Kichi watched Masahide run through the crowd and disappear on his way to protect Gon. She wanted to help, but this was important. She came here because of some promise by the cosmos that centered on Whitebeard. Further, the only threat to Gon was a rumor by a former enemy who could be trying to get rid of her.

William watched him go, too, but when he turned back, his eyes fell on her, and she turned away at the strange sneer on one side of his face. Yes, there was little reason to trust her enemies.

Thank the spirits, Hosa emerged and waved her over, so the two stood and witnessed the trail continue. “Whitebeard must be powerful with Water. But these knights are powerful. I don’t see how they’ll fail to overwhelm him with Earth.”

Kichi didn’t need Hosa to tell her that, and she let the words break against her optimism.

The knights flung their magic into the box in streams of rock sized from pebbles to boulders. It sounded like an avalanche as it filled the container, which spiderwebbed with cracks before exploding. An oval-shaped mass compressed where it had been, and the rocks deformed until they smoothed. The noise waned, and the structure became as uniform as an egg, with the tree knights surrounding it and making a pushing gesture as they crushed it down.

How can the soloknight survive this?

The Duke watched with delight as if the sound of his enemy being pulverized played like music in his head. He raised a hand when warm spots developed on the sphere’s surface, and the magic stopped. “We will have this stone dedicated to my uncle. What’s more fitting than a monument to the king with the prince’s assassin dead inside?”

Kichi wasn’t going to listen to her friend being slandered. “Whitebeard is no assassin!”

“Ah, Kichi. I look forward to seeing you in the tournament today. I’m sure you knew nothing of this man’s crimes, but this is a time of mourning. Show some respect.” With the ashen sun behind him, his look was one of death.

Perhaps Whitebeard had had time to counter the magic and arrange it inside so that he had space. She pictured some kind of cavity where he lay prone, waiting for the box to be opened. But there was no plan to open it again… How long would he have air? She and Masahide would have to come back in the night, crack it open, and find out how the soloknight faired.

Hosa grabbed her arm and stared at the sphere. “I can’t see Whitebeard’s rings, but I still feel something within.”

The rock split apart like a cracked egg, and Whitebeard spilled out from the inside of a massive geode. He stood amid a display that put his water talents to shame. Rock crystals of purple tints streamed around him in geometric designs that oscillated between patterns. He had utterly dominated the three knights' magic, and everyone knew it by the look of awe on every face but the Duke’s, which darkened.

Whitebeard made a hand gesture and the sphere slammed close, and the crystals around him darted out and repaired the fissure so that the surface was smooth once again. “Bring the last trail, Duke Akitomo.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Gladly.” The Duke called on every knight who could manage Fire, which turned out to be about twenty strong. Twenty knights surrounded Whitebeard.

Kichi wanted to run beside him and help, but what could she do? This was far outside her power level. No, this was outside anyone’s.

The crowd glanced at each other, uncomfortable with the extent to which the Duke was willing to condemn this man. The attitude of the knights was similar, with some gripping swords, perhaps struggling with their oaths. If Whitebeard could survive, would he gain the respect of the orders? Was that his plan all along?

None of that seemed to matter when an inferno ignited where the soloknight stood. The heat pushed everyone back, and a fire tornado erupted heavenward. The wind pulled at Kichi’s clothing and hair, a hot, dry blast.

Even the air snake slithered overhead and out of the way of the fire. Hands raised to block the bright light. The drifting ash blew away from the square.

When the firestorm stopped, Whitebeard remained. “Genesis Vas!” His voice echoed in the mountain hollow. A crumbling of stone from a castle tower turned heads. A sword in green flame drifted toward the square and into the soloknight’s hand. A green column rose into the sky and blew a hole in the ash clouds before it fizzled. He flourished the sword. “Akisane, son Duke Akitomo, come here.”

Pushing through the armed Dunaguardians, Akisane and his henchmen approached the square. The Duke’s son had changed a lot in the last few days. Kichi hadn’t noticed in the fight with William, but somehow, he seemed larger, sticking out from the crowd like a born leader.

Whitebeard pointed to one of the knights, a grandmaster Kichi believed, who brought out the hand and a scrap of fabric. “When I returned from my voyage, I went to the King immediately, for he is my halfbrother.” He waited for the crowd to murmur amongst themselves before going on. “He knew there was a target on Prince Mochikage. I offered to personally protect him, but he assured me the guard was enough. During my stay, three attempts were made on the boy’s life. And all worked for Duke Akitomo.”

The Duke flourished the cross-polearm. “This is outrageous. Silence him!” None of the knights made a move.

Whitebeard indicated to the evidence. “Akisane, do you recognize these.”

Akisane whispered to his men, and Shank and Bahram hurried away, hiding somewhere within the mass of Dunaguardians. “Yes, I recognize these.”

“Can you confirm they belong to those in the Duke’s employ?”

Akisane looked straight at the Duke. “Yes.”

There were gasps from all around. Knights drew swords, and the crowd pushed in. The Duke barred his teeth and glanced around for incoming threats.

Whitebeard raised his hand. “This is a matter for Akisane to make right. I’ve seen a path of the least horror, and he must defeat his father before Thailoc breaks free. Now, bring the necromancer, Duke Akitomo. It is time for the draining ritual.”

The Duke retreated to the thirteen seats and took his. “Gladly.” The Black Order and Marstonic surrounded him and watched for threats. “And then we have the final day of the tournament.”

Whitebeard pointed over the mountain to a dark spot in the sky. “A chaos lord has arrived to wipe the slate clean. He would kill all living things to preserve his city. The hubris to think he could kill Thailoc.” He raised his sword into the sky and pulled a golden cup from thin air. “Forgive me, but I must cast the Field of Dreams into the world.”

From the sword to the sky, reality splintered like shattered glass. Lightning forked along the Great Divide, and a wave spread from the soloknight and moved through the world like a ripple on a pond. It began to rain soot.

Over the next few hours, the dot in the sky grew into an upside-down mountain with its own landscape and city on its upturned base.