Chapter 48 — Blood of Fire, Weight of Stone
The day of the eliminators arrived like a living beast.
From the moment dawn broke, Valoria's capital roared.
Banners of crimson, gold, and sapphire streamed from towers and bridges. Merchants flooded the streets. Music rang from enchanted instruments. The air itself trembled with anticipation, mana drifting like invisible sparks.
At the heart of it all stood the Arena of First Accord.
A colossal coliseum of ancient stone and modern magic, its circular walls stretched so wide they seemed to bend the horizon. Every tier was packed—nobles in embroidered silks, knights in polished armor, common citizens cheering with raw voices.
It wasn't just an event.
It was a festival.
At the center dais rose three thrones carved from different legacies.
In the middle, King Orean Evercrest, draped in deep royal crimson, his presence steady and commanding.
To his left, Emperor Harkon Steelbrand, iron-limbed and broad, radiating brutal confidence.
To his right, Queen Lysandra Aurelius, ethereal and composed, emerald eyes reflecting wisdom older than kingdoms.
Above them, on an elevated platform of floating crystal and light, sat the royal families—watching, judging, weighing futures.
A massive white cloth hovered high above the arena, stretched by magic. A crystal embedded at its core projected a magnified view of the battleground for those outside the coliseum walls.
The atmosphere felt like a carnival—but beneath the cheers lay tension sharp enough to draw blood.
The crystal flared.
King Orean stood.
The crowd erupted.
"PEOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH—!"
The roar shook the stone itself.
Orean raised his hand.
Silence rolled outward like a wave.
"People of Valoria," his voice thundered, amplified by magic, "and honored guests from Thalgrun and Eryndale—today marks the beginning of a new tradition!"
Cheers exploded again.
Orean continued, praising unity, strength, history—each mention of the other kingdoms earning thunderous applause. When he gestured toward Emperor Harkon, iron fists pounded stone. When he acknowledged Queen Lysandra, the crowd answered with reverent silence and cheers mixed together.
Then—
"Let the Eliminators begin."
The crystal shifted.
The arena floor shimmered.
"And now," Orean announced, "the opening match of the Tournament of Heirs."
A pause.
"Prince Cedric Evercrest… versus Prince Corin Evercrest."
The crowd went feral.
---
The Fighters Enter
From the eastern gate, firelight flared.
Cedric stepped into the arena.
His posture was upright, calm, almost regal. Crimson hair caught the sunlight. Dark mana curled faintly around him like a shadow refusing to leave.
He lifted one hand and waved casually.
The crowd answered him with deafening cheers.
"CED-RIC! CED-RIC!"
From the western gate, stone cracked.
Corin emerged.
He looked tense—but determined. Earth mana pulsed beneath his boots, the ground responding to his presence with faint tremors.
He swallowed, fists clenched.
Fire and dark, Corin thought grimly. And I have only earth…
High above, Queen Isolde watched intently, hands folded too tightly.
Win, her eyes screamed. Prove them wrong.
In the waiting area, Daniel stood still, watching.
Sensei's voice whispered.
"Cedric has the advantage in raw destructive output. Corin's strength lies in endurance and terrain control."
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Then Corin must survive long enough to use it.
---
The Horn
A massive ceremonial horn was raised.
"BWOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH—!"
The sound ripped through the arena.
The match began.
---
Fire vs Earth
Cedric moved first.
"FIRE LANCE!"
FWOOOOOSH—!
A spear of condensed flame screamed across the arena, scorching the air itself.
Corin slammed his foot down.
"EARTH WALL!"
KRRRRAAAAM—!
Stone erupted from the ground just in time.
The fire lance exploded on impact.
BOOOOOOM—!
Fragments of molten rock scattered like shrapnel.
The crowd screamed in delight.
Cedric didn't pause.
"DARK EDGE!"
SHRRRRK—!
A crescent of shadow slashed forward, cutting cleanly through the smoke.
Corin rolled sideways, the edge grazing his shoulder.
"Gah—!"
Blood splattered against the stone.
Cedric smirked.
"You're slow."
He raised both hands.
Fire and darkness coiled together.
"INFERNAL BURST!"
FWOOOOM—KRAAAASH—!
A massive explosion detonated beneath Corin's feet.
The earth prince was hurled backward, slamming into the arena wall.
THUD—!
The crowd gasped.
"Is it over already?!"
"No—look!"
Corin pushed himself up, coughing, blood dripping from his lip.
He slammed both palms onto the ground.
"DOMAIN—EARTHFALL!"
MRAAAAAAM—!
The arena changed.
Stone surged upward in jagged ridges. Pillars rose and fell. The flat battleground became a broken maze of terrain.
Cedric's footing slipped.
"Tch."
Corin stood atop a stone spire, breathing hard.
"You're not the only one with power," he growled.
Cedric laughed.
"Good. That makes this fun."
---
Momentum Shifts
Cedric leapt.
Fire erupted beneath his feet.
FWOOOSH—!
He flew over rising stone, descending like a meteor.
"HELLFIRE STRIKE!"
Corin crossed his arms.
"STONE AEGIS!"
KRRRRR—!
A dome of compressed earth formed just as Cedric crashed down.
BOOOOOOM—!
Shockwaves rippled outward.
The dome cracked.
Cedric landed inside, boots crushing stone.
Darkness wrapped around his fist.
"DIE—!"
Corin roared.
"EARTH GRASP!"
CRRRRAAAACK—!
Stone hands burst from the ground, clamping around Cedric's legs and waist.
Cedric's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Corin clenched his fists.
"CRUSH!"
The stone tightened.
CRUNCH—!
Cedric grunted, blood spraying from his mouth.
The crowd screamed.
"CORIN! CORIN!"
High above, Queen Isolde's breath caught.
Yes—!
Cedric snarled.
Dark mana exploded outward.
"DARK FLARE!"
BOOOOOOM—!
The stone hands shattered.
Cedric staggered back, breathing hard, rage burning in his eyes.
He wiped blood from his lip.
"…You made me work."
The temperature dropped.
Shadows thickened.
"Now pay for it."
---
The End
Cedric lifted both arms.
Fire spiraled upward.
Darkness twisted within it.
"OBLIVION PYRE!"
FWOOOOOOOO—KRRRRRAAAASH—!
A colossal pillar of blackened flame descended.
Corin screamed.
"EARTH—!"
Too late.
The impact shattered the arena floor.
BOOOOOOM—!
Dust swallowed everything.
When it cleared—
Corin lay embedded in the stone, unconscious, his armor shattered.
Cedric stood, chest heaving, flames flickering weakly around him.
The horn sounded.
"BWOOOOOH—!"
"WINNER: PRINCE CEDRIC EVERCREST!"
The crowd erupted.
Thunderous applause.
Roars of approval.
But Cedric wasn't smiling.
He stared at Corin's broken form, teeth clenched.
It shouldn't have taken this long.
High above, Emperor Harkon nodded.
"A solid fight," he said. "But inefficient."
Queen Lysandra's eyes lingered thoughtfully.
In the waiting area, Daniel watched Cedric carefully.
Sensei spoke.
"Cedric expended over sixty percent of his mana."
Daniel narrowed his eyes.
So even fire burns out.
The arena was cleared.
Healers rushed in.
The crystal shifted once more.
The announcer's voice boomed.
"Prepare yourselves for the next match!"
A pause.
"Princess Elizabeth Evercrest… versus Princess Lyra Evercrest!"
The crowd roared again.
Elizabeth stepped forward calmly.
Lyra's flames flared violently.
Two sisters.
One arena.
And the bloodline trial had only just begun.