This poetry links to the story, so listen close,

Write these words down, for they matter the most.

Soon, this tale won’t just be one of strife,

But will delve deep into the essence of life.

Characters emerge, some we’ve only heard,

Whispers of their journeys, their hopes, and their words.

Once there was a young man, bound as a slave,

He bought his own freedom, his spirit to save.

Yet soon things changed; the world shifted its face,

What once was a dream became a dark place.

Hell and greed clouded his vision, it’s true,

As we follow his path, we'll witness what grew.

A journey unfolds toward the land of the light,

Where the sun never sets and the winds take their flight.

But this land, too, holds the echoes of past,

A history alive, shadows that everlast.

Soon we will see all the stories that weave,

A tapestry of truth that’s hard to believe.

So stay tuned, dear reader, for twists yet to come,

In a world where the heartbeats of many succumb.

Ramon's eyes gleamed with resolve as the massive coliseum gates slowly creaked open. The light pierced the darkness, flooding the battlefield, illuminating his path. His mind was sharp, filled with thoughts of revenge and ambition. If I win this fight, I'll be promoted to Captain. One step closer to becoming a General, just like General Akhil, Commander Menes’ father. Kairo won’t escape for what he did to Khonsu. I will defeat him.

As the gates fully opened, Ramon stepped out, his silver armor reflecting the light. His sword gleamed at his side, but his gaze was focused on Kairo, who stood adorned in gold jewelry and polished armor, a picture of arrogance and entitlement. Kairo’s face showed clear disdain, while the crowd’s excitement built.

The nobles, sitting in luxury under their shaded umbrellas, laughed as they ate their apples and grapes, casually watching the upcoming battle. Meanwhile, the common citizens looked on with anticipation. A young boy who had previously cheered for Setka turned to his mother and asked, "Mother, do you think Ramon will lose?"

His mother reassured him, "Ramon is a strong man. Remember when you had that bad flu? He was the one who braved the cold night to get medicine from the doctor for you. He’ll be just fine."

Old Man Jules, ever the overseer, stood ready, his interest piqued by the tension between the two fighters. The leaders of the hidden organizations scattered among the crowd were focused on something else—the power of Kairo’s mysterious Genie.

The Anubis muttered, "A genie... I wonder if it truly grants any wish."

Renjiro, a cunning grin crossing his face, murmured, "I want that power for myself. I could fulfill our wish—the wish to be..."

Ru, sitting one row below him, shook her head, "We should grant our own wishes. Relying on something like that makes it meaningless."

In the background, Menes, Henu, and Setka watched closely, their eyes narrowed with interest.

Old Man Jules raised his arm and announced, "Let the battle... BEGIN!"

In a flash, Ramon moved, pulling a small knife from his boot and launching it at Kairo. But Kairo deflected it effortlessly with his sword, laughing mockingly. "Just like your defeated friend Khonsu—using the same old tricks."

Kairo dashed toward Ramon, making contact and instantly causing him to float up into the air. He taunted, "The last time you came to our kingdom, you were nothing. You’re pathetic. Might as well give up now."

As Kairo released his hold, Ramon plummeted from the sky, falling rapidly toward the hard coliseum floor. His scream echoed as he fell, but in that moment, he remembered his purpose, his reason for fighting. This isn’t the end, he thought, and gripping his sword tightly, he called out, "I’ve improved my dark energy since we last met! You don’t need to remind me what to do, kiddo!"

Before hitting the ground, Ramon placed his sword above his head and yelled, "Dark Slash!" The dark energy surged from his blade, creating enough force to slow his descent and suspend him in midair for a brief second before he landed softly on the ground.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Ru, her eyes wide with shock, exclaimed, "He used the force of his dark energy attack to actually push himself up and control the fall!"

Kairo, enraged by Ramon’s defiance, sneered, "How dare you!"

Ramon grinned. "That's just how life works, brat. Deal with it."

Frustrated, Kairo growled under his breath, "Alright, I’ll end this quickly. Genie!"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

In an instant, Kairo’s Genie materialized behind him, a towering, ominous shadow. Its presence loomed over the battlefield, casting a deep, unsettling darkness.

Jack, watching from the sidelines, grimaced with worry. "Oh no, not that genie again..." he muttered, his face pale with concern.

The atmosphere in the coliseum was thick with tension as Kairo summoned his Genie, the anticipation building. But before Kairo could make his next move, the air itself seemed to shift. Something dark and powerful was rising, and Kairo turned to find Ramon standing motionless, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"You mock my kingdom, harm my friends, and look down on us. I hate people like you," Ramon muttered, his voice trembling with controlled fury. "I will not tolerate this any longer."

Menes, observing from the Royal Army's balcony, smirked knowingly. "That boy," he said, referring to Ramon, "is going to be a strong leader."

Dark energy began to swirl around Ramon, seeping out of his body in waves, while Kairo remained unphased, still arrogantly commanding his Genie. "Genie, what will it cost to defeat Ramon of the Royal Army?"

But before the Genie could respond, Ramon was already on the move. "Dark Energy Level 3: Dark Knight!" he roared, appearing in front of the Genie with blinding speed. His sword cut through the air like a meteor, slamming the Genie with such force that it was sent crashing into the wall with a sound like a sonic boom. The earth trembled beneath them, and the air was filled with a shrill hum, as if light itself had been bent by Ramon's speed.

Kairo's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to see Ramon, his face cold and emotionless, his eyes ablaze with dark energy. A dark trail followed in Ramon's wake as if his very essence was leaving a mark on reality.

Kamil, shocked, exclaimed, "What did Ramon just do?"

Menes grinned. "All that training he did with me... He's finally mastered his dark energy. He’s stronger now than even before the Royal Nebu conflict."

Kairo, now desperate, screamed, "Genie! Defeat Ramon at any cost!"

The Genie, still recovering from Ramon's attack, reappeared before him, but Ramon was already in motion, slashing at the Genie again out of sheer rage. This time, the Genie fought back, its own power radiating dangerously. It materialized in front of Ramon once more, and before Ramon could counter, the Genie wrapped the ground itself around Ramon's body, binding him in a crushing grip.

Kairo laughed wickedly, watching Ramon struggle. "You're finished!"

But Ramon, bloodied and beaten, refused to yield. With a final burst of strength, he shattered the earthen restraints, breaking free. Gathering what little dark energy he had left, he charged toward Kairo, determined to land one last blow. Yet, before he could reach him, Ramon's body was suddenly pulled to the ground by a crushing gravitational force, as heavy as a thousand tons. It was the Genie’s doing, Kairo’s wish made reality.

Ramon's body gave in under the immense pressure, and he fell to the ground, gasping for air before falling unconscious.

The Genie spoke, its voice echoing ominously, "Your wish has been fulfilled. My price is ten horses and sixty gold coins."

Kairo, now filled with smug satisfaction, spread his arms wide and laughed, mocking the Royal Army. "No one can defeat me! I am the strongest dark energy user here! If any of you dare challenge me, step into the coliseum and face me!"

On the Royal Army's balcony, Menes' face twisted with fury, his eyes glowing red as dark energy poured from him in waves. In a flash, he appeared on the battlefield, the ground cracking beneath his feet from the force of his power. His presence alone was enough to make the Genie hesitate. Even Kairo felt a wave of dread wash over him.

Menes’ voice was filled with menace as he spoke, "I will challenge you, you bastard."

He lifted Ramon’s unconscious body onto his shoulders, but before he could do more, Amon appeared, stepping in to defend Kairo. "The rules state you’re not allowed to intervene in this battle."

Menes, unfazed by Amon’s words, turned to leave, but Henu Safir joined him, his eyes gleaming with white energy, his hair floating as his power radiated. "Amon, we can settle this here and now. My squad alone could tear you and your little protégé apart."

The Genie, sensing the impending clash, advised Kairo, "Even if you wished, there is more to lose than to gain by continuing this duel. The cost would be too great to recover from."

Henu’s aura intensified, sending shivers down the spines of their enemies. His words carried a weight of finality, the battlefield itself trembling in response to his power.

Before the situation could escalate further, Setka's voice boomed from atop the balcony. "Enough! The battle is over for today. The score stands at three for the Royal Army and three for the Nubian Kingdom." (Not including Kamil vs Kasib Duel)

With that, the tension in the air began to subside. The battles would continue tomorrow, but for now, the war between light and dark was momentarily paused, leaving the crowd in anticipation of what would happen next.

Ramon slowly opened his eyes in the dimly lit medical room, his body aching from the battle with Kairo. The first thing he noticed was Menes standing nearby, along with the rest of the team gathered around him. Through the door, Ramon could see it was dark outside, the night sky barely visible. Kasib was leaning against the wall near the door, casually eating an apple and gazing up at the stars.

"I'm sorry, Commander Menes," Ramon apologized weakly. "I couldn’t defeat him."

Menes smiled kindly. "Don't worry about it. You gave it your all. He’ll get what’s coming to him."

"Get well soon, Ramon," Jack said politely, his voice soft with concern.

"Thank you," Ramon replied, his voice still hoarse from exhaustion. Then, turning back to Menes with a mischievous grin, he asked, "Commander... could I still get that captain rank? Please?" He tried to add a joking, dramatic plea, even though he was still too weak to move much.

Menes, clearly annoyed but playing along, groaned, "Hey, get off me, you brat! You're still not even close!"

Everyone in the room burst into laughter, the tension breaking for a moment. It was the lightness they all needed after the events of the day.

Kamil, still smiling, asked, "So... what’s the plan for tomorrow’s battles?"

Setka scratched his head, thinking for a second. "Ahh, what was it again? Oh, right! First, it’s Jack versus Kairo, then Henu versus Menes, and finally... Menes versus Kairo."

Jack’s eyes widened in surprise. "Me? Against Kairo?" he repeated, almost disbelieving.

Setka nodded. "Yep, it’s you, Jack."

With newfound determination in his eyes, Jack clenched his fists. "Alright, I’ll do my best," he said, glancing over at Khonsu, who was still recovering, and then at Ramon. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to fight for you both."

Menes, his face serious now, looked straight at Jack. "Be careful out there, Jack. I don’t want you getting hurt again."

Jack smiled confidently. "Don’t worry, Commander. I’ll be fine." His words were filled with optimism, but the weight of the upcoming battle was clearly on his mind. Everyone in the room felt the looming pressure of tomorrow’s matches, knowing that Kairo wasn’t going to hold back this time.