Part One
Date: 4021
Title: The Seventh Star Tournament
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On the giant screen towering above humanity’s last city, the announcer appeared, his voice shaking the entire arena.
Announcer:
Today is the second day of the Seventh Star Tournament, and we are now at the second match of the league. We have the warrior Zhao versus Klaw. Who do you think will win?
Inside the massive arena, millions of spectators filled the stands, their cheers echoing everywhere. Everyone was wondering: who will advance to the next stage?
For those who do not know about the Seventh Star Tournament, it is held to choose the Seventh Star among the Seven Stars in order to defeat the Dark King. The previous Seventh Star has died, and now a replacement must be chosen. This is the last remaining city of humanity after the world was consumed by darkness. Since the Dark King appeared, strange abilities have awakened in humans: fire, ice, speed, physical strength… and some awakened with more than one ability. Those individuals became known as the exceptional heroes. The strongest heroes were selected to become the Seven Great Stars.
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(We shift to one of the contestants who is about to begin the match — the protagonist of this story.)
Zhao:
What should I do… I don’t have any ability. This is all because of him… If he hadn’t told me to take my brother’s place, I wouldn’t be here now.
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(We return to the past — yesterday, after the first round ended and the real Zhao won.)
Zhao:
Brother Kolo… I don’t know, but I feel something strange. Can you examine me?
(After examining him)
Kolo (shocked and saddened):
Oh no… You’ve been poisoned with a Level 8 toxin! How did this happen? No… you can’t die, right? You’re very strong!
Zhao:
Don’t be sad… this is my fate. But I have one request. I want you to continue my path… and become the hero.
Kolo:
But I don’t have any power!
Zhao:
Who told you that? You do have power… you just can’t use it yet. Your power is enormous, but you can’t control it. I know someone with a similar ability — he will help you. Take this paper… his location is written on it.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
(He falls to the ground.)
Kolo:
What’s happening to you? Don’t die… please don’t die!
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(Return to the present)
Kolo (disguised as Zhao):
What should I do?
Announcer:
And now it’s time for the match! Contestants, step forward!
Kolo:
Klaw has the ability to control weight… that’s a big problem. But he can’t control the weight of living beings — only his own.
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(They enter the arena.)
Announcer:
Zhao has entered the battlefield, and so has Klaw! The battle will begin in… 3… 2… 1… Begin!
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(Klaw reduces his weight and launches forward at incredible speed, striking Kolo and sending him crashing into the wall.)
Klaw:
That was easy.
(Kolo stands up again.)
Klaw:
You’re very stubborn.
Announcer:
Strangely, Zhao hasn’t used his “Black Hole” ability! It seems he might lose!
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(Klaw grabs iron pillars, lightens them, then suddenly increases their weight to over 1000 kilograms and throws them at him. Half the arena shatters, but Kolo narrowly dodges.)
(Klaw jumps high into the air, increases his weight to 622 kilograms, and crashes down onto Kolo’s leg, crushing it.)
Zhao/Kolo:
Aaaah!
(He pulls his leg away with difficulty.)
Zhao:
Good thing I bought a healing potion.
(He pours it over his leg, and it heals.)
Klaw:
Do you think I’ll just let you do that in front of me?
(He lifts four massive boulders, increases their weight, and throws them.)
Zhao (to himself):
Now is his cooldown… this is my chance.
(He dashes toward him at full speed.)
Announcer:
It looks like the match is over!
(He knocks Klaw to the ground and continues striking until officials pull Klaw out of the arena.)
Announcer:
Zhao wins!
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(Kolo leaves the arena.)
Kolo (to himself):
If there are healers who treat fighters after matches… then why wasn’t my brother cured of the poison? Was he poisoned during the match? Or… was there betrayal?
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???: Hey, you.
Zhao:
Organizer Hoji? What are you doing here?
Hoji:
I want to know why you didn’t use your ability. You could have ended the match in seconds.
Zhao (nervous):
I… I…
Hoji:
If you don’t want to say, that’s fine. Leave through the back door — reporters are waiting for you.
Zhao:
Thank you.
Hoji:
How is your brother Kolo?
Zhao:
He’s… fine.
Hoji:
Are you leaving, or will you watch the remaining matches?
Zhao:
I need to go.
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(He exits through the back door.)
Zhao:
I need to go to the address on that paper…
“You’ll find him at the top of Mount Kao, in the cave beneath the Sofyan tree, at the entrance of the Ankod… that’s where he lives.”
Mount Kao is one of the largest and most dangerous mountains in the world… it’s impossible for anyone to survive there.
(He sits on a chair, thinking…)
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(To be continued…)
