Enoch, with the leader's pendant around his neck, and his twenty-four allies, were sent to one of the far corners of the forest, given time to strategise.
They would wait for the sound of a great bell, which meant it was time to hunt.
The rules were simple: treat the battle seriously, but take no man or woman's life. Any other injury could be healed with time if aided by the kingdom's healers.
Enoch stood at the head of a crowd where twenty-four noble young men and women stared at him.
Some he recognised, whilst others he had never seen before. He saw expressions ranging from fear to excitement across their faces.
He himself was surprisingly relaxed. Even though he possessed powers that far exceeded most humans his age, he had still expected to feel some sort of nerves.
Perhaps I am that confident in my victory.
As the crowd noticed Enoch's calm demeanour, they too began to feel soothed. Their nerves were seemingly washed away, as if they had already placed full faith in their victory.
Enoch spoke, raising his chest high and scanning the crowd with his dark eyes.
"We haven't got a lot of time, so I'm going to explain this plan quickly, to make sure we don't fall behind the other teams."
The crowd nodded their heads in understanding, so Enoch continued.
"We are likely to be the main targets of this battle. The other leaders are wise enough to know that I've probably awakened a powerful class. They'll want to get rid of us as soon as possible. There's even a chance they'll team up to face us."
It was an unlikely thought, but one he had to consider.
"In order to prevent this, we would be wise to take out one of their leaders first. If it became a three-on-one battle, we'd certainly lose, but a two-on-one is doable."
A man at the front of the crowd stirred nervously. Enoch recognised him as a young fencer named Danrid. His skin was dark and his hair matted and long.
"Please, don't take this as any offence, your majesty, but two armies against our one... that's fifty against twenty-five. Are you truly that confident in your abilities?"
Enoch couldn't help but smirk.
If only they knew...
"That is correct. However, it's not only my own abilities I have faith in."
Enoch's eyes landed on a figure lingering at the back of the crowd.
Everyone else turned to where he was looking. There they found a young woman, short and slender. Her hair was purple, as were her eyes, but what stood out most was the almost invisibly faint halo that rested atop her head.
The young lady shied away from everyone's gaze.
Enoch brought up her status, paying close attention to her singular title.
[Name: Jane De Blyth]
[Soul Level: Bronze]
[Titles: Saint]
> Saint
Description: Granted to one who has become spiritually blessed by a greater being. You may navigate the spiritual realm without having to worry about the detection of greater beings. However, the saints attacks in the physical world can cause no physical harm upon another being.
---
A smile crept across his face as he read the word "Saint" and its description. An idea had formed in his mind the moment he had first laid eyes on her, after scanning his entire team.
"M-me?" Jane stuttered, pointing at her chest with a finger.
She was clearly used to blending in with the world, going unnoticed. However, Enoch was a man who often paid attention to those who stood out to him.
"Yes, you. Jane and I will march out to the enemy field and steal a pendant early into the battle. The rest of you will remain here and scatter around our starting area in a shield formation. This will make others believe you're defending your leader. They'll likely try to fight their way through to whatever you're protecting, but you can't let them. However, even if they do, they'll only find that our leader isn't there. If I succeed in stealing one pendant and find the opportunity to take another, I'll do so. The battle may end before any of you even lay eyes upon one of the enemy leaders."
The more he spoke, the wider the eyes of the crowd grew. Most surprised was Jane, who had no idea what on earth the young Prince was planning to use her for.
"Have you gone crazy?" a young noble spoke, before clasping their hand over their mouth in fear, remembering who they were addressing.
Enoch only laughed. "No. I feel no premonition of failure. I believe this path will lead us to an easy victory."
Jane De Blyth only grew more anxious, wondering why the Prince, whom she had never met, had suddenly placed such faith in her as his partner.
"Can you at least tell us which of the leaders you're heading for?" she asked.
Enoch's eyes drifted directly east. His vision was obscured by the thick, black trees of the forest, yet he knew which leader lay ahead, judging by the directions they'd travelled in after being sent away in their groups.
"Of course. We're aiming for Nero Servus V, son of the Pope."
Ding!
And with that, the sound of the great bell rang, signalling for the mock battle to begin.
---
Enoch and Jane sprinted through the forest as he had instructed.
They kept their pace steady, lest they tire themselves before reaching their opponent.
They carried on for a few minutes in silence before Enoch stopped and turned to face the purple-haired woman following behind him.
She looked away nervously as Enoch looked her up and down. The halo above her head was a sign of her pure, righteous path, which was also the reason for her almost glowing skin and the faint pain he felt when near her.
A man on an immoral path would always feel discomfort around a being of pure morality.
"W-will you tell me now why you've chosen me to take down the enemy leader? As Prince, you probably know that I'm a saint who's incapable of causing harm to my enemies," she spoke nervously.
Of course. If I wanted an ally capable of fighting, I would have called upon Danrid the fencer.
"You will not be fighting. That will be my job. Only I will face danger today."
Jane raised a brow at the young Prince.
"Then..."
Enoch reached his hand into his soul space and felt for the magical item to land on the back of his hand.
After withdrawing it, he saw the Angelbird manifest into reality, its white fur radiant beneath the sun.
The Angelbird met eyes with Jane and stared at her as if it recognised her. Jane's eyes widened in surprise.
"An Angelbird! How have you come into possession of an Angelbird? Are you a god worshipper?"
A god worshipper was one who not only worshipped the true creator, who was worshipped by all living creatures, but also a lesser god of their choice.
The white-winged eagle let out a chirp, as if attempting to respond.
Honestly, I have a feeling you'd rather not know. It involves a truly immoral god.
"I can explain another time." Enoch lied. "Now, I'm sure you're aware of the Angel's ability to swap positions with its owner, as well as travel through the spirit world freely."
"Of course," Jane replied. "The Angelbird is a creature often used to interact with lesser gods, and sometimes even the true creator. However, there are only a handful of people who know the spiritual location of the True Creator's domain; Heaven."
Enoch nodded his head. This was knowledge he already possessed.
"As a Saint, you've visited the spirit realm before, correct?"
Jane nodded her head dubiously.
"Then I'd like you to help direct my Angelbird to the spiritual location of Nero Servus. Once there, I'll exit the spirit realm and return to the new world before swapping positions with the Angelbird and stealing the leader's pendant."
It was a plan with many risks, which was why he'd avoided explaining to the others how exactly he planned to steal the enemy's pendant.
"What?" Jane asked, clearly against the idea. "Not only is travelling the spirit realm dangerous, but once you arrive at the location of Nero Servus, you could find yourself surrounded by the enemy."
Her concern made Enoch laugh.
"If I weren't confident in my ability to defeat Nero Servus, I wouldn't have come up with such a plan. Now, there's no time. Can you guide me to the spiritual location of Nero Servus, or did I overestimate the abilities of a Saint?"
Jane shook her head, sending strands of purple hair loose. "Of course not. If this is what you want, then it's my duty to serve, your majesty. But before we begin, I must ask a question."
Enoch looked at the young lady with a raised brow. "What is it?"
"Those who enter the spiritual realm with a darker morality are more likely to be attacked by divine gods. Is it true, what Nero said? Do you walk an immoral path? I ask for your own sake, your majesty."
Jane's purple eyes stared deep into Enoch's soul, as if her title of Saint granted her the ability to weigh one's spirit in her hands.
Enoch tilted his head and flashed the Saint a white smile.
"No, Nero is a liar. I am a righteous prince."
---
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