Chapter 42– The Invitation of Blood and Glory
Scene One: An Unexpected Summons
The days at Aflety Academy had settled into a rhythm of training, theory, and caution. Tensions lingered, but the students knew they couldn't afford to falter.
Evan was no different, but something in the air had changed.
He had been summoned—again, but this time not by the Emperor, not by the academy, but by a mysterious letter from the Kingdom of Feralon, a rival state with a reputation for brutal combat and gladiatorial honor.
The letter was plain, yet heavy in meaning.
To: Evan Rochel, Beast Tamer of the Divine Basilisk.
You are cordially invited to compete in The Arena of Broken Kings—a tournament where only those who walk between death and legend can survive.
You will face the greatest warriors of Feralon, and in doing so, prove your worth to the court of the Silver King.
This is no invitation for the faint of heart.
Come, or be branded as a coward.
—From the Silver King's Court.
Scene Two: The Arena of Broken Kings
Evan stood at the edge of a colossal pit carved into the very mountain itself. The Arena of Broken Kings—a legendary coliseum where the fiercest warriors from across the realms fought not just for glory, but for survival.
The air smelled of sweat, blood, and ancient earth. The spectators' roars echoed in his ears, as waves of anticipation thrummed through the arena.
On one side, monstrous beasts of every shape and size roared in anticipation—beasts whose tamers were ready to do anything for their moment in the spotlight.
And Evan, alongside his Basilisk, Nex, stood on the other.
He was not here by choice. But the letter had been clear. He would either fight or be branded weak.
His mind flickered to Lilith. He could feel her presence far away, but her words were with him.
"Don't forget who you are, Evan. And don't let them break you."
Scene Three: The Silver King's Decree
The Silver King, Eldric Varian, was a towering figure—clad in shimmering silver armor, his presence commanding the very air around him. He stood atop a grand dais, looking down at the combatants with cold, calculating eyes.
As Evan approached the pit, the king raised his hand.
"This is not a simple contest," Eldric's voice echoed across the arena, rich with authority. "This is a trial. Only those who walk with beasts beyond mortal understanding can survive here."
Evan bowed his head, Nex's weight heavy at his side.
The king's gaze never wavered.
"We shall see if the son of the Rochel family can stand in the blood of these warriors—or fall beneath it."
Scene Four: The First Fight
The horn sounded—deep and reverberating through the earth.
Evan stepped into the pit, his heart beating in rhythm with Nex's.
The gates on the opposite side of the arena creaked open, and a monster emerged. A twin-headed hydra, each head snapping at the air like a serpent seeking to devour everything in its path.
The crowd roared as the beast advanced.
Evan didn't hesitate.
"Nex!"
The Basilisk leaped forward, its body a blur of motion as it met the hydra with a crash. Nex's fangs sunk into one of the hydra's necks, and the beast howled in pain, its other heads thrashing wildly.
Evan's senses sharpened. He could feel Nex's pulse, the beast's fury mingling with his own as they fought in perfect synchrony.
But the hydra was no ordinary creature. As Nex severed one head, another grew in its place, faster and more vicious.
This wasn't just a battle of beasts. This was a war of attrition.
Evan's eyes flashed. His new gauntlet glowed, a surge of ancestral power flowing through him.
"Echo Sync."
The gauntlet hummed, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. Evan could feel Nex's ancient memories—the fear of the gods. The weight of wars long forgotten.
With a roar, Evan guided Nex's next strike—aiming for the hydra's heart. One final, decisive blow.
The hydra screeched as Nex's fangs tore through its chest, the monster collapsing into a heap of dead flesh.
The arena was silent for a moment.
Then, the crowd erupted into applause, their cheers deafening.
Scene Five: The Silver King's Test
As Evan stood victorious, bloodied but unbowed, the Silver King's eyes narrowed.
"You've passed the first test," Eldric said coldly, stepping forward. "But you are only a pawn in this game. The true trials have yet to begin."
Evan wiped blood from his face, his heart still pounding. The gauntlet glowed, and Nex stood beside him, its form shifting as it absorbed the power of the fight.
"I'm not here to play games," Evan said, his voice low but resolute. "I'm here to prove that the future isn't just for kings and gods—it's for those who fight to shape it."
The Silver King smirked, but there was something more in his eyes—respect.
"Then prove it, boy. Prove it in the next round."
Scene Six: Whispers of the Nest
In the shadows of the arena, beyond the reach of the crowd's cheers, another figure watched the fight unfold.
A cloaked man, whose features were hidden beneath a hood, spoke in a low voice to his companion.
"The Basilisk. It's real. The Rochel bloodline has awakened."
His companion—another cloaked figure—nodded. "The plan moves forward. The Nest is patient. But when the time comes, he will be ours."
The figure smiled cruelly.
"Until then, we shall let the Arena claim him. Or his beast."
[End of Chapter 42]