I was hiding again.
Well… not really hiding. I was standing at the edge of the battlefield, pretending to look brave while staying as far away from the real fighting as possible.
Everyone left in the arena was a monster.
Brutus, the giant with armor like a walking fortress, stood across from Aeron—our so-called Hero. Aeron's sword glowed with both light and fire. His cape actually fluttered even though there was no wind.
Next to them?
Cain Virell, the fire freak from Gravesend. The same guy I beat somehow earlier. His red blade burned like it was alive, and he didn't stop grinning. And then there was Liora—my cousin, shadow-magic expert, chain-flinging noble warrior of doom.
And then me.
Holding my skinny black sword and trying not to faint.
The announcer's voice echoed across the floating arena.
"The final battles of the Battle Royale! Liora Godfrey versus Cain Virell! Aeron Valestar versus Brutus the Black Warden!"
The crowd exploded with cheers. Seriously, they were losing their minds.
I stayed put.
Liora stepped forward first. She raised one hand, and dark chains slithered from the ground. Her eyes were glowing with cold power. "You're not getting past me, Cain."
Cain laughed. "I wasn't planning to go past you. I was planning to go through you."
He rushed her with speed that made the floor shake. His sword burned bright red as it came down, but Liora's chains wrapped around it mid-swing, locking it in place.
She jerked her hand, and a second set of chains shot at his legs.
Cain grunted, pulling back, fire bursting from him in a ring that snapped the chains. He lunged again. Liora sent a wave of shadow magic, swallowing the ground in black mist.
They clashed in the center of the ring. Fire versus shadow. Cain's blade was a blur of red heat. Liora's chains danced like snakes, cutting through the flames. The floor cracked beneath them from the force of every hit.
But… Cain was too fast.
His final move was a fake slash. Liora dodged—right into his trap. His fire curved mid-air, hitting her side.
She fell with a cry. Her chains scattered into smoke.
"Liora!" I shouted without meaning to.
She groaned, trying to get up.
Cain stood over her, sword pointed at her neck.
"I win," he said, and walked away.
The crowd gasped.
They didn't cheer. Not yet.
Then came Aeron's turn.
He faced Brutus, the silent mountain.
Brutus raised his huge mace and slammed it into the ground. A shockwave rippled out, and stone spikes burst from the floor.
Aeron jumped, flipping through the air. His sword blazed gold and red. He landed and slashed—a beam of fire shot out, breaking through the stone.
Brutus didn't flinch. He charged.
Their weapons collided in the middle—light met shadow, and for a moment, everything went white.
And then—Cain jumped in.
"What?!" I shouted.
Cain and Brutus both attacked Aeron. Two against one.
Aeron gritted his teeth and planted his feet. His sword burned brighter. Wings of light formed on his back. He dashed between them, blocking Cain's strikes and dodging Brutus's heavy swings.
Flames spun around him as he fought both at once.
He sent a pillar of fire into the sky, then brought it down like a hammer. Cain flew backward, knocked out cold.
The crowd went crazy.
But Brutus?
Still standing.
He rushed Aeron again. Mace up. Aeron met him with a blast of fire and light—but Brutus roared and smashed through it, slamming Aeron in the side.
Aeron stumbled, bleeding.
He tried to get up. Raised his sword one last time.
Brutus slammed the mace again—and Aeron went down.
Silence.
For a full second, the arena went totally quiet.
Then the crowd erupted.
"BRUTUS! BRUTUS! BRUTUS!"
I… just stood there.
Still hiding. Still sick. Still holding my sword like a broomstick.
Five of us started the final round.
Now?
Only me.
And Brutus.