Kaden broke through the tree line, his feet crunching against the dry earth as he erged from the dense foliage. His breath was steady, but his mind raced—still partially stuck in the volcanic region, in the heart of that molten abyss where a mystery egg sac pulsed ominously beneath the watchful eye of its monstrous guardian.
But now, his focus shifted.
The settlent stretched out before him, and sothing was different. His eyes flicked over the wooden barricades, reinforced with sharpened stakes, and the ard patrols that had not existed before. The settlent had changed.
And judging by the group of n charging toward him, so had its leadership.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!"
The guards ran toward him, their boots kicking up dust, weapons at the ready. They were ard. That alone was a sign of how much had shifted in his absence. Before, these people were scrambling for survival, barely able to defend themselves. Now they had proper weapons, armor—discipline.
Kaden ignored them.
If they wanted to stop him, they could try and catch up.
He didn't break stride, brushing past them like an afterthought. Their voices faded into the background as he approached the heart of the settlent—the small pond where the settlent core rested. He only stopped when he reached it, his sharp gaze flickering across the now-fortified surroundings.
Naturally, everything looked different.
And now, he could finally see why.
Several ard n were rushing toward him, not in fear, but with purpose. Their grips on their weapons were firm, their movents practiced. They surrounded him in a loose but strategic formation, trapping him on all sides.
Kaden didn't move. He smirked instead, watching them with mild amusent. How interesting.
Then, a figure stepped forward.
A man clad in thick plate armor. His presence radiated authority and strength. His armor was polished and heavy, built for battle rather than intimidation. Broad shoulders, muscular build, steady steps. The way he carried himself scread warrior. He wasn't here to beg or plead—he was here to assert control.
Four other fighters flanked him, standing in disciplined formation, their eyes locked onto Kaden like they were waiting for the order to strike. They weren't just standing guard. They were protecting sothing.
And behind them all, Kaden spotted a familiar face.
Niera.
She hesitated, her expression unreadable. Then, as her gaze t his, her eyes widened. Shock. Guilt. Uncertainty. A mix of emotions flickered across her face as she instinctively stepped forward.
"I—"
She started to speak, only for the armored man to cut her off smoothly.
"No need for pleasantries." His voice was deep, steady—a leader's voice. He took another step forward, squaring his shoulders as he addressed Kaden directly. "Mr. Kaden, we need to talk."
Kaden remained silent, watching him.
The man continued, his expression unwavering. "I am Rafael. The Savior."
Kaden blinked once, then twice. Did this guy just call himself 'The Savior'? Yet another Savior?
He barely held back a scoff, instead tilting his head slightly, eyes locked onto Rafael. The man was solid, strong, and exuded an air of control that Kaden could appreciate—but challenging him?
Still, he didn't react imdiately. Instead, he let the silence stretch, studying Rafael the way a predator might size up another hunter in its territory.
Not understanding the reason for his reaction, Rafael continued. "I am the one who has officially challenged you for the position of settlent ownership."
"I see," Kaden said at last, his tone casual. Too casual. "You've 'challenged' . And now what? You expect to just hand everything over because you slapped on so armor and called yourself a savior?"
A flicker of irritation crossed Rafael's face, but it disappeared just as quickly. He was disciplined.
"This settlent is no longer the chaotic ss you left behind," Rafael replied smoothly. "It has order now. Leadership. Stability. And the people need a leader who is present. Not soone who disappears for days on end."
Ah. There it was.
Kaden's absence had given them the perfect excuse. He had left. And in his absence, soone stepped in to 'fix' things. To make the people feel like they had control again. It was an old tactic—one that worked well in groups of scared, desperate people.
Kaden chuckled. "And you think that's you?"
Rafael straightened. "I don't think. I know."
One of the ard n behind him shifted slightly, gripping the hilt of his sword. Kaden's sharp eyes caught the movent.
He sighed, rolling his shoulders like he was bored. "You know, I was really looking forward to a warm welco after nearly getting burned alive for three days straight. But instead, I co back to…this." He gestured vaguely at the n surrounding him, at Rafael's self-important stance.
"This isn't personal," Rafael said, though his tone made it clear that it absolutely was.
Kaden chuckled darkly. "Oh, it's always personal."
Niera finally stepped forward. "Kaden—"
He raised a hand, stopping her. "No, Niera. Let's hear him out." He locked eyes with Rafael, his smirk widening. "You challenged . Fine. Let's play. What's your move, 'Savior'?"
Rafael's expression remained cool, but Kaden didn't miss the way his jaw clenched slightly.
"There will be no unnecessary bloodshed," Rafael said. "The system allows for an official challenge. A trial by combat. One-on-one. Winner takes ownership of the settlent. If you truly believe you are still the best leader for these people, then prove it."
Kaden raised an eyebrow. Oh, this was going to be fun.
"You sure about that?" he asked, his tone almost playful. "A one-on-one fight with ? You don't strike as the suicidal type."
Rafael's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about ego. It's about who is best suited to lead."
Kaden exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples. "I swear, I leave for three days and suddenly everyone thinks they're kings."
He took a step closer, and the air around him shifted. The n around Rafael tensed. They felt it.
The presence.
Kaden might've been calm, even playful—but the weight of his strength was undeniable.
"Alright," Kaden said, voice dropping slightly. "You want a fight? You got one."
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