Tyler immediately rushed in, channeling his blood magic through his hands. They crackled with power, crimson beams shooting out towards Kael.
Kael quickly moved aside, dodging the attack, but the next moment, the crimson beam altered its trajectory and continued pursuing him. Kael raised one of his arms in the air, creating a blood shield that protected him from the encroaching blast.
A blood sword materialized in his other hand as he charged towards his opponent. They clashed in the centre, blood aura surging around, shaking the structure of the arena.
Tyler's crimson blade collided with Kael's in a series of heated clashes, neither one backing down.
They zapped around the arena, leaving a blazing trail of blood aura in their wake. They added more power behind their attacks, the intensity of their blood attacks amplifying by the second.
Several hours past as they battled, the crowd watching in anticipation for the fight to conclude.
The malum within Tyler's blood cells lessened as his ferocity waned. He closely evaded a swing from Kael's sword, rushing back to create some distance.
Sweat adorned his child-like face, numerous thoughts racing within his prideful mind.
With minimal options left, he poured all his remaining power into one last decisive attack.
Seeing this, Kael added more power into his own blood sword, red sparks oozing from the lunar blade in copious amounts.
Crimson waves moved violently around Tyler's blade as he gripped it firmly.
The both of them swung their swords, a bright flash of light filling the tenebrous space as their weapons struck each other.
As the light dimmed, the crowd was left in shock as the pieces of Tyler's body laid scattered across the blood-stained floor. Organs were seen sprawled all over the arena, a glowing red crystal shimmering a short distance away—Tyler's blood core.
Blood cores were the essence of a vampire. When slayed, their blood cores would usually disintegrate into the atmosphere, vanishing, never to be seen again.
A couple seconds later, and that very thing happened to the core. Now, all that was left was the grotesque scene of a mercilessly butchered vampire.
From what everyone could see, it was clear that Kael won the first match.
Once the match was concluded, the victor was allowed ample time to regain his vigor before the next match was to commence. During this time, many of the Darkhaven family members solemnly mourned the death of Tyler Darkhaven, while others questioned how the match ended so gruesomely within that last clash.
In the end, no one approached Kael to inquire about that. The elusive prince didn't bother conversing with his extended family, choosing to resign to his chambers to recouperate his strength for the next fight.
Meanwhile, the arena was cleared and prepared for the next fight to take place. The remains of Tyler's corpse were gathered and kept aside to be buried once all matches were concluded.
Later on, Kael returned to the expansive room, stepping into the arena with the same air of confidence he had from the previous fight.
Quinn walked into the arena as well, a neutral expression visible on his face. The stern legacy had short black hair carefully parted to the side, broad shoulders and refined facial features that augmented his pristine physique—a sharp contrast to the previous fighter.
As the fight began, both contestants rushed towards each other, not in a clash of blood weapons, but one governed by martial arts.
Kael and Quinn clashed in a series of punches and kicks, their appendages coated in blood hardening. Sparks flew across the shadowy terrain, neither one yielding to the other.
Quinn rushed back, a blood scythe materializing in his hand the next moment before Kael covered the distance. He swung the lengthy weapon down, a trail of crimson light following the bladed edge.
Kael twisted his body, evading the sharp swings. His right arm pushed through the sinister swings, his left gearing back to deliver an empowered blow to his opponent.
Quinn evaded the attack, jumping back once more. A second blood scythe formed within his grasp.
He swung both scythes, sending two large blood slashes through the air.
Kael shifted from his position, evading the attacks. He rushed towards his opponent the next second.
The scythes reformed, turning into crimson daggers. He swung them at close range, the shimmering weapons missing his opponent at each swing.
Kael's fist connected in the midst of their exchange, the force crushing bone and teeth. Blood gushed out from Quinn's mouth, his face swung to the side from the impact.
The fight dragged out, the shadowy space enveloped in crimson light from every attack.
Quinn's movements grew sluggish, his frustration building. He gritted his teeth, gathering his remaining power into one final attack.
His gaze briefly shifted to the stands, his worried mother gazing back at him. Tears were ready to steam down her pale face, inaudible words escaping her lips as she looked away.
Quinn hesitated, his thoughts split apart. His expression shifted back to his opponent, brows furrowed as the crimson light surrounded his arms and weapons.
Kael's arms glowed with gluttonous power, the air around him somewhat shifting to his will. His lips parted as he cursed his cousin, rushing forward to deliver his next attack.
Hardened fists met with luminescent blades, their vehement clash threatening to shatter the arena. The culmination of shimmering light shrouded the dark space once more, the spectators eager to realize the outcome of the second match.
The proud royals exchanged worried glances as the witnessed the end of the match. Quinn's head remained missing from his limp body, disintegrated by the force of Kael's blow. Seconds later, his blood core pulled itself out from his headless body, disintegrating into nothingness right after.
Kael had won the second match.
"That brat, when did he get this strong?"
"He wasn't half as talented as this in the past. Did he dabble in forbidden arts?"
"That must certainly be the case. Kael shouldn't be this powerful, not by a longshot."
The royals conversed amongst themselves, unsatisfied with the result of the match. Many were pained because of Quinn's death, but alas, they couldn't intervene after a royal decided to battle for the throne. This was simply the outcome they had to accept.
Within the crowd, a woman remained seated along with her children. She wore a dark flowing gown with curly black hair that went all the way down her shoulders. Her perfectly white skin accompanied her sharp crimson eyes.
Her gaze never left the arena, a cacophony of emotions plaguing her heart.
Kael glanced back at the woman, a taciturn expression on his face as he departed from the arena.
The match between the undefeated Kael and his next opponent was set to commence later on. Once the arena was cleared, both contestants moved into the battleground, their gazes never leaving each other. The spectators held their breaths, wishing for a change to happen this time around.
Flynn stood motionless before the ominous prince, long black hair frozen in the absence of free-flowing air. His facials were sharp and clear cut, physique lean, yet heavily compact.
A stern expression clung to his accentuated features, lips and brows furrowed, insinuating a subtle sense of frustration.
Seconds trickled by as the legacies stared at each other, crimson eyes piercing through still darkness.
Blood swipes suddenly formed, both opponents swinging their arms out. The crescent waves of red energy speedily traversed the dark space, rushing to meet their intended target.
The accelerating slashes collided with each other, concentrated powers bombarding together as a series of explosions followed.
The crimson barrage ceased on both ends, the lengthy space enveloped in darkness once more.
The clanking sound of boots permeated the stillness, heavy eyes remaining on the undefeated prince.
A sharp flash of lightning shot out from the shifting boots, spreading far and wide from Flynn.
The slim red aura shrouding Kael's being increased, repelling the harsh effects of the crimson lightning as he sprinted towards his opponent.
He quickly appeared in front of Flynn, both legacies locked into a heated exchange of fists the next moment. Kael's movements were sharp and precise, each strike aimed to immobilize his shifty opponent.
Flynn's, however, lacked routine and preplanning. His body flowed in rhythm to his instincts—evading blows, delivering unexpected jabs, moving as though he wasn't just a seasoned fighter, but one who had become the essence of combat itself.
The fluid actions gave Kael trouble, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.
A blood-coated fist rushed towards Flynn's face. He nimbly shifted to the side, utilizing his body's momentum to deliver his own attack. However, the punch never landed, a sharp pain shooting up from his left knee.
The ominous prince held the legacy's leg within his grasp, the pressure around the joint intensifying by the moment.
A wave of crimson energy shot out from Flynn's hand, far too large for the illusive prince to simply dodge. With reluctance, Kael let go of the cracking appendage, evading the sudden attack.
A tremendous blood beam shot out from Kael's palms, both attacks meeting at the centre of the scarred battlefield. Hefty shockwaves rushed out from the shimmering coalition of fearsome abilities, the spectators' eyes perpetually glued onto the progressive match.
Loud boots rushed towards each other, Kael and Flynn facing once again in close quarters.
A blood sword took shape within Kael's clutches, the treacherous light illuminating the maddening grin on his perspiring face.