My left eye twitched. "I take it back. This town sucks," I growled, squeezing the gritty sand between my fingers.

Meanwhile, Orion stood on the ridge, his battered winged knight armor cracked and stained with dried blood. He gazed down at what was once Glimmerfen—now renamed the Tigris Dominion. The sight of his family's kingdom, claimed by another, sent a surge of anger through him, making his tattered wings twitch. With a heavy sigh, he turned away, his body aching from his brutal defeat at Gaian's hands. Limping as he descended the mountain, his thoughts festered.

"Mother is bedridden, father's brain is scrambled from Gaian's kick, Lucian's locked in silence, traumatized, and Aurelius... my brother is dead—his ribs crushed, his lungs punctured by Gaian's knee." Orion's voice broke, but his fury kept burning. "I've been chasing revenge ever since. Ember's a traitor, and that damned Alden... he was supposed to be one of us. If I had been at full strength that day, none of them would've walked away alive."

He growled in frustration and, in his weakened state, slipped on the snow, tumbling down the slope. When he finally came to a stop, he lay there, his breath ragged, cheeks flushed from the cold, gasping for air.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. A man with red and black feathers, sharp beak, and piercing orange eyes crouched beside him. The stranger chuckled, inspecting Orion's state. "Well, you look like hell."

Orion blinked in confusion, trying to process the figure before him. "Who... who are you?"

Without answering, the man shoved a boot into Orion's mouth. "Shh, I'm reading." He unfurled a crumpled note, squinting at the sloppy handwriting. "Dammit, Vex writes like a toddler. 'Find Orion Glimmerfen.' So, are you Orion Glimmerfen?"

Orion, seething with rage, shoved the man's leg aside and staggered to his feet. "You dare treat me like that!? I've been itching for a fight for far too long!" He coughed, his body trembling from exhaustion, barely able to stand. "Who are you? Tell me before you die!"

The man simply chuckled, slipping the note into his pocket. "Nyx Kreeth, assassin of the Crimson Talons," he said casually. "I'm here because my leader wants you to join us. You hate those celestial vessels, don't you? Well, Vex is the vessel of Umbra, the Shadow Owl. He, along with Ravyn, vessel of Zephyr, the Dark Albatross, are the only ones in the Crimson Talons who possess the power of the Shadow Flock."

Orion flinched, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "The Shadow Flock... Vex and Ravyn. They were the ones who attacked my kingdom before the other kingdoms arrived," he muttered under his breath. His mind raced with the memory of that dark day, but Nyx stood before him, unfazed and waiting, his expression bored.

Shaking his head, Orion snapped out of his thoughts and threw a wild punch at Nyx. But Nyx caught his fist with ease—a feat that should have been impossible. Orion's blood ran cold; without magical power, no one should have been able to touch him due to his intangibility. Yet, here was Nyx, effortlessly holding him in place.

Before Orion could react, Nyx slammed a fist into his face, sending him crashing to the ground. Blood splattered across the snow as Orion's vision blurred, his consciousness slipping away.

Nyx rubbed his fist, a smirk forming on his lips. "There are many like me in the Crimson Talons. We've consumed Vex's feathers, and now we possess both magical and physical strength—half of Umbra's true power."

Orion lay motionless, defeated, as Nyx loomed over him, a reminder of the growing darkness he now faced.

Back in Skam Square, we walked the narrow, winding streets, the buzz of the marketplace filling the air with the sounds of haggling merchants and clinking coins. The scent of sizzling street food wafted through the crowd, blending with the faint smell of rain from the earlier storm. Buildings, old and worn with time, towered around us, casting long shadows as we passed by. Children darted between stalls, and the distant hum of conversation echoed from the taverns lining the square. Skam Square had its own rhythm—a pulse of life that never seemed to stop, even in the darker corners where secrets were whispered and deals made in the shadows.

"We're supposed to be laying low, but how are we going to ask around for the other celestial vessels without drawing attention?" I muttered, glancing at Alden. He tapped his chin thoughtfully, eyes scanning the bustling streets as if weighing our next move carefully.

The market square buzzed with life—vendors shouting over one another, people haggling, the clatter of carts rolling across uneven cobblestones. Every corner had watchful eyes. "We'll have to be subtle," Alden finally replied, his gaze sharpening as he leaned closer. "We blend in, listen more than we talk. Information leaks in whispers, not shouts."

I sighed, knowing he was right but feeling the weight of urgency gnawing at me. The other 2 celestial vessels wouldn't stay hidden forever, and time wasn't on our side.

As we walked through the crowd, our attention was drawn to two women approaching. One of them, a non-avian, towered over us, wearing a gleaming silver tank top and matching skirt. Her eyes locked onto us with a sneer, her gaze cold and dismissive. Beside her was a much shorter avian woman, barely reaching my chest, dressed in a bright golden shirt and matching shorts. She chuckled under her breath as they passed, their presence unsettling.

Something about them tugged at my memory, a strange familiarity lingering in the air as they disappeared into the throng. The whole encounter felt off, like a shadow of something we should've known but couldn't quite place.

As we continued walking, we instinctively ducked as a towering, 20-foot giant was hurled from a ring-like structure, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.

"Wow, folks! Sir Gerard and his niece have defeated their opponent! They're now officially qualified to join the Skam Tournament!" Sable's voice boomed through the square, igniting cheers from the crowd. Gerard stood triumphantly in the ring, his niece clinging to his back with a proud grin.

"What's going on?" I asked, bewildered by the scene. A nearby man turned to me with wide eyes. "You've never heard of the Skam Tournament? It's one of the biggest fighting festivals here! To enter, you have to defeat a member of the giant race. When only ten contestants remain, they battle it out until there's one champion," he explained, his voice full of excitement.

"What's the prize?" I pressed, curious. The man pointed to a crown resting atop Sable's head. "That's the Crown of Chaos. The winner gains the ability to connect with the Other Side—the Nest—and communicate with the legendary Shadow Flock," he said, practically buzzing with enthusiasm.

"{PLEASE LET ME TEACH THEM A LESSON!}" Sagea growled, her voice vibrating with frustration. I let out a heavy sigh. "We can't change their minds, Sagea. Just calm down for now," I said, trying to keep her in check before things escalated further.

I felt Alden nudge me, and I followed his gaze to the platform. The towering girl from earlier stood over a giant with dislocated limbs and a battered body. "Wow, folks! The visitor Zuri did that in a flash!" Sable announced, as the crowd erupted into cheers and whistles.

"Wow! She's hot!"

"Flash us!"

"Who's up next?!"

Sable's voice rang out again, and the shorter girl from earlier stepped onto the stage. As the bloodied giant was hauled away, another one emerged. This one, larger and more imposing, grinned wickedly. "Is this all? This is really insulting to someone like me, Clogan the Great." His chuckle echoed across the square as he eyed the girl with malice. "Maybe after I finish, I'll have some fun with that tiny body of yours." He raised his fist and brought it down with a thunderous hammerfist.

"Ooh, Clogan shows no mercy, huh?"

"I feel bad for the poor girl."

"We should stop him before he does something to her!"

The dust from the impact cleared, and everyone gasped. The girl had blocked Clogan's attack. "What?! You blocked my hit?" Clogan stammered, his bravado cracking.

Alden shot me a knowing look, and I nodded. The girl had small crystals encasing her arm, glowing faintly as they absorbed the blow. With a calm, almost disinterested expression, she pulled back her arm and delivered a single punch. Clogan's body convulsed, electricity surging through him, and in seconds, his skin charred black as he collapsed to the ground.

For a moment, the crowd stood in stunned silence—then erupted into wild cheers.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Sable chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We'll get to the next match after a short intermission. So far, we have Sir Gerard, Zuri, and Astrid!" he announced, as the crowd cheered and the three competitors disappeared into the intermission stall.

Inside, Zuri and Astrid were registering their names for the tournament when I casually tossed a small rock at Zuri. She dodged it effortlessly, moving with lightning speed. "Zuri and Astrid?" I said mockingly, crossing my arms as Alden and I stood side by side. Both girls turned around, and Ember—or rather, Astrid—placed a hand on her hip, smirking. "How did you know it was us?" she asked, amused.

I pointed at her wrist. "There's only one person I know who uses crystals like that."

Alden shook his head, still in shock. "What happened to you two? Zira's not even a tiger anymore, and you're... an avian person, not the striped owl you used to be." His voice was full of disbelief at their transformed appearances.

"Well, two creatures attacked the ark, and I kinda... pummeled them," Zira began with a shrug. "Their blood splattered on us, and we ended up like this. After wandering around naked for a while, we found the town and stole some clothes. That's when we realized it's a heavily anti-celestial bird area, so we had to change our names," she explained.

Alden and I listened closely as she recounted the bizarre events. "Naked, you say?" I quipped, unable to resist, only to get a swift smack on the head from Alden.

"Focus," Alden grumbled.

"Right, right. Anyways," I cleared my throat, "Why enter this tournament with fake names? You could've just laid low like us."

"We heard about the Crown of Chaos and figured, 'whoever owns that has to be pretty sketchy,'" Ember explained. "So we thought we'd join the tournament and take it off his hands." She glanced at me. "You guys in? With all four of us, we could grab the crown no problem."

I shook my head. "He hasn't done anything wrong—yet. Plus, they'll figure out who I am. Too elegant to blend in," I said with a smirk. "Alden, you should join. I'll search around for more information. Maybe someone here knows something."

I crossed my arms, glancing at the arena. "Well, whoever they get, just be careful. This whole setup feels off, especially with that crown involved. Something tells me it's not just about the fighting."

Alden smirked, "You worry too much. I've got this." He gave me a confident wink before stepping toward the waiting area.

"Let's hope you're right," I muttered, watching the growing excitement in the crowd.

In the damp, echoing darkness of a cave, Orion stirred awake, groggy and bound to a wooden chair. His wrists and ankles ached from the tight ropes that restrained him. To his left, Korin Talonblade and Avol were tied up as well, both slowly regaining consciousness. Nyx stood before them, silhouetted by the dim glow of a lantern. Without hesitation, Nyx slapped them all awake with brutal efficiency.

"W-where am I?!" Korin stammered, struggling in his chair, panic creeping into his voice.

Nyx didn't waste a second, driving his boot into Korin's chest, silencing him with a sharp gasp. "Shut up." His tone was cold as he pulled out three feathers, dark as night, and glowing faintly with an eerie energy. "These are the feathers of Vex, the vessel of Umbra. He's occupied elsewhere, but he ordered me to extend an offer. These feathers are your entry into the Crimson Talons."

Nyx paced slowly in front of them, his serious gaze cutting through the shadows. "I know what each of you has against the celestial birds. Work with us, and we'll give you everything you need to destroy them."

The cave was thick with tension, the air heavy with the unsaid desperation of revenge. Silence hung between them until Avol spoke up, his voice a low growl of restrained fury. "The celestial vessels destroyed my town. My father was beheaded. I have nothing left but my vengeance. I, Avol, of Dragon's Roost, the last descendant of the legendary Nightfox… I will take the feather first."

Nyx's lips curled into a twisted smile. He stepped forward and forced Avol's mouth open, shoving the feather down his throat without hesitation. Avol gagged, then convulsed, his body spasming violently as the dark magic took hold. His veins pulsed with an unnatural glow as he let out a primal scream. His figure flickered, morphing and shifting uncontrollably until he became the embodiment of the Nightfox—massive, hulking, and exuding raw power.

The Nightfox was a fearsome sight: towering over them all, its obsidian fur rippling like shadows made flesh. Its blood-red eyes glowed with a predatory intensity, and its fangs gleamed in the dim light, dripping with venomous malice. The beast's long, razor-sharp claws scraped against the rocky floor of the cave as its bushy tail lashed out, striking with a force that could shatter bone. The transformation was complete—a monstrous creature now standing in place of them, a living legend reborn.

"Wow," Nyx mused, a dark grin tugging at his lips. "So it's true, you really are descendants of the Nightfox. Impressive." His gaze flickered to the others still bound. "Now, you two, what will it be?"

Korin, drenched in sweat and trembling, raised his head, his voice barely a whisper but laced with determination. "I... as a knight of Aurora, I shall avenge my kingdom."

Without hesitation, Nyx shoved another feather toward him, but the moment it touched Korin's lips, his body convulsed violently. A horrific, wet explosion echoed through the cave as Korin burst into a spray of blood and gore, splattering the walls and Nyx. Silence followed, thick and choking.

Nyx wiped a drop of blood from his face, his expression indifferent. "Ah, right. Vex was the one who tore apart Aurora, so of course the feather rejected him." His voice was casual, almost bored, as if the grisly death hadn't fazed him in the slightest. He turned his attention to Orion, now the only one left. "And you, Orion... Your powers of intangibility are impressive. Truly threatening, even. But without the physical strength to back it up? You're not reaching your potential."

Nyx dangled the last feather in front of Orion's face, the dark energy radiating from it almost palpable. Orion stared at it, hesitation flickering in his eyes. He felt his heartbeat thundering in his ears, but vengeance outweighed fear. He clenched his jaw, nodding slowly.

"To avenge my kingdom... my family...," Orion muttered, his voice filled with cold resolve. "I'll kill every last one of those celestial birds. Including my sister."

Nyx's grin widened as he shoved the feather into Orion's mouth, sealing his fate.

Back in Skam, I moved cautiously through the town, keeping my head down, trying to avoid any unwanted attention. Suddenly, a ball rolled toward my feet. "Hey mister! Kick it back!" a kid called out. I bent down to pick up the ball, but froze when I realized it was shaped like Sagea's severed head. My stomach churned violently.

"I'm gonna be sick!" I bolted to a nearby bucket and retched.

"Are you alright?" Sable's voice rang out as he approached, patting my back with mock concern. I straightened up, wiping the shimmering bile from my lips. "Hello, Mr. Sable. I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. "I hope you and your friend are enjoying my lovely town," he chuckled, his eyes sharp and calculating despite the friendly tone.

I nodded stiffly. "Yeah, your town is... something." I paused, trying to shift the conversation. "So, how did you manage to get giants here anyway?" Sable's smile widened as he raised his scepter. "Oh, they aren't true giants. They were once regular people, but they dared to worship the celestial birds. I simply grew them, stripped away their intelligence, and turned them into mindless beings for entertainment. Now, the people are free to unleash their violence on them."

My eye twitched at his casual cruelty. "So you're punishing them?" He shook his head with a serene smile. "Not punishing. Just doing what my glorious god Umbra would do."

I sighed and brushed past Sable, dismissing his twisted justification. "I'm not here to fight or play the hero—I need information," I reminded myself. Suddenly, the roar of a crowd echoed from the stadium. Curious, I jogged toward the noise and arrived just in time to see Dark Warden—Alden in disguise—clashing with Zuri, who was secretly Zira.

Zira moved with incredible speed, dodging Alden's attacks with ease. Alden feinted toward her face, only to swiftly flip her in the air using his dark reflexes. In an instant, his shadow-clad foot slammed into her head, driving her into the ground. He then slid across her body as if using it like a skateboard, plowing through the dirt with vicious precision.

"Those two are going all out. I wonder if it's because of that fight in Dragon's Roost when none of you were in control of your own bodies," Ember remarked, suddenly appearing beside me. I flinched, momentarily forgetting her new form.

"You're right," I muttered, eyes still fixed on the battle. "Are you up next?"

She shook her head and crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "Nope. I lost to Sir Gerard. I haven't fully adjusted to this body yet, so my crystals were a bit unpredictable during the fight." She glanced up, her frustration evident.

"How are you enjoying your real body?" I asked, and she immediately put on a cocky grin.

"Oh, it's amazing," Ember replied, flexing her fingers as if testing their strength. "Feels like I've leveled up in every way. Faster, stronger… just not used to the powers yet. But once I master these crystals, no one's gonna touch me." She glanced back at the arena, where Alden and Zira were still going at it. "They're just lucky I'm not in there right now."

Zira grabbed Alden's foot and delivered a sharp kick to his chin, the crack echoing through the arena. As he was launched into the air, she followed up with a flurry of heavy blink strikes, her kicks hitting with brutal precision. Alden coughed up black blood, tumbling across the ground from the force of the blows. Slowly, he pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his mouth with a smirk.

"Nocturne beat Zephyra that day," he said, a glint of determination in his eyes, "but it looks like you're going to be a tougher challenge."

Breathing heavily, Zira's face bloodied from his earlier attack, she grinned through the pain. "This is the longest we've ever talked," she said, still catching her breath. "I like you, 'Dark Warden,'" she added with a sly chuckle, mocking his fake name.

But then, to everyone's surprise, as Alden and Zira dashed towards each other for one final clash, their bodies suddenly gave out, shutting down from exhaustion. They collapsed, Zira's towering form landing heavily on top of Alden.

"Wow folks! These two amazing contestants have fought so hard that we don't have a clear winner!" Sable announced, as a mix of cheers and boos erupted from the crowd.

"No! We came for a fight, not a nap!"

"Get back up and kill each other!"

Sable tapped his scepter against the ground, silencing the crowd instantly. "You all know what happens when there's a draw," he said with a smirk. "Both contestants are disqualified, and Sir Gerard gets to choose his next opponent!"

The crowd exploded in excitement.

"Pick me!"

"Over here, Sir Gerard!"

Even some of the winged knights, banned from participating due to their magical abilities, were begging for a chance to fight.

Gerard stood tall, his niece perched on his shoulders, scanning the eager faces in the crowd. His gaze locked onto mine, and with a faint grin, he pointed directly at me. "The man from earlier!"

Of course. I sighed, feeling the weight of the crowd's sudden attention. People began cheering, patting my back, urging me toward the stage.

"I'm going to make some real good moonstones from this fight," Ember muttered under her breath.

"What are you scheming now?" I growled, glaring at her.

She flinched, eyes wide. "Nothing!" she replied hastily, her voice dripping with nervousness.