Chapter 3: The Wall of Death
The first trial wasn’t easy for Kirimi.
After passing through the first obstacles, she needed to form a short alliance with a Midasi to pass the last one.
Athor, the other Ecleray participating in the Vanguard Challenge, decided to put his moral aside to qualify.
At the start, they were 100.
But after the first trial, they were already down to 58.
Kirimi approached the Midasi she had saved and helped her to get up.
They joined the group of those who had passed the first test.
In the background, Namarus was commenting on the event's ranking displayed on the giant screens.
"Thank you," said the Midasi.
"Forget about it. Without you, I wouldn't have passed the last obstacle," answered Kirimi.
"You could have done nothing. It would be one more opponent out."
"I could have." said the Ecleray as she met Athor's eyes again, who seemed to be watching her.
"Kirami, is it?"
"Kirimi," replied the Ecleray, emphasizing the mistake.
"Excuse me, it's a bit complicated to remember. "
"I understand. And you?"
"Xpoluzerina."
After finishing a product placement for an energy drink, Namarus announced the imminent start of the next event.
Energetic music blared, and dancers entered the stage on platforms levitating above the arena.
The spotlights once again swept over the audience, who clapped in rhythm.
Namarus turned to his assistants.
"Put the female Ecleray and the woman she saved together for the next trial!" he ordered them.
He spoke again into the stadium as the ground began to shake.
The structures from the first trial slowly sank into the sandy ground.
In less than a minute, all courses had disappeared.
"To become a Vanguard, one must rise.
Rise for what you believe in, but most importantly to the top of the wall of deaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaath!"
A trap door opened, and a huge transparent climbing wall came out.
It must have been about 20 meters high.
Two identical routes were presented to the participants.
At its foot, a pit.
It was impossible to see the bottom.
"But you won't be alone in this challenge," Namarus said.
"Each of you will be facing an opponent. The first to reach the top continues the adventure.
Dramatic music began to echo through the arena.
"But to let you through the wall requires a sacrifice," Namarus continued with a vicious look.
"The first one to reach the top must press this red buzzer. Then, they will make the holds on the wall disappear and drag his opponent into the liiiiiimbs!"
Athor looked back at Kirimi, a smile on his face.
Kirimi understood that it would be complicated for her to keep her commitment.
The two first participants advanced on the wall.
The first was a very muscled Midasi while the second one was thinner but looked more agile.
They placed their hands on the holds.
Once again, it was the energy cannon that gave the start.
They didn't have much time because the platforms they were standing on started to retract.
They had to climb or fall into the void.
Quickly, the thin one took the lead. He seemed much more at ease.
In a few minutes, he reached the top of the course.
He stood up and pressed the buzzer.
His opponent panicked and, with a shout, fell backward and disappeared.
There was a moment of silence.
Then, a spectator shouted, and the whole stadium followed him.
The duels followed one after another quickly.
It was Athor's turn to outperform his opponent to stay in the game.
The Midasi was not even halfway through the course when Athor activated the buzzer.
"So Kirimi? Good luck for passing without eliminating your opponent?" shouted Athor.
Kirimi tried to ignore his remark, but he was right...
Many participants took on the wall of death.
Then, it was her turn.
Only her and... Xpoluzerina were left.
"Another Namarus move," she said to herself.
The two women took their positions.
The cannon shot rang out.
The first holds were simple.
They allowed the two participants to advance quickly.
One to the right.
One to the left.
One more to the left.
They were of rare flexibility and agility.
Xpoluzerina started to get ahead.
Kirimi was surprised, though she was used to this kind of exercise.
"I'm not going to lose to a Midasi," she thought.
Her muscles started to tense up dangerously.
But Xpoluzerina slipped.
She misjudged her stance.
She caught herself as well as possible, which cost her much energy.
Kirimi regained hope.
She caught up and even passed the Midasi.
The clash was also in the audience.
The top of the course was much more technical.
Kirimi couldn't feel her muscles. Or she could feel them too much. She didn't know anymore.
But it was mostly Xpoluzerina who was out of strength.
The Ecleray noticed this and continued to climb.
"Come on! I'm almost there!"
Only 4 holds left.
Only 3 more to go.
The audience chanted her name.
Only 2 more to go.
She turned to see where her opponent was.
One more to go.
"This is it!"
She put her hand on the top of the wall and pulled herself up.
"It's KIRIMI who reaches the top first!" shouted Namarus.
"She must now press the buzzer to seal her victory!"
The Ecleray turned to look at her opponent's course.
She was on the verge of tears.
Kirimi walked over to the buzzer and pressed it.
The holds began to retract.
Xpoluzerina couldn't hold on anymore; her muscles were tense.
She was going to fall.
Finally, she cleared her mind and closed her eyes.
She was ready.
But Kirimi threw herself forward to catch the Midasi before she fell.
"Kirimi caught Xpoluzerina!" shouted Namarus.
"I've got you!"
"No, not this time. You already helped me too much."
“Don’t be stupid!" said Kirimi feeling her arms burning.
She was so focused on the pain that she didn’t notice she dropped the Midasi.
For Kirimi, everything happened in slow motion.
She saw Xpoluzerina sink into the dark void.
Soon just a silhouette, just a shadow, just a memory.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your last qualified, KIRIMI!"
"This event marks the end of the first part, my friends! You can say we've been spoiled! With what we've just seen, the rest of the adventure looks HIS-TO-RI-CAL! We'll be back in two hours!"
Then his face disappeared from the screens to make way for a commercial praising the quality of a famous Midasi genetic laboratory.
Kirimi couldn't celebrate her victory.
With a heavy heart, she went to the restroom.
As she walked through the door, the Midasis began to applaud her.
She stepped forward with a smile of relief.
"One of you had to lose." said a husky-voiced Midasi, giving her a long hug.
"It's nice to see you carrying your values even in tough times," said another.
"Thank you," Kirimi replied. "They come from people who are very dear to me. I want to do everything I can to honor them."
The Midasi retired to eat.
Since Eclerays don’t need to eat, Kirimi slid down the wall and sat on the floor.
Athor stood there, too, on the other side of the room.
She wondered if he was ever happy.
"Congratulations," the young Ecleray said to her without conviction.
"Thank you, Athor. I appreciate that."
"Do you honestly think your weaknesses will make you a Vanguard?"
"It's in my best interest to follow what I believe in. It will be useful for the future. What about you?"
"My parents always told me to beware of this kind of behavior. I need to remain strong and focused on my goal."
"Parents? You're a Twahin?"
"Indeed, and I will win the Vanguard Challenge for them. I willmake them proud!"
"So it's not for you that you're doing all this?" wondered Kirimi. “That’s more honorable than what I would have thought”?
BAM!
The door opened abruptly.
A Midasi stormed into the restroom.
"Hurry and get a doctor! He's having a heart attack!"
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