It was a sunny day with a nice peaceful breeze. The group approached a building that other people were currently in line to get in. They arrived to the building the qualifying match was taking place.
Jaiven- There's a lot more people here than expected.
Tre- Aw yeah! The day for qualifying is finally here.
Zay- I'm just glad we used the last day to relax. My arms were stiff from all the pushups we did the day before that.
Brandon- Remember guys, we're here for the cash prizes. Each match is gonna be important.
As the group nods their heads in agreement. Jalaan stands still allowing the others to continue walking until he was noticed by Toby.
Toby- Yo, Jalaan you straight?
Jalaan- I've just been doing some thinking, and I've decided...not to participate in the forge.
Everyone makes a facial expression of pure shock.
Toby- WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
Jalaan- We already have five people entering, and with Brandon we're guaranteed to get one of those top three placements. I don't see any reason for me to fight when I don't have to.
Toby while pointing his thumb to the line- Yeah...you see all these people?
Tre- The more people we have the better our chances will be.
Brandon- Look, I know fighting isn't really your thing, but this isn't about fighting. It's about getting the funds needed for wonderland. By participating you'll be doing your part by helping us reach our goal.
Jalaan wasn't fully convinced, but knew it would be harder to try to get out of it. Especially after Tre mentioned that he wouldn't be allowed in the building if he wasn't participating.
Jalaan- Wha...
Tre while laughing- Yeah dude this is just qualifiers, ain't no spectators just yet. It said participants only in the attachment.
Jalaan- I didn't read the whole attachment.
Tre- Sounds like a you problem.
The group continues to wait in line for a couple minutes before finally entering the building. Inside were people sitting in foldable chairs scattered across the floor. However, they didn't have enough for everyone so most of the people were standing.
Toby- There wasn't a desk at the door. Is there no one checking us in?
Jaiven- Guess not, people were just walking in.
Brandon- Well this is the first tournament for this company. They probably don't have all the resources they need to run this event smoothly.
Toby- What's the name of the company running this thing?
Brandon- That's a good question.[pulls out phone]
Tre who already had his phone out- It doesn't say on the attachment.
Toby- Well there's multiple cash prizes so there has to be a company backing up the funds for this place...right?
Shortly after saying that a man busted through double doors entering the room, gaining everyone's attention. Tank age twenty-eight, cornrows black hair, middleweight class, wearing a white tank top shirt, dark blue jeans, and timberland boots(also keeps a tooth pick in his mouth).
Tank- I am your host, Tank! ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR THE QUALIFYING MATCH?!
The crowd shouts and cheer in excitement. The group however have facial expressions of confusion.
Toby-(That's the guy we saw when we first got here.)
Tank- Before we get started, I have to run by a couple announcements.
Everyone quiets up to listen.
Tank- First off, you all are gonna be fighting for placements in the actual tournament. The forge itself only has eight slots, with one of those slots already taken.
Toby-(Must be that Tar guy.)
Tre- Gotta be Tar.
Toby- I WAS JUST THINKING THAT!
Jaiven- Seven slots? With there being six of us, is that even possible?
Brandon- As of right now the only objective is to pass qualifiers, and earn our spots in the forge. We'll worry about everything else later.
Tank- Second off, with there only being seven slots available, the qualifying match needs a maximum of twenty-eight players. We currently have thirty-eight people in here...excluding me of course, so ten people will have to leave.
Commotion started within the crowd. People were looking left and right at others.
Tank- I know, I know. You guys came all this way to get here, there's cash prizes on the line, and you don't want to give that up so easily. Waiting for someone to step up and just leave. Well don't worry...[grows a menacing smile] I'll do it for you.
Tank starts walking through the crowd randomly touching people on their shoulders as they were the ones who had to leave. At this point he had touched nine people, and Jaiven was shocked to find out that he was tenth as Tank touches his shoulder.
Jaiven- Wha...WAIT!
Tank- Sorry bud, but you're out of here.
Toby then approached Tank smiling both playfully and nervously.
Toby- Hey man I think you touched him on accident. Do you mind picking someone else?
Tank- What? ASOLUTELY NOT! That wasn't on accident.
Toby holding in his frustration through his smile- I don't think you heard me...[makes a facial expression of absolute seriousness] pick someone else.
Tank while also making a serious facial expression- Maybe I should pick you.
Jaiven stepping in defusing the situation- Alright you two calm down, I'm leaving.
Toby and Tank stares seriously at each other as Jaiven exits the building. Tank swiftly turns around to continue his announcements.
Tank- Now then let's get this ball rolling. Everybody grab a ticket from the dispenser over there.
He points to the wall on his right revealing a ticket dispenser. He tells everyone that there will be seven total matches. There are numbers one through seven on the tickets. The number on the ticket will be the match the players will participate in.
Tank- Now bring me all the players fighting in match one!
The group looks at their tickets to see which match they're in.
Brandon: Six
Jalaan: Four
Zay: Five
Tre: Two
Toby: One
Toby- I'm going first?
Zay- Good luck out there.
Tre- You better not lose.
Toby smiles then began walking towards the double doors. As he walks he's looking around trying to see who else is heading that direction. Looking at two people walking besides each other on his right side, and looking over to his left he noticed a guy with short spiky hair, but could barely see him through the crowd.
Toby-(Is that Tar?)
He realized he was wrong as the guy approached the doors. Rex age twenty-one, short spiky faded cut, lightweight class,wearing an orange shirt, blue pants, and black sneakers. Tank starts laughing while walking through the doors as the four players followed.