The next morning, Valtara was louder than Ryuzen had ever heard it.
The streets were filled with warriors.
Some carried swords.
Others carried spears, axes, staffs, or strange weapons created from their Inner Beasts.
Merchants had filled the streets around the arena, selling food, drinks, weapons, and souvenirs.
Children climbed onto their parents’ shoulders just to get a better view.
Above the city, enormous Valtara flags moved with the wind.
Today was the day of the Valtara Competition.
Ryuzen stood outside the arena with his Life Contract sword resting at his side.
He looked toward the massive entrance.
“So many people.”
Jarek stood beside him, adjusting the straps around his arms.
“Most of them aren’t here to fight.”
Ryuzen glanced at him.
“Then why are they here?”
“To watch people get beaten up.”
Ryuzen laughed.
“That’s one way to describe it.”
A loud voice came from behind them.
“RYUZEN!”
Ryuzen turned.
Kaelion was running toward them.
He nearly crashed into Jarek.
Jarek stepped aside.
Kaelion stopped and straightened his clothes.
“I’m ready.”
Jarek looked at him.
“You were late.”
“I wasn’t late.”
“You were.”
“I was preparing.”
“You were eating.”
Kaelion pointed at him.
“Preparation requires food.”
Ryuzen shook his head.
“You two haven’t changed.”
Kaelion smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“Today, I’m going to beat you.”
Ryuzen raised an eyebrow.
“You’re that confident?”
“I’m the prince of Valtara.”
Jarek sighed.
“That’s not an answer.”
Kaelion grinned.
“It is to me.”
Ryuzen laughed.
“Then I’ll see you in the arena.”
The Opening
The three entered the arena.
The crowd immediately erupted.
Thousands of people filled the enormous stone stands.
At the center stood a large circular battlefield.
The stone floor was covered with marks from countless previous battles.
At the highest section of the arena sat the royal family of Valtara.
The king watched silently.
Beside him sat several members of the royal family.
Kaelion glanced toward them.
His father gave him a nod.
Kaelion immediately looked away.
Jarek noticed.
“Nervous?”
“No.”
“Your ears are red.”
“They’re always red.”
“They aren’t.”
Kaelion ignored him.
Ryuzen smiled.
The announcer stepped into the center of the arena.
“Welcome, warriors and citizens of Valtara!”
The crowd roared.
“Today, the strongest young warriors of Valtara and our visiting warriors will test their strength, skill, courage, and determination!”
The cheering grew louder.
“Remember!”
The announcer raised his hand.
“Victory is not simply about defeating your opponent!”
The arena became quieter.
“A true warrior must know when to fight…”
He lowered his hand.
“And when to stand!”
The gong sounded.
BOOOOOONG!
The competition began.
Ryuzen’s First Battle
Ryuzen’s name was called.
He stepped into the arena.
Across from him stood a tall warrior carrying a large metal spear.
The warrior rolled his shoulders.
“My name is Daren.”
Ryuzen nodded.
“Ryuzen.”
“I know.”
Daren smiled.
“You’re the one who survived Thunder Mountain.”
Ryuzen didn’t answer.
Daren tightened his grip.
“I heard you fought the mountain’s guardian.”
Ryuzen’s hand moved slightly toward his sword.
“That’s enough talking.”
Daren laughed.
“Good.”
The referee raised his hand.
“Begin!”
Daren exploded forward.
His Inner Beast awakened.
A golden aura covered his body.
His spear came toward Ryuzen like a bolt of lightning.
Ryuzen leaned backward.
The spear passed inches from his face.
Daren twisted the weapon and attacked again.
Ryuzen jumped.
The spear struck the ground.
CRACK! This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Stone broke apart.
Ryuzen landed several meters away.
Daren charged again.
This time, Ryuzen didn’t retreat.
Blue thunder began crawling across his right arm.
ZZZT!
Daren thrust his spear.
Ryuzen stepped to the side.
His fist struck the shaft.
BOOM!
The spear flew from Daren’s hand.
Daren’s eyes widened.
Ryuzen moved forward.
A thunder-covered palm struck his chest.
BOOM!
Daren flew backward.
He landed on his feet but slid several meters.
The crowd exploded.
Daren smiled.
“You’re fast.”
Ryuzen’s blue thunder intensified.
“So are you.”
Daren charged once more.
This time, Ryuzen pulled out his whip.
The long dark weapon moved through the air.
WHOOSH!
It wrapped around Daren’s spear.
Ryuzen pulled.
Daren lost his balance.
Ryuzen rushed forward.
One final thunderous strike hit Daren’s shoulder.
BOOM!
Daren fell.
The referee raised his hand.
“Winner—RYUZEN!”
The arena erupted.
Daren stood slowly.
Ryuzen offered his hand.
Daren accepted it.
“You could have finished me harder.”
Ryuzen shook his head.
“I didn’t need to.”
Daren stared at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“Maybe you’re different from what they said.”
Ryuzen didn’t ask what he meant.
He simply walked away.
Jarek’s Battle
Not long after, Jarek entered the arena.
His opponent was a muscular warrior carrying two enormous axes.
The man looked at Jarek.
“You rely on weapons.”
Jarek smiled.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll destroy every weapon you create.”
Jarek raised his hand.
“Try.”
The gong sounded.
The warrior charged.
Jarek’s Inner Beast awakened.
Iron energy spread across his body.
CLANG!
An iron sword appeared in his hand.
The axe struck.
BOOM!
Jarek blocked it.
The force pushed him backward.
The warrior attacked again.
Jarek created another sword.
Then another.
Then a shield.
The warrior destroyed the shield.
Jarek created another.
The crowd began to understand.
Jarek wasn’t carrying weapons.
He was creating them.
Every time one broke, another appeared.
The warrior roared.
“HOW MANY WEAPONS DO YOU HAVE?!”
Jarek smiled.
“As many as I need.”
He created three spears.
He threw them.
The warrior dodged two.
The third struck his armor and knocked him sideways.
Jarek created a chain.
It wrapped around the warrior’s leg.
Jarek pulled.
The warrior crashed onto the ground.
Before he could stand, an enormous iron sword appeared above him.
Jarek stopped it inches from his face.
The referee immediately stepped forward.
“Enough!”
Jarek lowered the sword.
“Winner—JAREK!”
The crowd cheered.
Jarek walked out.
Kaelion met him.
“That was good.”
Jarek smiled.
“Thanks.”
“You almost lost.”
Jarek looked at him.
“Almost?”
“You were pushed back.”
“That was tactical.”
“That’s what losers say.”
Jarek stared at him.
“You’re going to fight me later.”
Kaelion smiled.
“I know.”
Then the announcer shouted:
“NEXT MATCH!”
The crowd became even louder.
“PRINCE KAELION OF VALTARA!”
Kaelion stepped into the arena.
The citizens roared.
“KAELION!”
“PRINCE KAELION!”
“SHOW THEM!”
Kaelion smiled.
He loved the attention.
His opponent entered from the opposite side.
A tall warrior with scars across his arms.
The man bowed slightly.
“Your Highness.”
Kaelion bowed back.
“Don’t call me that.”
The warrior looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because I’m trying to beat you.”
The warrior laughed.
“Fair enough.”
The gong sounded.
The warrior attacked.
Kaelion’s Sapphire Gryphon awakened.
A brilliant sapphire aura exploded around him.
Energy wings appeared behind his back.
WHOOSH!
Kaelion launched himself upward.
The warrior looked up.
“Too slow!”
He jumped after him.
Kaelion twisted in the air.
The warrior’s fist passed beside him.
Kaelion’s wings released a powerful burst.
BOOOOM!
The warrior was thrown downward.
He hit the ground.
Kaelion descended.
The warrior stood again.
“Not bad.”
He charged.
Kaelion smiled.
Their fists collided.
BOOM!
The battlefield shook.
The warrior pushed harder.
Kaelion slid backward.
He suddenly lowered his body.
Then—
WHOOSH!
His wings exploded outward.
The burst sent the warrior flying.
Kaelion followed him through the air.
He spun.
His heel struck the warrior’s chest.
BOOM!
The warrior landed outside the marked boundary.
The referee raised his hand.
“Winner—PRINCE KAELION!”
The crowd went wild.
Kaelion looked toward Ryuzen.
He pointed at him.
“You’re next!”
Ryuzen smiled.
“Keep dreaming.”
The Competition Continues
The battles continued for hours.
Warrior after warrior was eliminated.
Some won through strength.
Others through speed.
Some relied entirely on their Inner Beasts.
Others used weapons.
But Ryuzen continued advancing.
So did Jarek.
And Kaelion.
By the afternoon, the crowd had begun to recognize the three.
Whenever one of them entered the arena, the cheers became louder.
Ryuzen fought a warrior with an enormous stone-like body.
He defeated him through speed.
Jarek fought a warrior who used fire.
Jarek surrounded himself with iron shields and slowly moved forward until he trapped his opponent.
Kaelion fought a woman whose Inner Beast gave her incredible speed.
Their battle lasted nearly twenty minutes.
Kaelion eventually won by predicting her movement and striking from above.
As the sun began moving toward the horizon, only a handful of warriors remained.
Ryuzen stood outside the arena.
Sweat ran down his face.
His hands were slightly bruised.
Jarek sat nearby.
Kaelion was eating.
Ryuzen looked at him.
“You’re eating again?”
Kaelion looked at the food.
“Fighting makes me hungry.”
Jarek laughed.
“You weren’t even fighting just now.”
“I was emotionally fighting.”
Ryuzen shook his head.
Then the announcer stepped into the arena.
The crowd slowly became silent.
“The next round will begin shortly!”
He looked toward the remaining competitors.
“And from this point onward…”
His voice echoed across the arena.
“…there will be no easy opponents.”
Ryuzen looked toward Kaelion.
Kaelion stopped eating.
Jarek stood.
The three exchanged looks.
None of them spoke.
They didn’t need to.
They all understood.
The real competition had finally begun.