These past ten years have changed me a lot. I feel like I’ve improved quite a bit in many aspects of my life. I’ve become stronger, my personal relationships have gotten better, and I get along with more people now.

Tomorrow will be the Fire Cup, a tournament held here in Ilmenor to choose the strongest of the generation. It’s a fair competition, to be honest. Over the past years, I’ve watched and studied every single one of them. Although I wish I had slept more for tomorrow, last night wasn’t so bad; I spent it with Lyra and Kiomi.

The awaited day has arrived. I wonder what Kiomi will do; I haven’t seen her since yesterday. Lyra managed to get out of bed yesterday. Her illness doesn’t allow her to stay out for long, so yesterday was magical for her, and surprisingly, she’ll be in the stands watching the tournament today.

The first phase is always the simplest and most boring. Out of approximately 456 participants, only 16 of us make it to the tournament. Honestly, there’s not much to say about this first pase, it’s just tests of strength, endurance, performance, intelligence, agility, speed, etc.

In the tournament, there were 16 of us: me, Kiomi, Cornelia, Julia, Marcia, Aurelia, Conrad, Albert, Boris, Bogdán, Aelorin, Faenor, Milivoj, Adalrik, and two participants who stood out the most to me. One was Sabina, one of the strongest women in the village after Kiomi, and the other was Gratius, who seemed quite strong but also had white hair, and he wasn’t an elf. I found that quite strange.

We were all positioned in the center of the arena. It was huge, really huge. That’s something I’ve always liked about the tournament. Looking directly at the area where the village leader usually sits, Thailon, in this case, I saw someone very familiar.

It was Enzo. That damned priest had come here in person. My blood boiled. I wanted to jump straight at him and strangle him, but I held back. As we stood there, he stared at me, directly at me. Even though I had my helmet on, I had the feeling he knew who I was.

When they finished announcing all the names, mine didn’t appear. It seemed like they added another name and removed mine instead. I already knew why.

Enzo’s face radiated pride and arrogance. That damned man. I wanted to know what he was doing here, I needed to know. As soon as the first matches started, I spoke to one of the guards, a trusted friend, and asked him to talk to Thailon.

We went to a secluded room to talk, with Kiomi accompanying us. I quickly removed my helmet and threw it to the ground.

—That bastard! — I yelled, grabbing him by the neck. —What is he doing here?! Why the hell did you let him in?! —

Thailon remained silent.

—You know what that son of a bitch did! And still, you let him in! Do you have anything to say?! —

He still didn’t say a word.

—Damn it, I’ll go kill him myself right now! —

Thailon grabbed my shoulder and spun me around roughly.

—Don’t even think about it. —

—Why?! Huh?! He killed Lucian, your friend! He killed your wife! He killed her mother!—I pointed at Kiomi. —Why the hell won’t you do anything?! —

—Zein, calm down... —

—No, I won’t calm down until I see that son of a bitch dead! —

—You know what? — He grabbed me by the collar in return. —I want to kill him too! I want to strangle him with all my strength, to see the pain on his face while I choke the life out of him! —

—THEN WHY THE HELL DON’T YOU DO IT?! —

—BECAUSE IT WOULD COMPLICATE THINGS! —

—What are you talking about? — I asked, my tone calmer and more serious.

—The politics of a nation cannot intertwine with the emotions of its ruler. I’m not going to sacrifice lives… any more lives than necessary. —

We let go of each other at the same time, falling into an uncomfortable silence. I felt a deep hatred for Enzo, but I hadn’t realized just how grave the situation was.

—Explain it to me, what’s really going on? —

Thailon began to explain. From the very beginning, Kirche was never an "independent nation"; it served a much larger and more powerful nation. They called it the Empire of the Black Sun, though they referred to themselves as the "Democratic Imperial State (DIS)" to maintain political appearances. Thousands of years ago, they controlled everything, everything in the universe.

Our universe, being finite, has finite resources, finite populations, and finite space, vast, but finite. They managed to conquer it all.

That’s why smaller nations can only survive in one way: by aligning with the interests of that empire. That’s why I couldn’t do anything.

—But, Zein, — he said, gripping both my shoulders and looking directly into my eyes. —Show him. Show him how strong you’ve become. The participant Gratius is his protégé. He passed him off as a holy child. Defeat him. Humiliate him. Show him who you are. —

With a serious look, I nodded, put my helmet back on, and quickly left. Kiomi followed closely behind.

The first round and the quarterfinals went by smoothly for both Kiomi and me, but when we reached the semifinals, the final four contenders were decided.

It was Kiomi versus Sabina, and me against Gratius. Kiomi’s match was first.

The Ilmenor coliseum vibrated with the excitement of the spectators. The lights of Anima projected the battlefield for the audience, revealing every detail of the arena. The announcer’s voice rang out, clear and powerful, echoing through the stands:

—Let the first match begin! —

Sabina launched her attack without hesitation, her daggers raised, glinting like twin lightning bolts under the Anima lights. Every step she took was swift and precise, a deadly dance aimed at Kiomi. But this was no ordinary fight. With an almost imperceptible movement, Kiomi had already spread her Anima threads across the arena.

Sabina’s initial charge was halted. A metallic glint flashed amidst the particles of dust as the threads surrounding Kiomi hardened, transforming into chains that repelled the dagger strikes with a resounding metallic clash.

Sabina didn’t relent. Her movements became sharper, targeting the points where the chains appeared, gradually wearing down Kiomi’s defenses. But Kiomi was always two steps ahead.

With inhuman precision, Kiomi activated new Anima threads from different angles, creating more chains that forced Sabina to retreat momentarily. The energy in the air intensified as Kiomi, without giving her opponent a moment to breathe, drew a short sword she had kept concealed.

In a swift and calculated move, Kiomi closed the distance. Sabina, occupied with fending off the chains, barely had time to react when she felt the tip of Kiomi’s sword graze her neck.

Time seemed to freeze. The chains surrounding Kiomi vibrated with a faint glow, like a web of energy ready to immobilize its prey if necessary. Sabina, panting heavily, dropped her daggers and raised her hands in surrender.

—The first round goes to Kiomi! — the referee’s voice boomed, and the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Kiomi lowered her sword, her gaze fixed on Sabina as the threads she had left scattered across the arena slowly began to vanish.

This was only the beginning, and both of them knew it. The following rounds would be even more intense.

The second round began with the same ferocity as the first. Sabina wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of small daggers aimed at Kiomi. The daggers streaked through the air like deadly projectiles, but before they could reach their target, Kiomi’s chains intercepted them, deflecting the attack with a metallic clash. However, something had changed: the daggers exploded upon impact, creating a thick cloud of smoke that engulfed the entire battlefield.

The crowd gasped in confusion, unable to see what was happening within the arena. Visibility for everyone turned to a blur, except for Kiomi. The Anima threads she had spread throughout the coliseum gave her a clear advantage, allowing her to perceive the flow of energy through the smoke. Sabina was there, her presence detectable even amidst the haze, and Kiomi, with an unshaken calm, prepared for the next move.

From a distance, Sabina, confident in her ambush, launched another attack. But Kiomi was ready. The assailant attempted a swift strike from the darkness, but Kiomi anticipated it. With a single flick of her wrist, the hardened chains deflected the blow, shattering Sabina’s element of surprise with a flash of concentrated energy.

Kiomi couldn’t suppress a confident smile as she stood tall.

—Is that all you’ve got? — she said with a derisive tone, watching Sabina through the lingering smoke. —Let me show you one of the techniques that cost me the most to master—but it’s also one of the best. —

Hearing this, Sabina frowned, still unsure of what was coming. Kiomi, in an almost inaudible whisper, murmured:

—Imaginary. —

The moment the word left her lips, the atmosphere in the arena shifted.

From the outside, a massive white dome rose, encompassing the entire arena as though the battlefield itself had been swallowed by a solid, glowing layer. Kiomi’s chains, which had previously been spread across the field, began to move on their own. They coiled, stretched, and, with remarkable precision, formed a structure that filled the entire space.

The chains intertwined, fused, and smoothed out until they created a seamless dome, gleaming with an ethereal glow.

Inside that space, Sabina was trapped, yet outside, nothing seemed to have changed. No one could see what was happening within. "Imaginary" revealed nothing of its interior; it was a mental prison, a perfect illusion crafted by Kiomi, whose power manipulated the terrain at will.

Sabina tried to resist, to move, but her body didn’t respond as expected. The space was designed to reflect the soul of the one who invoked it, and Kiomi had mastered every corner of that world. There was no escape.

Suddenly, as the dome began to fade, the external view of the arena returned to normal. The spectators saw Kiomi standing tall, her sword raised and aimed at Sabina’s neck. Sabina knelt before her, utterly defeated.

The "Imaginary" technique had fulfilled its purpose: the victory was sealed.

—The second victory goes to Kiomi, —announced the referee, and the sound of the crowd roared through the air.

With two victories under her belt, Kiomi advanced to the final, while Sabina, still on her knees, watched the young warrior dominate the battle with a technique that seemed beyond comprehension.

With the fight concluded, it was my turn next. I was going to crush him and humiliate him.

...

I’d say my fight was decent. Even so, I couldn’t help but feel bad for Sabina. She had worked so hard, but…

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

—Eh? Don’t worry about that, Kiomi. At least I’ll get to fight for third place, right? — she said to me with a smile after her match.

I returned to the participants’ resting area. Zein and Gratius were there, ready for their fight.

—Good luck, Zein, — I said, encouraging him.

—Thanks, but I won’t need it. — He seemed overly confident. He left immediately, but oddly enough, he wasn’t carrying his swords. Strange.

My friends congratulated me on the victory, and from our spot, we watched the fight on the broadcast. Before it started, they announced they would use a "bearer" to enhance visibility and ensure the fight could be followed clearly, even with potential interruptions.

The coliseum of Ilmenor was charged with anticipation. The crowd eagerly awaited the battle between Zein and Gratius, two combatants with unique abilities yet completely different auras.

Zein, in his usual silence and seriousness, stood in the center of the arena without weapons, his gaze fixed on his opponent. The atmosphere was heavy, as if the very air held its breath, waiting for what was about to unfold.

In contrast, Gratius, the pupil of Enzo, stood at the opposite end with an arrogant stance. His white hair and long sword in one hand reflected his overconfidence.

—Do you really think you can beat me without weapons? — Gratius said with a mocking smile, looking at Zein as if he were a child. "At this rate, you won’t even last five minutes."

Zein didn’t respond. His cold eyes remained locked on Gratius, analyzing every move, unwavering in his focus.

The referee raised his hand, and the roar of the crowd echoed against the arena walls.

—Begin! —

In that instant, Zein moved with superhuman speed. Gratius barely had time to react when, in the blink of an eye, Zein was already in front of him, his swords materialized through Anima. The first blade appeared with a flash of light, and before Gratius could respond, its tip was already at his throat.

Gratius, who had anticipated a longer fight, was caught completely off guard. He couldn’t dodge or even move to defend himself. Zein’s speed had left him breathless, and before he could utter a word, Zein’s second sword appeared in the air, poised to counter any move Gratius might attempt.

—Surrender, — Zein said in a low, cold voice, devoid of emotion.

The arena fell silent. The spectators, who had expected a drawn-out and complex fight, were in shock. Gratius, the proud pupil of Enzo, the young man who had easily dominated his previous opponents, was nothing more than prey in Zein’s eyes.

Gratius, panting, stared at the sword resting against his neck. After a moment of hesitation, he acknowledged his defeat. Shame and anger flashed across his face, but he knew he had no other choice.

—I surrender, — he muttered, lowering his sword slowly.

Zein stepped back, his swords vanishing as if they had never existed.

The referee, still stunned by the fight’s speed and decisiveness, announced the result.

—Victory goes to Zein. —

The crowd erupted into applause, still processing what had just transpired. Zein, his gaze fixed straight ahead, didn’t move an inch, as if the fight had been nothing more than a formality.

The second round began with the referee announcing the start, but what shocked everyone was the stillness in the arena. Neither Zein nor Gratius moved. Gratius, his gaze locked on his opponent, could feel the weight of the moment. Despite his initial arrogance, nervousness began creeping in. He couldn’t predict Zein’s movements, and each passing second of inaction made him feel more vulnerable.

Zein, as calm and collected as ever, seemed to study him without a hint of emotion. In a barely audible whisper, he murmured:

—Imaginary. —

In that instant, the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble, and suddenly, the earth twisted and writhed. The very sand surrounding them transformed, contorting until it took the shape of an enormous monstrous mouth that appeared to open, swallowing everything in its path. An invisible pressure filled the air, and in the blink of an eye, the battlefield was replaced by a gigantic white dome that completely enclosed the combatants, leaving the audience unable to see what was happening inside.

The dome glowed intensely before disintegrating into tiny sparks that dissolved slowly into the air. As the light faded, the scene became clear. Zein, with his two swords crossed at Gratius’ neck, stood firm, his gaze steady and devoid of emotion. Gratius, kneeling, could do nothing but accept his defeat, utterly humiliated.

Zein took a step back, retracting his swords, which disappeared as swiftly as they had appeared. The arena returned to normal, and the crowd erupted into applause, though many were still processing what had just happened. Zein had won again, securing victory in 2 out of 3 rounds.

The referee, still stunned by the swiftness of Zein’s triumph, raised his hand to declare the result.

—Victory goes to Zein. —

Gratius rose slowly, his pride shattered, and with a furious glare, he left the field. Zein remained in place, as if nothing had happened, his gaze still fixed on the horizon, indifferent to the humiliation he had inflicted on his opponent.

...

I had achieved my goal. As the fight ended, I simply stared at Enzo, the expression of humiliation and defeat etched across his face. It made me feel good to have accomplished that.

When I returned to the participants' resting area, Kiomi was waiting for me with a towel and a glass of water.

—Congratulations, — she said with a smile.

—Thanks. —

—Now it’s our turn to fight. —

—I know. —

—Don’t think I’m going to let you win. —

—Haha, and I won’t make it easy for you either. —

We laughed for a moment while sitting down, doing nothing but enjoying the brief tranquility. It was a peaceful, almost pleasant moment.

The referee announced the next match. Kiomi and I stood up to prepare. This was the final. I didn’t care whether I won or lost,I had already achieved my goal of humiliating Enzo and Gratius.

I summoned my swords immediately, making it clear that I was serious. The referee raised his hand and signaled the start of the first round.

Kiomi struck first. Her chains, formed from Anima, rose like living serpents, lunging at me from every direction. But with flawless precision, I deflected every attack, moving my two swords in perfect synchronization while dodging swiftly.

Without giving Kiomi a chance to react, I closed the distance in the blink of an eye. My speed was such that she barely managed to draw her sword to block my strike. The impact was brutal, the sound of the clash echoing throughout the arena. The sheer force of the blow caused her sword to slip from her hands, clattering to the ground.

I didn’t hesitate for a second. With one of my swords, I pointed directly at her neck, stopping just millimeters from her skin. The tension in the air was palpable, but instead of fear, Kiomi flashed a determined smile.

—I yield, — she said firmly, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender.

The audience, stunned by the fight's swift conclusion, erupted into applause. I stepped back, retracting my swords. Kiomi picked up her weapon from the ground, mentally steeling herself for the next round.

The second round began with renewed intensity. This time, I didn’t wait and launched into the offensive. But Kiomi, now more focused, skillfully blocked and evaded my moves, using her sword and chains to keep me at bay.

The fight turned into a frenzied exchange. Kiomi, now with a newfound determination, shifted to the offensive, attacking relentlessly. Her chains swirled like a whirlwind, striking from multiple angles and forcing me to retreat and defend. Although my swords deflected every strike, the constant onslaught kept me on high alert.

Then, Kiomi seized the perfect moment. In a barely audible whisper, she murmured:

—Imaginary. —

The world around her transformed instantly. A golden-white dome emerged from the arena, fully enclosing the combatants. Unlike the previous battle, this time the audience could see what was happening inside thanks to a special spirit transmitting every detail of the scene.

Inside the Imaginary, the setting was majestic: an exact replica of Ilmenor's grandest building, adorned with white and gold tones radiating elegance and power. The atmosphere was tense as we clashed with equal intensity, moving with such speed and skill that even the most seasoned observers were left in awe.

The crowd began to murmur. If Kiomi and I were evenly matched within her Imaginary, it meant she was on my level... or that I was even stronger, capable of adapting quickly to the environment she controlled.

Then, I struck the ground with force,a stomp so powerful that it made everything tremble. The golden structures shuddered, and to everyone’s astonishment, Kiomi's illusory world began to crumble. The dome dissolved like dust in the wind, leaving us both back in the arena.

Kiomi, though surprised, didn’t falter. Without hesitation, she continued her assault with a swift, calculated move. The dust raised by the battle formed a curtain, obscuring the outcome from view.

When the air finally cleared, the scene was revealed:

Kiomi, with several of her chains aimed directly at me, stood in a position of advantage. Meanwhile, my sword had stopped mere inches from reaching her—but not enough to claim victory.

The referee's voice cut through the expectant silence:

—Victory for Kiomi! —

The crowd erupted in cheers, enthralled by Kiomi's tenacity and the ferocity of the fight. I lowered my swords, showing no emotion, while Kiomi caught her breath, a satisfied smile on her face. The final was tied, and everything would be decided in the last round.

But then, something unexpected happened. I felt a slight pressure on my face, and in an instant, my helmet displayed a crack,a fracture running down its center. The damage spread quickly until the helmet shattered entirely.

Kiomi, visibly alarmed, tried to shield my face with her chains, but I signaled for her to stop with a calm gesture.

At that moment, I turned my gaze toward Enzo. His expression was a whirlwind of confusion, hatred, and disdain.

—What is the meaning of this, Thailon?! — he shouted, breaking the murmurs of the crowd and plunging the coliseum into tense silence.

Thailon responded with his characteristic calm, his voice steady and composed:

—Father, there’s no need to get worked up over such a minor inconvenience. —

But Enzo wasn’t pacified. Pointing at me with an accusatory finger, he bellowed,

—You know that demon is wanted by the Kirche! —

Thailon sighed, as though he had anticipated this reaction.

—I regret to inform you, Father, that we do not follow the Kirche. —

Enzo’s fury was palpable. His eyes bore into me as though I were some unspeakable monstrosity.

—Do you have any idea what that... thing is capable of? —

Thailon remained composed, his tone unshaken.

—No, because nothing has happened while he’s been here, — he replied firmly.

—Father, I ask you again to remain calm. This is not the time to make a scene. —

Though visibly seething, Enzo had no choice but to sit down, his frustration simmering as murmurs once again filled the coliseum.

The third round began under a cloud of palpable tension. Instead of summoning my swords as before, I slowly lowered my arms. Fixing Kiomi with a serious gaze, I raised my right fist and formed an unusual gesture with my fingers: the index, middle, and thumb extended, mimicking the shape of a pistol.

I knew that what I was about to do depended entirely on my imagination. The clearer I visualized it, the better the result would be. In my mind, I imagined a bright sun forming at the tips of my fingers. Quickly, that light began to contract upon itself, shrinking until it became two small orbs of pure energy.

I felt the heat radiating in my hand, intensifying at the pads of my fingers. The light seemed to curve around itself, spinning in a perfect pattern. When it finally exploded, it gave birth to an even brighter light, which collapsed upon itself, turning into a black mass.

I opened my eyes, and there it was: a completely dark mass that devoured all surrounding light. It was hypnotic and terrifying at the same time. Nothing could penetrate it, but all the light around it seemed to struggle desperately to enter, without success.

The black mass slowly began to expand. In an instant, I managed to condense it into a pure energy beam, shooting straight toward Kiomi. The whole thing took less than a fraction of a second, but she reacted with the speed that characterized her. She raised her chains, wrapping them in front of her like a shield, blocking the beam just in time.

The impact wasn’t as devastating as it seemed. Though impressive at first glance, the beam wasn’t a final attack, it was a carefully planned distraction. Before Kiomi could process it, I was already in front of her.

Kiomi unsheathed her sword with lightning speed, and a fierce clash echoed across the arena when our blades met. We moved at an incredible pace, exchanging attacks and defenses. As we did, we smiled at each other, enjoying the duel as equals.

In a decisive moment, the combat came to its conclusion. My sword stopped just millimeters from Kiomi’s neck, while her blade, though close, failed to reach me. Silence filled the arena. Our armor and bodies bore marks of cuts, witnesses to the ferocity of the battle.

The referee raised his hand, pointing to the winner.

—The winner is Zein! He is proclaimed the champion of the tournament! —

The crowd erupted in cheers, awestruck by the thrilling battle they had just witnessed. However, Enzo, visibly upset, stood up and left without a word.

Zein raised his arms in a victorious pose, while I remained seated on the ground, watching him. Something strange stirred in my chest, a feeling I couldn’t quite identify.

Zein walked over and offered me his hand.

—Are you okay? — he asked, with a light smile.

—Yeah, thanks, — I replied, taking his hand to get back on my feet.

It had been a glorious battle. To be honest, I never imagined Zein would be so strong. For me, until recently, he had been the weak guy who arrived in the village, the one I promised to protect.

As we walked toward the stands, I found myself staring at him for a moment. I felt a slight warmth on my cheeks, and when Zein turned to look at me, I quickly averted my gaze.

We sat together, chatting about the fight.

—Hey, Zein, what the heck was that attack? — I asked, still impressed.

—Well, you see... — he began to explain, a gleam of happiness in his eyes.

That expression triggered a smile on my face, one I couldn’t help but wear.