The rider’s gaze shifted to the perfect spot, the legs. He wasn’t aiming for Atheline but for his source of stability.

The horse.

Lilith straightened slightly, as the image expanded following the attack.

The spear thrusted forward and missed. Atheline leaned subtly to the side, pulling the horse’s reins. It veered just enough that the spear grazed past, cutting shallowly instead of deep.

The horse was unfazed and continued forward. In the same motion, his leg moved kicking the attacker’s horse. The attacker lost his balance.

A moment later he was gone, thrown from his saddle into the paths of oncoming riders.

"Good," Lilith muttered, her lips curving into a smile.

The next stretch of the race opened briefly as though providing a small respite to the riders who had managed to pass the small passage.

The area opens up with fewer obstacles. Nothing but a few potholes, protruding crystals, and the attack had been reduced to a minimum.

A trap.

"Thats a collapse point," Lilith mummbled.

Right on cue, the terrain ahead narrowed into a funnel between two elevated ridges. Soldiers stood on top, lining both sides, precisely enough that their attacks would overlap each other in the attacks.

No rider would pass through untested. The funnel only allowed one rider through.

The first to enter was struck immediately, disabled in an instant.

A barbed chain wrapped around the horse’s forelegs, yanking tight at the exact moment it leaped forward. It crashed hard, throwing the rider off onto the dirt. A subsequent attack killed him before he could get run over.

The crowd in the capital roared in joy at the amount of carnage happening. Betting pools had increased, and unofficial Betting groups took this opportunity to milk more money from the vulnerable and gamblers.

In the palace, there was only silence. Some of the riders had slowed leaving those eager to move forward despite the attacks they were getting from the side.

The continuous deaths had made, especially those more cautious.

This time it was just too close.

Atheline approached, unlike the first the soldiers didn’t wait for him to enter. They targeted him early.

A coordinated attack was released. Two projectiles were aimed at the horse. One at its upper body and the other timed to intercept any evasion. A lethal move that would be hard to evade.

For a moment nothing happened, everyone thought it was going to be the end of it. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Time seemed to slow down for a second and everything seemed to be crawling in that instance. The defense flickered, directing the oncoming attacks just slightly off course. His hand tightened slightly around the reins.

The horse responded instantly, its stride altered by a fraction. It cut through the converging attacks in a line so narrow it felt impossible.

The chain missed and the arrow grazed past the horse finding the one behind him.

And just like that, he was through.

Lilith’s lips curved faintly.

"They’re falling behind."

The race continued on, the riders reducing one by one until only a few were left. The kingdom’s best soldiers had also passed through it smoothly, Helther, Solaris, and Simion those from the other kingdoms.

Now the race had gotten more challenging and no one wanted to lose.

Everyone held their breath, the image focusing on the remaining riders’ faces one at a time. This left a huge impression on the spectators.

And as the final stretch began to take shape in the distance, Lilith shifted slightly, the tension getting to her. Her voice came, barely a whisper.

"Win."

The world around had gone silent as the remaining ten moved towards the last obstacle.

The last stretch stood quietly before them, a large dipping corridor made from rocks that went down a sharp slope. Soldiers stood by the entrance, on top while others stood at the exit.

The passage wasn’t narrow but getting through wasn’t going to be easy. From the sidelines, weapons were still being thrown around with each of them evading while trying to look for an opening.

He reached the slope first but unlike the others, he didn’t rush down the slope. His horse descended at a controlled speed avoiding the little protruding stones that were scattered everywhere.

Rocks rolled down with them, not large but large enough to trip a horse if hit continuously.

Another rider tried to overtake him, pushing too fast. The horse slipped, a sharp crack followed but the man managed to survive.

He jumped off the horse, skillfully evading attacks from the soldiers, and got out of the racing course with little to no injuries.

Solaris followed, making it further than the first, entering the final passageway just ahead of the release.

The soldiers moved releasing a single unified attack. Arrows and spears all converge at one place. They didn’t reach him.

He was pulled off his horse by Helther as he evaded the attacks and taking him out of the race. Now the elven prince and his brother were gone.

Atheline took that as an opportunity. While the soldiers reset their stance, he entered the passage. This time all the attacks were aimed at him but his defence held deflecting all the attacks.

Even with the defenses, one arrow slipped through. It struck his horse, though a shallow wound. The animal flattered. For a moment, its stride broke and the distance to the finish line became impossibly far.

Lilith’s heart skipped a bit, her fingers curling lightly on the armrest. Everyone watching had noticed the slip and the crowd held their breath.

Atheline leaned forward, adjusting his weight with precision from the wounded area. His hold on the rein loosened slightly as he guided rather than forcing the horse.

It responded accordingly, its stride correcting. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough.

The stumble became their advantage, and the momentum pushed both of them forward through the final line. Past the final mark.

In the palace, everything was silent.

The reflection in the capital held the image, him beyond the line, and the battlefield behind him with the surviving three riders. Four out of a hundred had reached the finish line.

There was this unbelievable pause for a moment, then the Court erupted.

A roar.

Lilith leaned back, her expression unchanged though her gaze lingered a moment longer than before.

"I chose the right one."