The final day of the competition dawned beneath a clear sky, the morning sun spilling gold across the arena and turning the towering crystal walls into sheets of burning light. Long before the opening bells rang, the audience had already flooded the stands. Voices crashed together like waves against stone, rising and falling in restless excitement. Vendors shouted over one another, roasted meat and sweet pastries filled the air, and every eye remained fixed on the three massive projection screens suspended high above the arena.
The screens displayed the live standings of the second, third, and fourth-ranked teams.
The gaps were painfully small.
Too small.
Speculation spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Tavin Aldercrest will win for sure," a man near the front declared confidently, folding his arms.
The woman beside him immediately shook her head. "No, Elias Viridion's team has better coordination. They've been more consistent."
"You're both wrong," another voice cut in. "Don't count out Kairos's team. They've been hunting like lunatics these last two days."
Someone farther back clicked their tongue.
"Aurelia's team is good, but their points are too low now. They'd need a miracle."
Then suddenly—
The centre screen shifted.
The image rippled, and cheers exploded from the crowd.
Tavin Aldercrest's team appeared in the projection, locked in battle against a massive Rank Three beast.
Steel flashed.
Water surged.
Explosions of elemental light shook the battlefield.
The audience leaned forward instinctively.
The creature collapsed with a thunderous impact.
Cheers erupted.
"That core alone will push them to first place!"
"They did it!"
But the excitement barely lasted a few breaths.
Because through the magical projection, Tavin's voice rang out.
"It's a good haul."
He stood there wiping blood from the edge of his blade with a strip of cloth. Sweat clung to his jawline, and his breathing was uneven, yet his expression remained strangely calm.
"But we're still far behind."
Silence.
The cheering gradually died.
A confused murmur spread across the audience.
Serena Viridion, visible within the projection, blinked and turned toward him.
"Far behind?" she asked. "But we just—"
As they continued walking toward their next target, Elenor Flamecrest glanced over her shoulder.
"If Ronan's trying to win..." she said quietly, "...we're already behind."
Serena frowned.
"What do you mean? They haven't scored a single point."
Tavin's lips slowly curved upward.
Not with amusement.
With resignation.
He tapped the side of his head.
"Because Ronan's brain works differently."
The arena slowly quieted.
People stopped talking.
Even the restless shifting in the seats gradually disappeared.
Tavin's voice remained steady.
"There are two possibilities."
He raised a finger.
"First, Ronan doesn't care about the competition. He's after something else entirely."
A second finger.
"Second..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If he is serious about winning, then he's thinking much farther ahead than us."
Serena stared at him.
Tavin continued.
"Hunting first. Gathering herbs later."
"He already knows our point totals. He knows how much pressure we're under and how much we need to risk to keep moving."
His gaze lifted toward the distant horizon.
"That alone gives him an enormous advantage."
He paused.
Then let out a quiet breath.
"And Kairos..." Tavin said. "He isn't someone who plans ten moves ahead as Ronan does."
A small smile tugged at his mouth.
"But when it comes to sheer drive..."
"...that idiot doesn't know how to stop."
No one in the arena spoke.
Not a single voice.
Because as Tavin's words echoed through the projection, a single uncomfortable thought settled into everyone's mind.
Ronan wasn't even visible.
And somehow...
It felt like he was already controlling the pace of the entire competition.
The sun had climbed high overhead by noon, its heat pressing down heavily upon the forest.
Dust clung to sweat-soaked skin.
Breaths came slower.
Heavier.
Tavin wiped blood from his jaw and exhaled through his nose.
Around him, Serena rested a hand against her knee while Elenor rolled her shoulder with a wince. Their recent battle with two Rank Three monsters had drained them more than anyone wanted to admit.
Victory still tasted sweet.
But exhaustion had started settling into their bones.
Tavin slid his sword back into its sheath.
"Alright," he said. "That's enough."
He stretched his neck until soft cracks sounded.
"It's noon already. Hunting ends here."
His eyes shifted toward Serena.
"We move into herb gathering."
Serena nodded and placed her hand over her storage ring.
A pulse of Aether spread outward.
Soft light gathered before the group, weaving together into an intricate floating map.
The audience immediately reacted.
"Wait—that map—"
"That's the one made by last year's finalist!"
"He sold it for an absurd price this year!"
"I heard it marks rare herb locations all across the region!"
"If they have that thing..."
The man swallowed.
"...they're practically cheating."
Following the map's guidance, the team eventually reached an ancient spring hidden within a rocky glade.
Clear water shimmered beneath sunlight, flowing quietly between moss-covered stones.
According to the map, a rare Moonpetal Lily bloomed here.
And naturally—
Several Rank Two and Rank Three monsters should have been guarding it.
Tavin reached into his storage ring and withdrew several golden talismans covered in deep-black runes.
The audience nearly exploded again.
"High-grade invisibility talismans?!"
"How much money did this guy spend?!"
Tavin ignored it all.
He handed them toward Serena and Elenor.
"Activate them."
The talismans dissolved into golden particles the moment Aether flowed through them.
Their figures gradually faded until only faint distortions remained.
Like heat ripples in summer air.
The two women moved silently toward the spring.
But moments later—
Serena's voice echoed softly through their communication crystal.
"Tavin..."
"Something's wrong."
The group moved closer.
What they found waiting for them wasn't monsters.
It was another team.
Several corpses of magical beasts lay piled nearby while members of the rival team dragged bodies around with excited expressions.
The invisibility effect dissolved.
The rival team jumped instantly.
Weapons slid from sheaths.
Defensive formations formed.
Tavin raised both hands.
"We're not here for a fight."
A young man stepped forward, suspicion clear in his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Tavin glanced toward the corpses.
"Answers."
The young man frowned.
"What answers?"
Tavin pointed.
"Those monsters."
"Did your team kill them?"
The boy smirked immediately.
"Obviously."
But behind him, another teammate shifted awkwardly.
"...No."
Several eyes turned toward him.
He coughed.
"They were already dead when we got here."
Tavin's eyes narrowed.
He pointed toward the pond.
"Moonpetal Lily."
"Did you see any white flowers on the water?"
The first boy hesitated briefly before shaking his head.
"No."
Nearby, Elenor crouched beside one of the corpses.
Her fingers brushed against torn scales.
Silence stretched.
Then her eyes narrowed.
"Three elemental signatures."
She stood slowly.
"Fire. Thunder. Wind."
Her expression hardened.
"No blade marks."
She looked toward Tavin.
"These things died yesterday."
A small pause.
"Whoever did it used pure elemental magic."
Tavin's expression darkened.
He stared at the corpses for several long seconds.
Then he turned away.
"We're leaving."
No explanation.
No hesitation.
His team immediately followed.
Behind them, the rival group stared in confusion before quickly returning to their scavenging.
Later that afternoon, another marked location brought the same result.
Dead monsters.
No herbs.
No monster cores.
Only silence.
And this time—
Kairos's team stood nearby.
Unlike previous encounters, no tension filled the air.
After exchanging greetings, both leaders sat atop a large stone.
Kairos rubbed the back of his neck.
"Same situation for us."
He frowned.
"Monsters dead."
"No cores."
"No herbs."
Tavin rested his elbows against his knees.
His gaze lowered.
For several moments, he didn't say anything.
Kairos watched him.
"Thinking?"
Tavin suddenly looked up.
"I need your help."
Kairos blinked.
"What?"
"Temporary alliance."
Kairos raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously?"
Tavin nodded.
"There's a monster I want dead."
Kairos stared at him for several moments.
Then looked toward his teammates.
Several shrugged.
One nodded.
Kairos grinned.
"Alright."
He stood.
"Let's cause some trouble."
The monster den sat near the edge of a massive ravine.
Wind screamed through the canyon below.
As the combined teams approached, an eerie screech echoed overhead.
Everyone looked up.
Two enormous Galevein Adders descended from the swirling currents above.
Their sleek bodies cut through the air like living blades, scales gleaming pale green beneath sunlight.
Behind them followed seven Zephyrcoil Serpents.
The smaller creatures twisted through the wind like ribbons of lightning.
Tavin and Kairos moved instantly.
Water Aether surged around Tavin's blade as he stepped forward.
Clang!
His sword collided with a razor-sharp tail strike.
The impact rattled through his arms.
The Galevein Adder hissed violently before unleashing countless wind blades.
Kairos blurred beside him.
Light exploded beneath his feet.
One moment, he stood beside Tavin—
The next time he appeared behind the serpent.
His sword slashed downward.
The creature shrieked and twisted away.
"They're too fast!" Kairos shouted.
"We keep them grounded!"
Tavin thrust his hand forward.
Water spiralled beneath one Adder.
A vortex erupted upward and wrapped around its lower body.
"Now!"
Kairos raised his sword.
Blinding light exploded.
The serpent's pupils narrowed.
Its movements slowed.
Tavin moved first.
Kairos followed.
Sweeping arcs of water met piercing strikes of light, both of them weaving together naturally, instinctively.
Not rivals.
Partners.
Elsewhere—
The battlefield erupted.
Serena surged into the swarm of Zephyrcoil Serpents, flames spiralling around her sword.
Every strike left scorching trails.
Steam hissed violently as opposing elements collided around her.
Elenor leapt into the air.
Wind gathered beneath her feet.
Her body spun.
Her blazing sword transformed into a wheel of fire.
Two serpents split apart before she landed in a crouch, dust exploding beneath her boots.
Nearby, radiant aqua-white light wrapped around Liora's body.
Her Luminflux Aether pulsed with almost sacred brilliance.
Her spear shot forward.
One serpent shrieked as the divine force tore through it.
Beside her, Dain remained unshakable.
Like a mountain.
A serpent struck.
His spear intercepted it.
Then with a heavy downward swing—
BOOM.
The ground trembled.
Minutes later—
The Rank Two serpents were dead.
Without hesitation, the remaining four rushed toward the Adders.
Liora hurled her spear like a falling star.
One Adder recoiled instantly.
Serena followed.
Her flaming strike exploded against its wings.
The creature crashed violently into the ground.
Nearby, Elenor slid beside Kairos.
Blood dripped steadily from a deep cut across his shoulder.
"You alive?"
Kairos grinned through clenched teeth.
"I've been hit harder."
He tightened his grip.
"Let's finish this."
The final assault descended like a storm.
Liora's spear pierced directly through one Adder's eye.
At the same instant—
Serena's burning slash cut cleanly through the second serpent's neck.
Silence returned.
Only ragged breathing remained.
Wind swept through the ravine, carrying away blood and dust.
Tavin wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and looked around.
"Well fought."
His tired smile widened slightly.
"That wasn't easy."
Kairos stared at him before letting out a breathless laugh.
"Damn."
He dropped onto a nearby rock.
"That was one hell of a fight."
Tavin chuckled quietly.
"Wouldn't miss it."
Laughter spread through the exhausted group.
For a moment, the competition, rankings, pressure—
Everything disappeared.
Only the battle remained.
Only victory.
Tavin looked toward Kairos, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"One Rank Three each?"
Kairos followed his gaze toward the pile of seven Rank Two serpent corpses.
Before Tavin finished speaking, Kairos raised a hand.
"We'll take three."
Tavin blinked.
Kairos shrugged.
"You found the location."
His grin widened.
"Fair's fair."
For a moment, Tavin stared at him.
Then he nodded.
A faint flicker of respect passed through his eyes.
"Deal."