The camp was buzzing with tension and confusion as the blonde boy, now unmasked as the killer, stood before them with a cold, calculating grin. "Hey, my name is Lysander," he announced, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I'll be one of your opponents in the tournament. I just wanted to stir up some chaos before the competition, but it looks like it's going to be more fun than I anticipated."
Before anyone could react, Lysander pulled out another dagger, its blade glistening with a greenish substance. With a swift, practiced motion, he hurled it toward the crowd. The dagger found its mark, striking one of the children in the shoulder. The boy cried out in pain as the poison began to take effect.
"He's poisoned!" Evelyn shouted, rushing to the injured child's side.
Almost everyone sprang into action, their anger and fear turning into a unified resolve to stop Lysander. Khalid, still fuming with rage, charged at Lysander, his axe raised high. "You'll pay for this!" he roared.
Lysander nimbly dodged Khalid's attack, his movements swift and calculated. "You'll have to catch me first," he taunted, his eyes glinting with malicious glee.
Kenshin, Evelyn, and several other children joined the pursuit, their determination fierce. Kenshin's heightened senses guided him, allowing him to track Lysander's movements through the forest. Evelyn stayed close, her eyes scanning the ground for any signs of traps or further danger.
Lysander led them on a wild chase, his laughter echoing through the trees. He was fast, but the children's combined efforts slowly closed the distance between them. Khalid, driven by his desire for vengeance, was at the forefront, his axe swinging with deadly intent whenever Lysander came within reach.
"You can't run forever!" Khalid shouted, his breath coming in heavy bursts.
Lysander glanced back, his smirk never wavering. "Maybe not, but I don't have to. You're all so predictable," he sneered, darting through the underbrush with ease.
As they reached a clearing, Lysander turned to face them, his back to a sheer cliff. "This is where it ends," he declared, his voice filled with a twisted satisfaction.
Khalid, followed closely by Kenshin and Evelyn, stopped a few paces away, panting and ready for a fight. "You're cornered, Lysander," Evelyn said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
Lysander's smile only widened. "Am I?" he asked, stepping back toward the cliff's edge.
Kenshin's senses were on high alert, his mind racing for a solution. "Evelyn, be careful," he warned, his voice low.
Lysander raised his hands in mock surrender. "Looks like you win this round," he said, his tone mocking. "But the game's far from over." With that, he took a step backward and fell over the edge of the cliff, disappearing from sight.
The children rushed to the edge, peering down into the abyss. There was no sign of Lysander, only the distant sound of rushing water below.
"Is he gone?" one of the children asked, their voice trembling.
Evelyn shook her head, her eyes narrowed. "We can't be sure. He might have survived."
Kenshin, his senses still on edge, turned back to the group. "We need to take care of the wounded and prepare for whatever comes next," he said, his voice firm. "Lysander might be gone for now, but we can't let our guard down."
Khalid, his anger simmering just below the surface, nodded. "We'll be ready. Next time, he won't escape."
The children began to make their way back to the camp, their steps heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. They knew that the upcoming tournament would be even more challenging with opponents like Lysander lurking in the shadows. But their resolve was stronger than ever, and they were determined to face whatever came their way, united in their struggle for survival.