The next day the fight were more brutal and ferocious. Apart from the ice-based bloodlines some other interesting ones made their debut. 'One with the bloodline which affected space itself was monstrous…'
The warrior he was thinking about was an ice-born, and the most promising candidate fighting for the throne.
After a few rounds all the people from the Everlasting Snow were defeated.
Everyone except for Gherda who still went on easily dismembering her enemies without even giving them time to speak their first and last words.
The other one with a perfect win streak was Noirlumiere guy. If after Gherda's fights remained only gore and blood, then after his fights the opponents were directly obliterated without leaving traces.
"Victor Icestorm." – The golem announced the name of the next fighter.
The unusually for ice-born people skinny man stood up and went towards the arena.
"Draven Boundlessfrost." – The man with a slightly longer name also stood up and disappeared only to reappear right in the middle of the arena. He was exactly the one who could influence the space with his bloodline.
'Who knows what abilities have that Icestorm. Hopefully he doesn't loose too quickly.'
No one had expectations for the match and the Draven's victory was already set in stone in everybody's minds.
"Why won't you just surrender?" – Asked Draven with a slightly disdainful expression stamped on his face. – "I will become the king since the two guys from the Seven Families can't."
Victor slowly drew his sword out and pointed it in the direction of his opponent. – "Meaningless words."
Suddenly the air around him trembled.
"[One Line Slash]"
He appeared just before Draven and slashed his throat. Just like in every previous match the weapon only passed through the opponent's body without harming it in the slightest. – "Hahahaha, I told you that you can't beat me with a mere sword."
Victor already reappeared some meter away and put his sword away.
"Ready to sur…render."
In the next moment the smile on Draven's face froze.
Gherda who was looking from her seat only shook her head in disappointment. On the other side of the arena a young man in a long black robe also could only sigh. 'So, this is the famous Static Line Swordsmanship?' Thought inwardly Jonas Noirlumiere.
Two red dots appeared on the sides of Draven's neck. He tried to stop the blood loss but when he drew closer to the wounds with his hands…
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Two of his fingers were cleanly cut.
Draven slowly fell on his knees, and the two dot-like wounds became a long cut on his neck. In that moment Nameless noticed a transparent bluish line suspended in the air right where Draven's neck was before.
Suddenly he understood what happened. 'So, the first slash he did, in some way remained there in a form of energy line which afterwards cut the materialized Draven…He was underestimating his opponent too much.'
"Such a frightening ability for a long battle…"
Gherda nodded from the side. – "Yes, in a battle of attrition the users of this stile usually hold a huge advantage." – A look of reminiscence appeared on her face. – "The highest level of this skill I've ever seen was the Eternal Cut. Every single slash remained there forever without dissipating."
The next fights weren't particularly interesting to observe.
"Gherda Araignèe."
"Jonas Noirlumiere."
Announced the golem. Gherda stood up and so did Jonas. Strangely for this fight no one from the audience seamed to care about it in the slightest.
"Young lady of the Spiders." – Greeted the young man.
"Young priest of Blacklight." – Answered the Gherda. – "It's unfortunate that we can't fight here."
Jonas could only continue to smile. – "At least not now…" – From his seat Nameless felt a cold gust of wind on his face and shuddered. It was full of killing intent. So condensed and cold it could freeze one's soul.
Gherda's expression became cold. – "Control yourself Priest! The Old Devil is always watching! Family laws are absolute!"
Jonas restrained his killing intent. Suddenly he looked in the direction where Nameless was sitting. – "Oh, someone else was able to perceive my intent. Interesting! Is he with you?"
"The boy is and outsider here."
"Even more interesting…Whatever." – Then he turned towards the golem judge. – "Golem, both of us forfeit and abandon the tournament."
With that he and Gherda returned towards their respective seats. Nameless didn't ask anything. 'Probably it's because that thing about being not eligible for the throne…'
Probably everyone already expected this outcome.
The last fights were quick and Victor Icestorm claimed the first place.
In the next moment appeared the same skinny old man from the first day of the tournament. This time he wore a gorgeous formal dress. The smile plastered on his face revealed two rows of pointed sharp teeth. His eyes remained emotionless.
"Finally, after many glorious fights…" – He paused and observed the audience. 'Not so glorious, old man.' Thought Nameless. – "…our King has been decided. The most powerful! The wisest! The most honorable amongst the ice-born tribes." – He made a slight accent on the last part and slightly nodded towards Gherda and Jonas. Both ignored him completely.
"Heh. Today I pledge my eternal loyalty to the new Frozen King!" – Suddenly he kneeled before Victor. – "Do you accept my vow, Majesty?"
The new king, silent until now opened his mouth. – "I accept your vow, Encore, The Protector of the Frozen."
He took out a knife and cut the palm of his hand. – "Today I pledge to serve the Ice God and protect the ice-born from every calamity." - Victor extended his hand towards the old man. – "Do you accept my vow, Encore?!"
Encore suddenly raised his head towards the sky and roared. It wasn't a human roar but a beastly one.
Behind him appeared an enormous transparent dragon. Gherda pointed towards it. – "That's his true form, Ice Dragon Encore…that lizard is such a pain." – Nameless only subconsciously nodded. His was captivated by the majestic image before him.
It wasn't just an intelligent beast. It was a personification of power itself. A calamity. A being inferior only to gods.
The dragon phantom and the old man simultaneously looked towards Victor. – "I accept your vow, Victor Icestorm, the Frozen King."
*BOOOOOM*
In the next moment a huge blue energy pillar shot from the cloudy sky and both were engulfed by it. In this moment every single resident of the third island sensed something and looked in the direction on the pillar.
Salazar, the old librarian, opened his eyes and his gaze seamed to be able to pierce through everything in this world. – "Another puppet is born…"
After the pillar dissipated the old dragon disappeared and there were only Victor inside.
Now on his head there was an exquisite crown made from ice.
Suddenly every spectator stood up. Nameless for a second wanted to do the same but Gherda, who remained on her seat, stopped him gently shaking her head.
"HAIL TO THE FROZEN KING!"
Not only the arena but also the whole Ice God Island was shaking from the countless screams.
"HAIL TO THE FROZEN KING!"
She muttered something but Nameless only understood the world "slaves".
"HAIL TO THE FROZEN KING!"
Suddenly another voice covered everyone else in the arena. – "HAIL TO THE KING!"
Nameless froze for a second but then immediately became excited. 'Captain!'
*CRAA*
A familiar cawing announced the arrive of a tall figure clad in his usual black clothes. – "Hail to the new Frozen King."
Victor looked towards the entrance of the arena and saw three people. The one on the left was completely covered by a black cloak and seamed a shadow with no presence at all, while the one on the right was a mountain of muscles. The one in the middle didn't have any particular trait but his aura was massive and gloomy.
'Benjamin! Doctor!'
Nameless was exited to finally see some familiar faces. Victor looked coldly on the new arrivals. – "What do you want, outsiders?"
"We come without malice. We only want to be granted the possibility to go to the Fourth Island."
Captain was extremely courteous but still didn't retracted his monumental aura.
Victor remained in silence for some minutes. – "I don't want to grant you the passage…" – Captain frowned. – "…But, under some conditions I can allow it."
Suddenly Nameless had a bad premonition about this situation. He already developed some faith in the strength of the crew members of the Sorrow, but he still suddenly felt something wrong.
"Can I know your conditions?"
Victor grinned. – "A little fight. To celebrate my coronation!"
"Five of my fighters will fight five members of you group in one on one battles. The victory goes to the teem who win three fights first."
Captain thought for a moment. – "I think it's a brilliant idea to celebrate such a marvelous occasion. I agree."
Victor nodded. – "Another thing: my fighters can choose who they want to fight."
On the captain's face appeared some black lines.
"It sounds very…reasonable, your Majesty."
"So, it's decided! Marvelous. The fight will be tomorrow morning in front of my royal palace."
With that he turned around. Suddenly two pairs of dragon wings appeared behind his back and with a clapping sound he disappeared in the sky above the city.