No More

Chapter 42: Start

Jesse ran and caught up with the rest of his group, exiting through the secret exit that leads to the teleporting rune Magnus gave them.

Good thing Axel is on good terms with the former ruler of Boom Town. They stepped on the rune, one by one, and they appeared back inside their home.

But even though they're here, it's still one child short.

"Do you think Gill is right?" Asked Axel. "Is Aiden really innocent?"

"Well not innocent per say, he just didn't abduct Jennifer." Said Olivia. "He saw Jess at his house with Jennifer at midnight. The same time Aiden saw her accomplice at the Inn."

"Not to mention that he saw them together after we took him into custody, and there is a stolen suit of Templar armor back at the main base." Continued Lisa. "Whoever Jess's accomplice is, she's good if she can steal a suit of Templar armor from under my watch."

"So why aren't we including Aiden into this plan?" asked Petra. "It's not that I like the guy, but why is he still in jail?"

"Because even if we prove his innocent for child abduction, he still violated the restraining order we have against him." Said Jesse. "Besides, we need to make my sister think that this is all going according to her plan."

"... what exactly is Jess's plan?" Asked Axel.

"We know she want's the Tournament prize, for what we don't know, but she's using the competition as a trial run for her new items." Explained Jesse. "To make sure Gill uses them alone, she gets Aiden thrown in jail."

"But why frame Aiden?" asked Olivia. "It doesn't make sense, why would Jesse lose a candidate to test out her weapons?"

"Considering Aiden's personality," Said Lisa. "He wouldn't do what Jess says. Probably would keep the prize and her items for himself."

"Makes sense, considering Gill will be using them against experienced fighters, and Aiden is a prick in general." Commented Petra.

"But why doesn't she just use them herself?" wondered Axel. "Why go through all the trouble just to test out a few items?"

"Knowing her, and her tendency to exploit a technicality, there is something about those items that the monocle didn't reveal." Said Jesse.

The rest of them nodded, but not because they're satisfied with that answer, it's just that no one wanted to ask about the hidden consequence when using those items.

Because one final silent question remained: Does Jess have a hidden agenda, or is this all for her amusement?

But no one asked, they have their own thoughts.

Olivia, being the softer one of the group, was worried for Gill while Axel and Petra were simply curious. But Jesse and Lisa? They didn't care. Just because they're helping Gill that doesn't mean they like him.

After grabbing their gear, some potions, they made their way to the Tournament.

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One hour later

Gill stood among the other 30 competitors in the middle of the place where the Tournament is always held: a huge coliseum where hundreds of people can watch from the outer stands.

In the middle is an empty grass space that is 50 blocks in diameter, and 5 blocks below the level of the spectators. The competitors themselves have multiple box-like areas, where they can watch the fights, built into the stands.