Cayden laughed, slamming the polearms of his battle axes together as he stood victoriously. Without even giving Prince Kalmin another glance, he hopped once more, landing right before Ryu.
In truth, Ryu was actually slightly taller than Cayden now, it was just that his frame was more slender and compact due to his Bone Structure. However, Cayden now looked down toward Ryu, standing on a stair one level above his own.
"Let's hope that you're as smart as Prince Kalmin, Fourth Brother. Your elder brother here is very worried for you. Without any warriors by your side, could it be that you plan to clear this trial alone?" Cayden laughed, pointing an axe toward the still meditating Ryu.
"Attacking my step is the most foolish thing you could do. But, please do go ahead." Ryu replied calmly.
"Foolish, you say?" Cayden's chest vibrated in amusement.
"I'm sure that Amory knows that having you attack my step is a mistake, but he refuses to make his next move blindly, so he's sent you here to test my bottom line. How about I describe to you how things will play out?"
Ryu's voice was like a cool breeze, blowing through the arena with incomparable ease. Although his voice was neither as deep, nor as loud as Cayden's, it somehow reached everyone's ears. Not allowing Cayden to respond, he continued.
"You'll attack this step of mine and take victory. However, moments later, your action will be wasted as I continue to my fourth step.
"Then, after Amory realizes there's no use in trying this tactic again until I reach the third tier of steps, you'll shock the crowd by choosing to attack him, someone who you seem to be in an alliance with."
Amory's pupils constricted into pin sized holes. To think Ryu had already thought of this possibility.
"However, the reality of the matter is that your attacking Amory's steps will only help him. You're essentially giving him the ability to move forward one extra step every other round without him having to waste an action.
"Unfortunately for you and Amory, this First Prince of our Tor Kingdom just made a big show of his domineering side. I wonder what would happen to his momentum if he suddenly realized that his tactics were wasted on me? How domineering for the Commander of the Dragon Corps to back down against an enemy that only amounted to a single fifteen-year-old boy without backing or help… Hm?
"So, in order to preserve his momentum, Amory will have to make one of two choices. First, he could expose his alliance with Prince Atticus and Prince Silas now. In this way, one of the trump cards he was saving for the third trial would be wasted here. Wouldn't that be a great shame?
"Or, secondly, he would have to continue using you to attack, making it seem like his real plot was just to slow me down and wear me out instead of his true goal in placing first here."
The crowd listened to Ryu calmly analyze the situation as though he had everything in hand. At first, they felt like he was speaking nonsense, but while Amory was capable of hiding his surprised expression, Cayden was never capable of such a thing. How could he as a man who wore his emotions on his sleeve in every action he took, do that?
"In all likelihood, he would choose the second option. He'll gladly take second place here once more, placing him within perfect striking distance for the final trial."
The crowd felt something unfathomable was hidden within Ryu. Something none of them could put their fingers on, but it felt like he already had victory in his grasp.
The truth of the matter was that no one in the crowd was certain of an Amory-Cayden alliance. Although Cayden laughed during Amory's grand entrance into the second trial, he laughed all the time. It was more like a tacit secret, one that much of the crowd had yet to grasp. Yet, Ryu's words had blown that up entirely.
Then there was the Ryu's exposing of a supposed alliance between Amory and the two Crown Princes.
In truth, it made sense. Why were Silas and Atticus even here? Weren't they the only Princes of their empires already? They had no need to participate in this event. Obviously, the crowd didn't understand the underlying secrets behind the destruction of the Natural Order Sect.
Instead, what they found odd was that the two Princes didn't seem to be trying their best like everyone else was. Could it really be true?
Obviously, Ryu didn't pull this from thin air, and Amory knew it. On the night Granny Miriam died, weren't Prince Silas and Atticus there? Why were they there? Why was it that only Amory was entertaining them? If Ryu couldn't put those pieces together, what worth did his so-called intelligence have?
But, what others couldn't understand was why Ryu would expose this. Even if he knew, wasn't it smarter to keep it all secret? Yet, judging by the twisted expression of Amory, it was clear to everyone that there was an underlying purpose only he and Ryu had grasped, one that forced Amory to no longer be capable of holding a calm expression.
"Go ahead, Third Brother." Ryu said lightly. "Conquer my step, do our First Brother's bidding. Enjoy the feeling of knowing that no matter what step you take now – whether you continue forward or retreat – you will be playing into my hands."
Both Cayden and Amory were forced into a corner by Ryu's words. If Cayden decided to step forward now, he would be helping Ryu climb more steps – Ryu's confidence wasn't faked. However, if Cayden retreated, all the momentum he and Amory had built up would shatter.
"Oh, I also forgot to say this." Ryu turned toward Amory, his eyes still closed. "You have quite a good grandfather, far better than mine, I have to say. The Dragon Corps he trained are excellent!"
Patriarch Cedar's happy expression suddenly darkened. Truth be told, that was just a guess of Ryu's. However, it didn't matter if it was true or not. With this simple sentence, the seed of doubt was planted within the crowd. Now, no matter what decision Cayden made, Amory's momentum was shattered, all because Cayden wanted to say a few taunting words.
Cayden snorted. Without a choice, he could only continue forward, or else everything would be for nought.
As though the Heavens themselves had recognized Ryu's seizing of the momentum, Cayden's expression could only twist as a mere Lower Second Order beast appeared before him.