Claiming a flag

With courage and determination, Haiser rushed into the burning, no, smoldering bush. After one run through the bush, Haiser had a quizzical look to his face. He had expected to come out coughing, a lungful of smoke. However, despite taking a breath while making his dash, he was not choked. 

Resolutely, he decided to make another dash across the smoldering bush, only this time, his eyes were wide open. After a successful dash, Haiser saw something that glistered under the bush. However, he was moving too fast, he couldn't see a thing. 

Once he had made a few runs, Haiser decided to grab the item on his next run. He had his body poised, aimed at the item's location. With a deep breath, he shot forward. With his superhuman reflexes, he was able to successfully pick up the clear white bead that was sparkling. 

After a close examination on the bead, Haiser could not make out any details, except the fact that it looked a lot like the safe zones that he'd not been able to access. With this realization, Haiser shot towards one of the safe zones. 

On the first try, none of his team mates had been able to get through the dome. Since he was still holding his breath, Haiser had not bothered to try, eager to test his hypothesis. Once he had claimed the bead, he made for the safe zone, hoping that he would not be repelled. 

With a pleasant surprise, Haiser found that he could easily get through the barrier. He had seen other people, presumably from other teams, trying to get through. Much like the report he had gotten from his teammates, the group had not managed to get through. However, he did not experience any resistance as he passed through. 

After his successful entry, even Haiser was shocked. However, he was pleasantly surprised that his assumption. On the stands, everyone was shocked. While they did not see what Haiser had gotten from the smoldering bush, it was clear that the bushes held the key. 

Once inside, Haiser noticed the glowing flag at the center of the clearing. As he made his way towards it, the thing disappeared, and he felt a buzzing coming from the bead that he was holding in his hand.

After a quick look, Haiser discovered a miniaturized flag had appeared in the bead. Subsequently, a voice came from somewhere in the clearing, saying, "Congratulations on claiming the flag. Deliver it to the safe haven to claim a position in the subsequent round."

Joy flooded his heart. He did not think it was that easy. He then dashed back to where his group was. However, he suddenly encountered a problem, he couldn't enter the clearing he had been in. 

Luckily, Cate noticed Haiser outside the dome and went out to meet him. He then commanded her to go summon the rest of the group. Together, they moved as a team. This time, with him claiming the flag, they were all able to get into the unique clearing.

After some deliberation, the group decided to not stretch their luck. To Cate and others from Iresal, they knew it was a stroke of luck for their small corporation to acquire the flag. With it, they had a chance at getting one of their own among the last sixteen. Such a feat was only achievable by the planet's various superpower. 

From his stand, Phanas was overjoyed. His small corporation had managed to gain a flag. If they could only get it to the safe haven, then his team actually had a chance at securing a position in the final list. 

From a corporate's point of view, every person in the last sixteen, which was called the ranking list, represented segments of resources. As long as someone ended up in the final sixteen, for five years, they would control a potion of the planet's abundant resources. This was as good as securing a guarantee to being a super power. Neither Phanas nor Iresal's upper echelons, who were glued to the screens, had dared hope for something so lofty. Now, it was within reach. 

However, as they turned to look at what lay between them and the final safe haven, all hopes that had just been kindled were dashed. It was a hopeless endeavor to try and make it past the blockade of five corporations.

Unlike other teams, these teams from the large corporations had not even bothered to secure a foothold in the fire land, or even started looking for flags. Rather, they had made a beeline straight to the safe haven, the one visible from all corners of the arena grounds. 

Under the view of everyone, they had circled the safe haven, forming a blockade. Anyone wishing to get to the safe haven would have to pass through them. Judging from their build, their gait, and their entire aura, that was not going to be an easy achievement.

Haiser had been the first to find a flag, but since he had not immediately taken off, heading for the safe haven, others had also found a flag in their designated areas. 

Among the earliest to find a flag, other than Haiser, was Adam, a representative from the Nexus corporation. Similar to the Iresal corporation, the Nexus corporation was relatively new to the scene. However, they had quite the foundation of fighting experts, which allowed them to claim quite a lot of resources.

Despite their efforts, the Nexus corporation had never had a representative featured in the ranking list. This was purely due to the suppression of the large corporations such as Starline obscuring them in one way or another. 

On this competition, they were determined to grab one of those positions. As such, their strategy did not rely on teamwork, but speed. They had anticipated the super powers would try something to prevent them from going forward, so they planned of getting it done as fast as possible. 

An order had passed once the rules were released. Anyone who found a flag would hightail towards the safe haven, not giving the super powers a chance. This was why, when Adam found the flag, he did not hesitate, running as fast as possible to the safe haven. 

Unfortunately, by the time he found the flag, the corporations had already put up their blockade. With no way to contact the man, the spectators could only watch as the man, much like the proverbial moth flying into the fire, ran to his death.