The Guardian They Left for Dead

Chapter 6: The Final Challenger

The horn sounded across the Skyreach Colosseum.

The first challenger stepped onto the platform with a broad sword resting on his shoulder. Flames curled around both arms, and the crowd cheered as he faced Asher.

“Begin!”

The man rushed forward.

“Flamebreaker Slash!”

His sword came down, releasing a wave of fire that tore across the stone. Asher did not retreat. He raised one hand, and a thick wall of blue ice rose before him.

Fire struck ice and steam filled the arena.

Before the challenger could see through it, Asher stepped from the mist and caught the burning blade with his bare hand.

The flames died.

Asher looked almost disappointed. “That was all?”

Ice spread from his fingers, covering the sword and crawling over the man’s arms. The challenger tried to pull away, but Asher struck his chest with one palm.

The frozen armour shattered.

The man flew off the platform and landed unconscious below.

The crowd erupted.

“One move!”

“Asher crushed fire with ice!”

“He is already stronger than his peers!”

Asher barely looked at the defeated man.

“Next.”

A woman in green robes entered with two thin blades. Wind gathered around her feet as she bowed toward the elders, then faced Asher.

The moment the herald gave the signal, she vanished.

Several green shadows surrounded Asher, attacking from different directions.

“Gale Shadow Dance!”

Asher avoided the first two blades and blocked the third. The real woman appeared behind him, aiming for his back.

A smile touched his lips then cold air exploded from his body.

The shadows shattered, and frost locked the woman’s feet to the platform. Before she could escape, Asher struck her across the face and she fell hard.

“I yield,” she cried.

Asher stepped on her hand and bones cracked beneath his boot.

Her scream cut through the arena.

One elder leaned forward. “Asher, she has surrendered.”

Dante remained seated beside him without saying anything, happy that his son was already striking fear in the heart of the people.

Asher kicked the woman again, then stepped on her other hand and the elder looked at Dante, hoping he'd intervene but he cold said,

“The herald has not declared the match over,” he said calmly. “The laws of the arena still stand.”

The elder fell silent and everyone understood.

Dante ruled House Jian and held Skyreach in his hands. No one would openly challenge his son over a wounded contestant.

Asher finally removed his foot.

“Then she should have surrendered faster.”

The woman was carried away while the crowd applauded, though the cheering was less certain now.

Mira watched from the servants’ section.

Her wrists still burned beneath the magical restraints, and every breath pulled at the hunger twisting in her stomach. Still, she kept her eyes on Asher.

He was not fighting to prove he deserved the lordship, he was enjoying the fact that no one dared stop him.

She watched as Asher defeated one challenger after another, some forfeited and this only made him more arrogant

One final challenger entered the arena, a young swordsman carrying a lightning blade. Fear showed in his eyes, but he still bowed.

“I challenge you.”

Asher glanced at the injured contestants being carried away. “You saw what happened to them.”

“I came here for the lordship. I cannot leave without fighting.”

“Then try not to bore me.”

The swordsman moved first.

Lightning wrapped around his blade as he attacked from the left, then changed direction halfway through the strike. Asher raised an ice shield, but the blade cut through it and tore the edge of his robe.

A thin line appeared across his shoulder and the crowd fell silent.

Asher looked down at the cut and when he raised his eyes again, the air around the platform turned bitterly cold.

The swordsman stepped back but it was too late.

Asher struck the ground with his palm.

“Ice Burial.”

Frozen spikes burst from beneath the platform.

The swordsman jumped over the first row, twisted past the second and charged forward with lightning gathering around his sword.

Asher met him halfway.

His ice-covered fist struck the blade.

Steel shattered.

The swordsman froze in shock, and Asher drove another fist into his stomach. He folded forward, losing his breath, but Asher caught him by the neck before he could fall.

“I yield,” the swordsman gasped.

Asher slammed his knee into his face and blood sprayed across the stone.

He hit him again.

The herald hesitated, looking toward Dante.

Dante gave no signal to stop.

Asher struck the swordsman a third time and threw him aside. The young man rolled across the platform and did not rise.

“The challenger has been defeated!” the herald finally announced.

Guards rushed forward and carried him away and no one else entered after that

Asher stood alone among broken weapons, blood and cracked stone, his clothes almost untouched except for the small tear on his shoulder.

“Is there anyone else?” he asked.

The remaining warriors avoided his gaze.

A noble rose quickly. “There is no shame in accepting the truth. Lord Asher has proven himself superior.”

Another followed.

“He is powerful enough to protect Skyreach.”

“He should be declared the next lord!”

The praises spread until the colosseum shook with his name.

“Asher!”

“Lord Asher!”

Asher smiled and turned toward Mira.

She stood among the servants, pale and thin, but there was still no admiration in her eyes.

His smile became a challenge and he wanted her to understand what would happen next.

The moment he became lord, the laws of Skyreach would place every member of the defeated Voss branch beneath his authority. Mira would no longer be merely a prisoner he kept in secret. He would have the legal right to claim her service, control her movements and decide Nia’s fate.

No one would be able to question him.

Mira’s hands slowly tightened.

She had hoped to endure until she found a chance to escape. She had stayed quiet because Nia needed her alive but once Asher was crowned next in line, there would be no escape.

Nia would belong to his rule too.

The head elder rose and raised one hand. The cheering gradually faded.

“As no other warrior has stepped forward, Asher has proven himself the strongest challenger. Under the laws of Skyreach, he shall now be declared...”

“I challenge him.”

The elder stopped.

The words were calm, but they carried through the entire colosseum.

Heads turned toward the servants’ section.

Mira stepped forward and Asher’s smile disappeared.

The head elder frowned. “Mira Voss, you are restrained and have not registered as a contestant.”

“I am a blood descendant of House Voss,” Mira replied. “Arena law allows any recognised descendant of a ruling house to challenge before the lordship is declared.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

She was right.

The old law had been created to prevent a family throne from being seized without giving its bloodline one final chance to resist.

Asher looked at the magical seals around her wrists and laughed.

“You cannot use your power.”

Mira walked to the edge of the platform.

“I know.”

“You cannot defeat me.”

“Perhaps.”

“Then why step forward?”

Mira looked him directly in the eyes.

“Because the moment you become lord, you gain authority over my daughter.”

Her voice hardened.

“I would rather die stopping you than live long enough to watch you put your hands on Nia.”

The colosseum fell silent and Mira stepped onto the platform.

“So... I challenge you.”