The Demon Lord's Chamber felt unnatural. It was as if the air itself was afraid to stir without permission. In the center of the hall stood a throne of black obsidian, surrounded by pale flames that gave off no heat.
The gates creaked. A man entered — the same man who, just moments ago, had been seen in the shadows beneath the arena stands. A hood concealed his face, but an aura of darkness betrayed his identity—a woman's voice spoke from beneath the hood:
"My Lord." — she said, kneeling. — "As ordered, I observed the tournament. And… Valdor, his power is returning."
The flames around the throne trembled, as if the very breath of hell had stirred them in anger.
A deep voice came from the darkness of the throne
"I thought his blood had been burned out during the last war." — The Demon Lord slowly raised his head. His eyes blazed with a red light reminiscent of the embers of a dying world.
The Demon King clenched his fingers on the armrest. The stone cracked as if it were no harder than clay.
"The blood of the Dragons… should have vanished from this world." — The voice radiated anger, but also a kind of unease.
"Fifty years ago, we roared against them on the battlefield. The fire that destroyed half of my father's army… I remember it all too well."
A violent gust of black energy surrounded the envoy.
"Let your eye look further." — the king commanded.
A chill washed over the envoy. He nodded.
"Yes, my lord."
She rose and vanished.
Meanwhile, in the capital's arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" — the commentator shouted. — "After an incredible clash between the Wolf's Edge and the Fallen Crosses, it's time for the next battle!"
The crowd responded with a loud cheer. Two teams were lining up opposite each other:
Forest Shield — the slow but steady stride of the elves, their movements fluid and unnaturally silent.
Mechanicus — loud, trembling with energy, surrounded by machines that hissed with a metallic breath.
Valdor stood in the stands next to Mayuri. For a moment, his eyes wandered over the stands.
The Mechanicus entered the arena with a loud clatter, as if 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 massive mechanical arm. — "Let the metal speak!"
The elves of the Forest Shield looked like ghosts beside them. Mira, the captain, stepped into the center in absolute silence. Her footsteps left no traces in the sand.
"Nature speaks in whispers." — she said calmly. — "And a whisper can sometimes drown out a scream."
The gong sounded.
The Mechanicus moved first. The metal constructs spewed smoke and sparks into the air, and Jinn led the offensive, firing a barrage of magical projectiles.
The elves scattered like the wind.
Mira made a simple gesture with her hand — and the arena trembled. Roots, as thin as hair, emerged from beneath the sand and began to entwine the metal legs of the enemy constructs.
"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, sent them flying toward the mechanics. The leaves struck the metal, causing dozens of small short circuits.
The mechanical creatures began to make strange noises. One of them sparked, then exploded a moment later.
The commentator jumped out of his seat.
"Unbelievable! The Forest Shield is using the arena like a living organism! The Mechanicus is having mobility issues!"
Jinn, however, had no intention of giving up.
"Activate Mode Two!" — he shouted.
The metal on his arm slid apart, revealing an additional set of blades. Auxiliary mini-companies began popping out of his backpack, firing a barrage of magical projectiles at the elves.
Mira raised her hand.
"Wooden Crown Shield."
For a second, everything was covered by a green dome. The projectiles vanished in its light.
Valdor raised an eyebrow.
"That'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, forming a sort of pulsating arrow of pure light.
"Mira!" — one of the mechanics shouted.
"Too late." — the elf said.
The arrow struck Jinn and his constructs with a force that shook the entire stadium.
When the dust settled, three of the four mechanical creatures lay shattered on the ground. Jinn was kneeling, panting heavily.
The commentator gasped in amazement.
"It's the end for most of the Mechanicus units! The Forest Shield is taking control of the arena! But will Jinn get back up…?"
Jinn got to his feet. Slowly. Heavily. With a determination reminiscent of a crumbling wall still trying to stay upright.
"Not… not yet." — he rasped.
"Tret, Albert, Anna, get up!" — he shouted, even though all three were lying on the ground and didn't have the strength to rise.
But his arm made a cracking sound.
Then another.
Then it fell to the ground.
Mira stepped closer.
"Jinn. You're stubborn. But I won't waste your courage. It's over."
Jinn looked at her with a weary smile.
"I suppose so… Go ahead and win this. Today, nature will triumph over the machine."
With those words, he dropped to one knee and raised his hand in surrender.
The gong sounded.
"THE FOREST SHIELD WINS!" — the commentator shouted. — "What a duel! What a clash of styles! The wildness of nature versus technology — and this time, the forest proved stronger!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Valdor looked at Mira, who was heading back to the exit with her team.
"Powerful." — he assessed. — "And dangerous to anyone who stands in her way."
Mayuri nodded.
"But you know the elves aren't our real problem, right?"
Valdor looked at the shaded section of the stands.
"I know. And I have a feeling it'll reveal itself soon."
In the shadows, someone was watching them again with a newfound, palpable curiosity.