Climbing out of her cabin, Jade headed for her bath. Grumbling as she did about how Eldrian was being a pain. The water, prepared just right, calmed her mind as she thought back on the events of the day.


    "He sure is strange, and I can''t shake he is nning something. He''s been acting more and more confident recently." While Jade did not know Eldrian well, she had a general understanding of his personality.


    Recently, he seemed to have changed. He was, of course, still himself. But his actions seemed bolder. For a while, when she first joined, Eldrian had kept a distance from the rest of Phoenix. Jade had first thought this was simply because he was focused on the walls. But in retrospect, he had limited hismunication with them.


    But recently, he has started even sharing videos with them. How he was able to use the system to aplish this certainly did not sit right with the others. Jade didn''t think much of it, but the fact that he had recorded his fight was strange to her.


    ''He''s definitely up to something. Perhaps he isn''t more confident, but less inclined to keep his actions hidden?'' Jade knew that somehow, likely with the help of one of the AI, he could hide himself. Even disabling the recording function around other yers when they neared him.


    In fact, when she was within a hundred meters, her streaming function was disabled. And now, despite this, Eldrian had proven he could still record a fight.


    ''Is he provoking them?'' Jade wondered. She felt this was a possibility, but it didn''t feel like the Eldrian she hade to know. ''No, there must be something he is nning. But what?''


    However, by the time she climbed out of her bath, she no longer cared. As long as he was willing to help her learn control of her power, she didn''t care what else he did. Looking at the staff hustling about to clean the bath and bring her clothes all with clouded eyes, Jade sighed.


    She used to think nothing of this. But now she realized that in a way she was enving them. When they were near her, they lost their ability to think for themselves. Some of her siblings had a simr effect on the staff, but she was the only one who charmed each and every servant who came close to her.


    "Jade!" called an elderly man, her dad. Even in his old age, he was still dashingly handsome. With sharp features, deep brown eyes, and his hair betraying only a few strands of silver among the inky ckness.


    "Yes, father?" Jade turned to greet her father, who, unlike her recent friends, stepped forward without hesitation. Before Eldrian, only her family and those who had mastered their familial powers coulde close to her. But with them, there was always some agenda behind everything.


    "I heard you managed to get close to Eldrian." Knowing that his daughter did not like when they called people a target or specimen, he had gone through the trouble of memorizing the target''s name.


    "I have." Jade reply shortly, cing up her walls and fortifying her mind.


    "Have you managed to find any useful information?" Her dad asked, his voice carrying amanding tone. Normally, she would sumb to it and spill the beans. But not today.


    "Unfortunately, he is guarded against me." Jade replied.


    "And what of his friends? Have you not attempted to take one of them alone—"


    "I cannot risk him learning that I am actually a spy!" Jade interrupted.


    Unustomed to interruptions, her dad took a while to rpose himself. "You are right. We can''t let your efforts be wasted. But are you sure we must not send more people to investigate? Now will be the ideal time."


    "Do as you wish. But do not think that you will easily get close to Eldrian or those he calls friends. I''ve told you before, but let me warn you again, they can sense and defend against our charms."


    "Perhaps..." Her father was unconvinced. Jade''s charm, while overflowing, was not targeted. She had no control over it. Naturally, he did not think it could bepared to the charm of those who had trained for years to gain ess to this wonderful power.


    Leaving before she was dragged into any other troublesome things, Jade headed for the garden. Thinking of her talk with Levana, she sighed. Yet another friend who only came closer to her for a hidden agenda.


    —


    "Are you ready?" Ashliel asked while sipping her tea.


    "Yeah..." Eldrian answered, a little nervous.


    "Don''t worry, I am sure you are going to do great."


    "Perhaps..." Eldrian had tried to memorize a speech, but no matter how he tried, nothing felt right. After spending a few hours to no avail, he had decided to go with his heart. To say what he felt in the moment. He just needed to remember to keep things light, if he could.


    "Are you sure you don''t want us to join?" Elizabeth asked. She understood that Eldrian was going to be teleported with the help of an item that Ashliel had given him. She felt confident that it couldn''t be the only such item in Ashliel''s possession.


    By now, the reconstruction of the fort, that Eldrian had secured, was well under way. However, he could only do so much to help. After handing over the blueprints, he had naturally stayed and learned as much as he could. But now he had to focus on the task of unveiling Miracle.


    "Thanks, but I think it will be best if I go alone." Eldrian smiled.


    Recently there had been two new Tier 5''s. Both having reached the Tier mere days before the finale. Both were from Zinopia, a fact that had cemented their victory to all. As a result, the bets were over a hundred to one for Zinopia. If Agrerian could pull out a win, those who decided to bet on them would certainly make a killing.


    "It''s time. The introductions are over."


    "Be careful of poisons!" Nikki shouted, clearly recalling how this had been what had brought Eldrian downst time.


    In reply, Eldrian smiled. He had nothing to fear from the yers. What he was wondering was just how Miracle would respond. Especially since the AI weren''t going to assist them too much. At most, they would send Axel and his hit squad to the arena—in an attempt to hide their rebellion for as long as possible.


    ''Ziraili told me that their stats are high, but theyck magic and only have rudimentary control of their avatars. When they arrive, I need to already have my trap set.''


    —


    Two groups of eight spawned in a wide in with little to no elevation. Staring each other down over the four hundred meter distance separating them, the two teams seemed to debate how to start.


    Neither wanted to be the first to strike. Doing so would naturally open them up to a counterattack. While each still had some secrets hidden from the other, most of their tactics had been forced to the front over the championship.


    "We know their tactics. They''ll try to poison us and then slow the battle until it can take effect. Be especially careful of their leader. I suspect she had something in store for us." Silver Cloud, the leader of Zinopia, warned. His teammates nodded seriously.


    "They are sure to be afraid of our poisons. So let''s show them that we have more to us than just tricks!" Green Ivy, the new leader of Agrerian, shouted. Eliciting cheers from those behind her.


    Just as the two sides were about to move, a figure appeared in the middle of the arena.


    AN: Remember to vote andment if you are enjoying the story.