Blackout Ascension: Return of Primordial Heir-Chapter 25: Judgement

The Crystal Colosseum’s jagged mountains where Stark had crushed Liora sank back into the earth. The thick dust settled instantly, leaving no trace of the brutal fight. This time, the arena floor smoothed into a glass-like crystal plain. Towering pillars rose along the perimeter, reflecting the light, making the stadium look like a cathedral glowing with moonlight. High above, the Nexus Crystal glowed softly. It pulsed with a steady, rhythmic blue light.

The grand announcer’s voice echoed loudly. It sounded filled with deep awe rather than the usual wild excitement. "Fourth Match of the Crystal Bracket: Luxara Dracortis versus Wymbark Dale!"

The East Gate clanked open. From the dark Drakhalmere entrance walked Luxara Dracortis. She wore an elegant coat of pure white that flowed behind her like angelic wings. Beneath the white fabric, silver-gold scales glittered softly along her slender arms and neck. It was the mark of the legendary Light Dragon bloodline. Her hair was a brilliant platinum, waving completely loose down her back. Her eyes shimmered with a radiant, piercing brilliance. It was the cold, distant light of a dying star. She moved forward with a haunting elegance that strongly suggested she was levitating above the ground.

Across the crystal platform, the West Gate opened. From the Xynoria gate entered Wymbark Dale. He was the perfect frame of a holy knight. He was armored in radiant light plates that shone brightly like diamonds. In his right hand, he held a long spear forged from the sun’s warm reflection on pure crystal. He was a tall, proud, and highly composed warrior who truly believed he was fighting on the side of justice.

He walked confidently to the center of the mirror and saluted Luxara with a gesture using his glowing spear. "It is a true honor to face one of the great Dragon Heirs.." Wymbark said, his voice filled with joy and grace.

Luxara bowed her head very slightly. Her pale expression was unreadable.

"It will be an honor to defeat you, Wymbark," she replied softly, her voice like chiming glass. "If you prove to be worthy of the lesson."

Wymbark smiled faintly, taking a wide combat stance. "A true warrior’s worth is only measured by their strength, Lady Luxara."

Luxara’s glowing eyes narrowed slightly. The ambient temperature in the packed arena seemed to drop ten degrees.

"No," she said coldly. "True worth is measured entirely by purpose."

The heavy bronze bell rang out.

GONG!!

Wymbark unleashed a strike forward. He didn’t hesitate for a single second. He lunged forward and potently thrust his spear. "Light Thrust."

It was a forward push which was terribly fast, that it was obscured. A bright beam of focused light shot streaking from the sharp tip of his spear, aiming for Luxara’s left shoulder.

Luxara took a single, calm step to the left. It barely even looked like a real movement. It was just a graceful slide. The deadly spear shot cleanly missed. The light streaked past, grazing only the air beside her white coat.

Wymbark spun around, prolly using the fast momentum of his miss. "Heaven’s Rain!"

He thrust his spear into the empty air again and again, his movements looked like a blur as he conjured a swirling vortex of light javelins. Hundreds of glowing javelins of mana rained down with murderous intent, converging on Luxara from every possible direction. It was a seamless cage of holy light, leaving her with no room to breathe.

Luxara simply moved forward, walking through the raging storm of attacks.

TRASH! CRISP! TRASH!

As every single shimmering javelin reached within a mere inch of her pale skin, it disintegrated. The hostile magic simply ripped apart, turning into harmless, glittering dust.

Wymbark gritted his teeth in sheer frustration, fluidly stepping back swinging his spear wildly through the air.

"Do you mock me!?" he shouted loudly, his pride heavily stung.

Luxara stopped walking five feet away from him. "I am absolutely not mocking you," she said calmly. "I am simply evaluating you."

BOOM!!!

Her physical body erupted into an incandescent flare, her mana surging with high luminous intensity that threatened the arena’s air. Two ethereal wings made of solid hard-light unfolded with a thunderous crack from her back. The dragon wings are sharp, spreading nine feet wide across the arena. The immense, crushing pressure of her aura was suffocating. It was raw, unfiltered Dragon Majesty.

She slowly raised her right hand. The battlefield actively responded to her call. The towering crystal columns surrounding the arena converged inward. They leaned forward, looking like they were bowing deeply to her. The ancient architecture of the colosseum rumbled loudly to respectfully acknowledge her divine presence.

Luxara’s voice echoed loudly across the colosseum, sounding like a God talking from heaven.

"The light does not illuminate everyone, Wymbark. It only illuminates the truly deserving."

Wymbark roared loudly with pure rage surged violently through his veins.

"I am deserving!" he screamed.

He slammed the butt of his crystal spear directly into the ground with a shattering force. He frantically strained, squeezing every residual drop of mana from his core. "Solar Punishment!"

The roar opened the heavens split wide. A terrifying pillar of divine, golden light descended with a screeching sound from the heavens. It was thick, blindingly hot, and destructive. It was a legendary spell meant to utterly destroy high-ranking demons. It crashed down on top of Luxara.

The entire stadium shook, the crystal ground loudly cracked. The flashing light was totally blinding.

"He finally got her!" a hopeful spectator shouted from the stands.

The light slowly faded away. But, Luxara stood exactly there. The spell had hit her bulls eye, but it simply wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to exist against her own radiance.

Wymbark froze completely stiff. His breath was petrified, stolen from his lungs, and his armored hands trembled violently.

"Impossible..." he whispered in total horror.

Luxara spoke very quietly. "Your light is far too loud," she said softly, "you desperately want the massive crowd to cheer for your name. You just want to be seen as a hero."

She took one slow step closer to him. "That is absolutely not true Light. That is merely a cheap flare, and temporary flares always burn out."

Her massive dragon wings flapped inward for a brief second, compressing all the energy. Then, they slashed violently outward. "Dragon’s Verdict."

An invisible shockwave of pure, blinding white light surged through the gale wind in every direction. It only targeted one specific thing. Unworthy Magic.

The fast wave hit Wymbark.

CRACK!!

His highly radiant, golden armor, which was the ultimate symbol of his holy pride, shattered instantly into a million pieces.

SNAP!!

The beautiful crystal spear clenched in his hands burst into fine dust. Wymbark was genuinely stunned, and suddenly felt naked on the battlefield. His deep mana core was stripped away, silenced by a vastly higher authority.

His legs gave out. He dropped to his bare knees, his hands trembling from the immense pressure of Luxara.

"What... what exactly is this...?" he whispered, his voice breaking.

Luxara approached him very slowly. The flapping, shimmering wings on her back dissolved into soft lingering particles of light. She stood quietly, looking exactly like a patient teacher correcting a foolish student’s mistake.

"Light is absolutely not power, Wymbark," she said softly. "Light is ultimate accountability."

She slowly placed her warm palm very gently on his sweaty forehead. Wymbark shook fiercely expecting a lethal, burning pain.

Instead, he only felt a warm, calm touch.

"I do not ever break true warriors," Luxara said kindly. "I only break false illusions."

A glowing symbol of the radiant dragon, a complex and beautiful crest, appeared brightly on his forehead for one second. Then, it faded buried into his pale skin. His fighting magic collapsed for just now, his core was completely empty. His foolish arrogance was gone, instantly replaced by a terrifying clarity of his own massive flaws.

He was fully conscious, but his proud spirit was utterly defeated. Luxara whispered with clarity.

"Stand up again only when your light truly serves others... and not just yourself."

Wymbark tried to withhold the tears of deep shame, also the profound understanding.

He slowly bowed his head until his forehead touched the crystal floor in submission. "I... I yield."

The heavy bronze bell rang out, sound lingering across the arena. GONG!!!

"LUXARA DRACORTIS IS THE WINNER!"

The massive colosseum erupted with screaming applause. Even the proud nobles sitting in the Royal Pavilion stood up in respect. They nodded slowly and clapped their hands with genuine respect.

The dragon siblings reacted quietly. Stark slowly lowered his heavy head, a small, proud smile forming on his face.

Aeryth exhaled a long, loud breath of relief. "She’s incredibly intense.." he whispered, crossing his arms.

Veldra closed his eyes, remaining silent and very proud.

****

Down in the competitors pit, Kairos watched the match with his eyes darting, observing every detail.

She forcefully strips away all magic, Kairos analyzes deeply. She literally turns your own power completely off. If I ever have to fight her... I cannot rely on my mana core. I will have to rely on pure physical will. But, she can’t defeat me!

CREEEE!!!

[HE IS WATCHING... AL~~~ IS WATCHING]

"Wh.. What the fuck?? Who the hell is watching, why is this system annoying me, why the heck are the words messed up??", Kairos whispered clenching his head with a painful grin.

Luna gently sighed, whispering softly under his breath. "She is absolutely terrifying... and magnificent."

Princess Seyana clapped her hands. "Are absolutely all of the Dracortis siblings literal monsters?" Seyana had a sudden flash of a scary thought. Kairos was fighting next, but he would eventually have to face the strongest dragon alive.

And Brandon...

He felt the massive stadium drift even farther away from him. Every victory happening around him felt like a highly personal attack on his pride. Stark’s brute strength. Aeryth’s impossible speed. Veldra’s deep endurance. And now, Luxara’s absolute judgment.

They are all so disgustingly special, Brandon thought bitterly, the dark rot in his heart growing much colder. But he suddenly felt very happy. Their eldest, strongest sibling will surely destroy Kairos in the ring.

Luxara slowly turned around and calmly went back to the Dracortis gate. She had successfully delivered her divine verdict. The trial was over!

Exactly one final Dracortis match was left. The most awaited duel of the entire tournament remains.