Zataria's Last Light
Chapter 49: The Lith Challenge Continues!

Chapter 49: The Lith Challenge Continues!

Himitsu: (To himself) Alright, I need to make this count!

Yoshi: (Chuckling) Don’t screw up!

Yoshi and his crew laugh as Kono approaches Himitsu.

Kono: Himitsu.

Himitsu turns to Kono.

Himitsu: Huh?

Kono: Don’t stress too much, okay? It’s just a game. If we lose, we lose; if we win, we win.

Himitsu smiles.

Himitsu: (Slaps his face) ALRIGHT! LET’S DO THIS!

Himitsu stands behind the white line, takes a deep breath, pulls his arm back, and swings it forward.

Himitsu: UROOAHHHHH!!

As Himitsu throws the javelin, Lith’s crew is left in shock as a gust of air rushes past them.

Lith: Woah.

Yoshi: (Irritated) Tch!!

Sai: Where did that come from?

Reiji: WOW...

As the javelin lands, Junko looks at the number it landed on and gasps.

Junko: Ugh... It’s, uhhh.

Daru: Well, spit it out already!

Zodiac: Hurry up and say it!

Ohma: I have a feeling he did great!

Gram: Come on, come on!

Junko: It’s 106 meters...

Lith: WHAT!

Yoshi: Uh—HOW!?

Mako: He pretty much doubled his previous score!

Reiji: He is one talented guy.

Yoshi hits Reiji on the head.

Reiji: Ouch!!

Yoshi: IDIOT!!

Kono: 106 METERS!!

Ohma: You’re amazing, HIMITSU!!

Ohma takes a deep breath.

Ohma: AHHHHHH!!

Gram: UHHH, MY EARS!!

Himitsu: (Yelling over Ohma) THANK YOU!

Ohma stops yelling.

Zodiac: Ohma, I’m seriously considering killing you.

Gram looks at Daru, whose hair is blown out like an afro, and begins to laugh uncontrollably.

Gram: HAHAH!!

Everyone notices Daru’s hair resembling an afro.

Souta: You know, that hairstyle really suits you; it brings out your eyes (laughs).

Mako: Good one!

Lith and the others laugh as Daru stands there with his arms crossed, visibly annoyed. He glares at Gram and grabs him by the throat.

Gram: HAHA (Scared) AHHHH!!

Daru shakes his hair, returning it to normal.

Daru: You really think this is funny?

Gram: Umm... a little.

Daru flicks Gram in the head, causing a pimple to appear on his forehead.

Gram: AHH!! Ouch, that hurt!

Zodiac starts chuckling.

Gram: What are you laughing about?

Kono: You have a pimple on your forehead.

Gram: WHAT!!

Gram places his hand on his forehead, feeling the bump.

Gram: (Crying) AHH!! I’M SO UGLY NOW!! NO GIRLS WILL WANT ME!

Souta: Lith, this crew is a bunch of fools!

Lith: I know, and that’s why we’re going to beat them once and for all to show them their place.

Mako: I like the sound of that!

Junko: Alright, Yoshi, it’s your turn.

Yoshi: Good!

Himitsu: Don’t mess up! (smiles)

Yoshi: Shut up!

Himitsu chuckles.

Yoshi picks up a javelin, positions himself behind the white line, pulls back his arm, and throws it. Junko runs alongside the javelin to observe its landing. When it finally strikes the ground, it measures 107 meters.

Junko: (smiling) Uhh, that’s 107 meters!!

Ohma: What!

Sai: Yes!!!

Kono: No way!

Himitsu: HOW! Just one meter ahead of me.

Daru: He has serious power.

Zodiac: Yeah, he definitely does.

Gram: (tearfully) My forehead! I HATE YOU, DARU!!

Daru: Yeah, yeah, shut up.

Gram: (crying) Ahhh.

Lith: Excellent job, Yoshi!

Yoshi: Oh, it’s nothing. I’m accustomed to winning against ranked opponents.

Daru: For someone who throws such a short distance, you sure have a big mouth.

Zodiac: I think he has worse anger issues than Gram.

Gram: Hey!

Yoshi: Huh! Come again!

Zodiac: I’m sure you heard me just fine.

Ohma: Yeah!! Get owned by Sir Zodiac and Sir Daru!

Zodiac and Daru give Ohma serious looks.

Ohma: Oh shoot, sorry!

Himitsu: I’ll take it from here!

Kono: Huh?

Himitsu: I’m going to win this, don’t worry.

Gram: (touching his bump and crying) It’s so big... WHY!!

Ohma: You can do this, Himitsu, Sir!

Himitsu: (laughs) Uhh... you don’t need to call me sir, Ohma.

Ohma: Okay, sir—I mean, right-hand man to Zodiac, Himitsu!

Himitsu has a blank expression.

Zodiac: Go show him.

Daru: (excited) Yes! Demonstrate your strength!

Himitsu: Uhh... yes, I will attempt to use all my strength for this final throw!

Yoshi: No pressure.

Souta: You can forfeit now if you wish.

Reiji: No, don’t give up! You’ve got this!

Lith playfully hits Reiji on the head.

Reiji: Ouch!!

Lith: Don’t choke, Himitsu.

Himitsu picks up his final javelin, stands behind the white line, and closes his eyes.

Himitsu: (talking to himself) Alright, Himitsu, you can do this; channel all your power into this throw.

Junko: Huh, he’s praying? If I were in his position, I would do the same.

Himitsu pulls back the javelin and swings his arm forward to throw it. Just as he is about to release it, he holds on a bit too long, and it lands at 70 meters.

Junko: Hahaha! 70 meters!

Lith’s crew bursts into laughter. Himitsu bows his head as he approaches Kono and the others.

Himitsu: I-I’m sorry, guys.

Ohma places a reassuring hand on Himitsu’s shoulder, prompting Himitsu to look up at him.

Ohma: I know you’re not a knight, but you can’t let a loss defeat you; it’s a lesson to learn from.

Himitsu: Thank you, Ohma.

Ohma: Anytime! (Smiles.)

Kono: Nice try, Himitsu; you gave it your all.

Himitsu glances at Zodiac and Daru.

Himitsu: I’m sorry...

Daru: Like Ohma said, you learn from your losses.

Zodiac: A loss is a loss; you failed.

Daru: You need to relax.

Himitsu: No, he’s correct; a loss is a loss. I need to improve. For now, I will train harder.

Zodiac: Doubt that’ll work either.

Daru: You’re a real jerk.

Zodiac: Whatever.

Mako: (Laughs) Do they always argue like this?

Gram: (Touching his bump) Maybe if I don’t touch it, it will heal faster.

Daru: Can you please stop complaining about your bump?

Gram: WELL, I WOULDN’T BE COMPLAINING IF YOU HADN’T FLICKED ME ON THE FOREHEAD!

Daru: (Annoyed) I’m seriously considering punching him.

Yoshi: Well, it appears to be my final turn!

Lith: Hey, Yoshi.

Yoshi turns to Lith.

Yoshi: What’s up?

Lith: Show them.

Yoshi: (Smiles) With pleasure.

Kono: "Show them?" What does that mean?

Ohma: I’m not sure, but it doesn’t sound promising.

Kono: Yeah, I agree.

Yoshi approaches the javelin, picks it up, stands behind the white line, and pulls the javelin back once more. As he does, wind begins to swirl around his hand gripping the javelin.

Ohma: What the?

Kono: He’s using his powers!?

Zodiac: This is not good.

Daru: Let’s see what all that power is about.

Himitsu: (To himself) Of course he has powers!

Gram: It’s getting bigger!! (Crying)

Yoshi takes a deep breath as he throws the javelin, creating a dent in the ground beneath him. The javelin flies out of the stadium.

Daru: Holy shit!

Zodiac: Wow...

Ohma: Remarkable!

Kono: We have definitely lost this one.

Himitsu: What power!

Lith: That’s Yoshi for you (smirking).

Reiji: YEAH, YOSHI!!

Souta: I knew that idiot wasn’t going to win.

Sai: I’m ready for the next event.

Mako: Me too! Let’s start!

As everyone prepares for the next challenge, Gram applies dirt to his forehead in an attempt to alleviate the bump.

Gram: Come on, work! Ouch!... Ouch! Ouch!!

Ohma: Excuse me, Gram, what are you doing?

Gram: I’M TRYING TO GET THIS STUPID PIMPLE OFF MY FOREHEAD THAT DARU GAVE ME!!

Kono: You’re using dirt on your face. I don’t think that will help.

Gram: It has to work! IT HAS TO!!

Souta: He is so weird...

Lith: In any case, we emerged victorious, so it’s Scarlet Crew 1 and Maivelance Crew 0.

Himitsu: Scarlet Crew?

Daru: That’s your crew’s name?

Lith: Yes, is there a problem with that?

Junko & Mako: Yeah, is there?

Ohma: Oh...

Zodiac: That sounds rather foolish.

Sai: You got a problem!?!

Zodiac glares at Sai.

Zodiac: Yeah, I do because you guys are taking too long to start the next event.

Lith: He’s right; we’re taking too long. Let’s start the next one.

Souta: Good!

Ohma: Yeah!!!

Gram: (Crying) It’s still not going down!!

Junko: Alright, the next challenge will be...

Junko surveys everyone, determining the next competitors.

Junko: Aha! The next competitors will be Reiji and Daru.

Daru: PERFECT!

Reiji: YES!!!

Kono: You’ve got this, Daru!

Ohma: You’re going to do great, Sir Daru.

Daru: Ohma!

Ohma: Sorry!

Zodiac: Good luck.

Daru: Yeah.

Junko: Now that we know who will be competing next, let me explain the challenge. Do you see those two large gray balls on the track? (points)

Everyone turns to look at them.

Daru: Is that the challenge?

Junko: Yes, but please don’t interrupt me again.

Daru: Whatever.

Junko: Those gray balls weigh 130 kg.

Ohma: That’s a lot of weight.

Zodiac: Yeah, it is.

Lith: Reiji better win this.

Mako: He will. He might be a bit slow, but Reiji is one of the strongest among us.

Sai: He’ll win.

Junko: Your objective is to—

Daru: I don’t need the instructions; just tell me how many laps.

Junko: Uh, it’s 2 laps. You really don’t want the rest of the instructions?

Daru: No, I don’t. Just start it.

Junko: Hmm... Very well, get behind the balls, and I will count you down.

Daru and Reiji move to position themselves behind the gray balls to begin.

Zodiac: This idiot!

Kono: What’s wrong, Zodiac?

Gram: I think it’s finally happening.

Ohma: No, it’s still huge, Gram.

Gram: Shut up, Ohma!

Ohma: Sorry!

Gram starts crying as he collapses to the floor.

Gram: It’s never going to go away! I won’t be able to attract any girls now... CURSE YOU, DARU!!

Himitsu: Calm down, Gram.

Gram: I can’t calm down, Himitsu.

Himitsu: Uh...

Zodiac: My problem is that Daru does not strategize before entering battle or consider the potential outcomes; he consistently charges in without a plan.

Kono: I think he’ll be fine. It’s Daru.

Zodiac: Yeah, we’ll see.

Souta: REIJI!! MAKE SURE YOU WIN!!

Yoshi: YEAH, MAKE THIS COWARD EAT YOUR DUST!

Reiji glances at Daru as they approach the gray balls.

Reiji: I’m sorry about my friends.

Daru looks surprised.

Daru: You know, Reiji, you’re a pretty nice guy.

Reiji smiles, revealing his teeth.

Reiji: Thanks, uh, Daru, right?

Daru: Yeah, it’s Daru.

Reiji: Well, I think you’re a nice person too.

Daru: Thanks, Reiji. No hard feelings to whoever wins.

Reiji: I might be nice, but I’M GOING TO BEAT YOU!

Daru looks momentarily shocked, then smiles.

Daru: (Laughs) Good! I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Reiji: Best of luck.

Lith: REIJI!

Reiji looks over at Lith.

Reiji: Huh?

Lith: NO TALKING TO YOUR OPPONENT! MAKE SURE YOU BEAT HIM!

Reiji: Uhhh, y-yes ma’am; I won’t lose.

Ohma: I’m so excited to see what Daru can do!

Himitsu: He is pretty cool.

Daru and Reiji take their positions behind the gray balls, awaiting Junko to signal the start.

Sai: Here we go.

Junko: Alright, on your marks, get set, GO!!!

Reiji rushes toward his first gray ball while Daru begins to push the two balls—one with his right hand and the other with his left.

Reiji: AHHHHHHH!!!

Daru: AHHHHHHHH!!

Kono: Holy crap, Daru is doing both at the same time.

Ohma: WOAH!!! YEAH, SIR DARU!!

Himitsu: Go, Daru!!!

Zodiac: Hmm...

Souta: PUSH REIJI, PUSH!!

Lith: Don’t relent, REIJI!!

Reiji: AHHHH!! I WILL NOT LOSE!!

Daru: I’M NOT LOSING EITHER!!

Reiji & Daru: UOORHHHHH!!!

They shout louder as they exert themselves to the fullest. Reiji harnesses his powers, transforming his arms into stone and gaining an advantage over Daru, pushing his ball more swiftly.

Daru: What the hell!? How did he get so fast?

Ohma: Oh no, he’s in the lead!

Gram turns around and notices Drau.

Gram: Daru? Wait, is Drau in this?

Himitsu: Yeah, he is. If you weren’t so worried about your stupid pimple, you would know.

Kono: Come on, Daru! YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Zodiac: His arm turned to stone?

Lith: Yes, that’s Reiji’s power.

Yoshi: When he utilizes his rock abilities, he gains increased strength.

Souta: Yeah, which means you’re not winning!

Zodiac turns to Daru and exclaims loudly.

Zodiac: Hey, musclehead!

Daru glances at Zodiac while continuing to push the balls.

Zodiac: Use your powers to win; you can do it!

Daru: (muttering to himself) Ahh, he’s right; Yoshi used his powers against Himitsu.

Daru closes his eyes, his veins bulging and turning purple.

Daru: (opening his eyes) ALRIGHT, LET’S DO THIS!

Daru accelerates, catching up to Reiji and then surpassing him.

Reiji: What!?

Lith: Come on, REIJI, DON’T LET HIM PASS YOU!!!

Yoshi: COME ON, REIJI!!

Reiji: Everyone is relying on me; I cannot afford to lose!

Reiji: AHHHHH!!!

He exerts himself further, overtaking Daru and completing one lap.

Daru: Hah, no biggie; he still needs to get the other gray ball, and I only have one lap left.

Reiji pushes his ball aside and grabs the other one, but just as he does, Daru passes him.

Daru: Now I’m in the lead; just a few more laps, and I’m done!

As Reiji begins to position the ball on his back, he starts jogging with it.

Reiji: Ahh! Ahhh!! Ahhh!!

Mako: RUN, REIJI!! YOU GOT THIS!!

Souta: Let’s go, Reiji!!!

Ohma: Daru’s in the lead, halfway to the finish line.

Gram: RUN, DARU!! RUNNNNN!

Zodiac: There’s no way he can lose from this lead.

Lith: REIJI, FASTER!!!

Reiji hears Lith’s encouragement and responds.

Reiji: FASTER!! FASTER!! FASTER!!

As he shouts, Reiji channels his powers into his legs, leaping higher and moving faster to catch up to Daru.

Himitsu: Reiji’s moving much faster!

Ohma: SIR DARU!! REIJI IS CATCHING UP!!

Daru glances back and sees Reiji approaching while jumping.

Daru: What the hell is with this guy?

Zodiac: If he loses with such a massive lead, he’s just trash.

Kono: Come on, Daru, you’re almost at the finish line!

Reiji: AHHH!! COME ON, REIJI, PUSH!! PUSH!!

Reiji jumps farther and faster, closing the gap to Daru.

Reiji: OKAY, FINAL PUSH, REIJI!

Reiji catches up to Daru as they enter the straightaway towards the finish line.

Lith: COME ON, REIJI!!!

Souta: GOOOO!!

Yoshi: WIN THIS, REIJI!!!

Kono: GO, DARU!!

Zodiac: PUSH, DAMNIT!!

Gram: YOU BETTER NOT LOSE, DARU!!

Ohma: YOU GOT IT, SIR DARU!!

Himitsu: YEAH!! DARU!!

As both Daru and Reiji sprint and jump at full speed, Reiji trips and drops the ball, inadvertently knocking Daru off balance and causing him to lose control.

Daru: AHHH!!

Reiji: UAHHHH!!

Ohma: NO!!

Mako: What?!

Junko: NO, REIJI!!

Reiji and Daru hit the ground, exchanging glances as their balls roll ahead. They both jump up and race toward their balls.

Daru: AHH!

Reiji: Uhahh!!

Reiji grabs his ball while Daru pushes his forward. They are now 7 meters from the finish line and begin to run.

Himitsu: This is too close! I don’t know who’s going to win!

Maivelance Crew: GOOOOOO, DARU!!!

Scarlet Crew: GOOOOOO, REIJI!!!

Rushing toward the finish line, Daru and Reiji bump shoulders as they run. Reiji pulls slightly ahead.

Reiji: SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE!!!

Fueled by determination, Daru feels his veins pulse with energy and pushes himself ahead of Reiji, crossing the finish line first.

Gram: YEAH!!!!

Zodiac: (smirking) Hmm.

Himitsu: YEAH, DARU!!

Ohma: I knew Sir Daru could do it!

Ohma takes a deep breath.

Ohma: AHHHHHH!!!!

Everyone covers their ears.

Kono: You need to stop yelling!

Ohma: Sorry, I’m just excited.

Lith chuckles as Gram notices.

Gram: Why are you laughing? We just won.

Lith: Did you now?

Zodiac: (eyes flaring) What do you mean?

Daru and Reiji exchange smiles.

Daru: Good race.

Reiji: (laughs) You too; that power of yours is really impressive.

Daru: Same goes for yours.

Junko: Now for the winner.

Daru: As I said, no hard feelings, right?

Reiji: Yes, no hard feelings.

Junko: The winner is Reiji!!!!

Daru: WHAT!!!

Kono: Huh?!

Gram: HOW!? He crossed the finish line first!

Zodiac: Tch! I knew something was off!

Himitsu: That’s not fair!

Ohma: That’s impossible; he won the race.

Lith: Better luck next time, Kono.

Kono: I don’t get it; Daru crossed the finish line first.

Yoshi: Hmm... rookies.

Daru: How did I lose?

Junko: I told you from the beginning to follow the instructions.

Daru: You said two laps!

Junko: Yes, but I didn’t explain how to win.

Zodiac: So, what was the rule?

Junko: You had to complete two laps, but for the first gray ball, you were to push it, and for the last one, you had to carry it.

Daru: ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I HAD TO CARRY ONE OF THEM!?

Junko: Yes, I told you to follow the instructions.

Daru: Shut up!

Reiji: No hard feelings, right?

Daru looks at Reiji as he walks away, visibly upset.

Reiji: (sad) Aww... I-I’m sorry, Daru!

Daru: This is ridiculous! We should have just fought them!

Daru and Reiji return to their respective teams.

Gram: Man, you really messed up!

Himitsu: Gram!

Gram: What? He did!

Zodiac: Shut up, both of you.

Kono: It’s okay, Daru. You can always win next time.

Daru: Yeah, I don’t care; let’s just get this ridiculous challenge over with. I need to train.

Ohma: I know you lost, but you did great, Sir Daru.

Daru: Not right now, Ohma.

Ohma: Sorry!

Junko: Up next, we have Zodiac and Sai!

Sai: Finally!

Zodiac: (smirks) Hmm...

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m