As the roar of the crowd settled, Garrick's voice rang through the arena.
"Winner—Seraphina!"
Seraphina stepped off the stage, the golden glow of her sword fading as she disappeared into the crowd. Arthur watched her with silent admiration. Her speed, her composure—she was on another level.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
"Next match—Felix Arden versus Darius Voss!" Garrick announced.
Felix rolled his shoulders and exhaled, shaking off any lingering nerves.
"Good luck," Arthur said, clapping Felix on the back.
Felix grinned. "I won't need it."
As Felix walked toward the stage, another figure followed—a young man with sharp features and cold, calculating eyes. His presence alone carried a quiet menace.
Arthur's brows furrowed. "That's Felix's opponent?"
Ronan nodded.
Arthur glanced at him. "Is he a noble or a commoner?"
Ronan smirked slightly. "Neither."
Arthur frowned. "What do you mean?"
"There's a place in between," Ronan said. "The Veil District."
Arthur blinked. "The Veil District?"
Ronan nodded. "It's not part of the noble realm, but it's above the commoner class. Some of them work in the royal palace. Some serve under nobles. But they don't belong to either side."
Arthur let that sink in, then scoffed. "So he's neither noble nor commoner."
"Exactly."
Hyorinmaru, perched on Arthur's shoulder, huffed. "Humans and their complicated hierarchy… you never cease to amaze me."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "You don't have to comment on everything. Look—the fight's about to start."
Hyorinmaru flicked his tail. "Tch. Annoying."
Then, just to spite Arthur, he jumped onto his face.
"Gah! Get off me!" Arthur wrestled with the small dragon as the crowd chuckled at the sight.
"Begin!" Garrick's voice cut through the noise.
The battlefield tensed.
Felix and Darius stepped back, both raising their stances. The air between them crackled with anticipation.
Darius extended his hand forward, his expression turning deadly.
"Spark… Denkouken."
A violent surge of lightning erupted, crackling as it forged into the shape of a sword. The blade was alive with electricity, jagged and unstable, the sheer power making the air hum.
Felix, unfazed, raised both hands.
"Blast away… Kazeken!"
A gust of wind exploded outward as two twin blades materialized in Felix's grasp—thin, curved, and impossibly sharp. The wind around them howled, eager to be unleashed.
Arthur's eyes widened. "Felix is… a dual blade user?"
Darius tilted his head. "So what? Even with two swords, the result won't change."
Then he lunged.
Felix met him head-on.
Their swords clashed—a blinding burst of light and wind as metal screamed against metal. Sparks flew, their movements sharp and precise.
Darius raised his lightning blade overhead, aiming for a crushing downward strike.
Felix reacted instantly. He caught Darius's sword with his left blade, pinning it against the ground—then, with his right, he slashed.
Darius barely managed to twist away.
A thin red line appeared on his cheek.
He froze.
Slowly, he touched his face. His fingers came away stained with blood.
"My blood…" Darius whispered, staring at his hand as if it were something foreign.
Felix frowned. "You good?"
Darius's expression darkened. Then—he snapped.
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
Lightning surged around his body, crackling wildly. His blade pulsed with raw energy, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"You—A LOWLY COMMONER—DARE TO INJURE ME?" His voice trembled with rage.
A manic grin stretched across his face. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU."
Electricity exploded outward, his power growing unstable. His eyes gleamed with madness.
Then, he roared—
"Lightning Magic—Destructive Bolt!"
A massive bolt of lightning shot toward Felix.
Felix barely dodged, the heat licking at his skin.
Darius didn't stop. He fired another. And another.
Lightning rained down like judgment itself.
Felix twisted and weaved, each bolt striking dangerously close. The stage was turning into a storm, the ground scorched and smoldering.
Arthur gritted his teeth. "He's just firing at random—he's out of control."
Another bolt struck—Felix wasn't fast enough.
Pain shot through his body as he was flung backward. Smoke curled from his jacket as he groaned, trying to push himself up.
Darius approached slowly, savoring the moment. His blade crackled with deadly intent.
"It's over," he sneered.
Felix gritted his teeth. No—it wasn't.
Darius raised his sword for the final blow—
Felix saw his opening.
Wind exploded beneath him as he leaped to his feet.
"Wind Magic—Wind Slash!"
He crossed his twin blades behind his back, then swung them forward.
A sharp crescent of wind howled through the air.
Darius reacted too slow.
SLASH!
The force struck him square in the chest, sending him flying backward—out of the arena.
Silence.
Then—
"Winner—Felix Arden!" Garrick declared.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Arthur and Ronan grinned, clapping. Felix turned and waved, a triumphant smirk on his face.
But Darius—
Darius wasn't finished.
He staggered to his feet, eyes burning with fury. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
Electricity surged again as he fired one last bolt—straight at Felix.
Felix's eyes widened—he had no time to dodge.
He raised his arms instinctively—
But nothing happened.
The lightning never hit.
Confused, Felix lowered his hands—
And saw Garrick.
The captain stood before him, his sword drawn. The bolt of lightning had been redirected—split harmlessly to the side.
Darius's face twisted in horror.
Garrick didn't even look at him. "Take him away."
A group of guards stepped forward, dragging Darius from the arena.
Felix exhaled heavily, turning to Arthur. "Did he just…?"
Arthur nodded. "He redirected the lightning. That's the difference between a captain and someone like us."
Felix stared at Garrick's back, both awed and shaken.
Garrick turned to the crowd. "Apologies for the interruption." His gaze swept the arena. Then—
"Shall we move on to the next match?"
The energy shifted.
Garrick's voice rang loud and clear:
"Leo Ironheart versus Ronan Velst."
The tension skyrocketed.
Leo smirked, cracking his knuckles as fire flickered at his fingertips.
Ronan rolled his shoulders, his signature confident grin never leaving his face.
Garrick raised his hand.
"Begin.