It was time for the Selection process.
The Alpha candidates laid about in different parts of the Arena.
All of whom were either with their participants or stood alone in confidence of their strength.
Vine rested on a sit as she watched the happenings below.
Just as always, because of her identity, she had a veil to cover her face.
However, the moment Agnes sighted her from the opposite side, she knew that she was the one.
Both women exchanged eye contact and both their eyes gave electricity sparks in the air before they looked away.
At the same time, Lenny also saw another person amongst the Participants. It was Riff.
It was at this point that it hit Lenny in the head.
"Wait a minute! What the fuck I'm I doing?" He thought to himself.
Lenny could not help but feel as if something was wrong.
After all, he had accepted to fight in this competition knowing fully well that Riff was partaking in it.
This was so unlike him.
He was an assassin by nature, and a fundamental of that was not taking battles he was not sure of winning.
Lenny remembered that Riff had essentially destroyed that giant octopus by clicking his fingers together.
This was the same monster that rendered him useless.
Lenny could not help but believe that something was wrong.
Yes, something was wrong. His judgement, it was obviously being influenced by something else.
Immediately, his eyes went to Vine.
Was she the person influencing his decision? After all, the realization only washed over him the moment that he got away from her.
He could not help but frown a little.
He opened the Satan system.
"System run a check on mind and body. Is there some kind of influence clouding my judgement?"
<Analyzing...>
<Negative! Host's mind and body is in perfect condition>
Lenny frowned even more. His terrifying instincts told him that something was wrong but the system told him otherwise.
Knowing that the system would always work for his good, he decided to dismiss the idea.
After all, it might just be his imagination. Even him was not above making mistakes.
Also, he had already accepted the mission.
There was no need backing off now.
Zod, an elder of the pack, stepped forward, "I'll be the Anchor for this Alpha Selection Tournament. By the grace of the Heavens and the Primordial Beast, our Previous Alpha was blessed with many children. Two hundred and forty of them to be precise."
On hearing the number, Lenny could not help but raise a brow.
"Was he doing the deed every day?" Lenny could not help but ask himself.
"However..." Zod continued, "only a hundred of them have decided to participate in the competition for the position as Alpha. The others have decided to renounce their right to the position by swearing a bloodline oath. From this day onwards, they and their children will no longer have the right to become Alpha."
As Zod spoke Lenny could not help but turn to Victor.
"Why don't you just swear the blood oath and free yourself from this?"
Victor sighed a bit, "even if I want to, I can't. At least not anymore."
"The bad blood between young master Victor and Curtin is already too black," Moses added from the side.
"Even if he does run, Curtin will still kill him once he becomes Alpha. Besides It was his mother's wish that Victor became Alpha. She gave too much for him to come this far, and he has lost even more."
Moses sighed lowly.
Meanwhile, the images of his guards giving their lives for him out in the desert rushed about in Victor's head.
He couldn't help but squeeze his fingers into a fist.
He really wanted revenge.
Lenny noticed this and did not push the question any more.
Once he said this, a vile was brought forward.
In it was a blue substance.
The moment it appeared, the atmosphere in the room seemed to change, and Lenny could feel a subtle calm but ancient pressure from it.
From the looks of the faces of all in the room, he was not the only one.
Even Vine from her position should feel this Ancient pressure.
Moses noticed Lenny's reaction and explained, "that's blood from the Primordial beast. The offsprings of the Alpha that will back off will have to swear by it."
Zod took a vile of blood and carefully opened it.
As he did, some people walked forward from the crowd.
They were many of them, most were teenagers and a few of them still children.
They all were dressed with in unique blue robes.
One by one, they stepped forward and bowed at Zod before he used the blue blood and drew the symbol of an 'X' on their foreheads.
They were made to say an oath, and the moment they did, the blue blood would sink into their foreheads.
Lenny watched this process carefully.
The Satan system also highlighted the moment for him.
He could suddenly see a blue chain that was not visible to the human eye wrap around the body of the individuals.
Some of them gritted their teeth in pain of the process and some others that were unable to withstand it fainted on the spot.
In a few minutes, the process was over.
"From this day henceforth, you all no longer have the privilege of being called children of the Alpha. Any privilege given to you in regards of your position will be taken away. You are henceforth, Children of the Pack. You may decide to stay within the City of Milk and Honey to live your lives or leave the city to see the outside world.
Which ever you choose, may the grace of the Primordial beast be with you."
They bowed once more to Elder Zod before being led away through an opening on the side.
Once there where gone, Zod turned to those remaining before him.
"You all have decided to stay and fight. I'll let you know Ahead of time. If there is anyone that still hesitates for what is to come, please step forward and take the oath. Because once you cross this line, there is absolutely no going back. Losing the Tournament means only one thing... Death!"
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om