As the roar of the crowd settled, Garrick's voice thundered through the hall.
"Winner—Seraphina!"
She descended the stage with poise, her blade dimming to a soft gold shimmer as she vanished into the crowd. Arthur's eyes followed her. Every step she took, every move she made—it screamed mastery.
But there was no time to admire.
"Next match—Felix Arden versus Darius Voss!"
Felix exhaled, cracked his neck, and rolled his shoulders.
Arthur slapped his back. "Good luck."
Felix winked. "Luck's for people who don't have skill."
He stepped forward, his messy black hair catching the light. On the opposite side, Darius Voss approached. His stride was calculated. Sharp features. Cold eyes. His whole presence said "I kill people like you before lunch."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "That guy's dangerous."
Ronan nodded beside him. "He's from the Veil District."
Arthur blinked. "Veil what now?"
"It's the place between nobility and commoners. Not high enough to be nobles, not low enough to be commoners. Outcasts with skills. Some serve royalty. Some serve no one."
Arthur muttered, "So he's basically a wildcard."
Hyorinmaru, lounging on his shoulder, yawned. "Humans and your useless class systems. Just fight and be done with it."
Arthur muttered, "You've got an opinion on everything, don't you?"
Hyorinmaru leapt up—and smacked his tail across Arthur's face.
"GAH—Stop that!" Arthur shouted, swatting the little dragon off his head.
Laughter rippled through the audience.
"BEGIN!"
Felix and Darius raised their swords.
Lightning surged in Darius' hand. "Spark… Denkouken."
A crackling blade of lightning roared to life, crackling with violent energy.
Felix smiled and whispered, "Blast away… Kazeken."
Two curved wind-forged blades formed in his hands, the air howling around him.
Then—they clashed.
Darius lunged first, his lightning blade slicing down with brutal speed. Felix pivoted to the side, his left blade deflecting the strike, while his right arced up, slashing Darius across the cheek.
A line of red.
Darius froze. He touched the blood.
"You… cut me."
Felix grinned. "That was the idea."
Darius snapped.
"YOU FILTHY COMMONER! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Electricity surged around him, warping the air.
"Lightning Magic—Destructive Bolt!"
A massive bolt tore through the arena. Felix rolled under it.
Another shot. BOOM! Then another. BOOM!
Felix twisted, weaved, ducked.
Too late.
BZZZT!
A bolt caught him in the ribs, sending him flying across the stage.
Smoke curled from his tunic as he groaned, rolling to his feet.
Darius laughed, stomping forward. "This is over!"
He raised his sword—
Felix's eyes flared.
"Wind Magic—Wind Slash!"
He crossed his blades behind his back, spun, then slashed forward—
WHOOSH!
A crescent of cutting wind exploded forward, tearing into Darius with raw force.
CRACK!
Darius flew out of the ring, tumbling to the ground.
Silence.
"Winner—Felix Arden!"
Cheers erupted.
But Darius wasn't done.
He staggered up, madness in his eyes.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Lightning gathered again. He hurled a bolt straight at Felix.
Arthur shot forward, panic in his eyes.
Too fast. Too close.
CLANG!
Garrick appeared in front of Felix, his sword drawn. The lightning split harmlessly.
Garrick didn't even glance at Darius. "Take him away."
Guards seized him.
Felix blinked. "He just… caught lightning?"
Arthur muttered, "That's what a captain is."
Garrick turned back. "Next match—Leo Ironheart versus Ronan Velst!"
Arthur froze. "No…"
Felix turned. "What's wrong?"
Arthur clenched his fists. "Ronan… can't win."
Ronan heard. He turned, smiling. "Not unless I try, right?"
Felix nodded. "Go get him."
Ronan stepped into the arena. Fire danced in his eyes.
Leo stood opposite, hands in pockets.
"Begin."
Ronan yelled, "Burn to ashes… Homura!"
Flames burst from his sword, the air crackling.
He dashed forward, fire trailing.
Leo yawned. "Rampage… Kanzanryuken."
A massive fire blade roared into existence.
CLANG!
Their swords clashed. Ronan pushed—Leo didn't budge.
Leo smirked. He twisted his blade and kicked.
BAM!
Ronan was launched backward.
He rolled, panting, then hurled a fireball.
Leo conjured his own.
A miniature sun formed in his hand.
BOOOOM!
The two fireballs collided, obliterating the center of the stage. Smoke billowed.
When it cleared—Ronan was down.
Burnt. Shaking.
"Winner—Leo Ironheart."
Arthur leapt onto the stage, grabbing Leo by the collar.
"Why'd you go that far?!"
Leo smirked. "Because this is reality. Weaklings break. That's what makes it beautiful."
Arthur's aura exploded.
Frost swept across the arena.
He whispered, "Frost upon the heavens… Hyorinmaru."
His blade shimmered into existence.
Leo grinned, fire roaring around him.
They charged—
CLANG!
But Garrick stopped them. One hand on each blade.
Then—pressure.
The weight of a mountain.
Everyone froze.
Arthur gasped. Leo dropped to his knees.
Garrick's eyes glowed. "What do you think you're doing?"
Another captain rested a hand on Garrick's shoulder.
The pressure vanished.
Arthur collapsed. Leo trembled.
Garrick turned. "Next match—Riven Stormbane vs. Kaelius Valeheart!"
Arthur's heart clenched.
Stormbane.
Riven walked calmly to the ring.
Kaelius grinned. "Let's not hold back. I'll destroy you."
No answer from Riven.
He whispered, "Storm… Arashiha."
Wind whipped around him as his blade formed.
Kaelius smiled. "Reflect… Utsushikagami."
Mirrors floated behind him. A dagger shimmered into his grip.
WHOOSH!
Riven vanished.
Kaelius ducked—just barely. A small cut on his cheek.
He licked the blood. "Nice."
Mirrors lit up.
"Mirror Magic—Reflect Refrain!"
Lasers burst from the mirrors.
Riven ducked, leapt, flipped. A blast shot past his ear.
He kicked off the ground.
"Wind Magic—Wind Arc!"
He fired a concentrated arc of wind.
Kaelius dodged.
Riven spun behind him—cut.
Kaelius's eyes narrowed.
He surged forward, dagger flashing. Riven blocked, their weapons locked.
Kaelius smirked.
KNEE!
Riven slammed his knee into Kaelius's ribs.
They separated. Both slid back.
Kaelius vanished.
"Mirror Magic—Transparency."
Invisible.
Riven stood still.
A slash opened on his arm.
Another on his side.
"You can't see me!"
Riven exhaled.
He closed his eyes.
The wind shifted.
CLANG!
He blocked.
Kaelius gasped. "How?!"
Riven's voice was calm. "Wind tells me where you are."
Kaelius roared, attacking wildly.
Riven parried, turned, slashed.
"Wind Magic—Air Bullet."
Point-blank.
Kaelius flew out of the ring.
His invisibility broke.
He hit the ground.
"Winner: Riven Stormbane."
Arthur exhaled.
Another storm passed.
Then Garrick's voice boomed:
"Next match—Callista Vortigen vs. Orion Lysander!"
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
This… was just the beginning.