Silvi and Elias dragged him deep into the forest, away from the arena, among the thick trees. When they were far enough, they stopped and released him.
Lacis exploded at them as soon as he was free, shouting angrily while pointing towards the arena:
«You fools! Did you actually prevent me from finishing them off?!»
Silvi looked at him calmly and said in her composed voice:
«You can't, Lacis. They are strong, and we didn't know if there were others.»
Elias added, adjusting his stance:
«Yes. We need a plan. Your blind recklessness will lead you into their trap.»
Lacis growled in anger, his fiery flame growing redder:
«A plan?! And I'm telling you I can burn them in a second!»
Sylvia suddenly approached him:
«Don't be reckless, Lacis. They are not ordinary. The sleeping gas didn't affect only you... that means you have immunity, but that doesn't mean you are stronger than them.»
Lacis looked at Silvi, then sighed irritably:
«Fine... what's your plan, Elias?»
Elias smiled confidently and said:
«The plan is simple. The four of us...»
Lacis interrupted him angrily:
«The four of us?! And who is the fourth?!»
Elias smiled and looked behind Lacis. Lacis turned to find Koja standing there silently, his eyes staring at them calmly.
Lacis exclaimed:
«Koja?! When did you come?!»
Koja whispered with difficulty:
«I followed you...»
Elias shook his head and continued:
«The plan is... that we split up. Koja and I will go from the back and try to wake up as many as possible. You and Silvi will go directly to the arena, but don't rush. Watch and wait.»
Lacis retorted:
«What kind of plan is that?! You want me to hide like cowards?!»
Silvi said firmly:
«We want you to distract them only. Let us prepare the rest. And when the time comes, you will attack with all your might.»
Lacis looked at her, then at Elias, then at Koja who nodded in agreement. He sighed irritably and said:
«Fine... but if I see an opportunity, I won't hesitate to burn them!»
Elias smiled:
«That's exactly what we want.»
---
In the arena, silence hung over the place. Lifeless bodies were scattered everywhere, and the seven Emperors were sunk in deep sleep in their honorary seats.
Rodrik and Ev_the clown and eye-coverer_were wandering among the sleeping audience with complete relaxation. Ev was jumping acrobatically between the seats, sometimes standing on his hands, sometimes swinging from the edge of a seat.
Ev said sarcastically, pointing at the sleeping Emperors:
«Look at them... good grief! The rulers of the seven continents, the strongest humans, sleeping like children!»
Rodrik smiled sarcastically under his blindfold and said:
«It wasn't difficult. The sleeping gas I prepared was perfect.»
Ev jumped in front of the honorary seats and examined the Emperors one by one:
«Arkan is asleep... Aqualis is asleep... Luminas too...»
He stopped at Emperor Raymond, Emperor of the Plant Empire, sunk in deep sleep... or so it seemed.
Suddenly...
Someone quietly approached from behind Raymond. He was wearing elegant servant's clothes and stylish glasses, but stranger were his pointed ears resembling a cat's, and a long tail moving behind him. His black hair was carefully pulled back, and his green eyes stared sharply behind his glasses.
The person bowed quietly and said in a low, polite voice:
«Your Majesty... have you finished acting?»
Raymond slowly opened his good eye. His dark green eye gleamed with sharp intelligence. He smiled his familiar sly, soft smile and said in a calm, cunning voice:
«Heh... Herin, let me continue my acting a little longer. I have no intention of fighting now. The scene is amusing.»
Herin looked at the clown and the black-clad man, then at Raymond, and said:
«But they are threatening the arena, Your Majesty.»
Raymond smiled:
«Let them threaten. I'll see what they want first.»
Suddenly...
Ev stopped moving. He looked around sharply, then turned to Rodrik and said in a low voice:
«Oh... it seems we were mistaken. There are people who haven't slept yet.»
Rodrik looked in Ev's direction, and despite his blindfold, he seemed to see everything. He smiled sarcastically:
«Really? That's interesting.»
He suddenly leaped into the air with superhuman speed, ignited a glowing golden fireball in his hand, and hurled it with tremendous force towards Raymond and Herin.
Ev shouted enthusiastically:
«Now!»
In an instant, Herin stood before Raymond and quietly raised his hand. The golden fireball collided with his hand and exploded, creating golden sparks, but Herin stood his ground as if nothing had hit him.
Raymond's eyes widened slightly for a moment, then returned to his sly smile. He said in a calm voice mixed with curiosity:
«Golden fire... that's rare. It seems the fight will be truly enjoyable.»
Raymond slowly rose from his chair and descended into the arena with confident steps. Herin stood behind him, ready for any attack.
Rodrik looked at Raymond and said sarcastically:
«You're the Plant Emperor? Your reputation doesn't seem to live up to reality. An old man like you...»
Before he could finish his sentence, the ground beneath his feet moved rapidly. Huge plant roots exploded from the earth and wrapped around his legs and arms in an instant.
Rodrik's eyes widened:
«What?!»
Raymond smiled broadly:
«Old? Perhaps. But I'm a handsome old man who knows how to play.»
Rodrik tried to ignite the golden fire to burn the roots, but they grew faster than he could burn. Every time he released fire, a new root wrapped around his hand.
Ev leaped from behind trying to attack Raymond, but Herin intercepted him quickly. Herin stood before him like a wall and said quietly:
«I won't allow you to approach His Majesty.»
Ev tried to evade, but Herin was faster. He flipped him and threw him to the ground with a quick strike.
Raymond stood before Rodrik, bound by the roots, and looked at him curiously. He said in a calm, sarcastic voice:
«Tell me now... who sent you? A plan of this magnitude couldn't be executed by just anyone. A well-organized plan... powerful sleeping gas... rare golden fire... this isn't the work of a small group.»
Rodrik suddenly laughed a mocking laugh and said:
«Oh... you think I'll tell you?»
Raymond moved closer to him and smiled slyly:
«I have many ways to make people talk. Some are painful, some are enjoyable. Which do you prefer?»
Ev laughed from a distance, lying on the ground under Herin's control:
«He's not joking! I think we should...»
Suddenly...
A bright light exploded behind Raymond. Dazzling golden light filled the place. Raymond quickly turned, and despite the light, he immediately recognized its source.
Emperor Luminas, Emperor of the Light Empire, stood in the center of the arena, his golden eyes glowing. He was smiling calmly.
Luminas said in his deep, majestic voice:
«I thought you, Raymond, would finish them quickly. But you preferred showing off over people's safety.»
Raymond smiled sarcastically and said:
«Luminas... I was sure you wouldn't sleep long. But I wanted to have a little fun.»
Luminas looked at Rodrik and Ev, then at Raymond:
«Fun? They are real dangers.»
Raymond laughed:
«Dangers? I haven't even started fighting them yet. I was just amusing myself.»
Suddenly, loud laughter erupted from behind. Everyone turned to find Emperor Aqualis, Emperor of Water, standing there with a wide smile. He said in his strong voice:
«Raymond! If you were having fun, why didn't you let me join?!»
Raymond's eyes widened in surprise, then he laughed loudly:
«Aqualis?! You were also pretending to sleep?!»
Aqualis looked at Luminas, then at Raymond, and said:
«We were all pretending. This sleeping gas is strong, but it didn't fool us. We were waiting to see who was behind it.»
Raymond smiled sarcastically and said:
«So... we were all pretending? It seems these two came to a masquerade party without knowing it.»
Rodrik and Ev looked at each other. Worry began to appear on Ev's face for the first time.
Ev said in a low voice:
«It seems our plan didn't work as expected...»
Rodrik smiled sarcastically despite the situation:
«It hasn't failed yet? Wait a little.»
Suddenly...
The trees behind the arena exploded, and four people leaped towards the square. Lacis, Sylvia, Elias, and Koja.
Lacis shouted with all his might, igniting fire in his hands:
«We've arrived! Where are those two lunatics?!»
Raymond looked at the newcomers, then at Aqualis and Luminas, and said with a broad smile:
«It seems the party has suddenly become crowded.»
Sylvia stood beside Raymond and looked at Rodrik and Ev with focus. She said quietly:
«They can't escape this time.»
Elias stood on the other side and looked at Luminas, who nodded proudly at him. Elias said:
«Father, are you alright?»
Luminas smiled:
«I'm fine, my son. I was just waiting for you.»
Koja stood silently behind everyone, but his eyes were watching every movement.
Ev looked around, then at Rodrik, and said in a sarcastic but now tense voice:
«You know, Rodri... I think we're in trouble.»
Rodrik smiled coolly:
«You know, Ev... I think you're right this time.»
Lacis raised his hand to launch a fireball, but Sylvia grabbed his hand. She said firmly:
«Wait, Lacis. Let's hear what they want first.»
Lacis looked at her angrily:
«What?! Hear from lunatics who attacked the arena?!»
Elias said quietly:
«Sylvia is right. We need to know who sent them. That's more important than burning them now.»
Lacis growled but lowered his hand.
Raymond stepped forward towards Rodrik, looked at him with his sly eyes, and said:
«Now, my friend... I see you're in an unenviable position. Tell me who sent you, and I'll give you a quick end.»
Rodrik looked around, then smiled a mysterious smile. He said quietly:
«You know... this isn't everything. I have a surprise for you.»
Everyone looked at him expectantly.
Rodrik slowly raised his hand, and suddenly... the mist exploded again from every direction. Thick mist covered the entire place.
Lacis shouted:
«No!»
He launched a large fireball into the air to dispel the mist, but when it cleared...
Rodrik and Ev had disappeared.
Everyone stood in silence.
Aqualis said angrily:
«They escaped! How?!»
Raymond looked at the ground where they had been and smiled slyly:
«Interesting... this isn't ordinary sleeping gas. It's also a concealment gas.»
Luminas looked at Raymond and said seriously:
«This means whoever sent them is no ordinary person.»
Herin quietly stepped forward, bowed before Raymond, and said:
«Your Majesty... do you want me to track them?»
Raymond shook his head:
«No need. They'll return. That's clear.»
Elias looked at his father, then at everyone, and said:
«But... why did they attack the arena? What do they want?»
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Then Luminas said quietly:
«I don't know... but I do know one thing.»
Everyone looked at him.
Luminas continued:
«This is just the beginning.»
---
A short time passed, and the mysterious mist gradually began to dissipate from the arena. Everyone sighed with relief, and guards began flooding from every direction to help the sleepers rise. The scene resembled a battlefield, with hundreds of people waking up tiredly, holding their heads.
One of the guards gently lifted Emperor Arkan, and he quietly opened his eyes. No noticeable emotion showed on his face. He stood up, dusting off his luxurious royal clothes, and looked around with sharp eyes, silently observing the scene.
Beside him, Emperor Ranius, Emperor of Fire, also woke quietly. He stood adjusting his dark black robe in silence, then looked towards Lacis who was standing with Sylvia, Elias, and Koja.
Regas, Emperor of Wind, shouted as he rose wearily:
«Good grief! My head hurts as if someone hit it with a rock!»
As for Emperor Ronald, he was also tired, and Raymond immediately began his usual annoying behavior as soon as he saw Ronald open his eyes.
Raymond approached Ronald with his sly smile and said sarcastically:
«Dear Ron! How was your sleep? I hope the dreams were pleasant?»
Ronald looked at him with fatigue and annoyance and said in a hoarse voice:
«Raymond... please, don't start. My head hurts.»
Raymond laughed sarcastically:
«Your head hurts? But you were sleeping deeply! You were snoring like a little goat!»
Ronald's face reddened with anger despite his fatigue:
«Stop it or...!»
Raymond laughed more:
«Easy, Ron!»
Before Ronald could reply, Emperor Arkan stepped forward with heavy steps towards the center of the arena. He stood in place and looked at the tired crowds beginning to gather. He raised his hand, asking for silence.
Arkan said in a deep, majestic voice:
«People... princes and emperors... listen.»
Silence gradually prevailed, and all eyes turned towards him.
Arkan continued seriously:
«What happened today is a serious matter. An attack on the arena in the middle of the challenge, using mysterious sleeping gas... this is not something that can be overlooked.»
People whispered among themselves warily.
Arkan continued:
«But... because of this attack, and given the state of exhaustion that has affected everyone, I declare that the challenge has ended today. The battles will not continue.»
Voices of regret rose from some princes, especially those who had not yet participated.
Lacis shouted loudly:
«What?! The challenge is over?! I haven't fought yet!»
His father Ranius looked at him with a calm but decisive glance, so Lacis fell silent with annoyance.
Diana also seemed annoyed, saying in a low voice:
«I lost and couldn't make up for it...»
As for Kira, she looked towards Nile who was standing in his usual silence, then said loudly:
«But I wanted another match!»
Arkan raised his hand again and said:
«However...»
Everyone stopped talking expectantly.
Arkan smiled a rare, slight smile and continued:
«However, given the importance of this challenge, and in honor of all the princes who participated, and even those who were unable to participate... a grand banquet will be held tonight in honor of the seven Emperors and the princes' challenge.»
Faces lit up and whispers rose.
Arkan raised his voice slightly:
«It will be a great banquet, with food, drink, and music, where everyone will gather. I ask all the people, after they rest a little, to come to the grand banquet hall at sunset.»
This time the arena exploded with applause and cheers, but they were cheers of joy.
Arkan smiled, then turned towards the other Emperors and said in a low voice:
«As for us... we have matters to discuss. This attack was not ordinary.»
Luminas nodded seriously and said:
«Yes. We need to know who is behind it.»
Aqualis looked at Arkan and said:
«Do you think it has something to do...»
Arkan raised his hand, interrupting:
«Not now. Let's talk later in a safe place.»
Raymond smiled sarcastically:
«Safe? Here? It seems safety no longer exists after today.»
Ronald looked at him with sharp coldness and annoyance:
«Raymond, enough of your mockery.»
Raymond laughed and said:
«I'm not mocking, I'm just stating the truth.»
Arkan looked at everyone and said decisively:
«We will meet after the banquet. Now, let everyone rest. We all need it.»
People began to disperse slowly, and guards helped the tired. The sun was setting, and everyone had to prepare for the grand banquet.
Elias said quietly:
«It seems tonight will be interesting.»
Nain looked towards the sky, then said:
«Yes... but I fear the surprises aren't over yet.»
Lacis stood beside them and said irritably:
«A banquet? I don't want a banquet! I want a fight!»
Nain smiled and said:
«Enjoy the banquet, Lacis. It might be a chance for you to dance with some princesses.»
Lacis's eyes widened in horror:
«Dance?! Me?! No, a thousand times no!»
Everyone laughed, even Koja smiled in his silence.
It had been a long day, full of events.