Renegade Rupture Read Online Free PDF Page A

his chest and sobbed.
    “Nina? What happened?” Rolce asked.
    “Rolce . . . oh, Rolce, what’s . . . what’s going on? What’s wrong with him? What’s wrong with Gisbo?” Nina asked. Rolce looked on after his friend with a solemn gaze.
    “I don’t know,” Rolce said and he followed Gisbo. Rolce quickly caught up with Gisbo and matched his stride, but before he could open his mouth, Crass Bastio and Shaved Davinson ran up to them.
    “You guys see what I’m seeing?” Shaved asked.
    “Strifes are walking around like they own the place! You guys have any idea why?” Crass asked.
    “Not a clue, but it seems like they’re all gathering over there. Look, Narroway’s going to make a speech,” Shaved said. Together, Gisbo, Crass, Shaved, and Rolce followed the green cloaks as they merged in with the blue ones around the same podium that Narroway spoke at just two years earlier for Purah’s supposed funeral. Strifes were mixed in the crowd then as well, in secret. Now they stood, clearly revealed. Shaved noticed Grandfield and Knob motioning for them towards the far side of the crowd, and they joined up with them.
    “Any idea what’s going on?” Shaved asked Grandfield.
    “First of all, what is that red crap all over your shirt? Bleh! Smells like puke, man!” Crass said, waving a hand in front of his nose.
    “This is something called kimchi, delicious fermented cabbage with lots of spices and a new part of my diet! The reason why it’s all over my brand new Renegade uniform is because this dumbass here blew three trumpet blasts instead of two! I saw green hoods, heard the blasts, and spit out my lunch!” Grandfield said.
    “Hey! I’m sorry, ok! Jeesh! What? People aren’t allowed to make mistakes anymore?” Knob asked.
    “You blew the invasion alarm twice!” Grandfield said.
    “And I used the plural for mistake you, ass! I know!” Knob stated.
    “Quiet, Narroway’s starting,” Crass said. Narroway cleared his throat and began to pace across the stage with Chieftain Lamik standing behind him, arms folded.
    “Quiet down, quiet down, and I’ll explain everything,” Narroway ordered. Everyone did and he took a deep breath before continuing.
    “Thank you. Now, this was supposed to go swimmingly, but because of a certain . . . intern . . . that shall remain nameless, the Strifes’ arrival was mistaken for an invasion rather than a congregation.”
    “Dumbass,” Grandfield muttered under his breath.
    “Fatass,” Knob muttered in return. Grandfield’s eyes grew to the size of saucers.
    “Freakin’ shut up!” Shaved ordered.
    “Now, down to business. As you can see, Chieftain Lamik and I are up here together on friendly terms due to this announcement. The Elekai’ Exhibition has once again returned to Heaven’s Shelter!” Narroway said to a much murmuring, some cheering, and some booing throughout the crowd.
    “No way . . . has it already been that long?” Rolce asked.
    “What’s the Elekai’ Exhibition?” Knob asked.
    “Idiot! It’s only the biggest fighting tournament in all of Thera!” Grandfield said.
    “Guys, it’s not as exciting as you think. It’s blood bound,” Shaved said nervously. Grandfield and Knob stopped bickering and stared at Shaved.
    “What do you mean by that?” Grandfield asked.
    “Warlords started a tradition ages ago where a tournament transpires. The winner of the tournament has a choice: be the new Warlord, or in our case, Renegade Chieftain, or elect a new leader,” Rolce said.
    “Wait, so you mean . . .” Knob started.
    “Yes. Chieftain Narroway, after the tournament, will have to pass the Chieftain Band to someone else. If he doesn’t hold this tournament, and if a new leader isn’t elected, then Chieftain Narroway will die . . .” Shaved said.
    Their group fell silent as they let Narroway continue.
    “Now, now, calm yourselves so I can get this speech done. According to the rules, I, as Chieftain and designated leader by last