Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey-Chapter 405: The Selection [13]

"Hmm… am I interrupting?"

Golden particles of light drifted lazily through the air as I stepped into view, my gaze settling on the two figures ahead—Hora and Evelyn.

Our eyes met.

Evelyn's widened the moment she saw me.

My brows knit together. Something felt off.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go. With her level of skill, Evelyn should've been dominating the fight—or at the very least, holding her ground. But she wasn't. She was down on one knee, her breathing ragged, her stance shaky.

She was losing.

Why?

Before I could move, Yuri—who had been frozen in place—finally snapped out of his daze. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

His voice cracked with disbelief and a hint of panic.

"What the hell are you doing here, Lucas Darkheart?!"

His eyes flared as he pointed a trembling finger at me. Confusion, rage, and desperation twisted his expression into something almost pitiful.

He hadn't expected this.

By his calculations, they should've been winning. Two members down was already a blow, but now, with me stepping in? This was the final nail in the coffin.

I didn't bother acknowledging his outburst.

Instead, I kept my eyes on Evelyn.

No words were needed.

She understood.

The moment Yuri's attention shifted—just for a heartbeat—Evelyn moved. She jerked her head away from the tip of his spear and bolted toward her discarded bow.

"Hey! Where the hell do you think you're going?!"

Yuri snapped back to reality, face twisting in anger. He spun sharply, raising his spear with mechanical speed, aiming it right at her exposed back.

-Kacha!

The sound of his spear slicing through the air cut sharply through the silence. But Evelyn didn't slow down. She kept running.

She was counting on me.

And she was right to.

-Swoooosh!

Just as the spear was about to strike, a shimmering yellow ring came flying in from the opposite rooftop—cutting through the air like a disc of light.

It stopped just in time, hovering in front of the spear's tip.

-Clank!

A shockwave erupted as the ring made contact, stopping the spear with a sharp, metallic clang that echoed through the clearing.

Yuri staggered back, startled.

Evelyn didn't look back.

She dove, grabbed her bow, and rolled forward, already drawing an arrow from her quiver with practiced ease.

It was our turn now.

Without missing a beat, Evelyn spun into a crouch and pulled the string back in one fluid motion. Her breathing was steady despite the chaos around her.

Her eyes locked onto Yuri.

"You were too slow."

The arrow snapped through the air before Yuri could even lift his weapon.

-Thwip!

He twisted his body just in time, but the arrow grazed his shoulder, slicing through the fabric and drawing blood.

"Damn you—!" he spat, stumbling backward. The fire in his voice was still there, but his stance had lost its edge. His grip on the spear tightened, knuckles white, but his movement was off—hesitant, uneven.

He was cracking.

He needed time.

I wasn't about to give it to him.

Without a word, I lunged forward, sword flashing as I swung for his side.

-Swoosh!

He managed to dodge the blade—barely—but that wasn't the point.

I wasn't trying to land a fatal blow.

I just needed to buy Evelyn a few more seconds.

And judging by the gleam in her eyes, she was ready.

In the next moment, I vanished from Yuri's view, my movement art carrying me out of range.

Evelyn moved instantly.

An arrow shimmered into her hand, and without hesitation, she drew her bowstring all the way to her lips—calm, precise, focused.

-Swoooosh!

Like a streak of blue lightning, the arrow rocketed through the air, its path traced by a glowing trail.

"Sh*t!"

Yuri's eyes widened in panic. He tried to dodge—but it was already too late.

The arrow tore past his spear and struck him square in the right side of his chest.

-BAAAM!

His body was flung across the battlefield, crashing violently into the side of a nearby building.

"Khhhhaaaa…"

Yuri groaned as he slammed against the wall, spit flying from his mouth as the breath was knocked from his lungs.

He crumpled to the ground, gasping, broken—but still conscious.

Barely.

Dust and debris trickled down from the cracked wall where Yuri had collided, his ragged breathing echoing through the eerie silence that followed.

I took a step forward, boots crunching against the rubble-strewn floor.

Yuri didn't try to move.

His spear had clattered to the side, out of reach. Blood stained the front of his uniform, seeping from the arrow wound. His hands twitched as he tried to push himself up, but all the strength had left his body.

He looked up at me—no longer with rage, but with something far more bitter.

Defeat.

"Damn… you…" he coughed out, the words wet and broken.

I didn't answer.

Instead, I walked past him and toward Evelyn.

She was already rising to her feet, bow still gripped tightly in her hand. Her face was pale, sweat clinging to her skin, but her eyes met mine with a flicker of relief.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

I gave a small nod. "You held out longer than I expected."

She smirked despite the pain, brushing strands of hair out of her face. "Would've held longer if that bastard didn't land a cheap shot."

Her smile faltered as her eyes drifted to Yuri's crumpled form.

"He's not getting up again anytime soon," I said, following her gaze.

"I wasn't sure you'd make it in time," she said, finally lowering her bow.

I shrugged. "You gave me the opening. That's all I needed."

Her expression softened slightly, but the moment didn't last.

Step -! Step -!

Walking past to me, she headed towards the lying figure of the Yuri.

Evelyn wasn't happy with outcome of this fight, she wanted to win this alone but her carelessness was the cause of her defeate earlier.

Yeah she won but after Lucas shows up.

Before? If Lucas haven't come in right she would be one lying on the ground instead of Yuri.