ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 201: PRELUDE TO THE GRAND CEREMONY

The Pacesetter Academy was abuzz with activity, each of its representatives preparing in their own way for the Battle Convention’s Grand Ceremony. The tension in the air was palpable, but so was the determination.

In a secluded training room deep within the Vice chancellor Reeves quarters, Kaelen stood alone. His Blade of Eternity was gripped tightly in his hand, the golden hue of its power faintly illuminating the dim space. Sweat dripped from his brow as he repeatedly practiced his strikes, each swing precise but laced with the weight of his growing responsibilities.

The confrontation with the Hollowed One played on a loop in his mind. The sacred light of his armor had protected him, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness he’d felt as the Hollowed One’s mana domain overwhelmed him.

"Not again," Kaelen muttered, his voice firm despite his exhaustion. "Next time, I won’t just survive. I’ll win."

Ethan watched silently from the shadows, his arms crossed. Though Kaelen had insisted on training alone, Ethan couldn’t leave him unguarded since Morris convinced him that Kaelen needs the guarding and not him. He admired Kaelen’s resolve but worried about the toll it was taking on him.

"Don’t push yourself too hard," Ethan finally said, stepping into the light. "You’ll need your strength tomorrow."

Kaelen paused, lowering his blade. "I know, but I can’t let everyone down. Not Lila, not Morris, not the academy."

Ethan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You won’t. Just trust in yourself."

Kaelen nodded, though doubt lingered in his eyes.

---

Outside in the gardens surrounding the Soaring Dragons Pavilion, Lila sat cross-legged on a patch of frost-covered grass. Her Ice Jade Princess aura surrounded her, the shimmering blue light casting an ethereal glow. Her breath was steady as she meditated, her mind focused on perfecting the defensive and offensive techniques her master, Carmilia, had entrusted to her.

Though she appeared calm, inside, Lila felt the pressure. She was ranked third in the academy, but the competition would be fierce. She couldn’t afford any missteps, especially with her rival, Sofia, likely watching her every move.

Opening her eyes, Lila clenched her fists. "This is my moment to prove myself," she whispered.

As she stood, her icy magic radiated outward, freezing the nearby fountain in a breathtaking display of her power. A passing student stopped to admire the scene but quickly scurried away when Lila’s cold gaze fell on him.

---

Morris sat in his room, a stack of books and scrolls spread out before him. Unlike the others, his preparation leaned heavily on strategy. The Grey family had always emphasized the importance of outthinking one’s opponent, and Morris intended to carry on that legacy.

His hands glowed faintly as he practiced a combination of spells, his mana weaving intricate patterns in the air. The Elemental God’s inheritance coursed through him, and he was determined to show the world what the Grey family heir could do.

A knock at his door interrupted him.

"Come in," Morris called without looking up.

Sofia stepped inside, her demeanor as calm and composed as ever. "Still studying?"

Morris glanced at her with a smirk. "Knowledge is power, isn’t it?"

Sofia crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Just don’t forget to sleep. We’ll need you at your best tomorrow."

"I could say the same to you," Morris retorted, his eyes narrowing. "You’ve been training nonstop."

Sofia chuckled softly. "Touché."

---

Later that day In one of the rooms located in the Soaring Dragons Pavilion that is reserved for the female representative of Pace Setter Academy, Sofia stood in the center of a glowing circle of her own creation. Pure white particles of light danced around her, responding to her every command. Her unique purification magic was as awe-inspiring as it was intimidating.

Sofia’s face remained serene, but inside, she wrestled with the weight of her responsibilities. As one of the academy’s top representatives, she couldn’t afford to falter.

Closing her eyes, she whispered, "For the academy, and for myself."

The light around her intensified, forming a radiant barrier that filled the room with warmth. A knock at the door broke her concentration.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

"It’s open," Sofia said, her voice steady.

Lila entered, her icy aura contrasting sharply with Sofia’s radiant presence.

"Still working on that purification magic?" Lila asked, her tone neutral.

Sofia smiled faintly. "And you’re still freezing the gardens?"

The two exchanged a brief look, their rivalry evident but unspoken.

---

Ethan observed everything from the shadows, his sharp eyes never missing a detail. Though he was here as a representative of the Academy and also the personal bodyguard of Morris, he knew his role was just as important. Protecting Kaelen and the others wasn’t just his duty—it was his purpose.

As the sun set, Ethan found himself on the academy’s rooftop, surveying the grounds. His thoughts drifted to the upcoming convention.

"Tomorrow, everything changes," he muttered to himself.

In the open courtyard of the pavilion, Eldric stood shirtless, his body emanating arcs of crackling lightning. His sword, glowing faintly with electric energy, was held firmly in his hand as he practiced a series of precise, rapid strikes. His movements were a blur, each slash accompanied by a crack of thunder.

Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he paid it no mind. Eldric had always been a perfectionist, and he knew that his opponents at the convention wouldn’t allow for even the smallest mistake.

As he finished a final strike, the air around him shimmered with residual static. Eldric let out a breath, his gaze turning toward the horizon.

"They won’t know what hit them," he murmured, a smirk playing on his lips.

Inside her private chamber, Guinevere sat cross-legged on a mat, surrounded by flickering flames of red, blue, and yellow. Her eyes were closed in deep concentration as she focused on refining her mastery of the Tricolor Flames.

Sweat glistened on her face, but she remained undeterred, her hands moving in intricate patterns to manipulate the flames into different shapes and forms. Her goal was clear—to perfect her control and unlock the secrets of the Flame Body, a feat her elder brother had attempted but never achieved.

Her frustration simmered beneath the surface as her flames wavered slightly.

"Focus, Guinevere," she muttered to herself. "This time, I’ll succeed."

The flames intensified momentarily before flickering out. Guinevere opened her eyes with a sigh of exasperation, her determination undiminished.

Perched atop the pavilion’s highest rooftop which was reserved for the male, the mysterious swordsman sat cross-legged with his blade resting across his lap. The wind tugged at his dark cloak, but he remained unmoving, his eyes closed in meditation.

His aura was enigmatic, a mixture of calm and lethal precision. Unlike the others, he didn’t train in flashy displays or elaborate techniques. His strength lay in his simplicity and efficiency, a blade that struck true without hesitation.

A faint smile curved his lips as he opened his eyes, revealing a steely gaze.

"Let them come," he muttered. "I’ll cut through them all."

In a secluded wing of the pavilion, the Dark Prince lounged on an ornate chair, a glass of crimson liquid in his hand. His eyes, a piercing shade of violet, gleamed with amusement as he watched the swirling mist he conjured dance across the room.

Unlike the others, he seemed unbothered by the impending battles. His power, rooted in shadows and illusions, gave him an edge that he knew few could rival.

"Such a fuss over a convention," he mused, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I suppose it will be... entertaining."

He tilted his head, his smile widening. "And Kaelen... I wonder how long you will last in a lion’s den."

In another part of the serene gardens of the Soaring Dragons Pavilion, Charlotte stood in quiet contemplation. Her shield, the Aegis of the Frosted Moon, rested against a nearby stone bench, its intricate engravings glinting faintly under the midday sun. The Elven runes along its edge pulsed softly, echoing the rhythmic breaths of its bearer. This shield was more than a weapon—it was a legacy, a sacred heirloom passed down from her father, who once wielded it as a protector of the Elven lands.

Charlotte was clad in her training attire, her golden hair tied neatly behind her, allowing her sharp green eyes to focus entirely on the shield before her.

Charlotte gripped the shield firmly and began her practice. The Divine Shield Technique, a lost art of the Elves, demanded a precise balance of strength, timing, and unwavering determination. It wasn’t magic in the conventional sense but a martial skill refined to such perfection that it felt supernatural.

Her movements were deliberate and measured, each step a reflection of countless hours of discipline. She swung the shield in a graceful arc, countering imagined attacks. Her body and the shield moved as one, a seamless flow of offense and defense.

With a deep breath, she executed the Falling Starlight Guard, a defensive maneuver that turned her shield into an unbreakable bastion, capable of deflecting even the mightiest of strikes.

"Let them come" Charlotte suddenly said with a determined look on her face, "I will be ready".

As night fell over Valoria kingdom , each representative carried their own hopes, fears, and determination into the final hours before the grand ceremony. The stakes had never been higher, and the weight of expectations pressed heavily on their shoulders.

Unbeknownst to them, far beyond the Soaring Dragons Pavilion surroundings, other forces moved in the shadows, plotting their own agendas for the convention.