Page 1 of The Hunt: Emerald

Prologue

THE OPENING CEREMONY

Emerald

Istand on the podium… if you can call it that. It’s more like a stage for slaughter. A wide, black stone platform, raised above the crowd that roars excitedly as if those of us up here are not about to be thrown into a death game.

The noise is deafening, thousands of voices screaming from all sides. The four great viewing zones are packed to bursting, tier upon tier of disgusting spectator. The sky glows with the shimmer of the four enchanted projectors, their magic casting perfect images of us for all to see.

Alphas, Betas, and hell… even some Omega’s from other dimensions, worlds and kingdoms are here to watch.This is fucked up!

But while the fucking ominous floating dragon orbs hover and pan across us, primarily focusing on those who are crying or near tears…

They’ve got to get the fanfare going since all seven Hells are watching,some of the projectors show the definitions and meanings of secondary genders…

“Citizens of the 7thHell and Hunt spectators! Welcome to this year’sGrand Hunt!

For those unfamiliar with our honored traditions, let us remind you of the casts that shape this savage and glorious event given to us by our fevered seven Demon Kings!

First,THE ALPHAS.

Born to dominate. The apex predators of our society. Their strength surpasses all, their senses are unmatched, and their instincts are primal and unforgiving. In the Hunt, Alphas enter a heightened state of bloodlust and rut, making them unstoppable forces of nature. They hunt for glory, for blood, and for the right to claim.

Next,THE BETAS.

The balance-keepers. Immune to the savage instincts of Alphas and Omegas, Betas serve as the neutral force in our world, administrators, enforcers, and observers. Within the Hunt, Betas operate as Wardens, enforcing the ancient rules and ensuring the bloodshed remains within its sacred bounds.

And finally, THE OMEGAS.

The coveted prey. Marked from birth as the lowest cast, yet possessing an allure that drives Alphas to madness. Their bodies betray them with Heats, and their scents can trigger Ruts in any Alpha who dares chase them. In the Hunt, they run for freedom, most coming from impoverished nations or having been capturedand sold as sex slaves due to their pheromones… some are even criminals! No matter! As long as they win the Hunt, they can gain their freedom!

Forty Omegas. Thousands of Alphas. One week of carnage each, in different time zones! One prize per Hunt!

And now… let the Hunt BEGIN.”

My heart pounds, thunderous in my chest, but I stomp that shit down, holding my own because I don’t want them looking at me. I don’t want them to single me out, so I grit my teeth, forcing my spine to stay straightened and my hands to stay still. My mind to stay clear… but it has the exact opposite effect. Suddenly, me and three other omegas pop up on the screens, all four of us without one tear, without a single emotion… without fear, which gets the crowd booing.

“BREAK THOSE OMEGAS! BREAK THOSE OMEGAS!” they chant spitefully.

Breathe, Emerald…. fucking breathe.Soon enough, I’m rewarded when the orbs grow bored with us showing no signs of fear and pan over, scanning the crowd again, followed by the hundreds… nothousandsof Alphas maybe more ineachof the four gates. I grit my teeth, fisting my hands.Thousands of them, and only forty of us.

That’s ten Omegas per hundreds of Alphas. It’s way too fucking clear we are notjustprey… we aremeat.The game is rigged, and we aremeantto lose.

The Administrator of the Hunt steps forward. Her crimson skin, black eyes, midsize horns and dominating aura immediately quiets the chants. I’m sure they are all overwhelmed by her beauty. She’s youthful, yet anyone with a brain would know she can destroy this entire stadium with a flick of her finger, so her looks can be deceiving… apparently the bitch has served the seven Demon Kings as their faithful servant in all lifetimes.

“A moment of silence to honor the Seven Demon Kings,” she intones, and the crowd falls silent as seven loud blasts resound.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Seven great flames are lit in seven different colors.

Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Indigo. Violet…

Followed by the seven great statues behind the flames, each one representing a Deadly Sin, the seven white-haired, red eye’d Demon Kings who rule the hells with an iron fist and created this twisted game out of sheer fucking boredom a few millennia ago…

Lust. Wrath. Greed. Envy. Gluttony. Sloth. Pride.

Standing behind the depictions in the middle is an image we can barely see, representing the Demon Emperor.I don’t want to talk or even think about THAT one…

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