Looking at the centre of the arena, everyone could see they were gone, not just the Shadow ant beast but Ray as well. Nearly everyone had stopped to look there, the immense pressure that was being emitted had disappeared.
"Ray! Ray!" Martha shouted were the only words that could be heard clearly while everyone else was mumbling to each other. It was so quiet now, even the sound of the fighting that was going on had stopped outside.
The reason? As soon as the Shadow ant had disappeared, the shadow that surrounded the true infected had gone away with it. It was the same as before where the shadow had remained lying dormant in thier body, It was different from the true infected they fought with before.
"What did he do?" Harry said.
Kyle had gotten off from the ground, he was a little beaten from holding Sylvia down and from being hurled onto the floor.
"That idiot, he saved us all. He teleported that Ant away with himself." Kyle said, shaking his fist. It was one of anger, why did he even bother going through the basting process. It was because he wanted to help Ray.
To make it, so he stopped having to keep getting stronger, to prevent having everything rely on his shoulders, so they could take part of the weight, but here once again. Ray had done everything and saved them all.
"He sacrificed himself," Jones said from the sideline.
"No, No, No, No!" Alexander shouted. While everyone was giving a silent prayer to Ray, their saviour, knowing the sacrifice he had made. Alexander was the only one screaming his head off.
"He ran off with the Key, with the pendant," Alexander shouted. Of course, no one but Roki actually knew what he was talking about.
With the true infected no longer attacking, it didn't take long to get the arena staff organized once again. The people were happily able to return to their homes with no trouble and the all kingdom contestants were to stay at the palace until an official announcement was made.
The Redwing members who had come with Ray, had stayed in the arena for a good few hours, rather than returning to the palace. Waiting for Ray's return. Eneventulley Sylvia regained consciousness, one of her eyes was still black, but she was back to how she used to be.
"What happened, where is everyone? Ray, what happened to Ray!" She said, and in the end, it was down to Martha to tell her the sad news. After the sun was starting to set, they were beginning to come to the realization that Ray wasn't going to return.
Those from the all kingdom tournament believed Ray was dead, the worst thing about it was there currently was no way for them to check. Up to this point, even when Ray was hurt, or when the system wouldn't allow them to send messages. They were able to open up part of the system to at least try and send messages. They could also see other Red wing members' names on there, apart from Ray's since he was the creator.
But the whole thing wasn't working. They not only couldn't send messages, but the system itself wasn't working at all. There were only two things that still gave them hope. The Redwing tattoo still showed on their bodies but honestly didn't know if that meant much. If Ray was to die, would the tattoo still remain? It was a question they would need to either ask Lenny or Bliss, which now they would have to do in person.
Then there was one more thing or a person who had given them hope, one that was surprising. When Sera went to leave the arena, he looked towards them and said.
"That person ain't dead," Sera said. "The look in his eyes said he hasn't given up, he still had a plan. Trust me, I know more than anyone the eyes of a dead person."
It was clear that Sera wasn't the type of person to say this just to cheer them up. He had no reason to. It was because he genuinely believed it, and Sera had gained a rival to look forward to fighting with. He had earned his respect for what he had done.
Eventually, the Redwings decided to call it a night as well. Standing there, just thinking about it wasn't going to make him come back any quicker.
All the contestants were once again invited to a dinner, as they did the first night before the tournament had begun. It said it was compulsory as an announcement was to be made to them before it was to be made to the public.
When the Redwings entered the room, it was good to know that everyone seemed to be fine. There were no grave injuries apart from the two that had died. The one Sera had killed as well as the one the Shadow ant had defeated as well.
Before the food was served, Alexander stood up at the head of the table and tapped his glass a couple of times.
"I called you all to tell you that the all kingdom tournament will come to an end tonight. There will be no fights tomorrow due to what happened today. The Empire's people are shaken, and they will take the time to heal as shall all of us.
"The prizes that were prepared shall go to the semifinalist of the event."
Those in the room had clapped, and they had no complaints about this. Most of them wanted to go home back to their kingdoms for a good night's rest. They didn't even care about the prizes anymore.
Food was served, and it was as glorious as ever. Top food that was fit for any king. They all enjoyed each mouthful as if they would never experience such luxury in their lives again. The meal was finished, and they were all quite satisfied with the food. This time, the guards that had come with the contestants were free to sit at the table and enjoy the food as well. Which included Sylvia's brother Mathew and the others.
Alexander then turned to those from the Redwings sitting at the table.
"I hope you enjoyed your last meal." He said.
"Last?" Kyle muttered.
Suddenly, spears and swords were pointed at their throats from the knights in the room.
"What are you doing!" Mathew said. "Their king saved you, he saved all of us and this is how you are treating them."
But Alexander didn't care.
"Because one man from their kingdom did one thing I'm meant to forgive them. Don't make me laugh." Alexander said. "They are to be arrested and held captive for conspiring against the Empire. I don't know how he got that key, but I'm going to pull the information out of every single one of you."
"What the hell!" Kyle said, knocking the spear out of the way form the knight's hand, and then attacking the knight. He had punched him, finishing him off with a single hit, but soon after more knights had pointed blades at him.
'I knew that bald one was strong as well.' Savana thought, watching from the sides.
"You think we're going to let you take us away without putting up a fight, after what our king did for you, he saved your ass. That Ant would have lobbed your head off!" Kyle shouted in anger.
"Do you see any of the other kingdoms coming to your help? Do you really think that Ant would have been able to kill everyone in the Empire?" Alexander asked.
Maybe he didn't realize it, but Sera, Roki, Jones, Savana and the others did. The Ant would have been able to kill them all. Yet. No one was speaking up for the Redwings. Maybe if Ray was still there alive they would have, but he wasn't, and the Empire was still a strong force to be reckoned with, one they didn't want to upset.
"Kyle, let's not die here," Slyvia said. "We won't fight."
The main reason for Slyvia making these choices was because she couldn't contact the Redwings. Before Ray had asked the members to be on standby, ready to raid and start a war with the Empire, but now they were unable to communicate with them.
If they chose to fight, they would be on their own.
After Slyvia said that, the whole Redwings group was taken away and placed in an underground dungeon. Their weapons were taken away.
The others thought the Emperor had done this due to their previous feud. The king was missing, and there next in command was also here. It was a foolish thing for the Redwings to do. With these two people gone, the Redwings would be finished.
But Roki knew that wasn't the real reason, the real reason was because he wanted to know why Ray had the key.
They were stuck in the cell, frustrated. Kyle was pacing backwards and forwards, wondering what to do, and they all couldn't stop thinking about Ray.
That's when they heard the sound of m.o.a.ns and grunting coming down the corridor from their cell. Then the sound of footsteps as if it sounded like people were running their way.
Two people had turned around the corner and were now standing in front of their cell. One of them being Slyvia's brother Mathew.
"I'm not going to let them kill my little sister." He said, and the other one Roki. "It looks like my time to leave this place has come."
*****
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