Deep within the perilous forest, where vines coiled thickly around decaying trunks and the air hung heavy with damp mist, a man clad in dazzling hero's armor stood arrogantly before two figures who Soren and Mira deemed too weak to pose a threat.
That man was Meverdet Likhail, the backup member of Team Damian.
A sneer tugged at his lips: "I suppose my last attack must've scared you witless. Don't worry about considering that move a valuable lesson. You should be grateful I'm broadening your horizons."
Soren's jaw twitched. He despised that smug tone more than anything.
Dusting off his clothes, he helped Mira to her feet, eyes burning with fury.
"Hmph! You think you're something special? Those pathetic little moves of yours were barely warm-ups. That shiny outfit's blinding, sure but maybe use it as a mirror to see the clown staring back. A fake hero in duck-yellow armor, really? Ha! What a joke."
Meverdet's grin twisted into rage, his face contorted by humiliation.
"You dare insult me, you green-haired brat? Then witness my true power, Wood Illusion Smoke!"
The ground trembled as a violent surge of energy exploded outward.
Roots tore through the soil, jagged spikes bursting up like spears ready to impale anything in their path.
"Ha! Impressed yet? I possess Sacred Wood Power, Level Seven★! You'd better bow down and show respect. Weaklings like you shouldn't even breathe the same air as me!"
Not stopping there, he unleashed another spell, Five-Colored Bloom.
From the earth erupted a massive, star-shaped flower radiating a toxic fragrance.
The scent invaded the air, thick and sickly sweet, dragging its victims into delirium before torturing them to death.
Soren and Mira covered their faces, desperately trying not to inhale.
Soren clenched his teeth, furious and he wanted to strike back, but lowering his arm would mean instant death from the poisonous fumes.
Just when things seemed hopeless, a barrier shimmered around them.
The noxious air stopped short, blocked as if by an invisible wall.
"What… what just happened?" Soren gasped.
Before either could react, a figure appeared out of nowhere swift, silent, and deadly.
With a single motion, the stranger lunged at Meverdet, striking so hard that both Soren and Mira froze in shock.
"Who… who is that?" Soren whispered.
The masked stranger didn't answer.
A glowing rope materialized in his hand, wrapping tightly around Meverdet's throat.
With one brutal yank, he hoisted the man into the air, choking the life out of him.
"You dare…" the stranger growled, his deep, gravelly voice trembling with rage.
Meverdet clawed weakly at the rope, gasping, "Who… are… you… why... aaagh!"
Flames burst forth, engulfing him in blazing light.
"Stop it! That's enough!" Mira shouted, her voice trembling.
At her cry, the stranger immediately released his grip.
Meverdet fell hard to the ground, coughing violently reduced to a pitiful, shivering mess.
"You all right?" the masked man asked, turning toward them.
Soren and Mira exhaled in relief.
"Yeah… thanks to you." Soren said, extending his hand gratefully.
But the stranger ignored him completely.
Instead, he stepped toward Mira, his tone softening.
"Are you hurt? Did the poison reach you?"
Mira's cheeks flushed pink. "Ah... no, no! I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me, hehe…"
Seeing she was unharmed, the stranger let out a quiet sigh, then turned back to Meverdet.
He leaned down and whispered something into the man's ear, so softly that neither Soren nor Mira could catch it.
Whatever he said made Meverdet's blood run cold. His face turned ghostly pale, his whole body trembling like stone about to crack.
Then came a savage kick to the jaw.
"Mercy! Please mercy!" Meverdet wailed, falling to his knees and bowing his head repeatedly.
"I was blind, I didn't know who I was dealing with! Spare me, please!"
Soren and Mira exchanged bewildered looks. Moments ago, this man had been a proud, arrogant fool, now he was nothing but a groveling wreck.
Something the masked stranger said had utterly broken him.
"Who… who are you?" Soren managed to ask: "Why did you help us?"
"It's nothing…" the man replied calmly: "Saw danger, so I intervened. That's all. Good deeds invite good fortune."
And just like that, he vanished no name, no trace, as if he'd never existed.
"What a strange man... " Soren murmured, staring at the empty space where he'd stood.
Mira smiled faintly: "Let's not think too hard about it. Maybe he just likes playing the hero.
Anyway, we're safe now, right?"
Soren nodded, and the two returned to their interrupted training.
Meanwhile, in another part of the hunting grounds, the one who had stolen Kyran's four-star White Serpent was none other than Everen Fredrick, the terror of every battle arena.
Amid the smoke and rubble, Everen stood calmly, smiling.
"Well now, what can I say? Didn't mean to steal your prey. Guess you'll just have to find another one. Let's keep the peace, shall we?"
Kyran clenched his fists: "You took what was mine. You think I'll just let that go?"
Everen's smirk deepened: "Oh? You want to fight me? I wouldn't recommend it. With your current strength, you're not even close. Take my advice know your place, or you'll only bring ruin upon yourself."
Before he could finish, Kyran charged forward, shouting: "Lightning Shadow!"
A bolt of blinding lightning wrapped around Everen, binding him midair.
Kyran grinned triumphantly. But his victory was short-lived.
"You think a beginner's spell like that could touch me?" Everen's voice echoed coldly.
Kyran refused to back down. Grinding his teeth, he roared: "Then take this, Thunderstorm Spiral!"
A raging cyclone of thunder and lightning tore through the clearing, powerful enough to level everything in its path.
But with a mere snap of his fingers, Everen dispelled it all every spark, every gust gone in an instant.
"What… what the hell?" Kyran froze in disbelief.
Everen smiled faintly, that chilling smile that made Kyran's blood run cold.
Sweat poured down Kyran's face. Could this man even be human?
"Oops," Everen said lightly. "Looks like I overdid it again. Tell you what I'll let you go this time. Go find another prey, kid. Farewell."
And in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Kyran stood rooted in place, voice shaking: "He… disappeared? Was that… spatial teleportation?"
The morning training ended in confusion and unease.
A gunshot echoed through the forest the signal to return to the hall for lunch. Exhausted and pale, every contestant dragged themselves back.
Lyra glanced at the trio: "You three look like you've seen ghosts. What happened out there?"
Soren sighed. "It's… a long story."
Kyran said nothing, lost in thought the raw power he'd witnessed from Everen still burning in his mind.
Only Mira seemed cheerful, thrilled by the thought of lunch being served instead of self-serve.
Lyra frowned. "Mira, you were with Soren. Did something happen?"
Mira scratched her head, embarrassed.
"Yeah… we ran into some guy named Meverdet from Team Damian. But a masked stranger showed up and saved us, so it's all fine now."
Lyra slammed the table. "Unbelievable! That Damian team's the worst every one of them's a pain!"
Aria, who had spent the morning resting at the open field, simply smiled. "Kyran, what about you? You look like you've been through hell."
Kyran lifted his head, voice low. "I fought Everen."
"WHAT?!" everyone shouted in unison.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"