“How fast are you in your serpent form?” Vir asked. “And, what’s your Guardian Rank?”
“Silver,” Tara grinned, already shifting to her half-Naga form. “And fast enough.”
86MAY THE FASTEST DEMON WIN
“Begin!” Thaman’s voice thundered, and the race was on.
Having had ample time to prepare, the vast majority of the contestants scrambled madly through the Gate, trampling over one another and hurling prana attacks at each other to be the first to get through.
Vir, Shan, Cirayus, and Tara watched the spectacle with a mixture of shock and pity.
Already, Vir spied broken tablets and knocked out demons—who were then trampled underfoot by the passing horde. A group of Nagas were standing by in a medical tent, and the moment the horde passed, Bairan medics ran to the unconscious demons, put them on stretchers, and hustled them to the Nagas for treatment.
Several others had hung back as well—anyone with half a brain could have predicted that stampede, and who’d want to get caught up in that?
Plenty, apparently. Vir counted over twenty demons who were either unconscious or lying groaning in pain.
“Well, that’s two dozen fewer demons we need to deal with,” Vir said as the trio walked through the Ash Gate. “Actually, maybe double that number.”
The demons on the other side weren’t unconscious, though they would soon be, if they weren’t brought out soon.
Most either sat or were on their knees, hugging their bodies and groaning in pain.
“Demons who’ve never stepped foot into the Ash don’t deserve a spot on the roster,” Cirayus said, shaking his head as they passed the others.
Vir had to agree. If they couldn’t stomach this level of prana, they likely weren’t all that powerful. He then forced himself to remember how even the strongest humans struggled to survive in the Ash, and realized his standards had grown considerably. Even an average demon would be a force to be reckoned with in the Human Realm.
Not finding his Naga friend beside him, Vir looked back to find Tara flexing her muscles.
“Are you alright?” Vir asked.
“Y’know? I thought it’d be worse,” she replied. “I feel the pressure, don’t get me wrong. But it’s a mild pressure. Like a bandy’s sitting on my chest or something.”
Vir smirked. “That’s good to hear.” Tara’s innate prana density was offsetting the ambient density to a degree. That was good. If she’d collapsed here, he’d have been forced to leave her behind. He’d also have been sorely disappointed, given her skills and confidence.
“Well, lad, may Adinat be with you,” Cirayus said heavily.
“And you as well,” Vir replied, just as Cirayus jumped away, sprinting at top speed. He might not have been able to use Balancer of Scales, but with his stature, physique, and immense prana reserves, the giant could run.
“We’d best make a move ourselves,” Vir said, eyeing the rapidly disappearing mob of demons. The open plain allowed for easy travel, though the thick forest in the distance could undoubtedly complicate matters.
Vir was fine being just behind them to start—he just didn’t want to lose sight of them entirely. “I’m going to be moving quick. If you can’t keep up, do let me know.”
Tara had already transformed into her serpent form, and her leather clothes were nowhere to be seen. How Nagas always managed to restore their clothes when they returned to their human form, Vir did not know.
Regardless, he pushed prana into his legs and Leaped, though he kept his bounds short. There wasn’t a single demon who possessed movement arts as strong as Vir’s, and within the Ash, he could maintain his giant bounding leaps indefinitely.
He’d no doubt pass with ease. He’d also earn the attention of the entire Tournament, and with clan Rajas in attendance and only a single tattoo preventing his identity from being leaked, Vir wasn’t about to dare.
Even so, he made good progress catching up with the mob. Shan kept pace without issue, as usual. In fact, he ranged ahead, searching for prey.
A bright light shone into the sky in the distance, marking the first checkpoint. Vir couldn’t see the others, so they must’ve been far.
Checking behind him, he expected to see Tara well behind. Instead, she slithered her way through the ash with surprising speed. Certainly faster than any normal snake he’d seen.
Her pace was only slightly slower than his own. If he hadn’t known she was a friend, he would’ve been terrified. With her speed, though, he wouldn’t need to carry her, as he’d been dreading.
Not the act itself, but convincing the headstrong Naga that his strategy was in their best interest. Luckily, that was no longer a problem.
Vir caught up with the stragglers of the group and was about to bypass them when a lance of ice came hurtling his way.
Vir pushed prana into his feet, Micro Leaping away, but he didn’t run. He abruptly changed directions and angled at the caster—an Iksana Ghael.
Fighting would be pointless, and though the Ghael had hidden his tablet, Prana Vision told Vir exactly where.
Empowering his arm, Vir accelerated his strike, piercing the tablet on the Ghael’s back, before twisting and jumping away before the Iksana could harm him.
The Ghael slowly stopped running, falling to his knees. He’d failed, and apparently didn’t feel he had the skills to wrest a tablet from anyone else.
That suited Vir just fine. Linking back up with Tara, who’d continued on, they plunged into the forest together.
Though Vir had no trouble spotting her signature via Prana Vision, Tara lacked the same ability.
That was alright, because she navigated the forest with far greater ease than Vir could dream of. He had to shorten his bounds to where they became Micro Leaps, constantly navigating around flora.
They encountered their first enemy just moments later—an Ash Wolf that Vir didn’t even get the chance to dispatch. Shan swept in, tackling the beast and biting into its neck.
The battle ended before it had even begun, and by the time Tara noticed, Shan had rejoined Vir’s side.
A Shredder popped out moments later, and this time, Vir delivered the lethal strike. If it was Ash Beasts, he didn’t need Prana Blade or Blade Launch. He’d killed so many that he could likely end them without any prana empowerment whatsoever.
“You’re pretty good at thisss,” Tara commented.
Though he didn’t know of any reptiles that sweat, Vir thought he saw a sheen of sweat on her snakelike face.
“I’ve had a lot of practice,” Vir said, moving through the forest. “We both have.”
They made good time through the forest with their tablets guiding the way, though not quite as good as the demons who opted to travel along the treetops—jumping from boughs to branches.
Vir decided against doing the same. Partly because Tara would have difficulties up there, but mostly because there were dangers in the Ash. Aerial threats that could swoop in at a moment’s notice and pluck unsuspecting demons high into the air.
Only fools and the inexperienced would forego the natural protection the forest floor brought.
A few more minutes of travel made it apparent that the first checkpoint was within the forest itself. Yet before they entered the clearing where the checkpoint sat, a barrage of projectiles blurred from nearby.
Vir twisted his body, wrenching himself out of the way just in time.
Tara wasn’t so lucky.
“Oww!” she hissed as several icicles buried themselves in her hide.
“Are you hurt?” Vir called out as he searched the foliage for enemies. The abundance of life in the forest thwarted Prana Vision, so Vir opened his Life Chakra.