Chapter 87 - 087: Royal fighting ground

Two days before the challenge, Anaria, Rylan, Kenai, and Kai followed one of the council members toward the Royal Stone Ground.

The fighting ground was located a short distance from the main part of Wolfrine. It was a wide open area surrounded by large stones that had been placed in a rough circle. The ground inside was mostly bare, with only a few patches of grass growing around the edges.

Anaria looked around carefully "So this is where the challenge will happen?"

The council member nodded. "Yes. This ground has been used for royal challenges for generations."

Rylan walked ahead of them, studying the area.

Anaria stayed close behind him.

She wasn’t interested in how old the place was. She was more concerned about whether there was anything hidden around the fighting ground that could give Zane an unfair advantage.

She silently called the system.

"Scan this place."

The system appeared before her.

[Scanning the Royal Stone Ground.]

Anaria waited.

[No hidden traps, unusual structures, or harmful substances detected.]

She relaxed slightly "At least that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about," she thought.

The system disappeared again.

The council member began explaining the rules.

"The challenge will take place between the two royal members. No outside assistance is allowed once the fight begins. No one may enter the fighting ground unless the challenge has ended."

Anaria nodded.

"What happens if one of them is seriously injured?"

"The challenge continues unless the challenger can no longer fight."

Rylan looked at him. "And the cabinet?"

"We will witness the challenge and announce the result."

Rylan nodded.

The council member continued explaining the remaining rules, but Anaria was already familiar enough with the important parts.

She glanced toward the other side of the fighting ground.

Several beastmen had gathered there.

Some were talking quietly while others watched the preparations.

Rylan noticed them too.

"Zane’s supporters," Kai said.

Rylan nodded.

"They’re already here."

Kenai looked around. "There are quite a few of them."

"They want to see who wins," Rylan replied.

Before anyone could say more, several beastmen approached from the opposite side.

Zane was among them.

He walked toward the fighting ground without any hurry, his attention immediately settling on Rylan.

"Well," Zane said, stopping a short distance away. "You came to inspect the place before losing?"

Rylan didn’t react.

He simply looked at him.

Zane smiled slightly.

"I thought you might change your mind after having a few days to think."

"I haven’t."

"Good."

Zane glanced at Anaria, then at Kenai and Kai.

"You’ve gathered quite a group around you."

Rylan’s expression hardened slightly.

"They’re my family."

Zane gave a quiet laugh. "Then I suppose they’ll have a good view."

Anaria frowned at him.

Zane noticed but didn’t say anything.

He turned his attention back to Rylan.

"You should enjoy these last few days."

Rylan remained calm.

"I’m not interested in your comments."

Zane’s smile disappeared for a moment.

Then he turned away.

"We’ll see how long that confidence lasts."

He walked back toward his supporters.

Rylan watched him leave without following.

Kenai looked at him.

"You didn’t take the bait."

"There was no point."

Anaria looked between Rylan and the direction Zane had gone.

She knew the real challenge had not even started yet.

The council member eventually finished explaining the rules and left the group to inspect the rest of the fighting ground.

Anaria remained beside Rylan.

She looked around once more.

Everything appeared normal.

Still, something about the place made her uneasy.

Maybe it was the number of people already gathering.

Maybe it was the way Zane had looked at Rylan.

Or maybe it was simply the fact that she knew what was at stake.

She quietly called the system again.

"Is there another way out of this?"

[The system cannot interfere with established human rules.]

Anaria frowned.

"I know that. I’m asking if there’s another way to keep Rylan safe."

[The host should remain calm. Rylan will not necessarily be injured.]

Anaria folded her arms.

"That’s not reassuring."

[Does the host not have faith in her husband?]

"It’s not about faith."

She glanced at Rylan.

"It’s about his safety."

There was a brief pause.

[The system can perform another scan of the Royal Stone Ground and Rylan’s current physical condition.]

Anaria nodded immediately.

"Do it."

A faint glow appeared before her.

[Scanning...]

Anaria waited while the system examined the fighting ground again.

[No irregularities detected.]

She breathed out slowly.

Then another message appeared.

[Rylan’s physical condition is stable.]

Anaria looked toward him.

[His previous injuries have not worsened. His current condition allows him to participate in the challenge.]

She relaxed slightly.

"Does he have a chance?"

[Yes.]

Anaria’s eyes widened slightly.

[Based on the current assessment, Rylan has a reasonable chance against Zane.]

Anaria nodded.

That was all she needed to hear.

The system disappeared.

Rylan noticed that she had become quiet.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

He gave her a doubtful look.

Anaria sighed.

"I was just checking something."

Rylan didn’t press her.

Instead, he looked back toward the fighting ground.

The place was already beginning to fill with people.

More beastmen were arriving, and word of the upcoming challenge had clearly spread throughout Wolfrine.

Anaria watched them for a moment.

This was no longer just a private matter between two brothers.

Everyone was going to see it.

Everyone would know who won.

And once the challenge began, there would be no turning back.

Rylan stepped closer to her.

"Are you worried?"

Anaria looked at him.

"A little."

He smiled faintly. "You don’t have to be."

She gave him a look.

"You say that like you’re not the one fighting."

Rylan laughed quietly.

"I’ll be careful."

"You’d better."

Kenai and Kai joined them as the council member returned.

"We should head back," the council member said. "The ground will be prepared before the challenge."

Rylan nodded.

They began walking away together.

Anaria glanced back at the fighting ground one last time.

Nothing seemed wrong.

The system had checked it.

Rylan was stable.

He had a chance.

But as she followed the others, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the actual challenge would be far more dangerous than standing in the empty fighting ground had made it seem.