Day three of the tournament dawned beneath a clear sky, the arena already alive with anticipation.
The host stepped forward, his voice amplified across the stadium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, warriors and nobles alike—welcome to the third day of the Royal Tournament!”
The crowd erupted.
“And today,” he continued, raising his staff, “we are honored by the presence of a distinguished guest—the beloved prince of Aetherian…”
A brief pause.
“Prince Rudolf!”
Thunderous cheers shook the arena as Prince Rudolf entered, accompanied by Lancelot, Commander of the Knights, and Reinhard, the Royal Special Forces’ strongest mage. The prince acknowledged the crowd with a composed smile, his presence commanding yet warm. He was, without question, loved by the people.
From the podium, Princess Elisabeth felt her heart race.
This is my chance, she thought. My chance to prove myself.
The host raised his voice once more.
“Now, let us announce those who have advanced to today’s matches!”
Qualified Participants
MAGE Division
-
Marco
-
Sofie
-
Lukas
-
Thor
-
Klaus
-
Orion
-
Griffin
-
Arthur
ANIMA Division
-
Princess Elisabeth
-
Rio
-
Claude
-
Bjorn
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as the names were called.
The host gestured toward the arena.
“Today’s matches will be conducted as tag-team battles!”
The crowd leaned in.
“The rules are simple—the last man standing wins. Even if one partner falls, the match continues.”
Excitement surged.
“And now—our first match of the day!”
Match One
Arthur & Bjorn
vs
Thor & Claude
The stadium erupted into cheers. All four fighters were well-known for their strength.
From the waiting area, Lukas watched quietly.
“It’s a shame,” he muttered. “We don’t really know much about them.”
Marco crossed his arms.
“Even if we’d watched their matches yesterday, it wouldn’t change much. But Claude—he uses the same Anima type as the princess.”
“I see…,” Lukas replied thoughtfully.
The Battle Begins
As the signal was given, Arthur turned slightly toward Bjorn.
“You attack,” Arthur said calmly. “I’ll create openings. Be ready to strike.”
Bjorn scowled.
“And who decided you’re the boss?”
Yet despite the protest, he moved forward.
Across the arena, Thor and Claude stood differently—there was no coordination between them. No plan. They relied solely on their individual strength.
Bjorn was the first to move.
He lunged at Claude, steel flashing as their blades clashed violently. At the same moment, Thor turned his attention toward Arthur, unleashing a lightning spell.
The bolt surged forward—
—and vanished.
Arthur’s eyes narrowed as he raised his hand.
Spatial Magic: Mana Dimension.
The lightning was swallowed whole, absorbed into a warped space that closed instantly.
From the stands, Lukas, Marco, and Sofie stared in shock.
“We didn’t see this yesterday…,” Sofie whispered.
Thor gritted his teeth and raised his staff again.
Lightning Magic: Thunder Strike!
The sky roared as a massive bolt descended from above, aimed directly at Arthur.
But Arthur didn’t panic.
He cast the same spell once more, nullifying the lightning entirely—then his gaze flicked toward Bjorn.
Bjorn had been caught off guard. Claude moved in, blade poised to strike.
Arthur reacted instantly.
Space twisted.
Bjorn vanished—reappearing several meters away, safely out of reach.
The crowd exploded.
Cheers, gasps, disbelief.
Arthur stood calmly amid the chaos, his control over space flawless—precise, effortless.
Even Prince Rudolf leaned forward, impressed.
Lancelot’s eyes sharpened with interest.
Reinhard smiled faintly.
He’s a genius, they all thought.
Thor clenched his fists.
Every attack he unleashed had been rendered meaningless.
Now, he stood cornered.
The question hung heavy in the air—
Would Thor surrender?
Or would Claude turn the tide for them?
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