The smell of concrete mixed with what could only be described as human odor. With the extremely hot weather and the number of people gathered, there really was little chance for it to smell otherwise.

Ash missed the country as soon as she stepped foot in the concrete jungle. Men and woman paraded around in the latest fashion – the color of choice seemed to currently be green, perhaps to make up for the lack of foliage. Children dodged through legs as they ran to classes, and horse's hooves clopped on the roads as their masters sat dignified above.

The girl pulled her cloak closer, trying to avoid unnecessary contact as she pushed her way through the crowds towards her goal. She reached the path which lead to her destination. Pausing, she briefly took a moment to take in the seemingly endless road of stairs.

At the bottom stood a crowd of young people. Several hugged relatives who wished them good luck. Others high fived friends, boasting of success ahead of time. The one thing they all had in common was the various weapons clutched in hands and strapped to backs and sides. Those that were weaponless had gloves, telling tales of their fists being just as deadly.

Overall, the atmosphere was cheerful and full of hope. However, there was an underlying feeling of nervousness.

Climb with your own strength, a sign read at the start. Those that cannot, will return. Those that will not, shall be shamed. The warning was clear – no crystals allowed.

Adjusting her cloak, Ash started the ascent. Someone brushed by her, bumping shoulders in his rush. He didn't even bother to yell apologies as he took the steps two at a time, almost overeager to reach the top.

Ash watched the disappearing back while keeping her steady pace. The top of the stairs wasn't visible, and it didn't become any more so the further she walked.

The loud city was left behind as she continued to climb. Up, up, up, the stairs formed their own hill.

The sun rose, the heat increased. Ash felt beads of sweat build on her forehead. Her simple response was to remove her coat and bundle it under an arm.

She passed the boy who'd so energetically run by her before. He sat on the steps, panting and looked like he very much regretted his fast pace.

Ash, along with several others, continued without giving him a second glance.

The climb continued, the steps got steeper.

Though her body was far from needing exercise, Ash felt her own lungs gasping for air. Stubbornly, she kept going.

Finally, she reached the top.

A plateau stretched out, concrete floor making the heat from above bounce back and attack from the bottom. Those that had already made it seemed to care very little about this predicament as they collapsed in the heat, trying to catch their breaths. A few clutched water canteens, suddenly grateful for the water they'd cursed for its weight only previously.

Ash sank to her knees, letting her body rest. Strands of wet hair stuck to her face and her eyes were glazed from the workout. Other than the small pouch and her coat, she had brought nothing else.

Several uniformed men and woman stood at the front, calmly surveying the group of scattered youngsters.

One of the women in the middle glanced at the watch wrapped around her wrist. She turned and murmured something to a man nearby. He nodded curtly.

Ash glanced back to where the stairs were. A young man stumbled up, crawling on his hands and knees. He was sure to be one of the last. For soon those that made it would be sent back for being late.

Sitting on her butt, Ash got comfortable and gathered her breath. She took the moment to eye the various weapons that had been brought along. Swords, lances, axes, bows and arrows, the list went on. However, more worrying than the weapons were the crystals most possessed, each hidden carefully beneath their clothes to hide the color from potential competitors. What occupied Ash's mind was the thought of how many others were like her.

"Yes!" the triumphant yell made heads, including Ash's, turn.

At the top of the steps, arms thrust in the air, a young man jubilated. His curly dark hair was cropped short, clearly showing the handsome smiling face. Muscles rippled across his chocolate skin. A hilt of a sword poked over his shoulders.

"We made it!" His eyes shone with excitement.

Behind him, almost hidden by his presence, a petite girl shyly peered at the already waiting crowd. Her platinum hair hid half her face, only allowing one grey eye to peer out. No weapon was on her, at least none in sight.

"Idiot." A hand shoved the celebrating boy. "This isn't even the first step." Another boy stepped forward. Though his muscles weren't as impressive as the first, he was lean as well. Fiery red hair crowned a well-tanned face. Gloves hugged his knuckles, leaving his fingers exposed.

All three looked somewhat out of breath. Though with the way the excited one was bouncing around, it was hard to tell if he was so from the climb or from his yelling.

Eyes turned with disinterest from the newcomers who were among the last.

Ash draped a hand over a knee, her breath resuming its normal rhythm.

She just turned back to her own thoughts when the rowdy group approached her.

"This spot free?" the loud guy asked cheerfully.

Ash glanced at the bare earth beside her. She gave the slightest nod.

"Perfect." The guy dropped. "Phew! That was quite the warmup." He laughed as though he didn't have a care in the world.

The other boy sat somewhat more calmly, motioning for the girl. She hesitated, fiddling with the hem of her shirt before joining the other two.

"Don't you think so?" the loud guy asked.

With some surprise, Ash realized he was addressing her.

Though warm up wasn't what she would call the steep climb, the girl politely nodded her head.

The other boy stuck out a hand. "Name's Rowen," he informed.

Ash hesitated, somewhat take aback by his friendly nature when they'd all come here to compete, not make friends. However, she took the hand anyway.

"Ash," she shared.

"Ash?" Rowan repeated.

"Come on Rowan," the redhead reprimand. He shot Ash an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid he's a bit overeager at times." He grabbed Rowan in a headlock. "This isn't a social event," he reminded as Rowan struggled. "You could face any person here in the arena in the future. Why befriend them only to regret it?"

Ash didn't take offense at what was said, knowing full well it was the truth. However, her curiosity piqued as she regarded the three.

Rowan pulled himself free. "Well, excuse my friendliness." He scowled at the other boy. "But I don't see any harm in making new friends." He turned to smile at Ash. "Our world needs fewer porcupines and more cuddly bears, don't you think?"

Porcupines and bears? Ash's eyebrows rose in amusement at the picture used.

"This porcupine here is Mason." Rowan's eyes sparkled mischievously as he pointed to the redhead. "And our quiet princess here," his hand snaked around the petite girl and pulled her closer, "is Skyler."

Skyler lowered her head, peering timidly at Ash through her lashes.

Coming with friends, Ash wondered. What if they all make it? Are they prepared to face each other?

"We made a pact," Mason spoke, as though reading her mind.

Ash found him watching her.

"No matter what, we'll always protect each other's backs."

Protect? Ash wondered. She smiled gently. "And what happens when you face each other?"

"I like her!" Rowan moved his arm from Skyler to point at Ash. "See?" he turned to Skyler in excitement. "What did I say? Even a stranger knows we'll all make it!"

Skyler lowered her eyes, but not before Ash caught the doubt in them.

"As for if we face each other." Rowan stretched and leaned back, handsome grin still on his face. "That's a bridge that hasn't even been built yet, so why worry about crossing it at this point? We'll do that when we get there."

"If we get there," Mason reminded.

Rowan's grin widened. "When," he repeated. He turned to Ash. "From childhood the three of us," he motioned to the other two, "we've never been apart."

The greater the friendship, the harder the betrayal, a voice spoke in Ash's mind. Then again, this was none of her business.

"So," Rowan began, seeming ready to fire into the next conversation. He also seemed fully intent on pulling Ash in. However, whatever life story he was about to share, he was interrupted by loud protests.

"The time had passed." A man in uniform barred a group of newcomers.

"But, we climbed all this way!" a youth protested as he and several others tried to push by. The man in uniform simply flicked a finger.

The youth clanked against what seemed to be an invisible wall.

"Time's up," the man repeated.

"Listen up!" a voice boomed.

All heads turned to the front.

A woman with a fierce aura stepped forward. She wore the same white uniform as the others. Black buttons neatly went down the front, also decorating the cuffs and collar. A black belt was neatly clasped with a shiny silver buckle. Black polished boots hugged her legs. On her shoulders, three gold pins were proudly displayed. From her wrist, for all to see, hung a black crystal.

A captain and the highest level of crystal, Ash noted as did all the others.

Admiration and amazement filled gazes all around.

"I would congratulate you for all making it up here," the woman continued. He long hair was pulled back in a neat braid. "If it was something worth congratulating," she added with what was almost a sneer. Her eyes went to the latecomers who piped down. "Promptness is expected. Lateness not tolerated." Her eyes grew even colder. "Leave," came the command.

All protests died as those trying to join weakly withdrew. No one dared argue with someone of such power.

"Luckily, we made it," Rowan murmured.

Mason shot him a glare. "No thanks to the one who wanted to stop to talk to every single person on the way up here."

He never got a reply as the lady up front turned her attention back to the men and woman before her.

"You're here. Good." She placed her hands behind her back. "Don't expect to stay."

Glances were exchanged.

"The first round of qualifications will commence."

"First round?" several murmurs rose.

Interesting. Ash noted. She hadn't heard of there being more than one. Her eyes darted around the area. There were about one hundred hopefuls. It made sense that that number needed to be cut, especially will every province only sending a select few to the competition.

"Then, let's begin." The woman stepped to the side and made a motion.

The crystal on her arm glowed and a cluster of light appeared in the shape of a door from seemingly thin air.

"Now children," a cold smile spread across her face. "Line up and go through."

No one moved. The murmurs rose and confused looks exchanged. They had expected an explanation or something at least to give them a hint of what was to come.

"Kelton," the woman spoke as she turned to the man beside her.

"Yes, mam," the uniformed man stepped forward.

"I do believe this year's batch are all deaf," the woman told him. She turned her icy eyes back to the group. "Line up!"

The booming voice made the hopefuls jump into action.

A line formed quicker than anyone would think one hundred people could.

Ash moved slower, following the three childhood friends.

"What do you think we'll have to do?" Rowan asked.

Skyler wrung her hands.

"Let's just hope it's not anything requiring the use of one's brain," Mason muttered as his eyes hintingly stayed on his dark-haired friend.

One by one, the youths passed through the door, but not before pressing their thumbs in ink and then against a parchment held out.

Rowan turned to Ash. "Good luck!" he said.

"We'll need it more," Mason muttered as they drew closer to the door. He tapped Skyler gently on the shoulder. "If we're separated for any reason, stay low. We'll find you for sure."

The girl nodded.

Mason was the first to dab his thumb in ink and press it to the parchment. In the next moment, he turned to give Skyler an encouraging smile. It dropped when he looked at Rowan. "I'll meet you both on the other side."

Rowan saluted.

It was enough of a response to make Mason turn and calmly step into and through the flickering light. He disappeared into the darkness.

"Next," the man holding the parchment said in a monotone voice.

Skyler visibly shivered as she dipped her thumb.

Ash watched her. Why would someone so terrified be here? She couldn't help but wonder.

Despite her fear, the platinum-haired girl completed the task and, taking a large breath, stepped forward to be swallowed by the dark.

Rowan hurriedly followed her lead. However, before disappearing he turned to Ash one last time. "See you around." He winked and then was gone.

Ash stepped up. As her thumb pressed into the ink, her eyes skimmed the contents of the paper.

A few words jumped out at her. Event of death...injury...life-altering injuries...not liable

She pressed her thumbprint on the parchment without fully reading the terms. Everyone that had come knew that there was risk involved. Death wasn't unheard of, life-altering injuries common. If it occurred, no one was to blame but themselves.

Without showing a sign of hesitation, Ash stepped into the black crackling mass.

It felt like simply passing through a door. One moment she was on the plateau, the next she was standing in a field with grass that almost went to her chest. The wind rustled the plants, swaying them back and forth. Somewhere, a bird called for its mate. There was no sign of another human.

Ash didn't move, watching and waiting to see what was next.

It took some time, but then it began.

"Welcome," a voice boomed.

Ash glanced around. There was no sign of the source of the voice. In fact, it sounded like it simply came from all around.

"For the first round of qualifications we have but one simple rule." There was a pause. "Eliminate your opponents." Another pause. "Only the last thirty people standing will pass."

Ash waited for further instructions.

"Begin!" the voice instructed before going silent.

Still seeing no one, Ash walked through the grass. There were no instructions on how to eliminate someone, no help in how to move forward. Though Ash had her suspicion, moving rashly wasn't a good idea.

She reached the end of the long grass only to pause. In the field before her, a group of youth stood. They looked at each other in confusion, seeming to try deciding on how to move forward.

Ash crouched to observe.

It took a few moments before, with a yell, a boy sprang toward a girl. He didn't expect for his chosen target to react as quickly. She held out a hand, blue light flashing on her wrist.

Eyes watched as a blue force sent the unsuspecting boy fly through the air.

Crash. He landed painfully. No sound escaped him as he lay completely knocked out.

Poof!

The boy disappeared into thin air.

"Ninety-five people remaining," a voice spoke out of thin air.

Silence.

"Ninety-four," the voice spoke again as somewhere else in the area someone else must have disappeared.

As those in the area caught on, chaos erupted.

Some ran, others chased. The hunt was on.

"Ninety-three," the numbers kept going down.

Still hidden among the grass, Ash didn't move. She was well aware that this wasn't about survival of the strongest. As long as one was among the last thirty, it didn't seem to matter how many others one eliminated. That meant... The weak are going to try hide until there are only thirty left.

A presence crept into her mind.

I heard something about a hunt, a honey-like voice spoke. How about it? It probed. Shall we do everyone a favor and end this round?

"No need." Ash stood. "I'll pass this one on my own."

Several figures burst into the opening as a fight ensued.

"It's better not to reveal all our cards this early on," Ash added.

It's your choice, the voice grudgingly agreed. Just remember, these aren't some random stragglers. Most of them have trained. They're all here to win. Even as he spoke, a girl in the opening was hit with what looked like an arrow of light.

Poof!

She disappeared.

Ash's lips twitched into a smile. "I know."

The presence withdrew.

Without an ounce of fear, Ash calmly stepped into the opening. She looked neither left nor right, calmly going for the fight happening in the middle.

"Eighty-four," the voice spoke.

As she closed in on the group, Ash picked up her pace. She jogged toward her targets, body completely relaxed. She almost looked as though she was out for an afternoon run, not to join in a chaotic battle for a spot among the qualifiers. Then again, perhaps there was a good reason for her calmness. Perhaps the girl already knew that, while there were strong opponents out there, the ones in front of her were currently no match.