As soon as they left the inhabited territories of the Astranova Empire, the group continued their journey toward Ardenta—the next destination that awaited them.
To cross the dense forests of Astranova faster, they purchased a set of sturdy, well-bred horses.
"Supplies? Check. Tough horses? Double check. We'll reach Ardenta in no time!" Rene shouted excitedly as his mount galloped ahead.
"Yeah, easy for you to say. I almost got roasted by the sun," Hendo muttered, adjusting the collar of his extra cloak. "Thank Felix for the spare gear. I'd be a crisp biscuit without it."
"With Lord Felix leading, this journey feels way safer. Everything's been prepared down to the tiniest detail," added Relio from the front, scanning the path ahead with sharp, trained eyes.
Relio wasn't just their guide—he was the group's finest rider. Agile, precise, and experienced. His knack for reading terrain was unmatched, and he possessed a rare talent: taming wild animals without fear or force.
Felix, who once lived on the untamed continent of Blasic, had the hidden ability to communicate with animals and plants. But he kept it to himself. After all, the instincts of Blasic's beasts were vastly different from those in this new land.
Suddenly—
Whoooop!
An arrow zipped past, narrowly missing Relio's chest!
"Ambush! Hostiles up ahead!" Relio shouted, instantly snapping into action.
Rene and Hendo, riding in the middle, veered off to either side, while Felix and Lumina at the rear scattered and kept a safe distance.
From the shadows of the trees, masked figures emerged—swift and silent. Assassins.
"Push them forward. Herd them into the trap," barked a deep voice. Varkas—their leader—stepped into the clearing, dual long blades glinting from beneath his dark cloak.
The group was struggling. They didn't know this forest. Every path felt like a snare waiting to spring.
WUSSHH!
A huge wooden log swung down from the canopy, nearly smashing Relio and his horse. The beast whinnied, hooves flailing in panic.
The assassins were driving them—straight toward a cliff.
But Relio remained calm, razor-focused. He adjusted his horse's pace, calculating the angles, making sure his team didn't drift too far apart.
Even in the thick of the forest, the cries of his horse served as a signal—guiding Felix and Lumina, and even Rene and Hendo who were being chased from opposite directions.
"Relio's steering us west," Lumina called over her shoulder. "He's avoiding the traps to the east!"
"Brilliant," Felix muttered, impressed. "He's using his horse as a signal beacon."
"This way—turn now!" Felix shouted, redirecting their path toward Relio's trail.
Meanwhile, Relio had completely shaken off his pursuers—and cleverly lured them into a collision with another group of assassins crossing from the wrong side. The result: chaos. But it worked in their favor.
"Rene and Hendo are in the south!" Relio called out. "I'll guide them west!"
With that, he broke away again, galloping through the underbrush like a phantom.
"He's… incredible," Lumina breathed, weaving her way through vines and branches, distancing herself and Felix from the death pack behind them.
On the other side of the forest, Relio reached Rene and Hendo just in time. He raised his hand, signaling them to change direction.
"There's a gap to the east! There's a cliff, but if we ride single file, we'll make it through!" he shouted.
"Wait—cliff?! My legs are already shaking!" Rene cried out, wide-eyed.
"Then by all means," Relio smirked, "go ahead and surrender. Let them turn you into goat stew."
"Ugh, fine. Hendo—sharp turn!" Rene gave in, his voice still trembling.
Together, they turned and followed a narrow path east. The cliffside trail was steep, treacherous—but just wide enough to ride through in a single line.
They made it across safely.
Meanwhile, the assassin squads behind them weren't so lucky. As two units clashed trying to take the same route, disorder erupted. The narrow path became a bottleneck—and several of them, too desperate to slow down, tumbled straight into the ravine.
Meanwhile, their pursuers had fallen into chaos. With too many troops flooding in from different directions, they began to shove and trip over each other, scrambling for the same narrow path. Several of them slipped—plunging into a hidden ravine, swallowed by the forest without a sound.
Eventually, the group emerged into an open clearing, surrounded by low shrubs and trees still trembling from the commotion.
"I'll hold them off," Relio declared, drawing a deep breath. "You all, go ahead."
"No, Relio! We're staying together!" Hendo shouted, stepping forward.
"Cover me from behind," Relio said calmly, unsheathing his sword with steady hands. His eyes burned with focus as he faced the enemy.
The assassins appeared at the far end of the narrow trail—only to be greeted by Relio's sudden strike. Several went down in a flash of steel.
Hendo's arrows followed, sharp and precise, striking multiple enemies. But this wasn't an ordinary gang—they were an elite assassination unit. Cold. Calculated. Relentless. Their advance forced Relio to slowly retreat.
"Hmph... So you're not as weak as we thought," Varkas said coolly. The leader of the assassins stepped forward, twin longblades vibrating in his hands like hungry serpents.
"You think we're just here to be stepped on?" Lumina snapped. "Tell us—who sent you?! We've made no enemies in Astranova!"
"My lady," Varkas replied evenly, "We're here to escort you back. You don't belong with them."
"Ha. I knew it… Magnar sent you, didn't he?" Lumina's voice dripped with venom. "That wolf in sheep's clothing. Fine, let's show you who truly doesn't belong."
"Then you came on the wrong day, Varkas," Relio said, stepping forward with bold determination. "Because I'm about to teach you something you won't forget."
Felix opened his mouth, ready to stop him—but the look in Relio's eyes was already resolute.
"Relio… We should face him together," Felix urged.
"No, sir," Relio replied, voice firm. "If I fail today, I'll never be worthy of my father's name. This fight… is mine."
The assassins charged with brutal force—but Relio didn't flinch.
He danced.
His movements flowed like wind and water, blade gleaming with ethereal blue fire. Each step, each twist, each swing—graceful, deadly. He was no longer just defending; he was performing a lethal art.
"He's… reached Tier Three," Felix whispered, stunned.
One by one, the assassins fell—cut down by arcs of blue flame and flawless technique.
Seeing his men crumble, Varkas roared. He drew both of his blazing red swords—sparks flying, heat rippling through the air.
"Enough games. Let's end this!"
He lunged—faster than lightning. A deafening CRASSHH! echoed as Relio's blade snapped in two.
"Surrender, boy," Varkas growled. "You have potential. Join me. I'll mold you into the deadliest assassin in the Eastern lands."
Relio staggered, panting—cornered.
Felix stepped forward.
He raised his dragon staff—Oragon—and tossed it toward Relio. "Treat it like an ordinary sword," he said calmly.
Relio caught it—then immediately tumbled backward.
"Ugh! Sir… are you trying to kill me?! This thing weighs like a temple pillar!" he groaned, struggling under the weight.
Varkas burst out laughing. "That? That pathetic stick won't save you!"
Felix's voice lowered. "Close your eyes. Picture a light in front of you. Reach for it. Grasp it. Turn it into your blade."
Relio shut his eyes. His breath slowed. His fingers trembled. But then—slowly—the staff began to rise.
Light swirled around him, forming a radiant cyclone. The ground rumbled. The air thickened.
BOOOOMMM!!
With a single mighty sweep, Relio unleashed a blinding wave—light and wind colliding in a spiraling blast, roaring like a tornado.
PLAAAAANNNGGG!!
Varkas flew—launched hundreds of feet into the forest, his swords shattered, his aura extinguished.
Relio collapsed, his body limp.
"He's fainted! He's completely drained!" Lumina cried, racing to catch him before he hit the ground.
Rene and Hendo rushed to help. Hendo reached for the staff—but it didn't budge. Rene tried—nothing.
Then Felix approached... and with one hand, he lifted the staff as if picking up a dry twig.
The others stood frozen—eyes wide.
Speechless.