The Deceiver's Snare

Liam hardly landed on the ground before shooting out ahead of him, while in a rush he was the blur that mentioned moving through the tortuous racecourse. The Ring of Agility was dimly lit on his finger, with power throughout him that amplified speed to levels never before experienced. Nyx streaked alongside the sleek ebony creature - now an adult extraordinary, with effortless pace between them.The path twisted through dense jungles, traps exploding beneath his feet, monsters lunging from the shadows. He cleared them all, leaping, dodging, and striking as though he were preternaturally possessed when not even a few days ago such activities would have been made impractical. His heart is pounding in blood with thrill- this race is savage, yet it seems his own stage for proving how much he has grown.Suddenly, Liam heard a muffled cry. He skidded to a stop, crouched behind a gigantic tree, and scanned the scene ahead with glistening eyes. In a small clearing surrounded by jagged rocks, five individuals cornered a young boy. The poor kid, not more than fourteen years, had tattered clothes and an expression of pure terror."Hand over the bag, brat," one of the thugs growled with a blade glimmering as he stepped closer.The boy clutched a small satchel to his chest, tears streaming down his dirt-smeared face. "Please, I have nothing else! Let me go!"Liam narrowed his eyes. More or less typical-the other teams of racers would target the weaklings and loot as much as possible before they went on. And judging from the evil, glinting blades, these guys were probably not intending to let the boy walk out alive.No hesitation for Liam. "Stay behind, Nyx," he whispers. Nyx huffed an understanding and blended into the shadows.With one bang, Liam sprang into action. One thug dropped to the ground before he could react, his weapon clattering away. Another turned to shout but was silenced with a sharp strike to his back. Liam moved like lightning, his enhanced speed turning him invisible to their eyes. One by one, they fell, their bodies slumping unconscious to the earth.The young boy watched the scene in horror with his wide eyes darting around at the clearing, watching attackers begin to fall one by one to some unseen force. As the last thug dropped, Liam walked into view, wiping his hands of any dust."You are safe now," stated Liam coolly, but with a soothing voice to help the boy through the trouble. He turned his back while surveying the unconscious thugs to ensure they would not wake up anytime soon. "Go on, get out of here. It's not safe."Silence was his reply; only the faint rustle of movement could be heard behind him.Liam's instincts were too late to react. The boy sprang toward him, hidden dagger pointing straight at Liam's back. Just before the blade could descend, a black blur tore through the air."Nyx!"The creature tackled the boy mid-attack, sending him to the ground. Nyx's fangs were bared threateningly, and his claws pinned the boy down. The terrified expression on the boy's face vanished, and with it, a twisted, smug smirk replaced it.Sudden realization swept over Liam, like waves crashing on the shore. It was a trap."You were all along together..." Liam muttered, eyes shifting to the now stirring 'unconscious' thugs. The boy sneered and spat to the side."You thought you were being a hero, huh? You don't have anything we wouldn't be able to take.""There's the oh-so-familiar sound of breath exhaled within the air: that sharp intake once more," he said, regaining his cool. "Just gonna walk right up, sonny boy, while Nyx keeps you pinned." His attention caught by the little hanging sack that the boy had just been protecting. Without a word and with a swift action, he pulled it down."Since you went through all this trouble," Liam said coldly, "I am taking this. Perhaps next time, you think twice before playing such games in a race."The boy cursed him, struggling under Nyx's grip, but Liam ignored him. He called Nyx back, and together they disappeared into the trees, leaving the group behind to deal with their own failures.As Liam continued with the race, he felt the weight of that small bag at his back. He did not know what was inside, but it could be useful later.With every step towards the finish line, the challenges of the race became more demanding. From the shadows surged swathes of monsters-serpents with venom dripper fangs and golems that shook the earth with every step-and mechanical traps ready to crush or pierce anything in their path. Liam fought tirelessly, as his agility penetrated the chaos, sharper than ever, sword and instincts.Nyx fought beside him, his new armor glittering with the scant light under which he moved, his agility matching Liam's stride. Their bond was undeniable-man and beast both growing stronger together.Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Liam burst through into the final stretch of the course. The finish awaited, glowing faintly over the horizon. One last sprint, and now it was crossed, breathing ragged but victorious.Now there was a small gathering of racers, some nursing wounds gathered about the finish line, others glaring suspiciously at him. Liam ignored them with a slight smile on his lips. He wasn't the first off the line, but that really couldn't matter. He only glanced at the ring on his finger and considered the bag across his back."They can have their victory. I've got what I came for."As Liam reached the finish line, the light reflected back from a doorway that came alive before him. Had not come as yet. He looked down at Nyx, who gave a satisfied growl."Come on, buddy," Liam went on, looking with renewed resolve in his eyes. "This tower is not going to beat itself."Liam stepped with Nyx into the portal and braced them for whatever awaited on the next floor.To be continued...