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Condemned To Death
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11th September, 1507
At Lorien’s call, Seren instantly surged all his strength into his arm, choosing speed over power. Yet, Kai’s arm remained unmoved. Seren's confidence visibly faltered, a cold despair gnawing at his chest as he realized his strategy might not work.
Desperation darkened his eyes. Seren bit down on his lip, abandoning speed for brute force. His heart pounded with urgency as he used all his muscle strength to bring Kai down.
The crowd, sensing the shift, erupted in cheers for Kai, their voices filled with unwavering support. Among the applause, some taunts cut through, mocking Seren's struggle.
The contrast between the crowd’s admiration for Kai and their ridicule of Seren heightened the tension. Seren was the underdog, battling against odds that seemed insurmountable.
Kai watched Seren’s futile efforts with a mixture of disappointment and anticipation. He sighed inwardly, ready to end the match with a single, decisive blow. Leaning into his technique, Kai prepared to unleash his power. But then, something stopped him that made his heart grip—he saw a twisted smile creeping across Seren’s face slowly with his eyes gleaming with cruel intent, like everything was in his control.
Kai’s heart raced, a sudden dread taking hold. A shiver ran down his spine, his instincts screaming a warning. He realized, too late, that he might have underestimated Seren.
In his panic, Kai decided to unleash his full strength, not holding back as he had done with Lorien. But just as he released his power, Seren laughed in his as his plan had succeeded. Then he inhaled sharply and spat at Kai’s elbow. The spit was no ordinary saliva—it was green, slimy, and foul.
As the vile substance touched Kai’s elbow and the table, his grip slipped. In that instant, Seren surged forward with all his strength, overwhelming Kai in a final push.
THUD!
The match was over. Seren had won, leaving Kai stunned and defeated, his fall sealed by a tactic no one had seen coming.
For a moment, silence gripped the crowd, their minds struggling to process what had just happened. Seren’s unexpected move left them in shock, their eyes darting between Seren and Lorien in confusion.
It wasn’t until Seren stood, approaching Lorien with an outstretched hand, that the crowd erupted in outrage.
“He spat! He spat on him!”
Boos and jeers filled the air.
“Disgusting! That’s not how you win!”
As the reality of Seren’s treachery sank in, the atmosphere turned venomous, thick with a sense of betrayal.
“ENOUGH!”
The voice cut through the chaos and all eyes turned to Kai.
“The match is over. This is Seren’s victory. In life, the fallen have no voice to cry out. It doesn’t matter how he won. In the end, I was beaten. That’s all that matters.”
Kai’s words resonated, a mix of resignation and determination. The crowd, taken aback, began to see the wisdom in his acceptance.
For a moment, no one spoke, the weight of Kai’s words settling over them.
“Now that’s a real warrior’s attitude!” someone in the crowd called out.
“Yeah, Kai gets it,” another agreed. “It’s not just about winning.”
Admiration for Kai’s character grew, recognizing not just his strength but his resolve in accepting the harsh realities of combat.
“Someone could learn a thing or two about honor from Kai,” a spectator murmured.
“No kidding,” his friend replied. “Shame not everyone fights with the same class.”
Seren ignored the murmurs, his gaze locked on Lorien with an intensity that demanded acknowledgment. Lorien gritted his teeth before snapping his fingers. A servant hurried over, a pouch of clinking gold coins in hand.
Lorien shoved the pouch into Seren’s hand, his expression a mix of resignation and disinterest as he turned away, unwilling to engage in pointless talks.
Seren contemplated silently as he watched Lorien's slightly slumped shoulders and his clenched fist as he walked away. After a while, a slight smile appeared on his face, seemingly satisfied with his thoughts.
...
At a distance, a group of elders observed the scene.
One, an elderly woman draped in white garments with a black cloak edged in fiery red, spoke with a tone heavy with experience.
“That child, Seren, is far more sinister than his peers.”
A tall, slender elder dressed similarly interjected. “Indeed. When he fell, he tore off Kai’s sleeve on purpose. During the fall, he even secretly stuffed his mouth with meadow grass—a bitter herb that turns green and slimy when mixed with water.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
He paused, letting his words sink in. “In the arm wrestle, he pretended to struggle, luring Kai into a false sense of security. As Kai prepared for his final push, Seren then made a taunting expression that was a subtle ploy to showcase everything was in his control. Kai bought into it and in his alarmed state, exerted full force. And then Seren spat the meadow grass onto Kai’s elbow—the same elbow that, now without its sleeve, couldn’t hold its grip on the table. With that, Seren easily won without using brute force”
The elder’s gaze turned to the woman. “Luna, what’s your take? Should we eliminate him?”
Luna remained calm, her smile serene. “Leave him be. He will be a valuable lesson for Lorien in the future.”
The elder studied her for a moment before speaking, a trace of resignation in his tone. “You’re becoming more like a doting grandmother.”
Luna’s voice held a distant sadness. “Perhaps, after living so long, I wish to see my grandchildren succeed.”
...
The crowd had just begun to disperse when suddenly—
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the red gate, drawing everyone’s attention.
“What in the world?!”
A youth near the gate stumbled back, shielding his eyes from the debris.
As the dust settled, an imposing figure emerged from the wreckage, standing at the center of the chaos. Clad in plain black, his medium-length black hair was pulled back into a bun, his tan, black skin radiating authority.
This was Elara Swift, the Village Chief’s secretary, a rank 3 Lexarch, and one of the strongest in Chimera Vale.
His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, each gaze a heavy weight pressing down, instilling unease in those who met his stare.
The youths stared at Elara, a wave of awe and trepidation washing over them.
This was the man who had ascended to power at a young age, every child in the village had heard of his name at some point in their lives.
As the rank 3 Lexarch Elara stood, a few figures suddenly appeared before him out of nowhere, their sudden appearance rippling through the crowd like a stone cast into still water.
These newcomers were the elders of the three ruling families of Chimera Vale, each one was a figure of power and respect. They knelt with practiced reverence, heads slightly bowed, fists clasped in the formal greeting reserved for those of superior rank.
“We greet the Gale of Chimera,” they intoned in unison, their voices steeped in deference.
Among them were Luna Ashbourne and Darius Ashbourne, who had observed Seren earlier. But it was the youngest who drew attention—Kaelen Frostshade, the Frostshade family’s prodigy, heir, and a figure known for his cold detachment from others.
Beside them stood the twins, Landon and Logan of the Valorheart family, aged yet formidable in matching grey and black hanfus. Their unique bond was marked by a shared flaw—Landon was blind in his left eye, Logan in his right.
Elara's gaze swept over the elders, his eyes like a predator’s, piercing and cold. Finally, in a voice as hoarse as the wind through dead leaves, he asked, “How many?”
In perfect harmony, Landon and Logan replied, “There are 91 participants this year from 60 different families.”
Elara gave no sign of surprise. “Bring them in.”
The elders rose and signaled the gathered youths to follow. Kai, Finn, Lorien, Seren, and the others fell into step behind them, their faces tense with a mix of emotions—nervous anticipation, excitement, and a creeping fear—as the red gate creaked open before them.
Beyond the gate lay a scene of ethereal beauty. A majestic fountain marked the entrance to a grand mansion. On either side, meticulously trimmed grass extended like a green carpet, inviting them into the heart of power.
They passed the fountain and entered the mansion, the opulent surroundings imposing an eerie silence on the group. The youths walked in solemnity, their earlier bravado crushed under the weight of the mansion's grandeur.
Elara led them with the elders close behind and after navigating a labyrinth of corridors, they finally arrived at a door at the end of the hall. Elara pushed it open, revealing a set of stone stairs spiraling down into darkness. Without hesitation, he descended, the elders and youths following closely. The darkness swallowed them whole, the sound of their footsteps the only thing breaking the oppressive silence.
Minutes passed like hours. The air grew thick and hot, the tunnel moist yet devoid of life. Then, finally, a faint light appeared in the distance. They emerged into an underground passage, dimly lit by sparse candle lamps clinging to the walls. The path was short, ending at a towering iron door, its surface etched with intricate patterns. Two figures, their faces concealed by dark cloth, stood guard, their presence radiating quiet menace.
Seren’s instincts honed through thousands of lifetimes could tell these were no ordinary guards. They were at least rank 2 Lexarchs with formidable strength, adding a layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.
“Welcome back, Captain. Please show us your soul plate,” one of the guards said, bowing with a clasped fist.
Elara, silent as always, produced a white rectangular plate from his sleeve. The guard examined it carefully before nodding and signaling to his companion. Together, they placed their hands on the runes, which began to swirl and shift, glowing faintly. The door shimmered, dimmed, and then dissolved into thin air, revealing an empty room beyond.
The chamber was stark, devoid of any furnishings or signs of life. Once everyone was inside, Elara raised his right hand and executed a simple vertical chop.
“Fall”
Instantly, the ground vanished beneath them, replaced by an endless void of darkness.
Finn felt his body turn weightless for split-second before helplessly falling into the void.
“NO NO HELP! AHHH!” Finn’s scream echoed, high-pitched and desperate, as he tumbled through the blackness. His terror was contagious, and soon others joined in, their cries mingling with Finn’s frantic wails.
Finn screamed to no end as he prayed to every God-like existence he knew of to save him.
Bonk!
“Stop embarrassing yourself, you stupid dimwit!” Lorien’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp with annoyance as he smacked Finn on the head.
Finn’s eyes snapped open, confusion clouding his features as he realized he wasn’t dead. “Huh, I’m still alive,” he muttered, his fear giving way to bewilderment.
Lorien facepalmed, questioning the universe that had cursed him with such a fool for a companion.
Looking around, Finn found himself in an endless grassland under a star-filled sky, the darkness above in stark contrast to the vibrant world below. But what drew his gaze was the colossal cherry blossom tree in the distance, its ethereal light bathing the land in a serene glow. White dandelions floated lazily around its base, while a neon green gem hovered within a deep, ten-foot hole at the tree’s heart.
Seren stood apart, his eyes locked on the breathtaking sight. Unshed tears welled up inside him, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming mix of awe, determination, and an ancient longing that surged within him. Countless lifetimes of struggle, sacrifice, and relentless pursuit had brought him here.
To him, this was more than a journey—it was his destiny. A destiny that would bring unimaginable pain and suffering to the world, a fate he embraced without hesitation.
He thanked 'Him' for this moment, this chance that 'He' had granted him to change his fate.
With a resolve that burned like a flame, Seren took a step forward. In this place of unspeakable beauty and power, as he stood on the precipice of greatness, a single thought rang through his mind:
It was time to rise.
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Condemned To Death
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