Survivor: Rise of the Almighty

[A/N: Hey guys. So uhm for this particular chapter I will be experimenting with another pov narration type. As I have been writing this I have come to notice that doing multiple action sequences is best with this pov. So just for this chapter for now let me know what y'all think. Of course as the story progresses I will use other characters besides Kaizen for the narrative to dive into their thoughts and stuff like that.]

Chapter 25: An Almost Ambush

The tension in the air was suffocating. Kaizen drew his black sword from its scabbard with a smooth motion, the blade glinting faintly in the firelight. Its dark edge, almost invisible against the night, seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it.

Across the fire, Neralia and Lashley were already preparing their weapons. Neralia's emerald cloak billowed slightly as she drew a finely-crafted rapier, its intricate hilt gleaming with gold inlays. Lashley unsheathed a broad sword with an air of practiced ease, his movements sharp and deliberate.

Driver, meanwhile, wasted no time. The beastkin moved with efficient precision, quickly packing up the twins' equipment. Cushions, blankets, and even their precious map disappeared into the carriage in seconds.

"Stay close to the fire," Kaizen said, his voice low but firm. "Whatever's out there, they're not rushing in like idiots. They're watching us."

Lashley shot him a sharp look, the faint glow of the fire reflecting off his blade. "How can you even tell? You don't have mana, remember? So how the hell are you sensing anything?"

Kaizen's grip tightened on his sword. Lashley's question hit a nerve. It was the second time someone had called him out on this—the first being Lord Lucian himself. Back then, Kaizen hadn't thought much of it, but now it made sense.

Strong magic users could sense mana. And since Kaizen didn't have any, it must've stood out like a void in the middle of a glowing field.

But there was no way in hell he was telling these two about Ki. Not yet. Not when they barely trusted him to begin with.

"Just trust me," he said instead, his voice clipped.

"Trust you?" Neralia's voice was sharp with disbelief. "How can we trust you when you—"

Her words died in her throat.

It happened in an instant.

A faint whistle cut through the air, and before Neralia could react, something blurred into view—a flashing object, fast as lightning.

The next thing she knew, she was staring at the pointed head of an arrow, its tip mere inches from her eye.

Her breath caught. She hadn't even seen it coming.

But what shocked her more was the gloved hand gripping the arrow's shaft, steady and firm. Kaizen stood beside her, having moved so fast she hadn't even registered his approach.

"Get ready for a fight," Kaizen said, his voice calm but commanding. He yanked the arrow away and dropped it to the ground, his eyes scanning the darkness.

Neralia blinked, still processing what had just happened. One moment, she'd been standing safely by the fire. The next, Kaizen was at her side, his presence looming like a shield.

"How… how did you—?" she started, her voice shaky.

"Later," Kaizen cut her off. His eyes remained fixed on the shadows beyond the firelight. "Keep your guard up."

The three of them stood In tense silence, weapons at the ready. Even Driver, normally quiet and withdrawn, had grabbed a long knife from the carriage and positioned themselves near the horses.

They waited. And waited.

Minutes crawled by like hours. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

"Where the hell are they?" Lashley muttered, his grip on his sword tightening.

Kaizen's eyes narrowed. He could still sense them—six faint Ki signatures lingering just outside their perimeter. They weren't moving closer, but they weren't leaving either.

"They're watching us," he said, his tone measured.

"Watching?" Lashley repeated, incredulous. "For what? An invitation?"

But no sooner had the words left his mouth than Kaizen felt the shift. The Ki signatures began to move, retreating slowly into the distance.

"They're leaving," Kaizen said, lowering his sword slightly.

Lashley hesitated, then let out a quiet breath of relief as he lowered his own weapon. "Good. Maybe they realized we're not worth the trouble."

Kaizen didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the shadows, his thoughts racing.

Why hadn't they attacked? They had the numbers, and judging by the precision of that arrow, they weren't amateurs. Whoever they were, they'd been testing the group, probing for weaknesses.

"This wasn't random," Kaizen muttered under his breath.

"What?" Neralia asked, her rapier still raised.

Kaizen shook his head. "They outnumbered us six to three. Even if they didn't know what we were capable of, they could've overwhelmed us. Instead, they chose to watch, to test us. Which means…"

"Which means what?" Lashley pressed.

Kaizen's jaw tightened. "It means they were never here to kill us. They wanted to see how we'd react. And now that they've got their answer, they're gone."

Neralia and Lashley exchanged uneasy glances.

"Who the hell are they?" Neralia asked, her voice low.

Kaizen didn't have an answer. But one thing was clear: whoever those people were, they weren't just some band of wandering thugs. They had a purpose.

And if Kaizen's gut was right, this wasn't the last time they'd cross paths.

---

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows on the tense faces around it. The silence that followed their strange encounter wasn't comforting. It was heavy, thick with unanswered questions.

Kaizen remained standing near the edge of the firelight, his black sword resting casually on his shoulder. His posture looked relaxed, but his eyes betrayed him—they were sharp, scanning the darkness with a focus that didn't belong to his usual cocky demeanor.

He didn't crack a single joke or throw a sarcastic comment their way. No mocking the twins' noble airs, no snarky remarks about their inexperience. He was silent, his presence a sentinel in the night.

It unnerved them.

Neralia and Lashley sat closer to the fire, still gripping their weapons loosely. The tension from earlier lingered, wrapping around them like an unseen fog.

"How fast do you think he had to be?" Lashley finally broke the silence, his voice low.

Neralia turned her head to look at her twin. "What do you mean?"

"To save you from that arrow," Lashley clarified, his brows furrowed. "It was already inches from your face, and he wasn't anywhere near you when it was loosed. I didn't even see him move."

Neralia hesitated, her grip on her rapier tightening slightly as she remembered the arrow tip gleaming right before her eye. "I couldn't even react," she admitted quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "But somehow... he did."

Lashley leaned back, staring into the fire. "And Father noticed it back at the mansion yesterday," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Kaizen doesn't have a single drop of mana. That's why he can't use magic—elemental, martial, or null. No mana, no magic. So how the hell is he this strong?"

Neralia's gaze shifted toward Kaizen, who was still watching the dark woods. His gloved hands were steady on the hilt of his sword, and his eyes reflected none of the arrogance they were so used to. For the first time since they'd met him, she saw something else in his expression: responsibility.

"It doesn't matter," Neralia said, shaking her head. She leaned forward slightly, her cheeks dusted with the faintest shade of pink. "I believe Captain Alaric was right to recommend him for this quest. Whatever he is... whatever makes him this strong... I believe he's exactly what we need."

Lashley turned to his sister, his eyes narrowing slightly as he caught the blush on her face. His lips parted as if to say something, but he stopped himself. He leaned back again, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

Instead of addressing the blush, Lashley glanced at Kaizen, who still hadn't moved from his spot near the edge of the camp. The firelight painted him in sharp contrasts, his black sword and cloak making him look like a shadow brought to life.

For the first time, Lashley felt something he wasn't used to when it came to Kaizen. It wasn't disdain or annoyance, nor was it the instinctual superiority he felt toward commoners. It was something else entirely.

Respect.

He wouldn't say it out loud—not yet—but he was starting to realize that Kaizen wasn't just some brute with a blade and a sharp tongue. There was something about him, something more than what he showed on the surface.

But even as he acknowledged this new feeling, another thought crossed his mind, one that made his jaw tighten.

'He's not fucking my sister.'

Lashley glanced back at Neralia, who was now watching Kaizen with an expression that was almost... admiring. He groaned internally. This quest was going to be hell.

Kaizen, oblivious to their silent exchange, kept his eyes on the shadows. His mind churned with possibilities, analyzing the encounter from every angle.

Who were those people? Why didn't they attack? And more importantly, why were they testing him?

He tightened his grip on his sword.

If they come back, he thought grimly, they'd better be ready for a real fight.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]