I need to create an opening, then use my wand or spells. Gain control over the momentum of the fight before landing a decisive blow. Ken has more points invested into his physical attributes than I do. It’s up to my magic to make up the difference.

By now, Nick was low on stamina and out of breath. He had to end the fight soon, while he still could. He assumed his stance and willed his arctic clarity into high gear.

Entering a state of total concentration, the wintry chill stilled the last vestiges of turbulent heat that the combat had stoked within him. Judging the situation with serene focus, he knew that everything was going to come down to the next exchange of blows.

He was prepared to put everything that he had left into the next attack and sensed that his opponent was bracing himself to do the same. Nick could feel coiled tension radiating from the other man like a stove, as both of them unleashed their killing intent.

Sometime within the next handful of heartbeats, they would explode into motion and hold nothing back. He knew in that moment, that only one of them would be walking away.

Nick tightened his grip and steadied his breathing, prepared to bet his life on the next swing of his sword, then follow up with his spells.

Time seemed to slow as both men looked each other in the eyes, bound by the knowledge that one of them was going to die when their weapons met again.

Nick tensed, half a heartbeat away from launching his attack, certain that he had arrived at a pivotal moment in his life. He raised his sword, poised to strike. In that moment, the weapon seemed to be a part of himself, a living extension of his own arms, and he knew that it was time.

A blink of an eye before Nick and Ken came at each other with every scrap of power at their disposal, a message from the System appeared in front of their eyes, accompanied by an unearthly wail somewhere in the distance. Its contents caused each man to lower their blade if not their guard.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

While they had been ready to kill each other only the ghost of a moment before, each now had more pressing concerns than ending the other’s life.

System message: Global event.

25% of contestants have entered the Tower of Rizzen, triggering the final event in the series.

Event, ‘The shadow hunt,’ has begun.

The lord of the hunt has awakened and assumed command of his army. From this point on, the blackmist and the hunters that dwell within it can detect contestants at any distance and will actively seek them out.

Run while you can, the shadow hunt has begun.

The instant that the message appeared, both men leapt back, opening space between them as they read the dire proclamation. A deep breath later, the hostility vanished from Ken’s posture.

Keeping a wary eye on Nick, the warrior sheathed his sword and held up his open palms. He must have decided that whatever threat Nick posed paled in comparison to the crisis that had descended upon them all.

Watching to make sure that Nick didn’t intend to resume their battle, Ken spoke. “We don’t have time to finish this now, and neither side has time to implement complex plans. We need to get everyone into the tower before it’s too late. We can resume our debate another time if we are fated to meet again. Let’s call it a draw for today.”

“That’s fine by me,” Nick replied. “This isn’t what I wanted anyway.” He lowered his own sword and took a step back, since he could see on Ken’s face that the man spoke the truth.

Besides, the swordsman was right. Their quarrel was trivial compared to the imminent threat of the global event and it was now meaningless to fight over which strategy was best. All the planning both teams had done had gone out the window the moment that the message appeared.

All that mattered was saving as many lives as possible before the blackmist engulfed the tower and the lord of the hunt arrived. Nick sheathed his sword and said, “Get everyone into the tower while you still can. I’ll go and help anyone who isn’t already waiting near the base. We should have a few minutes before the mist arrives, and we need to make them count.”

Without another word, the men exchanged a nod between equals. They took off sprinting in opposite directions, as the strange cries reverberating in the distance grew louder by the footfall.