Dawn on the fourth day of the tournament arrived wrapped in a heavy mist that smelled of damp earth and danger. Lusian Douglas stood in silence, watching as his group prepared their supplies. At his side, Umbra—the black wolf—remained crouched low, its eyes glowing like embers in the dim light.
Lusian glanced at him and spoke in a low voice, lacing his words with a faint thread of mana.
"Find Prince Andrew. Stay hidden. If anything happens, send me a signal."
Umbra dipped his head and vanished into the trees, his form dissolving into the forest's shadows.
Lusian knew exactly why he was doing this. In the records of the game—his hidden guide in this world—this day was marked as the death of the crown prince. And though he felt no particular sympathy for Andrew, his death would ignite a রাজনৈতিক conflict that could drag the entire kingdom into chaos. That was something Lusian could not allow.
"Albert," he ordered as he mounted Thunder, his magical steed, "we move north, toward the mid-region of the forest. Umbra will guide us."
Albert nodded without question. The discipline of the Douglas knights was absolute.
Several leagues away, Prince Andrew's group advanced through towering trees draped in ivy. The air felt suffocating; the forest's mana was denser than usual.
Richard Bourlance, their captain, raised his hand, signaling a halt.
"Something's wrong," he murmured. "Hold formation."
One knight stepped forward cautiously to scout the area—but before he could raise the alarm, a magical mantis burst from the shadows. The creature stood over four meters tall, its green exoskeleton shimmering with mana, its compound eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
In an instant, one of its raptorial limbs seized the knight with inhuman strength. His scream was cut short as paralyzing venom flooded his body, and the mantis vanished back into the foliage with its prey.
"Stay together!" Richard shouted, drawing his sword as Edward activated circles of water and ice.
Their first combined attack stalled the beast for only a moment. With brutal efficiency, the mantis crushed its captured victim and lunged at the group, forcing them back. Every spell and strike demanded intense focus, and their mana and stamina were already beginning to wear thin.
"Don't drop your guard!" Edward yelled, unleashing a torrent of water followed by a crashing wave of ice against the creature's forelimbs. The mantis staggered for seconds—then charged again.
A few hundred meters away, hidden within the dense undergrowth, thirty figures clad in dark garments observed the battle. A faint imperial emblem glinted on one of their armbands.
"Wait," their leader whispered. "Let them finish the beast first. The more exhausted they are, the easier it will be to complete the mission."
The men nodded in silence.
Their target was singular: Prince Andrew.
Back on the battlefield, the mantis struck with terrifying speed. Three knights fell before they could react; another was cut down while trying to evade a sweeping strike. Every movement drained what little strength the group had left. Ragged breaths, trembling limbs, fading mana—it all pointed toward collapse.
Richard and Edward exchanged a glance. Dragging this out would only get them killed.
"Combined attack!" Richard shouted.
Two massive magic circles formed beneath them, overlapping. Water and ice fused into a raging storm, freezing the ground and trapping the mantis within a prison of frost. One of its legs became partially encased, leaving a visible trail.
The creature shrieked in fury, but its movements slowed. The air filled with the sharp, metallic scent of blood.
Andrew seized the moment.
Drawing on the lingering moisture, he channeled his lightning mana. A bolt tore through the frozen shell, cleaving the monster in two.
Its final cry echoed through the forest.
Silence followed—broken only by heavy breathing. The knights and mages stood drenched in sweat and blood, muscles trembling, mana nearly depleted.
"Recover—now," Richard ordered between breaths. "This isn't over."
They had won… but barely.
Five Lord-class knights lay dead. The rest were wounded, drained, and vulnerable. Any surprise attack now would be devastating.
And then—
It came.
A wave of killing intent washed over them like an invisible blade, freezing their blood.
Richard stepped forward, voice sharp and commanding:
"All units, formation! Identify yourselves!"
From the shadows, a cold reply emerged:
"No need. We're only here for the crown prince's life."
The metallic hiss of blades being drawn sliced through the air.
The second battle of the day had just begun.