Is this really a Game?!

"Still no new clues?"

"No, we have gone back to the hideouts, scoured every single inch of every single one of those places, and still nothing."

"Tch, that bastard sure knows how to run away and hide."

"But just wait, I will get my hands on that bastard, and when I do, ohhh, I will enjoy every single moment of it."

Reign and the others glanced at one another as they gulped from the immense aura and golden light coming from the person in front of them.

An elf that was about 1.85 meters tall stood in front of them, adoring a silver piece of armor that was slowly turning golden from his aura.

He was the one leading the investigation and search for Avargan.

He was the commander of the Elais forces, the person that led the entire army, and was respected and feared by both kingdoms.

The one reason why Elais had been equal with the Irason kingdom during the war, even though they had one less Tier VI combatant.

Iscandar, the commander-in-chief, is the strongest person in the entire region.

He alone was able to fight against two Tier VI combatants of the Irason forces, and he was the one person everybody feared.

His combat aura was one of the reasons why he was so feared. He was a mid-grade Tier VI, but his strength surpasses most mid-grade Tier VI combatants.

The reason for that, as previously stated, was his combat aura.

Iscandar was born as a Tier II being. Even as a baby, he was powerful. As a child, he had to be careful when playing with other kids as a slap from him was enough to kill them.

He was always the strongest, and because of that, his combat aura became a unique one.

A golden combat aura that never changed, no matter what emotions he was feeling at that moment.

His aura was the manifestation of what he was, what he had. It was pride.

His combat aura was one of pride. There was no other emotion present in it because his pride was above everything else. ( AN: As some might have suspected, I based him off Escanor from TSDS )

He was very close to Aragos, to the point of being his mentor ever since the young prince was young.

The reason for that was one that would surprise most people.

Iscandar was supposed to get married to Aragos's mother, the eldest princess of the kingdom.

After what happened, however, that marriage never came.

Not because Iscandar didn't want to, but because the princess herself had actually broken off their engagement after what happened.

Still, he did truly love her, and people said that after he found out what had happened all those years ago, he disappeared from the castle he was in and went to the nearby mountains.

Two of those mountains no longer existed, in his rage, he had destroyed them.

And even then, he never tried to kill the king of Irason or the other Tier VI combatants of the Irason kingdom. He was only defending the kingdom when it was needed, that was all he did.

The reason for that was actually the reason why Aragos had always tried to find out what had happened twenty years ago. He believed what the princess had told him, he believed that she wasn't mistaken, that the person who appeared that night was not the king of Irason, but someone masquerading as him.

He knew the king, he knew what kind of a person he was, and he was certain that the king wouldn't do such a thing. It was too suspicious, and thus, he decided to trust her, he went against the wishes of his own king and didn't participate in the offensive against the Irason Kingdom, and he took care of Aragos, he made sure to teach him how to fight, how to utilize his powers.

Other than Elyndor, Iscandar was another father figure in Aragos's life, and he believed he was indebted to him. The main reason nobody dared ever mention that he was a bastard and disrespect him was that when one general scoffed at him when he was a child, showing disrespect at him, Iscandar broke both of his arms in an instant and threw him out of the palace without even caring for what the king or the rest of the royal family would say or do.

He even forbade that general from ever stepping foot in the palace or the military base, and nobody, even the king himself, said anything to Iscandar and what many would say was a very arrogant thing of him to do.

As Iscandar vented his frustration, Aragos stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on the commander's shoulder. "Commander Iscandar, we will find Avargan. We just need to approach this differently. He's counting on us following the paths he's laid out. We need to break away from those expectations."

Iscandar took a deep breath, his golden aura flickering as he regained control of his emotions. "You're right, Aragos. I can't let my anger cloud my judgment. We need a new strategy. Something Avargan wouldn't anticipate."

Reign, Adrian, Nayle, and the rest of the team gathered around, ready to contribute ideas. Nayle, with her analytical mind, suggested, "Avargan is cunning, and he knows the lay of the land well. What if we use that against him? Create a diversion, make him think we're onto one of his false leads, while we quietly investigate areas he wouldn't expect."

Adrian, always strategic, added, "We also need to anticipate his moves. He's been one step ahead of us. What if we set up a trap, make him think he's leading us into one of his bases, but it's a controlled area where we can surround him?"

Reign, deep in thought, brought up another point. "We also can't ignore the possibility that Avargan has allies. He's had decades to establish connections. We should investigate those who might be sympathetic to his cause or manipulated by him."

Aragos nodded in agreement. "We need to cut off any support he might have. And about the third party that intervened during our battle, we can't rule out the possibility that they could be an ally or enemy. Unfortunately, there is no trace present of them, we have no idea who it might have been."

The group deliberated on their plan, combining their strengths and experiences. Iscandar, regaining his composure, became a pivotal part of the strategy. With his unmatched combat prowess and deep knowledge of the region, he provided valuable insights on potential hiding spots and tactics Avargan might employ.

The decision was made to implement a multi-faceted approach. First, they would create a decoy operation, making it seem like they were following Avargan's false trails. Simultaneously, they would set up traps in areas of strategic importance, where Avargan might believe he could outwit them. Finally, investigations into potential allies and the mysterious third party would run concurrently.

As the plan unfolded, the citizens and nobles, unaware of the intricacies of the manhunt, continued to adapt to the newfound peace. The skepticism among some citizens lingered, but the majority embraced the unity, realizing that only together could they overcome the shadows of the past.

Days passed, and the decoy operation was in motion. The combined forces, led by Iscandar, created an illusion of a massive pursuit along one of Avargan's supposed trails. Avargan, watching from the shadows, couldn't resist taking the bait. He redirected his efforts to mislead them further, which led to him leaving some small traces that they could follow.

Meanwhile, Aragos, Reign, Adrian, Nayle, and a team of skilled operatives quietly delved into areas untouched by Avargan's manipulations. They explored hidden caves, remote landscapes, and overlooked corners, searching for any signs that might lead them to Avargan's true location.

In the midst of their investigations, the mysterious third party made another appearance. This time, a voice echoed in Reign's mind, reaching him in moments of solitude. "You seek Avargan. A dangerous game with uncertain outcomes. Be wary of the threads that bind fate. Not all allies are revealed, and not all enemies wear masks."

"Be careful of who surrounds you, be careful to not play into their trap."

The enigmatic message left Reign pondering what just happened. It hinted at the complexity of the situation, raising more questions than answers. The third-party was able to show up at any time it seemed, and Reign still had no idea who it was, nor why they were trying to help him and the others out.

Still, the urgency of capturing Avargan kept him focused on the task at hand.

He made a mental note of the message, but he couldn't also think whether or not it was helpful, after all, what if the third party had told him that to make him doubt his allies, to make him skeptical of those around him?

That would work in Avargan's favor.

A mere day after that, they found clues that would lead them to Avargan, clues that were left there by someone.

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