Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player



As Kaizen and Xisrith approached the castle, they paused to admire the meticulous architectural details that covered its structure. Majestic arches adorned the main entrances, while tall, narrow windows dotted the walls of the towers, allowing sunlight to penetrate the interior and cast beams of golden light down the corridors. The moat around the castle, fed by a winding river, was a spectacle in itself. Its crystal clear waters reflected the grandeur of the building, creating a natural barrier that added an extra layer of protection to the fortress.

As Kaizen and Xisrith marveled at the castle from afar, they were able to observe the gentle fluttering of the flags atop the towers. The flags, a light blue with the Dragonsbane family crest, danced in the wind.

Kaizen felt the size and grandeur of the place. Xisrith, for her part, was awed by the grandeur of the castle. The tall towers literally touched the sky, giving a sense of invulnerability. She imagined the many challenges they would face when they entered those walls and tried to find the courage to overcome them.

Kaizen, aware of his responsibility, studied the castle with analytical eyes. He studied every detail, imagining the defenses they would face if they tried to approach the king. As he did so, he felt a shiver run down his spine, but also a flame of determination ignite within him. Either way, they were determined to face any danger, believing that only by entering the castle could they get the answers they needed and protect their higher purpose.

The two warriors hurriedly approached the castle, keeping to the shadows and carefully watching the movements of the guards. They waited for a moment of distraction when a group of soldiers on a patrol passed through a side entrance. This was the perfect opportunity for Kaizen to strike.

Kaizen pulled the last guard in line back with <Psychokinesis> and held his breath until he passed out. Then he stole the guard's armor and helmet and began to equip him.

"What about me?" Xisrith inquired.

Kaizen, in his new steel armor with the royal family's crest on his chest, opened his inventory and clicked on an icon that made a vial appear in his palm.

Xisrith looked on in confusion. "What is that?"

"This is an invisibility potion," he explained, handing it to the Descragon.

"Does that really exist?"

"Of course it does, but I only have one, which I hope will last long enough. You will be like my shadow, so even if I am discovered, you can still act."

Xisrith promptly drank the invisibility potion and her face slowly began to fade, becoming almost transparent. Now invisible in the eyes of the guards, she felt more confident to proceed with her daring plan. Kaizen looked at Xisrith and saw only a slight distortion in the air where she stood.

"This works better than I thought." He said.

  "That's amazing." Xisrith said, surprised at the effect of the potion as she looked where her own body should be. "But how did you know it would work?"

Kaizen smiled, pleased with the result. "I was in contact with a man who deals with alchemy and potions. I helped him and he provided me with this potion."

"That's very appealing."

*

Together, they approached the side entrance of the castle where the guards had just passed. With quiet steps, they avoided the busiest area of the castle, the main courtyard, and moved toward the less guarded areas. And thanks to the guard's uniform, Kaizen had no problem entering even the most restricted areas, as expected.

As they made their way through the inner corridors of the castle, the atmosphere began to change.

The silence soon overcame the distant sounds of voices and the muffled footsteps of patrols.

Ancient paintings lined the walls of the castle's interior, depicting scenes of past battles and conquests, while crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting brilliant reflections on the polished surfaces of the floor.

The peculiar aroma of scented candles and incense permeated the air, creating an atmosphere of mystery and grandeur. The corridors stretched in different directions, forming a maze of passageways that housed banquet halls, audience rooms, and thousands of other rooms for various occasions.

Kaizen and Xisrith stayed alert, watching every corner as they moved cautiously. At first, they had no idea how to find the throne room, or if the king would be there, but they realized that the presence of family flags in certain corridors almost formed a path. For this reason, the closer they got to the inner areas of the castle, the tighter the security became.

Guards patrolled the corridors with watchful eyes, their armor glistening in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Massive, ornate doors blocked access to certain areas, but none of them seemed to be the kind of special doors one would expect to find in a throne room.

Kaizen and Xisrith knew they had to avoid a direct confrontation with the guards and find an alternate route to the king. Dodging the soldiers, they found a narrow passage leading to a hidden set of stairs. So they climbed the stairs, step by step, as the sound of the other guards' footsteps echoed in the distance.

When they reached the top of the stairs, they found themselves in a series of shadowy corridors. Only the dim light of the torches gave them orientation. They had arrived at a place that was certainly not meant for them, which meant that they were also at a dead end, for it was unlikely that the king would even pass through such a corridor.

At this point, Kaizen mentally studied the layout of the castle he remembered, trying to remember the information he had picked up on his walk.

By now, they had passed empty rooms, rooms filled with ancient armor on pedestals, and tapestries depicting the history of the royal family. But none of this was anything that would be anywhere near the throne room. And as Kaizen struggled to mentally map out the castle to avoid repeating the path he had taken earlier, he heard a familiar voice.

"What I am telling you is true! If you hold the sword less tightly, you will be able to use more force to keep it steady when the blade strikes your opponent!" Teshi says, sounding serious.

Actually, it was two familiar voices.

"You can only go crazy. Holding the sword tightly ensures stability and that is undisputed." Ryeis answers with crossed arms.

Kaizen's two opponents in the Three Great Nations Tournament, Teshi and Ryeis, emerge from the dark corridor, their voices echoing loudly.