Three days later…
The Royal Capital had transformed.
Colorful banners fluttered from every tower.
Thousands of adventurers, nobles, merchants, and hunters filled the streets.
Every inn was fully booked.
Every restaurant overflowed with visitors.
The entire kingdom was celebrating one event.
The Royal International Hunter Tournament.
The greatest young talents from five nations had finally arrived.
Inside the Royal Academy…
Students stood in neat rows within the Grand Coliseum.
The enormous arena could hold over one hundred thousand spectators.
Towering crystal pillars surrounded the battlefield, each engraved with ancient runes that formed an immense protective barrier.
At the center of the arena stood the Headmaster.
Beside him was Commander Gareth Draven.
“The tournament officially begins tomorrow.”
“But before that…”
“…allow me to introduce the representatives of each nation.”
A magical circle illuminated the arena floor.
One group after another appeared.
Kingdom of Astralis
Kael Ardyn
Lyra Valen
Lucien Ashcroft
Victor Graves
Cedric Ravencrest
The audience applauded enthusiastically.
Empire of Valtherion
Five young warriors stepped forward.
Leading them was a tall young man with long crimson hair tied into a ponytail.
A massive greatsword rested on his shoulder.
He smiled confidently.
“I’m Ronan Drakos.”
“I hope at least one of you can entertain me.”
Several students frowned.
“What an arrogant guy.”
Victor cracked his knuckles.
“I already don’t like him.”
Northern Frost Dominion
Snowflakes drifted gently across the arena despite the warm weather.
A young woman with waist-length white hair calmly walked forward.
Her icy blue eyes seemed devoid of emotion.
She wore a long white combat coat with silver embroidery.
“My name…”
“…is Freya Winterborne.”
Unlike Ronan…
She said nothing more.
Yet the cold surrounding her alone made everyone instinctively step back.
Republic of Solis
A cheerful young man waved at everyone.
His bright smile immediately lightened the atmosphere.
“Hello!”
“I’m Leon Solaris.”
“I look forward to making lots of friends!”
Scarlet immediately laughed inside the Archive.
“He’s definitely hiding something.”
Solis nodded calmly.
“He is.”
Eastern Dragon Empire
Silence spread throughout the coliseum.
A young man dressed in black slowly stepped onto the arena floor.
A crimson spear rested across his shoulders.
Golden dragon-like eyes calmly observed everyone.
“My name…”
“…is Shen Long.”
The moment he looked toward Kael…
The entire atmosphere changed.
Neither spoke.
Yet everyone felt it.
An invisible pressure filled the arena.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Fenrir slowly stood.
“…Interesting.”
Scarlet folded her arms.
“He carries dragon blood.”
Selene narrowed her silver eyes.
“And something else.”
Kael quietly asked,
“What?”
Selene answered slowly.
“He carries a fragment…”
“…of a Sovereign.”
The introductions ended.
Commander Gareth stepped forward once more.
“This tournament consists of three stages.”
A massive screen appeared.
Stage One
Battle Royale.
1024 Participants.
Only 128 advance.
Stage Two
One-on-One Elimination Matches.
128 → 8.
Final Stage
The Eight Champions.
Winner takes all.
The audience erupted into cheers.
“The rules are simple.”
“No killing.”
“Everything else…”
“…is permitted.”
Victor whispered,
“That’s basically permission to beat each other unconscious.”
Cedric nodded.
“Exactly.”
The Headmaster suddenly looked toward Kael.
“One more announcement.”
The crowd quieted.
“As the hero who saved Mount Eryndor…”
“…Kael Ardyn has been appointed the tournament’s Number One Seed.”
The arena exploded.
“What?!”
“A first-year?!”
“No way!”
Ronan grinned widely.
“So…”
“You’re the famous swordsman.”
Freya’s cold gaze shifted toward Kael.
Leon stopped smiling for the first time.
Even Shen Long quietly observed him.
Kael had instantly become everyone’s target.
Later that evening…
Kael stood alone on a balcony overlooking the brightly lit capital.
The city looked peaceful.
Yet his instincts warned him otherwise.
Lyra joined him.
She gently rested her arms on the balcony railing.
“Nervous?”
Kael smiled faintly.
“A little.”
She laughed softly.
“I don’t believe that.”
He looked toward the stars.
“I’m not worried about losing.”
“I’m worried…”
“…that history is changing too quickly.”
Lyra looked at him.
“Then we’ll change with it.”
She reached for his hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
This time…
It felt effortless.
“I told you before.”
“You don’t carry everything alone anymore.”
Kael looked at her and smiled.
“I know.”
“And I’m still getting used to that.”
Lyra rested her head lightly against his shoulder.
“Then take your time.”
“We have our whole lives.”
For a while…
Neither of them spoke.
They simply watched the lights of the capital together.
Far away…
Deep beneath the coliseum…
An ancient chamber hidden below the arena slowly awakened.
A circle of black candles ignited on their own.
Twelve hooded figures stood in silence.
At their center…
A man wearing a porcelain mask placed a hand upon a massive stone coffin.
Crimson veins spread across its surface.
He whispered,
“The Sovereign has entered the tournament.”
Another hooded figure asked,
“Shall we proceed with the assassination?”
The masked man slowly shook his head.
“No.”
“Not yet.”
A cruel smile appeared beneath the porcelain mask.
“First…”
“…let the world witness his brilliance.”
“Only then…”
“…will they truly despair when their hero falls.”
The coffin suddenly trembled.
A heartbeat echoed through the underground chamber.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
A voice emerged from within the coffin.
Calm.
Ancient.
Hungry.
“Has…”
“…the Sword Sovereign…”
“…finally returned?”
The candles extinguished simultaneously.
The tournament had not even begun.
Yet the shadows beneath it were already preparing for war.
End of Chapter 25