Short, gargled, gasps of breath were the last sounds that escaped from the man's mouth as his life was choked from his body. Vlad felt a rush as he siphoned his killer's life essence, this feeling of power was like a drug to Vlad, and this made his second hit in the last 24 hours.

The previous day had been productive. Though he had missed the first challenge of the tournament he had made significant progress in regard to some necessary house-keeping. The heightened senses that came with draining the life force from another living being was now coursing through him. He felt as if he could see every detail of the dark and empty warehouse he now found himself. He felt quicker as if things around him moved at a slower pace. He tasted the scent of blood coming from the various cuts he had made on the man during his brief interrogation. Valdimir had conducted too many of such interrogations to waste time on idle threats with such an assassin. Instead he went straight for what he had learned to be the quickest "tongue loosening" procedures. The man was missing three finger, the remaining had their nails removed. A long cut from the right edge of the man's mouth to his ear, though making his answers somewhat more difficult to hear, made the answers come all the faster still.

He felt strength like he never had before. His muscles tensed as he hardened his grip around the base of the now lifeless man's head and his foot on his chest. With little effort he ripped it from his shoulders. Blood leaking onto his boots. He smiled as even with his heightened sense he sensed no reaction from another man standing in the room behind him. He tossed the head into a plastic bag which the other man held. Yuri Motova, Vlad's second in command. Yuri had joined Catalyst at the same time as Vlad. They had trained together and fought in so many battles side by side. He had followed Vlad when they split from Catalyst and formed Requiem. The cold Russian killer, codenamed "Ice" was one of the few people that Vlad had any form of respect for in this miserable world. This is why he was the first person Vlad called the previous morning. Yuri seemed to have no problem tracking down Vlad's assassin. And had him already neatly gift-wrapped in the oak chair in the center of the warehouse before Vlad had arrived.

"Send the head to his employers. That should give the right message. However, don't mention to anyone that I am still alive. Keep this between me and you and only let others know if the occasion arises that it is absolutely necessary. I think I might take some time to enjoy being "dead".

"I understand. What shall be done with Requiem in your absence? We can't allow people like this," he said gesturing to the bag, "to take over the death market."

"Which is why you will be in charge while I am gone. I trust you will keep things in order well enough while I take a little...vacation. Though I might call from time to time for some company supplies. I trust you will have no problems with any of this?"

"If you trust in my abilities I am bound to do the same."

"You never were one to second guess. Now, let's get out of here." He picked up the headless corpse and, after Yuri had opened the trunk, deposited it next to the body of the security guard from Vlad's condominium who had his life stolen just hours before the venture here to the dockside warehouse. The man's folly could not go unpunished and at the time Vlad had a headache. Now the only one who knew he was still alive was Yuri. And he knew things would not go beyond that unless it became necessary in the future.

Checking his watch he noticed he had enough time to stop home to change his clothes before going to the meeting place for the next challenge. He might even grab a latte if he hit traffic just right.

Dreams.

Frenzied activity in a drowsing body, gateway to worlds of vividest imagination - places where everyone has suffered and exulted.
Pathways for the gods.

Imagine you're stood upon a small disc of stone balanced precariously on a tall spike of stone jutting hundreds of feet above the earth. In a rough circle on the edge of vision stand ten gigantic mountains, blurred by distance and the frenzied activity of the snow that would rest upon them if for a moment the tumultuous winds would subside. You look up and see vast black clouds, straining to burst and crashing against each other to the deafening sound of thunder. Lightning arcs from them to smash against the swirling sands of the desert far beneath your precarious perch, and the air tastes ever so slightly of tin. Overcome by incredible vertigo, you mis-step, and the platform wobbles. Your stomach flips over and your breath sticks in your throat. You sway in the suddenly violent winds and pouring rain, fighting against gravity and the elements while your body protests. In the sworls of the violent sky you glimpse what look like vast glittering eyes, and suddenly you're falling, your lungs filling with ice cold air as you scream and the earth comes up to meet you.

Awake with a start.

Damien shot up into a sitting position from where he had been lying. Panting with the shock of such a vivid dream, he knew it had been his godess. Simply put, should he fall then she wouldn't catch him. And oddly the feeling that now was the time to get ready for the next trial was felt through every part of his body, a tingling sensation similar to the buildup of-
A sound like a whip crack hung in the air for a moment before Damien's own curses. His right hand was stung, and the faint crackle of static surrounded him as he got dressed - pulling on a sleeveless shirt, some worn jeans and a threadbare jacket which was more to hide the knife he strapped to the left side of his chest than anything else.

Before leaving his humble abode, he grabbed a quick bite to eat and slung his new metal staff over his shoulders, it's weight reassuring against the uncertainty of the day ahead. It being early yet, he made to walk to the meeting spot - thinking that it'd be faster than driving for a few weeks now anyway, what with the bridge destroyed the streets were likely to be literally packed with motorists.

Blaine was up and about early the next morning, preparing for the upcoming contests. His mother hadn't come home that night, by then he was used to it, maybe even preferred it. She was just stumbling in when he was about to leave. "Where were you," he asked her.
"Oh Bobby had me over in his penthouse suite."
Right more like you got to drunk to walk home from his crummy apartment, he thought to himself. He moved towards the door hoping to get out before she tried to convince him of more lies.
"Where are you going?"
"To the park to meet some people," he replied while closing the door behind him. He made his way to the park. He was surprised that he was the first to arrive, he did not even see Seven anywhere. This time he was prepared for a long wait, a sat down and cracked open his copy of And Then There Were None by Agatha Cristie.

Magnus was dissapointed that his new partner was not as weapon prone as he, but he was glad Kai was being competant. Maybe he'd made the right choice in people. As Magnus began modifying Kai's goggles, adding on-screen view, GPS, Infrared, and closed satellite communication, Kai asked to see Magnus' symbol, pulling up his shirt to reveal twin sharks. Amused by the question, Magnus flicked off his cloak, unzipped half his jumpsuit off, moved away slightly from Kai (basics, don't turn your back to ANYONE). Magnus then flashed the alchemical fire on his back, before nearly instantly zipping his suit and going back to work on the goggles. 2 minutes later, Magnus handed to Kai the finished goggles, which looked identical to the originals, the pair of knuckle gloves he requested, as well a frag and a flash grenade.
"You might need 'em" Magnus said with a grin. "And the goggles are voice activated. Now lets get the fuck to the next challenge. You got dreamed, right?"

Kai laughed at the way Magnus undid so many layers of clothing then redid them all after Kai got a glimpse of his avatar symbol. A flame, huh? He must be the avatar of fire. Wow, thats an interesting combo. Avatar of the sea and the avatar of Flame working together. Kai chuckled. Kai stood around with his hands in his pockets whistling, until Magnus handed him back his goggles. Apparently he added in all sorts of different features into. Magnus then shoved a frag and a flash grenade into Kai's hands.

"You might need 'em" Magnus said with a grin. "And the goggles are voice activated. Now lets get the fuck to the next challenge. You got dreamed, right?"

"Yeah, I totally got dreamed," Kai responded knowing exactly what his new partner was talking about. Kai left the apartment waving good bye and headed home. When he arrived Chav was gone and apparently his dad had been by too. He could tell because his dad never made up his own bed, and always left the place a mess. Kai sigh rolling into bed. He fell asleep and awoke knowing exactly where to go. It was 9 am, he walked into the bathroom and decided to just wash his face and put on some deodorant. Eh, I smell fine, he decided as he threw on some clothes. Kai stuffed the grenades into a small back pack. Then he was off to the new destination. When he arrived, no one else seemed to be there. "Oh no, don't tell me I'm the first here! I'll have to remind myself to get here later next time." He kicked a stone like an upset little child then noticed an avatar he recognized from the other night there. "Guess, i was wrong."

When Kai left, Magnus grabbed a pair of katanas for this challenge. Despite the fact that a katana is a two-handed sword, Magnus liked to use two together. He got to the park in minutes, and voice-called Kai through the goggles to find out where he was.
"I'm here!" Magnus stated. "Where are you?"
Magnus waited for an answer and joined his partner.

"...children," thought Vlad.

He lowered his binoculars. He had been keeping an eye on the meeting point for a little while now. At first he thought he had perhaps been mistaken. The first two to arrive couldn't have been more than teenagers. The third on the scene though still younger than Vlad might have expected of an avatar wore signs that were a bit more obvious. No normal person would be wandering around the park in Edge city with a set of katanas, not to mention the rest of his gear was hardly inconspicuous. Vlad had a feeling he was going to feel incredibly old by the time the meeting took place. If these were the chosen of the gods he wondered about the state of such a pantheon. Then again, perhaps he was too old. Maybe Morana had chosen him since compared to the others he was closer to death than the lot of them. He smirked a bit at this thought and stood up from the bench he had been sitting. He tossed his now empty coffee cup in a waste basket and walked toward the area the three avatars now stood.

After the few minutes it took to arrive at the scene he took a second to look at each of the boys who had gathered. The one with the book seemed harmless enough and the boy with the back pack didn't seem much of a threat. The one with the swords, while not intimidating compared to some of the marks Vlad had met on the field of battle, did seem the most dangerous. The way he carried himself seemed to hint at a sense of recklessness. Without giving it much more thought he leaned against a tree and lit a cigarette.

He wondered how much longer they would be waiting.

Tim awoke at six sharp. Why this happened he didn't know, but it appeared like something in his brain had nudged his body awake.

He rolled about on his bed and getting tired of not being able to sleep, got up. Guessing that this challenge would have something to have in terms of physical challenge, he took a shower and warmed himself up in the streets. He looped around the park for about an hour, then turned and ran through the city, zigzagging to a destination he didn't know. Then, as his wristwatch beeped and alerted him that the time had come, he turned around and jogged back to the park. As he arrived he noticed the three teenagers already standing there, and another man walking towards them. He knew him. Even though he hadn't met him before, he knew him very well.

“Hey,” he called, his voice echoing in the chill morning air. His voice somehow seemed stronger, more self-assured. Even though he hadn't spoken since morning, his voice didn't crack. Something had changed in him overnight, and Tim thought he had to find out what it was. A scene from yesterday floated through his thoughts: Lee's bewildered expression as she turned back to him. Was it his fault, after all, and not hers, that they hadn't been able to talk?

His thoughts seemed much more clear and crisp. He hoped this clarity of thought would continue.

Julia finished eating breakfast and headed for the park. Her "partner" hadn't actually told her much, so she left in a little bit of a bad move. Perhaps this alliance would be more temporary than she had originally thought. Luckily, she didn't need to cross the river again. It didn't take too long to get to the park.

At the park, she noticed a number of people were already there. Wow, she must have stayed him pretty late. She walked over to a bench and sat down. She wondered when seven would come. The other judge was there already. Once Seven and a few more people were there, the could start.