The Narrative Nexus 10: The Nightmare Tournament

Contents

• Note from Author
• Narrative
• The Nexus Library
• About the Author

Note from Author

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the 10th story in the collection—how exciting is that? I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you who've been diving into the tales of The Narrative Nexus. Your support means the world to me, and I hope you'll continue enjoying the adventures ahead. Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s jump into the story!

The Nightmare Tournament

The North wind blew vigorously as we repelled against it. We were climbing the icy mountains which was the penultimate task of the ‘Nightmare Tournament’. We were the last five people because the other competitors were eliminated because for different reasons.

We could see the silhouette of the next task in the distance. It was a volcano spewing out flames and golden lava was spilling out. We tried to ignore it but the raging flames around it were too conspicuous and scintillating in the gloomy and eerie atmosphere of the menacing mountains.

As we climbed down the final mountain the misty air was gradually vanishing and my frostbite was healing. Tranquillity engulfed my body when a surge of hot air blew on me. This all ended when I heard a faint cry of panic a couple of metres below me. It was Geronimo. He had rolled down the thick blanket of snow and into the clutches of the fiery fire beneath us.

A familiar sense of uneasiness washed over me when I sensed a storm brewing. I predicted this because I saw the clouds moving rapidly and swirling into a vortex. This means that there will be a tornado. Minutes passed by as we progressed through the snow that melted into slush near the end of the mountain.

I got off the mountain and observed the daunting volcano. An inferno was swirling above it, creating a vibrant ring that guarded the volcano from any intruders that tried to get the ‘Gem of Power’ which was the goal of the tournament and was my only motivation to join the tournament. I slipped my iron pickaxe into my rucksack and walked forward.

Just then, a Dutch competitor knocked me down and sprinted towards the volcano. He used his pickaxe to climb up the volcano and tried to reach the gleaming vivid crystal placed on a diamond cup. Suddenly, the storm roared and he fell into the boiling lava.

The storm grew stronger and the velocity of the wind rapidly increased. It started raining and then I realised something. The aggressive wind and the torrent of water will destroy the fire. The other two were more athletic than clever so they raced each other to the gem. One of them tripped and fell into the flames.

Jack and I were the last two remaining. Jack dashed to the volcano and managed to reach the crystal. Just as he was about to become victorious, the deafening sounds of loud cheers and claps reached my ears. I was infuriated.

I ran to the volcano and drew my pickaxe. I tossed it with all my might, and it hit the gem. The gem toppled into the lava. There was an eerie silence. That is when I realised that the storm had disappeared.

Jack raged with fury because he was seconds away from getting glory that would never be forgotten. Then, he went berserk. Pandemonium struck as he strode forward with my classic iron pickaxe in one hand and his ultra rare diamond pickaxe in his other.

A plethora of images washed over me as I predicted my fate. My family, home and friends. The most powerful imagery was the one thousand pages rulebook of the tournament. One of the rules was that physical violence was allowed.

I then took a random magnet from my rucksack and used it to attract my pickaxe and surprisingly, the crystal! It was magnetic the whole time!

My heart was palpitating as the crowd roared like lions. I am not shocked that I won, I am shocked that I survived.

The Nexus Library

Explore the archives of The Narrative Nexus and dive into the captivating worlds of past adventures!

The Narrative Nexus 1: The Rainbow Gemstone

A boy’s discovery of a dazzling gemstone sparks a whirlwind journey through deserts and a hidden lair. With a cryptic note, a daring camel, and a clever twist, he must reclaim the gem to find his way home.

The Narrative Nexus 2: The Secret Relic

In stormy “Murder Town”, three friends enter a haunted house seeking a relic. Facing eerie visions, a vampire attack, and betrayal, the narrator claims the relic and escapes in a thrilling, chilling adventure!

The Narrative Nexus 3: The Night in Greece

A serene Athens evening turns dark as a lost traveler encounters a suspicious stranger offering help. Trust leads to danger, but sheer will helps him escape captivity. At dawn, he finds safety and solace.

The Narrative Nexus 4: The Avalanche

A lone mountaineer faces an avalanche, losing his campsite and gear. Desperate, he finds a fog-shrouded castle, sneaks in for supplies, and escapes a madman with a rifle, surviving a chilling adventure.

The Narrative Nexus 5: The Fall of Fire

A fiery city falls as elemental monarchs, the Water Queen and Fire King, clash. Both are imprisoned, sparking war. The Fire King dies, his realm falls, and humanity rises, defeating the fire minions.

The Narrative Nexus 6: The Haunted House

A haunted loft, cursed by anguished souls and a malevolent monster, traps a man in eternal darkness. Struggling to escape, he confronts his doom as reality unravels and he is swallowed by oblivion.

The Narrative Nexus 7: The Boy in the House

A stormy night. An abandoned house. A bloodstained message warns of possession and despair. A dead toddler speaks of doom, attacks viciously, and leaves the man haunted by voices—his fate sealed.

The Narrative Nexus 8: Xantharix

When Xantharix arrived, storms raged and cities fell. Declaring himself a Martian sent to destroy Earth, his remorse birthed an offer: join him on Mars or face oblivion. I chose the stars over ashes.

The Narrative Nexus 9: The Medieval War

As flames consumed the castle and chaos reigned, I clutched a bow with my final ounce of strength. The last arrow flew true, striking the final warrior — but as darkness overtook me, had we truly won?

Find the rest of my stories here.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Shrev — a 12-year-old passionate about:

• Storytelling: I publish action-packed tales daily in The Narrative Nexus.
• Mathematics: I share tips on math tricks and problem-solving here on Medium.
• Coding: Check out my programs on Khan Academy and join my coding team — Team Coding Pros! You can even subscribe to my programs on KA.
• Chess: I play on chess.com and sometimes on lichess.

Subscribe to me; like, comment and share my stories here on Vocal. Follow and clap to my stories and articles here on Medium.

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