** Chapter 11: The judgment of shame - the death penalty **
While the dust of the previous challenge was slowly based on the ** underground island **, the heavy air involving competitors became even more oppressive. The shadow of the ** judgment of shame ** hovered over members of the losing group, such as the cold steel of an invisible guillotine.
Defeat was more than a simple loss of challenge; It was a sentence that required its price. ** Henrique Nakamura **, with its usual aura of theatricality and calculated cruelty, returned to the center of the stage, the same enigmatic smile on the face. It was not joy or compassion that formed that smile, but a strange satisfaction to rule the fate of those who would now be forced to decide between guilt and morality.
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### ** Henry's speech **
Henry began with a dramatic gesture, his hands raised as if invoking some divine judgment.
- *"Congratulations to the winning group for the conquest ... and my regions to the losers, who will now have to face the weight of their choices. Defeat, as many of you know, does not come without consequences. Today, you will participate in something we call **" Judgment of shame. " ** sacrificed **. "**
Silence fell like a stone over the losing group. The eyes of each competitor sought the faces of their allies - or at least those who believed their allies - but the abyss of suspicion grew rapidly.
- *"No matter the proximity, no matter the friendship. Here, the alliances are always fleeting. Each of you will vote confidentially. And the one with more votes will be ... eliminated. An example for the defeated future. This is the price of the failure. This is the price of failure." *
Henry paused, letting his words infiltrate the minds of competitors. And then, with an even more sinister smile, he added:
-*"Ah, I almost forgot ... The sacrificed will not be eliminated instantly. He will be taken to the ** Valley of humiliation **, where he will face this destination before everyone as a spectacle to seal his shame. Prepare to vote. Remember: Your survival may depend on vote wisely."**
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### ** The tension between the losing group **
Members of the losing group, the ** hunters of chaos **, were now plunged into a state of boiling tension. The defeat in the challenge had put them on the most dangerous side of the tournament, and now they needed to decide who would be sacrificed. Conversations full of murmurs, implicit betrayals, and accusations flew like a storm within the group.
** Calley **, the leader, was clearly full.
- *"May this serve as a reminder: do not fail again. If someone here cannot carry their weight in the next challenge, do not hesitate. Today will be an example of what happens to the weak." * *
** Leerstrom **, always smiling, took the opportunity to further ignite the tensions.
- *"You already know, aren't you? That some people here are dead weights. I don't want to point fingers, but ... one of us should have left for a long time."
They all launched glances around them, trying to discern Leerstrom's intentions, which seemed to be ensuring their protection with their manipulative and enigmatic tone.
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### ** votes start **
Participants were called one by one to vote confidentially. The expressions in their faces were indecipherable - part cruelty, part hesitation. The sound of the vote device echoed as small clicks in the salon, each sound seemed to increase the oppressive atmosphere of the judgment.
#### ** Internal conflicts during voting **
- ** TowerFall **, always straightforward, let out:
*"What has brought us so far was the weakness of others, not mine. If they want to blame someone, see those who hesitated during the previous challenge."
- ** APEX PREDATORI **, still weakened by poison and no reason to trust anyone, answered coldly:
*"Weakness? Let's see who will survive until the end. The game only started."*
Even ** Glenda **, known for his manipulation ability, seemed silent, but no one knew if it was the silence of a ongoing conspiracy or just internal preparation for what would come next.
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### ** The result **
When the last name was called to vote and they had all deposited their sentence, Henry returned to the stage, holding a golden scroll that contained the name of the chosen one.
-*"And now, the long awaited moment. Who will face the ** Valley of humiliation **, the door that opens to the final abyss? The chosen one, by decision of his own colleagues, is ..."**
He opened his parchment slowly, savoring the growing tension. The eyes of all the competitors were fixed on him, but not without passing by those of their colleagues, as if they could predict who would be the sacrificed.
- *"Apex Predatori." * *
A silence fell on the group before Apex finally broke the silence with a roar of frustration.
- *"You betrayed me!" *
Henry, unbeatable, only snowed his fingers. Masked guards appeared and held Apex, who was still struggling - but knew that his luck was already decided.
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### ** The Valley of Humiliation **
The rest of the competitors were gathered in a dark arena, whose only source of light came from sinister flames around a macabre portal. This is where the convict faced his last moments, a visual reminder for those who remained.
Apex, still fighting his destination, was placed on his knees before the portal.
Henrique, with his theatrical tone, made the final speech:
- *"Let this be a reminder for you, competitors. Victory is not only individual - it is collective. Defeat, however, will never be softened. We say goodbye to one, but the lesson is for everyone."
Apex's screams echoed one last time before he disappeared on the portal, his existence now linked to the mystery of the Abyss of the Valley.
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### ** The climax **
The two groups returned to their respective camps in silence, the image of the sacrifice recorded in their minds. Among the hunters of chaos, there was resentment and distrust, but also a new kind of determination. They knew they couldn't fail again.
In the distance, Henry watched. He knew the game was just beginning, and the cracks were already forming in the best forged ties.
** End of Chapter 11 **
*(Next: the third deadly challenge - the maze of fire and ice)*
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** NOTE: ***The judgment of shame made it clear that competition is not only about strength, but also about psychological survival. Apex's sacrifice Predatori is a warning: anyone can be next.*