The city awoke in the glow of the morning sun, its rays reflecting off the golden towers of the capital. Crowds lined the streets — nobles in colorful robes, soldiers in ceremonial armor, townspeople carrying the flags and banners of their favorites. The air was thick with conversation, laughter, and the sound of drums calling everyone to the main arena.
The commentator's voice cut through the crowd's buzz.
— Greetings, citizens of the Empire! Today is the day we've all been waiting for—the Empire Tournament! — His tone was full of passion and strength. — Eight teams, eight captains, and only one winner's crown!
The crowd erupted as the teams entered the arena. Each team had its own formation, colors, and aura that immediately revealed their style.
— First up are the Wolf's Edge, led by the undefeated Arok! — the commentator's voice boomed across the arena. — The favorites to win this year's tournament! Their speed, brute strength, and unmatched coordination have made them undefeated for the last three years!
A roar of cheers erupted from the stands. Arok, tall and confident, raised his hand in greeting. A calm smile played on his face, but his eyes betrayed a cool alertness.
— Next up — Shadow Raven! — announced the commentator. — Captain Tensho, a master tactician known for his precise, almost surgical attacks. Their style is silent death — before the opponent realizes what's happening, the fight is already over.
Tensho walked across the sand of the arena in silence. His dark cloak fluttered slightly in the wind, and his gaze was like steel—cold and unyielding.
— The third team is Forest Shield, led by Mira! — The commentator's voice softened. — Elves from the northern lands — harmony, precision, and the magic of nature. Their defensive formations are legendary.
Mira nodded toward the stands. Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like. Even standing on the sand of the arena, she looked as if she were part of nature.
— Next up — Mechanicus! — The commentator's booming voice returned. — Captain Jinn, master of engineering and techno-magic. Their armor and battle constructs can turn any fight into predictable chaos!
Jinn marched into the arena in shining metallic armor. The stands roared when they recognized his distinctive mechanical roar, amplified by magical resonators.
— And now... Burning Sand! — The crowd roared, and a wave of hot air seemed to accompany the team as they entered the arena. — Captain Kiyoshi, son of the desert, known for his unbridled energy and temperament! Their fighting style is speed and fire — literally!
Kiyoshi raised his hands, and sparks danced around his palms. The crowd erupted in cheers, and his smile said it all—he was ready for anything.
— Next up — Black Runes, a team from the Void, led by Malken! — the commentator's voice quieted slightly, as if he himself felt uneasy. — Masters of shadow magic and forbidden runes. Wherever they appear, the light goes out.
Malken entered slowly, surrounded by swirling mist. His eyes glowed with a pale light, and the aura surrounding the team caused unease even among hardened warriors.
The commentator took a breath, and his tone became more solemn.
— And now, for the first time in the history of the tournament... — Dragon's Pursuit! — the audience fell silent, and the commentator's voice echoed. — A new team about which little is known. Captain Valdor — a man about whom only rumors circulate. They say he trained outside the kingdom and that his strength exceeds human capabilities.
The crowd whispered, not knowing what to expect. Valdor walked calmly into the center of the arena, without gestures or displays of power. His gaze was cold and focused. In the silence that fell, only the rustle of his cloak could be heard.
— And finally, the Fallen Knight's, led by Borg! — concluded the commentator. — Warriors who have survived more battles than most of us can imagine. Once knights of the Empire, today they are mercenaries, fighting for themselves.
Borg, old but still impressive in stature, rested his hand on his sword and nodded toward the imperial box.
The arena shook with cheers. Eight teams, eight captains, each different, each ready to fight.
The commentator threw up his hands.
— The rules remain unchanged! — he shouted. — Team competition in a ladder system. The winners advance, the losers are eliminated. There are no second chances.
At that moment, the emperor's calm voice rang out from the imperial box.
— Valdor... — he said quietly, looking down at the arena. — Interesting. I don't remember him from previous years.
— It's a new team, Your Highness, — replied the advisor. — They say they appeared out of nowhere. But their captain... is said to have been a general once.
The emperor raised an eyebrow, keeping his eyes fixed on Valdor. — A general? If that's true... then he'll have a chance.
A lottery machine appeared in the center of the arena—a powerful, magical drum spinning in the light of the runes. The captains approached one by one, each drawing their symbol, which determined the order of the battles.
The crowd held its breath.
The commentator boomed:
— The draw has begun!
The machine begins to emit light, then disappears after a moment, and in its place appears a board with a ladder of randomly selected teams.
So, it's all clear! — shouted the commentator. — The first match of the tournament will be between the teams chosen by fate... Dragon's Pursuit versus Shadow Raven!
The crowd erupted in loud cheers. The two captains looked at each other from a distance. Tensho raised his head slightly, and Valdor responded with only a brief nod.
The emperor smiled slightly.
— An interesting start — he said. — The old master against the new player. We'll see who proves to be smarter.
The commentator added:
— Ladies and gentlemen, get ready! The first fight of the tournament is about to begin! Dragon's Pursuit versus Raven Shadow — a clash that could define the entire tournament!
The arena shook with the sound of drums. Armor glistened in the sun. The air thickened with tension. The day of the tournament had officially begun.
The arena fell silent, as if even the wind had held its breath. Stone stands surrounded the circle of sand where the first fight of the tournament was to begin. Golden imperial banners fluttered in the sun, and tension hung in the air.
— In the east — the Shadow Raven! — the commentator's voice boomed.
Warriors in black cloaks emerged from the darkness. At their head was Tensho, his gaze seemingly piercing through space. His team was silent — Kaya, Zenra, Muun, and Shin formed an even, almost perfect line. They all exuded confidence.
— And in the west... — the commentator's voice trembled with slight tension. — a new team whose name arouses curiosity and concern. Dragon's Pursuit!
The western gate opened with a metallic creak. Warriors emerged from inside — slowly, in perfect rhythm.
At the front was Valdor — his light brown hair swaying slightly in the wind, his eyes reflecting the light like embers. Next to him were Kael and Noah, followed by Mayuri, calm and focused, and next to her was Arwen, her daggers glinting like the blade of the moon.
The audience held their breath.
High above, in the imperial box, the king with silver hair and golden eyes watched everything with a slight smile. There was curiosity in his gaze — and something that resembled a memory.
The GONG rang.
The air trembled.
The moment the echo of the impact faded, both teams sprang into action.
Tensho was first. He vanished into the shadows and reappeared right in front of Valdor. The blow came from above, lightning fast. Valdor raised his sword, stopping the blow with a powerful crash. Sparks flew through the air.
— He's quick. — Valdor muttered, pushing him away.
Tensho landed a few meters away and smiled slightly.
— And you are no ordinary warrior.
Before he could finish, Kaya was already in motion. Her two blades cut through the air, heading toward Mayuri.
— Noah! — Arwen shouted.
Noah clasped his hands together in an instant and released a stream of fire. It collided with Kaya's attack, creating a purple flash in the air.
— Phew, this woman isn't kidding. — Noah said with a smile. — Kael, the line!
Kael stepped forward, his shield glowing with silver light. — I'll cover you!
The ground cracked when Muun struck his shield with his hammer. The force was so great that sand flew into the air and Kael took a step back.
— Damn, he's strong. — he hissed, stopping another blow.
At that moment, Mayuri unleashed a sequence of spells. Symbols flashed on her hands, forming a circle that analyzed her opponents' movements.
— Data collected. Shadow Raven operates in a fan formation. Their weakness is — their center.
— Then I'll strike. — Valdor said, and set off.
Tensho vanished into the shadows, only to reappear in front of him. Their swords clashed again with a loud bang.
This time, Valdor pushed his opponent away and then spun around, delivering a horizontal slash. Tensho blocked the blade, but the force of the blow shook him.
At that moment, Kaya moved again — two flashes of blades that Arwen barely managed to stop. Their clash looked like a dance — fast, deadly, and beautiful.
The crowd roared as Shadow Raven went on the counterattack.
Zenra rose into the air and made a seal — black birds shot out of his body from the shadows and began attacking from above.
— Mayuri! Noah shouted.
— Coming!
Mayuri spread her hands. A network of runes appeared on her fingers. The shadows struck, but dissolved in the blue light.
— Pattern analysis. — she said calmly. — Level five illusions. No substance.
— No substance, but they look like bloody birds! — Noah yelled, shooting several of them with fire.
Valdor heard his voice, but couldn't turn around. Tensho had vanished again.
In a split second, a shadow appeared behind him.
A blow.
The punch went through his shoulder.
Valdor turned around, parried another blow, but felt blood on his shoulder.
Tensho stood a few steps away, wiping the blood from his sword.
— I've seen that move before. In legends. The dragon of the Bloody East.
— Perhaps. — replied Valdor, raising his sword. — But that dragon is still alive.
The air around Valdor stirred. The aura began to change, and a delicate glow lit up his hands.
Mayuri looked at him, feeling a familiar thrill.
— No... not yet.
But the fight was picking up momentum.
Kael lunged at Muuna, their weapons clashing with a loud bang, creating a shockwave. Arwen blocked Kaya's attack, bounced off the ground, and jumped over her, slashing down from above.
Noah and Zenra exchanged spells, their magic lighting up the sky with flashes of blue and black sparks.
The arena trembled.
Tensho appeared before Valdor again, this time from three sides at once—his shadow had split, creating an illusion.
Valdor blocked the first attack, dodged the second, and was struck in the side by the third.
He bent over for a moment, feeling pain.
— Valdor! — Mayuri shouted.
— I'm fine. — Valdor replied.
His eyes flashed red.
The air around him thickened.
The emperor slowly rose from his seat.
— It's... impossible. — he whispered. — Those eyes...
Small scales appeared on Valdor's arm. The sword began to tremble, as if reacting to something inside it.
Tensho took a step back, feeling the air ripple.
— What are you...?
Valdor raised his head.
— Something that hasn't been seen in a long time.
His voice was lower, saturated with the echo of something inhuman.
A blue flame surrounded the blade, but not completely.
The spectators in the stands stood up, shocked.
The emperor smiled slightly, whispering:
— Dragon Blood... fifty years later.
The ground shook as Valdor moved at a speed unattainable for a normal human being.
Tensho barely had time to react. Their swords clashed again, and this time it was Valdor who knocked him off balance.
Fire burst from the sword, cutting through the air in a blue arc.
Tensho jumped aside, but the flame caught his cape. The shadow burned up in a second.
— Valdor! — Mayuri cried out warningly. — You can't keep this up any longer!
But he didn't listen.
A flame reflected in Valdor's eyes, but it was not yet the full fire of dragons. It was a warning.
Dragon's Pursuit maintained it's position, and Shadow Raven had no intention of giving up either. Kaya and Arwen clashed again, Kael and Muun fought shoulder to shoulder, and Noah and Zenry's magic lit up the arena like lightning.
Tensho stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from view.
Valdor held his breath, instinctively sensing his presence — right behind him.
Their swords clashed again. A crack, a spark, a shockwave.
This time, no one backed down.
They both stood there, frozen, staring into each other's eyes.
The emperor rose slowly from his box, his voice a mixture of pride and fear.
— This is only the beginning.
The Shadow of the Raven and the Dragon's Chase stood facing each other, heated, trembling, ready to continue.
And the blue flame around Valdor pulsed, growing stronger.
As if it were about to burst into full bloom at any moment.