Chapter 89 - 089: Royal war

The change in Zane’s expression was immediate. The amusement that had remained on his face throughout the fight disappeared after Rylan’s last attack, leaving behind a hard stare that made it clear he was no longer treating the challenge as something entertaining. Rylan had managed to injure him, and Zane clearly had no intention of allowing it to happen again.

He suddenly rushed forward.

Rylan raised his arms just in time to block the first blow, but the force of it pushed him several steps backward. Before he could regain his balance, Zane followed with another attack. Rylan moved aside, but Zane changed direction quickly and struck his shoulder.

Pain shot through Rylan’s body as he stumbled.

Zane didn’t give him the chance to recover. He grabbed Rylan’s arm, pulled him forward and struck him across the stomach before sending him crashing toward the ground.

Anaria’s heart jumped as Rylan landed heavily.

She instinctively took a step forward, but stopped herself. This was Rylan’s fight. She couldn’t interfere, no matter how badly she wanted to.

Rylan slowly pushed himself up. His breathing had become heavier, and the pain from his previous injuries was spreading through his body again. Zane stood several steps away, watching him rise.

"You should have stayed away," Zane said.

Rylan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and straightened himself. "I’ve heard that already."

Zane’s expression hardened before he charged again.

Rylan blocked the first strike, but the second caught him across the ribs. He staggered backward, and Zane immediately followed with another blow. Rylan tried to counter, but Zane anticipated the movement and struck him across the chest.

Rylan dropped to one knee.

The crowd grew louder, but Anaria barely heard them. Her attention remained fixed on Rylan.

Kenai glanced at her and quietly said, "He’s still getting up."

Anaria nodded, although her hands had tightened around Ana.

Rylan placed one hand against the ground and remained there for a moment. His body was telling him to stop. Every injury he had suffered before returning to Wolfrine seemed to remind him that he wasn’t completely healed.

Then he lifted his head.

His eyes moved across the fighting ground before settling on Anaria.

She was standing with Ana against her chest, while Kenai and Kai remained beside her. They had travelled all the way to Wolfrine because of him. They had searched for him when he disappeared, faced dangers on the journey and refused to leave without finding him.

Rylan had spent so long believing that staying away from Wolfrine was the best way to protect them. If Zane didn’t know he was alive, perhaps he would leave them alone. If Rylan stayed away from his former home, perhaps his family could remain outside the conflict.

But they were already here.

And now Zane was standing between him and the safety he had tried so hard to preserve.

Rylan slowly got back on his feet.

Zane watched him with a cold expression. "You’re still trying?"

"Yes," Rylan answered.

He didn’t wait for Zane to attack again. This time, he moved forward himself.

Their fists collided, and Rylan immediately followed with another strike. Zane blocked it, but Rylan continued pressing him. He wasn’t trying to overpower him anymore. He watched his movements and looked for openings instead.

Zane attacked his injured side again, but Rylan anticipated it and moved away before the strike could connect. He turned and landed a blow against Zane’s side, forcing him to step backward.

For the first time since the fight began, Rylan was controlling the pace.

Anaria stepped forward and called his name.

"Rylan!"

He glanced toward her.

"You can do this!" she shouted.

Zane looked briefly in her direction before returning his attention to Rylan.

Anaria didn’t stop. "Don’t let him push you down again!"

Kenai understood what she was trying to do and joined her. "Keep going, Rylan!"

Kai raised his voice as well. "Don’t give up now!"

Rylan looked toward them for a moment.

Then the system appeared before Anaria.

[Primary mission approaching completion.]

Anaria’s eyes widened slightly.

[Host should continue encouraging the target. Increased confidence may strengthen his determination.]

She didn’t waste time wondering what the system meant.

"Rylan!" she called again. "Get back up!"

He was already standing.

Anaria smiled despite the worry in her chest. "That’s it. Keep going!"

Rylan turned back toward Zane.

Something inside him had settled.

He couldn’t allow himself to lose.

Not because of the throne or anything, he simply refused to allow Zane to decide what happened to his family.

Zane attacked again, but Rylan was ready for him.

He stepped aside from the first strike and caught Zane’s arm before twisting away from the second. Zane quickly broke free and tried to strike again, but Rylan blocked the attack and pushed him backward.

The two brothers separated.

Both were breathing heavily now.

Zane stared at Rylan, clearly irritated by the way the fight had changed. "You weren’t this difficult before."

Rylan kept his hands raised. "Neither was I this determined."

Zane rushed him again.

This time, Rylan refused to react immediately. He watched Zane’s shoulders, his feet and the direction of his movements. He remembered what Rylan himself had explained before the challenge. Zane liked to study his opponent, but when frustrated, he became more aggressive and relied on pressure.

Rylan waited until Zane committed to his attack before moving.

The blow passed beside him.

Rylan turned and struck Zane across the jaw, making him stagger. He followed with another attack, forcing Zane backward as the crowd grew louder.

Anaria watched from the edge of the fighting ground with Ana against her chest. "Keep going, Rylan!"

Kenai and Kai joined her, their voices carrying across the ground.

Zane wiped the blood from his mouth and glanced toward Anaria before looking back at Rylan.

"So that’s what this is about," he muttered.

Rylan’s expression hardened. "Leave them out of this."

Zane smiled without warmth. "Then don’t make me remind you why they shouldn’t be here."

He charged again.

Rylan met him before he could reach the edge of the fighting ground. Their movements became faster, with Zane striking his shoulder while Rylan answered with a blow to his ribs. Zane caught his arm and tried to pull him off balance, but Rylan twisted free and stepped back.

Both men paused.

Rylan’s injured side was throbbing, while Zane had started favoring the side Rylan had repeatedly struck.

Anaria could see how exhausted Rylan was.

She tightened her hold on Ana and called his name again, this time more quietly.

"Rylan."

He looked toward her.

"Come back to us."

His expression softened for only a moment before he turned back to Zane.

Zane suddenly charged.

Rylan waited until the last moment before moving aside. Zane’s strike missed, leaving him slightly off balance. Rylan immediately drove his shoulder into him and forced him backward.

Zane recovered quickly and struck Rylan across the face.

Rylan staggered.

Zane moved forward, but Rylan caught his wrist before he could land another blow.

They struggled against each other, both using the strength they had left.

Zane pushed forward.

Rylan refused to give ground.

The crowd grew quieter as they watched the two brothers struggle.

Rylan glanced toward Anaria again.

She stood there with Ana, while Kenai and Kai remained beside her.

He remembered everything that had happened since he disappeared. He had believed leaving Wolfrine would keep them safe, but Zane was still here, and the danger had followed them anyway.

Rylan tightened his grip and pushed Zane away.

He stepped back and raised his hands again.

Zane immediately came forward.

Neither brother had much strength left, but neither was willing to stop.

Anaria held Ana closer as she watched them continue.