Diablo’s words paid relief to everyone present in the Magma Of Nifelheim. They all passed the second test.
Pablo opened his eyes after five hours and it was good that it was dark outside. Sudden light could have harmed his eyes.
He looked around and he was not surprised.
’Many few people are left now. This was the test for endurance.’
"Congratulations, everyone. You all passed." Diablo announced again.
"Take us away from this damned place first!" One person shouted and everyone had the same thoughts.
The heat and gravity was no more for them but they still wanted to leave the place. It was not a tourist spot after all.
"Alright. Let’s go back to camp." Diablo snapped his fingers and everyone disappeared.
He and Graham were still left there and they too, vanished the next second.
Pablo and the others were back on the ground of the battle royale and everyone sat down on the ground.
They all were tired and they all rubbed their feet on the ground. All their feet were black.
"Look at my hands, Boss! You removed your help from me and now they are all back. See?" Flashy showed both of his palms to Pablo. They were black.
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Pablo looked at them for a second then shook his head.
He said nothing and just showed his feet to Flashy.
Flashy saw them and…
"I am sorry, Boss." That’s all he said.
He stopped complaining after that.
’At least he has some sense.’ Pablo found some silence.
"Why did he go silent like that?" Cupid asked.
’And she doesn’t have any sense.’
"Hey. Don’t talk li-"
’See my feet and you will understand.’ Pablo didn’t want to talk.
But Cupid wanted to know so she darted her gaze on Pablo’s feet.
"This… it’s worse than his hands." Cupid’s face turned ugly as Pablo’s feet were in worse condition than Flashy’s palms.
There were burnt marks, ulcers, blood dripping, swelling. Pablo’s feet were numb but they were still in pain.
"So that’s why he stopped complaining about his palms. He felt ashamed. Makes sense." Cupid understood and she too, went silent. She didn’t want to disturb Pablo for some time. He deserved some rest.
Alas, there was no rest for the wicked.
SHRILL!
THUMP!
Some sounds came from the stage placed on the ground and everyone looked there.
Two people were standing on the stage and everyone knew them. They were Diablo and Graham.
"Hello, everyone. Stand up." Diablo said.
Everyone groaned and complained but they all stood up anyway. They didn’t want to refuse the commands.
Pablo was the same so he stood up as well.
Graham stepped further on the stage and spoke :
"Out of five million people, do you know how many people passed the test?"
"No!" Everyone answered.
"Diablo, tell them." Graham said and Diablo gave the answer.
"Only one thousand."
"What?" Everyone exclaimed.
’That’s a huge difference.’ Pablo was surprised as well.
"Yes. Only one thousand. Those who died weren’t desperate enough to join the military. Only you guys wanted to join the military with all your life. That’s why you all survived. Congratulations." Graham said, he even did a little clapping.
"So we are in the military now?" One woman asked, hoping for good news.
"No, lady. There is one more test left. And after that, there is an assignment as well. After you pass that, only then you are officially part of the military."
"Fuck." The woman only said that. She was out of words.
"Haha. But don’t worry. The next test will be simple. And you all will get one day of break." Diablo said and it was finally some good news for the people.
"Where will we stay?" One man asked.
"Tents will be given to you. Put them on the ground and stay. Talk with each other. Have some fun. Some women are here as well. Some of you can probably get some sex tonight." Diablo answered with a wink.
Some men smiled at the thought of sex while others just wanted to rest.
"Anyway," Graham said. "It’s already Evening. Diablo, give them their tents and some food and all. And let’s leave."
"Sure." Diablo shoved his hand inside his bracelet and threw some things on the ground.
After that, Diablo snapped his fingers and both him and Graham disappeared.
And that wasn’t all. The big wide stage disappeared from the ground as well.
"Oh. This ground is very big." Flashy spoke as without the stage, the ground became even bigger.
Pablo also roamed his head and nodded. ’The military in this world is the richest organization as far as I can see. I want to reach deeper here.’
"Don’t forget your job." Cupid chimed in.
Pablo ignored her and walked towards the things Diablo had left behind.
Seeing Pablo, everyone else walked towards them as well.
They all were walking slowly as their feet were still hurting.
Nevertheless, Pablo reached the cluster of things first.
He picked up a brown cloth which was likely a tent.
Then there was a bottle of water and a medium sized can.
’I hate canned foods.’ Pablo didn’t like his situation but he still took them.
There was also a plastic packet and there was one pill inside.
Something was written on it and Pablo read it.
’Pain killer. Well, Nevermind.’ Pablo threw it away and stood up with only a tent, food and water.
Flashy came beside him and started taking things for himself as well.
Pablo watched him doing that and he also stared at the things.
Then, he squinted his eyes.
’I see. That’s so like them.’ A smile crept on Pablo’s lips.
"Flashy," He said. "Take your things and go away as fast as you can. And prepare our tents close to each other. Go. Take this."
Pablo handed Flashy his tent as well and Flashy obeyed the command without any retorts. He became more serious after seeing the wounds on Pablo’s feet.
Pablo also walked back and many other people went on to pick their things.
Pablo had a constant smile on his face as he watched everyone taking things.
"Why are you smiling like that? What did you see?" Cupid asked. She couldn’t bear the suspense.
’The military here is more twisted than we think. That’s all.’
"I don’t get it. What do you mean?" Cupid didn’t understand.
’What I am saying is that there is no one day break for us.’ Pablo looked at Cupid and revealed :
’The third test has already begun.’
"What?" Cupid exclaimed. "How can you say that? What do you mean?"
Pablo kept smiling. ’Just wait and watch.’
Cupid asked some more times after that but she received no answer from Pablo. He was just staring at the people spread around the cluster of things.
Behind Pablo, Flashy was busy preparing the tents for both of them.
After five minutes, Pablo saw one person coming towards him.
It was a man and he wasn’t exactly coming towards Pablo.
He went beside Pablo and started preparing his own tent there.
The man inched closer to Pablo and Pablo remained standing.
When the man finally reached close enough to Pablo, he whispered :
"Czar, I am sure you understand what is going to happen now?"
"Hmm." Pablo replied short and the man was none other than Draxus.
’He is a smart lad. Good.’ Pablo praised Draxus inside his mind as well.
"So are you prepared for that? There will be chaos soon." Draxus asked.
"I am. You take care of yourself. And also, try to befriend that Adolf. Learn about him. Got that?"
"As you say."
Their talk ended and Draxus focused on preparing his tent.
"Flashy," Pablo called. "Put my tent in the middle of yours and Draxus."
"Sure." Flashy accepted and did just that.
Pablo again focused all his attention on the people near the things and ten minutes passed.
Many people were already setting up their tents and there were many others who were still collecting things from the ground.
Pablo also saw Hustler and he set up his tent beside Draxus’.
Pablo’s eyes, however, still stayed on the people around the things.
"What!?" A shout came from there.
Pablo’s smile grew wider. ’And thus it begins.’
"There is not enough food and water for us! How can this be?"
"Did someone take more than one thing for themselves?"
"I am hungry as hell."
"At least give some water."
"This is not fair."
Complaints and shouts arose from the ground and everyone who got all the things watched the scene.
Pablo counted the number of people who had everything with them and that number was approximately only five hundred.
Out of the thousand people, only five hundred of them got food and water. Pain killers were for everyone though.
"Can anyone share with me?"
"I am hungry. I will sleep with the person who will share some food with me."
’Oh. So that’s why Diablo said people can get some sex here.’ Pablo understood the meaning behind Diablo’s words.
"This is always fun to watch, isn’t it, Old man?" Diablo asked, standing in front of a big screen.
Everything happening on the ground was being shown on the screen. They were inside a room.
"It’s not fun. It’s just nature. Everyone needs food. We only provided food and water for five hundred people. Now the other five hundred people will rebel against those who have food.
First, they will request but people won’t share their food as it is already very less for one person. Then the people with no food will promise some benefits and when nothing will work, they will resort to good old violence."
"Haha. That’s right. And this right here is the third test. It has a pretty good name. What was it called again?" Diablo asked.
"There is only one name for such things.." Graham stared at the screen and watched a particular man standing with a smile.
"Hunger Games."