Collaborative efforts

As the Forest Crown Hunt began, Team 12 explored their surroundings and discovered a cave nestled between towering trees.

Elowen glanced around and suggested, "Should we set up camp here?"

Princess Misaki folded her arms. "First, we need to see how deep it goes."

"And if there aren't any dangerous animals lurking inside," Aria added. "Then we can settle in."

Princess Misaki turned to Prince Magnus. "Prince Magnus, could you check it out? See if anything dangerous is inside?"

Magnus smirked. "Scared to go down there yourself, Princess?" He chuckled, his tone playful.

Misaki narrowed her eyes. "Never mind. I'll do it my—"

Before she could take a step, Magnus vanished in a blur, leaving the others blinking in surprise. A few seconds later, he reappeared at the cave's entrance, arms crossed.

"Oh, relax. There's nothing in there."

Misaki sighed, murmuring, "Thank you." Her voice held reluctant gratitude, which only made Magnus grin smugly.

With the cave deemed safe, they decided to set up camp for the day. While some prepared the site, Misaki, Jack, Xavier, Elowen, and Aria gathered to discuss strategy.

"Why don't we just let the other teams eliminate each other?" Xavier suggested. "Once the numbers dwindle, we take out the last remaining team and win the event."

"That's a solid plan," Elowen agreed.

Misaki nodded but added, "It's good in theory, but there's a risk of teams seeking us out or setting up an ambush."

Aria smirked. "Then we do the same—set up traps near and inside the cave. If they come to us, they'll regret it."

With a plan forming, Jack proposed a squad formation for combat. "In a confined battle, positioning is everything. Princess Misaki, you'll be at the center since you're our key player. Magnus and I will cover your flanks."

He pointed to Elowen. "You'll be right behind her, ensuring support and preventing flanks."

Then to Xavier and Aria. "You two will take the front. The first line of offense."

Hours passed before Magnus, who had taken position outside the cave, noticed movement in the distance. A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Looks like we have guests."

The others immediately fell into position, ready for combat.

Team 4 approached cautiously, their leader scanning the area. "Strange… I could've sworn I heard something."

A teammate pointed to the cave. "Could be a hideout."

"We check it," the leader ordered.

Two members stepped inside while the rest stayed on alert. The cave stretched further than they expected.

"It goes deeper," one of them noted.

"Let's check it out, but not for long."

As they took a few steps forward, the ground beneath them collapsed. They crashed into a concealed pit, landing hard as vines shot up from the earth, binding them instantly.

"It's a trap!" one of them yelled, their voice echoing through the cave.

Outside, before Team 4's members could react, Misaki's squad struck. Xavier and Aria descended from the trees, slamming into two opponents and pinning them down. Jack swept another's legs out from under them, locking their arms behind their back. Misaki moved with fluid grace, her katana pressed against the leader's throat before he could even unsheathe his weapon.

"Hand over your crown," she said, voice cold as steel. "Or I take your head with it."

The leader swallowed hard, trembling. "Take it! Just take it!"

He tossed the crown at her feet. Xavier exhaled. "That was easier than expected."

Aria grinned. "Yeah, and everything went exactly as planned."

Misaki chuckled, twirling the crown in her hands. "That's because we work perfectly together."

She glanced up to find Magnus lounging against a tree branch, watching lazily. "Maybe next time you could actually help?"

His reply was immediate and indifferent. "No."

With Team 4 defeated, medical staff and professors arrived to retrieve the injured and unconscious. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Team 12 settled into their camp, taking turns standing watch at the cave entrance in shifts.

By the flickering glow of their fire, they ate in silence, their minds already strategizing for the battles ahead.

Elowen turned to Xavier with a playful grin. "So, how does it feel to be the sibling of two geniuses?"

Xavier chuckled. "It's amazing, but honestly? It can be overwhelming. People tend to keep their distance because of my family name and who I'm related to—Aleksander and Violet."

Aria frowned. "That must be a lot of pressure."

"Yeah, it is," Xavier admitted.

Princess Misaki offered a knowing smile. "I understand how you feel, Xavier. Being royalty makes it even harder for me to connect with people. Even my accomplishments are always tied to my status as a princess."

"I get that," Xavier said. "No matter what you do, people assume it's because of your lineage, not your own effort."

Jack glanced around and suddenly asked, "Wait, where did Prince Magnus go?" He noticed the absence of the arrogant noble.

Misaki sighed in frustration. "I sincerely apologize for his selfish and reckless behavior."

Xavier shook his head. "Your Highness, you don't have to apologize for something beyond your control."

Misaki sighed. "He's always been like this, even when we were kids at noble banquets. He never thinks before he acts."

Jack scoffed. "Has he always been this hostile? Especially toward you and Xavier?"

Xavier's expression darkened slightly. "In my case, it's personal. The way he treated my best friend, Jupiter, in the past—it's not something I can forget easily."

Misaki nodded. "For me, it's different. Our families—the Yamato House and the Flashstride family—have been at odds for millennia."

Elowen's eyes widened. "So, a generational feud?"

"Exactly," Misaki confirmed. "It goes all the way back to our ancestors."

Jack shook his head. "That's insane."

"It is," Misaki agreed. "Prince Magnus's hostility toward me is just the result of that long-standing animosity."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Why are your families even at odds? What started all this?"

Misaki crossed her arms. "The Flashstride family is known for their ability to move at incomprehensible speeds—faster than light, even through time itself."

Jack and Elowen gasped. "That's incredible."

"It is, but it made them enemies of the Lee Family, who control time. They forbid time travel, believing it could unravel reality itself. After years of conflict, a pact was made—only the head of the Flashstride family could ever travel through time."

She continued, "Meanwhile, my family—the Yamato House—was blessed with dominion over the skies. We can command storms, lightning, and hurricanes. Naturally, our powers clashed with the Flashstride family, who could generate electricity as well. Their ambition for power led to countless conflicts."

Xavier smirked. "So basically, every royal family just fights over power?"

Misaki laughed. "Honestly? Pretty much."

-----

The next morning, Team 12 crushed another team, securing two golden crowns worth 105 points. Even with Prince Magnus absent, they managed fine, now holding a total of three crowns—210 points.

Then, out of nowhere, Prince Magnus appeared, lounging casually against a tree, two golden crowns in hand. "Took you long enough to get three crowns," he mocked.

Xavier crossed his arms. "We did just fine without having a deadweight dragging us down."

Prince Magnus's smirk faltered. "You sure have a big mouth for someone as weak as you. How about I shut it for you?"

Before anyone could react, Magnus vanished—then reappeared inches from Xavier, aura flaring.

Xavier didn't flinch. Instead, he smirked. "I'd like to see you try." His own aura ignited, clashing violently against Magnus's, the sheer force sending shockwaves through the air.

The others were thrown back by the intensity of their power. The ground cracked beneath their feet, energy rippling like a storm. Heavy clouds gathered overhead, darkening the sky. Thunder rumbled, rolling across the heavens, as if the world itself braced for something ahead.

In the blink of an eye, Princess Misaki summoned a bolt of lightning from the heavens. It struck the ground between Xavier and Prince Magnus, the resulting shockwave sending them both stumbling backward.

"That's enough already!" Misaki snapped, irritation lacing her voice. "I'm sick of you two trying to kill each other every chance you get."

Prince Magnus dusted himself off, straightening his uniform with an air of arrogance. "I don't take orders from some wannabe queen."

Misaki crossed her arms. "Then you don't have to be here."

Magnus scoffed. "Like I care about being on a team with a bunch of pathetic insects."

He turned to leave but paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Before I go, you should know—Jason's team is on their way here right now."

Aria's eyes widened. "What? How do they know where we are?"

Jack grimaced. "No clue, but it doesn't matter. We're too far from base to retreat now. We'll have to fight."

Misaki took a moment to consider their options before nodding. "Then we stand our ground and face them head-on. If we run, they'll chase us down and force us into a corner."

She narrowed her eyes. "And Jason isn't someone we can trick with cheap ambushes. He'll see right through them."

With their course decided, Team 12 steeled themselves for battle. Meanwhile, Magnus simply smirked and resumed walking away. "Good luck," he muttered, his tone laced with smoke and amusement.

As he disappeared into the trees, Misaki and her team advanced deeper into the forest, heading straight toward their approaching foes.

Overhead, a raven circled before swooping away, its black wings cutting through the air with purpose. It soon arrived at its true destination, landing gracefully on Jupiter's outstretched arm.

"They're on the move," the raven reported, its voice carrying an eerie intelligence. "Misaki's team will reach your position in ten minutes. And they seem very determined to take you down."

Jason smirked. "Good job, Sophie. You can shift back now."

The raven shimmered before morphing back into her original form. Sophie stretched, then unsheathed her weapon, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Jason turned to his squad, confidence radiating from him. "This is going to be our toughest fight yet. But we're not losing. Not today."

With that, Jason and his team marched forward, their resolve as unshakable as the battle looming ahead.