ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 231: A MERE STEPPING STONE

Aric’s lips curled into a confident smirk as he replied to Kaelen’s taunt, "We’ll see who truly dominates, Dragonyx." Without unsheathing his sword, he manipulated the light around him with precision, bombarding Kaelen with rapid flashes, beams, and concentrated bursts. Each attack carried immense force, but Kaelen, with his keen instincts and battle-hardened experience, held his ground effortlessly, countering each strike with calculated moves of his disguised Blade of Eternity.

Despite the intensity of the battle, Kaelen’s patience began to wane. His emerald eyes narrowed as he muttered under his breath, "Enough playing around." A golden glow radiated from his body as the Armor of the Eternal Guardian manifested on him. The ancient, ornate armor seemed to hum with power, its intricate designs pulsing faintly with celestial energy. The crowd erupted in awe as Kaelen’s strength, speed, and reflexes surged dramatically.

Kaelen charged forward, a whirlwind of precise sword arcs and devastating strikes. Aric, caught off guard by the sudden increase in Kaelen’s power, struggled to maintain his defense. The ground beneath them cracked under the sheer force of their clash, and Aric found himself being pushed further and further back.

"Impressive," Aric gritted through clenched teeth, his feet skidding against the arena floor. "You’ve forced my hand." He planted his feet firmly and slowly reached for the hilt of his sword. The crowd held their breath as the Blade of Dawn was finally unsheathed. A radiant explosion of light engulfed the arena, forcing many in the stands to shield their eyes. Aric’s entire being seemed to transform into a beacon of light, his aura blazing with a divine intensity that could rival the sun itself.

For a moment, the two combatants stood motionless, their auras clashing like opposing storms. Kaelen’s armor radiated an impenetrable energy, while Aric’s light surged with overwhelming brilliance. The air crackled with tension as Kaelen smirked, raising his sword.

"Now we’re talking," he said, his voice filled with anticipation. "Let’s see if the Blade of Dawn can live up to its reputation."

With that declaration, the duel reignited, and the arena trembled under the power of their blows. Each clash of their weapons sent shockwaves rippling through the coliseum, leaving the spectators on the edge of their seats as the real battle finally began.

The air in the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum was electric as Kaelen and Aric clashed with unparalleled intensity, their strikes sending shockwaves throughout the arena. Each blow of Kaelen’s disguised Blade of Eternity met Aric’s Blade of Dawn, sparking fierce energy with every collision.

From the VIP section, Castenada and Marel exchanged glances, both visibly impressed. "The boy’s skill with the sword is... exceptional," Castenada mused, stroking his chin. Marel nodded in agreement. "He’s not just skilled—he’s resourceful. Look how he adapts to Aric’s raw power."

On the opposite side of the VIP section, Kael Dragonyx watched with a calculating gaze. His eyes glinted with intrigue as he studied the disguised Blade of Eternity in Kaelen’s hand and the Armor of the Eternal Guardian he wore. A sly smile tugged at his lips. "That boy... He’s full of surprises. Both the blade and the armor will make fine additions to the Dragonyx legacy." His aged right-hand man murmured in agreement, though his expression held a slight smirk on his face.

Back in the arena, Aric began to ramp up the pressure, his explosive light magic intensifying with every swing of his Blade of Dawn. Blinding arcs of light illuminated the arena, forcing Kaelen onto the defensive. The crowd roared as Aric unleashed a flurry of radiant strikes, forcing Kaelen to sidestep, parry, and block at an exhausting pace.

Sweat trickled down Kaelen’s brow as he gritted his teeth. ’I can’t let Kelvin pull ahead. I’ve come too far for that.’ He tightened his grip on his sword, his resolve hardening.

"Is that all you’ve got, Dragonyx?" Aric taunted, his voice booming. "You’re not worthy of standing in the same arena as me!"

Kaelen’s eyes narrowed. He inhaled deeply, and then—calmly—exhaled. He stepped back, grounding himself, his aura shifting from strained to serene. Then, he began to move, his Formless Swordplay coming to life.

The crowd gasped as Kaelen’s movements became fluid, almost ethereal. His strikes were unpredictable, flowing like water, yet cutting like a tempest. "What is this technique?" Marel murmured in awe as Kaelen’s sword began to blur, creating the illusion of a thousand blades descending on Aric.

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Aric’s confidence wavered as he struggled to defend against the relentless barrage of slashes. "Impossible!" he growled, swinging his blade in wide arcs of light magic, but Kaelen’s strikes slipped past his defenses like smoke through cracks.

Kaelen’s final blow—a thunderous slash with the weight of all his willpower—shattered Aric’s guard. The Blade of Dawn was flung from his hand, embedding itself in the arena floor. Aric staggered backward, his face pale with disbelief.

As Aric fell to one knee, the arena erupted in cheers. Kaelen stood tall, his disguised Blade of Eternity glinting in the sunlight. He let out a breath, exhausted but victorious.

From the VIP section, Castenada couldn’t help but grin. "He’s more than just potential. He’s a true force to be reckoned with."

Kael Dragonyx, however, remained quiet, his gaze fixed on Kaelen with an intensity that promised trouble ahead.

As Kaelen stood in the center of the arena, Seraphine stepped forward with her usual calm authority. Her voice echoed throughout the coliseum as she declared, "Kaelen Dragonyx is the victor of this duel!" The crowd erupted into cheers and murmurs of excitement, some astonished at the outcome while others celebrated the unexpected turn of events.

Kaelen gave a respectful nod to Seraphine before turning to leave the arena, his expression calm but resolute. However, before he could take more than a few steps, Aric Alexandria’s furious voice cut through the cheers.

"This is impossible!" Aric roared, his face contorted with a mixture of disbelief and rage. "I am Aric Alexandria! The son of the great King Alexandria! Someone like you—someone of no true renown—cannot even dream of defeating me!"

The crowd fell into an uneasy silence, all eyes shifting between Aric and Kaelen. The tension in the coliseum grew thick as Kaelen paused mid-step. He slowly turned around to face Aric, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, cutting edge.

Kaelen’s voice was steady, almost disarmingly calm, as he replied, "A great name and lineage are nothing without strength to back it up. You are but a stepping stone, Aric Alexandria—a reminder that titles mean nothing in the face of true power." His tone dripped with quiet condescension, every word a deliberate strike. "Remember that as you watch me ascend to greatness, where you can never follow."

Aric’s mouth opened as if to retort, but no words came out. His fury seemed to choke him, and he stood there, fists clenched, his face pale with indignation. The entire coliseum was deathly silent, the weight of Kaelen’s words hanging heavy in the air.

Without sparing him another glance, Kaelen turned and resumed walking out of the arena. But as he reached the edge, he noticed Kelvin Bowel standing in his position, watching him intently. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, an unreadable expression flickered across Kelvin’s face—neither hostility nor admiration, but something deeper and more complex.

Kaelen didn’t linger. He nodded slightly, a subtle acknowledgment of Kelvin’s presence, before stepping off the stage, leaving the arena to return to the growing hum of excitement as the next duel loomed.

In the VIP section of the Northern Wind Spire Coliseum, the air grew thick with tension as Kael Dragonyx, leaning back confidently in his seat, suddenly directed a sharp yet calculated taunt toward King Alexandria.

"It seems," Kael began, his voice carrying an edge of mockery, "that the crown prince isn’t the only one in the royal family with questionable judgment. Aric’s behavior on the field, paired with Kaelen’s brazen declaration—one might wonder, Your Majesty, if these are the kind of legacies the Alexandria line intends to leave behind."

The words rippled through the VIP section, causing Castenada and Marel to exchange uneasy glances. The implications of such a statement were dangerous. If such a matter spiraled out of control, it could lead to irreparable tension between two of Valoria’s most influential powers—the Dragonyx Family and the Alexandria Royal Line which will eventually put the Pacesetters Academy in the scuffle due to Kaelen’s words starting it all.

But King Alexandria, seated with his usual composed demeanor, showed no sign of irritation. Instead, a calm, almost enigmatic smile graced his lips. His piercing gaze met Kael’s, and he replied in a voice that was both steady and profound.

"You speak of legacy, Kael Dragonyx," the King said, his tone carrying a weight that demanded attention. "But legacies are not shaped by perfection, nor by ease. They are forged in fire and adversity. What you see as folly may yet bloom into strength, for even the brightest stars find their light in the darkness."

Kael’s smile twitched ever so slightly, his eyes narrowing as he processed the veiled meaning in the King’s words. It wasn’t a defense of Aric, nor an acknowledgment of Kaelen’s words, but rather a declaration of trust in the process and resilience of his bloodline.

Alden who is seated nearby, subtly raised a brow, intrigued by the exchange. Castenada and Marel, meanwhile, felt a measure of relief. The King’s response had defused the tension, even if Kael’s veiled provocation lingered like an unspoken challenge.

The VIP section returned to silence, save for the roaring crowd below. Yet, within that quiet, the battle of wits and veiled threats continued, each word sharpening the unseen blades that both men wielded.