The Demon King's chamber was unnatural. It was as if the air was afraid to move without permission. In the center of the room stood a throne made of black obsidian, surrounded by pale flames that gave off no heat.
The gates creaked. A man entered, who had been seen just a moment ago in the shadows beneath the arena stands. His face was hidden by a hood, but the aura of darkness betrayed his identity — an emissary, a shadow whose existence was denied even in demonic legends.
— Sir. — he said, kneeling down. — I watched the tournament as ordered. And... Valdor has returned.
The flames around the throne trembled, as if the breath of hell itself had stirred them in anger.
A deep voice came from the darkness of the throne:
— He has returned...? — The Demon King slowly raised his head. His eyes glowed red, like the embers of a dying world. — I thought his blood had been burned away during the last war.
— And yet he lives. — whispered the shadow. — And not only does he live... his power begins to awaken.
The Demon King clenched his fingers on the armrest. The stone cracked as if it were no harder than clay.
— The Blood of Dragons... should have disappeared from this world. — His voice was filled with anger, but also with a kind of anxiety. — Fifty years ago, we roared against them on the battlefield. The fire that destroyed half of my army... I remember it all too well.
The messenger was surrounded by a violent gust of black energy.
— Keep your eyes open. — commanded the king. — If Valdor proves to be a threat... kill him before the dragon's power awakens fully.
A chill came over the messenger. He nodded.
— Yes, my lord.
The flames went out. The room was plunged into complete darkness.
— Ladies and gentlemen! — shouted the commentator. — After an incredible clash between Wolf's Edge and the Fallen Knights, it's time for another fight!
The crowd reacted with a loud cheer. Two teams lined up opposite each other:
Forest Shield — slow but steady steps of the elves, their movements fluid, unnaturally quiet.
Mechanicus — loud, trembling with energy, surrounded by machines that hissed with metallic breath.
Valdor stood on the balcony next to Mayuri. For a moment, his eyes wandered across the stands.
— That shadow is still here. I can feel it. — he muttered.
— I know. — Mayuri replied, squeezing the crystal on her wrist. — But let's focus on the match first. This fight will be different from all the others.
The Mechanicus entered the arena loudly, as if they wanted to announce their presence to the whole world. Sparks flew through the air as metal gloves and pistons steamed.
— Mechanicus ready! — roared Captain Jinn, raising his enormous mechanical arm. — Let metal speak!
The elves of the Forest Shield looked like ghosts beside them. Mira, their captain, stepped forward in absolute silence. Her footsteps left no marks on the sand.
— Nature speaks in whispers. — she said calmly. — And sometimes a whisper can drown out a scream.
The gong struck.
The Mechanicus moved first. Their metal structures threw smoke and sparks into the air, and Jinn led the offensive, firing a series of energy projectiles.
The elves scattered like the wind.
Mira made a simple gesture with her hand — and the arena shook. Roots, thin as hair, emerged from the sand and began to entangle the metal legs of the enemy structures.
— Ha! That's nothing! — Jinn slammed his mechanical arm into the ground. The metal flashed with energy and broke free from the trap.
But that was only the first layer.
Leaves rained down from the air — sharp as steel. Two Elves, Kaen and Yla, had sent them toward the mechanics. The leaves struck the metal, generating dozens of tiny sparks.
The mechanical creatures began to make strange noises. One of them sparked, then exploded a moment later.
The commentator jumped up.
— Unbelievable! The Forest Shield is using the arena like a living organism! Mechanicus is having mobility issues!
However, Jinn was not going to give up.
— Activate mode two! — he shouted.
The metal on his arm slid apart, revealing an additional set of blades. Reinforcement minicompany began jumping out of his backpack, firing a series of magical charges at the elves.
Mira raised her hand.
— The shield of the Tree Crown.
For a second, everything was covered by a green dome. The missiles disappeared in its light.
Valdor raised an eyebrow.
— It's advanced nature magic. Rarely seen... and even more rarely used so effectively.
When the dome fell, the elves launched a counterattack.
Three of them generated beams of energy that merged above the arena, creating something like a pulsating arrow of pure light.
— Mira! — called one of the mechanics.
— Too late. — said the elf.
The arrow struck Jin and his structures with a force that shook the entire stadium.
When the dust settled, three of the four mechanical creatures lay broken on the ground. Jinn stood in a kneeling position, breathing heavily.
The commentator gasped in amazement.
— It's all over for most of Mechanicus's units! The Shield of the Forest takes control of the arena! But will Jinn still rise...?
Jinn stood up. Slowly. Sluggishly. With a determination reminiscent of a collapsing wall that is still trying to stay upright.
— Not yet... not yet. — he croaked.
— Tret, Albert, Lyra, get up! — he shouted, even though all three were lying on the ground and didn't have the strength to get up.
But his arm made a cracking sound.
Then another.
Then it fell to the ground.
Mira moved closer.
— Jinn. You're stubborn. But I won't waste your courage. It's over.
Jinn looked at her with a weary smile.
— I guess so... win it. Today, nature will triumph over machines.
After these words, he fell to his knees and raised his hand, signaling his surrender.
The gong sounded.
— THE FOREST SHIELD WINS! — shouted the commentator. — What a duel! What a clash of styles! The wildness of nature versus technology — and this time, the forest proved to be stronger!
The crowd exploded with applause.
Valdor looked at Mira, who was returning with her team to the exit.
— She's strong. — he assessed. — And dangerous if anyone gets in her way.
Mayuri nodded.
— But you know that the elves aren't our real problem, right?
Valdor looked at the shaded section of the stands.
— I know. And I feel that it will soon reveal itself.
In the shadows, someone was watching them again with a new, distinct curiosity.