The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 458: The Wrixians again (1)

At the base / 12:00 SS (Since Start)

"The teams just completed the 9th branch and things have been heating up nicely," said the representative. "The branches have been decreasing in size, making encounters between the team and the teams versus the local lifeforms more frequent.

Before I give the highlights, let’s look at the ranking."

Heaven’s Army (36 points)

"The first place remains under tight control of Heaven’s Army led by Miss Althea Thunderspear, or as many of you believe and call, Heaven’s Incarnate. They have consistently found the blue flags on each branch, giving them thirty six points. Fate? Haha, that’s for you to decide. Or not. Haha."

Eye in the Sky (27 points)

"The second place...well, as expected, goes to the Eye in the Sky led by Prince Sven. The abilities they have to scour the land, the air, and everything around them, does feel like a cheat. They have won a flag on each branch. They are also the ones to wipe out another team. With twenty seven points, they still are in the running. I am sure they are the only ones who can still give us a nice surprise against the Heaven’s Army."

The Divine Servants (23 points)

"Servants giving rulers of Heaven and Sky a good competition. Haha. With twenty three points they sure are still in the race. I gather from well-informed friends their team consists of a Templar and a Paladin. A Templar and a Paladin working together against a team affiliated with the Temple and another team led by the heir apprentice of the Paladins. If those sources are correct, and I am certain they are, we might be in for a treat."

Touch of Life (20 points)

"The beauties do have brains, my friends. They have steadily been ascending, gathering points and treasures along the way. What’s even more strange, they are the only team aside from Heaven’s Army who hasn’t encountered an opposing team. Almost like a hand in the dark guides them safely forward."

Alliance of the Cursed Ones (20 points)

"Cursed ones indeed. This is why the old and wise clamor about things like slow and steady. These men burst out at the start, claiming the number one spot but now they have fallen so far below, they might just resign to their fate. They are strong but not that bright. They keep ascending in a straight line and explore only the places near them. If only they had taken a lady in their team. Who knows, things might still change at a higher branch. After all, they are strong. We have seen their skirmishes against Heaven’s Army and Eye in the Sky."

...

Alliance of the Cursed Ones / 12:05 SS

As soon as Hex landed on the tenth branch, he noticed the green flag fluttering softly. His eyes lit up. At last. Even without knowing the scores, Hex knew they lagged behind others. It wasn’t outside his prediction.

A simple strategy worked often but rarely bore extraordinary fruit. Despite Elron’s complaints and Gronke’s silent disapproval, Hex moved in a straight line upward. Gathering flags and treasures helped win points but the rules didn’t restrict to earning them through hard work alone.

’I just hope they don’t flee before the main event.’

His strategy, simple as it was, held one major risk. If he waited to fight on the thirteenth branch and the other teams, especially those in the lead, gave up before that, all would be lost. He doubted they would, though.

The treasures increased in rarity and usability as they ascended. Like him, everyone anticipated the price on the thirteenth branch. He was sure of it. Plus, having interacted with the others, he believed to have a good grasp on their natures.

Althea wouldn’t provoke a battle but wouldn’t retreat in the face of one. Even as Heaven, traces of the proud girl underneath persisted.

Sven, his one case of hundred percent certainty, would seek opponents actively. They had met and tested the waters on the fifth and seventh branch. Both times they refrained from fighting but they grew more assured about their chances against the other.

Hex, because of his true strength. Only, every time he met Sven, the Frost Dragon turned hostile. She couldn’t explain it. According to her, it was a reaction from within her. As if her blood raged to devour him.

In each encounter, Hex displayed his power partially. He baited the crown prince. So far, the price of a blown out battle didn’t justify fighting. But it would by the end of this all. And then, the princely moron wouldn’t be able to hold himself back.

...

He stretched his senses. All appeared to be normal, if normal was the dense natural energy mixed with a plethora of life forms around. They hid in bushes, inside the branch and watched from the sub branches.

Wrixia was filled with lifeforms. Some, he never even knew existed. Like the blooming mushroom that released a sweet scent, inviting predators to eat it. It left its traces inside the birds and lizards, multiplying and spreading across the branches through the excrements of their predators. Something he noticed when ascending and observing the same energy signature from branch three to five.

It attracted so much of Elron’s attention, the guy remained behind. To study. Gronke, on the other hand, discovered a hollow with golden monkeys. They gathered fruits and nuts, mixing into a concoction that, according to Gronke, could enthrall even deities. So, he lost his second partner to a bunch of monkeys.

"Well, it’s you and me, buddy." Hex chuckled as he pulled the flag out of the branch. His smile froze. His senses detected the change but he did nothing.

The space around him locked, cutting him off from the surroundings.

"You’re not alone." From behind a bush stepped Vonbeak. Vonfang and Vonhorst followed her, albeit a bit wary. Their eyes flitted around and they kept a safe distance, most likely to flee if things didn’t work out.

Vonbeak noticed it, of course. She scowled at them.

"I have trash as a team." She cursed and looked at Hex. "Lucky for me, they aren’t the ones I am counting on."

She smiled sweetly at him. Her eyes watched his face intently. Perhaps she hoped to read despair on it or see some fear in his eyes.

"Are you going to keep staring at me or call your sisters so we can fight?" Hex asked, showing a smile instead of fear or despair.

She frowned. "How do you know–"

"About Touch of Life? Easy. I only sensed nature’s energy when I arrived. I believe only the Dryads, who are also called the beloved daughters of Wrixia, could have pulled it off."

"Excellent deduction." A voice said, as the three sisters stepped out of thin air.

Or did nature energy coalesce? It was hard to tell. It didn’t matter, though. He would find it out eventually. For now, he had to take out six opponents.