*The booming voice of the announcer echoes across the arena, amplified by the high walls and carried to every corner of the massive structure.*

“Ladies and gentlemen of Caldrithy! Honored citizens and noble guests, we gather today under the benevolent gaze of His Majesty, the illustrious King Aldemir, whose wisdom and strength guide our kingdom to greatness!”

*The crowd roars in approval, their cheers reverberating like a rolling wave.*

“Today, in this blooded arena, we honor not only the glory of our kingdom but the indomitable spirit of its people. The sand before you has borne witness to countless trials of strength, courage, and resolve. Each grain carries the legacy of those who have fought and fallen, of those who have risen and claimed their place in history.”

*The announcer’s voice swells with excitement, rising to a crescendo.*

“By decree of our noble King, we present to you the first round of the Trial of Blades! Here, the brave, the bold, and the untested will clash in combat to prove their worth, to sharpen their skills, and to honor the crown! Among them, there are those who fight for glory, for freedom, and for the dream of standing tall among the kingdom’s champions.”

*A pause for dramatic effect as the crowd quiets slightly.*

“And remember, dear citizens, this is no mere spectacle. This is the proving ground where heroes are forged, where destinies are written, and where the will of our king shines brightest. May every swing of the sword, every clash of shields, and every drop of blood shed today bring honor to His Majesty and the enduring might of Caldrithy!”

*The crowd erupts once more, the thunderous applause matched only by the anticipation coursing through the arena.*

“Now, let the Trial of Blades commence!”

With that, the gates began to creak open, revealing the expanse of the arena. To my right and left, others dressed similarly to me emerged from their respective holding cells. Across the way, men clad in bronze and iron armor stalked the landscape, already positioned and given time to set up a defense.

The ground beneath my feet felt uneven, a mix of packed sand and scattered debris, making every step cautious. Though I didn’t see any of the beasts yet, the memory of Kushim’s warning lingered in my mind. My senses sharpened, wary of their presence as I trotted forward into the fray.

I watched as others charged headlong into the defenders’ shields, only to be dropped to the ground instantly. It looked like someone who had been trained by the mace-and-buckler instructor—predictable and ineffective. Another tried to sneak around the outskirts, but his black cloak stood out so starkly against the tan sand that it was almost comical.

I slowed my pace, taking a moment to assess the battlefield. My eyes scanned the others, searching for teammates who might actually prove useful in this fight.

My eyes landed on a small group that had already formed. Among them was a woman wielding a spear, an older man carrying a large shield and a short sword, another woman armed with a three-pronged spear and a net, and a younger man holding some kind of bow. They seemed organized, or at least competent enough to last longer than the others.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I made my way toward them, intending to give a quick introduction.

“Name’s Edric. I use an executioner’s sword and would do best on the frontline.” I kept my introduction short and to the point. Time wasn’t on our side, and I figured getting straight to business was the best approach.

“Nice. You can help us cover the archer,” one of them said, motioning toward a wiry figure already adjusting their bow.

They didn’t bother to give me their names, but I didn’t particularly care—it wasn’t the time or place to press for details. I joined their group, positioning myself to shield the archer. Together, we moved with purpose, gathering other teammates who looked lost or unsure as we prepared for the fight ahead.

We managed to amass a decent group—maybe close to twenty. It wasn’t much compared to the nearly thirty fighters the other side had, but it was something. One of the older men in the group took charge, organizing us into a defensive formation. The shields moved to form a circle around the group, with swordsmen like me stationed just behind them. The spear-wielders stood behind us, and the archers were positioned at the very center.

Both sides hesitated, neither willing to make the first move. The tension hung heavy in the air, but it wasn’t long before the crowd grew restless. Their murmurs of discontent filled the arena, and then the announcer’s voice cut through the noise like a whip.

“Ladies and gentlemen… what a predicament we have here. Neither side is poised to move. What shall we do?” His voice echoed across the arena, silencing the stands as everyone leaned in to hear. “I know! It was supposed to be a secret, but the king told me to share this with you: the winner of this contest will have a chance to meet the princess! What an honor!”

The murmurs turned into a roar of excitement. I noticed some of the men around me shifting, their resolve visibly shaken. Was the chance to meet a princess really worth risking everything? I couldn’t understand it.

The announcer’s voice boomed again, his tone dripping with theatrics. “But as the princess is such an important person, only one can win! That one person must embody all that our kingdom stands for… and frankly, I’m not seeing that here, folks. Are you?”

The crowd erupted in jeers and boos, their insults raining down on us like a storm. The noise was deafening, and it was hard to think. The pressure mounted, and I could feel the tension cracking.

Then, it happened. Fighters on both sides, unable to bear the weight of the crowd’s disdain, broke formation and charged into the fray.

Instructor Kushim had assured me this wasn’t a fight to the death, but that illusion shattered almost instantly. I saw one of our teammates—a woman armed with a dagger—leap onto an opponent and slash his throat. Blood sprayed across her face, a vivid, horrifying arc of red. Before she could step away, a mace came down with a sickening crunch, splitting her skull open. She crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Shock froze me in place for a moment. This wasn’t a contest. This was a slaughter. The crowd, however, erupted in deafening cheers, their excitement feeding off the carnage. My stomach churned, but the roaring energy around me demanded I take action.

After that brutal exchange, any pretense of strategy or formations dissolved. Both sides gave up on coordination, plunging headlong into chaotic melee. Even I had no choice but to join the fray—there was no point in trying to defend the archers solo when the whole battlefield was collapsing. The archers stayed back, still firing into the chaos, but I knew standing still was a death sentence.

As the fighting descended into utter chaos, the arena's side doors creaked open. From one door emerged a wave of goblins armed with crude sticks, their shrill cries piercing the air. Leading them was a larger, tan-skinned goblin, its movements more intelligent and commanding. From the opposite door burst a pack of dog-like creatures, their speed and ferocity sending chills down my spine as they leapt onto combatants . Their snarls echoed in the pit, a sharp contrast to the cheers of the bloodthirsty crowd.