The Tournament of Legends, an event hosted once a decade where kingdoms from all over the world partake with several warriors from their domain. Warriors chosen are able to challenge warriors from other kingdoms, or even those within theirs.

The tournament usually lasts a week but this time it would only last 4 days. It was the Grand Final and just a few minutes before the sun would set. The announcer looked around at the massive crowd sitting in the bleachers before glancing at the Emperor of Neriopa, the host of this decade’s tournament sitting in his private balcony. The Emperor looked down at the announcer and nodded his head to which the announcer nodded back.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! It is finally time for the finale! Out of the tournaments that have been hosted, this one has to be the fastest one yet! Seems this generation of warriors are stronger than the previous. Now then, to introduce you to our two contestants who have fought greatly in the finals!”

The north gate of the arena opened and a figure walked out. With black hair and red eyes, he donned a black coat with golden dragon patterns which possessed four coat tails. He wore a gray sleeveless turtleneck underneath and black pants with gray boots. In his hand, he held a blade. The handle and the sheath was black, patterned in blue dragon patterns.

“Son of the Legendary Sword Saint, Yoru, he has made quite a name for himself in his 4 years of service for the Neriopa Empire, earning him the title of the Legendary Warrior. Please welcome, Sanctifaust Terania!”

Everyone in the crowd cheered. The Rulers sitting in their private balconies looked down at Sanctifaust, whispering.

“So he is one of his sons?” Maer Erinas, King of Asphield asked.

“It seems so. It also seems he wields one of his… weapons.” Orisocrak Juiero, King of the Kingdom of Vebrant.

“The Legendary Sword Yoru. The very same blade whose existence ended the war between mortals and demons. Now it is in the hands of a Legendary Warrior. A fine decision.” Maer complimented.

“Now you two, let's not get too excited. There is still his other son.” Baleli Neropaer, Queen of Creoil, added.

Sanctifaust stopped next to the announcer. The announcer noticed Sanctifaust’s dull eyes. He gulped before giving the next announcement.

“And now! For our other contestant!”

The south gate opened and immediately, a gloom engulfed the arena. Everyone felt a sense of dread as the next person walked into the arena. He possessed white hair and icy blue eyes. His black coat possessed red tiger patterns and a silver ram head pattern on the upper back of his coat. Under he wore a white vest, black dress pants and dress shoes. Strapped to the back of his waist was a blade wrapped around in bandages, covering the sword entirely.

“Also another Son of the Legendary Saint, Yoru, he is also a Legendary Warrior serving in the Neriopa Empire’s army. It is said that he is the STRONGEST warrior to ever exist! That’s right everyone. It is as you hear it, he is the brother of our other contestant, Yamaryu Terania!”

Yamaryu stood in front of Sanctifaust, giving him a deathly glare. Sanctifaust met his eyes and there was a sense of suspicion.

“Brother? You look… different?”

Yamaryu looked over at the announcer, ignoring Sanctifaust’s question.

“Err… w-well well! The atmosphere is quite heavy isn’t it! It seems this fight was meant to be! A battle between brothers! This-!”

Irritated, Yamaryu grabbed the announcer by his collar and lifted him into the air.

“Hurry up and start the fucking match.” Yamaryu growled, his eyes glowed incandescently.

The announcer backed away and in a panic started the match.

“B-begin the match!”

In an instant, Yamaryu lunged forward. His hand grew claws and slashed at Sanctifaust. Sanctifaust guarded using Yoru. Though no scratches were placed upon his blade, Sanctifaust was frozen.

“C-claws?”

Distracted, Yamaryu swept Sanctifaust off his feet. Once the latter fell on his back, Yamaryu leaped into the air and formed a blade made of dark red energy formed in his hand. He plummeted towards Sanctifaust and roared. Sanctifaust managed to evade Yamaryu just before he could crash into him.

“That’s demonic magic isn’t it!? Spirit Arsenal?” Maer asked. He wasn’t the only one in shock however as everyone else was surprised as well.

Sanctifaust drew Yoru out of its sheath, revealing a glimmering metal blade. He started pouring his energy into Yoru before launching several shockwaves at Yamaryu. Yamaryu quickly evaded and ran up to Sanctifaust, drawing his weapon and clashed with Sanctifaust.

“Brother, what have you become?”

“I have become my true self, brother!” Yamaryu growled in a distorted voice.

The two wrestled with their blades until Yamaryu placed his hand on the blade of Yoru. To Sanctifaust’s surprise, Yamaryu was only using his hand to hold back Sanctifaust.

‘What the-?”

Yamaryu slowly pulled his blade away as the bandages slowly unwrapped, revealing a demonic blade in his hand. The blade was made of black organic material which surrounded another blade made of fiery red energy and possessed prominent temper lines on the edges of its blade.

“Is that-!?” Baleli got up from her seat, covering her mouth as tears streamed down her face.

“No… that’s impossible!” Another ruler shouted.

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“Emperor Crain! What is the meaning of this!?” Orisocrak yelled at the Emperor of Neriopa. Crain De Heyur could only stare at the blade Yamaryu wielded.

“It seems Yoru was right… it was inevitable after all.” Crain muttered. Maer approached Crain and grabbed him by the collar.

“What do you mean!? Didn’t we seal the Legendary Demon Sword Ashara along with countless forbidden weapons!? Even the Legendary Sword Saint, Yoru assisted us in the procedure!”

However, before Crain could explain, a person busted in the door behind them.

“Father! The seal on the Derani ruins has broken and Yamaryu-!” Lux De Heyur, the emperor’s second son shouted but immediately stopped when he saw everyone look at him. At that point, he knew he didn’t have to explain. Then the arena shook.

Yamaryu had swung the Legendary Demon Sword Ashara down on Sanctifaust. With a single swing, Yamaryu dug Sanctifaust’s feet down into the ground and the impact sent a huge shockwave through the arena, shaking the structure.

“You are weak!” Yamaryu shouted before bringing Ashara down on his brother again. Sanctifaust quickly swung Yoru, parrying Yamaryu’s blow.

Unknowingly, Sanctifaust deflected a shockwave from Yamaryu’s attack and the shockwave shot towards the balcony where all the rulers lay. Noticing the disruption in the air, Lux ordered the rulers to duck to avoid the incoming attack.

“Everyone, get on the ground!”

Everyone in the balcony dropped to the floor as a shockwave pierced the room, creating cracks in the floor, blowing the chairs away and shattering the wall behind them.

When all was safe, Lux looked around and made sure everyone was alright before his father.

“Father! Father-!?”

When he turned to his father, all he saw was a headless corpse. His father’s corpse slowly rolled towards him with a sad look on his face.

“F-father…” Lux muttered before the arena shook once more, followed by a loud demonic roar.

Suddenly, a pillar of red energy shot up into the sky where Yamaryu stood. Sanctifaust was launched back by the sudden outburst of energy. As he got on his feet, the energy began to dissipate and a demon stood in Yamaryu’s place. It growled as ashes surrounded him.

“Y-Yamaryu?”

Yamaryu turned to Sanctifaust, his incandescent red eyes stared deep into his soul. His black scales rattled as red energy vented out from the places where the scales don’t cover. Two barbed ended tails slammed the ground, creating two small craters. His demonic head nearly resembled that of a tiger with two curved horns.

“What is this?”

In an instant, Yamaryu tackled Sanctifaust and slammed him into the wall. The impact broke the wall entirely and eventually the bleachers as well. Sanctifaust coughed up blood onto Yamaryu’s face. The latter licked the blood off his face and tossed Sanctifaust to the side.

“Brother-!” Sanctifaust coughed. “What are you doing!?”

“What am I doing? Aren’t we battling!? This is what we fought through the tournament for! Is that not why you did this!?”

Yamaryu extended his arms and stared at what was now the dark sky.

“I have obtained this power just for you, my little brother! This is my true power! Power that could not have been awakened if I did not retrieve this blade.”

Yamaryu dug his hand into his chest and pulled out the Legendary Demon Sword Ashara.

“Father may have entrusted his blade to you, but true power lies within this! This is the sword that belonged to our mother!”

Yamaryu vanished and appeared in front of Sanctifaust, lifting him by his throat.

“What… are you talking about?” Sanctifaust barely managed to mutter and Yamaryu’s grip tightened.

“Do you remember the tale our father told us? The one where he battled a Dark Slayer of the demon realm? Would you believe it if I told you that exact Dark Slayer was our mother? Neru Vixern? Or should I say, Ashara?”

“You spout nonsense!”

Yamaryu slammed Sanctifaust into the ground before piercing him with Ashara. Sanctifaust groaned in pain as Yamaryu twisted Ashara, deepening the pain.

“Ever since we were born, you were the stubborn one! This and your trust of mortals is what got both of them killed! Yet, you continue to follow these mortals to what end!?”

Sanctifaust grabbed onto Ashara and attempted to push it out of his chest. Yamaryu quickly pulled it out of his brother’s chest before cutting his right arm off. Sanctifaust let out a blood curdling cry.

“You must understand brother that these mortals held us back from our true potential! These mortals only care about themselves! However brother, my eyes have been opened. Yerlo’s death showed me that we are not even near the height of our strength. Though she may have defeated the Dark Goddess, Craylop, she continued to grow stronger but is now dead! Yerlo was a demigod, Sanctifaust! A demigod! A demigod was killed by a monster that we could’ve easily destroyed! I have realized that even with so much strength we have much more to go… so I took the initiative and risked it. That risk gave me this form. This form of mine, this is where my true potential lies and you need to see it too!”

Suddenly, a creature descended from the sky. A demonic angel landed next to Yamaryu, wielding a spear.

“Yamaryu, have you concluded your farewells?” He asked before looking down at a wounded Sanctifaust.

“Yes, I suppose I am.” Yamaryu said as he inserted Ashara into his chest.

As he turned to the demonic angel, he looked over his shoulder as his brother one last time as he returned to his human form.

“Heed my words, Sanctifaust. If you continue to grasp onto this humanity of yours, you will never become strong enough to protect those that you love. Trishia’s death should’ve opened your eyes.”

Then he vanished alongside the demonic angel. Sanctifaust puked blood as he crawled towards his father’s blade. The last words his father told him echoed through his head.

“Watch over your brother. Though he may be strong and your older twin, his emotions are a lot more volatile. I fear he may spiral down a path he cannot turn around. I trust you can do this, right?”

Eventually, he lost consciousness and everything became black.

Several days after the incident in the tournament, the kingdoms were thrown into chaos. Learning the seals of the Legendary Weapons are starting to weaken, many mages were sent to redo those seals so that their powers may not be accessed. However, it wasn’t enough and those seals eventually broke.

In the Kingdom of Neriopa, the sudden death of Crain De Heyur caused an outrage in the kingdom. Though he had an heir, the first prince was nowhere to be seen due to an adventure to grow stronger. His eldest daughter, though a princess, was already queen of another domain due to her marriage. With no choice, Lux De Heyur was made Emperor.

With so much happening, this was the perfect chance for the demon world to attack. So, the demon world invaded the surface world once more.

Mayhem now overran the world. Though the world was lucky to have many strong warriors, there were some who were missing in action.

Yamaryu, the strongest warrior of age, betrayed the world. His brother, Sanctifaust, vanished after he recovered from his injuries. The only hope of the world was now nowhere to be found.