CHAPTER 18: Champion Sound

[Champion Sound is the special trump card of the humans which can only be invoked in times of great peril, like when the demons tried to invade Kalida.

At the time, there were no great powerhouses on Kalida so there was no stopping the demons on their conquest. That all changed when a Champion appeared.

A Champion of the humans is someone who shoulders all the hopes and expectations of the human race. The Champion of that age, with his followers fought solely against the demon army and repelled them alone.

Sounds like an impossible feat to single handedly repel an army, right? This is all made possible by the Champion Sound. It is a Greda that converts the feelings of the human race into power for its wielder. That power can be shared with the Champion's followers, technically giving a small amount of people the power of billions, if not trillions of people.

The Champions are infamous for the their feats across history. On the first occasion, the Champion of the time and his followers killed fifty-two of the sixty-four Demon Lords. On the second occasion, the Champion killed three dragons who went on a rampage on Kalida after they went berserk. There are many other occasions where the Champion has done even more amazing things.

The Champion Sound is a very impressive Greda, but it comes with one serious drawback. After the Champion has fulfilled his duty, he and his followers will receive the backlash of the Greda. In most cases, the Champion and all his followers die.

However, as a reward for their heroic actions the Champion's family is empowered, and usually, over time, they become a prominent house. With many Champions having come and gone, this eventually led to the Seven Champion Families of Kalida....Excerpt from: INVASIONS AND WARS: THE TROUBLED PAST OF KALIDA]

[George's POV]

"Hold it right there!"

"Huh?"

Alex and I looked towards the direction of the voice. Josephine with an enraged look on her face and five others came out of the surrounding corn.

"What do you think you're doing to that poor boy?"

Alex moved away from his previous position as his guys gathered around him.

"What do you think you're doing Josephine?"

"What do you think? I'm stopping you from doing anything else to the guy next to you!"

"Stay out of this. It's none of your business."

"Unfortunately, I think it is. I only want the best for everyone here."

"How can you say something so cringey with a straight face?"

Alex voice got colder.

"Last warning. Leave, or else."

Josephine shook her head.

"I can't do that."

Alex shook his head.

"Such a shame. I wish I didn't have to do this, but you leave me no choice. I'll give you a chance to prepare yourselves."

Alex turned to Carter and the rest.

"You know what to do."

Josephine turned to her followers.

"I wish we didn't have to do this, but if they want to kill us we have to defend ourselves."

One of them thumped his chest.

"Don't worry. We'll make sure nothing happens to you, at any cost."

Josephine smiled gratefully.

"I'm happy you care so much about me, but please put your own protection first. I don't know what I would do if you guy were to get injured or die here. Just the thought makes me very sad.

From my vantage point on the ground, I had a front row seat for the altercation that was about to unfold.

I had calmed down by now and was plotting how I was going to escape when they started fighting.

Remembering Alex's words, I decided to act like I had fallen unconscious to wait for the right opportunity to run.

Both groups had gotten prepared and were ready. Josephine was at the back of her group and Alex was behind Carter.

He called out.

"Let's begin. I hope you've prepared."

Josephine pleaded with Alex for the last time.

"You don't have to do this."

"Actually, I have to. I always have to teach people who can't mind their own business a lesson.

He spun the knife in his hands.

"You just happen to be one of those people."

With that, both sides charged towards each other as I watched on.

Carter and Alex were like the centers of the battle. They slashed again and again at the people who came at them, taking some hits in the process.

As the battle raged, I the culprit started to move little by little into a position where I could get up at a moment's notice and start to run, no, hobble away.

I leapt up and tried to run away when I felt a projectile hit my back.

"Uggghhhh!"

I fell to the ground again and heard Alex cry out.

"You must be joking if you actually think I'll be letting you get away!"

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up again, with all my injuries and tried to crawl away slowly.

That's when I found myself back in the test room with all the others.

"What?"

Professor A stood with the people by the capsules while clapping.

"Splendid performance! Especially Subject George, Josephine, Alex and Rachel. The raw emotion in your actions was intoxicating."

He walked over to us.

"Let's see.... there's five people less than before. That's too bad. What a waste of resources."

Josephine struggled to her feet with a bitter look on her face and spoke with a shaky voice. She had cuts all over her body that were making her clothes rather bloody.

"Waste of resources? You think they were just a waste of resources?"

"Naturally. If they died so early on, that's obviously what they were."

Josephine's body began to tremble in anger.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THEY WERE JUST A WASTE OF RESOURCES!! THEY WERE PEOPLE WITH NAMES, AND HOPES, AND DREAMS!! THEY DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE LIKE THAT!"

I watched on in shock at her outburst.

Thinking about it, this was the first time I had seem her angry about anything.

At her words, Professor A's voice changed.

"Just who are you shouting at, little girl?"