The invitation arrived wrapped in silk. Formal, polite, and carefully calculated. It was a request for an exhibition duel during the Imperial Military Review, one of the largest events held in the capital each year. Knights displayed their strength, nobles displayed their loyalty, and the empire displayed its power.
The challenger was Kaedran Valmont, second son of Duke Valmont. At twenty-eight years old, he was already known as one of the strongest aura knights of his generation. Arthur read the invitation once before placing it on the table.
Cassian was already smiling.
"They've got guts."
Selene shook her head.
"No. They're being smart."
Kylrus nodded.
"Exactly."
The duel would accomplish several things at once. It would publicly test his recovery, force him to reveal how much strength he still possessed, and shift attention away from reforms toward entertainment.
Cassian looked at him.
"So what are you going to do?"
"Accept."
Cassian blinked.
"That's it? No thinking? No hesitation?"
Kylrus leaned back slightly.
"If I refuse, people will start asking why."
Selene folded her arms.
"And if you crush him?"
"They become more cautious."
"And if you look weak?"
"They become bolder."
Cassian frowned.
"So what's the plan?"
A faint smile appeared on Kylrus's face.
"We'll see."
A few days later, the Grand Arena of the Veloras Empire was packed beyond capacity. Tens of thousands filled the seats while banners fluttered above the massive arena walls. Nobles occupied the upper tiers while commoners and merchants crowded every available space below.
Kylrus entered first.
There was no dramatic entrance, no explosion of mana, and no display of power. He simply walked onto the arena floor.
The crowd erupted anyway.
"Crown Prince!"
"Dragon Slayer!"
"God's Chosen!"
Across from him, Kaedran entered carrying a longsword. He walked with confidence but without arrogance. Kylrus respected that.
When they stopped a few meters apart, Kaedran bowed first.
"Your Highness."
Kylrus inclined his head.
"Lord Kaedran."
Kaedran looked directly at him.
"I hope you've recovered fully."
Kylrus's expression remained calm.
"Enough."
A faint spark of interest appeared in Kaedran's eyes.
The signal horn sounded.
The duel began.
Kaedran moved first, crossing the distance almost instantly. His blade cut through the air with explosive force, but Kylrus stepped aside smoothly.
The strike missed.
The crowd gasped.
Kaedran immediately adjusted and attacked again. This time Kylrus blocked. Golden mana flashed as their swords collided, sending cracks through the stone beneath their feet.
Cheers erupted throughout the arena.
Kaedran pushed harder with each exchange.
Kylrus didn't.
Instead, he gradually gave ground.
Just enough.
Kaedran noticed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Something felt different.
The clashes continued. Steel met steel again and again while waves of mana rolled across the arena floor. Then Kaedran unleashed a full aura burst.
The shockwave slammed into Kylrus.
Pain exploded through his chest.
The crack in his mana core reacted immediately.
Real pain.
Not an act.
Kylrus stepped back half a step.
The crowd saw it.
A murmur spread through the arena.
Kaedran saw it too.
He pressed forward aggressively.
Three rapid strikes followed.
Kylrus blocked two.
The third sliced across his shoulder.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Silence fell over the arena.
Blood.
From the Crown Prince.
Kaedran's expression hardened.
He attacked again without hesitation.
Kylrus exhaled slowly.
This was the moment.
He could end the duel instantly.
Or he could let them see what they wanted.
Kaedran raised his sword and poured everything into a final strike.
Kylrus met it head-on.
But instead of overpowering it, he redirected it.
The force twisted away.
Kaedran lost balance for a split second.
That was enough.
Kylrus stepped inside his guard and struck his wrist.
The sword flew from Kaedran's hand.
Before anyone could react, Kylrus's blade stopped just short of his throat.
The arena fell completely silent.
Kaedran stared at him for a moment before letting out a slow breath.
"...I yield."
The crowd exploded with cheers.
Kylrus lowered his sword and stepped back.
He had won.
But not effortlessly.
He had bled.
He had shown strain.
Most importantly, he had shown limits.
Exactly what certain people wanted to see.
That evening, in a hidden chamber far from the capital, the crimson-cloaked figure examined a mana recording crystal taken from the duel.
"He held back."
One of the subordinates nodded.
"Yes."
"And the crack?"
"It reacted."
The figure tapped the armrest slowly.
"Good."
A brief silence followed.
"He is healing."
"Slowly."
The figure's eyes narrowed beneath the hood.
"Then phase three must move faster."
They could not allow Kylrus to fully recover.
Back in the palace infirmary, Aurielle stood with her arms crossed while Kylrus removed his damaged coat.
"You let him hit you."
"Yes."
She stared at him.
"Why?"
Kylrus placed the coat aside.
"Because perfection makes people unite."
Aurielle blinked.
"What?"
"If they think I'm untouchable, they'll stop competing and start cooperating."
She studied him carefully.
"So you're letting them underestimate you."
"Exactly."
She shook her head.
"That sounds insanely risky."
Kylrus smiled faintly.
"So does hiding."
Aurielle stepped closer and looked at the cut on his shoulder.
"That one was real though."
"Yes."
"And?"
Kylrus glanced down at the wound.
"It reminds me I'm alive."
For a few seconds she simply stared at him.
Then she laughed.
"You're ridiculous."
Kylrus didn't disagree.
Later that night, he stood alone near the window of his chambers. His hand rested lightly over his chest while he felt the crack in his mana core pulse beneath his palm.
The duel had widened it slightly.
Not enough to be dangerous.
But enough to remind him that the injury was real.
He looked out across the city lights.
"They're studying my limits."
Kylrus's golden eyes reflected the distant lights of the capital.
"Go ahead."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Make your move."
Because whatever came next, it wouldn't be aimed at politics.
It would be aimed at the empire itself.