Advancing the Plan.

The excitement rippled through every channel, electrifying audiences with the first real action scene of the Summer Hunt. It set the tone, exceeding expectations, and instantly cemented itself as the event of the season. The Summer Hunt hadn't captured this level of widespread attention in years. The monarch family, once seen as relics of a bygone era, suddenly surged back into the spotlight.

The twins, Kol and Sol, became an overnight sensation. Their courage, coupled with their innovative weapons, captivated viewers, offering a refreshing take on what it meant to compete in the hunt. By the end of the first day, clips and montages of their exploits dominated social feeds, trending across every platform. The Devil's Enclave became the focal point of the hunt, its dominance unshaken despite moderate skirmishes in other regions. None of the action elsewhere came close to dethroning the twins' momentous debut.

While Iris and Cryo spent the remainder of the day methodically eliminating stray stone locusts, Kol and Sol diligently collected biocores from the battlefield. The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, marked only by the arrival of three other teams tasked with reinforcing the Devil's Enclave. They efficiently established a defensive base, ensuring the enclave's security.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow across the camp, Nioh sipped tea under a modest tent. Across from him sat Cyanide, a prominent figure from the Order of the Crow.

"To be honest," Cyanide began, his sharp gaze lingering on the steam rising from his cup, "I didn't have much faith in your team. I was going to let you struggle a bit before stepping in to help." He smirked, raising his cup in a mock toast. "But your team is really impressive."

"Well, it's normal for people to doubt the unexpected," Nioh replied evenly, taking another sip, his tone betraying neither pride nor irritation.

"I find myself very interested in your team," Cyanide said, leaning forward, his voice turning inquisitive.

"Really?"

"No." Cyanide smirked. "Let's say I'm very interested in you."

Nioh quirked a brow, his reply deadpan. "Sorry, you're not my type."

Cyanide rolled his eyes. "You're not mine either. Don't flatter yourself." He leaned back, studying Nioh carefully. "I've known your team members for years. Individually, they've always shown promise, but their potential has never shone as brightly as it does now. You're the only common denominator. As the son of the monarch, you must have access to resources others can only dream of. I want to meet the weapon designer."

"And why would I share my resources with you?" Nioh asked, his voice calm but edged with challenge.

"I could help you pass the trial," Cyanide offered, his tone confident.

Nioh chuckled softly, setting his cup down. "You must think I'm stupid. No matter the situation, you'll have no choice but to team up with me. The Alliance won't pass up the chance to sabotage two potential threats to their leadership."

"True," Cyanide admitted, his smirk faltering slightly. "But I can offer the full backing of the Order of the Crow."

"Not enough."

Cyanide's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, 'not enough'?"

"I am the son of the monarch," Nioh replied smoothly. "The backing of your Order is of little use to me."

"What do you want, then?" Cyanide asked, leaning forward.

Nioh dipped a finger into his tea, using the liquid to write a single word on the table between them.

Cyanide's eyes widened as he read it. "Impossible! That's too valuable!"

"Well," Nioh said, standing and brushing off his coat, "the offer stands until the end of the this part. I suggest you relay it to someone who can make such decisions." He winked at Cyanide before stepping out of the tent.

Activating his communication device, Nioh spoke with calm authority. "Good job, everyone. You can retreat now—we've survived our first shift."

He switched off his hearing aid as a familiar voice spoke into his mind.

"The first part of the plan went well," Ekoh said.

"It's not over yet," Nioh replied, rubbing his temples. "Have you detected anything?"

"Yes. The energy signatures underwater are twice as strong as the indices recorded in the last three hunts. And the stone locust population has doubled over the past four years."

Nioh's expression darkened. "Exactly what I feared. The prosperity of Narnia in the previous hunts was bound to leave lingering impacts."

Ekoh chuckled faintly. "Biocores are fascinating, aren't they?"

"They are," Nioh admitted, his tone contemplative. "Let's head to the Volcano before finalizing the next phase of the plan."

--

As night fell over the archipelago, the remaining defensive zones against the biocore infestations reported successful containment. No teams had been eliminated yet, and each group was busy establishing command centers, organizing watch schedules, and fine-tuning their weaponry.

Once connected to the external network satellites, the teams flooded the forums, analyzing the hunt's progress. Discussions revolved around trending teams, highlighted performances, and emerging strategies to leave their mark on the event.

"So far, Devil's Ridge has dominated the spotlight. They're all over the threads, articles, and comment sections," an attendant reported to Pax.

Pax's lips curled into a scornful smirk. "It seems my uncle is intent on making that bastard the heir. It's the only explanation for such an extravagant investment."

By "investment," he referred to the custom weapons. Pax had worked tirelessly to secure a junior weapon designer for his own team, yet the intricacy and power of the weapons displayed by Devil's Ridge far exceeded expectations. He was convinced his uncle—the monarch who feigned aloofness and detachment from worldly affairs—had broken his word and used an old favor to elevate his illegitimate son.

"Kudra and Rolo are embedded with them as planned. Shall we initiate the kamikaze operation?" the attendant inquired.

Pax leaned back, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the armrest. "Two captains to eliminate two of my main rivals? Yes. Instruct them to keep it discreet and arrange for a ship to extract them afterward. Even if they can't operate publicly anymore, they're still valuable assets for covert work."

"Understood, sir," the attendant replied.

Pax replayed the footage of Sol wielding the golden road to annihilate the stonelocust horde. His gaze hardened as the scene unfolded, the destruction both mesmerizing and infuriating.

"Don't blame me too much, Uncle," Pax muttered under his breath. "You've been unfair to me from the start."

He stood, a quiet determination in his posture. "Prepare the community. Tomorrow, I'll give them a performance they won't forget."

"Yes! Sir. The troop have been, quietly redirecting the Aluminums scarabs toward the valley it would be a nice open area for your demonstration. The streaming channels have been wanting the exclusivity, so we sent an invitation to lady minx who will discuss your weapons and performance afterward" the attendant added.

"Good ! Very good" Pax responded again.