Solar Blood Masters

The final hour was a frenzy of motion. Hundreds of contestants resembling shooting stars, streaked across the sky towards the finish line that was hundreds of miles away.

They were propelled by the dwindling hopes of victory and a deep primal need for survival that only this trial could truly ignite within a soul, and those whose essence were truly weak, well they would soon know.

Among the hopefuls, two scorpion brothers, Pincer and Clamper, soared side-by-side as they navigated a dense forest. They had managed to recover most of their lost points during their brief, but brutal alliance with Raphael, and now, they wouldn't fail.

They'd claim a spot amongst the chosen!

"That's… ten more! They're in front of us!" Clamper hissed with a mixture of annoyance and urgency as they zipped past a flock of mangled, groaning, feathered creatures that were struggling to maintain flight. Their broken wings were pitiful, for they resembled burnt paper bags with sticks inside.

Those unlucky birds, they hadn't been trampled upon by hooves nor burnt by those beams of golden fire, rather those were self-inflicted wounds, a consequence of desperation, and a truly dreadful sight to behold.

"Tsk! They're a nuisance! Our goal is to catch up with THAT pack! Brother Pincer. Can we push our speed a little harder?"

His brother scoffed, "Relax, Clamper! You worry too much. And besides…" He pointed ahead. "See that silver slug? It's carrying over 80 points! Its fat ass is practically begging to be overtaken!"

"It is true, a worthy opponent. If we defeat it, those points…!" Clamper nodded, but his excitement faded as he glanced upwards, those hopes dashed,

"DAMN those flying bastards! They've gone ahead!"

"Hmph! Pathetic birds, relying solely on wing speed. Our strategy, brother. It'll pay off, I guarantee. We'll simply have to… Huh?"

A dreadful truth had him shivering uncontrollably.

"Brother… Do you smell… fire?" He whispered fearfully before they saw it.

A colossal orange glow, like that of an exploding sun had engulfed their rear.

"Oh no! Run!"

"It's… It's Gastaroid!"

They turned and saw the imposing form of the Bull Mountain Demon laying waste to everything in its path.

"Move it! Get OUT of MY WAY, insects!"

Before Pincer or Clamper had a chance to fully comprehend his urgency, the world around them shifted.

BOOM!

He rushed past! The scorching air from his passage slammed into the scorpions.

They crashed!

But they'd been lucky. His attack wasn't aimed at them. He was focused on reaching the finish line.

"Such a powerful presence…!" Pincer's whimpers reflected the other unfortunate contenders that also noticed this colossal entity as his form blurred and then vanished.

They'd been left behind, again.

Gastaroid wasn't simply walking, flying, nor teleporting.

He was blazing!

A trail of molten lava followed his path, incinerating everything in his wake, turning those majestic, snow-laden trees into charcoal husks as his speed intensified! Those who saw him from behind or were unfortunate enough to be flying a little too close, gasped as they realized their fate.

"Oh no, it's the Bull Mountain Demon!"

"Gastaroid is COMING!"

"HURRY! Get out of his way before…"

But those pleas for survival ended as a horrifying BOOM! engulfed their final moments. Those wings, feathers and delicate scales became mere ashes now, floating on the wind.

The tremors and radiant fires left a chilling reminder, it was as if a God of destruction had awaken!

Gastaroid didn't even acknowledge their pleas. He barreled through the sky.

"Muwahaha! First place is MINE!"

He gazed ahead, his burning eyes focused. It was in the distance, but getting closer, and closer now.

The Finish Line!

A magnificent archway made of purest platinum, infused with spirit energy was shining.

This wasn't a mere opening, or a pathway. This was a gateway! Those who entered this arch, would be granted access to the Grandest competition, a chance to fight for Sindoll's blessing, for the ultimate reward. And as he gazed upon that prize, Gastaroid realized he didn't see anyone else there.

"I am the FIRST!"

With a roar that shattered the remaining clouds, he increased his speed.

BOOM!

Then in a blink, he arrived. The impact shattered the earth beneath his monstrous form. Black smoke billowed out, obscuring his presence.

He waited.

A short while later, a blur of yellow had him turning.

WHOOSH!

A Golden Eagle landed with a heavy thud. It was breathless, its wings tattered. "17th… Damn… that demon… He got here first!" It was a devastating blow to its pride.

And then a figure resembling a massive, frost-coated Mammoth appeared. It trumpeted triumphantly. It wasn't speed they relied on.

"23rd… Not bad…" It then slumped beside the Golden Eagle, sharing in the bitterness.

More and more creatures crossed the finish line, each with varying speeds, strengths, and sizes. They expressed a collage of emotions: exhilaration, despair, and most importantly… relief.

Among them, were Pincer and Clamper.

"NO! We didn't make it in the TOP TEN!" Clamper screamed, dismayed.

"Shut it, you fool!" Pincer snapped. "We might not be within the TOP TEN. But surely, we've earned a spot within the TOP FIVE HUNDRED."

This was truth, the only solace he could cling to now.

They looked ahead. The timer above displayed a terrifying truth.

THREE MINUTES REMAINING!

"THREE minutes?!"

"Oh no! I can't…" A frantic, buzzing sound filled the air as a few late-comers, exhausted and drained, came rushing towards that arch. But it was too late.

"The race… IT'S…"

BOOM!

The timer reached zero. And with it, a profound silence settled as if nature itself had halted its breath in anticipation.

"The Race of Ten Thousand Souls… is OVER!"

That voice echoed throughout the Marble World and beyond it, those realms where dreams, ambitions and hopes of those trapped inside, were now being projected with terrifying, accurate certainty.

"No…"

"Please…!"

Those still struggling to reach the finish line. They vanished into particles of light as screams of despair echoed before those radiant specks joined the cold wind.