** Chapter 14: The judgment of shame - choice of another sacrifice **
The day following the victory of the ** hunters of chaos ** dawned cold and dark. With the capture of one of the most dreaded creatures of the depth - the Kraken - the mansion had become a fortress of celebration and congratulations among the victorious ones. Meanwhile, the defeat hung over the Ancestral Light group ** as an anathema, an unshakable and silent shadow that continued to follow every step, every whisper, fermenting the anxiety of an unwanted destination.
** Henrique Nakamura **, a constant and authoritarian presence, appeared in the center of the open arena, wearing her enigmatic smile that seemed to reverberate the surfaces of the bright rocks around.
- "Today, fate is not a straight line, my dear challenging. After the Kraken hunting boast, we remember that there is no glory without shadow. The fires of the celebration in the mansion can not, and will never, erase the darkness of the sacrifice. For the defeated team, the ** judgment of shame ** now asks, again, your sentence. Choose, not as allies ... but as survivors. "
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### ** The tension in the air **
The Ancestral Luz Group, now forced to face their own weaknesses, gathered in a tight circle. The tension between them was almost tangible, an invisible current by squeezing each one more strongly every second that extended.
** Hardy Nakamura ** assumed, as usual, his unhealthy leader posture, but even his usually inspiring presence could not dissipate all doubts.
- "It won't be easy, and I understand pain in our hearts. But remember that this is not just a competition, it is our life. We should lead this decision with the weight it deserves."
** Drake **, direct and pragmatic as usual, returned to him in a contained breath:
- "It may be, Hardy, but we must not forget that leadership has a cost. And part of this cost is knowing when we need ... cut ties."
** Irene Dellis **, his voice full of emotion, was deliberate:
- "We cannot become like them, betraying everything we believe. Today we must vote perhaps more for compassion than for logic."
** Grayrock **, whose loyalty was as solid as his stone body, was limited to observing, sorry:
- "Stone doesn't want ... but stone understands price."
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### ** votes start **
Upon being announced by Henry, members of the defeated group were taken one by one to the discreet and dark space for the secret vote. Each participant handed his vote in silence, the echo of the heavy steps by resounding the walls as hammered of an imminent judgment.
#### ** Internal conflicts during voting **
- ** Francis Castro **, visibly shaken by the pressure:
*"There is always a choice to think small looking at the big one. We do not make a hurry decision."*
- ** George Ruth **, recalling honor, but also aware of the need for self -preservation:
*"Allies, this is not a simple roulette or a cruel joke. This is our true test."*
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### ** The result and execution **
As soon as the last vote was collected, Henry returned to the stage, his figure projecting a decided revenge on the expectants. With a calm that reflected a certain bitter pleasure in his position, he opened the scroll that contained the name of the sacrificed.
- "The judgment of shame dictated your will. And today, the chosen one to face the transcendental consequences is ..."*
The space was dyed with a cruel and shrewd silence.
- "Francis Castro."
Shock overflowed through the group in a tearing murmur, and Francis, a man whose spirit was of reasoning and logic, received his sentence with a muffled sadness.
- "It was not in vain," he whispered as guards kindly escorted him in front of the dark portal of Judge.
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### ** The Valley of Humiliation **
In front of the portal, the rest of the competitors was summoned to watch, an eternal reminder of the fragility of their own existence. The valley of humiliation was before them, a perverse structure that rose like a warning of all sins, of all failures.
Francis had understood his position and stared at his entrance without hesitation, a determination to seek answers beyond the final veil.
Henry then, in a more solemn voice than before, proclaimed:
- "May the sadness and value of the fallen close our shadows, and may life continue with their mysteries until the next junction."
Francis's screams echoed one last time as he disappeared in the abyss of eternity, leaving the island for a brief and painful moment, speechless.
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### ** The climax of the day **
With a heavy heart, the competitors returned to their respective camps, eyes facing the mysterious and unfathomable sky. The alliances were slow to resume, confidence was divided - and in this cruel survival struggle, each spirit would know that the choice was too faint.
Henry disappeared, pleased, as always, with the judgment and redemption ballet, knowing that the tournament still had a lot to arrest to those left.
** End of Chapter 14 **
*(Next: wind plots - mourning, reflections and revived hopes)*
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** Note: ***The judgment of shame once again demonstrated the cruelty of the need for sacrifices for survival. But each choice has its weight, and in the end, it is the living who carry the biggest burden.*