The sun had barely risen, yet the grand capital

 of Aetherion was already alive with excitement.

 From every corner of the kingdom, people

 gathered at the legendary Great Battle Arena—a

 colossal monument of honor and strength. Its

 towering stone arches and golden banners 

declared one thing: the festival had begun.

Inside, the arena pulsed with energy. Cheers

 shook the sky, drums thundered, and colors

 swirled across the stands. It was time for the

 Great Battle Arena—the most anticipated event

 in Aetherion, held once every five years to honor 

the fallen King Ardyn, who died protecting the

 realm.

A tall, charismatic host dressed in ceremonial

 gold—Magnus the Grand Herald—stood at the

 center of the arena, holding a crystal orb that

 amplified his voice to all corners of the kingdom.

> “Ladies and gentlemen, people of Aetherion and

 travelers from afar… welcome to the Great

 Battle Arena!”

The crowd erupted in wild cheers.

> “Here, warriors and mages alike gather to

 prove their strength, to carve their names into

 history, and to earn the sacred title of 

Champion of Aetherion!”

With a dramatic flourish, he raised a hand as the 

royal horns echoed across the sky.

> “Please stand… for King Altherion, 

sovereign of Aetherion!”

King Altherion entered the royal balcony in full

 regalia, followed by Queen Vaelora, regal and

 composed, and their children—Crown Prince 

Kaelion, calm and resolute, Second Prince Silas, 

stern and unreadable. 

As they took their seats, the arena rang with

 unified voices:

> “LONG LIVE THE KING!”

Magnus grinned as he continued:

> “Now, let us honor our former champions—

With princess Elirya Team Tempest Fang!”

The former victors took their seats with princess Elirya 

beside the royal family, met with admiration and

nostalgia from the crowd.

Magnus lifted his arm once again.

> “Only eight teams have qualified this year… 

and now, it is time to meet them!”

---

“First, from the stormy coasts of Virelda—

Team Stormshade!”

Silver-armored warriors stepped forth, elegant 

and swift.

Princess Elirya leaned forward slightly, her eyes

 tracing each face. Her heartbeat quietly quickened.

---

“Next, the roaring steel of the Sunforge Mountains—

Team Ironclaw!”

Muscular, flame-scarred fighters strode into the

 arena, fierce and proud.

Elirya’s gaze swept over them, hope flickering. 

Still no sign.

---

“From the twilight forests of Elderglen—

Team Nightthorn!”

Masked and cloaked, they moved like shadows.

Elirya sighed lightly, shoulders tensing.

---

“From the frozen peaks of the north—

Team Frostveil!”

Frost-laced robes and snowy breath followed 

them into the ring.

Her brows furrowed. Still not there.

---

“And now, the brilliance of arcane minds—

Team Aetherbound!”

Robed scholars hovered gracefully, symbols 

glowing from their staffs.

Elirya’s lips parted, her eyes sharper now. 

She didn’t blink.

Still… no sign of him.

---

“Straight from the darkest lands…

TEAM DEMON!”

The sky seemed to darken. Red eyes, twisted 

horns, and blood-forged weapons. Fear rippled 

through the crowd.

Even Elirya turned away slightly, unease 

touching her features.

Then she looked again—just to be sure.

He wasn’t there either.

---

Magnus paused. The entire arena held its breath.

> “And finally… representing the sacred Dragon

 Village—hidden deep in the jungles of legend…

Team Drakosoul!”

Five figures emerged from the shadows of the

 tunnel.

Garrin, wielding his massive blade, walked with 

fiery confidence.

Kaeli, cloaked in icy grace, followed with calm 

composure.

Lior, glowing softly, waved politely to the 

audience.

Master Tenzin, revered and wise, stood behind 

them with serene focus.

And lastly… a cloaked, masked warrior with a 

sharp, still presence—Raikuro.

As the crowd cheered, Second Prince silas

 eyes narrowed the moment he saw the masked

 figure.

Princess Elirya leaned forward again, heart 

fluttering—but she couldn’t see his face.

> “So… he didn’t come…” she whispered

 to herself with a soft, disappointed smile, 

masking the small ache in her heart

---

Magnus now unfurled the rules scroll and read aloud:

The Great Battle Arena Rules

1. Each team consists of:

A Coach

A Healer

Three Warriors or Magic Users

2. Only the frontline trio may battle. The coach 

and healer remain on the bench to guide 

and heal.

3. All weapons and magic types are allowed—

except forbidden potions or external power

 boosts.

4. Battles are 3 vs 3, all-out combat.

5. Victory is declared when one team’s fighters

 are all incapacitated.

---

Magnus raised both arms as magical flares shot

 into the sky.

> “LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!”

> “Our first match will be…

Team Demon vs Team Nightthorn!”

Gasps spread across the arena. Shadow versus

 nightmare.

The gate opened. The elegant but deadly 

members of Team Nightthorn took their stance. 

Then came the demons, their very presence 

darkening the air.

The battle began in a surge of chaos—smoke, 

flame, shadow, blood. Nightthorn fought 

valiantly, vanishing and reappearing in bursts of

 magic, but the demons were too brutal. One 

summoned a flaming wolf. Another used dark

 tendrils to choke a fighter mid-air. Within

 minutes, Team Nightthorn was down.

> “VICTORY TO TEAM DEMON!”

The crowd roared—some in awe, some in fear.