Akisane stood before a row of twenty Black Knights.

They belonged to Duke Akitomo in both mind and body. Some he had lifted out of poverty. It’s strange that he would have such a gentle hand with those he barely knew, something never showed to his sons. Others witnessed the battles in the deserts and followed him like he was a great spirit.

Each was hand-picked from the enormous battlefields the Duke left strewn across the Eastern Half. Like in Whitebeard’s story of Thailoc, he razed city after city, many of which still remain in ruins.

The archknight, Uchiyasu, of the Black Order, leaped onto the arena platform. He did nothing more than humiliate the Lords and send them into complete silence. His purple blade clever through the pure steel of the other’s and left the victim to stand there a moment before the two slabs of torso slid apart.

Akisane flinched and started to look away but stopped himself. He must harden himself if he were ever to challenge the Duke. The dead knight had had twenty-two rings—no weakling by any measure. Yet, it was over that quickly. The death was planned, as was every move his father made.

The Dunaguard crowd went wild and cheered. They threw food, punched, and jumped. The peasants were like vultures excited by a carcass.

The Duke hushed them. “I apologize for the efficient killing you just witnessed. I will tell Uchiyasu to restrain himself in the future. The Black Order is not an order of secrets and old traditions; it was born like a sword, placed in an inferno, and forged into a thing of great strength and flexibility. When the next threat arises, they will be the first line of defense. It has been generations since the Dragon Order fled. Now we are whole once again.”

Though the crowd continued to shout, the various knights turned to each other and whispered and argued. No doubt word of the thirteenth had reached them, but now it was real.

And now it was Akisane’s turn to fight. No knight took him as a threat. He was merely the Duke’s son. No one seemed to recognize the sword at his hip, as the soloknight had done. This should be a short match between a young man no stronger than a squire against Kazusuke, a famous archknight of the Celestials.

It was rumored that Kazusuke turned down the opportunity to take the grandmaster’s test ten years ago. His nickname was Lord of Storms.

Darksun rattled and rose an inch from its sheath. He’s powerful. It's like a full banquet is set for us.

Akisane could feel Thailoc in the lake of fire pounding on the foundations of the mountain. How long before the chains break?

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Kazusuke didn’t bow. Instead, he turned his back and folded his arms in protest. “The Black Order is a farce. It was stupid of you to join the tournament. I will cut you down.”

Akisane didn’t bow, either. “And what are knights but a farce?”

Kazusuke’s eyes widened, and he flexed at the temple. He paused as if for a rebuttal but then walked away.

When they separated to the two far corners, and the gong tolled, Akisane gripped the handle but didn’t free Darksun. Can you disguise yourself? A demon blade is not a weapon for this occasion.

I’m not a demon blade. Most of them are made in my image, but so be it.

When Darksun slid free, it was nothing but a warping of air. Its shadow lay like smoke on the stone floor.

Akisane looked about for an advantage. A shadow lay across one corner of the arena, creating a triangle. Only there could he shadowwalk. In all likelihood, this would be a straight fight.

Forks of lightning jabbed around Kazusuke. Above him, low whisps of clouds began to form and roil. Good, they dimmed the arena.

In the crowd, Akisane glimpsed his enemies. Why did he consider them so? They were targets of the Duke. But he loathed them as well. They seemed to stand for the values of knighthood above all the others. He’d never seen Kichi or Masahide drink, gamble, or anything. All they’d done since arriving was save people and excel in the tournament. Disgusting, and somehow, they’d avoided all vectors of attack and manipulation. Let’s see them do so well without the soloknight.

Hisa sat next to them, twirling a cane. How could the Order of the Arc let a little girl lead them? Who cares what magic disguised her true age—it was an embarrassment.

Akisane almost forgot about his adversary.

Kazusuke raised a hand, and the snakes of white energy coalesced into a staff.

The wind pulled at Akisane’s clothes. It raced in all directions toward the archknight. Hats flew from heads in the crowd. Food abandoned trays.

Kazusuke must mean to end the fight with a single blow, just like Uchiyasu. He glowed white, and his staff twirled.

There went shadowwalking, as all shadows from the building storm skittered away from the glow of the knight.

Akisane took a step back. Could a single attack kill him?

Henry (Akisane)

Level: 10

Focus: Telekinesis

Secondary focus: Shadow walker, fire walker

Weapons: Darksun Sword - 85% corrupt, decay+12