Testing and Challenges

Dante is sitting in class doing work but his mind can't focus. The media has started up about the contest like usual and with everything he finds himself getting excited. As he fumbles with it he feels a soft pressure against his arm and looks over. Amy smiles and writes it proper for him. "Come on Dante, don't let your excitement mess up your work." he smiles and nods as she leans back to resume her work "Oh yeah, I have a few new outfits so will we be home tonight?"

Johnny laughs as he sees Erica leading in some of the others and nods his head. "Okay, so you are the ones needing adjustments?" as they all nod he smiles "We shall make you steal all the focus and afterwards your skills will knock them out!" he nods and claps as several around get started while he smiles "You will be marvelous like your leader."

Stan is sitting at lunch and going over the market with a few others. They are looking at prices and he looks up sighing. They have slowed down doing hunts because of so many reasons and he is looking at a few items. "We need to get hunting so I can buy some new gear." Ben looks over and thinks as he nods with a smile "We just need to get out and do some quick ones is all."

Carter looks up and laughs seeing first the audience coming in so he heads out then after a little while the stars of the show are showing up. Dante is leading his team in while they are talking. Most of their conversations are not about the class or contest but other things, presently shoes.

Molly calls out and Dante looks up as she smiles in response. He waves as she has a giant smile and he looks ahead then nods to Carter walking over. "Quick question Carter high heel shoes or high heel boots? Which one looks better on a lady?"

Carter looks and thinks of a few he knows. "The boots, shoes are fancy but a nice high heel boot goes with gear better." Dante nods and smiles as he heads back to the group and Carter laughs. Looking to everyone he motions and the testers who came today step out. "Okay everyone we have contest testers here today to verify you all are capable to join in."

Dante looks over and after a slow panning he nods. "So do we fight them Carter or is this machine work instead?" when he says fights Dante nods and looks to his group "Who wishes to fight with them? Just so you know these are all intermediate Patrollers and Hunters."

They look to each other and wonder how he could tell that from his looking to them. One smiles liking this kid and figures he must be the Monster of the school they heard about. "Some information you need before you pick. We each will fight one or two of you, your captain must fight, and unless you pass a certain threshold we will decline your admission."

Dante looks to them and seeing eight he nods. They need a minimum of likely twelve good fights and him too. He nods as the count is good but he has faith in his team. "Okay everyone this will be our first test for this contest so we will treat this like a hunt. Failure is the same as death so keep your head and don't forget even if you need to fall back, we stand behind you."

He nods then motions as Dante leads his group up and everyone lines up before the man speaks. "You have a record but to us you are just students and we will treat you the same as we do the rest." Dante gets a smile as a few snicker hoping to have the cocky kid called a Beast "Now, we know you have classes so we will do these tests as quick as we can."

Dante nods and calls out names pointing out various people as he sets up two for each person then looks to the man who has been speaking. "I leave who faces me up to you all. I will enjoy whoever fights me. With every fight I learn more about fighting and myself." The man gets a smile and nods as Dante motions the rest move sitting down.

Onya slams off the ground nearly as high as she is tall before falling back down as she skids sideways sliding on the ground. The man who was caught off guard in the previous fight he had went all out on her. She is shaking as she is fighting to get up but before he can close in Dante is at her side on his knee calling the fight. She looks up as her head comes down and tears stream down her face as she cries. "I am sorry Dante."

Dante pulls her close and gives her a vial with her in his arms. "You are amazing and even with him taking out his frustrations on you, you still did a praiseworthy job." she buries her face in his chest as Dante stands up and looks over his shoulder "Pray, you are not my prey." Dante turns and carries her out of the combat area as the man glares and heads back sitting down.

Dennis looks over as the man went beyond too far in that fight but Dante's words make him worry. When Carter comes up and advises him to not have that man face Dante his attention is focused. For his teacher to warn him after Dante's words, this kid is may be as deadly as the reports say. "You took out your last fight on another and embarrassed us. We are professionals and these kids acted with more honor than you."

One of the others looks up as she has been in both of her fights and while neither was to challenging both did impress her and she gave passing marks for them. "If you don't mind, may I face their captain?" he looks to her and asks why "Honestly there are so many stories about him that I want to push and see if I can find the truth."

Dante comes out after the last fight and as the man laughed out asking if he was going to cry like his pet Dante is silent. The one who is going to face him glared over as this was provoking him and she wished to test him not set him off. Carter comes out into the arena and steps before Dante pulling his focus. "Dante, he is mad he doesn't get to face you so don't be petty like him and treat your opponent with the respect they earn. She asked to face you as a warrior so face her in kind."

Dante closes his eyes and breathes a few times as his eyes open he nods smiling. "Yeah, shouldn't let small bugs get me worked up." Carter nods and walks off as he nods to her and she smiles looking to Dante feeling he seems different than before "I am sorry miss. My name is Dante and I will be your partner for this dance." he bows with a flourish as she smiles "Please, shall we enjoy this and afterwards perhaps we can hunt together?"

She spins out as he throws his arms into her leg and jerks his body as his left leg comes up in a sharp knee for her side. She blocks and seems to flow like water as he swings backwards to avoid her counterattack. They have been dancing and a few think this is more an erotic dance than a fight with how they are so close and moving against each other. Most don't know how hard they are both trying to knock the other's head off.

Dante sweeps but she steps over his leg straddling his hip as he catches both arms and rolls to throw her. She grabs his wrists pulling him after her so first she moves than he lands as they are holding each other front to front as each tries to hook the other's legs since their arms are tied.

Dante after a bit stops being so serious and starts to smile as she does as well. He begins to move differently and suddenly she finds herself suddenly going more defensive. His legs and body seems to now be embracing her as she finds herself working twice as hard while he seems to be coiling about her almost.

Tabitha looks over and motions. "Um does it look like Dante and her are, you know?" a few blink and say they are not sure but maybe "This is, interesting."

She finally can't take it and tries to step closer to take his legs as she finds herself stuck in his embrace. She can only look to his eyes as her heart is pounding from the fight and not, the heat she sees reflected in those eyes. "Well, I find myself at a loss." he nods as she smiles "Going to let me go?" he shakes his head as she grins "Another time, Dante." he says name "Judy."

He has watched their fight and as she comes over he looks to her. "Rather amazed you lost in a clutched close quarter fight." she looks over and blushes some as he laughs "Yeah. Not sure what fighting style he was using but after that one point he seemed to move almost before you."

He looks over and grunts. "All we got from that fight is he studied her and knew her strengths and played to them. We should test him in a more formal fight like what will be in the contests." Dennis sighs and looks to him "How about another one of us fight, maybe you or me?"

Dante's voice calls out. "You shouldn't ask to fight me after how you disrespected my second in command."

He starts to laugh out and points. "You have someone that weak as your second? What sort of pathetic group are you leading?" he is still laughing as Dante slowly smiles and nods gesturing for him to step out "Well if you ask then how can I say no?"

Dennis goes to talk but with that he can't argue as the man got his wish and provoked him until he got to face him. Carter is walking out as Dante just shakes his head and Carter stops shaking his head. "I have vials ready Dante so don't kill him please?"

Dante looks over with a soft smile on his face as he laughs some. "I can't promise some things Carter." as Carter looks to him he goes to head forward and Dante laughs out shaking his head "Not this time my friend, he wants me after all." he looks to the man laughing while he shakes his head and sighs out with a big smile "Perhaps, I can go a little this match?"

Carter moves up and looks to Dennis. "Get your group ready, we might need to interrupt this fight." he looks to him as he looks to Dante "If Dante is pushed too far we may not be able to."