ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 211: ROUND ROBIN

The Northern Wind Spire Coliseum buzzed with quiet tension as the participants waited solemnly in the designated area. The cold air seemed sharper within these walls, cutting through any lingering nerves as combatants stood, eyes forward, their expressions hardened with focus.

Kaelen and his comrades stood together, a unified front amid the sea of competitors. The Mysterious Swordsman, ever silent, leaned against a stone pillar with his arms crossed, his gaze unreadable. Eldric scanned the room with faint disdain, while Ethan fidgeted slightly but kept his eyes locked on the entrance to the arena. Charlotte’s brow was furrowed in deep concentration, and the Dark Prince stood stoically beside her, his sharp presence intimidating nearby participants.

Kaelen himself sat at the edge of a long bench, his back straight, eyes closed as he meditated. His mind remained a battlefield of focus and strategy, but he couldn’t shake the strange mission lingering in his head about the Magic Pandora. ’I’ll deal with it later,’ he thought. For now, the competition demanded all his attention.

At the uppermost levels of the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum, Castaneda and his lifelong friend Marel arrived, making their way to the VIP section reserved for the academies’ top officials and dignitaries. The view from here offered a commanding perspective of the vast arena below, where the battles would soon commence.

Upon arriving, Castaneda’s sharp eyes quickly noted the presence of Lysander, the Crown Prince and Chancellor of Valen Military Academy, who sat at ease with a glass of wine in hand. To his right, Alden, the cousin to the crown prince and the nephew to King Alexandria, lounged in his seat with a crafty aura swirling around him. His lackey, Griffo, stood close by, his demeanor obsequious as always.

Castaneda’s expression remained neutral as he approached, offering a polite nod to the group. Marel followed closely behind, his usual air of silent vigilance giving him an imposing presence.

"Well, well, Chancellor Castaneda," Alden drawled lazily, his eyes glinting with barely concealed contempt. "You’ve made it just in time to watch your little blades get dulled."

Castaneda ignored the bait, turning instead to Lysander. "Your Highness," he began smoothly, "I couldn’t help but notice that King Alexandria has not graced us with his presence. Is he not attending this first stage of the convention?"

Lysander swirled his wine glass, the liquid catching the light as he regarded Castaneda with mild amusement. "Unfortunately, no," he said, his voice cool and measured. "His Majesty has other pressing matters that demand his attention elsewhere. As much as he respects this event, you must understand that the kingdom comes first."

Castaneda’s expression didn’t falter, though a flicker of understanding crossed his sharp features. "I see. Quite a shame. His presence would have certainly added more grandeur to the occasion."

Lysander shrugged nonchalantly, setting the glass down on a marble table beside him. "He’ll be watching the critical moments, I’m sure," he added, his tone carrying a veiled implication.

Alden chuckled, leaning forward in his chair. "It’s not as if his absence will change the outcome. The Alexandria representatives will dominate as always."

Marel’s jaw tightened slightly, but Castaneda placed a calming hand on his arm. "We’ll see," Castaneda replied evenly, his gaze sharp as he met Alden’s smug eyes.

Back in the participant’s area, a low rumble spread through the room as a pair of attendants stepped in to announce that the event was about to begin. Kaelen opened his eyes, a cold determination gleaming within them. He glanced at his comrades, each of whom straightened up at the silent signal.

"This is it," Eldric muttered, cracking his knuckles.

Kaelen nodded. "Stay focused. We show our strength here."

From the stands above, Castaneda watched his students with a measured calm, his faith in them unshakable. Marel leaned in slightly, his voice low. "They look ready."

"They are," Castaneda replied firmly. "And this is just the beginning."

As the first bell tolled across the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum, a hush fell over the crowd. The competition was about to commence.

The Northern Wind Spire Coliseum buzzed with palpable excitement as a sudden, chilling breeze swept across the arena. Like a silent storm, a figure appeared at the center stage—A lady whose mere presence brought drew the attention of everyone in the coliseum. Her pale azure robes billowed around her as though commanded by the very wind itself. Her silver-white hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her sharp, icy-blue gaze swept across the crowd and participants alike, carrying an aura of absolute authority.

The murmurs in the audience quieted instantly as she raised her hand, her soft yet commanding voice echoing effortlessly through the vast space.

"Welcome, competitors, esteemed guests, and all who have come to witness this spectacle. I am Lady Seraphine Gale, the appointed Supervisor of the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum. My role is to ensure fairness, clarity, and order in this critical stage of the competition."

Seraphine moved her hand gracefully, and the magical screens hovering above the arena shimmered to life, projecting clear diagrams and grids for all to see.

"This stage marks the beginning of the individual class battles—a test to determine the finest amongst the melee combatants. Here is how it will proceed."

The grids divided themselves into ten groups, labeled Group A through Group J, with four names per group.

"There are forty contenders competing in this coliseum. To ensure balance and fairness, you have been divided into ten groups of four. This phase will be a round-robin tournament within each group. Every contender will face the others in their group, and points will determine the rankings."

Her gaze sharpened as the system appeared clearly for all to see.

The Rules and Points System

"The rules are as follows:

A victory in a match earns the contender 3 points.

A loss will earn 0 points.

Should a match end in a draw, both participants will receive 1 point each.

Exceptional performances, determined by myself and the judging panel, may earn bonus points for extraordinary skill, strategy, or dominance."

The screens flashed with a simulation of group matches, showing how points would accumulate.

"At the conclusion of the round-robin matches, the top two contenders from each group—those with the highest points—will advance to the second phase. This will leave us with twenty contenders."

The crowd murmured in growing anticipation, absorbing every word.

"From there, the remaining contenders will face another series of elimination challenges to determine the ten strongest competitors for the melee class. Those ten will compete in the final stage—a free-for-all battle where only one will emerge as the strongest melee combatant."

Her tone turned sharper as she addressed the participants directly.

"Your battles are not just for personal glory. Every point you earn reflects upon your family, clan, or academy. Your victories—and failures—will determine their standing in this competition."

The diagrams shifted to show a ranking table that would track the overall performance of academies, clans, and families.

"Fight with everything you have, for you represent more than yourselves. Strength, strategy, and honor will set you apart."

Lady Seraphine’s piercing gaze scanned the participant’s area, locking momentarily with various competitors, including Kaelen, Aric Alexandria, and the formidable Magnus Ferrum.

"Prepare yourselves. You have been chosen to prove your worth. This is where your path to greatness begins."

With a final nod, Seraphine turned sharply, and her figure vanished in a swirl of wind, leaving the screens glowing with the matchups for each groups.

The crowd roared in excitement, and the participants stood tall, tension thick among them. Kaelen’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the matchups, already identifying familiar names and potential threats.

"Ten groups... only two advance. There’s no room for mistakes," he thought, clenching his fists lightly. Around him, his comrades and rivals were equally focused, their competitive spirits igniting as they prepared for the battles ahead.

In the VIP section, Castaneda and Marel exchanged a brief glance, observing the participants with knowing expressions.

"The real battles begin now," Castaneda muttered quietly, his gaze settling on Kaelen. "Let’s see if they are ready."

As Lady Seraphine Gale vanished in a swirl of wind, her voice echoed through the coliseum, carried on an invisible current.

"Participants, form your designated groups based on the matchups displayed on the screens above. Your trials begin now. Order and discipline will mark the path to victory."

The air in the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum thrummed with tension as the participants quickly began dispersing, moving toward their assigned positions. The crowd murmured with anticipation, watching as the arena transformed into a battleground divided into sections for each group.

Kaelen glanced up at the glowing magical screens, his sharp gaze locking on his name.

Group B

1. Kaelen Grey – Pacesetters Academy

2. Magnus Ferrum – Ferrum Clan

3. Garrick Stormfell – Stormfell Family

4. Reeve Hollis – Dawning of Magic Academy

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Kaelen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he read the list. Around him, his comrades were already splitting off, following the screen’s guidance to their respective groups.

"Magnus Ferrum... so the Ferrum Clan’s prodigy and their famed hammer-wielder is my first challenge," Kaelen mused silently. He glanced back at Charlotte, Eldric,Ethan, The Mysterious swordsman, and The Dark Prince, who were heading toward their own groups. Each of them gave him a subtle nod before moving on, a mutual understanding passing between them—they would meet again when it mattered most.

Kaelen stepped across the arena floor, the gravel crunching beneath his boots, as he approached the section marked for Group B. It didn’t take long for him to recognize Magnus Ferrum, standing tall like an immovable mountain.

Magnus, with his massive frame and broad shoulders, was hard to miss. His gigantic war hammer, adorned with intricate runes, rested lazily on his shoulder as though it weighed nothing. The steel-gray armor he wore gleamed faintly, and his deep-set, sharp golden eyes landed on Kaelen the moment he arrived.

A small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of Magnus’s mouth.

"So you’re the famed Blade of Eternity’s wielder I keep hearing whispers about," Magnus rumbled, his voice like distant thunder. "Let’s hope the rumors aren’t just hot air. I’d hate to be disappointed."

Kaelen met his gaze, calm and unwavering. "You’ll find out soon enough," he replied coolly.

The other two participants arrived moments later, clearly aware of the gravity of their situation.

The first, Garrick Stormfell, had sharp features and a lithe build, his storm-gray robes fluttering slightly in the breeze. He carried a thin, curved longsword sheathed at his hip, its hilt crackling faintly with traces of lightning magic. The Stormfell Family was known for their mastery of elemental blade arts, and Garrick looked every bit a product of their fearsome legacy.

He glanced briefly at Kaelen and Magnus, his expression measured but wary. "Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me," Garrick muttered under his breath, though his hand lingered on his sword hilt, ready for the challenge.

The last member of the group, Reeve Hollis, bore the insignia of the Dawning of Magic Academy—a deep blue coat with silver trim. Unlike Garrick, Reeve looked more scholarly, with slicked-back dark hair and a composed demeanor. His weapon of choice appeared to be a polearm, its shaft carved with glowing runic symbols that pulsed faintly.

Reeve adjusted his glasses, eyeing the other three cautiously. "This group is formidable," he muttered to himself before inclining his head politely. "Let’s have a fair competition, shall we?"

Kaelen observed his three opponents carefully, assessing their strengths. Magnus’s sheer power, Garrick’s elemental precision, and Reeve’s technique and magic meant there would be no easy victories.

Magnus chuckled, breaking the brief silence. "No point standing around. I’m sure you all want to get started as much as I do." He hefted his hammer effortlessly, the ground beneath his feet cracking slightly from the sheer weight of the weapon.

Kaelen allowed a faint smirk to form as his fingers brushed the hilt of his disguised Blade of Eternity. The excitement of battle was already simmering in his veins, though he maintained his composure.

"This will be a test worth my time," Kaelen thought, his gaze flickering briefly to Castaneda and Marel seated in the VIP section. He could feel the weight of their expectations, but more importantly, his own determination.

As the group settled into position, the arena buzzed with restless energy, the other participants across the coliseum similarly bracing for their trials.

Somewhere in the distance, the faint hum of a magical bell echoed, signaling that the first stage was moments away from beginning.

In the VIP section, Castaneda folded his arms, his sharp gaze narrowing as he watched Kaelen and the others in Group B.

"Marel," Castaneda said quietly to his friend. "This group might just be the one to watch."

Marel nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Magnus Ferrum’s a titan in his own right, but that boy—Kaelen—he’s got something different. I just hope he can keep that blade under wrap".

The time for pleasantries was over. Kaelen, Magnus, Garrick, and Reeve stood ready, the tension crackling like a storm about to break.