I Only Tame Dragons

The players were given a brief reprieve to recover before the next match. For the audience, the short breaks between battles only heightened the anticipation, as the action was relentless.

The arena was alive with energy, every roar of the crowd echoing through the massive stadium as they clamored to see who would emerge as the champion.

The tournament had reached its boiling point. Each day, guilds clashed with everything they had, and only the truly powerful remained standing. The weaker ones had been weeded out early, their hopes crushed by the unrelenting strength of the elite. Now, the battles weren't just about skill—they were wars of endurance, strategy, and raw power.

One guild, the Crimson Raptors, became known for their explosive aerial strikes, leaving opponents scrambling to counter their lightning-fast maneuvers. The Frostveil Sentinels froze their competition—literally—turning the battlefield into a frozen wasteland. The Wingless Valkyries dazzled the crowd with flawless tactics, their leader Seraphina's blade cutting through even the most stubborn defenses.

Meanwhile, the Brotherhood Legion bulldozed their way through every round, their disciplined ranks and overwhelming strength making them a force to be reckoned with.

But amidst these titans, it was Nyx's Guild that stole the spotlight. They were supposed to be an unknown guild, a group of nobodies. Yet, round after round, they shocked the audience and their rivals alike with their seamless coordination and raw talent.

Horizon, the enigmatic leader, had emerged as a dominant figure, his indifferent and unshakable composure unnerving even the most seasoned opponents.

While the audience reveled in the spectacle, others watched the tournament with growing unease. The Elven Elders, seated in the shadows of the VIP stands, grew more restless with each passing day. Their frustration simmered, hidden behind composed expressions as they whispered among themselves.

"How are they still advancing?" one elder hissed, his sharp eyes fixed on the arena.

"They've survived every challenge we've thrown at them," another muttered, his fists clenched tightly. "This should've been over by now."

From the very beginning, the Elven Elders had been plotting to eliminate Nyx's Guild. The stakes were high; the Queen of the Kingdom of Stars had demand compensation in the tournament to salvage their reputation after her forces were humiliated earlier. The Elders had taken it upon themselves to ensure success, resorting to underhanded methods to eliminate Horizon and his team.

At first, they had tried subtlety. In the early rounds, they had manipulated the tournament brackets, ensuring Nyx's Guild faced the most brutal opponents possible. They arranged for Scarlet Blood Moon, a guild bolstered by powerful artifacts, to face Nyx's team in the first round, confident that the artifacts would secure an easy victory.

But that plan had backfired spectacularly. Scarlet Blood Moon had been annihilated, the artifacts rendered useless against Horizon and the others' overwhelming strength.

Next, the Elders turned to sabotage. Before one of Nyx's matches, they bribed arena staff to tamper with the battlefield. Traps were hidden beneath the arena floor, designed to trigger only when Nyx's team stepped on them. Yet somehow, Horizon had seen through the ruse. His team had navigated the battlefield with ease, dismantling their opponents without ever triggering the traps.

Frustrated but undeterred, the Elders escalated their efforts. They hired mercenaries to ambush Nyx's team outside the arena, hoping to weaken them before their next match. The mercenaries were armed with poison-tipped weapons and instructed to attack under the cover of night. But the plan failed when Von spotted the ambush before it could begin. The mercenaries were swiftly dealt with, their defeat only adding to Nyx's growing legend.

"They've got too much luck," one elder growled, his voice low and venomous. "Or something's protecting them."

"It's not luck," another replied bitterly. "They're just that good. And it's infuriating."

The Elders became more desperate with each failure. They resorted to manipulating the tournament rules, attempting to disqualify Nyx's Guild on technicalities. They fabricated allegations of cheating, but every claim was disproven, and Nyx's reputation only grew stronger.

"We can't let them win," an elder hissed, his voice trembling with anger. "If they take the championship, the Queen of Stars will never make deals with us again."

But despite their best efforts, Nyx's Guild continued to advance. Each victory was more decisive than the last, their strength undeniable. The audience adored them, and even rival guilds began to acknowledge their dominance.

In the latest match, Horizon's team had dismantled their opponents with ease that the crowd erupted into deafening cheers before the final blow even landed. Their individual strength was seamless, their strategies flawless.

The Elven Elders watched in silence, their frustration boiling over. They had exhausted every trick in the book, yet Nyx's Guild remained unscathed.

"We need to stop them," one elder said, his voice low and urgent. "If they win, everything we've worked for will be for nothing."

Another elder shook his head, his expression grim. "We've tried everything. Nothing's worked. And now . . . we're out of time."

The Queen of the Kingdom of Stars, seated in her private throne, watching in her kingdom, seemed oblivious to the Elders' plight. Her focus was on the matches, her expression serene. But the Elders knew better. If Nyx's Guild won, there would be consequences. The Queen's wrath was not something they wanted to face.

As the next match loomed, the Elders exchanged wary glances. They had one final card to play, but it was risky—a direct intervention that could expose their scheming to the Queen of Elves. Yet, with no other options left, they knew it might be their only chance.

Down in the preparation rooms, Horizon and his team prepared for the next battle, unaware of the storm brewing behind the scenes. The matches were only growing fiercer, but Horizon's calm demeanor never wavered.

"They're trying to stop us. It's so obvious now," Lydia said, her voice low as she adjusted her armor.

"Let them try," Horizon replied, his tone cold. "We'll keep winning."

And as they stepped onto the battlefield once more, the crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the arena. Nyx's Guild was unstoppable, and nothing—not sabotage, manipulation, or even the desperation of the Elven Elders—could change that. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire