The moment Aura arrived at the rendezvous point, she noticed the crowd of people surrounding three obelisk.
Humanoid in appearance, all with distinct features unique to their race, chatter filled the air as races and teams met for conversation and the exchange of information, while others interacted with the mission and shop obelisks.
The trial voice greeted her group as she stepped into the area.
[Welcome participants, congratulations on reaching the rendezvous point. Teams' points will now be calculated and displayed.]
Aura's suit screen appeared on wrist displayed the following.
[Team Points
Aura: 1670
Navi: 1315
Lucas: 1245
Kai: 1240
Total points: 5470]
I wonder if this is a lot… it seems we can spend them… I guess we need to see what we can exchange them for… Aura mused as she viewed the points they had been given.
Her thoughts were interrupted by several shouts and the sounds of a commotion in the crowd. She looked up as the crowd fell silent, and she realized everyone was now watching them.
Well, this is awkward… maybe… she thought as she glanced at the Trial Points Obelisk, and the reason for the attention they were receiving became apparent… Well, I guess we made an entrance… Aura thought as she viewed the score leaderboard.
Trial Points
Aura: 1670
Navi: 1315
Lucas: 1245
Kai: 1240
Zarir: 1240
Elidor: 1235
Zahava: 1230
Aurelia: 1230
Luan: 987
Sambra: 894
Her teammates and the Solaryns had taken over the top eight positions by a noticeable margin.
"Why is everyone staring at us? It's creepy," Kai voiced, breaking the silence.
"Idiot, look at the scoreboard," Lucas and Navi responded at the same time.
"Oh… huh… no way, Navi actually lost… he's not MVP… yes, finally… your winning streak has ended," Kai yelled, clearly excited.
Navi and Lucas looked at Kai, speechless for a moment. "Navi, I think the last battle short-circuited his brain," Lucas stated.
"What brain? He never had one to begin with," Navi said, shaking his head.
"Hey… I do have a brain," Kai defended.
"No, you don't," Navi and Lucas chorused, as a round of friendly banter ensued.
Aura smiled quietly as she watched her team's antics. She noticed the crowd's attention move away from them, conversation and chatter picking up again… probably in response to being labeled creepy… she thought with an giggle. Still, she noticed several individuals still watching their group.
Aura left her teammates to debate whether Kai actually had a brain and made her way through the crowd toward the obelisk, choosing to look at the trial shop first.
She approached the obelisk and heard the trial's voice.
[Welcome participant to the Trial Shop. Here you can exchange points for items useful during the trial. Touch the obelisk to display the items list.]
Aura touched the obelisk, and a screen similar to the one on her wrist appeared on its surface with a list of items that was surprisingly short.
Rations - 5 points
Med Kit - 25 points
Weapons Exchange (expand tab for details) - 50 points
Spell Exchange (expand tab for details) - 50 points
Full Suit Mana Restore - 100 points
Tent - 200 points
Not much on offer… we should all get the suit mana restore, though, since all of us are out…she thought, making a note to tell the others… Guess the next stop is missions… she continued analyzing as she moved to the aforementioned obelisk. She was once again greeted by the trial's familiar voice.
[Welcome participant to trial missions. Here you can choose a mission to improve your trial score. Please be aware that all missions are optional. You can either accept a mission or wait until the trial timer ends.]
[Current missions available:
1. Kill void spawn of specified number (amount decided based on current performance)
2. Help set up evacuation areas.
3. Help defend evacuation areas.
4. Help defend native settlements under attack.
5. Help rescue efforts in overrun boulder town settlements.
6. Help close void rifts
You may select more than one mission at a time]
I'll need to discuss this with the others… she thought as she closed the screen and turned around, making her way back through the crowd toward her team.
However, her route was blocked by a group of stocky-built individuals with stone-like skin and onyx-colored eyes. Chloe's voice echoed in her head.
[They are Karythars from Karathos, an unawakened planet like yours, but rugged, covered with obsidian quarries.]
Aura looked up at the Karythars… please don't be what I think it is… she pleaded silently as she asked, "Can I help you?"
One of the particularly large Karythars stepped forward. "Your points, how did you acquire so many?" he demanded, not bothering to disguise his blatant hostility.
Aura sighed… here we go, there's always at least one stupid or jealous individual… "I have no idea what the criteria for awarding points are; you would be better off asking your AI or the trials AI if it will answer," she replied.
She noticed shock flicker across the Karythar's face; her answer seemed to stun him, as if the idea had never occurred to him… probably hadn't… she thought, shaking her head as she moved to walk past him.
"I haven't finished…" the Karythar began as he placed a firm hand on Aura's shoulder, squeezing hard in an attempt to stop her from leaving. As pain laced through her shoulder, Aura reacted on instinct; she reached up, grabbed the Karythar's thumb, and twisted it back. A sharp crack echoed as it broke, forcing him to let go. At the same time, she maneuvered out of reach, creating distance between them.
"Aghhh…" the Karythar yelled as he cradled his hand… stupid, soft skin… he thought, reaching for the axe across his back with his other hand. "I'll make you pay for that," he said as he took a step forward, but froze along with everyone else as a golden light bathed the area.
[Fighting between participants is forbidden. This will be your only warning; any future incidents will be met with immediate expulsion from the trial.]
The light faded, and everyone was able to move again. Aura relaxed her stance; the Karythar glared at her. "This isn't over," he threatened.
Aura sighed… great, now I have idiots to worry about as well… "Yeah, whatever," she replied as she turned away and continued walking to meet her teammates, who were heading toward her.
"What was that about?" asked Navi as he reached her.
"Nothing, just someone jealous of our points," she replied. "It's been dealt with."
"They hurt you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
Aura smiled. "They tried; it didn't go so well for them."
"Aww, damn… a smackdown would have been good entertainment," Kai said, clearly disappointed at the missed opportunity.
"Where are the Solaryns?" asked Aura.
"They are over there talking to other participants of their race," Lucas said, pointing them out in the crowd.
Aura gazed over to where Lucas indicated and saw Zarir and the others with a group of Solaryns deep in conversation… I'll talk to them later… she thought, not wanting to interrupt, as she turned back and addressed everyone. "We should find a place so we can discuss what the obelisks offer, and we also have a decision to make."
"Okay, let's find a quiet spot at the edge of the rendezvous point." Suggested Navi
No one object and Aura followed Navi to look for a place, Lucas and Kai trailing behind them.