Chapter 20: Turning the Tide

Kael crouched low behind a thick tree, his sword at the ready. His heart pounded in his chest as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. The plan was simple: let the enemy think they had trapped his group, then split up and turn the fight to their advantage. It was risky, but they had no choice. If they fought head-on against multiple teams at once, they would be overwhelmed.

From his hiding spot, Kael could see the shadowy forms of their pursuers moving through the trees, cautiously advancing toward the clearing. The faint whispers of their conversation reached his ears, confirming that at least two teams were working together to track them down.

He glanced at his teammates—Sera, Alec, Tarin, and Mira—who were hidden in similar positions around the clearing. They were ready, tense but focused. This was their moment to strike.

Kael’s Sharp Senses (Stream) picked up the subtle movements of their enemies as they entered the clearing, swords and daggers drawn, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of Kael’s group. They were confident, thinking they had cornered their prey.

But Kael had no intention of being caught.

He gave the signal—a subtle hand gesture—and in an instant, the group sprang into action.

Sera was the first to move. With a powerful roar, she burst from her hiding spot, swinging her hammer with brutal force. The impact sent one of the pursuers flying, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. The other attackers, caught off guard by the sudden ambush, scrambled to defend themselves.

Tarin loosed an arrow, striking one of the enemies in the leg, while Alec darted in with his dagger, his movements swift and precise. The teams that had been hunting them were now on the defensive, their confidence shattered by the unexpected attack.

Kael moved in next, his sword flashing in the dim light as he engaged one of the attackers head-on. His Sword Talent (Flicker) guided his strikes, allowing him to parry his opponent’s wild swings with ease. The man’s movements were sloppy, desperate, and Kael could tell he wasn’t as experienced as some of the other competitors. With a quick, decisive slash, Kael knocked the man’s sword aside and followed up with a blow to his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

The fight was fast and chaotic. Kael’s group had the upper hand for now, but their enemies were regrouping, realizing they had walked into a trap. One of the attackers, a tall woman with a staff, called out orders to the others, directing them to surround Kael’s group.

“We need to split up!” Kael shouted, realizing that staying together would make them easier targets.

Without hesitation, the group scattered, each member disappearing into the trees as their enemies chased after them. Kael moved swiftly, weaving through the forest with practiced agility, his Sharp Senses allowing him to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.

He could hear the sound of footsteps behind him—two of the attackers had split off to chase him. Kael’s mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. He couldn’t outrun them forever, but he could lead them into a more advantageous position.

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As he ran, Kael spotted a fallen tree up ahead, its thick branches offering some cover. He darted toward it, diving behind the trunk just as his pursuers entered the clearing. They slowed, scanning the area for any sign of him.

Kael’s heart pounded in his chest as he crouched behind the tree, waiting for the right moment. He knew they would come looking for him, and when they did, he would strike.

Sure enough, one of the men approached the fallen tree, his sword raised cautiously. Kael’s Sharp Senses flared as he listened to the man’s footsteps growing closer, his breath coming in shallow bursts. The other attacker hung back, watching for any sign of movement.

Kael’s grip tightened on his sword as he readied himself. The man was close now—too close to react in time.

With a burst of speed, Kael leaped from his hiding spot, catching the man off guard. His sword slashed through the air, and the man barely had time to raise his own blade before Kael’s strike landed. The man cried out in pain as Kael’s sword sliced across his arm, forcing him to drop his weapon.

Before the second attacker could react, Kael was on him. He moved with precision, his sword cutting through the man’s defenses as he pushed forward. The attacker, clearly less skilled in close combat, tried to retreat, but Kael didn’t give him the chance. With a final, powerful strike, Kael knocked the man’s sword from his hand and sent him crashing to the ground.

Kael stood over his fallen enemies, breathing heavily. The fight had been intense, but he had come out on top. He couldn’t afford to rest, though—not yet. He needed to regroup with the others and make sure they had managed to escape.

Just as Kael turned to move back toward the clearing, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold—the unmistakable hum of magic.

He spun around just in time to see the woman with the staff—one of the attackers who had been directing the others—emerge from the trees. Her staff glowed with a faint blue light, and Kael could feel the energy building in the air around her. She wasn’t just any competitor—she was a mage.

“You’ve been causing a lot of trouble,” the woman said, her voice calm and measured despite the chaos around them. “But it ends here.”

Kael’s heart raced as he assessed the situation. He had faced magic users before, but this woman was clearly skilled, and her confidence told him that she wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. His Sharp Senses flared as he prepared for her attack.

The woman raised her staff, and a bolt of energy shot toward Kael. He barely had time to dodge, the blast grazing his side as he rolled out of the way. The ground where the energy struck sizzled, the grass blackened by the heat of the magic.

Kael cursed under his breath. He couldn’t afford to take a direct hit from that.

The woman advanced, her staff glowing with more power. Kael’s mind raced—he needed to close the distance between them, but her magic kept him at bay. Every time he tried to move forward, she sent another bolt of energy his way, forcing him to retreat.

“You’re fast,” the woman said, her tone almost conversational. “But not fast enough.”

Kael gritted his teeth, his mind working furiously to come up with a plan. He couldn’t beat her from a distance—he needed to get in close, where her magic wouldn’t be as effective. But how could he close the gap without getting hit?

Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind.

Kael feigned another retreat, making it look like he was trying to find cover behind a nearby tree. The woman followed, confident in her ability to outmatch him. As soon as she stepped closer, Kael pivoted, using the tree as cover while he moved in a wide arc around her. The woman, focused on where she thought Kael was hiding, didn’t see him coming.

With a burst of speed, Kael darted out from behind the tree, closing the distance between them in an instant. The woman’s eyes widened in shock as Kael’s sword slashed toward her staff. She tried to block the strike, but Kael’s blade was too fast, too precise.

The staff cracked under the force of Kael’s blow, the magic dissipating in a burst of blue light. The woman staggered back, her weapon shattered, her confidence gone.

Kael didn’t hesitate. He knocked her to the ground with the flat of his sword, ending the fight before she could recover.

The forest was silent once again.

Kael stood there, breathing heavily, his sword still raised as he scanned the area for any other threats. But there were none. His enemies were either down or retreating, and the immediate danger had passed.

He lowered his sword and took a deep breath. They had survived the ambush, but the hardest part was still ahead.

Kael quickly regrouped with his team. Sera, Alec, Tarin, and Mira were waiting for him near the edge of the clearing, bruised and battered but still standing. They had managed to hold off their attackers, but Kael could see the exhaustion in their faces.

“We need to keep moving,” Kael said, his voice firm but steady. “We’re close to the finish, but we’re not there yet.”

The group nodded, their determination renewed despite the toll the fight had taken on them. They had the relic, and they weren’t going to let anyone take it from them now.

As they set off once more, Kael’s thoughts raced. The relic was in their possession, but the road ahead was still full of danger. More teams were out there, waiting for their chance to strike. Dalen was still unconscious, but for how long?

The final challenge wasn’t just about fighting—it was about outlasting everyone else.

And Kael wasn’t about to lose.

Not now. Not after everything they had been through.