2025-04-06 12:31:33[Clank]
A loud metallic sound clanged through the air, and instantly everyone spotted Luca, who fled and slammed against a stone pillar. He gasped for air and gazed up. Bruises bloomed on his lip, pain darting through his ribs. The wind in the middle of the stage slowed down. Dimitri appeared, standing tall and cold. His dark form emerged from the rage of the wind with confidence in his eyes.
Luca did not give up and stand up on his feet; he would fight till the end. His legs wobbled, but his grip tightened on the hilt of the sword. Dimitri smirked, swinging his sword. He dashed toward Luca with blinding speed. The sparks of the fire danced along the blade of his sword; his energy was on the top level, as if it were ready to crush Luca. Luca raised his sword, and the sound of steel exploded around. The force of the clash clattered to Luca's bone, but still his feet were digging into the ground.
"Luca, I did not expect the fight would last long."
"But I am having fun fighting with you."
Dimitri sneered, his voice taunting. Dimitri's mockery hung in the air, but Luca chose not to be agitated. He did not think Luca would fight with him this far. Luca smiled, his voice strained, hiding his nervousness. "I thought the same, but before coming here, someone told me to keep faith in myself."
As Luca finished his sentence with all his force, he pushed Dmitri.
Dimitri jumped to the other side after dodging Luca's strikes, his eyes narrowing in surprise. It was the first time Luca managed to push Dimitri back into the duel. The crowd buzzed with sound; they were all shocked to see the unexpected of the fight.
Luca was giving a challengeable duel against Dimitri. He was a normally skilled fighter but was now showing he was not an average fighter; he had the potential to be the best fighter. As they exchanged blows, the clashing of the swords echoed through the arena. Both men's movements were calculated and fierce.
Dimitri and Luca both stepped back from the force of their own strikes; they tried their best to beat each other. But suddenly, Luca's sword got a crack. Luca's sword had a crack under the pressure of Dimitri's strikes. As Luca noticed, he pushed Dimitri with his sword and stepped back.
He glanced at his cracked sword, thinking, 'How could he fight against Dimitri?'
Dimitri was stronger and more experienced than him. His sword was superior to Luca's sword as well, so victory seemed impossible for Luca.
So, it was easy for Dimitri to break Luca's sword into pieces so long ago, yet despite the clear advantages, Dimitri did not do that. Actually, he was holding back, determined to find out Luca's sudden burst of self-power. Dimitri had watched Luca's practices and fights before, but he had never seen the desperation for the win before.
Dimitri wanted to see what was driving Luca to fight.
With the cracked sword, it was impossible to fight against Dimitri. Luca's mind raced, desperately seeking a way to turn the battle. Dimitri thought Luca would surrender at that point, so he downed his sword.
But instead of surrendering, Luca made a bold choice; he raised his cracked sword and dashed toward Dimitri. His unexpected action caused the crowd to gasp in shock. Dimitri, though shocked, but he managed to raise his sword to tackle the strike.
There was a loud crack, and then everything became silent. As the two fighters stood frozen, time seemed to move at a slower pace. Luca's sword splintered totally under the pressure of Dimitri's strike, the pieces of the sword scattering on the ground.
The duel was done.
The winner was Dimitri, which was visible to everyone.
Mason stepped onto the stage and announced the winner's name. "Our first winner is Dimitri!"
And the whole arena burst out in joy and applause, just as everyone expected. Dimitri approached Luca and extended his hand. Dimitri spoke out with his steady tone, "I had never seen the determination in you before."
"It was not boring fighting with you."
Luca smiled and answered, "Actually, I thought I would give up, but before coming here, someone advised me to believe in myself. So I tried what I could." He grasped Dimitri's hand and shook it firmly.
Luca stepped down from the stage, and Dimitri stayed, his eyes locked on his way for some seconds.
As the crowd settled after Dimitri's victory, the second round started, and Mason called the next competitor.
"Max, please come on the stage."
Max came to the stage and took out a note. Mason unfolded the note and announced the competitor, "It's Oliver from the Aetheria clan."
As the name announced, the arena again buzzed with excitement. Standing in the middle of the stage, Max and Oliver bowed to one another, showing their mutual respect. Oliver was from the Aetheria clan, which was known for celestial magic, so Oliver was not going to be an easy one. They fixed their gaze on one another. The moment Mason signaled, the combat began. Max and Oliver engaged in a duel.
Max used his magical sword, which was capable of swift strikes and unpredictable attacks. Oliver did as well, but as he was from the Aetheria clan, he had some extra power, like he could use celestial magic in his sword.
Oliver's sword sparked with the celestial magic. He made his first strike, but Max was fast to move, so the strike was directly placed on the ground. The crowd gasped as Oliver swung his sword down with such an immense force.
Max leaped backward, gaining his concentration and distance. The shock rippled through the crowd.
The sword's power caused the ground to split with a tremendous impact. The stage resounded with the metallic sound of the swords and was lightened by sparks of magic. The crowd could feel the intensity of the battle. Max and Oliver continuously attacked each other; their duel became a test of strategy because they both were strong. By showing strength to each other, they could not win the challenge.
Max and Oliver's gazes pierced each other, their grips tightening on their swords. But the fighting between them did not take much time; Max defeated Oliver with his tricks and strategy to secure his victory. The crowd welcomed Max with cheers; they got another winner.
The arena was filled with applause and joy. When everyone was busy changing the stage for the next match, Antonio moved a bit closer to Ethan. Ethan touched the lace of his coat as he straightened his back to sit seriously, as if they were going to have something serious to discuss.
Antonio lowered his head slightly, trying to hide everyone's gaze, and maintained a calm look to give a normal impression.
"Master Ethan!" His voice was at the edge of a whisper.
The arena's cheers hung in the air so heavy that it was difficult to hear.
Ethan leaned slightly forward, trying to catch Antonio's voice, and replied, "Yes."
His voice was quiet but filled with wonder.
Antonio spoke in a hushed tone while hesitating, "I guess people will get to know about Sadi's secret."
"Already everyone was asking about Sadi's sudden transformation."
"We can't hide it anymore."
Ethan nodded; he had feared this moment as well, but he did not show it on his face. He replied, "Master Antonio, the truth will come sooner and later. We can't hide it forever."
In concern, Antonio asked, "But once they know, then everything will be changed."
"It already has," Ethan interrupted softly.
"Although the future is unpredictable, Sadi has the power over destiny."
"If the prophecies are true, then he will prove his power and claim what is his."
"No one can destroy it when the time comes."
"And you know the truth already—that we lost what we had. A lot of conspiracy has been happening; at any time, anyone can destroy the sky temple for the stones."
"We can't protect it anymore, and you know it too." Ethan's words hung in the air; each word of his was true. The sky temple was attacked by intruders a lot of times, and they were so powerful that they had already breached six of the magical barriers protecting the temple."
The Sky Temple, where the sacred zodiac celestial stones were kept.
The enemies were relentless, and the last barrier protecting the temple was on the brink of collapse.
Ethan's heavy words echoed in the air, "The stones may fall into the wrong hands, but Sadi... he may save the stones."
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Why do you think he loves me more than you?
Damon stormed into the chamber and, without a word, slapped Draco across the face.Draco staggered back, eyes wide. He slowly touched his cheek, lowering his gaze in silence.“This is ridiculous!” Damon roared. “You couldn’t even capture the beast?”Draco stammered, “Father… that beast was too strong to handle.”“Shut up!” Damon snapped. His voice thundered through the room. “Then how did Sadi—that worthless boy—manage to capture it? Are you that pathetic?”Draco’s shoulders slumped. He couldn’t look his father in the eyes.“You’ve ruined everything,” Damon growled, veins bulging in his temple. “You’ve spilled water on all my plans.”“I… I’m sorry, Father,” Draco murmured, barely audible.Damon took a deep breath, trying to cool the fire in his chest. He stepped back, sank into his chair, and leaned back.He pinched the bridge of his nose, voice now low but still sharp. “Tell me exactly what you saw in there.”Draco nodded hesitantly and began recounting the battle—Sadi’s speed, the s
First the temple… now the beast
Sadi’s eyes slowly fluttered open. His vision was blurry, but he could make out a familiar face.Nowshin.She sat beside him, her soft smile lighting up the room.She leaned closer and asked gently, “Sadi, are you okay?”He tried to sit up, but Nowshin quickly held his arm. “Hey, take it easy,” she said. “You’ve been through a lot. Just rest.”He let out a tired sigh and stayed lying on the stone bench, staring at the ceiling.“What happened back there?” he asked, voice hoarse.“Don’t worry,” Nowshin replied. “The sages sealed Drakari in a safe place.”Sadi exhaled deeply and closed his eyes again.Nowshin’s smile widened. “You were amazing, Sadi. I knew you had it in you.”He smiled faintly, his chest rising with relief.“You know,” she continued, her eyes glowing, “the whole crowd was whispering your name. Everyone wants to meet you. You’re the talk of the entire arena.”Sadi slowly turned his head toward her, quietly listening.“And,” she added playfully, “I think you’re going to b
Sadi has returned
In the real world, Benjamin, Avil, and Nikita burst out of the magical gate. They hit the ground hard, rolling across the arena floor.The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, not realizing what had happened inside.Benjamin looked up first—and saw Draco standing in front of them, glaring coldly.His eyes narrowed. Because of Draco, Sadi couldn’t make it out with them.Benjamin stood, just as General Mason approached.“General, we need help,” Benjamin said quickly.Mason frowned. “What happened?”“There’s a celestial beast in there. It attacked us. Sadi stayed behind to fight it.”Mason’s eyes widened. “A celestial beast?”“Yes,” Benjamin confirmed. “We couldn’t stop it. That thing... it’s too powerful. We need to do something—now.”Mason froze for a second. He looked deep in thought, as if something clicked in his mind.“What kind of beast was it?” he asked.“It’s Drakari. The Aries sign.”Mason didn’t respond. He turned sharply and leapt onto the upper floor, where the sages and le
The power of Scorpio
Benjamin and Avil stopped just in front of the glowing gate, holding tightly onto Nikita. The wind howled louder near the entrance, whipping around them like a storm.“Benjamin, quickly!” Avil urged, her voice almost lost in the chaos.He nodded and stepped forward.Just before the strange gravity of the gate pulled him in, he caught one last glimpse—Sadi standing alone, facing the towering Drakari. Then, everything went white as the light from the gate swallowed them whole.In the magical world, the gate vanished behind them like it had never been there. But the storm of wind and dust still raged on the other side.Back in the battle, Sadi stood his ground.He could feel it—Drakari was charging up, gathering the full force of its fire power.He didn’t have much time.If fire was rising, he had only one choice—water.And ice.Drakari’s massive form loomed over him. The beast’s red eyes locked onto Sadi, filled with rage. Flames curled from its nostrils.Sadi took a deep breath, closed
The magical gate
[Swoosh][Thud][Tonk]It felt like the whole forest was about to break apart. From a distance, Avil and Nikita watched the intense battle, their eyes wide with fear.Sadi and Benjamin stepped back, breathing heavily, trying to recover from the last wave of attacks. On the other side, Draco stood alone, his expression dark.Draco’s plan had always been different. He wanted to tame the celestial beast for himself. If he succeeded, he planned to kill the others and escape. But now, he realized it wasn’t going to be that easy.Drakari wasn’t slowing down. No matter how many times they tried to dodge or tire it out, the beast only seemed more powerful.Draco gritted his teeth, anger rising inside him. He couldn’t accept losing. He wouldn’t.If force wasn’t enough, he’d use something darker.Without another thought, Draco dropped his swords onto the ground with a loud clang. Drakari turned its massive head, noticing the sound.Draco closed his eyes and began chanting softly. His hands move
Fire war
Drakari stepped out from the shadows of the trees, its enormous frame shaking the earth beneath. It let out a thunderous roar that echoed through the forest, sending birds fleeing into the night sky.“It’s… it’s a Celestial Beast,” Nikita whispered, her voice barely steady.“What are we supposed to do now?”“We can’t fight that,” she added, her eyes wide with fear.Avil and Benjamin stood frozen, speechless. No one had expected this—not here, not now.Drakari looked like something pulled straight out of legend.Towering and powerful, it radiated ancient energy that seemed to press down on everything around it. One wrong move and they’d be crushed.Taming a Celestial Beast… it was more than rare—it was impossible. No one had done it in over 15 years. It was the kind of thing that made history. The kind of thing that made a legend.Draco’s eyes lit up, the thrill of challenge sparking in them.“A Celestial Beast…” he muttered, almost to himself.“I didn’t expect this... but it might be
Drakari—the Emberhorn of War [Aries]
[SWOOSH]A sudden gust of wind cut through the air. In a blink, a powerful force slammed into Draco, pushing him away from Benjamin.Caught off guard, Draco stumbled back, barely managing to steady himself. His eyes snapped toward the direction of the wind, searching for the one who dared interrupt.The dust began to settle, and through the haze, a figure emerged—calm, steady, unmoved by the chaos.It was Sadi.Draco’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening with irritation. He clenched his jaw, clearly annoyed by the sight of him.“What the hell?” he snapped, voice sharp and cold.“What do you think you're doing?”Sadi met his gaze, calm but firm.“You're going too far, Draco. This isn’t a war. It’s a trial. Killing your competitors isn't part of the test.”Draco scoffed, almost laughing at the words. “What did you say?” he asked, stepping closer.“I said it’s not fair,” Sadi repeated, standing his ground.Draco tilted his head, eyeing him with disbelief. He gave him a slow once-over
Argument
“Draco!”It was him.Draco stepped into the firelight, his clothes torn and scorched, a devilish smile stretched across his face. His presence made the entire group tense. The air grew heavy with unease.“You?” Benjamin muttered, his tone filled with disbelief.Draco smirked.“What? Didn’t expect to see me here?”Avil stepped forward cautiously, her brows drawn together.“What are you doing here, Draco?”He began to circle the tent slowly, his hands casually behind his back.“Well, as far as I know, this area isn’t restricted. It’s open to everyone.”“And while I was out taming beasts,” he continued, casting a smug glance around, “I noticed a fire in the distance.”“So, I thought—maybe I’d find something interesting.”He paused, then gave a cruel chuckle.“And look what I found. Creatures indeed.”Nikita rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “Idiot.”Draco turned sharply toward her, his head tilted mockingly. “How many beasts have you tamed, stupid girl?”Nikita frowned. “Tha
Fight among friends
It had been five hours in the real world. Inside the grand arena, the crowd sat in tense anticipation. The magical portal had long since closed, and no one knew what had become of the competitors.In the realm of magic, however, time moved differently—what felt like hours here could be days there. Three days had likely passed within that world.No one knew if the challengers were still alive… or had already fallen prey to the beasts.Ethan and Mason walked slowly around the edge of the arena.As they walked, Mason glanced over and asked, “Lord… should I do something?”His voice was low, concerned.“I’m getting a bad feeling.”Ethan took a deep breath, calm but thoughtful.“Mason, wait a little longer.”“I have a feeling,” he said, eyes narrowing.“This time… something extraordinary is going to happen.”Mason frowned.“And yet, you still won’t let me intervene, Lord?""You feel it too, don’t you? Is something wrong?”Ethan looked up at the sky. The color was shifting—slowly but dramati
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