I Only Tame Dragons

Everyone turned toward the giant screen as it lit up. The numbers shuffled rapidly, creating a mesmerizing whirl of light and sound. Then, with a sudden stop, the matchups were revealed.

Horizon's eyes narrowed as their opponent's name flashed across the screen in bold letters—Kingdom of Stars.

"Of course," Von muttered under his breath. "It's like fate wants us to finish what we started."

Lydia exhaled sharply, her earlier confidence replaced by grim laughter. "Great. Just Great. Number 4 is such an unlucky number."

"Good," Horizon said. "Now I can take care of them early."

"Hey, Horizon." Lydia gave him a firm slap on the shoulder, her expression unusually serious. "This is the Kingdom of Stars we're talking about. They're a first-rate guild—definitely not an easy opponent to beat. Promise me, if things start going south, we'll forfeit, alright? I'm not planning to die in this game."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Though she trusted Horizon's abilities, she knew that underestimating a guild like the Kingdom of Stars could be a fatal mistake.

Across the clearing, Cedrick and his group from the Kingdom of Stars noticed the matchup as well. A cruel grin spread across Cedrick's face. This was perfect.

After the humiliation they had suffered in the last challenge, nothing would satisfy him more than crushing Horizon's guild in front of everyone. Experience tales at empire

"Prepare yourselves," Cedrick growled to his team. "We're ending them this time."

Tension rippled through the air as both guilds locked eyes from across the clearing, silent promises of vengeance and victory exchanged in that brief moment. The third challenge wasn't just about defending a castle anymore—it was about settling old scores.

And only one guild would emerge standing between them.

The emcee's voice rang out across the massive arena, amplified by enchantments that made it boom like rolling thunder. "Prepare yourselves for the third challenge! The battle begins shortly!"

Excitement buzzed through the audience like static in the air, and the arena grew louder with anticipation. Unlike the first and second challenges, where players had been transported to entirely different dimensions, this time, illusion magic would simulate the battlefield right before the audience's eyes.

The elves worked swiftly, weaving an intricate spell that formed a shimmering veil over the arena floor. Slowly, the image solidified, revealing a vast forest clearing with dense trees forming a natural perimeter around two opposing bases—each with a tall, flag-topped tower at its center.

The illusion was so vivid that the audience could almost feel the cool forest air and hear the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"Impressive work," Horizon muttered, gazing at the illusionary battlefield. Even he had to admit that the craftsmanship of the elves' magic was on a different level.

The arena was packed to capacity, with thousands of players and spectators crowding into the stands. Huge, floating screens hovered above the spectators, displaying different matches in real time. Each screen focused on a different guild battle, and the audience was buzzing with excitement as they placed bets on their favorite teams.

First-tier guilds like the Wingless Valkyries, Brotherhood Legion, Kingdom of Stars, Nightfall Vanguard, and Blazing Dominion were drawing the lion's share of attention.

But amidst all this excitement, there was one match that hardly anyone cared about—the showdown between Horizon's nameless guild and the Kingdom of Stars. No one placed bets on Horizon's team. No one even bothered to discuss their chances. After all, who would waste their gold on an underdog team led by a no-name player?

"The Kingdom of Stars will crush them in minutes," someone said, scoffing as they turned their attention to a more 'worthy' match.

"They shouldn't even be here," another player muttered. "How did a guild like that even make it past the second challenge?"

Laughter echoed across the stands as more and more people dismissed the upcoming battle. To them, it was already decided—Horizon's guild didn't stand a chance.

Back on the field, Horizon remained unbothered. While the crowd ignored them and their opponents basked in the confidence of their inevitable victory, he calmly adjusted his equipment, tightening the straps on his gauntlets and checking the blade of his newly enforced weapon.

Around him, his team was doing the same, each of them preparing for the battle in their own way.

Lydia paced back and forth, her nerves getting the better of her. "This is bad," she muttered under her breath. "This is really bad. Do you see how confident they look? They're a first-tier guild, Horizon. They've got experience, Artifacts, and way better gear. Promise me—promise me if things get too dangerous, we'll forfeit. I'm serious."

"Relax, Lydia," Silphie said softly, her voice as calm as ever. She sat cross-legged on the ground, her staff resting across her lap. "We've faced worse odds before. Trust Horizon."

Lydia shot her a look, but before she could say anything, Von interrupted with a grin. "Come on, my dear Lydia. Where's your fighting spirit? You're making it sound like we've already lost. Let's give them a show they won't forget."

Despite his lighthearted tone, Von knew this wouldn't be easy. The Kingdom of Stars was no ordinary guild—they were one of the top-ranked guilds in the entire contest, known for their ruthless tactics and flawless coordination.

But Horizon had faced impossible odds before, and somehow, he always managed to come out on top. Von knew that it wasn't just luck, it was skill, or just sheer stubbornness, but he trusted their leader.

Silphie's calm confidence and Von's playful banter did little to ease Lydia's nerves. She knew the stakes were higher than ever. One wrong move could cost them the entire game—or worse, their lives. She glanced at Horizon, who remained as calm as ever, his eyes locked on the illusionary battlefield ahead. She envied his composure.

"Trust me," Horizon finally said, his voice steady and reassuring. "We're not here to lose. Stick to the plan, and we'll make it through."

Lydia wanted to believe him, but she couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. Still, she nodded, knowing that now wasn't the time to argue. They had to be unified if they wanted even the slightest chance of victory.