Wingbloom fluttered down from the cliff as Aurin, Kyle and their other Minakai rode down the column of earth that Shamtile had summoned for them. As the column descended back into the ground and everyone was now comfortably away from the steep drop, it occurred to Aurin that asking Shamtile to do things like this was probably more draining than the masked lizard let on. It had already been a long day and it was only just becoming evening.

“Tamer forty-two, Master Esmond, eliminated by tamer five, Master Clarke,” announced Lord Kensington.

“Another one bites the dust,” muttered Kyle, keeping an eye on their surroundings.

“What’s your count on the number of tamers remaining?” Aurin asked Kyle.

“There couldn’t be more than twenty of us left at this point.”

“There’s me and you right here. Hunter, Luna and Leo are still hanging in there. Clarke has just secured another win and knocked someone out.”

The speaker crackled again. “Tamer thirty-four, Lady Catriona, eliminated by tamer four, Master Percival,” called Lord Kensington.

“And evidently Percival is still here,” remarked Aurin.

“Is he now?” asked Kyle with a mocking look of surprise.

“Yeah, yeah, enough of your snarkiness. Let’s get to that hedge maze and see what we can find.”

Aurin, Kyle and his Minakai moved quickly across the grass. Since Shannon’s sniping attempts a short while ago, he was keen to not stay out in the open if he could help it. Kyle likewise agreed it was a good idea to keep to the shadows where possible.

“You can fly ahead if you want,” Aurin told the rancher. “We’re slowing you down here.”

“Don’t be silly,” said Kyle. “I’m not just going to abandon you here.”

The group continued to move and as they did so, Lord Kensington announce another elimination. Competitors were being weeded out faster than ever before and it seemed as though very few were hiding on the outskirts now where they could wait in peace. Some of the best tamers were left standing and they wanted to fight.

“It’s just over that hill,” said Kyle as he ran to the top.

Aurin stayed back to let Chopchop catch up while his other two Minakai ran forward. The heavy armour and large metal blades that formed his lower arms were not easy to haul around and he couldn’t put them down.

“Are you alright?” Aurin asked the soldier ant.

“Chik…chik…” clicked the Minakai, clearly tired.

“We’re almost there,” said Aurin, putting his arm around his Minakai and helping him to the top of the hill.

When they reached the peak, they spied the rest of their group already at the entrance of the maze. They hobbled over and Chopchop sat on the grass, propped against the hedge to let himself rest for a while.

Kyle looked towards Aurin. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll scout from abo—”

A large cleaver swung through the hedge, smashing into Aurin’s Chopchop’s side. Petalcub hurriedly sprouted a large vine and wrapped it around Chopchop’s leg, then pulled him away from the hedge where another Chopchop burst from seconds later.

“There’s the ambush,” said Aurin.

“This is where we part ways for the time being,” said Kyle, sending his Snowlem forward to battle the Chopchop. “Get yourselves out of here and we’ll see each other at the finish line. I can’t spend the whole battle defending your team.”

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“Kyle, we can—”

“We’ll be fine,” said Kyle, his Wingbloom soaring up into the sky to see who was attacking from within the maze.

Aurin helped Chopchop to his feet and he ran towards the palace where he hoped he could find somewhere quiet to let Chopchop gather his strength. “Shamtile, keep an eye on our surroundings and throw up any rock walls you need. Petalcub, if you smell anyone that isn’t us, growl and let me know.”

As Aurin made his escape, Snowlem was going toe to toe with the Chopchop. It slashed and thrust, trying to take off Snowlem’s wooden arms, but Snowlem had conjured an ice shield to defend himself with. Each time a shard broke off, he flicked it back up and reattached it to the shield.

“Wing!” called Kyle.

Wingbloom flew down and grabbed the distracted Chopchop with his talons. Rather than take to the skies, he flipped in midair and flung the Chopchop over his head. Snowlem ran forward and hurled an icicle spear with each of his hands. As Chopchop landed, he was hit in the chest Snowlem’s projectiles and was knocked back and to the ground.

The front of the hedge maze was torn apart as a large boulder ripped through and collided with Wingbloom. He was pinned underneath until Snowlem rushed over and pushed it away, sending it rolling down the hill.

“Wing, can you fly?” asked Kyle.

Wingbloom fluttered up unsteadily but stabled himself. He swerved out of the way as another boulder was tossed through the hedge.

“Aerial assault combo, quick!”

Wingbloom flew over to Snowlem and clung onto his snowy torso, leaving the living snowman with two free hands. He conjured more icicles spears as Wingbloom carried him upwards and over the maze. A boulder was flung at them and Wingbloom moved aside as Snowlem retaliated against their aggressor; it was a Cephelarock.

“I know these Minakai,” called Kyle loudly as he looked through the remnants of the hedge maze and also spied the stone octopus. “Percival, stop being a coward and show yourself.”

Percival—the fourth Hazelton competitor in the national championship this year—stepped out from the maze. “Sorry about this, Kyle, but I’ve taken a few knocks and I’ve got to stay in the game somehow.”

Kyle looked at him with a look of derision on his face. “I’ve taken a few knocks too and you don’t see me launching sneak attacks. It’s a scummy move from someone as talented as you.”

“You can call it scummy, but I call it a winning strategy.”

“Do you now? Is that how you eliminated Catriona earlier?”

“She had two Minakai remaining and I’ve still got two of my own,” said Percival looking smug. “I’m still standing and I’m seeing this tournament through right to the end. Mark my words.”

“Tamer four, Master Percival, eliminated by tamer two, Master Aurin,” announced Lord Kensington.

“No!” yelled Percival, looking over his shoulder and seeing his Cephelarock buried under snow within the hedge maze. “Chopchop?” he called out, turning to see where his armoured insect was.

Sitting on a large rock, not too far away, was Shamtile who was waving his arms in victory. Underneath the rock was a blade sticking out belonging to Percival’s Chopchop. The bug was thoroughly crushed by the tiny lizard’s powerful attack.

“I don’t believe this,” said Percival, slumping over and holding his head in his hands.

“Maybe you would have stood a better chance in an honourable battle,” said Kyle. “but I suppose we’ll never find out now, will we?”

Percival groaned and wandered off the towards the palace. He held up his tamer glove and banished his two Minakai back to Kyle’s ranch. As he passed by Shamtile, he saw Aurin leaning against a small wall where his Chopchop was resting. Petalcub growled at Percival as he passed. Aurin was sure that Percival’s expression was that of shame more than disappointment.

“You couldn’t just listen to me, could you?” asked Kyle as Wingbloom and Snowlem landed beside him.

“Nope,” called Aurin, “but you can do your thing for now. We’ll be fine by ourselves. Make sure you don’t lose any more Minakai before we have the chance to battle, you hear me?”

“I don’t think I’m the one in danger of losing any,” said Kyle, nodding towards Chopchop.

“Chopchop? Nah, he’ll be alright. He just needs to sit down for a few minutes and he’ll be right as rain. Worry about Wingbloom, he took quite the hit.”

“And he can take a dozen more and still keep going,” said Kyle as he moved into the hedge maze. “Strongest Minakai in this whole competition, bar none.”

Aurin laughed as Kyle vanished from sight. He watched Shamtile hop down from the rock and land on the grass. The masked lizard scurried over to his team and danced around excitedly, glad to be defeating other Minakai left, right and centre.

“You’re doing great, Shammy,” said Aurin. “There shouldn’t be many of us left. If we’re lucky, we’ll be finished by nightfall and claiming our prize.”

Petalcub bounced around and let out a few barks.

“Yes, you’re certainly one of the prizes, Petalcub, but I think we’ll come away with the top one. I bet it’s something good.”

“Tamer thirty-seven, Lady Robyn, eliminated by tamer one, Master Hunter,” announced Lord Kensington.

“It’s been relentless the last twenty minutes,” muttered Aurin before turning to his team. “Petalcub, bring up some thicker grass and hide us from sight. We’ll give Chopchop another couple of minutes and move along. I’m sure if Leo is lurking around he’ll be able to sniff us out, but Shamtile will let us know if anyone is approaching.”