ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 220: WORTHINESS AND HONOR

Amidst the commoners’ area, the chatter of the crowd buzzed faintly in the background as Eldric approached the seat where his mother sat, her presence a stark contrast to the pomp and grandeur of the VIP section. Her simple yet graceful demeanor radiated warmth, and the faint smile on her face never faltered despite the disapproving murmurs of those around her.

Eldric, shoulders slumped and voice trembling as he approached her. "Mother… I… I’m so sorry. I’ve let you down."

His mother turned her gaze to him, her soft eyes filled with love rather than disappointment. She gently took his hand and pulled him to sit beside her.

Eldric’s Mother, her tone calm and soothing:

"You’ve let me down? Nonsense, Eldric. You’ve done more than enough. One loss doesn’t define you, my son."

Eldric, barely able to meet her gaze:

"But I… I let my emotions get the better of me. I disqualified myself. I humiliated the family…"

His mother placed her hand on his cheek, her touch grounding him as she interjected.

"You are not a failure, Eldric. You are my son, and I am proud of you, not for what you achieve, but for the heart you show. Mistakes are lessons, my dear. Learn from them, grow stronger, and never let anyone’s words have power over your spirit."

Her words seemed to pierce through the thick fog of guilt that clouded his mind. Eldric blinked rapidly, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles.

Eldric, voice soft but steadier:

"Thank you, Mother… I’ll do better next time."

She nodded, pulling him into a brief embrace before patting his back.

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Feeling somewhat lighter, Eldric shifted his focus to the arena, his brows furrowing with curiosity as he saw the next duel being set. On one of the mini arenas, two figures stepped forward, their presence immediately drawing the attention of the entire coliseum.

On one side stood Forbes Hernandez, the enigmatic and composed swordsman from the Pacesetters Academy as is also acknowledged as the Mysterious swordsman back at the Academy. Clad in dark, practical armor, his hand rested on the hilt of his slender sword. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the barriers, as if he could see through any opponent’s strategy before the duel even began.

On the other side stood Aric Alexandria, his presence regal yet detached. Clad in a pristine white tunic adorned with gold trimmings, he exuded confidence. Despite being King Alexandria’s illegitimate son, there was no doubt about his capability. Aric was the leader of the Royal Chosens, and his mastery of light magic had already left the audience in awe throughout the tournament.

Eldric, leaning forward slightly, muttered to himself. "This… this is going to be something else."

The crowd quieted as the duel was announced. Even the commoners’ section fell into a hush, their attention riveted on the mini arena where two titans of skill and strategy prepared to clash.

Seraphine Gale’s voice echoed across the coliseum. "Next duel in Group B are Forbes Hernandez of Pacesetters Academy versus Aric Alexandria of the Royal Chosens. Fighters, take your positions!"

Forbes drew his sword slowly, its polished blade gleaming under the departing sun. He said nothing, his silence as unnerving as it was imposing.

Aric, meanwhile, didn’t even reach for the sword at his waist. Instead, his hands began to glow faintly with radiant light, signaling his reliance on his unparalleled light magic.

Aric, smirking as he finally spoke up for the first time since the beginning of the tournament. "A swordsman against me? This won’t take long."

Forbes tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

Forbes, calm and resolute. "Arrogance blinds, Alexandria. Show me your resolve and don’t allow yourself to eat your own words."

The tension in the coliseum rose as the two combatants faced each other, their respective auras clashing even before the first move was made. The duel was about to begin, and Eldric found himself leaning even further forward, unable to tear his eyes away.

The crowd murmured, their voices filled with anticipation.

"Who will emerge victorious? The Mysterious Swordsman or the Prince of Light?"

"I can’t believe we get to see two leaders of their respective teams facing off this early in the tournament"

"I feel like Prince Aric will win, remember he hasn’t even drawn his sword since the beginning of the tournament"

"Yeah! That’s true!!"

But Amidst all this discussions, Eldric whispered to himself, his excitement building. "This… this is what makes the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum legendary."

Up at the ViP section, while Castenada and Marel were getting themselves taken away from the matchup between Forbes and Aric, Kael who they have already noticed at this moment suddenly spoke up with a interesting smirk on his face. "Isn’t the one facing Aric right now your leading student figure for your academy Castenada?"

"Yes, is there any problem with that?" Instead of Castenada to reply, Marel was the one who spoke up as he looked straight into the eyes of Kael. But Kael wasn’t even swayed by that as he continued with a sly grin on his face.

"Well that is just a shame, I can’t believe that Aric deemed your leading figure in your Academies representatives unworthy for him to draw his sword"

"Why you...."

"Marel, just ignore him. All this will take us nowhere" Right before Marel could flare up to Kael provocative comments, Castenada suddenly spoke up in a calm tone as he gave Kael a side long glance before he shifted his attention back to the arena. When Marel heard him, he immediately calmed himself down before he totally ignored Kael this time.

But Kael didn’t seem to mind as he made an evil chuckle before he also put his attention on the arena. As for Lysander, Alden and Griffo, they just gave Kael a very short glance before they immediately minded there business.

Back in the arena belonging to Group B, the silence in the coliseum was deafening as Forbes Hernandez and Aric Alexandria stood poised, their auras clashing like an unseen storm. The crowd watched in rapt anticipation, breaths held as the two warriors began their duel.

Suddenly, Forbes moved first, his figure almost blurring as he closed the gap between himself and Aric with a single, precise step. His Silent Swordplay was a marvel of economy and control—no wasted movements, no flourish. The blade whispered through the air as it sought Aric’s flank, the speed of the attack leaving no room for error.

Aric, still relying solely on his light magic, conjured a radiant shield in the blink of an eye. The shield shimmered under Forbes’ onslaught as blow after blow struck it with surgical precision. Each strike seemed to echo louder than the last, the silent nature of Forbes’ technique making the sharp sounds of impact even more jarring.

Aric’s brow furrowed as he backstepped, his shield shifting and reforming with every strike. The crowd gasped as Forbes drove him to the edge of the arena with a relentless series of slashes, his movements so fluid that he seemed like a ghost wielding a blade.

Aric, gritting his teeth as he spoke. "You’re not bad, swordsman. But this is child’s play."

He raised his hand, sending a pulse of blinding light toward Forbes. The swordsman reacted instantly, sidestepping with ease, his blade slashing through the light as if it were tangible. The crowd roared at the display, but Forbes remained calm, his expression unreadable.

Aric’s frustration grew as Forbes’ assault continued. His Silent Swordplay was relentless, every strike calculated to exploit the smallest opening. For the first time in the tournament, the prince of light found himself entirely on the defensive, unable to gain the upper hand.

The coliseum eventually erupted in murmurs.

"Is Aric really struggling? He hasn’t even drawn his sword yet!"

"That swordsman… Forbes Hernandez, right? His technique is flawless. Aric might actually lose!"

As another precise slash narrowly missed his shoulder, Aric finally stopped retreating. He raised his hand, the shield of light dissipating into sparkling motes.

Aric, his voice calm yet cutting as he took hold of the hilt of his sheathed sword. "I suppose you’ve earned the right to see my blade, Forbes Hernandez. Consider it an honor."

With a deliberate motion, he unsheathed the sword which is acknowledged as the Blade of Dawn. The moment the sword left its scabbard, the arena was bathed in a radiant glow. The weapon seemed to hum with life, its blade shimmering as if forged from the very essence of the sun.

Aric’s aura exploded, a blinding beacon of light that engulfed the entire mini arena. The spectators shielded their eyes, and even Forbes paused, his stance tightening as he regarded his opponent with newfound focus.

Aric, his voice reverberating with authority. "This is the Blade of Dawn, forged in the light of the first sun. Let’s see how your silence fares against its brilliance."

Aric lunged forward, his speed now matching Forbes’. The Blade of Dawn carved through the air, leaving trails of light in its wake. Forbes met the attack head-on, his sword clashing with the radiant weapon.

The collision of their blades sent shockwaves rippling through the barrier surrounding the arena. Each strike was accompanied by a blinding flash, the light threatening to overwhelm the senses.

Forbes, undeterred, continued to rely on his Silent Swordplay, his movements adapting to the newfound ferocity of Aric’s assault. He parried and countered with precision, his blade deflecting the Blade of Dawn time and again.

But Aric was no longer on the defensive. His strikes grew faster and more aggressive, the light emanating from his sword intensifying with each swing. The arena seemed to tremble under the weight of his power, and the crowd was left breathless.

As their duel raged on, Forbes began to show the strain. His breathing quickened, and sweat dripped from his brow, but his focus never wavered. Aric, however, seemed almost invigorated, the Blade of Dawn feeding off his mana and amplifying his presence.

Aric, smirking as their swords locked. "Admirable, but this is where your silence ends, Forbes."

Forbes said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he pushed back with a burst of strength. Their blades separated, and the two warriors circled each other, the air between them crackling with tension.

The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, the spectacle unlike anything they had seen so far in the tournament. Both fighters were at their limits, and the next exchange would decide the victor.

Eldric, watching from the commoners’ area, whispered to himself. "This… this is beyond anything I imagined. Who will come out on top?"

As the fighters prepared for the final clash, the atmosphere in the coliseum grew electric, the tension palpable. The duel was far from over, and the outcome remained anyone’s guess.