Lunar, who was currently standing in front of Zikron's stronghold, did not move. He and his men had advanced here immediately after the plan was set with Elyone. Byron was guarding their territories, while he would lead the assault.
Teaming up with Elyone was the best way to finish the task quickly. In front of him stood an opponent named Ester.
Ester, who had emerged at the sight of Lunar and his troops, decided to take the initiative. "The best defense is attack," he thought, a calculating gleam in his eyes. As he gave orders to Ishar, he asked him in a neutral but sharp tone:
— "Do you think you can hold Lunar off?... No, forget it. You will do it. Delay him."
Ishar stared at him for a moment, impassive, before replying calmly:
— "Don't think that just because Zikron made you vice-chief, it gives you the right to..."
Ester interrupted him with a sly smile, placing a finger on his lips and tilting his head in an almost amused, slightly provocative gesture.
— "Ishar, I couldn't care less about your noble titles or whatever is bothering you. Now, Ishar of the Korven house, just do your job."
Élya, who had been watching the exchange, spoke up in a calm but firm voice:
— "Ester is right. Young master Zikron did say your family was known for its strength, didn't he? Prove it."
Ishar, slightly irritated, gritted his teeth but nodded silently. Zikron had assigned their roles, and as commander, he had to respect them.
Lunar launched the assault. A hail of arrows fell upon Zikron's stronghold, causing visible damage. Ester gritted his teeth and shouted:
— "Now!"
Immediately, Ishar and Élya rushed swiftly towards Lunar's group, their coordinated movements betraying their combat experience.
Meanwhile, Lunar observed carefully the one leading the charge: a young man with black, almost brown hair, and dark brown eyes, dressed in dark silver armor. Though they were the same age, Lunar couldn't help but admire his strength and determination. He found himself thinking:
— "He's strong."
-----
Ayla's group was now preparing for the assault, but Ayla seemed lost in thought.
Still seated on her throne, she stared into the void. Sery, having noticed this, approached and asked in a steady tone:
— "What are you thinking so intensely about?"
Ayla slowly turned her head towards Sery, her face still as indifferent as ever.
— "You're starting to look more and more like your father."
Sery furrowed her brows, not understanding the connection between her question and Ayla's response. But before she could reply, Ayla's beautiful voice rang out again, calm and detached:
— "I'm not thinking about anything."
Sery didn't know how to respond. She simply asked the first question that came to her mind, one that had been bothering her since the Battle Royale:
— "Why did you do that?"
— "Do what?" Ayla replied, unbothered.
— "Don't pretend not to understand. During the Battle Royale… you literally beat them to death."
Ayla, still seated on her throne, her arms resting on the armrests, one hand supporting her head, raised her eyebrows slightly, as if something had just occurred to her.
— "They needed to learn life," she said firmly, as though to make her decision indisputable.
She straightened slowly, her face showing signs of anger.
— "Their carelessness irritated me. They think that by making connections with powerful houses or heirs, they secure their future?"
Sery listened attentively, watching the tension build in Ayla's hands, which had clenched into fists. But Ayla continued, her gaze softening just a little.
— "Why does their life seem so simple to them? I gave them a small taste of reality. It was for their own good…" A brief hesitation crossed her lips, as if she were trying to convince herself. "It was the right thing to do."
Sery, silent, sensed there was more behind her words but didn't dare press further.
Finally, Ayla rose from her throne, her face still impassive, and addressed her men in a loud voice:
— "It's time to act."
In unison, her group was already ready to face the others. Ayla descended the stairs, casting one last glance at Sery before resuming her march.
Sery followed silently, hearing a nearly inaudible murmur from Ayla, a whisper that no one else could have heard:
— "It was the right thing to do… so they wouldn't end up like him..."
-----
Meanwhile, Zikron, facing Elyone, glanced at the clock. Twenty-five minutes had passed since the beginning of the trial.
Alex, still held hostage by Kael, remained silent, his hands bound. Kael, on the other hand, was focused on Zikron, waiting for his fight with Elyone to end.
But suddenly, the sound of cracking twigs caught his attention. A female figure, with burgundy-red hair and eyes as black as ink, appeared at the edge of the woods. Her oval face, with harmonious features, left no doubt about her identity: it was Sery Crimson. Kael recognized her immediately. They came from the same empire.
Upon seeing Alex kneeling in front of Kael, Sery furrowed her brow. Without thinking, she lunged at Kael, forcing him to retreat under the impact of her attack. She quickly pushed him away from Alex.
Kael, slightly irritated, got into a defensive stance, sizing up his opponent. Sery was still full of energy, unlike him, who was already showing signs of fatigue from his battle with Alex. He stared at her for a moment, but his eyes widened when he saw another figure emerge behind her.
This person was well known, often seen in the news alongside Empress Sky. A girl with a heart-shaped face, curly brown hair tied in a ponytail, with a few golden strands framing her face. Her midnight blue eyes, cold and indifferent, observed the scene with quiet confidence. Her sky-blue armor gleamed in the daylight.
Ayla exuded a frosty aura, her demeanor contrasting with Zikron's, which was warmer despite his natural authority, and with Elyone's, which was calculating and methodical.
She quickly surveyed the scene: Sery by Alex's side, Kael retreating cautiously, and farther away, two boys were fighting – one with two buns on his head and a few freckles, facing another with silver hair.
— "Elyone? Zikron?" she murmured to herself as she recognized them.
Then, turning her attention back to Sery, she said urgently:
— "Let's not waste time. Have the teams I ordered to disperse arrived at the various bastions?"
Sery nodded silently, her gaze focused. Ayla, always on alert, continued calmly:
— "Good. Tell them not to act yet. We need to observe before we strike."
— "Understood," Sery replied in a firm but discreet tone.
At that moment, a mechanical but feminine voice echoed through the air, cutting off any further conversation. It was Aeros, announcing:
— "30 minutes have passed. The lightning will strike, and monsters will be released for a duration of 20 minutes. Candidates, be prepared to face them."
The sky seemed to darken slightly above them, as if echoing the announcement. Faces tightened, the anticipation of what was to come became almost unbearable.
The storm rumbled in the distance, and the wind whipped violently through the trees, causing their branches to dance in a chaotic swirl. Suddenly, a monstrous roar broke the tense silence of the battle. Zikron, fighting Elyone, stopped his attack. Out of breath, he said with a mixture of surprise and weariness:
— "Isn't this a bit excessive? We're only eight years old."
His voice was neutral, but there was a hint of astonishment in it. Elyone, previously focused, gave a brief serious glance toward his opponent before turning his eyes toward the horizon. He seemed to share the sentiment and was already thinking about the best strategy.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his communication device and sent a message to Lunar: "Get ready."
On the other side, Ayla, her hair whipped by the wind, watched the scene with a calculating look. She calmly approached Zikron and Elyone, her expression impassive, but a faint smile flickered on her lips.
— "Well, it seems your little duel is over? Has the referee's announcement thrown you off?" she asked in a soft voice, tinged with provocation.
Zikron raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and replied sharply:
— "So, you're teaming up with Lunar and Elyone too?"
Ayla fixed Zikron with a questioning look. She had no idea what he was insinuating, but not wanting to show the slightest hesitation, she decided to play along:
— "What if I am?"
Zikron, not paying her any more attention, turned his gaze away. Ignoring the provocation, he refocused on the approaching monsters that would soon appear.
He grabbed his communication device and sent two separate messages to Lira and Ester:
Lira, the appearance of the monsters could be beneficial with your group. Draw the monsters' attention to Elyone's bastion. Ester, prioritize our defense against Lunar. If he tries to take advantage of the appearance of the monsters, it could cause us trouble. I trust you to handle it.
After putting away his communication device, Zikron lifted his eyes to his companions: Kyle, Kael, and the others. His face revealed a cold determination, his tone calm but unwavering.
— "Prepare yourselves. The wounded, move to the side. The rest, get ready to face these monsters. After that, we take down the two leaders in front of us."
Nearby, Ayla and Elyone had heard everything. Their brows furrowed in unison.
— "Destroy us? Us?" Elyone replied, a cold smile curling his lips. His katana unfolded in an instant, ready to strike Zikron. It was the perfect moment to eliminate him.
But Ayla, pragmatic and clear-headed, hadn't drawn her weapon yet. She assessed the situation carefully, then positioned herself between the two, preventing them from clashing... for now.
And suddenly, they saw the beast. A gigantic wolf, 2.3 meters tall, its fangs sharp as blades of steel, its golden fur shining under the lightning, its violet eyes glowing with malice and violence. Behind it, a pack. Smaller, but just as hungry.
The ground itself seemed to tremble under their approach. All around, identical packs appeared, surrounding each bastion of the trial, a living and relentless threat.
Lira, facing Jack, also saw them. For a moment, her instincts screamed at her to flee. But she remembered Zikron's orders. She knew what she had to do.
Jack and his team, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. Their defense fell into place with military discipline. It was no longer just about protecting the bastion; they had to survive.
Meanwhile, near Zikron's bastion, the fight between Lunar and Ester abruptly paused as the wolves arrived.
Both sides observed each other, balanced on the razor's edge. Orders were given quickly. Ester, her gaze as cold as steel, issued her command to Élya:
— "One option: these wolves will attack anything that moves. Lure them and use the chaos to strike Lunar in the middle."
— "You want us to sacrifice ourselves?" Élya couldn't hide her surprise, her tone tinged with indignation.
— "Yes." Ester, unfazed, showed no emotion. There was no room for pity in this situation.
Élya stared at her for a moment, then sighed with resignation. "You'd better win." Without waiting for a reply, she rushed toward her teammates, ready to play her part.
Meanwhile, Byron, clad in his heavy golden armor, held the line around Lunar's bastion. Fifty golden warriors surrounded him, determined not to give an inch of ground. His gaze burned with the certainty of one who would defend his bastion to the end.
Back by Zikron's side, the tension continued to rise. He leaned toward Ayla, whispering in her ear, his voice low and sly:
— "Elyone and Lunar are allies. From your reaction, you weren't aware of this. We should team up, you and I, until there's only the two of us left."
Ayla listened to his words, analyzing each syllable. The idea wasn't without merit. She gave a slight nod, indicating she was willing... for now. But before thinking about eliminating Elyone or Lunar, they had another problem to handle: the leader of the wolves.
They couldn't defeat it directly. The plan was to hold it back, push it away, until the allotted time ran out and the creatures vanished.
Elyone, for his part, had come to the same conclusion. "We hold out until the wolves disappear. After that, we resume the trial. If all else fails, Lunar will take care of Zikron's bastion."
But before they could react further, the gigantic golden wolf let out a deafening howl, its cry echoing throughout the arena like an irrevocable command. The ground trembled beneath its paws. The packs, in response, began to move.
The attack had begun.
———
The roar of the giant wolf tore through the air, plunging the examination grounds into utter chaos. The participants had only seconds to react before the wolves descended upon them. For a moment, the air seemed to crackle with electricity, and then the storm broke loose, lightning streaking across the sky and striking the ground with unpredictable ferocity, adding yet another layer of difficulty to the dire situation.
Under the intensity of the roar, even the strongest among them faltered. Some instinctively backed away, their courage wavering. Others dared not even look the creatures in the eye.
At the forefront, Zikron raised a hand to steady his team. His gaze was fixed, his face a mask of calm resolve. "We'll hold them, for as long as it takes," he said in a voice calm yet firm. "Do not give up." But upon closer inspection, even Zikron's hands trembled slightly, just like Ayla and Elyone's. They hid their fear better than the others, but it still lingered within them.
Zikron rallied his team, striving to maintain their cohesion, but their reprieve was short-lived.
Without warning, the golden wolf leaped forward. Its colossal size made the earth quake beneath its weight. Behind it, a pack of smaller wolves emerged, rushing toward the bastions.
--------
On Lunar's side, the soldiers in golden armor, led by their commander Ares, quickly formed an impeccable defensive line. Ax in hand, Ares roared his orders with commanding authority: "Hold the line! Don't let these beasts through!"
The wolves charged at them, a tide of muscle and teeth. The impact of their attacks shook the ground. The first wolf to approach Ares' line lunged with snapping jaws, but before it could strike, Ares' ax cleaved through the air, sending it sprawling. However, for every wolf they felled, two more seemed to emerge from the storm's shadows.
The battle quickly became chaotic. Lightning struck indiscriminately, sometimes near the groups, escalating the tension and testing their mental and physical endurance. The thunder drowned out cries and commands, making coordination nearly impossible.
------------
In the heart of the fray, Élya weaved between the wolves with surprising agility. Her movements were precise, each sword strike calculated to maximize damage while conserving her energy. Yet even she quickly realized the wolves' sheer numbers far exceeded her capabilities.
---------
At the other end of the battlefield, Ester commanded his group with calm strategy. His voice, clear and sharp, managed to cut through the chaos: "Keep an eye on Lunar. They'll try to exploit the confusion to strike." His troops tightened their formation, prepared to defend while watching for an opening to counter Lunar and his soldiers.
---------------
Away from the center of the chaos, Lira followed Zikron's instructions, leading a group of wolves toward Elyone's bastion. Their goal was clear: to distract the beasts and buy Zikron enough time to organize an effective defense. Using the terrain and lightning as cover, the team skillfully diverted several wolves from their initial targets.
---------------
Kael, despite growing fatigue, fought valiantly alongside his comrades, fending off the wolves with unwavering determination. Beside him, Sery moved like a shadow, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. As she cut down several foes, her gaze remained fixed on Zikron, who continued orchestrating his troops' movements with unwavering focus.
Not far away, Elyone carved a path through the melee, his katana gleaming under the flashes of lightning. "We have to hold out until they scatter," he murmured to himself, quickly assessing tactics. He knew that if the wolves maintained this intensity, no team would survive the required thirty minutes.
Time seemed to slow. Each second felt like an eternity. Lightning struck the ground mere meters from the combatants, erupting in blinding flashes and hurling wolves into the air. This brief reprieve allowed Zikron to shout to his group: "Hold the line! Let no one through!" His voice rose above the tumult, reigniting his troops' resolve.
Despite their efforts, losses were inevitable. Several participants were teleported out of the arena, defeated by exhaustion or injuries. The names of the "fallen" appeared on the bastion screens, each disappearance heightening the tension among the survivors.
----------
The End of the Wolf AssaultFinally, after what felt like an eternity, the giant wolf let out a final roar before retreating. The wolves disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind a battlefield littered with bodies and soldiers gasping for breath.
Lunar, exhausted but determined, leaned on his ax, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He quickly sent a message to Byron through his communication device: "What's your status?"
--------------
At Lunar's bastion, Byron wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes scanning the devastated battlefield. He typed back: "It's done." His fingers trembled slightly as he pocketed his device, glancing at the survivors. Of the fifty men under his command, twenty-six had been teleported out of the arena. Despite everything, they had held their ground.
On Elyone's side, the situation was far grimmer. Jack sent him a disastrous report: only ten of their fifty warriors remained, the rest having fallen either to the wolves or to Zikron's men. Rage burned in Elyone's eyes, his mind boiling with resentment. "He already thinks he's won," he muttered darkly.
Zikron, covered in dust and blood, raised his eyes to the sky. "Their leader is gone. Now, it's our turn."
An entire hour had passed in the Four Kingdoms Trial, and yet, the true challenges were just beginning.