The following morning, the field buzzed with excitent as Windorians gathered eagerly for the annual hunting season. News of the foreign participant had spread like wildfire, sparking lively debates among spectators.
So analyzed tactics, predicting outcos based on past performances. Others placed bets, ranking contestants from top contenders to last-place finishers.
Predictably, opinions varied wildly about who would erge victorious—but there was unanimous agreent regarding the bottom rank: Liora Belle.
Whispers and murmurs filled the air as children darted between adults, oblivious to the tension brewing around them. When Liora and Elowen arrived, all eyes turned to them.
The crowd fell silent, gazes fixed intently on Liora, whose cheeks flushed under the scrutiny. High Chief Altan stepped forward, breaking the tension with his commanding yet warm voice.
"Good morning, all Windorians and esteed guests. Today marks a special occasion for us all," he began, addressing the assembly. "For the first ti ever, our sacred tradition of the hunting season includes a foreign participant."
"Let us welco this change as a symbol of unity and camaraderie with neighboring kingdoms. As humans living under the sa sun and moon, facing shared threats and aspirations, we must strengthen our bonds during these challenging tis. With that in mind, let us comnce this year's hunting season. May the best prevail!"
His speech was t with enthusiastic applause, cheers, and whistles echoing across the field. The generals mounted their horses alongside Liora, poised and ready to begin. When silence finally settled, Altan raised his arm dramatically.
"Let the hunting season begin!" he bellowed, the horn blasted until it echoed throughout the kingdom, prompting another wave of celebration as the participants bolted forward, galloping toward the forest where their unsuspecting prey awaited.
The dirt and dust kicked up in every direction as the thunderous hooves of horses raced across the open plains, each rider disappearing into the dense woods that bordered the starting field.
One by one, the generals entered their chosen hunting grounds, their movents sharp, efficient, and calculated. Behind them trailed Liora, her horse galloping steadily toward the farthest woods as per Elowen's carefully devised plan.
Her heart pounded in rhythm with the horse's strides, a mix of excitent and apprehension coursing through her veins.
General Temujin Suren was the first to dive into action, choosing the nearest woods from the starting point. His reputation for precision and speed wasn't just hearsay; within monts of entering the forest, he dismounted his horse, scanning the ground intently.
Even the faintest disturbance—a snapped twig or a crushed leaf—was enough to guide him straight to his prey. It didn't take long before he stumbled upon a group of goblins huddled together, their grotesque forms blending poorly with the natural surroundings.
With a vicious laugh that echoed through the trees, Temujin unsheathed his weapon and began cutting them down rcilessly. The goblins scattered instantly, driven by instinctual fear, but they were no match for his lethal efficiency.
Within minutes, fifteen heads hung limply from his saddle, tied together like macabre trophies. He mounted his horse again, his expression grim yet satisfied, and rode off to find his next victims.
anwhile, General Jargal Noyon opted for a more brutal approach. Entering the second-nearest woods, which sprawled wider than Temujin's territory, he leaped off his horse almost imdiately upon arrival.
Without hesitation, he swung his axes in wide arcs, cleaving through anything unfortunate enough to cross his path—trees, bushes, and goblins alike. The sheer ferocity of his assault sent shockwaves through the woods, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
When he finally paused to gather his spoils, twenty-five goblin heads lay strewn about, many buried beneath fallen branches and splintered trunks.
Gathering them thodically, he strapped the grueso collection to his horse and resud his hunt, moving swiftly toward another patch of woodland.
General Khanzar Bold mirrored Jargal's tactics but on an even grander scale. His thodical rampage yielded thirty goblin heads before he deed it ti to relocate.
Each swing of his massive axe left craters in the earth, ensuring none of his quarry escaped unscathed. Like his fellow generals, he secured his bounty to his saddle and continued onward, his confidence growing with every kill.
Of all the participants, General Batu Erden stood apart. Rather than diving headfirst into the fray, he adopted a patient strategy. Stationed at the outskirts between two neighboring woods, he waited quietly for the panicked goblins fleeing from other hunts to stumble into his trap.
As they erged, desperate for safety, Batu struck with swift, surgical precision, dispatching them without rcy. This ambush-style tactic proved devastatingly effective, netting him fifty goblin heads in record ti.
Satisfied with his haul, he repeated the process elsewhere, amassing a staggering total that would soon beco evident to everyone.
Liora, anwhile, remained steadfast in executing Elowen's unconventional plan. She pushed her horse hard, racing toward the farthest reaches of the designated hunting zone. Reaching her destination, she closed her eyes briefly, focusing her mana into the tiny enchanted doll resting atop her palm.
"Wake up and do your job, my little friend," she murmured softly. The doll sprang to life, hopping onto the horse's mane and pointing decisively in one direction.
Trusting its guidance, Liora urged her steed forward, weaving deeper into the woods until she encountered her first group of goblins—a cluster numbering forty to fifty creatures.
At first, the goblins exchanged wary glances, preparing to flee as they assud they faced one of Windoria's seasoned hunters. But sothing about Liora's presence gave them pause. Perhaps it was her slight fra, her youthful face, or the hesitant way she gripped her staff.
Whatever the reason, they quickly concluded that this intruder posed no real threat. Roaring with laughter, they charged at her en masse, eager to claim what they believed would be an easy victory.
Startled out of her montary doubt, Liora yanked the reins, turning her horse sharply and bolting back the way she ca. To her imnse relief, the plan worked flawlessly—the goblins pursued her relentlessly, their numbers swelling as she passed through additional groups along the route.
Guided by the ever-vigilant doll, she led them on a winding chase, maintaining a safe distance while luring more and more goblins into her wake.
By the ti the third horn blast signaled the final stretch of the competition, Liora had amassed a veritable army of monstrous followers, their collective roar echoing like distant thunder.
Back at the finish line, the generals had already returned, their horses burdened with grisly evidence of their prowess. Together, they counted their kills under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
General Temujin reported seventy-five goblin heads, earning respectful nods from spectators accustod to his consistent performance. Generals Jargal and Khanzar tied with an impressive 125 kills apiece, their shared triumph sparking murmurs of admiration.
But it was General Batu who stole the show, presenting an astonishing three hundred goblin heads. So were tied to his saddle, while others dragged along the ground behind his horse—a testant to his unparalleled efficiency.
Such results were unprecedented, shattering previous records and igniting heated debates among the audience. Most competitions ended with differences of ten to twenty kills between participants; today's outco defied all expectations.
As the murmurs grew louder, a new commotion arose from beyond the horizon. A strange rumbling sound drew closer, accompanied by a cloud of dust rising ominously against the skyline.
All eyes turned toward the source of the disturbance, curiosity morphing into awe as Liora appeared on horseback, leading a stampede of goblins unlike anything anyone had ever seen.
Estimates placed their number well over a thousand, their frenzied charge reminiscent of a bull stampede. Dirt and debris swirled violently around them, obscuring much of the scene except for Liora herself, perched confidently atop her horse as she guided the chaotic horde toward the finish line.
Elowen watched with mounting pride, her earlier anxiety lting away as she realized the brilliance of her plan—and Liora's flawless execution. Just shy of a hundred ters from the finish line, Liora brought her horse to an abrupt halt, spinning around to face the advancing tide of monsters.
Raising her staff high above her head, she channeled her mana, whispering an incantation infused with both hope and determination. "O Lord of Light, scorch my enemies to smithereens."
Elowen shouted encouragent from the sidelines, her voice ringing clear over the din. "Go for it, Liora! Show them what you're capable of!"
The stampede drew nearer, its deafening roar drowning out all other sounds. Dust clouds billowed thicker, threatening to engulf everything in sight.
Then, with a resounding cry, Liora swung her staff downward, unleashing her spell: *Dawn's Embrace*. From the heavens descended countless pillars of radiant light, piercing through the swirling chaos above.
The effect was breathtakingly beautiful, eliciting gasps of wonder from the assembled crowd. Yet beauty quickly gave way to devastation as the beams struck their targets, immolating the goblins where they stood.
Their agonized shrieks pierced the air, forcing spectators to cover their ears as the cacophony reached unbearable levels. Finally, silence fell once more, broken only by the gentle rustle of grass swaying in the wind.
Where thousands of goblins had once surged forward, nothing remained but ash, carried away by the breeze. For several seconds, absolute stillness reigned.
No cheers, no applause—just stunned disbelief etched onto every face. Then Elowen broke the spell, throwing her arms skyward and shouting with unrestrained joy.
"You did it, Liora! Yeeaaayyy!" Her enthusiasm proved contagious, prompting the crowd to erupt into applause. Cheers and whistles filled the air as people clapped enthusiastically, acknowledging Liora's remarkable achievent.
Murmurs of approval rippled through the assembly, celebrating not only her victory but also the spectacular display she had orchestrated.
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