Norman barged inside their rented room. One would think a hotel room would be dangerous, but the public area makes it rather hard to attack.

"I have some news," Norman said, holding a paper.

"Did you visit the venue?" Orel asked, watching down to the city.

"Yeah. Look at this." Norman threw the paper on the table. "They got our faces."

"So, no entering from the front," Ándras said.

"That wasn't my plan, but we need to be more careful from now on."

"Speaking of plans, could you tell it already?" Orel asked.

"Well, I might as well." Norman sat down. "We will steal the grand prize from right under their noses."

"You mean the fox?"

"Yup. I don't know why they're after it, but the locals told me it has all sorts of benefits. You see, its fleece is made of gold."

"Really?" Orel raised his eyebrows.

"Well, at least according to the legend. Past winners have said it's sparkly, and many keep it as a lucky charm."

"So it's merely a hunt for an endangered animal?" Ándras asked.

"Pretty much. There's a myth that fire foxes can lead their finder into treasure or their demise depending on how they judge the person."

"Is that what the mages are here for?" Orel asked.

"I'm not sure, but I got an idea from it." Norman grinned with a smug smile.

"What now?" Orel did not like the smile on his face.

"We make the fox help us find that realm." Norman jerked his eyebrows.

"Great plan and all, but how will we find it?" Orel shrugged.

"That's still something I'm working on." Norman scratched his head.

"By the way, why are you looking for those realms anyway?" Ándras asked.

"It has to do with my research," Norman explained.

"Boring." Ándras rolled his eyes. "What about you, Orel?"

"I want to be the first to visit all realms."

"All of them?" Ándras hung up on the wording.

"Yup. Grandma used to read me stories of all these great explorers that found one, but I want to find them all."

Norman snickered. "That is if they exist. But who am I to say when I'm chasing them too."

"Ahahaha! You lot are a funny bunch!" Ándras slapped his leg.

"And I guess you want to find out who you are?" Orel asked in return.

"Some day, for sure." Ándras nodded. "For now, I will have your back."

"We could get you a ticket to Zabad if you want," Norman suggested.

"As I am now, I will only get myself lost there. I can wait for the day we go there together." Ándras smiled with the widest and warmest smile.

"Sure, big guy." A smile slipped on Norman's lips. "I can show you around."

"And I have just the place we can go explore." Orel smiled.

"Good to know, but for now, let us go and fetch that fox and kick some mage butt," Ándras smacked his fists together.

"Right." Norman stood up. "First off, Orel, focus on your training. I will give you some more lessons whenever I can." Norman called out while walking in a circle.

"Sure," Orel said.

"I will try to form a plan for this operation. Ándras, I need you to come with me for specialized training." Norman pointed while walking.

"Alright." Ándras cracked his neck.

"We only have three days, so this will be a tight schedule. Are you ready?"

"You sure like to make sure of things." Ándras sighed.

"It is better to be careful than in a rush."

"I guess it's the strategist's job to circle around and stress about things," Orel smirked.

"Ready or not, three days is all we got before the festival starts." Norman stopped and slammed his hand to the table. "Prepare yourselves."

"No need to say it twice," Orel said.

"Always ready," Ándras gave a thumbs up.

"Then, let us start."

The day of the festival came. The streets were filled with people and venues, and the air was with noise and music. The grand stage with spotlights and the crowd waiting was at the treeline near the city's edge while the whole thing was live on national television and broadcast throughout the city. Spotlights and celebrations colored the white snow and dark sky with colors and joy, but it only made the farce feel more disgusting.

"Welcome to the grand return of the Firefox Festival! I am your host for this special night, Andreas Seabeach!" Andreas' voice filled the air.

"This is some record-breaking contest! As you know, registration was only for registered pro hunters, yet we managed to gather over three thousand contestants worldwide! We have big names, such as the nordic trapper legend Johness Tompa from Svadia, Akando, the tribal hunter from the West Coast of Zabad, and Thợ Săn, the sniper from Hangug. We don't forget our leader of Alanland's National Hunting Alliance ANHA, Jussi the Barehanded!"

Orel, Norman, and Ándras were already in the woods and tuning in from their cellphones. It proved unnecessary as the announcements echoed far into the forest.

"Oh? I have just received an important last-minute notification!" Andreas stepped on the stage. "Though he was not originally planning on participating, our leading organizing has arrived to deliver a speech for our contestants!"

Orel and Norman couldn't help but turn their heads toward the city.

"Here he is! Give applause to lord Daniel Medrawd II!" Andreas looked at the back of the stage.

Daniel stepped onto the stage with a sour look on his face, yet put up a small smile as Andreas passed him a microphone and all of the cameras centered on him.

"Good evening, everyone. It has been a great pleasure to be able to organize this event." Daniel spoke with a dry voice.

"That's him." Orel and Norman watched their screens.

"But where's the other one?" Orel watched Daniel alone on the stage.

"If I may ask, lord Daniel, how did it occur to you to help to re-establish the Firefox festival?" Andreas asked, standing shortly behind Daniel.

"I have always sought to expand my reach in the world. You could say that it is a hobby of mine. After hearing that such an event would be discontinued, I could not stand by."

"Your goodwill does not seem to hold any bounds!" Andreas let the cheers roar. "Is it true that you will donate all your profits to charity?"

"You might not believe it by my appearance, but I have also been through hard times. Having felt that pain, I will not let people suffer through that again."

"Will you join us in the monitoring room for further commentary?"

"I must apologize, but I have other plans for tonight." Daniel waved his hand.

"Oh, well, do you have anything to say to our contestants?"

"Ah. I have." Daniel stared into the camera with an intense stare and an unnerving grin. "I must congratulate you all for having come this far. This night allows you to show what you truly are made of. However, there can only be one victor, and the winner takes it all. Remember that. That being said, let us have an unforgettable hunt. I will see it to the end."

Daniel walked off the stage, handing the mic to Andreas. The crowd cheered, but many got a weird feeling about the speech.

"Um, that was Daniel Medrawd II, everyone!" Andreas tried to save the atmosphere. "Now, let us get ready for the start!"

A large screen turned on behind Andreas. "Let us view the area! As you can see, there are multiple official entranceways along the forest walls. This is where the contestants will start the race, chosen randomly. Entering or exiting from any other point is considered a forfeit and results in disqualification. Each of our contestants has GPS, as well as radio, given by us. Only inspected and cleared gear is allowed to be used. Any harm or foul play among the contestants is also strictly prohibited. For monitoring purposes, each contestant is equipped with video cameras to follow and listen to their actions and progress, but this information is only available to judges. What am I blabbering about? Let us start the contest already! Am I right, people?"

The crowd roared with thunderous applause. As the music dropped and everyone went silent, a single red flare fired into the dark sky and exploded. Fireworks and music boomed, and people celebrated and raised drinks.

On the starting lines, people rushed into the forest with a green light. The flare could not reach all the points, so they used their own lights instead. The woods included dense patches of trees, ripples of plains, and gentle yet high hills. Even though there were three thousand participants, they were divided until only a few dozen were on each point, evening them out.

"What are we going to do?" Orel asked, watching the flare drop.

"Alright. The plan is simple. We create a distraction that forces the event to be shut down and those two to come after us. I would guess that those two will use the orbs to look for the fox and us and use the shadows to take us out. We will try to take out the shadow mage and let the other one find the fox for us."

"Devilish." Ándras giggled.

"But what will we use as a distraction?" Orel asked.

"Ándras and I have thought that part through." Norman put his arm over his shoulder.

"I am the bait," Ándras said nonchalantly.

"What about me?" Orel asked.

"I will support Ándras and you. You must take out the shadow mage and find that fox."

"Why me?"

"You are nimbler and get around better. Also, I think you have what it takes to take out that mage. I will support you if the situation goes haywire."

"Alright. I got this." Orel nodded.

"Also, I got these for us." Norman opened his backpack and gave each other radios. "Phone signals can be bad here, so let's use these instead."

"It won't fit." Ándras pushed the radio to the back pocket of his grey overalls.

"Don't tear it! That suit was expensive!" Norman snapped.

"I am trying, but these pockets are too small."

"Give it to me." Norman took a shoelace and tied it to the radio. "Here, put it on."

"Thank you." Ándras put it on and took hold of it. "How do I use it?"

"Here, I'll show you." Norma took out his.

A brief test later, the three separated. Norman looked for a high place to use as a lookout with a pair of binoculars while Ándras charged in and Orel went scouting.

"Phew, this will do it for this month's exercise," Norman said, having reached the peak of a hill. "Huh, would you look at that?" He took out his radio. "Orel, there's a small cabin north of your location. Could you check it for me?"

"Why?" Orel asked while jogging.

"There aren't many reasons for someone to live this isolated in the woods. I won't sugarcoat it: The other mage might be in there, so be careful."

"What should I do if he is there?"

"First report back to me. I will give you further instructions based on that. Also, I shouldn't need to say this but stay out of sight."

"Okay." Orel nodded.

"Stay safe." Norman changed the channel. "Ándras, how is it going on your end?"

"Nothing spectacular. Woods, snow, flying lights."

"I see- Wait, what was that about?" Norman took out his binoculars. "You're right, and there's a bunch of them going around something."

"I see it too. Someone is walking alone."

"A hunter?" Norman couldn't see it well.

"What is this man? He has something on his back, but it isn't a gun." Ándras reported from behind a tree.

"Since the lights are following him, it might be someone from outside the hunt. They might think it as one of us."

"Wait, I see something." Ándras peeked from behind the tree.

The figure walked alone in the snow with a large hide on its shoulders, stretching down its back. It carried a long, wrapped glaive that rested on its shoulder. As the orbs came closer, its bandaged arms grasped the hilt and spun the weapon into action. The slanted eyes beneath the white hood watched closely for movement.

"Is it warrior?" Ándras asked.

"Whoever it is, it's drawing all of the attention of those orbs. The lack of a warning sound makes it seem like the mages want to take it out themselves."

"Shouldn't we help the poor fellow? He is in trouble because of us, after all."

"Let's watch first how this goes. That guy doesn't look that defenseless to me." Norman watched.

"Alright."

The hooded figure raised his head to meet the orbs dancing around him and the surrounding trees. The tree's shadows spun around him, and suddenly, something approached. A shadowy figure jumped out of the shade as if swimming in the darkness. It grasped a jagged blade with its bony hand, ready to deliver it to the man's back. Yet, the man cut it in two. Two more manifested from both sides, yet the dancing glaive took them down, and they dissipated. A group emerged around him. Before the man could swing at them, something grasped his legs. A pair of diamond-headed shadows grabbed him with their arms. At the same time, a shower of throwing knives rained down upon him. The man sighed as sparks escaped his body.

A flash of light blinded Ándras and a loud boom deafened his ears.

"What the hell was that?" Norman asked, falling to the ground. "Ándras, speak to me!"

"Holy moly, was that a lightning bolt?" Ándras answered as he regained his sight. "My ears are still ringing."

"What happened?" Norman searched with his binoculars.

Ándras looked over, and the man stood tall amid utter destruction. The trees were burning, the snow melted, and no lights or shadows to speak of. The man quietly rested the glaive on his shoulder and continued walking.

"Hey, you." Ándras walked out of his cover. "What did you just do?"

"Are you the one behind this?" The man stopped.

"No, but I want to ask you something."

"Then I have no business with you." The man started walking again.

"Hey, hey, hear me out." Ándras stepped forth. "Let us fight."

"I do not duel for entertainment." The man kept walking yet stopped after a moment. "Hmmm, you think so? He did not seem that powerful." He said to himself.

"Hm?" Ándras noticed.

The man turned. "Tell me, are you willing to cast your life away on a duel with a stranger?"

"Ándras, what are you doing there? I can't see well to your position." Norman asked through the radio.

"Oh, sorry, I am experiencing technical difficulties. I will call you later." Ándras dropped his radio to the ground. "So, are you eager now? I don't have much time, so make up your mind, would you?"

"Not before you answer my question." The man insisted.

"Oh, that? My life is well and secure, trust me."

"Confidence and pride, or perhaps mere stupidity and ignorance." The man shook his head. "Do you believe in reincarnation after death? Heaven or hell?"

"I am not here for you to ask about my moral judgment." Ándras tilted his head.

"Did you request a duel or not?" The man asked with a sly tone.

"Fine, I will tell you. No, even if your spirit continues, it will not be your own. That's how I see it."

"I see." The man rubbed his chin through the cloth.

"Did that satisfy your inquiry?" Ándras asked with a tired voice.

"...For now."

"So, are you ready?" Ándras cracked his knuckles.

"State your name." The man pointed his weapon at Ándras. "This is a proper duel, after all."

"My name is Ándras, given by my friends as I seek my past. Do you accept my challenge?" Ándras moved to a fighting pose.

The man struck the ground with the tip of his weapon. "I, Katō Isao of the Reijin temple, accept your challenge."

"Not going to show your face, Mr. Katō?

"Katō is my surname, but the gesture is still polite. As for the answer, I must confess that this cold is too much for my skin."

"A fair reason. Forgive my rudeness."

"Atoning for your actions comes only after you survive." Isao took hold of his glaive with both of his arms.

"I will look up to that." Ándras smiled.

"Final question. What is the reason you wish to duel?"

"I need to become stronger, so I couldn't stop myself upon seeing such a challenge before me," Ándras said with sincerity.

"Such foolish ambition. Well, that does not matter. I will end your existence right here."

"Try your best, or do your worst, as the kids say."

"Hmph, then I should say bring it on, but-" Isao disappeared.

A sharp pain struck Ándras to his side. As he reached to hold the wound, he noticed his left arm lying on the ground, being cut clean off.

"I wonder how long you will last." Isao appeared behind him.

"That's what I want to see!" Ándras picked up his arm and struck it back in place. "I was getting worried you were going easy on me."

Isao stepped back at the sight of the steaming hand reattaching itself and already moving.

"Are you truly a human?" He asked.

"Much as any other." Ándras smiled. "Now, come get me!"