After breakfast, the men of the family gathered around Jax.
Her brothers.
Her brothers-in-law.
Several cousins.
Even a few older uncles.
One of them clapped Jax on the shoulder.
"Time for the trials."
Jax had expected something small.
Maybe a few challenges.
A handful of spectators.
What he hadn't expected—
Was a festival.
Rabbitkin traditions were simple.
If there was any excuse to gather—
They celebrated.
Within an hour nearly the entire village had gathered in the fields, the open training grounds just outside town.
In a village of roughly fifteen hundred people, nearly a thousand showed up to watch.
Shops closed early.
Merchants dragged their goods into the open fields.
Food vendors rolled out carts and portable stoves.
Tents and picnic tables appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Music started.
Children ran through the grass.
Jax watched the transformation with amazement.
"This escalated quickly," he muttered.
Nyxian smirked.
"Welcome to Rabbitkin hospitality."
The first event was announced.
Knife throwing.
Rabbitkin were known for their speed and agility.
Most favored knives and short swords.
Bunny was the exception.
Her strength was far above average for their kind.
Which was why she carried a giant hammer instead.
But most of the competitors today stood lightly on their feet with throwing blades ready.
Nearly forty contestants entered the competition.
Even people outside the family joined.
Jax quickly discovered something else about Rabbitkin culture.
They loved to gamble.
Coins changed hands everywhere.
Side bets.
Odds.
Predictions.
Jax simply shook his head.
Each competitor received three knives.
Closest to the center of the target won.
The first rounds went quickly.
Jax threw casually.
Bullseye.
Bullseye.
Bullseye.
Round after round passed.
The crowd grew louder with every perfect throw.
Eventually only two competitors remained.
Jax.
And a Rabbitkin woman standing across the field.
Bunny leaned over and whispered.
"That's my cousin."
"She's the best knife thrower in the village."
The crowd quieted.
The final round began.
Her first throw—
Bullseye.
Perfect center.
Jax's first throw landed just beside it.
Bullseye.
Her second knife struck slightly below the first.
Still a perfect bullseye.
Jax's second knife slipped into the remaining space.
Another perfect throw.
The crowd erupted.
Only one throw remained.
The cousin stepped forward again.
She studied the board carefully.
Then threw.
Her blade slid perfectly into the last open space.
Bullseye.
The board was now covered in knives.
Every possible spot in the center was filled.
The brothers leaned toward Jax with teasing grins.
"If you miss," one of them said, "you lose the trials."
Jax stepped forward calmly.
He studied the board.
There truly wasn't a single open space left.
The crowd leaned closer.
Jax flipped the knife once in his hand.
Then threw.
The blade struck the handle of the very first knife thrown.
The impact split the wood and embedded Jax's knife directly into it.
The crowd froze.
Then erupted.
According to the rules—
Any knife struck by another blade was negated.
The points went to the second knife.
Jax had just stolen the bullseye.
The crowd roared.
Across the field, Bunny's cousin stared at the target in disbelief.
She had been the brothers' secret weapon.
Their ringer.
A way to humble Jax early.
Instead—
He had outplayed them.
Jax walked over and offered her a respectful nod.
"You're incredible," he said sincerely.
"That was some of the best throwing I've ever seen."
Her disappointment softened immediately.
Compliments from the man who had just beaten her carried weight.
The second contest was axe throwing.
Jax stepped up for his turn.
He tossed the axe.
It struck perfectly—
Then exploded straight through the wooden target.
The axe continued through the support beams behind it.
The entire structure collapsed in a spray of splinters.
Silence fell over the crowd.
Jax stared at the wreckage.
"…I'm truly sorry."
The crowd burst into laughter.
By afternoon the next trial began.
The drinking challenge.
Participants had to chug a full pitcher of ale.
Spin around a pole until dizzy.
Then throw a knife at the target.
Children were moved well behind a barrier for this one.
It was common for disoriented contestants to throw knives wildly.
Which the crowd found hilarious.
Jax watched several people attempt it.
Results varied wildly.
Some missed the target entirely.
Others barely stayed standing.
Speed mattered almost as much as accuracy.
Finally Jax stepped forward.
He drank the pitcher.
Spun around the pole.
Then casually threw three knives.
Bullseye.
Bullseye.
Bullseye.
His System's poison resistance completely negated the alcohol.
The judges didn't know that.
They simply stared in amazement.
Jax had just set the fastest time ever recorded.
By the end of the afternoon, the results were obvious.
Jax had won every contest.
The brothers gathered around him again.
One clapped him on the back.
"You're very skilled."
Another grinned.
"You sure you still want to marry our sister?"
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"She used to eat cups of butter when she was a kid," one brother said.
"Thought it was dessert."
"I WAS FIVE!" Bunny shouted from the crowd.
Everyone laughed.
Jax shook each brother's hand.
"I would be honored if she'd have me."
He paused thoughtfully.
"Though now I know what to serve as dessert at the wedding."
The laughter returned.
When the awards were announced, Bunny's father quietly pulled Jax aside.
"You misunderstand the trials," he said calmly.
Jax looked confused.
"They aren't meant to find the strongest man."
He gestured toward the crowd.
"They show us how a man behaves when things don't go his way."
"Life is hard."
"Failure happens."
"What matters is how a person treats others in those moments."
He looked Jax in the eyes.
"You showed respect to those you defeated."
"You didn't boast."
"You didn't humiliate anyone."
He extended his hand.
"You handled yourself admirably."
Jax shook it.
Bunny's father nodded once.
"You have my blessing."