[ WP ] Every 50 years all the different coalitions of planets come together to pit their toughest predator against each other in a duel tournament . This year the Terran coalition is out to win for the first time in 54 tournaments since their entry to the intergalactic stage .

`` Oh come on. The Tyrany-thingy again?'' sneered the Klendathan. `` Did n't you learn from the last tournament? Or do you humans just find it amusing to waste our time?'' 
 
 Ken turned around to face the alien. `` What do you mean?'' Ken turned to look at the T-Rex like he had n't known what the Klendathan had been talking about. `` Ohhh. No. Sorry to disappoint you all, but the T-Rex wo n't be competing this year, Trigk.'' He turned back around to face his monitor, seemingly oblivious to the alien's curiosity. 
 
 `` Snrtl! Snrtl! Snrtl!'' came the odd slurping laugh of Trigk. `` So you've decided to give up and not compete at all this century, eh? Just well enough for the crowd, they were bored to tears last time around.'' 
 
 Without raising his head from the monitor, Ken replied, `` No no... we have n't given up. We just took a... different approach this time around.'' Ken was the lead bio-paleontologist who had taken over as lead on this project from generations of other leading scientists who had worked on this project. In fact, their `` competitor'' had been in preparation for well over 300 years. The Tyrannosaurus Rex they had submitted last year had merely been a weak show of effort to retain their candidacy for this century's tournament. As confident as Ken was in their offering this year, he wanted to see the surprise in the crowd's reaction without rumors dampening it. Behind him, he could hear the Klendathans pretending to conceal their mocking of humanity's beast. 
 
 `` I bet the Tyranny-thing is just here as a cheerleader then! Snrtl snrtl snrtl!'' The group of Klendathans had had their fill of making fun of the humans and turned to return to their beast. Their Farxigan Traut. 
 
 The intimidating beast stood over 12m tall. Unlike the bisymmetric creatures of most other civilizations, the Traut had evolved from an ancestor with radial symmetry. Its eyes faced outward from every direction. It had no back to corner and could attack from every angle with its razor sharp tentacles. Weighing in at over 1,800kg, this creature was considered merely a mid-level competitor. It had only ever passed the third stage to the top 8 competitors before falling prey to a higher level predator offered by the top civilizations. But even it had made quick work of the T-Rex. Earth's last competitor had barely survived 3min after biting off 3 of the Farxigan Traut's 50 tentacles. Even the damage it had inflicted alien champion had had little effect due to its rapid regenerating abilities restoring it to peak fighting ability by the time the next round had started. Many aliens who had missed their match wondered if Earth had even sent a competitor the first round. 
 
 Ken looked over at the creature briefly before dismissing it as non-threatening. He knew that Earth's competitor would make even quicker work of their champion than they had of humanity's the tournament before. He glanced down at his holo-watch and called out to the team, `` Time for lunch!'' The team quickly hurdled the T-Rex's cage to the back room where their gladiator awaited. Once the cage's door was flush against the door of the room, they pressed the button sliding both doors open and waited for the T-Rex to wander into the room before quickly shutting the doors again. 
 
 From across the preparation hall, all the competitors heard the cry of the T-Rex as the once apex-predator quickly found it's new place in Earth's new food chain. 
 
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 Yttrigan the Mobian announcer bantered with his colleague Nary the Flixargian before the first stage was about to start. He was lamenting their bad luck with his co-host as they had been chosen to host the Earthling's premier. Among the hundreds of other announcers, they had been chosen for what was expected to be the most boring of all the rounds. It took hours of preparation and make up to get ready for broadcast for what he expected would be over in minutes. 
 
 `` Hardly even worth our time. Nobody's even going to be watching!'' he complained. 
 
 `` They should advance the Barian Trublot and just get on with the rest of the competition,'' replied Nary and Yttrigan grumbled his agreement. 
 
 `` You're live in 5... 4...'' as the last three appendages dropped one by one signalling the beginning of the broadcast from the director, the announcers made a quick 180 and tried to put on the most professional show they could. 
 
 `` Welcome to the 20th Centennial Tournament of the Apex Hunters! We're so glad you could join us as we begin the first round today.'' 
 
 `` Yes Yttrigan, it's great weather out here on the Pandoran Moon as we time how long it will take the Barian Trublot to stomp all over humanity's sacrifice this time.'' 
 
 `` Here we go, the Trublot has just stepped into the coliseum. Although he really needs no introduction, I'll make one anyways as it's bound to be more interesting than the fight that's about to proceed,'' the Mobian snidely commented. He could n't help giving the humans a bit of grief for wasting his time. `` Over 20m long and weighing in at 3400kg, the Barian Trublot is truly a sight to behold.'' 
 
 `` With it's osmium plated tusks measuring 3m each, it can gore any competition out there,'' added Nary. `` As dangerous as those tusks are, we should all remember how deadly those claws on his feet and arms can be. And take note, its got 12 of them. That's right. Twelve arms and legs. I would n't even know how to coordinate all of those!'' 
 
 `` Whee Whee!'' laughed the male co-host. `` Despite it's large size, the Trublot is one of the most agile competitors in years' past. In fact, its average ranking is 3rd place overall, having made to the finals 3 times in the last 5 tournaments.'' 
 
 `` Oh wait, here comes the Earthling's sacrifice!'' 
 
 `` It's... it's a box? Surely that ca n't be i -- Oh I get it. Their competitor is inside the box. Well, whatever it is, it's big. The humans have wheeled in a 50m long steel box that's standing over 20m tall.'' The announcers had n't even bothered looking at Earth's introduction sheet before the broadcast and had no idea what was inside. 
 
 The top of the box split into halves as they folded up to open the ceiling to the world. The added height to the walls concealed humanity's champion for an extra moment of peace before the carnage was to begin. 
 
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 Ken could n't help but smile. She was beautiful. He had been working with Firenze for the last 8 years and had grown to love her. As much as he did care for her, he did not worry for a second for her well-being. No, he was n't cruel. He was completely sure that they would win this year. Three hundred years they had carefully planned and bided their time. All for this moment. 
 
 Whoosh. The sound from within the container came subtlety and at the same time assuredly. Whoosh. The sound came strong and wind blew out from the top of the containers. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh as the time between the sound and the rush of wind shortened Firenze showed herself to the galaxy. The 312 year old Onyx Black Dragon rose from extinction to face its foe. From myth, this legend was about to be born again.
