Sero walked away from the track. Leaving it behind him as even those who had managed not to notice him before now stared. He had made it through the track twice. Not only that but he had taken his way through the track alone the second time. Against the odds stacked against him he had emerged victorious. If nothing else Sero had a growing group of fans now. Those who hadn't known him before had come up with a new name for him. Akumu no ōji roughly translating to the prince of nightmares. Even the Yokai which were vastly superior to humans saw him as a monster. A beast that walked the path of kings and consumed them. If he had not arrived the festivals would of been fairly entertaining. Now the contestants wondered if they should even compete against him. There were the other champions in the making still that could take him but they didn't seem to be around. That aside his attention was split between collecting tickets and keeping them hidden since he had a bundle now and searching for blonde hair in the crowd. If Nozomi were around they could really compete. Granted she would have the advantage in speed.

Perhaps that was why he was caught off guard when suddenly the floor was gone from under him. He was falling and there was no ledge to grab. He could see the ground below wasn't trapped but what concerned him was he hadn't chosen to participate in an event. His eyes rose up to see a single ticket he hadn't collected on the ground yet burn away as part of a seal. So they had forced him into a challenge on his own? Or had he broken the rules in some way? Regardless he turned his attention to the rapidly approaching ground. Breaking his fall by rolling to the side through a pile of bones. Sending it scattering. He came up in a crouch already with his right hand on the handle of a katana and his left on the hilt pressing the blade up. He was prepared to counter attack anything that might rush him. However nothing shifted at first. Instead glowing words like fire spread on the cave wall. His eyes narrowing at the sentence.

"Learn your place son of adam. Face that which knows no fear and be buried in failure"

403

Sero slowly rose to his feet as he finished reading the words on the wall. There were a few Yokai at the top of the pit looking down at him. They seemed rather pleased with forcing him into another solo event and thought this one would be more impressive for him. Something that could take him down? They were delusional if they thought they had access to that. However he noted they had seen his sword and were not worried about it. They thought this creature above it? Surely it was responsible for all these bones but they didn't know the bones he had buried. Still as his gaze took them in they ducked down a little bit and the laughter died down. Even in a pit and trapped they feared him. However they seemed to think him standing alone meant he was weak like them. He took a breath and gathered himself. This was another test designed for the common man. Something difficult for them but achievable. He took a second deep breath and listened. A small clatter drew his attention to the bones as grey eyes took them in. Interesting. The bones were the source of this trial?

He watched as the mounds began to gather. At first it looked to be a large right arm made of bones strewn together. However even on its own it rose up clumsily before coming crashing down at Sero. It was slow but not something he could block. He shifted rapidly from where he was in a side step to the far wall as the arm cratered the floor. Still bones were gathering and the Yokai above were cheering while others had gathered to watch. Sero was running around as the arm rose. It was too slow to catch up to him and that much was obvious. He would tilt his head before noting where the large skull was rolling up to the base of the neck. Spotting the weak point of the half constructed Yokai he shifted and planted his foot on the cave wall. Attaching an explosive note to a kunai he threw it down to slam between where the neck and the skull connected just as it did. The bones ground there as he landed to the side. Its large clumsy hands seeming to struggle to try and remove the Kunai. With a single hand sign though Sero turned away as the explosive note detonated. Bone fragments sent flying as he looked up to the challengers. Tickets raining down towards him as if asking for mercy.

800+/750
Event complete
Exit thread