章 42: Who Are You?
Nizara wandered through the dimly lit streets of Valoria, the cold night air wrapping around him like an unwelcome companion. His thoughts were consumed by the coming tournament, his mind calculating every possibility, every move he would need to make. He knew the stakes — survival wasn't just expected, it was mandatory. Failure meant death… or something worse.
His footsteps echoed softly on the cobbled streets until he suddenly felt a strong grip around his wrist. Before he could react, he was yanked into a dark, narrow alleyway. His hand instinctively went to his sword, drawing it halfway from its sheath in one smooth, practiced motion.
"Who are you?" Nizara demanded, his voice low but dangerous, his piercing eyes gleaming in the faint moonlight.
From the shadows, Zalthor emerged, breathing heavily, his face tight with concern.
"Nizara… it's me."
Nizara hesitated, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "Zalthor? What are you doing here? You know you're forbidden from contacting me until I clear my name."
Zalthor ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his jaw clenched. "I know… but I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. You're going into that tournament alone. You won't make it out alive."
Nizara scoffed, sheathing his blade. "I've made it this far… alone. I don't need saving."
"This isn't like before!" Zalthor snapped. "The 5K Tournament isn't some back-alley skirmish. The Forest of Death is a cursed nightmare filled with monsters, spells, and killers—and that's just the other competitors."
"I'm aware."
"Then leave the kingdom!" Zalthor grabbed Nizara's shoulders. "Run before it's too late! They've set you up to die. You're being watched from every angle. You'll be hunted the moment you step foot in that forest!"
Nizara stared coldly into Zalthor's desperate eyes. "I'm not running. Not now… not ever." He stepped back, pulling himself free from Zalthor's grasp.
"I've given everything to this kingdom," he continued, his voice hard. "I've bled, I've fought, and I've sacrificed everything that ever mattered... And I'm still searching... for a way home."
Zalthor lowered his hands, defeat etched across his face. He knew there was no changing Nizara's mind.
"Stubborn as ever," he muttered bitterly.
Without another word, Nizara turned and vanished into the dark streets, leaving Zalthor standing alone, his heart heavy with regret.
The central tournament grounds were alive with tension. Teams of warriors, mages, and combatants from across the Five Kingdoms gathered in anticipation, their eyes gleaming with determination—or thinly veiled malice.
Zalthor, Zyra, Lucien, and Elowyn stood together, quietly watching the sea of competitors assembling before the grand stone platform where Vice High Commander Elara was expected to speak.
"Did you manage to convince him?" Zyra asked, her brows furrowed with worry.
Zalthor shook his head grimly. "He wouldn't listen… That thick skull of his won't let anyone through."
Lucien crossed his arms. "We should've expected that."
Before anyone could speak further, the sharp clang of a bell echoed across the vast courtyard, signaling the beginning of the event.
From the shadows of a towering marble arch, Vice High Commander Elara emerged, her calculating eyes cold and distant. She stepped up to the raised platform, her authoritative presence immediately commanding silence.
"Competitors!" Elara's voice rang out, sharp and unyielding. "Welcome to the 5K Tournament. You have been chosen—or foolish enough—to enter this event for glory, wealth, or survival."
Her eyes swept over the crowd, lingering for a fraction of a second on Nizara, who stood alone, distant from the gathered teams.
"The first stage will take place in the dreaded Forest of Death. This will be a Battle Royale. Only standing teams will proceed to the next round..." Her eyes narrowed. "Or… a Soloist."
A ripple of murmurs surged through the competitors as they turned to glance at Nizara, standing silent and still with a calm yet dangerous demeanor.
"Competitors!" Elara continued, silencing the crowd. "Enter the Forest. Claim your starting positions. Your survival begins… now."
The moment Nizara crossed the threshold into the Forest of Death, dark, twisted trees loomed around him like gnarled claws. Shadows shifted ominously beneath the cursed canopy, swallowing the faint light of the moon.
Snickers and mocking whispers echoed behind him as some competitors jeered.
"Look at him... alone. He'll be the first to die."
"Dead man walking."
Nizara smirked faintly, not even sparing them a glance. He strode deeper into the forest, muttering quietly:
"Let's see who dies… first."
High above the forest, surveillance crystals shimmered faintly, transmitting live feeds back to the observation command center, where Vice High Commander Elara and her guards monitored the competitors' every move.
"Multiple teams securing defensive positions," one guard reported. "No notable confrontations yet."
Suddenly, another guard frowned, focusing on one feed. "Ma'am... he's spotted the camera."
On-screen, Nizara stood still, his eyes locked directly onto the enchanted lens. His lips curled into a smirk.
Then, he spoke aloud, his voice cool and taunting:
"You can watch me… but let's see how long you can keep up."
In a flash, Nizara vanished, Swiftstride activated with crackling lightning as he disappeared from the crystal's view entirely.
"Target lost!" the guard called out, panic rising.
Elara remained unfazed. "Expected."
Deeper into the forest, Nizara took refuge in a hidden cave, its jagged walls offering temporary cover from watchful eyes. He lowered himself into a defensive crouch, scanning his surroundings carefully.
Suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the dark cavern. His eyes widened as a monstrous beast emerged from the shadows, its crimson eyes burning with malice.
Nizara barely dodged as it lunged with blinding speed, its claws tearing through the stone where he had been standing.
"That was close."
With a fluid motion, he drew his sword, lightning crackling along its enchanted edge, illuminating the dark cave in bursts of electric light.
The beast charged again, jaws wide.
"Sorry… but I'm in a rush."
With a precise, lightning-infused slash, he severed the monster's head in one smooth, brutal motion. Blood splattered across the cold cavern floor.
Breathing evenly, Nizara glanced up… another surveillance crystal.
His smirk returned.
"Didn't I tell you… you wouldn't be able to track me?"
In a single swift motion, he ripped the crystal from its perch.
His voice dropped into a deadly whisper:
"Vice High Commander Elara… I know you're watching."
Electricity crackled around his hand as he crushed the crystal into useless shards.
"Don't be surprised... by the death toll."
Back at the command center, a guard leapt from his seat. "He's planning to kill the other competitors! We have to stop him!"
Elara raised a hand, silencing him.
"Killing is allowed in the Forest of Death," she said coldly. "It's part of the rules."
Her gaze lingered on the broken feed.
"...But who are you, Nizara?"
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