All of the contestants were gathered in the hall for a group announcement, the night had passed and all wondered what the real reason behind this gathering of the fighters were. Up on the stage stood Dong Zhuo with his lackey Li Jue behind him smirking and the Emperor Shao stood cowering behind the two.
Unsurprisingly was the lifeless body of Empress He, slumped and bloodied stuffed into a glass coffin. It was a very obvious threat that if they did not comply, this is what would happen to them. To the left, chained and shackled was a somewhat shady looking minister, Qu Xu.
"Greetings fighters! You have all been gathered here today to discuss the imminent problem and terrible situation we have here today, while it is truly a tragedy that the tournament has to open on such a dreadful day. It is unsurprising as all good things require grand sacrifices."
Qu Xu was shaking and screaming out that he was innocent, that it was all a lie and he was set up but Dong Zhuo merely ignored him and continued to speak. "Empress he was found this morning, dead and it is believed via evidence and witness that our very own minister Qu Xu had murdered her. His reason, to this very moment is unknown but you be well assured he will be punished for his crime! We won't allow him to get away with it!"
"Isn't that right Shao?" He smiled evilly at Emperor Shao who seemed to shrink with fear, Li Jue's smirk grew bigger as the chains on Qu Xu were tugged harsly by he couldn't be freed, everyone knew that Dong Zhuo had framed him but no one could prove it or it'd be treason and no one wanted to have that risk.
"In order for him to atone for his crime, Qu Xu will undergo a public execution!" The screams grew louder and all of the fighters expressions bar Jia Xu who smile and Lu Bu who remained emotionless ranged form shocked to furious. Cao Cao frowned that his plans were disrupted.
Li Jue took out a sharp knife and placed it on Xu's throat as he begged for his life and slowly drew it across his throat, blood seeped out and the screams slowly came to an end as he stood, lifeless and limped while chained and shackled. No one made a move to release him from his chains and he stood to serve a message. Don't mess with Dong Zhuo or this will happen to you.
Li Jue, the official umpire for the entire tournament took this chance to speak and all eyes were drawn onto him.
"Now the rules of the tournament are simple, you'll be assigned to your rooms and will be permitted to leave at certain times only. Unless hospitalised or deemed too unwell, you are required to be present for every match. Once you have been eliminate, you will not have a chance to get back in and you will still attend every match unless it is a private match. Only the fighters are permitted to attack each other, it is not a fight to the death. Kill another competitor and there will be consequences."
"Let me read out the competitors: Zhu Rong, Cao Cao, Lu Bu, Wang Yi, Han Dang, Sun Jian, Liu Bei, Xiahou Dun, Huang Gai, Jia Xu, Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, Guan Yu, Ma Chao, Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang. Each of your names are on a slip of paper inside this bowl to my right. The first fight will be determined now. After it is determined, you'll have an hour to prepare before you are required to be present in the arena. Until the other fighter cannot fight or surrenders, the fight will keep going."
All the contestants nodded and Dong Zhuo walked towards the large glass bowl, with everyone's names on a slip and plucked out the first name. "Zhu Rong is our first competitor!" Zhu Rong's facial expression had a determined look on her face. Dong Zhuo ripped out another piece of paper.
"Her competition is Liu Bei! Our first fight will be Zhu Rong versing Liu Bei! I know who I'm placing my bets on to win ahahah!" Dong Zhuo chuckled winking at Zhu Rong, who rolled her eyes and looked at Liu Bei. The man was practically shaking while his brothers were trying to comfort him.
"She's just a woman brother Bei! She won't be a match for you at all!" Zhang Fei boasted loudly, Zhu Rong snorts as she walks past the brothers. "I'll have fun burning you to the ground, I hope your fireproof Liu Bei." She says with a expression of steel as she walks to her room to prepare.
As all the fighter's returned to their room, various thoughts were on their mind. Zhuge Liang knew there was foul play involved in this entire tournament and he wondered if his assumptions that Dong Zhuo kidnapping his sister would lead him to the truth and perhaps he'll uncover all of the lies.
Cao Cao was furious, his entire plan had just been foiled and he'd have to spend the rest of his time rethinking his whole ploy. Empress He, an influential pawn had just gotten herself removed and his ambition would have to wait. He considered himself lucky he didn't have to fight first, it allowed him time to think.
Lu Bu was bored and annoyed, he was itching to fight and he had heard rumours of Zhu Rong's strength and he wanted to challenge her, it'd be amusing to watch the pathetic Liu Bei try to last more then a mere minute against her.
Wang Yi was riled up, she wasn't fond of the Empress He and she knew that she was a snake but she disliked Dong Zhuo more and the fact he cowardly hid behind Qu Xu irritated her even more, she understood the importance of tactics but certain tactics were far too cowardly for her to like. Perhaps watching the only other woman contestant would calm her down.
Han Dang was quite disappointed by the fact he wasn't the first name and he was shocked to say the least by the events of this morning but he couldn't voice out his opinion, the sheer look of glee on Li Jue's face frightened him and the fact that Lu Bu was right beside him also quieted him.
Sun Jian was not pleased by the events of this day, he created a pledge to serve the Han and he was viewed by many as a hero but he knew now was not the right time to act rashly. Jian knew his own strengths and while he was certain he could provide a good fight against Lu Bu, he couldn't take out Lu Bu and the others all at once. He'd get his chance once he won the tournament.
Xiahou Dun clenched his fists as he sat down in his room, he was angry that Cao Cao's plans were ruined and he awaited impatiently for his cousin to rethink. If only he was fighting first, he'd have no doubt that he would win. His resolve was not weakened by today's strengths, it grew stronger.
Huang Gai like many others were angry and he could feel his whole body tense up with anger but he was a seasoned veteran and kept his calm, besides he was more scared of the lady Wu Guotai's reaction then DOng Zhuo's actual threats, he let out a chuckle to himself as he took a seat.
Jia Xu was greatly pleased by the events of today, everything was running along very smoothly and so far there had been no bumps in the road but he was waiting patiently, his predictions were never wrong and he predicted that someone would ask for his help very shortly.
Zhang Fei resorted to drinking, he was trying to make sure he wouldn't be off his face for his brother's first fight but after today, he felt like he needed a nice strong alcoholic drink. He had full confidence that his brother would pull through and wipe out that amazon wannabe no problem.
Dian Wei was not shocked, he was not alarmed nor was he concerned for the Emperor or anyone except his Lord. He resolved to tighten his security for Cao Cao and if anyone messed with his Lord, they'd have the Coming Evil ready to annihilate them with his ax.
Guan Yu was ready to accept the fact that his brother Liu Bei would be the first one out, but that was why Zhang Fei and himself were there to be the muscle, to win this for their brother and to help him accomplish his goal. Yu was ready to use his strength for the greater good.
Ma Chao was seething, Dong Zhuo was even more evil than he could ever imagine! Chao was certain he was working with that bastard Cao Cao and Chao promised himself he'd bring justice to both of them, he wouldn't allow either to get away with their crimes.
Sima Yi was quite impressed he had to admit by the craftiness of Dong Zhuo and if he wasn't disgusted by him, he'd be tempted to serve him but things weren't going to well for Sima Yi at the current moment. Wang Yi had turned his offer down and he was upset by the fact he didn't have a chance to battle Zhuge Liang but he was certain he'd get his chance.
Zhu Rong did not care for the Empress, she did not care for the minister Qu Xu and she did not care what happened in central China. She was the nanman Queen and was an amazon, she cared what happened in her area but she did not like central China and it's wild politics and it's fighters who believed they were worth more than they actually were and she disliked the idea of even participating in this tournament but she had an important reason for entering this tournament.
She walked up to and entered the arena with a steely, fiery look. Her reason for fighting was to rescue her husband Meng Huo, he knew the location of the Imperial Seal and as a result, Dong Zhuo had him captured and imprisoned and it was up to her to rescue him and save him from any harm. Zhu Rong sighed, as much as she loved Huo he was slightly useless and detrimental a lot of the times.
Zhu Rong scoffed, her eyes narrowed as she stared at the relatively young man in front of her. The fire within her was beginning to burn brighter than ever before, determination filled her veins as she looked him up and down. There was no way that she was going to lose to that nervous wreck, she'd never be able to look the Nanman in the face if she lost to a shoe maker.
Liu Bei was a bundle of nerves and he wasn't certain he could win against this strong woman, he was a humble shoe maker from the Lou Sang Village and while he had a secondary goal of ending Dong Zhuo's tyranny, his main goal was to procure funds for the Village and to help it thrive once more.
Bei considered himself very lucky to have his oath brothers here with him as he knew that with the exception of Sima Yi and perhaps that Zhuge Liang, he was physically the weakest of all the contestants but he was determined and as history had proven, when Liu Bei was determined he could achieve. He could only hope history would repeat itself this time.
Dong Zhuo watched from the balcony, he had already decided who he wanted to win and he had many perverted thoughts regarding the scantily clad Zhu Rong and was excited at watching her fight. She was definitely an exotic and sexy woman, with a maturity and passion inside of her that he wanted to claim as his own. Liu Bei was worthless, Zhu Rong had some merit to her. It would be a very hot battle.
Li Jue commenced the battle. "Zhu Rong, the Goddess of Fire, awaits you!" Zhu Rong shouted with confidence, griping her boomerang tightly as Liu Bei gulped but soon stood up tall. "Know that I fight with the blade of virtue!" Zhu Rong rolled her eyes and merely stood, casually.
She was not a defensive fighter, nor was she an observer type fighter and she definitely wasn't a strategic fighter. She was an offensive fighter and she liked to make the first move and attack with powerful and quick strikes, but today she wasn't going to show off her preferred fighting style and she'd keep her throwing daggers hidden and she took on the defensive and would allow Liu Bei to attack.
Liu Bei's weapon was twin swords, long swords of the same length and the same type and he twirled one around as he stood in a defensive stance and advanced slowly towards Zhu Rong, he was taking his time but Rong wasn't a patient woman.
Kicking him in the chest, she went back to a defensive stance as Liu Bei was knocked to the ground. "Is that all you got? Come on and give me a challenge!" She stated as Zhang Fei growled some off handed comment at her but she rolled her eyes and allowed her attention to remain on Liu Bei who shakily stood up.
Liu Bei had a determined look and he was well aware that she was a fit fighter and if he didn't unleash his most powerful attacks early, she'd wipe him out. He charged his swords with lightling did a cross slash, unfortunately for him Zhu Rong had dodged it.
The audience recognised that Liu Bei was a weak fighter. "How foolish, he waste a powerful attack like that while she's prepared for it." Cao Cao muttered under his breath and all those who could hear it nodded, Wang Yi wondered why Zhu Rong didn't wipe him out then and there.
Zhang Fei stood up as Liu Bei tried with both swords to land a hit on Zhu Rong but she dodged, parried and blocked each strike and always landed a skillful kick in between. "Augh come on! Bei! She's just a woman! Hit her hard, she can't take it!"
Wang Yi didn't like this contestant and Zhu Rong shared a similarly pissed off look, slamming her boomerang into bei's face and knocking him onto the floor. "Oh shut up already!" Throwing her boomerang at Fei, he barely managed to dodge it as it lodged into his former chair.
"I don't need a weapon to wipe out this wimp!" She grabbed him by his shirt, raised him up and kicked him flying into the ropes of the arena and before he had a chance to stand, she was laughing with both arms raised above her head.
Liu Bei knew this was bad and he ran towards her but it was his last chance to beat her, she was quite powerful and he wasn't a match. "Burn baby, burn!" Zhu Rong chanted as a large fireball was formed above her head and with a click of the fingers it broke into smaller fireballs.
Some of them slammed into Liu Bei and he was knocked to the ground, gasping and clucthing his swords and slowly, shakily standing up to his feet once it was relented. "I'll have to admit, I'm a little bit impressed. Not many people can survive that attack and be ready to keep fighting. I can see now how you managed to make it into the real tournament but your success run ends now. You've crossed the finish line."
A tanned leg to the face, a formed and hard fist to the chest, a backhand to the hips and two strong arms grabbing his waist and lifting it above her head before he was sent crashing down to the ground head first, Zhu Rong entered into a handstand walked her way over to the downed Liu Bei.
With one hand on the ground to provide support, other hand raised and in a fist and started continously pounding his face, again and again until she deemed it was bloodied enough and slowly lowering her legs to the ground, she stood up with a victorious smile.
Li Jue checked to see if Liu Bei was concious and deciding he wasn't, he raised the green flag and declared Zhu Rong as the winner. "I am Zhu Rong. Hear me roar!" She shouted to the crowd, all who were wildly impressed with her physical ability.
The medics, who everyone presumed were serving Dong Zhuo, checked Liu Bei and put him on a stretcher. It seemed that they would check his injuries to see if they were bad or not, Zhu Rong felt a little bad but she was on a rescue mission and he was in her way. She was one step closer to achieving her goal and Liu Bei was unable to achieve his.
The first round had began and ended, Liu Bei was out of the tournament much to the dismay of his brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Zhu Rong the amazon Queen had proved to be a very strong contestant in this competition and while she didn't show much progress with her boomerang, everyone knew she was a threat and Lu Bu watched her with a smirk, he was looking forwards to taking her out of this competition.