Captured.

Elias crouched low, pressing his palm against the dry ground. His Trapmaster interface flickered as he mapped out the zone, marking key locations in his mind. The terrain was rough—coarse sand shifting underfoot, small dunes rising and falling like waves frozen in time. He worked quickly, planting traps in seemingly random intervals, but each one had purpose. Some were designed to slow, others to disorient, and a few… well, those would be a nasty surprise.

He adjusted the placement of a pressure trip near a rock formation, his mind running through the possibilities. If they try a frontal rush, they'll get caught in a stagger. If they circle around, they'll funnel into—

A low, distant hum suddenly filled the air.

Bwoooooooh.

The sound was deep, reverberating across the wasteland—the official signal that the match had begun.

Elias exhaled through his nose, standing up and dusting off his hands. His eyes flicked toward the edge of the zone, where Rael stood, arms crossed. Beside him, Lupus remained eerily still, his piercing gaze scanning the shifting sands beyond. The wolf summoner had a hand on the head of one of his beasts, its ears twitching as if listening to something beyond human perception.

"Leader," Lupus said, voice steady, his usual dramatic phrasing absent. "Perimeter is clear. No movement yet."

Rael nodded but said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead.

Elias followed his line of sight. Normally, it'd be easy to see the enemy team approaching in a setting like this. But the landscape wasn't completely flat—the sand dunes and jagged rock formations created an uneven battlefield, warping their line of sight. Shadows stretched in odd ways under the glow of the moons, making it difficult to tell if something was truly there or just a trick of the light.

He adjusted his grip on his rapier, rolling his shoulders as he kept an ear on Lupus' quiet murmurs. The summoner was whispering to his wolves, their ears flicking at unseen disturbances, their low growls barely audible over the wind.

Nothing yet.

He glanced at Rael, his gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable. The stillness in his posture gave away nothing

The wind carried nothing but silence.

Rael stood at the edge of their designated zone, his stance relaxed but his mind racing. His eyes tracked the horizon, scanning for movement. Something was off.

Evan was aggressive—always had been. He wouldn't hesitate. If this were a normal fight, Twisted Demons would have already stormed the field, using their sheer force to overwhelm their opponents. Yet, nothing came. No war cries, no charged assaults. Just the eerie stillness of the desert, the shifting of loose sand beneath his boots.

His fingers twitched as he considered his next move. He had two choices: wait and react, or act first.

He glanced to his side, finding Lupus standing in his usual composed posture, his wolves sitting obediently beside him. Their ears twitched, noses flaring as they scented the air.

Lupus' voice broke through Rael's thoughts. "I've found unusual movement in their territory. It's not like anything I've seen before."

Rael's eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon once again. The wind shifted, and his instincts told him something was off. "Keep watching. We can't afford to be blindsided."

Lupus gave a short nod and was about to respond—

Then the storm came.

Like a beast suddenly awakened, the wind roared to life, sand exploding into the air with unnatural force.

Rael's instincts kicked in immediately. "Brace yourselves!" he barked.

The storm was sudden—too sudden. A natural sandstorm built up gradually, but this one seemed to be conjured from thin air. A skill. 

His vision blurred as the swirling sands consumed the battlefield. The fine grains bit against his exposed skin, slipping between the seams of his armor. Shadows moved within the storm—faint silhouettes, barely visible.

Then, sparks—metal clashing against metal.

Combat had begun within the storm.

Fleeting figures flickered in and out of sight, their weapons igniting brief flashes of light before vanishing into the golden haze. The clashes were quick, violent, but scattered. It didn't feel like a coordinated push—it felt like a misdirection.

Something was wrong.

Rael's mind churned through the possibilities.

Evan had always been an in-your-face fighter, pushing his opponents into submission. Why was he hiding behind a storm?

Unless—

His thoughts froze. His instincts screamed at him.

He turned sharply, his eyes snapping back toward their own zone.

Distortions.

Faint ripples of movement along the eastern and southern edges. Almost imperceptible, but they were there.

Rael's eyes snapped open, a realization hitting him like a strike of lightning. His heart quickened as he turned sharply toward Mira.

"NOW!" he barked, his voice laced with urgency.

Mira reacted instantly.

Without hesitation, she thrust her hands outward. Her Weathermancer abilities surged to life, pulling moisture from the air, forcing it into thick, condensed mist.

The mist rolled out like a crashing wave, swallowing the battlefield and counteracting the sandstorm. Visibility shifted in an instant. What was once a swirling desert of golden grains became an eerie battlefield of creeping fog, the sand below no longer illuminated by the harsh moonlight.

But Rael wasn't done.

"Fall back! They're just distractions!"

His forces immediately withdrew, reacting to his command without hesitation.

Then—the battlefield ripped open.

Dark, jagged rifts appeared midair—portals.

And through them stepped Twisted Demons.

Evan emerged first, his boots sinking into the sand with deliberate slowness. His posture was relaxed, but his smirk gave him away—he had already seen this play out.

His eyes flicked to Elias, their 'flag,' standing firm in the fog. Then, his gaze lowered slightly.

The traps.

Explosives, snares, pitfalls—Rael's team had spent time preparing for them.

Evan let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Traps, huh?"

Then he turned his head slightly.

"Gercion. Do your magic."

A deep chuckle rumbled from one of Evan's teammates.

And then—the battlefield shifted.

From thin air, dozens of figures materialized.

Dummies—fake clones, perfect replicas of real players.

They didn't hesitate. In an instant, they charged toward Elias.

One ran into a snare—it snapped shut. Another stepped into a pitfall—it collapsed, consuming it.

But it didn't matter. They weren't real.

Every single trap in Elias's setup was going off.

Explosions erupted one after another, flames licking the sky as one by one, the illusions triggered the carefully placed defenses. Snares snapped, barriers shattered, stakes fired from hidden mechanisms—most of them laid waste.

Rael's eyes locked onto Evan through the chaos. If he didn't stop him now, it was over.

Without hesitation, Rael lunged.

Evan met him head-on, shield clashing against Rael's blade with a force that sent a shockwave through the sand.

Clang!

Rael twisted, sidestepping to go for Evan's blind spot. A feint.

But Evan wasn't fooled.

His sword swung in a precise arc, forcing Rael to retreat.

Rael exhaled sharply. That was close.

Then, without warning, Evan rushed forward, bringing his weapon down in a powerful overhead strike.

Rael barely had time to block—

BOOM!

The impact sent him skidding back, his feet carving deep grooves into the sand. Evan didn't let up.

The moment Rael steadied himself, Evan was already there, blade swinging again.

Rael parried, stepped forward, twisted—

A perfect counter.

Evan twisted in response, their weapons locking again, sparks flying.

Neither gained ground.

For a brief moment, they stared each other down, breaths steady but sharp.

Then, with a burst of force—they broke apart, pushed away from each other by the impact.

Rael steadied his stance, rolling his shoulder. He smirked. "You've improved."

Evan chuckled, shaking his head. "Can't say the same for you."

Rael didn't argue. Instead, his smirk widened.

He raised a hand—

And pointed toward the mist.

Slowly, it began to shift.

At first, just a subtle change.

Then—a ripple.

The air grew heavy.

The mist thickened, darkening, turning a reddish hue.

Evan's body suddenly felt sluggish. His movements slowed, a faint weight pressing against his limbs.

Then—

[Debuff Applied: Upheaval]

Evan's eyes narrowed. "Tch. So that's what this was."

Rael didn't respond. His smirk remained, unwavering, as the two of them circled each other. Their blades clashed again, a flurry of steel, but Rael wasn't pressing. He was observing.

The sandstorm was dying down, but the mist still lingered, thick and heavy in the air. It swirled around them like a living thing, distorting every move. Rael's mind worked swiftly, piecing everything together.

The mist... Mira's Upheaval was working through it. Slowing him down. And yet, Evan's still managing to keep up.

Evan lunged again, but Rael had already anticipated it. He parried, deflecting Evan's strike, then stepped back, his eyes never leaving his opponent.

Evan pushed forward, but Rael's gaze flicked to the east, scanning the horizon. The wolves had given him some useful information—distortions at the edge of the zone. They're closing in on our position. 

Rael shifted slightly, deliberately, leading Evan into a tighter space. His opponent, of course, followed. Evan was a smart fighter, but Rael had learned his rhythms, his patterns.

Another strike. Rael parried again.

"This is getting tiresome, Evan," Rael said casually, never losing his cool.

Evan let out a low laugh. "Tired of losing already?"

Rael didn't respond. His stance remained steady as his eyes locked on Evan, cold and calculating.

The mist thickened around them, becoming more solid by the second. Evan's movements slowed, but his eyes scanned the surroundings, still determined.

Rael shifted his weight subtly, stepping just slightly to the side. He made no aggressive move, yet the space between them expanded, creating distance without notice.

Evan's gaze flickered to the distance, his focus shifting to the flag he trusted his team to secure. "I see you've led me away," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Rael didn't flinch, his expression unreadable as the thickening mist swallowed the space between them. The battlefield seemed to grow heavier with every passing moment.

The battlefield felt heavier. Every breath, every movement, slowed under the weight of the mist. Evan's eyes narrowed, glancing from Rael to the distant flag, clearly distracted for the first time.

Rael, ever so subtly, adjusted his position again, pulling Evan just a little farther away from his flag. No words. No grand gestures.

But the effect was immediate. Evan stiffened, his eyes snapping back to Rael. "What's your game, Rael?"

Rael didn't respond. He didn't need to.

Evan's shoulders tensed, but his lips twisted into a slight smirk. "My team's on it," he repeated, though it sounded less convincing now. He trusted them, yes—but the more Rael stayed silent, the more uneasy Evan became.

Rael took a deep breath, his voice calm. "Your team's competent, Evan. I'll give you that. But you've missed one thing." He paused, letting the words hang in the air.

Evan narrowed his eyes, trying to anticipate what Rael was getting at. "What are you talking about?"

Rael shrugged slightly, his posture still tense. "You've been so focused on capturing Elias, Evan. But there's something you've overlooked. It's not just about getting him—it's about getting him back to your zone."

Evan frowned, confused. "That's the plan, right? We capture him and bring him back. We have more than enough time."

Rael didn't answer right away, his steps drawing him in closer with calm precision, every movement part of the steady rhythm of their duel. As their blades met, he spoke, his voice cool and measured. "It's not about speed or strength, Evan. Your flag, your defenses—everything relies on assumptions. You thought you could outmaneuver me by force alone."

Evan, still fighting, couldn't help but respond with a strained grin. "What, you mean that Gale guy? We already knew they were close by. He won't have enough time to do anything."

Rael didn't flinch, his movements fluid as he engaged Evan in a series of rapid exchanges. Each strike was controlled, each motion purposeful. With every swing of his sword, he was reading Evan's rhythm, waiting for an opening. His focus was on the fight, but the tension in the air told him that Evan was beginning to waver.

Evan's shield slammed against Rael's sword again, sparks flying, but Rael was already gone—blinking a short distance with Soulstep, his blade slicing at Evan's side as he reappeared. Evan barely managed to block it, gritting his teeth in frustration. His own attacks were more desperate now, relying on brute force rather than the precision Rael was displaying.

Rael's strikes weren't just physical—they carried with them a pressure that was felt with every movement. Evan gritted his teeth, channeling a burst of divine energy into his shield, activating Divine Bastion—a skill that hardened his defense, making him nearly impervious to Rael's usual strikes. He swung his sword in a wide arc, the shimmering energy crackling around him, pushing Rael back with an explosive surge.

Rael stumbled slightly, but his eyes never wavered. Soulstep flashed him out of danger once again, blinking behind Evan. He moved with the grace of a shadow, landing a strike across Evan's back. Evan, though, wasn't left vulnerable for long. With a quick motion, he activated Holy Reprisal, a skill that granted him a retaliatory burst of divine energy, sending a shockwave that forced Rael to take a step back, his body briefly overwhelmed by the radiant light.

But Rael didn't relent. He danced just out of reach, his attacks precise and lightning fast. He dodged another swing, Soulstep flashing him behind Evan once again. This time, he was ready—he activated Ruinous Strike, the gathered energy in his blade dark and crackling with power. With a devastatingly swift strike, he cleaved through Evan's defenses, breaking through the divine barrier Evan had erected.

Evan's breath quickened. His shield felt heavier now, and the Divine Bastion was weakening. His strength was failing, but his will remained unbroken. Rael's words echoed in his mind, but he pushed them aside. He raised his shield, activating Holy Ward, a final defense that blocked out damage while healing him for a brief moment.

But Rael had already seen through it. With a final Soulstep, Rael closed the distance, the Ruinous Strike crashing down with pinpoint accuracy. Evan's sword flew from his hands, and he stumbled back, winded, his armor sizzling with the remnants of divine energy. His breath was ragged, and his eyes flickered in a mix of frustration and disbelief.

"I might've lost the duel," Evan spat, still trying to hold his composure. "But it's not over. Elias is almost back to our zone. The mist—it's making it hard to see, but he's close. We're going to win."

Rael said nothing, his face neutral as he wiped his blade clean. Instead, he called out calmly, "Mira. You can clear it now."

At the command, the thick mist that had enveloped the battlefield seemed to dissipate in an instant, revealing the full extent of the battlefield. Evan's eyes widened as he looked around, seeing his flag member clearly marked in Rael's zone, far from where it should have been.

"What—how?" Evan stammered.

Rael remained unfazed, offering only a faint smile. "You misjudged something, Evan. You didn't account for everything."

Evan's confusion deepened as he tried to piece it together. "No way… My teammate—she had an item that made her invisible if she sensed any danger. I had the perfect defense."

Rael's smile widened ever so slightly. "If she sensed danger."

Evan blinked in disbelief. "What… do you mean?"

Rael's voice was casual, but there was a slight edge of amusement. "One of my teammates has a recent ability she picked up—Visual Dispersion. Very convenient, actually. It allows her to distort the light around her, making her movements undetectable. And as you can guess, your flag... wasn't 'invisible' when she approached it."

Evan's jaw dropped, realization dawning on him. "You—you had her take it while I was focused on you? But... how? Our zones are so far apart..."

Rael didn't show any emotion, his gaze steady. "Your offense was unexpected, Evan. Too bad your defense wasn't."

Evan's eyes flashed with confusion. "What do you—"

Rael raised a hand, cutting him off. "While you were focused on the fight, Gale made sure to keep your defensive line occupied. You let your guard down, didn't account for the bigger picture."

Evan's expression turned grim. "I can't believe this..."

Rael's faint smile lingered, the battle now over. "Checkmate."

Evan sighed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he shook his head. "You played it well, Rael. Can't deny it."

Rael helped him to his feet with no further words. The system notification chimed:

[System Notification: Guild Eclipse has emerged victorious in the Capture the Flag event]