Chapter 14
Special Tournament 2
In the mist of the void, a girl floated, still and composed.
Golden, sparkling hair shimmered in the gloom, cascading past her shoulders. Her white, radiant eyes glowed with power. She didn't seem to fall, nor stand, just hover. Weightless. Timeless.
A small metal sphere spun around her, scanning her with pulsing blue rays.
"This again?" Aurelia groaned. "You failed the first time!"
She lunged at it, but the orb darted away just beyond her reach, teasing her like it had done before. It spun midair, then clicked open. A glowing screen projected in front of her, letters typing across its surface.
Her eyes narrowed as she read:
Name: Aurelia SolenneSex: FemaleRace: HumanLegacy: SolenneForeseeing Past: AcceptedStage One: SpeedBorn: Earth
Aurelia's mouth dropped. She lunged toward the screen, but her hands phased right through it. She blinked, then smirked.
"Interesting."
The message continued.
Welcome to the tournament! You'll be summoned to battle shortly, my queen!
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "At least someone recognizes royalty."
Suddenly, the void gave way to sound. Color.
The roar of a crowd.
Aurelia's eyes snapped open.
She stood on a gray platform, suspended in the middle of an arena. The sky overhead was a clear, glowing blue. The walls of the arena shifted from gold to gray and back again in a constant pulse. A giant screen hovered in the air beside her, showing her in a ready stance.
Next to her image stood her opponent.
He had long gray hair with streaks of white, fierce storm-colored eyes, and an air of silent intensity. His robes, silvery-gray, flowed like water to his boots. He wore silky white gloves marked with a golden badge of two hands held in prayer. Dark leather was wrapped tightly around his chest and waist. A short gray cape with white lining fell over a white blazer beneath his armor. He looked sharp, elegant and battle-ready.
Seth Damon, the name read beneath his image.
Aurelia glanced down at her own outfit, a simple gray blazer, short skirt, and boots. She wore the same golden badge, but otherwise... she frowned. Seriously?
Jealousy flickered, but she shook it off. Then she noticed him, Seth, standing across the platform in real time. She gave him a casual wave.
He didn't wave back.
Rude, she thought, eyes narrowing.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her trembled. A stone pillar erupted behind her, groaning as it rose. A heavy, ancient door was set into its face, cracked and dust-covered.
She stepped toward it cautiously.
Opening the door, a cloud of dust burst out. Coughing, she squinted into the darkness, then froze.
A soft golden glow lit the interior.
Inside, a single weapon stood upright in a stone socket: a rapier with a spiraling gold hilt. The guard coiled upward like a golden ribbon. The blade itself was sleek and silver, fading into pure white near the tip.
Aurelia's face lit up.
She stepped forward and grabbed the hilt. The rapier hummed in her hand, warm and perfect. She couldn't help but smile.
As soon as she drew it, the pillar sank back into the ground, disappearing from view.
Aurelia turned to face Seth, stepping onto the battlefield with the rapier in hand. She fell into stance, calm, focused.
Across from her, Seth smirked.
He held no weapon.
Her brows knit.
Then the ground near him exploded upward, two long black chains snapped into the air, writhing like snakes. More chains burst from his back, coiling and twisting in the air with unnatural life.
The crowd roared.
Above, a massive screen showed Myrrh holding a microphone. "ARE YOU READDYYYY!?"
The arena erupted in cheers. Myrrh counted down:"Three… two… one!"
Seth struck first.
With a wave of his hand, the ground-born chains lunged toward Aurelia, moving at blistering speed.
She raised her palm—yellow sparks surged across her skin. Lightning danced around her fingers like strands of grass caught in the wind. She fired a bolt. The first chain was blasted off-course.
The second one came right for her face.
She twisted, just barely dodging as it screamed past her and slammed into the ground with enough force to crack the platform.
No hesitation.
She charged.
Three more chains struck from Seth's back. The first, she deflected with a parry. The second, she flipped over. The third, she dashed past with a sharp sidestep.
Within moments, she was in front of him.
Clenching the hilt of her rapier, she thrust for his face.
Clang!
A chain darted up and blocked it mid-strike, sparks flying.
She shifted, slashing for his arm.
But the chains slithered down his shoulder, intercepting her again.
She retreated, wary of the writhing metal.
Seth came in close. She thrust toward his chest, meeting his armored fist. Sparks lit the air as he swiped.
The wind screamed from the speed.
She ducked, countering with a slash aimed for his jaw.
The blade grazed him, just enough to draw blood.
Then—
CRACK.
His fist connected with her face.
Aurelia flew backward, skidding across the platform. Blood dripped from her nose. She winced, but still… she laughed.
"Close-range?" she spat, eyes burning. "You're pathetic."
She wiped the blood from her mouth, then raised her rapier.
Sparks danced across the blade, electricity surged, wrapping the weapon in lightning.
Seth growled, red-faced from the insult.
Aurelia pointed the sword at him.
Lightning flared.
With a sharp slash, a searing bolt tore through the air toward Seth like a whip of thunder.
Seth crossed his arms. The chains coiled defensively, forming a shell.
But the lightning blast shattered through layer after layer.
It struck home, tearing into his arms. His skin split, blood trailing.
Smoke filled the platform.
Seth stumbled backward, blinded.
In that split-second,
Aurelia vanished.
Then reappeared at his side, her speed blinding.
She drove the rapier forward.
Seth sensed the motion, but too late.
The blade pierced his cheek.
He howled in pain, hand grabbing the bloody wound.
Before he could recover, Aurelia followed up with a slash toward his ribs.
Seth, smiling now through bloodied teeth, raised his arm, and the chains from his back snaked forward, wrapping tightly around her blade.
He laughed. "You FOOL! I got you n—"
He didn't finish.
Aurelia let go of the rapier.
She twisted her hips mid-air, spun,
CRACK!
Her foot collided with his temple.
Seth flew backward, crashing hard.
The crowd exploded in cheers.
Aurelia landed, grabbed her rapier again,
But froze.
Her face paled.
Chains coiled around her ankle.
Then more crawled up her leg, hissing.
Seth, wounded and wild-eyed, had trapped her.
Aurelia gritted her teeth.
The first round wasn't over yet.