The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 161: All Out

The crowd could not believe their eyes.

No, rather, it was more like their brains simply refused to process the sight before them.

There, the Keeper’s Apprentice stood in all his wounded glory, his mangled side leaking more and more blood as he set his sights on the illusionist. Yet, he did not seem fazed by the fact that his lifespan was being reduced with every moment that passed; every crimson drop that stained the earth.

It was as if he was in a trance.

A deep, unfathomable stupor.

At first, it did not seem that strange to ignore the wound. He was currently in the midst of an intense bout - it made sense that he couldn’t pay much attention to it. But, as time passed, the white-haired young man’s movements did not become hurried or frantic as one might expect.

If anything, they seemed to become sharper.

...As if he was evolving directly in the middle of battle.

"M-monster..."

They did not know who whispered that, but every person spectating felt inclined to agree. After all, having absolute no regard for your life was not a trait commonly found in sane individuals.

Then again, those who had ascended were not completely sound mentally, either.

Everyone had that little bit of crazy in them.

Still, as the bout continued to progress, and the illusionist and speed demon attempted to bring the Keeper’s Apprentice down, the more the crowd thought the white-haired young man had snapped. That was... until the sharpest amongst them noticed the faint white glow shrouding the Keeper’s Apprentice’s sole eye, like little fireflies.

Instantly, the Paladins’ demeanour shifted.

They sat up straighter, visages solemn, while a grim yet slightly excited aura hovered around them.

Because, while enlightenment in and of itself was rare, gaining such sudden insight during a duel was even rarer. It seemed the Keeper’s Apprentice was much more monstrous than anyone - especially those from High Command - thought.

A few Paladins shared a few subtle glances.

They felt it.

...It would not be long before the current status quo shifted.

***

Within the private viewing chamber...

Drakon watched Alden fight with a solemn and dignifed look. The air around him was calm, and polychromatic sparks flickered to life in his eyes. Beneath his carefully constructed veneer, however, an indescribable emotion wrapped around his heart.

While the mundane and those in lower Ranks believed enlightenment was random, those with access to greater knowledge - like him - knew that it was anything but. Sure, there could be a little luck involved, in terms of the timing of the phenomenon, but it was simply a manifestation of one’s hard work and effort.

Some thought the process of enlightenment was an acknowledgment by the world, recognising the individual for their resolve and determination. Others mused that it was the body’s naturally way of breaking past its limit.

However, there was a common consensus that one had to struggle, strive and strain themselves to achieve it.

That was undeniable.

Observing the signs of Alden’s struggle, the Ember Heir sighed internally.

’How much desperation do you feel? Why are you so determined?’

Compared to the Keeper’s Apprentice, Drakon knew that he did not have any drive. It may as well have been negligible in front of Alden’s own.

A slightly bitter taste welled within the Ember Heir’s mouth.

Ever since he was born, he knew he had not struggled for anything.

He... had had everything handed to him.

There was not one occasion in his life where Drakon could remember giving his absolute all. He had just coasted along, never pushing himself beyond what he felt comfortable with.

And that crushed him.

’I want to be someone who can put in the effort and reap its rewards.’

Drakon clenched his fists.

Then, from the corner of his eyes, he gazed at the one he had wronged and her ice-cold silhouette.

His determination deepened.

’...I have to be.’

***

Celeste gazed at the duel, her beautiful pastel face showing no glimpse of what she thought. She could feel her Senior Sisters occasionally glancing at her, as if hoping to pry open her facade. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

A few of the venerable Masters also did the same, though they were a lot less subtle.

Celeste ignored all of them.

In this moment, only one figure occupied both her mind and heart.

At first, worry had gripped her in its icy claws. After all, no one could have expected another Chosen of the Divine Sovereign to suddenly appear.

She wasn’t really too sure how to feel about that, especially since she noticed the way Caelum had looked at her. It was only a brief moment, but it was enough to unsettle Celeste.

In any case, she was anxious for a good reason.

Because every Chosen of the Divine Sovereign was special. Aside from the fact that their Sponsors had most likely selected them for their exceptional talent, they also had access to boons once they made a pact with the strongest otherworldly beings.

Celeste wondered what Caelum’s boons consisted of.

She hoped they wouldn’t be too prodigious.

So far, though, she spied nothing too out of the ordinary. While the green-robed youth’s ability to manipulate the surrounding space and distort it enough so that Alden couldn’t teleport was impressive, it did not fit what Celeste had in mind.

There were the lances compressed with space and wind energy as well, but it was the same.

Just then, as if she had manifested it into existence, Celeste’s expression subtly changed.

The air in the private viewing chamber also froze.

Down below, Caelum suddenly separated himself from the Keeper’s Apprentice and closed his eyes. At the same time, to cover for him, the skies darkened, swelling with a few dark, roiling storm clouds that glowed with an angry, purple light.

It shrouded a small portion of the sky, but it was enough.

Varnel raised his arm... and purple lightning slammed down into Alden.

The loud peal of thunder shattered the silence which plagued the Theatre of War.

Varnel’s figure surged.

Then, he made a grabbing motion, drawing on the power of the artifical storm.

In the next moment, a magnificent trident wreathed in purple lightning hovered before his palm.

Celeste held her breath.

At the same time, she sensed the space within the arena suddenly vibrate. Caelum’s plum-coloured eyes snapped open, and mirroring that snap, the illusionist struck the air beside him.

Space ruptured.

Caelum reached into the small fissure and pried it open, his eyes glowing with an unnatural grey light.

...And from that crack, an ominous form writhed.

Celeste’s stomach dropped.

This...

Her heart clenched.

...Was a Chosen of the Divine Sovereign going all out.