"For someone of noble blood, you have quite the barbaric way of coordinating yourself. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed you to be one of the beasts wandering this moonlit world," Roman retorted, his expression cold.
"Trying to appear dignified on the battlefield? Or are you simply trying to conceal your fear?" Kael asked, stretching his hand forward. The luminescent blade returned, its pointed edge facing the composed legacy. "I can smell it—that feeling of being utterly outmatched—oozing from your frightened self."
A few moments past, the atmosphere void of vocal disturbance.
"Enough with these pointless exchanges. Let's do this," Roman said, shifting forward. His movements were rapid and timed, covering the distance to his opponent.
A massive wave of crimson lightning sprouted from the limbs of the calm legacy, spreading all across within moments.
Kael used blood hardening, protecting his arms with the condensed effect of blood magic. Blood coat shrouded the rest of his body, his crimson armour appearing more menacing within its luminescent embrace.
His movements were just as sharp, dodging the rapidly encroaching currents of lightning. The blood sword tore through whatever attacks he failed to evade, creating a clear path for him to press forward.
Roman shifted through the waves of blood lightning, blood slashes escaping his hands as he swung them out.
Kael's defiant blade sliced through the condensed attacks, the heavy impacts pushing him back somewhat.
The currents were ever moving, adapting to the quickening pace of the conflict. In the midst of pursuing his adversary, a lone current of crimson electricity zapped past his polished swings, striking the breastplate of his armour.
A wave of pain invaded his senses, droplets of blood descending him his agape mouth.
He wasted no time regaining himself, raising his blade to deflect more blood swipes rushing his way.
"All these long-ranged attacks. Why not come close and face me?" Kael taunted, shifting his body through the unending barrage.
The dreadful lightning never ceased, left to operate independent from its callous conjurer. Roman persisted with the blood swipes, Kael covering the distance at a worrisome pace.
A blood beam tore through the wriggling web of crimson lightning. Kael jumped up, using his trusted blade to push the attack back as its direction altered.
He maneuvered through the bright wave, following the direction to its source.
The concentrated blast pursued him, inching ever so closely to the heel of his scorched armour.
Meters away from Roman, Kael made a sharp turn, the crimson beam far too engrossed to alter its trajectory on time.
The red blast struck the ground where its caster stood, a dreadful explosion enveloping the tenebrous space.
As the by-products of the disaster settled, Kael swung his blade, meeting Roman's as they stood mere inches away from each other. Heavy breathing filled the mute ambience, sweat pouring down both their faces as they drew ragged breaths.
They drew their blades back, and clashed, again and again. The blood lightning continuously swayed, augmenting Roman's weapon.
Each swing commanded the expansive reach of the bothersome technique, forcing Kael to twist and turn with every creeping moment.
Whenever their blades struck, the crimson lightning would shift to assault the malicious royal.
Kael amplified his output, the dreadful lightning's effect on his body declining to a negligible extent.
Roman's eyes widened as his movements hastened, each swing geared with the intoxicating desire to murder.
"W-what...? You... You had more power... You always did. You were..." His voice trailed off, teeth grinding against each other as he summoned every last ounce of his reserved power.
Kael readied himself, his crimson blade crackling with sinister intent. His deranged expression sent chills down the spine of the once composed legacy.
The both of them swung their blades once more, the glaring illumination filling the defiled battleground. The loud clangor of steel rung deeply within the sea of perplexed emotions that the observant crowd seemed to collectively share.
Several more minutes past, neither contestant conceding to defeat. They shifted across the vast terrain, their blades moving in sync to their battered bodies—rhythmic, poised, laced with an underlying sense of urgency and amusement.
The perplexed legacy moved with the elegance of a battle master, his enchanting blade slashing against hardened blood aura, barely scraping the blood-coated armour shrouding Kael's maniac existence.
His lips shuddered as he held his own against the abysmal warrior, eyes growing heavier as venomous whispers drew closer to his consciousness.
'Kill him. You will kill him. If you can't even do that, then you truly are a worthless creature. Look at your brother—Head Advisor to the late emperor. Your sister—Leader Of The Moonlight Army. And there's also your younger brother—First Division Commander Of The Moonlight Army.
'All of my children became important figures in the current world, yet look at yourself—over a hundred years old, yet without a meaningful title to your name.
'If you can't defeat Kael and ascend to the throne, then you're better off dead.
'Better yet, you're not worthy of being regarded as my son.'
Tears trickled down his scarred face as he pushed through the unrelenting attacks, his movements growing somewhat uncoordinated as he narrowly evaded a swing at his neck.
He drew his blade back, thrusting it forward. Kael nimbly evaded the jab, rushing forward to deliver a swing with his sword.
Their clash continued, the wounds on Roman's body accumulating as the minutes trickled by with vindictive sloth.
"Damn you," Roman muttered under his breath, his blade scraping against Kael's armour. The luminescent sword pierced through the thick blood hardening, yet stopped just mere centimeters through the finely crafted battle attire.
"Just die already!" Their clashes dragged on. A sudden swing ripped through Roman's right eye, forcing him to rush back.
But Kael was right on his tail, his blades swung out towards his neck once more.
Roman swiftly raised his sword to block the attack, twisting the weapon to throw his opponent off-course.
Throughout the fight, neither opponent was able to perform blood weave to heal their injuries, their attention completely overshadowed by the decisive battle.
Blood weave was a skill that required immense concentration—a resource they couldn't afford to waste in the midst of heated clashes.
"What sort of demon are you?!"
Kael's sword slashed down, severing Roman's hand from his body. Blood gushed out from the ghastly opening in copious amounts, the concentration of the defiant legacy waning as a result.
'No. Not here. Not now. I refuse to die like this!'
"You hear me, bastard?! I refuse to be killed by the likes of you!" Roman willed the blood lightning to burn the fresh wound, sealing it shut.
Agonizing screams plagued the tenebrous space as the lightning did its job.
Roman gripped his blade with every last bit of his strength, his bout against Kael loosing the fearsome spark it once held earlier on.
His consciousness was gradually departing, muscles heavily sore from overexertion.
His legs threatened to give way, his single eye reflecting a dark mass of unrelenting futility lurking within its depths.
"She said that if I can't defeat you, then I'm not worthy of being her son..." He muttered to himself as their swords collided. "But come to think of it, if I die right now, then none of what she said would even matter.
"I would already be in the afterlife, unable to receive my punishment."
Kael's blade struck through Roman's armour, tearing through the special iron with frightening ease.
His crimson blade sliced through Roman's heart, freely passing through weakening flesh and cracking bones.
Roman's remaining eye fluttered as his strength and willpower extinguished, leaving a simmering pile of misty defeat in its wake.
The corners of his lips curled upwards.
"I... lost? What... a shame..."
The crackling crimson light vanished, along with the Roman's luminescent blade.
Kael's longsword served as the only beacon of light within the tenebrous enclosure.
His deranged expression gave way for malicious pleasure. His body shook in the whispering darkness, a loud cackling noise drawing everyone's attention from the image of the beaten contestant.
Kael had won the last match, but much more than that...
He was now the new emperor.
Although an official coronation still had to be organized, his victories against his contenders had just served to solidify his ascension to monarchy.
The gravity of the situation weighed against every single member of the Darkhaven Family. Those who despised the fearsome prince withheld nothing from him.
They threatened to assassinate him in his sleep, poison his meals, slaughter his family—their profanity grew to greater heights.
Kael showed no concern for their passionate warnings, his hoarse voice overshadowing their escalating hatred.