[INT. ILLUSION WORLD – EDGE OF THE ENCAMPMENT – NIGHT]
Silence had returned to the forest clearing.
The ambush was over. The enemies had retreated, leaving behind broken terrain, scorched roots, and the lingering tension of near defeat.
Lyrion lay slumped against a jagged boulder, his breath shallow. The burden of consecutive battles had pushed him past the threshold. His light, though still flickering, had dimmed for the first time.
Veloria knelt beside him, carefully brushing a stray strand of hair from his brow. Her fingers trembled, though her voice remained steady.
> Veloria (softly):
"You idiot… pushing yourself that far."
Lyrion chuckled faintly, eyes half-lidded.
> Lyrion (weakly):
"I had to. If I didn't… we might've lost someone."
Veloria shook her head, lowering her gaze.
> Veloria:
"You always carry everything alone."
"Even when you're breaking."
She placed her hand over his chest — not to heal, but simply to feel his heartbeat.
> Veloria (whispering):
"Don't disappear on me."
"Not like this."
A pause.
Their eyes met — a silent moment deeper than words. Something unspoken passed between them. Not a confession. But a promise.
---
[NEARBY – RAY'S POSITION]
Rika crouched beside Ray, who leaned against a broken tree trunk, wincing.
His robes were torn, and blood stained one side of his shoulder. Still, he forced a crooked grin.
> Ray (gritting teeth):
"Told you I'd be fine…"
> Rika (sternly):
"You're not fine, you reckless idiot."
She pressed a healing patch over the worst of his wounds, her hands surprisingly gentle despite her scolding tone.
> Rika:
"You jumped in front of me. Again."
"Why do you keep doing that?!"
Ray looked at her, unflinching.
> Ray:
"Because I promised I'd protect you."
A silence.
Rika looked away, cheeks flushed despite the worry in her eyes.
> Rika (murmuring):
"Then don't leave me behind either."
"We protect each other… got it?"
Ray smiled, softer this time.
> Ray:
"Yeah. Got it."
---
[WIDER CAMP – ALL MEMBERS REGROUPING]
The rest of the Light School team began to gather again. Some limping. Some still on guard. But all alive.
> Aria:
"That was too close."
> Auron:
"They picked their timing perfectly. Waited until we were barely standing."
> Kairo:
"Cowards. They ran the second the tide turned."
> Syleria (grimly):
"They ran because we took down seven of them."
A small digital glyph shimmered overhead.
> > 80 Participants Remaining
Ray looked up at it, then down at the others.
> Ray (low):
"Twenty more to go."
> Rika:
"And it'll only get harder from here."
They all turned, finally surrounding Rika and Ray — both still wounded, but conscious.
> Veloria (to Rika, teasingly):
"You should scold him more often. He might actually listen."
Rika snorted.
> Rika:
"Doubtful."
"But I'll be there next time before he tries to throw himself into another explosion."
Everyone chuckled — a rare sound amidst the storm of the competition.
---
[INT. STADIUM – OBSERVATION BALCONY – GODS' SEATS]
The divine audience watched in silence.
> Light God Alarion (smiling faintly):
"They're learning what it means to fight together."
> Elemental Goddess Valera (nodding slowly):
"And to bleed for one another."
> Time Maiden Aestra:
"But the next trial… will shatter that unity."
A silent ripple passed between the gods.
---
[INT. SHADOW BALCONY – ZYREN'S WATCHPOINT]
Zyren stared down at the battlefield, his generals behind him.
> Silent Death:
"Their bond is growing."
> Zyren:
"It won't matter. Bonds burn too."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
> Zyren (low):
"And I'll be the one to set them ablaze."
---
[INT. NONLIVING CREATION CAMP – DISTANT CLEARING]
Team B of the Nonliving Creation School watched silently from the foliage.
Their leader, a cold-eyed youth with a cracked obsidian ring — Rhegor — leaned forward, his eyes scanning the weakened Light School members.
> Rhegor (low): "They're barely standing. That last fight drained them completely."
One of his comrades, a quiet girl named Nephia, frowned.
> Nephia: "You're still thinking of approaching them for alliance?"
Rhegor smirked.
> Rhegor: "Of course. Alliances earn trust. And trust… earns openings."
He looked toward the campfire where Lyrion lay unconscious and the others barely alert.
> Rhegor (darkly): "Tomorrow morning, we'll walk in with smiles."
> "And when they lower their guard… we strike."
The others nodded silently.
> Rhegor: "Start with the strongest. Lyrion dies first."
His words echoed like a quiet promise of doom.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…