Please let us be in the top-10!”
“Huh? Seriously?” Angelina who was beside Cockroach found his praying to be extremely ridiculous.
“Now for the results!” The Initiator interacted with a function on his smartphone motor which brought up a huge leader-board for all the audience to see. The name of every participating squad was being depicted in random slots. A specific colour was in a cell beside each group. The Shackle of Death squad had a blue colour beside theirs. This same colour coincides with the colour of their Grace of Pinnacles.
Beep! Beep!
The groups started shuffling up on the leader-board. “The winning team will be depicted at the very top of the chart followed by the top-9 below. Please rest easy as the results are shown.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Beep!
The names stopped shuffling from the bottom going up. The Tomb Riders were getting anxious and apprehensive seeing the big reveal. The names in 10th to 2nd place were revealed respectively.
(10th place) Ever Moist Squad – [2 Grace of Pinnacles]
(9th place) Birds And Feathers Squad – [3 Grace of Pinnacles]
(8th place) Glooming Abyss Squad – [3 Grace of Pinnacles]
(7th place) Vengeance Is a Bitch Squad – [4 Grace of Pinnacles]
(6th place) Sky Scrapers Squad – [4 Grace of Pinnacles]
(5th place) Hate At First Sight Squad – [5 Grace of Pinnacles]
(4th place) Seed Reapers Squad – [5 Grace of Pinnacles]
(3rd place) Shackle Of Death Squad – [6 Grace of Pinnacles]
(2nd place) Rolling Blades Squad - [7 Grace of Pinnacles]
“We’re in third place?” Angelina was disappointed when she saw that her placing on the leader-board was in the third rank. Unlike her, Cockroach and the others were amazed.
“Yeah! We made it in the top 3! This is unreal! I can’t believe it!” The 3 exciting stooges were cuddling up with each other. They tried to get Angelina to join them but she refused.
“Huh, what’s the matter A.J? Aren’t you excited that we made it through the promotional tournament? Could it be that you are upset because we didn’t make first rank?”
“I am. I’m even more bloody furious about that bastard who made it ahead of me.” Angelina was glaring over at Resotnero who was celebrating with his Rollerblader gang.
“Huh?” Resotnero spotted Angelina staring daggers at him from across the room and waved at her happily. “Hey, there neighbour! How does it feel knowing that I’m your better?”
“Grrrr!” Angelina was gritting her teeth like a wild animal when she heard what Resotnero said to her. “You…!” As she was about to retort, she felt a feminine hand dropped onto her shoulder. Glancing behind her, Angelina saw a pale demon. “What do you want from me? Are you searching for trouble?”
“Fhm.” White Demon didn’t say a word to Angelina. She gave her shoulder a tight squeeze then went back to her Seed Reapers crew. Saint Tiger glared at her from behind.
“Ouch! That hurts.” Angelina watched as White Demon went back to her testicles hating family.
Beep!
The moment everyone had been waiting for had arrive. The crew which came in at first place was now revealed upon the leader-board.
“I’m proud to announce the top winners of tonight’s promotional tournament.” The initiator expanded the winning crew name across all of the big-screen monitors. “Here’s your winning squad, the Unruly Tyrants! With a whopping amount of 9 Grace of Pinnacles”
Boom!
Fireworks coupled with other fancy decorations permeated the Ghoul Stadium as the Initiator announced the winning team.
“The Unruly Tyrants? No way!” Majority of the crowd coupled with the contestable Tomb Riders were helluva shocked.
“It’s that shameless bastard who triple crossed us!”
“How could his team have come in first place? Did they rip everyone off to garner so many artefacts?”
“Yeah! The Unruly Tyrants! I knew that they were going to win! They’re my favourite crew so far!”
“Tsk, those cheaters actually came in first?” Rooster was upset about the placement on the leader-board. At that moment, every Tomb Rider present below was staring enviously at the Unruly Tyrant squad.
Realizing the horde of unsettled eyes fixated on him, Unruly Ban let his rebellious voice be heard. “Hahaha! You sore losers! What are you all staring at? Am I that stunning? Hahaha! In that case worship me with your eyes some more, loser!” Unruly Ban was smiling proudly of his achievements while his teammates lifted him high up in the air for everyone to get a better look at the winning crew’s leader.
“Listen up you envious bastards! Tonight at my place make sure you all be there to celebrate my glory! Hahaha!”
“You’re throwing an After-Party? We’ll be there Unruly Ban!”
After the cacophony calmed down, the Initiator presented the prizes to the winning crews. The Grace of Pinnacles that were positioned behind each team that made it into the top-10 started opening up. Within them were 5-slots for the Tomb Riders’ Motors Cube. By placing their Motors Cubes inside, the rewards were systematically transferred to them.
Among the top-10, only the Unruly Tyrant Squad received something extra. 5 versatile transformable Ghoul Gemstones. They gladly accepted the expensive gifts and stashed them away quickly before any preying eyes could perceive them. And with that, the mid-level promotional tournament came to an end.
Though Angelina was disappointed that she didn’t dominate this tournament, she was satisfied that she became an intermediate Tomb Rider. Besides, it wasn’t all bad, she received a permit to tour a Ghoul Graveyard facility. Slowly but surely she was getting closer to her goal. Rescuing her father wasn’t so fictional anymore. That is if he was still alive. Sometimes I feel as if Angelina was too hopeful, don’t you?