Book 1: Chapter 20 – Test of Speed

"Next, August Owusu of the Owusu Tribe, age fifteen," Kwame called out, his voice carrying across the gathering.

As Jabari descended the platform, his mind churned with frustration. Even after using the correct form, he still only scored a single star. Ultimately, he could only sigh, understanding that his malnourished body was playing a bigger part than he would've liked. Whilst lost in thought, though, he was startled by a deep yet youthful voice beside him.

"Good technique."

Jabari's head snapped up, and his eyes widened in surprise. Ascending the stairs he was descending was a boy who seemed more mountain than teenager. August Owusu loomed like a colossus, his height and build dwarfing not just the other children but even many of the adults.

August, unfazed by Jabari's surprise, gave a brief nod and continued his ascent up the platform, his steps steady and indifferent.

Before the invigilator could utter a word, the crowd collectively gasped. One by one, August lifted the weights as if they were mere toys, the solid metal discs rising with effortless ease.

"I remember that name now!" a boy in the crowd exclaimed. "Owusu might be his surname now, but it used to be Asare!"

A murmur of shock swept through the children.

"You mean that's August Asare?! One of the Asare princes? From the tribe that produces the greatest warriors in the entire Big Six?"

"Yeah, it's him. My family has ties to the Owusu Tribe. I heard that when he turned eight, he left the Asare Tribe and went to live with his maternal tribe."

"That doesn't make any sense," another teen said, eyes glued to the stage. "The Owusu Tribe's strong, sure, but the Asares? They're legends. Their warriors are some of the strongest in all of Ulo. Why would anyone give up that kind of training?"

"No idea," the boy responded with a shrug. "But look at him. Who else but an Asare could pull that off?"

Jabari turned his attention back to the stage. August had just lifted the 135-kilogram weight casually, almost carelessly. Only when he reached the 150-kilogram mark did he pause, shifting into a more precise stance. Jabari's eyes narrowed as he recognised the form. It was the same technique he'd used earlier.

With the proper positioning, August powered through the next few weights with mechanical efficiency, only faltering at the 180-kilogram weight. He didn't bother with a second or third attempt. Instead, he descended the steps without sparing the invigilator so much as a glance.

"August Owusu of the Owusu Tribe: Test of Strength – five stars. Congratulations!" Kwame's declaration ignited the first standing ovation of the trials.

August remained unmoved. His expression was that of someone who found the applause irrelevant. As he strode through the crowd, the children instinctively parted for him, creating a clear path as if compelled by his sheer presence.

The remainder of the test proceeded without further surprises. A few of the older teens managed to cross the hundred-kilogram threshold, but none came close to August's score – or even Danso's. Most results fell comfortably within the two to three-star range.

Finally, Kwame stepped back onto the platform, his expression stern yet satisfied. "That concludes the first test. Congratulations to you all on your efforts. Some of you achieved impressive results, but don't let it go to your heads just yet. None of you even came close to the record of three hundred kilograms."

The number hit Jabari like a slap. His brows shot up as he recalled how much he'd struggled with the fifty-kilogram weight. Even August, with his monstrous strength, hadn't passed one hundred and eighty.

'Three hundred kilos?! That's insane!'

"Who set that record?" a voice from the crowd asked, unable to contain their curiosity.

"That record," Kwame said, his eyes sweeping across the young hopefuls, pausing briefly on August, "was set by Yafeu Asare, the Crown Prince of the Asare Tribe."

The moment the name left Kwame's lips, Jabari sensed something shift. August, who stood a short distance away, barely moved, yet his presence seemed to change. His posture tensed, and his jaw tightened.

It was for the briefest of moments, but Jabari noticed it clearly.

'Yafeu Asare...' The name echoed in his mind as he stole another glance at the giant beside him.

For the first time since the trials began, August Owusu no longer seemed so indifferent.

"I only bring that up to remind you that there's always someone out there who's better than you. Now isn't the time to sit back and relax." Kwame's sharp gaze swept over the gathered youths. "Next, we move on to the Test of Speed. Like the Test of Strength, this is a straightforward challenge.

"When your name is called, you and nine others will step forward and take your positions at the starting line behind me. When I give the command, you will sprint the full length of the one-hundred-metre track as fast as you can while remaining in your designated lanes.

"If you're caught straying into someone else's lane, one second will be added to your total time. If your lane-hopping obstructs another participant, you'll automatically receive a one-star score – regardless of how fast you actually were.

"Now, let me explain the scoring. A time of 14 seconds or slower earns you one star. If you finish between 13 and 13.99 seconds, that's two stars. Running it in 12 to 12.99 seconds gets you three stars. Those who finish in 11 to 11.99 seconds receive four stars. And if you manage to complete the race in 10.99 seconds or faster, you'll secure a top score of five stars.

"Oh, and for those of you curious about the record," Kwame added with a small smile, "It stands at an astounding 9.32 seconds – set three years ago by the Crown Prince of the Khaldun Tribe, Zuberi Khaldun, when he was just thirteen."

Jabari's eyes widened at the announcement.

'The Khaldun Tribe's Crown Prince? Wouldn't that make him Heba's brother?'

Even Inayah, who didn't fully grasp how remarkable it was to run that fast at such a young age, tilted her head curiously toward the hooded princess beside her.

"Little Zuzu is my baby brother," Heba whispered softly enough for only Inayah to hear. "He's quite the talented warrior."

Inayah could feel the quiet pride laced through Heba's words. It wasn't just coming from the princess either; her two guards, standing like statues behind her, seemed to radiate the same sentiment. The mention of Zuberi's record stirred something within them – as though they'd been the ones praised.

"He's not as talented as my brother, though," Inayah said, her voice rising in playful defiance.

Heba chuckled at the girl's innocent declaration, then shifted her attention back to the trials.

The first group of ten approached the track, drawing the attention of the entire colosseum. The reason for the crowd's anticipation stood near the centre of the line: Danso Musa, the young master of the Musa Tribe and one of the clear favourites to win.

"On your marks," Kwame called.

Danso bent forward, muscles coiled beneath his skin.

"Get set."

The air seemed to still.

"Go!"

Danso exploded from the starting line, his powerful strides propelling him into an early lead. Step by step, the gap between him and the others grew wider until he crossed the finish line in a blistering 11.89 seconds.

"Four stars!" Kwame announced, and the crowd roared its approval. Two tests, two four-star scores.

The next group followed swiftly, with the crowd's attention now fixed on Chantelle, the older sister of the boy prodigy, Jamal.

The moment the race began, Chantelle surged forward with smooth, efficient strides. She pushed herself relentlessly, her brow furrowed with concentration as she charged toward the finish line.

"12.08 seconds!" Kwame declared.

The crowd erupted again – she'd narrowly missed a four-star result but had still impressed everyone present with her strong three-star finish.

The next race had the entire colosseum leaning forward in anticipation. Though ten trialists stepped onto the track, all eyes were locked on just two: the Shura Tribe's young prodigy, Jamal Marley, and the tribe's icy enigma, Azurian.

"You might've beaten me in the strength test," Jamal declared, his voice brimming with arrogance as he shot a smug grin at his opponent. "But when it comes to speed, you don't stand a chance."

Azurian turned his gaze toward Jamal – cold, detached, and uninterested – before looking away without a word.

The dismissive gesture was like a slap to Jamal's pride. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding in barely restrained frustration. But as Kwame raised his hand to signal the start, Jamal's expression shifted. Every ounce of irritation vanished, replaced by laser-sharp focus.

"On your marks...

Get set...

Go!"

The pair exploded off the starting line like twin bolts of lightning, instantly leaving the other eight trialists behind. Their feet hammered the ground in a blur, their bodies cutting through the air with ferocious speed. Yet, even amidst the spectacle of their race, the outcome quickly became clear.

Azurian surged forward with remarkable efficiency, crossing the finish line in an impressive 11.46 seconds – securing a four-star score and even surpassing Danso's time.

But the spotlight belonged to Jamal.

His chest hit the finish line just over a second earlier, and when Kwame announced the time, the colosseum erupted.

"Jamal Marley of the Shura Tribe: 10.56 seconds – Five stars!"

The crowd leapt to its feet, roaring with approval as Jamal raised a triumphant fist. His time wasn't just the fastest of the day; it was a declaration of dominance. And the fact that he was only twelve made the achievement even more remarkable.

Despite his frustration over Azurian's indifference, Jamal soaked in the applause, letting the thunderous ovation soothe his bruised pride.

The races that followed paled in comparison. Though a few trialists performed admirably, none came close to matching Jamal's feat. The colosseum's excitement began to wane until Kwame called out the next name.

"August Owusu of the Owusu Tribe!"

The murmur of disinterest instantly transformed into eager whispers. All attention turned to the colossal teenager who had left the crowd in awe during the Test of Strength.

August stepped to the starting line, towering over the other competitors. His expression remained unchanged – detached, indifferent, as though the event was nothing more than a tedious formality.

"On your marks...

Get set...

Go!"

The racers sprang forward, legs pumping furiously. August's long strides helped him establish an early lead, but his size, which had been such an advantage in the strength test, seemed less suited for this particular challenge. His pace remained steady but lacked the explosive acceleration of the others.

He crossed the line in 13.12 seconds – earning a respectable two-star score and comfortably taking first in his heat.

The crowd's reaction was subdued. For most participants, a two-star time would have been met with nods of approval, perhaps even mild applause. But August wasn't just any participant. After his earlier feat, expectations had soared to impossible heights. The lack of a similarly superhuman display left the audience quietly disappointed.

August, however, remained completely unaffected. He walked back to his position without a flicker of emotion, ignoring the curious stares of his peers and the murmurs from the stands.

The giant of the Owusu Tribe had proven he was human, after all.