Chapter 6 – The Sealed Warrior & The Eyes of Truth
"VICTORY! RAYDEN ADVANCES TO ROUND SIX!!"
The crowd roared as Rayden sheathed his crackling blade. His last five opponents fell like leaves before a storm—none of them posed even a quarter of the threat Sylis did.
But now…
The sixth match was announced.
From the far side of the arena, a massive figure stepped out.
Covered head to toe in heavy cloth, muscle bulging beneath his robe-like armor. His movements—slow, calculated, unnerving.
Rayden stood ready… but beside him, Kael's eyes began glowing faintly blue.
His pupils shrank.
"Something's wrong…" he muttered.
Rayden tilted his head. "What do you see?"
Kael's voice dropped.
"He's not normal. I see… glowing seals. Dozens of them… wrapped around his body. They're not natural mana. They're like… artificial batteries."
Rayden frowned. His gut twisted.
---
As they faced off in the arena, a beautiful magician with royal robes stood nearby, chanting quietly. The arena's ground, previously shattered from battle, reformed like puzzle pieces.
Floating above her were elemental sigils and mana threads—the handiwork of the Royal Recreation Mage.
Behind her, a great chemist ran to the sidelines, giving mana potions to exhausted fighters.
Above, a barrier mage kept the crowd safe from flying spells and elemental shockwaves.
This is how battles kept going nonstop.
---
"BEGIN!"
Rayden wasted no time.
[CAST: LIGHTNING SLASH – LEVEL 3]
He rushed forward, blade sizzling with voltage—
SLASH!
But—
The attack vanished.
The man didn't even flinch. His robe steamed slightly… but no injury.
Rayden blinked. "He… absorbed that?"
The fighter smirked beneath his hood.
And then—[CAST: EARTH BIND – MUCK FORMATION]
The ground below Rayden twisted into sinking mud, trying to drag him under.
"Tch—!" Rayden stabbed his blade into the ground.
[CAST: LIGHTNING BURST – LEVEL 2]
The electricity exploded from his body, shattering the earth magic and freeing him.
He jumped back, panting.
"He's... draining my mana with every spell I cast."
They clashed again.
The large man swung massive fists, using earth magic to reinforce his body.
Rayden dodged narrowly, but he was slowing down.
The enemy didn't even look tired.
---
From the stands, Kael shouted:
"Brother! I remember something—I saw him earlier casting seals under his robe!"
Rayden's eyes widened. "Seals?"
"Yes! Forbidden seal magic! He's using them to absorb your attacks!"
Rayden's mind clicked.
"No wonder my blade felt blunt."
He now realized—each seal can only absorb the amount of mana it was created with.
And this man… was covered in them.
---
Rayden narrowed his eyes.
Time to overload them.
He sprinted forward.
[CAST: MANA BREAK – SEAL DISRUPT]
His blade crackled with anti-magic energy. He slashed a glowing mark on the man's shoulder—
The seal fizzled.
The fighter flinched.
Rayden smiled. "Gotcha."
Now it was time to go all in.
---
[SWORD STYLE: LIGHTNING DANCE – SPEED FORM]
Rayden vanished.
A flash of silver.
Ten slashes—twenty—thirty—each one hitting a seal mark.
Sparks flew.
The final seal shattered—leaving the man exposed.
Rayden leapt high into the air.
[FINAL MOVE – FURY STRIKE: GOLDEN STORM BLADE]
His sword glowed golden, doubled in size, crackling with divine lightning.
"THIS ENDS NOW!!!"
He slammed the sword downward—
BOOOOOM!!!
The warrior was launched back—slammed into the arena wall, his robe torn.
Smoke rose.
The crowd was dead silent.
Kael stood up. "Did… he win?"
But—
The man stood.
Bruised. Burned. Bleeding.
But still… standing.
Rayden fell to one knee, exhausted.
"I… can't…"
---
Just before the warrior could attack again—
A royal voice echoed through the arena.
"ENOUGH!!"
Everyone turned.
From the balcony, stood Princess Evelyne, eyes glowing with pale light—Eyes of Truth.
She raised her hand.
"The sixth candidate is hereby disqualified."
The crowd gasped.
Rayden blinked.
"W-What?"
The princess stepped forward.
"This man used forbidden sealing magic to absorb all damage. That breaks the laws of fair combat."
She glared at the opponent.
"I saw through your plan. You never intended to win with skill… only deceit."
---
The guards rushed in.
The warrior dropped to one knee. "Your Highness, please—!"
SLAP!
She didn't hesitate.
"The throne will never be won through cowardice."
---
Kael ran to Rayden, handing him a potion.
Rayden smiled weakly. "You saved me… again."
Kael grinned. "That's what brothers are for."