Reincarnated with the Country System-Chapter 174: The Hatun Yawar Tournament

The Hatun Yawar is the most sacred and prestigious tournament of the Taku civilization, held once every four years. It serves as both a test of leadership and a way to determine the next ruler if the current king is challenged. The tournament is deeply rooted in Taku traditions.

The tournament consists of four main trials, each designed to test different qualities of a leader: strength, combat ability, agility, and endurance. Only the strongest warriors can make it to the final duel, where the winner is either crowned king or reaffirms his rule.

The First trial is Rumi Mak'ana (The Test of Strength)

Contestants must lift and carry enormous boulders (some over 1000 kg) across a marked distance.

Only those who complete the task within the time limit move to the next round. Warriors who fail are eliminated immediately.

Yawar T'inkay (The Duel of Blood)

A series of one-on-one duels using macanas (wooden clubs with stone or bronze edges) and hide shields. The goal is to disarm, knock out, or incapacitate the opponent. Fighters use a mix of brute force and tactical strikes.

Taku combat techniques such as:

- Apu Chuki (The Mountain's Blow): A powerful overhead strike meant to break an opponent's guard.

- Inti Ukhu (Sun's Embrace): A technique where a warrior feints a strike to force the enemy into a vulnerable position.

The winners advance, while the losers are disqualified.

Ch'aska Anka (The Eagle's Flight)

Contestants must climb a massive wooden structure covered in traps and obstacles. The goal is to retrieve a sacred golden emblem from the top and return without falling.

Inti Chakana (The Sun's Ascendance) – The Final Duel

A one-on-one duel to the death between the last two remaining warriors.

Contestants are armed with:

Tupus – Long spears with bronze tips.

Huaracas – Slings capable of launching stones with deadly force.

The battle ends only when one warrior is either dead or completely incapacitated. If the current king wins, he reaffirms his rule. If he loses, the new warrior is crowned king.

♦♦♦

Alberto and the others took their seats in a special viewing area prepared for them.

The arena where the tournament would be held was a vast stone amphitheater, carved directly into the mountainside.

The walls were adorned with intricate carvings depicting past champions.

The entire structure is built on a high plateau, which provides a clear view of the sacred battle platform at its centre. The battlefield is a vast circular space, about 200 feet in diameter, made of smooth but durable stone. Deep cracks and faint marks on the surface indicate the countless battles that have taken place here over the centuries.

The main platform is surrounded by tall stone pillars, each 40 feet tall. These are decorated with banners of gold and bright red woven cloth, which display the symbols of the Taku gods—the sun, the jaguar, and the condor. At the edges are large embers, filled with burning coals, casting a dazzling light across the battlefield.

On one side of the arena, there are stepped stone seats arranged in a semicircle. The seats are huge, making Alberto and his party feel even smaller. The area designated for them has been specially decorated with small wooden benches and cushions so that they can sit comfortably.

Behind the arena, the snow-capped peaks of the sacred mountains stand tall.

In the distance, the sound of war drums and conches can be heard, signalling the arrival of the warriors.

_____________________________

The low, rhythmic beat of the war drum heralded the first test.

The Rumi Mak'ana, the test of strength, was about to begin.

A procession of competitors entered the battlefield, men and women. Their muscles were visible beneath their woven battle robes of strong alpaca wool, adorned with gold medals, the symbol of their tribe.

Taku King stood in the centre of the arena, his presence commanding complete silence. He raised his hand, and the sound of the drum ceased.

"The test of strength has begun," he announced. "Only those who can prove their strength will advance. The weak will be left behind."

From the edge of the arena, servants emerged, carrying huge boulders, some as tall as a man and some even larger.

These stones were placed in a marked area in the centre of the arena.

Alberto sat in his seat and watched carefully, { Hmm.... these stones are very large, if my guess is correct, some of the stones here could weigh as much as a car. }

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Rachel, who was sitting next to him, explained to him about the competition, "Your Majesty, the first round of the Tournament has begun. The rules of Rumi Mak'ana are simple but brutal. Each fighter must pick up a stone and place it on their shoulder. But most importantly, they must carry it to a specific location across the battlefield, which is located about 50 feet away. Also, they must place it without dropping it suddenly, because this is where control over energy is most important, and they must complete it within five minutes. Anyone who fails to complete the test within the time limit or drops the stone halfway will be eliminated. These are the rules of this round"

Elizabeth said, "This is just like the Atlas Stone event, "

"Ya, Mam, You are right, They are similar but different"

The Atlas Stones were a staple of strength competitions, where athletes lifted massive spherical stones made of concrete or granite and placed them onto pedestals of increasing height.

In strongman competitions, lifting the heaviest stone or completing the task in the shortest time determined the winner. Athletes would use a combination of explosive leg strength, back power, and grip endurance to get the stone off the ground, then roll it onto their thighs before hoisting it up to chest level and finally over a platform.

Rachel said, " The key difference here is— The Atlas Stones are lifted onto pedestals. Here, the warriors actually have to carry them across the battlefield… If these warriors competed in our competition, they'd dominate every strongman contest ever held"

...

Twelve competitors came forward, each choosing a stone based on their confidence and strength.

The condor's horn sounded, signalling the start.

A wave of gasps and gasps filled the air as the competitors lifted the stones onto their shoulders.

The warrior who carried the heaviest stone would advance in the competition. So everyone was trying to lift the big stones, and there were also some who were lifting the smaller stones with both hands. But these stones were still too heavy for ordinary people to lift.

The competitors' muscles swelled, veins bulged, and they dug their feet into the ground for stability. Some fighters lifted it easily and some struggled, their legs shaking under the immense weight.

Takado selected two medium-sized stones. He lifted them and began to move forward.

Meanwhile, another competitor who was next to Takado selected a very large stone. As he struggled to lift it, his knee buckled, and the stone slipped from his hand. It fell to the ground with a loud thud, kicking up dust in the air. A loud gasp rose from the crowd.

He tried again, but his strength was leaving him. Since he was unable to lift the stone, he was eliminated from the competition by law.

.....

The competitors began to move forward, their steps slow. Carrying such a huge weight required more than just raw strength—it required balance, endurance, and a deep understanding of one's own limitations.

Takado, though initially shaky, found a rhythm. He bent his knees slightly, using his core to steady himself. His speed increased slightly, but the tension in his face was clear.

One warrior made a fatal mistake. In her eagerness to finish quickly, she moved too fast, and her foot slipped. Her stone shifted dangerously, forcing her to fall to one knee. The sudden loss of momentum drained her remaining strength, and though she tried to push herself up, her body refused to obey. She gritted her teeth in frustration as two warriors came to carry her away.

A few more were eliminated from the competition.

By now, only eight competitors remained in the challenge, their bodies drenched in sweat, their muscles burning from the intense exertion.

Takado arrived at the designated spot first. He carefully lowered the two stones on his shoulder, making sure they didn't hit the ground. His performance was flawless.

Another competitor, named Atok, came next. His arms shook as he lowered his stone, but he managed to place it. His whole body was shaking from exhaustion, but he succeeded.

One by one, the remaining fighters arrived. Only a few succeeded, their bodies almost exhausted by the time they completed the task.

The last competitor finally reached the finish line. He slowed significantly at the last moment, but his sheer willpower carried him forward. He lowered his stone and dropped to one knee, gasping for breath. He succeeds—just barely.

As the last stone was placed, the war drum rang again, signalling the end of the first test. The remaining warriors stood in a line, their chests heaving as they breathed.

Taku King turned to address them.

"You have proven your strength," he said, his gaze wandering over the remaining competitors. "The next battle will begin after ten minutes of rest."