The dawn of the fourth day of the tournament arrived shrouded in a heavy mist that smelled of damp earth and danger. Lusian Douglas stood silently, watching as his group prepared their supplies. At his side, Umbra, the black wolf, crouched low, eyes glowing like embers in the gloom.
Lusian looked at him and spoke in a low voice, infusing his words with a subtle flow of mana.
—Find Prince Andrew. Stay hidden. If anything happens, send me a signal.
Umbra tilted his head and vanished among the trees, his silhouette blending seamlessly with the forest shadows.
Lusian knew exactly why he was doing this. In the records of the "game"—his hidden guide in this world—that day was marked as the death of the crown prince. And though he felt no sympathy for Andrew, his death would unleash a political conflict that could engulf the entire kingdom. He could not allow it.
—Albert, —he commanded, mounting Thunder, his magical steed—. We move north, into the middle forest zone. Umbra will lead the way.
Albert nodded without question. The discipline of the Douglas knights was absolute.
Several leagues away, Prince Andrew's group moved cautiously through towering, ivy-clad trees. The air was suffocating; the forest's mana felt denser than usual.
Richard Bourlance, his captain, raised a hand in a halt signal.
—Something's wrong, —he muttered—. Maintain formation.
A knight stepped forward to scout the surroundings, but before he could raise the alarm, the magical mantis emerged from the shadows: a creature over four meters tall, its green exoskeleton shimmering with mana, and its compound eyes glowing with unnatural light. In an instant, a raptorial arm snatched him up with superhuman strength. His screams were cut off as the paralytic venom coursed through his body, and the mantis vanished into the foliage with its prey.
—Stay together! —ordered Richard, drawing his sword as Edward activated circles of ice and water.
The first combined attack managed to slow the beast, but not stop it. With a lethal strike, the mantis crushed the captured knight and lunged at the group, forcing the others to retreat. Each spell and sword strike demanded extreme focus, and mana and stamina were beginning to wane.
—Do not lower your guard! —shouted Edward, as a torrent of water and a wave of ice slammed into the creature's forelegs. The beast faltered for only a few seconds before striking again.
A few hundred meters away, hidden in the undergrowth, thirty men clad in dark robes watched the battle. The imperial emblem, barely visible on one of their armbands, gleamed faintly in the dim light.
—Wait, —their leader whispered—. Let them finish with the beast first. The more exhausted they are, the easier it will be to accomplish our mission.
The men nodded silently. Their target was one: Prince Andrew.
Back on the battlefield, the mantis pressed its attack with ferocity, striking with impossible speed. Three knights fell before they could react, and another was caught while trying to dodge a charge. Every spell and every defense drained the group bit by bit; fatigue showed in ragged breathing and tensed muscles.
Richard and Edward assessed the situation. They knew prolonging the fight would only wear them down further.
—Combined attack! —shouted Richard.
Two giant circles formed beneath their feet, overlapping. Water and ice merged into a storm that froze parts of the ground and trapped the mantis in an icy prison. One of its legs was partially encased in ice, leaving a trail that Edward marked with precision. The creature roared furiously, but its movements slowed, and the air filled with the metallic scent of blood.
Andrew seized the lingering moisture and channeled his electric mana. A bolt of lightning pierced the ice and split the monster in two. Its final roar echoed through the forest, leaving the knights and mages gasping, drenched in sweat and blood, muscles trembling from exertion, and mana nearly spent.
—Recharge, quickly, —ordered Richard, struggling to breathe—. This isn't over.
They had won the battle, but the cost was evident: five fallen Lord-class knights, depleted mana, injuries, and sheer exhaustion. They were now vulnerable; any surprise attack could be fatal.
Yet all hope vanished when a wave of murderous intent washed over them like an invisible blade, chilling their blood.
Richard stepped forward, raising his voice with authority:
—Everyone, in position! Identify yourselves!
A dry voice came from the forest shadows:
—No need. We've come only for the crown prince's life.
The metallic sound of swords being drawn filled the air. The second battle of the day was about to begin.