The gauntlet

Masashi looked at Fargal and pulled out a gauntlet and a broken sword. He tossed the sword at his feet and said," I ordered this from your family's smithy and this is what happened to it while merely training. If I had used this during the upcoming exam I might of died. How would you have compensated my family when we all know your family is in danger of being driven into the wilderness. Remember who keeps your family together and don't disappoint me. I came here because I tried to convince my family to spare you but they have decided a challenge must be made." He throws down the gauntlet. "You have until the exam in three days to fix this sword and make me new armor."

He turned and left leaving Fargal looking at Shi who had made himself seen. " How could he expect me to do this order? It took months to gather the material needed last time and this armor. Look at this design and the materials asked for. I guess I better start asking around. By the way I just realized I have not looked at your information."

Fargal calls up the screen and looks at it quickly and stops at one of the traits.

" Wait what is this? You can smell special ores and can distinguish between them through solid rock. I guess we better go hunting or my family and me will be dead."

They both set off with Shi making sure he is not seen. Everyone doesn't pay attention to Fargal since he is carrying his tools and a few recovered beasts.

After a few hours of walking, they reach the base of the mountain. Fargal released the beasts and Shi appeared again.

"Fargal, there appears to be special ores all along the mountain and down here too. How about you tell me about this exam?"

"Well it's the final exam and last step in getting our Tamer license. It's also where other schools compete. The nations of this region use it as a way to settle conflicts and maintain the current power structure. It's been this way for a few hundred years dating back to the founding of the Academy at the start of the Third Era. Whoever wins by getting the most points that winners nation gets the controlling interest in all trade agreements. As you can probably guess my nation hasn't won in centuries. The humans and their cohorts usually do."

As Fargal was talking, Shi stopped moving and looked around. Why did it feel like they were being watched? Who would follow them out to such a remote location and then Shi realized this had to be a trap.

"Drop your tools and hand over that beast. That's a very large fortune you got there. How did you get your hands on such a good contract," a familiar voice said," I was just going to kill you in the exam and blame it on accidents but with that beast I think I will break your legs and arms first. Then you won't be able to stop my taking it."

From out behind the rocks steps Masahi and his group of followers. Twenty people circle them and Masashi calls out his beast along with the others and the followers begin the fight with Fargal and Shi.

Fargal looks at Shi and thinks,"(I hope you know how to fight. I only have what they taught me in Tamer school.") Shi looks at the others and assumes a stance in front of Fargal. The other beasts appear and can be seen clearer. Some mutated bears and lions barely qualifying as Beasts. They give off auras as the Tamers begin to chant under their breath and the effects take hold of their beasts.

Shi looks at Fargal and says out loud," Now it's time to see why the only Tamer I trust is you." He charges forward into the first wave of beasts and throws a punch at the first beast. He looks at Masahi and at the Tamers and laughs as his punch connects with the mutant lion. The lion's shoulder visibly shrinks as the sound of impact spreads out. The lion tries to claw with its good left leg but the claws just scrap against the scales.

Shi laughs more as his eyes seem to change color as something seems to begin to take root in his body. "Oh you idiot Tamers, I am going to enjoy this more than you know." He swings his massive trunk and connects with the injured lion and the Tamers hear the sound of bones crunching as the lion gets shot like a cannon straight ahead. The bloody dead body embeds itself in the rocky mountain side as Shi begins to rampage.

As the first enemy dies,Shi feels a strange sensation and so does Fargal as power seems to flow into them both. Shi looks at the next few and lets his claws loose as he swipes at the next set of lions. He leaves long gouges in their sides as he bites down on one of their shoulders. The taste seems to trigger another effect and Fargal sees a screen pop up..

[You are what you eat activating..... 20 potential tier 0 and 2 potential tier 1 souls sensed in a hundred feet. One tier 0 lion flesh consumed. Trait is evolving... Tier adjustment under way. ]

Fargal looks at the scene and is thinking what's going on. He feels like his body has gotten stronger and his body is trying to change. Is this what it feels like to be a true tamer? He sees the people and says," Are you not afraid of what will happen if we fight?You already have your beasts and training. Why take from me and plot to kill me? You all have connections and your family name."

Shi seems to be fighting like demon as he takes out his childhood angry on these humans who are acting just like the one who slaughtered his family for fun. Blood and bits of beast are scattered as far as the eye can see. His scales seem to be changing color and his speed and ferocity seem to be increasing as he kills. He didn't notice Fargal stop or the notification talking about the change. Vengeance would be his and he would break the backs of these humans right here so they never come against him again.

Lost to his blood lust and a killing intent so strong that the humans seem to collapse to their knees. If Fargal had noticed he would of seen the mountain trail and the areas for miles around being affected as beasts fled or hid.

The gauntlet had been tossed by this group and they are witnessing something only talked of in legend. They are witnessing self-evolution on a grand scale. They knew that to become Tamers they had to understand what makes tiered beasts different but there was a theory floated around during the first era of tamers that emotions could provide a possible stronger means to evolve than random mutation or the other methods of creating a beast.

Before them now stood a phenomenal experience that should be giving them awe but it instead made them run for their lives. What Fargal said was true for the lackeys of this "noble" person if they died here what use would it be. Least if they die during the exam their families get compensated but to die alone on some hill for nothing but to curry favor and perhaps even make this monster stronger. Where is the logic in loyalty?

With that the twenty lackeys ran for their lives as if demons were chasing them. Masashi saw this and said," Fargal I do this because I want to and you think a few parlor tricks will save you. Those weak hearted fools ran but I will kill you here with your own blade and then show your corpse to the guards at the mountain base."

He pulled out his swords and looked at Fargal," Time to duel and see what you know."