The Zombie Tournament

Act 27 : Lion's den

 The medal hunt will begin in two weeks. Competition’s organizer has given such period of breaks for the contestants to prepare on journey materials ahead. Many participants of the game has also been in haste to spend their prize money from passing on the survival game days before. One thousand dollar per points of murder is quite plentiful for their living dead’s improvement in essence, to speak on many factors they have in mind to develop.

In their utmost indulgence, a good number of participant would spend on the most expensive armory in the capital city. Zellot Prischnell’s blacksmith is open for business today. Plaques of discount has been advertised a day before within night curfew of Minopia. In thirty percent rate of price cut, anyone could carry his magnificent blue titanium heavy armor back home. Over many fixed-design of armor out in the store of the capital city, Zellot Prischnell’s armory has become quite a trend amongst survivalist of the game.

Rightfully so for Zeno Gunnar on his first day of becoming a contestant, back then, until a springtime feud was held in front of their very door of underground mansion afterwards.

(tap-tap-tap)

Juno Rumondor and Tony Simmons has been their leader of his team’s current journey. Tonado’s fighting club has decided to depart soon for Tonado’s hearing council at the southwestern areas of Minopia. Their sponsor wants to listen of the top-head’s strategy on mitigating their chance of winning for the last elimination round of the contest.

Of course, Maxim Dupont would be there, as well. Many individual sponsors has to attend for their own thoughts of the man’s presentation and handed them a token of feedback from their side.

(swoosh)

The gust of wind follows their trail of advance. A broad mountain range has welcomed them in the wake of their first footsteps outside the capital city’s border. Doctors and psychiatrist of Minopia has recommended a visit to the highest point of their kingdom for long-lasting health and well-being. Indeed, Tonado’s central headquarters was installed there for such reason. Many villas and luxurious hotels were gathered across the mountain slopes to provide tranquility and exquisite destination to retreat.

The old man captain steered his group’s attention to the tiny dots upon the southernmost point of mountain range,”That’s Gastamo. Don’t be fret, Zeno, they have technologies to traverse mountain within seconds.” He stated.

Tony Simmons took a hint of Zeno Gunnar’s mild disorientation. He was there as the only person that have no prior experience in this competition, so it is relatively common to be confused on the city’s landscape therein.

“Gastamo is our way to say ‘hospitality’. Tonado has been a hospital in their first establishment, so they choose Gastamo to be one-stop-solution for recurring health problems in your body.” Tony Simmons continued on his leader’s short-indication of ways.

“So, in other words, it’s a serious kind of pun?”

Juno Rumondor chuckled,”Verily, you’re clearly not wrong there, kiddo. The hospital’s board of directors loves pun besides torturing people, you see.”

As they walk across, more of the country’s livestock could be seen dipping into the pastures for food. They live within wooden bars of a certain farmer’s private lawn. The person described was wearing a baggy clothes to cover herself against sun ray and heat. She prepped up a growth stimulant within mixtures of water, clenching fists many times into the bucket to ensure proper results is achieved. In a time, as the farmer felt that it is ready to be served, She throws such concoction onto the grass for the cows to graze.

“Look at that cows. It’s huge!” Tanya Rushdi complimented. A flash of interest has always come into her mind wherever possible, and her scope of attention widened beyond living dead’s whatnot at the time. However, her praise has turned into frown within seconds, as none of such things are available to common citizens to eat, ”It’s truly big, and I’m starting to wonder why it’s all forbidden for us to have them as a snack, though.” She complained in slight tone of curiosity underneath.

King Taur Minosa has declared of diminished diet on cows and four-legged animal’s meat to his entire domain. Instead of addressing on the cause, the government tends to comply on his demand regardless. There are no redeemable points to argue, anyway, since a King’s demand is an absolute one to obey.

---

“One more push into the forest, guys! Stay alerted.” Juno Rumondor yelled,”We can have our lunch under the trees, so be determined and stick close.”

Tonado’s fighting club has marched along the way of battered path between two cities for more than two hours straight. They are on route of clearing off the plain areas and proceeding to see many rows of woods in their vision, leaving cows and many forms of herbivore creatures behind as they lurk into the shadows of the forest.

Otherwise, neither of them feel refreshed and staying in focus after being exposed to sunlight by direct means for certain period of time. The sunlight rays onto them and showered their face with its concentrated warmth, draining their energy in rapid motion after awhile of walking. Zeno Gunnar has felt such problem in many years of marathon running, yet the young knight is still weary in energy like most of his allies has suffered at the time.

(tap-tap)

“Ah, this is totally rocks! We’ll rest here. Time out!” Juno Rumondor commanded.

At last, they found one comfortable location to lay low. Minopia’s main river branch streams on the side, Countless form of rocks are protruding below their feet, but the ground are mostly still free for them to take a break upon. For navigating their enemy’s current situation, no trees were inbound across the horizon, only sights of Minopia’s northwestern city and the country’s wall on the line of their vision. That is one destination they were meant to disembark next after Tonado’s council meeting has been concluded.

“Ugh, give me some minced feet, Simmons. I’m famished.” Damon groaned, patting Tony Simmons’ shoulders numerous times. Against such wishes, Tony Simmons said nothing but a sigh.

“Okay, I’ll try to make one for you. Can you wait for some time?”

The half-zombie shook his head,”No, my tummy hurts.”

Feeding their zombies has always been problematic under the rays. During these times, a rotten flesh would be dried out within seconds and vanquishing their battery straight away. Juno Rumondor has alleviated such issues by rubbing their skins with special creams, but they still need continuous care for food appetite in every hour of their travel nevertheless.

As for Damon, such issues has been doubled. He is no longer a human in flesh, and the man’s demand for unprocessed meat is resolute. Most of his organs are more conditional for eating raw meat rather than having a cooked one on the plate. Likewise, Damon’s skin surface are resembled more of a living dead than one healthy being at most, to add on a few number of difficulties that he had to oppose.

Sadly, his mind is still human. Damon could speak off of many details on aches around his organs. The man will blurt anytime he felt a strain within. One spark of hurt would incite him to scream, and Damon did so without a doubt in thoughts subsequently.

(tak-tak-tak)

“Here. Smells good?”

(sniff-sniff)

The half-zombie bobs,”Yes, hand it to me, please.”

Tony Simmons has chopped some well-maintained legs for him to eat. The meat smells a bit pungent as it swells within a pod of preservation fluids inside their wagon for some time. Luckily, Damon accepted everything before him without much question to ask, as long as it is a raw meat on the plate.

(chomp-chomp)

Damon swallowed every single slice of his food in delight. The half-zombie jaws are glistening red by pale colors of blood upon the meat. Of the curling smile on his lips, Juno Rumondor could determine on the beast’s current mood at the time.

For that, he pats the man gently on the back. Under his joyful blinks, however, a glimpse of grimace was prowling underneath.

“How’s it? Mind to tell us how you’ve turned into zombie, this time?” He asked in plain-spoken audacity,” We’re roughly desperate to have you spill out, but I guess having a row of kindness would never be enough.”

Closing his eyes, Damon chews another scoop of meat, then glancing towards Juno Rumondor in cold stare,“No. I won’t betray anyone for it. I’m grateful for the meal, but I will never speak out of such things.”

“For real? Argh, why do we have to keep you, then?” Complained him to Damon’s icy response. Thankfully, before everything goes sour, Tony Simmons halted Juno Rumondor’s advance and ceased it out afterwards.

“You have to be calm, brother. He’s our friend, now.” He said, putting down Juno Rumondor’s hand to the back,” Although the answer lies on him, I determined that man as a friend regardless.”

After being silent for most, Zeno Gunnar enters the debate with a scowl,“Is he? I’ll never allow him to be, if you ask me.” The young knight rattled. As much, Tanya Rushdi follows him up with an objection on his notion,“You’re not suppose to say that, Zeno, what if-“

(rumble-rumble)

Suddenly, a writhing sound emerged from the bushes of the north. Gentle tone of growl has resounded numerous times below the scrubs. Listening on such excruciating atmosphere of the roar, Juno Rumondor follows the trail by picking its tone along the way.

“A new zombie arrival, perhaps?” He muttered, “is it the time?”

Tony Simmons laid his attention to the air, then nods,”From the air around here, i think it is, Juno.”

“Alright, then. Let’s see on what type it is. We’ll have to put them down for an additional partner for you, Zeno.”

“For others, stay behind. We’ll be fine.”

Minopia has a definite period on new living dead’s arrival. It seldom landed at dusk, mostly during noon to the near sunset. Their computer would determine on where it goes at random occasion. For now, such phenomenon might be occurring right before their eyes, completely free to retrieve and taken care off onwards.

“Grrrrr...”

Another mild roar were coming to his ear.

“Prepare your tranquilizer darts, Tony. From your shotgun-user ones.” Ordered Juno Rumondor towards Tony Simmons. He has prepared on his own defensive stance to shove the bushes away, as well.

“Roger that, Juno.” Tony Simmons replied in dimmed tone of voice,”Right away...”

(click-click)

The shotgun-wielder zombie has been turned on after a long period of stillness inside the wagon. His battery is within sixty percent of power. It has been replenished two hours ago, but the nail-coffin initial processing has consumed their energy in every seconds of its sleep.

‘reloading’

As directed from Tony Simmons’ wristwatch, The shotgun-wielder zombie lays down a tranquilizer bullet into the socket. He leaps in quiet towards Juno Rumondor’s position and stays on the rear to wait on future orders from the man.

“In counts of one, shot everything that your zombie could see.” Juno Rumondor muttered, then immediately unveiled the beast in a single pull,”One!”

(bang!)

Ahead of them, a lion was leaning down haplessly. Its stomach shrinks in dilapidation. Shriveled skins of the beast’s entire body reminds them of a regular living dead state at most. Such creature’s majestic mane has been covered in gray tone of color. No whiskers attached on the beast’s snout, and its fangs are growing much larger than its former glory of being alive.

“raowwr!”

The lion shrieks over shotgun-wielder zombie’s point-blank assault. It reaps to the front in hope to do something in return, but happened to fail on reaching up to gain an upperhand afterwards. He grumbled between the state of living and dead, but thrashing amongst the state of unconsciousness in some ways.

“Graoor...”

It moans slightly, before then entering his slumber afterwards. As the beast has legitimately fallen to the ground, Juno Rumondor quickly runs to the beast for a glimpse of its condition. He checks on its rowdy mane, a bit below to run down an inspection on its stomach and several instance of supervision around its paw.

“Yes, it is a lion. Looks like we have a rare one on board, Zeno!” He clamored in satisfaction.