The Grand Sky Arena rose above the city like a silver crown, its spires reflecting the waning sun. Thousands of spectators gathered along the terraces, cultivators and nobles alike, whispers of anticipation rippling through the air. Every thread of fate pulsed more intensely here—raw ambition, fear, loyalty, and obsession intertwined like a living tapestry.
I descended onto the central platform, my crimson eyes scanning the crowd. The wind tugged at my robes, and for a moment, even the sunlight seemed to bend around me. Seraphina remained a step behind, her silver hair glinting as she studied me with that familiar mixture of jealousy, longing, and devotion. Mireya followed as well, curious and tense, her golden eyes fixed on my every movement.
Kael appeared across the platform, flanked by his remaining supporters. His golden eyes flared as he saw me. "Azrael!" he roared. "Face me directly! No tricks, no interference!"
I smirked lazily. "Why would I waste my time? You've already lost more than you know."
The spectators murmured, sensing the tension. Some could feel the threads shifting—the subtle weakening of Kael's allies, the invisible hand of the Third Prince weaving through the city's fate.
Seraphina's hand brushed mine. "Do you really have to humiliate him this way in front of everyone?"
I chuckled softly, letting my crimson gaze sweep over the arena. "Humiliation is part of the lesson. He'll learn fast—or break trying."
Kael charged, spiritual energy flaring. The ground beneath him cracked under the weight of his power. I allowed him to close the distance, letting him expend effort, only responding when necessary. Each dodge, each deflection, was calculated, showcasing power without overextending.
Seraphina watched intently, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Every strike Kael made was met with near‑effortless avoidance. Every counter I delivered was precise, elegant, and faintly theatrical.
Mireya's eyes sparkled. "He's… so strong."
"Yes," I murmured. "And he's still underestimating me."
Kael's frustration grew. Every flinch, every hesitation, every failed attempt to touch me caused his energy threads to flicker. His allies tried to intervene, but the invisible pressure I exerted subtly disrupted their coordination. Every movement they made faltered, unintentionally weakening him further.
A sudden gust of wind from my movement lifted Seraphina's hair. I reached out instinctively, brushing it aside, my fingers grazing her cheek. She shivered and bit her lip, jealousy and desire flaring.
"Don't get distracted," she whispered, but her green eyes glimmered.
I let my gaze meet hers, and for a moment, the arena and Kael ceased to exist. Only us. Only the quiet, intimate connection of possession, desire, and devotion.
When I turned back, Kael's attack had faltered entirely. His expression twisted in fury.
"You're… cheating!" he spat.
"Cheating?" I repeated lazily. "No. I'm just… stronger, smarter, faster. And I have the right allies."
From the stands, my harem—Seraphina, Mireya, Liara, and the others—watched. Each of them felt the power I projected, the subtle pull that reminded them I was theirs, that they belonged to me. A flicker of jealousy, a shiver of devotion, a rush of excitement—threads woven tight around their hearts.
Kael tried one final surge, channeling raw spiritual energy into a strike meant to end me. I allowed it to pass, stepping aside effortlessly, letting his energy disperse harmlessly across the arena. The crowd gasped.
I advanced slowly, crimson eyes gleaming. "Your allies are gone, Kael. Your support is fractured. And yet… you still fight? Pathetic. Beautifully pathetic."
His chest heaved. Sweat glistened on his forehead. Rage, fear, and desperation mingled into a tangible aura.
I reached out a hand, letting my fingers brush the air near his shoulder. A tiny flicker in his thread. Doubt. Hesitation. Fear.
He staggered slightly.
And the arena felt as though it held its breath.
Seraphina moved closer, her presence radiating beside me. "You're terrifying," she whispered softly.
"And irresistible," I replied, letting her fingers lace with mine again, possessive, intimate. "But you already know that."
Mireya, watching from the side, swallowed hard. The pull of my influence—power, charisma, danger—was nearly tangible. Even she, fierce and independent, felt it tugging at her heart.
The Grand Sky Arena had become more than a stage for combat. It was a theater of power, manipulation, and desire. Kael's first public confrontation had not only revealed my strength but also my growing harem, my influence, and the unshakable loyalty of those around me.
The cracks in Kael's world had become chasms. And I, Azrael Drakaryx, would ensure that every one of them widened.