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Kara waited for the starting signal, her heart buoyant. This was it. In a few minutes, she’d be through to the final.

She studied the pole, looking for possible handholds. Its surface was largely smooth, though there were a few useful-looking pits and dents. Silently, she thanked Daa’sten for her boot claws.

The siren blared and the Potentials ran for their poles with the roar of the crowd in their ears. Kara kicked out her artificial claws as she launched herself at the smooth wood.

Gripping with her hands, knees and feet, she began to haul herself up the pole. Around her she could see the others doing the same.

Gendril was struggling, perhaps because of the ankle she twisted in the first challenge. But everyone else was ascending steadily.

Kara shut her mind to everything except moving upwards. The muscles in her thighs and arms began to ache but it was a familiar ache, something she’d experienced many times on Minerva-6, and she greeted it like an old friend.

After two minutes, she was in the lead. Hespia wasn’t far behind but with every passing moment, Kara’s advantage grew.

The crowd gasped and she turned to see Gendril fall. The Vraxian plummeted several meters to the ground – a fall that might have injured her, if it hadn’t been for the cushioning energy shield that was automatically deployed by the disc on her back. Kara was impressed.

So that’s what it’s for.A high-tech airbag. Handy.

She resumed climbing, steadily inching higher. She couldn’t help grinning to herself.

Fuck. I might actually win this thing.

And no sooner had she thought that, then she lost her grip.

One minute she was climbing. The next, scorching heat tore through her hands in a violent, blistering wave. She shrieked and let go of the pole, crashing to the ground.

The shield diluted the impact of her landing. Shocked, she lay on the arena floor and wondered what the hell had just happened.

Her hands had been burning. The pain had been so intense she was sure her skin had been melted to the bone. Yet when she studied them now, there was nothing to see. Not a single mark.

What the fuck?

No-one ran over to help her and she remembered the rules. No aid and no interference. She got to her feet and launched herself at the pole again, knowing she didn’t have time to figure out what had happened.

It wasn’t so bad; several Potentials were still near the bottom, including Gendril who’d also had to start again. She could still catch them.

But when she got to the same place, the same thing happened. White hot bolts skewered her palms and wherever she touched the pole, it felt like a branding iron.

This time, however, she didn’t let go.

She kept moving upwards, forcing herself to climb despite the excruciating pain. But any hopes that the burning sensation would wear off were quickly dispelled. It got worse the higher she climbed.

She might have been able to bear it, if it hadn’t started to penetrate the material of her uniform. Her forearms began to sting, then her thighs and stomach until every part of her body was affected. Her vision clouded with tears as the searing heat intensified. It was torture.

She focused on the prize at the top. But with each passing second the torment increased until her whole body was shaking in gut-wrenching agony. It was too much.

She crashed to the ground a second time.

When she looked across to Vahn she saw he’d half-risen from his seat in shock. But it was Baelon that caught her eye. Baelon, with his gloating face and his triumphant smile.

He’s sabotaged my challenge,she thought furiously.I don’t know how, but he’s rigged it.

And the first bell was rung.

Thirty Nine

The crowd cheered and Kara whipped round to see who it was.

Hespia.