Chapter 182: Breaking the Circle
Lyra brought out a core.
She held it up so they could all see.
"This is the objective."
They all focused.
Lyra explained.
"You win if you keep me out of this circle for three seconds."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"Or?"
Lyra’s lips curved slightly.
"Or you knock this out of my hand."
Nox blinked.
"That’s it?"
Lyra looked at him.
"That’s it."
Arthur crossed his arms as he thought.
The rules were simple, but the execution wasn’t.
But he liked the challenge.
She also gave them options.
Force her out.
Or target the core.
it offered different approaches and different strategies.
Lyra continued.
"You go one team at a time."
She pointed at the first group.
"Ryn’s team first."
Ryn stepped forward immediately.
Selene and Torren followed.
They looked ready.
Focused.
Arthur stepped back with his team.
"Let’s watch closely," he said.
Althea nodded.
Nox stretched his arms.
"Yeah... let’s see how they fail."
Arthur smirked.
"And learn from it."
Nox sighed.
"Yeah."
Lyra stood in the circle.
Calm. Almost bored.
She even yawned slightly.
"Are you starting or not?"
Ryn glanced at his team.
They leaned in slightly, whispering quickly and planning.
Arthur watched closely.
Every detail mattered now.
Lyra shifted her weight slightly.
"Make it quick," she said. "I’m getting bored."
Ryn looked up.
His eyes were sharp.
"We’re ready."
Lyra raised a hand slightly.
Then dropped it.
"Start."
They moved at once.
No hesitation.
Ryn and Selene split wide, each taking a side while Torren went straight down the middle. It wasn’t fancy, just clean and direct.
Arthur watched with his arms folded.
"Simple," he muttered.
Nox beside him nodded.
"Too simple."
But they didn’t look away.
Torren closed the distance first.
Heavy steps, solid, no wasted motion. He didn’t try to be fast, he tried to be unavoidable.
Lyra stood in the circle, one hand holding the core, the other hanging loosely by her side.
She yawned.
Not even hiding it.
"Come on then."
Torren reached her first.
"Don’t hold back," he said as he swung his large shield.
WHAM!.
His strike carried weight, the kind that forced a reaction even if blocked.
Lyra shifted.
Just a step.
His shield missed clean, brushing past her shoulder.
But that was just part of the plan.
Ryn moved.
Selene fired.
The moment Torren engaged, the real attack came in.
Selene’s arrow cut through the air.
SHHHK.
It aimed straight for Lyra’s side.
At the same time, Ryn slipped into position, already predicting where she would move.
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
He’s reading her.
Lyra tilted slightly to avoid the arrow.
Just like Ryn expected, she was already there.
Steel flashed.
Torren adjusted instantly, his next movement lining up with Ryn’s position as if they had planned it down to the second.
Arthur smirked.
"Okay... that’s smooth."
Even Nox leaned forward a bit as she continued watching without taking her eyes off.
Selene didn’t stop.
Another arrow.
Then another.
Different angles, and different timing.
No rhythm to read.
Lyra laughed under her breath.
"Cunning bastard."
Her eyes flicked to Ryn.
She saw how he remained too focused.
Soon his strike came in.
Then shifted... a feint.
Instead of cutting, he flipped his grip and drove the hilt of his sword toward the core in her hand.
Fast, but precise.
The kind of move that ended things.
From the side, Nox’s eyes widened.
"That’s it!"
Althea leaned forward slightly.
"...They might actually—"
Arthur cut in.
"Not yet."
He didn’t even blink.
His eyes stayed locked on Lyra.
There was a grin on his face.
"They’ll need more than that."
And right on cue.. Lyra moved.
Just before the hilt connected..
Flick.
She tossed the core into the air.
Clean and effortlessly.
The hilt of his sword missed by inches.
Tick.
The core spun upward.
For a split second, everything paused.
Torren saw it.
His eyes followed the core.
Just for a moment.
Ryn saw that too as he shouted to Torren to regain focus.
"Torren... don’t!"
Too late.
Lyra smiled.
"Got you."
Her leg moved.
THUD.
The kick landed square.
Torren didn’t get to brace in time. He was sent back, feet leaving the ground as he crashed onto the floor.
"Gah..!"
Selene reacted instantly.
Another arrow fired, faster this time, trying to cover the mistake.
SHHHK.
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
The arrow passed.
She glanced at Selene.
"Nice recovery."
But it wasn’t enough.
The opening was gone.
Ryn tried to follow through, adjusting mid-move, but Lyra was already ready.
She stepped in as he caught his blade. Barehanded.
The sound was sharp.
CLANG.
Ryn’s eyes widened for a split second.
Then...
BAM.
Lyra struck.
A clean hit to his side.
Ryn was sent sliding back, boots scraping against the ground as he forced himself to stop.
He coughed lightly, wiping the corner of his mouth.
"...Damn."
Back with Arthur’s group..
Nox whistled.
"She played them."
Arthur nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Althea looked concerned.
"They had it..."
Arthur shook his head.
"They almost had it."
There was a difference.
His eyes stayed on the fight as he smiled, enjoying every bit of the exchange.
"This is good".
Back in the circle..
Torren pushed himself up, rolling his shoulders.
"I lost focus."
Ryn didn’t look at him.
"Then don’t lose it again."
Selene moved closer, already adjusting her stance.
"We go again?"
Ryn nodded.
"Second plan."
Lyra raised a brow.
"Oh?"
There was interest in her voice now.
"That fast?"
She rolled her neck slightly.
"I like it."
Then she added with a smirk,
"But you still won’t win."
Torren stepped forward again.
"Let’s find out."
He charged.
This time harder.
Selene moved with him, not staying back anymore. Her arrows came quicker now, less pause between shots.
SHHK! SHHK! SHHK!
Different angles with different timing
She wasn’t letting Lyra settle.
Arthur noticed it immediately.
"She’s grown."
Althea nodded.
"She’s forcing her to keep moving."
Nox crossed his arms.
"Still looks easy for her though."
It did.
Lyra moved through it like water.