The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 456: Alliances and Eliminations

At the base

"Wh-What a turn of events." The representative, along with the other judges and merchants, came to life after a period of silence.

Their reaction stirred the small crowd awaiting news at the base. Much like the people in the cities and arenas spread over Wrixia, these people also depended on the information relayed to them through those on the elevated leaf.

"We haven’t even completed the first hour and one team has already been wiped out. Death! How exciting!" The representative cried out, his voice joyous to the peak. The silence of the crowd who awaited his report escaped him completely.

"If you guys could only see what we saw. The brilliance. The decisiveness...the power...," he almost moaned. Each word filled the people below with dread. Yet, he didn’t pay any attention to them.

"Let’s see how this has changed the list."

1. Heaven’s Army: 8 points

"They have gathered two blue flags back to back. Is it a coincidence or just how Fate works? Haha. Just joking. They have taken the lead. Lady Althea’s radiance might truly eclipse others."

2. Alliance of the Cursed Ones: 5 points

"Their luck seemed to have been spent on the first branch. They came up empty on the second one. Or have they? They are still searching. Not to spoil but the red and yellow flags are still up for grabs. The green flag? I can’t tell you guys just yet."

3. Eye in the Sky: 5 points

"How? You might wonder. Well, Lord Sven shifted the sand from under the Shadows. Their yellow flag in his hand, bringing his total to five points. And they are already moving to the third branch, leaving the shadow...in his shadow. Hahaha."

4. Divine Servants: 5 points

"Exciting! Three teams with five points. Or is there? This might change as they are battling the Trident family. Though, to be honest...the tridents are gasping like fish out of the water. Hahaha."

5. Wrixian Heroes: 0 points

"They are still sniffing around in the hope to find a stick...oh...a flag. But they are moving toward the cursed demons...no, sorry. Cursed ones. My heart beats faster with their steps moving closer to each other. If they find a flag now, they might have to defend it against those demons...sorry, cursed ones."

6. Touch of Life: 0 points

"The beautiful daughters of Wrixia are strolling around. I am not sure whether they are beauties with boobs or beauties with brains, honestly. They are not even searching for a flag. To be free and without worries."

7. Tyrannical Tridents: 0 points

"They might earn turn the tables if they manage to win against the Divine Servants. But they seem to have fish brains. Their fight...you know, it’s better if we skip describing it and just announce it when they lose."

8. Shifting Sands: 0 points

"Well, let’s just say they have shifted under the sands. Six feet under it to be precise...Don’t cry out so loudly. I am sure you have as many people as grains of sand in that rain-forsaken place of yours. Please, be more considerate. Dessert people, I tell you. Anyway, stay tuned everyone."

...

Team: Divine Servants and Tyrannical Tridents/ 00:50 SS (since start)

"I am not going to kill you guys," Hestia said, her frigid gaze forcing the siblings to squirm, though the vines they were wrapped within didn’t leave much space for them to move.

"Perhaps we should," Starshe protested from the side. Her blade hovered in the air, dangerously close to Alluvia’s neck.

"No. We won’t." Hestia glared at her until she moved her sword away, irritated to have lost an opportunity to behead. The petite girl’s appetite for blood and gore troubled Hestia. As the leader, however, she didn’t reprimand her in front of others.

Plus, she doubted whether the girl would even listen to her.

"Thank you," Alluvia replied. "We won’t attack you again. That I can promise."

Her pointed look at her brothers didn’t escape Hestia. She knew better than to trust someone but she believed the young girl would hold on to her end of the promise. With a nod, she released the vines holding all three Tridents captive.

With a thud, all three fell on the branch. They groaned and it would take some time for them to regain control over their limbs. Her vines didn’t only restrict, they also released a substance that obstructed blood flow.

She didn’t tell them that if they had waited too long to accept their situation, they might have injured their nerves permanently. Well, as permanent as possible. They would need to chop the limb off, regrow, and retrain. So, the damage would be for a long time if not permanent.

"Wait."

Hestia and her team were about to leave when she heard the girl call out to them. What now? She turned and saw the girl sitting with outstretched legs, clearly trying to regulate the blood flow into them.

"In stead of leaving us behind and risking a stab in the back, why not take us with you? We can easily work as your underlings. And in the end you can sell us one of the less valuable treasures at a cheaper price."

She was direct. Hestia liked that. The brothers didn’t meet her gaze but the lack of protest from their side was a reply in itself.

Before Starshe or Hans – she doubted he would say something, though – could protest, she agreed.

...

Team: Alliance of the Cursed Ones and the Wrixian Heroes / 00:50 SS (since start)

"There!"

Thanks to his superior vision, Hex was the first to spot the red flag flap about in the wind. And he was also the first to see a group coming their way.

He would reach the flag before them, but not before the Wrixian Heroes saw them.

A fight was inevitable.

...

At the base / 00:50 SS (since start) 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

1. Heaven’s Army: 8 points

2. Alliance of the Cursed Ones: 5 points (In battle)

3. Eye in the Sky: 5 points

4. Divine Servants: 5 points

5. Touch of Life: 3 points

6. Wrixian Heroes: 0 points (In battle)

7. Tyrannical Tridents: 0 points

8. Shifting Sands: 0 points (Eliminated)