After leaving the restaurant, Sylas and the group noticed something. The wind carried a faint, biting chill as the gathering of warriors turned their attention to the entrance of the valley. Heavy footfalls echoed, slow and deliberate. From the shifting mists emerged a group clad in deep green battle robes, their presence commanding immediate attention. The Emerald Sovereignty's geniuses had arrived.
Among them, three figures stood out, each exuding an overwhelming presence. At their center walked a tall, broad-shouldered man with emerald tattoos glowing faintly along his arms, their patterns shifting like slithering vines. His unkempt dark green hair fell wildly over his sharp features, and his eyes gleamed like a beast on the prowl.
"Feng Lieren."
The name passed through the gathered crowd like a whisper of dread.
Known as the Verdant Tyrant, Feng Lieren was infamous for his raw, unchecked strength. Unlike the martial elegance of Phoenix Cry's warriors or the sinister precision of the Obsidian Shadow Empire, his combat style was pure dominance—brutal, overwhelming, and relentless.
To his left, a young woman with flowing teal hair and piercing golden eyes strode forward with effortless grace. Her hands idly spun twin daggers, their edges coated with a faint, mist-like toxin. Her mere presence carried an eerie tension, like standing too close to a venomous serpent.
"Qiao Ling, the Viper in Bloom."
A master of assassination and guerrilla warfare, she had single-handedly decimated entire squads from the Obsidian Shadow Empire in past skirmishes. Her reputation was built not just on skill but on the mind games she played with her victims before striking.
To the right of Feng Lieren stood a lean yet imposing warrior, clad in lightweight jade armor. His shoulder-length black hair, streaked with silver, framed a face devoid of emotion. He carried a bow with intricate green inscriptions, its string humming softly with stored power.
"Bai Xu, the Whispering Gale."
A master archer and tactician, Bai Xu was known for eliminating his targets before they even realized they were being hunted. Unlike Raikai's bold, high-speed combat or Xue Mor's battlefield manipulation, Bai Xu's approach was ghostly and precise—each arrow a silent death sentence.
The moment they arrived, a tension more potent than any before settled over the gathered warriors.
Phoenix Cry's geniuses were the first to react, their leader stepping forward. Yan Feiyan's blazing fan flicked open, reflecting the firelight in the valley. Yan Xifeng nocked an arrow, her eyes locked on Bai Xu.
From the other side, the dark-robed warriors of the Obsidian Shadow Empire moved as well. Muramaki Jin, the Shadow Fang, cracked his neck, his long crimson-bladed katana humming with bloodlust. Beside him, Hei Xian, the Spectral Crawler, flexed his clawed gauntlets, his sinister grin stretching across his face.
Yet, instead of aligning with either faction, Feng Lieren smirked and threw his arms wide.
"I see the Obsidian Shadows and the Phoenix Cries have brought their best. How disappointing."
His mocking words sent a ripple through the valley. The Phoenix Cry warriors bristled at the insult, while the Obsidian geniuses narrowed their eyes.
Qiao Ling chuckled, twirling a dagger between her fingers. "Why should we waste words, Lieren? We all know what's coming. The Death Knights' challenge is opening soon, and if they only accept the strongest, why are these pretenders still standing?"
Bai Xu remained silent, merely tilting his head slightly, his gaze moving between potential targets.
From their own position, Shinryu, Raikai, and Xue Mor remained motionless. They exchanged a glance, understanding immediately—
The Emerald Sovereignty had no intention of playing by the traditional rules.
They had arrived not as allies or enemies but as chaotic contenders in the coming trials.
And that meant no one in the valley was safe.
---
The Tension Before the Storm
The night air hung thick with unspoken threats as the warriors of the Phoenix Cry Empire and the Obsidian Shadow Empire bristled at the arrival of the Emerald Sovereignty's geniuses. The ground beneath them seemed to hum with the weight of so many powerful figures gathered in one place.
Feng Lieren's smirk remained in place, his arms still spread wide in mock invitation. "Come now, surely you don't expect me to believe that this is the best the so-called legends of Phoenix Cry and Obsidian Shadow have to offer?"
Raikai's muscles tensed, his serpentine eyes narrowing. A faint arc of lightning crackled along his fingers as he took a step forward. "And you expect me to believe that the Emerald Sovereignty has anything better than a brute who only knows how to throw his weight around?"
The air between them shifted—an almost imperceptible shift in killing intent, subtle but potent. The warriors of Phoenix Cry instinctively braced, while the Obsidian Shadow Empire's assassins adjusted their stances. A single wrong move, a single provocation too far, and battle would erupt.
Feng Lieren's smile didn't waver, but his stance shifted ever so slightly, weight centered, muscles coiling beneath his robes. He was ready.
So was Raikai.
Before the first step could be taken, a calm voice sliced through the tension.
"Enough."
Skylar Verdant moved forward, his composed expression betraying nothing of his thoughts. His emerald robes shifted slightly with his measured steps, his steady gaze falling between Raikai and Feng Lieren. "This is pointless."
Beside him, Sylas Verdant exhaled, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the thick tension in the air. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was clear. "You two don't need to start something here."
Feng Lieren clicked his tongue, his smirk fading just a fraction. "Oh? And since when do you play the peacekeeper, Sylas?"
Sylas met his gaze evenly. "I'm not. I just know that this fight isn't the one that matters." His eyes flickered toward Skylar, then back to Feng Lieren. "And neither do you."
Raikai's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away from Feng Lieren. "So what? We just let him run his mouth?"
Skylar's gaze turned toward Raikai, his presence alone enough to slow the rising storm. "For now." He glanced at Feng Lieren. "You know as well as I do that the real battle is ahead."
For a long moment, neither Raikai nor Feng Lieren moved. The air was thick, waiting, coiled like a serpent ready to strike. Then, ever so slightly, Raikai exhaled, his shoulders shifting. The faint arcs of lightning faded.
Feng Lieren clicked his tongue. "Tch. Guess we'll have to save the fun for later."
The standoff dissipated, but the energy in the valley didn't ease. It merely coiled, waiting. A battle had been postponed, but the war had yet to be decided.
And every warrior present knew—
It was only a matter of time